Chapter 21: How Did I Become a Usurper of the State? [Required Reading Votes]

The reason for Zhu Yuanzhang’s astonishment was, in truth, quite simple.

Following his purge of Hu Weiyong and Li Shanchang, the vast majority of the civil officials in the imperial court were led by three men.

Ren Taiheng, a former Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy, held immense sway because, during the Hongwu era, all officials were required to serve in the Hanlin Academy upon entering the bureaucracy—some for months, others for years—before being assigned official posts. This meant that most officials in the court were his students or former subordinates.

Liu Sanwu, the Minister of the Ministry of War, was deeply trusted by Zhu Yuanzhang during the reform of the military system, and his voice carried significant weight in the court.

As for the third, Su Boheng, he was even more formidable. He was widely recognized as a paragon by scholars across the realm, and to some extent, his status rivaled that of the Duke of Yansheng in the north. Su Boheng’s ancestral home was Meishan, Sichuan, and he was the ninth-generation descendant of Su Zhe, making him a descendant of the legendary Su Shi. This lineage alone was enough to make countless Confucian scholars clamor to become his disciples. Furthermore, as the Censor-in-Chief, Su Boheng effectively controlled the voices of the "pure" officials in the court, wielding substantial influence in many areas.

Zhu Yuanzhang feared that Zhu Yunsheng, failing to grasp the importance of these three, might attempt to dismiss them immediately upon taking power, which would inevitably destabilize the court.

"Hmph! His Highness the Third Prince is certainly imposing, is he not? Now that you have us imprisoned, I suppose you have achieved your heart's desire?"

Just as Zhu Yuanzhang feared, Su Boheng let out a cold snort. Only then did Zhu Yuanzhang realize that Zhu Yunsheng had actually had the three men detained; it was no wonder he had managed to seize control of the court’s situation so rapidly. His anxiety deepened, and he burned with the urge to step out and personally school Zhu Yunsheng on how to govern.

Yet, just as Zhu Yuanzhang grew impatient, Zhu Yunsheng looked at the three men with a faint smile.

"Master Su, you speak well! I have indeed stabilized the situation in the court and shall ascend the throne as Emperor in a few days."

"Hmph! It is merely a usurpation of the state; what is there to boast about?" Su Boheng sneered again, his face turning dark.

Knowing how arrogant these self-proclaimed "pure" officials of the Great Ming were, Zhu Yunsheng ignored Su Boheng and turned his gaze with a light smile toward Ren Taiheng and Liu Sanwu. While the Censorate might be important to other emperors, it held little significance for him.

"Master Ren, Master Liu, what of you? Do you also believe that my actions constitute a usurpation of the state?"

Ren Taiheng and Liu Sanwu’s expressions shifted, but they remained silent—perhaps unsure of how to respond, or perhaps in agreement with Su Boheng.

Seeing their reaction, Zhu Yunsheng’s expression soured instantly.

"It seems the three of you truly believe that I am harming the nation and misleading the people?"

"Hmph! Anyone who usurps the state deserves to be executed. Furthermore, how could the princes be convinced by such actions? In a few days, the coalition of princes may well be at the city gates, and then you shall be a sinner against the Empire!" Liu Sanwu finally spoke, his tone sharp and unforgiving. Ren Taiheng remained silent, though his expression was far from pleasant.

*Clap, clap, clap.*

"Well said!" Zhu Yunsheng suddenly clapped his hands and laughed, even offering praise. But just as the three men—and Zhu Yuanzhang, hidden behind the wall—were left bewildered, the smile on Zhu Yunsheng’s face instantly froze.

"I never expected this! Truly, I never imagined that the pillars of the Great Ming would be so short-sighted. I wonder how Imperial Grandfather ever saw fit to promote you to such high positions?"

"You..."

Liu Sanwu, Ren Taiheng, and Su Boheng were all flushed with humiliation at this sudden insult. Ren Taiheng suppressed his anger and demanded, "Your Highness, what do you mean? We are single-mindedly devoted to the country and the people; how are we short-sighted? Must you wait until the princes raise their armies before you realize how wrong your actions are today?"

Behind the wall, hearing this exchange, Zhu Yuanzhang’s face turned icy. "Truly short-sighted! My grandson is right—how did I ever let such men occupy high positions?" His tone shifted sharply: "But for my grandson to be so heavy-handed, what is he planning? Is he not afraid that the entire civil and military bureaucracy will resign and depart?"

Clearly, Zhu Yuanzhang felt Zhu Yunsheng’s methods were too reckless. Even if he disapproved of the three men’s capabilities, he should have waited until he had absolute control before acting, using tactics of division and dissolution rather than such aggressive suppression.

But Zhu Yunsheng was not the least bit worried. His expression remained unchanged as he sneered, "You claim to serve the country and the people, yet I am the one misleading them? I would like to ask where you see this, and how I have become the villain you describe? By lineage and by order of birth, I am the legitimate son of the Crown Prince and the legitimate grandson of the Emperor. In heart and in deed, I have never harmed the common people. How, then, have I become a usurper?"

Under this barrage, the expressions of the three men changed. Liu Sanwu remained defiant, yet seemed unable to find a retort. During the morning court, they had been in the side hall of the Fengtian Palace, so they were aware of the crimes committed by Lady Lü and knew that Zhu Yunwen’s status as a legitimate heir was, in fact, the real usurpation.

Ren Taiheng lowered his head in thought.

Su Boheng’s face flashed with a hint of shame. He bowed to Zhu Yunsheng and said, "Your Highness is indeed correct; according to the system of primogeniture established by the Emperor, you are indeed the rightful heir to the throne..." He paused, his tone shifting, "But has Your Highness considered that by rushing to ascend the throne, the princes of the realm may not be convinced?"

"Heh! The princes?" Zhu Yunsheng could not help but let out a cold laugh. A moment later, his gaze became one of disdain. "If they dare to rebel, I do not mind dealing with them. The policy set by my Imperial Grandfather to have the princes guard the frontiers was a grave mistake—a policy that harms the nation and the people..."

"Arrogant!"

"Audacious!"

Liu Sanwu and Su Boheng, the two old men, were instantly incensed.

"You scoundrel! How dare you disparage the state policy established by the late Emperor? This is sheer treason, absolute treason!"

"With a ruler as treacherous as you, the Great Ming will cease to be a nation..."

They heaped insults upon him, even going so far as to predict the fall of the dynasty. Ren Taiheng, however, remained silent this time, his expression darkening as if he were deep in thought.

Behind the wall, hearing Zhu Yunsheng call his state policy a detriment to the nation, Zhu Yuanzhang was no less furious than Liu Sanwu and Su Boheng. His weathered face was practically glowing with rage.

"Rebellious grandson! Rebellious grandson indeed!"

"He actually intends to prune the princes? That was the foundation I left for the future emperors to guard the borders of the Ming for generations to come, and he intends to tear down the city walls himself..."

"No! I cannot let him act so recklessly; otherwise, the Great Ming will truly cease to be a nation."