Chapter Sixty-Two: Yu Qian Enters the Capital

Chapter Sixty-Two: Yu Qian Enters the Capital

Yang Shiqi pondered for a moment before saying, “Your Majesty possesses a wisdom far surpassing that of ordinary men. I have heard Li Shimian speak of this. When it comes to expounding on the classics, Your Majesty grasps the essence with but a hint; what Wang Zhi teaches, though named for the Spring and Autumn Annals, is in truth the Mirror of History. Through his instruction, Your Majesty comes to understand the rise and fall of rulers throughout the ages—the reasons why wise kings are enlightened and foolish ones benighted. Yet though the principles are clear, to truly practice them requires virtuous teachers and friends; I believe the present mindset of Your Majesty is a failing of the lecturers. I am willing to select from the ranks of upright and diligent local officials someone to accompany Your Majesty, so that Your Majesty might learn of the people’s sufferings.”

What Yang Shiqi said was, in truth, the old tune: the emperor is never wrong; it is always the ministers around him who are at fault.

Wang Zhi, as imperial lecturer, may not have erred, but now that the Empress Dowager Grand has deemed the emperor’s behavior inappropriate, responsibility must fall upon those who teach him.

It was much like when Emperor Taizong was displeased with his son the Crown Prince, later Emperor Renzong—the chastisement always fell upon the prince’s tutors.

The Empress Dowager Grand said, “Master Wang’s instruction is excellent; there is no need for change. However, I do not wish for the emperor to become a great Confucian scholar. Let Master Wang come to the palace to lecture every other day.”

“I wish to summon Yu Qian to the capital, appoint him Prefect of Shuntian, and also have him serve as imperial lecturer. What do you gentlemen think?”

Yang Shiqi and his two companions exchanged glances, astonished.

To make Yu Qian a lecturer might raise some issues, but since the Empress Dowager Grand was so inclined, it was not impossible to accommodate. After all, the system for imperial lectures had only just been established; previously, there were no fixed rules for instructing the emperor.

Most lecturers were chosen from among the Hanlin Academy, but no unbreakable custom had been established.

Appointing Yu Qian as Prefect of Shuntian was also appropriate. Though moving Yu Qian from his post as regional inspector to prefect in the capital seemed a demotion, in truth, the Prefect of Shuntian governed the foremost prefecture of the realm; it was a capital post, and could be seen as both a lateral move and a promotion.

However, to combine these two positions was problematic.

The office of Prefect of Shuntian was notoriously difficult. As the saying went: “Unlucky thrice, be a county magistrate near the capital; wicked beyond measure, be a magistrate in the provincial capital; but the Prefect of Shuntian is the most wretched of all.” There were countless superiors above, and should anything go awry, blame invariably fell upon the prefect’s shoulders.

Thus, the Prefect of Shuntian was a bitter post, beset by endless affairs.

And as imperial lecturer, one could not be absent a single day. Was Yu Qian to split himself in two?

Yang Shiqi said, “Your Majesty, I fear Yu Qian cannot divide himself.”

The Empress Dowager Grand sighed. “We are all growing old. I have reviewed Yu Qian’s record; he is, without doubt, a minister of rare talent. He must be made to shoulder more. Do I wish him to teach the emperor learning? Is there no one in the capital who surpasses Yu Qian in scholarship? No, I want him to show the emperor what the realm truly is.”

“The emperor is still so young. When he is older, someone must take him out, to see how the common people live. His heart is good, but he is too prone to wishful thinking.”

It was a tradition in the Ming imperial family to let the heir witness the hardships of the people. At the very least, the founding emperor sent his sons to visit common farmhouses, and Emperor Taizong had his sons and grandsons travel north along the Grand Canal to inspect local conditions, leaving behind their retinues to enter the villages.

But after the Orthodox Reign, this kind of education faded from history.

The Empress Dowager Grand placed great hope in Zhu Qizhen, and so her instruction became ever more severe.

Yang Shiqi replied, “Yes,” though he kept to himself the question of why Yu Qian was chosen.

Yu Qian served as an official in the provinces, but he was not without patrons in the capital—Yang Shiqi and the other two were his backers. Such was politics: Yu Qian was a good official, but without someone at court to speak for him, he might not accomplish much.

Yet, even so, Yang Shiqi did not regard Yu Qian as his successor. Rather, he placed greater hopes in Wang Zhi, the imperial lecturer, as evidenced by his earlier words.

When Wang Zhi replaced Li Shimian as the emperor’s lecturer, Yang Shiqi understood the situation well, though he made no comment, even going along with it. It may have been paving the way for Wang Zhi.

Yu Qian did not enjoy such favor.

Regardless of Yang Shiqi’s previous attitude, from this day forth, he would have to reassess Yu Qian’s value. Even if he did not understand why the Empress Dowager Grand favored Yu Qian.

In truth, it was much the same for her. In this era of the Ming, there were many local officials like Yu Qian—Zhong Kuang and Zhou Chen, for instance—who were all called “Blue Sky” by the people for their uprightness and ability, and were not inferior to Yu Qian.

The reason the Empress Dowager Grand valued Yu Qian was because Zhu Qizhen valued him; she was, in fact, following Zhu Qizhen’s own wishes. Many parents, though seemingly strong before their children, are in truth the weaker party—just as the Empress Dowager Grand was before Zhu Qizhen.

Whether Zhu Qizhen had come to understand this was another matter.

After the Three Yangs left, arrangements were made for Yu Qian to enter the capital. Considering travel and the need to appoint a successor to his current post, it would be about a month before Yu Qian arrived.

The Empress Dowager Grand returned to Cining Palace. Opening the door, she saw Zhu Qizhen kneeling motionless before the portrait of Emperor Renzong.

By now, dusk had already fallen.

Zhu Qizhen had been there for several hours.

The Empress Dowager Grand asked, “Do you know what your mistake was?”

Zhu Qizhen replied, “I know, Grandmother. I was too self-assured.”

She ordered the attendants to light the lamps and had Zhu Qizhen sit. “You are still young, and there is much you do not yet understand. Those around you simply echo your views.”

“Even if you are wrong, who dares tell you so?”

“War is a matter of life and death, the gravest affair of state. Even sages only resort to it when there is no other choice. Once troops are deployed, death is inevitable. Whenever the army moves, thousands of soldiers may perish on the frontier, and each one has a family.”

“With nothing but your assumptions, you send so many to their deaths. Can your heart be at ease?”

Zhu Qizhen felt a pang of guilt, secretly admitting to himself, “Indeed, I was too frivolous in my planning. This is not some real-time strategy game.”

“Soldiers cannot be resurrected with a mere click of the mouse.”

As he was about to speak, the Empress Dowager Grand interrupted, “Enough. No need to say more. It is good that you recognize your fault. But you were right about one thing—the matter of the Oirat. I have already entrusted it to Yang Rong. He will see to it; you need not worry.”

She then explained Yang Rong’s plan to Zhu Qizhen.

When he heard it, Zhu Qizhen said, “I am inexperienced indeed; I did not know Master Yang possessed such a clever strategy.”

These words he spoke, but in his heart he was unconvinced.

Was Yang Rong’s plan truly wise? Without moving a single soldier, let the enemy divide itself. Let the steppes be riven by strife, so that the nine frontier regions remain secure.

Yet, in Zhu Qizhen’s view, this was merely wishful thinking. At least in his recollection, the Oirat did not split until after the fourteenth year of the Orthodox Reign.

Moreover, what truly kept the frontiers secure were the soldiers stationed there, not such seemingly clever schemes.

The Empress Dowager Grand also reflected inwardly, realizing she could not be too harsh with Zhu Qizhen. Her tone softened: “Do not belittle yourself. You are still young. When you are older, you will naturally know how to manage affairs of state. You do not wish for Yu Qian to enter the capital? I have already agreed. This winter, Yu Qian will arrive as Prefect of Shuntian. When you are a little older, I will allow you to leave the palace and see for yourself how the people live.”

“Only by truly understanding how the people survive can you know where their hearts lie.”

Zhu Qizhen felt a surge of happiness. This meant greater autonomy for him—and, more importantly, that today’s matter was now past. He hurriedly said, “Thank you, Grandmother.”

“From now on, involve yourself less in government and study diligently.” In the lamplight, the Empress Dowager Grand’s gaze was full of emotion. “Your time will come, but for now your task is to read, to observe, to reflect, and to speak less. Especially, there are things which must not be spoken carelessly.”

Zhu Qizhen nodded in agreement. “Grandmother, I understand.”