socalfunplaces Chapter 48 Nominal
Chapter 48 Nominal
These selected talents, though their official titles were limited to the lowest level of scholar (xiucai), were already extremely rare in the overseas Chinese community, which prioritized commerce over literature—or rather, where education was underdeveloped.
The leader was named Lin Qingyuan, courtesy name Jingzhi, a native of Quanzhou, Fujian. He was forty-five years old this year. When he was young, he passed the imperial examination in his hometown but failed the examination repeatedly. Then, during the Ming-Qing transition, there was frequent war and his family fell into decline.
To make a living, he crossed the sea to Luzon on a merchant ship ten years ago. With his literacy and upright character, he gradually gained a reputation among the Chinese community. He often handled documents and mediated disputes for the overseas Chinese. Even when dealing with the Spanish authorities, he would often step forward to plead their case.
Although Lin Qingyuan was living overseas, he always kept his homeland in his heart. He privately taught his children to be loyal, filial, and righteous. After the fall of Manila, he witnessed the discipline of the Ming army and the actions of Zhu Jiheng. Coupled with his own feelings for the legitimate Ming dynasty, he gladly accepted the nomination.
The other two were named Zhou Wenhuan, courtesy name Benli, a native of Chaozhou, Guangdong. He was a scholar who passed the imperial examinations and was skilled in calculation. He had managed accounts for several large businesses and was extremely familiar with the products, trade, and financial transactions of Luzon.
One of them was named Shen Mingda, courtesy name Xianda. He was from Zhangzhou and was also a scholar. He was capable and pragmatic. He had organized Chinese people to protect their hometowns and fought against the harassment of Spanish tax collectors and local bandits. He was very influential among the grassroots Chinese.
Zhu Jiheng personally met with the three men. After a conversation, he found that although they lacked experience as high-ranking officials, they were indeed familiar with the local conditions, loyal and righteous, and had clear thinking. They were exactly the practical talents that were urgently needed at the moment.
He immediately made a decision, appointing Lin Qingyuan as the Prefectural Assistant Magistrate, temporarily handling the affairs of the Prefect of Luzon, Zhou Wenhuan as the Acting Director of the Bureau of Records, and Shen Mingda as the Acting Director of the Bureau of Records and concurrently the Assistant Magistrate of Luzon, also temporarily handling the affairs of the County Magistrate, and they were to take office immediately.
With these officials who had been hastily appointed taking the lead, and with the help of many clerks and runners recommended by elders such as Chen Jialu who were familiar with specific affairs, the administrative framework of Luzon Prefecture was quickly established.
Inventorying household registrations and land holdings, organizing official documents, issuing public notices to reassure the people, restoring market order, and organizing the repair of public facilities... all these tasks began to proceed in an orderly manner.
As the saying goes, a new broom sweeps clean, and the three men wanted to prove their abilities to Zhu Jiheng and live up to his kindness. Under their diligent management, various government affairs gradually got on track.
The city was in good order, houses were being rebuilt, shops were opening one after another, prices were stabilizing, and people looked more at ease.
However, with the reopening of Luzon Port, numerous merchant ships arrived from all over the world, and more news from the north also reached Luzon. The news of the fall of the Ming Zheng regime could no longer be kept secret and spread throughout the streets and alleys.
Although the Ming army had temporarily gained a foothold in Luzon, the news still caused great sorrow and grief among the many Chinese in the city, who beat their chests in despair.
This not only means the demise of Dongning, which had always carried the banner of the Ming Dynasty, but also that they have become the only force in the world still flying the Ming Dynasty's flag.
Surrounded by enemies on all sides, how long can they hold out, isolated overseas?
On this day, after finishing his urgent official business, Lin Qingyuan did not go home as usual. Instead, he invited Zhou Wenhuan and Shen Mingda to go to the best teahouse on the street. The aroma of tea filled the private room, but it could not dispel the solemnity between everyone's brows.
Lin Qingyuan took a sip of tea and spoke first, his voice low and deep: "Brother Benli, Brother Xianda, the news from the north has become increasingly conclusive recently. Dongning is indeed gone, and the Crown Prince of Yanping... has indeed surrendered to the barbarians in the north. The glorious Ming Dynasty, with its three hundred years of rule, could it truly be... that the state has collapsed and the ancestral temples are left without sacrifice?"
He choked up as he finished speaking.
Zhou Wenhuan clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, saying, "That hateful scoundrel Shi Lang betrayed his master for personal gain! Not a single descendant of the Zheng family can carry on the legacy of Lord Guoxing!"
"Fortunately, Heaven did not forsake the Han dynasty, and Your Highness sent divine troops to recapture Luzon, allowing us, the overseas people, to once again witness the majesty of Han officials!" Lin Qingyuan exclaimed.
Shen Mingda stroked his beard, his brows furrowed: "Brother Jingzhi is absolutely right. His Highness is of noble birth, heroic and virtuous, truly the hope for the revival of the dynasty."
However… although Your Highness is the heir of the Prince of Lu and of noble lineage, he has never been officially recognized. Now that the legitimate line of succession has been severed, the loyal and righteous men of the world are adrift and without support. If there is no official title to stabilize the hearts of the people, I fear…”
He paused, looked at the two men, and said, "The people are currently filled with fear and unease because of the events in Dongning. As their subjects, and with Your Highness having shown us great favor, how can we sit idly by while Your Highness's position remains uncertain, causing unrest among the people and jeopardizing the foundation of our great cause?"
Lin and Zhou exchanged a glance upon hearing this, and the latter hesitated before asking, "According to Brother Xianda, do you already have a good plan?"
Shen Mingda pondered for a moment and said, "I believe that we should jointly submit a memorial, earnestly requesting Your Highness to follow the will of Heaven and the people, inherit the great lineage in Luzon, remotely worship the ancestral temple of the Ming Dynasty, establish the national title, and rectify the court."
In this way, the cause will be legitimate and just, the hearts of the people will be united, loyal and righteous people will know where to go, and treacherous officials and villains will know what to fear!
Both were startled, but quickly recovered. Lin Qingyuan's eyes flashed, and he clapped his hands, saying:
"Brother Xianda is absolutely right! Your Highness is benevolent, though perhaps too humble to be so. However, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Our joint petition urging you to ascend the throne is not for personal gain, but for the sake of justice, for the sake of the world, and for the sake of the Ming Dynasty's three hundred years of rule!"
Shen Mingda abruptly stood up: "Indeed! If Your Highness ascends the throne, then Luzon will be the Ming Dynasty! Soldiers will fight to recover their lost territories! Merchants will pay taxes to support the court! All laws and teachings will have their origins! This matter should be addressed sooner rather than later!"
He paused, then smiled and said, "Once the titles and ranks are established, rewards and punishments, official promotions, and diplomatic correspondence can all be carried out according to the system. Chaos can be stopped and discipline can be upheld. In foreign affairs, we can also occupy the moral high ground when negotiating with the Western barbarians, the Red barbarians, and even the Northern barbarians."
The three quickly reached a consensus, and in the following days, they began to secretly contact respected elders, merchants, and officers in the city.
The elders and merchants all sensed the panic in the city. Seeing that the three had come up with a solution, and also wanting to gain merit by following the emperor's lead, they readily agreed and jointly submitted a petition.
Those officers were loyal supporters of Zhu Jiheng, and they would certainly not oppose anything that was beneficial to Zhu Jiheng, so they all signed their names without hesitation.
Zhu Jiheng quickly learned of this from his officers. He was already troubled by the public sentiment and wondered if he should launch another offensive against the remaining Spanish strongholds to divert attention and boost morale.
Now that Lin Qingyuan and the others are so actively working and planning for him, wanting to solve the current problems by supporting him, Zhu Jiheng naturally accepted their offer.
However, he was not prepared to ascend the throne so soon, as evidenced by the fact that he initially announced his title as regent.
Even if he were to truly declare himself emperor, he should do so only after recapturing Nanjing and paying homage at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum. That would be the true way to rebuild the Ming Dynasty.