Ming Dynasty: Starting from Liaodong Jiangmen

Chapter 9 Youth Chronicles (please read it!)

The Forbidden City, Huangji Hall.

Li Shunzu was standing behind Che Tianxiang, smiling as he watched the civil servants and military generals who went to court one after another walk out of the hall.

According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty, the morning dynasty starts at Mao hour, which is around five o'clock in later generations.

This means that those civil servants and generals who go to court have to get up at three in the morning to prepare, otherwise they risk being late.

In the Ming Dynasty, because Taizu was a model worker like Zhu Yuanzhang, he was very tolerant of late arrivals in the morning.

The "Laws of the Ming Dynasty" stipulates that any official of any level, regardless of title or not, who is late once will be taken to the outside of the palace and whipped twenty times on the spot. If he is late three times, he will be rewarded once. If he is late three times, he will be rewarded once.

So far, in the Ming Dynasty's more than 200 years of history, there has never been a big conspicuous package that was punished with a cane of [-] for being late twenty times.

This is an express rule, and the unwritten rule is that the emperor can punish whatever he wants.

For example, Chongzhen's grandfather, Emperor Wanli, had zero tolerance for lateness in the morning. Of course, this was also due to the unprecedented intensity of party strife in the Wanli dynasty.

According to the law, the punishment of whipping was relatively light in the Wanli Dynasty. Other punishments such as fines and rods were commonplace. It was not uncommon for someone to be dismissed from office just because he was late for one time.

The entire morning process was extremely complicated and took more than three hours, and it would not end until eight or nine in the morning at the earliest.

Therefore, for people like Li Shunzu who stayed at home whenever they had free time, it was a blessing that he did not come to court.

Emperor Chongzhen obviously considered that Li Shunzu was not qualified to go to court because of his rank, so he arranged the platform summons after the morning court ended, when Chenshi had just passed Yuzhong, which was probably around 09:30 in later generations.

This time was enough for Li Shunzu to sleep peacefully at home before going to court.

Emperor Chongzhen's arrangement was very thoughtful, but Li Shunzu couldn't bear it since he didn't sleep all night.

There are more than 10,000 officials in the entire capital, big and small. There are only about a hundred or so people who are qualified to go to court. If anyone walks out, they are all characters who will shake up the capital with every stomp of their feet. None of them can get involved. of.

While waiting, Che Tianxiang was also introducing various etiquette after entering the palace to prevent Li Shunzu, a local leopard from Liaodong, from making a joke.

I don't know how long I waited, but when Li Shunzu was getting a little impatient, there was a rush of footsteps in the hall.

Then, a big eunuch with a square face and a good person at first glance came out.

Che Tianxiang immediately greeted him, a chrysanthemum-like smile blooming on his face.

"Big crotch, this is what my slave said yesterday. In a few words, he decided that the Li family's heirs would rebel in Guangqumen."

The person who came was none other than Wang Chengen, the current chief steward of the inner court, the most favored eunuch around Chongzhen after the fall of Wei Zhongxian, and the chief eunuch of the ceremony.

I saw him following Che Tianxiang's gesture and looking over. His expression was somewhat gentle, without the arrogance that was common in eunuchs. Instead, he came forward and patted the dust off Li Shunzu's body.

"What happened, you dusty guy?"

"I am going to meet His Majesty. First impression is very important. Why don't you wash it at home and come back?"

As the number one eunuch in the world today, Wang Chengen was so approachable and even a little familiar. This surprised Li Shunzu and he quickly bent down and bowed.

"I'm sorry, I'm entering the palace for the first time. I tossed and turned last night. I was very excited at the thought of seeing His Majesty. I didn't sleep all night, so I looked a little irritable."

Wang Chengen nodded lightly and looked up and down.

"It's not bad. He's tall, low-key and reserved. He's a good youngster."

"Come in quickly, don't keep me waiting."

Li Shunzu heard this and walked in.

Li Shunzu visited the Forbidden City in later generations, but his first sight was far less stunning than what he sees now.

The interior of Huangji Hall is magnificent, spacious and majestic. Not to mention the 80 people who attended the court, even if there are several times more, it is more than enough to accommodate them all.

Just walking in, Li Shunzu felt a sense of respect in his heart.

It was also at this time that Li Shunzu realized that the platform was not where he usually went to court, but in the middle and back of the Huangji Hall, high above the Sanlin white jade railing, opposite to the Qianqing Gate.

If Wang Chengen hadn't thoughtfully sent a young eunuch to guide him, Li Shunzu really wouldn't have known how to go.

"Che Tianxiang, the third eunuch of the Department of Ceremonies, long live your visit!"

After Che Tianxiang finished shouting, he kowtowed three times.Li Shunzu also imitated him, shouting and kowtowing at the same time.

"Li Shunzu, the commander of Fusi in Weinan Town, Jinyi, wishes to see my emperor, long live him!"

The lingering sound echoed over and over in the hall.

"You two gentlemen, please get back on your feet quickly!"

A slightly immature but confident voice came from above.

Li Shunzu lowered his head and waited for a while, then slowly raised his head, followed the sound, and for a moment met Emperor Chongzhen's eyes.

Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youjian has been on the throne for two years. He is nineteen years old and still has the immaturity of a teenager.

But he was wearing a nine-dragon robe, sitting on the throne, his eyes were burning, and no one dared to look down upon him.

It should be noted that the young Ling Yunzhi was once considered the best in the world. Li Shunzu had no doubt that Emperor Chongzhen was at this stage now.

There was a person on the left side of the two people who had been chatting with Emperor Chongzhen for a long time. He had white beard and hair, wearing mountain-patterned iron armor, and an old iron helmet was placed on the table next to him. Although he had a lean face, he looked kind. The vicissitudes of life reveal an unconcealed perseverance.

This person was Sun Chengzong, the imperial master who was summoned to the palace overnight by multiple imperial edicts. After capturing Yuan Chonghuan, Chongzhen relied on his last trump card to appease the Liao army.

Che Tianxiang knew that this matter had nothing to do with him, and that he was able to obtain the honor of calling the right person on the platform, all thanks to a few words of oath Li Shunzu made that day.

After standing up, Che Tianxiang consciously stepped aside, leaving the entire stage behind.

"Is it just a few words from you that put down the mutiny of the Liao army?"

Emperor Chongzhen's face was full of joy, and he waved his hands repeatedly, indicating to Li Shunzu to come forward so that he could take a closer look.

Li Shunzu experienced such a big scene for the first time. The ancients often said that accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger, especially since the king in front of him, who had subjugated his country, did not have a good reputation in later generations.

He is suspicious by nature but cares about him, he is strong-willed but he values ​​qi, he is harsh and ungrateful when he is charismatic, and he is anxious and panicked when he is arrogant. This is the evaluation of him by the history of Ming Dynasty in the Qing Dynasty.

Li Shunzu remembered what Che Tianxiang had just warned him not to look at the emperor, so he lowered his eyebrows and stepped forward cautiously, showing all respect.

"Okay, okay!"

"They say you are like an ancestor, and I can't sleep at night!"

"I was thinking last night if I could produce another Liao Commander this time!"

"Tell me quickly, how did you persuade the Liao soldiers to stop?"

Li Shunzu was slightly startled.

The call to the platform came suddenly, and the question was asked suddenly. Li Shunzu had no mental preparation at all.

After thinking for a while, Li Shunzu lowered his head and said.

"Your Majesty, I didn't do anything special. At first, some of my father's old subordinates recognized me and complained to me, telling me how the Beijing army oppressed the Liao army, and how Zhao Tai, the admiral of Guangqumen, withheld military pay without authorization."

"I also visited the camp that day. Many Liao soldiers fought against Jiannu. They did not die on the battlefield, but died without medical treatment."

"If things go on like this, not only will it affect the prestige of the imperial court, but it will also be used by the slave establishment to spread the word that His Majesty is mean and ungrateful."

Emperor Chongzhen seemed particularly moved by the last four words. Hearing this, his face darkened and he snorted coldly.

"If they say I'm mean and ungrateful, how do they understand my ambitions?"

Emperor Chongzhen raised his eyes and asked suddenly.

"Li Shunzu, you were born as a general of the Li family. Your father and ancestors served as commanders of the Liao Dynasty twice. Jiannu was once a prostitute in your Li family's palace. You were a defeated general of your Li family. Now they have rebelled and are doing whatever they want in the land of Jifu!"

"How do you feel? Can you understand my thoughts now?"

"Don't you have any ambition at 01:30?"

　The first round of new book recommendations has begun. We ask for your support in continuing to read!There’s another chapter at six o’clock!
　　


(End of this chapter)