Chapter 80: The Palace Examination of the Second Year of the Tianqi Era

After receiving his appointment, Zhang Heming hesitated to set out, claiming he needed time to prepare. He lingered in the capital for seventeen days, and only when the emperor pressed him urgently did he reluctantly depart for Shanhaiguan.

Upon arrival at Shanhaiguan, Zhang Heming made no effort to scout the enemy or train his troops. Instead, he spent his days drinking and petitioning the court to offer benefits to the Mongols, hoping to have them bear the brunt of the fighting against the Jianzhou Jurchens. The Mongols, now cunning and shrewd, naturally accepted the gifts but were reluctant to engage directly in battle, insisting the Ming forces would assist them only after they took the lead.

After some time, Zhang Heming perhaps realized that such an approach was precarious. He feigned illness to request a recall and meanwhile encouraged certain Donglin faction officials to impeach him for idleness. When Emperor Zhu Youxiao received the memorials, he had no choice but to order Zhang’s return for recuperation.

The cabinet then recommended Xie Jingbang to succeed him. Thus, the emperor promoted Xie Jingbang, the governor of Xuanfu, to Right Vice Minister of War and concurrently appointed him Right Vice Censor-in-Chief to oversee Liaodong. Yet Xie Jingbang submitted three memorials fervently declining the heavy responsibility; no matter the emperor’s entreaties, he refused to go to the perilous Liaodong frontier. Amused, Zhu Youxiao remarked on the state of Ming scholar-officials and issued an edict stripping Xie of office and barring him from future service.

With no alternative, the ministers began deliberations at court. After much effort, the onerous charge fell upon Wang Zaijin, Left Vice Minister of War.

In the second year of the Tianqi era, in March, the emperor decreed: “Promote Wang Zaijin to Minister of War and concurrently Right Deputy Censor-in-Chief, charged with overseeing Liaodong, Jizhen, Tianjin, Deng, and Lai. Bestow upon him the honor of a python-patterned jade ornament, a silk sash, and a Shangfang sword.”

Yuan Chonghuan was also elevated to Deputy Commander of the Ning Frontier troops and accompanied Wang Zaijin to take up residence at Shanhaiguan.

After sending off Wang Zaijin, the first palace examination since Zhu Youxiao’s accession was about to commence.

The provincial examinations for Tianqi’s second year had been held on the ninth, twelfth, and fifteenth days of the second lunar month, differing slightly from history in that the chief examiner was Fang Congzhe rather than Ye Xianggao, who only served as a co-examiner.

The palace examination was to take place, as usual since the eighth year of Chenghua, on the fifteenth day of the third lunar month. As it was the first such exam since his enthronement, Zhu Youxiao took it seriously. He first promoted his Confucian tutor Yuan Keli to Director of the Tongzheng Office’s Left Branch and appointed him as the palace exam reader.

Inquiring carefully about the examination procedures, Zhu Youxiao learned that his role was minimal—the exam merely finalized rankings, with the questions already prepared by the cabinet. His presence during the exam was merely to signify that the successful candidates were indeed the emperor’s disciples.

Despite this, he was exhilarated. He felt that many officials excelled only in mutual recrimination, shirking practical governance. Members of the Donglin faction such as Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou incessantly attacked Li Xuan for suspected undue influence behind the curtain; even venerable Ye Xianggao, as Vice Minister, persistently assailed General Xiong Tingbi merely to benefit his own protégés. Not a single suggestion addressed how to deal with the Jianzhou Jurchens or improve agricultural yields. Zhang Heming and Xie Jingbang had not even dared remain on the Liaodong frontier. Zhu Youxiao wished to find men capable of real achievement, not mere eloquent but ineffectual talkers. Therefore, he altered the cabinet’s exam questions.

That night, on the fifteenth of March, the palace examination began. After the candidates entered, Zhu Youxiao made a grand entrance. The assembly bowed and cried out “Long live the emperor!” Yuan Keli then announced the topic: “Master Wang Yangming advocates the unity of knowledge and action. Years hence, many among you will serve as provincial governors, remonstrators, or frontier commanders. Choose your ambition and expound your principles of governance. By imperial decree.”

Yuan Keli read the topic thrice. The candidates were taken aback—palace exams traditionally drew from the Three Dynasties’ governance, the sages’ teachings, or addressed specific administrative issues. This open-ended question on personal ambition and policy was unprecedented. Yet the emperor’s word was law, so they set themselves to the task.

As the candidates penned their essays, Zhu Youxiao, growing bored, wished to observe their answers firsthand. Yuan Keli urgently dissuaded him: “Your Majesty must not watch; it will disturb the candidates.” Resigned, the emperor looked around instead. He noticed most candidates deep in thought, but one was writing fervently. Curious, he fixed his gaze upon the man, sensing a vague familiarity.

The candidate seemed to feel the attention and glanced up. Zhu Youxiao was startled to stand abruptly—it was Zhu Xiaotian, his elder brother! He stepped forward but immediately caught himself: he was in Ming China, so his brother could not possibly be present. This must be someone resembling him. Crestfallen, he sank back into his seat.

The candidate noticed the emperor’s strange behavior but merely found it odd and resumed writing. The officials nearby were puzzled but said nothing, following the emperor’s gaze to the assembly of candidates.

When time was called, the candidates rose and bowed. Zhu Youxiao was struck anew by how much the candidate resembled his brother: the same pale, slender frame and sharp, bright eyes. The sole difference was the candidate’s short beard, whereas his brother shaved daily—yet he suspected that without shaving, his brother might look exactly like this.

He memorized the candidate’s seat and, after collecting the papers, summoned his essay. The man’s name was Lu Xiangsheng, from Yixing County in Changzhou Prefecture of South Zhili. Reading Lu’s essay, Zhu Youxiao was amazed. Lu detailed his strategy if appointed Liaodong commander, focusing on resisting the Jianzhou Jurchens. He advocated training elite and unconventional troops; the elite soldiers should be chosen from among kin to bolster morale and mutual support, with commanders sharing hardships alongside them to earn their loyalty. Lu gently criticized the current state of affairs, where soldiers knew not their generals and generals not their troops.

For the unconventional troops—tasked with raids and surprise attacks—he emphasized rigorous standards, believing such forces could decisively influence battle outcomes if properly employed.

Regarding the Jianzhou Jurchens, Lu argued that initial defense should concentrate on fortifying large Liaodong cities with artillery and firearms. Once the troops were well-trained, forces could advance along three routes: one to intimidate the Jianzhou from western Liaodong, another to harass their rear through Korea, and the main force from southern Liaodong. Utilizing the Ming navy’s superiority, he predicted that within a short time, the Jianzhou influence could be compressed near Liaoyang and Shenyang. Then, a two-pronged attack from west and south Liaodong could drive them beyond the border walls.