Di Ming

Chapter 343 Serving one's ruler with the Way, if it is not possible, then stop.

Zhu Yin accompanied Ning Qingchen to eat a roasted taro, and Little Fairy Doctor's anger turned into joy.

People who get angry easily are usually easy to appease. People who seem petty are often actually quite magnanimous.

Ning Qingchen felt much better after Zhu Yin left the thatched cottage.

The little tiger is so understanding.

Overjoyed, Ning Qingchen put down her book and ordered, "Someone, I need to go to the medical school!"

She hopes to develop more useful drugs as soon as possible to help the tiger cub.

...

As expected, because Zhu Yin's investiture banquet was held in a very rushed manner, many people did not realize that the banquet was over before they even realized it, and they tried their best to keep a low profile.

Since it wasn't a holiday today, only a few dozen officials arrived on time.

In the afternoon, the officials who came to congratulate Zhu Yin took their leave one by one, and Zhu Yin then used the excuse of being drunk to close the door to guests.

But in fact, he was having a secret discussion with Xu Wei.

Not long ago, Zhu Yin received intelligence about Zhang Jing: Zhang Jing was preparing to defy public opinion and launch a "Three-Character Prison" against the entire court by fabricating charges!

Those ministers who usually advocated for primogeniture and whose words were the most vehement and whose attitudes were the clearest would be eliminated by Zhang Jing using unconventional methods!

The intelligence report states that Zhang Jing said, "If I don't leave a good name for posterity, I'll leave a bad name for eternity. A true man will live to eat from five tripods, or die to be cooked in five tripods."

This self-reflection perfectly illustrates Zhang Jing's state of mind at this moment.

"My lord, Zhang Jing is truly a scoundrel like Liu Jin!" Xu Wei said in a deep voice. "His Majesty and Consort Zheng used him as a weapon in their struggle for the throne, and he willingly became that weapon, entering the game himself!"

Zhu Yin pondered Zhang Jing's words, "A true man should not live on five tripods of food, nor should he die on five tripods of cooking," and his face darkened.

These are the words of Zhu Fu Yan from the Han Dynasty, expressing a resolute determination to live life to the fullest and die young. Who was Zhu Fu Yan?

Zhang Jing said this because he guessed that he would not have a good end, but he didn't care, as long as he had once been powerful.

This is a cruel and tyrannical eunuch.

History is changing more and more. In the original history, Zhang Jing died shortly after being dismissed. But now, he has not only been reinstated, but his power is even greater.

Zhu Yin suddenly thought of Wei Zhongxian. Instead of castrating himself to enter the palace, Wei Zhongxian became one of Zhu Yin's trusted henchmen, thus eliminating a powerful eunuch from the historical record.

But he never expected that Zhang Jing would become another Wei Zhongxian. Was it inevitable that a figure like Wei Zhongxian would emerge in the late Ming Dynasty, given the irreconcilable political contradictions?

Zhang Jing is now not only the Grand Eunuch, but also, exceptionally, the Director of the Eastern Depot, making him a powerful eunuch. If Emperor Baijin indulges him, he could very well allow the eunuch faction's power to expand rapidly ahead of schedule.

Zhu Yin said, "Zhang Jing will make his move later this month, after the Lantern Festival. We must keep our people low-key in advance and not be the first to be hit."

Xu Wei said, "The first to be affected will definitely be the Qingliu faction. Although there are Qingliu members in Lord Zhu's faction, they are not many. With the Qingliu blocking the way, our people will be much safer. However, if things escalate, then we may not be able to tell."

"My lord should go and see Grand Secretary Shen. I believe the cabinet may also take action. The cabinet's attitude is very important now. If the cabinet firmly opposes it, Zhang Jing cannot do anything too outrageous. The key is that the struggle over the succession is intensifying, and we need to know the cabinet's attitude."

Zhu Yin said, "Alright, I'll go see Master Shen tonight."

...

At dusk, Zhu Yin's carriage appeared in front of Shen Yiguan's residence in the capital.

He was a regular here; he was ushered into the mansion as soon as he got off the carriage, without needing to announce himself or present his name card. However, Zhu Yin always respected his mentor and brought generous gifts every time he visited.

Zhu Yin entered Shen Yiguan's study, where Shen Yiguan, who had just finished his shift, was practicing the Five Animal Frolics.

Zhu Yin did not disturb him, but bowed to him and then stood aside.

Only after Shen Yiguan finished performing the Five Animal Frolics once did he step forward to help his teacher wipe his sweat.

"Child Tiger, I was just thinking today that you should be here by now." Shen Yiguan sat down with a smile and pointed to the chair next to him. "Sit down and let's talk."

Shen Yiguan said somewhat abruptly, "Regarding the debate over the foundation of the nation, the cabinet is going to change course. You're here for this, aren't you? You've caught wind of it?"

Zhu Yin knew that the four Grand Secretaries were all ambiguous in their stance on the succession dispute. In contrast, none of the Grand Secretaries had clearly expressed their support for the eldest son, Zhu Changluo, compared to the officials of the Six Ministries and the Censorate.

It's very simple: those who explicitly support the eldest prince have no chance of entering the cabinet.

“Sir, I know what you are thinking.” Zhu Yin looked at Shen Yiguan quietly. “You have always been ambiguous about who should be the crown prince, which is hard to fathom.”

"Sir, you previously favored the eldest son, just like other ministers. But now, you actually prefer the third son to be the crown prince, is that right?"

As a time traveler, Zhu Yin naturally knew what role Shen Yiguan played in the struggle for the foundation of the nation.

Master Shen was a seasoned veteran in officialdom and a cunning old fox in the imperial court. People from his hometown of Ningbo all called him a "slippery bastard."

On the issue of choosing a crown prince, Grand Secretary Wang Xijue also adopted an ambiguous attitude, exchanging flirtatious glances with Lady Zheng. However, Wang Xijue and Lady Zheng were merely going through the motions to secure Wang Xijue's position as Grand Secretary; they did not genuinely support Lady Zheng.

Shen Shi is different. He's betting everything on the Zheng family to become the Grand Secretary. However, he's hiding it very well and hasn't revealed it yet.

He, along with Chen Ju and others from the Directorate of Ceremonial, Fang Congzhe and others among the civil officials, and Li Ruzhen and others among the military generals, were all opportunists in the Zheng family and were betting on Zhu Changxun.

Historically, he later sided with the Zheng family, supporting the "simultaneous enfeoffment of three princes" to delay the Zheng family's advance and pave the way for Zhu Changxun's ascension to the throne. Because of this Shen Shi, Zhu Changluo's position as crown prince almost fell through.

"Oh?" Shen Yiguan smiled slightly and stroked his beard, saying, "Young Tiger, I like your intelligence. But you're only half right."

"I do not favor any particular prince. I do not side with any of them. If you must ask me who I side with, I will naturally side with the Emperor."

"Child Tiger, does the 'Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty' explicitly state that if there is no legitimate heir, the eldest son should be chosen?"

Zhu Yin shook his head: "No."

This is the truth. No legal code, including the "Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty," explicitly stipulates that the crown prince must be "the eldest son without a legitimate heir." The so-called "eldest son without a legitimate heir" is merely an unwritten rule formed over two hundred years, yet it is regarded by officials as an unshakable "ancestral system."

Shen Yiguan said, "Since there is no explicit rule that the crown prince should be the eldest son of the legitimate wife, why can't the emperor, as the Son of Heaven, choose the prince he likes? Besides, if the empress gives birth to a son, that son will be the eldest legitimate son. Now that the eldest son has been made crown prince, are we going to depose him in the future?"

"The eldest prince is only twelve years old this year. Why are you in such a hurry to establish a crown prince? Why not wait a few years and see?"

"The Imperial Concubine is favored, and the Zheng family is powerful. Zheng Guotai was promoted to Right Vice Commander-in-Chief, Zheng Guorui took over the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zheng Guoxiang took charge of the Capital Garrison, and Zheng Guowang was ennobled as a count for his military merits. Moreover, the four Zheng brothers are not useless; they are all considered talented. Most court officials do not want to establish the third prince as the crown prince simply because they fear a repeat of the disasters caused by the maternal relatives of the Han and Tang dynasties. It is not that the third prince is truly unqualified to be the crown prince."

“Child Tiger, as your subjects, we should understand the good intentions of our sovereign. Can’t the emperor have his own selfish desires? There are some things, some words, that I cannot say outright. But you must remember, I am doing this for your sake.”

Zhu Yin understood.

Shen Shi is really cunning. Supporting the emperor is just supporting the third prince, isn't it? The emperor and the third prince are in cahoots.

More importantly, by supporting the eldest prince while he supports the third prince, he is hedging his bets and diversifying the risk.

In the end, the eldest prince won, and as the crown prince's teacher, he could protect Teacher Shen, since he valued relationships.

In the end, the third prince won, and Master Shen made the right bet, which also protected him.

In Master Shen's view, the wisest course of action was for the master and apprentice to place their bets separately. Regardless of who won, they would do their best to protect the other. If they succeeded, they could maximize their political gains. If they lost, at least they could preserve their wealth.

Therefore, Master Shen said it was also for the sake of his disciple.

He was a sophisticated egoist, a typical career politician, lacking the vision and responsibility of a statesman. No wonder he was condemned as a treacherous official when he became Grand Secretary, and his reputation remains poor in later generations.

Unlike other ministers, Shen Shi didn't care who became the crown prince; he was more concerned with his own political interests.

Shen Yiguan is the head of the Zhejiang faction in the court, and he doesn't represent just himself. If he sides with the emperor and the Zheng family, the forces supporting Zhu Changxun will greatly increase.

However, the forces supporting the eldest prince will remain the mainstream. At least for now.

Zhu Yin remained silent for a moment, then poured Shen Yiguan a cup of tea and said tacitly:

“Since you have made your choice, I will understand. However, on the issue of the foundation of the nation, I cannot support you.”

Shen Yiguan nodded and said, "On the issue of the foundation of the nation, let us, master and disciple, part ways and go our separate ways. We cannot disregard the greater good of the country and sacrifice our political views because of personal feelings between master and disciple; that would be naive."

Zhu Yin replied in perfect unison, “I am doing this for the Ming Dynasty, and you are doing it for the Ming Dynasty even more. Even if we, master and disciple, have different political views, we will ultimately achieve the same goal through different means.”

The master and disciple exchanged a knowing smile, having subtly reached a political deal.

Shen Yiguan took a sip of tea, his deep eyes conveying a profound meaning. "Zhihu, you are a natural-born official. But I am still worried about you; you are too prominent." "Now, you are the Crown Prince's main figurehead in the outer court, enjoying widespread respect at such a young age, which makes me very gratified. However, this has also made you disliked by His Majesty and a thorn in the side of the Zheng family. Your future is uncertain, and I am deeply concerned."

"You've reached a point where you're caught in a dilemma, unable to back down or advance."

Shen Yiguan paused for a moment, his expression quite worried, before continuing:

"You are a gentleman, and the virtues of a gentleman are exemplary. By grasping the essence of virtue, you have the means to protect yourself. You must never allow anyone to find fault with you."

“Young Tiger, the reason why a gentleman cherishes his life is not to protect himself, nor to live a life of ignominy, but to preserve his useful body so as to serve the country and be loyal to his sovereign.”

"Therefore, a small act of impatience can ruin a great plan. For the sake of the big picture, we must compromise, endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens, and not fight for short-term gains. Only by being able to wait, endure, tolerate, and accept defeat can we win."

"These are my reflections after I was dismissed from office by Zhang Juzheng and spent ten years in seclusion. I'm giving these words to you."

Zhu Yin cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your advice, Master. I will remember it."

Shen Yiguan stood up, straightened his Taoist robe, and performed the tiger-raising movement from the Five Animal Frolics, saying:
"There is one more thing I need to tell you first, so you can keep it in mind. Vice Minister Zhao Zhigao is about to resign. After all, someone of substance must step forward to take responsibility for the defeat in Korea."

"His Majesty will not immediately grant his resignation; there will be two rounds of discussion. But by April at the latest, Zhao Zhigao will step down and return to his hometown. His Majesty is gracious to veteran officials and will most likely bestow upon him the title of Grand Tutor."

“Young Tiger, if anyone should be held responsible, it should be Grand Secretary Wang Xijue. After all, the Grand Secretary strongly supported His Majesty's appointment of Hao Jing and Yang Shaoxun. Logically, it shouldn't be Zhao Zhigao who should be held responsible and removed from his post. Do you know why?”

Zhu Yin sighed slightly, feeling sorry for Zhao Zhigao, and said, "It's because Grand Secretary Zhao doesn't form factions and lacks a base in the court, so he's the one who has to take the blame."

In Zhu Yin's view, Zhao Zhigao was the most honest and upright gentleman among the four Grand Secretaries.

Like Gao Gong, Zhao Zhigao was an honest and upright official who did not amass wealth and only accepted his salary. People at the time said that "he had no valuables and died in poverty."

During the Wanli era, officials' salaries were often delayed for months or even years. Zhao Zhigao, who was the Grand Secretary at the time, had his salary withheld by the emperor, leaving him "without any savings and unable to afford medicine."

It's truly admirable that someone could rise to such a high position in government yet remain so poor.

But now that something's happened, he's the one taking the blame again. The world is a cruel mistress.

Shen Yiguan nodded and then made a deer running motion. "Therefore, one should not emulate Zhao Zhigao when serving in the court. Water that is too clear has no fish, and a person who is too discerning has no followers. Without cultivating your own power base, no matter how high your rank, it will all be for nothing in the end."

"These are not polite words, and should not come out of a gentleman's mouth or enter a gentleman's ears. But we are like father and son, so I will only tell you this."

Zhu Yin said, "My teacher's words are insightful and his intentions are profound. I am deeply grateful for your great teachings. Please rest assured, I will take good care of myself."

Zhu Yin accompanied his teacher in practicing the Five Animal Frolics, and also imitated a deer running motion.

Shen Yiguan slowly said, "Back then, Zhao Zhigao entered the cabinet without being recommended by the court, but was specially appointed by His Majesty. His Majesty's intention was to hope that he would reciprocate by exerting his influence in the cabinet and supporting the establishment of the third prince as the crown prince. However, his ambiguous attitude and His Majesty's dissatisfaction were also reasons for this."

"Your Majesty sacrificed Zhao Zhigao to serve as a warning to the Grand Secretary, Zhang Wei, and me. If the Grand Secretary fails to implement measures that satisfy Your Majesty, he may also follow in Zhao Zhigao's footsteps."

Zhu Yin suddenly recalled the historical event of "the simultaneous enfeoffment of three kings." This was a major event during the Wanli reign, and it occurred in the first month of the twenty-first year of Wanli's reign, which is this month.

The initiator was none other than Grand Secretary Wang Xijue!
The idea of ​​simultaneously bestowing the title of "Three Princes" upon Zhu Changluo, Zhu Changxun, and Zhu Changying was essentially a scheme to diminish Zhu Changluo's status as the eldest son and place the three princes on an equal footing, which benefited the Zheng family.

Judging from what Teacher Shen said, is Wang Xijue about to make a move?
The historical attempt to simultaneously bestow titles upon three kings failed due to opposition from officials, particularly the vehement opposition from the censorate and the "pure stream" group. Wang Xijue was thus forced to resign.

But what about this time? Will it fail too? With Zhang Jing as an added variable, it's hard to say!
Shen Yiguan then delivered another shrug and hunchback, saying, "Young Tiger, do you understand what I mean?"

Zhu Yin suddenly understood why Shen Shi had chosen to side with the Zheng family at this time; it was indeed the best opportunity.

The events to come will cause great turmoil in the court. Expressing one's stance now will minimize the impact. Shen Shi is truly a cunning old fox.

Zhu Yin understood and said, "So, this time, sir... you're going to support Grand Secretary Wang?"

“Not bad.” Shen Yiguan nodded and stopped what he was doing. “The cabinet should unite this time and give His Majesty an explanation. His Majesty had high hopes for us when he invited us to join the cabinet.”

"If the cabinet is pressured by the Nine Ministers and the censors and continues to curry favor with everyone, His Majesty will completely neglect his duties and refuse to cooperate."

"Everyone in the court and among the people says that the succession of the nation is of paramount importance. But for the cabinet, who becomes the crown prince is not the most important thing. The most important thing is: His Majesty must be roused!"

Zhu Yin took out a handkerchief and wiped the fine sweat from his teacher's forehead. "Does the cabinet hope to make concessions to His Majesty on matters of national importance in exchange for His Majesty's efforts to govern diligently?"

"Indeed." Shen Yiguan nodded, looking somewhat helpless. "His Majesty is determined to establish Chang Xun as emperor, while the officials want to establish Chang Luo. If this continues, it will be harmful to the court and the country!"

"His Majesty has not held court for several years, sulking with his ministers, refusing to perform sacrificial rites, temple ceremonies, lectures, or even see any officials... Such behavior is unprecedented in history. Recently, he has even refused to fill vacancies in official positions. If this continues, the affairs of the state will deteriorate day by day; what will become of us?"

"Even if we cannot make the ruler as wise and virtuous as Yao and Shun, we must at least not place the ruler and father in a state of confusion and ignorance."

"If the cabinet's concessions can win back His Majesty's favor and inspire him to work harder, does it matter who the crown prince is? They are all His Majesty's sons. Why must the officials insist on opposing His Majesty to the end? They truly don't know how difficult it is to be in charge until they are in charge themselves."

Zhu Yin echoed, "What you say makes sense. If the cabinet's concession can rouse His Majesty's spirits, then it's worth it. But what if His Majesty continues to do as he pleases?"

Shen Yiguan sighed, "Then there's nothing I can do. If serving the ruler with the Way is not possible, then we must stop."

Zhu Yin remained silent.

Serving the ruler with the Way, if it is not possible, then stop. These eight characters encapsulate the official precepts of several Grand Secretaries.

Zhu Yin also sighed and said, "The Japanese army is about to reach Liaodong. At this critical time for the country, His Majesty is still preoccupied with the struggle over the succession of the nation, and is willing to split the court and intensify factional strife for it. It is truly lamentable."

Shen Yiguan raised his eyes, which seemed to see right through people, and stared at Zhu Yin, saying:
“Child Tiger, I know that your support for the eldest prince is mainly out of affection, not because you truly adhere to the principle of ‘the eldest son should be established if there is no legitimate heir.’ Besides affection, you also want to use this matter to gain prestige and a good reputation.”

"You have indeed won prestige and a good reputation; even the most critical officials mostly like you. But this time, as the eldest son of the emperor, you will inevitably bear the brunt of the criticism, so you must keep a low profile. It would be best... to take the opportunity to slip away!"

He pointed eastward and said, "Go to Korea as a military commander, and avoid the murky waters of the capital first. If you go to Korea to fight, the officials won't blame you for not stepping up at the crucial moment. Once the most dangerous time has passed, you can return to the capital."

"Therefore, for your sake, I will discuss with Wang Xijue and postpone our actions for half a month. The cabinet will only take action after you leave the capital. In order to gain my support, Wang Xijue will agree to my conditions."

Zhu Yin couldn't help but feel a little touched. Although Professor Shen was a politician, he was also protective of his own. He had taken good care of him over the years; otherwise, he wouldn't have had such a smooth life.

“Sir, you have put in a lot of effort, but I don’t know what to say,” Zhu Yin said. “However, I am not sure if I will be able to go to Korea.”

Shen Yiguan said, "Do your best. His Majesty certainly doesn't want you to go. But who in the court is more familiar with the internal affairs of Japan and more suitable to go to Korea than you, the Marquis of Jiangning, who was ennobled for your military achievements?"

"There are enough people recommending you, and for the sake of the overall situation in Korea, the Emperor has no choice but to send you to clean up the mess. You should prepare yourself; you'll most likely be able to go to Korea, and you might leave the capital next month."

The master and apprentice discussed for a while longer, and seeing that it was getting late, Zhu Yin took his leave.

"Please rest well, sir. This disciple will take his leave now."

"Well, let's go."

"Yes."

Just as Zhu Yin reached the door, Shen Yiguan suddenly said from behind, "Zhihu, don't forget, this year is the annual capital inspection, which takes place every six years."

The Capital Inspection? Zhu Yin suddenly remembered that the 21st year of the Wanli reign was the famous Gui Si Capital Inspection in history!
In that same year, factional strife in the Ming Dynasty intensified dramatically, and the political situation deteriorated rapidly. With the support of Emperor Wanli, the Zheng faction rallied the Zhejiang and Qi factions, leading to a fierce political struggle with mainstream officials who supported the primogeniture system.

Countless officials were brought down during the Gui Si imperial examination.

As the representative of the Crown Prince's Group, I can only dodge the first day of the month, not the fifteenth.

Zhu Yin said solemnly, "Thank you for reminding me, Master. I know what to do now."

Shen Yiguan nodded. "Let me give you another piece of advice: Serve your ruler with the Way; if that's not possible, then stop!"

"Yes!" Zhu Yin bowed and turned to leave the study.

As soon as he left the warm and cozy room, the cold wind hit him in the face, and Zhu Yin couldn't help but shiver.

The lanterns for the Lantern Festival are already being set up on the streets. Looking up, the moon is almost full.

But after the peaceful Lantern Festival, a bloody storm is probably about to begin.

When Zhu Yin returned to his residence, Ning Caiwei was already waiting for him under the lamp.

"Little tiger, a big shot wants to see you."

She handed over a letter, which said, "We shall meet at Luoyue Temple in Xishan at 3:45 PM tomorrow."

Zhu Yin opened the letter and couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

Zhang Jing, the Grand Eunuch!
P.S.: Because history has changed, this book certainly can't be like some authors who stick to a fixed historical timeline and simply follow the facts. The overall framework will remain the same; what has changed are the local political landscape, such as Zhang Jing's. Thank you for your support, and please vote with monthly tickets! Readers who are waiting for this book to finish reading, please consider setting an auto-subscription!

(End of this chapter)