Chapter 812: Resolute Decisions
As preparations for the morning court often began before the hour of Mao, the emperor would usually attend it after that time. Yet throughout the entire night, Zhu Zhanji remained in Renshou Palace. Although Empress Dowager Zhang had gradually stepped back from state affairs, she still gave Zhu Zhanji many admonitions. Learning about what had happened at the Northern Pacification Commission the previous night, she was furious. But as soon as Zhu Zhanji returned to the palace, he went to Renshou Palace to apologize and explained everything in detail. Finally, he said something that greatly surprised her, and her anger gradually subsided.
“Mother, the Song Dynasty respected scholars and officials while being wary of military men. As a result, each successive emperor became weaker. Although scholars controlled government affairs, they lacked vision. Eventually, foreign tribes rose in the border regions and swept across the land—this is the greatest lesson. Our ancestor personally taught me horseback riding and archery, not wanting the heir to be overly secluded in the palace and ignorant of military affairs, so that decisions would always rest in the hands of foreign ministers. I know I shouldn’t have killed a minister in anger, but Dai Lun is truly despicable! Even in the Han and Tang dynasties, scholars often carried swords and did not see it as shameful to practice martial arts. Yet I, simply because I enjoyed hunting, was criticized by my ministers for being neglectful, and even the upbringing of my eldest son was brought up as an issue. Strength comes from military power, while governance comes from culture, but for lasting peace, one must not overly emphasize culture at the expense of military strength.”
At this moment, seeing Zhu Zhanji already dressed in his court robes, Empress Dowager Zhang felt somewhat dizzy. Her husband, Zhu Gaochi, had been disabled since childhood and could neither ride a horse nor draw a bow. He also had little connection with the nobles. When speaking, he would often speak bitterly about Zhu Gaoxu, the Prince of Han, who was popular among military officers. Since nothing could be done regarding the military officials, she could only focus on winning over the scholars. And since those scholars were indeed outstanding, she naturally favored them.
“Have you made up your mind?”
“Yes. Things have come to this, and this is the only way. But we must make them understand both gratitude and deterrence.”
“Very well. Then go to court.”
Zhu Zhanji bowed deeply to Empress Dowager Zhang, then said with a gloomy expression, “Let Mother take care of matters in the Inner Study Hall.”
The mother and son exchanged a deep look, after which Zhu Zhanji turned and left the main hall of Renshou Palace. It was only after the emperor had been gone for a while that Empress Dowager Zhang stood up, her hands naturally clasped in front of her deep crimson robe with phoenix patterns. After standing there for a long time, she finally sighed without looking back.
“Although it’s an internal palace affair, there’s no need to involve too many people. Since the Emperor doesn’t want to abolish the Inner Study Hall, let it remain. In the past, when Huang Yanjiang and others were involved in treason, only those few were executed in public; the rest were demoted to laboring as servants in the textile and dyeing bureaus. Let’s handle it the same way this time—just send Lu Feng there. As for Concubine Sun, you should go and give her some advice.”
Zhu Ning was afraid that Empress Dowager Zhang would send her to the Inner Study Hall. Hearing this, she realized that Empress Dowager Zhang also didn’t want to go against the Emperor’s wishes too much, so she quickly agreed. Before leaving the main hall, she heard Empress Dowager Zhang giving orders to Lu Feng, saying that the Inner Study Hall couldn’t be as extravagant as before. It was unacceptable for grand scholars to teach there; instead, palace servants who knew how to read and write could conduct the lessons. After three years of study, students would be sent to various palaces, and those who graduated from the Inner Study Hall would not be allowed to hold positions as heads of the twenty-four government departments.
Hearing this, her steps as she descended the stairs became even lighter. If things followed Zhu Zhanji’s earlier plan at the court meeting, future emperors would have their own close associates, and the importance of the Inner Study Hall would naturally decline. Empress Dowager Zhang had added more restrictions, which should prevent it from causing trouble for a while. Although Dai Lun died unjustly, his advice had indeed gone too far. It was better not to punish his relatives now, rather than causing a major scandal.
However, she needed to be careful when speaking to Concubine Sun—after all, she was the mother of the only crown prince, and her dignity couldn’t be hurt.
Regular court sessions at Fengtian Gate.
As usual, the gates opened with the sound of bells, and civil and military officials entered one after another through the side gates. They stood in rows east and west south of the Jinshui Bridge according to their ranks. Only after the signal drum sounded did they cross the bridge and line up in front of the imperial dais, then bow in unison. Throughout the whole process, everyone noticed Wang Jin on the Emperor’s left hand holding a wooden box. Whether they knew about last night’s events or not, they all grew suspicious.
Zhang Yue was now the vice minister of the Ministry of War, holding a position much higher than when he was just a clerk in the same ministry. With his sharp eyes, he could even see the dragon patterns on the wooden box. At that moment, with just a thought, he figured out what the Emperor might be planning and discreetly breathed a sigh of relief. After all, Zhu Zhanji wasn’t Zhu Di. After yesterday’s outburst, the decision had finally been made.
According to the usual court procedures, first, the officials from the Honglu Temple would announce the names of those who would deliver their thank-you speeches to the emperor. Then, the officials would take turns paying their respects outside the Meridian Gate, followed by various departments presenting matters that required attention. But today, there were no such speeches from officials, and few matters needed to be addressed, so the meeting ended in no time. Yet, when the officials from the Honglu Temple declared that all matters had been dealt with and it was time to dismiss the court, Zhu Zhanji on the throne suddenly spoke up.
“Many of you must already be aware of what happened yesterday. During the day, someone reported to the Censorate that Gu Qing, the Left Censor-in-Chief, had accepted bribes to allow people to return to farming. Upon investigation, it turned out to be in accordance with old official practices, while the other accusations were false. I have ordered the Eastern Investigation Bureau, along with the Jinyiwei, to arrest twelve corrupt officials and servants, as well as Yan Ai, a former censor who had fled from the Liaodong garrison. Such corrupt officials who frame high-ranking officials deserve no mercy. They shall be executed in public tomorrow as a warning to others!”
Although the rumor about Gu Zuo being framed had spread before the morning meeting, most people were still unaware of it. Thus, those who thought the Censorate had been plagued by problems and were waiting to see Gu Zuo humiliated were shocked by these words. Yet, before their disappointment could fade, the emperor’s firm voice rang out again.
“Does anyone among you know what’s in this small box?”
Zhu Zhanji glanced at the officials below. Seeing that those like Yang Shiqi who were aware of the matter looked solemn, while most others appeared confused, he knew the news hadn’t spread yet. Smirking, he said, “This is a list submitted to me yesterday by Wang Jie, the commander of the Jinyiwei. It lists the lands acquired by officials above the fourth rank in their families over the past twenty years. Some people had previously argued that the conversion of salaries into land should not be too harsh. I really didn’t expect someone to submit such a list so quickly.”
At that moment, the already silent court seemed dead silent, even the slightest breaths had ceased. Not only the officials above the fourth rank but even those below were at a loss. The Jinyiwei was usually tasked with investigating officials’ involvement in illegal activities, but this certainly didn’t include investigating their family wealth. Officials above the fourth rank had spent years accumulating their positions—even if they themselves were clean, who knew if any members of their families were doing something shady in their name?
Seeing the faces freeze in shock one after another, Zhu Zhanji suddenly sneered and said, “If this box is sent to the Dali Temple and the Censorate, according to the old regulations set by the Taizu, I’m afraid these officials will lose more than just their reputations. I know that officials in my dynasty have always lived in hardship, and moreover, the actions of their families cannot be entirely blamed on them. Therefore, I won’t punish them for this confidential report… Someone, burn this box of documents in public!”
At these words, Wang Jie, who had thought he could breathe a sigh of relief, immediately turned ashen. Although there were still copies stored in the Jinyiwei, since the emperor had said such things, he knew he not only wouldn’t be given the authority to investigate these matters but would also be put in an extremely embarrassing situation. Seeing a eunuch behind Wang Jin bring over a brazier and throw the wooden box into it, the soaring flames instantly consumed everything, leaving him feeling unsteady on his feet.
“I know you must be thinking that I might have already seen these documents. Out of anger yesterday, I only glanced at them casually. Now, I’m giving you a chance. Since the Fish Scale Registers and Yellow Registers, which record the population and taxes across the country, were compiled in the 26th year of the Hongwu era, they have been updated annually, but the number of errors is predictable. Starting today, all fields and populations across the country will be re-evaluated, and new registers will be created for each prefecture and county. As long as it’s not completely absurd, I can be lenient; if you think it’s too absurd, handle it yourselves early! The old Hongwu regulations set limits on exemptions from corvée and taxes, but those may no longer be appropriate. The Six Ministries and the Cabinet will draft new laws in the next few days, which will become permanent rules!”
Many ministers who thought they had escaped disaster suddenly changed color. Exemptions from corvée and taxes were established during the Hongwu era, but officials and gentry were exempted based on their rank, not for all their fields and populations. Thus, even more angry looks turned toward Wang Jie, the commander of the Jinyiwei.
“Additionally, Wang Jie, the commander of the Jinyiwei, is forbidden from investigating this matter on his own initiative. He will be dismissed immediately and sent to serve in the Danning Army!”
At these words, Wang Jie collapsed to the ground. Clutching the tightly fitted white marble, his heart sank to the bottom. Suddenly, he remembered something and cried out, “Your Majesty, I didn’t investigate on my own—someone else…”
However, the sound suddenly stopped. Two people appeared out of nowhere behind Wang Jie, pinning him tightly one on each side. Somehow, they silenced him, then dragged him away quietly. For a moment, not a single one of the officials in charge of court ceremonies or the censors spoke; everyone was stunned, including Yang Shiqi. If Zhu Zhanji launched a major investigation after this incident and dismissed Wang Jie later, it would be comparable to how the Jinyiwei commanders handled the Lan Yu and Hu Weiyong cases during the Hongwu era—true to the saying “when the cunning rabbit dies, its hounds are killed.” Yet, at least on the surface, the emperor preserved the dignity of his ministers, later accusing Wang Jie of acting without authorization, giving them a way out. Although investigating land and population was an even more astonishing matter, thirty years had passed since the 26th year of Hongwu’s reign, so it was only proper to conduct another survey. “Furthermore, I am approaching my thirtieth year and now have an heir apparent. I intend to choose a day to establish the Eastern Palace. Since childhood, I have been taught by Emperor Taizu, learning literature from capable scholars and martial arts from the imperial guards. I have never neglected either aspect. Once the Eastern Palace is established, when the heir grows up, I will select suitable young officials from both civil and military ranks to accompany him and assist him in both literature and martial affairs.” Within a single day, several such announcements came one after another, leaving all the officials feeling suffocated. Even those who wanted to oppose or advise felt speechless and could only watch as the emperor rose from his throne and left. It was not until they had all left Jinsui Bridge and passed through Wumen that the civil officials and nobles gathered in small groups, too afraid to speak loudly inside the palace. Compared to the shock of the civil officials, the nobles were overjoyed. If it weren’t for the fact that it wasn’t a grand court day, Duke Zhang Fu would never have come, and they would have rushed to ask him about yesterday’s events. But since the main person was not there, Zhang Yue was still present. As Chen Mao, Marquis of Ningyang, came out from among the civil officials, he immediately wanted to call for someone. Unexpectedly, several eunuchs rushed out from Wumen—some heading outside, while another glanced around and came running toward him. “Marquis of Ningyang, the Empress Dowager summons you.” Hearing it was the Empress Dowager, Chen Mao immediately put away his cheerful expression, glanced at the other eunuchs who had left, and then asked, “Is the Empress Dowager seeing me alone, or…”
“It’s not just Lord Ningyang—you, along with the Duke of Cheng, Lord Yangwu, Lord Chengshan, Lord Baoding, and the crown prince of the Duke of Qian.”
Hearing this string of names, Lord Ningyang Chen Mao immediately grew suspicious and uneasy. Among those summoned by Empress Dowager Zhang, two were even nobles in charge of military affairs like him, and Mu Bin, the crown prince of the Duke of Qian, often visited his home these days, with his eldest son maintaining close relations with him. Thus, even though he saw Zhang Yue walking over after talking to a few colleagues, he couldn’t approach to speak and could only follow the eunuch who brought the message into the palace through the Meridian Gate.
Seeing Lord Ningyang Chen Mao enter the palace again, Zhang Yue realized that things must have already been decided, and this wave of turmoil had reached a temporary end. Upon returning to the Ministry of War, the officials, who had been silent earlier, suddenly became lively, discussing things in groups. Minister Zhang Ben, however, remained gloomy and went straight back to the main hall inside the Three Gates without saying a word. With his departure, Vice Minister Feng left even faster, and Zhang Yue, who was last, could still clearly hear the discussions.
Though their words varied, the main message was the same—this time, the emperor was truly determined!
In the evening, at the Eastern Depot outside the East Upper North Gate.
Normally staffed by only a few people, the Eastern Depot was on high alert that day, with bright-clothed Jinyiwei guards standing both inside and outside. Aside from Wang Jin, who accompanied Zhu Zhanji, Fan Hong, Jin Ying, Zhong Huai, and Huang Run were all present, along with many influential figures.
Lu Feng, the supervisor of the Eastern Depot, stood at the bottom of the steps in a brand-new official robe, looking smugly at the dozen or so eunuchs pinned down below. He then glared at Wang Zhen and smirked darkly before finally uttering a few words.
“By the Empress Dowager’s order, execute them with whips immediately—until death!”
Deceiving his nephew and inciting him to cause trouble was seeking his own death! If not for Wang Jie’s greed and his own careful monitoring after hearing Zhang Yue’s advice, it would truly have been like raising a tiger to cause harm!