Chapter Eighty-Seven: Arrangements for Liu Dingzhi

Chapter Eighty-Seven: Arrangements for Liu Dingzhi

"Do you want the new imperial champion to make a trip to the northwest?" the Grand Empress Dowager asked, somewhat surprised.

The court had long since made arrangements for newly minted degree holders. The top dozen or so from each examination were admitted to the Hanlin Academy as scholar-companions. In time, this even hardened into an unspoken rule: no one outside the Hanlin could enter the Grand Secretariat. Those who ranked high in the examinations had only to endure years of obscurity in the academy, polishing their talents in the capital, before at last stepping into the machinery of state and taking hold of the great nerve center of the dynasty.

Zhu Qizhen said, "I think we ought to understand the northwest properly. Otherwise I cannot be at ease. Besides, the imperial champion of Great Ming will one day have great responsibilities, the burden of governing the realm. Can that be learned merely from books at a desk?"

"He should at least see more of the world."

The Grand Empress Dowager gave no direct answer. Whoever the champion might be, in her eyes he was still one of those who, for the next ten years at least, could never sit among the great men of the court. He was no more than a negligible figure.

She did not care much, but she was curious about the intention behind Zhu Qizhen's move. "I remember that the Embroidered-Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot have already sent men to the northwest. Jiang Gui will also receive command and depart in two days. The Grand Secretariat has sent people as well to tally the number of horses in the northwest."

"And still you are not reassured?"

Zhu Qizhen gave a bitter smile. "Your Majesty, I would like to be reassured. If I am not, how could you be?"

The Grand Empress Dowager let out a soft sigh. In truth, with the northwest in such chaos, she too bore responsibility. Had she decisively accepted Adai Khan in the beginning, matters would not have deteriorated into the present mess.

But more important than what Adai Khan had done was the state of the military settlements in the northwest. The Grand Empress Dowager had never before seen the troops below so incapable of fighting, so easily pierced time and again by Adai Khan's forces.

That, too, was beyond her imagining.

"Very well," the Grand Empress Dowager said. "I grant it. Let Liu Dingzhi make the trip to the northwest."

Having persuaded the Grand Empress Dowager, Zhu Qizhen finally felt some of the weight on his chest lift. After discussing a few miscellaneous matters, he withdrew.

Without delay, he summoned Liu Dingzhi.

Liu Dingzhi arrived quickly, but as soon as Zhu Qizhen received him in the Hall of Heavenly Purity, he smelled the reek of wine. "Lord Liu is in fine spirits indeed."

Liu Dingzhi at once pleaded guilty. "Your servant has been licentious and unrestrained. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

Over these past days, Liu Dingzhi had been in the very height of glory.

After all, he was not merely the imperial champion; he had won first place in both the metropolitan and palace examinations. He even felt a certain regret: had he taken the provincial examination in his youth and won first there as well, he would have achieved the rare feat of topping all three levels in succession.

Naturally, he was full of triumphant ease. He had been drinking with his fellow graduates, paying respects to his mentor Wang Zhi, and meeting officials from his home province. In that age, local ties mattered greatly. Men from the same place were always expected to support one another to some degree.

And Jiangxi, in the early years of Great Ming, had been a major province for the civil examinations. Even down to the time of Yan Song, men from Jiangxi continued to occupy a place in the court. To say nothing of the others, Yang Shiqi was from Jiangxi, Wang Zhi was from Jiangxi, and so on. For a time it was said that half the court was Jiangxi.

Thus his social obligations had been endless. These past dozen days, the wine cups had scarcely ceased.

When Zhu Qizhen ordered Wang Zhen to summon him, he had been dragged straight from a banquet by the Eastern Depot.

In the capital, the Embroidered-Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot could find anyone with ease.

To be fair, one could hardly blame Liu Dingzhi. As a rule, after passing the examinations, a man was granted a month of leave. Some even petitioned for years of leave before taking office.

By rights, Liu Dingzhi was still within his vacation.

But standing before the master of the realm, he did not dare complain at all. He only bowed and confessed.

Seeing him thus, Zhu Qizhen said, "Wang Zhen, take Lord Liu and change his clothes. Let him sober up a little."

"Yes." Wang Zhen immediately replied.

After Liu Dingzhi went out, he returned a moment later in a fresh set of clothes. He was now dressed in fine brocade, far superior to what he had worn before.

At present, Great Ming was still at the height of its prosperity. The whole empire imitated the furnishings and fashions of the imperial court; whatever the palace used became the standard of fashion. Only in the later years of the dynasty would Suzhou replace it, when the whole court praised Suzhou style and only things from Suzhou were deemed the best.

Dressed in this way, Liu Dingzhi no longer smelled of wine and instead appeared refined and scholarly, with an air of uncommon dignity.

Even Zhu Qizhen nodded slowly at the sight. After all, anyone who could take first place in the examinations was no easy man.

"Liu Qing," Zhu Qizhen said, "how old are you this year?"

Liu Dingzhi replied, "This servant is twenty-seven."

Zhu Qizhen said, "I am ten years old this year. You are the first champion I have appointed, and you are still young. Perhaps in the years to come, you and I, as sovereign and subject, will work together for a lifetime, and what we do will even be left for our sons and grandsons to use."

Liu Dingzhi heard this and felt that such words could not possibly come from a child. "Your Majesty must not speak such inauspicious words."

Zhu Qizhen smiled faintly. "What is wrong with saying it? Since ancient times, emperors have seldom outlived their ministers. It is only a matter of the old planting trees and the young enjoying the shade. Emperor Renzong nurtured many worthy ministers, and now they serve me. I too must cultivate talent for my children and grandchildren. But even if I am willing to nurture you, you must still prove exceptional."

At once Liu Dingzhi understood what Zhu Qizhen meant. Coupled with the sudden summons, he knew there must be some task for him. Refusal was impossible. He immediately said, "Why does Your Majesty not simply place this minister within his sleeve?"

"Very well," Zhu Qizhen said. "War in the northwest is about to begin. Steward Wang, explain it to him."

"Yes." Wang Zhen agreed at once and began to lay out the causes and consequences of the fighting in the northwest, the interplay among the Oirats, Adai Khan, and Great Ming. He even explained how, after the Oirats had shattered Arughtai, Emperor Xuande had failed in his attempt to rescue him, and recounted the military changes of that ninth year of Xuande's reign in full.

It must be said that news traveled very slowly in this age.

Zhu Qizhen was deeply dissatisfied with the intelligence efficiency of the Embroidered-Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot.

But truthfully, even for a figure of Liu Dingzhi's standing in literary circles, these matters were entirely unknown to him. He had never heard of them, never seen them; for a time he listened, utterly absorbed.

A current of emotion rose within him and gathered into a river, becoming gratitude for being recognized and valued. Though he still did not know what Zhu Qizhen wanted him to do, the emperor had already opened before him such a vast background.

It immediately gave him the feeling of having found a true patron.

After Wang Zhen finished, Zhu Qizhen said, "Lord Liu, you have understood all of this?"

Having passed the examinations, Liu Dingzhi's intelligence was certainly more than adequate. He immediately replied, "This servant understands."

"But I do not understand," Zhu Qizhen said loudly. "This was the army that the Yongle Emperor led on five northern campaigns. And in just a little over ten years, how has it come to this?"

"Adai Khan, with nothing but a band of exiles, dares to offend the might of the celestial court. Is it because he thinks I am young and cannot lead the six armies to punish him? Or does he suppose that without my imperial father, Great Ming can no longer stand?"

The palace attendants, great and small, all knelt upon the floor, trembling.

Zhu Qizhen's anger was half real and half feigned.

Half real, because the situation in the northwest truly enraged him to the point of near death. Half feigned, because he was also showing his wrath to those beneath him. After all, whatever he did in the Hall of Heavenly Purity, unless it was kept under strict secrecy, could scarcely fail to spread.

Those below must know that he, the emperor, was neither blind nor deaf.

Liu Dingzhi said, "May Your Majesty calm your wrath. The abuses of the garrisons have endured for a very long time. Three feet of ice does not form in a single day."

Zhu Qizhen said, "I know that. But I also need to know how many feet of ice there are by now. Otherwise, when the Oirats march south in the future and I summon the loyal army, only for more than a hundred thousand to be reported and yet fewer than forty thousand to arrive outside the walls of Beijing, can these empty numbers deal with me? Can they deal with the Oirats?"

"That is why I have summoned you. I am entrusting you with one task. When General Jiang leads the western expedition this time, you will follow with the army. Remember, you are not a supervising commander. You need only bring your ears and eyes. Count how many horses the northwest horse studs truly have, and how many vacancies there are in each guard and garrison."

"How have the elite troops of Great Ming truly become?"

"Remember to report everything truthfully, without concealment. One or two defeats, Great Ming can still bear; I can still bear them. But if the facts are hidden and then, when war truly comes, the forces are not there, that is what will ruin the realm of our dynasty."

"I obey the imperial command." Liu Dingzhi said solemnly.

Zhu Qizhen said, "Steward Wang, take Lord Liu to the Grand Secretariat. Speak my intentions to Lord Yang and the others, and see what office should be arranged for Lord Liu. Do not let the champion of our dynasty be slighted."

"Yes." Wang Zhen bowed and said.