On June 26, the sixth year of Longqing's reign, the first abdication ceremony of the Qing Dynasty was grandly held in the Forbidden City.

The weather was fine and cloudless that day. The officials who had been on tenterhooks all night finally put their minds at ease. They asked the cabinet ministers to present the imperial edict of enthronement and the imperial edict on the imperial edict case, and the minister of rites to display the congratulatory letter on the memorial case. The three regents then went to the Qianqing Gate and asked the emperor to place the imperial seal on the table on the left side of the hall.

Then the three regents stood under the eaves of the Huangji Hall, with the civil minister on the left and the military minister on the right. The rest of the princes, ministers, civil and military officials also lined up in order. The envoys from Korea, Ryukyu and Annan also lined up at the end of the line.

Zhao Hao also wore a red silk and blue-rimmed court robe, a fourth-rank four-beam crown on his head, a gold belt around his waist, and a jade pendant... that is, glass. Holding an ivory tablet in his hand, he stood in a row among the fourth-rank court officials.

The old men around him all looked at him with complicated eyes, which made Mr. Zhao really uncomfortable. If he was left alone, he might as well watch the broadcast at home...Xu Brothers Film Company was ordered to make a live sketch to keep the picture. It can be spread to all nations, or it can be permanently stored in a golden box and stone chamber for future generations to admire.

But he was going to be a father, so he couldn't be willful, or his father-in-law would beat him. He had no choice but to stand here and act as an extra, feeling hot and tired.

~~

In the Yikun Palace in the harem, the successor emperor Zhu Yijun has already changed into a smaller version of the emperor's imperial robe. Although the robe is small, it has all the five internal organs and twelve patterns.

When the official from the Imperial Observatory reported that the auspicious time had arrived, the fat boy kowtowed to his two mothers. Then, under the guidance of Feng Bao, he boarded the imperial sedan chair and headed for the Qianqing Gate, accompanied by twenty Han generals including Li Chengen and Zhao Shixi.

On the other side, the future Emperor Retired, Longqing, was also dressed in royal robes and arrived at the Qianqing Gate in a sedan chair, led by twenty Han generals and a guide from the Ministry of Rites.

In order to avoid making a fool of himself at the ceremony, Longqing took sedatives in advance, had injections on his body, and applied thick foundation on his face and neck. The twelve tassels of the flat crown looked like a bead curtain, which completely concealed his impropriety.

Under the guidance of the ceremonial officials, the heir emperor kowtowed to his father, then got back on the sedan chair and followed his father to the Huangji Hall.

At this time, the left bell and right drum of the Meridian Gate rang together, and the retired Emperor Longqing arrived at the Huangji Hall, but did not attend the court. Instead, he got off the sedan chair at the back of the hall and took his seat in the Zhongji Hall.

The successor emperor Zhu Yijun also stood on the west side of the Zhongji Hall.

Then the Minister of the Honglu Temple led the officials in charge of the ceremony to pay homage to the retired emperor first, but they did not sing, praise or play music, they only kowtowed.

After the ceremony, the officials left the Zhongji Hall and returned to their respective positions.

At this time, a eunuch wearing a red python robe and a steel fork hat appeared at the steps of the Huangji Palace. He held a long leather whip made of yellow silk and coated with wax on the tip. The eunuch was strong and powerful, with a solemn posture. He swung his arm and swung the long whip hard, making a loud snap. It was louder than a firecracker, and Zhao Hao almost shivered.

"Pa pa pa", after three sounds of the whip, the Zhonghe Shao music played Yuan Pingzhang, and the first inner Zen ceremony in the Ming Dynasty, which was also extremely rare in previous history, officially began.

At this time, Longqing took the throne in the Huangji Hall, and the successor emperor stood and bowed at the foot of the imperial steps.

Amid the sound of Shao music, the official of the Ministry of Rites said in a loud and solemn voice: "Bow!"

Feng Bao behind Zhu Yijun also whispered, "Kneel!"

The successor emperor then led all the ministers in kneeling and paying homage to the retired emperor.

The emperor did not call out, but the choir officer shouted loudly: "Announce the memorial!"

So Zhang Juzheng, the Prince's Grand Tutor and Junior Tutor, and Grand Secretary of Jianji Hall, who served as the official who announced the edict, went to the imperial steps with the edict in his hands and read the abdication edict to the successor emperor and all the officials.

After the reading was completed, Zhu Yijun officially became the emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Then, Duke Chengguo and Duke Yingguo asked for the emperor's imperial seal and knelt down to pay homage to the emperor.

Longqing took a deep look at the seal that represented the emperor's authority. He had no attachment to it. He just felt a wrenching sense of remorse. Because of his sins, he had to place this heavy burden on his ten-year-old son. He felt ashamed of his ancestors and ashamed of being a father.

It is true that one misstep can lead to eternal regret, and when you look back, you are already a hundred years old... So, don't make a mistake.

Normally, he should have personally presented the seal to the emperor, but Emperor Longqing simply could not lift such a heavy object.

He could only raise his hand slightly, signaling the two dukes to place it on the table on the right side of the hall, and the handover was completed.

In fact, Duke Chengguo couldn't lift it. The one who was really holding the seal tightly was Duke Yingguo Zhang Rong, who was only responsible for giving the thumbs up.

Then the new emperor led his ministers to respectfully send the retired emperor back to the palace to spend his remaining years in peace.

After the retired emperor came out, Shao music started again. Zhu Yijun was led by Feng Bao to the throne, and all the ministers knelt down to pay homage to the new emperor.

Then Zhang Juzheng, the official in charge of announcing the throne, read out the new emperor's ascension edict.

The edict was drafted by Zhang Juzheng, and it was too long. This was because there was no will from the previous emperor, and the many private matters of the regent ministers could not be separated into two edicts, so they had to be stuffed into this edict of enthronement.

The lengthy and difficult-to-understand edict basically said the following things:

First, he announced the new emperor's ascension to the throne, and named his stepmother, Empress Chen, as the Rensheng Empress Dowager, and his biological mother, the Imperial Noble Consort, as the Cisheng Empress Dowager.

The next year will be changed to the first year of Wanli, and a general amnesty will be granted to the whole country, and taxes and levies will be exempted. These are all basic operations.

Then he said, "I am still in my prime, and I still rely on the wise men of civil and military affairs," "We will work together to bring order to the world," and "We will start anew with the people." He brazenly declared that he was still too young and that the state affairs should be decided by the regent.

Then, various measures were taken to promote benefits and eliminate disadvantages, and to establish new rules. There were specific measures, such as recalling all the eunuchs sent by the palace to various places to purchase goods. For example, ordering the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate to re-examine officials throughout the country and dismiss those who were incompetent, etc.

There are also large sections on the direction of major policies, which are basically a reproduction of Zhang Xianggong's "Chen Liu Shi Shu" in the first year of Longqing. All his reform measures were written there, but at that time his words were not taken seriously and fell into oblivion.

Now, not only must everyone listen carefully, but they must also resolutely implement it!

~~

After the abdication ceremony, the emperor gave a banquet, and by the time the series of lengthy ceremonies were over, it was already past noon.

The exhausted little emperor fell asleep during the meal. Feng Bao had to carry him back to the Yikun Palace. The emperor was still young and had to stay with his mother, so he could not live in the Qianqing Palace until he came of age.

Zhang Juzheng was just the opposite. He worked non-stop for more than ten days but didn't feel tired at all.

After the ceremony, he was surrounded by his trusted officials such as Li Youzi, Zeng Shengwu, and Wang Zhuan, and walked through Huiji Gate and came to Wenyuan Pavilion behind Wenhua Hall, chatting and laughing.

Across the road where a bronze plaque read "This is a confidential area. All officials and others are not allowed to enter without permission. Violators will be punished without mercy", Yao Kuang, leading nearly a hundred cabinet officials, had already lined up in an orderly manner.

Seeing Zhang Xianggong coming back, everyone knelt down in unison and shouted loudly: "Welcome to the Prime Minister!"

Hearing this title, Zhang Juzheng was a little dazed, and then he smiled and said, "I always feel that this is called Xinzheng Gong."

Li Sanhu, who was standing by, took a sip of wine, smacked his lips and said with a smile: "Now the Prime Minister of the Cabinet is Zhang Xianggong."

As he spoke, all his comrades bowed deeply and paid their respects to the prime minister.

Zhang Juzheng, the chief minister of the cabinet, looked at the Wenyuan Pavilion in front of him and finally felt less depressed. Because the mountain that was pressing on his head was no longer there...

In fact, the new year name "Wanli" was chosen by Zhang Juzheng, because the new emperor was young and he prayed that he would enjoy a long reign. It also reflected his dream of reviving the Ming Dynasty and continuing the foundation for eternity.

Now, he is the one in charge of the Ming Dynasty, and it is finally his turn to realize his grand ambitions!

~~

After the vain scene ended, Zhang Juzheng quickly returned to reality.

The empire was old and sick, with numerous problems and was on the verge of collapse. In the previous few years of governance, he and Gao Gong had only managed to stabilize the border and quell rebellions in the interior.

Only by resolving the war can we free up our hands to treat the illness of this old empire, which is the truly difficult task...

Zhang Juzheng felt so confused for a moment that he didn't know where to start.

Only then did he realize that his condition was not suitable for making decisions, so he asked everyone to leave first, leaving only Zhao Hao in the Prime Minister's duty room to talk.

Young Master Zhao lit up a Zhonghua cigarette specially supplied by Jiangnan Cigarette Factory for his father-in-law. It was a bit mean to smoke a Victory cigar in such an occasion.

This cigarette, which is smoked from an ivory mouthpiece, uses the finest tobacco and tastes no worse than a cigar.

But the downside is that it smokes too fast. Mr. Zhang has already smoked half of it before taking two puffs. I thought, this cigarette is like the ** of love, it is addictive, but it is over too quickly...

After smoking a cigarette, he felt better and asked Zhao Hao, "When are we leaving?"

"The ship leaves at the beginning of next month." Zhao Hao said respectfully.

"So anxious?" Zhang Juzheng frowned slightly. He had gotten used to this little bell. It was very sensible and easy to use.

"My wife is pregnant, and I'm really worried." Zhao Hao said with a wry smile. He came to Beijing in the leap month of February, and now it's almost July. He feels really sorry for the pregnant women who stayed in the south.

"Besides, my father-in-law is now the Prime Minister, what else do I have to worry about?"

"That's your fault. You are too sentimental. A real man should focus on building achievements and establishing a career!" the father-in-law taught.

"Yes, yes." Zhao Haojin accepted the advice and said, "But my son-in-law will be able to use his talents only if he goes to the south."

"Nonsense, the capital is the core of the Ming Dynasty." Zhang Juzheng actually hoped that he would stay and play the same role as Yan Shifan did to Yan Song.

There was no way, his son still had to take the imperial examination, and Jingxiu and Maoxiu were far inferior to Zhao Hao in this respect, so he could not be expected to help them in the next few years.

This is normal. It is good for a man to mature at the age of 30. A precocious breed like Zhao Hao can only be said to be an anomaly.

But Zhao Hao didn't want to stay in Beijing. He said to Zhang Juzheng sincerely, "Father-in-law, do you still remember the 're-dividing the pie' and 'making more pie' we talked about before?"

"Of course I remember." Zhang Juzheng nodded slowly, his expression slightly relieved, and said, "I thought about it carefully afterwards, and you have some truth in what you said. The reforms that my father and Gao Ge Lao are carrying out are just redistributing the pie, so it will offend those who already have the pie, and it is bound to be difficult. If there are bigger and more pies to share, the reform will certainly be much easier, and I won't have to worry about being torn apart by five horses."

After a pause, he smiled and said, "In fact, Shang Jun's outcome is already the best outcome for a reformer. If I can succeed in reforming like him, even if I am torn into pieces by five horses, I would be willing as a father."

Thinking of the tragic afterlife of his father-in-law in another time and space, Zhao Hao couldn't continue this topic. He smiled and said, "Anyway, getting more cakes from outside will always be good for my father-in-law. Let me go."

"Well..." Zhang Juzheng waved his hand helplessly and said, "Go ahead. Your father will redistribute the pie in Beijing, and you can go to the south to make pie. It's better to do it on two fronts than just one leg."

"Yes, then I'll take my leave first." Zhao Hao bowed deeply to him and left the Prime Minister's duty room.

"Next time you come back, hold your grandson in your arms!" When he reached the door, he heard Zhang Juzheng say, "Otherwise, don't come back!"

Zhao Hao couldn't help but smile bitterly when he heard this. This is not up to me. You should ask your daughter what she thinks...

He didn't even dare tell Zhang Juzheng Xiao Jing's true thoughts, otherwise his father-in-law would probably send the Embroidered Uniform Guards to bring her back to the capital.

Outside the door, Yao Kuang enthusiastically sent him to the stone bridge, and reluctantly said: "Young Minister, please come and accompany Yuan Fu more often..."

"Stop shouting, it's not appropriate for people to hear it." Zhao Hao couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Hey, I'll call you in my heart from now on." Yao Kuang said with a smile.

Zhao Hao shook his head helplessly, walked across the stone bridge in the red sky, walked out of the palace, and headed towards the wider world.

[End of this volume]

p.s. I will make a summary tomorrow.