Rule over Ming Dynasty

Although the justice of heaven is important, we are ultimately a feudal dynasty.

Even though Song Cheng had the reputation of being an honest official, if he dared to investigate Empress Dowager Zhou thoroughly, Emperor Zhu Youtang would probably be criticized by the outside world.

After all, Song Cheng was the emperor's subject. Regardless of whether he had the emperor's permission or not, once the Empress Dowager Zhou was investigated thoroughly, the emperor would have to bear the blame.

If this incident happened in the era when the upright officials dominated the court, just for what Song Cheng said, not only would Song Cheng be collectively impeached by civil and military officials, but the emperor would also be criticized.

Although the court was now controlled by the pragmatists of the Royalist Party, Song Cheng's actions could easily leave room for criticism, so Empress Chang had to make her position clear.

Song Cheng did not have so many complicated thoughts, but he insisted on his own ideas: "Your Majesty, I have no intention of making Your Majesty unfilial. The Shang Gong is the confidant of the Empress Dowager. The nature of this arson case is so bad, and this question is also out of normal thinking when investigating the case!"

"Sir Song, if there is no evidence, I will not allow you to interrogate me like this! The Empress Dowager is the grandmother of me and His Majesty. How can she be suspected by a small minister like you? Please pay attention to your words and actions, otherwise I will report you to the Emperor!" Although Empress Chang hated the Empress Dowager, she also made her position clear in order to prevent the Emperor from being branded as unfilial.

Naturally, she suspected the Grand Empress Dowager Zhou, and had even determined that she was the mastermind behind the incident. She also hoped that Song Cheng could get the truth out of Concubine He.

However, Song Cheng had the audacity to openly ask such a question that was detrimental to the dignity of the Grand Empress Dowager without any evidence, so her public position naturally had to be to protect the Grand Empress Dowager.

Of course, although she seemed very angry at the moment, she was not necessarily that angry in her heart. She was more trying to express her and the emperor's position, so as to prevent someone from accusing the emperor of being unfilial.

Song Cheng couldn't help but feel bitter. If this matter couldn't even be tried, how could he pry open He Shanggong's mouth? "I was indeed careless in my thinking. I will be more careful in the future!"

"Now that the case is clear, I wonder how Lord Song plans to deal with it?" Empress Chang, who had the demeanor of a queen mother, suddenly changed the subject and asked.

Now that He Shang Gong has been exposed in the arson case, if He Shang Gong is used to close the case, it would be a good result.

Although the Empress Dowager was not found out in this arson case, as Song Cheng said, it was already known to everyone that Concubine He was the confidant of Empress Dowager Zhou.

That's right. Once He Shanggong was brought to justice, the outside world would certainly think that it was the emperor who protected the Grand Empress Dowager, and that the emperor, out of family affection, let the Grand Empress Dowager off the hook for instructing He Shanggong to set the fire.

Facing the gazes of the people around him, Song Cheng insisted on his principles and said, "Reporting to the Queen, I implore you to hand over Concubine He to the Ministry of Justice. I will definitely try this case thoroughly!"

This……

The head maid of the Shenjiesi heard the hidden meaning of Song Cheng's words, and it seemed that she still wanted to continue the trial, and even wanted to bring the real mastermind behind the scenes, Empress Dowager Zhou, to justice.

"This man will naturally be handed over to Lord Song. I will not disturb Lord Song from investigating the case, but you may have to go to Guanju Palace next!" Queen Chang was secretly unhappy in her heart, and suddenly said with a smile.

Song Cheng's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately asked in confusion: "Why is this?"

Yunniang had been in Kunning Palace for some time. When she suddenly heard the Queen mention Guansui Palace, she looked at the Queen with confusion.

"Someone below just reported to me that the Empress Dowager has just sent someone to Wenhua Gate to summon you, but the person sent was too late! Since Lord Song has such a free time, we still have to go over there. The Empress Dowager must have something important to discuss with you!" Queen Chang said calmly while playing with the jadeite in her hand.

Although Yunniang was not in the court, she also understood some of the tricks in the palace. She turned her head and looked at her husband worriedly.

If my husband could be more flexible as an official and not be so obsessed with the truth of the case, and if he could just close the case according to the Queen's wishes, why would there be such a difficulty?
Song Cheng felt more clearly how deep the water in the palace was. He didn't even have the chance to take a look at the first crime scene. "Your Highness will obey your order!"

"The Queen is tired, Lord Song, please leave!" The personal maid nodded slightly to the Queen, and then gave the order to leave with an expressionless face.

Song Cheng smiled bitterly and left in a very polite manner.

He was ordered to enter the palace to investigate the Qianqing Gate arson case, but he has not been able to take a look at the fire scene until now. Now he has to pay a visit to the Empress Dowager and the Queen, and next he has to deal with the Grand Empress Dowager.

But thinking that this case involves the Empress Dowager, and now I have to face the biggest suspect of arson in an orderly manner, I can't help but feel a headache.

After coming out of Kunning Palace, he originally hoped to go south through Qianqing Gate and take a look around, but the eunuch in front of him led him to Kunning Gate and left the inner palace area.

"Master Song, this way please!"

The eunuch who led the way smiled slightly and took Song Cheng towards Qingning Palace.

Song Cheng originally didn't want to meet the Empress Dowager. After all, she was the biggest suspect, and he naturally couldn't say anything hypocritical. This meeting must have become very unpleasant.

However, the status of the Empress Dowager was transcendent. Even though it was well known that she and the Emperor were not on good terms, as a subject of the Ming Dynasty, he had to go and pay her a visit.

As he was walking, he accidentally touched a thin nylon thread.

As the father-in-law in front of him was looking at him gloatingly, he saw the copper basin above his head suddenly tilted, and a basin of water fell from the sky and splashed accurately on him.

In an instant, his official uniform was soaked and stuck to his body.

"The bad guy who set the fire..."

Princess Haixiao ran over from the moon arch in front, but was stunned when she saw that the person caught was an official with a face as black as charcoal. She seemed to have thought of something and suddenly burst into tears.

This cry was so loud that the eunuchs and palace maids gathered around her. Everyone knew that Princess Haixiao was the apple of His Majesty's eye. If the emperor was here, he would probably not be calm either.

This……

Song Cheng, who was soaked all over, looked at Princess Haixiao who was crying bitterly, but he was unable to cry.

Not to mention that he "scared" Princess Haixiao to tears, and now he might have to leave the palace to change into clean clothes before coming to pay a visit to the Empress Dowager. How could it be so difficult for him just to investigate the case?
The winter sun was particularly dazzling, but the trees and flowers in the West Garden had already withered. The Yangxin Palace was not greatly affected. On the contrary, in this environment of withering everything, this magnificent palace looked even more dazzling.

Inside the hall, the scent of sandalwood rose.

Zhu Youtang, wearing a dragon robe, was processing memorials here, and he looked very focused.

Since the office was moved here from the Qianqing Palace, it not only facilitated communication between the emperor and his subjects, but also greatly improved the efficiency of the imperial center.

Now the twelve ministries have smooth communication with the emperor, and Zhu Youtang will summon them at any time and hold the highest meetings at irregular intervals, so a lot of wrangling has been reduced.

After cracking down on the interest groups in the south of the Yangtze River, there is no force in the country that dares to go against the court, so the court's policies are implemented smoothly, resulting in fewer and fewer problems.

The time Zhu Youtang needed to spend on government affairs was reduced. After dealing with a domestic disaster relief plan, he turned his attention to the international situation.

"Your Majesty, you are so fast in processing memorials, ten times faster than me!" Li Xien stood by and ground the ink herself, her pretty face full of love as she spoke.

Ever since she had fallen in love with Zhu Youtang that year, she would choose this time every year to come and meet the emperor as an envoy, and naturally she would stay overnight in the Forbidden City.

Although she is approaching her thirties along with Zhu Youtang, time has left no traces on her pretty face; her skin is still as smooth as a baby's, and she looks more mature.

The best age for a woman is actually not sixteen or seventeen, but rather this age when she is full of femininity. Especially after giving birth, Li Xien's figure has become obviously fuller.

Now she is the Queen Mother of Joseon. Since she is in charge of the government, all national affairs of Joseon are decided by her. Now seeing Zhu Youtang handling government affairs with ease, she can't help but admire him secretly.

Zhu Youtang did not get complacent about this matter. He said calmly, "I have been in office for thirteen years and I am familiar with it! Now the local officials are decisive in dealing with matters and report things in an orderly manner. I almost only need to approve it!"

"I have long heard that in the Ming Dynasty, 'a wise ruler sits in the court, and brave ministers shock the four directions'. This is indeed true!" Li Xien cherished the few days in the Forbidden City very much, so she wanted to stick to Zhu Youtang, and said with love in her eyes.

Zhu Youtang stretched out his hand and scratched her nose, but deliberately joked: "There is still a confidante to suppress Cao's camp!"

Although Korea is not within the territory of the Ming Dynasty, it is already larger than the territory of the Ming Dynasty. Under the governance of Li Xien, it continuously supplies pig iron and rice to the Ming Dynasty every year, becoming an important contributor to the infrastructure of the Ming Dynasty.

In terms of culture, the 5,000-year-old Chinese culture has completely invaded Korea. Within a hundred years, Korea will become a colony of Chinese culture, and it will be natural for it to be included in the territory at that time.

"When will Your Majesty come to Cao's camp in person to take in the concubine?" Li Xien smiled charmingly, her eyes full of anticipation.

Zhu Youtang stroked this delicate face and found that she was becoming more and more charming: "Now that I have the lantern, do you really still want me to personally lead the expedition to Seoul?"

"Your Majesty, do you really not intend to divide the world?" Li Xien naturally heard the implication of this statement, but he did not give up.

Zhu Youtang shook his head very seriously: "Only with centralization can the dynasty be truly stable and long-lasting!" As he spoke, he also raised the letter from Siam and said: "Small Siam wants to take the path of centralization. What reason do I have to divide it and let the good empire fall apart?"

Now that the Ming Dynasty has ruled over the three oceans, it can swallow up endless territories, owned or unowned, at any time, allowing its descendants to establish nations and become kings in various parts of the world.

However, the harm of this practice is equally obvious. After all, human beings are ambitious animals, and the consequences of feudalization will not only weaken the power of the central government, but may also backfire.

"Your Majesty has no such intention, so I'll just be a weaver girl, okay?" Li Xien glanced at Zhu Youtang with resentment, and then took the Siamese letter curiously: "Is this from Southern Siam? I remember that Your Majesty ordered Korea to prepare to send troops together some time ago, so why did Southern Siam send a letter of surrender?"

"He has no capital to challenge the Nanyang Governor-General's Office at all. It was fortunate that the Nanyang Governor-General's Office intervened in Siam at the right time!" Zhu Youtang looked at the letter from Southern Siam and said with emotion.

Since becoming the Queen Mother of Joseon, Li Xien has been particularly interested in such political matters: "Just in time?"

"Let me test you! What usually causes conflicts and intense confrontations in an originally peaceful country?" Zhu Youtang patted his thigh and motioned Li Xien to sit down.

The dignified Queen Dowager of Korea was very understanding and sat on it obediently, but her brows were slightly frowned.

Zhu Youtang put his arm around her voluptuous waist and gave her a hint: "Don't you like someone's calligraphy?"

"Reform?" Li Xien's heart moved, and he gave an answer immediately.

Zhu Youtang patted her arm and said appreciatively: "Yes, it is political reform!"

When the Ayutthaya Dynasty of Siam was first established, it basically inherited the political system of the previous Sukhothai Dynasty, with three main organizational forms: tribes, city lords and vassal states, and these organizations were all independent individuals.

However, the drawbacks of this political system are very obvious. When the central government is strong, these independent organizations will naturally follow its lead. However, when the central government's power declines, these independent organizations may no longer pay attention to the central government's orders.

The ninth king of the Ayutthaya dynasty, Boromma Dailailojana, implemented political reforms, the most important of which was the "Sakdina system" of granting land according to the rank of nobility.

The Sakdina system is somewhat similar to the Enfeoffment Order of the Western Han Dynasty. Originally, tribal leaders, city lords and vassal states were the owners of the land, but now all the land was nationalized and then divided according to the size of the title.

The interests of tribal leaders, city lords and "family heads" of vassal states were naturally infringed, but the core members below were naturally ecstatic. After all, they no longer needed to look at the faces of the "family heads", but owned their own territories in the name of dynasty lords.

Naturally, this reform encountered resistance. Originally, the head of a family controlled everything in the territory, but the king forcibly divided the family. No one would feel comfortable in this situation.

The ninth king of the Ayutthaya Dynasty, Borommo Dailailojana, pushed for this political reform during his reign, but unfortunately it was not fully implemented and he passed away.

The tenth Siamese king, Borommaraja III, inherited the throne. He could not wait to move the capital back to Ayutthaya, while his younger brother, Ramathep Bodhi II, stayed in Phitsanulok to continue governing his homeland of Sukhothai.

However, the Nanyang Governor-General's Office, which was headed by Wang Zhi at the time, suddenly intervened, which immediately exacerbated the conflict between the two sides and gave these local forces strong support, which ultimately led to the division of Siam into two. (End of this chapter)