Chapter 249: Revising the Ming Dynasty Law

Wuchang, Wang Pu’s residence.

Zhao Xin went straight into the signing room, remembered the standard military salute to Wang Pu, and said respectfully: "Mr. Marquis."

Wang Pusu signaled Zhao Xin to sit down with his hand and asked in a harmonious voice: "Zhao Xin, the court's official documents have been issued. You are now the admiral of Huguang. I want to hear how you plan to manage Huguang's defense?"

Zhao Xin responded without hesitation: "It depends on how many Central Army Beiyi has in his hands."

Wang Pu said: "How many Central Army do you want?"

Zhao Xin said: "If you only defend Wuchang, you only need 5,000 Central Army. If you want to defend Huguang, you need at least 30,000 Central Army, and you also need a musket battalion!"

Wang Pu said: "Then I will give you 30,000 Central Army and a musket battalion. How do you plan to manage the defense of Huguang?"

Zhao Xin said: "Huguang's main threat comes from four aspects, namely Zhang Xianzhong from Sichuan, Li Zicheng from Shaanxi, Hongniang from Henan, and Wu Sangui from Shanxi. Among them, Li Zicheng and Hongniang were the most threatened, Zhang Xianzhong from Sichuan and Wu Sangui from Shanxi had the least threat! Therefore, the main targets of Huguang's defense are Li Zicheng and Hongniang."

Wang Pu said: "You don't have to be careful of the Hongmao of Henan."

Zhao Xin said in surprise: "Marty?"

Wang Pu smiled and said, "Don't ask why, in short, I will tell you that Hong Niangzi's Henan army is a friend but not an enemy!"

Zhao Xin said relievedly: "If the Hongniang's Henan army becomes a friendly army, then the defense of Huguang will be much easier. You only need to be wary of Li Zicheng from Shaanxi and Zhang Xianzhong from Sichuan. Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong are old enemies. You are currently fighting in Hanzhong and are unable to look east in a short period of time. As long as you send troops to defend Hexun County in Badong, you will choke the throat of Zhang Xianzhong's out of Sichuan and Li Zicheng's invasion in the south."

"Yes." Wang Pu nodded happily, "But I still have to remind you that although Shanxi and Huguang are separated by Henan, you must not relax your vigilance against Wu Sangui."

Zhao Xin said solemnly: "I understand the humble position."

"In addition." Wang Pu stood up long and said, "150,000 prisoners of rebels will be detained in several imperial villages to serve hard labor. The Central Army will be stationed in the imperial village with them, so you can be taken to the nearby custody. When the farming situation is slack, you can also pull out these hard labor to practice. When the situation is critical, you can also let them go to the battlefield to push them."

"Yes." Zhao Xin responded loudly, "I accept the order."

"Okay." Wang Pu stepped forward and patted Zhao Xin on the shoulder and said, "I'll leave Huguang to you."

Zhao Xin said proudly: "Please rest assured, the marquis will never be humiliated."

In May of the first year of Emperor Longwu, Wang Pu returned to Beijing. Emperor Longwu personally led all civil and military officials out of Taiping Gate to welcome him. He also invited Wang Pu to return to the court on the imperial chariot, fulfilling his grace.

That night, Emperor Longwu held a banquet in Fengtian Hall again to welcome Wang Pu.

The marriage between Wang Pu and Princess Changping was also officially put on the agenda. Under the instruction of Emperor Longwu, the Silijian had even chosen auspicious date for the zodiac, and the wedding date was set ten days later!

After Wang Pu and Princess Changping got married, Emperor Longwu immediately had to conduct a large-scale talent show. This time, not only would at least two thousand palace maids be selected to enrich the palace, but also a woman of equal age with both moral integrity and talent from the families of honor and relatives and officials to enter the Eastern Palace and become the queen of the mother's mother.

It's late at night and the prosperity fades away.

The cup and plates in Fengtian Palace were in a mess, and the shadows of candles were swaying. Dozens of clumsy eunuchs were cleaning up. These eunuchs were captured by Wang Pu and sent to the palace after being castrated by Wang Pu. In addition to these eunuchs, only Emperor Longwu and eunuch Zhang Zi'an were left in the huge Fengtian Palace.

Emperor Longwu looked up at the carved beams and painted buildings on the top of the hall, and suddenly felt sad: "It's been eight months, and the old city has fallen in a blink of an eye. It's been eight months since the Emperor Kao went to the national crisis..."

Zhang Zian wiped two tears.

Emperor Longwu sighed twice and said, "These eight months are as long as eight years for me..."

When Beijing fell, Chongzhen hanged himself to destroy Zhu Cilang's leisurely career as a prince and threw him into the torrent of historical evolution. Zhu Cilang, who was less than 16 years old, had to endure the pain of the country and family destruction and separation of relatives, and even the suffering of the descent of the family and the displaced people. He was truly a matter of life.

However, what the difficult years brought to Zhu Cilang was not all bad things. At least he grew up, he was no longer the carefree prince who used to be the carefree prince who only knew how to discuss the way to govern the country with Hanlin servants all day long. Zhu Cilang completely inherited the virtues of Emperor Chongzhen's diligence and self-discipline, but also continued Emperor Chongzhen's scheming.

The current situation is very similar to when Emperor Chongzhen just ascended the throne. When Emperor Chongzhen just ascended the throne, the eunuch Wei Zhongxian was powerful, and Emperor Chongzhen was just a puppet in the hands of Wei Yin. Now, Sun Chuanting and Wang Pu are firmly controlling the government. Because they were young, Emperor Longwu did not even have the right to exercise the power of the Zhu Ci.

Of course, Emperor Longwu could not tolerate such a situation continuing. The Ming Dynasty was the Ming Dynasty of the Zhu family. How could the government always be controlled by Sun Chuanting and Wang Pu and his son? The young emperor, who was only sixteen, had quietly taken the first step to regaining the imperial power - to select the girl and then get married.

After the wedding, it means that Emperor Longwu has become an adult and can exercise red criticism. The cabinet headed by Sun Chuanting can no longer continue to be in charge of the government and will return to the position of auxiliary government. All memorials are no longer sent to the cabinet to propose blue criticism, but are directly sent to the imperial case of Emperor Longwu to apply red criticism. In this way, the power will be concentrated again in the hands of Emperor Longwu.

Wenhua Palace.

Sun Chuanting leaned against the chair of the chief minister of the cabinet, his face full of solemnity. Qian Qianyi and Lu Daqi, who were sitting on both sides, looked solemn. Several imperial edicts from Emperor Longwu at the evening banquet made them breathless. It was obvious that the little emperor was no longer at ease with the status quo. He wanted to take back the power belonging to the emperor.

Only Wang Pu, who was sitting in the lower head, looked relaxed and said calmly: "It seems that our little emperor has grown up, haha."

According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty, although Wang Pu was a marquis and the governor of the five provinces, he was still not qualified to enter the Wenhua Hall. The Wenhua Hall was the cabinet's office, and only the cabinet's assistants could enter and exit. However, the current situation was special. With Sun Chuanting and Wang Pu's great power, all regulations were useless in front of them.

"Marty." Qian Qianyi said in a low voice, "You can't take this matter lightly."

"Yes." Lu Daqi also said, "According to the Ming Dynasty, even if you become an adult after a wedding, the emperor will have the right to exercise the right to criticize the emperor. At that time, all memorials will be sent to the imperial front for revising the red mark after being reviewed by the cabinet. Only memorials after revising the red mark can be sent to the six ministries."

"Da Ming Law?" Wang Pu frowned, "Da Ming Law stipulates how old can you get married?"

Lu Daqi said: "A man is fifteen years old and a woman is thirteen years old."

"Then change the Ming Dynasty's law." Wang Pu said in a deep voice, "It's changed to a man who is twenty years old and a woman who is eighteen years old can get married!"

"ah?"

"this……"

Qian Qianyi and Lu Daqi looked at each other. It was something they didn't dare to think about revising the Ming Dynasty's law. Wang Pu's words were like a thunderclap, which made them stunned in an instant. You must know that the Ming Dynasty law is equivalent to the constitution of the Ming Dynasty. To put it now, the Ming Dynasty law is sacred and cannot be desecrated.

When Sun Chuanting heard this, he frowned and scolded: "Nothing, how can the Ming Dynasty change it by saying it?"

"Why can't the Ming Dynasty be changed?" Wang Pu said hungrily, "Can a fifteen-year-old child bear the responsibility of a man? Can he bear the burden of supporting his family with his tender shoulders? Also, a thirteen-year-old girl, who doesn't know anything, how can she be a wife or a mother?"

Qian Qianyi said in a lost voice: "Mr. Marquis, do you really want to revise the Ming Dynasty's laws?"

Wang Pu said: "The three cabinet masters don't have to be so nervous. They just modify the marriage age in the Ming Dynasty law, and they are not completely overturning the Ming Dynasty law. Let's do this. Master Lu went back and arranged it. In the morning court tomorrow, let a few censors give memorials and then handed over to the cabinet for deliberation."

It is said that it is left to the Shange for deliberation, but in fact, Sun Chuanting has the final say. Isn’t Sun Chuanting has the final say?

"Also." Wang Pu straightened his face and said solemnly, "Two more should be added to the Ming Dynasty. After the emperor became an adult, he could also accept concubines. As long as he had the ability, he could accept as many concubines as long as he could, but he would not select palace maids from the people! There are also eunuchs, starting from the first year of Longwu, young children from the people were not allowed to enter the palace. All eunuchs were all acted as behind the prisoners."

"ah?"

"What?"

Qian Qianyi and Lu Daqi's farts were almost scared. If you really want to write these two points into the Ming Dynasty, where will the emperor face? Doesn't this mean that the emperor's private life will also be strictly restricted by the Ming Dynasty? Is the emperor still the supreme emperor's honor?

"Nothing." Sun Chuanting scolded again, "Aren't you blaspheming the monarch's power?"

"Blasphemy of the monarchy?" Wang Pu shook his head and said, "No, this is not blasphemy of the monarchy, this is restricting the monarchy!"

"Restrict the monarchy?"

Qian Qianyi and Lu Daqi were confused when they heard this, but Sun Chuanting was thinking.

"Three masters, why don't you try to restrict the monarchy from this matter? The emperor is also a human being, with the same flesh and blood body, holding thousands of young women in the palace. Can he be busy alone? Whoever provokes those palace maids? Who will be young and young must be surrounded by widows in the palace?"

"There are also those eunuchs who were purified at a young age. What is purified? That is the lifeblood of others! Those poor children have provoked whom they don't know anything, so why do they have purified their life? Why can't they be considered men? It's simply a sin!"

Qian Qianyi said silly: "But isn't this what happened in all dynasties?"

"Nonsense." Wang Pu said, "Before the Han Dynasty, there were no eunuchs in the palace!"

Lu Daqi said: "But if the eunuchs do not purify themselves, what should they do if they are in vain in the inner court?"

Wang Pu retorted: "If there weren't so many palace maids in the palace who were young and could not find men, and if the emperor had only one wife and several beautiful concubines like the three elders, even if the eunuchs did not cleanse themselves, would they be able to injure the inner court? Could it be that the servants in the three elders' mansions all had cleanse themselves?"

Qian Qianyi and Lu Daqi showed a embarrassed look on their faces.

Wang Pu said: "Old Master Qian, Master Lu, this marquis may be a bit ugly, but this is the case, and the reason is the case. After the two old masters go back, they will prepare their own things and ask someone to put forward these three revisions to the Ming Dynasty Law in the morning court tomorrow."

Sun Chuanting said: "Recently, the Censorate and the Kedaoya have added a large number of Jinshis, who are all disciples of Emperor Longwu. The three suggestions you put forward for amending the Ming Dynasty's law will definitely be criticized by these Jinshis. Shi Kefa, Gao Hongtu, Ma Shiying and others will definitely fight against each other."

"Enke?" Wang Pu said in surprise, "What Enke?"

Sun Chuanting shook his head and smiled bitterly: "After the new emperor ascended the throne, he usually held an Enke to show that the emperor's grace is great. Originally, Enke should have a major test in the autumn, but this year's situation is special. In order to select talents to enrich the six ministries as soon as possible, the Censorate and the Kedaoya Office, Enke was held last month."

Wang Pu said angrily: "Why don't you tell me about such a big thing in advance?"

Sun Chuanting said: "This is a custom of the Ming Dynasty and a good thing. Besides, you quelled the Zuo Liangyu rebellion in Wuchang, so I made the decision without authorization."

Wang Pu said angrily: "How many Beijing officials have Enko added this time? Are there anyone who has released it?"

Qian Qianyi said: "This time Enke added more than 100 Beijing officials, but there were no ones who were released."

"Good guy, more than 100 Beijing officials were added in one go?" Wang Pu's face changed suddenly, and he said angrily, "Now the country is in trouble, and the country's finances are so difficult, and it is even necessary to add officials. Isn't this aggravation to the national finances? No, I will add another one tomorrow morning court, streamlining the six ministries, the Censorate, and the Kedao Office to eliminate redundant staff."

"Is this a bit too much?" Sun Chuanting said horrifiedly, "You are putting the Lord Long Live on the fire. Do you know how big a storm will cause in Nanjing?"

"If you use heavy scheming in troubled times, you will be willing to do anything! "Wang Pu said in a deep voice, "We don't have much time. At the latest, we will definitely go south. We must eliminate hidden dangers within six months. Only in this way can I not have any worries and dare to feel at ease to fight against Jiannu!"

Wang Pu has Wang Pu’s considerations.

There are three largest forces in Jiangnan. One is a scholar led by Donglin Fushe, who controls the direction of public opinion, the other is a powerful force led by Nanjing Xuqi, and the other is a large number of wealthy businessmen in Jiangnan. These three forces control the economy, public opinion and wealth of Jiangnan. It can be said that it is the cornerstone of the rule of the Southern Ming court.

Now, Donglin Fushe is a tool in Wang Pu's hands, because Wang Pu himself is a member of Nanjing's honorary family, and the cabinet is about to promote the "public auction of official workshops". It is a matter of time before the alliance between Sun Wang Group and Jiangnan Merchant Group. With the strong support of these three forces, Wang Pu's position in the Southern Ming court is unshakable.

In addition, Wang Pu still firmly grasps the military power of the Central Army. What is there that Wang Pu dared not do or cannot do?

If time allows, the little emperor is easy to fool, so Wang Pu can certainly take it step by step. Who is willing to use a knife and a gun to evolve peacefully? But the current situation is that Jiannu and the thief cannot give Wang Pu too much time. The little emperor is clearly not easy to fool, so Wang Pu can only make this bad decision.

It can be foreseen that after the three revisions to the Ming Dynasty law and the proposal to streamline government agencies are proposed, it will inevitably cause an uproar. In this political turmoil, all forces will inevitably be brought in, and many hostile forces hidden behind the scenes will also go from secret to light and officially move to the front to compete with the Sun Wang Group.

This is Wang Pu’s purpose. He wants to force out these opposition forces and then fight them all in one go!

In short, through this political storm, all opposition forces inside and outside the court must be eliminated. The little emperor's imperial power must be undermined, and the cabinet must become the real decision-making body of the Ming Dynasty.

Seeing that Sun Chuanting did not continue to object, Qian Qianyi and Lu Daqi knew that the matter had been decided.

In fact, Qian Qianyi and Lu Daqi also knew that although Sun Chuanting was the nominal prime minister of the cabinet, Wang Pu had the final say. Then the two stood up and said, "Georg Sun, Marquis, it's getting late, and the disciples should go back home and prepare to go."

Sun Chuanting nodded and said, "Then let it go."

It was already late at night when Wang Pu returned to the Marquis of Jingnan, but neither Chen Yuanyuan nor Dong Xiaowan had yet to sleep.
To be continued...