Saving the Ming Dynasty: I can exchange bodies with Chongzhen

Chapter 58 Bloodstained Palace Gate
Prince Xiang's Mansion,
Mr. Dugu had just left, and Chongzhen was the only one left in the study. He listened to the voice in his ears, trembling all over and angrily said, "Rebellion! What are you ministers trying to do?"

"All the officials from the six ministries have come to report illness? How is this different from forcing the emperor to abdicate?"

But he was even more angry at Zhu Changgan, "You are too impulsive. The six ministries and nine officials are all members of the civil service group. How can you suppress them so openly?"

"How can you be so radical? There are so many officials in the Ming Dynasty, can you kill them all one by one?"

Chongzhen's face looked extremely ugly. For so many years, he had always been annoyed by the civil service group's set of ancestral laws and ways of sages, which confined the imperial power within a framework.

But the power of the civil service group was too strong to counter the imperial power.

It's not that he hasn't tried before, but he failed every time. So when he saw Zhu Changgan doing this, he couldn't help but feel anxious.

"Confused!"

"Isn't this putting myself and the ministers in opposition to the ministers?"

From the grand ceremony of Emperor Jiajing to the deposing of the eldest son and enthroning the youngest son as the heir, to Chongzhen's desire for peace talks, wasn't each one abandoned halfway due to the dissatisfaction and dissuasion of the civil service group?

Chongzhen clenched his fingers, "After all, the Ming Dynasty still needs these civil servants to govern it."

The dispute between the emperor and his subjects was actually more like a helpless act by the emperor to maintain his own prestige.

"The Ming Dynasty is like a serious illness. No strong medicine can be used. How could you not know such a simple truth?!" Chongzhen suddenly grabbed the inkstone on the table and threw it out, but found that there was suddenly a figure at the door.

The other party's eyes were bloodshot, and he covered his face with his hands in fear, "Prince, what are you doing..."

"Mr. Dugu!" Chongzhen took a look at the inkstone in his hand, put it down quickly, and pressed it on the paper, pushing the inkstone back and forth with his hands, "These papers are not flat, let me press them down."

"Oh, Prince, the exam is almost here. I have discussed with the prince and we can leave for the county exam tomorrow." Mr. Dugu walked up to Chongzhen, frowning, "This paper is already flat enough. It will tear if it is rubbed for a while longer."

Chongzhen looked down and saw that the paper was torn. He stopped awkwardly and said, "Sir, I will go prepare the things for the exam now."

"No need, the prince said that he will bring people with him tomorrow to take care of the prince's daily life."

Mr. Dugu's words made Chongzhen's scalp suddenly numb. He raised his head suddenly and almost jumped up. "Isn't he fine in the palace? Why does he have to go with me?"

A voice came from outside, "If I hadn't followed you, how could I know the hardships my son was going through in the imperial examination?"

Zhu Yiming, the doting prince of Xiang, arrived. He pushed open the door of the study with a smile and said, "This is the first time my son is going on a long journey. How can I be at ease? I have already bought you all the things you need for the exam. I have tried my best to buy the best and most expensive ones."

"Look at this pen, ink, paper and inkstone. Ours are the best in Huguang. This knife is inlaid with gold, and it was made with fresh milk... And this curtain is made of silk, and the hammer and candle..."

Chongzhen stretched out his hands again and grabbed his hair.

……

The Imperial Medical Service was a fifth-rank government office, with a chief official named the Medical Supervisor, who was of the fifth rank.

There are two judges in the court, both of whom are of the sixth rank.

In addition, there are ten clerks of the ninth rank, ten imperial doctors of the eighth rank, and dozens of other reserve doctors. Because they are dedicated to serving the emperor, the scale is not very large.

Only the twenty or thirty most skilled doctors could treat the emperor, and the others were substitutes.

The Imperial Medical Service of the Ming Dynasty was different from the "imperial physicians" on TV who were always available on call, but had extremely complicated procedures.

If the emperor was ill, according to the prescribed procedure, the eunuchs would first summon the imperial physicians. There must be at least four imperial physicians, and they had to wear auspicious robes.

Moreover, no matter winter or summer, there must be a basin of charcoal fire in front of the hall, and various fragrant woods must be added. Everyone must step over the fire basin before entering the hall.

When the imperial physician saw the emperor, he had to kowtow first, then kneel and walk to the emperor's left hand side to take the pulse. The second imperial physician would kneel to the right hand side, and then they would switch sides, while of course they still had to kneel. The next three or four imperial physicians could do the same.

After the diagnosis, the imperial doctors would each tell us their general findings, then go to the imperial pharmacy to discuss the prescription with the director and judge of the Imperial Medical Bureau. They would also write down the properties of the prescription, who would prescribe it, the time of prescription, etc., and then seal it.

The imperial pharmacy then prepared and mixed the medicine, and this process had to be supervised by the eunuchs. The prescription was divided into two doses, and the two doses were combined into one dose. After it was made, it was divided into two portions. One portion was first tasted by the imperial physician who prescribed the medicine, then tasted by the director or judge of the Imperial Hospital, and then again by the eunuchs to confirm that it was fine before it could be taken.

Furthermore, the Imperial Hospital was not located within the Imperial Palace.

Therefore, there was another institution in the palace - the Imperial Pharmacy, which was composed of eunuchs and palace maids. If someone in the palace fell ill, they could quickly take care of the patient before the people from the Imperial Hospital arrived.

But on the other hand, the imperial doctors seemed to have unusually free time. They would just drink tea every day and chat about the properties of medicines and medical principles, and the day would pass by.

Today, the imperial doctors from the Imperial Medical Bureau have finished their tea, packed up their things, and are preparing to go home early.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of soldiers and horses outside. Liu Wendian, the director of the Imperial Hospital, frowned and asked, "What's going on? Why is there a military deployment in the Imperial Hospital?"

He asked a backup doctor to check out what was going on, but before the backup doctor arrived at the door, he heard "bang bang bang" knocks on the door.

"Jinyiwei, open the door for me!"

"Jinyiwei..." The face of Liu Wendian, the director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, turned pale instantly, his Adam's apple rolled, and he stood there in a daze.

"Hurry up and open the door. His Majesty has ordered all the doctors and backup doctors in the Imperial Hospital to rush to the Qianqing Palace."

"This...is not in accordance with etiquette!"

"Don't even bother talking about etiquette." Li Ruolian shouted loudly inside, "If all the doctors don't come out within an incense stick, I'll tear down the door and take you through."

The court official Liu Wendian tiptoed to the door and took a look outside through the crack. Seeing the muskets and swords in the hands of the Jinyiwei, his face turned green immediately. "Quick, quick, everyone pack up your medicine boxes and follow them to the Qianqing Palace."

"Court envoy, why didn't someone from the inner court come here, but instead..." The judge wanted to say something, but Liu Wendian slapped him in the face, "What a pig brain! Why are you waiting for someone from the inner court? Don't you have any idea who is in charge of the Jinyiwei now?"

Just when the imperial doctors had almost packed up their medicine boxes and commonly used medicines.

But then there was a loud bang at the door. It turned out that the Jinyiwei had opened the bolt of the door.

A large group of Jinyiwei rushed in at once. Li Ruolian shouted at them expressionlessly, "What are you all dawdling about for? Can you afford to delay His Majesty's business?"

"take away!"

Liu Wendian almost fainted, thinking to himself, "It's over! Is His Majesty going to purge the Imperial Hospital?"

The doctors and reserve doctors from the Imperial Medical Service were detained almost semi-forcibly.

After they arrived, they found out that His Majesty did not want to purge the Imperial Medical Bureau, but wanted them to treat the ministers.

And they found that not only the imperial doctors were called in,
The people from the imperial pharmacy in the palace had already arrived, and the doctors, consisting of eunuchs and palace maids, stood on the left.

Wang Chengen pointed to the right, meaning that was your position.

Liu Wendian and the other imperial doctors stood on the right side with a sad look on their faces.

Zhu Changgan looked at them and said, "Today, all the ministers from the six ministries have fallen ill and have come to ask for sick leave. I feel very uneasy, so I asked you to come here and diagnose your pulse."

"I hope you can treat my dear ministers seriously, but there is one thing: there is no principle in doubting a disease." Zhu Changgan waved his hand, "The Imperial Hospital and the Imperial Pharmacy will give me the results of the diagnosis."

"Those who cheat will be punished for deceiving the emperor!"

……

Outside the palace gate,

It was crowded and noisy like a vegetable market.

There were 1,188 officials in the capital of the Ming Dynasty. Even if the number of people who came was less than half, it was not much less.

"Master Li!"

"Master Zhang is here!" "Oh, Master He is here too..."

"You all can come, why can't I?"

The officials of the six ministries were all very relaxed at this time. They were chatting and laughing with each other, and were still discussing where to go for a drink and a meal in the evening, and which girl was good...

They didn't feel any risk at all on the emperor's side.

They were not just one or two people, nor were they from a single department. Rather, all the government offices of the fifth rank and above, including the Six Ministries, the Censorate, the Tongzhengsi, the Dali Temple, the Six Departments, the Hanlin Academy, the Imperial College, the Taichang Temple, the Guanglu Temple, the Taipu Temple, and the Qinastronomical Observatory, had come.

There is an old saying that goes, the law does not hold everyone responsible!

Seeing the palace gate open, everyone couldn't help but straighten their bodies and shouted loudly towards the door:

"Your Majesty, I am not feeling well. I beg Your Majesty to grant me three days' leave."

"I am ill and unable to stand, so I beg Your Majesty to grant me a three-day leave.

"His Majesty……"

When it comes to matters of asking for sick leave, they actually submit the memorial directly, and the eunuchs will naturally present it to the emperor.

But they refused to do so and chose to speak in front of the palace gate. They also chose three days of leave, which was not too much, not too little, but it put all the pressure on the emperor.

Three days were enough to paralyze the work of all ministries.

They were all shouting happily when they were suddenly pulled by the people next to them.

"What's going on? Why isn't the person coming out an eunuch...but an imperial hospital?"

"It is always the eunuchs who receive memorials. Why are the people from the Imperial Hospital here?"

Ok?
All the ministers suddenly raised their heads and looked at the people from the Imperial Hospital and the Imperial Pharmacy filing out of the palace gate, feeling a little confused.

But they saw a man wearing a Feiyu costume and holding an Embroidered Spring Sword standing in front of them. He was the commander of the Jinyiwei, and it was none other than Li Ruolian, the commander of the Jinyiwei.

"Your Majesty sympathizes with you all and asks the doctors from the Imperial Hospital to treat you despite your illness."

The ministers from the six ministries felt their heads buzzing and their faces changed drastically.

They keenly sensed that there was a huge risk and turned around to run.

But just as he turned his head, he found that teams of Jinyiwei appeared on the street in front of him.

"Aren't you all here to ask for sick leave? Why are you in such a hurry to leave?" Li Ruolian narrowed his eyes and looked at everyone, "Your Majesty invited the imperial physician for you, but not only did you not thank him, but you complained about him instead. Where do you think His Majesty is?"

"Come on, check the pulses of the adults!"

……

On this day, a rare scene appeared outside the palace.

Seven hundred Beijing officials were surrounded by the Embroidered Uniform Guards and were treated by people from the Imperial Medical Bureau and the Imperial Pharmacy.

However, those who were being treated seemed very unwilling. Some wanted to run away, but were quickly caught and forced to sit on the table to be treated by the doctors.

Such a strange scene attracted countless people to watch from afar and talk about it.

"The emperor personally ordered the Imperial Hospital to diagnose the ministers?"

"Then why do they all look like they've eaten shit? With their heads drooping?"

"There's something wrong with your brain..."

Hundreds of doctors from the Imperial Medical Bureau and dozens of doctors from the Imperial Pharmacy conducted cross-diagnosis, and the results came out in less than half an hour.

The eunuch took the list and ran quickly towards the palace.

In less than a moment, the eunuch ran out of the palace gate dragging the documents in both hands and handed the list to Li Ruolian.

Li Ruo Lian unfolded the list and began to read:
"Wan Kelong, the Deputy Minister of Rites, asked for leave without any illness, deceiving the emperor."

Immediately, a member of the Imperial Guard stepped forward, stripped off his official uniform, and kicked him to the ground.

"puff!"

The Jinyiwei people drew their swords and slashed at Wan Kelong's neck.

The body was separated in an instant and blood splattered on the spot.

Blood flowed out from the neck and gathered into a pit.

Wow!
The scene, which was noisy just now, suddenly became quiet.

Whether it was the officials from various departments or the common people watching the excitement from afar, they were all dumbfounded.

Especially the officials of the six ministries, all of them had white hairs standing up on their backs, infinite fear in their hearts, their faces were pale, and beads of sweat the size of beans fell down "pat".

Li Ruolian, the commander of the Imperial Guard, continued to read: "Hong Daxian, the doctor of the Ministry of Works, deceived the emperor..."

As soon as the name of the Ministry of Works doctor Hong Daxian was called, he knelt on the ground with a plop, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I was bewitched. It was not my original intention..."

No matter how hard he pulled at his official robe, he refused to let the Jinyiwei take it off.

But the Jinyiwei were so ruthless that after they hit him several times under the armpits, Hong Daxian howled twice, his eyes bulged out, and he could no longer exert any strength.

He allowed the Jinyiwei to strip off his official uniform and drag him away.

"puff!"

With one cut, the body was split in two.

Seeing yet another person being killed, these officials were completely panicked. Several of them even had their feet wet because they were so scared that they peed their pants.

It was dripping down my trouser legs.

D?

This is not a case of the law not punishing everyone, this is a knife specifically aimed at their heads!
Many officials knelt down in the direction of the Qianqing Palace, crying and wailing, "Your Majesty, please spare our lives... We are ignorant, but our crimes do not warrant death..."

Their teeth were chattering like frying beans, their whole bodies were shaking, and their hands and feet were no longer under their control.

"Your Majesty, please spare my life!"

"Your Majesty, please spare my life. I plead guilty and am willing to reveal who is behind this..."

　In film and television works, the three main characteristics of the Jinyiwei are the Feiyu clothing, the Luan belt, and the Embroidered Spring Sword.

　　But in fact, not everyone in the Jinyiwei could wear the Feiyufu. The Feiyufu was a kind of gifted clothing second only to the python clothing, and only those who were rewarded and valued by the emperor could wear it.

　　"History of Ming Dynasty" records that a Jinyiwei commander named Zhang Jue was once awarded Feiyufu and Xiuchundao by Emperor Jiajing. He was so excited that he did not even take them off when sleeping.

　　Although the Embroidered Spring Sword was the standard weapon of the Jinyiwei, not everyone was equipped with it. The number was extremely small and the standards were different. In addition to the Jinyiwei, many high-ranking military generals were also qualified to wield the Embroidered Spring Sword.

　　By the late Ming Dynasty, the Xiuchun Dao was distributed even less frequently. It had become a symbol of status, representing the emperor's special favor. It was a royal gift and no longer a practical weapon.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)