Chapter 823: Before Departure, the Educational Administrator, and the Jurchens

On September 26, Zhu Qizhen, the eldest son of the emperor, was appointed crown prince.
After the matters related to the Eastern Palace were settled, followed by decrees of leniency and general amnesty, this time, unlike previous amnesties granted upon the appointment of a crown prince, it earned even more praise from the people. As for the civil and military officials, whether happy or not, they all kept quiet in the face of an irreversible decision. Thus, everyone was more focused on preparing for the emperor’s inspection of the borders, with who would stay and who would leave becoming the hottest topic of discussion these days—even ordinary people in the streets talked about it eagerly.
However, these speculations didn’t last long. Just a few days after the crown prince was appointed, Yang Rong was ordered to go to Yunnan to assist in military affairs there. The list of officials accompanying the emperor on his northern tour was also released—among the military officials were Duke of Yingguo Zhang Fu, Marquis of Baoding Meng Ying, and Marquis of Chengshan Wang Tong, along with over a dozen earls and imperial sons-in-law. Among the civil officials were Grand Secretary Jin Youzi and Du Zhen, as well as ministers Jian Yi, Xia Yuanji, Hu Huan, and Zhang Ben. The rest were officials from various departments and religious institutions. The list seemed logical, but many were surprised that Zhang Yue was not among those accompanying the emperor.
Having discussed it with Du Zhen, on the day Yang Rong set off, Zhang Yue took half a day off to see him off, accompanying him all the way to the official road outside Xuanwu Gate. As the weather in the north was getting colder, although they were heading south, Yang Rong still wore a white lambskin coat over his official robes and a mink hat. He appeared energetic, but his eyes revealed an indescribable worry.
Next to Yang Rong was a sedan drawn by two mules. Considering how far Yunnan was and its high altitude, although he usually favored fine horses, he only brought two, with the sedan drawn by mules. The sedan was made of rosewood and oiled to keep it waterproof; its roof was covered with bamboo strips coated in tung oil cloth. The walls were made of fine woolen felt in a grid pattern, wrapped in treated cowhide on the outside. The golden hooks on the curtains held thick cotton curtains in a grid pattern, allowing a glimpse of the thick white fox fur cushions on the ebony chairs inside.
After exchanging a few words with Gu Bin, who came to see him off, Yang Rong turned around, walked a few steps, and approached Zhang Yue. Although he knew Yang Rong was wealthy, Zhang Yue still offered him gifts as a farewell present. In addition to a few precious banknotes, there were ointments commonly used in Yunnan, several small vials of specially prepared emergency pills, and a lightweight conical hat. Seeing these gifts, Yang Rong couldn’t help but smile.

“I appreciate you going to such lengths to prepare everything so thoroughly. What you said to your father-in-law before, he has relayed to me. I will handle the military affairs in Luchuan as appropriate and always assist the Duke of Qian in resolving this matter as soon as possible. As for matters in the capital… the distance is too great, and I can’t worry about those things. Over the years, I’ve offended many people. If I were to leave now, many would surely rejoice at my misfortune, not to mention those who might not even be grateful for all the care I’ve shown them. But that’s just my nature—I’ll speak kind words when it’s time to do so, but I’ve never held back when it’s time to criticize… People say I’m too strict and unforgiving in handling matters, but that’s just my temperament throughout my life!”

Hearing Yang Rong speak like this, Zhang Yue realized he was also worried that after leaving the capital, someone might take the opportunity to cause trouble, leading to severe criticism. Yang Rong was well-informed and already knew that Yang Rong’s descendants in Fujian owned vast amounts of land, and the Yang family was one of the largest landowners in Jianning Guard. Although Yang Rong had written letters to his family, many matters were too complex to be thoroughly investigated. Since Zhu Zhanji ascended the throne, Yang Rong’s favor had waned compared to Yang Shiqi, so his willingness to leave must also involve some risk.

“Some will rejoice, some will sigh with regret, and others will praise Scholar Yang for volunteering to take on this responsibility as a sign of his noble character. You once told me that those in the court will handle matters fairly with an impartial heart, ensuring that Scholar Yang won’t have to worry and exert effort outside while dealing with trivial matters.”

As Yang Rong spoke with Zhang Yue, he glanced at the dozens of other officials who had come to see him off in the distance. Some were his former students who had passed the imperial examinations, some were subordinates he had promoted, and others were people he had recommended… After all, having served as an official for many years, he still had people to see him off at this moment. Hearing Zhang Yue’s clear promise, he couldn’t help but be moved.

“Brother Yishan is a man of integrity. I trust him. When you return, please convey my regards to him. Last time, I acted out of self-interest, and that was my fault. However, he’s too upright, which sometimes puts him at a disadvantage. As his student, it’s good that you’ve inherited his integrity without adopting his aloofness. Speaking of which, Huanzhang is just as straight-laced and reserved as Brother Yishan. You’re more like me. I really don’t know how Brother Yishan and I managed to recruit students back then!”

“The latter part was just a joke; what matters is what was said earlier. So, after being momentarily stunned, Zhang Yue couldn’t help but laugh a few times and agreed to pass the message on. After chatting a bit more, Yang Rong instructed Zhang Yue to be extremely cautious during his stay in the capital. He also briefly mentioned the unsolved case that needed to be reported to the Wenyuan Pavilion. Finally, he said, ‘The reason you weren’t allowed to accompany the emperor this time is surely not because he doesn’t want you with him, but rather because he wants to keep you in the capital for other purposes. I passed the imperial examinations at the age of 29 and joined the Wenyuan Pavilion in my early 30s—what others consider a young and accomplished age. But at your age, I was still studying hard for the provincial examinations. You’re still young; there’s no need to rush.’”

Zhang Yue nodded with a smile in thanks. Seeing that it was getting late and Gu Bin along with others had gathered, he stepped back a few feet. After bidding farewell to Rong and the others and getting into the carriage, as the thick curtains were drawn shut and the carriage along with its attendants and guards slowly left, and those who had come to see them off gradually dispersed, he finally went over to Gu Bin, who was still standing there in shock.

“Huanzhang, aren’t you going back?”

By now, Gu Bin was already a reader in the Hanlin Academy, so Zhang Yue gradually stopped using his childhood nickname and started addressing him by his given name. Yet after saying that, Gu Bin continued to stare blankly at the departing carriage before finally turning his gaze away.

“Yuanshe, when do you think the master will return?”

“Luochuan has been divided for many years, with several pacification offices established. Si Renfa is already at his limit. He’s just trying to take back his lost lands while the Ming Dynasty is too weak to attack him. If given time to recover, the situation in southern border regions will become even more unpredictable. Scholar Yang is highly skilled in military strategy and gets along well with the Duke of Qian. With his help, the situation there will surely be settled soon—perhaps within a year at most.”

“But last night, when I hosted a farewell banquet for the master, he got drunk and muttered something like ‘Beyond the Yangguan Pass, there are no old friends; how many return from war?’ It worried me greatly, but I didn’t dare ask.”

Seeing Gu Bin’s worried expression, Zhang Yue thought for a moment before comforting him, “Scholar Yang was just talking casually. He has concerns, but they’re not entirely about Luochuan’s military affairs—rather, other matters. The Yang family is a prominent clan in Fujian. Didn’t the emperor issue an order to survey all the land in the country? Scholar Yang is probably worried that his family owns too much land. As for central Yunnan… the Duke of Qian can also be considered an old friend to him!”

After Zhang Yue’s explanation, Gu Bin felt a bit less uneasy. Yet Yang Rong himself had not known much about matters related to farmland back in his hometown, let alone his student. After asking a few questions, he was easily deceived by Zhang Yue’s casual words. So he nodded and walked with him toward the attendant holding the horse.

The two rushed into Xuanwu Gate. Since the government office was nearby, they had to slow down. The Ministry of War’s office and the Hanlin Academy were separated only by the Imperial Carriage Depot, so Zhang Yue and Gu Bin continued to walk side by side. When they reached Fossil Bridge and then the main street below the city walls, and saw Qipan Street in front of the Great Ming Gate from afar, Zhang Yue suddenly asked, “Huanzhang, now that you’ve been promoted to an imperial tutor, do you have any plans for the future?”

“I’m just good at studying; everything else is average. I’ve only learned the basics from my teacher. Right now, I just want to keep honing my skills,” Gu Bin said sincerely after a brief silence. “I’m not like you, nor can I learn from you. Your ideas and methods are beyond what I dare to think or do. My teacher also said that I’m thorough in my work but lack flexibility—completely unlike him. So his experience isn’t very useful to me. To be honest, my interest in studying and learning far outweighs my interest in becoming an official.”

As he spoke, Gu Bin’s expression was unusually calm. Looking into his clear eyes, Zhang Yue couldn’t help but recall the young man in white from his childhood who had cheated in studies to support his family at the clan school. Nearly twenty years had passed, and though they had both grown up, he still felt that this cousin remained, at heart, that somewhat proud young man.

“In that case, I do have a suggestion. Nowadays, for the provincial examinations in the northern and southern parts of Zhili and other provinces, officials are often appointed on short notice. Last time, my teacher told me that the official schools and educational institutions in various provinces are far inferior to those during the Hongwu era, even the Imperial Academy is no exception. So I plan to submit a petition to the emperor to appoint special educational supervisors in each province, who would oversee the provincial examinations every three years and inspect schools in various counties. Originally, this role was meant for censors, but as you know from what happened at the Censorate, now educational officials are selected from the Hanlin Academy, thus separating educational administration from provincial governance, military affairs, and criminal matters. Given your straightforward nature, you might not be suitable for other roles. If you spend another one or two years honing your skills at the Hanlin Academy, it would be perfect for you to go out as an educational supervisor and cultivate talents.”

Gu Bin had been listening attentively, and when he reached the end, his eyes lit up. He stared at Zhang Yue for a while; the usually cold-hearted man rarely showed a smile, but this time he did: “Yuanjie, you truly are my confidant! Although I was somewhat pragmatic when studying in my youth, aiming only to give my parents a better life, now that those goals have been achieved, I desire to delve deeper into classics, so that talented scholars from humble backgrounds can also have the chance to excel.”

“It’s good to help those talented scholars from humble backgrounds, but don’t be biased when selecting officials—people from wealthy families aren’t all useless or dissolute!”

“Aren’t you praising yourself?”

It was rare for Gu Bin to joke, and Zhang Yue couldn’t help but smile as well. The two chatted as they walked along Qipan Street. With the East River Rice Alley, where the six ministries were located, just ahead, they suddenly heard the sound of fast-moving horse hooves behind them. Turning around, Zhang Yue saw two riders dash through the Zhengyang Gate and then head straight toward them. Recognizing the red jackets and black head coverings typical of messengers from the Ministry of War, he greeted Gu Bin, saying he would visit later, before riding after them.

He dismounted at the stone step in front of the Ministry of War’s building and saw the two muddy and dusty horses being led by servants to the stables. He rushed inside. Sure enough, as soon as he entered, the servant assigned to him came forward and said, “Sir, this document was sent by Lord Wan from the Nurhaci Commandery. The messenger is over there.”

The messenger had first entered the Zhengyang Gate and then rushed through East River Rice Alley, so he hadn’t seen Zhang Yue for a while. Now that he saw Zhang Yue coming in, he recognized him and quickly knelt to pay his respects. After handing over the document, he stepped back. Zhang Yue checked that the seal was intact and ordered the servant to take the men away before entering the room.

It had already been several months since Wan Shijie left for the Nurhaci Commandery, and few messages had come back. So Zhang Yue hurriedly opened the letter without even sitting down, skimming through it as he walked to his seat. Indeed, across the five pages, Wan Shijie first described the military situation in the Nurhaci Commandery. He then mentioned that most of the Jurchen tribes in Liaodong were loyal to the court, with only a few small tribes colluding with the Mongols—these would usually surrender once the troops arrived. Although Dishaha engaged in illegal activities such as using border troops for farming and accepting bribes, he had not acted improperly in handling affairs among the Jurchen tribes. Finally, he brought up another matter.

Due to the lack of cattle among the Haixi Jurchens and horses among the border troops, they often engaged in secret trades of cattle and horses, which were prohibited by the imperial court. Zhang Yue was naturally aware of the ban on selling draft cattle and ironware. If such a document were submitted to higher authorities, it would undoubtedly draw widespread condemnation from the court, adding to Yishihaha’s crimes. After all, Yishihaha was nominally on an inspection tour, but each inspection often lasted a year or two, effectively functioning as garrisoning. This ban reduced the efficiency of the Jurchens in agricultural work, aimed at stifling their development—similar in nature to the Mongol Yuan dynasty’s ban on trade. Yet, some things cannot be stopped merely by blocking them; whether it was the Mongols or the Jurchens, they would resort to theft when they couldn’t obtain what they wanted, leading to border conflicts. The Mongol Yuan dynasty used official smuggling as a strategy to gather information and make money, and now the Jurchens could do the same. By stabilizing the Nurgan Commandery and dividing the Jurchen tribes, one day this region could also become a major granary in future generations.
“Someone, pass on my order—have Captain Hu come see me!”
In the main hall of Yongning Palace.
Zhu Qizhen was still young and not yet old enough to reside in the Eastern Palace. But since he had been crowned crown prince, it was inappropriate for him to stay in Yongning Palace. After much deliberation and discussion with Zhu Zhanji, Empress Dowager Zhang ordered the East Warm Pavilion in the main hall of Renshou Palace to be made available, and Zhu Qizhen along with his wet nurse and caregivers were moved there. As a result, Yongning Palace lost the sound of the child’s crying, leaving Concubine Sun feeling empty inside.
At that moment, sitting in front of her dressing table, she grew increasingly anxious at the thought that Zhu Zhanji would soon go on a border inspection, so much so that she didn’t even notice the maid approaching quietly behind her.
“Your Majesty, the Empress visited the crown prince today and gave him a longevity lock. The Empress Dowager was very pleased upon hearing about it.”
“My son—why should she worry about him?”
Angrily, Concubine Sun broke the jade hairpin in her hand. It should have belonged to her—why shouldn’t she think about it or ask for it? But Zhu Ning kept persuading her that since her son was the crown prince, he would surely not disrespect his biological mother. It was better to stay calm rather than fight now and anger the Empress Dowager…
As she racked her brain in distress, the maid quietly handed her a note. With just a glance, she was stunned speechless.