Chapter 1124
Change of Succession
Emperor Jingtai was frugal throughout his life. He left a will stipulating that his funeral be simple, and that apart from some of his personal belongings, no one should be buried with him or be buried alive with him.
He abolished the practice of burying concubines with the deceased emperor on his behalf. Since there were no concubines buried with the deceased emperor during his reign, the policy was established after his generation implemented it and became an ancestral rule for the next generation, which was difficult to change.
Zhu Jianji obeyed the order, but he stuffed a lot of his own things into the tomb. He also obtained many cultivation manuals and notes from Pan Yun and solemnly placed them beside the coffin.
It's impossible, but what if it works?
After Emperor Jingtai was buried, Zhu Jianji ascended the throne and changed the reign title to Shengjia. He then adopted the new reign title in January of the following year.
Therefore, in May of the eighteenth year of the Jingtai reign, the new emperor began to deal with the incident of the imperial guards storming the palace when the previous emperor was seriously ill.
Shi Heng was executed by slow slicing. The imperial guards who followed him were beheaded according to their official rank, while those of lower rank and his followers were exiled to various places, though they were spared death. More than 6,000 people were implicated. For a time, the capital was silent, and the grief over the death of the late emperor was even more intense.
Zhu Jianji successfully established his prestige, and officials and common people alike praised him for his benevolence. After all, all but a few of the imperial guards were spared, unlike the bloodshed that often occurred during the Hongwu era.
All the officials had to praise the emperor's benevolence, but they dared not relax their vigilance. Instead, they were on high alert, feeling that the new emperor was much more forceful than the previous one.
The new emperor was indeed more forceful than his predecessor. After dealing with Shi Heng and others, he began to promote reforms throughout the country.
This reform not only targeted taxes and the economy, but also included the military.
Chen Huai was dismissed by Zhu Jianji for arriving late to rescue the emperor during the Shi Heng incident. Although he was not punished, he was removed from the army and Zhu arranged for his men to take over military affairs.
Before long, half of the Imperial Guard's leadership was replaced, and almost all of them were now under the new emperor's control.
They only listened to the emperor's opinions, and his control over the imperial guards far exceeded that of the previous emperor. Even Pan Yun's movements within the palace were restricted.
Pan Yun simply stopped showing herself and traveled invisibly each time.
Chen Xun, who had been working as a mascot in the Ministry of Revenue, keenly sensed the new emperor's dissatisfaction and perfunctory attitude towards him, and immediately went to ask Pan Yun for advice.
After leaving the Imperial Observatory, he immediately wrote a letter requesting to resign, attaching a doctor's diagnosis, and said he wanted to return to his hometown to recuperate.
After the new emperor tried to persuade him to stay once, he agreed.
No sooner had Chen Xun left than he promoted Xue Shao to Minister of Revenue and brought him into the cabinet.
The new emperor is more decisive, more energetic, and more hard-hearted than his predecessor, and the officials need to readjust to this new ruler.
Yu Qian thought he would like the new emperor very much, after all, he was also his student.
The crown prince was more intelligent and decisive, and he was also good at listening to his opinions, but things changed after he became emperor.
In less than three months, Yu Qian had five major arguments with the emperor in court, averaging once every twenty days.
Yu Qian was feeling unwell.
Pan Yun advised him: "If you are not in good health, resign from your post. It is not worth risking your life for such a small salary."
"No!" Yu Qian glared at Pan Yun with piercing eyes. "I am not an official for the salary. The reform is at a critical moment, and I cannot leave."
He countered with a question to Pan Yun: "Does the Imperial Advisor really not think His Majesty is acting too hastily?"
"Young people are always more eager to see results."
"State affairs are different from other matters. When things get urgent, mistakes are easily made. This concerns millions of people. Does the Grand Preceptor really intend to stand idly by?"
Pan Yun remained silent.
Left with no other option, Yu Qian had to personally intervene to restrain the emperor.
Young people hate it when others criticize them, which caused many conflicts between the ruler and his minister.
Some people began to think that Yu Qian would not have a good end, and even Yu Qian himself thought that his fate might be worse than Shi Heng's.
He hesitated for a moment, then, remembering his decades of diligent work, he couldn't let the late emperor's eighteen years of effort go to waste. So he set aside his concerns and continued to restrain the emperor. Amidst this commotion, the reforms of the entire Ming Dynasty rolled forward, encountering many minor setbacks but no major problems.
Yu Qian belatedly realized that this was something the emperor had done on purpose.
If even he, the powerful Grand Secretary, cannot control the emperor, how many people in the world would dare to obstruct the emperor's reforms?
Five years have passed since the emperor ascended the throne, and the first phase of reforms in the Ming Dynasty has been completed. Even Yu Qian is uncertain about where the Ming Dynasty will go in the future.
After careful consideration, he decided to resign and yield the position to a more capable person.
At this time, Yu Qian was over seventy years old, but he was full of energy and in excellent health, just the age to make his mark.
Even the emperor felt that his resignation was sudden and subconsciously asked, "I wonder if there is anything I have done that has displeased you?"
Yu Qian replied coldly, "Your Majesty, I am over seventy years old and my energy is not what it used to be. Even if I wanted to share Your Majesty's burden, I am no longer able to continue. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may invite the imperial physician to examine me personally."
The emperor realized that Yu Qian was serious, so he frowned and began to seriously consider what he had done to offend Yu Qian that made him want to resign.
"Is Yu Qing angry because I sent troops to Japan?" The emperor immediately explained, "Japan is in endless civil war, and its people are suffering. Its king has asked me three times to send troops to quell the rebellion. Japan is, after all, a vassal state of our Great Ming. Since we are paid tribute by them, we should do our best. What is wrong with me sending troops?"
Yu Qian's lips twitched slightly, and he said, "Although I have not spoken, I have never opposed this matter."
"Not for that? Then it's for the construction of the Hailan Railway?" The emperor quickly replied, "Yes, this railway is extremely expensive, but it runs from Lanzhouwei all the way to the sea, crossing east and west. It's normal for such a long railway to cost so much."
Yu Qian: "I do have concerns about the cost estimates made by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, but this road is related to the people's livelihood, and I have never opposed its construction. I only suggest that the expenditure be re-evaluated."
"It's not about that..." The emperor thought for a moment and then asked, "Why don't you tell me frankly what I did wrong that makes you want to resign?"
Seeing that the emperor wouldn't listen to him, Yu Qian simply said, "Your Majesty, if I continue to serve as an official, it will be of no benefit to the country. Why don't you go and ask the Imperial Advisor?"
The emperor looked at Yu Qian with surprise, and that afternoon he went to the Imperial Observatory to request an audience with Pan Yun.
Since the new emperor ascended the throne, Pan Yun has rarely appeared in front of the officials. Apart from cultivating in the Imperial Observatory, she either visits famous mountains and rivers or does good deeds among the people. If the emperor had not sent a Taoist boy to serve Pan Yun, he would not even know if she was in the palace.
Pan Yun had just returned to the palace from outside. There were two boxes on the ground, containing some handwritten notes and books. She was arranging them one by one on the bookshelf.
Upon seeing the emperor arrive, she merely glanced at him coldly before continuing with her own affairs. In response to his question, Pan Yun said calmly, "Yu Qian is an upright man. He was initially afraid that Your Majesty would act too hastily, so he spoke harshly. But he is not a fool; he is simply caught up in the situation and cannot see through it at the moment."
Emperor: "Teacher, are you saying that he has seen through my scheme?"
Pan Yun: "He has been the Grand Secretary for more than 20 years. His two sons have been suppressed and have never made a name for themselves. His grandson now only has the title of Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). Do you really want to squeeze him dry before you will let him go?"
Zhu Jianji's mouth was slightly open, but he remained silent for a long time.
Pan Yun ignored him, put all the books on the bookshelf, picked one up at random, and leaned against the wooden couch next to the bed to read it.
When Zhu Jianji came to her senses, the setting sun shone through the window, bathing her in a warm orange glow.
Zhu Jianji stared at her in a daze.
Pan Yun lifted her eyelids to look at him. The two of them looked at each other silently for a moment. Finally, Zhu Jianji slightly shifted his gaze and asked softly, "Is Teacher very disappointed?"
“No,” Pan Jun said, “I am very proud that you were trained by me. I don’t think there is anyone in this world more suitable to be emperor than you. But, Ji’er, I want you to be a good emperor, but I also want you to be yourself sometimes.”
Zhu Jianji's mouth moved, but he couldn't say anything for a long time. He silently got up and left.
When Yu Qian asked to resign for the second time, Zhu Jianji accepted his request.
Yu Qian retired after achieving his goals, donating half of his wealth to the imperial court. He then returned to his hometown with his wife and two sons to teach, while his two grandsons registered at the Ministry of Personnel to seek official positions. (End of Chapter)