Prime Minister

Chapter 96, 095 [Master and Disciple Get Along Well]

March 29th, Shen residence.

Inside the study, Xue Huai stood in front of the bookshelf, flipping through the titles with great interest.

The Xue family's collection of books was very rich, all of which were classics collected by Xue Mingzhang during his lifetime, including some rare copies. However, it was still much inferior to Shen Wang's collection.

In his previous life, Xue Huai was very interested in history and literature, which was a rare opportunity for relaxation and leisure amidst his busy official career. After coming to this world, he was entangled in many matters, and he used his limited free time to cram history books. Only after the imperial examinations were over could he spare some energy for them.

"Reading is fine, borrowing books is also fine, but you can't take them to Jiangnan."

Shen Wang sat in the armchair, looking at Xue Huai with a gentle smile.

Now his appreciation for his disciple Xue Huai is evident. After all, to be able to escape unscathed in the complex environment of the Imperial Examination Hall, facing a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and a Vice Minister of Rites, and to achieve his goal without breaking ties with various forces, is something that even seasoned officials might not be able to do, let alone a newcomer to officialdom.

"The teacher clearly couldn't bear to part with these rare books, even though he knew I would be going to Jiangnan soon and wouldn't be able to see them then."

Xue Huai put down his book, smiled, and sat down opposite Shen Wang.

Shen Wang did not refute, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then asked, "Were you mentally prepared for this trip to Jiangnan?"

As the saying goes, "listen to the underlying meaning," Xue Huai keenly sensed that his teacher had something in mind, and couldn't help but ask cautiously, "Teacher, is it because things are not peaceful in Jiangnan?"

Whether things are peaceful or not depends on your perspective.

Shen Wang put down his teacup and said calmly, "If you say that bandits are rampant and people are suffering, it certainly won't come to this extent. But if you think that Jiangnan is a prosperous and peaceful land of fish and rice, where everyone lives in peace and the people don't pick up lost items on the road, that is obviously wrong."

Xue Huai nodded slightly.

"You might think that what you've experienced in the capital over the past six months has been extremely dangerous. Once you leave the capital, you'll have a vast and open world to explore. After spending a few years in Jiangnan and achieving some political success, the people you offended in the capital will have lost their dissatisfaction with you. At that time, you can return to the central government in glory."

Shen Wang's words didn't sound very pleasant, but there was no sarcasm on his face. He simply asked calmly, "Do you really think it will go that smoothly?"

Of course, it won't be that smooth.

Xue Huai was fully aware of this, but he did not argue, only humbly saying, "Please enlighten me, teacher."

"It's just some superficial experience."

Shen Wang smiled and said, "In previous years, some outstanding young officials were also sent to other places outside the capital. Very few were able to return to the capital. This is because the constraints in the local areas are no less than those in the central government. To put it bluntly, it's easier to see the King of Hell than to deal with his underlings."

Xue Huai couldn't help but smile knowingly.

On the one hand, it was because Shen Wang was always simple and upright and rarely used such joking remarks; on the other hand, it was because he empathized with Shen Wang's views.

This inevitably brings to mind his past life.

After graduating from university, he took the civil service exam and was selected. Initially, he went directly to the grassroots level. Those years made him fully aware of the complexity of human nature and the difficulty of doing things. Often, even a very small matter required him to talk himself hoarse and spend a lot of effort to get it done.

Of course, it was also because of the valuable experience he gained during this period that he matured at a very fast pace, shedding the immaturity and naivety of his student days.

"Could the teacher explain in more detail?"

Xue Huai earnestly inquired, explaining that although he had extensive grassroots work experience in his previous life, the two worlds were very different, and simply copying one might not be feasible; adjustments had to be made according to the actual situation.

Shen Wang naturally shared all his knowledge with him, speaking as plainly as possible: "No matter what difficulties you encounter in the capital, there's always one major premise: everyone will act within the rules. In the Ministry of Works corruption case, Xue Minglun could only use you to deal with the mastermind behind it all, rather than burning down the entire Water Conservancy Department's treasury. In Zhanxue Pavilion, Qin Zhang could only use the courtesan's name to mock you, but he wouldn't dare to knock you down with two punches right away. Inside the Examination Hall, Grand Secretary Sun and Yue Zhongming were skillfully restrained by you; don't they want to join forces to deal with you, this troublesome individual, first?"

Xue Huai said thoughtfully, "Because His Majesty is watching."

"The logic is that simple. The capital is the most important place under the emperor's nose. Regardless of whether the last four words are true or not, most people will consider the emperor's feelings before doing anything. This gives you enough room to maneuver."

Shen Wang's gaze sharpened slightly, and his tone became serious: "However, there has always been an implicit saying in official circles that the emperor's majesty will inevitably weaken as the distance increases. The current emperor is well-versed in the art of political maneuvering, and he can command the six ministries of the cabinet. Even so, his deterrent power can only be maintained in the capital region at most. In history, some emperors' decrees could not even leave the capital."

His statement made things clearer and brighter in Xue Huai's mind.

Shen Wang continued, “Now let’s talk about Jiangnan. According to historical records, Jiangnan has been prosperous for hundreds of years, and local power is deeply entrenched. The capital is thousands of miles away from Jiangnan, which means that the court’s control over Jiangnan is not strong enough. There are three reasons for this.” “First, according to reports from the Ministry of Revenue in recent years, Jiangnan’s taxes account for nearly 40% of the total taxes of the Great Yan, making it the lifeblood of the court. This alone determines that the court’s attitude towards Jiangnan cannot be too tough, and it must be benevolent and lenient when necessary.”

"Secondly, the Jiangnan region was a flourishing center of culture and learning, with far more people passing the imperial examinations than those in the north. Even though the court had a policy of separating the examinations for the north and south, it could not change the fact that most of the high-ranking officials in the court were from Jiangnan. The gentry of Jiangnan formed a deep-rooted network of connections through blood ties, marriage, and teacher-student relationships, and the so-called Ning Party originated from this."

"Thirdly, and most importantly, under the combined influence of the first two reasons, the people of Jiangnan may not necessarily be on the side of the court. Although they have not yet reached the point of being disloyal, there is always a fundamental contradiction: the court has seized control of Jiangnan, the money bag, through military force, but it cannot control the people's hearts and minds."

After listening to his mentor's insightful yet simple analysis, Xue Huai fell into deep thought.

Judging from the timeline, the era he is currently in is roughly equivalent to the early to mid-Ming Dynasty of his previous life, which is around 1400 AD.

The Great Yan Kingdom has been established for 120 years. External threats are not great, and internal hidden dangers have not yet reached the point of concentrated outbreak. However, there are already many signs. For example, corruption in the official system is already very serious, and land annexation is gradually entering its peak period. Even the Grand Secretary Ning Hengzhi, who is praised and worshipped by many people, has more than 100,000 mu of fertile land in his hometown of Hangzhou Prefecture.

Shen Wang scrutinized Xue Huai's face and slowly said, "For most officials, going to Jiangnan is certainly not a difficult task. As long as they can maintain good relations with local officials, gentry, and elders, and are willing to compromise when necessary, they can always achieve good political results. This is an unspoken understanding in Jiangnan's officialdom. They won't deliberately make things difficult for officials in the capital unless you threaten their fundamental interests. But this only applies to ordinary officials; you are different."

Xue Huai calmly replied, "Because of the Ning Party."

"Yes."

Shen Wang said solemnly, "Before the imperial examination, in Prime Minister Ning's eyes you were just a junior with some courage. Even though you helped me bring down Xue Minglun and caused the Prince of Dai to be confined for half a year, Prime Minister Ning would not think much of you. But after the imperial examination, based on my understanding of Prime Minister Ning, he has most likely listed you as one of the potential threats."

Xue Huai hesitated and asked, "Teacher, is that really so?"

"This brings us to His Majesty."

Shen Wang paused for a moment, then sighed softly, "His Majesty's tacit approval of your frequent contact with Princess Yun'an is itself a signal to the court. I can see it clearly, and of course, Chief Minister Ning can see it too."

This sentence is a bit convoluted. Xue Huai thought about it carefully and then suddenly realized, "Your Majesty wants to give teachers an important position!"

He couldn't help but recall what he had seen and heard in the Wende Hall that day. Perhaps at first the emperor was still hesitant about whether to push forward Shen Wang's path to the cabinet, but Ouyang Hui's old and frail performance disappointed the emperor. He had to create a new rival for Ning Hengzhi.

"It won't be that fast, it will take at least two or three years. For His Majesty, the stability of the cabinet is above all else, otherwise it would be difficult for him to live such a relaxed and leisurely life."

Shen Wang made no attempt to hide anything from Xue Huai, demonstrating the high level of trust he placed in this disciple.

Xue Huai's thoughts gradually expanded, and he said softly, "So His Majesty's permission for me to leave the capital and be sent to a post outside the capital is actually to train me so that I can provide assistance to my teacher as soon as possible. The situation in Jiangnan is already complicated, and the local forces will certainly not welcome a troublesome official like me. In addition, it is the stronghold of the Ning Party, so there will inevitably be various obstacles."

Shen Wang calmly said, "Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. Yangzhou is certainly a good place for you, but you must not underestimate the difficulty of this mission."

"Disciple understands."

After pondering for a moment, Xue Huai tentatively asked, "Teacher, after I go to Jiangnan, should I try to be as insincere as possible? After all, I will have to deal with so many local bullies, and I can't get bogged down in the quagmire of intrigue."

"Do not."

Shen Wang shook his head firmly and said seriously, "On the contrary, you must face difficulties and overcome obstacles just like you did in the capital. You are different from others; the Emperor's favor is your greatest asset. Only if you make a loud enough noise in Jiangnan will His Majesty be satisfied with you. Of course, this does not mean that you should act recklessly, but rather that you should plan carefully before acting, and once you make up your mind, you must never waver. His Majesty sent you to Jiangnan not to expect you to make world-shaking achievements, but to see if you can maintain your original intentions in that bustling world."

Xue Huai suddenly understood.

He stood up and bowed to Shen Wang.

Shen Wang smiled at him and accepted it calmly.

Xue Huai straightened up, looked at his master's gaunt face, and said earnestly, "Master, I may be gone for three to five years. You must take good care of yourself during this time, especially..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shen Wang stood up and came to him, gently patting his shoulder and saying softly, "Take care of yourself. Your teacher is waiting for your triumphant return."

"is teacher."

Although Xue Huai was reluctant to leave, he ultimately said nothing more, bowed again, and took his leave.

Shen Wang stood under the corridor, watching Xue Huai's departing figure, and said softly, "Even the tip of a blade of grass can stir up clouds and smoke. I hope you will be careful."

(End of this chapter)