Chapter 186: This Emperor Is Not One to Stay Put

Empress Zhang, though she had many ideas and was a fairly knowledgeable woman, was still young after all, and knew little of court affairs from outside the palace. Even if someone had briefed her on these matters, they could not have explained everything thoroughly.

After hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Empress Zhang felt that what he said made sense.

Most importantly, if her own father could take on this task, then it truly would be a good thing, because her father had not meddled in court politics but rather managed matters for the imperial house, and she, as Empress, could also help in some ways.

So Empress Zhang said softly, "Your concubine fears her father might not do well and delay Your Majesty's affairs."

Zhu Youxiao smiled and waved his hand.

This was a brand new matter after all—no one knew who could do it well and who could not. Besides, even if it was done poorly, it was no great matter; it was just a family affair. What could possibly go wrong?

At most, some silver would be embezzled. To Zhu Youxiao, that was hardly a concern.

Because no matter who was put in charge, it would be the same—such embezzlement was unavoidable.

If in the future he felt this small sum was no big deal, he would not pursue Zhang Guoji, and would treat the money as a gift to him; otherwise, the annual allowances given to the Emperor's father-in-law would amount to no small sum anyway.

If Zhang Guoji took too much and he felt the loss, then he could just take it back. At that time he could also charge him with a crime, and following that thread, sweep up all those who associated with him in one net.

No matter how far Zhang Guoji went, it would not be a bad thing for him. So Zhu Youxiao was not worried in the least.

"Then let it be settled!" Zhu Youxiao made the final decision directly, speaking with certainty.

"Then I shall follow all of Your Majesty's arrangements." Empress Zhang said with some shyness.

Seeing Empress Zhang like this, Zhu Youxiao's appetite was immediately stirred; he reached out, took her hand, and walked with her into the bedchamber.

It was better to do some exercise beneficial to body and mind.

Late in the night, Empress Zhang felt somewhat hot and stuffy. To avoid disturbing His Majesty, she quietly rose from his embrace, wrapped only in an inner garment, and went to the window, gently pushing open the wooden casement.

She watched the soft, silk-like clouds in the east clustering around the bright full moon as it rose slowly, its clear radiance casting a ring of colored light around it, deepening and fading, faint and elusive.

Empress Zhang stared blankly at the round moon. She recalled her father's instructions before she entered the palace, and then thought of His Majesty's heartfelt words during the day, and a trace of melancholy crept into her eyes.

The next morning, Zhu Youxiao rose rather late. After breakfast served by Empress Zhang, he left Kunning Palace.

On the way to Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youxiao kept reminding himself: in the future, he should restrain himself in such matters; otherwise, this body truly could not take it. He must not be young and reckless with his health. If he ruined his body, he would be unable to do anything at all.

After returning to Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youxiao said to Chen Hong beside him, "Go summon the Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat for me. I have matters to discuss with them."

What Zhu Youxiao wanted to discuss was naturally the matter of the Imperial Household Department.

These matters required the consent of the Grand Secretaries, and also their cooperation; otherwise, it would be difficult to handle. However, Zhu Youxiao felt the difficulty was not great, because this was after all a matter of the imperial house.

Another very important point was that he had just proclaimed to all under heaven, so the Grand Secretariat would be too embarrassed to disagree.

On the surface, this Imperial Household Department would mostly manage palace affairs, with little relation to the Grand Secretariat. After palace affairs were separated from the court, the Grand Secretariat would actually be more at ease.

As for the future development of the Imperial Household Department, the Grand Secretariat probably would not worry too much. Even if they were somewhat wary, they could not foresee what the Imperial Household Department would grow into.

Others did not know, but Zhu Youxiao, who came from a later age, knew very well that the Imperial Household Department was a monster—once unleashed, it would be like a fierce tiger freed from its cage, absolutely startling everyone.

Especially under the forging and endorsement of himself as Emperor, the Imperial Household Department would absolutely become an existence that many people feared.

In the original course of history, the development of the Qing dynasty's Imperial Household Department had already been quite alarming.

The Imperial Household Department was an institution unique to the Qing dynasty, with over three thousand officials—more than ten times the number in the busiest Ministry of Revenue. It could be said to be the largest organ of the Qing government, penetrating into food, lodging, transportation, and all manner of affairs.

All of the Emperor's matters were handled by the Imperial Household Department. Its directly subordinate organs comprised seven directorates and three courts: the main directorates being Guangchu, Duyu, Zhangyi, Accounting, Construction, Shenxing, and Qingfeng, which respectively managed imperial finances, warehousing, guards and attendants, mountain and marsh gathering, ritual, imperial estate rents, engineering, punishments, and animal husbandry.

Additionally, the Court of the Imperial Stud managed imperial horses, the Court of Military Equipment manufactured and stored canopies, saddles and armor, swords, spears, bows and arrows, and the Court of the Imperial Parks managed the maintenance and repair of various imperial gardens—together known as the Seven Directorates and Three Courts.

The Imperial Household Department also had over thirty subsidiary organs, including the Three Weaving Offices, spread throughout the country.

As long as he wanted to use the Imperial Household Department to do something, there was no place its tentacles could not reach. Whether it was the sensitive salt or iron trades domestically, or any affair anywhere, as long as the Imperial Household Department wanted to intervene, it could find a justification.

This would be an extremely vast government office, and at the same time an office where he, the Emperor, had the final say.

From its very establishment, this office would be under the control of the Emperor himself, so there was no possibility of it being seized by others. Because from the appointment of its officials, it would be an office thoroughly inclined toward the Emperor, including many eunuchs and palace maids.

The Grand Secretaries arrived quickly. They did not know what Zhu Youxiao wanted with them. In fact, the entire court was currently busy, and everyone had their own affairs to attend to.

Sun Chengzong and Xu Guangqi, while adapting to the Grand Secretariat, also had to manage their Ministry of War and Ministry of Revenue respectively, so they were naturally extremely busy. Sorting out all the relationships above and below would take time.

In addition, Han Kuang was adapting to his position as Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, while needing to coordinate relations among the various factions at court.

Another thing keeping them busy was the adjustment of official posts. One must understand that changes at the center always represented changes in the localities—many positions needed adjustment. At the very least, they needed to install their own people, which was also a matter requiring much time and energy.

The only one who was somewhat better off and more relaxed was probably Huang Kezuan, Minister of Justice. After entering the Grand Secretariat, his situation had not changed much from before, but he still had plenty to do, since he was now a Grand Secretary as well.

After the four arrived, they bowed to Zhu Youxiao and said, "Your ministers pay respects to Your Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "Beloved ministers, no need for ceremony!"

After everyone had straightened up, Zhu Youxiao spoke: "Today I have summoned you beloved ministers because there is a matter I wish to discuss with you. These past few days in the palace, I have been thinking about some things, and I wish to make some changes."

Hearing this, the four all tensed up.

One should know that what they feared hearing most right now was "change."

For them at present, stability outweighed everything. As long as the current situation could be stabilized, they would be satisfied—this was the time they least wanted change.

Now that Zhu Youxiao was proposing change, how could they not be worried?

But Zhu Youxiao did not look at their expressions. This was something he had to do, and it was imperative.

Glancing at Chen Hong standing not far away, Zhu Youxiao instructed, "Send these documents over to them and let them take a look."

Having said this, Zhu Youxiao looked at the Grand Secretaries and said with a smile, "Beloved ministers, take a look first, and then we shall discuss."

Each of the four received a booklet and quickly flipped through it.

The contents of the booklet were not very complicated—just a procedure for establishing the Imperial Household Department. Its powers and responsibilities were also clearly written: it was for the convenience of managing all affairs of His Majesty the Emperor.

As for the purpose of its establishment, that was also written there. In plain terms, it was to make a separation from the court government, making jurisdiction more convenient. At least on the surface it appeared so. At the same time, such jurisdiction would reduce the phenomenon of overstaffing, save some silver, and reduce friction between the two sides.

This was Zhu Youxiao's original intention in establishing this office, and that was what was written in the booklet.

"I was thinking that after the Imperial Household Department is established, there will be no need to trouble you beloved ministers for anything. At that time, the court will no longer have to squabble endlessly over matters in my palace, saving trouble all around." Zhu Youxiao said with a smile.

This matter was not Zhu Youxiao making things up—such an incident had actually occurred long before.

Someone had submitted a memorial impeaching the Donglin Faction, saying they were far too concerned with the Emperor's harem affairs, which was not their business. Court ministers should govern the realm properly and not stare at the trivial matters of the Emperor's harem every day.

Then someone rebutted, saying that the Emperor's affairs were the realm's affairs—the imperial house had no private matters.

Those who criticized the Donglin Faction were in turn accused of fawning on the Emperor without any bottom line. The two sides argued endlessly, and this trend still existed at court even now—it was only that after Zhu Youxiao's earlier shock treatment, both sides had become considerably more subdued.

Zhu Youxiao held such claims in great contempt.

What did they mean by "the imperial household has no private matters"?

That was nothing more than an excuse—a pretext that would allow the Donglin Faction to truly meddle in the Emperor's harem. To put it plainly, what the Donglin Faction needed was an ancestral tablet, a puppet Emperor—someone who would listen to them in everything. As for the Emperor's own thoughts, they simply did not matter.

The several Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat present were all shrewd veterans who had weathered many years in officialdom, and they naturally discerned their sovereign's meaning.

They could also see that this young Son of Heaven did not wish to be controlled by them, that he wanted to break free and carve out a sky of his own.

From this sovereign's past deeds and actions, one could already tell that he was not a docile, rule-abiding Emperor.

The documents had been reviewed, but the men found themselves at a loss for how to decide, for they truly could not tell whether they should agree or oppose. After all, no one knew what the Imperial Household Department would actually look like once established.

"Your Majesty, how will the ministers of this Imperial Household Department be appointed?" At this moment, Sun Chengzong spoke up first.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Sun Chengzong. His expression did not change in the slightest—he merely offered a faint smile.

Zhu Youxiao could roughly guess what Sun Chengzong was thinking. He was worried that the Imperial Household Department would ultimately degenerate into a tool for this Emperor to exploit the realm, just like the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.