Travel back in time and become Chongzhen, watch me turn the tide

On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the Fengtian Hall, Chongzhen, wearing a dragon robe and a crown, sat upright on the magnificent golden throne. He had an upright posture, a majestic aura without anger, and exuded an awe-inspiring majesty, which made everyone present feel respect and awe.

There were three types of court meetings in the Ming Dynasty: grand court meetings, new moon and full moon court meetings, and regular court meetings, each with its own unique meaning and rituals.

The Grand Court Meeting was the most solemn court meeting, held on the first day of the first lunar month, the winter solstice, and the emperor's birthday every year. At that time, the entire Forbidden City was decorated with lights and colorful lanterns, and drums and music sounded. Civil and military officials dressed in court robes filed in and gathered in front of the Fengtian Hall, shouting "Long live the emperor", demonstrating the supreme majesty and glory of the royal family.

The New Moon and Full Moon Courts are held on the first and fifteenth day of each month. They are mainly ceremonial in nature, and their core purpose is to carefully maintain the strict and orderly ceremonial order of the court. Through meticulous rituals such as greetings and worship between the monarch and his subjects, they clearly demonstrate the insurmountable relationship of hierarchy between the monarch and his subjects.

The regular court sessions were held every day, like the silently running gears of daily life, handling the country's complicated affairs in an orderly manner. No matter whether it was matters of the people's livelihood or the planning of border wars, they were all on the agenda of the regular court sessions. It ensured the normal and stable operation of the regime and was an important guarantee for the long-term stability of the Ming Dynasty.

Since Chongzhen entered Nanjing City and regained power in the court, Shi Kefa, out of careful consideration for the legitimacy and stability of the court, had advised him to hold a coronation ceremony, hoping that this move would further consolidate Chongzhen's throne and rally the hearts of the people.

However, Chongzhen rejected this suggestion without hesitation.

His answer was resounding: "A coronation ceremony would be a waste of money and manpower. Besides, it is still the 17th year of Chongzhen. I am already the legitimate emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Why should I hold another coronation ceremony?"

Chongzhen's move was driven by profound and multifaceted considerations. On the one hand, he wanted to clearly demonstrate to his subjects that his legitimacy was unshaken and that a grand coronation ceremony was unnecessary. He firmly believed that his legitimacy and authority as the Ming emperor were already deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. On the other hand, he was deeply aware that, during this difficult time when the country was ravaged by war and people's livelihoods were in decline, holding a grand coronation ceremony would undoubtedly consume enormous manpower, material resources, and financial resources, placing an even heavier burden on the already impoverished people.

Since taking control of Nanjing, Chongzhen issued numerous imperial decrees, yet he never made a single public appearance, acting as a hidden mastermind, quietly plotting the nation's future. Even the daily court sessions were omitted. When matters needed to be discussed, Chongzhen summoned the officials involved to discuss them individually. This unique approach to governance not only demonstrated Chongzhen's caution and restraint, but also reflected the complexity and subtlety of the situation at the time. He secretly observed everything within and outside the court, pondering strategies for responding.

This New Moon and Full Moon Court session was of great importance to both Chongzhen and his courtiers, as it marked the first meeting between the emperor and his ministers. This court session was a crucial meeting, carrying the expectations and hopes between the emperor and his ministers, and symbolizing the beginning of Chongzhen's formal re-establishment of control over the court. After this New Moon and Full Moon Court session, the daily court session would resume as normal, and the court would resume its normal operations, like a precision instrument restarted, beginning to function in an orderly manner.

According to Chongzhen's preconceived notion, the New Moon and Full Moon Courts were inherently ceremonial affairs. Today's meeting was primarily intended to allow him to meet with his ministers, familiarize himself with them, enhance understanding and trust between the emperor and his subjects, and foster a harmonious and stable atmosphere within the court. Following the successful conclusion of the meeting, Chongzhen planned to immediately convene relevant personnel for an in-depth discussion of the crucial strategic matter of dispatching troops to Shandong, a matter of national destiny. This was a meticulously crafted plan, a grand blueprint meticulously crafted and meticulously drawn, ready for steady, step-by-step implementation.

This New Moon and Full Moon Court ceremony involved a rigorous and meticulous set of procedures, interlocking links, and elaborate, complex rituals. Every step had to be strictly followed, and no mistakes were allowed. Although Chongzhen felt a little impatient, feeling that these red tape consumed a lot of time and energy, as the Son of Heaven, he was well aware of the importance of etiquette to the court. Therefore, he could only suppress his inner irritation and force himself to slowly complete the procedures step by step.

Seeing that all the procedures were about to be completed, Chongzhen finally breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to announce the adjournment of the court, an official suddenly came out of his post, knelt down, and shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, I have an important matter to report!"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was as if a huge rock had been dropped into a calm lake, instantly causing ripples to form. Everyone present was stunned, faces filled with astonishment. As everyone knew, the New Moon and Full Moon Courts were ceremonial meetings, and according to convention, no reports were made. The real focus for in-depth discussion and discussion of state affairs was the daily regular courts. While reports were not unheard of, and had occurred sporadically throughout history, such events were extremely rare, as rare as a phoenix feather and a unicorn horn, and often incited public outrage.

Chongzhen was known as a diligent emperor, never missing court meetings, big or small, but this was the first time he had ever submitted a report at a meeting on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. This was truly unusual. Chongzhen could not help but feel extremely strange and puzzled, wondering what could be so urgent that this official would disregard court etiquette and rashly submit a report at such an inopportune time.

However, being in the court, Chongzhen knew he had to follow etiquette and rules and could not act arbitrarily based on personal preferences. So, although he was surprised, he could not directly expel the official. He could only suppress his curiosity and doubts and patiently deal with this sudden situation. He raised his eyes slightly, glanced curiously at the person who spoke, and found that it was Zhang Zhengchen, the Minister of Personnel.

This person has long been famous in the court. He has always been known for his loyalty, integrity and incorruptibility. He has never been afraid of the pressure from the powerful and dares to speak out his opinions. He has always been known for his integrity and honesty in the court. He is a rare talent and Chongzhen had heard of him a long time ago.

Seeing that it was Zhang Zhengchen, Chongzhen's brows, which had been furrowed in surprise, slowly relaxed, but the doubts in his heart grew even stronger. He asked softly, "What's the important matter?"

Zhang Zhengchen was also feeling quite nervous at this moment. He knew that Chongzhen was narrow-minded and attached great importance to the etiquette of court meetings. However, the matter he was reporting was extremely urgent and urgent, and he could not delay even a moment. He had originally intended to report this to the Hongguang Emperor, but before he could submit it, the emperor had been replaced, and court meetings had been suspended for several days. Today, Emperor Chongzhen finally attended court, and he didn't care whether it was the first or fifteenth day of the lunar month. He just wanted to report this matter to the emperor as soon as possible to avoid missing the opportunity for war.

Hearing Chongzhen's question, Zhang Zhengchen straightened his clothes, took out the prepared memorial, took a deep breath, and said...