Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

It's February, and the capital has ushered in a colorful season.

Forbidden City, Fengtian Hall.

Amidst the worship of hundreds of civil and military officials, Zhu Youtang, wearing a dragon robe, came to the dragon chair in the main hall and sat down, where he was about to summon envoys from all over the world.

After returning from Jiangnan, everything is back on track.

He is the emperor of this great dynasty and the absolute core of this powerful empire. Now he returns to the center of power in the Forbidden City and everything revolves around him or his will.

The capital has finally ushered in a bright future. The unstable force lurking in the shadows has been successfully uncovered and has now entered a moment of reckoning.

Naturally, Liu Ji's crime cannot be forgiven. This person not only conspired to help the king seize the throne, but also provided financial support to corrupt officials through Qian Yiqiansi, and became the mastermind behind the underground forces in the capital.

Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, let alone the Ming court implicating the nine ethnic groups, even the chief minister was pushed to the guillotine.

The imperial court has now brought the crimes of the former chief minister to the world, and the verdict against Liu Jizhu's nine tribes has been officially issued, and Liu Ji will become the first chief minister of the Ming Dynasty to be killed by the nine tribes.

Zhu Youtang had never been an indecisive person. Even if scholars all over the world wanted to call him a tyrant, he would not be deterred by this reputation. He personally signed a political decree for hundreds of people from the Zhuliu Ji clan.

Xing Wang Zhu Youtang is suspected of conspiring with Liu Ji's gang, so he cannot be merciful.

Zhu Youtang issued an order to remove Zhu Youqian from the royal title, demote him to a commoner, and put him under house arrest in Prince Xing's Mansion. Since dealing with the brother's matter is very involved, the best thing to do at the moment is to lock him up first and decide how to deal with it later.

As for other persons involved in the case, the case has been transferred to the three judicial divisions for trial. We strive not to unjustly accuse a good person and not let any bad person go.

Of course, these are all in the past. After solving the Jiangnan gentry group and the Beijing conspiracy group, the Ming Dynasty also needs to set its sights overseas.

Zhu Youtang knew that the difficulties he would encounter next would not be smaller than the domestic resistance, and that it would even take a whole country to clear the way for China's rise.

"Invite the envoys from various countries to visit you!"

Guo Yong, who was holding a fly whisk, was like a conscientious old cow. After receiving Zhu Youtang's gaze, he shouted loudly with his unique voice.

On both sides of the main hall were the new chief minister Yin Tai and the civil and military officials led by the newly promoted Duke of Jing Zhao Chengqing. After a major purge, the entire court looked brand new.

The Ming Dynasty's current strong national power, especially after its repeated victories in foreign wars, has caused all the civil and military officials in the palace to straighten their backs.

Facts have proved that today's Emperor is a wise emperor who only comes across once in a hundred years. All he needs to do now is to support this talented and ambitious emperor, and then he will create a truly prosperous age.

The sun was shining brightly outside the palace, and the entire Forbidden City looked magnificent.

Jinwu guards were lined up on both sides of the steps, and those waiting below were envoys from various countries. They looked up at the largest palace in the world from bottom to top.

After hearing the call from Fengtian Palace, they followed the officials from the Ministry of Rites up the stairs and were about to meet the aloof Ming Emperor.

Since there were many envoys invited this year, the Ministry of Rites arranged for envoys from various countries to come to the palace in batches to have an audience.

The envoys from North Korea, Malani, Ryukyu and other countries were naturally well-behaved. Now that they realized that the Ming Dynasty was getting stronger, they did not dare to make any mistakes.

Although North Korea is the most powerful kingdom, it is now under tremendous pressure from the Northeast Army, and the domestic military power has also fallen into the hands of the civil service group. Today, King Li of North Korea is even more eager to cling to the thick thighs of the Ming Dynasty.

As for the leaders of tribal alliances such as Malani and Ryukyu, it is a great blessing to come to pay tribute every year, so they can position themselves correctly.

The Four Guards of the Haixi Jurchens also sent envoys here. Due to the influence of the Northeast Development, they have also begun to reclaim land and learn from the Chinese farming civilization.

The adult Yoshihiro Ouchi entered the Fengtian Palace with several pro-Ming Japanese envoys. It was not until he saw Emperor Hongzhi on the dragon throne that he realized that the Ming Emperor was no longer the emperor who liked old women. A dashing young emperor.

Originally there was still a lot of dissatisfaction, but now seeing the young and heroic emperor, he knew that his sister might have found a good home.

Although the Ouchi clan lost the territory of Northern Kyushu, it could get the full support of the Ming Dynasty and expand its territory eastward.

"Your Majesty, this is the list of tributes from the envoys from various countries. Please take a look at it!" Guo Yong presented an exquisite list and reported it carefully.

Zhu Youtang became more mature and his eyes looked deeper. He took the list and glanced at it a few times.

The tributes coming back and forth from envoys from various countries were just the same. The Marani country paid tribute to the Philippine crocodile, while Ryukyu sent Taiwanese black bears, and North Korea actually sent a group of beauties.

Zhu Youtang already had the idea of ​​building a national-level zoo and said calmly: "Reward!"

Now the Ming Dynasty's rewards have become simple and crude. Hongzhi silver coins are given to them according to the size or closeness of their country, and these silver coins are allowed to be squandered.

Since the Ming Dynasty wants to become the real overlord, it must build a financial system centered on the Ming Dynasty and make the Hongzhi Silver Dollar a well-deserved world-class currency.

"Thank you, Emperor Ming, for your kindness!" North Korea and other envoys had already experienced the purchasing power and convenience of Hongzhi Silver Dollar, so they naturally thanked him with great joy.

After finishing the fixed ceremony, Zhu Youtang raised his hand lightly and said, "Stand down!"

Li Yu, the Minister of Personnel, and Jia Jun, the Minister of Industry, were already old men in the Hongzhi Dynasty. After seeing Zhu Youtang's calm appearance, they exchanged glances silently.

When the Ming Dynasty captured the entire Kyushu Island in one fell swoop, everyone believed that Emperor Hongzhi, who was talented and resourceful, would seize the opportunity to pursue the victory and send heavy troops to seize Japan's Honshu Island.

But that was not the case. Emperor Hongzhi not only did not use Kyushu Island as a springboard to attack, but also repaired the previous relationship with the Ouchi clan.

Although some people think that it is due to the beauty of Ouchi Saeiko, the eldest princess of the Ouchi family, they already know that lust is a bad image deliberately created by the emperor, and it is absolutely impossible to change the strategy because of a woman.

A few years ago, similar things actually happened.

After the Ming Dynasty regained Jianzhou and annexed the Three Haixi Guards, many people thought that Emperor Hongzhi would also annex the four Haixi Jurchen Guards, but so far there has been no action.

They silently tried to figure out the thoughts of this talented and strategic emperor, and they also wanted to keep up with the thoughts of this emperor whose plans were as deep as the sea, but in the end there was no trace at all.

The best direction for Ming Dynasty to expand is to the east or northeast, but judging from the current reaction, this talented and ambitious emperor seems to have suddenly lost all fighting spirit.

Combined with the fact that Jiangnan brought back the oiran fragrance from Jiangnan this time and brought Japan's most beautiful woman, Ouchi Saeiko, into the harem, North Korea has sent another group of beauties. Could it be that they want to focus their energy on the palace?

The envoys carefully retreated, while the envoys from Mongolia and other countries who had been waiting outside for a long time entered.

Zhu Youtang thought of Concubine Bei's enthusiasm last night, and his waist suddenly felt a little sore. He couldn't help but put his hand to cover his mouth and let out a big yawn.

In the past, I took the initiative because I wanted to ask for a wife, but now my initiative has completely changed.

The group of women saw that the queen gave birth to twins, and Concubine Jing, who followed them to the south of the Yangtze River, was pregnant with Liujia. The women in the harem became more and more coquettish.

Even Lin Qiqi, the ninth concubine who was obsessed with poetry, no longer paid attention to the landscape, but she said shyly, "The mandarin ducks are in pairs under the quilt, and a pear tree weighs a begonia."

"Meet the Southwest Mission!"

The third batch of southwest envoys entered the palace together, and many unfamiliar faces appeared here.

They were wearing strange clothes, and some even wore cassocks on their bodies. What was even more surprising was that some of the envoys looked arrogant and arrogant.

At that time, the Annan Li Dynasty dared to conquer the Guangxi and Guizhou territories of the Ming Dynasty, which was enough to prove that the southwestern countries had stronger self-confidence and stronger ambitions.

There are actually many reasons for this arrogant mentality.

After all, in the history of some countries, the south of the Yangtze River belonged to Vietnam, while the north of the Yangtze River belonged to Bangzi.

Judging from the route to Beijing alone, the southwest mission was naturally unable to see the prosperity of Jiangnan along the way north, which gave them the illusion that the Ming Dynasty was vast but not wealthy.

Nowadays, most of the southwestern envoys came north from Yunnan. Even though they saw the prosperity of the capital, it was difficult to change their fixed view. They just thought that the capital was the entire empire.

"The foreign minister pays homage to the Ming Emperor and wishes His Majesty long live, long live, long live!" Ava and other envoys said politely, no matter what they thought in their hearts.

The southwestern delegation entering the palace this time is actually mainly from the kingdoms of Myanmar.

At the end of the 13th century AD, the capital of Myanmar's glorious Bagan dynasty was destroyed by the Yuan army. Emperor Narathiopatra lost his throne, and the Myanmar region entered the period of great division.

In the northern part of Myanmar, the Ava dynasty centered on the city of Ava, ruled by the Shan people, was formed, while in the south, the Baigu dynasty, centered on Baigu, ruled by the Mon people, formed.

From 1386 to 1425, the two countries continued to clash, known in history as the "Forty Years' War".

In addition to the two big countries that split off from Myanmar, there are also Taungoo, Mu Bang, Mengyang, Mengmi, Arakan and other countries. Among them, the Taungoo country of the Bamar ethnic group is the strongest.

Even though the Bagan dynasty was only a medium-sized kingdom at that time, after Myanmar was divided into pieces, the various kingdoms and tribes were reduced to a loose sand, either surrendering to the Ming Dynasty or surrendering to Siam.

Although kingdoms including Ava and Baigu have successively surrendered to the Ming Dynasty, the dynasties controlled by the civil servant group are not keen on paying tribute, so the two sides have actually interrupted their exchanges for decades.

As for Zhu Di, Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty, who established the Three Propaganda and Six Comforts in the southwest, it actually existed in name only.

It's just that the Hongzhi Dynasty was obviously different. Not only did they quickly restore their status as a vassal state, but they also required them to send people to pay tribute every year.

This is why the Ming Dynasty contacted the small and medium-sized kingdoms in the southwest this time. The Ming Dynasty was not very clear about the evolution of power in Myanmar, and these southwest envoys naturally did not understand the great changes in the six years of the Hongzhi Dynasty.

The tribute they brought this time was very shabby, and it could be seen that these southwestern kings did not attach great importance to this tribute, or even just wanted it to be a formality.

this……

When Guo Yong saw the shabby gift list handed over by the southwest envoy, it was like sending away a beggar, and he looked at Zhu Youtang with a troubled face.

Zhu Youtang was not displeased when he took the gift list. After scanning it carefully for a few times, he frowned slightly and asked, "Why didn't the Baigu Kingdom send an envoy?"

this……

Yin Tai, Zhao Chengqing and other officials silently exchanged glances, but they did not expect that His Majesty did not think the tributes of these southwest envoys were shabby, but suddenly grabbed a remote southwest kingdom to exert pressure.

Not to mention the past, the Ming Dynasty did not want these poor southwestern kings to come to "ask for tribute", and it was indeed not easy for them to come.

The terrain in Myanmar is mostly swamps and primitive mountain forests. It is not easy for them to travel to Yunnan. A trip to the capital is thousands of miles away.

However, he did not expect that the absence of the Baigu Kingdom this time would actually cause the emperor's dissatisfaction.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites has issued a notice to the Baigu Kingdom in accordance with the formal procedures. However, the Baigu Kingdom did not send an envoy this time!" Zhang Sheng, the new Minister of Rites, came out and explained under pressure.

Although Zhu Youtang knew that the Baigu Kingdom in the south was quite far away from Yunnan, he still said with a straight face: "Duke Qian, have you informed me?"

"When I received the document from the Ministry of Rites, I also sent someone to the Baigu Kingdom to inform me! Until the day of departure, there was no envoy from the Baigu Kingdom, and I don't know why I didn't answer the call!" Mu Cong, the Duke of Guizhou, is a pampered man. The middle-aged man reported the report respectfully.

He can be said to be the heir apparent who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He was only ten months old. Due to the death of his father, Duke of Guizhou, Mu Bin, he was early identified as the next generation of Duke of Guizhou.

Because he was too young, his uncle Mulin took charge of Yunnan on his behalf.

Mu Lin's fate was bad and he died young. When he died, Mu Cong was still young, so another uncle of Mu Cong guarded Yunnan on his behalf.

For personal safety reasons, Mu Cong's biological mother was worried that her son would be harmed by his uncle, so she brought her son to live in the capital when he was a child, so Mu Cong lived in the capital for a long time.

In the first year of Chenghua, Mu Cong was already sixteen years old, so he immediately requested to be granted the title of the third generation Duke of Guizhou. It was not until the third year of Chenghua that he returned to Yunnan with the seal of General Zhengnan.

If the powerful Ming Dynasty had not been in charge of the overall situation, and if the Ming Dynasty had not placed great trust in the Duke of Guizhou, it would have been difficult for Mu Cong to attack the Duke of Guizhou as an orphan in October.

Mu Cong has always remembered the kindness of the Ming Dynasty, and he has been loyal to the Ming Dynasty like his ancestors for generations. This time he received the emperor's mission, which can be regarded as his best effort.

He felt that after guarding Yunnan for many years, he could vaguely guess why the Baigu Kingdom broke the promise.

The Baigu Kingdom is located in the south of Myanmar, too far away from Yunnan. Now they have no need to rely on the Ming Dynasty, and there are many kingdoms in between, so he simply does not send envoys to come to worship.

When Li Yu, the Minister of Personnel, and Jia Jun, the Minister of Industry, saw the emperor suddenly grabbing this small kingdom, they couldn't help but think of the past, and they quickly shook their heads and rejected it.

The land in the southwest is mountainous and swampy, so it has no economic value at all.

Even if the Ming Dynasty sent troops to conquer, it would definitely be a thankless war. The attack on the Jurchen Three Guards in Haixi this time will help build the Northeast Granary, and occupying Kyushu Island will help mine minerals, but attacking the Southwest will not bring any economic returns.

With the emperor's calculating temperament, he would never waste national power on these small countries, not to mention that such small countries are still in the mountains that are extremely difficult to conquer.

"Your Majesty the Emperor of Ming Dynasty, King Bai Gu did not intentionally break the promise, but he concentrated on practicing and did not care about worldly affairs!" At this time, an envoy stood up to defend King Bai Gu.

The Myanmar region was influenced by Indian Buddhism, resulting in the emergence of many Buddhist believers.

The current Baigu King Bodhidharma Siti was originally a Buddhist master of the Mon ethnic group. Because he was selected as the successor by Queen Xinxiufu, who was a devout believer in Buddhism, he returned to secular life and married the queen's daughter.

Bodhidharma Siddhi took over the position of king in the eighth year of Chenghua. His rule was famous for his generosity and benevolence. He was committed to revitalizing Buddhism and sent eminent monks and envoys to Ceylon and North India to seek Dharma.

Zhu Youtang looked at the envoy who stood up to defend King Bai Gu and asked calmly: "Who are you?"

"The foreign minister is Na Kongying, the envoy of Dongxu!" Kongying said proudly when asked.

The current king of Toungoo Kingdom, Mingyi Yu, is a powerful ruler. After marrying the Ava dynasty, he also formed an alliance with the Baigu dynasty, becoming the strongest emerging force in Myanmar.

The reason why they were called this time was mainly to explore the reality of this Central Plains dynasty.

Zhu Youtang took a deep look at the envoy, and then made a surprising statement to the invited southwestern envoy: "The reason why I summoned you to the capital this time is because I decided to build a road. !" (End of this chapter)