Chapter Sixty-Four: Yang Shiqi and Yu Qian

Chapter Sixty-Four: Yang Shiqi and Yu Qian

The winter of the tenth year of the Xuande era seemed to arrive a little earlier than usual. Cascading snowflakes blanketed the entire capital, turning it into a vast white sea. A rickety donkey cart swayed its way through the side gate into Beijing.

This year, the capital was a city of soldiers. Most of its inhabitants were military households. There were also a number of surrendered Tartar officials, making it common to see many people in Mongolian attire coming and going along the streets.

The bell hanging on the donkey cart jingled melodiously as it rolled along. After taking several turns within the city, the cart entered an alley in the Mingzhao Ward.

Most residents here were officials, specifically civil officials. The reason was simple: this area was close to Dong'an Gate of the Imperial City. Exiting through the Donghua Gate of the Forbidden City, one would reach Dong'an Gate, and then heading south from Dong'an Gate led directly to Mingzhao Ward. Just to the south of Mingzhao Ward was Nanxun Ward, where most government offices were located, making official business more convenient.

Of course, Beijing had so many officials that it was impossible for them all to reside in a single ward.

The donkey cart came to a stop. A middle-aged official in his thirties alighted and stepped forward to knock at the door, handing in his calling card. The gatekeeper, upon seeing the card, immediately said, "Ah, it's Lord Yu! My master has long instructed that if you come, you are to be admitted straightaway."

Yu Qian turned back to instruct the driver to take the cart and settle at an inn for now. He would decide on a place to stay in the capital after his return.

Yu Qian entered the Yang residence—this was the home of Yang Shiqi.

The three Yangs were known for their upright conduct. Whether out of genuine principle or mere formality, public matters were discussed at the office, and rarely did officials come to visit privately. But Yang Shiqi, being the chief minister of the Inner Cabinet, could hardly avoid receiving visitors altogether.

When Yu Qian entered the reception hall, he found two officials already waiting there. He exchanged brief pleasantries, learning they were from the Hanlin Academy and had come due to matters concerning the provincial examinations. The Empress Dowager had decided to hold a special imperial exam the following spring. With the autumn examinations concluded across the provinces, the results for the juren degree had been settled. However, as the imperial examinations were a matter of national importance, many issues needed to be reported to Yang Shiqi. Some matters, inappropriate to discuss openly in court, required private visits. Yu Qian felt a measure of displeasure at this and did not engage them further.

Soon, a servant summoned him to the study.

Inside, Yang Shiqi gestured to a chair and said, "Tingyi, please sit."

Yu Qian bowed and greeted him, "Greetings, Master."

Yu Qian had passed the imperial examinations in the nineteenth year of the Yongle era, ranking ninety-second in the third tier, and was granted the title of Presented Scholar. The chief examiner that year was none other than Yang Shiqi, making Yu Qian effectively one of his students. This was also one of the reasons why Yang Shiqi served as Yu Qian's patron.

Once seated, Yu Qian asked, "Master, may I ask why I was summoned to the capital with such urgency? The drought in Henan has only just ended, and the people have not yet recovered..."

Yang Shiqi replied with a smile, "I know the people petitioned to have you remain. But how does one serve with utmost loyalty as a minister?"

By the Qing dynasty, petitions to retain departing officials had become mere formality—no official left office without some token of the people's affection, such as a 'parasol of ten thousand citizens' or 'boots of fond remembrance.' Yet in the early Ming, many local officials genuinely earned the people's love. Some served as prefects for decades, cherished by the populace who did not wish to see them leave. Ordinarily, if the people petitioned, the emperor would grant their request.

Yu Qian was beloved by the people as well. History records him serving as Inspector of Henan for many years—not only because he later offended Wang Zhen and was denied promotion, but also because the people of Henan did not wish him transferred.

Yu Qian, understanding the implication, replied, "A minister's highest loyalty lies in guiding the emperor."

Though the question seemed innocent, it was in fact a hint. The phrase, 'guiding the emperor with utmost loyalty,' is allusion to Kou Zhun, who, when the Liao invaded, virtually compelled Emperor Zhenzong of Song to lead the army himself, resulting in the Treaty of Chanyuan. The phrase refers to Kou Zhun's actions in that crisis.

Yu Qian immediately caught the subtlety, and his answer could only be one.

Yang Shiqi said, "Today, such an opportunity has arisen. The Empress Dowager has named you as an imperial lecturer and, concurrently, Prefect of Shuntian."

Yu Qian's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly composed himself—a testament to his self-possession. What scholar-official did not wish to serve as tutor to the emperor?

Yu Qian frowned. "I do not understand, Master. Was this arranged by the Empress Dowager?"

These two posts had nothing in common—how could they be held together?

Yang Shiqi was quite satisfied with Yu Qian's composure. Even when faced with such a major matter, he betrayed no emotion. Yang Shiqi thought to himself: "Yu Qian is efficient, experienced in both the central and local administrations, and well-acquainted with local affairs. His only shortcoming is unfamiliarity with the central government. We'll see—if he can win the emperor's trust, perhaps he can be promoted from Prefect of Shuntian to one of the six ministries."

Yang Shiqi was in no hurry to expedite Yu Qian's transfer to the capital. There were still complications—Henan's drought had just ended, and Yu Qian wished to repair the Yellow River embankments; these matters needed closure. Familiar with local affairs, Yang Shiqi preferred for Yu Qian to stay on for another month or two rather than let a hasty handover harm the people.

But he had not anticipated that, because of Yu Qian, the emperor himself, after morning court, would hold Yang Shiqi back to ask, "When will Yu Qian arrive in the capital?"

Though Yang Shiqi rarely spoke out on court matters, he understood much. Even palace affairs could scarcely be hidden from this veteran of three reigns.

He knew that, after the autumn's upheaval, the emperor had become much more disciplined. Aside from his unchanging routine of study, he had begun practicing riding and archery under the guidance of the palace guards. He read memorials, but no longer commented on them. He never summoned ministers over the Empress Dowager's authority—except this once, to inquire after Yu Qian.

Only then did Yang Shiqi realize Yu Qian held a special place in the emperor's heart—more so than he had imagined. Consequently, Yang Shiqi's attitude toward Yu Qian changed as well.

At Yang Shiqi's age, he had to consider certain matters—such as succession. He had two sons: the eldest was not only useless, but also arrogant and abusive toward the people. At times, Yang Shiqi felt like killing his own son to cleanse the family name, yet could not bring himself to do so. Perhaps because of his disappointment in the eldest, he was overly strict with the second, who, though honest, lacked the resourcefulness necessary to thrive at court. Thus, neither could inherit Yang Shiqi's political legacy.

Yang Shiqi intended to choose a few promising young men as his legacy, lest the court fall into decline after his death. His criteria were many, but of great importance was the individual's relationship with the emperor.

Throughout the Ming, the ministers who had served the crown prince during the reign of Emperor Renzong maintained the closest rapport with the imperial family. The bond between sovereign and minister was such that talent could be fully realized, ushering in the golden age of Renzong and Xuanzong. As unpalatable as it might sound, the most critical quality in a minister was not ability, but imperial favor.

Yang Shiqi did not know how Yu Qian had captured the emperor's attention, yet since he had, Yu Qian's standing in Yang's mind increased greatly. Today's meeting confirmed that Yu Qian was upright, principled, and shrewd—not like Li Shimian, who was honest to a fault but lacked adaptability. In the Inner Cabinet, one could not rely on integrity alone.

Yang Shiqi recounted the incident of the emperor's punishment to Yu Qian, naturally employing the rhetoric of the Spring and Autumn Annals—glossing over some details and casting both emperor and Empress Dowager in a favorable light. At last, Yang Shiqi asked, "What do you make of His Majesty's character?"

Yu Qian replied, "His Majesty is innately intelligent, inheriting the clear and untroubled spirit of the founding emperors. He also understands that the barbarians should not be eradicated recklessly—a blessing for the dynasty. It is unfortunate, however, that the garrisons today are no longer what they were under the founding emperors. As long as the army refrains from a northern campaign, all is well; but should it march north, I fear the fate of Lord Qi may repeat itself."

Lord Qi, Qiu Fu, perished leading a northern campaign—one of the few disastrous defeats of the Yongle era.

Yang Shiqi said, "That is precisely why the Empress Dowager has appointed you as imperial lecturer."