Chapter 423: A Fierce Debate Under the Heavy Rain at the Meridian Gate
The Meridian Gate was the main entrance to the palace, featuring three archways. The central path was only opened for grand ceremonies such as an emperor’s coronation or wedding; the two side archways were used by military generals on duty and guards carrying spears. Early that morning, after three beats of the drum, the two side gates of the Meridian Gate opened first. Military officers entered and lined up, while civil officials, divided into military and civil categories, queued up at the side gates. Only when the great bell rang did they enter in order.
After the eunuch signaled with a whip, the officials crossed the Golden Water Bridge and stood facing each other on both sides of the imperial path beneath the steps of the Fengtian Gate. Soon, the drums and music from the Bell and Drum Bureau sounded, and the strongmen of the Jinyiwei escorted Zhu Di up to the golden platform on the upper corridor of the Fengtian Gate, where he took his seat. Immediately afterward, all the officials entered the imperial path and bowed three times as a formal greeting. Since everyone knew there would be a fierce debate after the morning court session, matters were handled quickly. By the time the court dispersed, Zhu Di ordered the ministers of the various departments accused in the petitions and the officials who had submitted complaints to stay behind, while the rest returned to their offices to handle affairs. As a result, the once-packed area was left with only half as many people.
Prince Zhu Gaochi’s seat was on Zhu Di’s left, with Zhu Zhanji standing beside him. Seeing the censors and other officials stepping forward one after another, the father and son both frowned deeply, with Zhu Gaochi even sighing slightly. Zhu Zhanji glanced secretly at Zhu Di above, noticing his cold smile, and then turned his gaze to Zhang Yue in the crowd.
Zhu Ning must have delivered the message—hoping that Zhang Yue would not act impulsively at this critical moment!
Although all the officials knew there would be a fierce debate that day, when the censors bravely stepped forward and loudly accused the ministers with sharp and incisive words, the slight ease on the faces of the department heads gradually vanished. Those specifically named, such as Yang Rong and Lü Zhen, turned pale. If not for their efforts to maintain their dignity as ministers, these skilled debaters might have interrupted and retorted right there in court.
“Yang Rong, Jin Youzi, and other grand scholars of the Wenyuan Pavilion; Xia Yuanji, Minister of Revenue; Jian Yi, Minister of Personnel; Lü Zhen, Minister of Rites; Fang Bin, Minister of War—these people fail to cultivate virtue, govern incompetently, and deceive the emperor with slanderous words, leading to divine warnings. Please, our emperor, investigate their treachery and expel such scoundrels…”
“During the reign of the First Emperor Taizu, an edict was issued stating: ‘To establish a foundation in the Jiangzu region and set the basis for eternal peace throughout the land; to govern the Central Plains with a heart of equality. Jinling and Daliang shall be regarded as the south, while Beijing shall be the capital.’ Here, Daliang refers to Kaifeng, not Beiping. Now, treacherous officials flatter the emperor with deceitful words, ignoring the suffering of the subjects, and insist on moving the capital, which is why disasters are sent down from heaven. Your Majesty is a wise and enlightened ruler—why then employ such unprincipled flatterers…’”
“Emperor Taizu recorded prohibitions on maritime trade in the ‘Imperial Instructions of the Ming Dynasty’ as a warning from the fall of the Yuan dynasty. It should be noted that during the Song and Yuan dynasties, merchant ships traveled overseas in great numbers, yet the common people still suffered, precisely because the court prioritized commerce. If maritime restrictions are lifted and merchant ships can freely travel to foreign countries, corrupt elements will go to vassal states to damage the reputation of our Great Ming, resulting in losses far greater than gains! Moreover, Japanese pirates often attack us—what if they plunder merchant ships? What if civilian ships supply them? I earnestly urge Your Majesty to follow the ancestral instructions and put the people first, punishing severely those evil officials who first proposed this idea to restore justice and order.”
Although the square from the Jinsui Bridge at Wumen to the Fengtian Gate was extremely wide, even Zhang Yue, who was at the very back of the line, could clearly hear each distinct voice. Long before the officials from the Honglu Temple asked him to stay, thanks to the warning from Zhu Zhanji through Zhu Ning, he had anticipated that he would end up among such villains. Seeing that everyone around him was either a minister or a cabinet official while he, as a clerk, stood out as an oddity, he didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.
As he watched carefully, a passionate voice came from ahead: “You concoct accusations arbitrarily—how can this be out of a sense of fairness? We assist the emperor in governing the country: rewards are given for merits, punishments for faults, relief for disasters, praise for integrity, and all suggestions are presented to the emperor. Though we may not claim to have made contributions, we still exert effort in handling affairs. As officials in charge of supervision and advice, what contributions have you made to the country or to proper governance? You only know how to assign faults to high-ranking officials—what benefit do you bring to the country and its people?”
Recognizing that it was Li Qing, the acting Minister of Works who was handling affairs on behalf of Song Li, Zhang Yue was momentarily stunned. Four words immediately came to mind—using force to justify one’s position. His words sounded passionate and righteous, but in reality, he was using his status as a high official to pressure others. This tactic might have worked at other times, but under these circumstances, it was utterly ineffective.
Sure enough, as soon as the words left his mouth, one of the censors abruptly raised his head and glared angrily at Li Qing. No longer concerned with eloquence or logic, he retorted immediately, “If Minister Li were truly upright, why would he resort to using his position to oppress others? In handling affairs—such as the Ministry of Works’ construction of Beijing—how many laborers have died, and how much money and grain has been spent? During the construction of the waterways, droughts and floods frequently struck Shandong, affecting countless people. Our duty is to point out the shortcomings in government policy—this is of great benefit to the country and its people!”
“The censors are indeed meant to correct faults and advise the emperor, but the emperor has issued an edict seeking honest opinions, not just for you to show off your wits! If everything is too inconvenient, then simply say nothing needs to be done! If that’s the case, why does the court need you at all?” Yang Rong, known for his sharpness and eloquence, was unyielding in his reasoning. “Your accusations against the ministers are all vague; you turn great achievements into failures, minor merits into faults, and small mistakes into major ones. Is this seeking honest advice or seeking fame for yourselves?”
Lü Zhen, skilled at reading people’s expressions, saw Zhu Di on the platform frowning and stepped forward to rebuke them, “You keep talking about following heaven’s will and the people’s hearts, yet first you criticize the emperor’s policies and then the key ministers in court. Do you think no one can see your ulterior motives? Your intentions are despicable! He Zhong, you were promoted to censor in the ninth year of Yongle—what significant contributions have you made in major policies over the years? Luo Tong, you were promoted to censor in the sixteenth year of Yongle—aside from accusing others of flattery, have you ever put forward any proposals on major issues? Yang Fu, you’ve just been promoted from a scholar to an official in the Ministry of Rites and still don’t truly understand government affairs, yet you dare to echo others’ nonsense…”
He had an excellent memory and named them one by one. Instantly, the ministers were inspired, while the arrogance of the censors was dampened. With his example, other ministers also began to criticize those who spoke recklessly. Soon, the vast square was filled with both classical and vulgar speech, turning what should have been the most sacred place for deliberation into a marketplace.
Thus, the debate lasted nearly half a day. Unluckily, the weather turned against them—suddenly, thunder and lightning broke out, turning daylight into darkness in an instant. Both sides of ministers fell silent, looking up at the sky. Several censors, too frustrated by being suppressed, even cried out in their hearts.
“Hurry up and strike with lightning and thunder—kill these sycophants who only know how to flatter the emperor!”
This time, unlike that night when the three main halls caught fire amidst thunderstorms but no rain fell, after the thunder and lightning, there was a sudden downpour as heavy rain began to pour from the sky. Since it had been a fine and sunny morning earlier, and given past experiences, none of the ministers expected such heavy rain to actually occur. Thus, regardless of their rank, clothing color, or age, everyone was drenched in mere moments. Leaving aside the discomfort of wet clothes sticking to their bodies, the heavy rain made it impossible for them to keep their eyes open.
On the golden platform inside the Fengtian Gate, Zhu Di was sheltered under an umbrella, and with the Jinyiwei guards surrounding him, all the rain brought by the strong wind was kept at bay, so his clothes remained dry. Yet, he showed no intention of ending the debate due to the rain and continued to sit there, observing coldly. Zhang Qian, the eunuch in charge of serving him, tried several times to remind him that it was already past noon, but he backed down under the emperor’s icy gaze. With no other choice, he went to check on the crown prince and his son, only to find that their attention was also fixed on what was below.
The debate continued in the heavy rain, though the enthusiasm on both sides had been dampened by half, and most people’s voices sounded hoarse. As most ministers from various departments relied on their status to dominate the discussion, the censors gradually found themselves in a weak position.
At that moment, Zheng Weihuan, the imperial censor, suddenly noticed Zhang Yue at the back and immediately became alert. Recalling that it was during that time when the debate over lifting the sea ban was at its fiercest, Zhang Yue had been sent by the emperor to Jiangnan to investigate some grain stores. Unexpectedly, the emperor soon launched a large-scale attempt to lift the sea ban through the Ningbo Maritime Administration. Zhang Yue became famous in Jiangnan for fighting against pirates, while these censors, who had been preparing for a long time, ended up hitting a dead end. This time, they absolutely could not let it slip away.
Thinking of this, he suddenly pointed at Zhang Yue and said loudly, “Minister Lü criticized us for not yet understanding court affairs thoroughly. What about Zhang Yue, the Minister of War? He rose to the rank of Jinshi relying on his family name and has since been promoted repeatedly. What merits does he have? He allowed heretical groups to plot treason in the local areas. Even though he eventually eliminated them, was that a merit or a fault? He supervised the execution of those who rebelled against the throne without the slightest pity. Is he a benevolent official or a cruel magistrate? He used heretical doctrines to urge the emperor to break ancestral traditions and lift the sea ban, advising the emperor to pursue profit rather than virtue. Is he a court official or a shrewd merchant? He was ordered to lead troops to defend the imperial city but nearly allowed rebels to cause chaos. After suppressing them, he was rewarded for his “merits” in quelling rebellion—truly a treacherous official who deceives the world! I earnestly urge the emperor to see through this deception and expel such a traitor to repay the world!”
What does it mean to invent charges if one wants to? Zhang Yue had never experienced this before, but now he was fortunate enough to witness it. Observing the varied expressions of the ministers from various departments, he saw that aside from Yang Shiqi, who frowned as if about to speak, the rest stood by indifferently. Since Du Zhen had not participated in the decisions to move the capital or lift the sea ban and was not here either, although he had no backing, he wasn’t overly concerned. Shaking his head to shake off the water droplets from his wet black hat, he stepped forward and cast a cold glance at Zheng Weihuan.
“Lord Zheng accuses me of deceiving the world. I actually have something to say. I took office in Qingzhou less than a year ago, yet heretical groups in Shandong had been spreading for years. If they hadn’t revealed their malicious intentions, how could I have eliminated them so easily? The law does not account for human feelings, but human feelings must not undermine the law. If I had lamented pitifully at the execution site, where would that leave the emperor? Where would it leave those innocent commoners affected? Where would it leave the soldiers and officers injured while suppressing rebellion? And where would it leave the court’s laws? As for accusing me of using heretical doctrines to urge the emperor to break ancestral traditions and lift the sea ban, I ask you—have you ever carefully read the Imperial Instructions of the Ming Dynasty? Have you ever thought deeply about Emperor Taizu’s reasons for banning maritime trade? Do you understand the geography and customs of the coastal areas and foreign countries today?”
Seizing the moment when Zheng Weihuan’s momentum had waned, Zhang Yue took a deep breath and spoke rapidly: “As for the notion that one should advise the emperor not with virtue but with profit, I ask Lord Zheng—does it require money to relieve victims in times of disaster? Does it require money to repair dams after floods? Does it require money to transport supplies and pay troops abroad? Does it require money to reward foreign envoys and showcase the might of our Great Ming? Does it require money to pay officials and soldiers? In ancient times, the head of the Ministry of Revenue was called a ‘planner.’ What is planning? It means spending according to income. Since the court’s regular expenses can only be reduced to a limited extent, if we cannot cut spending, we must find new sources of revenue! Speaking out for the benefit of the country—I see no shame in that! As for traitors and rebels, who can tell whether someone is loyal or traitorous before they act? If even rewarding traitors is wrong, does Lord Zheng mean that traitors should instead be punished?”
Seeing Zheng Weihuan’s face turn purple with anger, Zhang Yue ignored him further, stepped forward slowly, and bowed on the red steps: “Your Majesty, I, a newly promoted scholar, have submitted a memorial on state affairs, and indeed there are aspects I haven’t considered thoroughly, which is why I had to debate fiercely with Lord Zheng earlier. Though censors may use harsh words, first, it is their duty, and second, they are responding to an imperial edict, earnestly asking Your Majesty to see reason and pardon their faults. If punishment is imposed, as an official handling matters, I shall bear the responsibility.”
Zheng Weihuan’s earlier words had already stirred Zhu Di’s murderous intent, so when Zhang Yue refuted him until he was red-faced, Zhu Di sneered. Yet he never expected Zhang Yue to turn things around like this. After a moment of shock, he suddenly grew angry. At that moment, Zhu Gaochi, who had been standing by, seized the opportunity and whispered, “Father, what Zhang Yue said makes perfect sense.”
Since returning to the capital, Zhu Gaochi had stepped down from his role as regent and withdrawn to Duanben Palace to recuperate, offering little advice on state affairs. But now he realized that if he continued to remain silent, things would go wrong. To his horror, Zhu Di glared at him irritably, his gaze clearly conveying four words: “Weakness of a woman.”
Seeing that the emperor seemed determined this time, Zhang Yue, kneeling in the mud, glanced at the anxious Zhu Zhanji but knew it was futile to rely on the crown prince now. In this extremely tense atmosphere, Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Revenue who had remained silent throughout, suddenly stepped forward, lifted his robe, and knelt in the mud.
“Your Majesty, those censors who submitted memorials in response to the imperial edict are innocent. Since the celestial signs have warned us, it is our fault as ministers for failing to govern properly. The blame lies with us.”
Zhu Di glanced at Zhang Yue, whose face was covered in rain, and then noticed that Xia Yuanji’s gray-haired official robes were completely soaked. Only then did his previously ashen complexion begin to ease slightly. Standing up indifferently, he looked at the group of officials who looked like drowned rats, and finally spoke a few words. “That’s enough for today!”