My father is Jiajing

In the autumn of the sixth year of the Longqing reign, the golden tiles of the Forbidden City shone brightly under the sunlight, gleaming like jewels.

Inside the Hall of Diligent Governance, Zhu Zaiji was standing in front of an imperial desk, one hand on his hip and the other holding a vermilion brush. His brows were slightly furrowed, as if he were thinking about something.

But after thinking for a long time, Zhu Zaiji still seemed to have no clue.

Zhu Zaiji stretched his body and then put the vermilion brush back on the brush holder.

Then he said to Meng Chong, "Issue an imperial decree to summon the ministers of the Grand Council to an audience. I want to discuss some matters with them."

Upon hearing Zhu Zaiji's decree, Meng Chong quickly replied, "This servant obeys the decree."

Then Meng Chong hurriedly went out and headed towards the military intelligence office not far away.

Li Chunfang, Zhao Zhenji, Hu Zongxian, and others are currently adapting to their new jobs, although they are not entirely comfortable with the process.

But after all, there has to be a first time for everything.

Moreover, the current imperial court is vastly different from that of the past.

Some of the old administrative methods are clearly insufficient in today's era, which demands greater efficiency and directness.

The purpose of establishing the Grand Council was not only to further consolidate the supreme power of the emperor, but more importantly, to utilize its new functions to accomplish major tasks across procedures.

Otherwise, many important matters would have to go through the process of review and discussion by the six ministries of the Cabinet. Although this would be safer, it would still inevitably lead to some delays and buck-passing.

Therefore, taking advantage of the arrival of the sixth year of the Longqing reign and the accumulation of his five years on the throne, Zhu Zaiji carried out a major overhaul of the court's internal administrative system with lightning speed!

Not only did he replace the Grand Secretaries and Grand Secretaries in the cabinet, he also unexpectedly established the Grand Council to be responsible for carrying out his will.

However, Zhu Zaiji also understood that although the Grand Council had great benefits, these benefits could only be most effective for capable rulers.

However, if the monarch who controls the Grand Council is a mediocre person, then this powerful tool will amplify the stupidity and mediocrity of such a mediocre monarch infinitely.

Therefore, in Zhu Zaiji's heart...

Although he desperately needed the Grand Council to help him further consolidate his imperial power and have the authority to directly lead all affairs of the realm.

However, Zhu Zaiji was also well aware that the Grand Council could only exist for a time. When things were almost done, Zhu Zaiji would not only abolish the Grand Council, but also issue an edict to limit the expansion of power of his successor.

Otherwise, if a stubborn and self-willed emperor who is easily swayed by rumors and has an incompetent mind but a strong addiction to power were to emerge in the future, and he were to seize the supreme power that the Grand Council brought him, the Ming Dynasty might be brought to its knees in no time.

After all, the human heart is a truly terrifying thing.

If court officials were to understand and exploit the emperor's thoughts, thereby influencing his decision-making abilities and leading him to make decisions that benefit only a small group while harming the vast majority, the resulting consequences and disasters would be incalculable.

For example, during the reign of Emperor Yingzong, the young emperor wanted to recreate the historical feat of the Yongle and Xuande eras of voyages to the Western Ocean.

As a result, because he was born in the inner palace and was ignorant at a young age, and because Emperor Xuande died young, he was not properly taught how to be a ruler, nor how to judge human relationships.

So, under the influence of his officials, the young and ignorant Emperor Yingzong abandoned the decree to send voyages to the Western Ocean. Later, for some unknown reason, the emperors after Emperor Yingzong had no concept of the Western Ocean and focused their attention on the northern regions, which were like a persistent skin disease.

They have been waging an unspoken emotional war with the Tatars in the north, never thinking of stabilizing the people's hearts on the border, and relying entirely on emotions to dominate their foreign policy.

But can one govern a country based on emotions?
While the emperor and his ministers in the imperial court could sit back and vent their righteous and righteous emotions, the soldiers and civilians on the frontier had to risk their lives to maintain the borders.

What's even more ironic is that this kind of thing has been going on for over a hundred years, and it's only gotten worse. The amount of manpower and resources that the imperial court has invested in it over the years is an astronomical figure.

However, this astronomical wealth and resources went unnoticed, and in the end, the Tatars in the north repeatedly petitioned the emperor.

So this makes us wonder, where did all this money go?

Why can't this war stop?

Obviously, some people must have profited from the wars against the grasslands over the past hundred years. Otherwise, why would the imperial court be so irrational as to stubbornly resist for a hundred years without much advantage or victory?
Therefore, taking advantage of the great victory in the defense of the capital, Zhu Zaiji directly suggested to the Jiajing Emperor to suspend the war against the Tatars and instead use economic control to infiltrate the weakened Tatars after the war.

Looking back now, the decision we made back then was absolutely brilliant.

This not only provided the Ming Dynasty with more than 20 years of stable development opportunities, but also freed up more resources and manpower for the Ming Dynasty.

Otherwise, let alone occupying Japan, North Korea probably wouldn't even give us face regarding Jeju Island.

Therefore, it is easy to see how important peaceful development is.

Of course, this peace is relative.

Peace now extends only to the Ming Dynasty's own territory and the surrounding foreign countries bordering the Ming Dynasty.

As for those overseas treasures that the Ming Dynasty has been eyeing, they cannot be left untouched. We must strike hard and make those barbarians who dare to compete with the Ming Dynasty understand the natural legitimacy of the Celestial Empire in governing the four directions!
Anyone who dares to compete with the Ming Dynasty for territory overseas is going against the fundamental national policy that the Ming Dynasty has long adhered to!
In the traditional concept of the Ming Dynasty, those so-called remote places and people were also places and people that the Ming Dynasty was protecting on behalf of Heaven.

Therefore, those places and people outside, according to this set of concepts and ideas, are also the territory and people of the Ming Dynasty.

Since these are all the territory and people of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty has an obligation to protect them from outsiders.

Therefore, the Ming Dynasty's expansion of its naval forces overseas and its guarding of key ports were all for the sake of the nation and were entirely selfless!
Meng Chong arrived at the Military Affairs Office and summoned Li Chunfang, Zhao Zhenji, Hu Zongxian, and others.

Upon hearing the decree conveyed by Meng Chong, the three of them immediately put down their respective duties and followed Meng Chong to the Hall of Diligent Governance where Zhu Zaiji was located.

As soon as the three entered the hall, they were about to bow and pay their respects to Zhu Zaiji, but Zhu Zaiji casually waved his hand and said, "No need for formalities, get up."

The three men bowed respectfully again, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Then Zhu Zaiji instructed, "Bring a chair over for the three gentlemen. It must be tiring to stand and talk all this time." When Li Chunfang, Zhao Zhenji, and Hu Zongxian heard Zhu Zaiji address them as "gentlemen," they all showed expressions of flattery and gratitude.

As Zhu Zaiji's position and power consolidated over the years, he gradually became more ambitious and rarely addressed his former officials from the Prince's residence as "sir" in a polite manner.

Now that Zhu Zaiji has brought up this title again, how could Li Chunfang and the others not dare to make a move?
The three bowed again in gratitude. After the eunuchs in the hall brought out chairs, they carefully sat down opposite Zhu Zaiji, now very respectful and cautious.

Zhu Zaiji said, "I called you three gentlemen here today to talk to you about the specific duties of the Grand Council. For the past six months, I have been observing and thinking about the issues between the Cabinet and the Grand Council."

"Moreover, I have also heard some rumors that the Grand Secretariat was the former Eastern Depot, and the Grand Council was the Western Depot established during the reign of Emperor Xianzong. When I heard this rumor, I couldn't help but laugh."

"These people are so idle when they're thinking about the affairs of the court; they don't even think about whether they've done their own jobs properly."

When Zhu Zaiji said these words, his smile was bright and natural, which made Li Chunfang and the others relax a lot from their previous cautious and tense mood.

Li Chunfang said with a forced smile, "Your Majesty is right, some people are indeed too idle. Although the Grand Council and the Cabinet are not subordinate to each other, they are not like the Eastern Depot and the Western Depot."

Zhao Zhenji and Hu Zongxian chimed in, "Yes, yes, how can the Cabinet and the Grand Council be the Eastern Depot and the Western Depot? These ignorant people are so boring."

Zhu Zaiji chuckled and said, "Forget it, people can say whatever they want, and I can't stop them, nor can you cover it up. Now you just need to do your jobs well, further develop the national strength of the Ming Dynasty, and make the lives of the people of the Ming Dynasty better. That's enough."

"Moreover, throughout history, no one who has done anything has escaped both praise and criticism. Since you have all risen to such high positions, whether my reign will be judged as good or bad, mediocre or proactive, is ultimately up to future generations to decide."

"The greatest success is for you and me to do things in a way that is in the best interests of the Ming Dynasty now and in the future, and to do so in a way that is in accordance with your conscience."

Upon hearing Zhu Zaiji's words, Li Chunfang and the other two bowed to him, saying, "Your Majesty is wise."

Zhu Zaiji chuckled again, "Whether he is wise or not is not for you to decide; we'll have to wait and see. But I can't hear what people in the future say, and neither can you. So, let's just focus on doing what we need to do now."

Li Chunfang and the other two bowed to Zhu Zaiji again, saying, "What Your Majesty says is absolutely right."

Then Zhu Zaiji paused, cleared his throat, and looked at Li Chunfang and the other two, his tone becoming serious.

Zhu Zaiji said, "I do not see the Grand Council as another cabinet, nor as a new government office that can rival the cabinet. The purpose of establishing the Grand Council is actually for a broader overseas territory."

"As things stand, if the imperial court wants to complete its long-standing expansion, it can hardly bypass the various levels of government offices in every matter. When these offices deal with these matters, they cannot resolve them smoothly and clearly, and they have to pass the buck and wait."

"This is something I dislike very much. That's why the Grand Council was established. I want the Grand Council to fulfill its responsibilities of direct management and specialized handling, and to further improve its efficiency."

"Of course, this does not mean that the Grand Council should compete with the Cabinet for power. You still need to be careful and not interfere in the affairs of the court on the Cabinet's side. As for what you want to do, the Cabinet can only watch but not say."

"So, do you understand the effect I want?"

Li Chunfang, Zhao Zhenji, and Hu Zongxian were startled and immediately bowed to Zhu Zaiji, saying, "Your subjects understand!"

Zhu Zaiji smiled and said, "Good that you understand."

"Now I have a serious matter to entrust to you."

Li Chunfang, Zhao Zhenji, and Hu Zongxian all stood up at the same time, bowed to Zhu Zaiji, and said, "Please enlighten us, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Zaiji's gaze swept over Li Chunfang, Zhao Zhenji, and Hu Zongxian.

Then he said calmly, "I have decided to arrange for Prince Jing to be enfeoffed. The Southern Underworld has been under development for several years and should be taking shape. It is time for Prince Jing to go to his fiefdom to fulfill his responsibilities."

"However, I have not yet figured out how to restrain and control the power of overseas vassal states. Although the cabinet and you have made many suggestions in the past few years, none of them are to my liking."

"Moreover, the cabinet itself has many things to deal with, and if it were to be distracted by matters concerning overseas vassal states, it would certainly be beyond its capacity. Therefore, I have decided that from now on, you will be in charge of matters concerning overseas vassal states."

Upon hearing Zhu Zaiji's words, Li Chunfang, Zhao Zhenji, and Hu Zongxian all showed expressions of excitement, finally having clear responsibilities and powers.

Although this power is new, if it can be used properly and the rules governing it can be established, they and the Grand Council may not be unable to wield immense power!

Li Chunfang and the other two bowed again: "Your Majesty is wise!"

Zhu Zaiji paused again, then continued, "I intend to bestow upon Prince Jing the Nine Bestowments, granting him complete control over all military and political affairs in the Southern Sea. The appointment and removal of officials, and the collection of taxes, will all be decided by him. What do the three of you think?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chunfang, Zhao Zhenji, and Hu Zongxian all felt a jolt in their eyelids. The Nine Bestowments were the highest ceremonial gifts bestowed by the emperor upon the feudal lords, and since the end of the Han Dynasty, only powerful ministers dared to receive them.

Now the emperor has bestowed this power upon Prince Jing. Although it is an overseas fiefdom, this authority is unprecedented since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, this..."

Li Chunfang became nervous.

Zhu Zaiji raised his eyes, his gaze deep: "What, you think it's inappropriate?"

Li Chunfang quickly replied, "That's not what I meant! It's just... if other vassal kings find out, it might cause..."

"What might this cause?"

Zhu Zaiji chuckled lightly, "If they have the guts, they can go overseas and expand their territory. In any case, I will no longer see the various vassal kings continuing to live a life of decadence and debauchery in the Ming Dynasty."

"I want to set an example for them, so that they can think carefully about themselves and their future, whether they want to just coast along and wait to die, or go overseas and make a name for themselves!"

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