Chapter 33: Creating Cards from the Void

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Inside the Wu Yi Hall of Longevity Palace.

Before a gathering of ministers well into their seventies and eighties, fourteen-year-old Crown Prince Zhu Zaiyuan remained composed. Every word and gesture was measured, dignified, and assured.

Yet when Zhu Zaiyuan suddenly spoke, puzzled expressions appeared on the faces of the elderly ministers present.

After all, the Crown Prince was merely observing the conduct of government before the emperor. Could it be that he intended to meddle in state affairs as well?

One by one, the ministers silently turned their eyes toward the emperor seated upon the throne.

If the Crown Prince were now permitted to take part in governing, the implications would be entirely different from those of merely observing government before the emperor.

Zhang Zhi was especially alarmed. Concern flickered in his eyes as he looked toward the student he regarded as an uncut jade, fearing that the heir to whom he had entrusted such high hopes might say something shocking.

Outside the hall, Zhang Juzheng waited before the doors. Every so often, he craned his neck toward the dark interior, as though trying to make out what the scene of a court audience before the emperor truly looked like.

Though still young, Zhang Juzheng had already begun growing an elegant beard, and his eyes held a trace of anticipation.

Feng Bao stood nearby with a smile and said softly, “The Junior Compiler is now so deeply trusted by His Highness the Crown Prince that it would scarcely be an exaggeration to say they eat and sleep together. Given time, he will certainly secure a place for himself at court.”

Zhang Juzheng froze. A faint flush spread across his face as he glanced sideways at the eunuch who had somehow seen through his thoughts.

“Eunuch Feng is jesting.”

He answered somewhat perfunctorily, yet his imagination had already begun to run wild.

Inside the hall, the Jiajing Emperor laughed heartily as he studied his son.

“What does the Crown Prince wish to report?”

Afterward, he turned toward the members of the Grand Secretariat and the Six Ministries present.

“The Crown Prince has gained much from observing the conduct of government of late. This is truly the result of all you gentlemen’s instruction.”

Zhang Zhi and Lü Ben inclined their heads.

Zhu Zaiyuan stepped forward, confusion on his face.

“Father, I have heard the cabinet elders and ministers of the Six Ministries discussing with You the death of Zhu Wan, the former governor of the southeastern provinces. I am dull-witted and dare not speak rashly on the circumstances surrounding Imperial Censor Zhu’s death.”

The moment these words were spoken, the ministers, who had still been harboring doubts, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Had the Crown Prince suddenly taken a position on Zhu Wan’s case, it would have been a considerable nuisance—one that might even have created needless complications.

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Zhu Zaiyuan continued, “I understand that the governance of a state depends upon its officials. The court uses the civil-service examinations to select talented men from across the realm, appointing them to administer the provinces and manage affairs at the center. Our Great Ming possesses two capitals and thirteen provinces, with countless millions of commoners throughout the land. Without officials in the central and local governments to govern them, the realm would surely descend into chaos at once.”

Once these words had been spoken, Yan Song, Lü Ben, and the others all nodded silently.

The Crown Prince was sensible after all.

Zhang Zhi, Lü Ben, and the rest had taught him well.

If the Crown Prince truly came to believe that the realm could still be governed without them, they would certainly hold Zhang Zhi, Lü Ben, and the others to account.

But in the very next moment, Zhu Zaiyuan muttered as though speaking to himself, “The matter of Imperial Censor Zhu has yet to be investigated, and no conclusion can be reached for the time being. But the post of governor of Zhejiang and Fujian, with command over the naval affairs of both provinces, will now be left vacant. I wonder whether this might delay local administration. The same is true of the post of Minister of War. Ever since the former minister, Zhao Tingrui, was impeached by the court and dismissed by Father some time ago, the position has remained vacant to this day.”

Having said this, he looked toward the chief ministers of the Grand Secretariat and the Six Ministries with the earnest expression of a diligent student eager to learn.

Yet within himself, Zhu Zaiyuan gave a faint cold snort.

There was no chance that Zhu Wan’s case would produce a conclusion today.

The matter had plainly become an endless dispute, with both sides entangled in argument.

But Zhu Wan was already dead. Rather than continuing to pour their energies into this issue while remaining unable to disentangle the facts, it would be better to set the problem aside for the moment and create a new one.

Namely: whom should the court recommend as the new governors of Zhejiang and Fujian, and whom should it appoint as the next Minister of War?

That would also open an entirely new battlefield.

Upon the throne, the emperor’s eyes brightened.

He knew that his son’s question was not born of ignorance but was deliberate. The ministers before him, however, probably did not realize this.

Even if they did, they could not be certain.

Jiajing looked toward Zhu Zaiyuan with an unreadable expression in his eyes.

The little rascal certainly knew how to turn things to his advantage.

At the same time, Zhang Zhi—wholeheartedly determined to become the teacher of a sagacious monarch—also brightened.

He rushed to speak before anyone else, praising the Crown Prince with a smile.

“His Highness the Crown Prince is wise and astute indeed. His concern over the court’s affairs and the appointment of officials already reveals a heart devoted to the realm and the state. The success of government lies in its people. The former Song dynasty suffered from the harm caused by redundant officials, and our dynasty has avoided and corrected that failing. Yet we must not fall into the opposite predicament of leaving essential offices vacant for long periods, thereby delaying affairs both at the center and in the provinces.”

Beside him, Lü Ben silently rolled his eyes.

Nowadays, whenever anything involved the Crown Prince, Zhang Zhi could somehow find one or two things to praise.

He had truly abandoned every last shred of dignity.

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He immediately gave a soft cough.

Wen Yuan, the Minister of Personnel, at once stepped forward.

“Your Highness, before Zhu Wan, the former governor of Zhejiang and Fujian who also commanded the naval affairs of both provinces, took his own life, he had already been reassigned to inspect local affairs in the two provinces because of the matter involving the Japanese envoy Zhou Liang last year. Since then, the affairs of both provinces, including naval administration, have been handled by the regional inspectors, the provincial administration commissions, the provincial surveillance commissions, and the provincial military commands.”

After saying this, Wen Yuan continued, “At the time, memorials were also submitted to the court requesting that the offices of governor of Zhejiang and Fujian be abolished, since all matters in the two provinces could be managed by the regional inspectors and the three provincial administrations. Now that Zhu Wan abused his authority and killed people without authorization, then took his own life in disgrace, the court may well abolish the offices of governor in both provinces. In that way, no one entrusted with power will again be able to exercise arbitrary authority over the local people.”

Zhu Zaiyuan immediately turned his gaze toward him, wariness rising in his heart.

This was plainly an attempt to abolish the governorships of Zhejiang and Fujian, thereby preventing the court from once again appointing officials to enforce the maritime prohibition and obstruct the smuggling and overseas trade of those operating in the southeast.

But before he could speak, Xu Jie, the current Minister of Rites, stepped forward with a smile.

Xu Jie raised his head to look at Zhu Zaiyuan, his tone carrying both admonition and instruction.

“Your Highness, ever since our dynasty’s founding emperor established the nation, the system of the Secretariat and chief minister has been abolished, the Grand Commandant’s Office transformed into the Five Military Commanderies, and the remonstrating officials of the Six Offices granted greater authority. All this was done to ensure that officials restrained one another and to prevent powerful ministers from arising. In the provinces, meanwhile, administration commissions, surveillance commissions, and military commands were established, each overseeing civil administration, taxation, criminal affairs, military matters, and the like. This too was intended to prevent local authority from falling into the hands of a single man.”

“Later, regional inspectors were appointed to examine local affairs and supervise the officials of the three provincial administrations, prefectures, and counties, thereby keeping them in check.”

“As for Zhu Wan’s previous appointment and authority as governor of the two provinces, the full circumstances of his conduct remain unclear, and no final judgment has yet been reached. But it is an established fact that, relying upon the authority of his office, he ordered Ke Qiao, Lu Tang, and others to kill Li Guangtou and the rest without authorization.”

“The situation in the southeast is already exceedingly complex. The slightest carelessness could give rise to disorder. Even if governors are to be appointed again, the court should not hastily select grand ministers at this time. It would be better to wait until all matters have been settled, the situation in the southeast has stabilized, and popular resentment has subsided before selecting new governors.”

Hearing Xu Jie—whose name would be remembered for generations and who, throughout the Ming dynasty, would be hailed as the foremost leader of the upright officials—speak so readily of balancing authority, winning the people’s hearts, and upholding righteousness, Zhu Zaiyuan felt an inexplicable wave of disgust.

Yet he also knew that Xu Jie was speaking for Jiajing’s benefit.

Zhu Wan’s affair was not yet over. If the court dared appoint new governors to the two provinces at this moment, Zhejiang and Fujian might well erupt into chaos simply to show the court the consequences.

The emperor’s eyes darkened as well.

Zhu Zaiyuan gave a soft laugh and looked at Xu Jie before everyone present.

His voice was utterly calm.

“By Minister Xu’s reasoning, the Xuan-Da frontier is presently beset by complicated and disorderly military affairs. Should the office of Minister of War also be left vacant and postponed for later discussion?”

The instant he finished speaking, a voice rang out from within the hall.

“Of course not!”

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