Chapter 565 Chen Pingping and Fan Jian join forces
Su Mingzhe knew that the main reason why Emperor Qing could firmly control the government of Southern Qing was because he controlled several powerful forces.

These forces are the 'Internal Supervision Department' and the 'Iron Guard' jointly controlled by Eunuch Hou and Hong Sixiang.

The "Inspection Institute" headed by Chen Pingping.

The Tiger Guards were jointly managed by Eunuch Yao and Fan Jian.

In addition to these supervisory agencies, Emperor Qing also has Qin Ye, the top man in the army, to manage the army for him.

The Junshan Society, an anti-Emperor Qing alliance headed by Li Yunrui, and so on.

These forces were basically created by Emperor Qing.

Now that Emperor Qing has just passed away, Eunuch Hou has taken the initiative to surrender.

Su Mingzhe sat in the imperial study and began to daydream and think:
I also don't know when the leaders of the other forces will take the initiative to surrender to me.

The ascension of this new emperor is just like the taking office of a new leader in a company.

As a newly appointed leader, the first thing to do is not to "start all the work", but to win over the existing key members and keep the department running normally.

Leaders who, right from the start, try to "work hard to govern", "take drastic measures", "eliminate long-standing malpractices", and "break the old and establish the new" often end up with half the effort and twice the results, and ultimately end up losing the support of their friends and relatives and being deserted.

Now that Su Mingzhe has ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, he naturally wants to reform the law.

But if you want to reform, you must learn from the great men.

Win over the majority of people and make many of your friends; attack a small number of people and make few of your enemies.

With a mass base, everything will be easier.

By the afternoon.

Chen Pingping went to the palace to ask for an audience.

Su Mingzhe would naturally not refuse

Then in the imperial study, Su Mingzhe saw Chen Pingping pushing a wheelchair in.

Chen Pingping has a fair face and no beard, and looks like a villain. As soon as he meets someone, his face is filled with flattering and fawning smiles.

After Su Mingzhe exempted him from the formalities of paying respect (he couldn't kneel anyway), he took out a set of materials he had compiled, handed it to Eunuch Hou, and said sincerely:

"Your Majesty, this is the list of all personnel in the twenty years since the establishment of the Inspection Institute. The Inspection Institute is only loyal to Your Majesty and to the Kingdom of Qing. I am willing to be Your Majesty's hawk and dog and help Your Majesty unify the country."

"Dean Chen, you really are worthy of being the most trusted minister of our father."

Su Mingzhe took the list with a smile and put it on the imperial desk without looking at it. With a sincere smile on his face, he continued to speak:
"President Chen, I am new to the throne and I am not familiar with many things. Father is able to hand over the Inspection Office to you, and I also hope that you can continue to help me manage the Inspection Office..."

"I, an old minister, will devote myself to the cause until my death!"

Seeing Su Mingzhe praising him so much, Chen Pingping immediately expressed his determination to be loyal to the country in a confident manner.

I don’t know whether Su Mingzhe believes what he said or not. Anyway, both the king and the minister are better at acting than the other.

Finally, Su Mingzhe asked Eunuch Hou to send Chen Pingping away, and then he picked up the list and began to read it carefully.
After he saw the information that stated: "Yan Ruohai is undercover for Qin Ye", "Zhu Ge is Li Yunrui's undercover", and "Yuan Hongdao is a double undercover sent by Chen Pingping to be with Li Yunrui and Lin Ruofu", he believed that Chen Pingping was really surrendering to him.

In fact, whether Chen Pingping is willing to get close to him or not, Su Mingzhe has a way to control him.

However, now that Chen Pingping has taken the initiative to approach him, Su Mingzhe can continue to hide the means he has prepared.

Soon.

Fan Jian also came to the palace and took the initiative to return the control of the Tiger Guards.

"Your Majesty, I am in charge of the Tiger Guards thanks to the favor of the late emperor... Please take back the power of the Tiger Guards."

After hearing Fan Jian's impassioned speech comparable to "The Memorial to the Emperor on Leaving the Capital", Su Mingzhe voluntarily handed over the power of the Tiger Guards, feeling both happy and depressed.

Although Fan Jian said that he wanted to hand over the Tiger Guards, he was actually testing whether Su Mingzhe trusted him.

After hearing this, Su Mingzhe could only say in a blaming tone:

"Si Nan Bo, you are my father's foster brother. According to etiquette, I should call you uncle. I have just ascended the throne, and you want to abandon me. Are you worthy of my father in the underworld?"

"I am guilty."

Fan Jian didn't expect that Su Mingzhe was so good at putting accusations on others.

Although he was not afraid of being accused, he could only stand up from the small bench and apologize at this moment.

"Si Nanbo, it's good that you know you are guilty. As for this Tiger Guard, you should continue to help me watch over him."

As Su Mingzhe spoke, his tone suddenly changed and he smiled gently:

"I heard that you have two sons, Si Nan Bo. Which one of them will inherit the title of Si Nan Bo?"

"Ok?"

Fan Jian didn't expect that Su Mingzhe would suddenly bring up the matter of his son.

However, Su Mingzhe's implication was that he allowed his title of Earl Sinan to continue to be passed down.

After thinking for a while, Fan Jian said:
"Your Majesty, although I have two sons, they are not legitimate sons. According to the rules, they cannot directly inherit the title."

The title of military meritorious service can be directly inherited by the legitimate son.

If a bastard or stepson wants to inherit the throne, he must either make new military achievements or be demoted to a lower rank.

"It's not that difficult if he's not the legitimate son."

Su Mingzhe didn't take it seriously at all and gave his advice directly:

"You can make a concubine your legal wife. Once you have a mistress, you will naturally have a legitimate son."

"Your Majesty is right, but this matter is a bit urgent. Please allow me to go home and think about it for a few days."

Fan Jian felt a little dizzy after being hit by the pie thrown by Su Mingzhe. In a daze, he said goodbye and left the palace.

The sky was gradually getting dark.

No more ministers came to see him. At this time, Eunuch Hou came back from outside and asked Su Mingzhe:
"Your Majesty, it is already the hour of the dog. Would you like to order the meal?"

"Pass it on."

Su Mingzhe was not hungry, but since it was time, he might as well eat something.

Not long after, Eunuch Hou sent someone to serve three dishes and a soup according to Crown Prince Li Chengqian's previous dining habits in the East Palace.

Emperor Qing advocated frugality in palace expenses.

In order to please Emperor Qing, Crown Prince Li Chengqian would naturally not be extravagant and wasteful.

After dinner, Su Mingzhe came to the dragon throne in the imperial study, ready to read the memorials for a while.

Suddenly, a young eunuch shouted, "The princess wants to see you."

"Xuan."

Su Mingzhe didn't expect that Li Yunrui would dare to come over on the first day after Emperor Qing's death. He was also shocked by her courage.

Not long after, Li Yunrui, in a white long dress, came in with light lotus steps, like a fairy descending from the earth.

Perhaps because Emperor Qing had just passed away, Li Yunrui had difficulty putting on makeup, so her face was particularly plain, and her snow-white skin was crystal clear, as if transparent.

Her willow-leaf curved eyebrows are like a crescent moon, her long, beautiful black hair cascades down her back like a waterfall, her slender and dexterous fingers are graceful, her face is delicate and her figure is charming.

When Su Mingzhe first watched the TV series, he felt that Li Yunrui was already very beautiful.

Unexpectedly, in real life, Li Yunrui is even more beautiful.

No wonder so many men are obsessed with her.

"Li Yunrui pays respect to His Majesty."

"Aunt, please stand up. Eunuch Hou, please find a seat for aunt."

After all, Su Mingzhe is not Li Chengqian. Although he is stunned by Li Yunrui's beauty, he will not become her bootlicker.

Li Yunrui's health has never been very good. Her skin is whiter than snow, and her movements are delicate and weak. After slowly sitting down, she said timidly:

"Your Majesty, have you had dinner yet?"

"Thank you for your concern, Auntie. I have already used it."

Su Mingzhe answered and asked with concern:
"Aunt, have you had dinner yet? Did you have a headache today?"

"I ate a few bites and my headache didn't come back."

Li Yunrui and Su Mingzhe chatted for a few minutes. Although the words could not exceed courtesy, it did not affect her eyes and eyebrows at all.

After Su Mingzhe was shocked by her a few times, he began to feel a little hot in his heart and wanted to kill her right there and then.

Unfortunately, the timing is not right.

Su Mingzhe could only hold back and chat for a few more words. Seeing Li Yunrui flirting with him, he had no choice but to serve tea and send the guest off.
"Aunt, it's getting late. Be careful not to catch a cold. Go back and get some rest. If you have anything to say, we can talk tomorrow."

"Your Majesty is right. I will come to visit Your Majesty tomorrow."

Li Yunrui is a stubborn person.

If Su Mingzhe asked her to leave, she would not stay.

But after leaving the imperial study, she began to frown slightly:
"I didn't expect that my nephew would be more composed after becoming the emperor. In the past, if I showed off a little, my nephew would blush and couldn't speak clearly..."

the next day.

Because of the death of Emperor Qing, court was suspended for three days.

All ministers in Beijing must come to pay tribute to Emperor Qing every day, and only after that can they go to work in their departments.

As the ministers finished their memorial service, Su Mingzhe began to reward the army because of the new king's ascension to the throne.

In addition, it must be announced to the public, inviting envoys from various countries to pay tribute and express condolences.

When Su Mingzhe returned to the imperial study, he heard a report that the Minister of Rites Guo Youzhi wanted to see him.

Guo Youzhi openly sided with Crown Prince Li Chengqian, but secretly was a follower of Princess Li Yunrui.

When Su Mingzhe heard that he came to ask for a meeting, he remembered that the charming Li Yunrui had asked for a meeting last night.

Early this morning, Eunuch Hou reported that Li Yunrui smashed a lot of things after returning to Guangxin Palace.

What a crazy woman.

Seeing that Su Mingzhe didn't know what he was thinking, Eunuch Hou had to report again:

"Your Majesty, Minister Guo wants to see you. Do you want to summon him in?"

"Declarate it."

Su Mingzhe was sitting on the dragon throne behind the desk in the imperial study. Soon he saw Guo Youzhi, with a serious expression, walking in with several memorials in his hands.

After some formalities, Guo Youzhi handed his memorial to Eunuch Hou. After Su Mingzhe opened it and took a look, he reported:
"Your Majesty, yesterday I discussed with dozens of colleagues from the Ministry of Rites until late at night and finally decided on the title of the late emperor. I also submitted a memorial to appoint Empress Dowager Jin as Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Jin as Empress Dowager."

Su Mingzhe flipped through it casually and found that Emperor Qing’s overflow number was a bit long, so he didn’t say anything about it.

The 'real grandmother' will be re-ennobled as the Grand Empress Dowager, and the 'real mother' will also be ennobled as the 'Empress Dowager'.

Other concubines, such as Noble Concubine Shu, Noble Concubine Yi, and Talented Lady Ning, were also canonized because they gave birth to children for Emperor Qing.

The Imperial Noble Consort Jinshu was named "The Imperial Noble Consort of the Emperor", the Imperial Noble Consort Jinyi was named "The Imperial Noble Consort of the Emperor", and the Talented Lady Jinning was named "The Imperial Noble Lady of the Emperor".

As for other concubines who did not give birth to children, they were simply named "Emperor Father".

In addition, there was another memorial requesting that all concubines without children and palace maids who had served Emperor Qing be sent to Changling for "burial alive with the emperor."

Su Mingzhe naturally did not allow this memorial and directly wrote a reply:
"According to the old custom, pottery figurines can be buried with the dead."

(End of this chapter)