Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 96 Martial Law System
Zhu Youjian was very satisfied with using the martial law system to legally regain part of his power.

Yuan Keli was also very satisfied, feeling that the emperor was still willing to abide by the rules, otherwise he would not discuss the martial law system with him, but would use other means to seize power.

After their first meeting, he realized that the current emperor wanted to be a monarch like Taizu Chengzu. And it is indeed very possible to do it. Now the powerful eunuch Wei Zhongxian has been eradicated and the Jin Yiwei has been controlled.

If he does not agree to martial law, the emperor will try his best to seize power in the future. The turmoil in the court will be more intense than in previous years.

With the system of martial law in place, the emperor does not have to resort to all means to seize power, nor does he have to use the imperial edict indiscriminately. He only needs to order martial law.

But after the end of martial law, everything returned to how it was before.

No civil servants wanted to go back to the time when Taizu became the ancestor, so they tried every means to restrict the power of the Ming Emperor. They even made up jokes about Taizu becoming the ancestor to slander the two emperors——

For example, Xu Da was given a steamed goose and Fang Xiaoru was punished by the Ten Tribes. These were all fabricated by the literati of the Ming Dynasty. Many people even believed them and regarded them as history.

Yuan Keli has been a little worried since he knew that the emperor wanted to be a king like Taizu Chengzu.

He felt that the Ming Dynasty now needed a wise emperor, but he was also worried that the emperor would be too strong and would conflict with the ministers.

The martial law system proposed by the emperor can exactly solve this problem:
"Martial law is declared, and the emperor seizes power from his ministers. 』

"Martial law ends, and the emperor returns power to his ministers. 』

“When fighting for power, there is a clear goal. Martial law can also be used in times of war. 』

It can be said that after the martial law system is implemented, the emperor and his ministers are likely to focus on martial law when they compete for power in the future.

The emperor felt that there might be war and directly issued martial law. If the ministers felt it was unnecessary, they would naturally ask the emperor to end it.

If the emperor does not want it to end, and if the ministers have the courage to cry out, the emperor will have to convene a court meeting and issue an edict to end martial law, unless he imprisons the ministers like the Great Ceremony.

If the ministers do not have the courage to cry out, then let the emperor continue martial law, and Yuan Keli will not sympathize with them.

A strong emperor may be able to maintain martial law for a long time, but as long as the emperor is slightly weak, the officials will take back power.

It can be said that as long as the martial law system exists and as long as the emperor seizes power within the framework of this system, the officials will not have to worry about the emergence of an emperor like Taizu Chengzu in the Ming Dynasty——

No emperor can remain strong and maintain martial law all the time.

Unless an emperor abolishes the martial law system and replaces it with other systems.

"His Majesty personally formulated the martial law system, and he himself will definitely not abolish it. 』

"The future battles between His Majesty and the courtiers are likely to revolve around martial law. 』

Keenly aware of this, Yuan Keli decisively agreed to the emperor's proposal regarding martial law. At the same time, the emperor promised not to issue imperial edicts using Zhongzhi.

Even at the level of the court meeting whether to extend martial law, he also asked the emperor to make it clear that it should be above the regular court level. This prevented the emperor from maintaining martial law by controlling the Standing Committee.

In his view, after the martial law system is implemented, the issuance and end of martial law is a power game on the table. Everything is upright, it depends on which side is stronger, the emperor or the ministers.

As for the war that the emperor mentioned, Yuan Keli couldn't see it for the time being. I don’t think the situation in Ming Dynasty has reached the point where martial law is needed. The White Lotus Rebellion five years ago was resolved by him, Zhao Yan and others. Even if a civil uprising occurred, it would only be a minor problem.

Yuan Keli's idea was widespread in the minds of the officials of the Ming Dynasty. In their view, the Ming Dynasty only had a slight difficulty, and as long as the people were upright and upright, it would naturally be solved. However, in Zhu Youjian's view, the Ming Dynasty was likely to be plunged into war for a long time. The peasant uprising brewing in the northwest historically overthrew the Ming Dynasty.

In order to legally have the power to directly issue edicts, and to give the civil servants hope, so that they feel that as long as the war is over, everything will return to the way it was. Zhu Youjian proposed a martial law system and took over all power:
"I really don't want martial law to be used. 』

"But if there is a war, it will be necessary to use it even if it is not needed. 』

"How is the situation in Shaanxi? 』

He had already ordered officials in Beijing to report the situation in Shaanxi, but Zhu Youjian did not get much useful information. Those ministers were either lying in their graves or hiding things from the emperor.

Now he can only hope that the Jin Yiwei sent to Shaanxi can bring more accurate news, and that Sun Chuanting, a capable minister in history, can live up to his trust.

At the same time, I feel that the martial law system needs to be improved and cannot be limited to the capital.

Thinking of things in the northwest, Zhu Youjian said:
"Martial law must have a scope. I can impose martial law in the capital, Shuntian Prefecture, Beizhili, or even nationwide."

"If there is war in the local area, partial martial law can be imposed, and I will authorize the governor, governor and other ministers to implement it."

"During local martial law, I can issue an edict to replace the law in the martial law area."

"The governor-general and governor who is responsible for martial law can also use political and military orders to control the power, all with the purpose of calming down the war."

Putting this condition to Yuan Keli, Zhu Youjian said:
"Most of the edicts issued during martial law are temporary measures, but appointments made during martial law will still have legal effect after the martial law ends."

"The official positions conferred when recruiting people to surrender and accepting rebellion, and even the worldly titles conferred upon them, should be recognized by the imperial court."

"Like what happened to the Shuntian nobles last time, it can be regarded as a partial martial law. After noticing the war, I directly issued an edict and canonized Lin Dan Khan as King Shunli, thus stopping the conflict between him and King Shunyi."

"This is a successful example. If something like this happens in the future, the court must directly acknowledge it."

Thoughts came one after another. Yuan Keli felt that he could not keep up with the emperor's thinking, so he could only plead with the emperor:
"Your Majesty, the martial law system is of great importance. Rong Chen should think about it seriously after he returns."

"Your Majesty can discuss with the ministers at the court meeting and issue a formal edict."

Yuan Keli said this, and Zhu Youjian certainly accepted it. He did not feel that the eunuch ministers in the court who needed to pass the test dared to oppose him, so he decided to confirm the martial law system with a formal edict and promulgate it before other civil servants returned.

With the endorsement of a capable minister like Yuan Keli, those people should have recognized the formal edict passed at the court meeting, even if they had some objections. I can use this edict as a basis to formulate martial law laws in the future.

He was able to pass martial law and legally possess the power of the emperor during wartime.

Of course Yuan Keli knew that the ministers in the court would not oppose the emperor, but he was not familiar with the martial law system, so he could only use the procrastination trick and discuss it with his students and other ministers after he returned.

He believed that with so many ministers in the outer court, they would definitely find ways to restrict the emperor's power. When the time comes to discuss them one by one, the emperor will not be able to compete with them.

Both of them felt that they could win, and they were very satisfied. The conversation that followed was naturally more harmonious.

Zhu Youjian also began to continue the previous topic and set up a new department for the Ministry of Punishment.

(End of this chapter)