The remnants of the Jiannu were no longer a concern, having been demoted from the first place after the pacification of Liao to after the expansion of territory and northward expansion.
This was not only a change in the emperor's judgment, but the people of the Ming Dynasty also gradually forgot about the once vicious and rampant Jianlu over the years.
A group of barbaric guys, hiding in the bitter cold land of the north, just barely surviving.
The army is constantly advancing northward, and the territory is constantly expanding northward. The Nurgan Regional Administration is being gradually recovered and is no longer a controlled area. The newly established Jilin Prefecture is far from the northern border.
The emperor's grand ambitions were clearly revealed on the annually updated map of the Ming Dynasty. His prestige gradually rose with each victory in foreign wars.
Yes, the emperor was the supreme ruler, his words were law and his words were golden. But there was a huge difference between whether people truly respected and obeyed him from the bottom of their hearts or whether they secretly criticized him and accepted him helplessly.
The emperor's change from being brutal and independent at the beginning to having almost no opposition now is not entirely due to intimidation and coercion.
Wansui is right. His vision and strategy far surpass ours. So, we must implement what we understand and what we don't understand. In the future, we will naturally figure it out. Wansui is right.
There are indeed many examples to prove that the ministers have such feelings and judgments.
As for personality cult, it is undeniable that there was some, but more of it was the prosperity of the country and the peace and prosperity of the Ming Dynasty.
In the current court, the emperor could make decisions with a single word. Only a few important officials, such as Yuan Keli, Sun Chengzong, and Xu Guangqi, dared to offer subtle suggestions.
This was not what the emperor wanted. He could guide the Ming Empire correctly and serve as the helmsman. But who would have his insight and vision?
"The Shaanxi Governor reported that there has been no rain or snow yet, and the drought persists. However, the government granaries are still well stocked, and the relief grain distributed to the people will be enough to last until next spring plowing."
The emperor nodded slightly. He was not optimistic about the drought in Shaanxi next year, but he was relieved that there were sufficient preparations.
Waving his hand, signaling the palace servants to bring tea to Master Yuan, the emperor smiled and said, "Master Yuan, are you feeling well? The ginseng and deer antlers I sent here are good for strengthening your body."
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great grace." Yuan Keli bowed in thanks and sat down in the specially granted armchair. Looking at the young emperor, he said with both satisfaction and emotion, "Your Majesty, you are wise and powerful, with outstanding achievements. You are worthy of being the third wisest ruler of the Ming Dynasty."
The emperor laughed and knew the reason for the third one.
Taizu and Chengzu cannot be ranked after him. As descendants, we must be humble. As for history books, who cares?
"Master Yuan submitted two resignations, but I have retained them both." The emperor looked at Yuan Keli, who was both a master and an important official, and said to him, "With Master Yuan in the cabinet, I feel at ease."
Yuan Keli bowed and said, "Although I have the heart to serve Your Majesty with all my heart, I am old and frail, and my energy is often insufficient. Now that the court is clear and bright, and there are many capable ministers, I dare not linger and let Your Majesty down."
The emperor stroked his forehead, feeling reluctant to see this old minister retire. Although Yuan Keli was telling the truth, there were many officials who could replace him.
After pondering for a long while, the emperor nodded helplessly and said, "Master Yuan, who do you think should join the cabinet?"
Yuan Keli bowed and said, "I think Bi Zishen is a good choice."
As a financial expert, Bi Ziyan did a good job as the governor of the central bank. He had a deep understanding of the emperor's intentions, and whether it was changing the liang to yuan or issuing bonds, he did everything to the emperor's satisfaction.
However, in the emperor's opinion, Bi Ziyan was still too old. He was already over sixty years old, and during the more than ten years of the disaster, he still needed to be replaced.
Seeing that the emperor was silent, Yuan Keli opened his mouth but still did not recommend anyone else.
Sun Chengzong was not young anymore, and Yuan Keli knew that he also wanted to retire. The key was that the Ming Dynasty was now stable and the court was clear, so they could return home and enjoy their retirement without worry.
Yuan Keli, Sun Chengzong, and Xu Guangqi were all old enough to retire and return home, while Bi Ziyan, Bi Zisu, Tao Langxian, and others were capable of shouldering important cabinet responsibilities.
As for maintaining relative stability of cabinet members until major disasters are alleviated to ensure policy consistency and stability, there does not seem to be a particularly close relationship.
The emperor smiled faintly and said, "The person recommended by Master Yuan is very much to my liking."
After saying this, the emperor turned to Liu Ruoyu and said, "Draft an edict: Yuan Keli is a veteran minister of three dynasties, loyal to the country, and has made outstanding contributions. He deserves to be rewarded with four generations of grace and honor. He is to be promoted to the rank of Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince and promoted to the rank of Marquis. His son Shu is to be given the title of Grand Doctor of Imperial Households and Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince..."
"Your Majesty, your grace and reward are too great, I dare not accept it." Yuan Keli stood up and knelt down, and made a plea for resignation.
The emperor waved his hand and said, "Master Yuan has worked hard and made great contributions. This is a well-deserved reward."
Turning to Liu Ruoyu again, the emperor added: "Also, bestow gifts upon Yuan Keli's parents and grandparents in the same manner."
"As you wish." Liu Ruoyu nodded quickly and drafted the imperial edict.
"The emperor's grace is great, and I, your humble servant, accept the order to express my gratitude." Yuan Keli also knew the emperor's temperament and character, so he kowtowed as required and accepted the order to express his gratitude.
The emperor raised his head and motioned Yuan Keli to stand up without any formalities. He smiled and said, "Master Yuan is a man of extraordinary talent. His works can be published by the Imperial Printing House and spread to the world."
The Manchus seized control of the Central Plains, destroyed books and tampered with history, much to the emperor's deep resentment. Among them, the biography of Yuan Keli, the "Biography of Yuan Gong Jiehuan" and Yue Yeye's "Record of the Jingzhong Temple" were banned and destroyed, and anyone who hid them was sentenced to death.
History has changed, and the emperor will not let it repeat itself. Yuan Keli's achievements, his character, his writings, and his calligraphy must all be passed down to the world for future generations to admire.
"Your humble servant..." Yuan Keli was about to decline again, but was interrupted by the emperor with a wave of his hand.
"Master Yuan has retired and will return to Suiyang, Henan." The emperor changed the subject and said, "The disaster has spread, and Henan is also affected. If you see that local officials are not providing adequate disaster relief, Master Yuan can continue to report to me."
Retaining the right to make secret reports is a preferential treatment for trusted retired ministers, which is equivalent to giving the emperor more eyes and ears to understand the people's sentiments.
"I obey your order." Yuan Keli did not refuse modestly. He was concerned about the country and the people, and would not forget about them just because he retired.
The emperor smiled. He would never be stingy with anything he could do for this famous historical official and his loyal minister.
From Yuan Keli's perspective, the emperor's reward was too generous, which made him grateful but also a little nervous.
Being good at using a sword but keeping it hidden, and retreating bravely when the opportunity presents itself. As a disciple of Confucianism, Yuan Keli upheld this principle in his life.
But he kept silent about his affairs, ashamed of being called a Han Chinese partisan; even in retirement, he never forgot his lord, like the Chu Yin who ruined his family. This was also a principle that Yuan Keli advocated, and it was not inconsistent with his principles as a human being.
The key is that Yuan Keli knew the emperor well and was generous in rewarding meritorious service. It was precisely because of this clear distinction between rewards and punishments that the current civil and military officials were so loyal.
Therefore, the emperor also used him as an example for other ministers.
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