Chapter 664: Loyalty? Justice!

Inside the small warm chamber, aside from the cedar plum blossom bed in the center, there were four elm wood armchairs with footrests on either side. A portrait hung on the wall—sketched with just a few strokes—but it bore a slight resemblance to Zheng He. There were also a few vases and such, with a wooden screen in the corner being perhaps the most ornate piece of furniture in the room.

At that moment, Zhang Yue, sitting in the first chair to Zheng He’s left, couldn’t help but study the man in the main seat again in the face of this straightforward question. Was this the Zheng He who had made great achievements in six voyages to the Western Seas and yet remained shrouded in mysteries in maritime history? Could such a person truly be content to be left in Nanjing, spending his days as a eunuch guard?

“Since Lord Zheng has been tasked with leading the troops stationed in Nanjing, did you know beforehand that there’s a difference between the rations and pay given to these troops and those of other military units in the capital? Although eight parts rice and two parts cash was the rule during the Yongle era, soldiers in the two capitals, Zhongdu, and military garrisons in Henan, Zhejiang, and Huguang have always received only rice, no cash. So why, right at the New Year, has this situation arisen? Moreover, in my opinion, these troops are elite soldiers skilled in naval warfare. It would be a great waste to leave them idle.”

Though his question was direct, Zheng He didn’t expect Zhang Yue to reveal anything important at this moment. He had dealt with many civil officials—some flattering him because he was the emperor’s confidant, some dismissing him as a eunuch, and others pretending to be friendly while plotting behind his back. In short, they all tended to avoid direct answers and hid their true intentions. Thus, after taking a sip of his hot tea, he was stunned by Zhang Yue’s words and quickly raised his head.

“Since Lord Zhang speaks so frankly, I’ll just be direct as well,” he said, setting down his teacup on the table beside the plum blossom bed. “Among these troops, the youngest ones have even accompanied me on two or three voyages to the Western Seas. I certainly don’t want to see their skills go to waste. So a month ago, when I arrived in Nanjing, I submitted a petition to the emperor. As you can see, their treatment now is equivalent to that of ordinary soldiers in military garrisons outside the capital!”

As he spoke, Zheng He stood up, his expression tense. “Back then, they brought in illegal goods, and I didn’t intervene. It wasn’t because ‘clean waters have no fish,’ but because disasters can strike at any time at sea, leaving nothing but bones. Being far from home, one longs to return, and if there’s no extra income, relying solely on the meager rewards from the court, people’s hearts can change, leading to endless risks. Although they do earn quite a bit, spending over a year at sea, they inevitably indulge upon returning. That’s why most of them have little savings. Now, faced with unfavorable measures, they’ve fallen into such dire straits.”

Having spent many years in officialdom, Zhang Yue was accustomed to all kinds of people. He kept his distance from those who resorted to cunning tactics, but he also declined to acknowledge those who seemed utterly selfless—let alone those who pursued absolute integrity and only knew how to discipline subordinates with strict rules. Thus, when Zheng He spoke so directly, he felt even more respect for him and immediately asked, “Eunuch Zheng, have you thought about going to the Western Seas again?”

“Going to the Western Seas… The court now emphasizes frugality, and most officials oppose it. Even if I wanted to volunteer again, I wouldn’t do so at such a time. But since you, Lord Zhang, once proposed lifting the sea ban, I have a few things to say.” Zheng He sat down again, his gaze fixed intently on Zhang Yue. “Hundreds of treasure ships sailing to the Western Seas—many see it as a waste of money and grain, merely to show off national power. Foreign tribes come to pay tribute out of self-interest, not out of respect, so it’s not advisable. But without frequent voyages of treasure ships, pirates would still run rampant along this route! And I’m not exaggerating—thanks to the treasure ships’ long-distance voyages, the southwestern tribes are subdued, and Jiaozhi naturally benefits.”

Seeing Zhang Yue listening attentively without any signs of impatience, Zheng He became even more enthusiastic. After taking a sip of tea to moisten his throat, he began listing one after another the many benefits of such voyages. As he spoke fluently, he suddenly stopped and then laughed.

“I’ve rambled on so much. Who would have thought I could be so talkative! Lord Zhang, I know you’re not a conservative. Since you advocate lifting the sea ban, you surely don’t see the treasure ships as mere treasure-hunting vessels. I’m already quite old; it doesn’t matter if I can’t sail anymore. I only hope to find a way out for those officers and soldiers.”

As soon as these words were spoken, he stared intently at Zhang Yue. Seeing no reaction on the latter’s face, he felt somewhat disappointed. Of course, he wasn’t a selfless saint—having led such an army on several voyages to the West, he had long mastered them like extensions of his own arm. Whether for public or personal reasons, he had to ensure this army he could command was taken care of. Moreover, Zhang Yue was young and on good terms with the Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji, so he surely wouldn’t remain inactive for life. If that day came, Zheng He would still have the chance to set sail again.

“Even if the court stops sending expeditions from now on, there are still ways to provide a livelihood for these soldiers. Does Eunuch Zheng know that I once submitted a petition to try sea transportation? Compared to river transport, sea transportation may seem more complicated and dangerous, but it’s no less effective in connecting the north and south. However, it requires a large number of people skilled in maritime operations. Using the official army for this task is undoubtedly ideal. If they carry goods in addition to grain, they can earn extra income and thus secure their livelihoods.”

Since the completion of the canal construction during the Yongle era and the dredging of canals, sea transportation had been discontinued for a time. With Zheng He constantly abroad, Zhu Di, to whom Zhang Yue directly submitted his petition, knew nothing about it. Now deeply interested, Zhu Di pressed for further details and then nodded thoughtfully: “The treasure ships used for overseas voyages need to be repaired each time, especially the larger ones. But those smaller, lighter ships are ideal for transporting grain—they’re cost-effective and avoid wasting time moored in ports.”

“Emperor Taizong was initially interested in this idea but decided to put it on hold after careful consideration, though he did approve of it. Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, it’s likely difficult to implement this immediately. But anyway, I’ll do my best to find a solution. Eunuch Zheng, it’s been over a year since you returned. Those treasure ships are still in Liujiagang, Taicang. If they’re not properly maintained, they’ll soon turn into piles of rotting wood. Please pay close attention to this. As for the official army, I can’t help much with other things, but I can arrange for them to be supplied with rice just like the imperial guards. This isn’t out of kindness, but out of duty. It’s heartbreaking to see former meritorious officials fall into such straits.”

Although he had once been a highly influential eunuch, Zhu Di, whom he had served for many years, was now dead, and Zheng He had little connection with Zhu Gaochi. As a result, his previous petitions had been severely rebuked, leaving him at a loss. So when Zhang Yue took on this task, he was overjoyed. He stood up, bowed deeply to him, and repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

With such a consensus reached, the two of them discussed further. As midnight neared, Zheng He personally escorted Zhang Yue to the second gate. Once they were gone, he said to Zheng Enming beside him, “Bring that reckless guy here!”
“Father, it’s so late. It’s not too late to punish or scold him tomorrow. It’s the New Year, and you haven’t had a proper rest in days.”
“Tomorrow? What if they cause a big mess tomorrow?”
Zheng He glared fiercely at his adopted son. Only after seeing Zheng Enming reluctantly go to do as ordered did he look up at the sky filled with dark clouds. In the eyes of others, he was already an old man at the end of his life, but since the opportunity was right before him, he had to give it a try. Otherwise, all the nautical charts he had painstakingly drawn would be left unused, his capable soldiers would waste their lives, and his last years would be wasted in this mansion—how could he accept that?
Outside Zheng’s residence, hit by the cold wind, Zhang Yue immediately felt dizzy, remembering that he and Yuan Fang had drunk quite a bit. Fortunately, nothing went wrong during the journey, and they arrived safely at his doorstep. Although it was already past midnight, since he hadn’t returned, someone had been guarding the gate. After welcoming him, they quickly sent word inside and arranged for the carriage. Soon, candles lit up in many rooms.
“We just sent a message saying we’d be back late, without mentioning where we were going. As a result, no one can sleep!”
After washing up and changing, and sending the others to rest first, Zhang Yue saw Du Wan rubbing her eyes angrily. He yawned widely before sighing and saying, “My dear, you’ve wronged me. I just realized that the first day of the New Year is more tiring than ever. My head feels like it’s about to burst! Let’s sleep in tomorrow!”
“What sleeping in? The Crown Prince sent a message today, demanding your things!” Du Wan couldn’t help but snap at him as he tried to fall asleep. Seeing him jump awake, she burst into laughter. “Before leaving the capital, he already told you not to be lazy. If you don’t think carefully, you won’t be able to handle this. Besides, are you really going to ignore the matter involving Lord Wang, the Transport Commissioner of Lianghuai…”
Hearing these endless problems, Zhang Yue felt overwhelmed. All he could do was sigh deeply, with the only comfort being the idea that those who are capable must work harder.
The Jinyiwei headquarters in the capital.

There’s a saying that officials change with each new emperor, but in today’s court, compared to previous dynasties, few civil and military officials have been replaced; only those in lower-ranking local positions have seen changes. Yet, the Jinyiwei headquarters has seen a complete turnover from top to bottom. For months on end, several rooms there remained lit all night long, with people in bright robes coming in and out constantly.

On the night of the first day of the new year, the officers such as the company commander and the flag officer finally got time off and returned home early. But all officers above the rank of hundredman gathered in the main hall to listen to Commander Wang Jie assign tasks. None of them had previously worked under Yuan Fang, yet they were still dissatisfied with this new commander’s habit of keeping everyone busy day and night. After staying late into the night and finally dispersing, they began whispering as soon as they stepped outside.

“It’s been so long now, yet nothing seems to be sorted out in the capital. All he does is gather everyone to show off his power.”

“I heard the previous Lord Yuan wasn’t like this at all. He kept everything in order and never prevented subordinates from benefiting.”

“Ah, speak softly. Who doesn’t know that Lord Wang was originally just a humble hundredman? He was promoted suddenly, so naturally he’s afraid of being looked down upon… Oh, Lord Fang, are you heading to the straight hall? Not even going home on the first day of the new year—no wonder the emperor highly favors you!” The speaking thousandman suddenly bowed to the person next to him, and only after that person left did he whisper to the others, “Did you see that? That’s someone of true noble birth. The emperor trusts him the most!”

Fang Ling nodded at him and walked over, ignoring the gossip. Entering a straight hall in the northwest corner, he lit a lamp using a firefold and then closed the door. On the first day of the new year, no one wanted to take on the hard task of working overnight, but he didn’t want to go home to face the faces of his relatives, so he simply took on this duty, as he indeed still had many tasks to handle. He took out several documents from a locked box and, as he read, he suddenly stopped, scanning them quickly—his drowsy mind instantly became clear.

Was the Nanjing Jinyiwei needing more personnel now? Apparently, both of the names on the list had been promoted recently, just like him, and had only recently joined the Jinyiwei. Logically, there should be no reason for such quick transfers. Could it be that Commander Wang Jie couldn’t stand them? Or did the emperor want to send them to Nanjing to retire? Or perhaps the Jinyiwei in Nanjing wasn’t performing well, and the emperor wanted to add some capable soldiers?

Recalling that Zhang Yue and Sun Han had both gone there, Fang Ling anxiously rubbed his forehead, quickly shaking off the faint sense of sorrow that had arisen. The path was his own choice, and now he had to persevere wholeheartedly. This shortcut was like a double-edged sword; if not handled carefully, it could lead to irreversible disaster, with no one able to save him then!

So, he casually took a sheet of paper, flattened it, and began writing with his left hand. After writing just a few dozen words, he sealed it in an envelope, stamped it with seal ink, then stood up. He placed the letter between pages of The Analects and returned it to its place on the shelf before sitting down again to go through the documents on the table. Time passed unbeknownst to him until a knock came at the door.

“Who is it?”

“Lord Fang, it’s me!”

Hearing this familiar voice, Fang Ling jumped in surprise. He rushed to open the door and saw the aged Zhong Huai standing outside. Smiling eagerly, he said, “It’s so late—what brings Lord Zhong here in person?”

“It’s precisely because it’s the middle of the night that I have to come myself. After all, Fan Hong and the others have taken care of all the important matters, leaving me to do the hard work,” Zhong Huai replied irritably before adding seriously, “The emperor intends to punish Shu Zhongcheng. Be thorough and prepare a list of charges.”

Without saying more, he added, “Commander Wang is an old acquaintance from the Eastern Palace, but his skills are merely average, and on top of that, he’s arrogant. We’re all keeping an eye on him. As long as you handle this task well, there will be plenty of opportunities for promotion in the future. Besides this matter, be meticulous in handling the other affairs—don’t let anything slip through the cracks. Do you understand?”

“Rest assured, Lord Zhong. I understand perfectly.”

After seeing Zhong Huai go, Fang Ling returned to his room and sighed. Even an emperor known for his kindness and filial piety could be vengeful. Given time, one could imagine what would happen to Prince Zhu Gaoxu of Han. Fortunately, he had sided with the right party early on; otherwise, it would be too late by now.