Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

When the Filipino students were sent to Nanjing, a grand prisoner dedication ceremony was being held in Nanjing.

Now is the third day of the entire prisoner presentation ceremony. The Annan Kingdom's Puppet Yu Dynasty's Supreme Emperor Hu Jiya, Emperor Hu Hancang, Zuo Xiangguo Wei Wang Hu Yuancheng, and a group of criminal officials have all been sent to the Ming Dynasty to accept the attention of the people of Nanjing. Public execution.

After the parade, at the Fengtian Gate, Zhu Di, the eldest prince Zhu Gaochi, the third prince Zhu Gaosui, the national counselor Jiang Xinghuo, as well as the six ministers, ministers, and the princes and counts of the fifth army governor's mansion looked down at the procession of prisoners.

The blessing ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, which only courtiers could participate in, was over, and now it was the presentation of prisoners at the Meridian Gate that all the people were looking forward to.

"Your Majesty, this is the traitor and traitor of the Hu family."

Zhu Gaosui, who was wearing a bullfight uniform, pointed to the figures kneeling together at the steps and said to Zhu Di.

"Yes." Zhu Di nodded in agreement, then raised his hand to signal for the firecrackers to go off.

Well, in fact, as early as the Tang Dynasty, people would use firecrackers to make sounds in religious activities to express their sacrifice. In the Song Dynasty, with the development of gunpowder technology and the formation of the firecracker industry, this lively thing also became It became a part of the rituals in various royal activities.

Amidst a series of deafening firecrackers, the kneeling civil and military officials of Annan Kingdom looked up at the king who stood up from the throne at the city gate. They saw a majestic middle-aged man staring at them indifferently.

Zhu Di's eyes were very bright, as sharp and deep as an eagle. He stared at the Hu family and his son who were kneeling at the front, and unexpectedly interrupted the established ritual process.

The next step should have been for the Hu family and his son to kneel down and enter the prepared punishment list, and then the ceremonial officer would go through the formalities and come in with the punishment list and hand it to the announcer to read it out. The emperor spoke and the announcer went out to deliver it, but now The emperor moved on his own.

"I want to ask them personally."

As Zhu Di said this, he stepped down the tower. Under the protection of two rows of soldiers, he walked straight to the bottom of the steps. Except for the sentence at the beginning, he said nothing during the whole process.

The eldest prince Zhu Gaochi and the third prince Zhu Gaosui hurriedly followed. Although the other civil and military officials were shocked and undecided, they still followed the etiquette and rules and continued to act according to the procedures, standing in place as stakes.

Jiang Xinghuo was a little distracted, and he didn't come back to his senses until Song Li, the Minister of Rites who had just rushed back to the capital, pulled the sleeve of his unicorn suit.

A lot has happened these days.

Zheng He's fleet successfully captured the port of Manila and sent a prince from Luzon and some people over.

This is of course a very meaningful thing, not only because Luzon has become a commodity dumping ground for the Ming Dynasty after Japan, Korea, Annan, Champa and other countries, but also because Manila Port, Qinghua Port, Quanzhou Once these three natural harbors are obtained, they can form a stable triangle, thereby completely controlling the entire Wanli Shitang, which is equivalent to building a vast exclusive economic zone for the Ming Dynasty, which greatly increases the stability of the maritime territory.

Nowadays, with the progress of several eradication operations, the pirates and Japanese pirates in this triangle have been basically eliminated, which provides the necessary stable environment for the development of maritime trade.

After Zheng He's fleet initially conquered the Luzon Kingdom, there was another important significance for Jiang Xinghuo, that is, he had the ability to fulfill the agreement with Zhu Gaosui on overseas feudal vassals and exchange of information.

As the second year of Yongle approached and the internal and external situations became increasingly tense, Zhu Gaosui's intention to withdraw became obvious.

Moreover, the Jinyiwei led by Ji Gang gradually restored the old system of the Hongwu period, and the establishment and number of people began to expand rapidly. This also led to the original tripartite situation of the intelligence agency being gradually broken.

In fact, this is inevitable, because although Jinyiwei was the last one to join, Jinyiwei is the serious intelligence agency of the country, or in other words, it is an intelligence agency on the surface, and whether it is the external affairs of the Yan Army that was previously controlled by the old monk, Intelligence agencies, or the intelligence agencies that Zhu Gaosui later set up to monitor internal affairs, are not on the table.

The former has now been gradually reduced or even abolished, and the personnel and information have basically been handed over to Jinyiwei.

There is not only Zhu Di, who has truly transformed into a dragon, but also a hint of wariness against the prime minister in black who helped him become a dragon. There is also an intention to formalize the intelligence agency. After all, the external intelligence part can be handled exclusively by the Jin Yiwei. It also needs to be formalized.

Although Zhu Gaosui's internal supervision does not need to be handed over to Jin Yiwei to avoid being a dominant business, this job is very hot and offending.

Especially at this moment when the final review of the imperial examination and the first year of Yongle is about to come, Zhu Gaosui has already felt the imminent pressure. It is really not an exaggeration. Taite Niang has offended people, because he has to be responsible for supervising these civil and military affairs secretly. Officials, and this "secret" is actually not that secret, it is just an undisclosed secret in the temple.

The eldest prince Zhu Gaochi has the support of almost the entire civil service system, and the second prince Zhu Gaoxu has the collective support of Jing Nanxun, the noble military ministers. Does he have a problem?

He offended many people, and in the end, his father Zhu Di would definitely not use him as a scapegoat. The most he would do was reprimand him, "How dare you secretly spy on the ministers of the country?" and then find a place to become a vassal king.

But anyone with a discerning eye can see how the vassal king has been cut into shape. King Sai is still insisting not to return the three guards. Now only Qin Fan and Jin Fan are left. Qin Fan and Jin Fan are strong and unruly. Jin Fan is the inheritance passed down from Zhu Yuanzhang's second and third sons. Although the eldest brother Zhu Biao failed to become the emperor, why should you, the fourth son, be the emperor and ride on us? When our father (the King of Qin and the King of Jin) is here, you, Mr. Zhu, can’t you respectfully call me brother?

Needless to say, Ping'an and Sheng Yong who were stationed on the front line of Xuanda, and Xu Huizu of the Army Governor's Mansion after the march to Beijing, these three famous generals of the Southern Army were used to deal with the Qin and Jin vassals.

But Zhu Gaosui knew very well that no matter how much his father loved him, when he was a vassal king, he was a Taiping prince, and he was absolutely not allowed to have any power, including the most important military power.

But what does Prince Taiping mean to him?

Therefore, if you want to be free and have power in your hands, you have to go overseas and become a vassal king overseas. You are said to be a vassal king. If the sky is high and the emperor is far away, then you will be the earth emperor, and you will be a king who deserves his name.

Therefore, Zhu Gaosui really wanted to stay away from the center of the increasingly fierce temple storm and go to Luzon to become a free king.

"It is necessary to take some time to meet this international student from Luzon who is here to act as a hostage today."

Jiang Xinghuo thought for a while and decided in his heart.

At this time, Jiang Xinghuo looked under the city gate and saw that Zhu Di had already walked in front of these surrenders. Some of these surrenders from Annan Kingdom lowered their heads and pretended to be ostriches, while others were doing so uneasily. Various small actions, but no matter what they did, they could not hide the panic deep inside.

Zhu Di came to the Hus and his sons and stopped a few feet away from them.

Of course, it is not that Zhu Di is afraid of being assassinated. In terms of force value, Zhu Di, who is now in his forties, is a first-class military general. He cannot compare with a super-class Zhu Gaoxu, but his individual combat effectiveness is definitely at a very high level. Facing the Hu family and his son, the three Breeding weak chickens and taking one away with one hand is not too much.

Zhu Di was just thinking about some issues.

He did not speak, and quietly looked at the three people in front of him. Zhu Di's face was very calm, but the more he looked like this, the more frightened Hu Hancang felt, feeling that he seemed to be on the verge of rage.

Before the surrender of Thang Long City, Hu Hancang still had a lonely and courageous character, and wanted to bury his country and the country. But this courage, with the surrender, with the bumps of thousands of miles along the way, and with the dozens of days of imprisonment, Along with the hope of life, disappeared.

The only thing Hu Hancang wants to do now is to survive.

Even being the empress of Shu is better than being the empress of Southern Tang!

As long as he lives, he is willing to pay any price!

"You are the 'emperor' of the pseudo-Yu Kingdom?"

Finally, Zhu Di, who had been silent for a long time, spoke slowly and lowly.

Hu Hancang immediately stood up tremblingly, walked forward for a short distance with trembling legs, and then knelt down in front of Zhu Di with a thud, kowtowed and begged: "The guilty minister is bowing down to His Majesty the Great Emperor."

The Great Emperor is the common honorific title used by foreigners in this era for the emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Di looked at Hu Hancang, who was trembling in front of him, with an indifferent smile on his face: "Hu Hancang, I remember you once said on the table that your Hu family has been loyal to Annan for generations..."

"Your Majesty, spare your life, spare your life!"

Hu Hancang trembled all over and hurriedly got up and kowtowed to beg for mercy. His head banged against the hard bluestone floor tiles in front of Fengtian Gate, and blood dripped instantly.

Looking at the so-called "Emperor Dayu" who was already stunned with fright, a trace of disdain flashed in Zhu Di's eyes, and then he slowly said to Hu Jima: "Hu Jima, do you still recognize me?"

Hu Jisao was a famous Confucian scholar and poet of the Annan Kingdom. In the early years of Hongwu, he came to the Ming Dynasty as an envoy of the Annan Kingdom and was personally received by Zhu Yuanzhang.

But at that time, Hu Jiya was still a middle-aged man in the prime of life, and Zhu Di was a child. Now, thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye, Hu Jiya has grown old, and Zhu Di has also reached middle age, and his appearance has changed greatly. Needless to say, even if I have met him once before, how can I recognize him?

Hu Jima laughed and said: "Your Majesty transformed from a dragon into a dragon. How can I, an old turtle who fell into a well, recognize him?"

But Zhu Di heard the hidden meaning in Hu Jishan's words. Obviously, Hu Jishan was alluding to the fact that he and Zhu Di both came to power through conspiracy and usurpation. Dragon, and the other was knocked into the bottom of the well and became an old turtle who was made worse by others.

It's a bit like a victor and a loser, but what he said is actually true.

"Haha." Zhu Di laughed, "Sure enough, you have forgotten things in old age. Have you forgotten that Uncle Chengyi (Liu Bowen) made a sarcastic comment at the banquet that year, thinking that Annan is a remote country in the southwest and is not Chinese, so the customs are different. The Annan Kingdom is a barbarian, and the Annan Kingdom envoys were all speechless in front of Emperor Taizu Gao. You were the only one who wrote a poem to refute. From that time on, I will remember you."

After all, Zhu Di actually chanted it himself.

"I want to ask about Annan. The customs of Annan are pure.

The system of clothes and clothes of the Tang Dynasty, and the rituals and music of the emperor and his ministers of the Han Dynasty.

The jade urn opens new wine, and the golden knife cuts the fine scales.

In February and March every year, peaches and plums are like spring. "

Hu Jiyou suddenly realized that he had just recalled this old incident, but at that time, his attention to the princes was all on the calm, young and mature Zhu Biao, and he had no impression of Zhu Di at all.

At that time, no one could have thought that this little kid would send troops to destroy his country thirty years later and take his whole family captive to Nanjing to be humiliated.

Zhu Di raised the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a hint of a smile, and asked: "I wonder if you are inspired to write a poem in seven steps today?"

Hu Jiya's heart skipped a beat. What does this mean by "seven steps to a poem, failure to achieve death"?

But Hu Jisao also knew at this time that his family's life was all in the hands of others. At this time, he had to obey or die!

Thinking of this, Hu Jiyuan gritted his teeth, but with a hint of burning the boat, he began to recite aloud.

"As soon as I enter the world of mortals, I brush my clothes, and the cold river looks back at Yanziji.

Thousands of worries about the sea are far away, and half a pillow on the yellow beam makes me dream.

When things fail, every time I teach poems and books, I pick them up and put them into my book.

The moon sets at the wine shop and we get to know each other while singing songs. The chivalrous bones and hair on the temples are already declining. "

In fact, Hu Jisha had just finished the first two sentences and walked four steps when he immediately felt dizzy in his mind. He knew that this was a sign of his mental exhaustion. At that time, his legs were so weak that he could hardly support his body. He collapsed to the ground, but in the end he managed to hold on and walked seven steps.

This poem has a neat rhythm and a lofty artistic conception. It laments one's life's achievements, like a yellow beam in a dream, and finally crosses a thousand seas and returns to Yanziji, Nanjing, to disembark.

Hu Jishao admitted that although he had read a lot of poems and books, his heart was higher than the sky, his eyes were high and his hands were low. In the end, he said in an almost begging manner that his hair was gray now and he only wanted to enjoy the moon and drink wine. Life, there is no longer any other thoughts.

"Did you remember it?" Zhu Di turned around and asked Zhu Gaochi.

Seeing his eldest son nodding, Zhu Di looked at Hu Ji Ya with satisfaction and said, "Hu Ji Ya, I heard that you are not only talented in poetry, but also proficient in Confucianism. You are the most powerful Confucian in Annan Kingdom. With such a great talent, If we are imprisoned, I am afraid it will appear that our great Ming Dynasty has no tolerance for others. Since I have allowed you a way to live, why should I use you?"

In fact, there is no exaggeration in Zhu Di's words. Hu Jisha's attainments in Confucianism are indeed extraordinary and are almost on the same level as the previously mentioned Goryeo Prime Minister Zheng Mengzhou, who is known as the "ancestor of Goryeo Confucianism".

But unlike Zheng Mengzhou, Hu Jiyou was very disgusted with Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism and advocated restoration, that is, respecting Pre-Qin Confucianism.

Ten years ago, Hu Jiya personally compiled the "Book of Ming Dao", which contains fourteen chapters. The book calls Duke Zhou the first sage and Confucius the first teacher. However, Hu Jiya is not blindly retroactive, but affirms the pre-Qin period. At the same time as Confucianism, they have a very textual and critical spirit and believe that the authenticity of four places in "The Analects" is very doubtful, namely "Zi Jian Nanzi", "Zai Chen Jueliang", "Gongshan", "Buddha's Stasis Summoning Zi Yu" "The Past" and gave the arguments for his own doubts.

From an academic point of view, Hu Jishou called Han Yu a thief and criticized Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, believing that they were pedantic and simply plagiarized and plagiarized the ancients, and tampered with them beyond recognition. Although the facts were quite different. That's it.

And the reason why Zhu Di said this was naturally because of Jiang Xinghuo.

The three debates of "Wang dominates righteousness and benefits ancient and modern times" only temporarily suppressed the momentum of Neo-Confucianism. In addition to promoting the new learning (practical learning + science) and relying on the new mind-based learning to become a saint, they want to further dig into the corners of Neo-Confucianism and make Neo-Confucianism fall apart. , then it is natural to promote the Confucian restoration movement, so Jiang Xinghuo needs theoretical masters like Hu Jishen.

If it were another emperor, he might still have some scruples about using foreign monarchs like Hu and his son, but who is Zhu Di? It is impossible for him to care about these lost dogs. Otherwise, in Jiang Xinghuo's previous life, Hu Yuancheng, a firearms expert, would not have been able to become Minister of the Ministry of Industry in the Yongle, Hongxi, and Xuande dynasties.

Although Zhu Di is a bit petty at times, the pattern is still big enough and he can fully open it up when it is time to open it up.

Zhu Di smiled and said: "You must know that I want to be the emperor of the ages. Even for you rebellious officials and traitors, I also have tolerance."

Well, Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng, Fang Xiaoru, Jing Qing, etc. have something to say.

But if it is thicker and darker, it is not difficult to guess that this is obviously for the people of Ming Dynasty and for those in Annan, especially Chen Tianping.

The meaning is very simple, if you are not honest, you can be replaced at any time.

After all, for Zhu Di, loyalty is not absolute, which means absolute disloyalty.

It is always good to have two cards in your hand. Just like after Liu Bei captured Bashu, Liu Zhang, who moved to Jingzhou and was appointed as Yizhou Shepherd by Soochow, used it to disgust Liu Bei. There is no need for Liu Zhang to really go back, but he just wants to let you Not having a solid life.

"First you go to revise the "Yongle Dadian" with President Jie. As for your son Hu Yuancheng, I heard that he is very good at studying firearms, so he will be transferred to the Ordnance Bureau of the Ministry of Industry and start from scratch."

Hearing Zhu Di's instructions, the Hu family and his son immediately breathed a sigh of relief. As for the useless second son Hu Hancang, although he didn't get any arrangements, his life was obviously safe, and he didn't dare to ask for anything more.

Originally, the next step was the normal process of offering prisoners, offering a form of surrender, Zhu Di pardoned his sins, the Hu family and his son waited five times and prayed three times for long live, and then the official handed down the clothes and crowns of the Ming Dynasty, which was regarded as "the clothes and crowns returned to Zhengshuo." It means kneeling down to listen to the holy edict, bowing four times and shouting "Long Live Long Live" three times, and finally bowing four times to end the whole ceremony.

But Zhu Di didn't.

"Call the Imperial Master to come down."

Not long after, Jiang Xinghuo walked down the city wall.

Looking at the handsome and elegant young man in front of them, the Hu family and his son were a little dumbfounded.

Of course they had heard Jiang Xinghuo's name and knew about the existence of this Ming Dynasty Imperial Master, but they never expected that he was so young.

"From now on, you will serve as ministers in the same palace and seek advice from the Imperial Master more often."

Jiang Xinghuo looked at these people with a calm expression, not realizing at all that he had caused their fate to be like this.

The Hu family and his son naturally said so, but Zhu Di said to Jiang Xinghuo: "The Imperial Master is a Confucian of the Ming Dynasty. His talent is unparalleled in the world. Just now, Hu Jiya wrote a poem in seven steps. Now that the Annan campaign has been completed, the Imperial Master can have poetry." As a souvenir?"

Zhu Di did not make things difficult for Jiang Xinghuo, who also wrote a poem in seven steps, but Zhu Di also knew that Jiang Xinghuo was extremely talented in poetry, whether it was "The Last Writings from Prison" or "How much hatred the west wind blows away the eyebrows", and today Zhu Di I was extremely happy, but it seemed that Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty had called Li Bai to write poems.

When Jiang Xinghuo saw the snow on the golden eaves of the palace city, he originally wanted to use the majestic song "Water Dragon Song: Climbing the Grand View Pavilion in the Snow" "The river is frozen and the pear clouds are closing, and the cold is still trying to ride a thousand horses. Who said that with , confused?" But then I thought about this magnificent war to conquer Annan, and now that the new year is approaching, and the mountains, rivers, sun and moon are creating a new chapter, I have a better choice.

In front of Fengtian Gate, Jiang Xinghuo chanted loudly.

"Bright Kunlun, the moon on the top of the mountain, someone is shouting. Look at the bottom of the bag, the sword is like snow, how many grievances and hatreds are there? Split the mole gall with your hands, and cast a piece of pride from your heart. In this life, I am worthy of being a man, with a good head.

Jing Ke's tomb, Xianyang Road; Nie Zheng died, and the corpses were exposed. As far as the east of the Yangtze River, the lingering feelings are still lingering around. The soul turned into a jingwei bird, and the blood splashed into a red heart grass. Look at the good mountains and rivers from now on, made by heroes. "