Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 8: This ragtag original team...

Qianqing Palace.

"Suck it..."

The sound of slurping noodles echoed in the palace of the Ming Dynasty emperor, sounding somewhat out of place.

Your Highness, a large group of eunuchs stood there.

The heads of the Twelve Directorates, Four Offices, and Eight Bureaus, as well as the eunuchs in charge of the Anmin Factory (Wanggong Factory) and the Armor Factory, which were affiliated with the outer court, all stood below.

Important departments such as the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Eastern Depot had all their mid-level eunuchs present.

Everyone lowered their heads, held their breath, and dared not even breathe loudly.

Occasionally, someone couldn't resist glancing sideways at the figure standing at the very front – Wei Zhongxian.

This powerful official, who held immense influence in the court, stood motionless like a stone statue, though the slight trembling of his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.

On the throne, the newly enthroned Emperor Zhu Youjian was eating a bowl of noodles as if no one else was around.

Zhou Yu sat on a soft couch next to the throne, resting his chin on his hands as he looked at Zhu Youjian, his eyes crinkling with laughter.

The noodles were made by Zhou Yu herself, but her skills weren't particularly refined; the noodles were uneven in thickness, and she even added too much salt.

But for Zhu Youjian, who had been eating Zhou's wheat cakes for several days, this bowl of steaming noodles was an unparalleled delicacy.

He ate with relish and was very satisfied.

The coronation ceremony was tedious and lengthy, leaving him utterly exhausted.

As soon as the ceremony ended, he immediately ordered his personal eunuch Xu Yingyuan to summon all the heads of these eunuchs to the ceremony, while he himself wanted to fill his stomach first.

Finally, after finishing the last mouthful of noodle soup, Zhu Youjian let out a satisfied sigh. He picked up a silk handkerchief and slowly wiped his mouth.

Throughout the entire process, the hall was completely silent.

"Everyone is here?"

Zhu Youjian spoke calmly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below the steps.

"I have just ascended the throne and am not yet very familiar with the people and affairs in the palace. I have summoned you here today to get to know you."

He paused, then continued, "Let's register one by one. Please state your name and job title clearly."

As soon as he finished speaking, a slight commotion arose in the crowd below.

Most people have realized that this is a routine change of personnel after a new emperor ascends the throne.

It's just a matter of who will lose their lucrative positions and who might seize the opportunity to rise to the top.

Some people were filled with anxiety, fearing that the new emperor's wrath would fall upon them.

Some people, however, saw this as an opportunity to rise to the top.

Wei Zhongxian's heart tightened, and he was considering whether he should be the first to step forward to show his obedience.

However, someone beside him had already stepped forward first.

“This servant, Wang Tiqian, is in charge of the seal of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, and concurrently in charge of the seals of the Imperial Household Department and the Imperial Kitchen Department.”

Wang Tiqian was slightly overweight with a fair complexion, making him look like a wealthy old man.

His voice was steady and clear; his every move was like toppling the first domino.

A group of eunuchs stepped forward to sign up, leaving Wei Zhongxian standing there for a moment.

“This servant is Tu Wenfu, in charge of the Imperial Horse Stables.”

“This servant is Li Yongzhen, in charge of the seal of the headwear bureau.”

“This servant is Shi Yuanya, in charge of the needlework workshop seal.”

……

Zhu Youjian listened expressionlessly, trying his best to match the names with the real people.

The names in the history books now seemed to come alive, standing before him.

"This servant is Wang Shou'an, the supervisor of the Imperial Pharmacy."

"This servant is Tian Yu, the supervisor of Zhengyang Gate."

“This servant is Wang Chengen, the supervisor of the armor factory.”

When Zhu Youjian heard the name "Wang Chengen," he was drinking tea with his head down when his hand trembled slightly.

He looked up and followed the sound.

The one who stepped forward was an old eunuch with gray hair, a slightly hunched posture, and a face full of the marks of time.

Huh? This? Something's not right.
Zhu Youjian felt an indescribable disappointment welling up inside him.

Before he looked up, he thought it was his loyal companion, Wang Chengen, about to make his appearance.

But judging from the appearance of this old eunuch, let alone seventeen years later, he probably won't be able to walk anymore even in a few more years.

If it really is him, I'm afraid I'd have to hold him up so he could successfully hang from the tree...

It seems that this Wang Chengen is not the same as that Wang Chengen.

The annals of history have turned to dust, but how much truth is buried behind the fragments of historical records?

Zhu Youjian was overwhelmed with thoughts in an instant.

Behind the fragments of history books lies the real world and life.

The Donglin Party is a term, but it comprises hundreds of people. Did they all agree on the same thing?

What were the true abilities of the loyal ministers in history?
If we put a treacherous official from history in another position, would he become a loyal minister?
Frankly speaking, at this moment, as he looked at the group of people below, they were eunuchs, treacherous officials, and the kind of people who brought disaster to the country and its people in history books.

But if he truly succeeds in his reforms, he can save this land from its sinking fate.

In this story, who among them is loyal and who is treacherous?
His momentary lapse in concentration was immediately noticed by His Highness and his shrewd group.

The registration process paused for a moment, as everyone keenly sensed the emperor's unusual behavior, and the atmosphere in the hall instantly became even more tense.

Wang Chengen, who had just registered, stood there trembling, wondering what he had done to offend the new emperor.

Zhu Youjian sighed inwardly, thinking that those who could rise to the position of Grand Secretary in the cruel environment of the inner palace were indeed all shrewd and capable.

He snapped out of his thoughts and waved his hand: "Continue."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and the registration process continued.

After everyone had finished announcing their names, Wei Zhongxian finally couldn't hold back any longer, stepped out of the queue, and bowed deeply.

“This servant is Wei Zhongxian, the supervisor of the Eastern Investigation Factory.”

Zhu Youjian's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile: "Of course I know the name of the Eunuch."

After saying this, he stopped talking, closed his eyes, leaned back on the dragon throne, and began to rhythmically tap the imperial desk with his slender fingers.

Da da da……

Each strike felt like a blow to the hearts of everyone in the hall.

Zhu Youjian was not hesitating; he had already made up his mind about the personnel changes in the inner court.

At this moment, I am merely making final considerations in my mind to ensure that nothing goes wrong.

Inner courtiers, to put it bluntly, were the emperor's household servants.

Their promotion or demotion was entirely at the emperor's discretion, without needing to go through the outer court or be subject to seniority.

The saying "a new emperor, a new court" has been a long-standing tradition.

It was perfectly normal for him to promote his former retainers and install his cronies when he first ascended the throne.

But it's impossible to replace them all.

On the one hand, it's unnecessary, as there's no difference between veterans and newcomers in many positions.

Take, for example, the Needlework Bureau and the Salary Conservation Bureau. Whoever takes these positions will be equally greedy; they are inherently lucrative posts.

On the other hand, there is an even bleaker reality.

He was Zhu Youjian, the Prince of Xin.

He was an unfavored prince, whose mother was killed by his father when he was 5 years old.

They were raised by Consort Li Zhuang and Consort Li Kang.

As they grew up, they were constantly viewed with suspicion and hostility by Wei Zhongxian and Madam Ke.

What kind of good eunuchs could come to him?
Eunuchs with ability, means, and connections all went to the inner court to study. At the very least, they were assigned to serve as mining supervisors or military supervisors in other regions, where they were treated like local emperors.

So he didn't even have a eunuch who had looked after him since he was a child.

Thinking of this, Zhu Youjian couldn't help but curse inwardly.

Alright, let's stick to the original plan and take care of the most important tasks first.

The remaining measures are to use personnel and personal relationships to maintain a semblance of order and cover things up.

Later, he would gradually promote trusted confidants from among the young eunuchs.

Finally, the knocking stopped. Zhu Youjian opened his eyes.

Inside the hall, a distinct, audible sound of exhalation could be heard.

This is because when too many people exhale at the same time, the sounds converge and become particularly noticeable.

Zhu Youjian's gaze slowly swept over the crowd, and he spoke:

"Xu Yingyuan".

“This servant is here!” Xu Yingyuan, who had been standing by, quickly stepped forward.

"Receiving the seal of the Imperial Horse Stables."

The Imperial Horse Administration Office was in charge of the palace's elite guards. The Four Guards were the closest armed forces to him, and he had to keep them firmly under his control.

Xu Yingyuan was Tu Wenfu's uncle in the past, and this relationship will make this job handover much smoother.

"Wang Wenzheng was appointed as the head of the Qianqing Palace."

The most important place is his bed, and the Qianqing Palace is where he currently resides.

Although appointing the deputy head of the Prince's Palace to this position might seem like a demotion, it would also be the best opportunity to get close to the Emperor, so it wouldn't be considered treating him unfairly.

"Wang Guotai is in charge of the seal of the Imperial Kitchen."

For some time now, he has been planning to eat only the special meals prepared by Zhou Yu, but this is not a long-term solution.

Let the close advisors take control first, then we'll do a few rounds of purges.

He needed to design a more stringent mechanism for procurement, production, drug testing, and personnel management before he dared to entrust his life to these chefs.

He even had plans to set aside a piece of imperial estate specifically for the families of his inner court officials and close advisors, in order to prevent outsiders from getting involved.

After all, what he is going to do in the future will almost certainly infringe on the interests of all parties. It's better to be safe than sorry.

"Wang Yongzuo, Commander-in-Chief of the Beijing Garrison."

The Beijing Garrison was the largest, fastest-spreading, and weakest armed force in the capital.

The nobles were deeply entrenched in the system, exploiting and leeching off others.

Let Wang Yongzuo meet them first, get a feel for the current situation of the Beijing Garrison, and then see how to rebuild it.

"Si Zhili is in charge of the seal of the Inner Treasury."

……

As the appointments were announced one after another, the former officials whose names were called all looked ashen-faced.

Those who were lucky enough to escape the disaster dared not feel fortunate at all; instead, they cast envious and inquisitive glances at Xu Yingyuan, whose face was flushed red.

Zhu Youjian shook his head inwardly as he looked at Xu Yingyuan, who was so excited he was about to lose his composure.

"Ahem." Zhu Youjian tapped the table lightly.

Xu Yingyuan then seemed to wake from a dream, immediately put on a stern face, and shouted loudly, "Silence!"

The hall instantly fell silent.

Zhu Youjian then spoke again: "Where is Gao Shiming?"

An unremarkable-looking middle-aged eunuch stepped out from the crowd and slowly bowed: "This servant is here."

Zhu Youjian nodded: "You, take over the seal of the Directorate of Ceremonial."

Upon hearing this, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone pressed their lips tightly together, and even stopped breathing.

Why is he?
No, is His Majesty really that decisive?
Those who reacted slowly were still looking at Wang Tiqian, while those who reacted quickly had already noticed that Wei Zhongxian was trembling slightly.

Fear and suspicion, a complex mix of emotions, rippled through the prisoners.

Gao Shiming suddenly raised his head, his face filled with disbelief, and then two streams of tears rolled down his cheeks.

He prostrated himself heavily on the ground, his voice trembling but resolute: "This servant... thanks Your Majesty for your grace! I will obey Your Majesty's decree!"

That acting! No wonder he's a veteran actor.

Zhu Youjian glanced at Xu Yingyuan again. At this moment, Xu Yingyuan's face was pale and bluish, and his eyes were fixed on Gao Shiming.

That's how big the gap is between people.

Who is Gao Shiming?

The eunuch who served Emperor Tianqi, Sun Chengzong, was the one who attended to him when he was teaching Emperor Tianqi.

A top student who emerged victorious from the Imperial Academy's examinations.

He once served as the chief eunuch, but was forced to retire after falling out with Wei Zhongxian.

Would someone like that not have any expectations about why they were called here today?
Life is like a play, it depends on acting.

It is better to seek favors from superiors than to bestow favors upon those below.

If your boss promotes you, regardless of your abilities, you must first and foremost meet their emotional needs.

Otherwise, how can your superiors promote you or give you important responsibilities?
If your boss isn't happy, how can you expect to be?
Wang Tiqian, who was standing to the side, was slightly pale, but his heart was calm, and he even felt a sense of relief.

Its rise was swift, and its fall was sudden.

He had already understood this principle when he was studying in the inner study hall.

Throughout history, it was considered a good thing if the eunuchs of the previous emperors could die peacefully.

Moreover, he had colluded with Wei Zhongxian.

All of this was destined from the moment he stood beside Wei Zhongxian.

It is only natural for a new emperor to purge the old faction upon ascending the throne.

It's already a blessing to be able to get a decent living.

He took a deep breath and was about to step forward to express his gratitude.

Zhu Youjian waved his hand, saying, "I haven't finished speaking yet."

He looked at Wang Tiqian and slowly said, "Wang Tiqian, you will take over as the Imperial Envoy and Chief Eunuch."

"boom!"

The crowd could no longer remain calm, and all eyes turned to Wei Zhongxian.

The title of "Imperial Envoy and Chief Eunuch" is reserved for the head of the Eastern Depot.
Wei Zhongxian's face instantly lost all color, turning ashen white.

He collapsed to the ground, like a lump of mud. The once arrogant Ninth Prince could not even lift his head.

He struggled to kneel on the ground, tears streaming down his face, trembling as he said, "This old servant...this old servant...is guilty..."

After saying this, he kowtowed repeatedly on the spot, and loud thuds echoed throughout the hall.

In the main hall, no one dared to speak; the atmosphere was extremely tense.

Zhou Yu, sitting beside the throne, watched quietly the whole time.

At this moment, her hand unconsciously gripped Zhu Youjian's sleeve tightly, her face feigning composure, but inside she was panicking.

What does the Zizhi Tongjian say?

Her little head was frantically searching for stories of new emperors ascending the throne and purging powerful eunuchs throughout history.

But because of nervousness, my mind went blank, and I didn't even realize that my mouth was slightly open.

Zhu Youjian was amused by her silly appearance.

He didn't even look at Wei Zhongxian's disheveled appearance, and simply waved his hand and said.

"Today, all assigned duties will be handed over immediately and must be completed before sunset."

"The slaves obey the order."

As if granted a pardon, everyone bowed and took their leave, fleeing the suffocating palace with apparent slowness but actually swiftness.

In the blink of an eye, only Zhu Youjian, Zhou Yu, and Wei Zhongxian remained in the vast Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Youjian secretly adjusted the position of the sword he had brought into the palace under the table so that he could draw it immediately.

Then he said calmly, "Wei Si, stop pretending."

　[Historical Materials in this Chapter]

　　1. The positions of everyone in the palace at this time are listed as historical facts, but there are too many historical materials to include here.

　　2. The list of eunuchs from Zhu Youjian's (Emperor Yongchang's) pre-imperial residence comes from an award list dated October 4th after his ascension to the throne. The list consists of eunuchs who served in his pre-imperial residence—from the "Chongzhen Changbian" (a historical record of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign). Almost none of these people appeared later in the story. Famous eunuchs such as Cao Huachun, Zheng Zhihui, Fang Zhenghua, and Wang Dehua were all promoted later.

　　3. Regarding Wang Chengen, I have prepared a separate article, "A Memorial to My Friend Wang Chengen," which I have included in the relevant section of the work for Your Majesty's perusal, so I will not elaborate on it here.

　　 4. Regarding the feud between Gao Shiming and Wei Zhongxian, I'm just speculating based on historical records. Please see the original text: "On the 18th day of the ninth month of the first year of the Tianqi reign, previously, in the memorial submitted by the Ministry of Works, the Emperor ordered the removal of Gao Shiming and the appointment of Wei Jinzhong." — *Veritable Records of Emperor Xizong of Ming*

　　In other words, Emperor Tianqi requested that Gao Shiming be removed from a list of those to be commended and Wei Jinzhong be added.

　　 5. Zhou Yu and Emperor Chongzhen were born in the same year, both 17 years old this year (by Chinese reckoning), with Chongzhen being 3 months older than Zhou Yu. A perfect high school romance template, haha.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)