Di Ming

Chapter 297 The Imperial Envoy with Plenipotentiary Powers to Japan!

South of Nanhai Lake, north of the Yongding River, lies Yufa Post Station.

Yufa Post Station was one of the three major post stations south of Beijing. It was not only a post station on the official road, but also a military fortress with beacon towers.

At this time, more than 20 miles away in Beijing, the sound of bells and drums drifted through the night, indicating that it was already past midnight.

Because the city gates close at the first watch of the night, many travelers entering the capital could only rest temporarily at Yufa Post Station and wait to enter the city the next day.

Tonight is the fifteenth of the lunar month, and a bright moon shines over the mountains and rivers. The frost is as white as the moon, and the moonlight is as white as the frost.

On the highest beacon tower of Yufa Post Station, silhouettes lingered in the moonlight, and a voice, neither male nor female, spoke:
"I've already said no lamps allowed. On the fifteenth of September, with the bright moon shining, wouldn't lighting lamps spoil the whole scene?"

The voice sounded gentle at first glance, but its tone carried an unyielding authority that made it difficult to disobey.

However, a round, warm lamp was still lit beside the beacon tower, like a bright moon slowly rising, as a lantern bearer climbed the steps.

Someone on the stage said, "Grandma, the one who lit the lamp is not one of our people, but another guest."

The voice, which had been indistinguishable between male and female, said "Oh," and then said, "Those who are not our people are not allowed to light any lamps. Tell them to put them out."

The word "order" is spoken both lightly and domineeringly.

"Understood!" Someone immediately obeyed.

Immediately, a burly man in a blue robe and turban, with an embroidered spring knife at his waist, approached the lantern bearer who had just climbed onto the beacon tower.

Only then did the burly man realize that the lantern bearer who had come up on stage was actually a beautiful young woman in a red dress and green sleeves.

Behind her was an old man. Behind the old man were four burly guards with swords following closely behind.

It seems that the other party is no ordinary person either.

The old man, in particular, possessed an extraordinary presence. Under the lamplight and moonlight, he appeared refined and noble, dressed in luxurious attire, with a dazzling piece of exquisite white jade at his waist. The majesty between his brows was no less than that of his own wife.

The burly man had originally come to order the lights to be extinguished, but upon seeing the old man's demeanor, his overbearing arrogance subsided considerably, and he smiled with a hint of negotiation in his voice:

"Sir, tonight is the fifteenth of the lunar month, and the moon is bright and clear. Lighting the lamps is somewhat superfluous and would only dilute the beautiful moonlight. Wouldn't that be a pity? Would you please turn off the lamps and enjoy the moon from the platform?"

The burly man felt that he had been far too polite, and was even a little self-satisfied.

His master was the newly reinstated Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, the Prime Minister of the Inner Court, and concurrently the Director of the Eastern Depot, a position that could rival the Cabinet!

For a bodyguard to speak so politely is truly an honor.

To everyone's surprise, the old man rolled his eyes and sneered disdainfully:

"When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out; to extinguish a lamp is like killing someone. How can one extinguish a lamp? I've seen all the lives of ordinary people and know that the bright moon is not bright enough. So why should I care about the bright moon tonight? It's truly inexplicable."

"You..." The burly man in blue was choked as if someone had suddenly stuffed a handful of brine into his mouth. He hadn't expected that this old man would not only be ungrateful and speak in such strange and unusual ways, but would also turn around and say that he was being unreasonable!
When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out—does that mean extinguishing a lamp is like killing someone? Having witnessed the lives of countless people, is the bright moon still dim?
What the hell does this have to do with anything?

After saying this, the dignified old man stepped onto the last step.

The old man looked up and saw dozens of people on the beacon tower, all impeccably dressed and with arrogant expressions. These people surrounded a white-faced, beardless man in fine clothes, who was nearly fifty years old, like stars surrounding the moon.

With the help of the bright moon and lamplight, the old man saw that the richly dressed man looked vaguely familiar, and suddenly remembered someone.

It was him!

Zhang Jing!

The white-faced, beardless nobleman opposite him, seeing that the old man could see him clearly, blinked in surprise.

It was him!

Xu Wei!

Upon seeing each other, the two couldn't help but exclaim "Eh!"

"Hahaha!" Zhang Jing couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Who do we have here? It's Mr. Wenchang! We haven't seen each other for eighteen years. I thought he had passed away. But he is as handsome as ever."

Zhang Jing had a very good memory. He clearly remembered that he and Xu Wei parted on the Double Ninth Festival in the second year of the Wanli reign, at Li Chengliang's residence in Guangning City, Liaodong.

At that time, he was the Imperial Commissioner for Procurement, Horse Market, and Inspector Eunuch in Liaodong, and was very familiar with Li Chengliang, being a frequent visitor to the General's residence. Xu Wei, on the other hand, was Li Chengliang's advisor and also the military strategy teacher of the Li Rusong brothers.

The two often socialized at the General's Mansion and were considered old friends. The last time they met on the Double Ninth Festival, they ate crabs and drank yellow wine together.

"So it's Brother Haiqing!" Xu Wei seemed quite pleased as well. "It's been so many years since we last met. I never expected to run into you here."

He had known Zhang Jing for several years and knew that Zhang Jing was a ruthless and vicious eunuch. Although they were acquaintances, Zhang Jing was not his old friend, but only an old acquaintance.

He couldn't say he particularly disliked Zhang Jing. This man was far from a gentleman, but he was very loyal and always repaid kindness. Although ruthless, he wasn't hypocritical or pretentious.

He had only recently heard that the emperor had dismissed Tian Yi, banished him from the capital, and reinstated Zhang Jing, who had been dismissed for several years, as the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

What a coincidence, we met today at Yufa Post Station.

Zhang Jing laughed and said, "I am very happy to see Mr. Wenchang today. Men, quickly prepare wine! I want to drink with Mr. Wenchang under the moonlight tonight!"

Zhang Jing's reinstatement this time, with an imperial decree to enter the capital and take charge of the Directorate of Ceremonial, was truly a triumphant moment. Seeing his old friend Xu Wenchang at this moment naturally put him in a very good mood.

Xu Wei did not refuse, "Very well. We haven't seen each other for many years, so we should have a few drinks."

After saying this, he said to the woman holding the lantern, "Since Lord Zhang is not pleased, then put out the lantern."

Xu Wei served as the governor of Jingzhou for several years, governing a region on Luzon Island. He had been a high-ranking official, so his mindset was naturally different from before.

Besides, he was already over seventy years old and no longer had such a strong scholarly spirit. Why would he rashly offend Zhang Jing, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial?

Zhang Jing gave Xu Wei face and said with a smile, "Since it is Mr. Wenchang's lamp, there is no need to extinguish it."

Soon, Zhang Jing's entourage had the postmaster prepare wine and food.

"Your Excellency, the wine and dishes are ready." The attendants presented the wine and dishes, saying, "Please enjoy them, Your Excellency."

Zhang Jing was a man who liked to be unconventional. He had his attendants address him as "Ao Xiang," which was the title given to him by Tong Guan. Zhang Jing greatly admired Tong Guan, a Song Dynasty elder who had been granted the title of king, and used "Ao Xiang" as an honorific title for himself.

Upon hearing this title, Xu Wei couldn't help but smile slightly, but inwardly he felt utterly disdainful.

While "Auntie" was indeed a title for Tong Guan, Tong Guan was a treacherous minister of the Song Dynasty, the leader of the Six Traitors. Moreover, "Auntie" was not a title of respect, but rather a mockery of Tong Guan by his contemporaries. Zhang Jing's use of this title showed no shame, but rather pride.

Zhang Jing, unaware of Xu Wei's unspoken criticism, waved his hand and said, "Please, Mr. Wenchang!"

Xu Wei also said, "Brother Haiqing, please!"

After the two sat down and exchanged a few pleasantries, Zhang Jing pointed to the bright moon in the sky and said in a clear voice:

"The bright moon shines, and my heart is filled with its own sorrow. His Majesty has not forgotten my loyalty, which is why I am here today. Mr. Wenchang, to be honest, I have come to the capital this time by imperial decree to take over the Directorate of Ceremonial..."

At this point, he spoke with considerable pride, as if he had finally overcome his hardships and turned his life around.

However, while Zhang Jing was pleased with himself, he also felt ashamed. He had succeeded his benefactor, Tian Yi, as Tian Yi had been dismissed by the emperor, yet Zhang Jing still felt indignant on Tian Yi's behalf.

One yard owned by a yard.

But in front of a renowned scholar like Xu Wenchang, he felt somewhat inferior, which is why he couldn't wait to show off.

"Congratulations!" Xu Wei chuckled. "So, Brother Haiqing has become the Prime Minister of the Inner Court. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner!"

He stood up, holding his glass, and offered a toast:
"Brother Haiqing has taken over as Grand Eunuch and gained the Emperor's trust. He will surely achieve great things. With Brother Haiqing's talent, he should be a pillar of the Emperor and a key figure in the inner court."

"This cup of wine is a toast to the Prime Minister!"

His words were obviously sarcastic, but he was a shrewd and experienced man who concealed them very well.

Zhang Jing raised his cup and said with a smile, "Mr. Wenchang, you are too kind. I have been favored by His Majesty and although I have been reinstated as the Grand Chancellor, I am still filled with fear and unease. Mr. Wenchang is wise and resourceful, and learned. I wonder how you can teach me? Please speak freely and guide me through my confusion."

Xu Wei did not refuse, and pointed to his wine cup, saying, "I am but a recluse in the mountains and fields, how dare I offer advice to the Chancellor? However, since the Chancellor has inquired, I do have a few words from the bottom of my heart to offer to an old friend."

"Haha!" Zhang Jing suddenly laughed. "Unexpectedly, your advanced age has made you less of a sharp and unyielding spirit, and more of a worldly and shrewd one. Anyone who didn't know better would think you had been an official."

"I am all ears to your teachings, please speak, sir!"

He wasn't joking, because he had noticed that Xu Wei had indeed changed a lot, becoming more worldly and sophisticated. Moreover, Xu Wei's demeanor was very much like that of an official.

This is quite different from Xu Wei back then.

Little did he know that Xu Wei was Zhu Yin's chief strategist, and had been in charge of the vast Jingzhou for the past few years.
Xu Wei served as the prefect of Jingzhou for several years. In Jingzhou, he promoted agriculture and sericulture, established schools, enriched the people and strengthened the army. He also divided and weakened the local people, using both soft and hard tactics, and suppressed the local people who dared to resist with an iron fist. His hands were stained with the blood of foreign tribes.

In recent years, he has suppressed at least tens of thousands of indigenous people. The last remaining staunch resistance fighters on Luzon Island were also wiped out by Xu Wei's sword.

Xu Wei deliberately divided many large tribes into several smaller ones. He appointed more than a hundred so-called native "village chiefs" on the island, dividing the natives into more than a hundred factions, each independent and governing its own way.

The Jingzhou Eight Banners, with only 50,000 Han Chinese, forcefully ruled over Luzon Island, which had over a million indigenous people, suppressing the overwhelmingly numerous natives who dared not speak out against their anger.

Through Xu Wei's various methods, the Eight Banners of Jingzhou had gained a firm foothold and began to reap wealth continuously.

In Jingzhou, Xu Wei was called "Old Butcher Xu" by the indigenous tribes who were hostile to Chinese.

Where is this once down-on-his-luck scholar? He is now a ruthless ruler who kills without hesitation. Xu Wei continued, "In my opinion, if Lord Zhang wishes to achieve something and live up to the Emperor's expectations, he should do three things."

Zhang Jing sat up straight and said seriously, "I would like to hear the details."

Xu Wei held up one finger, “The first thing is to address the Emperor’s urgent needs, strive to safeguard the foundation of the nation, and rival the outer court! The Emperor’s wishes are the foundation of Zhang Gong’s achievements!”

"What a brilliant idea to strive for the foundation of the nation and rival the outer court!" Zhang Jing exclaimed, clapping his hands in admiration. "Mr. Wenchang has truly hit the nail on the head!"

He guessed that the emperor's intention in reinstating him was not merely because he had given him money. Rather, it was because the emperor wanted to use him to "strive for the foundation of the state and rival the outer court."

Although the emperor did not say it, if he still could not guess the emperor's intentions, then he was not worthy of being the prime minister of the inner court.

Xu Wei's words further confirmed his suspicions, and he no longer had any doubts.

Xu Wei nodded and said, "Back then, Feng Bao was the prime minister of the inner court, but he colluded with the chief minister of the outer court, which led to the decline of imperial power and the control of the country by powerful ministers. Feng Bao was nominally the prime minister, but in reality he was just going along with the cabinet. In recent years, Tian Yi has been in charge of the inner court. Although he is loyal and upright, he always tries to smooth things over and plays it safe. He dares not confront the officials of the outer court head-on, which has disappointed the emperor."

"When Zhang Gong ascends to power, he must neither emulate Feng Bao nor Tian Yi. He must rely on the Emperor above and the Eastern Depot below, using swift and decisive methods to defy the disapproval of all officials, intimidate the outer court, eliminate villains, and cleanse the court!"

"In this way, the imperial kingdom can be contested, and the power of the inner court can be restored! The more the officials fear Lord Zhang, the more the emperor will value Lord Zhang! The more the officials hate Lord Zhang, the more the emperor will love Lord Zhang!"

"Excellent!" Zhang Jing exclaimed, "Sir, your words resonate deeply with me! It is better to be the emperor's henchman than a friend of the officials!"

"Indeed." Xu Wei smiled slightly and calmly drank a cup of wine.

He knew that Zhang Jing had just been reinstated and was still hesitant and uncertain about the future. His words of encouragement had scratched Zhang Jing's itch, and would inevitably make the man even more unscrupulous.

If this person could act recklessly and disrupt the court like Wang Zhen and Liu Jin, then Emperor Wanli, this incompetent ruler, would be even more unpopular, and the government would be even more corrupt.

To destroy someone, first make them go mad.

In this way, our lord will be more confident in reclaiming the Ming Dynasty in the future.

After finishing a cup of wine and taking a bite of the fermented fish, Xu Wei held up his second finger and said:

"The second thing Lord Zhang should do is to make good use of the Imperial Guards and Secret Service, sending them out in all directions to crack down on those who speak ill of the state. He must not be soft-hearted! He has the authority to enforce the law, so he must be decisive in killing!"

Zhang Jing was thrilled; this was something he wanted to do but still had reservations about.

Xu Wei then held up a third finger, “The third is silver! Without silver, if the officials collude to shirk their duties and refuse to collect taxes, the court will have to close down if it runs out of tax revenue and grain.”

"This is also a powerful tactic used by the officials to coerce the inner court. What can be done? The inner court must take the initiative to find money for the emperor. If the emperor has money, even if the officials go on strike, the country will not descend into chaos."

"In my humble opinion, Lord Zhang could secretly petition the Emperor to dispatch eunuchs to collect taxes from mines, salt fields, and other sources across the land. In this way, Lord Zhang would become the Emperor's money bag, and the amount of money entering the imperial treasury each year would be far more than a million taels."

"With this large sum of money every year, the Emperor can have more confidence to contend with his officials for the foundation of the nation. Zhang Gong's achievements and the Emperor's favor are unmatched."

"Excellent!" Zhang Jing clapped his hands again. "Mining tax! What a great idea! With silver, the officials' control will be much less effective."

But then he looked troubled and said, "Mr. Wenchang, if we really do this, won't the world be in uproar and the court and the people be filled with hatred?"

Xu Wei chuckled and said, "What's there to be afraid of? Throughout history, who has ever accomplished great things has ever cared about temporary infamy? As long as we win the battle for the foundation of the nation, Lord Zhang will have achieved unparalleled merit and be remembered in history."

Zhang Jing nodded and said, "Mr. Wenchang is truly an unparalleled national talent. It's a pity he can't enter the palace and become my advisor. What a pity!"

He desperately wanted to recruit Xu Wei as his advisor, but unfortunately Xu Wei could not enter the palace. As the Grand Chancellor, he also could not have any scholars other than eunuchs as his advisors.

Xu Wei laughed and said, "I am too old to be of any use. In recent years, I have been focusing my energy on writing books and have no desire to sit in a bookstore anymore."

"Oh?" Zhang Jing immediately became interested. "Sir, you are a genius of the Ming Dynasty. I wonder what extraordinary book you have written?"

Xu Wei said, "It is called 'The Chronicles of Xia Gods,' and it is a collection of supernatural tales. I have written a million words so far, and the first draft is complete."

When Xu Wei mentioned this book, he couldn't help but feel a little proud.

Four years. It took him a full four years to complete the first draft of "The Chronicles of Xia Shen Ji" and to integrate the extraordinary books such as "Journey to the West", "Investiture of the Gods", "Journey to the East", and "Classic of Mountains and Seas", making these books interconnected and self-consistent.

According to Zhihu, "The Chronicles of Xia" is not just a novel, but is related to the divine history of China and the cultural undertakings of the Han people.

"The Chronicles of Summer Gods?" Zhang Jing immediately became interested. "Your Majesty enjoys fantasy books. Would you be so kind as to take a look? If you could read it, it would surely be a perfect accompaniment to wine, and we could even enjoy a fine cup of wine together."

He also enjoyed fantasy novels and wanted to find a rare book for the emperor to please him.

Xu Wei, who had become more worldly-wise, smiled and said, "If Master Zhang would like to read my humble work, what an honor! I dare not ask."

He instructed the woman beside him, "Nanfang, go and fetch the first volume of 'The Chronicles of Xia Gods' and present it to Zhang Gongchui for his review."

"Yes!" The woman smiled sweetly, bowed gracefully, and left to carry out her orders.

This woman, named Nanfang, was one of the concubines Zhu Yin gave to Xu Wei. She was gentle, beautiful, and well-educated. She took care of Xu Wei's daily life, added fragrance to his sleeves, and warmed his bed at night, winning Xu Wei's heart.

A moment later, Nanfang presented Zhang Jing with a copy of "The Chronicles of Summer Gods," which he was eager to read.

When Zhang Jing opened it, he found that the protagonist's name was Zhang Jian, which sounded somewhat similar to his own.

After reading only a few pages, Zhang Jing couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"Wonderful! Wonderful! Captivating and irresistible! Truly a magnificent book! If this book were presented to the Emperor, he would surely be overjoyed!"

"Mr. Wenchang, I hope that the first volume of this book can be published immediately, and I will cover all the expenses. What do you think?"

"I would be delighted." How could Xu Wei refuse? He was eager for the emperor to help promote "The Chronicles of Xia Shen Ji". "In that case, the first volume will be published as soon as possible, which is also my wish."

Zhang Jing couldn't help but take a sip of wine. "How wonderful! I have never read such an irresistible book before. Mr. Wenchang is truly a genius!"

He was completely captivated by the story in the book, immersed in it, and couldn't put it down.

What Zhang Jing didn't know was that although "The Chronicles of Summer" was written by Xu Wei, many of the creative ideas and concepts were inspired by Zhu Yin. The writing method was also suggested by Zhu Yin, following the trend of online novels that are full of entertainment. It is extremely entertaining and its reading appeal far surpasses other novels of the same era.

Zhang Jing was engrossed in reading when someone suddenly reported, "Your Excellency, a man claiming to be Wei Zhongxian has come to pay his respects on the orders of Zhu Yin, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. This is his visiting card."

Zhang Jing then put down his novel. "That Mr. Zhihu's man? Zhu Zhihu sent someone to see me overnight. What is it about?"

He said with a playful expression, "Let him in."

Xu Wei's eyes flickered when he heard Zhu Yin's name.

Soon, Wei Zhongxian went up to the beacon tower, bowed and said, "This humble man, Wei Zhongxian, pays his respects to Prime Minister Zhang!"

Wei Zhongxian was very good at pleasing people, and he shamelessly addressed the eunuch Zhang Jing as "Prime Minister Zhang".

I really can't bring myself to call anyone else that.

Zhang Jing immediately smiled. "Get up. What brings Mr. Zhihu here?"

Wei Zhongxian presented a bronze box, saying, "I came specifically for this item, and I would like to invite Minister Zhang to take a look."

Zhang Jing opened the bronze box, and his expression changed slightly.

Isn't this his blood oath of gratitude? How did it end up in Zhu Yin's hands?

Zhang Jing immediately stood up. "Mr. Wenchang, please excuse me. Let's meet again another day."

He said to Wei Zhongxian, "Come with me!"

"Yes!" Wei Zhongxian smiled slightly and followed Zhang Jing step by step down from the beacon tower and into Zhang Jing's heavily guarded guest room.

After whispering among themselves for a while, Wei Zhongxian finally emerged from the guest room looking relaxed.

That's it.

Zhang Jing finally agreed that he wouldn't target his lord just because he supported the eldest prince. He would do his best to handle things discreetly where possible.

...

On the beacon tower, Xu Wei, drinking alone, looked up at the bright moon in the sky and murmured:

"The moon on the fifteenth is still not bright enough, not round enough. When will the moon be brighter and fuller?"

"The bright moon rises over the sea; we share this moment though we are far apart!"

……

The next day, a figure that the officials had not seen for a long time appeared at the Meridian Gate.

Zhang Jing!

At the same time, an imperial edict was issued from the palace: Zhang Jing was appointed as the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Director of the Eastern Depot!
To maintain a balance of power, the position of Director of the Eastern Depot was usually held concurrently by the Grand Eunuch. Even Feng Bao did not concurrently serve as Director of the Eastern Depot while holding the position of Grand Eunuch.

This time, however, the emperor directly appointed the chief eunuch to oversee the Eastern Depot.

This made Zhang Jing the most powerful Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial since Liu Jin!
However, after appointing Zhang Jing, a second imperial edict was issued:

"Zhu Yin, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, is hereby appointed as Imperial Envoy with full powers to Japan to conduct peace talks at the end of this month!"

PS: What changes will Zhang Jing bring? Will he become the Wei Zhongxian of the Wanli era? The little tiger is about to be sent as an envoy to Japan; what will he encounter?
(End of this chapter)