Chapter Fifteen: Miscellaneous Affairs Before the New Year

On October 16th, the Ministry of Rites submitted a memorial requesting the selection of a bride for the emperor’s wedding. Zhu Youxiao declined, citing the mourning period, but when the ministry repeated its request, he agreed to first select the officials in charge, then choose an auspicious date to begin the proceedings.

On the fifth day of the twelfth month, Fang Zhenru, Censor of Huguang, submitted a memorial urging His Majesty to marry soon, arguing that only with an empress presiding within the palace would the inner court be properly managed and sycophants deterred from currying favor. Zhu Youxiao simply replied, “I have understood,” thus setting the process of the marriage selection in motion.

The reason Zhu Youxiao agreed at this time was because the Embroidered Uniform Guard reported that Zhang Yan was now completely recovered; her father and stepmother were actively preparing for the beauty selection. More importantly, Zhou Yuji had received another letter, containing a single line: “If anyone inquires about your master’s relatives, have him say he is the nephew of Zhang Guoji, Deputy Director of the Yunnan Revenue Service in the Ministry of Revenue.” Furthermore, the Embroidered Uniform Guard sent word that Baozhu had spoken in her sleep at night: “Your Majesty, please pardon my cousin Zhu Xiaoqi.” This moved and reassured Zhu Youxiao greatly. She truly harbored feelings for him, but knowing her situation was hopeless, she agreed to enter the selection, at least partly to save him. Such a devoted and beautiful woman—he felt he had truly found a treasure.

Naturally, he would not interfere in the selection process; with Zhang Yan’s beauty, it would indeed be a marvel if she did not pass the initial selection. Once she entered the palace, Madam Ke would also be involved—she was aware of the situation and would not allow Zhang Yan to fail.

With the prospect of such beauty, Zhu Youxiao found himself in high spirits. At this time, the Ministry of Works submitted a report: this year was originally the forty-eighth year of the Wanli era. After his father ascended the throne, next year should have been the first year of the Taichang era. However, since his father reigned for only a month before his own enthronement, next year would become the first year of the Tianqi era. Therefore, it was decided that this year would be changed to the first year of Taichang, as had long been discussed among the ministers. Yet, since his father had been emperor, coins bearing the Taichang era name had to be minted. The Ministry of Works proposed to begin minting Taichang coins immediately, until the first year of Tianqi. Due to regional differences, one silver tael equaled one hundred coins in the south, but sixty-three coins in the north. Zhu Youxiao approved the proposal and thought of the coinage machinery, instructing Xu Guangqi to inquire with the missionaries.

Xu Guangqi reported that upon receiving his letter, the missionaries had already dispatched someone aboard a western ship, and news regarding the coinage machine, blueprints, and craftsmen should arrive before June of the following year. Although the missionaries lacked blueprints, two of them had seen machines used by the church to mint gold coins. While they could not build one themselves, they knew the basic specifications, the required area, and staffing needs, so preliminary preparations for the site, buildings, and water power could begin. Zhu Youxiao recalled there was another person Xu Guangqi had recommended but had not yet appointed, and he asked, “Sir, last time you recommended two worthy men—one is now overseeing the Translation Bureau; what position does the other hold?”

“Your Majesty, the other is Li Zhizao, currently Magistrate of Gaoyou, in charge of the Southern Canal, and formerly Deputy Minister at the Nanjing Court of Imperial Horses.”

“Who is now in charge of minting coins?”

“Your Majesty, the Baoyuan Bureau under the Ministry of Works is in charge; subordinate Baoyuan Bureaus under each provincial administration also have authority to mint coins.”

“How disorderly! This must be changed. Issue an edict: promote Li Zhizao to Deputy Minister of the Court of Imperial Banquets and concurrently to Director in the Ministry of Works, making him responsible for the Mint. He is to oversee all preparatory matters for the Mint. The two missionaries are to assist him in site selection and building construction.”

“Your Majesty, will the Mint be under the Baoyuan Bureau?”

“The Mint will report directly to the Ministry of Works; eventually, the Baoyuan Bureau is to be merged into the Mint.”

Relieved, Xu Guangqi was pleased—his good friend had been promoted, and the task suited his interests and expertise. Most importantly, there would be no interference from above. Once he returned, Xu Guangqi thought, he would owe his friend a celebratory drink.

Luo Sigong came to report that Luo Yangxing had uncovered a spy ring in Shenyang operated by the Jurchens, capturing thirteen spies including Tong Buchang, nephew of Tong Yangxing, a trusted associate of Nurhaci. Tong Yangxing was among the earliest Han traitors to side with Nurhaci; the Manchu leader had given him a princess as wife and the title “Favored Consort’s Husband,” along with the rank of third-class Vice General.

Seeing such prompt results, Zhu Youxiao was quite pleased. He promoted Luo Sigong, Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to Left Commander, retaining his authority, and promoted Luo Yangxing to Vice Commander of the Guard, encouraging them to continue rooting out spies in Liaodong.

Yang Lian had been promoted and was now Senior Censor of the Military Section. He submitted a memorial recounting the recent transfer of Lady Li from her palace, noting that the outer court might not be fully aware of the circumstances and seeking permission to speak frankly about the matter from the beginning. He presented the incident from his perspective, including the fire at the Yueloong Palace, stating his purpose was to clarify misunderstandings and defend His Majesty against accusations of harshness towards his family.

Zhu Youxiao thought: Yang has his own perspective. At least he suspected Lady Li might be wielding power behind the curtain, thus his behavior toward her. This was not unreasonable. After all, clarity comes from heeding all sides. Still, Zhu Youxiao did not believe Yang Lian was motivated purely by a desire to exonerate him; there was nothing he needed to be exonerated for—he knew very well how he had treated Lady Li. Rather, Yang Lian was seeking to justify himself and win imperial approval for his role in the palace transfer. Therefore, Zhu Youxiao instructed the clerk to convey to Yang Lian: “With this memorial, my sullied name is now cleansed.”

He intended merely to mock Yang Lian a little, but Fang Congzhe immediately submitted a memorial, saying, “Your Majesty’s reply to Yang Lian included the phrase ‘my sullied name is now cleansed.’ Yet, from the palace to the throne, all Your Majesty’s actions are well known within and without. There is no stain to be washed. Yang Lian was already praised for his outspokenness; if he is further commended in a special edict, it will only arouse suspicion and unease. I cannot be at ease with such a precedent.”

This was well said—the words of a truly steady and experienced minister. Though there was much clamor in court to dismiss Fang Congzhe, after dealing with him daily, Zhu Youxiao realized that their views often aligned. Sometimes, only the emperor and the chief minister shared the same perspective amid the outcry of others. Even if only out of a sense of shared fate, Zhu Youxiao was determined not to let Fang Congzhe be removed.

This brought to mind Xiong Tingbi. Last time, under pressure from the ministers, Zhu Youxiao had dismissed him, for he was unsure of Xiong’s actual performance. Was it not said: “No investigation, no right to speak”? Perhaps he ought to send someone to Liaodong to assess the situation—or have Luo Yangxing submit a report with his views, though his focus was on counter-espionage, not military affairs.

On the seventh day of the twelfth month, he issued an edict appointing Zhu Tongqin, Senior Censor of the Military Section, as imperial inspector to Liaodong, to investigate and report back to the court.

At this time, Yuan Yingtai, Minister in charge of Liaodong, requested that Jiang Bi, Deputy Commander of the Eastern Division at Jizhen, be promoted to Vice General to reinforce Liaodong. Naturally, Zhu Youxiao approved any measures against the Jurchens. On the tenth day of the twelfth month, he issued an edict: “In recognition of the border troops’ diligence, they are to be rewarded.” He ordered the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War to ascertain the actual number of officers and soldiers stationed from Liaodong to Gansu along the border. The capital garrison was already in chaos; it would be truly miraculous if there were no irregularities in those distant borderlands.