Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 277 Passing on the Torch
In early February, the snow in the outskirts of Beijing had not yet melted.

Frost marks were still visible among the withered grass on both sides of the official road.

Occasionally, a cold wind sweeps by, stirring up tiny ice crystals that shimmer faintly in the morning light.

Zhang Cong's carriage stopped outside the pavilion.

His son, accompanied by an old servant, was busy tying up the trunks and baskets. The retired Grand Secretary had taken off his official robes and was wearing only a worn-out indigo robe, looking like a poor scholar.

This is absolutely true. Even when Zhang Cong served as the Grand Secretary and held immense power, he repeatedly warned his fellow villagers not to abuse his position and do anything illegal just because he was a high-ranking official.

As a result, during his ten years in court, he did not promote a single eunuch, did not allow a single private audience, and did not bestow favors upon any of his sons or nephews.

As a result, not long after his death, his family became destitute and had to rely on others for help.

This is something that even the historical figures Yan Song and Xu Jie, and even their original successor Xia Yan, could never achieve, let alone Yan Song and Xu Jie.

At this moment, the Grand Secretary, whose character was impeccable but whose reputation among scholars was poor due to offending too many officials during his tenure, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the hazy outline of the Western Hills in the distance, his breath condensing into tiny frost flowers between his eyebrows.

He is waiting.

Sure enough, the sound of horses' hooves approached.

A horse-drawn carriage came crunching through the snow.

Upon approaching, Haiyue and Yan Shifan helped Yan Song down.

The newly appointed Grand Secretary was dressed in a plain cotton robe, without even the usual jade belt around his waist. As soon as he stepped off the carriage, he bowed deeply and said, "I have come to see you off on your long journey, Lord Zhang!"

As Zhang Cong waited for him to walk up to him, he snorted softly, "Why did Grand Secretary Yan have to come in person for a late spring chill in February?"

Yan Song knew that this man was never one to mince words, so he didn't mind. He solemnly took out an oil paper package from his bosom and presented it with both hands: "This is ginger candy brewed at my humble abode. It is most suitable for keeping warm on the road. Lord Zhang is going to Zhejiang. This is just a small token of my appreciation!"

As the paper package was opened, the spicy aroma of ginger, mixed with the sweetness of honey, wafted out.

Zhang Cong paused for a moment, picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. He immediately felt a warm current spread from his throat, and even the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothed out a bit. He exclaimed, "What a delicious taste! I felt hungry when I saw you eating it in the duty room that day. I never thought I would be so lucky to have this to eat today!"

"He who eats another's food is bound to him," he finally softened, muttering, "Back then, I was biased in criticizing you for being a pedantic intellectual..."

Yan Song earnestly said, "If it weren't for Lord Zhang's efforts to overcome the opposition, how could the new policies have been implemented?"

The two paused simultaneously, then burst out laughing at the same time.

What was once a tense political debate has now become a memory that brings a knowing smile.

Haiyue and Yan Shifan, being the younger generation, went inside the pavilion and prepared a small farewell feast.

Yan Song walked over, personally took the wine pot, and poured the amber-colored wine into the cup, where fine mist rose in the cold air: "This cup is to toast Lord Zhang's ten years of service as his advisor!"

Zhang Cong raised his cup but did not drink. He merely gazed at the wine and sighed softly, "The task is not yet accomplished! Far from accomplished!"

After saying that, he glanced at Haiyue and then said to Yan Song, "Your 'Performance Evaluation Method' is very good, especially the 'Four Categories and Eight Methods' performance evaluation system. It should be implemented throughout the country as soon as possible!"

Zhang Cong's reform of officialdom, though lacking a specific name, was the prototype of the "Performance Evaluation Law" in Zhang Juzheng's future reforms.

At Haiyue's suggestion, Yan Song simply summarized the "Assessment and Performance Evaluation Law" and even incorporated some experiences from the later Qing Dynasty.

Officials are divided into three categories: "competent, average, and incompetent," and their grades are determined by four criteria: "moral integrity, ability, political achievements, and seniority." They are also convicted of crimes based on eight criteria: "greed, cruelty, impetuosity, inadequacy, old age, illness, weakness, and negligence."

The most anxious about this law are not the corrupt officials, but the many lazy people who occupy positions without doing anything.

Zhang Cong had long disliked them, but having already purged the officials in the capital, he couldn't easily take action against these officials again. Now that the Performance Evaluation Law had been introduced, he was truly full of praise.

This was also the main reason why he was willing to recommend Yan Song as the Grand Secretary.

Another reason was that Zhang Cong knew he couldn't hold on for long.

By retiring gracefully and making way for Yan Song, he could also secure a better position for the officials around him who were involved in the Grand Rites Controversy.

A new emperor brings a new court, and the same applies to the changing of the chief minister.

Previously, when he stepped down, Huo Tao and others were also sidelined. Now, Yan Song, out of consideration for the monks, will at least not be too harsh on his confidants.

Yan Song indeed understood this meaning, and at this moment he said solemnly, "I will do my best to protect the laws and regulations created by Lord Zhang. Now that I have been recommended, please accept my bow!"

Having said that, he solemnly bowed down, bowing deeply to the very end.

Zhang Cong looked at it.

Didn't stop it.

This bow is a pledge to pass on the torch.

This bow is the true meaning of this farewell.

He can finally return home in peace.

Haiyue and Yan Shifan stood not far away and also witnessed this rare scene.

Hey! Hehehe!

Yan Shifan's lips curled up; thankfully, he had received professional training and managed to suppress his laughter.

His father is the Grand Secretary!
Four years ago, this would have been unthinkable!

At that time, Yan Song, although he became the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was excluded from the core of power. In order to curry favor with the new elites of the Great Rites Controversy, he was made to follow behind Gui Zai, the son of Gui E. Little did he expect that he would have such a glorious future.

'Passing on the torch...'

'good! ’

Haiyue's expression was calm, unlike the former's suppressed smile, but she was equally happy inside.

Even his arrival in later generations could not change the failure of the Jiajing New Deal.

Neither the land survey nor the Single Whip Law can be implemented at this stage.

However, his arrival ensured that Zhang Cong's reforms did not end with his death, but rather provided him with a successor.

Xia Yan, who was originally slated to succeed Zhang Cong as Grand Secretary, was unable to continue Zhang Cong's policies due to their differing political stances.

It has nothing to do with whether Xia Yan is willing or not; she simply cannot inherit it.

Xia Yan's character far surpasses that of the unscrupulous Yan Song, and his governing ability is also quite good. However, his logic for rising to power is no different from Yan Song's; he simply relies on flattering the emperor.

He first rose to prominence through the Heaven and Earth Sacrifice, and later gradually flattered the emperor, even writing prayers to praise the Jiajing Emperor's Taoist practices, thus becoming the first "Prayer Prime Minister." Such a person only needed the emperor's approval to become Grand Secretary.

But reforms and new policies are impossible to implement.

His ministers would not submit to him, and he would be unable to gather a group of reform leaders around him.

Yan Song was truly different.

During the reign of Emperor Wuzong, he fought against the eunuchs. In the reign of Emperor Jiajing, he first served as the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, with students all over the country. Later, he persuaded the emperor to pardon those convicted in the Li Fuda case. Then, under the pressure of Zhang Cong, he gradually rose to the position of Second Grand Secretary.

What Xia Yan couldn't do, Yan Song, the current leader of the Qingliu faction, could.

'I really didn't expect this...'

'The one now reforming the Ming Dynasty is none other than Yan Song!'

When Haiyue was in Qiongshan, she was extremely resistant to becoming Yan Song's student.

However, this indirectly led to Yan Song becoming the Grand Secretary and succeeding Zhang Cong in his reformist ambitions.

It's really unpredictable.

As the sun rose higher, the driver finally urged them on softly.

The two prime ministers, one old and one new, bid each other a reluctant farewell. Before getting into the car, Zhang Cong glanced at Hai Yue one last time, a look of satisfaction in his eyes, and then slipped into the carriage.

The horse-drawn carriage creaked and rolled away over the frozen ground, and snowflakes began to fall again.

Yan Song stood there until the blue cloth carriage curtain completely disappeared into the snow and mist.

"call!"

Not to mention Haiyue and Yan Shifan were filled with countless thoughts, he also felt as if he were in a dream.

Even after His Majesty agreed to Zhang Cong's request to retire, he was not completely at ease. It was only when he personally saw Zhang Cong off and watched him leave the capital that he finally felt at ease.

Raise your hand to catch a falling snowflake, and watch it melt into watermarks in your palm—just like the changing of dynasties, where old snow eventually melts away and new snow begins to fall.

"Let's go!"

Yan Song slowly clenched his five fingers, pinched the snowflake in his palm, and turned to the two of them.

Haiyue nodded slightly and came up to help him, just as usual.

Yan Shifan was still grinning foolishly.

She couldn't even suppress her smile anymore.

"This kid..."

Upon seeing this, Yan Song's initial elation subsided considerably.

Everything is good now, except for my son who is a disappointment.

It's not that he was completely unworthy; after all, he passed the imperial examination and became a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examination).

In light of this, Yan Song said, "The imperial examination is approaching, so don't wander around outside. Stay home and prepare for the exam!"

Yan Shifan's smile vanished instantly.

time flies.

It is now February of the thirteenth year of the Jiajing reign.

This year is also the year of the imperial examination.

Autumn is the season for the provincial examinations.

Of course, as a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination), Yan Shifan did not need to participate in the Shuntian Prefecture provincial examination. He could directly participate in the Ministry of Rites' metropolitan examination and strive to pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination).

However, the preparation time is the same. Now that Yan Song is the Grand Secretary, he certainly doesn't expect Yan Shifan to become a top scholar like Yang Shen, but he can at least get into the top three!
That way, the Yan family's power could continue smoothly, and even his political legacy as the Grand Secretary and leader of the Qingliu faction could be inherited by his son.

Yan Shifan was also aware of this.

The best way to inherit his father's official resources as the chief minister is to pass the imperial examinations himself. That way, he can enter officialdom quickly and rise rapidly without anyone finding fault with him.

But the imperial examination for the highest degree is really difficult!

Especially in the last two years, he has become somewhat lax.

I wouldn't say I was always reading, but I basically didn't read any books.

During his southern tour, did he secretly carry a book with him?

That's absolutely impossible!

But Yan Shifan was also somewhat unwilling to give up.

If I were just a student of the Imperial Academy, it would be fine to be appointed to an official position through hereditary privilege. But I am already a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination). Is it not too worthwhile to rely on my father, the Grand Secretary, to get an official position?
Yan Song frowned, while Hai Yue suggested, "We can let Dong Lou return to the Imperial Academy to study. We can't lose the tradition of the Yixin Association helping each other to get into school."

This is the truth.

The Imperial College was the foundation of the Yixin Society and also a talent pool.

The positive atmosphere of mutual assistance in the imperial examination system should be maintained.

"it is good!"

Yan Song's eyes flickered: "Mingwei is absolutely right. Go back to the Imperial Academy and study hard with your classmates for the imperial examinations, understand?"

"My child obeys!"

Yan Shifan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly agreed. He then found a moment to whisper, "Mingwei, among the younger generation at the Imperial Academy, have you taken a liking to any of them?"

He felt that this person had a particularly good eye for talent; otherwise, the success rate of the Yixin Association in obtaining the imperial examinations would not have been so high.

Haiyue smiled and said, "I do have a recommendation: Donglou can prepare for the exam with him."

"Who?"

“A scholar from Huizhou Prefecture named Hu Zongxian.”

(End of this chapter)