Di Ming

Chapter 459 "This woman is just like a cat."

A composure beyond his years appeared on Zhu Changluo's handsome face as he spoke calmly:

“Mother, next time they send people, we’ll pretend to agree and use their scheme against them. If we don’t agree soon, they won’t take the risk.”

"They're no longer hiding or acting furtively; it seems they've decided to make their move. The master will soon be returning to the capital in triumph; they can't delay any longer. They have no choice but to gamble. However…"

"Since it's a risky gamble, I reckon they won't dare to all jump out. The person behind the scenes probably won't get involved and has ways to stay out of it."

"Therefore, I believe that although you can eliminate many traitors this time, you cannot eradicate them completely. As for those who are hiding too deeply, you can only temporarily hold your nose and give them a chance to get rid of them completely."

The Empress Dowager frowned slightly, "If we can't eliminate them all, trouble will inevitably arise again sooner or later."

Zhu Changluo smiled calmly and said, "Right now, the Northern Dynasty is eyeing us covetously, Burma has invaded Yunnan, and Annam also wants to take advantage of the situation to seize Guangdong and Guangxi. The Grand Tutor's secret letter says that the Western barbarian alliance is also planning to attack our Great Ming, and they will be able to send troops by next summer at the latest. At a time when the country is beset by internal and external troubles and wars are frequent, you can only seek stability first."

“It’s not that you can’t eradicate them completely, it’s that you must make choices. They are deeply entrenched and powerful, and it’s impossible to eliminate them all in one day. Even a centipede doesn’t die easily, let alone these people who are not only alive but thriving. This cleanup is just the beginning.”

The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment and said, "Is this something your teacher taught you?"

Zhu Changluo nodded: "Sir once mentioned the enemies of the Ming Dynasty. He said that the greatest enemy of the Ming Dynasty was not the barbarians, nor was it outside. The greatest enemy of the Ming Dynasty was the stubborn, conservative, and vested interest group. They were greedy, selfish, short-sighted, and hypocritical. Sir called these people reactionaries."

"Those gentry and powerful families will make the court poorer and poorer, the people poorer and poorer, the soldiers poorer and poorer, and the officials richer and richer. The result will inevitably be that the officials force the people to rebel, and the barbarians will invade. In the end, we cannot escape the cycle of order and chaos. The most tragic ones will be the people and our royal family..."

"Therefore, you said that the royal family and the imperial clan are the ones who should cherish the people the most. The royal family and the imperial clan have no way out but to speak up for the people, rely on the people, and share their honor and disgrace, so as to maintain their wealth and prosperity and ensure national peace and stability. This is the true meaning of Mencius's saying, 'The people are the water, and the ruler is the boat.' Because the royal family has no way out, it is most taboo to collude with the reactionaries..."

The Empress Dowager couldn't help but praise, "Grand Tutor's words are truly insightful. Changluo, you've really grown up; you understand so much and see things so clearly."

Zhu Changluo sighed softly, "It's a pity that the Emperor Emeritus doesn't understand this principle. He has always protected them, indulged them, and given them important positions. This is also why the Master looked down on him. The Master said that the Emperor Emeritus's actions would make the reactionaries stronger and more rampant, and would eventually destroy the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, the Emperor Emeritus is not a wise ruler and is not suitable to be emperor."

"The gentleman also said that even if the Ming Dynasty falls and the royal family and clan are doomed, the gentry and powerful will still be able to travel in carriages and horses and enter high halls, where a single call from the head of the hall will be obeyed by a hundred men below. They will still live in luxury and have a large number of servants. They will only have a different master and a different court. This has been the case for thousands of years."

“Mother, I didn’t understand back then why the Emperor Emeritus, despite being the Son of Heaven, didn’t act like one. Now I understand. It was the gentry and powerful who wanted him to act that way, and wanted to continue to use and deceive him.”

The Empress Dowager held her son's hand and said, "Changluo, the Emperor Emeritus is actually a very talented person. He is very smart, smarter than many people. Do you think the Emperor Emeritus doesn't know? He knows very well. He's just too selfish. If a person is too selfish and only cares about his own affairs, no matter how smart he is, he can't be a leader."

"With his temperament, he would have been happier as a gentry, as you say, but he chose to become emperor. Even the humblest commoner knows that the emperor is a father. As a father, of course he must love his people and stand up for all the people under heaven. How much courage and public spirit does that require?"

“The most suitable person to be the emperor is precisely someone like your husband.”

"Changluo, after years of instruction from the Grand Tutor, you are far more magnanimous and open-minded than your father, the Emperor. However, you are not suited to be Emperor. Your nature is too soft, your interests too biased, and you cannot contend with those self-serving ministers. I only wish for my son and me to live in peace..."

Zhu Changluo smiled and said, "Mother, don't worry, I really don't want to be an emperor. Being an emperor now is just a temporary measure."

The Empress Dowager nodded and said, "These are your true feelings, so I'm relieved. I'm very pleased that you are content, have no unrealistic desires, and haven't been misled or instigated by them. The Grand Tutor is a man of great loyalty and righteousness, and I have that much insight. As long as my son and I don't do anything to betray him, we can live a peaceful, carefree, and wealthy life. To be instigated by those scoundrels to turn against him would be a foolish and suicidal path!"

Zhu Changlu sneered, "Hmph, they say that since your identity as a descendant of Jianwen has been exposed and your attempt to usurp the throne is obvious, you will definitely take action against my mother and me. They say that since ancient times, emperors who abdicated the throne have never had a good ending. They are doing everything they can to sow discord. Their intentions are truly despicable."

"Sir, your aspirations are vast and boundless, your mind as expansive as the starry sky and the ocean, and your ambition as lofty as the Kunpeng soaring ninety thousand miles. You are a sage reincarnated from a star lord. How could those selfish, narrow-minded people possibly fathom your true nature? They are merely judging a gentleman by the standards of petty men. How could they possibly know what kind of person you are?"

"They even said I was a puppet. Little did they know that I had agreed with my master that I would only be emperor for three to five years to stabilize the situation. How could I be a puppet? If my master really regarded me as a puppet, would I be able to leave the palace freely? Would I be able to interact freely? If I were a puppet, none of their people would be able to see me."

The Empress Dowager nodded and said, "Without the Grand Tutor, where would my son and I be today? Their instigation and manipulation are nothing more than using us as pawns. How could they truly regard us as the Emperor and Empress Dowager? If they were to sell my son and me to the Northern Dynasty and send us to Beijing, what a miserable fate we would have suffered?"

"Even if they succeed in their plan, murder the Grand Tutor, and seize power in the Southern Dynasty, how could they allow you to rule in person? Only then will my son and I truly become puppets."

Zhu Changluo looked disdainful. "They also told me to protect the Chengzu Emperor's empire. Was the Chengzu Emperor's empire inherited through succession? Even if it wasn't, what ability do I have to protect it? If I can't protect the Ming Dynasty, am I not a sinner against the Ming?"

"They thought I would suffer a terrible fate, but little did they know that with the relationship between my husband and me, I could have lived a carefree and wealthy life, worry-free about food and clothing, and doing whatever I wanted. Haha, you can't talk about ice with a summer insect."

"However, what they think is not important. A few years later, when I abdicate in favor of you, I will travel the world and study the mysteries of heaven and earth! The heavy responsibility of this great Ming dynasty will then fall to you."

Having done this, Zhu Changluo felt a little ashamed and said in a low voice:

"Actually, I know that you don't want to be emperor. But if you want to make the Ming Dynasty better and ensure its longevity, then you have no choice but to be emperor. If you become emperor, you will definitely have a harder time and you won't be as free as before."

The Empress Dowager patted the Emperor's head and smiled gently, "Just consider it a case of the capable being given more responsibility. Since the Grand Tutor is a sage sent by Heaven, he should naturally shoulder great responsibilities and protect the Ming Dynasty from wind and rain. Perhaps this is the Grand Tutor's destiny. It is said that in terms of seniority, the Grand Tutor is your uncle, so he is the Imperial Uncle."

"Teacher plus Imperial Uncle, this is double the kinship, and my son and I have even less to worry about."

Zhu Changluo said, "Since you are my uncle, could you take the initiative to bestow a title upon you, sir? In your letter, you mentioned that you have destroyed the two great chieftains of She and An. Your power and prestige are renowned throughout the land, so this is a perfect opportunity to bestow a title upon you. However, what title should you be given to be worthy of the position of regent?"

The Empress Dowager thought for a moment and said, "Let's bestow the title of Prince of Wu. Among all the princes in the Ming Dynasty, none is more honorable than the Prince of Wu, who also happens to be from the eldest son's lineage. With the Prince of Wu as regent, he will be a regent prince, ranking first among princes, which is a step up from the regent grand tutor."

"However, you cannot bestow the title without authorization. Such a significant matter must be discussed with the Grand Tutor. Although it is out of filial piety, it still requires the Grand Tutor's permission."

Zhu Changluo nodded, "Alright. Then let us appoint you as Regent King of Wu!"

……

Dagongfang, the residence of the Duke of Ningguo.

Ning Caiwei had just finished feeding her daughter Yingning and putting the child to sleep when the female spy Tang Yangyang arrived in person.

"Madam, a personal letter from the General of Jiangbei."

Tang Yangyang presented Qi Jiguang's letter.

Ning Caiwei opened it and raised her beautiful eyebrows slightly. "Gu Xiancheng? That name sounds familiar."

Tang Yangyang reported: "This person is from Wuxi. He was the top scholar in the Southern Zhili examination in the fourth year of the Wanli reign. He is a senior official and currently holds the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. He is also the headmaster of Donglin Academy. Just last October, he followed the example of the Xuan Society and founded the Donglin Society, and was elected as its president."

"The leader of the Donglin Party?" Upon hearing "Donglin Society," Ning Caiwei immediately recognized Gu Xiancheng's identity; no wonder the name sounded familiar.

So, the Donglin Party appeared a few years earlier than it appears in history?

“Teacher’s wife,” Tang Yangyang continued, seeing that Ning Caiwei was very interested in Gu Xiancheng, “Although the Donglin Society has only been established for a year, it has grown rapidly and has a great reputation because of the strong support of the powerful families in Jiangnan.”

"Now, the society has more than two thousand members, most of whom are scholars from prominent families in Jiangnan and Jiangxi, as well as officials in the court and local governments. Students from the Imperial Academy and prefectural and county schools also participate."

"Apart from the Xuan Society, the Donglin Society is the most powerful in the world. Our Xuan Society has been around for nine years and has spread throughout the South, but we only have a little over five thousand members. However, the Donglin Society has only been established for one year and already has more than two thousand members. It is definitely not to be underestimated."

"Fortunately, most of the literary gatherings, publishing, woodblock printing, bookstores, theaters, and other businesses in the South are in the hands of the Xuan Society, and the Donglin Society cannot take away the Xuan Society's mouthpiece for the time being. However, they are already competing with the Xuan Society."

Ning Caiwei sneered, "My Xuan Society has very strict requirements for joining and very strict rules. We always prefer to have fewer members than to have inferior ones. Of course, we can't recruit members as quickly as they can. However, most of my Xuan Society members are elites from humble backgrounds who agree with the Xuan Society's mission. Our cohesion is also incomparable to theirs."

"Gu Xiancheng contacted the Northern Army and agreed to act as an inside agent, but little did he know that we had known about their conspiracy all along. I just didn't expect that they would covet my property. What audacity of them."

Tang Yangyang laughed and said, "All they ever want is to become officials and make money. Even if they become Grand Secretaries or Ministers, their own power and wealth will still be their top priority. It's true that the reactionaries are powerful, but they've never amounted to much. Their schemes against our teacher and his wife are ultimately driven by self-interest."

Ning Caiwei pointed to Jindun, gesturing for Tang Yangyang to sit down, and asked, "What are you planning to do? Arrest Gu Xiancheng first, and then dig them out one by one?"

Tang Yangyang thanked her and sat down, then reported, "Reporting to Master's wife, the original plan was to arrest Gu Xiancheng first, and then use Gu Xiancheng to arrest a group of people, to complete a major case and bring them all to justice. However, Luo Yan and Fan Yi'an both disagreed with this plan."

"Oh?" Ning Caiwei's starry eyes narrowed. "Why do they disagree? Do they have a better plan?"

Tang Yangyang said, "I came to see my teacher's wife to ask for her opinion. Luo Yan and Fan Yi'an said that Gu Xiancheng cannot be arrested, the Donglin Society cannot be shut down, and they should deliberately condone it. All the court officials and local officials involved in the rebellion have been arrested, but Gu Xiancheng and the Donglin Society should be deliberately let off the hook."

"What my two senior brothers mean is that only a small portion of the Jiangnan gentry actually participated in this rebellion. Most people, while happy to see it happen, haven't personally intervened yet, but are taking a wait-and-see approach. In the words of my master's wife, they're not putting all their eggs in one basket."

"The majority of those who did not participate are the most difficult to deal with. They hate the teacher for monopolizing power and want to take his place, but they did not participate in the rebellion. They have the intention to rebel but not the actions. At least this time, they have not been involved."

"Moreover, many of these people were high-ranking officials who had retired to maintain their prestige, and their students and former subordinates were all over the country. Most of the court officials, local officials, and scholars were related to them. Even ordinary people thought that these gentlemen were highly respected. And their children and students were mostly members of the Donglin Society."

"Arresting them without concrete evidence of treason would not only fail to convince the public, but would also cause turmoil in the court, instability in the regions, and even damage the people's respect for teachers and their reputation."

"Given that the teacher will be leading the army on a southern expedition, stability is even more crucial. We must not act rashly at this time. That's why Luo Yan and Fan Yi'an advocated temporarily letting Gu Xiancheng and the Donglin Society off the hook. But this is only the first consideration; they have a second one."

Ning Caiwei was speechless upon hearing this.

Although she wasn't good at history, she knew what the Donglin Party was. Although these people called themselves a "gentlemen's alliance," they were actually an elite group of high-ranking officials and landlords in the south during the late Ming Dynasty, representing the interests of these landowners and officials.

This aristocratic political group, which touted morality, manipulated public opinion, colluded with officials, monopolized discourse, controlled oversight, managed the Grand Canal, influenced the imperial examinations, suppressed military figures, hijacked finances, and remotely controlled court officials... They did all sorts of despicable acts of refined egoism, each one seemingly grand but ultimately disastrous for the country and its people.

The Qing army's easy conquest of Jiangnan was largely due to these people.

It wasn't without its merits; it had some progressive ideas and some truly virtuous people who cared for the country and its people. However, compared to its reactionary nature, it was insignificant.

Although Gu Xiancheng was the founder and so-called leader of the Donglin Party, at this time he was merely a figurehead, not the true party leader. Otherwise, he wouldn't have personally gone to see his adoptive father.

Ning Caiwei said, "Luo Yan and Fan Yi'an's second consideration is to keep Gu Xiancheng and the Donglin Party around to cause trouble, to allow them to grow stronger, and to let them brew a bigger conspiracy, so that they can drag more people down with them, and finally wipe them out in one fell swoop?"

Tang Yangyang smiled and said, "Teacher's wife is wise! This is their second consideration. If Teacher's wife agrees, they will deliberately devise a plan to let Gu Xiancheng and the Donglin Party slip through the net."

Ning Caiwei nodded, "I agree! With these two considerations, this plan is excellent. Then you should proceed with it and dig a pit for Gu Xiancheng. Consider this a bargain for him."

"Yes!" Tang Yangyang accepted the order.

Ning Caiwei then instructed, "Inform Mr. Xu about Gu Xiancheng's matter, including your plans."

"As ordered!"

……

As dusk settles, the cold night deepens.

The magnificent Duke of Wei's mansion faintly echoed with the sounds of Kunqu opera performed by a family troupe. The melodious and graceful singing made this ancient mansion, which had been around for over two hundred years, seem somewhat eerie and sinister in the night.

However, Duke Xu Xiaobai of Wei was not watching the play or listening to the music, but was receiving two guests.

Incense smoke curled around the Moon-Viewing Terrace of the Lakeside Pavilion. Xu Xiaobai, dressed in a simple cloak, was personally brewing tea.

The guest sitting opposite me, to my left, was dressed in monk's robes and wore a lotus crown; he was actually a dignified-looking monk.

The man on the right is a scholar in white, around thirty years old, and short in stature.

"Master Kuming." Xu Xiaobai poured a cup of tea for the monk, his face appearing somewhat ethereal in the lamplight and tea steam. "Even a fish placed on a chopping board will thrash about. Cattle and sheep will butt each other with their horns when facing the butcher's knife, let alone Zhu Zhihu, who holds military power and controls the court?"

"Even if our plan succeeds, his dying blow could plunge Nanjing into bloodshed, and even my Duke Wei's mansion would be doomed. Now, I am inevitably hesitant and uneasy."

"Amitabha!" Monk Kuming clasped his hands together, his expression filled with compassion. "The Jiangning clan has rebelled and usurped the throne, deceiving the emperor and plunging the people into misery and putting the nation in dire straits. This is a great calamity for the Ming Dynasty and a demonic obstacle for the world."

"Your Excellency shares the fate of the nation and has received its favor for generations. If the Ming Dynasty's destiny has run its course, what will become of the Duke of Wei's mansion? When the nest is overturned, how can any egg remain intact?"

"Jiang Ning is a tyrannical and domineering ruler, a traitor to the people. With such perverse actions, the Ming Dynasty is in grave danger! If he were to become emperor, he would surely be a ruler who brings about the downfall of the country. It doesn't matter if he becomes a ruler who brings about the downfall of the country, but he will drag the Ming Dynasty down with him, and the people of the world will suffer as a result."

"Your Excellency was born of destiny, bearing the responsibility of subduing demons and averting calamity, which is why you have this opportunity. Today's matter cannot be delayed without decisive action, for hesitation will only lead to further chaos. The arrow is on the bowstring and must be released. Your Excellency must remain steadfast in your resolve, upholding justice and loyalty to the emperor and the country, with a heart as firm as a rock. Only then can you accomplish great things, turn the tide, and save the Great Xia from collapse. This is immeasurable merit and supreme virtue."

"Amitabha!"

The scholar in white solemnly replied, "Although it is said that a wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall, for the sake of the nation and its people, why should we fear standing under a dangerous wall?"

"Even if the Duke changes his mind now, it will be too late. The transfer of Xiaoling Guard was authorized by the Duke. The rotation of Longguangshan was also authorized by the Duke. How can these loose ends withstand scrutiny?"

"If the Duke retreats at this moment, the righteous men who are clearing the court of corrupt officials will not have the help of troops, and he will surely be defeated! When that happens, upright gentlemen will sacrifice their lives for righteousness and offer their necks to be slaughtered. With blood boiling and heads rolling, how can the Duke not feel heartbroken and weep blood? When Zhu Yin interrogates and implicates others, who can guarantee that the Duke will not be implicated? Even if Zhu Yin pardons the Duke from the death penalty, he will probably still be stripped of his title and imprisoned."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xiaobai's expression turned extremely bitter. He sighed deeply and said, "I agreed to your request back then, partly because I was drunk. Now I'm caught in a dilemma, unable to back down."

"Mr. Ji Hui, you have really put me in a difficult position."

This Mr. Ji Hui, whose real name is Liu Yiju, is one of the founders of the Donglin Society and a highly respected scholar who passed the imperial examinations twice. He currently holds the position of Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of War, a minor official with considerable power.

Liu Yijing laughed and said, "Isn't that also because the Duke is troubled by the marriage alliance? The cause is still the traitor Zhu Yin. In order to win over the Duke, Zhu Yin forced his big-footed, rude, and vulgar sister to marry the Duke. This is an insult to the Duke of Wei's mansion."

"Which of the ladies of the Duke of Wei's mansion throughout the ages did not come from a prestigious family? Not to mention the Duchess, even the other wives in the mansion were all daughters of noble families."

"But Zhu Yin's sister, Wu You, has a suspicious background, behaves improperly, shows her face in public, and has big feet. She is nothing but a boorish woman. How could she be a good match for the Duke?"

"Xu Yuanchun, grandson of Xu Wenzhen (Xu Jie) of Huating and Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, has a daughter of sixteen years old who is of marriageable age. She would be a perfect match for the Duke..."

"The Xu family is a prominent clan in Songjiang, with generations of officials and nobles. Although Lord Xu Wenzhen has been gone for more than ten years, the Xu family is still the most distinguished family in Jiangdong. Surely they would not disgrace the Duke?"

"Oh?" Xu Xiaobai's expression turned serious. "Mr. Ji Hui's visit today is not only that of a persuader, but also a matchmaker?"

"Hahaha!" Liu Yijun laughed. "The Duke is truly a remarkable man! Today, I have come here to help the Xu family."

"However, if the Duke intends to abandon Wu You and marry Lady Xu, he will naturally have to break with Zhu Yin and abandon the darkness for the light."

"Amitabha!" Monk Kuming chanted the Buddha's name. "In my opinion, Miss Xu is indeed a good match for the Duke. She is a suitable wife and mother, and her blessings will last a long time. She is destined for marriage."

After saying that, he took out a book of eight characters from his sleeve. “My lord, please take a look. The eight characters of Lady Xu’s birth chart are a perfect match with yours. Every single character is in harmony.”

Liu Yijing added, "If we were to marry into the Xu family, their dowry would include: 10,000 mu of fertile land in Zhenjiang Prefecture, a textile factory in Yingtian Prefecture, and 3,000 mu of cotton fields in Changzhou..."

Xu Xiaobai finally nodded and said, "Alright! It's settled then. Once we've successfully purged the court of corrupt officials and dissolved Wu You's engagement, I will form a marriage alliance with the Xu family!"

"Amitabha!" Ku Ming clasped his hands together. "The peace and tranquility of the Southern Kingdom is all thanks to the Duke's protection!"

Xu Xiaobai cupped his hands and said, "Master, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise. It is getting late, and it would be inconvenient for me to keep you two overnight, lest Zhu Yin's followers become suspicious."

Liu Yijing and Master Kuming stood up together. "In that case, we will take our leave. We dare not trouble the Duke to see us off! Please wait, Duke!"

Xu Xiaobai said, "I won't see you off any further. Have a safe journey."

After the two left, a dark shadow suddenly flashed, and a man in black jumped out from under the pavilion.

The man in black seemed to blend into the night, and could not be spotted unless one looked closely.

"You," Xu Xiaobai shook her head, "always appearing and disappearing like a ghost. You're going to be the future Duchess; shouldn't you change this ninja-like behavior?"

The man in black said quietly, "But my brother didn't ask me to change it. Besides, I'm not the Duchess yet, so it's not too late to change it later."

After saying that, he took off his mask and sat down in front of Xu Xiaobai.

A pretty face that bore a striking resemblance to Zhu Yin shone brightly under the lights; it was Wu You.

She was a woman who was both beautiful and wild, always giving off an air of mystery. Xu Xiaobai had never seen a woman like her before.

She was certainly not a gentle and virtuous lady from a prominent family, but she possessed a charm that most ladies of high society simply lacked.

“You don’t have to change it.” Xu Xiaobai poured her a cup of tea. “With your ninja skills, it would be a bit of a waste to change them.”

Wu You brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and looked at Xu Xiaobai with a playful smile, "Just now, Liu Yijun asked you to marry Madam Xu. Were you tempted?"

Xu Xiaobai shook his head, his tone very certain, without the slightest hesitation, "No."

"You really aren't tempted?"

"Not really."

"Alright." Wu You drank a cup of tea. "I'm leaving. You can rest now."

Xu Xiaobai was a little reluctant: "Won't you stay a little longer?"

"No, thank you." The woman in black shook her head slightly. "I am not yet the Duchess of the State, and it would be unwise to be discovered here. I'm leaving!"

After saying that, he crouched down and disappeared into the night, quickly vanishing without a trace.

Xu Xiaobai was stunned for a moment, then smiled self-deprecatingly, "This woman is just like a cat."

After saying that, he put down his teacup, looked at the slightly reddened moon in the sky, and muttered to himself:
"A few days later, Nanjing will be engulfed in bloodshed."

"There are some things that you have to do, even if it means being criticized."

“Chih-hu, I’m going down this path with you to the bitter end. I don’t know if it’s right or wrong, a blessing or a curse.”

...

P.S.: Don't worry, the little tiger is going back to Beijing tomorrow. Tomorrow, it's either fish or net broken! Thank you, please vote with your monthly tickets! Good night!

(End of this chapter)