Volume 1: Birth! Seven time travelers Chapter 183 Undercurrents in Beijing
"Morning, young Sima."
"Haha, good morning, Doctor Li."
On the morning of March 25, 1612, Wen Tiren, who had just taken office as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War at the end of last year, was constantly greeted by people on his way to work. Wen Tiren was indeed as his name suggests, and he responded to these officials, whether familiar or unfamiliar, one by one, very gently.
Speaking of which, in terms of official position alone, among Zhu Youdong's five teachers (except Shen Li, Lu Kun, and Matteo Ricci), Wen Tihen climbed the fastest.
He was a Jinshi in the 26th year of Wanli, and he was also a Shujishi. But after entering the officialdom, it took him six years to climb to a position of a principal in the Ministry of Rites. As a result, after only two years as a trial lecturer for the crown prince, he was transferred to the position of principal in the Ministry of Personnel's Wenxuan Qingli Division. Although they are both principals, that is the Ministry of Personnel that is responsible for selecting officials! The Organization Department within the Organization Department!
Old Wen, who had been in this position for nearly six years, did not form a clique as always, but it was unknown how many officials had received his favor. Therefore, when Old Wen was transferred to the Ministry of War to serve as a minister because of the Crown Prince's conquest of Jianzhou, even the Shangshu had to be cautious when he saw him.
"This humble official has met the Grand Marshal."
"Haha, where is Changqing coming?"
The current Minister of War is Wang Xiangqian. Although he is a civil official, his career, like Yang Hao, has always been related to military affairs. However, compared with Yang Hao's failures, this Lord Wang, from suppressing the rebellion of Yang Yinglong in Bozhou to serving as the Governor of Ji and Liao, made the Mongolian tribes dare not invade, which is much more powerful.
"Have you heard about the Qinyuanchunxue that Your Highness made in Sarhu seven days ago?"
"I have heard that your majesty is truly..."
"Well, I heard that not long after the poem was introduced to Beijing yesterday, the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan did not go to the Ministry this morning and went straight to the Ciqing Palace."
"Hmm?" Wen Tiren raised his head slightly, and saw Wang Xiangqian's playful smile: "I have something important to attend to, so I'll excuse myself first."
"I dare not. I respectfully send you off, Grand Marshal."
In the Ming Dynasty, people liked to refer to officials in the Western Zhou Dynasty by using titles from the Western Zhou Dynasty. The Grand Marshal was, of course, another name for the Minister of War. The Grand Master of the Imperial Clan was, of course, the Minister of Rites, Guo Zhengyu.
Speaking of which, the most unhappy court official in recent years is Guo Zhengyu.
He had been the Minister of Rites for many years. Logically, the Minister of Rites was recognized as a potential prime minister. When Shen Yiguan's cabinet was adjusted, he thought he should join the cabinet. Who would have thought that Ye Xianggao and Li Sancai joined the cabinet one after another, but it was not his turn, which really made him lose face.
After carefully searching for the reason, Guo Zhengyu thought there was only one reason: the prince was not favored, and his teacher was also outcasted. Didn't you see that shameless villain Li Sancai? They were not the prince's followers, but they just submitted a letter of surrender and easily entered the cabinet: they, the Donglin Party, had been waving flags and shouting for Li Sancai to enter the cabinet for several years but failed!
But what can he do? He is the prince's teacher and one of the leaders of the Donglin Party in the court. He can't change his party even if he wants to. Besides, he really doesn't like the prince's personality. After looking around, he still thinks the prince is the most pleasing to the eye and has the temperament to become a wise ruler. So, there is only one way to go.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"Oh, Mr. Guo is here, please take a seat."
"Your Highness." He looked around and saw that there was only one Wang An beside His Highness, and Wang An even nodded slightly at him - the place had been cleared and he could talk without worry. "Did Your Highness see the Qinyuanchun that was sent to the capital yesterday?"
"Humph! How could I not see it? Huijuan, Youxiao and the others were leading the children in the palace to recite aloud."
"Then your highness, do you know that after this poem was introduced to the capital, many officials from the six ministries addressed the crown prince as your highness when they were discussing it?"
"...Hey, Mr. Guo, you have been by my side since I was the eldest prince. I remember very clearly that when I was a child, the eunuchs in the palace deliberately refused to give me a brazier in the middle of winter in order to please Concubine Zheng. It was you who shouted at me loudly, which allowed me to get warm even though I was shivering. So, I won't say anything about alienating the relationship between father and son. But, what can I do? Youdong is a child who was born from a blue dragon and is gifted. No matter what he does, he is really good."
"Your Highness, no matter how powerful the Crown Prince is, he is still your son."
"What exactly does Mr. Guo want to say?"
"Your Highness!" Guo Zhengyu knelt on his knees and bowed: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince has done a lot since he was enlightened. Whether it is the prevention of smallpox with cowpox or the promotion of potatoes and corn, the results have been seen in these years , so that the Crown Prince has a very high reputation among the people. The Ming Dynasty's maritime trade, Honghe Industry, and Fangshan Grocery Store are all integrated. The Crown Prince has more money in his hands than the national treasury! In addition, with the Jinling Daily in hand, public opinion is also under his control. Now Liaodong has won a great victory, and it is said that the army has begun to surrender. If this continues, the world will only think that our Ming Dynasty has His Royal Highness the Crown Prince but not His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Your Highness, although according to etiquette, only you can inherit the throne after tens of thousands of years, but, at that time, do you want to be a puppet or become the emperor in a short time?"
Chila! Zhu Changluo, who was in very poor health, stood up suddenly, moving the seat under him, causing a sharp sound when the bottom of the seat hit the ground.
But soon, the prince felt dizzy. Wang An, who was beside him, came over quickly and supported Zhu Changluo.
"Mr. Guo, what you just said, well... well, what do you think I should do?"
"Your Highness, according to the Ming Dynasty's ancestral system, the crown prince guards Nanjing. But in the past, the crown prince guarded Nanjing. Since when did the crown prince guard Nanjing? The crown prince is still young and has not finished reading the Four Books and Five Classics. Now he is sent to Nanjing, although he is accompanied by Zhang Yicheng, Xu Guangqi and other lecturers. But Zhang Yicheng's main energy is on the Jinling Daily, and Xu Guangqi stays in Fangshan every day. He has never been to the Imperial College. With such behavior, what will happen to the crown prince's studies? Therefore, we are going to report to the emperor and let the crown prince return to Beijing to continue his studies. But the ancestral system cannot be abolished, and the crown prince still needs to go to Nanjing."
"This..." Let alone, seeing his son enjoying all the glory outside, the father must be jealous. But Zhu Changluo knew his own ability, so he was a little hesitant when he heard Guo Zhengyu's suggestion: "Jiangnan is an important place for national finances, and the situation is extremely complicated. If I go there, and I can't do as well as Dong'er, then..."
"Don't worry, Your Highness. In the past six months, I have exchanged letters with Meng Bai (Zhao Nanxing), Er Zhan (Zou Yuanbiao), and Shu Shi (Gu Xiancheng). Except for Shu Shi who has been ill in recent years, the other two are willing to serve as Your Highness's teachers. With the help of such great sages, Your Highness will do better than the Crown Prince when he goes to Nanjing!"
"Hmm..." Zhu Changluo felt a little better from the dizziness. He slowly stood up and walked back and forth a few steps. "Even if I agree to this matter, what about my father?"
"Your Highness, under normal circumstances, the Emperor would not have agreed to this. But once the poem "沁园春雪" was published, it is clear what the Emperor thinks."
After saying this, Guo Zhengyu apologized, walked up to Zhu Changluo, and whispered in his ear, "I heard that the emperor was very dissatisfied after this poem was introduced into the palace. This was spread by a reliable eunuch in the palace. If Your Highness doesn't believe it, you can ask Eunuch Wang later."
Hearing that Wanli was also dissatisfied, Zhu Changluo was obviously confident: "Then let's arrange a few imperial censors to report it?"
"Your Highness, this must be done quickly. I heard that the Crown Prince's army is almost at Shanhaiguan. If we wait until the Crown Prince's army enters the capital to offer their victory, it will be difficult for us to launch the attack."
"...Well...Okay, but Mr. Guo, please remember that although Dong'er is the reincarnation of a blue dragon, he is still my eldest son. Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs. I can't let a father and son kill each other! You are not allowed to think about it!"
"Your Highness is kind and virtuous, and it is a blessing for the Ming Dynasty! How dare we, your Highness, alienate the relationship between you and your son? However, the Crown Prince is indeed young, and he should study hard at this time. This is also for the sake of the future foundation of our Ming Dynasty. Your Highness, please understand my painstaking efforts."
Not to mention that Guo Zhengyu contacted the censor privately, Wen Tihen also took emergency action after hearing Wang Xianggan's hint.
"Lord Li, this is exactly what happened. I guess the Donglin Party is still unwilling to give up and wants to take advantage of Your Highness's growing prestige to alienate the royal family. So this time, our censors must be prepared."
"Don't worry, Shao Sima, there is no need to talk about my current relationship with Donglin. But Shao Sima, the key to this matter does not lie with us, but with the emperor."
"Of course, although I cannot speak directly to the Emperor, I can think of some ways to talk to the Empress Dowager Li and Concubine Zheng."
"Well, the key to this matter is not to let the emperor stop or scold the prince, but to delay time until His Highness returns to report the victory. In addition, please ask the young Sima to quickly send a fast ship to Nanjing. The Jinling Daily will launch a full-scale attack!"
"What does Lord Li mean?"
"Many times, it is difficult for people who want to do big things to make up their minds. It's not that they don't think about the interests involved, but that they can't break through the shackles of emotions. At this time, they often need someone to push them. Our prince is good in everything except that he is too sentimental. But when it comes to the crown prince or even the throne, how can he have room for a trace of emotion?"
"I understand. Lord Li is right. We, the ministers, have to help His Highness move forward."
…
Late at night on March 26, Wei Zhongxian, who had disguised himself and sneaked out of the capital, rushed non-stop for two days and one night and arrived at Zhu Youdong's army which had just arrived at Shanhaiguan.
"Eunuch Cao, there has been a change in the capital, and we need to meet His Highness."
"Uh... Your Highness is feeling unwell at the moment."
"Ah?! Is it serious?"
"Many doctors accompanying the army have examined him. His Highness' pulse is stable and there is nothing serious. It's just that his back is burning."
How could Zhu Youdong's back not feel hot at this moment? The fourth star of the Big Dipper, Tianquan, exploded!