Chapter Twenty-Nine: Deemed a Mere Wart, How Could It Ever Be Allowed to Flourish

Empress Dowager Li finished her meal in a measured, unhurried manner before clearly explaining the story behind it.

The agronomist Xu Zhenming was an unlucky soul. When he reclaimed wasteland in Zhejiang, he offended some people. By settling displaced refugees on reclaimed land, he deprived the local gentry of their tenant farmers. Who would till the fields for the "great benefactors" if no one was left to be a tenant? And if no one tilled the fields, surely the benefactors couldn't be expected to do it themselves?

These great benefactors banded together and sought out Fan Yingqi, a compiler in the Hanlin Academy.

Fan Yingqi was a native of Zhejiang. In the thirty-first year of the Jiajing reign, he had paid a hefty "school choice fee" and donated grain to enter the Imperial Academy. Finally, in the forty-fourth year of Jiajing, he rose above the rest to capture the top spot as the Zhuangyuan (top scholar).

When Xu Zhenming began reclaiming wasteland in Shanyin, Zhejiang, these wealthy landlords approached Fan Yingqi, urging him to devise a plan. Fan Yingqi was himself a powerful magnate in Zhejiang, with family land holdings spanning half a county. Upon hearing that Xu Zhenming was "exploiting the gentry," he immediately prompted court censors to submit a memorial impeaching Xu for that very crime.

Hai Rui had also been impeached and forced into retirement on the charge of "exploiting the gentry." Since the gentry were the wealthy elites who enjoyed special judicial and tax privileges, that charge had brought down Hai Rui, and it could naturally bring down Xu Zhenming as well.

It was only then that Xu Zhenming returned to the capital from Zhejiang, attempting to seek patronage to restore his career.

When Fan Yingqi impeached Xu, the court was embroiled in a fierce power struggle between the factions of Gao Gong and Chen Hong on one side, and Zhang Juzheng and Feng Bao on the other. The memorial was processed and approved according to established bureaucratic procedures.

It was not until Zhang Juzheng ascended to power and took control of the Grand Secretariat that he learned exactly what Xu Zhenming had done. When the young Emperor expressed a desire to focus on agriculture, Zhang Juzheng immediately thought of this man and recommended him.

Empress Dowager Li paused briefly, weighing her words before continuing: "This top scholar Fan Yingqi is a member of the Jin Faction. The Chief Grand Secretary's promotion of Xu Zhenming was, in no small part, an attempt to suppress the Jin Faction."

The Empress Dowager had no desire to discuss these sordid affairs, but the young Emperor would eventually have to govern in his own right and face these storms head-on.

"Fan Yingqi is a member of the Jin Faction?" Zhu Yijun found this strange. Wasn't Fan Yingqi from Zhejiang? How did he become part of the Jin Faction?

The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Fan Yingqi was a successful candidate in the forty-fourth year of Jiajing. The chief examiner for the metropolitan examination that year was Gao Gong, and Zhang Siwei was an associate examiner."

The teacher-student bond.

Zhang Siwei, the double-dealing opportunist and nephew of Wang Chonggu, was poised to become the leader of the Jin Faction following Yang Bo’s retirement. As one of the examiners in the forty-fourth year of Jiajing, he naturally expected the top scholar, Fan Yingqi, to pledge his allegiance to him.

Zhang Juzheng had recommended Xu Zhenming because he valued his expertise in land reclamation, farming, and water conservancy. How many people in the Ming Dynasty truly studied agriculture? After searching long and hard, Zhang had found only this one man, while simultaneously striking a blow to the morale of the Jin Faction.

"These ministers at court, regardless of whose mentorship they seek, are all engaged in infighting. My son, you must remain firmly seated on the fishing platform, watching them tear each other apart. Once they reach a result, you simply affix your seal," the Empress Dowager said, sharing her words of experience.

This was another way of living: to neither compete nor fight, but to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers battle.

Sit on the mountain and watch the tigers?

Zhu Yijun knew clearly that while this might keep the Ming administrative system running, it would be impossible to restore the nation's former glory. The methods used since the Jiajing and Longqing reigns were not necessarily good, but they were certainly functional.

Zhu Yijun nodded as if in agreement. "I understand, Mother. I will organize my notes on farming today, especially since Scholar Xu has sent over many annotated agricultural texts. I will go and study them."

"Sleep early. Your lessons, your martial arts training, and your farming—it is all exhausting work." The Empress Dowager still felt for her child. He was the Emperor of the Ming, but he was only ten years old.

Zhu Yijun returned to the inner chamber of his palace, sat at his long desk, and began reading *Ma Yilong’s Agricultural Treatise*. Of the mere six thousand words in the text, Xu Zhenming had provided over twenty thousand words of commentary, covering every detail. This made it much easier for Zhu Yijun to study.

He singled out the sections on plows and seed preservation, translating them into vernacular Chinese with a pencil. He worked until the Empress Dowager sent a palace maid to urge him to rest. Only then did Zhu Yijun extinguish the lamp. Lying in bed, he reviewed the day's events multiple times, ensuring nothing had been overlooked, before finally falling into a content sleep.

The morning sun cast golden light over the Imperial Palace, and another fulfilling day began.

This time, the court debate regarding the reward for Qi Jiguang was filled with gunpowder. Both sides traded barbs in a heated verbal battle, but this had little to do with Zhu Yijun, who was diligently studying on the raised platform.

Listening occasionally, he finally understood why Qi Jiguang could not be enfeoffed, and why even coming to the capital to receive a reward was so difficult.

The court viewed Qi Jiguang as a "superfluous growth"—a useless, redundant appendage.

This was not the view of just one person or one family; it was the consensus of the majority at court. And this view was shared not only by the civil officials but also by the military nobility. Even the soldiers of Yiwu under Qi Jiguang’s command felt the same way.

Since the Longqing Peace Treaty and the tribute trade with Altan Khan, the northern invaders no longer ventured south. Even if small bands of raiders appeared, a few silver coins could send them away. What, then, was the use of Qi Jiguang, who spent his time drilling soldiers?

Qi Jiguang had been transferred to Jizhou as the Regional Commander, overseeing the three border towns with over a hundred thousand troops under his command. The expenses were immense, yet he had achieved no great victories, only constant minor skirmishes. If he were lavishly rewarded every time, would the other generals not harbor resentment?

"Cultivating literature to pacify distant peoples"—that was the essence of the Nine Classics.

"Cultivating literature to pacify distant peoples" had just achieved a great success; the tribute of Altan Khan was ironclad proof!

This approach served four purposes: first, it saved the treasury’s expenses; second, it prevented fierce, headstrong warriors from rebelling; third, it promoted civility and benevolence while curbing martial fervor; and fourth, it allowed for cooked books under the guise of building city walls for defense.

From the thirty-fifth to the forty-fifth year of Jiajing, the Ming had fought Altan Khan for over a decade, losing more than ten regional commanders and spending millions of taels of silver annually, yet they had never won. It was a disgrace. But through "cultivating literature to pacify distant peoples," border stability had been achieved.

The Ming and the Tatar Altan Khan had buried the hatchet. Did this not mean that military training was obsolete?

Meanwhile, the subordinate officers and soldiers under Qi Jiguang were also extremely dissatisfied. Peace had lasted so long—the last major battle was seven years ago. With such strict training and such harsh military law—where even stepping on a stalk of grain could cost a man his life—how could anyone not view such demands as a lack of compassion for the troops?

Both inside and outside the court, and throughout the military, everyone saw Qi Jiguang’s training and defense as a "superfluous growth." How, then, could his ambitions be realized? How could his military talent and ability be demonstrated?

As one of the most prominent military figures in the history of the Central Plains dynasties, Qi Jiguang found himself in a dire situation.

Of the twenty-seven officials in the court debate, only Tan Lun and Zhang Juzheng did not view Qi Jiguang as a useless appendage.

"This matter is decided. I have already informed His Majesty; we shall open the Fengtian Hall and reward his merits." Zhang Juzheng finally became impatient, choosing to act unilaterally—a decision that bordered on stubbornness.

During the previous lecture session, the Emperor had already agreed to open the Fengtian Hall to reward Qi Jiguang.

Lu Shusheng, the Minister of Rites whom Zhang had promoted, was the primary force opposing Qi Jiguang’s entry into the capital. Jizhou was only a hundred miles from the capital and considered part of the imperial periphery, yet officially, the Jizhou garrison remained one of the Nine Frontier Garrisons. For a frontier general to enter the capital and receive rewards in the Fengtian Hall violated ritual regulations. Zhang Juzheng’s actions seemed like he was trampling on everyone to establish his own authority.

"I knew it! You are usurping the divine authority! When His Majesty takes the throne, let's see what becomes of you!" Ge Shouli was furious. Looking at Zhang Juzheng, he felt that such an abuse of power would certainly lead to a disastrous end.

A court debate—how had it become a one-man show for Zhang Juzheng?!

Zhang Juzheng looked at Ge Shouli and suddenly said, "Chief Censor Ge, are you unhappy that I occupy the lecture sessions alone? Why don't you come and lecture?"

"Huh?" Ge Shouli stared at Zhang Juzheng, stunned. The entire interrogation, starting from the high-yield potatoes and sweet potatoes, had revolved around Zhang’s monopoly on the Emperor’s education. In Ge Shouli’s view, this was the foundation and reliance for Zhang’s tyranny!

He was bewitching the young Emperor, making him confused and disoriented, all to usurp the divine authority!

Now, Zhang Juzheng had actually surrendered such a core interest!

To reward Qi Jiguang in the Fengtian Hall, Zhang Juzheng was truly willing to pay a heavy price!

Zhang Juzheng maintained his refined and gentle smile. The young Emperor’s questions had been too sharp—so sharp that he didn't know how to answer them. Since Ge Shouli and the Jin Faction wanted to take it, he would simply give it to them.

Yang Bo, who had been resting with his eyes closed and not participating in the argument, opened his eyes and said, "Chief Censor Ge is in charge of the constitution and the inspection of counties, dealing with official evaluations and impeachments. His duties are vast and complex. It would be better to let Scholar Wang Xilie, Scholar Wang Jiaping, and the Hanlin compiler Fan Yingqi preside over the sessions."

Ge Shouli was a bit bewildered. He had wanted to accept—even though the Censorate was busy, he could spare an hour a day to teach a ten-year-old boy. But Yang Bo did not seem to intend to entrust such an important task to him. Yang Bo believed that Ge Shouli was too blunt and inflexible, unlike Wang Jiaping.

Ge Shouli felt a sense of disappointment. He was a native of Shandong, not Shanxi. Although he was a staunch supporter, even a core member of the Jin Faction, the major events and benefits were always seized by the Shanxi men.

Wang Jiaping was a native of Shanxi and a true insider of the Jin Faction. He was also a lecturer, known for his steady temperament and lack of trouble-making. The current core task of the Jin Faction was to consolidate its position and prestige at court.

Zhang Juzheng smiled and said, "That is perfectly acceptable."

Zhu Yijun smiled, continuing to write at his desk. Zhang Juzheng had just sold himself to the Jin Faction so easily! When the time came, he would make sure that Zhang Juzheng wouldn't get any fennel powder for pain relief when the "three-inch, one-shot" cure for hemorrhoids was inserted!

It was decided!

Zhang Juzheng shivered, feeling a chill run up his spine. He looked left and right, but the Ming Emperor was still reading diligently.

After the court debate ended, Zhang Juzheng exited with the other officials, and the lecturers entered the hall.

Wang Jiaping was full of confidence. As the second-place candidate of the second tier in the second year of Longqing, he boasted that his scholarship was not inferior to Zhang Juzheng’s. With the top scholar from the forty-fourth year of Jiajing, Fan Yingqi, there to hold the line, the task could not possibly go wrong.

It was just teaching a ten-year-old Emperor!

"We are here to resolve Your Majesty's doubts," Wang Jiaping said with great respect, beginning the lecture.

"The Master said: 'He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.'" Wang Jiaping began with the first sentence of the *Analects* regarding governance. Zhu Yijun sat upright, eyes fixed on Wang Jiaping, awaiting his explanation.

"The commentary states: In governing a country, the most important thing is virtue. If Your Majesty cultivates virtue, you will be like the North Star, remaining tranquil in your position while all other stars revolve around you."

Zhu Yijun blinked, looking at Wang Jiaping. Wang Jiaping looked back at the Emperor. They stared at each other, and the atmosphere grew stagnant.

"Is that all?" Zhu Yijun broke the awkward silence and asked.

Wang Jiaping and Fan Yingqi looked at each other. The Grand Secretary braced himself and asked, "Does Your Majesty have questions?"

"What is government?" Zhu Yijun asked.