Chapter Seven: Council Deliberations

Chapter Seven: Affairs of State

"By the empress dowager's command," Yang Shiqi rose and said, "There are three pressing matters before the court that cannot be delayed."

"The emperor has passed away, and the nation is in turmoil while His Majesty is still of tender age. I fear there may be those who would spread wicked rumors and disturb the realm."

"Therefore, I propose that lords and marquises be dispatched to various regions to pacify and intimidate the petty troublemakers across the land."

Upon hearing this, the empress dowager turned to Zhang Fu and asked, "Duke of Britain, what is your opinion?"

Zhu Qizhen thought to himself, "How could civil officials intimidate the petty troublemakers of the realm? Only military men can manage that. And since the Duke of Britain is the foremost among the nobility and represents the meritorious officials in the cabinet, naturally the empress dowager would not bypass him."

Zhang Fu replied, "In my opinion, the Nine Borders have Jiang Gui guarding Gansu, Wu Kai in Liaodong, and Datong and Xuanfu are controlled by the capital. In the southwest, Shan Yun is stationed in Guangxi, and Mu Sheng in Yunnan. Li Xian is in Nanjing, and the eunuch Wang Jinghong is also there. All regions should be secure, except for Jiangxi, where there is a peasant uprising that has not yet been quelled; a great general should be sent to suppress it. Huguang also requires a strong commander."

Zhu Qizhen listened and nodded in agreement.

The Nine Borders were the main defensive line against the Mongols—an essential frontier for the Ming. In the south, there was Jiaozhi as well as various indigenous chieftains in Yunnan, all sources of unrest. Thus, Zhang Fu mentioned the Nine Borders first, then the southwest.

Zhu Qizhen had not previously heard of an uprising in Jiangxi, but since Zhang Fu brought it up, he assumed it must be true. Yet he wondered why Huguang was mentioned only in passing, without specifics, and instead it was simply said that a great general should be sent there.

Standing just behind Zhu Qizhen, Wang Zhen whispered, "The Prince of Chu."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Qizhen thought, "The Prince of Chu."

If not for Wang Zhen's reminder, Zhu Qizhen would have forgotten about the princes in the provinces. Yet after the reigns of Yongle and Xuande, the power of the imperial princes had been greatly curtailed, and few retained any real authority.

He wondered why the court was so concerned about the Prince of Chu. Was it due to Huguang’s strategic location, or did the Prince possess something other princes did not?

Zhu Qizhen made a mental note to investigate this matter further, along with the names Zhang Fu had mentioned: Jiang Gui, Wu Kai, Shan Yun, and Mu Sheng.

The empress dowager asked, "Whom does the Duke of Britain think should be sent?"

Zhang Fu replied, "Mao Xiang and Wu Xing should be dispatched—one to Jiangxi, the other to Huguang."

The empress dowager said, "Very well, then. Mao Xiang to Huguang, Wu Xing to Jiangxi."

Yang Shiqi immediately said, "I obey."

The empress dowager continued, "Master Yang, please proceed."

Yang Shiqi said, "Next is the matter of the late emperor’s mausoleum. His passing was most sudden."

The empress dowager, shedding tears, said, "Very well, send people at once to Tianshou Mountain to find an auspicious site for his tomb."

Yang Shiqi replied, "As you command."

Zhu Qizhen thought to himself, "This is too hasty."

Though not highly learned, Zhu Qizhen had at least heard of the famed Thirteen Tombs and knew that each imperial mausoleum was a massive undertaking.

Many emperors’ tombs took over a decade to complete, and the late Xuande Emperor’s passing had been entirely unexpected.

Moreover, throughout the Xuande reign, the treasury was never flush, so the emperor, confident in his youth and vigor, had postponed construction of his mausoleum, never expecting it would be needed so soon.

As Zhu Qizhen pondered this, he heard the empress dowager continue, "The Renzong Emperor’s tomb was built with simplicity; let my son’s mausoleum be constructed in the same manner."

"I understand," Yang Shiqi replied.

He then said, "The last matter is the most important of all. The nation cannot be without an emperor even for a day. An auspicious date must be chosen for the crown prince to ascend the throne and offer sacrifices at the ancestral temple."

At this, Zhu Qizhen’s heart gave a sudden leap.

He couldn’t help feeling nervous. Although he knew that at this point, the empress dowager could not possibly go back on her word, the matter would not be settled until it was formally confirmed, and so he could not rest easy.

A wave of heat rose within him. Perhaps the nine-year-old Zhu Qizhen did not fully grasp what it meant to be emperor, but the present Zhu Qizhen understood all too well. How could he not be excited?

The empress dowager glanced at Zhu Qizhen and asked, "When is the nearest auspicious date?"

Yang Shiqi answered, "The you-gui day."

The empress dowager made a quick calculation and said, "That is the ninth day."

"Indeed," Yang Shiqi confirmed.

The empress dowager sighed softly and said, "Let us begin preparations at once."

"As you command," said Yang Shiqi.

Observing all this, Zhu Qizhen began to discern the pattern.

The Grand Secretariat was merely an advisory body; perhaps in the late Ming it wielded some real power, but at present it could make no decisions. It could only offer recommendations; the final authority rested solely with the emperor.

"Truly, the nation cannot be without a sovereign for a single day," Zhu Qizhen thought. Now, he seemed to understand some of the empress dowager’s intentions.

He then heard the empress dowager continue, "The emperor is still young. Henceforth, memorials should be sent into the palace a day in advance. A few important matters can be selected for discussion at court; that will suffice."

Yang Shiqi paused, then said, "Understood."

The morning court had always been the time for decision-making. During the reigns of Hongwu, Yongle, Hongxi, and Xuande, the emperor would make judgments at the morning audience.

But Zhu Qizhen was not yet capable of such decisions.

The empress dowager’s proposal turned the morning court into a mere ceremony. In future, it would likely become an occasion for the officials to pay homage to the Son of Heaven, discuss a few matters already settled in advance, and then disperse to their respective offices to conduct their affairs.

To the empress dowager and Yang Shiqi, this was merely a temporary expedient.

Once the young emperor grew up, the old system would be resumed.

Yet, unexpectedly, this expedient became a precedent for the Ming dynasty: the morning court became an empty ritual, and it eventually became customary for emperors not to hold court at all.

The empress dowager then said, "That concludes today’s deliberations. Once all the regional memorials have been reviewed and sealed, send them into the palace. Let us now focus on preparing for the enthronement ceremony."

"We obey," Yang Shiqi replied.

The empress dowager then departed with Zhu Qizhen as she had arrived.

She did not let Zhu Qizhen return to his quarters, but brought him back to the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility. Dismissing her attendants, she spoke to Zhu Qizhen: "Though you have not yet ascended the throne, you are now the Son of Heaven of Great Ming."

Zhu Qizhen immediately said, "Thank you, Grand Empress Dowager, for your support."

The empress dowager smiled faintly, though her expression carried a trace of bitterness. Yet at this moment she dared not treat Zhu Qizhen as a mere child. The matter of the Prince of Xiang’s golden seal had to be explained clearly, or else disaster might be sown for the prince.

She said, "Earlier, when I took the Prince of Xiang’s golden seal from the Imperial Clan Court, it was not because I intended to depose you. I simply feared that, because of your youth, you might be misled by outsiders. Yang Shiqi and the others are certainly loyal to the Ming, but their loyalty to you as emperor may not be as strong. These elder ministers have their own ideas. Look at the Ministry of War’s actions in recent years—last year, Minister Wang Ji petitioned for a large increase in personnel."

"But the number of officials in each ministry was set in the founding reign, and even though there have been occasional changes since, they have not been substantial. Only Wang Ji has repeatedly requested dozens of extra posts."

"And this is not the first time."

"The Ministry of War is busy, and has usurped much of the authority of the Five Military Commissions—these are the tricks of the old ministers."

"They may be loyal, but their loyalty is not necessarily the loyalty the imperial family seeks."

"Therefore, I intended for your uncle, the Prince of Xiang, to assist in governing the country as regent."

"But since you do not wish it, I will return the golden seal to you." With that, the empress dowager produced a document and the jade tally with the golden seal, and offered them to Zhu Qizhen.

Immediately, Zhu Qizhen said, "I did not understand your pains, Grand Empress Dowager. I have been most unfilial. Please punish me. I dare not accept the golden seal."

The empress dowager said, "If you do not accept it, I will simply have it put back. From now on, you are the supreme sovereign of Great Ming. You are no longer a child. All documents will henceforth be given to Wang Zhen, who will review them for you. The Grand Secretaries will examine them as well. If they find fault and bring it to me, and you are in the wrong, I will hold you responsible."

Hearing this, Zhu Qizhen felt a great weight lifted from his heart, replaced by a tinge of shame.

It seemed he had been worrying over nothing. Even if he did nothing, the throne would still be his. He said, "Thank you, Grand Empress Dowager."

The empress dowager replied, "Will you not call me grandmother?"

Zhu Qizhen promptly said, "Your grandson pays his respects, grandmother."

At last, the empress dowager smiled fully and said, "Go now." She had Zhu Qizhen escorted out, yet in her heart she thought, "This child truly bears no resemblance to the Sun family at all."