Top Scholar

Chapter 479 Applying What You've Learned (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

The sun was setting, and night was approaching.

Su Lu originally intended to stop here for today and leave a loose end for tomorrow, but Zhu Shou was already engrossed and insisted that he finish the story in one go.

He had no choice but to take a sip of water and continue:
"The monarch must be most wary of any minister becoming too powerful, whether he is a civil official, eunuch, or military general."

"Even within these three parties, there should not be a single voice, because once people's hearts are united, they are prone to advance and retreat together, making them difficult to control and even threatening the imperial power."

"..." Zhu Shou listened with wide eyes, feeling that there would never be another person in the world who would be so open and honest with him.

"Therefore, the monarch needs to ensure that the three forces are in a state of balance and check each other. Once the balance is lost, there will be no restraint; the monarch also needs to prevent the three forces from fighting too fiercely and turning into factional strife that harms the country, which would be a loss."

"Well..." Zhu Shou said, embarrassed, "It sounds like it won't be easy to get started."

"Indeed, this is precisely the most difficult aspect of the art of governing officials, and also its brilliance," Su Lu said with a faint smile.

"But as long as the first three steps are taken solidly, one will be qualified to play this game. The emperor does not need to play such a sophisticated game right now. He only needs to remember the ironclad rule of 'preventing one power from becoming too dominant.' If he sees a weaker power, he should secretly lend a helping hand to balance the scales first; if a power goes too far in its struggle, he should give it a good scolding and make it behave itself."

“That’s easier,” Zhu Shou commented. “But it’s always awkward to wait until problems arise before making adjustments.”

“Of course.” Su Lu nodded and said, “If a monarch wants to achieve great things, he himself must also constantly improve and strive to master these ‘Four Arts of Governing Ministers’ as soon as possible.”

"And what happens after the technique is completed?" Zhu Shou couldn't help but ask, then said somewhat guiltily, "I know it's too early to ask these questions now. Just give me a brief overview so I have some idea."

“Alright.” Su Lu nodded and continued, “Once you have mastered the art of controlling your ministers, you can firmly control the court. Then, you can undertake two major tasks: first, rebuild the blood tax system; second, rebuild the fiscal and tax system—at that time, with a well-trained army and sufficient provisions, the emperor will have real power!”

"And then what happens after you gain power?" Zhu Shou pressed on.

“When you have the power, you can use tactics with half the effort and achieve twice the result.” Su Lu replied loudly, “When the tactics are mastered and the power is established, you can proceed to the final step—reform!”

"The law is a public instrument. Only through reform can the Ming Dynasty be reborn; without reform, it will only decline amidst its accumulated problems. But now, Your Majesty has not yet won over the civil and military officials, and the people are restless and agitated." Having said this, he solemnly admonished Zhu Shou:
"If we rashly implement reforms now, even if the approach is correct, it will be nothing more than a piece of paper, ultimately resulting in a mess. Only when His Majesty has mastered the art and gained sufficient power, truly becoming a great ruler, will his words carry on the law. At that time, he can establish laws that will last for eternity and continue the foundation for ten thousand generations according to his own will!"

Zhu Shou suddenly understood and slapped his thigh in admiration, saying, "Brother, you are truly a genius! I used to think that being an emperor was just about eating, drinking, having fun, and issuing orders. Now I finally understand what an emperor should do and how to do it. I'm no longer completely clueless!"

Upon hearing this, Su Lu smiled faintly, looking around with self-satisfaction, and said, "If I didn't have some real talent and learning, how could I have passed the imperial examination and become the top scholar in the world?"

Normally, Zhu Shou would have ridiculed Su Lu, but now he only felt that Su Lu was stating a fact, and after holding back for a while, he said:
"You rock!"

~~
Zhu Houzhao treated Su Lu to a 'thank-you banquet', and it was already midnight when they returned to the Leopard Chamber.

He was still excited, his eyes shining, and he patted Zhang Yong's head, saying, "Second brother, where did you find such a great treasure for me?"

"Hehe..." Zhang Yong chuckled as he washed the young emperor's feet, "It wasn't this old servant who found them, but rather their family that contacted this old servant's door, which is equivalent to them contacting the master's door directly."

"Haha, then I'm just lucky!" Zhu Houzhao was so happy that he danced around, splashing Zhang Yong's face with foot-washing water.

"At first, I thought he was just an interesting person with a compatible temperament, but later I discovered that he was learned and knowledgeable, and knew everything. In the blink of an eye, he became the top scholar in the imperial examination. Only today did I realize that he was also a strategist! I finally understand how happy Emperor Gaozu of Han was when he got Zhang Liang, and Fu Jian got Wang Meng!"

Zhang Yong was dumbfounded. Although he was not very educated, he knew who those two people were.

While it's possible the Emperor hasn't had many good meals, at least for now, Su Lu's status in the Emperor's heart is practically off the charts...

He didn't even wipe the water droplets from his face, and said with a smile, "Speaking of which, Su Huiyuan seems to have been born on the same day, month, and year as the Emperor. Perhaps he was a companion sent to the Emperor by the late Emperor."

"Really? What a coincidence!" Zhu Houzhao was excited upon hearing this.

“My master goes to see him every day, so of course this old servant has to investigate him thoroughly.” Zhang Yong then said, “His personal confession from the Ministry of Rites states that it was the 24th day of the ninth month of the fourth year of the Hongzhi reign.”

"Haha, I knew it! Why did we hit it off so well? Turns out we were born on the same day!" Zhu Houzhao said, then remembered another coincidence: "Oh right, his courtesy name is Hongzhi, which sounds the same as my father's reign title!"

Now he was even more certain and said, "It seems there's something interesting to be found here!"

“Possibly.” Zhang Yong picked up a warm foot towel and dried the emperor’s feet.

~~
A few days later, the weather became warmer.

Eunuch Liu also took off his heavy overcoat and put on a blue Songjiang palace robe for spring. He sat shakily in the sedan chair carried by four men, deep in thought with a serious expression.

The sedan chair exited through the Xihua Gate and went straight into the Leopard House, which was just across the street.

"Godfather." Li Bin, the deputy steward of the Leopard House, hurriedly came forward, lifted the sedan curtain, and greeted him affectionately.

"Hmm." Liu Jin finally came to his senses and immediately lowered his voice to ask, "What is Your Majesty doing?"

Li Bin grinned and gestured towards the back of the hall, "His Majesty is having a cockfight. That golden-crowned general you presented the other day has completely captivated His Majesty." "That's right," Liu Jin said smugly, "Do you know how much effort I put in?"

"Where is Zhang Yong?" he asked again.

“Eunuch Zhang has gone to inspect the Shenji Camp,” Li Bin replied.

"Alright." As Liu Jin spoke, he got out of the sedan chair, changed his expression to that of a kind and honest man, and followed the mournful crowing of the rooster.

In the cockfighting arena, two roosters with golden feathers and iron claws stood facing each other, their neck feathers bristling and their eyes glaring angrily, flapping their wings and locked in a fierce battle. With each claw strike and beak fall, colorful feathers fluttered and fell.

Zhu Houzhao and a group of eunuchs stood around the circle watching the battle. He leaned forward, craning his neck, and excitedly shouted, "Catch the wing! Yes, catch its left wing!"

"Hold on! Lower your claws! Don't expose your rear!"

As the golden-crowned general suddenly flapped its wings and leaped up, its sharp beak slamming into the top of its opponent's crown, Zhu Houzhao jumped up instantly, excitedly pumping his fist and shouting, "Beautiful! General, keep up the good work and peck it down for me!"

Seeing the emperor so engrossed in watching the cockfighting that he couldn't tear himself away, Liu Jin knew he couldn't miss his chance. He bowed and walked to the emperor's side, softly calling out:
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

"What is it?" Zhu Houzhao glanced at him quickly before turning his attention back to the intense cockfighting.

"There are several important matters that the cabinet is urging us to respond to. This old servant dares not act on my own initiative and must consult His Majesty," Liu Jin said, forcing himself to speak.

Based on his past experience, the emperor would usually scold him at this point, saying things like, "What are you good for?" or "Do what you want! Don't bother me..." and he would have no choice but to "reluctantly" make the decision himself.

But the emperor was probably too engrossed in watching the cockfighting today, and the usual dialogue wasn't triggered.

Fortunately, Liu Jin had a plan. He then rambled on about five or six things, trying to wear down the emperor's patience...

The emperor remained silent, only shouting at the fighting cocks.

Left with no other option, Eunuch Liu had to reveal his two long-planned matters: first, he requested an imperial decree appointing the garrison eunuchs of various regions to concurrently hold the responsibilities of provincial governors, overseeing all criminal and civil affairs in their respective provinces; second, he requested the establishment of the Inner Bureau, specifically to supervise officials both inside and outside the capital, as well as the affairs of the imperial guards.

After saying this, Eunuch Liu regretted it somewhat; today didn't seem like a good day to request an imperial decree. But there's no going back, so Liu Jin could only bow his head and await the emperor's decision.

But after waiting for a long time, until the cockfight ended and the Golden Crown General was defeated, the emperor didn't even pay him any attention.

Of course, he didn't say, "What do I need you for?"

Watching the defeated rooster dejectedly enter the henhouse, Zhu Houzhao sighed:

"Look at this, Da Ban's chicken looks good but is useless."

"..." Liu Jin thought to himself, "I'm not good-looking either," and said awkwardly, "Let's just fry this chicken for the Emperor. I'll find an even better one later."

"Alright, I'll be waiting." Zhu Houzhao entered the palace listlessly.

"Your Majesty, regarding what this old servant just reported..." Liu Jin had no choice but to follow up, and braced himself to explain, "The Cabinet is still waiting for news."

Zhu Houzhao suddenly turned his head, looking at him with a half-smile: "Is the Grand Eunuch waiting for me to say, 'What am I supposed to do with you?'"

He deliberately dragged out his words, and finally said in a low voice, "I refuse to tell you."

Liu Jin immediately broke out in a cold sweat, his mind racing with resentment—it must have been that scoundrel Zhang Yong who gossiped to the Emperor and revealed our tried-and-true trick!

He dared not hesitate for a moment, and knelt down with a thud, kowtowing vigorously, saying, "This old servant has no selfish motives! This old servant has absolutely no selfish motives; it is all for the sake of His Majesty's stability of the empire!"

Seeing his terrified appearance, Zhu Houzhao finally softened his tone and spoke with unprecedented sharpness:

"The garrison eunuchs are all like you, uneducated brutes. You actually want them to be governors, in charge of the military and political affairs of a province? Did you come up with such an absurd idea with your ass?"

As he spoke, he kicked Liu Jin in the butt.

Liu Jin nearly fell to the ground, and hurriedly retorted, "Your Majesty, although they may not be very learned, they are loyal to you!"

At this point, he wasn't arguing anymore, but rather trying to justify himself...

Upon hearing this, Zhu Houzhao's expression softened slightly, and he snorted:

"Loyalty is important, but loyalty alone is not enough to be the governor of a province! Do you understand that? Let them be provincial governors? In less than three months, the people of the world will be cursing my ancestors' tablets to pieces!"

P.S. The next chapter will be available tomorrow morning. Please vote with your monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)