Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 151 His Majesty has no son, the nation is in turmoil

"Father, I'm back."

Duke Dingguo, Xu Xigao, turned around and said calmly, "Tell me, what did you talk about?"

Xu Yunzhen stepped forward:
“When we started the game, we were no different from the other noble sons. We all started by talking about His Majesty’s ‘battle for land and people’.”

He then briefly summarized everyone's remarks.

Xu Xigao listened quietly until Xu Yunzhen finished speaking, then he slowly shook his head:
"There were no particularly noteworthy remarks either."

"It's nothing more than conquest, increasing production, and developing Yunnan, Guizhou, and Henan—these are all old topics of conversation in the capital these days."

"Wasn't one of them willing to do it themselves?"

Xu Yunzhen shook his head and said:
"At least during the game, no one said that; it was just general talk."

Xu Xigao frowned slightly: "What did you talk about after that?"

Xu Yunzhen then recounted in detail how the Marquis of Gongshun attempted to bribe eunuchs and the Earl of Xiangcheng in order to seize control of the military administration in the capital.

This time, Xu Xigao fell into deep thought.

He gently stroked the jade thumb ring on his thumb with his fingers, and only spoke slowly after a moment.

"The clues within the palace have indeed been cut off quite a bit since His Majesty ascended the throne."

"But His Majesty only ordered the execution of the person who leaked the palace secrets, without investigating further... It seems that His Majesty does not want to make a big fuss and only wants to shut the door and reorganize the inner court."

"It's unwise for Marquis Gongshun to stick to him at this time. He's still clinging to Mongolian ways and doesn't follow any rules."

Xu Xigao's assessment was incisive. He raised his eyes and continued to test his son.

What are your thoughts on the three of them? What are their individual talents and temperaments like?

Xu Yunzhen roused himself and expressed his judgment.

"Li Guorui, son of Marquis Wuqing, is too concerned about the small amount of money in the game of cards. He is greedy, stingy, and has a narrow mind. He should be considered inferior."

“Wu Weiying, son of the Marquis of Gongshun, is of a strong and resolute character, but seems to be a little impatient. He is of average ability.”

"Li Guozhen, son of the Earl of Xiangcheng, is eloquent, skilled in calculation, and has excellent speaking ability; he is of the highest caliber."

This was his daily routine of being examined after returning from playing cards.

However, Xu Xigao shook his head again.

"When judging a person, you can't just look at one moment or one event. You have to look at their family traditions, their circumstances, and consider current events in a comprehensive way."

"Your insights today are much deeper than before, but they are still superficial."

He walked to the desk and sat down, gesturing for his son to sit as well.

"In the Marquis of Wuqing's household, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children is blurred, and Li Guorui and his half-brother Li Guoben have a long-standing feud."

“Once Marquis Wuqing leaves, this branch of the family will surely cause trouble over titles and property.”

“A relative of the mother-in-law is still a relative of the mother-in-law; the family discipline was not strict, hence this disaster.”

Xu Yunzhen nodded slightly and cupped his hands, saying, "I understand. My Duke Dingguo's mansion will definitely respect the legitimate heir and suppress the illegitimate heir, and will never tolerate such chaotic family practices."

Xu Xigao nodded in satisfaction and continued:
"As for the Marquis of Gongshun, that is the true spirit of a military family."

A hint of approval flashed in his eyes.

"His ancestors Wu Kezhong and Wu Keqin fought bravely and died while covering the rear at Tumu Fortress. Later, Wu Jin and Wu Cong died defending Chang'an Gate during the Cao Shi Rebellion. Among the Ming Dynasty nobles, none could surpass their loyalty and bravery after Emperor Chengzu."

He looked at Xu Yunzhen, then changed the subject.

"What does a moment of impatience matter? A strong wind reveals the strength of the grass, and turmoil reveals the loyalty of a minister. When the country is in decline, the people we can truly rely on are those who seem impetuous but are resolute."

“You rate him as average based on ordinary circumstances. But if we consider the grand principles of our nation today, he should be ranked as top-tier.”

Xu Yunzhen's face flushed slightly. His father's words made him realize the limitations of his own perspective.

He hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "Father, do you really think that His Majesty's question of 'the struggle between man and land,' a question of our time, is truly unsolvable?"

Xu Xigao fell silent.

He gazed out the window, his eyes distant, as if piercing through time and space.

“There is a solution, after all,” he said slowly. “Conquest, expansion, increased production, and even the new policies that His Majesty is about to implement... if they can truly bring peace to the world and continue the Ming Dynasty’s century-long reign, it is not a difficult task.”

Xu Yunzhen couldn't help but press further, "But what about a hundred years from now? If we extrapolate that there will be 300 million people a hundred years from now, even if we conquer all the surrounding areas, how can we accommodate so many people?"

Xu Xigao shook his head and looked away. "Don't think that far ahead. A hundred years from now, I will certainly be gone, and so will you. Doing what's in front of us well is the right thing to do."

He changed the subject and returned to the previous topic.

"Your assessment of Li Guozhen as superior was actually biased."

"This young man is eloquent, but his talents are all superficial. He seems shrewd, but he doesn't like to ask questions or do real work. If this continues, he will only become the next Zhao Kuo, who only talks about war on paper, and his achievements will ultimately be limited."

These words, seemingly directed at Li Guozhen, are actually a direct reference to Xu Yunzhen himself.

Xu Yunzhen cupped his hands slightly and said, "Father's words are right, I have learned a lot."

“It’s good that you’re willing to change.” Xu Xigao sighed. “You must remember that this new emperor’s vision is more discerning than we think. Ordinary boasting won’t catch his eye.”

Seeing his son's puzzled expression, he explained, "You only see the question of people and land, and you only see these three daily lectures, but you haven't noticed when this document on governing the world started to be promoted, and how it gradually guided the ministers to think about these issues."

He paused, then emphasized, "It's August 30th! It's the sixth day after His Majesty's ascension to the throne!"

"The so-called question of people and place is merely the final result; this official document on governance is what Your Majesty should truly grasp."

"This matter is not as simple as it appears to you."

Xu Xigao then picked up a thick, bound booklet from the desk and handed it over.

"These are all the versions of official documents submitted to His Majesty, which were subsequently revised and returned. You must read them one by one from the beginning."

"We need to look not only at the final official document, but also at what His Majesty likes and dislikes during the process, and what he ultimately wants to achieve!"

"Do you understand?!"

Xu Yunzhen respectfully accepted it and said in a deep voice, "I will study tonight."

“Not only do you have to read, but you also have to write.” Xu Xigao’s tone left no room for argument. “Choose a direction yourself, and write a policy essay. Once you’ve finished, hand it to me for a look.”

"Huh?" Xu Yunzhen was taken aback. "Father, didn't we say we weren't in a hurry?"

“Not being in a hurry doesn’t mean you shouldn’t practice.” Xu Xigao’s gaze sharpened. “If the opportunity really comes and you can’t write articles, can’t handle things properly, and are beyond help, that would be the biggest joke!”

"Your son... understands!" Xu Yunzhen nodded emphatically.

Xu Xigao was finally satisfied. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and continued his examination:

What's your opinion on the matter of the Marquis of Xiangcheng?

Xu Yunzhen composed himself and began to explain his analysis in detail.

"The reorganization of the Beijing Garrison is imperative. I'm afraid Marquis Liang Shixun of Baoding won't be able to hold onto his position."

"Among the nobles in the capital today, the only ones qualified to take over are Tang Guozuo, the Marquis of Lingbi who holds the title of Red Helmet General, and Li Shouqi, the Earl of Xiangcheng who holds the title of Great Han General."

“Although the Marquis of Lingbi is more suitable, after all, the Red Helmet General is originally from the Beijing Garrison. However, he built a shrine for Wei Zhongxian, which is an indelible stain. His Majesty probably will not choose him.”

“Therefore, I think it is appropriate for us to go with the flow and help the Marquis of Xiangcheng.” “Hmm, that’s a good point.” Xu Xigao nodded, a rare occurrence. “I will find an opportunity to send a message to the palace regarding the Marquis of Xiangcheng. However, whether this matter succeeds or not depends on His Majesty’s mind; it’s hard to say.”

Seeing that he had finally gained some recognition after today's test, Xu Yunzhen became bolder and asked the question that had been bothering him the most.

"Father, what is His Majesty's opinion of us nobles now? Why do our memorials seem to disappear into thin air?"

This is the issue that all the nobles care about most.

In the reorganization of the Yongwei Battalion, there were no positions for nobles.

Duke Zhang Weixian of England suggested that the sons of meritorious officials be selected through examinations. His Majesty verbally agreed, but then delayed taking any further action, instead making a great deal of noise among the civil officials and the secret police.

The proposal for the reorganization of the Beijing garrison was submitted, but it was kept in the archives and not issued.

Two memorials concerning gambling and theft were kept in the palace and not issued.

Even the memorials submitted by a few more proactive nobles regarding the reorganization of the garrisons in the capital region and the adjustment of border pay quotas were withheld and not issued.

The emperor's attitude was like a fog, making it unclear to all the nobles.

"It's precisely because we don't know that we don't know where to start."

Xu Xigao let out a long sigh.

"So, although the Marquis of Xiangcheng was a bit anxious, sending him to scout ahead might not be a bad thing."

“What about Zhang Zhiji of the British Duke’s family? He’s more anxious than anyone else, and now he’s become one of the Five Masters of Statecraft!” Xu Yunzhen couldn’t help but ask.

Looking at his son's eager expression, Xu Xigao suddenly smiled: "What? You can't wait any longer? You also want to answer the question of the world?"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Xu Yunzhen's face, but he still nodded: "This opportunity to make a name for myself in history is something I am indeed... itching to do."

"A wise man keeps his talents hidden until the right time to act." Xu Xigao shook his head. "I said, when judging a person, you should look at their family traditions."

"Who do you think Zhang Zhiji's impetuous nature comes from? When the Duke of Ying was young, he was even more impatient than him. That's just their family's consistent style, like a sword drawn from its sheath, its sharpness fully revealed."

"Our Duke Dingguo's mansion is going to take a different path."

"We'll have to wait a little longer."

Xu Yunzhen sighed, and asked somewhat unwillingly, "Then what exactly is our Duke of Dingguo's mansion waiting for?"

Xu Xigao remained silent for a long time, his gaze as deep as the sea.

"There are two things to wait for now."

"First, we need to see how His Majesty deals with Marquis Fengcheng, Li Chengzuo. When the traitor Wei was in power, he tried his best to curry favor with him, even submitting a memorial requesting that Wei Zhongxian be granted the Nine Bestowments. We can glean some insights from how His Majesty deals with him."

"Secondly, we need to see when His Majesty will actually begin selecting the sons of nobles. Even if we don't give them military power, surely we can still use the Beijing Garrison, the Imperial Guard, and the Capital Garrison? We can't let the armor of the Great Han generals rust away."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yunzhen was even more discouraged: "What can the child do now? He can't just go out and play mahjong with them every day, can he? There are very few talented people among that group, and he can't play anything fancy."

"Starting tomorrow, you don't need to go play mahjong anymore," Xu Xigao said calmly.

"I have arranged a position for you as a Gentleman of the Palace. You will begin your duties at the palace tomorrow."

"Remember, observe more, listen more, and speak less. Don't try to stand out, and don't be the worst. Just do your job well and wait quietly."

Xu Yunzhen was still unwilling: "If I stay in the palace, when will I be able to get ahead?"

Xu Xigao fell silent again.

This time, his silence lasted even longer.

The light in the attic gradually dimmed, making the wrinkles on his face appear even more pronounced.

"Let's wait for the grand court assembly on October 1st. This will be the second grand court assembly since His Majesty ascended the throne."

"This new emperor only cares about practical benefits. I'm afraid he didn't hold this court assembly for the sake of etiquette. Otherwise, he wouldn't have missed a single one in September. All the memorials submitted regarding the court assembly have been kept in the palace and not issued."

"I'm afraid that something different will emerge then..."

He paused, as if considering an extremely weighty word.

"in addition……"

"It would be best to wait until His Majesty... has an heir before we discuss this further."

Xu Yunzhen was startled and abruptly raised his head.

Xu Xigao's voice became extremely dry and heavy.

"Under the cover of the nest, are there any intact eggs?"

"In the past ten years, three emperors have died in succession in our Great Ming Dynasty. The lineage of Emperor Guangzong has always been in poor health."

"If there are any more unspeakable matters, then the throne will have to be chosen from among the other princes of the Shenzong lineage."

He closed his eyes, his face etched with wrinkles.

"At that time, the struggle for land and people, the struggle for the throne, and the struggle between the Donglin Party and the eunuch faction will all erupt simultaneously... The collapse of this dynasty may be imminent!"

“Father…why did it have to come to this!” Xu Yunzhen’s voice trembled.

“I didn’t want it to be like this either.” Xu Xigao opened his eyes, his eyes full of exhaustion. “But since the Duke of England is in Beijing, I can only choose to wait.”

"If such a thing were to happen, even if the Duke of Yingguo were to pass away, at least the Duke of Dingguo's mansion would still be there to support him."

"A balance of urgency and moderation is the way to maintain equilibrium."

He turned his head and looked intently at his son.

"certainly……"

"If it really comes to that irreversible time, my Duke Dingguo Mansion will live and die with the country, and live and die with this land and its people."

“Yunzhen, your father is getting old. If that day ever comes, I’m afraid you’ll still have to take over the Duke of Dingguo’s mansion.”

He took a breath and continued:

"Never mind anything else, just remember one thing..."

"You are a descendant of Xu Da, the Prince of Zhongshan! You are a descendant of the Duke of Dingguo, personally appointed by Emperor Chengzu!"

"In this life-or-death moment, never disgrace the illustrious name of our ancestors!"

"Father!" Xu Yunzhen exclaimed in shock, wanting to say something more.

"Go down!"

Xu Xigao suddenly waved his hand and shouted sternly.

"Pack yourself up properly. Go to the palace to serve tomorrow. Don't embarrass me, and don't embarrass the Duke of Dingguo's mansion!"

Xu Yunzhen had a thousand words in his heart, but he could only swallow them. He bowed deeply and withdrew.

Once again, only Xu Xigao remained in the attic.

He slowly walked to the window, gazing silently at the ancient pine tree in the courtyard that had stood in the wind for a hundred years.

After a long while, he raised his hand and gently touched his eye socket. The spot where he had been punched when he was young seemed to ache again.

"Zhang Weixian... I never expected that your methods of raising your son would surpass mine."

(End of this chapter)