Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 24: With so many things to do, where should one begin?
On the way back to Qianqing Palace, the sedan chair swayed gently as Zhu Youjian closed his eyes to rest, but his thoughts were in turmoil.

Today is the third day since his ascension to the throne. Through various maneuvers and opportunistic maneuvers, he has finally managed to put together a governing team.

Wang Tiqian of the Eastern Depot and Tian Ergeng of the Embroidered Uniform Guard are now working diligently, but this is nothing more than using their power to suppress others.

A ruler cannot establish power without authority, nor can he secure it without favor.

If you really expect to maintain loyalty through fear, then you're not far from death.

When Emperor Wanshou was strangled unconscious by more than a dozen palace maids, he must have agreed with this point.

On the noble side, he seemed to have won Zhang Weixian over with some tears and words of faith.

However, the Duke of England served three reigns and could still command respect and influence in the court.

Once the reforms that truly tear the family apart begin, will he still be able to fully support them as he is today?

The Ming Dynasty had four dukes and dozens of marquises and earls, although their numbers had been declining for some time now that a conscription system was in place.

However, the garrison system was still full of old acquaintances, deeply entrenched and intertwined, where a single move could affect the whole system.

Surely not all of them are incompetent and outdated; there must also be some ambitious and unwilling people who can be used, right?

As for the civil officials, he used the list of corrupt officials to keep quiet, and then personally orchestrated two famous scenes, which should have made these smartest people in the Ming Dynasty somewhat aware of him.

But just because it works doesn't mean it's easy to use.

The officials left behind by Tianqi were mostly spineless cowards, which was a good thing—it would help him smoothly take over power.

But in this world, those who are capable often also possess a certain integrity...

Once those tough guys who were demoted by Wei Zhongxian are reinstated and returned to the capital, a new round of factional strife will likely begin.

Zhu Youjian sighed softly in the sedan chair.

With such a simple analysis, the team that has been set up these past two days seems to be operating normally.

It's nothing more than a castle in the air, a sandcastle, that collapses with a single push.

We need to keep pushing deeper and taking on more difficult tasks.

On the one hand, we need to gradually replace personnel and improve the quality of the team.

On the other hand, it's time to get things done.

Throughout history, apart from oddballs like Wang Mang, there have been very few founding emperors who relied on words alone; they were all doers.

But where should we begin?

Just as he was lost in thought and unable to sort out his thoughts, the sedan chair slowly came to a stop.

"Your Majesty, we have arrived at Qianqing Palace."

Zhu Youjian opened his eyes, and before he could speak, he heard a series of clear and melodious laughs coming from the palace.

Hearing the laughter, a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on his tense face.

He waved his hand, signaling the eunuchs carrying the sedan chair and the accompanying guards to keep quiet, then quietly stepped off the sedan chair and walked alone toward the palace gate.

He stood quietly outside the palace gate and peered inside.

Zhou Yu was sitting sideways on the couch, listening intently as Ma Wenke recounted the events of the day in the court.

At this moment, Ma Wenke was talking about the harmonious relationship between the emperor and his minister.

He straightened up, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, "At this very moment, His Majesty also bowed and said loudly—'If you do not betray me, I will not betray you!'"

He imitated her mannerisms quite well, which made Zhou Yu chuckle again.

She sat to one side, her bright eyes and white teeth sparkling, and for a moment I was captivated.

“My husband is such a great man. The wise and virtuous rulers described in history books are probably no more than this…”

Before she could finish speaking, she herself became embarrassed, as if she felt that such a direct compliment was too shameful.

She quickly coughed lightly to cover the blush on her face, then smiled and said, "You don't have His Majesty's charm at all. Let me try."

Having said that, she stood up, put her hands behind her back, raised her eyebrows, and said in a serious tone, "The mistakes of a gentleman are like eclipses of the sun and moon..."

She recited it as she strode around, pretending to be very serious.

But after taking only two steps, he looked up and saw Zhu Youjian standing at the palace gate with a smile on his face, his eyes full of mischief.

"ah!"

Zhou Yu's face instantly flushed red, from her cheeks to her ears.

Seeing Zhu Youjian bursting into laughter on the spot, Gao Shiming behind him also looked like he couldn't help but laugh.

Zhou Yu's shame turned to anger.

She gritted her teeth, put her hands on her hips, and couldn't help but scold him on the spot: "Prince Xin! Prince Xin! You...you've gone too far!"

Zhu Youjian could no longer restrain himself.
He stepped forward, stretched out his long arm, and tightly embraced the beauty who was still stamping her feet.

"My dear Changqiu, you imitated her so well." He whispered in her ear, his warm breath tickling her ear.

"If my beloved consort enjoys listening, I will speak to you alone tonight, shall I?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu was so ashamed that she lost all her strength. She curled up into a ball, buried her face in his chest, and dared not look up at him.

After a few more tender moments of playful interaction, Zhu Youjian gently patted her back and said softly, "Alright, you rest now. After I finish dealing with the rest of the matters, I'll take you on a proper tour of the imperial palace."

Zhou Yu reluctantly withdrew from his embrace, blushing as she stepped aside.

Upon seeing this, Gao Shiming, who had been standing by for a long time, immediately understood and stepped forward, bowing to report.

"Your Majesty, I have three matters to report to you."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian couldn't help but feel approving.

He only attended one meeting with me, and he had already mastered some reporting skills for future generations without any formal instruction.

The intelligent people of this era, setting aside their limited knowledge, are really not much less intelligent than modern people.

"speak."

"The first thing is about the plaque."

"The plaque inscribed with 'Wei Zheng of the Emperor' that you had the Imperial Workshop make has been completed. I have had it delivered out of the palace gates, through Chengtian Gate, across East Chang'an Street, and into Mingzhao Ward, to Grand Secretary Li's residence."

Gao Shiming paused, then added, "Along this route, I'm sure the officials and common people of the capital have all seen it."

Zhu Youjian nodded in satisfaction: "Excellent. Such a talented person should be recognized throughout the world and known to all."

He changed the subject, looking at Gao Shiming with a half-smile: "I just didn't expect that the story of today's court assembly would reach the palace so quickly. I wonder if it will also become known throughout the entire capital and surrounding areas?"

Gao Shiming, being such a shrewd and perceptive person, immediately understood and replied with a smile, "This servant does not know either. But I suppose the stories of wise rulers and virtuous ministers are always the most beloved by the people, and they probably spread on their own without anyone having to teach them."

Talking to smart people is so easy.

Even if it's something you can't say directly, he can understand what you mean and handle things perfectly.

At this moment, Zhou Yu, unable to contain his curiosity, asked, "Your Majesty, are you so certain that Grand Secretary Li is a loyal minister? Such a grand praise, what if... what if he is merely..."

She seemed unable to continue, but her meaning was clear.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian laughed heartily. He reached out and ruffled Zhou Yu's hair, saying softly, "For my beloved consort to ask such a question shows that she truly cares for me."

Immediately, his expression turned serious. He glanced at Zhou Yu and Gao Shiming and said in a deep voice, "In this world, good and evil can ultimately be judged by actions alone. You must know that a gentleman judges by deeds, not by intentions, and by intentions, no one in the world is perfect."

"When those in power appoint people, they only need to look at what they have done and whether it is beneficial to the country and the people. They do not need to speculate on their true thoughts, let alone make such unfounded and baseless suspicions."

“When a subject shows me loyalty, I repay him with trust.”

“If he ever reveals his evil intentions, I will punish him with torture.”

"As long as rewards and punishments are clearly defined and trust is upheld, virtuous ministers will naturally rise and wicked ministers will fall."

He sighed inwardly, but there was a second half of his thought he didn't say: Even if Li Guopu was acting today, it didn't matter. As long as he could act for a lifetime, the fake would become real.

Zhou Yu murmured to himself, "A gentleman judges by actions, not by intentions..."

She raised her head, her eyes filled with admiration. "Your Majesty's words truly reveal the truth of human nature."

Gao Shiming also grasped the meaning, and looked up to sincerely praise, "Your Majesty's words are truly insightful."

A barely perceptible hint of embarrassment flashed across Zhu Youjian's face. How come... no one in this era has said that? Was it someone from the Qing Dynasty or a modern person who said it?

He was confused and didn't dare to act tough, fearing he'd be struck by lightning later, so he just let it go.

He coughed lightly and turned to signal Gao Shiming to continue.

"The second matter is the delivery of the letter."

Gao Shiming continued,

"This servant has arranged for a reliable person to come forward and deliver the message when Grand Secretary Li returns home from his shift."

"Please have him write down the current state of corruption and his ideas for governance in a booklet, and submit it directly to the emperor for secret delivery to the palace."

Zhu Youjian nodded.

Combating corruption is nothing new.

From the Wanli Emperor to the Tianqi Emperor, and even during the Chongzhen Emperor's reign in history, which dynasty didn't call for cracking down on corruption?
His veiled communication was merely a preliminary test.

If Li Guopu wanted to follow the traditional path of the upright officials, he would definitely refute such secret imperial edicts.

If his moral standards weren't so high, accepting the imperial decree would mean he could accept even close advisors and isolated ministers—as long as it would ensure his place in history.

There are different ways to use the term "清流" (qingliu, meaning upright and honest officials) and "近臣" (jinchen, meaning close ministers).

It doesn't matter to him, as long as it's applied properly.

In any case, as long as someone is talented, if they don't extract some value from him, it would be a disservice to all the blood and tears of those who served him like slaves in later generations.

"The third matter is the confiscation of property."

Gao Shiming lowered his voice slightly, "This morning, Wang Tiqian and Tian Ergeng both came to report."

"The assets of the Wei faction, the Ke faction, and those corrupt officials in the imperial guards have all been seized and are currently being inventoried."

"The valuation of the deeds to houses, shops, and fields, as well as antiques, calligraphy, and paintings, will take some time. However, the total amount of cash seized has already been..."

Zhu Youjian waved his hand to interrupt him: "No rush. Have them do things more thoroughly, and compile a summary of the proceeds from the confiscation of the property of Cui Chengxiu and those seven other traitors before submitting it."

He patted Gao Shiming on the shoulder and sighed softly, "The affairs of the state are difficult, and I do not wish to cause further bloodshed. As long as they perform their duties effectively, I will ultimately not mistreat those who have made contributions..."

Gao Shiming's eyes flashed, and he smoothly continued the conversation: "His Majesty is benevolent, and I'm sure you two can appreciate that."

Zhu Youjian nodded, then thought about it carefully and felt that he had dealt with most of the matters that needed to be resolved today.

A gentle smile appeared on his face as he looked intently at Gao Shiming.

"Gao Banban, you've worked hard these past few days. From now on, when you're in front of me, refer to yourself as 'this old minister,' and you no longer need to refer to yourself as 'this servant.'"

Upon hearing this, Gao Shiming's face instantly lit up with excitement and gratitude. He knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling slightly, "This servant... this servant dares not!"

Zhu Youjian did not speak, but simply smiled at him.

Gao Shiming kowtowed, but ultimately changed his words: "This old minister...this old minister thanks Your Majesty for your divine grace!"

Zhu Youjian stepped forward, personally helped Gao Shiming up, and gently patted his hand.

"The affairs of the state are fraught with difficulties; I will have to rely on you more often in the future..."

Zhou Yu looked at this scene with a hint of hesitation and conflict on her face.

Zhu Youjian, having keenly noticed this, smiled and asked, "What's wrong? My beloved concubine seems to have something to say?"

Zhou Yu blushed under his gaze, but still mustered her courage and stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty also has something to report!"

After saying that, she jogged to the imperial desk, picked up a few booklets from a pile of documents, and quickly walked back.

"Your Majesty instructed me yesterday to investigate all the key locations in the palace. I felt that the matter of the guards was the most important. But... but after a detailed investigation..." She hesitated at this point.

"What's wrong?" Zhu Youjian asked.

"I feel that this matter is not so simple." Zhou Yu's expression turned serious. "The origins of the palace guards are too complicated, and their numbers far exceed our expectations. I'm afraid it won't be cleared up in a short time."

After saying that, she opened the booklet in her hand and began to read it carefully.

"Those who serve as guards at the front include:"

"There are 1,500 Jinyiwei generals, of whom 325 are on duty."

"There are 1,500 Red Helmet Generals in the Three Thousand Battalions, and 750 on duty in shifts."

"The 3,000 battalions have 500 generals in full armor, and 240 are on duty in shifts."

"The five battalions have three thousand guards, with one thousand on duty in shifts."

"The vanguard of the government army consists of forty officers with swords, with twenty on duty in shifts."

“There are 180 officers in 20 guards, including flag bearers, and 40 officers on duty.”

"There are eight attendants who seek out the flavors of the food, and four of them are on duty in shifts."

Zhu Youjian initially smiled and watched with appreciation as Zhou Yu earnestly reported his work.

But the more he listened, the more his brows furrowed, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared.

After Zhou Yu finished reading, he turned to Gao Shiming, who was standing solemnly to the side, and asked in a somewhat deep voice: "Of all these sources, which group of people are currently on duty before me?"

Gao Shiming quickly replied, "Your Majesty, it is the Han General of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Zhu Youjian then asked, "Where are the four hundred personal guards I brought from the Prince of Xin's residence?"

Gao Shiming replied, "They were originally assigned to the Prince Xin's residence by the Imperial Guards, but without His Majesty's decree, they have not yet been incorporated into the palace guard system, and their positions are still under the Prince Xin's residence."

"Now I am simply following His Majesty's previous arrangements and standing guard with the Han generals who are on duty nearby."

Zhu Youjian took the booklet from Zhou Yu and carefully flipped through it.

His initial relaxed mood had vanished without a trace.

High above the nine heavens, within the imperial palace, the guard force upon which the supreme emperor of the Ming Dynasty, whose life and fortune depended, was actually such a bizarre, cobbled-together, and chaotic structure!
He counted carefully and found that the guards alone came from seven different places! If you also include the twenty-two guards who guard the imperial city and palace gates, the number would be even more staggering.

At the beginning of the dynasty, the founding emperor held immense authority and the system was very strict. This system of checks and balances with multiple sources of government was designed to prevent anyone from gaining complete control of the Imperial Guards and causing another "Xuanwu Gate Incident".

But now that the dynasty is declining and people are yearning for change, this system is completely finished!
The military equipment of various garrisons was in disrepair, and there were numerous cases of personnel receiving salaries without working or impersonating others. The so-called imperial guards were rotten to the core.

No wonder there were palace incursions like those involving "Minister Wang" and "Minister Zhang" during the Wanli era...

This is hardly the heavily guarded Forbidden City; it's clearly a dilapidated thatched hut with drafts coming from all sides!
In an instant, all the important national affairs he had been pondering on his way back to the palace—such as replacing talented individuals and establishing meritorious achievements—were completely forgotten.

Chao Cuo was right. The greatest danger to the world is that it appears peaceful and tranquil, but in reality, there are unforeseen troubles.

Now, all problems must give way to one thing—hold the knife, hold the knife well!
Thinking this through, he showed no emotion on his face, still turning to Zhou Yu and forcing a smile: "My beloved consort, this time you have truly put your heart into it."

Zhou Yu said somewhat embarrassedly, "No, Gao Banban helped me a lot."

Zhu Youjian laughed and closed the booklet, seemingly unconcerned: "This matter is not urgent. It's still early, so today I'll take you on a tour of the imperial palace."

He strode out of the hall, his voice booming.

"Come here, prepare your horses!"

Behind him, Zhou Yu let out a low, panicked gasp.

"Ah? Your Majesty... I, I can't ride a horse..."

　[Historical Materials in this Chapter]

　　1. The imperial guards listed in this article are those who are always by the emperor's side, totaling about 7000 men, with about 2500 men on duty per shift.

　　2. Among them, the Great Han Generals belonged to the Embroidered Uniform Guard and were selected from all over the country. By the end of the Ming Dynasty, most of them were selected from Beizhili.

　　3. The Red Helmet General and the Bright Armor General belong to the Three Thousand Battalion, and are appointed on a rotating basis by the garrison soldiers.

　　4. The guards were subordinate to the 5,000-man battalion, and the garrison soldiers rotated through their posts.

　　5. Therefore... to target the capital garrison without even engaging the imperial guards is, in this flawed system, practically suicidal. —Of course, nobles and garrison officers usually wouldn't dare commit regicide. At most, they'd kill some of your sons, burn down some palaces, or create some ghost stories to scare you.

　　6. "Judging by actions, not intentions," a saying from the Qing Dynasty book "Evening Talks Around the Fire."

　　7. One day, the Empress displeased the Emperor, who angrily rebuked her. The Empress, enraged, repeatedly called out "Prince Xin." —From *The Palace of the Ming Dynasty*

　　By the way, the authors say that it's best to release a new book at midnight during the initial release period, as this will result in better sales.

　　I don't have any drafts saved up right now. I'll try my best and see if I can post 1-2 more chapters at midnight tonight. If I succeed, I'll move the rest of the updates to midnight.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)