Jingming

Chapter 457 Asking Ming for help

Tang Shunzhi made it very clear, touch Ni Lin.

It would be better to let the princes who would entrust foreign vassals in the future be controlled by the Ming garrison.

The main problem is: once the Military Affairs Council and the Ming Dynasty military become the stable ballast among the entire vassal states in the future, their interests and demands cannot be ignored even by the emperor and civil servants.

Moreover, it has been the custom for civilians to serve as the general staff of the Military Affairs Council. So in the future, when civil servants will take care of internal affairs, courtesy relations, and border trade affairs, and the military will ballast sect-vassal relations, if the civil and military ministers of the Ming Dynasty have a unanimous opinion, then the emperor of the Ming Dynasty and the heads of the states of the Zhu family will Dear, what can I do?
Yan Song was used as a weapon by Xia Yan and Tang Shunzhi! He is the most popular candidate for the future general auxiliary, and his son is probably also the most popular Japanese garrison general in the future!

How could Tang Shunzhi dare to point out the problem so boldly by proposing such a grand strategy that might cause the emperor's future descendants to be ignored by the civil and military ministers?
Yan Song secretly took a look at the emperor's face and saw the emperor frowning and tapping the imperial case with his fingers.

"Okay, I understand your concerns. Let's go back first." Zhu Houcong waved his hand, "I want to think about everything."

"I thank Your Majesty for your generous kindness, and I will retire."

Tang Shunzhi made a grand ceremony.

After leaving the Yangxin Hall, the Forbidden City became more solemn at night.

Walking on the corridor between the palace walls, Yan Song did not have a casual chat with him this time.

But after walking to the place where the Neijinshui Bridge was visible, Yan Song finally spoke: "Ying De, you are really brave."

"Why did the elder say this?" Tang Shunzhi said calmly, "The elder may have forgotten that your majesty originally wanted to try out the system of virtual kings in the vassals."

Yan Song was shocked.

If he remembered correctly, Tang Shunzhi met with His Majesty once after returning to Beijing. His Majesty later changed his previous statement and was ready to enfeoff various vassals in a grand manner, implement the system of the Ming Dynasty, and lay the foundation for great harmony in the world.

Wasn't Tang Shunzhi the one who allowed the emperor and his heirs to firmly control the Ming Dynasty and the vassals?
"Don't be surprised, old man. Since Your Majesty can have such thoughts, there will be no danger at most this time." Tang Shunzhi looked back, paused and bowed to the Yangxin Hall, "Your Majesty has a broad mind and a thoughtful plan." Far away, Shun Zhi is beyond reach. The general strategy requested is not just for the personal gain of one general of the family, but also for the generations of His Majesty’s descendants. Your Majesty will definitely have a clear understanding of the situation.”

Yan Song looked at his figure in a daze for a moment.

To be honest, he hasn't fully figured it out yet.

In the imperial study room, Zhu Houcong was still sitting on the throne without moving.

After a long time, he smiled dumbly.

Tang Shunzhi was indeed a more radical conservative than him. Despite his righteous refutation of Zhu Houcong's idea of ​​a virtual monarch pilot that day, he probably agreed with it in his heart.

In other words, it is not that we must have a weak king, but that a strong system is more reliable than expecting a wise king and virtuous ministers.

If we want the world to be unified, it must at least be in a peaceful environment.

The army is actually easy to go berserk. If the future is determined both internally and externally, how can we control this beast?

Since it is impossible to seriously abandon the army, we can only buy it with benefits and stabilize it with the system.

The emperor and the civil and military forces, the Ming Dynasty and the vassals, had a plan that could avoid many of the worst outcomes by just changing people. Then the emperor of tomorrow, the lords of the vassal states, and the civil and military ministers all had more choices.

In the past, it was only replaced within Daming, and there was not that much room for replacement.

In the future, why can't it be changed between sects and vassals?

If you think about it carefully, as long as the system is the same and the standards for talent selection are the same, at first it will just be military generals who will be transferred to official posts. Once the foundation is laid, why can't all civil and military officials be transferred to official posts?

In the end, the foundation for everything to become a solid foundation is really there, or perhaps one of Zhu Houcong's descendants has the ambition to completely unify, which might not leave him with the foundation to give it a try.

Step by step, he tried to develop Zhu Houcong's attitude that it was inevitable for brothers to stay at the wall.

And if his descendants don't have that kind of ambition and talent, as long as they can maintain this system without trouble, then with the strong support of the military, why worry about losing the throne?

If the space for arranging military generals is even larger and still cannot be used, and the civil and military officials are really bent on evading the emperor, then his descendants are too stupid. In that case, even if you are just Xujun, it is not a blessing.

But even in that state, the civil and military system of monarchs and ministers is so huge, and the division of power is not limited to the Ming Dynasty. Among the clearly distinguished civil servants and military generals, which other surname can replace the Zhu family and convince the public?

It is said that it is a Zongguo Mansion, but it is probably a higher-level "stage of imperial struggle".

What's more, judging from Yan Song's expression when he left... Xia Yan and Tang Shunzhi coaxed Yan Song here.

That is to tell Zhu Houcong: We will not stand with the State Council on certain bottom-line matters, don't worry. Tonight, we will offend Yan Song and show you.

Zhu Houcong shook his head and stood up: "Yan Song, Yan Song..."

Does this count as Xia Yan's revenge for backstabbing in another story?
Returning to Wen Suyun Palace again, Zhu Zaiyan, the seventh child, was still waiting for Zhu Houcong to accompany him to play the six games he had promised him.

This six-bet game is a tabletop game with an early origin. The so-called game game, bet refers to six-bet games, and chess is Go.

The gameplay of Liubo is to determine how many steps to take next by throwing points. This little game was gradually lost after the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Now Zhu Houcong has borrowed some new things from flying chess, Monopoly and other gameplays.

In the little time he has for children, this small board game is undoubtedly a good medium.

The father and son sat on opposite sides. Wen Suyun had a lively and out-of-the-box temperament, and he began to give advice and advice from time to time next to Zhu Zaiyan, enjoying it.

Zhu Houcong looked at his son's excited expression, but couldn't help but think about it in his heart.

If he is entrusted to a vassal state in the future, when he gets older, will he also be worried that his brother Zhu Zaiyi will want his nephews to take his place?

For Zhu Houcong himself, he could settle the matter with one letter and everyone would have arrangements.

But just like Zhu Yuanzhang did this, Zhu Di was still troubled by the past. Human nature is unpredictable.

When Zhu Zaiyi succeeded to the throne in the future, he would be older and have more sons. The concubines and sons are also clamoring for arrangements. What will Zhu Zaiyi do?
Are the vassal states surrounding the Ming Dynasty continuing to be divided?

If we do something more extreme and secretly cause the annihilation of the vassal state, I'm afraid it's not absolutely impossible.

Zhu Houcong absentmindedly played two games of six games with Zhu Zaiyan, and slept at Wen Suyun's place that night.

But he fell asleep very late, thinking about the pros and cons.

Reason told him that if he followed what Tang Shunzhi and Xia Yan suggested, even if there was any trouble in the future, it would only happen in the vassal state and among his descendants.

But emotionally, even though Zhu Houcong knew that it was inevitable for the brothers to have a feud, he still found it difficult to face that possibility calmly.

How can his sons and grandsons be restrained and have a way out and vitality?

The original idea was to use the Zhu family clan to replace the existing kings of the vassal states and become a real king with complete royal power, military power, and financial power, and form a "confederation" of this era based only on cultural and economic ties.

But Xia Yan and Tang Shunzhi reminded Zhu Houcong: Maybe with this round of sweeps, the current generals will have a great opportunity. But after this round of sweeps, the expectations of the generals in the army will not stop, and the Ming Dynasty will probably really settle down inside and outside, at least for two or three generations.

By that time, the most likely to be unstable will be the army.

Zhu Houcong admitted that their considerations were very reasonable. Even Zhu Houcong himself did not want to see the Ming Dynasty suffer a situation of "protracted peace and lax armaments."

Who can guarantee that Ming Dynasty will continue to develop as rapidly as it has in the past 20 years and continue to stay ahead?

It is not easy to maintain the continuous existence of the army and maintain its increasingly stronger combat effectiveness, but also to restrain the army from going berserk.

Early the next morning, he called Lu Bing again.

"Go to the Five Prefectures and tell them to prepare. Before the military examination, those with the rank of lieutenant general or above will come to Beijing in June and hold a military meeting in Wuying Palace." Zhu Houcong said calmly, "There will be a lot of things to do starting next year. "

"Yes."

If we get to a peaceful era, we can't just buy it with benefits.

If the army only feeds it with profits, it will feed monsters.

There are still many years to go before the new order around the Ming Dynasty is fully formed. Zhu Houcong feels that it is right for Xia Yan and Tang Shunzhi to put the problem out in advance.

After Ming Dynasty has been pushed here by himself, every decision Zhu Houcong makes may lead to a completely different future. He can only try his best to get close to the optimal solution.

Faced with the problem of how to ensure stability, advancement and prosperity in the long-term future of the Ming Dynasty, it was only a simple matter how to change the vassal states.

The generals and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty were all hungry and thirsty.

……

Zhu Houcong was just preparing for a rainy day, but at this moment, the leader of North Korea, Li Yi, was already facing the fiercest battle for the crown prince.

Two years ago, he proposed inner meditation, "After the death, everyone was in turmoil, everyone was terrified, and everyone cried."

His prince also "cryed in pain and refused to eat."

That time Li Yi was testing to see what would happen if the conflict intensified.

But now, Li Yi really has this idea.

Already 54, his health is getting worse and worse, and the struggle between the big and small Yin is becoming more and more intense.

Ruan sat on the throne, and Queen Wen Ding sat aside with a face full of grief and indignation, holding her eight-year-old biological son Li Xuan in her arms.

The 27-year-old prince Li Gao knelt in front of Li Yi, his face full of fear.

Later, Yin Ren, Prince Wang's uncle, looked at Yin Yuanheng, the brother of Queen Wending, angrily: "Today's fire in the East Palace was no accident! The king was shocked, and the subjects in the court were all horrified. Although the cause of the fire is unknown, we don't know the cause of the fire. Where to go? However, if the disaster is not in vain, there will be a call for it!"

"It has been spread both inside and outside that there is going to be a change in Yi Shu Yuanzi! But in more than seven years, the king has been assassinated several times? The king does not dare to sleep in the pavilion. He is frightened and overwhelmed, and even loses his heart. Then Who is behind this?" Yin Yuanheng responded tit for tat.

Queen Wen Ding shed a tear at the right moment and hugged her son tighter.

The people in front of Li Yi at this moment are all the most important people in North Korea, so his words are extremely naked.

After the "Internal Zen" crisis two years ago, the second son Li Xuan was granted the title of King of Qingyuan, which led to more intense conflicts between the two parties.

This battle for the crown prince has actually entered a fierce stage since Queen Wen Ding gave birth to her son seven years ago.

At that time, Mr. Jin An was still there. At that time, Yin Yuanheng's brother Yin Yuanlao ran to Yin Ren and said: "Now the Shilin sect is suspicious of our two brothers, just because the prince has no heirs, and the king has a legitimate son. In ancient times, there was the incident of Song Renzong's dethronement, and their scholars The Lin faction suspected that since we two brothers are closely related to the royal family, they must have a plot soon."

Saying this was originally a misfortune. He wanted Li Yi, who was already wary of Jin'an's old power, to see that the Shizi Faction and the Shilin Faction agreed to deal with the Xiao Yin brothers first and put themselves in a weak position. , let Li Yi suppress the Shizi faction.

As a complementary approach, Queen Wen Ding went to Li Yi to cry and complain that Boss Jin planned to depose her to make the crown prince's position more stable.

What is the allusion to the abdication of Song Renzong? Because Queen Guo at that time was elected by Song Renzong's mother without his knowledge, Queen Guo herself was also very arrogant, and Song Renzong never liked her.

However, the focus after the abdication of Song Renzong was the fierce public opinion among the courtiers, especially the subsequent disputes between the prime minister and Taiwan admonishment officials.

Corresponding to North Korea, Jin An would always support the deposed "prime minister" and powerful ministers, but the Taiwanese admonishment officials and the North Korean Shilin faction who opposed the deposed emperor at that time would not help determine the queen this time. If this happens, wouldn't it mean that Mr. Jin An becomes even more powerful?
Jin Anlao has always used the rhetoric of "protecting the East Palace", and everyone knows that he wants to get it right and avoid future troubles.

In that matter, Brother Xiao Yin finally succeeded, allowing Li Yi to get rid of Jin Anlao in one fell swoop.

After that, the contradiction became more obvious.

First, the second son, Li Ao, had never dared to sleep in a fixed place since he was a child, and now there was a strange fire in the East Palace.

Li Yi's head hurt even more.

He, the prince, could decipher the meaning of books at the age of three, and could read classics fluently in front of him at the age of five. He was established as the prince that year. Following Li Yi at sutra banquets, he often answered questions fluently, and was highly anticipated by the Shilin sect. He was also touted as "the young king of Yao and Shun".

But Li Gong is already 27 and has no son.

Li Yi knew that there were many hidden secrets. After all, the eunuchs and maids inside and outside the palace had been married to the queen for more than 20 years. I am afraid only God knows why Li Gao, who has been raised under the name of Queen Wending since he was a child, does not have a son.

He tried inner meditation the year before last, but Li Gong didn't dare to accept it at all, and even Yin Ren dissuaded him. If Queen Wending is not abolished and Brother Xiao Yin is not dealt with, Yin Ren will not be able to sustain himself without the help of Mr. Jin An.

We can only rely on Li Yi to make the decision.

But Li Yi knew that he could not abolish Queen Wending. At that time, he still wanted to live a few more years. Now, he thinks so too.

After making the second son the king, it seems they still feel it is not enough, and now there is a strange fire in the East Palace.

Li Yi looked at Li Gong, and then at Li Gong in the arms of Queen Wending.

The momentum is like fire and water, and it is certain that only one of them will be able to stay in the future.

"... Let's investigate the cause of the fire first. The prince is frightened, so stay here for now to give him some comfort."

Li Yi spoke, and Yin Ren couldn't hide the disappointment in his eyes.

Things have come to this point, and the king still cannot make up his mind. Brother Xiao Yin has become so unscrupulous, but what can be found out after burning the East Palace?
Seeing that Li Yi only said "a little relief", Yin Ren knew that it was probably nothing.

In the Huanqingjeon Hall of Changdeokgung Palace where Li Yi often stays now, everyone else retreated.

"You guys, please step aside and let the father and son talk."

Although the eunuch and maid serving Li Yi walked away, they did not go far.

Li Yi knew it well and said some words of comfort, while his hand was dipped in the tea in the tea cup and writing on the paper.

He only wrote four characters, and Li Gao, who had read poetry and books, naturally recognized them.

Looking at his father in astonishment, Li Yi's eyes were full of meaning and even a little urgent.

Those four words are: Shilin, Ming Dynasty.

"Your name of benevolence and filial piety is known to everyone near and far. You are protected by gods and Buddhas. There is no need to be afraid."

The water stains on the paper were gradually drying, and tears fell from Li Gong's eyes.

Have we already reached this point?

Indeed, since Jin Anlao was overthrown, the border trade with Daming has been basically in the hands of Xiao Yin brothers.

With such huge profits, although they cannot directly bribe the generals, it can at least make them more optimistic about Queen Wending and Brother Xiaoyin who are still standing in the palace.

As for Prince Wang who is supported by the Shilin faction? The Shilin faction has always hated their Xunjiu the most.

Seeing the pleading expression in Li Yi's eyes, Li Gong nodded and said with a choked voice: "I understand."

In his letter to his father, Emperor Ming Dynasty did praise Li Gong's benevolence and filial piety.

Now he knew his father's decision: let him ask for help from the Ming Dynasty through the Shilin sect.

Saving himself also saves his father, and even more importantly, his brother.

Li Yi knew that he was probably the only son to succeed to the throne and would not kill his eight-year-old brother.

Isn't it Li Mei's brother who begged for redress?
It's just that neither father and son knew that the change in Ming Dynasty's national policy had made the competition for the crown prince in North Korea even more intense. The huge benefits of border trade externally make one faction stronger, and the diplomatic relations internally make this context make the North Korean Shilin faction still feel that there is something they can do.

In the eyes of the North Korean Shilin sect, neither Yin nor Big Yin is a good person. It is best to fight to the death and not end well.

The Ming Dynasty did not intervene in the internal disputes in North Korea, and they also protected themselves wisely. This brought the burning of the East Palace two years ahead of schedule, and also made Queen Wending and Brother Xiaoyin more radical.

So much so that Li Yi felt deeply that his life safety was under great threat.

He now wants his son to seek help from Daming, but he doesn't know what this decision will lead to.

Over in the Ming Dynasty, times have changed.

(End of this chapter)