The Ming Dynasty started with caution

The father and son left the palace, one in a sedan chair and the other on a horse, and headed back home.

Yan Kesong's face was gloomy: "Dad is a minister. He should be loyal when he advances and make amends when he retreats. He worked hard but failed to be loyal to the court in the end, and his integrity was ruined in his later years. Alas, don't learn from dad."

Yan Chengjin knew that his father was still brooding over it. If the court wanted to fight against Wala, it would re-employ his father. "Dad, rest in the house for a while, and there will be a chance to use him in the future."

Fengtian Hall,

Emperor Hongzhi looked at the memorial presented by Wen Gui: "What walls and fortresses in the northwest need to be repaired?"

"Your Majesty, you don't know that the Tatars are now lost and have no forces stationed. Wala will encroach on the Tatars' territory to the east and will move south sooner or later."

Wen Gui begged for silver to repair the border wall for the court.

It is easy for Wala people to disguise themselves as Tatars.

From Yansui Anbian Town, Shilaochi to Hengcheng, 300 miles away, 900 towers were added and guard camps were set up to prevent Wala from moving south at any time.

Emperor Hongzhi was worried: "Yan Kesong resigned and his title was taken away. There will be no one to guard the three borders. Who should be sent there?"

The officials were silent.

Li Dongyang said: "You can send Yang Yiqing as the new general of the three borders."

In terms of public relations, Yang Yiqing is a rare general in a century. He led troops to suppress bandits in the northwest and Sichuan, and won countless victories.

A few days later, all the generals who sold official positions in the northwest were imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice or sent back to their hometowns.

Yan Chengjin did not plead for mercy. The court would not really kill the generals, just as it would not kill Wang Yue.

Three months passed in a flash, and there was no major event in the court.

Kunning Palace.

Emperor Hongzhi picked up the emperor's grandson and took a step back, almost unable to hold him.

Xiao Jing hurriedly supported him gently.

"I feel more and more powerless. I can stand up with my grandson in my arms normally, but today my arms are so weak and I feel quite tired."

Empress Zhang put Princess Taiping down, "It's because the grandson has grown up. Your Majesty hasn't held him for a long time, so he is like this."

Xiao Jing nodded and smiled, "Your Majesty is only in his early forties, in the prime of life. Your Majesty is right. It's because the grandson has grown up."

"No, I know my own body is not as good as before."

Emperor Hongzhi sighed.

The court memorials are increasing, and it takes until midnight to read them every day. My whole body aches, and Wang Ji's acupuncture can only relieve some of the pain.

Sitting down and holding the lotus seed soup, he said while drinking, "Has the prince come to Kunning Palace these days?"

Xiao Jing smiled and said, "I came to borrow the grandson."

Emperor Hongzhi put down the spoon and looked at Empress Zhang meaningfully, "How old is Houzhao this year?"

"Seventeen, why does your majesty want to ask this?" Empress Zhang pushed aside the chestnut and handed it to him.

"I ascended the throne at the age of sixteen, one year younger than Houzhao."

Instantly, the only sounds in the hall were the Princess Taiping and the grandson playing.

Empress Zhang's hand stopped in mid-air.

Xiao Jing's expression was stiff, and he dared not say a word. The eunuch and the maid lowered their heads.

Back in the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Hongzhi thought for a while and called Wang Ji to the palace for consultation.

After taking the pulse, Wang Ji said: "The pulse is as steady as a string. Your Majesty is in good health, but you are overworked and have something in your heart, which hurts your mind."

Emperor Hongzhi pressed his lower abdomen: "But I occasionally feel a dull pain in my abdomen."

"It's because of anger that makes the liver angry. It can't be cured by medicine. Your Majesty should treat it with a normal mind."

"Is there any medicine to prolong life in Doctor Wang's prescription?" Emperor Hongzhi asked.

"If you are open-minded and eat well, you can have a few more years of life. Your Majesty wants to live forever?" Wang Ji was a little worried. Emperor Hongzhi asked him to make elixirs, but there is no medicine for longevity in this world.

Emperor Hongzhi waved his hand: "Send Doctor Wang out of the palace."

After Xiao Jing left, he ordered someone to summon the cabinet ministers.

At this time, the cabinet.

Memorials from all over the country were sent to the duty room one after another.

Liu Jian and the other five did not bother to talk, they kept reading the memorials and quickly drafted them.

Yan Chengjin looked at the memorial of the Southern Zhili Censor and asked to dismiss the five-rank female officials in the harem, such as Shang Gong, Shang Yi, Shang Fu, and Shang Shi.

These censors wished that the emperor could be self-reliant.

Yan Chengjin was naturally kept.

The little eunuch walked in and said: "My Lords, His Majesty summoned us to the Qianqing Palace."

Liu Jian looked surprised.

When His Majesty discussed matters, he often summoned them to the Fengtian Palace. He often went to the Qianqing Palace because he was ill and could not attend the court.

Li Dongyang asked: "Why did His Majesty summon us?"

The little eunuch lowered his head and did not dare to answer.

Liu Jian frowned and shouted, "Speak quickly!"

"Today, when I went to Kunning Palace, His Majesty said that he was weak and occasionally unwell. He also said that he was one year younger than the prince when he ascended the throne. When he returned to the palace, he summoned Doctor Wang." The little eunuch said.

Yan Chengjin's heart moved slightly.

Now that the Tatars have been eliminated and the world is stable, the big stone in Emperor Hongzhi's heart has been put down. He wants to pass the throne to Zhu Houzhao.

Li Dongyang and others have different expressions.

Naturally, I hope that Your Majesty can do it until the day of his death. The prince is naughty and unruly, how can he be the emperor?

The ministers came to the Qianqing Palace with heavy hearts. After saluting, they stood in two rows.

Emperor Hongzhi said: "I have a lot of memorials today."

"If Your Majesty is unwell, take a few days to rest first, and we will observe the government for Your Majesty." Liu Jian said.

Just rest for a few days, no harm.

The bedroom was silent.

Emperor Hongzhi shook his head: "Now the world is peaceful and the people are stable. I want to pass the throne to the prince."

Although when I came here, I heard the eunuch say that the emperor mentioned ascending the throne today, and I had a vague guess.

But when they heard it with their own ears, Liu Jian and Li Dongyang still didn't react.

"Your Majesty, don't do it!"

"Your Majesty, think twice!"

"With our dedicated assistance to your majesty, your majesty can work hard for another 30 years."

Liu Jian and Li Dongyang knelt down together.

Only Yan Chengjin is still standing. Emperor Hongzhi reigned for nearly three years longer than in history. Although he has not yet brought the Ming Dynasty to its peak, it can still be considered a achievement.

It's a little early to retire at this time.

Emperor Hongzhi had his own considerations: "The world's banditry, water conservancy, officialdom, commerce, and foreign invasion in the north have all been sorted out. Although there are many court affairs, most of them are trivial matters. It is the time for the prince to ascend the throne."

Li Dongyang and Jiang Mian glanced at Yan Chengjin and motioned for him to kneel down.

But Yan Chengjin turned a deaf ear.

The corners of Emperor Hongzhi's lips raised slightly: "The Yan Qing family also thinks it's time for me to abdicate?"

"No, I just feel that kneeling will not help."

Liu Jian and others were a little angry, but he did not agree with them.

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Xiao Jing: "Go and summon the prince."

A quarter of an hour later, Zhu Houzhao walked into the main hall and asked at a loss, "Father, the emperor summons his son?"

"Huzhao, are you seventeen this year?" Emperor Hongzhi raised his head slightly.

Zhu Houzhao stood up, turned around and ran out, as fast as a 100-meter sprint.

"Someone, catch him!"

When Emperor Hongzhi shouted, Jinwu Guards and Jinyi Guards held Zhu Houzhao up and dragged him back to the main hall.

Liu Jian and other ministers sighed.

Yan Chengjin looked at Zhu Houzhao, who knew that His Majesty was about to pass on the throne.

Emperor Hongzhi said with a straight face: "I haven't finished speaking yet, why are you running?"

Zhu Houzhao knelt on the ground, lowered his head and said, "I don't want to be the emperor."

Liu Jian and others remained silent and glanced at Zhu Houzhao with disappointment.

Emperor Hongzhi shouted sharply: "I know you don't want to be the emperor, but I still want to be? If I were to pass it on to you again before heaven, would you pass it on to your grandson in the blink of an eye?"

Zhu Houzhao's eyes lit up, what his father said made sense.

Liu Jian and others bowed and still insisted: "Your Majesty, think twice!"

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