Chapter 894
The Role of the Imperial Advisor
Empress Dowager Sun suddenly began to devoutly serve the Three Pure Ones. She not only volunteered to follow the Imperial Preceptor in cultivation, but also used a considerable amount of her personal wealth to allow the Emperor to provide relief to the soldiers who died in battle.
The Sun family donated a considerable amount of money, and the emperor even opened his private treasury, giving all the money to the Ministry of War to provide relief to the soldiers.
With the people's hearts returning to the Ming Dynasty and the army's morale soaring, the new emperor increased the number of troops in the north to strengthen defenses against the Oirat and other northern nomadic tribes, and there was no objection from the entire country.
Yu Qian was promoted to Minister of War and replaced Cao Nai in the cabinet, becoming one of the Grand Secretaries.
At the first grand court assembly after the new emperor ascended the throne, in addition to proposing to increase the number of troops in the north and strengthen defenses, he also suggested recruiting Deng Maoqi.
Suppressing the rebel forces led by Deng Maoqi was something the late emperor insisted on doing. Zhu Qiyu was not too keen on overturning his brother's political opinion. Moreover, many ministers in the court also insisted on upholding the late emperor's advice.
It's strange that when the late emperor was alive, those who jumped out to insist on annihilating Deng Maoqi were clearly advising the emperor's elder brother to grant Deng Maoqi amnesty.
Why did their thinking change after a new emperor was appointed?
Although Zhu Qiyu did not want to overturn his elder brother's decision, he knew in his heart that continuing the war in Fujian would do more harm than good to the Ming Dynasty, so he leaned towards Yu Qian.
However, the trouble has never been about the surrender itself, but rather what happens after the surrender.
The matter was debated twice in the court and the cabinet discussed it three times in private before the emperor, but they still couldn't make up their minds.
After Empress Dowager Sun relaxed her pursuit of Cao Nai and other accompanying officials, and even took the initiative to provide financial relief to the soldiers, Zhu Qiyu immediately recalled Cao Nai and others under various pretexts, only granting them minor official positions, but always bringing them to the palace for discussions.
Empress Dowager Sun turned a blind eye and pretended not to know. Huichang Earl Sun Jizong naturally followed suit, keeping his doors tightly shut. He also claimed to be ill and did not attend court, staying at home and not getting involved in politics.
The voices in the court opposing the amnesty diminished.
With fewer dissenting voices, certain individuals become particularly prominent.
Zhu Qiyu then discovered that the most vehement opponents were actually members of the imperial clan.
He was puzzled and privately asked Yu Qian, "Why are they so opposed?"
When Yu Qian went to Jiangnan for disaster relief last year, he also secretly went to Fujian to investigate. Upon hearing this, he said: "Firstly, Deng Maoqi is audacious and wants to emulate the Taizu Emperor, which is disliked by the imperial clan; secondly, the oppressive government in Fujian is serious, which originated from smuggling in maritime trade."
Yu Qian explained in detail: "The princes of the royal family, led by Prince Lu, engaged in smuggling trade along the Fujian coast. Many princes privately owned land in Fujian, and some of them colluded with the local garrison to embezzle the land. Although the Deng Maoqi case was caused by the local gentry and landlords mistreating the tenant farmers, once they were granted amnesty, a thorough investigation would uncover all of them, and none of them could escape."
Yu Qian paused for a moment and then said, “Your Majesty, our Great Ming has been stable for a long time, and it looks like the country is at peace and the people are enjoying peace. However, the matter of the personal expedition shows that although our Great Ming is stable on the surface, it has been suffering from deep-seated problems for a long time. We should take this opportunity to investigate the disease and then prescribe the right medicine.”
Zhu Qiyu hurriedly asked, "How do we investigate, and what kind of medicine should we use?"
Seeing that he was willing to listen to his opinion, Yu Qian's expression softened, and he said softly, "First of all, we should offer amnesty to Deng Maoqi. While considering the conditions he proposed, we should take the opportunity to investigate the situation of garrisoning troops and farming in Fujian. This is an investigation of the local garrison. Then, we should use the excuse of settling the rebels and surveying the land."
Although Zhu Qiyu had not received an imperial education, he was not stupid. He widened his eyes and panicked a little: "Do you want to...do you want to survey the land?"
Yu Qian calmly nodded: "Yes, land survey!"
Zhu Qiyu, seeing his resolute expression, swallowed hard and asked, "Is it just a survey of Fujian, or..."
"Fujian first."
In other words, taking Fujian as an example, other places also need to conduct land surveys.
Zhu Qiyu stood up and spun around in place; this was a big deal!
He turned around and whispered, "I know that my brother has always wanted to do this, but he has never been able to. If this matter is proposed but cannot be done, the person who made the suggestion will be doomed."
Yu Qian lifted his robe and knelt down, saying in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I am willing to go first and risk my life, just to give the landless people of the Ming Dynasty a way out."
Zhu Qiyu remained silent.
Yu Qian looked up and said, "As long as Your Majesty trusts me, I will die without regret." Zhu Qiyu clenched his fist, slammed it heavily on the table, and said resolutely, "Very well! I trust you!"
Zhu Qiyu said he believed him and immediately took him to Pan Yun, asking Pan Yun to tell Yu Qian's fortune.
Yu Qian: ...
Pan Yun: ...
Only Zhu Qiyu said with a serious expression, "Grand Preceptor, Lord Yu is one of my most trusted ministers. He is about to do something very dangerous. Can you calculate for him whether it will go smoothly and whether he... will be able to live out his natural lifespan?"
Yu Qian couldn't help but rub his forehead: "Your Majesty..."
Pan Yun was speechless, but still glanced at Yu Qian and asked, "Lord Yu, are you going to persuade Deng Maoqi to surrender?"
Zhu Qiyu looked at Pan Yun with shining eyes and a face full of admiration.
Yu Qian replied expressionlessly, "Such matters naturally do not require my personal attention. The matter of offering amnesty has been discussed for several days. With the Grand Preceptor's keen eyesight, surely he could have calculated or guessed it?"
Pan Yun smiled and said, "Lord Yu, are you trying to use the pretext of recruiting Deng Maoqi to investigate Fujian?"
Yu Qian sat up slightly and asked calmly, "Why does the Imperial Preceptor ask this?"
"What's the use of granting amnesty to Deng Maoqi? He's the result, not the cause. Aren't the people in the court who oppose granting amnesty afraid that granting amnesty to one Deng Maoqi will lead to countless Deng Maoqis?"
Pan Jun said, “But the people of our Great Ming have always been gentle and kind. Those with evil intentions are only a very small minority. As long as we deal with the cause and prevent similar incidents from happening again, the second Deng Maoqi will definitely not be able to become as powerful as him. At that time, why should we worry?”
Yu Qian clenched his fist slightly in his sleeve. He tried to control his expression, but his eyes couldn't help but shine as he stared at Pan Yun.
Their eyes met briefly across the distance, and Yu Qian sighed inwardly again: If only she weren't a Taoist priest...
Or perhaps, it would be better if she weren't the Imperial Advisor.
Yu Qian: "So, what does the Imperial Advisor think is the reason for Deng Maoqi's rebellion?"
Pan Jun raised a slight smirk: "Such a question is not for Lord Yu to ask me; he should ask Deng Maoqi and the people who follow him."
“However, when the people rebel, it’s usually because they can’t survive or have no way to get ahead,” Pan Jun said softly. “Land is an important factor in all of this.”
Yu Qian sighed: "I'm afraid this problem isn't limited to Fujian."
Pan Yun lowered his eyes, staring at the corner of his sleeve, and said, "Lord Yu is indeed Lord Yu. Is he going to conduct a nationwide land survey?"
Yu Qian: "Does the Imperial Preceptor think it's unacceptable?"
Pan Yun looked at Zhu Qiyu: "You should ask His Majesty about that."
Zhu Qiyu quickly replied, "Why not? Is it something you can't do?"
Pan Yun: "As long as Your Majesty is determined, it will surely succeed; if Your Majesty hesitates, it will not succeed."
Zhu Qiyu's eyes lit up: "Can it really happen just because I want it?"
Pan Jun nodded affirmatively: "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and as long as you are determined, you can achieve it."
Zhu Qiyu instantly made up his mind and turned to Yu Qian, saying, "Lord Yu, since this matter is beneficial to the country, then you can do it with peace of mind!"
Yu Qian glanced quickly at Pan Yun, then lowered his head and responded with a soft "Yes." (End of Chapter)