Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 18 My waist seems to be a little sore.

"Your Excellency, His Majesty summons you."

Zhang Weixian nodded, stood up, and silently followed behind Ma Wenke.
He is fifty-seven years old this year, and to make matters worse, it rained again last night.

With every step I took, I felt my knees and back protesting silently.

But he still stood ramrod straight, a habit formed over many years by the emperors when offering sacrifices to the various fields.

As a veteran of three reigns and a regent, he should have been the most solid support for the new dynasty, but his heart was filled with nothing but confusion.

Wei Zhongxian's downfall was too swift, as swift as a dream.

With the eunuch faction deeply entrenched, how will the new emperor act?
Was this summons merely a routine matter, or was there an important mission entrusted to him?

Just as I was pondering this, I caught a glimpse of several figures hurrying around the corner and into a side hall.

He recognized the two leaders at a glance.

One is Wang Tiqian, the newly appointed head of the Eastern Depot, and the other...

Zhang Weixian's pupils suddenly contracted, and he subconsciously paused in his steps.

Tian Ergeng!?

He's not dead?
Zhang Weixian's thoughts were in a state of confusion when Ma Wenke's voice rang out.

"Lord Duke, please come in. His Majesty is waiting for you."

Zhang Weixian composed himself, nodded slightly to Ma Wenke, and bowed as he entered the main hall.

The hall was brightly lit, with autumn sunlight streaming through the huge windows and casting dappled shadows on the floor.

He was about to raise his head to see how the new emperor looked.

The next moment, a pair of warm and dry hands suddenly and unexpectedly grasped his hands tightly.

"Duke of England, I have finally been waiting for you!"

A clear and enthusiastic voice rang in his ears.

Zhang Weixian looked up in astonishment, only to meet a pair of incredibly bright eyes.

It was a seventeen-year-old boy, dressed in a dragon robe, looking at him with a beaming smile.

The sunlight shone directly from behind him, casting a golden glow on his entire figure. His smile and his eyes were warmer and more intense than the sun behind him.

At that moment, Zhang Weixian suddenly felt a little dazed.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..." Zhang Weixian was somewhat dazed and didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Zhu Youjian seemed oblivious to his lapse in composure, and continued to affectionately hold his hand, leading him to a low couch to the side.

"Please sit down, Your Excellency. I am very pleased to see you still so healthy."

Zhang Weixian sat down in a daze, his hand still being held by the new emperor, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

Zhu Youjian sighed, "I still remember when I was granted the title of Prince Xin, it was the Duke himself who carried the imperial insignia, and the two Grand Secretaries who held the imperial edict behind him. The scene from that time is still vivid in my mind."

As he spoke, the young emperor's eyes instantly reddened, and his voice choked with emotion:
"Unexpectedly, in just a few years, my elder brother, who conferred the title upon me, has passed away, and the two Grand Secretaries who presented the imperial edict to me have been demoted and sent back to their hometowns... Now, all that remains to meet here is the Duke and me."

Before he could finish speaking, two lines of tears slid down his cheeks.

He gripped Zhang Weixian's hand tightly, as if he wanted to pour all his grievances into that force.

Zhang Weixian's mind was completely thrown into turmoil by these words and this demeanor.

He came with a belly full of doubts and wariness, prepared to deal with everything with the most tactful words.

But at this moment, facing such a young emperor who was expressing such genuine emotions, he couldn't utter a single word of his prepared remarks.

He composed himself, and while trying to agree, cautiously probed:
"Your Majesty, please accept my condolences. The spirit of the late Emperor in heaven would surely be greatly comforted to see that your brother is as wise and virtuous as Yao and Shun."

"Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, he has eliminated the traitor Wei in less than half a day. When he recalls the upright and virtuous officials, the country will be prosperous and peaceful, and it seems that it will be just around the corner."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian released his hand, wiped his tears with his sleeve, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm sorry to have made the Duke laugh at me."

Zhang Weixian secretly breathed a sigh of relief, finally managing to steer the conversation back on track.

He awaited the new emperor's reply, as it concerned the direction of the court and the stance of his Duke of England's government.

However, Zhu Youjian shook his head and said softly, "The reason I am crying is not only because of nostalgia, but also because of other things... that have made me restless and unable to eat or sleep."

coming!

Alarm bells rang in Zhang Weixian's mind, and he instantly put the thick armor back on.

He had already made up his mind that no matter what the emperor said next, he would use old age and poor health as an excuse to get by.

The nobles share the fate of the nation? That's just something they say to outsiders.

After Emperor Shizong passed away, the fate of the Duke of Dingguo's lineage served as a stark warning: getting too close to the emperor was never a good thing for nobles.

Zhu Youjian slowly stood up, not looking at him, but walking slowly to the huge "Great Ming Unification Map" hanging in the hall.

He reached out and gently stroked the territory of the Ming Dynasty before slowly turning around and looking calmly at Zhang Weixian.

"Duke," his voice wasn't loud, but it sounded exceptionally clear in the empty hall.

"The Ming Dynasty is doomed!"

Zhang Weixian was stunned by this earth-shattering statement, his mouth slightly agape, almost unable to believe his ears.

This is... this is something a newly enthroned emperor should say?

When he came to his senses, a tremendous fear gripped him.

Without thinking, he instinctively slid down to his knees and bowed, but he rose too suddenly, and his old, chronically aggravated back suddenly felt a tearing pain.

"Your Majesty! What makes you say such a thing!" He endured the excruciating pain, cold sweat pouring down his forehead, his voice trembling.

"Although the Jurchens are powerful, we have already won three great victories in Liaodong and are not to be feared! Although our nation is weak, with Your Majesty's wisdom, there is hope for a revival!"

"Duke!" Zhu Youjian rushed over quickly, carefully helped him up, and then pressed him back down on the stool.

His tone was full of concern and self-reproach, "It is my fault, Duke, why do you have to perform such a grand ceremony! You are a veteran minister who has served three emperors, you are my pillar of strength!"

Lower back and gallbladder?

Upon hearing this word, Zhang Weixian tried to force a smile, but the excruciating pain in his lower back contorted his face, rendering him unable to utter a sound.

Zhu Youjian helped him sit down, but he himself did not sit down. Instead, he stood in front of him with an unprecedentedly serious expression.

"When I was in the Prince Xin's residence, I would read history books when I had nothing to do."

"I have discovered that the end of every dynasty always has a few similar characteristics: corrupt officials, people living in misery, frequent natural disasters, and foreign invasions."

After he finished speaking, he helplessly spread his hands and sighed, "Duke, look, isn't this exactly what the Ming Dynasty is like now?"

"If we don't pull ourselves together, even if this dynasty doesn't fall to me, it probably won't last much longer."

Zhang Weixian, enduring the pain, spoke with difficulty: "The decline of the nation is not a sudden occurrence. As long as Your Majesty works diligently and selects virtuous and capable officials, things will gradually improve."

"Well said!" Zhu Youjian clapped his hands sharply, staring intently at him. "In my heart, the most virtuous and capable person is you, Duke!"

He raised his hand again, stopping Zhang Weixian from making his refusal. "I have investigated and found that the most important political matter the Duke has handled since inheriting the title during the Wanli era was rejecting the usurpation attempt of Lady Wu, the mother of the Earl of Xinning, Tan Maoxun."

"In addition, the most frequently recorded by historians is that the Duke, on behalf of the Emperor, performed sacrifices to Heaven, Earth, the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and the Altar of the Land and Grain, totaling... dozens of times."

Zhu Youjian's voice became faint, like a breeze passing through an empty palace.

"When I was in the Prince Xin's residence, I often read history. When I read about the meritorious deeds of Prince Dingxing, Zhang Yu, in pacifying the rebellion, I was deeply moved!"

"Turning back to you, Duke... I was thinking, if the Ming Dynasty were to fall one day, how would future generations write about your lineage in history? Would they simply write 'able to cook and skilled in sacrifice'?"

These words are extremely malicious.

An uncontrollable rage suddenly rose in Zhang Weixian's chest.

He could tolerate the emperor's probing and the unpredictable nature of the court, but he could not tolerate such humiliation of his ancestors' achievements and his own dignity!

"Your Majesty!" He slapped his thigh, his beard bristling with anger, and shouted, "If Your Majesty has any orders, just say so! Why resort to this provocation!"

Zhu Youjian was waiting for these words.

He first scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, revealing a guilty smile typical of a young person who has done something wrong.

He then stepped forward, grasped the Duke of England's hand tightly again, and said sincerely, "Your Excellency, please calm down. It was my rudeness that offended you. I apologize!"

He paused, then sighed deeply, his guilt turning into a heavy sense of helplessness:

"But I... I had no choice! I know you are mature and prudent. If I hadn't put it this way, how could you have tied your life and fortune to that of a young emperor like me?"

"I am young and lack virtue, with no one to rely on. If I cannot have the Duke as my pillar of support, how dare I do anything in these matters!"

The anger in Zhang Weixian's heart was completely dissipated by this series of shameless punches.

He looked at the young emperor before him, who was both flexible and assertive, one moment provoking him and the next apologizing.

Looking at the undisguised sincerity and expectation in the new emperor's eyes, I was filled with mixed emotions, which finally turned into a long sigh.

"This old minister has served three reigns, and the Duke of Ying's mansion shares the fate of the nation. Your Majesty... why must you test me like this?"

"Duke, I am not joking, nor am I testing you." Zhu Youjian put away all his expressions, his look more serious than ever before. "I truly believe that the Ming Dynasty is doomed."

Sensing the weight in his words, Zhang Weixian also became serious and asked in a deep voice, "Your Majesty's words surely indicate that you intend to initiate new policies. This humble subject dares to ask, where should these policies begin?"

Zhu Youjian's gaze was firm, and he replied decisively:
"people!"

"Politics should begin with people!"

……

Duke Zhang Weixian of England had no idea how he got out of the main hall.

He sat in the sedan chair on his way back to the mansion, still feeling like his mind was a complete mess.

He subconsciously rubbed his aching lower back, his mind racing with thoughts of everything that had happened that day.

It is said that when Prince Xin was still a prince, he was benevolent, filial, respectful, frugal, gentle, kind, and honest, truly a gentleman like jade.

But after seeing it today, Zhang Weixian felt that these rumors were utter nonsense!

What kind of gentle and kind person is this? He's clearly a scoundrel!

One minute he's holding your hand and crying, the next he's cutting you to the bone with his words. Then, when you get angry, he immediately softens up and tries to force you to bet everything you own...

How could the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty be so shameless!

Which wise ruler from history books did they learn this style from...?

In a blur, a name inexplicably popped into my head.

—Liu Bang!
Upon having this thought, Zhang Weixian shuddered and couldn't help but sit up in the sedan chair.

He carefully recalled the chaotic meeting between the emperor and his ministers that day, and the more he thought about it, the more it seemed plausible.

The Ming Dynasty has lasted for more than two hundred years. Is it really going to produce an emperor like Liu Bang now?

But is this ultimately a good thing or a bad thing...?

He was momentarily lost in thought when he thought about this.

Suddenly, a commotion of cries and shouts erupted outside the sedan chair, interrupting his thoughts.

"What's going on outside?" he asked, frowning.

The steward outside the door hurriedly replied, "Your Excellency, it seems that the Embroidered Uniform Guard is ransacking the house. The noise is quite loud."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard raided homes...

Zhang Weixian's eyelids twitched as he thought of Tian Ergeng, who he thought was surely dead but was still alive and well.

and many more……

He suddenly realized something.

"Why are you going home?"

"My lord, it was you who gave the order after you left the palace..."

"Turn around, turn around, go back to the yamen and take your post, otherwise those civil officials will start nagging again."

"Am I getting senile? Are you getting senile too? Why didn't you remind me!"

……

Not far from where the Duke of England's palanquin was taking a detour, in front of a luxurious mansion, chaos had broken out.

Xu Xianchun, the former deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was now disheveled and his hands were tightly bound behind his back by two fierce-looking captains, who forced him to kneel on the ground.

His face was filled with madness and resentment.

He stared intently at Tian Ergeng, who stood on the steps watching everything expressionlessly, and roared with all his might:

"Tian Ergeng! Do you think you're safe? Do you think you can get away with this by helping him kill us all?"

"The one who started this will surely have no descendants! You wait! My fate today will be a reflection of your fate tomorrow!"

"You'll get your day sooner or later!"

Tian Ergeng stood in the shadows of the corridor, ignoring the desperate curse, his face expressionless. He simply ordered his subordinate, "Gag him and take him away."

The captains immediately stepped forward and stuffed Xu Xianchun's mouth with a rag.

But no one saw that Tian Ergeng's hand, hidden in his wide sleeves, was already clenched into a fist, his nails digging deep into his palm, bringing a sharp, stinging pain.

Will I... really survive?

　Wow, that was quite a long setup! It's amazing that people have made it this far.
　　Starting tomorrow, we'll speed things up! GOGOGO! Requesting monthly tickets~ Requesting recommendation tickets~ Requesting continued reading!
　　[Historical Materials in this Chapter]

　　1. The title of Duke of England was inherited during the Wanli reign. 155 records can be found in the "Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty" from the reigns of Wanli, Taichang, and Tianqi. 80% of these records are related to sacrificial rites and ceremonies, 10% are related to rewards, and the last 10% are related to civil and military appointments.

　　2. The Duke of Yingguo had at least two residences at this time: one in Renshoufang, next to the Daxing County government office, and the other in Jiqingfang, east of Wanping County, near Shichahai Lake, a place of stunning scenery and a famous tourist attraction at the time—from *A Brief Account of the Scenery of the Imperial Capital*.

　　 3. Based on this information, I'm a little suspicious that the house the Duke of England temporarily housed for Prince Xin was actually in Renshoufang. Otherwise, people at the time should have noted in their records that this was the former residence of the late emperor. This is just speculation, don't take it seriously; there's no historical evidence to back it up.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)