Chapter 514 Farewell to His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!
Yan Shaoting looked puzzled and a little surprised.

He looked down at the old Taoist priest who had grabbed him.

The emperor walked very slowly.

His body was almost exhausted, but he took every step steadily.

And behind the two people.

Everyone looked surprised.

The light was dim inside the Huangji Gate, but outside it was very bright, making the figures of the two people particularly clear.

Lu Fang took a look and didn't dare to step forward to persuade them. He just followed behind from a distance.

Zhu Zaigui, who had been holding his son's hand, immediately followed after seeing this scene.

And in front of the Huangji Gate.

All the civil and military officials raised their heads, looking uneasy, and looking at the emperor who was walking towards the Huangji Palace under the Huangji Gate with doubt, worry and fear, and...

And Yan Shaoting, who was caught by the emperor and walked together.

Yan Wuyou was the first to find his father whom he had not seen for several years, but his memory of him was already very vague.

"Zuzu."

"Zuzu."

The child cried out twice.

Yan Song raised his head and looked at his grandson who was taken away by the emperor. A smile appeared on his face. Then he stood up and took his great-grandson's hand and walked towards Huangji Gate.

As Grand Tutor Yan stood up, Gao Gong, Yuan Wei, Li Chunfang, Zhao Zhenji, as well as Duke Dingguo Xu Yande, Duke Yingguo Zhang Rong, Duke Chengguo Zhu Xizhong and others also stood up.

Without knowing what the emperor's intentions were, these people could only follow behind Grand Tutor Yan and chase the emperor towards the inside of Huangji Gate.

In the sky, the clouds are squeezed and overlapped.

Above my head, heavy snow was flying.

on the ground.

The human heads, corpses and blood on the ground have gradually been covered by the snow.

The officials in front of Huangji Gate all moved and rushed towards the back of Huangji Gate.

And behind the Huangji Gate.

The Huangji Palace Square is larger than the Huangji Gate Square. Apart from the snow covering the ground, there are only the Han generals standing on the palace walls and steps on both sides.

The sight is solemn.

With the snow flying all over the sky, Yan Shaoting let the old Taoist priest grab him and walked towards the Huangji Palace.

The two of them walked in the snow.

One old.

One less.

One gentleman.

A minister.

They all walked very slowly, so that Lu Fang, who was following behind, could only follow from a distance, and also suppressed the civil and military officials at the back.

Jiajing looked up at the majestic and solemn Huangji Hall with a smile on his face.

"Do you still think I am negligent in my duties this time?"

Yan Shaoting trembled slightly: "Your Majesty..."

Jiajing shook his head and continued to walk slowly holding Yan Shaoting.

It seemed that he wanted to feel the breath of the world in the last moment of his life.

Jiajing still smiled and said, "I...still remember that it was in Xiyuan when you wanted to reform the law. I remember it was because of the Lianghuai Salt Administration."

As the old Taoist priest narrated his memories, the scene in front of him slowly emerged before Yan Shaoting's eyes.

Jiajing continued walking and continued, "I scolded you at that time. Now that I think about it, I rarely scolded you, except for that one time. On the contrary, I was very tolerant of you, even to the point of indulging you in doing things that others thought were against the law."

Yan Shaoting fell silent.

In my memory, the old Taoist priest seemed to have been indulging himself just as he said.

"I was young once, too."

"I also had ambitions like you when I was your age. I was the young man from Anlu. How could I not want to change the country?"

"I also know... ahem... I have been wise and foolish in my life. I have done some good things, but also many wrong things."

"Yan Shaoting."

Yan Shaoting nodded and bowed his head: "I am here."

"You said... am I a good emperor?"

Jiajing's pace seemed to slow down a bit, and he glanced sideways at Yan Shaoting.

However, Yan Shaoting didn't know how to start.

Jiajing smiled slightly and shook his head: "I understand, and I won't blame you. Instead, I hope you can keep your current heart and continue to do what you think is right."

The two of them had already walked to the tall and long steps in front of the Huangji Palace.

Jiajing held Yan Shaoting and walked in front, while Yan Shaoting could only follow behind.

Jiajing raised his head and said, "I feel that my life can be divided into three parts. When I first became emperor, I was wise and a good emperor. Later, I became afraid... so I became incompetent. But..."

"Now!"

"Can I still be called a wise emperor?"

The stairs kept moving backwards under the feet of the two people.

Jiajing smiled happily: "Today I am the villain for the last time. It is for the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince, and more importantly, for those of you who are loyal to the country and are determined to reform and enrich the country. Like you Yan Shaoting, like Zhang Juzheng, like Hai Rui."

"I have told the prince before that the country will rely on you and your kind, not him, in the future. I think he will be willing to listen to me, and he will be willing to do so even after I die."

"So... don't worry, and don't be too harsh on him."

"He has a soft temper and is easily deceived, so it is inevitable that he may be deceived by treacherous people. Therefore, I will kill a group of people, dismiss a group, demote a group, and imprison a group today, using both kindness and force. When he ascends the throne, the situation will be much better than when I first came here from Anlu."

Jiajing worked very slowly and spoke very slowly.

But I have said so much and walked so much.

The two of them finally finished walking up the seemingly endless stairs and stood in front of the Huangji Palace.

Yan Shaoting looked back silently.

Lu Fang was standing in the middle of the steps, looking up at himself and the old Taoist priest.

And below the steps, the entire Huangji Hall square was already filled with civil and military officials of the Ming Dynasty.

Jiajing's voice also reached his ears at this time.

"Here..."

"How's the view?"

Yan Shaoting was startled and turned around to see Jiajing staring at him with deep eyes.

And Jiajing finally let go of his hand.

Yan Shaoting hurriedly bowed and said, "I...think that the emperor is a wise ruler, and the prince will definitely be a benevolent ruler."

Jiajing raised the corner of his mouth slightly, smiled a few times, and reached out to pat Yan Shaoting on the shoulder.

"Do you know why I value you so much and use you without reservation?"

Yan Shaoting didn't dare to look up.

Jiajing said quietly, "Because you are smart, smart enough, and you always know what to do and what not to do."

Yan Shaoting lowered his head further and further.

Even though it was snowing heavily at the moment, his back was covered in cold sweat.

The question just now was a life-threatening one.

If I don’t answer well, I might be taken away by the old Taoist priest today.

He was not asking about the scenery, but was clearly testing whether he had the intention to change the dynasty.

Seeing that Yan Shaoting didn't say anything, Jiajing just continued to smile.

He patted Yan Shaoting's shoulder again.

"Remember how it looks from here. Remember it well."

"From now on, the Ming Dynasty will rely on your assistance."

Yan Shaoting said in a deep voice: "I will obey the imperial edict!"

Jiajing then grabbed Yan Shaoting's wrist again and led him to continue walking into the Huangji Palace: "This new policy came too late, but it is not too late. You should pay attention to the three orders I issued, measuring land, clearing the army, and compiling a list. Today I can only help you clean up the scoundrels in the capital, but what about outside? The two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty, will those people in the local areas really be willing?"

"I don't think so."

"I think they must have some plot to subvert the new policy."

"So, do you know what to do?"

The two of them had now arrived at the door of the Huangji Palace.

Yan Shaoting took a deep breath and said, "Only my emperor has the ability to use both kindness and power today, to kill decisively, and to be lenient and merciful."

Jiajing nodded, a look of satisfaction on his face.

"That's it. That's it."

"When I pass away, the government will change and the new emperor will ascend the throne. You must take good care of the capital and keep it safe. You and Gu Huan must ensure the stability of the capital. This way, you will be able to calmly deal with unexpected events."

Yan Shaoting lowered his head and let the old Taoist priest grab him and pull him into the Huangji Hall. "I understand."

Jiajing nodded and said, "There was also an incident in Xuanfu and Datong before you came back this year. The son of the old villain Altan, Xinai Huang Taiji, led 100,000 troops to the south to attack the border, and then went to Hetao to station."

At this moment, Jiajing's eyes flickered.

There was an inexplicable look on his face.

He said in a cold voice: "Mongolia is indeed a hidden danger for our dynasty, and there are also undercurrents outside the Great Wall. If the country is stable, we must eliminate all the hidden dangers outside the Great Wall as soon as possible. Originally, I hoped to wait until next year, send people to inspect the nine borders, and finish the Qing army's work, but now it seems that I can't wait."

Yan Shaoting hurriedly said: "Your Majesty will be blessed with good health and live a long life."

Jiajing just snorted and said, "After I die, when you have finished the work of the crown prince ascending the throne, it will probably be spring. Then you can go to the nine borders in person and ask the new emperor for soldiers, money and food. He will certainly agree. If there is a chance by then..."

Yan Shaoting asked: "What does the emperor want me to do?"

"Recover Hetao, station troops there permanently, and relocate the people!"

Jiajing looked at Yan Shaoting with a firm gaze.

Yan Shaoting was shocked, but he immediately replied: "I will live up to the emperor's expectations and recover Hetao, making it the territory of the Ming Dynasty forever!"

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Jiajing smiled with satisfaction and nodded: "I believe you can do it, because if the Hetao is not taken, the Nine Frontiers cannot be completely stabilized. If you take the Hetao, you will have a place to raise war horses. Then the cavalry will go out of the pass and clear the grassland outside the pass."

Yan Shaoting was in a heavy mood.

He didn't expect that at this time, the old Taoist priest was still thinking about border affairs.

perhaps.

Is this the real old Taoist priest?
The young man who walked step by step from Anlu to Beijing forty-five years ago?
The two of them were already standing in the hall.

Jiajing looked up at the lofty imperial throne with a hint of sarcasm on his face.

"This is the throne of the Ming Dynasty emperor."

"Help me up."

Yan Shaoting was a little hesitant because Lu Fang was already standing at the palace gate. Crown Prince Zhu Zaigui and Prince Zhu Yijun, as well as the cabinet, six ministries, and various dukes and marquises were all standing at the palace gate.

But Jiajing exerted force on his hands and pulled him towards the throne above.

Yan Shaoting could only support and carefully follow the old Taoist's steps.

When the two of them reached the top, Jiajing stopped and just looked at the dragon throne in front of him.

"Yan Shaoting."

Jiajing's voice became softer and his breath became weaker.

Yan Shaoting bowed his head and nodded: "I am here."

"I feel like time is running out..."

Jiajing's tone began to show reluctance.

"You say... can the Ming Dynasty really reform and become prosperous and strong, and can it last for thousands of years?"

“Maybe you don’t know either.”

He shook his head, completely answering his own question.

Then, Jiajing finally took a step, walked up to the throne, and reached out to gently stroke the imperial table and throne.

He supported himself on the imperial table with his hands and slowly sat back on the throne.

He looked at Zhu Zaigui, Zhu Yijun, Lu Fang, Yan Song, Gao Gong and others who were standing at the palace gate.

slowly.

Jiajing leaned on the throne and looked at the magnificent, intricately shaped and brightly colored caisson above the hall.

"Yan Shaoting..."

The emperor called softly again.

Yan Shaoting had no choice but to bite the bullet and, under the gaze of those people at the palace gate, walked to the throne and moved close to the emperor.

"Chen is here!"

outside the temple.

Lu Fang was already in tears.

Zhu Zaigui's eyes were red, he knelt on the ground holding his son, and cried without a sound.

All the civil and military officials also knelt on the ground.

The Emperor's last moments had come.

Everyone could clearly feel that the emperor's life was slipping away rapidly.

The man who ruled the Ming Dynasty for forty-five years and served as emperor for forty-five years is finally passing away.

Jiajing lay on the throne, holding Yan Shaoting's hand tightly.

"Don't be afraid..."

"Don't be afraid..."

"Tell them not to cry..."

Yan Shaoting's eyes turned red for no reason. He finally lost his eyes to the emperor who had always been so kind to him.

He nodded heavily, turned to look at the people outside the hall, and shouted loudly.

"Oral order from the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty."

"Don't cry!"

Jiajing's eyes had narrowed into slits, but he was trying to open them wide: "Tell them that the crown prince should be established, and that my affairs will be kept simple after my death, and that the mysterious ways will be banned."

Yan Shaoting looked up again.

"Oral order from the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty."

"The crown prince should be enthroned, the emperor's funeral should be kept simple, and the mysterious way should not be stopped!"

A smile appeared on Jiajing's face.

He also opened his eyes completely and looked at the young minister in his hand.

"Tell them again that I have finally lived up to my ancestors and the people of the world, and that I have died a worthy death."

Yan Shaoting's throat began to choke.

After several attempts, I failed to speak.

finally.

He shouted to the outside of the palace: "Your Majesty the Emperor is wise and brave, and is the wise and enlightened ruler of the Ming Dynasty!"

outside the temple.

Everyone started shouting following Yan Shaoting's voice.

"Your Majesty is wise and brave, and is the wise ruler of the Ming Dynasty!"

"Your Majesty is wise and brave, and is the wise ruler of the Ming Dynasty!"

"Your Majesty is wise and brave, and is the wise ruler of the Ming Dynasty!"

Outside the palace, there was a roaring sound like the sea.

Even the falling snow outside the palace seemed to be interrupted for a moment.

Inside the palace.

On the throne.

Jiajing weakly grasped Yan Shaoting's hand, muttering constantly.

"deliver……"

"Send me..."

“Return…Return…”

"Return to the Palace of Heavenly Purity!"

at last.

In the last whisper.

Jiajing slowly closed his eyes.

And his hands, which had been tightly holding Yan Shaoting, loosened softly and fell on the throne.

A long, lingering breath came out of the emperor's mouth.

finally.

No more air intake.

Yan Shaoting trembled all over.

He stood up silently.

Walked silently to the imperial desk.

Silently looking at the people outside the hall.

He spread out his robe heavily, then turned around and knelt on the ground.

"Congratulations!"

"His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!"

"Long Yu Bin Tian!"

…………

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(End of this chapter)