Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 226 The prince’s ability is not inferior to mine
Yongle 25th year, the third day of November.

early morning.

Fengtian Temple.

"I have been on the throne for 25 years, adhering to the late emperor's will, working hard and working hard at night, working hard, establishing sea bans, repairing grand ceremonies, leveling the grasslands, collecting the Western Regions, and settling Annan. I am now sixty-four years old and have passed my sixtieth year. Recently, I have become more and more mature. When you are weak, you often feel powerless."

Zhu Di brushed aside his old demeanor, stood with his hands behind his hands, looked down at the civil and military officials in the hall, and said loudly: "Therefore, I have decided to abdicate on the first day of the first lunar month next year, and order the crown prince to succeed on that day."

As soon as these words came out, there was a sudden "buzz" in the main hall, as if a pot had exploded.

All civil and military officials were shocked!
In the eyes of others, the power-hungry Emperor Yongle decided to abdicate, which was as strange as the sun rising in the west.

"Your Majesty, the Spring and Autumn Period is in full bloom. After some time of cultivation, you will be able to regain your former glory."

Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Household Affairs, bowed his head and bowed in salute, saying: "Old minister, I sincerely ask your Majesty to take back your order."

"Your Majesty has served in the army for many years and is strong and healthy. How can you abdicate so easily?"

Yu Yanzhao, the Minister of Rites, came out, bowed and said: "I ask your Majesty to think again."

He passed the Jinshi examination in the fifth year of Yongle and was awarded the title of Director of the Ministry of Rites. The following year, he was appointed as the county magistrate of Suzhou Prefecture. Five years later, he was promoted to the Tongzhi of Suzhou Prefecture, and two years later, he was promoted to the prefect of Suzhou.

Three years ago, Yu Yanzhao was transferred back to the capital by Zhu Gaoxu because of his outstanding political achievements and served as the Minister of Rites.

In other words, he was a minister promoted by Zhu Gaoxu, but he still advised Zhu Di not to abdicate.

At this time, Zhu Gaoxu was sitting on the chair to the lower left of Zhu Di. After hearing what Yu Yanzhao said, he did not show any emotion, but sat there with his usual expression, as motionless as a god.

"His Majesty!"

Jian Yi, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, came out and said: "For the sake of the Ming Dynasty and the plan of the people of the world, I ask your Majesty to think twice."

Jian Yi, whose courtesy name is Yizhi, was born in Ba County, Chongqing Prefecture. His original name was Jian Rong. He passed the Jinshi examination in the 18th year of Hongwu's reign and was granted the title of Zhongshushe.

Once, Zhu Yuanzhang asked Jian Rong: "Are you a descendant of Uncle Jian?"

Uncle Jian assisted Qin Mugong to achieve great power, but Jian Rong kowtowed and did not dare to answer.

Zhu Yuanzhang saw this and praised him for his sincerity. He changed his name to "Yi" and gave him the word "Yi" in handwriting.

According to the practice at the time, officials should be moved after serving for three years, but Zhu Yuanzhang specifically ordered Jian Yi to serve for nine years and then re-employ him.

From then on, Jian Yi often stayed by Zhu Yuanzhang's side day and night, being careful and respectful, and never made any mistakes.

In the 31st year of Hongwu, after Zhu Di came to the throne, he promoted Jian Yi to the right minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

In the fourth year of Yongle's reign, Jian Yi was appointed Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

In the 20th year of Yongle's reign, after Zhang Yan, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, became an official in old age, Zhu Di was promoted to Jian Yi as the Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In other words, Jian Yi was a capable minister that Zhu Yuanzhang focused on training, and he was also a humerus minister that Zhu Di relied heavily on. His words naturally carry a certain weight.

"Your Majesty, please think again."

Led by Jian Yi, Yu Yanzhao, and Xia Yuanji, more than [-]% of the officials in the court, including the cabinet advisers, all agreed.

"When your ministers are old, you can beg for their bones and return to your hometown to support your old age."

When Zhu Di saw that most of the courtiers expressed their opposition as he expected, he immediately put on a weak look, sat back softly on the throne, and said slowly: "I have worked hard for the Ming Dynasty for decades, and I have never slacked off. Now that I’m older, can’t I abdicate and cultivate myself so that I can enjoy family happiness?”

Xia Yuanji advised: "Your Majesty worked hard and worked hard day and night. It took 25 years of hard work to achieve the glorious and prosperous age of Ming Dynasty today. However, although the grassland is flat, there are no counties and counties. There are still female straight women in the Nurgan area today. How can your Majesty ignore the tribe's disobedience to the king?"

"Since the 14th year of Yongle, I have issued orders on various political matters and initiated punishments for the prince, and then reported them. Over the years, the prince has been adhering to the government, selecting good ministers, eliminating redundant officials, revising the rules and disciplines, loving the people like a son, and ordering land tax reductions and exemptions many times. He also provided free relief to the disaster-stricken areas, and even opened some mountains and swamps for people to fish and hunt. The prince's generosity is comparable to that of the sages of ancient times."

Zhu Di retorted: "After I abdicate, the prince who is brave, benevolent, and filial will take over. All military and state affairs in the future will be dealt with by the new king. Don't you think that the prince has not done well enough?"

"The old minister didn't mean that."

Xia Yuanji immediately denied it.

"The prince's ability is not inferior to mine. It is the blessing of the people of the world and the blessing of the Ming Dynasty that he succeeds to the throne."

Zhu Di raised his voice and said: "This matter has been settled. Don't try to persuade me any more."

As soon as these words came out, all the ministers turned their attention to Zhu Gaoxu, who was sitting obediently on the lower left side of Zhu Di.Facing the attention of all the ministers, Zhu Gaoxu remained as still as a mountain.

"The ministers obey the order."

Jian Yi, Xia Yuanji, Yu Yanzhao and other ministers did not argue any more, as if they had already discussed it, they bowed and spoke in unison.

When the other courtiers saw that Zhu Di had made up his mind and all the senior officials from the six ministries were bowing to receive the order, they added: "Your Majesty is wise, I will accept the order."

"I have looked at the history books and found that all the emperors who have practiced inner Zen since ancient times have either neglected their political affairs and resigned, or they have been forced to abdicate due to great changes in the world."

Zhu Di deliberately yawned, and then said in a tired tone: "In today's prosperous Ming Dynasty, all nations from all over the world are congratulating each other, and the country is more prosperous than ever before. Therefore, my inner Zen ritual should be different from the Zen rituals of the Tang and Song Dynasties. Your Majesty, your ministers should discuss the etiquette procedures in detail and then report them."

"The minister waits for the order."

All the courtiers in the main hall accepted the order in unison.

When Zhu Di said this, he looked at Zhu Gaoxu and said slowly: "Prince?"

"My son is here."

Zhu Gaoxu immediately stood up, faced Zhu Di, bowed and saluted.

Zhu Di looked at the courtiers again and said loudly: "Listen carefully, from now on, all political affairs will be reported to the prince for punishment. There is no need to report to me anymore."

The courtiers bowed again and said: "I will receive the order."

"My son, I obey the order." Zhu Gaoxu said respectfully.

"Retreat."

Zhu Di stood up slowly, looking weak and weak. With Li Xing's support, he slowly walked out of Danbi.

After half an hour.

Wenhua Hall.

Zhu Gaoxu is reviewing the backlog of memorials in recent days.

Kang Ping bowed and entered, respectfully reporting: "Your Highness, the six ministers and the cabinet advisers are outside the hall asking for an audience."

"Please."

Zhu Gaoxu stood up and greeted him.

"I see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness is a thousand years old!"

Jian Yi, Fang Xiaoru and more than a dozen court officials saw Zhu Gaoxu coming to greet them, and they immediately bowed and bowed.

"Your Excellencies are exempt from courtesy."

Zhu Gaoxu raised his hand to support everyone, giving everyone face, and told Kang Ping: "Give me a seat."

After everyone took their seats, Zhu Gaoxu also sat back in his seat and said straight to the point: "Are you here for the inner Zen ritual?"

Although Fang Xiaoru was the head of the cabinet advisers, his rank and status were not as good as Jian Yi, the Minister of Civil Affairs.

But right now, Fang Xiaoru was the elder among the officials present, so everyone else turned their attention to Fang Xiaoru.

Fang Xiaoru is a sensible person.

After he pondered for a moment, he immediately saluted Zhu Gaoxu and responded respectfully: "Your Majesty's achievements far surpass those of previous emperors. Now that the Ming Dynasty is in its prime, your Majesty insists on abdicating the throne on the grounds of old age and frailty. Therefore, this inner Zen I really don’t know how to handle this gift, so I came here to see His Highness for some advice.”

"Compared with His Majesty the Father, the ancestors of the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty were all slightly inferior. Even Genghis Khan was just a barbaric emperor who could only bend a bow and shoot a vulture."

Zhu Gaoxu said solemnly: "Father, the ceremony of inner meditation must be solemn and must not be perfunctory!"

He knew very well that Zhu Di's pioneering achievements in opening up the sea and cultivating the code, leveling the grasslands, collecting the Western Regions, and Ding'an South far exceeded those of previous emperors, and were comparable to the Qin Emperor and the Han Dynasty.

Therefore, he planned to hold an extremely grand retirement ceremony for Zhu Di.

PS: There is still only one update today, and I will have to do another test tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)