Di Ming

Chapter 474 "Although the Emperor of the Southern Dynasty is the son of the retired Emperor, he is not a puppet emperor!"

The Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial arranged for the envoys from the Northern Dynasty and the Western Ming Dynasty to stay at the Nanjing Meeting Hall while reporting to Zhu Yin.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yin smiled and said, "The envoys from the Northern Dynasty and the Western Ming have finally arrived in Nanjing. That's good. Our dynasty is about to launch a southern and western campaign and has no time to look north. The Northern Dynasty needs a delaying tactic, and so does our dynasty. Let's talk and each get what we need."

"Ximing is here to form an alliance. Forming an alliance is not impossible, but we need to see what their sincerity is."

"Why not just summon the envoys from the Northern Dynasty and the Western Ming Dynasty together at tomorrow's court meeting, so that the three sides can gather together, speak frankly and openly, and have a frank discussion?"

Zhu Yin had long known that the Northern Dynasty and the Western Ming Dynasty would send envoys. Now that the two envoys had arrived in Nanjing before his expedition, it saved him a lot of trouble.

Fang Congzhe, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy of the Northern Dynasties, was a secret envoy sent to Nanjing. However, his secret mission was exposed as soon as he arrived in Nanjing.

The people of the Southern Dynasty immediately realized that the Northern Dynasty had actually sent envoys to negotiate. Did the Northern Dynasty fear the Southern Dynasty and take the initiative to bow down and acknowledge the Southern Dynasty's imperial throne? Otherwise, why would they send envoys to negotiate?
This means that even the Northern Dynasty could not deny the righteousness of the Southern Dynasty.

The news greatly boosted morale and inspired the people of the Southern Dynasty. However, the wealthy gentry and ignorant commoners who hated Zhu Yin because of the Xiaoling Incident and the Wu King's persecution of Buddhism, and who wished for the collapse of the Southern Dynasty, were heartbroken.

...

When Fang Congzhe, the envoy from the north, was welcomed into Nanjing, his feelings were extremely complex.

The site where Emperor Taizu Gao founded his dynasty has weathered more than two hundred years of storms. The palaces still stand majestically, and the yellow tiles and red walls under the snow reflect the weight and vicissitudes of the founding of the dynasty.

However, the person sitting in the Fengtian Hall in Nanjing today is not Emperor Wanli of the Forbidden City in Beijing, but the former eldest son, Prince Xin, who is now Emperor Taichang.

Father and son broke ties and separated their countries.

However, the one who held power in the Southern Kingdom was not Emperor Taichang, but the Imperial Tutor, Grand Preceptor, and Prince Wu, Zhu Yin.

Zhu Zhihu, the child prodigy who was famous throughout the land and achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations, the Jiangnan scholar known as the reincarnation of a star deity and an unparalleled talent, the young minister who was once highly regarded by the world but was also feared and demoted by the emperor, has now become the regent of the Southern Dynasty.

Even more unbelievable is that Zhu Zhihu was actually a descendant of Emperor Jianwen, the eldest son of the Jianwen Emperor.

It's truly heartbreaking.

He was burdened with the heavy responsibility of "delaying the enemy" and came to this "usurping" capital. He had mixed feelings, including concern for the precarious situation of the Northern Dynasty and the humiliation of having to feign compliance with "traitors" as a scholar-official.

Although Fang Congzhe was somewhat confused, he was, after all, a minister loyal to the Northern Dynasty, and he held the belief that he could only succeed in his mission.

The imperial court needs a delaying tactic, requiring at least a year to train a new army, accumulate funds and provisions, and build ships. It also needs time to eliminate the Mongol threat. Therefore, war between the North and South cannot be waged at present.

Although the nine border regions still had over 100,000 elite troops, the threat from the Mongols meant the court was currently incapable of dealing with Zhu Yin. It could only swallow its pride and negotiate peace. The court reluctantly acknowledged the division of the north and south, merely to temporarily quell the conflict.

Even if forced to acknowledge the division of the country along the Yangtze River, one must still uphold the dignity and authority of the imperial court!

The court may temporarily recognize the Southern Dynasty, but Emperor Taichang is the son and Your Majesty is the father. Although both the North and the South belong to the territory of the Great Ming, they are also a natural father-son country!

The Northern Dynasty is the father, the Southern Dynasty is the son. The Northern Dynasty is the ruler, the Southern Dynasty is the subject. Your Majesty is the father emperor, and Taichang is the son emperor. This relationship between North and South is that of a father-son state and a ruler-subject relationship!
Just like a large family, even if the father and son separate and divide the property, does that mean that the son is disrespectful and doesn't respect his father's authority just because he has started his own household?
There has never been such a principle in the world since ancient times.

Therefore, it was only natural for the Southern Dynasties to acknowledge the Northern Dynasties as their subjects and treat them as their fathers. Since it was a relationship of ruler and subject, father and son, paying tribute and annual payments was the proper way for them to be subservient.

Indeed, this was one of Fang Congzhe's objectives in sending envoys to negotiate peace: to make the Southern Dynasty submit to the Northern Dynasty and establish a father-son relationship. The Southern Dynasty acknowledged that both the North and South belonged to the same Great Ming Dynasty, with the Northern Dynasty being the imperial Ming and the Southern Dynasty being the vassal Ming.

On this condition, the Northern Dynasty granted the territory south of the Yangtze River to the Southern Dynasty for its governance and recognized the Southern Dynasty.

However, Emperor Taichang should have relinquished his imperial title and been renamed "Lord of the Southern Dynasty".

When Fang Congzhe arrived in Nanjing, seeing the still bustling city and the vibrant Southern Dynasty, he felt somewhat less confident about his mission.

Would someone like Zhu Yin really agree to such peace terms?
It’s difficult.

Fang Congzhe, who was staying at the Huitongguan, couldn't help but feel worried.

...

Mi Wanzhong, the Western Ming envoy who was also placed in the same Huitongguan, was also feeling uneasy.

Upon arriving in Nanjing, he astutely discovered that the Southern Ming's stability and strength far exceeded his previous estimates.

Zhu Yin was an unparalleled tyrant.

Although his mission was to form an alliance and provide mutual assistance with the Southern Ming, he feared that they would become enemies rather than friends in the future, making coexistence difficult.

However, right now, the court is surrounded by powerful enemies on all sides: the Northern Ming to the east, the Semu army to the west, the Oirat Mongols to the north, and the Tibetan Kingdom, which has already annexed the Tibetan tribes, to the south!
In particular, the Khanate of the Semu people in the west is a formidable enemy with a strong army and powerful firearms. His Majesty personally led a large army to deal with it and stabilized the situation, but he had no time to attend to other matters.

The imperial court needed a powerful ally to restrain the Northern Dynasties and the Tibetan Empire, which was plotting to seize control of the Western Regions.

To be honest, Zhu Yin had a grudge against His Majesty. The late Emperor hanged himself when Zhu Yin's army was at the city gates.

But times have changed. Is there a more suitable ally than the Southern Ming?
No more.

This negotiation aims not only to form an alliance, but also to win the support of the Southern Dynasty!

……

The atmosphere at today's court assembly was unusually different.

Because the regent wanted to summon the envoys from the Northern Dynasty and the Western Ming Dynasty to the court for open and aboveboard negotiations.

The emperor held court, and the Prince of Wu ruled as regent. The three families of the Ming dynasty gathered together.

Something unprecedented in history has actually happened in the Ming Dynasty!

Inside and outside the main hall, officials stood in orderly ranks, silent and still. Only the occasional clear chimes of bells and chimes from the corridor outside the hall broke the suffocating tranquility.

Emperor Taichang sat high on his throne, somewhat absent-minded.

Before the throne, there was a large sandalwood throne carved with dragon patterns, on which Zhu Yin, the regent of the Southern Dynasty, sat.

Zhu Yin, dressed in the everyday robes of a prince, held a jade tablet in his hand and stared intently at the two envoys. His imposing presence, honed from years of holding a high position, and his composed demeanor, reflecting his control over the military and political power of the Southern Dynasty, made all the civil and military officials in the hall不敢直视 (dare not look him in the eye).

Everyone followed the Regent's gaze and focused on the two envoys standing on the left and right sides of the steps below the imperial palace.

The man on the left is about fifty years old, with a lean face. He is wearing the regular robes of a fourth-rank civil official, with a stiffened, starched brocade robe. He is Fang Congzhe, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy of the Northern Ming Dynasty and an envoy of the Northern Dynasty.

His expression was calm, his eyelids slightly lowered, as if the cloud patterns on the golden bricks beneath his feet contained boundless philosophy; only the slight pursing of his lips revealed the unease within. The man on his right, equally distinguished and a few years younger, was Mi Wanzhong, a high-ranking official under Emperor Zhu Shuaixin of the Western Ming Dynasty and Vice Minister of Rites. His gaze was spirited and lively, quite different from Fang Congzhe's somber demeanor.

Ximing, based in the Western Regions, was ambitious and eager to make progress. His purpose in coming to Nanjing was to take advantage of the momentum of Ximing's great victory over Hami and unite the south to control the north.

"Fang Congzhe, the envoy of the superior country, pays his respects to His Majesty the King and His Highness the King of Wu."

Fang Congzhe stood ramrod straight, merely bowing with his hands clasped. He also referred to himself as an envoy from a superior nation and addressed Emperor Taichang as His Majesty.

He represents the Northern Dynasty as the sovereign and father, how could he kneel before Emperor Taichang and Zhu Yin?
Mi Wanzhong glanced at Fang Congzhe, then knelt down and said, "Your subject Mi Wanzhong greets Your Majesty and the Regent!"

Zhu Yin didn't take Fang Congzhe's rudeness to heart. Emperor Taichang, Zhu Changluo, was even less concerned, as he was currently pondering several questions.

Although some of Zhu Yin's trusted ministers were dissatisfied, Zhu Yin did not express his opinion, and they could not rashly criticize Fang Congzhe.

"You two envoys have come a long way and have had a hard time," Zhu Yin said, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable force. "The Emperor Emeritus of the Northern Dynasty and Emperor Qing of the Western Dynasty have sent you to Nanjing to discuss the state of the world. I am very pleased. Please present your official letter and explain your purpose."

According to the established etiquette, the Northern Dynasties were considered the "legitimate" dynasty. Fang Congzhe went first, straightened his clothes, held his official tablet, and bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, I am Fang Congzhe, Chancellor of the Imperial Academy of the Great Ming Dynasty, sent on a mission by the Emperor. The Emperor is well aware that in the past, the infighting between fathers and sons, brothers and sisters, led to the division of the country, a cause of pain for relatives and joy for enemies. Now, to the north, the Mongol Tatars repeatedly invade the borders, and to the west… cough…"

He paused subtly, glanced at Mi Wanzhong, and did not directly name Ximing, "The western border is in turmoil, and the world is in chaos. The Emperor wishes to show compassion for the people and temporarily cease hostilities. He has specially ordered me to come here to explain the advantages and disadvantages, hoping that the Southern Dynasty can consider the overall situation, stop the war, acknowledge the current state of division between North and South, and re-establish the proper order of father and son, ruler and subject, to jointly resist foreign aggression. This is the best way to prevent the people of China from suffering further devastation."

Fang Congzhe packaged the Northern Dynasty's predicament as "considering the overall situation" and embellished "acknowledging the division" as "jointly resisting foreign aggression." He knew that the Southern Dynasty also had internal disagreements about whether and when to launch a northern expedition, and there was also the threat of invasion from Burma in the southern border region. He came here precisely to take advantage of this.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Mi Wanzhong burst into loud laughter, his voice so loud it drowned out the lingering echo of Fang Congzhe's words: "Prime Minister Fang, you are mistaken! 'Jointly resist foreign aggression'? I wonder if the foreign aggression resisted by the Northern Dynasty, besides the Mongols, also includes our Western Ming?"

He turned to Zhu Yin, cupped his hands, and said, “Your Majesty is wise! Regent is discerning! My sovereign, the Western Emperor, is a descendant of the Taizu Emperor. He has revived the prestige of the Ming Dynasty in the Western Regions and relieved the people from their suffering. How can this be considered ‘foreign aggression’? The real foreign aggression is that the Northern Dynasty’s court is filled with treacherous officials, causing the people to live in misery and the border defenses to be neglected, which has led to our current predicament! My sovereign wishes to form a brotherly alliance with the Southern Dynasty, to advance in both the east and west, to hunt in the Central Plains, to cleanse the world, and to reunify the country! At that time, the north and south will be connected, and the east and west will be linked. What worries will we have about not defeating the Mongols? What fear will we have of the Burmese chieftain’s antics?”

Mi Wanzhong's words were sharp and incisive, directly tearing away the facade of the Northern Dynasty and displaying an aggressive attitude.

In the imperial court, a slight commotion arose among the officials. Many worried that if a northern expedition were to be launched and a major war were to break out with the Northern Dynasty, the Mongols would seize the opportunity to invade.

Zhu Yin's expression remained unchanged. He lightly tapped the armrest with his fingertips, his gaze sweeping over the two of them, and he slowly said:
"Both Grand Master Fang and Vice Minister Mi are acting in the best interests of our Great Ming Dynasty. However, Grand Master Fang, are you aware that our Southern Dynasty has also been far from peaceful recently? The Burmese chieftain in the southern border region, disregarding the teachings of the Celestial Empire, dared to raise an army to invade our territory, plunder our chieftains, and harass our border people. His Majesty and I are currently mobilizing troops to deliver a crushing blow."

"The retired emperor was worried about the Mongols, and the court was also worried about Burma."

He abruptly changed the subject, bringing up the predicament of the Southern Dynasty, which seemed unfavorable for negotiations, but was clearly quite meaningful.

Fang Congzhe's heart skipped a beat, realizing this was an opportunity, and he immediately replied: "Your Highness, the Burmese chieftain is a clown, a mere clown. He is not worth mentioning. However, if we launch a northern expedition, causing war in both the north and south, the border defenses may be weakened. If the Mongol cavalry marches south, or... if there is a change on the western front, even the beautiful Jiangnan region will not escape the ravages of war. The Emperor's intention is precisely to establish a division of the country with the Southern Dynasty along the Yangtze River, with neither side invading the other, so that Your Highness can focus on the south. Isn't this a win-win solution?"

He linked the "division of the North and South" with "making the Southern Dynasty feel at ease dealing with Burma," attempting to package the Northern Dynasty's delaying tactics as an act of understanding towards the Southern Dynasty.

Mi Wanzhong immediately retorted, "Your Highness, Regent! Do not heed the Northern Dynasty's delaying tactics! The Northern Dynasty is currently short of food and supplies, hence this desperate measure. Once they recover and the pressure from the Mongols eases, how could they allow the Southern Dynasty to remain in its precarious state? At that time, Your Highness will be exhausted from fighting in the north and south, only then will you realize the mistake of today! Our mighty army of the Western Ming is already deployed outside Jiayuguan. As long as Your Highness nods, we can march east through Tongguan and strike directly at Yanjing! The Northern Dynasty is attacked from two sides; how can it last? As for Burma…"

A hint of disdain appeared at the corner of his mouth. "It's a minor ailment. Once the world is unified, Your Highness can lead the royal army south, and the Burmese chieftain will naturally be subdued!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yin couldn't help but smile slightly. The more he brought up the threat Burma posed to the Southern Dynasty, the more the two envoys considered Burma a minor nuisance, and felt that the Southern Dynasty didn't take Burma seriously.

“Mr. Mi!” Fang Congzhe raised his voice, with a hint of anger at having his thoughts exposed. “You have carved up the Western Regions and presumptuously declared yourselves emperors, which is already a great act of treason! Now you want to incite fathers and sons in the North and South to kill each other, and rulers and ministers to fight each other, and to bring foreign tribes to wreak havoc in the Central Plains. You are doing things that make your relatives feel pain and your enemies feel joy. Aren’t you sinners against China?”

"The King of Wu is a wise and virtuous man, with a noble character and lofty ideals. How could he do something that would cause pain to his friends and joy to his enemies? If he were to truly ally with you and launch a northern expedition against the Central Plains, wouldn't that play right into the hands of the Mongols? When the Central Plains are destroyed, can you bear the consequences?!"

He directly accused them of "introducing foreign tribes into the Central Plains" and "being a traitor to the Chinese people," intending to incite the Southern Dynasty officials to be wary of the distinction between Chinese and barbarians.

Discussions began to rise in the court. Some ministers nodded frequently at Fang Congzhe's claims of "father and son killing each other" and "foreign tribes profiting from the conflict," clearly harboring doubts about allying with the "usurping" Western Ming. However, others were tempted by Mi Wanzhong's description of "attacking from both east and west, quickly pacifying the Central Plains."

But no matter how they thought about it, they knew that the decision-making power lay with the regent.

Zhu Yin had taken everything in view and knew the time was right. He raised his hand, signaling for silence.

"There's no need for you two to argue any further." His voice was steady and decisive. "What Chancellor Fang said—that he considered the overall situation and cared about the people's livelihood—I deeply agree with. Minister Mi's argument is not without merit either."

He paused, his gaze sharp as he surveyed the entire room: "However, the Ming Dynasty of today is not what it was yesterday. The Northern Dynasty has its own predicaments, the Southern Dynasty has its own difficulties, and the Western Dynasty... also has its own ambitions. Your Majesty and I are very clear: We will never allow any foreign tribes to trample on our Han territory! Whether it is the Mongol Tartars, the southern Burmese barbarians, or the western Semu people, they are all enemies of our Ming Dynasty!"

This statement set the tone—internal disputes would be temporarily set aside, and a united front would be formed against external threats.

Upon hearing these words, all the officials were deeply impressed.

The Regent's impartiality is as clear as the sun and moon!
"Therefore," Zhu Yin continued, "the Northern Dynasty's proposal to 'divide the country along the Yangtze River and jointly resist foreign aggression' is a matter of great righteousness for China, and I dare not disagree. However, this is not a favor bestowed by the Northern Dynasty, but an inevitable consequence of the situation. The Southern Dynasty will not launch a northern expedition while the Mongols are eyeing it covetously and the western front is unclear, lest it only benefit the fishermen."

Fang Congzhe felt relieved, having obtained the promise of "temporarily halting the Northern Expedition," and his delaying tactic was largely complete.

"As for Emperor Qing of the Western Dynasty," Zhu Yin looked at Mi Wanzhong, his tone gentle yet firm, "Emperor Qing is a man of great talent and ambition, whom I have always admired. The East and West formed an alliance to jointly attack the Northern Dynasty. However, the Northern Dynasty ultimately follows the Wanli Emperor's reign. If our Southern Dynasty joins forces with the Western Dynasty to attack, wouldn't that confirm the crime of 'inciting foreign conflict and harming our own nation'? Moreover, if the Northern Dynasty collapses quickly, and the Mongols take advantage of the situation to march south and ravage the Han people, which of the Western and Southern Dynasties will be able to send troops to resist? At that time, the situation will be even more difficult to manage."

“Therefore, my opinion,” Zhu Yin finally decided, “is that the North and South should temporarily cease hostilities, each guarding their own borders and focusing all their efforts on dealing with external threats. The grudges between the Western and Northern Dynasties are your business, and my Southern Dynasty is not in a position to interfere, nor will it agree to grant passage or jointly send troops. All three parties are descendants of the Ming Dynasty, connected by blood, and can trade with each other to alleviate the people's suffering. Once the threat from foreign tribes is quelled, the fate of the world will be ordained by Heaven!”

Zhu Yin's words were impeccable. He granted the Northern Dynasty the temporary peace it desired, avoiding making enemies on two fronts; he rejected the Western Ming's direct military alliance, thus upholding the Southern Dynasty's moral authority, while not refusing to support the Western Ming.

He raised the banner of "resisting foreign aggression," occupying the moral high ground, and left room for "mutual trade" and "future destiny," thus reserving space for future changes in the situation.

There was simply no way to refute it.

Fang Congzhe bowed deeply: "Your Highness is wise and righteous. I will certainly inform the Emperor." He had completed half of his mission. The next step was to make the Southern Dynasty submit to the Northern Dynasty.

Mi Wanzhong was not disappointed by Zhu Yin's words. He sensed that Zhu Yin intended to aid the Ming Dynasty and said, "Your Highness has great foresight, which I admire. I thank Your Highness for considering that the Western Dynasty is of the same lineage as the Ming Dynasty and for generously offering timely assistance."

Zhu Yin nodded: "Of course. The coexistence of the three Ming states is a matter of the Ming Dynasty's internal affairs, an internal affair of our China. We may fight to the death behind closed doors, each displaying our unique abilities. But when it comes to external forces, we should unite and set aside our conflicts."

Seeing that Zhu Yin had personally promised not to launch a northern expedition for the time being, Fang Congzhe, having secured a delaying tactic, seized the opportunity to issue his second task:
"Your Majesty, Your Highness the King of Wu, since ancient times, our Han people have governed the world with filial piety and established social hierarchy through propriety. This is the fundamental principle of the Nine Provinces and the ethical code of the kingly way. Thus, just as there are sun, moon, and stars in the heavens, there are rulers, subjects, fathers, and sons among men..."

"The ruler of the country is the eldest son of the emperor. The emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty is the father of the ruler of the country. Therefore, the Southern Dynasty is naturally a son of the Great Ming Dynasty, a vassal state, and its status is the same as that of a subject or vassal."

"Your Majesty, I have come to beseech you to follow the will of Heaven and the will of the people, and to uphold the fundamental principles of human relations, and to establish a state in the North and South as a kingdom of ruler and subject, father and son!"

"Hahaha!" Zhu Yin laughed loudly upon hearing this. "What a fine example of a ruler-subject, father-son relationship! Although the emperor of the Southern Dynasty is the son of the retired emperor, he is not a puppet emperor!"

"Northern Envoy, you've gone too far!"

……

P.S.: That's all for today. I'll try to update with a longer chapter tomorrow. Thank you, goodnight. Please vote with your monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)