Di Ming

Chapter 475 Southern Expedition against the Ming Dynasty! Recapture of Dadu!
Zhu Yin disregarded the principles of social order and etiquette advocated by the Northern Dynasty and unceremoniously rejected the Northern envoy's request, stating directly: "Although Emperor Taichang is a son, he will not be a puppet emperor."

In the words of this time traveler, he only acknowledged Wanli as the biological father of Taichang, and there was no father-son relationship or ethical principles between them.

From the perspective of propriety and morality, Zhu Yin's idea was certainly wrong, while Fang Congzhe's point was more reasonable.

However, one's position determines one's perspective and one's stance determines right and wrong. As the regent of the Southern Dynasty, how could Zhu Yin possibly follow the rules of etiquette and law, allowing Emperor Taichang to become a puppet emperor and the North and South to become father and son countries?
Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble? We absolutely can't admit it!
Upon hearing what the Northern Envoy Fang Congzhe said, many high-ranking officials of the Zhu faction disagreed, but quite a few officials showed their approval.

After all, Emperor Taichang was indeed the son of Emperor Wanli, and the Southern Dynasty did indeed split from the Ming Dynasty. Many ministers of the Southern Dynasty were also ministers of the Northern Dynasty. If we really talk about the logic, the Northern and Southern Dynasties were truly father and son countries.

The question is, how could the regent possibly submit to the Northern Dynasty?
Gao Panlong, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and a staff member of Zhu Yin, immediately stood up and said:

"Your Excellency from the North is mistaken! The North and South are not only not like father and son countries, but the Southern Dynasty is the ruler and the Northern Dynasty is the subject. This is because the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty is no longer the retired emperor. The retired emperor has abdicated, and His Majesty has ascended the throne. Beijing is no longer the location of the court; the court is Nanjing!"

"Emperor Suzong ascended the throne in Lingwu, becoming the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, not Emperor Xuanzong who fled to Chengdu. Just because Xuanzong was the father and Suzong was the son, did the Tang Dynasty split into a father-son state? At that time, was Lingwu the imperial court, or was Chengdu the imperial court?"

Gao Panlong not only opposed the idea of ​​the Northern father and the Southern son, but also argued that the Southern Dynasty was the ruler and the Northern Dynasty was the subject.

The reason is that Wanli has been remotely honored as the Retired Emperor, and the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty has been replaced by Emperor Taichang.

"How can these be the same?" Fang Congzhe asked with a skeptical look. "How can a story from the Tang Dynasty be compared to today's? This is just sophistry. Do you think the world will believe this?"

"Your Majesty was perfectly well-received while on the throne. When did you abdicate and become the Retired Emperor? The so-called Retired Emperor is just something your Southern Dynasty does... Hmph."

"How can this be considered sophistry?" Mi Wanzhong, the envoy from Ximing, sneered. "Emperor Xuanzong did not want to abdicate, but who told him to throw the country into chaos? His title of Retired Emperor was not of his own volition, but rather a title bestowed upon him by Emperor Suzong from afar. Similarly, today's Retired Emperor has also thrown the country into chaos, and is being honored as Retired Emperor by the Southern Dynasty from afar. What's the difference? Did Lingwu and Chengdu have a father-son relationship back then?"

"That's sophistry!" Fang Congzhe flung his sleeve. "Although Emperor Xuanzong was initially unwilling, he soon obeyed the imperial edict to abdicate and became the Retired Emperor. He even issued a public edict of abdication, which the whole world knew! Secondly, Emperor Xuanzong fled west to Sichuan, abandoning Chang'an. Moreover, before parting ways with Emperor Suzong, he specifically ordered Emperor Suzong to oversee the country and quell the rebellion, not to mention that Emperor Suzong had been the Crown Prince for many years!"

"But what about now? The Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty has been sitting peacefully in the Forbidden City, the capital, without ever leaving the city. His Majesty Taichang was only the Prince of Xin before, not the Crown Prince, and had no responsibility for overseeing the country. Moreover, the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty has never accepted, and still has not accepted, the so-called title of Retired Emperor, nor has he issued an edict of abdication!"

"With so many differences, they are simply incomparable. How can you even lump them together?"

At this point, he bowed to Zhu Yin and Emperor Taichang, saying, "Your Majesty, Your Highness Prince Wu, no matter how vast the world is, it cannot surpass the principle of reason!"

"Anyone who is not deceiving themselves knows that the Ming Dynasty does not have an Emperor Emeritus now, only the Wanli Emperor! Although the Southern Dynasty occupies the southern lands, it is a subject of the Ming Dynasty in terms of both sentiment and reason, and its ruler is the son of the Wanli Emperor! The father-son relationship is an unshakeable bond, known to all under heaven! Can this be convinced by turning black into white and confusing right and wrong?"

“The Northern envoy is utterly mistaken!” Xu Wei said in a deep voice. “What is an emperor? Only one who bears the mandate of heaven is a true emperor.”

"When the Emperor Emeritus was in power, he acted perversely and tyrannically, losing the hearts of the people. The world was on the verge of chaos, and the state was in grave danger. Wasn't this the Emperor Emeritus abandoning the Mandate of Heaven himself? The Northern Envoy is preoccupied with the ethics of father and son, but is he unaware of the ethics of Heaven? Can the principles of father and son really be greater than the Way of Heaven?"

Xu Wei didn't bother arguing with Fang Congzhe about the relationship between ruler and subject, father and son, because the Northern Dynasties were inherently in the right on that point. He directly attacked the root of the problem, invoking the will of Heaven and the Mandate of Heaven to suppress the fundamental principles of father-son relationships.

The newly appointed Minister of Personnel, Shang Yang, also spoke frankly and bluntly:

"What rulers and subjects, fathers and sons, are there in the North and South! Even if there are, the Southern Dynasty is the ruler and the Northern Dynasty is the subject! Our dynasty ascended the throne in Nanjing, where the Xiaoling Mausoleum of Emperor Taizu is located! As for Beijing, it was originally called Beiping, and it was not the capital of the Ming Dynasty! At most, it was a secondary capital, a northern capital, or even a temporary capital!"

"Indeed!" said the madman Tu Long. "Mr. Xu and the Grand Chancellor are right! I wholeheartedly agree! I am well-read, and you, the Northern Envoy, cannot deceive me!"

He was appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice by Zhu Yin, and his sudden rise to a high position fueled his burning desire to serve the country.

"The Northern envoy said that the stories of Emperor Xuanzong should not be confused. What about the Eastern and Western Wei? Emperor Wen of Western Wei, Yuan Baoju, was the grandson of Emperor Xiaowen, and Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei, Yuan Shanjian, was the great-grandson of Emperor Xiaowen. They were uncle and nephew. Does that mean that Western Wei and Eastern Wei were uncle and nephew states? Which historical book says that Western Wei was the uncle state and Eastern Wei was the nephew state? Or that Yuan Baoju was the uncle emperor and Yuan Shanjian was the nephew emperor?"

"If we're talking about defining the state's status through ethical principles and social norms, then the Zhou Dynasty becomes even more complicated."

"You..." Fang Congzhe was speechless.

Other ministers of the Southern Dynasty also refuted Fang Congzhe.

Feng Menglong, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, said: "Even in terms of the size of the territory, the Southern Dynasty should be the ruler and the Northern Dynasty should be the subject. The Northern Dynasty actually controlled Beizhili, Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Liaodong, half of Nanzhili, and a small part of Huguang (the Jiangbei area of ​​Hubei), which is no more than nine places in total."

"Our Southern Dynasty, however, possesses half of Southern Zhili, most of Huguang, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Sichuan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Jingzhou—eleven regions in total. Its territory is larger, and its population greater. What reason is there for us to submit to the Northern Dynasty?"

Fang Congzhe stared blankly at Feng Menglong, who was only in his twenties but had already become a vice minister. He scoffed at Zhu Yin's behavior of undermining the national selection system and arbitrarily appointing his cronies.

Besides, how can the size of territory determine social status? Does the difference in social status be reversed if the father owns less land than the son?

Fang Congzhe had no interest in refuting this sophistry, and simply gave Feng Menglong a cold snort and a wink.

"Alright," Zhu Yin finally spoke again. "Northern Envoy, you heard it too. I am a reasonable person, but the idea that the Southern Dynasty is the subject and the Northern Dynasty is the ruler, and that they are like father and son, is utterly absurd and impossible! The emperor has the country first, then the family. Public affairs come first, then private affairs. Although Your Majesty is the son of the retired emperor, you cannot lower your national dignity and condescend to my dynasty because of this. This is not a family matter, but a national matter. As a learned man, the Northern Envoy should know perfectly well which is more important."

Suddenly, Emperor Taichang seemed to awaken from a dream, looking down at Fang Congzhe, and said in a calm tone:
"Northern Envoy, go back and tell the Emperor Emeritus that although I am his son, I am not his subject. The world clearly distinguishes between public and private matters. Based solely on blood ties, the Emperor Emeritus cannot be the emperor. As the ruler of the Southern Dynasty, I bear the responsibility for the Ming Dynasty and dare not abandon public duty for private reasons to become a puppet emperor!"

Although Emperor Taichang was only sixteen years old, he was already very perceptive. He had long since lost all hope in his father, the Emperor, and treated him like a stranger. Even if Zhu Yin hadn't objected, he wouldn't have wanted to be Wanli's puppet emperor.

Fang Congzhe looked bitter and could only sigh. Zhu Yin was unyielding, and Emperor Taichang himself treated even his closest relatives, father and son, with indifference; this matter could not be accomplished.

The Southern Dynasties refused to acknowledge the Southern Dynasties as their subjects or vassals, so the matters of paying tribute and annual payments were out of the question.

Fang Congzhe still wanted to secure as many benefits as possible for the Northern Dynasty, since the Southern Dynasty was wealthier.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness the Prince of Wu," Fang Congzhe said, forcing a smile, "Even if the Southern Dynasty is unwilling to submit to our dynasty, it still honors the Emperor Emeritus of the Great Ming Dynasty as the Supreme Emperor. Surely the Southern Dynasty must acknowledge this Supreme Emperor?"

Zhu Yin knew what Fang Congzhe was thinking and couldn't help but give him a thumbs up for his flexibility and adaptability, and said with a smile:

"His Majesty ascended the throne at Xiaoling Mausoleum, and remotely followed his father as the Retired Emperor. This is a national ceremony, and it cannot be taken lightly. Our dynasty should naturally recognize the Retired Emperor."

Fang Congzhe solemnly said, "I believe that the Southern Dynasty, being of the same lineage as the Ming Dynasty, should also govern the country with filial piety. Putting aside the distinction between ruler and subject, just considering the rites and filial piety, shouldn't the Southern Dynasty support the retired emperor?"

Zhu Yin nodded and said, "Of course we should support him. Since our dynasty honors His Majesty's father as the Retired Emperor, how can we not support him?"

"Very well!" Fang Congzhe bowed respectfully. "Then this humble subject hopes that the Southern Dynasty will offer four million taels of silver annually as tribute to the Retired Emperor. Otherwise, is the Retired Emperor merely a figurehead? Even ordinary people have to support their parents, let alone the imperial family?"

"Of course," Zhu Yin smiled, his expression unchanged. "Our dynasty can support the retired emperor. But the prerequisite is that the retired emperor is willing to accept the title bestowed upon him by our dynasty, and he himself must formally issue an edict to abdicate and acknowledge Your Majesty as the Son of Heaven. In that case, how could our dynasty not support the retired emperor?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Congzhe couldn't help but think to himself that Zhu Zhihu was as cunning as a fox and difficult to deal with.

He was actually waiting for me here!

He admitted that the retired emperor should be supported, yet he also demanded that the emperor voluntarily issue an edict to abdicate and recognize Prince Xin as the Son of Heaven. How could that be possible?

Even if I were willing, would the Emperor be willing, would the Imperial Concubine be willing?

"King Wu is truly... truly... magnanimous and refined!" Fang Congzhe could only manage to utter the phrase "magnanimous and refined," a phrase he usually used to describe Zhu Yin, after struggling for a long time.

Seeing the Northern envoy's humiliation, Mi Wanzhong immediately said, "Your Majesty, Regent, our dynasty is willing to form an alliance with the Southern Dynasty. Even if we cannot agree to jointly attack the Northern Dynasty, we request the opening of trade routes from northern Sichuan to Qinghai, and then to the Western Regions..."

Zhu Yin nodded and said, "Good, that's fine."

Originally, there were three routes connecting the East and the West. The most traditional and convenient was the Silk Road, which went through the Hexi Corridor. In addition, Sichuan also had another trade route to the West: the Qiangzhong Road.

Zhu Yin actually had one more thing he didn't say. Within two years, he was determined to take over Shaanxi and Gansu, and control the Hexi Corridor.

In the end, Fang Congzhe, having only completed half of his mission, had no choice but to reluctantly sign the official letter, agreeing to a temporary division of the country between the North and the South, which was tantamount to a tacit recognition of the Southern Dynasty.

Of course, this was merely a temporary measure, a stopgap measure to send reinforcements.

In the eyes of the imperial court, the so-called Southern Dynasty was nothing but a rebellion and a false dynasty. Once Zheng Guojiu's army was fully trained and the court had sufficient funds and provisions, they would launch another large-scale southern expedition!

Mi Wanzhong also signed his credentials, pledging allegiance to the North. This blatant and undisguised act greatly embarrassed the Northern envoy, Fang Congzhe.

Fang Congzhe could only watch helplessly as the two countries formed an alliance, agreeing to jointly deal with the Northern Dynasty and Tibet.

The envoy from the north, feeling extremely embarrassed, angrily declined the offers of the Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial to stay and returned north the next day.

Mi Wanzhong stayed a few more days, until the eighth day of the first lunar month, before leaving Nanjing to return west to report his mission.

...

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Zhu Yin indeed summoned Zhang Juzheng's son, Zhang Jingxiu.

It is said that if Zhang Jingxiu had not escaped from the Great Bao'en Temple, Zhu Yinian would not have launched the anti-Buddhist movement.

Zhang Jiangling can be considered to have a successor.

"This junior, Zhang Jingxiu, pays respects to the Grand Tutor and the Regent..." Zhang Jingxiu bowed and greeted the Prince with composure.

Qi Jiguang was right; Zhang Jingxiu truly was the son most like Zhang Juzheng. He handled Zhu Yin with composure and proper manners, displaying a resemblance to his father in his prime.

Under Zhu Yin's scrutiny, Zhang Jingxiu remained composed and showed no signs of nervousness or unease.

Zhu Yin couldn't help but look at him with even greater respect.

"Beichen, no need for formalities, rise and speak." Zhu Yin addressed him directly by his courtesy name. "Thank you, Your Highness!" Zhang Jingxiu did not refuse, and immediately sat down on the heel rest, sitting upright.

He appeared to have used a heel brace before, but he hadn't. His natural and skillful first use of the heel brace speaks volumes about his character.

Zhu Yin asked a few questions and quickly figured out Zhang Jingxiu's temperament and talent.

This man was the son of a prime minister in his youth, receiving an excellent education and being taught and guided by his father, which gave him considerable insight. After his family was raided, he experienced many hardships and tribulations, which tempered him and allowed him to fully experience the three stages of life described by Wang Guowei.

He is a person with both an upper-class perspective and a grassroots vision. He is not only knowledgeable but also down-to-earth. Having experienced both wealth and poverty, he has become resilient, insightful, and magnanimous.

This is a prime minister with the talent to handle important matters. He wanted to cultivate Zhang Jingxiu and planned to give him experience at the prefectural and county levels.

"Would Beichen be willing to govern a county?" Zhu Yin asked abruptly.

Zhang Jingxiu immediately rose from his seat and bowed, saying, “I am but a scholar, with shallow talent and meager virtue, and dare not assume the position of Marquis of Baili. The county magistrate is in charge of the administration of the county, which concerns the well-being of the people and the safety of the local area. The responsibility is heavy, and even if he is fair and upright and his conduct is exemplary, he is not immune to mistakes. I am unworthy and incompetent, and I fear that I may have disgraced the Grand Tutor’s virtue or tarnished my late father’s reputation.”

Zhu Yin was very satisfied with Zhang Jingxiu's answer and appreciated Zhang Jingxiu even more.

“Beichen is too modest,” Zhu Yin personally helped Zhang Jingxiu up. “Although you are only a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations), you are far superior to those who passed the highest level of the imperial examinations.”

He immediately issued an imperial edict appointing Zhang Jingxiu as the magistrate of Huating County.

Prime ministers rise from the ranks of local officials!

Zhang Jingxiu went from a down-on-his-luck scholar to the dignified magistrate of Huating County in an instant!

……

Chahar, north of the Huangshui River, is Chahanhot (Baicheng).

This is the location of the Northern Yuan royal court.

The Golden Tent of Buyan Chechen Khan, the nominal overlord of the Mongol tribes, is located here.

Chechen Khan, in Mongolian, means "wise ruler".

The Golden Horde is bustling with activity these days, with almost all the nobles of the Chahar tribe present.

The heads of the Privy Council, the lamas of the Censorate, and the Taiji of the Six Ministries were almost all present.

Buyan, the Great Khan of the Northern Yuan, the head of the Golden Family, and the Prince of Shunyi of the Ming Dynasty, was especially ecstatic today.

The moment for the southern expedition has finally arrived.

Last year, a piece of incredibly good news came from the south: "The eldest son of the Great Ming Khan, Da Taiji, with the support of Grand Tutor Zhu Yin, occupied Nanjing and declared himself emperor, changing the era name to Taichang. The Great Ming has split. Together with the Western Ming in the west, the Zhu family is now divided into three!"

The opportunity that the Mongols had been waiting for had finally arrived!

For so many years, the masters of the Golden Family, the brave and fearless Mongol warriors, have longed to march south again, conquer Beijing, and restore the glory of the Yuan Dynasty.

Is this a divinely granted opportunity bestowed upon the Mongol warriors by Buddha, the Eternal Heaven, and Genghis Khan?

Chechen Khan was overjoyed upon hearing the news and immediately dispatched an envoy with his Khan's token to summon all the Mongol tribes that could still be commanded to gather there.

For months, more and more Mongol cavalrymen have been coming from eastern Mongolia, and even from the Tumed and Khalkha tribes.

As of today, Baicheng has gathered more than 80,000 Mongol cavalry, and the number is still increasing.

This was certainly not because Chechen Khan had any great appeal, but because his promises were particularly attractive, and the opportunity to march south did indeed stir up the restless Mongol tribes.

The Ming Dynasty was unexpectedly divided between North and South, with fathers and sons fighting each other. If the Mongols still hesitated to seize this god-given opportunity, they would be unworthy of being descendants of the Blue Wolf and White Deer!
Inside Chechen Khan's golden tent, a rough, harsh voice rang out, resounding with power:

"I, a descendant of Genghis Khan and a descendant of Sechen Khan (Kublai Khan), the Hutuktu Khan who holds the Vajra initiation, hereby summon the Taijis and Noyans of the Great Yuan and Great Mongol Empire."

"Relay my order! Tell all the Chahar people, as well as the Khorchin and Khalkha people, to pay their livestock tax, prepare their troops, and come to Aru to join them! I will lead 100,000 Mongol cavalry from the left wing to conquer the Ming Dynasty in the south and recapture the capital!"

Inside the golden tent, Mongolian nobles and high lamas sat in great numbers.

Deputy Khan, Khan Tinghun Taiji.

Anandayan, the Grand Councilor and commander of the Chahar Eight Otog Cavalry.

Manggusutaiji controlled the pastures of the Xilamulun River and protected the Khan's tent.

Guiyingqiataiji was in charge of trade in Liaodong.

And the powerful Wheel-Turning King and the Khan's National Preceptor, Axing Lama, who was known as "the people of all directions only know of the Buddha, how can they know of the Khan."

Maidali Rinpoche, who controls the Gelugpa monasteries in southern Mongolia.

High Priest of Shamans, Sanghasba.

And the Taiji of other tribes.

It was a gathering of many people. Most of the powerful and influential figures from Eastern Mongolia were here.

"Conquer the Ming Dynasty in the south and reclaim Dadu!" The crowd roared in unison, their voices echoing through the golden tent.

Lin Dan, the six-year-old grandson of Buyan Chechen Khan, holding a small bow, wobbled up to his grandfather and asked in a childish voice:
"Grandfather, what is the Ming Dynasty?"

Buyanchechen Khan patted his grandson's chubby head and said, "Lindan, the Great Ming is a country of Han people in the south. Because of its vast territory, large population, and inexhaustible wealth, it is called the Great Ming. The Great Ming Khan is the Great Ming Emperor."

Lin Dan then asked, "And what about the capital city?"

Buyanchechen Khan replied, “Dadu was once the Khanate of our Great Yuan, the Golden Horde of the Great Mongol Empire. Our ancestors ruled over the vast Han lands there for over a hundred years, and were the most powerful conquerors. It is a pity that in the end, it was taken away by the Great Ming Khan.”

Lin Dan looked up with a serious expression and asked, "So, Grandfather Abuge is going to take advantage of the Ming Dynasty's decline and lead his troops to attack them and retake Dadu?"

"Hahaha!" Buyan Chechen Khan laughed, pointing at his grandson with a smug look on his face. "You all saw that, didn't you? Lin Dan is only six years old, but he already knows that we should take advantage of the Ming Dynasty's division to march south and conquer Dadu!"

"Even children understand this principle, so what are we still hesitating about?"

"It's time to swear an oath and send troops! Once we capture Beijing and reclaim Khanbaliq of the Yuan Dynasty, I will cut off the head of the Ming Khan and make it into a wine vessel to avenge our ancestors!"

"We must also cut off mountains of Han heads, and make the delicate and beautiful women of the Central Plains, like flowers, the spoils of war for our warriors!"

"Send the order! Burn the pipa bones! Pile up the ovoo! Offer a white horse and a black sheep sacrifice to the heavens! Swear an oath to send troops!"

"Three days later, head south!"

"Guards, bring out the Ming envoy and execute him as a sacrifice to the flag!"

Soon, Zheng Guowang and several Ming envoys sent by the Beijing court to appease the Mongol tribes and slow down the Mongol advance south were taken out by Mongol soldiers, bound hand and foot.

"Your southern expedition against the Ming is a suicide mission!" a Ming envoy cried out in grief and indignation. "The Ming has a million-strong army and will ensure that not a single horse of yours returns north!"

Another Zheng envoy shouted, "The Zheng family's brother-in-law has already trained hundreds of thousands of elite troops. Your invasion of the Ming Dynasty will not escape the encirclement and annihilation of the Zheng family's army! Don't think that just because the Ming Dynasty is divided between the North and the South, you Tartars will have an opportunity to take advantage of it!"

"Kill!" Buyan Chechen Khan waved his hand, ignoring the Ming envoy's threat.

As the Mongolian scimitar fell, several Ming envoys were immediately beheaded!
Immediately afterwards, the head of the Ming Dynasty envoy was hung under the Great Banner.

The powerful bugle call of the Mongol army also sounded softly.

"W-W-W-W-!"

...

That night, several fast horses rushed to report to Liaodong Town, Jizhou Town, and Xuanda.

The beacon towers on the Great Wall were lit up for hundreds of miles overnight.

Three days later, Beijing received a message that had been hanging over its heads for a long time:

"The already weakened Northern Yuan Khanate summoned 100,000 cavalrymen from the left-wing Mongol tribes, killed the Ming envoys, and launched a southern expedition against the Ming!"

(End of this chapter)