Volume 2: Soaring! The Overlord of the Region Chapter 384: Insignificant Worries
December 25, 1618, Tianjin Port.
Although it was already the coldest time of the year, the harbor was not only cold but also very damp in the early morning. However, the Tianjin Port was already under strict martial law. A large number of soldiers were stationed around the port and along the Beijing-Tianjin Highway.
As for the port, everyone from the Regent Zhu Youxiao to the cabinet ministers and ministers from various departments gathered here.
When the common people saw this scene and combined it with the newspapers in recent days, they naturally deduced with a little thinking: our emperor has returned to Beijing in triumph.
He is really "our emperor". It has been more than ten years since Zhu Youdong gradually gained the right of public opinion in this country through newspaper publishing. Over the past ten years, through his own efforts and media reports, Jinyiwei's secret agents have spread the propaganda among the people. This new emperor has completely reversed the image of the royal family that was intentionally or unintentionally established by the scholars and officials among the people.
Now, Zhu Youdong's personality is: diligent, caring for the people, simple, and working hard to get rid of various chronic diseases in the Ming Dynasty. Major newspapers often call him "our emperor" in various reports, and there are many stories about his deep involvement in the people of Nanjing in the past. Over time, the people naturally developed a sense of intimacy with Zhu Youdong.
Therefore, after guessing that the emperor's triumphant return would be today, countless people began to gather towards the port and both sides of the Beijing-Tianjin Highway. The crowds of people completely surrounded the Beijing Camp and the Third Town soldiers, who originally had a security force of more than 10,000.
"Your Highness, the people heard that the emperor was returning to the capital today, and they all came to greet him spontaneously. Although the people have good intentions, there are too many people. I am worried that I will not be able to greet them all."
The current Zhenyuan Marquis Gu Dali also followed Zhu Youdong to Liaodong to fight Jianzhou six years ago. He is considered a rare nobleman in the Beijing camp who has not been spoiled. In recent years, he has cooperated with Liu Shimin to transfer the so-called 100,000 Beijing camp soldiers to the nine border towns for rotation training, and accepted the rifled guns used by the new army to strengthen firearms training in the Beijing camp... He is considered a benchmark among the nobles. But today, facing the increasingly surging crowd, this rare talent among the nobles is now sweating profusely, and his anxiety is beyond words.
However, Zhu Youxiao looked relieved after hearing his report. He smiled slightly and said, "What's the difficulty?"
"ah?"
"The people came here spontaneously because they love the emperor. What is there to fear from such people? But now our dynasty has conquered Siam and is about to turn its head to the east. Therefore, in order to prevent Japanese pirates from lurking among them, we still have to take appropriate measures. Like this." Zhu Youxiao lowered his head and thought for a while: "Send out light cavalry to shout along the way, asking the onlookers to line up consciously, and then retreat to 50 meters outside the roadbed to pay their respects. At the same time, they should guarantee each other and accept the inspection of our soldiers. If there is one person who is not recognized by the 20 or 30 people around him, he will be taken away by the inspecting soldiers."
"That's it?"
"This is the only way to deal with an emergency. Don't worry, I will persuade my brother not to stick his head out of the imperial sedan chair when he returns to the capital."
"Yes, I obey your command."
Looking at Zhu Youxiao who was prudently arranging personnel to improve security measures, the Prime Minister Fang Congzhe, who was standing a little further away, now had an even more obvious look of worry on his face.
"Changqing."
"Hmm? What advice do you have for me, Prime Minister?"
"Hey, you are also a junior assistant, what can I teach you?"
"I dare not. Although I am the second assistant minister, everyone in the world knows that it is only because I was the emperor's teacher in my early years and the cabinet needs someone like me. If we really want to help the emperor achieve great things, we still need someone like the first assistant minister who is experienced and highly respected."
"Haha, Changqing. We have worked together since the time when the Emperor was still the Crown Prince Regent. That 's about five or six years, right?"
"Yes, I have received a lot of guidance from the Prime Minister over the years."
"I will say it again. After the emperor returns to the capital, I will apply for retirement. If the emperor approves, you will be the prime minister. Even if the emperor disapproves, I will retire at the latest when the Japanese bandit Tokugawa Yoshinao is defeated. At that time, you will still be the prime minister."
"What exactly does Lord Fang want to say?"
"Don't you understand what I mean? Before I retire, I will submit a petition to ask the Emperor to appoint a crown prince. If this is not accomplished during my term, you must follow up!"
"Ah? Prime Minister, the emperor is only eighteen years old this year!"
"Yes, the emperor is only eighteen years old this year." He nodded thankfully: "And the emperor already has a prince at this age. Unfortunately, it's not the queen's."
It was quite a coincidence. Zhu Youdong left for Siam in June, and his empress and concubine gave birth in mid-to-late September. Empress Liu Yun gave birth to a daughter, and Concubine Youyi gave birth to a son.
After Zhu Houzhao, the three emperors of the Ming Dynasty, as well as the Emperor Xiaozhen, who was posthumously conferred the title by Zhu Youdong, were not the eldest sons to succeed the throne. Especially during the Wanli Dynasty, the dispute over the foundation of the country really frightened the older officials at that time. Before the queen and the concubine gave birth, I don’t know how many officials secretly prayed in their hearts: Queen, you must give birth to a son.
Unfortunately, things don’t always go as we wish!
"Prime Minister, aren't you a little hasty when you say that the Emperor should immediately appoint the eldest son as the Crown Prince? The Emperor is only 18 years old, and the Empress is only 17. It's not like they won't be able to have children in the future. If the eldest son is appointed as the Crown Prince now, what if the Empress has a son in the future? Besides, to be honest, although medicine is advanced now and the chances of infant mortality have been greatly reduced with the advent of antibiotics, but..."
"Hey, considering Changqing's character, he is very honest to say such words to me." Fang Congzhe nodded comfortably: "But Changqing, now we have another regent."
"Uh..." He looked up at the figure in front of him who was not very tall but already very stable. Old Wen's mind suddenly became active.
As Zhu Youdong's first teacher, Old Wen's position was set. Fortunately, his student had a smooth career in recent years, and he ascended the throne in just over a decade. Old Wen originally thought that as Zhu Youdong's teacher, he would have to be in his sixties before he could enter the cabinet. As a result, he entered the cabinet in his early forties.
Although the power of the cabinet has been reduced by half due to the emperor's diligence, the emperor's energy is limited. Zhu Youdong usually only pays attention to major events, and even if it is a major event, he is only responsible for making the final decision, and rarely pays attention to the specific details of the implementation - ordinary things are still drafted by the cabinet and approved by the Silijian. Therefore, it is still very comfortable to be a cabinet elder.
But now, well, in recent months, His Royal Highness King Lai has served as regent. He has attended more than 20 state council meetings. Although he often sits in the first seat like a puppet, occasionally saying a few words is still very useful - this is the temptation of power!
Old Wen thought he was quite clear about the character of the emperor: he looked gentle on the surface, but his will was extremely firm inside - this was a heroic ruler! He would have to lead the army in person often in the future. What if something happened?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but complain to the Prime Minister next to him: If you hadn't asked the emperor to make a foolproof plan, how could the emperor have arranged Prince Lai as the regent? Are you regretting it now? Are you worried? Oh, you retired, and then let me take the blame?
Although in the historical plane, Old Wen was known for his slippery hands, that was because he and Chongzhen had a pure monarch-subject relationship. Now he and Zhu Youdong also had a teacher-student relationship, and for this reason alone, he could not tolerate the throne falling into Zhu Youxiao's hands in the future - Zhu Youxiao's teachers were all in Fangshan School, and had nothing to do with him!
"I know what the Prime Minister is worried about." After taking a deep breath, Wen Tiren seemed to have made up his mind: "I will discuss this matter with the Minister of Rites (Yuan Keli)."
"Well, in this way, I can retire peacefully in the near future."
When the two of them said this, a mast first appeared on the horizon, and then more and more masts appeared. The people in the port also gradually changed from whispering to looking up and cheering.
Zhu Youdong is back.
