Chapter 111: Useless Teammates

Glancing at Chen Hong standing beside him, Zhu Youxiao asked softly, "Is something the matter?"

"Your Majesty, the Embroidered Uniform Guard sent word. Something happened at today's lecture by Master Chen Kedao."

Zhu Youxiao nodded.

It would be normal for something to happen. If nothing happened, that would be abnormal instead.

Glancing at Chen Hong, Zhu Youxiao asked, "What happened?"

"Your Majesty, first someone went up on stage to debate with Master Chen, then the two sides broke into conflict. Some tried to rush the stage to attack Master Chen, and someone even shouted about following Confucius in executing Shao Zhengmao. The lecture hall descended into chaos. Regional Military Commissioner Luo Sigong of the Embroidered Uniform Guard then had his men escort Master Chen away."

As he spoke, Chen Hong watched Zhu Youxiao carefully, trying to gauge His Majesty's reaction.

But Chen Hong was soon disappointed, because Zhu Youxiao showed no reaction at all, still sitting expressionless and drinking his tea.

In truth, that people would want Chen Kedao dead was something Zhu Youxiao had long anticipated.

Because Zhu Youxiao knew what Chen Kedao was going to speak about, and he also knew what waves it would stir once Chen Kedao opened his mouth to lecture.

Because this was exactly what Zhu Youxiao wanted to do, so it was no surprise that someone wanted to kill Chen Kedao.

Struggles over political lines, struggles over power—these have never been bloodless. So such an outcome was hardly unexpected.

But the part about someone shouting to follow Confucius in executing Shao Zhengmao—that Chen Kedao had not anticipated, because this matter was hardly a glorious one to begin with.

Moreover, there was another reason: many people did not acknowledge this event at all.

The earliest record of this matter comes from Xunzi.

According to Xunzi's account, Confucius, serving in Lu as Minister of Justice and acting in the capacity of chief minister, executed Shao Zhengmao, a grand master of Lu, a mere seven days into his tenure. The reason given was that Shao Zhengmao combined five kinds of wickedness, gathered crowds at his home, preached heresy, and courted attention—already a champion among petty men—and therefore had to be killed.

Later works such as the Yin Wenzi, the Shuoyuan, and the Kongzi Jiayu all cited Xunzi's account, holding that Confucius did execute Shao Zhengmao.

However, Zhu Xi of the Southern Song held that Confucius did not execute Shao Zhengmao. Once this view was put forth, many scholars expressed agreement.

Their main reasons were:

First, the works of the Hundred Schools were full of allegories and not to be trusted. The Zuozhuan, Guoyu, Lunyu, and Mengzi, all composed earlier than the Xunzi, made no mention of this matter. Moreover, the Zuozhuan and Guoyu often slandered Confucius, yet even they did not mention it—showing that historically there was no such event as Confucius executing Shao Zhengmao.

Second, Confucius only acted as chief minister for seven days. For one grand master to kill another grand master in that position was simply impossible.

Third, Confucius advocated benevolence and firmly opposed casual killing. When a grand master of Lu proposed "killing the unjust to make way for the just," Confucius expressed his opposition.

The execution of Shao Zhengmao was inconsistent with Confucius's consistent philosophy.

Therefore, in the matter of Chen Kedao's lecture, it was improper for the School of Principle to raise the slogan of Confucius killing Shao Zhengmao.

Because their leader Zhu Xi denied this event. And many schools within the School of Principle also endorsed this denial.

So this time, they should not have used this as their slogan.

This reminded Zhu Youxiao of a phrase: useless teammates.

It was like the reforms of the Song Dynasty. The conservatives attacked the reformers for forming cliques for private gain, and in response someone submitted a "Discourse on Factions"—that someone being Ouyang Xiu.

In the "Discourse on Factions," Ouyang Xiu openly admitted that factions did exist, then went on to argue at great length.

In truth, who cares what kind of faction you are? As long as you form a faction, you are intolerable to the ruler. No matter how high-sounding your words, no one will believe you.

Tapping lightly on the armrest of his chair, Zhu Youxiao felt that he could now make his move.

Glancing at Chen Hong standing at his side, Zhu Youxiao instructed, "That routine memorial from Zhu Tongmeng last time—it's still kept, isn't it?"

Hearing Zhu Youxiao's question, Chen Hong quickly replied, "Your Majesty, it is still kept."

Many routine memorials in the palace were kept without reply, meaning they had been read but not answered. These memorials ultimately ended up being taken out and burned, and were generally not preserved for long.

But the memorial Zhu Youxiao mentioned was different. This one had been kept all along.

Although it too was kept without reply, the circumstances were different.

At the time, Chen Hong had wondered what use His Majesty had for keeping such a memorial. Now it seemed it really would prove useful.

Zhu Youxiao nodded and directly instructed, "Send this memorial to Yu Maohuai, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate."

This time was also a test of Yu Maohuai by Zhu Youxiao.

Yu Maohuai was not a member of the Donglin Faction, nor did he curry favor with Donglin, and he was ostracized within the Censorate. But Zhu Youxiao had promoted him, precisely to pacify the Censorate.

But sometimes, pacification alone was not enough—one also had to know how to get things done.

This was Zhu Youxiao's test for Yu Maohuai. If he could handle the matter well, if he could understand how to serve the Emperor, then this man could be promoted and given important duties.

As for having no subordinates under him, that problem was very easy to solve.

Chen Hong did not know why His Majesty wanted him to deliver this memorial to Yu Maohuai, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, but he knew that since His Majesty had given such an order, something major was certainly about to happen.

He quickly bowed and said, "This servant will see to it at once."

Watching Chen Hong's retreating figure, a smile appeared on Zhu Youxiao's face.

When Zhu Tongmeng originally wrote that memorial, he probably never imagined it would play such a role. Once the matter came to light, Zhu Tongmeng himself would surely be taken aback.

But as for Zhu Tongmeng, after this affair was concluded, he could consider promoting the man.

As the saying goes, merit deserves reward—and it also served to make his stance clear: You should all learn from him! If you don't learn from him, how can I promote you?

The power of such role models is limitless, and it is a tool leaders often employ.

But the rewards a leader offers must be something people desire, only then can they inspire those who come after.

Generous rewards will always attract brave men, so the reward must be substantial.

Zhu Youxiao was pondering how to reward Zhu Tongmeng, so that countless successors would follow in his wake.

Meanwhile, Chen Hong had already arrived at the Censorate and met Yu Maohuai, the Left Censor-in-Chief, at the earliest opportunity.

Though the two were not strangers to dealing with each other, they could hardly be called familiar.

Last time, Chen Hong had tried to play the game of offering charcoal in the snow, but was interrupted by Zhu Youxiao, and Chen Hong understood that His Majesty was displeased with the matter.

Since that time, Chen Hong naturally had not contacted Yu Maohuai again, so when the two met, there was still a slight awkwardness.

But after a few simple pleasantries, the atmosphere improved considerably.

Yu Maohuai did not beat around the bush and asked directly, "May I ask what business brings the eunuch here today?"

Chen Hong said nothing, and simply placed a routine memorial before Yu Maohuai.

Yu Maoheng was momentarily taken aback, but instinctively picked up the routine memorial anyway.