Chapter 15: Void Card Creation, Change the Past and Improve the Future
Zhu Yijun returned to the Eastern Palace only after having lunch in Wenhua Hall.

This is how it is always arranged after the daily lecture.

But it just so happens that taking a walk and then taking a nap after eating is healthier than resting directly after eating.

But when he returned to Ciqing Palace, he saw that the palace servants looked a little strange.

Zhu Yijun had some guesses in his mind and called a palace maid over: "What happened?"

The maid replied honestly: "Your Highness, Zhang Dayong was waiting for Your Highness before, and he was taken away."

Zhu Yijun was startled: "Took Zhang Hong away? Whose man is he?"

The maid thought for a moment and said, "They are from the Imperial Household Department, and their leader is the eunuch Cao Xianyu."

The eunuch who holds the pen is second only to the eunuch who holds the seal, and is the second-in-command of the Imperial Household Department. This must have been instructed by Feng Bao.

Zhu Yijun nodded and didn't ask any more questions. It was not something the little palace maid could know.

In fact, you don’t need to ask to know that this is just the trick.

Apparently, Zhang Juzheng had communicated with Feng Bao.

It is indeed swift and resolute.

He had long known that these two were secretly communicating.

After all, he had opened his third eye and knew about people who lived five hundred years ago. No matter how secretive this matter is now, it cannot compare to being recorded in history.

I just didn't expect the response to be so quick.

He had just revealed some clues to Zhang Juzheng in the morning, but he took action at noon. Feng Bao's control over the palace should not be underestimated.

"Tell Zhang Hong to come see me directly when he comes back." Zhu Yijun said this and walked in.

Zhang Hong was assigned to him by Concubine Li. Even if Feng Bao wanted to suppress Zhang Hong's power, he would not touch Zhang Hong himself, so he was not too worried.

He made a mistake himself, and now that he was being warned, he had no choice but to accept it.

Sooner or later, we will get it back.

At worst, he can just fight back against the enemy with his own force and block the water with his own earth. This situation will not disrupt his formation.

……

When Zhu Yijun woke up, he saw Zhang Hong kneeling outside the door.

He sat up lazily and waved to Zhang Hong outside the door.

Zhang Hong quickly crawled over: "Master."

Zhu Yijun rubbed his eyes and said casually, "You're back? You didn't suffer any hardship, did you?"

Zhang Hong immediately confessed: "I am guilty! I used to work in the Needlework Bureau, and I left some secrets behind, which was caught by Feng Bao. I brought shame to my master."

Zhu Yijun hummed indifferently: "Get up."

The root of the problem does not lie with Zhang Hong, no matter what it is.

Zhu Yijun was too lazy to ask in detail, let alone scold him. He was not in the habit of taking his anger out on his subordinates when he made mistakes.

A ruler without humanity will have a short life.

Zhang Hong continued to explain: "Several of my godsons were arrested and interrogated by the East Factory. Cao Xianyu asked me to come whenever he was called, and he didn't make things difficult for me."

Zhu Yijun didn't listen to him.

Suddenly thinking of something, he simply interrupted Zhang Hong and asked, "Do you have any contact with the Chengguo Mansion?"

Zhang Hong was stunned. The topic was a bit jumpy and he didn't know what the crown prince meant.

I answered subconsciously, "We have had business dealings a few times, but we have no personal relationship."

Zhu Yijun nodded and asked, "How much do you know about Chengguogong Zhu Xizhong?"

The lineage of Duke Chengguo was a group of nobles who followed Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di in raising an army to quell the rebellion. They were granted the title and their descendants have an uninterrupted lineage, sharing the same fate with the country.

The sixth generation Duke of Chengguo is Zhu Xizhong.

He was deeply trusted by the royal family. During the reign of King Sejong, he was granted the title of Grand Tutor. He was also familiar with military affairs and had commanded various armies.

After the late emperor ascended the throne, his trust in him remained undiminished and he even entrusted the Imperial Guard to him.

It can be said that this Duke Chengguo Zhu Xizhong, in terms of both official title and power, is the most prominent military hero today.

He asked about this Duke Chengguo for a purpose.

Now the civil officials include Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, and among the eunuchs, Feng Bao occupies the Silijian.

These people each have their own plans and ideas, and the situation is complicated.

He cannot be led by others.

Now that Zhang Hong is being targeted, no matter who did it, there is no reason for him to intervene, otherwise he will easily fall into the trap of some people with ulterior motives.

He has to have his own plans!

As the saying goes, you fight yours and I fight mine, it is the same now, we each develop on our own.

He didn't believe that as the heir to the throne, he could be defeated as long as he kept his footing.

Zhu Yijun has been doing this since he came here.

Whether it is like with Zhang Hong, using the laws of a monarch to subdue the eunuchs, or like with Gao Yi, using Confucian principles to win over the civil officials.

All actions and behaviors are within this framework.

Now, he set his sights on a force that was naturally dependent on the emperor - the nobles.

Zhang Hong quietly raised his eyelids to look at the Crown Prince's face, and replied carefully: "Master, I have only met Duke Chengguo a few times, so I dare not speak nonsense."

Zhu Yijun waved his hand: "Speak frankly."

Zhang Hong kowtowed immediately, thought for a moment, and replied, "My Lord, the late Emperor once said in private that Duke Chengguo was clever and good at making friends. I believe that the late Emperor's words must not be wrong."

Zhu Yijun nodded thoughtfully.

Being clever means being shrewd and cunning.

Being good at making friends means having good relationships with people in all circles.

Looks like an old fox.

He sat up and looked straight at Zhang Hong: "Is Zhu Xizhong dying?"

Although Zhu Xizhong was only in his fifties, as far as he could remember, he died of illness not long after that.

Zhang Hong's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly knelt down to cover up: "Master, I dare not say anything nonsense."

"but……"

"Duke Chengguo was in charge of military affairs in his early years and suffered from a chronic illness. The late emperor has ordered the imperial physician to visit him many times in the past two years, especially this year."

Zhu Yijun did not ask any further questions.

He called someone to help him change his clothes, but he was thinking in his mind.

Although Zhu Xizhong was one of the Three Dukes and controlled the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he was extremely powerful. In fact, he was just like a fire boiling oil, and the moon will wane after it is full.

In every dynasty, nobles have always been a force on equal footing with civil officials and eunuchs, and they take turns to take the stage.

But this was not the case with the Ming Dynasty. A group of people were killed at the founding of the country, and then another group was sent in the Battle of Tumu during the reign of Emperor Yingzong. This leg had been broken long ago.

Zhu Xizhong can be said to be a nobleman who was framed and promoted by Emperor Sejong and the previous emperor.

This kind of top card is the most precarious.

In history, Zhu Xizhong was posthumously conferred the title of king, which was rare in the Qing Dynasty.

But what happens next?

The following year, the title of the seventh Duke of Chengguo was passed to his son, who died that year.

Afterwards, the title was passed on to his grandson for eight generations, but he encountered censors such as Yu Maoxue, who wrote to the court to deprive Zhu Xizhong of the title of king that was posthumously conferred upon him.

Amid overwhelming public outcry, the emperor held out for a year, but ultimately stripped Zhu Xizhong of his title of king.

Not long after, the eighth generation Duke Chengguo committed suicide, and this lineage completely declined.

What is cooking oil over a raging fire? This is cooking oil over a raging fire!

Didn't Zhu Xizhong expect this? Not necessarily!
Perhaps it was because he had foreseen this that he was treading on thin ice, which led to the comment from the late emperor that he was quick-witted and good at making friends.

It’s a pity that the top star who was pushed out to sell goods had no choice.

This kind of person, the closer he is to death, the more he dares not die.

So, would Zhu Xizhong hope that his new king would take good care of the lineage of Duke Cheng after his death?

In other words, how much support can the new monarch's political promises buy Zhu Xizhong?
After Zhu Yijun got dressed, he dismissed the palace maids and paced around the room, thinking. Zhang Hong did not dare to disturb him and waited quietly.

After a long while, Zhu Yijun turned to look at Zhang Hong and said, "Zhang Daban, I remember that the one in charge of the East Palace guards was Duke Cheng's younger brother, what was his name?"

Zhang Hong bowed and replied, "My Lord, my elder brother is loyal and my younger brother is filial. The younger brother of Duke Cheng is called Zhu Xixiao. He is the commander-in-chief of the Jinyiwei. Last August, the late emperor appointed him to be the chief of the guards of the Eastern Palace."

Zhu Yijun sighed: "What a good name, how is the relationship between the two?"

Zhang Hong thought for a moment and replied, "Zhu Xixiao's assignment was obtained through his brother's influence, and Duke Cheng's own sons were not even able to get a rank."

Zhu Yijun understood that only the legitimate son could inherit the title. The rest of his sons would not have a good life if they did not have an official position through imperial support, and the chances of becoming an official through imperial support were rare.

From this, it can be seen that Duke Chengguo was indeed very good to his younger brother.

He thought for a moment and held up two fingers: "Two things."

Zhang Hong quickly lowered his head and listened attentively.

Zhu Yijun said slowly: "First, don't get entangled in the matter of your needlework bureau, cut off the tail and survive."

"Write me a memorial, confess your sins, and I will pass it on to my mother."

"Wait a day, and then find someone you can trust to impeach you for your work at the Needlework Bureau."

Zhang Hong suddenly understood.

She bowed down in admiration: "Master, your heart is wise and insightful. I bow down to you."

His godson was taken away by the East Factory. His crime was not serious, but it was hard to say how much suffering he had to endure in private. He was extremely worried about this matter.

But once the formal impeachment is carried out, the East Depot can no longer have its own monopoly on the matter. There will be more eyes watching, and things have to be done according to the rules.

In addition, since he pleaded guilty and accepted the punishment, the case can be closed without any trial.

The godsons were bound to lose their jobs, but at least they were saved.

Once the storm has passed, reinstatement will be a natural outcome.

Zhu Yijun consoled him again: "Don't worry, my mother is a soft-hearted person, she never has the heart to hit someone too hard."

"Spit out your job as a godson first. Forget about it openly, but I'll give you something in secret. I'll take care of your hard work in the future."

The people below were beaten, and he couldn't just turn a blind eye, otherwise their morale would be lost. Appropriate comfort and promises were essential. Zhu Yijun cherished every bit of power he could control.

But having said that.

This is how he treated people and did things based on his behavioral habits before he traveled through time.

The time he had traveled through was still short, and he only had a superficial understanding of his identity as a monarch.

How could he know that even if Zhang Hong had some intention of climbing up the social ladder, according to the consensus of thousands of years, the throne of the monarch was extremely unattainable in his eyes.

A simple reassuring promise was something Zhang Hong never dared to dream of.

Zhang Hong felt his internal organs churning, his nose felt sore, and he almost lost his composure.

At least he managed to hold it back. Zhang Hong lowered his head and said, "How dare I trouble my master with my humble body?"

Zhu Yijun did not notice the change in mood of this trusted eunuch and just regarded it as a routine courtesy.

He continued, "The second thing."

Zhang Hong listened attentively, but saw the crown prince suddenly stop.

Just as he was wondering.

Zhu Yijun changed the subject and said, "Zhang Daban, in the past, people in the palace have said that I was a naughty and untalented young prince, right?"

Zhang Hong hurriedly pleaded guilty: "Master..."

Zhu Yijun interrupted him and asked, "Yes or no?"

Zhang Hong knew that the Crown Prince was a low-key person with many evil intentions, but he asked the question knowingly, making Zhang Hong afraid to answer.

Silence is the best answer.

Zhu Yijun nodded with satisfaction: "You guys look good."

"I was indeed ignorant of worldly affairs and had a stubborn temper. I devoted myself to pleasure and had no interest in classics or politics. I even regarded daily lectures as poisonous snakes and feared officials as tigers and wolves."

Zhang Hong looked at him in astonishment: "Ah...?"

Zhu Yijun continued, "But before that, I saw the late emperor in my dream. He gave me instructions and entrusted me with the affairs of the country, which made me wake up."

"As the saying goes, a prodigal son who returns is worth more than gold. This is why I am working hard to correct my past and live up to the late emperor's expectations."

Zhang Hong was even more confused and didn't understand why the crown prince said this?

Zhu Yijun slowly calmed down his expression and said calmly: "According to what I just said, make up a few stories as a general direction."

"It must be mixed with gods and ghosts, such as the appearance of the late emperor, the awakening of the star's destiny, etc."

"The difference between my behavior before and after is huge. The more shameful it was before, the better. You can make it up and I will pardon you."

"Also, it has to be popular, so that even illiterate people can understand it and enjoy it."

"It also needs to be catchy, with a folk song as an accompaniment, or an interesting phrase, such as 'Have you ever seen the Four Books and Five Classics in the middle of the night?'"

Zhu Yijun glanced at Zhang Hong who was lost in thought and asked, "Did you write it down?"

Zhang Hong quickly said, "I've got it in mind."

Zhu Yijun leaned close to Zhang Hong's ear and whispered, "Go find Duke Cheng's brother in person and ask him to tell Duke Cheng the story you made up."

Zhang Hong was startled: "Master, please explain clearly."

Zhu Yijun took off a jade pendant from his waist. It was a gift from the late emperor when he was crowned, and it was put on him by Duke Cheng himself during the ceremony.

He handed it to Zhang Hong and said, "Take a message to Duke Chengguo, saying that Duke Chengguo is the heart and soul of the royal family, and the Jinyiwei are the eyes and ears of the emperor."

"Court Duke, can you bear to see me so heartbroken that I become deaf and blind?"

No extra words, this is enough.

Since Zhu Xizhong is an old fox, he will understand what I mean.

What is the fastest way to seize power?
Of course it’s political achievements!
It can gain the trust of the Li family and win the people's submission.

But now I have nothing in my hands and have not done anything. How can I achieve any political achievements?
Then create cards out of thin air!

As the saying goes, "gossip can melt a piece of gold." It doesn't matter whether you have political achievements or not. What matters is what others think of you.

And that is what he has to do now.

What is the basis for personal rule? It is to be smart and have the ability to govern.

Can't express it? Then make up a story!
Inside and outside the imperial city, people were praising the new emperor, who had suddenly come to his senses and was cultivating his virtues.

As long as Li heard, she kept hearing gossip from the ladies praising the new emperor.

All the officials in the court were curious about whether the new emperor was as law-abiding as the legend said, and wanted to find out the truth.

If this isn’t achievement, then what else is achievement?
This naturally required the Jinyiwei, who were spread throughout the court and the country, to spread his fables by word of mouth in the streets and restaurants.

Therefore, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Duke Chengguo Zhu Xizhong, is a person he cannot avoid.

This was his test of Zhu Xizhong, forcing him to surrender. The lineage of Duke Chengguo enjoyed great honors in the country, so when it was time to surrender and be loyal, they should not think of running away.

The royal family's favor and honor had already been secretly priced.

To achieve this extent is merely a side note and does not involve any specific power, so as to avoid intense reactions from all parties. At the same time, it also allows Zhu Xizhong to do the easy things first and then the difficult ones - investment can be increased slowly, so at least there will be no threshold in his mind.

Zhu Yijun was not worried that Zhu Xizhong would sell him out. No matter how stupid the Duke of Chengguo was, he would not do that.

Unlike civil officials, nobles have always been dependent on the royal family.

Even if a civil official is dismissed from office, he is still a famous scholar in the area. When he returns to his hometown to give lectures, he can create a Donglin Party to influence the government.

Not to mention Wang Shizhen, a leader among the literati, who was still a giant in his own right after retirement.

But it is different for the nobles. Without a good family background, they cannot pass the imperial examinations. They have no chance of holding powerful positions such as the six ministries, nine ministers, and provincial governors.

Only with the favor and reward of the emperor can one have some dignity.

Without the support of imperial power, he is just a wild dog and anyone can kick him.

There are a lot of stupid people, but their loyalty is impeccable.

There has never been a noble in the Ming Dynasty who betrayed the royal family.

Even if Zhu Xizhong is a coward and afraid of being drawn into this vortex, the most he can do is stand by and watch.

As for whether he will support me, that depends on his vision.
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Note 1: (August , Longqing Year) Zhu Xixiao, the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guard, was ordered to be the chief of the Imperial Guards. Yu Yin, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, and Yang Junqing, the deputy commander-in-chief, were also in charge of the Imperial Guards. ——The Veritable Records of Emperor Muzong of the Ming Dynasty

(End of this chapter)