Chapter 795: The Preference for Literature Over Military Affairs, and the Distinction Between Close and Distant Relationships
Yang Rong and Yang Shiqi loved to mentor the younger generation; Jin Youzi enjoyed befriending scholars; Yang Pu spent his time writing articles and books. But Du Zhen remained as cold and indifferent as ever. This was something Lady Wang joked about to Zhang Yue during his previous visit to the Duke’s residence. However, the rumors were somewhat exaggerated. Although Lady Qiu wasn’t one to play political games, she would still come here during festivals to pay a visit, bringing hand-sewn handkerchiefs or homemade pastries. She also liked this kind and gentle woman very much.
So, after being away for over two years, Zhang Yue entered the Du family’s home with ease. Inside, he saw Lady Qiu personally helping Xiao Wu arrange the food, while Du Zhen and Wan Shijie were sitting nearby talking. Upon seeing him, Wan Shijie quickly said with a smile, “I told you! Since Yuanjie promised to come, he definitely wouldn’t miss it. It’s just that such a busy man always has to visit various important people first before he can sit down to eat. Come on, Yuanjie, hurry up and give me the gift so I can use it to please the kids!”
Even though Xiao Wu had just joked about Zhang Yue’s wealth, seeing Wan Shijie eagerly demanding a gift made him angry. As Wan Shijie passed by, Zhang Yue quietly tapped him with his chopsticks and said irritably, “If you really want it, bring your own son. How can you, as a father, take over his role? The eldest son really lacks proper manners—no wonder he can’t get promoted!”
“Honey, it’s Yuanjie who gets promoted and makes money. As for me, it’s enough as long as I do my job diligently. Father-in-law, don’t you agree?” Wan Shijie smiled at Du Zhen. Seeing his father-in-law nod in agreement, he confidently stretched out his hand to Zhang Yue. “Yuanjie, both Guangdong and Jiaozhi are places full of treasures. Just pick whatever you like—jewels, ivory, carved horns, spices—take whatever you want!”
Faced with such an unscrupulous man, Zhang Yue sighed helplessly, handed over a brocade box, and said sternly, “This is for my nephew. Although my brother Duanwu isn’t here, your gift can’t be missing either. You’d better prepare another one!”
“I know, I’ve already prepared it!”
Wan Shijie chuckled, took out a brocade pouch from his sleeve, winked, and said, “I personally chose the pattern for the gold lock piece and wrote two auspicious phrases. I had it made at a reputable gold and silver shop. As for this pouch and the undergarment inside, they’re the work of my wife. If the thread quality isn’t perfect, please forgive her.”
“Wan Shijie!”
Hearing the hissing noise behind them, Wan Shijie quickly pulled back his head, shoved the items into Zhang Yue’s hands, and then held up the brocade box in front of Xiao Wu. Gently lifting one corner, he saw inside a gold collar inlaid with gems and pearls, along with other trinkets used for the coming-of-age ceremony. He couldn’t help but whisper to Xiao Wu, “See? Now that he’s here, we don’t need to prepare anything anymore!”
Zhang Yue watched the couple’s playful banter with a smile on his face, then stepped forward to meet his father-in-law and mother-in-law. Once the meal was ready and the whole family had eaten together, Qiu Shi realized the three men must have something important to discuss, so she made an excuse to bring the child over for Zhang Yue to see, and the mother and daughter left together. As soon as they left, Du Zhen put down his teacup, and Wan Shijie also dropped his teasing expression.
“Although the rules set during the Hongwu era allowed officials to be selected regardless of qualifications, since the Yongle and Hongxi periods until now, qualifications have gradually become extremely important. You have served as a county magistrate, a court physician, the deputy governor of Yingtian Prefecture, and the right vice censor of the Censorate. Although your tenure as governor of Guangdong was less than one term, you have experience from military campaigns in Jiaozhi. In terms of qualifications, being appointed as a vice minister is sufficient; what matters now is which ministry it will be. I think the emperor intends to appoint you as vice minister of the Ministry of War because you’ve spent many years there.”
This was the message Wang Jin had passed on earlier, so Zhang Yue wasn’t surprised by Du Zhen’s words, but he still expressed his doubts: “Although the emperor may think so, this still seems somewhat inappropriate. My career in the Ministry of War, starting as a court physician in the Military Armory Department and then moving to other positions, is indeed the usual path to promotion. But my eldest uncle once headed the Central Military Command, and once my second uncle returns to the capital, although he’ll only be on honorary retirement, he’ll likely still hold the position of military commander. If I were to enter the Ministry of War again, there would surely be many who would object.”
“Since you’re aware of this, we can rest assured. I think as long as the emperor is determined, others won’t be able to say much. Even Zhang Ben, the minister of war, won’t object. By the way, now that you’re back, I have to leave.”
Seeing Zhang Yue’s surprised expression, Wan Shijie helplessly said, “Although I went through some hardships in the grasslands before, I’ve spent most of my time in the capital. I’ve never held any position outside the capital, and I was originally a Hanlin scholar, following the traditional path for officials in the capital. This time it’s not an assignment outside the capital either; I’m ordered to go to the Nurhaci Command to handle military affairs. Yu Tingyi submitted a report, and the official in charge of the Nurhaci Command, Yishihacha, happened to be accused. The senior ministers took the opportunity to push this through, so I naturally have to go.”
“The Nurhacan Commandery? It’s no good place at all, and it’s extremely cold outside the Great Wall. Be careful! But once you return successfully after this mission, you’ll have some free time. If you want to get promoted, it will surely be through one of these three institutions: the Hanlin Academy, the Imperial College, or the Censorate!”
“Hmph, having some leisure is good. Thinking back, being a scholar-official was the most carefree time—I just had to study!”
One of the sons-in-law was mature and cautious, while the other was carefree and cheerful. Du Zhen couldn’t help but feel as if he had two more sons, and he was deeply pleased. Seeing that they had completely forgotten about him and started arguing, he could only cough lightly. At that sound, Zhang Yue and Wan Shijie immediately stopped talking and sat up straight.
“A fine topic, but I don’t know what led you two off track. Everyone says you are the pillars of the nation. It’s fine when these pillars don’t meet, but once they do, you turn into a laughingstock!” Du Zhen said sternly, though he eventually smiled and added more gently, “Shijie, be cautious when going to the Nurhacan Commandery. It’s been quite stable these years, with all the Jurchen tribes subdued. Yushi Ha has earned his merits. If there’s any corruption, investigate it, but don’t be biased just because he’s an eunuch.”
At this point, Du Zhen’s expression became even more serious: “Eunuchs aren’t legitimate officials and shouldn’t be allowed to abuse power illegally, but they shouldn’t be completely dismissed just because they’re close to the emperor. Nowadays, many officials want to use Yu Tingyi’s petition to completely eliminate eunuchs’ interference in politics. But in places like the Nurhacan Commandery, if new people are suddenly appointed, who knows if they can govern well? And as for the divine warships at sea, can newcomers compare to Zheng He and Wang Jinghong? To be more blunt, aren’t there corrupt civil officials?”
It was the first time Zhang Yue and Wan Shijie had heard such a pragmatic tone. They quickly bowed in response, filled with admiration. After all, not only in the court but also throughout the land, there were few scholars who valued literature over military affairs. For Zhang Yue, who had been away for over two years, hearing his mentor’s teachings gave him even more confidence.
“Just two days ago, the British Duke advised the Emperor that since ancient times, kingdoms have been founded through military strength while governed through culture—a truth upheld through all dynasties. Yet the downfall of each dynasty was either due to the emperor not controlling the military or to military decline leading to catastrophic defeats. Therefore, he suggested that the crown prince begin learning military affairs from a young age, using the Emperor as an example, and proposing that suitable children from various families be chosen to accompany him. However, the ministers in the departments and councils were more concerned with being able to teach the crown prince and were unwilling to allow the children of nobles to get close to the heir from an early age, so they naturally opposed it vehemently. This has been a source of debate for several days now. But as it’s a matter of great importance, the news hasn’t spread yet.”
Although he had heard quite a bit after returning today, Zhang Yue was only just learning about this, and he was also shocked to hear about the Wan Shi Festival for the first time. The two exchanged glances, and Zhang Yue whispered, “Throughout history, most founders of dynasties were rulers who came from the military, while subsequent emperors were often raised under the influence of women in the palace, adhering to principles of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faithfulness. Naturally, they had little knowledge of military affairs. The Granduncle’s suggestion to address this issue surely isn’t for his own benefit. Back then, Emperor Taizong began teaching the Emperor by training him in the military forces.”
Wan Shi Jie sneered, “But although civil officials handled affairs during the Yongle era, they still couldn’t compare to the twenty years of glory enjoyed by the nobles. Now that they’ve finally taken control of government affairs, how could they relax? Without military affairs, the nobles will soon be elevated again. In another few decades, how many will still be capable of fighting? By then, if officers are selected from the bottom up, those who truly control the military will be suppressed. Weren’t things the same during the Song Dynasty?”
Seeing Wan Shi Jie’s tone shift from sarcasm to anger, Zhang Yue gave him a look, prompting him to shut up. At that moment, Du Zhen spoke up again, discussing the division of responsibilities among the several grand secretaries of the cabinet. Although the cabinet held high status, its rank had only risen in recent years. So, though not far behind the six ministries in rank, it still lagged in influence. To speak more confidently, Yang Rong suggested that each person take charge of the area they were most familiar with. Thus, Yang Shiqi took charge of the Ministry of Rites, Yang Rong of the Ministries of War and Personnel, Yang Pu of the Ministry of Works, Jin Youzi of the Ministry of Punishments, and Du Zhen of the Ministry of Revenue. This seemed to create differences in power, but since it was only a matter of emphasis in handling affairs, the six ministries were not actually under their control—it was just a secret known only to those in the cabinet.
“In that case, I’ll need to see Scholar Yang before I leave,” Wan Shi Jie said, scratching his head and smiling. “Jian Xia is one thing, but if other ministers find out how you’ve divided the responsibilities, everyone will be worried. Who wants the cabinet to rise to power?”
“That’s just Yang Mianren’s scheme. He’s very ambitious, and no one wants to cross him. You, Lao Wan, are in a better position. If I really end up in the Ministry of War, I’ll likely have to deal with people often.”
The father-in-law, son-in-law, and the third man discussed it some more. Since Du Zhen also gave instructions regarding the affairs of the Nuer Gan Commandery, Wan Shijie nodded firmly: “Please rest assured, father-in-law. I know what to do. I’ll be extremely careful on this trip. Yuanjie, you need to work harder this time—don’t disappoint your father-in-law!”
Seeing Wan Shijie winking at him, Zhang Yue glared back irritably but then, without further words, smiled at Du Zhen: “After years of traveling abroad, I’ll be able to stay in the capital and listen to your teachings more often.”
After the men’s long conversation, Qiu Shi and Xiao Wu finally arrived late, bringing the child with them. Seeing that the child wasn’t shy at all and kept grinning at him, Zhang Yue couldn’t help but adore it. He awkwardly hugged the child and pinched its rosy cheeks before handing it over to Wan Shijie, who was watching eagerly.
“Is his nickname Zheng Ge?”
“That’s right. Xiao Wu said that while he doesn’t expect much else, he hopes the child will grow up to be a decent person, so naturally he’s named Zheng Ge.” Ignoring Xiao Wu’s rolled eyes, Wan Shijie smiled at Zhang Yue and said, “I heard your family might be having another child. If it’s a girl, how about we become relatives?”
Zhang Yue himself disliked arranged marriages and certainly wouldn’t rush to decide his daughter’s fate. He quickly pushed the matter off by saying that future generations would have their own luck. Xiao Wu also disapproved of Wan Shijie’s arbitrary decisions; she pulled him aside and scolded him for a while before smiling and saying that it wouldn’t be too late to become relatives once the child grew up and they truly suited each other. Hearing this, Du Zhen, who usually didn’t interfere in his children’s affairs, nodded in agreement, let alone Qiu Shi.
When Wan Shijie and Xiao Wu took the child back, Zhang Yue stayed a while longer before bidding farewell and heading home. It was already past the curfew, but many high-ranking officials in the capital still received guests in the evenings. So, even when encountering night watchmen or soldiers from the Five-City Military Command, he could move freely thanks to his surname, Zhang. The road was peaceful, but he didn’t want to wander around at night. He only slowed down after turning into Wu’an Marquis Alley and dismounted by the dim light of a lantern at his doorstep.
“Young master, the eldest master and the fourth young master have arrived.”
When he went to pay a visit in the afternoon, neither Zhang Xin nor his son Zhang Jiu was there, and Madam Feng was also indifferent. So Zhang Yue didn’t expect the two of them to come together at this time. His brotherly bond with Zhang Jiu was naturally strong, but he wasn’t close to his uncle Zhang Xin. It was normal for Zhang Jiu to come to see his elder brother, but why would Zhang Xin, as the elder, come in person?
With this in mind, Zhang Yue slowed down as he entered the mansion and carefully asked Gao Quan when Zhang Xin and Zhang Jiu had arrived, where they were staying now, and if they had said anything. Gao Quan answered each question and then said thoughtfully, “I noticed that the eldest master seems worried, as if he has something on his mind. The fourth young master also seems a bit uneasy. Please forgive my boldness, but I think the eldest master and the fourth young master have come here because they need something from us.”
Realizing roughly what their purpose was, Zhang Yue stopped overthinking it and, with a smile, told Gao Quan to handle matters like locking the doors and let others take care of them, suggesting he go rest first. Then he headed straight to the outer study. As soon as he entered, he saw two people, one sitting and one standing. Both father and son were dressed in indigo-colored crinkled silk robes, looking almost identical. But after two years apart, Zhang Xin had aged significantly, while Zhang Jiu had grown a bit taller, no longer showing the childishness of before.
After greeting each other, both sides exchanged polite remarks, after which Zhang Yue cheerfully asked about Zhang Jiu’s progress at the Hanlin Academy. Learning that he had performed excellently in the periodic exams for scholar-officials and was now going through the selection process, Zhang Yue nodded in approval and offered some encouragement. It wasn’t until he finished asking questions that Zhang Xin brought up the main topic.
“I only found out you had returned in the evening. I sent someone to inquire and heard you had gone to the Du family. Thinking you might be returning soon, I brought your fourth brother along. You’re so young, yet you’ve taken on such a heavy responsibility and returned with great achievements—it’s truly not easy. We old folks can’t compare.” Although he wanted to reveal the matter right away, Zhang Xin, out of respect for his senior status, talked around it for a while before finally deciding to speak up. “After I was reassigned to a military position, I was originally given the role of deputy commander of the Jinyiwei. But now the Ministry of War has suggested that there are too many nominal military positions in the Jinyiwei, and they want to assign real duties to the most qualified candidates. It seems I’ll soon be appointed as deputy commander of Sichuan.”
Seeing Zhang Xin’s awkward expression, clearly embarrassed by these hard-to-mention words, Zhang Yue couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Seeing Zhang Jiu standing there, feeling lost and uneasy, he could only vaguely change the subject. After all, even if he wanted to help, he needed to think carefully. Otherwise, agreeing rashly without knowing how to proceed would only create more embarrassment.