Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 99 No one knows a father better than his son?
“I am not simply reciting from the book, but I believe that impartiality and non-partisanship are the foundation of good governance.”

The clear voice of the third brother, Zhang Maoxiu, came from the study.

The saying "impartiality and impartiality, the way of the king is broad and unhindered" is explained in the "Biography of Cai": "Impartiality means unfairness. Partisanship means favoritism." This means that a ruler should be impartial and selfless, without favoritism or protection.
The world belongs to the monarch, but it also needs ministers to assist in governing it. When ministers act on behalf of the monarch, they must be impartial, selfless, and unbiased... Only when the monarch is wise and the ministers are virtuous, and neither side is biased towards any one person, can the kingly way spread throughout the world and be manifested.”

Zhang Juzheng's voice continued, "No, this is also the thinking behind the 'Biography of Cai.' You are fixated on the so-called 'impartiality,' yet you are bound by it. Everything has its own balance; how can it be summed up in a single sentence?"

Just then, there was a knock on the study door.

"Father, Yunxiu requests an audience."

Zhang Juzheng frowned, clearly somewhat taken aback.

In the past, Zhang Yunxiu shouldn't have kicked the door open and pointed at himself.

"Father, you're wrong, I think."

However, nothing happened at the wooden door except for that respectful request for an audience.

This change was quite unsettling for Zhang Juzheng, and he cleared his throat and said in a deep voice.

"come in."

The door was gently pushed open, and Zhang Yunxiu walked straight into the study. He was stunned when he saw the changed furnishings in the study, his nose twitched, and a strange expression flashed across his face.

He then bowed respectfully and said...

"Greetings, Father. Greetings, Third Brother."

This submissive demeanor made even Zhang Maoxiu a little uncomfortable. He turned to look at his younger brother and said with some concern.

"Shiyuan, are you feeling unwell?"

Zhang Yunxiu had a curse in his heart, but he didn't know whether he should say it or not.

But he still smiled and said it.

"Thank you for your concern, Third Brother. I'm perfectly fine. I even taught four disobedient doctors a lesson today. I always take precautions, go to bed early and get up early, and exercise regularly. This little bit of 'big head plague' can't do anything to me."

Zhang Yunxiu's level of protection surpasses that of any doctor; one could say he cherishes his life very much.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Juzheng leaned against the bedside and spoke with a dignified expression.

"You heard my conversation with Weishi just now, right? What did you think of what he said?"

For some reason, Zhang Juzheng wanted to hear his youngest son's opinion; it seemed that he felt empty inside if he didn't say something.

Zhang Yunxiu stood in the center of the study, looking respectful and dignified, exactly like a gentleman raised under Confucian education.

He bowed and, after a moment's thought, replied, "I think what Third Brother said is excellent; you truly deserve to be called the top scholar."

"Hmm?" Zhang Juzheng was somewhat disappointed. "If you have no other thoughts, then speak them. It's alright. I won't punish you even if you don't say them well."

Zhang Maoxiu saw Zhang Juzheng's yearning look and was momentarily speechless with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

The old man is used to being talked back to, so he finds it hard to accept that his younger brother is more obedient.
Zhang Yunxiu was quite helpless. Seeing that if he didn't say something, the topic seemed to be going on forever, so he could only nod and say something.

"Then may I add a word or two?"

"Tell me quickly." Zhang Juzheng's eyes lit up immediately, and he leaned forward slightly.

Zhang Yunxiu seemed somewhat conflicted, then turned to his third brother, Zhang Maoxiu, and asked.

"May I ask Third Brother a question?"

Zhang Maoxiu was taken aback, not expecting it to be coming towards him, but he still answered.

"My brother, just ask."

“Brother, you said earlier that impartiality and non-partisanship are the essence of virtuous governance. I would like to ask, what exactly is virtuous governance?” Zhang Yunxiu said after thinking for a moment. Upon hearing this question, Zhang Juzheng looked at Zhang Maoxiu with a hint of amusement. “Well asked!”

Zhang Maoxiu's expression stiffened. He felt that the other party was testing him, and naturally, he was also eager to compete. After a brief moment of thought, he immediately replied.

"What constitutes virtuous governance? I believe it must begin with the court's selection of officials. Our Great Ming Dynasty possesses the entire world; if the court employs capable people frugally and uses the people in accordance with the seasons, and if officials at all levels are honest and self-disciplined..."

“Everyone understands this principle, so why is our Great Ming still plagued by national exhaustion and chaos?” Zhang Yunxiu continued to ask.

Zhang Maoxiu's expression became increasingly serious: "The reason must lie in the extravagance of the officials and their plunder of the people! This is the reason why Father is promoting the new performance evaluation system. If this trend can be reversed and the aforementioned matters are implemented, virtuous governance will naturally be achieved."

"But I don't think so."

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and said.

Zhang Maoxiu frowned deeply: "Shiyuan has a different opinion?"

“It’s not that we have different opinions,” Zhang Yunxiu said with a smile.

"But my elder brother is wrong from the very beginning. Whether it is the 'Hong Fan' chapter of the Book of Documents or the understanding of this 'virtuous governance,' my elder brother is wrong from the very beginning. How can anything else be right?"

"You!" Zhang Maoxiu was somewhat annoyed by the retort.

Heaven have mercy, he had no conflict with his younger brother before, and could even be said to have taken good care of him. As his older brother, I have never done anything to offend you, so what are you doing?

Zhang Juzheng watched the spectacle from the sidelines, a smile unconsciously curving his lips.

Yes, yes, yes! That's exactly it! That's how we should discuss things. Isn't this much more interesting than Zhang Yunxiu going against his own wishes?
"Brother, please calm down and let me explain slowly."

Zhang Yunxiu glanced at his third brother with a hint of guilt and continued speaking.

"What you mean by cultivating virtuous governance, elder brother, is nothing more than seeking universal harmony. What is universal harmony?"

It's simply about officials being honest and upright, everyone being trustworthy and harmonious, and everyone abiding by the law. But even a saint can meet such moral standards; can we expect everyone to meet them?

Zhang Maoxiu replied, "This is precisely the purpose of the sages in educating the world; how can we throw the baby out with the bathwater?"

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and said, "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. Human governance cannot be separated from human nature. Where there are fish, there will inevitably be filth. This is human nature. We should not go against human nature, but rather follow it."

"What does 'following the trend' mean?" Zhang Maoxiu frowned deeply.

Zhang Yunxiu paced back and forth in the hall as he spoke passionately.

As Zhuangzi said: "Though the legs of a duck are short, to lengthen them would be a cause for worry; though the legs of a crane are long, to cut them would be a cause for sorrow!"

"It comes from Zhuangzi's Pianmu." That was the first thing that popped into Zhang Maoxiu's mind.

Zhang Yunxiu continued.

"We must accept the presence of dirt, but we must also make an effort to remove it regularly. We must follow the natural laws of fish and choose management methods suitable for them."

"What's the solution?"

Zhang Yunxiu spoke eloquently: "Expanding the fishpond is one way, changing to a more suitable fishpond is another, improving the fish species is yet another, and changing the fish feed is still a solution. Brother, you can see that I teach imperial physicians at Renmin Medical Hall, which is precisely this method of changing to a more suitable fishpond."

During the question-and-answer session, Zhang Maoxiu felt as if something was beginning to accumulate in his mind, but he just couldn't bring himself to express it.

He asked again, "But what does this have to do with the discussion of 'impartiality and impartiality, and the broad and unhindered way of the king'?"

"Brother, don't you understand?" Zhang Yunxiu stared into the other's eyes and raised his voice. "Water that is too clear has no fish; the way of officialdom is nothing more than blending in with the crowd!"

Be like the light! Be like the light!
What a wonderful way to blend in with the world!

Zhang Juzheng, who witnessed the whole thing, was deeply moved. His eyes were practically shining, his lips were slightly pursed, his tense body gradually relaxed, and his gaze toward his young son became increasingly tender.

Zhang Maoxiu leaned back slightly, seemingly understanding yet not quite, his brows furrowed tightly into a deep frown.
(End of this chapter)