Ming Dynasty: Emperor Wanshou is cultivating immortality!

Chapter 114: Covering the mouth, from the six ministries to Datong? Hai Rui's king-father filter! Hundreds of officials died to remonstrate with Yuxi Palace!

The next day.

A piece of news came from the Imperial Observatory.

On the northern battlefield, the so-called descent of immortals was nothing more than a special astronomical phenomenon, a kind of auspicious sign caused by thunder streaking across the sky. As for the collapse of the Yinshan Mountains, it was the result of a dragon turning over in the earth.

The reason? The Imperial Master had said it long ago, the heavens had foretold it, but the traitor Altan did not listen to the advice, this is retribution!

Afterwards, the cabinet reprimanded officials from the six ministries.

He severely criticized some unenterprising and lazy officials in the six ministries who often criticized state affairs during court meetings but were obsessed with prophecies and acted like gossipers.

For a time, the talk about the immortal gods in the North was banned in the court, and no official dared to talk about it publicly.

Of course, it was just the Yan party that remained silent about Yan Song’s criticism, but the Qingliu people ignored the Yan party.

However, after Xu Jie, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, Zhao Zhenji and others publicly rebuked some people who had leaked the information to their surroundings, all the senior officials of the six ministries finally realized it.

This time, the entire cabinet collectively joined together to cover their mouths.

Of course, in theory, the cabinet only assists the emperor in making decisions and does not have the power to directly manage the six ministries. They are not qualified to reprimand the six ministries.

However, this is only what is said on the surface. The actual situation is that the power of the cabinet elders is the greatest except for the emperor and the princes. Anyone who dares to disobey and openly oppose will be demoted.

Even, imprisonment may be waiting for him.

Moreover, this might be instigated by Prince Yu and Prince Jing, or even because the Emperor is dissatisfied with them.

As for what the Imperial Observatory said, quite a few people actually believed it, and thought that there were no immortals in the world.

Everything that happened in the northern border might very well be just as the Imperial Astronomical Observatory said, a special auspicious astronomical phenomenon.

As for the tens of thousands of invading troops of Altan, just as the national teacher had said before, the stars had long since predicted that there would be disasters, wars, casualties, and then the earth dragon would turn over and bury the Yinshan Mountains.

It's all just a coincidence!

Throughout history, have there been few strange phenomena in heaven and earth?

Among those who think this way, there are many smart people, but they don't believe that there are really immortals in the world.

If immortals really do exist, why are there no records of them in history books? From ancient times to the present, how many emperors have sought to cultivate immortality and how many have succeeded?

Why did it happen that this was their turn?

Furthermore, if there was an immortal who helped the Ming Dynasty, the imperial court should have released him openly and announced it to the world.

With all the rebellions, bandits, and pirates in the south, aren't they all in danger? Are they just bowing down? And aren't there any fewer natural disasters?

Some people believe it, and naturally some people don’t.

Those who don't believe it think that if it is fake, then why would the cabinet severely criticize it? Fake is fake after all, so why react so strongly? It is obvious that they are covering their mouths because they are guilty.

As for why not announce it to the world?
This is not difficult. Why is it so hard to find immortal traces? Immortals are so high up, how can they be burdened by the mundane world?
The human heart is unpredictable. If it were to be announced that there were immortals in the world, the world would be filled with numerous harmful sects in an instant.

At that time, countless people will be deceived.

Officials, frontier troops, everyone went to pray to the gods and pursue the immortals. Wouldn't the court be paralyzed? How could the government's orders be implemented from top to bottom?
A document of reprimand from the cabinet caused the discussion of the matter among the senior officials of the six ministries to reach a climax in secret, and the debate between the pros and cons was extremely lively.

However, they can only discuss it in private gatherings, as a topic of conversation after dinner, or as a debate at gatherings of friends.

In fact, there is no evidence at all.

As time goes by, whether there are immortals in the world has changed from a serious matter to a kind of interest.

As for the soldiers in the northern border, under the order of the cabinet, Tang Shunzhi, the governor of Xuanda, Hai Rui, the governor of Datong, and Wang Chonggu, the eyewitness of the incident, comforted them and put the incident behind them. They no longer firmly believed that there were immortals in the world.

Datong, Governor's Office.

"Governor?" Li Zhiyuan, a councillor who was fat and wealthy like a wealthy man, smiled and looked at Hai Rui, who was reviewing documents in the hall, with a flattering look as if he wanted to say something but stopped.

"Mr. Li, if you have something to say, just say it directly." Hai Rui drew with a large brush in his hand without even raising his head.

The battlefield in the north no longer exists. The Yan Party and the Qingliu simply stopped fighting and made peace. This is the power of an immortal coming to the world!

"Hehe," Li Zhiyuan smiled. Although he was sitting below, he still leaned towards Hai Rui and asked in a low voice, "Tell me, is this true?"

"What's the matter?" Hai Rui was very frugal with words. After finishing one document, he immediately opened another.

"It's about the immortals!" Seeing Hai Rui's indifferent expression, Li Zhiyuan suddenly became anxious and said, "The Imperial Astronomical Observatory said that the immortals in the sky were just a good omen for that day."

"It can even be seen as the result of the environment near Yinshan Mountain before the earth dragon turned over. There were no immortals in the world. As for the collapse of Yinshan Mountain, it is said that the national master had predicted it long ago..."

As he spoke, Li Zhiyuan kept observing Hai Rui's expression, but unfortunately, he couldn't see anything.

He said all this just to learn some immortal things from Hai Rui. Now the cabinet doesn't allow people to talk about it. Does this mean they want to cut off other people's immortal paths? This Hai Rui might know more than the cabinet.

Therefore, if I could learn something from him, maybe I could also gain some chance to become an immortal.

"Councilor Li," Li Zhiyuan was still talking when Hai Rui's calm but penetrating voice rang out, "Have you read the Great Ming Law?"

Hmm? Although he was puzzled as to why Hai Rui suddenly asked him whether he had read the Ming Dynasty Law, Li Zhiyuan still smiled complacently, stroked his beard, and said, "Of course!"

"I am not a talented person, but I have participated in the discussion of the compilation of the Ming Dynasty Law and proposed several provisions in the criminal law. Although it was not adopted in the end, it was also affirmed by the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice."

"What does Volume 18 of the Ming Code, Article 3 of the Criminal Law, say?" Hai Rui's tone remained calm, and his hands did not slow down at all. He quickly picked up another official document.

While talking, she never had the time to look up at him.

"Ming Dynasty Code, Volume 18, Article 3 of the Criminal Law..." Li Zhiyuan thought for a moment, a look of confidence emerged on his fat face, and he began to recite while shaking his head.

"Anyone who creates prophecies, evil books, evil words, and spreads them to mislead the people will be executed. All means that regardless of the leader or follower, the crime will be punished as one. The rest of the articles that mention "all" shall be punished in the same manner..."

Just halfway through reciting, Li Zhiyuan suddenly became speechless.

The originally complacent expression on the chubby face suddenly became extremely wonderful.

At this time he naturally understood what Hai Rui meant.

This means that he was spreading rumors and misleading the people. This is what the cabinet reprimanded the officials from the six ministries not long ago, and the words used were also prophecies and divinations.

"I've finished reciting it." Hai Rui's serious voice sounded.

Hearing this, Li Zhiyuan's face suddenly turned dark. He could only pinch his nose and recite the rest of the content.

"If anyone possesses a demonic book and hides it without reporting it to the authorities, he shall be caned 100 times and sentenced to three years in prison." Just as Li Zhiyuan finished speaking, Hai Rui also finished dealing with a document. Only then did he have time to look up.

"Councilor Li, since the Imperial Observatory and the Cabinet have responded, this is what the court means."

"We are now shouldering the national policy of 'stationing troops to promote agriculture', and we should be thinking about how to clear the land and distribute it to military households."

"In addition, we must appease the military households and give them more preferential treatment to ensure that they are willing to farm."

"At this moment, being obsessed with these immortal prophecies," Hai Rui asked seriously, "isn't that a violation of your duty as an official?"

Looking at the serious Hai Rui, Li Zhiyuan smiled awkwardly and said, "What the governor said is right. I was talking nonsense." Then he picked up the land account book on the table and said, "I will do it right away, I will do it right away..."

But in her heart, she was secretly criticizing Hai Rui.

Listen to the cabinet? Did you, Hai Rui, say that?
In the case of Dinghai County in the southeast, who doesn't know that you, Hai Rui, blatantly turned a deaf ear to the words of the cabinet's senior officials? Oh, now you remember to listen to the cabinet's words and not spread rumors or believe them?
You are so obedient, it seems that the cabinet is covering up this matter, okay? And you, Hai Rui, may have known the truth about your majesty's cultivation and whether he can get help from immortals!

It is not even certain that you have already obtained the immortal magic!

Now that you are full and have a mouth full of oil, you start to ignore others who are still hungry, right? What kind of honest official is this? Bah!
"If you don't join the cabinet, you will end up being an ant..." Li Zhiyuan is not a fool, so he naturally saw that the cabinet must have already determined some things and may even have gained some benefits.

That's why I covered my mouth in a hurry.

What's funny is that there are still people in the six ministries who believe it. It's hard to imagine that such a fool can stay in the six ministries?

"Don't try to fool me. I know that Wang Chonggu and the several deputy generals who participated in the battle that day were all warned."

“As for those soldiers, they were educated and deceived by the local instructor, who made them understand that it was just a good omen from heaven.

Haha, what can those crude and vulgar soldiers understand?
He was coaxed by those people with just a few words, and forgot about the matter. He only wanted to wait for the reward money and a warm bed for his wife and children..."

"But it's true. What does it have to do with them whether they are immortals or not? We can't give them food or drink..."

"Alas, I shouldn't have come to this crappy place in the first place," Li Zhiyuan thought, shaking his head and sighing, saying to himself, "I'll work here for a year or so, and when I've earned some credit, I'll have to be transferred back next spring!"

"My battlefield should be the six ministries in the capital. I should be discussing national policies in the court, not hanging out with a bunch of stinky soldiers..."

Today in Datong, there are many, or even more, people who share the same idea as Li Zhiyuan.

On the northern battlefield, the Yan Party and the Qingliu fell silent for a moment.

They received the news at the same time and must cooperate and assist each other to complete the national policy of stationing troops and promoting agriculture.

As for some gentry families, evidence of their crimes was placed on Hai Rui's desk three days after the war ended and the news was passed back to the cabinet.

Haven’t you seen that Hai Rui is now dealing with the non-annexed land obtained from the confiscation of property, as well as some evidence of smuggling by Shanxi merchant families?

It would be really strange to say that all these abnormal behaviors have nothing to do with the immortal.

"The cabinet already knows that the emperor has made great progress in his cultivation, but they don't know that the immortal in the sky that day was the emperor..." Hai Rui began to ponder secretly in his heart when Li Zhiyuan started the conversation.

"It seems that the emperor deliberately fabricated the existence of an immortal. Then the cabinet and some people will think that everything the emperor has now comes from the immortal in the sky..."

Hai Rui's brain was working rapidly.

However, since he was not in the capital, Hai Rui could not accurately judge what the emperor's purpose was. But it seemed that it was ultimately inseparable from "interests" and "power". In fact, Hai Rui did not want more people to know about the emperor's cultivation.

First of all, what will the officials in the court think?
The emperor has cultivated himself, so do his subjects also have expectations and hopes? Give it to him or not? The emperor and his subjects are suspicious of each other. Can the emperor trust his subjects, or can the subjects trust the emperor?

If immortality is given, how should the resources for cultivation be distributed? People’s minds change, and their desires are insatiable. Who can remain calm in the face of immortality?
The development of the Ming Dynasty must be achieved step by step. It is necessary to first consolidate the power of the superiors and then benefit the lower levels.

What will the common people think?

When the initial fanatical belief fades, what may come in its place is panic and chaos.

This panic may get out of control because of a small incident.

For example, some rebels within the Ming Dynasty.

Rebellions in many places originated from people who could not make a living and were forced to rebel.

The common people of the world do not trust the emperor! What would these people think when faced with an emperor who cultivates immortality?

There is nothing else but despair.

Of course, these are not the most troublesome things. If someone with ulterior motives wants to take advantage of this opportunity to start a rebellion, it goes without saying that rumors will fly everywhere, causing the Ming Dynasty to fall into panic and chaos.

Will the people believe the rumors that have a basis in truth? Or will they believe that this Taoist emperor is a good emperor?
Who doesn't know what kind of person their emperor was before? Could he have continued to kill until no one in the world dared to question him?
Even when Hai Rui himself first guessed that the emperor had succeeded in his cultivation, what was his first reaction? He immediately wondered if the immortal emperor would become an immortal thief and rob the world!

Hai Rui himself was like this, let alone the common people?

What does your cultivation of immortality have to do with me, the common people?

Could it be that Your Majesty, you can still take us with you? If that is really the case, would we still be in such dire straits as we are now?
Therefore, in Hai Rui's view, if he wanted to change the inherent impression of his own Taoist emperor in the hearts of the subjects of the world, this would require long-term deployment and subtle changes!

Rectify the administration of officials, eradicate corruption, stabilize the frontiers, reform the land system, and let the people have land to farm, eat and wear warm clothes. Only by doing so, supplemented by propaganda, can the people trust and support the emperor.

Finally, when people learn that the emperor has been granted magic by the immortals and can achieve immortality, they will only believe that the emperor has indeed become a better person.

See, he is indeed a good emperor, otherwise why would the immortals grant him the Dharma? The immortals have approved of it!

In this way, when people all over the world know that the emperor is practicing Taoism, they will not develop doubts, fears, panic, etc. after the enthusiasm subsides.

I will only be proud of it!

Everything happened naturally and without any disturbances. That's it.

The prejudice in people's hearts is a mountain, which needs to be leveled step by step, rather than relying on the fear of the people to pretend and whitewash peace, and suppress anyone who disobeys!
The order is achieved by shocking the world through magic, which is fundamentally maintaining order through national fear.

Doing so may lead to superficial obedience from the subjects in the short term, but in the long run it will lead to dissatisfaction and resentment.

When the Immortal Dynasty becomes huge in size and the Immortal Law becomes popular, this will become a huge hidden danger, and no one knows when it will erupt.

"The emperor's move of keeping the news within a small circle such as the cabinet is... very good!" These thoughts emerged in Hai Rui's mind, and he began to admire Jiajing more and more.

However, these are just his "filters" for Jiajing's fatherhood. Jiajing did have some considerations in this regard, but not much, it's just that this decision happened to fit Hai Rui's philosophy!
What Jiajing wanted more than anything was to use the immortals' magic to make all the officials and his two sons fight among themselves for the resources for cultivating immortals.

This will give him enough sense of security.

……

On September 28th, the 40th year of the Jiajing reign, it rained heavily.

More than half a month had passed since Altan Khan invaded from the northern border and was destroyed in Yinshan.

Over the past half month, the situation in the court has changed suddenly.

The first was a huge change in the officialdom in the southeast. The Zhu Wan case was officially launched, and old events were brought up again. Officials involved who were still alive were in danger, and those who were no longer involved had their families living in constant fear.

The person who presided over the "Zhu Wan case" was none other than Xu Jie, the second assistant of the cabinet and the leader of the Qingliu faction.

Before, I still had the mood to discuss legends about immortals and conspiracy theories about officials in the court in private, but now I no longer have the mood.

Especially the Qingliu faction, each of them represented the gentry and powerful families behind them. Now that they were suddenly backstabbed by their own "boss", they felt caught off guard and the sky was falling.

After more than ten days of reaction, officials from the six ministries, the two capitals and thirteen provinces began to submit memorials one after another to impeach Xu Jie!

At the local level, there were many members of the Xu Jie family and related interest groups, and all the evidence of their crimes was submitted to the government.

Also, Altan was escorted to the capital.

At this time, in Yuxi Palace, inside the Lingtian courtyard, under the isolation of the ban, the heavy rain on the sky was bounced away.

The small courtyard below is as quiet as a paradise on earth.

About as tall as a person, Prince Yu and Prince Jing sat cross-legged under a willow sapling with swaying branches in the air, with spiritual energy floating around.

Everyone held a small jade bottle tightly in their hands.

At this time, the two were meditating on the visualization diagram of the 'Qi-Inducing Technique' while breathing in and out rhythmically.

After an unknown amount of time, the two finally slowly opened their eyes.

"How many acupoints have you opened, Third Brother?" Prince Jing put away the jade bottle containing spiritual energy in his hand and looked at Prince Yu.

Looking at the smile on Prince Jing's face, Prince Yu knew that his fourth brother must have gained something from his training this time.

However, he is not far behind!

"I have gained something, ten." Prince Yu said with a smug smile on his face. "I have drawn the Qi into my body and opened up 210 acupoints. I am still far from it. How about my fourth brother? How many have you opened up?"

"Heh," upon hearing this, King Jing smiled faintly, sat up from the grass, and said, "It's faster than my third brother. It's eleven now, which is just a small fraction!"

Upon hearing what Prince Jing said, Prince Yu’s smile froze.

He had only broken through to the tenth one, but the fourth one had already broken through eleven. Doesn't this mean that he has always been faster than him?
In terms of talent in cultivating immortals, I am actually not as good as him?
"Third brother, you still need to practice more and don't slack off, haha..." As he said that, King Jing patted Prince Yu on the shoulder, stood up and walked towards Yuxi Palace. Well, he felt very good to be able to suppress Prince Yu.

You were born earlier than me, so it's okay that you have the title of first in order of birth, but it doesn't mean that you are better than me in cultivation, right?

How can you take all the good things by yourself?

Lu Fang, who was standing nearby, had been waiting there long ago. When he saw the two men had finished their training, he immediately stepped forward and said, "Congratulations, Your Highnesses, for your improved cultivation." Of course, he had heard the two princes' discussion.

Well, it took more than half a month to open up eleven acupoints. This talent, huh, is a little lacking.

In half a year, I have opened 210 acupoints, but now there are only about six left.

Moreover, he did not have so many resources at that time, but soon, Lu Fang suppressed this complacency in his heart.

"Where is Eunuch Lu? How much has he gotten through?" At this time, Prince Yu, suppressing his unhappiness, looked at Lu Fang.

King Jing on the side also looked over curiously.

Lu Fang has always been by his father's side and started practicing Taoism at an early age. He should have gained a lot of knowledge, right?
"My talent is not as good as yours, my Lord. It is only thanks to my perseverance and the spiritual objects bestowed upon me by my master that I have achieved my current level of cultivation..." Lu Fang smiled and shook her head, not intending to say anything.

After hearing what Lu Fang said, Prince Yu and Prince Jing looked at each other and immediately knew that Lu Fang was probably more talented than them.

If Lu Fang didn't have many acupoints, he would definitely tell the truth about the number, because even if he started practicing early, the average number would not be that many.

Lu Fang is such a shrewd person that he will definitely use himself to elevate them. Now he doesn’t talk about numbers, he just says that he is not good enough.

The meaning is very clear, I am better than you!

For a moment, their dissatisfaction with each other turned into resentment and jealousy towards Lu Fan.

But soon, the two suppressed their emotions, came to the side hall of Yuxi Palace, and saluted Jiajing in the abode.

"Father, your Majesty, Altan has been put in jail. I wonder what to do with him?" Prince Yu spoke first.

King Jing at the side also said: "Also, the leader of the Kharahhuit tribe under the command of the Oirat, Yisiha Khara, came to pay tribute and wanted to see the emperor..."

"This man was the leader of the former Wala tribe, the Kharahite tribe, and the son of Yismain. After Yismain's death, the Kharahite tribe split into several tribes, and Yisha Khara inherited the Kharahite tribe."

Listening to what the two were saying, Jiajing was about to speak when he heard a burst of hurried footsteps outside Yuxi Palace.

Hearing the voice, Lu Fang frowned, bowed to Jiajing, and immediately walked quickly out of the hall.

Then, Chen Hong, who was soaked all over, came jogging towards them.

"What's the matter? Didn't I tell you that no matter how serious the matter is, you can't just rush into Yuxi Palace? You're so flustered, how can you be so decent!"

Seeing Chen Hong, Lu Fang couldn't help but scold him softly.

Although Chen Hong was arrogant and rebellious, he never took him seriously.

Facing Lu Fang's scolding, if it were in the past, Chen Hong would definitely not accept it, but now thinking that Lu Fang might follow the emperor to practice Taoism, the resentment in his heart had long been extinguished.

"Please forgive me, Master," Chen Hong bowed and apologized, then he swallowed his saliva and said in a low and hurried voice:
"Many officials from the six ministries, together with many censors, held impeachment memorials from various places...

They knelt outside the West Garden, threatening to impeach Lord Xu and punish the cabinet elders, and they demanded to see His Majesty!"

"He also said that the cabinet is in chaos and wants to exercise the power of a prime minister even though he is not the prime minister. He is deceiving the emperor and trampling on the imperial power. He demands severe punishment!"

As he spoke, Chen Hong looked at Lu Fang's gloomy face and said cautiously: "The cabinet is now in power with your two highnesses."

"Are they crazy?"

"..."

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(End of this chapter)