Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

It’s already snowing heavily in the capital.

No matter how cold the weather is, it can't stop the pervasive rumors, and the people in the capital have a burning heart for gossip.

"Did the Eastern God really say that?"

"This is absolutely true. Your Majesty's southern tour will bring about a bloody disaster!"

"If this is really the case, His Majesty should not have visited the South in the first place!"

…

Regarding Dongfang Dao's prediction of bad luck for Zhu Youtang's southern tour, I don't know what went wrong. This news spread from the palace to the people, causing people in the capital to talk a lot.

In particular, some experienced fortune tellers seemed to want to ride on the popularity of the Eastern Path. They all said the same thing as the above two sentences, and they all believed that the emperor should not tour the south this time.

The cold wind was outside, but it was blocked by the curtain hanging at the door. But when the curtain was opened, the cold wind came out.

Mao Cheng got in. Because he was from the south, he was not used to this kind of weather. After dusting off the snow, he followed his companions upstairs.

He originally took the high school examination in Yingtian Township in the 22nd year of Chenghua, but he was unable to go to the capital to take the examination due to illness.

In the first year of Hongzhi's reign, Ding You was absent for three years due to his father's death. In the third year of Hongzhi's reign, Ding You chose to stay at home and observe filial piety because he did not want to be criticized. Now is his first time to take part in the examination.

He is already in his early thirties. Although he is unsurpassed by many scholars, he was able to write poems and recite them in his hometown at the age of seven. It is not something to be proud of that he took the examination for the first time at this age.

Unlike other people with lively temperaments, he has a clear nature, a clear face and a clear demeanor, and he doesn't even look around when he walks.

"Brother Mao, Brother Chen, we're waiting for you, come here and talk!" A man named Xu greeted them warmly when he saw the two of them appearing.

Since the joint examination will be held next spring, both this year's new candidates and the old candidates from previous years have already gathered in the capital.

Mao Cheng didn't like this lively atmosphere. Instead, he overheard the conversation at the next table, but suddenly broke the silence and said: "This is too weird!"

"What's the matter?" There were nearly ten people present, and now they all looked at Mao Cheng, who spoke and behaved very seriously.

Mao Cheng met everyone's gaze and asked a question: "Isn't it strange that this topic has suddenly become a hot topic regarding the prediction of bad luck during the emperor's southern tour?"

"Indeed, the nearest restaurants are talking about it!"

"It's really unreasonable. This matter started to spread last month!"

"Not just last month, I already heard about it when I first came to Beijing in October!"

…

The people present were all smart people. Now that they were reminded by Mao Cheng, especially when every restaurant was talking about this old news recently, they also realized something different.

Mao Cheng put down his wine glass silently, but suddenly stood up: "Brothers, this matter makes me feel quite uneasy. I'd better go to see Mr. Taishan and say goodbye!"

While the undercurrent in the capital is surging, Jiangnan is still as prosperous as a dream.

At the end of the trip to West Lake, the emperor's honor guard returned to his palace in Hangzhou.

Zhu Youtang brought Longjing tea from the tea garden of Han Youying's home. He came to Concubine Jing's courtyard in a good mood and was ready to enjoy this leisure time with the concubine whose belly was slightly bulging.

The winter sunshine shines on Su Yuner's body through the treetops. Su Yuner puts one hand on her lower abdomen. The mottled light and shadow add a bit of poetry to this quiet afternoon.

Zhu Youtang originally didn't want to disturb Concubine Jing, but the maid next to him had already informed Concubine Jing first.

"Your Majesty, how do you feel about your trip to the West Lake?" Su Yun'er asked curiously after seeing the ceremony.

Zhu Youtang thought of the carp king he caught earlier, and said with a smile on his face: "I am very satisfied with the trip to the West Lake, but my beloved concubine should not be idle in the palace!"

"Is it because of the dragon species that I am so careful? Your Majesty, since the trip to the West Lake is over, shall we return to Beijing tomorrow?" Due to her pregnancy, Su Yuner is now looking forward to finishing the southern tour.

Zhu Youtang sat down and saw a plate of fresh pears on the table. He reached out and picked up a delicate silver knife, and then carefully peeled a pear.

His movements were light and graceful, as if he were a highly skilled craftsman carving a precious work of art. He said with a smile on his face: "Yes, we will set off back to Beijing tomorrow! Haha... When leaving Beijing, Dongfang Road He once warned me that there would be a bloody disaster during my southern tour, but I didn’t expect that this was also the time when his prediction failed!”

"Your Majesty, I think your Majesty deserves a reward for Dongfang Dao! Fortunately, he reminded us that we were so careful during this trip, and you had a safe journey!" Concubine Jing was satisfied with the current results, and took the initiative to help Dongfang Dao. Tao speaks.

In his opinion, it didn't matter whether Dongfang Dao could calculate accurately or not. What was important was that nothing happened to them along the way. In particular, there are rebel thieves hiding mines in the diving bell on the canal. It may be that they must be careful to understand the thieves' conspiracy.

Zhu Youtang didn't think so. Although Dongfang Dao could indeed get a glimpse of the secrets, when he miscalculated, he would naturally take the opportunity to ridicule him.

Just when he was about to say something, the blade in his hand suddenly slipped, and he felt a sharp pain coming from his fingers.

Zhu Youtang was secretly shocked. When he looked down, he saw a deep wound on his finger, and blood was slowly oozing out.

"Ah...Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, it's bleeding!"

"Quickly...quickly call the doctor!"

…

When the surrounding palace maids and eunuchs saw this, they suddenly panicked and came forward to check the emperor's injury. Some people were also busy summoning the accompanying imperial physician.

Su Yun'er was so frightened that her face turned pale, but she came from a merchant family, so she quickly treated Zhu Youtang's wounds.

Although Zhu Youtang felt pain, he did not lose his composure. He signaled everyone not to panic and allowed the nervous Concubine Jing to bandage herself with a readily available silk scarf to stop the bleeding.

Although the wound was indeed a little painful, as a king of a country, he could not lose his majesty and grace at any time, so he remained calm and composed.

I thought Dongfang Dao had made another divination error, but as he was about to return to Beijing, Dongfang Dao's prediction turned out to be correct, and a bloody disaster really occurred.

But this is life! Even if he is a superior emperor, even if he easily overcomes the resistance of the Jiangnan official and gentry group, he is completely unable to prevent accidents from happening.

"Now that this bloody disaster has come true, then the capital will probably be as Dongfang Dao expected, right?"

Zhu Youtang suddenly thought of Beijing, but he knew that Beijing might be equally unstable at this time, and a touch of sadness flashed across his eyes.

At this time, a eunuch received the news from Beijing and ran in anxiously to report: "Your Majesty, it's bad, there is an urgent message from the Queen!"

Zhu Youtang received the news from the capital, and a flash of anger flashed in his eyes: "Haha... After all, they can't help but want to make a fortune for me!"

The reason for this southern tour is not only to solve the stubborn problem that the silver ban cannot be implemented in Jiangnan, but also to leave Beijing voluntarily, so that the rats in the house will come out.

After all, he did not have a God's perspective. Even if he had doubts about some of his ministers, it was difficult to obtain definite evidence. Killing people just because of suspicion is not how he handles things.

Naturally, during this southern tour, he was always paying attention to the news in the capital. Seeing that he had already returned and there was no big news, Zhu Youtang even wondered if he was overthinking it.

But at this time, those people couldn't hold it in anymore. The attraction of the Ming Dynasty was too great after all.

Perhaps they had received news of Prince Ning's rebellion, or they had been waiting for news of Prince Ning's rebellion, so they did not start their real actions until now.

When Concubine Jing got into trouble in the capital, she immediately asked in a panic: "Your Majesty, what should we do now?"

"I am beyond my reach now. I'm afraid I have to look at my queen this time!" Zhu Youtang's eyes flashed with helplessness, but he said with a trace of expectation.

The capital is now like a chessboard, and all the living beings in the capital are like chess pieces.

Just when Dongfang Dao was making a fuss about the bloody disaster caused by fortune-telling for the emperor's southern tour, another bombshell news came that King Ning actually rebelled.

"Is Prince Ning crazy?"

"If he dares to rebel, he is seeking death!"

"Our Majesty is so wise and powerful that he can be destroyed with a snap of his fingers!"

…

The same news about Prince Ning's rebellion was not taken seriously when it reached the capital, and they even ridiculed the overestimating prince.

Since Hongzhi ascended the throne, he has been following the path of strengthening the army, and his external record has been extremely brilliant.

Rejecting Mongolia in the north, conquering the Li Dynasty in the south, recovering Jianzhou, and occupying Haixiwei. This year, not only did they beat the Ouchi clan of Japan to give away their daughter, but now the Ming Dynasty has added a Kyushu island to its territory.

In terms of military talents, they not only reused military wizards such as Wang Yue and Tie Xiangshan, but also cultivated a large number of middle and low-level generals through martial arts and Jingwei martial arts.

King Ning is now rebelling, not to mention that the military strength of the Ming Dynasty has reached a terrifying state, and the current Emperor Hongzhi is supported by all people in the world.

Just like this, when the news came, the people in the entire capital did not take the news of Prince Ning's rebellion to heart, and only regarded it as a suicide attempt by a clown prince.

"The calamity of His Majesty's southern tour does not lie with Prince Ning, so where should it be?"

The capital was already turbulent. Just when no one took the news of Prince Ning's rebellion seriously, a sharp problem suddenly appeared in the capital.

yes!

If King Ning's rebellion is not a doom, then where is the doom for the emperor?

The people in the capital seemed to be being deliberately guided. Things that were originally unrelated became people's thoughts. But by chance, the answer was given.

In just one day, more important news came.

On the way back, Emperor Hongzhi was too bored, so he invited the oiran Erxiang to play.

Originally, Lan Xiang arranged to leave after each performance, but this time the emperor was interested. But regardless of Lan Xiang's pleading, he dragged the person onto the dragon bed.

The matter should have ended here, but who knew that when Emperor Hongzhi and Lan Xiang were rolling on the dragon bed, the emperor was actually held hostage by Er Xiang.

Erxiang held the emperor hostage to the bow of the boat, but suddenly pushed the emperor into the water. Just as everyone jumped into the river to save the emperor, the emperor and Erxiang were nowhere to be found.

Officials from the six ministries, who were originally in good order and performed their respective duties, suddenly fell into chaos.

Officials from various yamen looked solemn, whispering to each other, and discussions continued one after another. Some loyal and upright veterans lamented the country's misfortune with tears in their eyes.

Some thoughtful officials have already secretly speculated on the changes in the political landscape that this incident may bring, and are calculating their own interests and gains.

The streets and alleys of the capital are also full of tension and uneasiness. People gathered in teahouses, restaurants and other public places to discuss the emperor's safety and the country's future.

At the same time, the army in the capital has entered a state of high alert, but is wary of unrest that may occur at any time.

It was this sudden change that plunged the entire capital and the imperial court into chaos and unrest.

The people in the capital are waiting for further news, hoping that the emperor can return safely and restore the country's stability and prosperity. However, what awaits them is always the unknown.

As time passed day by day, there was no news coming from the south.

"The queen please attend the morning court to make it clear that your majesty is fine, so as to reassure the people of the world!" Before the eighth day of December, Liu Ji, the chief minister of the cabinet, requested.

Queen Chang looked at her half-year-old Princess Haixiao, feeling mentally and physically exhausted right now.

But she knew that once things got to their worst, she would have to fight for what belonged to the emperor, but she couldn't really be taken away by King Xing.

Faced with the request of the chief minister, she still chose to agree. At the same time, she called her brother Chang Feng to the palace to deliver the news, and also requested that the patrols of the palace be strengthened.

On the eighth day of December, the wind and snow began to clear up, and the sky was just getting bright.

Going to morning court in the dead of winter is the most torturous thing, but today’s morning morning is a must.

There was a faint paleness in the sky, and the splendor of the palace was looming under the mist.

All the civil and military officials came to the empty square in front of the Meridian Gate from their warm mansions. When they stepped out of the sedan door, they felt the cold wind blowing through them, bringing with them biting chills.

"Li Yu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, was poisoned last night?"

"Not only the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, but also the Minister of the Ministry of War!"

"Isn't this a bit too coincidental?"

…

When the civil and military officials gathered together, some news spread one after another, and the accident of two heavyweight court bosses suddenly made the atmosphere tense.

"quiet!"

Liu Ji, the chief minister of the cabinet, who was standing at the front, was wearing a fur coat, but his face was full of displeasure.

The officials present exchanged glances, but silently closed their mouths. Due to the emperor's southern tour, the cabinet has more and more power, and now Liu Ji's power is rising.

There is nothing that can be done about this. When the emperor is here, there is no need for the chief assistant to lead the officials, but now the emperor is leaving Beijing for a tour to the south.

Unfortunately, the news that the emperor fell into the water recently came out, which gave the words of these chief ministers more weight.

Dong Dong...

As the bells and drums on the noon tower rang, the palace door slowly opened, and many officials had already smelled the smell of gunpowder smoke. (End of chapter)