Chapter 192: The Fourth Power Figure: Fang Zhenghua (Full Revision Requested)

But later, Zhu Youxiao discovered something — having a bodyguard with a maxed-out combat power inside the imperial palace wasn't of much use to him anyway, since no one would charge into the palace to kill him.

Even if someone truly wanted him dead, they would resort to far more underhanded methods.

So Zhu Youxiao had never given Fang Zhenghua much responsibility, but now seemed like a good opportunity.

Fang Zhenghua was a loyal and capable man, not overly driven by personal ambition, so he could be put to use.

In fact, although the Imperial Household Department outwardly appeared to be an office managing imperial affairs, Zhu Youxiao intended to use it as a place to cultivate officials for himself.

In the future, when he needed people, he could dispatch officials from the Imperial Household Department — this was what they meant by "repairing the plank road in the open while secretly crossing at Chencang."

If he openly cultivated officials, it would inevitably provoke resentment from certain people. That was something Zhu Youxiao did not want.

Zhu Youxiao would not reveal his intentions before things came to pass, because that would only put him at a greater disadvantage and make it harder to push matters forward.

For Zhu Youxiao, the less anyone noticed before he made his move, the better. This was also why he had chosen the name "Imperial Household Department."

Because this office had never appeared in any dynasty's history before the Great Ming, he could paint over it however he pleased.

If one had to find a similar institution, the Chamberlain for the Palace Revenues of the Han dynasty might be the closest fit. But Zhu Youxiao had never considered using that name.

The reason was very simple — it was an office recorded in the official histories, and the civil officials all knew exactly what kind of institution it was.

Once "Imperial Household Department" was called "Shaofu" instead, the civil officials of the Great Ming would become wary of the office and even impose restrictions on it from every angle.

That would only add unnecessary difficulty to what Zhu Youxiao was trying to do, so he would never do such a thing.

Thus Zhu Youxiao chose the name "Imperial Household Department" — a name that had never appeared before.

Glancing at Chen Hong, who had walked back in, Zhu Youxiao spoke: "Go and fetch Fang Zhenghua."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong quickly acknowledged, then hurried out to find the man.

For Chen Hong, this period had not felt good. Although he had been promoted, it fell far short of his expectations.

In Chen Hong's mind, having become the seal-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, he should have been the number one eunuch in the palace — but things were far from that.

Not only was there Wei Zhongxian looming over him, but now Wang An also seemed to be staging a comeback; and now His Majesty wanted to see Fang Zhenghua, clearly indicating he might be about to give him an important post.

Once Fang Zhenghua received an important appointment, it would certainly mean his own power was being weakened yet again. Chen Hong felt a sense of crisis.

Originally, Wang An and Wei Zhongxian had not given Chen Hong this feeling, because they were all of the same generation.

But once Fang Zhenghua stepped in, it meant the rise of a newcomer.

To borrow an inopportune phrase, his struggle with Wei Zhongxian and Wang An was an internal conflict — but once Fang Zhenghua walked in, it meant a new man had joined the fight.

So along the way, Chen Hong kept pondering this Fang Zhenghua. He resolved in his heart that once he returned, he would thoroughly investigate him.

Zhu Youxiao did not wait long before Fang Zhenghua walked in from outside.

"This servant pays respects to Your Majesty." Fang Zhenghua knelt at a distance as soon as he entered the great hall.

Seeing Fang Zhenghua prostrate on the ground kowtowing, Zhu Youxiao's expression did not change.

This Fang Zhenghua gave Zhu Youxiao a somewhat different impression. This was not the first time he had seen him, but last time he had not looked very carefully.

Examining Fang Zhenghua anew this time, Zhu Youxiao found that he truly was a powerfully built man — one could never tell he was a eunuch. It seemed his combat prowess was no empty boast.

Most crucially, Zhu Youxiao felt that Fang Zhenghua was a man of considerable discernment.

"Alright, rise." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After Fang Zhenghua stood up from the ground, Zhu Youxiao's gaze fell on him once more, sizing him up from head to toe before speaking: "I hear you've been doing your duties well. This time, I happen to have a matter to entrust to you."

"Please give your orders, Your Majesty. This servant would go through fire and water without hesitation!" Fang Zhenghua quickly replied with utmost respect.

Though he did not know what His Majesty wanted him to do, Fang Zhenghua knew one thing — his chance had come.

After all, Fang Zhenghua's days in the palace had not been easy lately. His patron Wei Chao had been dispatched to Liaodong, which effectively meant his position in the palace had collapsed, and naturally he himself received no favorable treatment.

Now, whatever His Majesty asked him to do, it was an opportunity for him.

Under such circumstances, Fang Zhenghua naturally had no reason to shrink back. He would work with dedication, perform with all his heart, and strive to reach a high position.

So Fang Zhenghua appeared very eager, and his tone and attitude were extremely sincere.

"Do you know about the Imperial Household Department?" Zhu Youxiao asked with a smile.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this servant knows of it." Fang Zhenghua quickly replied: "Lately, both inside and outside the palace, the most discussed topic is the Imperial Household Department. There isn't a eunuch in the palace who doesn't want to go — to them, it's an opportunity."

Rather than muddling through the palace with no future and no light at the end of the tunnel, it was better to go out and gamble on a chance.

But Fang Zhenghua had not expected to have such an opportunity himself, because several of the big figures in the palace were all scrambling over this matter — whether it was Wang An's people, Chen Hong's people standing right there, or Wei Zhongxian's people, all of them were fighting for the position of steward in the Imperial Household Department.

For someone like Fang Zhenghua, whose patron in the palace had fallen, there was basically no chance, so he could hardly find a way to pursue this matter.

He never expected the opportunity to simply arrive like this.

"I intend to send you to the Imperial Household Department. I've already thought out the post for you — you'll manage the Official Selection Bureau for me. Do you know what this office does?" Zhu Youxiao said with a smile.

In the Great Ming, upon hearing the name "Official Selection Bureau," no one could fail to guess what it did. Because there were two obvious examples right there — the Ministry of Personnel had a Civil Appointments Bureau, and the Ministry of War had a Military Appointments Bureau. What these two offices did was known to everyone throughout the court.

The Civil Appointments Bureau selected civil officials, while the Military Appointments Bureau selected military officers.

It could be said that both were offices of real power, and at the same time offices with plenty of gravy. Though they did not look particularly conspicuous, they truly made many people flock to them.

This was equivalent to the personnel department of later generations — placed in a modern government, it would be the Organization Department.

The position Zhu Youxiao gave Fang Zhenghua was equivalent to the head of the Organization Department within the Imperial Household Department.

No one would not want such a post. And since it was personally appointed by Zhu Youxiao, it meant this position was directly under the Emperor himself. What did that signify?

It signified that Fang Zhenghua was the fourth power figure hidden within the Imperial Household Department.

As for the other three — Taikang Earl Zhang Guoji was the nominal leader, serving as the Imperial Household Department minister; the brush-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Wang An, outwardly appeared to be the palace's representative; in addition, the court would also send a supervisory civil official; and Fang Zhenghua was the fourth man holding real power.

Hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Fang Zhenghua felt it was almost unreal.

He was actually going to the Imperial Household Department?

He was actually going to manage the Official Selection Bureau of the Imperial Household Department?

This was a meteoric rise!

Fang Zhenghua quickly steadied his surging heart and said as calmly as he could: "This servant will not let Your Majesty down. I will properly manage the Official Selection Bureau of the Imperial Household Department for Your Majesty."

"Do your work well, don't stir up any trouble, and don't disappoint me." Zhu Youxiao said with a smile.

"This servant will certainly do his work well and will never disappoint Your Majesty." Fang Zheng hua quickly assured him.

"Alright, go then." Zhu Youxiao said with a smile. "You may pick a few people from the palace to go with you. You can't get things done without capable people by your side. Choose a few you trust, and go."

"Yes, Your Majesty." After saying this, Fang Zheng hua stood up and retreated out of the room.

Watching Fang Zheng hua's retreating figure, Zhu Youxiao smiled faintly and said, "Chen Hong, go keep an eye on things. Don't let anyone make trouble for him. If anyone dares to mess around in this matter, come back and tell me."

Though Zhu Youxiao's face carried a smile and his tone was relaxed, the words he spoke were quite serious.

Chen Hong could sense the seriousness and sincerity in His Majesty's words, and his heart trembled instantly.

He had just been thinking about going down later to find Fang Zheng hua and have him arrange a few of his own people in there.

But now, Chen Hong instantly lost that intention.

Chen Hong knew his sovereign very well. If His Majesty allowed him to do something, then he could do it; if His Majesty did not allow him to do it, then he must never do it, otherwise the consequences would be very severe.

Chen Hong quickly said, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. This servant will certainly keep a close watch on them."

Zhu Youxiao nodded.

This was only the first step; there would be a second step to follow.

The Imperial Household Department would inevitably need many people, so Zhu Youxiao planned to handle this matter properly. The first thing he wanted to do concerned the selection of personnel for the Imperial Household Department — an open, public selection.

This was essentially another variant of the civil examinations, but the content tested would not be what the civil examinations tested, and the eight-legged essay would have to step aside entirely.

In the Imperial Household Department's assessments, the eight-legged essay would account for only a small portion, while the rest would consist of practical learning.

Those who passed the Imperial Household Department's assessment could then enter the department and serve as officials.

Through this method, Zhu Youxiao planned to cultivate a batch of pragmatic officials within the Imperial Household Department — even officials with specialized skills whom he could keep and use directly.

Zhu Youxiao called such officials "technical officials," and when the time was right, he would bring them into the imperial court.

Once there were enough officials from the Imperial Household Department, Zhu Youxiao could then begin reforming the civil examinations, and these technical officials would become steadfast supporters of his examination reforms.

Relying on Xu Guangqi and the others certainly wouldn't work — their strength was too weak, and besides, they had also risen through the civil examinations themselves. Whether they would truly endorse Zhu Youxiao's approach was hard to say.

So Zhu Youxiao needed to open up a new battlefield.

If Xu Guangqi and the others supported his examination reforms, then the two forces could merge into one; if they did not support him, then he would replace Xu Guangqi and the rest.