Simulates history, but Chongzhen is the Divine Emperor at the beginning

Chapter 40 Changchun Garden!
"A three-way dilemma, a clay prime minister..."

This question made Zhou Liang frown:

First of all, there were internal problems. Although "Zhou Liang", who was conferred the title of Prime Minister, was theoretically the current supreme ruler of the Ming Dynasty, he was parachuted in after all. Previously, he was just an ordinary candidate who had just participated in the palace examination.

First, he has no connections, and second, he has no experience. If he doesn't go to jail if he directly becomes the Prime Minister, it would be strange!
If he wanted to recruit some reliable personnel, he had no idea where to start because of the years of chaotic rule by the Divine Emperor. The old bureaucrats could not join his core of power. If he wanted to establish a political system, he must have a group of new people who were both clean and reliable.

But where would he find the time to train such a person? The Divine Emperor had only given him thirty years, and considering his past with Lao Yuan, he likely wouldn't be able to complete those thirty years. He needed to be mentally prepared for the Divine Emperor to take him down midway at any time!

So what he lacked most now was time. It was impossible for him to slowly cultivate a group of talents. The end of the cultivation would only be destroyed by a heavy rain, and then he would fast forward to Lao Bing BBQ or Lao Yuan Roast Duck...

If you want to turn things around, you have to take an unconventional approach.

The second issue is the court’s resistance.

Before the Divine Emperor makes a clear move, it is impossible for these corrupt officials in the Ming court to kneel down. For the sake of their own wealth, glory, property and lives, they will definitely oppose "Zhou Liang" in every possible way and obstruct the new policy!

He already had a shallow foundation, and now he was being collectively targeted. The implementation of the new policy would be even more annoying. If he was dragged into officialdom for a long time, the Divine Emperor, who had not seen any results, would definitely relapse and directly imprison him midway...

The third question is the most important:

What is the attitude of the Divine Emperor?

Does he really support the new political reforms, or does he have other intentions?
In a sense, this question and the second question are actually the same question. It is precisely because the Divine Emperor's attitude is ambiguous, saying that he supports the new policy but he has not taken any action, that the officials have become optimistic and are determined to oppose the new policy!
In this entire incident, the God-Emperor, who is above everything else, is the only factor that can determine victory. Whoever He supports will win.

If he didn't support anyone, it would be equivalent to supporting the old bureaucracy, because it was impossible for "Zhou Liang" to destroy the entire Ming officialdom on his own. Once time dragged on, the old bureaucracy would win...

"Damn it! Chongzhen stopped being a fool and started learning from his ancestor, the old Taoist priest, to be a riddle teller!"

Zhou Liang stroked his forehead, feeling really confused about this.

After thinking about it, Zhou Liang hesitated:
"Or... go directly to the Divine Emperor?"

So the solution quickly became clear in his mind:

"Since everything stems from the Divine Emperor's unclear attitude, why not just go up and ask him directly!"

"If He wants a new policy, then let Him go!"

"If He doesn't want new policies, then resign right here and now! If even the Emperor doesn't want to be, why would I be the Emperor?"

Thinking about it this way, Zhou Liang's idea became clear:

Do I need to figure out what my superiors are thinking?

You're just guessing! I was suddenly appointed to power. If you want me to do it, then just say it!

If you don't want me to do it, then just say it. I can just resign on the spot and go back home!

It's not that I want to be the prime minister, but you forced me to be one.

Once he figured it out, Zhou Liang started to formulate a strategy...

"and many more!"

After writing a few words, Zhou Liang paused again:
"No...I can't ask directly..."

He frowned.
"This matter is not that simple..."

Although the Divine Emperor is still Chongzhen, he is no longer the novice he was back then. He has been the emperor for more than seventy years now. It is hard to say whether his other abilities have improved, but he has definitely grown in terms of political strategy!

Theoretically speaking, He would never perform any meaningless operations.

Now that he has issued a self-criticism edict and quickly promoted a prime minister, making it clear to the world that he supports the new policy and reforms, he will definitely not waver again.

In other words, since the Divine Emperor has violated the ancestral system and openly restored the position of Prime Minister, then He must really want a new policy!
His attitude has actually been made clear long ago:
I fully support the new policy!

He just said this simply, so there is no need to ask about His attitude.

"But if He really supports me, then why doesn't He leave?"

Zhou Liang thought about it, and was suddenly shocked:
"Is... this a test?!"

test!

As soon as these words came out, Zhou Liang couldn't help but clap his hands excitedly:
"Yes! This is a test!"

The Divine Emperor was not a fool after all. Although he had quickly promoted a candidate to the position of Prime Minister due to a dialogue between the emperor and his ministers, a purely verbal dialogue between the emperor and his ministers was not enough to make him believe in Zhou Liang's ability.

So, He decided to test this man's ability.

How to test it?
That’s the test!

"Now that He has clearly supported the new policies, my other self has effectively become the supreme ruler of the Ming Dynasty. Although he appears to have nothing, as long as he has the Divine Emperor's clear support, he can possess everything! This includes military power, financial power, political power, legal power... All power can be legally controlled by him!"

"Based on this, my other self is actually the only legitimate ruler of the Ming Dynasty. Anyone who disobeys me is an illegal traitor and rebel!"

"That's right, the current imperial court is an illegal regime!"

The more Zhou Liang thought about it, the more excited he became:
"So, I can just take them all down. Whether they're imprisoned or killed, I have the final say!"

"With such a huge advantage, if I were to foolishly try to settle down, or engage in some inexplicable official struggle with them, or even be sidelined and mocked, it would clearly prove that I am a political idiot. What kind of new policy would I even be able to implement..."

"And if I dare to ask Him about my attitude, it will undoubtedly make Him even more disappointed, and He will think that I am a novice with neither ability nor vision, and that I am completely incapable of implementing the new policy..."

Zhou Liang couldn't help but let out a long sigh:

"Fortunately, I didn't go to ask Him face to face..."

After some logical sorting, the originally chaotic situation suddenly became clear!

"So my best choice now is to cut the Gordian knot and destroy the entire Ming Dynasty as quickly as possible! Then rebuild a clean new court!" "In this way, the new policy can be implemented, the test can be passed, and the Divine Emperor will be satisfied!"

Zhou Liang smiled and clapped his hands, then decisively wrote down the strategy:

"As Prime Minister, your power is unlimited! So there's no need to reason with them about officialdom. If anyone objects, just blast them to pieces!"

"The Emperor's power is your power, including military, political, financial, and legal power. All are yours!"

"Use these supreme powers to create a new government!"

Upload!

[Ding! Strategy transferred...]

……

Just as you were struggling with your inability to come up with new policies due to the three major internal and external issues, a strategy suddenly came to mind...

"Power... unlimited..."

You were stunned for a moment, then your eyes gradually brightened: "That's right! Didn't the Divine Emperor say that? For the past thirty years, the power of the world has been entirely in my hands, and He won't interfere with me. Doesn't that mean... I am the Emperor's father and regent of the Ming Dynasty?!"

【The Emperor's power is my power! 】

[My power as Prime Minister is unlimited! ]

[Kaka! Please give the order! ]

You burst out laughing: I understand!

[However, while you need to cut the Gordian knot quickly, you can't do it too quickly. You still have to be a little subtle to avoid alerting the enemy...]

【…】

In March of the seventy-third year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty, you were conferred the title of Prime Minister.

[And for the next three months, due to internal and external issues, your orders could not be issued beyond the Prime Minister's residence, and the new policies were delayed...]

In July of the seventy-third year of the Chongzhen reign, you suddenly approached the Ministry of Works and ordered them to build a luxurious garden for His Majesty the Divine Emperor as a gift for his eighty-ninth birthday!

[Eighty-ninth birthday?]

The Minister of Industry was confused: "Aren't birthdays always celebrated in whole numbers? How can there be an 89th birthday?"

[Furthermore, Your Majesty's birthday is December 12th. If we start construction in July now, we will only have less than six months to complete the project. How can we build a luxurious garden? (Chongzhen was born on December 24th in the lunar calendar)]

[The Minister of Works complained internally.]

However, since you insisted on celebrating the Divine Emperor's eighty-ninth birthday, the Minister of Works had no choice but to grit his teeth and go ahead... Although they didn't want to obey your orders, this matter concerned the Divine Emperor after all, especially since He had previously clearly stated that He wanted to rectify the civil service, which made the ministers even more uneasy... Now that you want to send Him a birthday gift, they must seize the opportunity to curry favor with the Divine Emperor!

[As a result, this order was quickly implemented. Everyone worked very efficiently, showing no trace of their usual laziness or indolence. Their enthusiasm was extremely high.]

However, the construction period was too short, so they could only reduce the garden's footprint as much as possible. They even took the initiative to use their precious divine power to assist in the construction of the garden, striving to complete it before December...

[While you are sending people to inspect their work, you, in your capacity as Prime Minister, are summoning Lu Zhongcheng, the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guard stationed at the Fengtai Camp near the capital, and his key subordinates.]

[After you found someone, you didn't say anything else, just drank happily with them. As time went by, you became quite familiar with each other and called each other brothers...]

July, August, September...

The landscaping deadline is coming up soon: December!

[On this day, you and Lu Zhongcheng, whom you usually call your brother, arrived together at this new garden that was to be presented as a birthday gift to the Divine Emperor...]

"Brother, is this also part of the new policy?"

While touring the garden, Jinyiwei Commander Lu Zhongcheng was increasingly amazed. He saw that although the garden was small, every detail was meticulously crafted, with pavilions, towers, exotic flowers and plants, and even an artificial lake, filled with running water and stocked with auspicious creatures like koi...

"Isn't this too extravagant? Your Majesty has been known for his frugality since ascending the throne. Not only has the gardens been left untouched, but even the palaces have never been renovated. They've only been patched up..."

Lu Zhongcheng, who has always shunned extravagance and learned from the Divine Emperor, feels uncomfortable with such extravagance and can't help but wonder: Is this really helpful for the new policy?

[“Of course.”]

You walk with your hands behind your back on the exquisite arch bridge, looking at the clear lake water and the koi swimming gently in the water, and you smile mysteriously.

"This garden will not only bring joy to Your Majesty, but will also eliminate the pests that hinder the new policies... Your Majesty will be even happier then."

Lu Zhongcheng scratched his head in confusion.

[Just then, several officials from the Ministry of Works approach you, holding a piece of rice paper and a wolf-hair brush smeared with thick ink, and bow respectfully.]

"The new garden is complete. Please give it a name, Prime Minister!"

[“Give me a name? Great!”]

You smiled, and without hesitation, you picked up your ink brush and wrote three large, vivid characters on the rice paper.

"What a wonderful handwriting, Prime Minister!"

Lu Zhongcheng first praised it, and then couldn't help but recite it.

[“Changchun Garden…”]

……

(End of this chapter)