Ming Dynasty, early morning on the first day of June in the sixth year of Longqing year (the first day of June, 1572)
Ciqing Palace.
…
"Tengu eats the sun! Tengu eats the sun!"
"Don't panic, everyone should perform their duties and guard the East Palace!"
The noise and noise outside Ciqing Palace continued for a long time.
In the hall, Shi Yue was half-lying on the bed, holding his forehead with his hands and looking dazed for a moment.
Two chamberlains stood beside him, waiting for him to change his clothes.
Shi Yue ignored them, closed his eyes tightly, and sorted out the mixed information in his mind.
He only remembered that he was conducting research and conducting meetings in various local districts, and then a solar eclipse suddenly occurred, and he immediately lost consciousness.
After waking up, I ended up here inexplicably, and then a flood of chaotic memories flooded into my mind.
Ming Dynasty...the sixth year of Longqing...Zhu Yijun...the crown prince...
A long time passed.
Finally, he opened his eyes.
call……
He breathed a sigh of relief.
At this time, Shi Yue was able to sort out the chaotic memories in his mind.
Shi Yue stretched out his hands with a strange look on his face.
Looking at my young body by candlelight.
Actually, I traveled through time...
The Ming Dynasty was the dynasty he lived in.
Crown Prince Zhu Yijun is his current identity.
His identity was truly remarkable. Shi Yue rubbed his brows vigorously.
He had struggled all the way in his previous life, so he naturally had a lot of common sense in testing. Isn’t Zhu Yijun the name of Emperor Wanli!?
Apart from other things, he had heard of Emperor Wanli who had not been in court for 30 years.
Of course, it was partly because of Zhang Juzheng that he learned about this period of history. Naturally, his impression of the Wanli Emperor himself was not that good.
There is even a saying in later generations that the Ming Dynasty actually died in Wanli. After all, the Ming Dynasty fell in only 24 years after his death.
Let’s not say whether he is right or not, after all, he is not professional.
But no matter how you say it, this can be regarded as a real emperor at the end of the empire.
At the end of any dynasty, there were not a lot of evils? At this time, the Ming Dynasty was full of five evils.
Official corruption is rampant.
Financial scarcity is difficult to support.
The military is weak.
People's livelihood is miserable and miserable.
The barbarians from all over the world continued to harass us.
Thinking of this, he suddenly remembered that Jiannu was the one who grew up during the Wanli period, right?
Enduring the discomfort of just crossing over, I recalled it with difficulty.
After confirming, Shi Yue couldn't help but smack his mouth with unknown meaning.
At this beginning, he really has a great position and a great responsibility, and he doesn't know who is coming to test him.
Shi Yue laughed at himself.
But, it’s really a test!
Who is Shi Yue?
He came from a poor background, received a master's degree all the way, was promoted through selection and selection, and worked in taxation, town and township, municipal industry bureau, and provincial science and technology department.
After that, the journey became even more prosperous, and the road became extremely prosperous.
Emperor? What can't you do? It's just the central position!
At the end of the dynasty? It is even more important to turn the tide when it is falling and to support the building that is about to collapse. This is what men of our generation should do!
…
Zhu Yijun gradually calmed down and thought about the current situation.
On the twenty-sixth day of last month, the late emperor died of illness in Qianqing Palace. Today is the first day of the lunar month, so it only took a few days.
In other words, the throne of the emperor is now vacant.
Fortunately, Zhu Yijun was established as the prince four years ago, and his throne was stable. Various forms of edicts, hand-written edicts, and oral edicts were passed down to him before and after the late Emperor Bintian.
Two of his elder brothers died young, and the only younger brother left has no hair at all, so there is no fear of any ups and downs.
Therefore, this throne is just a matter of process.
However, everything has buts.
The great power in the world is nothing more than name and implement.
He has been a man for two generations and is well versed in ancient and modern times. He has seen countless people who had their names empty but lost their weapons.
Are there too many chief officials who can’t even get a word in during daily life meetings?
The same applies to the throne of emperor.
Being called an emperor does not mean that he has the actual status of an emperor.
Just like now, even if he ascends the throne, he can only observe politics and has no qualifications to intervene.
As for the reason?
He is only ten years old!
This is still a false year.
Zhu Yijun was born in September 1563, so he was actually only eight years old.
Naturally, this is not an age where one can personally govern, and it is impossible for courtiers and officials to trust him with political affairs.
As a descendant, he must also know that when the late Emperor Longqing passed away, some people in the cabinet lamented: How can a ten-year-old emperor rule the world?
How outrageous is this? But this is the attitude of a cabinet minister.
As for what kind of artifact God has given?
It's just a matter of deceiving the women and children of the head of Guizhou. Which one of the hundreds of officials is not a human being?
Don’t you all know what a ten-year-old child is like?
Not to mention the political atmosphere of the Ming Dynasty.
A fire in the palace is a punishment from heaven for the emperor's failure to practice virtue.
His poor health was caused by the emperor's addiction to wine, sex, and wealth, and he reaped the consequences.
Local civil unrest was caused by the emperor's excessive demands and oppression of the people.
The emperor wants to retort that you, the officials, have no responsibility in governing the country?
Censor Tan Yao would say, "Why did we follow the rules in the past, but why do we violate them now?" What was good before the Ming Dynasty, how come it is no longer good in your hands?
Well, yes, the above are all things that Emperor Wanli experienced.
In short, it is your emperor who is not good at what he did!
But if the emperor really wants to do a good job? Then I'm sorry, the pardon edict will not be followed.
Not only the officials, but even his biological mother, Concubine Li, only treated him as a child, scolding and corporally punishing him at every turn.
After my predecessor ascended the throne, he experienced countless punishments, kneeling, and scoldings.
He was even forced to let the cabinet write for himself and issue edicts in his name.
It can be said that everyone inside and outside are all rebels who regard the emperor as a child!
Of course, he is a child, and there is nothing wrong with treating him as a child. Everyone is just seeking truth from facts.
But it’s not that their butts are different, it’s that they look at the problem from a different angle. Zhu Yijun very consciously thought about the problem from the proper standpoint.
This is the situation. In other words, it also means that he does not have the "mass base" to support the government.
Just thought of this.
It hurts.
My temples suddenly throbbed!
Zhu Yijun frowned and quickly stopped his thoughts.
He had just traveled through time and was still in the body of a ten-year-old child. He had a splitting headache when he thought about it deeply.
He rubbed his eyebrows, and it took a while for his brows to relax.
Just then.
An old eunuch hurried in holding a candle.
"Your Highness! Why did you fall asleep again? The officials are still waiting in the Wenhua Hall. Please go with me quickly, otherwise you will be punished again when the imperial concubine comes!"
Seeing Zhu Yijun still half-lying on the bed, he urged him with an urgent tone.
When Zhu Yijun heard that the old eunuch had moved out Concubine Li, his heart skipped a beat and he was subconsciously panicked.
He immediately understood that this was the instinct of his predecessor, as a ten-year-old child who was afraid of his biological mother who always scolded him.
Zhu Yijun took a deep breath, suppressed his previous instinct, slowly raised his head, and carefully looked at the humble, but slightly sinister old eunuch in front of him.
The ceremonial supervisor is in charge of the eunuchs, the admiral of the East Factory and also in charge of the affairs of the imperial horse supervisor, Feng Bao.
He easily found the corresponding person in his mind.
Listening to this long list of names, you can tell that he is a person.
In fact, he is indeed a character.
Feng Bao was not a simple person, he was a famous eunuch in the Ming Dynasty.
Where is it famous?
This is a great eunuch who can be published in a series of biographies!
Historically, during the ten years before Zhu Yijun took office personally, it was this person who led the Supervisor of Ceremonies and linked up with Empress Dowager Li and the cabinet. They formed a trinity and jointly controlled the affairs.
The descendants of Mrs. Li exercised imperial power and the cabinet handled political affairs, while Feng Bao held the veto power.
This eunuch was one of the three people who stood at the pinnacle of power in those ten years.
Well, an emperor who is not personally in charge of the government cannot be ranked high.
During this period, the chief eunuch was Zhu Yijun's chief companion, responsible for supervising and restricting the little emperor's daily life. If the little emperor behaved in an ignorant manner, he would report it to the Queen Mother Li.
Emperor Wanli was often punished for this.
So much so that Feng Bao often used Empress Dowager Li's chicken feathers as arrows, used Empress Dowager Li to scare Zhu Yijun all day long, and often admonished and educated him.
That's it. For more arrogant things, if there was no chance, Feng Bao would create an opportunity, secretly set up a trap for Zhu Yijun, and then file a complaint to Empress Dowager Li.
The Wanli Emperor was portrayed as a naughty child who would never grow up.
This made Emperor Wanli walk on thin ice, and at the same time intensified Empress Dowager Li's childish attitude towards Zhu Yijun.
In history, Emperor Wanli must have been so angry that he even said, "Feng Bao deceived the emperor and cheated the country, which was a serious crime."
Zhu Yijun squinted his eyes and looked at the eunuch in front of him quietly.
Before and after the death of the late emperor, this person tried to figure out the intentions of the two palaces, persuaded Concubine Li, and expelled Meng Chong, who had been giving the late emperor the medicine of beauties and tigers and wolves all day long.
location.
He also led the Dongchang and Neiwei, and became the most distinguished figure among the ministers.
Such a big Diao Yan was urging him anxiously and concernedly, as if he was really worried about him.
Tsk, that's really good acting, Zhu Yijun secretly praised it in his heart.
His acting skills are naturally not bad due to his old age. He has the memory of Zhu Yijun, and he can imitate his tone and expression 70% to 80%, so there is no problem in not showing any flaws.
He slowly sat up and said, "Thank you for your trouble, sir. I will change my clothes right now."
This is the period of filial piety, so it is natural to wear a robe.
After Zhu Yijun finished speaking, he planted his feet firmly on the ground, stood up, then opened his arms and called the palace maid to change his clothes.
Not sick or slow, calm and calm.
There was still a solar eclipse outside, but the candlelight in the hall was clear. Feng Bao secretly raised his head and glanced at Zhu Yijun with some surprise.
Today, His Highness the Crown Prince seems to be a little different from usual.
If it were in the past, Zhu Yijun would definitely be in a hurry when he heard that Concubine Li was coming, for fear of being blamed.
Nowadays, he is calm and meticulous.
Could it be that just having the throne of emperor can change people's appearance?
Feng Bao felt inexplicably uncomfortable, feeling that things were out of his control.
Even he himself didn't realize it, maybe he was unwilling to admit it - the power vacuum left by the emperor who could not personally govern was too tempting!
Pro-government? I wish I could never grow up and leave the imperial power to the Chief Ceremony Supervisor!
…
Just as Zhu Yijun was changing his clothes, there was another movement from outside.
"Jun'er! Why are you still procrastinating!"
A lady walked in from the door, followed by two rows of female officials.
This lady was good-looking, about 20 years old, with a plump figure and fair and tender skin. However, her face was obviously unhappy, and she walked straight into the palace with a frown on her face.
As soon as he walked in, the maids and eunuchs in the palace knelt down one after another.
Feng Baoying came to him and said, "I have seen the noble concubine."
Zhu Yijun glanced at the old eunuch without revealing anything.
In front of him, you rely on your status and call yourself a servant, and in front of his mother and concubine, you call yourself a domestic slave, right?
I secretly made a note of this person in my mind.
Then he raised his head and looked at the person coming.
Surprisingly, she is her predecessor’s biological mother, Concubine Li.
He has not yet succeeded to the throne, so naturally the imperial concubine is not yet the Queen Mother.
Speaking of Mrs. Li, she can be described as a model of a strict mother.
She has extremely high requirements for Zhu Yijun, and her behavior must comply with etiquette. She must understand all Confucian classics. If she fails to meet the standards, she will often scold and punish him.
He even threatened the young emperor by deposing him.
With the system of the Ming Dynasty, it was almost impossible for Li to depose the emperor, let alone some trivial matters in behavior.
It was very much like the old mother in his previous life who warned her children that if they didn't obey, they would be kidnapped by their uncle.
What's more, after Emperor Wanli ascended the throne, the Li family simply moved into the Qianqing Palace where the young emperor lived, just to take care of Zhu Yijun nearby, and did not move out until Zhu Yijun's wedding.
The harshness and harshness are evident.
But now, not long after the death of the late emperor, everything is in chaos.
Zhu Yijun had to go through the process if he wanted to ascend the throne.
Three times of urging to advance are indispensable, and today is the second time.
He needs to go to the Wenhua Palace to accept the advice of hundreds of officials and then resign.
Only after the third time can he successfully succeed to the throne.
Concubine Li's displeasure was clearly palpable as such a huge matter was delayed in the palace.
You haven't even ascended the throne yet? How amazing!
Concubine Li's face was sullen and ready to go.
Zhu Yijun had just made a rough draft in his mind.
He just held his belt in place, looked solemn, saluted meticulously, and said, "I have seen my mother and concubine."
After saying this, he didn't wait for Concubine Li to have an attack, and continued to say: "There are reasons for everything. Mother, please allow me to explain."
——
Note 1: The Ming Prince lives in the East Palace and calls himself his own palace to the outside world.
Note 2: Regarding the solar eclipse record, "the solar eclipse of Yimaosuo in June of the sixth year of Longqing lasted from the third quarter of Maozheng to the third quarter of Sichu" - "Records of Ming Shenzong"
Note 3: Gong said: How can a ten-year-old emperor rule the world - "History of the Ming Dynasty·Biography·Volume 193"
Note 4: In April of the thirteenth year of Wanli, Emperor Wanli went to pray in the southern suburbs. After the ceremony was completed, he summoned his assistant ministers and nine ministers, and issued an edict: The weather is experiencing severe drought... Although it is caused by my bad ethics, it is also because there are many corrupt officials in the world. Bad law, cruelty to the people, unwilling to care for and care for, go to heaven to harm the world...
The next day, Fujian Taoist Censor Tan Yaoshangshu pointed out that the emperor should first control himself and the affairs of the palace before he could govern the country. In the memorial, he specifically pointed out that the emperor had not done enough in self-reflection and proposed that the emperor should reflect on "(state affairs) Why were we obedient in the past and why are we disobeying it now?" - "Records of Ming Shenzong"
Note 5: Note 4 and the issue of not following the pardon edict are discussed in one of my answers. Regarding the situation of Emperor Wanli after he took charge and why he did not go to court for decades, those who are interested can read it. look.
Note 6: This article is based on background research and historical research. There will be some artistic processing and free play in historical blanks. Readers can refer to the annotations and historical materials to make their own judgments.
The male protagonist's name should be written to reflect the change in mentality. Starting from the end of the fourth chapter, Zhu Yijun's identity will be accepted, and then Zhu Yijun's name will be used uniformly.
Chapter completed!