Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

It was just dawn and Zhang Shikang was sleeping soundly when there was a knock on the door.

The maid from the outer room came to wake Zhang Shikang up, and Duke Yingguo Zhang Zhiji was already waiting in the main hall.

Zhang Shikang didn't waste any time. After getting up and washing up, he put on his dragon robe with the help of Dong Xiaowan.

Yesterday afternoon, someone came from the palace to inform us that today's morning court session would be held in the Huangji Hall.

Although it was not an important festival, nor was it a new moon or fifteenth day, the Ming Dynasty had recovered so much lost territory, and the emperor was happy, and all the civil and military officials in the court naturally understood.

Zhang Shikang also specially hung the seal of the Grand Marshal of the Army on his waist and even carried the imperial sword.

The father and son had a tacit understanding. Zhang Zhiji sat on the right side of the carriage and Zhang Shikang sat on the left side.

In the past, Zhang Zhiji would always close his eyes and rest in the carriage, while Zhang Shikang would find it boring and chat with his father casually.

But today the situation seemed to be reversed. Zhang Shikang had exhausted too much energy last night, and knowing that something would happen at the court meeting later, he closed his eyes to rest.

Zhang Zhiji glanced at the marshal seal on his son's waist, then saw the imperial sword lying across his son's legs, and said calmly:

"Have you thought about it?"

"I've thought about it. If it weren't for the pressure of state affairs, I would have quit long ago."

Neither the father nor the son said it explicitly, but they both knew what the other was saying.

"Your Majesty will not agree." Zhang Zhiji said again.

"That's not necessarily true. Hasn't everyone said that His Majesty is suspicious?

Now that the world is basically pacified, the son's achievements have shocked the emperor. How can he gamble with the country? The court officials will definitely agree.

My son has done so many little things recently, there is no reason for Your Majesty to disagree.

It is unreasonable for such a large country to have military power in the hands of one person. I did not agree to it in the first place, but Your Majesty insisted on forcing it."

What Zhang Shikang said was from his heart. Just as he formed He Liansheng and also set up a board of directors, centralization has its advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages are great, but the disadvantages are even more fatal.

Zhang Shikang's solution was compromise.

Select experienced and loyal people to form a small group similar to the general staff, which is directly responsible to the emperor.

But when it comes to important matters, small groups can make decisions immediately and also achieve the effect of brainstorming.

This was the case with He Liansheng and the three armies of the Ming Dynasty. Zhang Shikang even felt that if there was a chance in the future, it would be best to find a compromise in the selection of the crown prince.

Zhu Cilang is a pretty good kid. He is still young and can keep an eye on things no matter what.

But what about the future?

A dragon gives birth to a dragon, a phoenix gives birth to a phoenix, but if a dragon gives birth to a bunch of dragons, there might be some straws among them, right?

It is too risky to directly and arbitrarily designate the eldest son as the crown prince for an empire that is destined to be huge.

Later education is one thing, but even so, Zhang Shikang still feels that the probability of producing a sage monarch is higher if he selects the best from ten or twenty people rather than directly choosing one.

This is beyond doubt.

Of course, this will lead to other problems. For example, if the crown prince is not selected in time, other princes will covet and compete for the throne, and the dispute over the national foundation will spread to the court.

But Zhang Shikang feels that we cannot simply avoid raising issues just because we are afraid of them. We should find ways to solve problems if they arise.

Damn it, it’s PT.

"You! If you did this when you first entered the court.

I guess Your Majesty might actually agree.

But how could His Majesty not know about your temperament and usual style?

How could you hide your little tricks from the whole court, including the civil and military officials? How could you hide them from His Majesty?

You underestimate His Majesty and the court officials!" Zhang Zhiji said seriously.

As in the world, excess is as bad as deficiency.

Zhang Shikang suddenly felt a little disappointed, thinking that today's plan might be really hard to predict. He couldn't help but said irritably:

"No matter what, His Majesty has promised me.

Could it be possible that Your Majesty could go back on his word?"

Zhang Zhiji was silent for a moment, then said quietly:

"Hard to say."

……

Outside the Meridian Gate, court officials gathered.

In just over a year, the Ming Dynasty had regained its previous state of having many officials in the court.

The civil and military ministers were as usual, with military generals and nobles on one side and civil officials on the other.

Of course, whether they are military generals or civil officials, they all have their own small groups.

For example, among the civil officials, several cabinet ministers gathered together, some in the Ministry of Revenue, and some in the Ministry of Works. Although there were clear orders not to make noise, many people still whispered to each other.

This is the good thing about the Ming Dynasty: there are etiquettes, but they are never excessive. They are strict when they should be strict, and relaxed when they should be relaxed. It is not unacceptable to fight or stretch your muscles in the court.

As soon as Zhang Shikang and Zhang Zhiji arrived, both civil officials and military generals naturally rushed over to greet them.

This would have been unlikely in the past, but it is different now. Zhang Shikang has been promoted to king, and according to the Ming Dynasty etiquette, officials must perform the ceremony.

Zhang Zhiji naturally bowed in return, but Zhang Shikang did not return the greeting with a smile and chat as he had done before. Instead, he looked up at the sky with an arrogant and domineering look.

This made the civil servants very embarrassed, and their already limited good impression of Zhang Shikang dropped further.

Of course Zhang Shikang did this on purpose, so that when he started to cause trouble later, these guys would naturally oppose him. This is exactly what he wanted.

An official from the Ministry of Rites could not bear to see this, so he frowned and said:

"Even if your Highness is a prince, you shouldn't carry weapons to court. This is against etiquette."

"Your Majesty has bestowed upon me the Nine Gifts. Not only does he allow me to enter the court without bowing or naming my name, he also allows me to wear a sword and shoes in the palace. What can you do to me?" Zhang Shikang retorted bluntly.

"You...you..." The official from the Ministry of Rites was so angry that he stuttered for a moment.

There were people in the previous dynasty who received this honor, but it was basically just an honor. Even those who received this reward would definitely not actually go to court with swords.

Otherwise, if the emperor is dissatisfied, he will demote you to the ground in a minute.

Zhang Shikang, on the other hand, actually carried a sword with him. He was arrogant, extremely arrogant.

He is going to rebel!

"The ministers enter the court!"

After the officials of the Honglu Temple sang loudly, the civil and military ministers entered from the left and right side gates in order.

After all the ministers entered the Huangji Hall and stood in line, Emperor Chongzhen also walked towards the dragon throne with a gentle smile.

After Wang Chengen sang the ministers' reports, an official from the Ministry of Public Administration immediately stood up and said:

"Your Majesty, since the recovery of Liaoxi, the Ministry of Rites has announced this to the entire nation, and the East Factory's Daming Monthly has also publicized it. Now, people across the country have heard this good news.

Many officials from various provinces, prefectures, and counties have presented congratulatory messages. I have already submitted some of them to the cabinet, and another batch arrived last night, but I have not yet had time to submit them to the cabinet.

I think it would be better to present this congratulatory letter directly to Your Majesty."

As he spoke, the Tongzhengsi official handed a thick stack of congratulatory letters to Wang Chengen.

Emperor Chongzhen smiled and nodded, then casually flipped open a congratulatory letter and took a look. It was mostly full of compliments, saying things like how wise and decisive the emperor was.

However, Emperor Chongzhen was very happy to recover so much lost territory, and he also verbally praised those officials.

The matters reported by the court officials afterwards were mostly trivial matters that were not worth mentioning.

After all, the officials all knew that the emperor was in a good mood because the lost territory had just been recovered. There was no need to report difficult matters today and make the emperor unhappy.

Zhang Shikang waited and waited, feeling that these useless civil servants were just wasting their time with their endless nonsense.

He had originally planned to be the last one to report, but now he could not bear it any longer, so he stepped out of the train and said:

"Your Majesty, I have something to say."

"Oh? What's the matter, Wuji? Just tell me." Emperor Chongzhen said with a smile.

Zhang Shikang's expression was calm.

"I want to resign."

"Hmm." Emperor Chongzhen said subconsciously, but immediately realized something and said with a frown:

"What did you say?"

Zhang Shikang's expression remained calm as he bowed again and said:

"I want to resign from my position as Grand Marshal of the Army."

……