Chapter 629: Killing with Someone Else’s Hand
It is not easy to be a prince, even harder to be the crown prince, and utterly perilous to be the regent crown prince. Yet, despite Zhu Di being an extremely domineering emperor, in his later years, of his three sons, two had engaged in serious rebellious plots, while only the crown prince Zhu Gaochi, whom he had closely monitored, seemed upright and trustworthy. Thus, over the past year or so, aside from the government affairs that usually fell on the crown prince’s shoulders, he gradually stepped back even from appointing officials, though he still tightly controlled military matters. However, this severe illness left him bedridden, allowing Zhu Gaochi to naturally take over military responsibilities.
In the Wenhua Hall, not only were Zhao Jin, Li Qing, Yang Rong, and Jin Youzi present, but also Marquis of Yangwu Xue Lu and Marquis of Anyuan Liu Sheng. Occasionally, Liu Guan, the Left Censor-in-Chief, would interject a remark. With these civil and military officials gathered together, the four civil officials debated fiercely, one seemingly inciting tension while another remained indifferent, while the two nobles stayed silent. Xue Lu, who rose from the ranks and had read a few books after attaining status, lacked real expertise and found their lofty rhetoric meaningless; Marquis of Anyuan Liu Sheng, wary due to past incidents involving Zhang Yue, guarded his words carefully, as he was in charge of the three key military camps in the capital and did not want to risk his position by saying the wrong thing.
Zhao Jin and the others were seasoned experts in military affairs. Though Yang Rong and Jin Youzi, though close to the emperor and even receiving more favors than high-ranking ministers, ranked far below them, they insisted that the north was merely a bluff by the Tatars, and no effort was needed for that worthless scoundrel Arutai. Yang Rong and Jin Youzi, however, believed that even without sending troops, more forces should be deployed for defense. Yet the former two’s voices drowned out the latter’s—despite their usual disagreements and suspicions, at critical moments, the two Ministers of War would not engage in infighting. Liu Guan, though speaking infrequently, remained ambiguous in his attitude.
Seeing Zhu Gaochi’s conflicted expression, Yang couldn’t help but regret his decision. Had he known this would happen, he wouldn’t have left the Grand Secretariat unattended in case of emergencies. Besides, Yang Shiji already enjoyed the crown prince’s trust, so keeping him there to oversee the Grand Secretariat would have been better. Even if it were Du Zhen, who was less skilled in military affairs, at least they would outnumber the others. Thus, his impulsive nature made him raise his voice even more.
“There are still many unguarded areas between the major and secondary fortifications. If the Tartars were to invade, they would surely find opportunities. Even Xinghe, considered a strong fortress beyond the Great Wall, was almost captured by Arutai’s forces last time. Xuanfu, Wanquan, Xinghe, and Kaiping are all garrisoned with heavy troops. But what if the Tartars use their cavalry to bypass these heavily defended areas and invade? Even if it’s just a feint, if they take advantage of the lax defenses on the border and actually invade, what will happen then?”
Hearing Li Qing and Zhao Jin arguing again about the huge expenses from last year’s military campaigns, and that sending more troops would only exhaust the people, Zhu Gaochi felt an unbearable headache. Although he had spent nearly twenty years in Beijing as the crown prince, he didn’t have any fondness for this place. Firstly, he was constantly faced with endless military reports; any sign of activity from the Mongol Yuan would require immediate response, creating a state of constant alarm. Secondly, everything here was tightly controlled by Zhu Di, as evidenced by the constant references to the emperor in their arguments.
If the emperor were here, he would most likely become furious, order them to shut up, and then rise to send troops again! His father was addicted to warfare—throughout history, which emperor would go on campaigning time and again?
With a cold snort, Zhu Gaochi turned to the two nobles who seemed to be watching the dispute unfold and asked, “Marquis of Yangwu, Marquis of Anyuan, what do you think of this matter?”
Marquis of Yangwu Xue Lu had been trying to understand the words of the civil officials, wishing he could speak as eloquently as they did to please Zhu Di. When he suddenly heard Zhu Gaochi’s question, he was momentarily stunned before stepping forward and bowing. “Your Highness, if Arutai was indeed defeated by Oirat Tuohuan in April, then he must be weak now. Even if he were to move south, he could at most harass the border with small forces; a large-scale invasion is unlikely. However, that scoundrel is extremely cunning—who knows if he’s plotting something else!”
Since Xue Lu spoke first, Liu Sheng, seeing Zhu Gaochi look at him again, smiled and said, “I believe Arutai is already scared and lacks the courage to harass us again. It’s sufficient to strengthen our defenses here; sending more troops is an overreaction. Besides, with Duke of Yingguo Zhang Fu in charge of Danning, the Wulangha people won’t dare act. From Xinghe to Kaiping to Danning, they form a continuous line—Arutai would never dare cross that line. That defector must be spreading rumors; it’s not credible!”
Although Zhu Gaochi had never led troops in battle, he had experienced staying behind in Beijing during wartime. Thus, after hesitating for a while, he decided to order strict defenses along the borders as a precaution. Just as he was about to speak, an eunuch suddenly announced that Yang Shiji and Zhang Yue wished to see him. Though surprised, he was accustomed to following Yang Shiji’s advice, so after brief consideration, he signaled them to enter.
Zhang Yue, who entered the hall with Yang Shiji, saw Xue Lu and Liu Sheng still there, which reminded him of the past times when Zhu Di made decisions on military matters. The emperor would often make final decisions on whether to send troops or not, with others’ opinions serving only as references—calling the six ministries to discuss provisions, the five military governors to plan routes and logistics, and the cabinet scholars for military advice. But generally, Zhu Di rarely gathered everyone together. However, this was not the time to think about such things. After Zhang Yue bowed, Zhu Gaochi asked about those who had surrendered.
Though highly suspicious of Gunatai’s motives, Zhang Yue still reported only the facts without adding extra commentary. After all, with so many civil and military officials present, it was not the time for him to make rash judgments. After finishing his report and stepping aside, he heard Zhu Gaochi asking Yang Shiji and the others, so he stood there, lost in thought.
Yang Shiji, though steady and prudent, agreed this time with Yang Rong and Jin Youzi that they should not take things lightly. He believed several nobles should be dispatched to lead troops along the frontier to prepare for emergencies. Seeing that both sides held similar views, Zhu Gaochi hesitated again. On one hand, he feared that if his decision didn’t satisfy Zhu Di, it would cause trouble; on the other hand, what if he prepared thoroughly but Arutai didn’t show up? After hesitating for a while, he suddenly noticed Zhang Yue and, frowning, came up with an idea.
“Zhang Yue, since you’ve questioned Gunatai, do you think he truly intends to surrender?”
The incense burning in the Dinglu of the Wenhua Hall was lily-scented. But due to the dry weather, and with Zhang Yue busy dealing with spies from the Bureau of Geography these past few days, he was already anxious, with blisters forming at the corners of his mouth. Now, his mouth felt even drier, and the blisters stung painfully. He lowered his head to count the blue bricks on the floor, but they were smooth and reflective—apparently not the large imperial bricks used in the main halls and the Qianqing Palace. They probably weren’t that hard either. Fortunately, the current emperor wasn’t as fond of kowtowing…
Hearing Zhu Gaochi’s question, he who had been distracted immediately regained his focus. After a brief thought, he replied, “Your Highness, this man insists that Arutai must have violated the border, yet he refuses to mention that the Oirats defeated Arutai last summer. This clearly shows his ulterior motives. During my conversation with him, he even tried to tempt me with fame and fortune, promising repeatedly to serve as the vanguard. I believe he is not merely spreading rumors to seek credit, but rather trying to use the court’s forces to eliminate Arutai. If that’s the case, then he is either from the Oirats or another tribe with some strength between the Oirats and the Tatars, aiming to expand its power through this opportunity.”
Upon hearing this, the people in the Wenhua Hall showed various expressions. They were well aware of the tactic of using others as pawns—Maham of the Oirats had used it before, constantly accusing Arutai of rebellion and leading to the first northern expedition after Chou Fu’s defeat. Arutai of the Tatars had also used it, putting himself and his people in a dire situation, which led to the second northern expedition aimed at dealing with the now-stronger Maham. Could it be that a different party was using this tactic now?
Frowning, Zhu Gaochi suddenly felt a pain in his chest. He discreetly rubbed it gently with his right hand and took several deep breaths, the indescribable stinging sensation gradually subsiding. Just as he was about to draw a conclusion, chaotic footsteps were heard outside, followed by Zhang Qian rushing in.
“Your Highness, the Emperor feels slightly better and has summoned Minister Zhao of the Ministry of War, Minister Li, and Lord Liu! The Emperor also orders all scholars in the cabinet to return to their posts immediately to avoid delaying other important affairs! Marquis Anyuan and Marquis Yangwu, the Emperor says your duties are busy—return quickly to organize and train your troops without delay.”
These words undoubtedly broke the tense atmosphere in the Wenhua Hall. Immediately, the officials began to bid farewell to Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi. The last to leave, Zhang Yue, couldn’t help but sigh as he saw Zhu Gaochi standing alone before the high throne of the crown prince. Yet, as soon as he stepped down the stairs, he saw Lu Feng standing below, his gaze fixed in another direction.
“Eunuch Lu?”
“Hey, Lord Zhang. I happen to need to leave the palace too. I’ll walk with you.”
Lu Feng signaled Zhang Yue to come up and walk beside him, then said with a smile, “Our family has heard about your situation. Whether it’s being sent on a mission to the West, the Western Regions, or Korea, it’s all a good assignment. But the Oirats are a place of extreme danger. Last time, we were pushed out by others, and it was thanks to your help that we managed to get through. So this time, we’ve also done our part to assist you. I suppose you already know—you don’t need to go to the Oirats.”
Zhang Yue had already learned the truth from his father-in-law Du Zhen, so he knew full well that Lu Feng was trying to take credit for himself. Yet he didn’t expose him and simply thanked him with a smile. Sure enough, the crucial part of the conversation followed soon after.
“I just came out of the Qianqing Palace. The emperor asked me to investigate the rumors circulating among the troops. By the way, do you have any enemies? If so, I can use this opportunity to get rid of them—whether it’s some minister who wants chaos, a corrupt official, or some wealthy scholar from the cabinet?”
As he spoke, Lu Feng couldn’t help but lick his lips. To become rich, one must first plunder others’ wealth—he had long been envious of the riches of several powerful officials in the court. But Zhang Yue showed no sign of joy. He was certainly willing to use others to kill, but the tool had to be fast and clever enough. Liu Guan wasn’t like Chen Ying, the inept censor from the early Yongle era; he was very adept at navigating situations. If it weren’t for concern that Lu Feng might miscalculate and drag him down with him, would he have waited until now?
“The emperor knows about this?”
“Of course. Yuan Fang seems shrewd, but he still hasn’t noticed this either—old age makes one careless! If it weren’t for the people I have under my command, things might have gotten out of control by now!” Seeing that Zhang Yue intended to head to the Right Shun Gate, Lu Feng stopped him and said, “Why go through the Wu Gate? Let’s go through the Donghua Gate together! Hey, it was thanks to the skills you taught me that I was able to win the trust of the Crown Prince. All those past issues are now in the past, and I no longer have to worry about anyone using them against me. So don’t think I’m just returning a favor—there’s also official business at stake!”
Zhang Yue thought to himself that such a drastic move by the emperor was likely to backfire, and he couldn’t help but sigh. Fortunately, he hadn’t planned to turn the situation around all at once. After all, sometimes ruining one’s reputation wasn’t necessarily a bad thing—as long as the key people were aware of it. So he was only slightly upset for a while. After all, as a civil official from a noble family, he was already quite prominent.
Although he and Lu Feng were merely allies, seeing Lu Feng’s overconfident demeanor at this moment, he still spoke up to remind him, “Eunuch Lu, there’s no one in the court who holds such deep hatred toward me—let alone enemies. We’re in the capital, where every minister, whether a high-ranking official or an academician, is someone the emperor trusts greatly; we must not underestimate them.”
If anyone else had said this, Lu Feng would have at most responded with a cold snort, but since it was Zhang Yue, he had to think it over carefully. Living in the palace required a good memory, and it didn’t take him long to recall the incident of Zhu Gaochi suffering in silence. His heart immediately grew solemn: “Hmm… You do make a point. We might as well avoid trouble. If we can’t take down the big ones, we’ll take down the small ones. Hmph, we must still crack a few tough nuts. The censors of the Censorate are even richer than the people of our Eastern Depot and Imperial Guards—this is unjust…”
Zhang Yue was already used to Lu Feng’s muttering and didn’t take it to heart. After all, Lu Feng’s greed was deep-seated, and trying to persuade him was futile. After being dragged out of the palace through Donghua Gate and Dong’an Gate, he finally parted ways with this head of the Eastern Depot. Seeing Lu Feng leave, he remembered that the Ministry of War was located outside Daming Gate, but now he had to walk around the imperial city walls to get there. He couldn’t help but sourly think that Lu Feng was completely holding him back.
It was one thing to hold him back on such trivial matters, but what worried him was that this guy might also mess things up in bigger situations!