Chapter 193: I Am Zhang Yu, Courtesy Name Tuizhi—But I Will Not Retreat

The reverse was also true—once officials appointed by Zhu Youxiao stood in opposition to him, he would use personnel from the Imperial Household Department to balance them out.

From the perspective of officialdom, the word "balance" was something one could never escape.

Having arranged for Fang Zheng to be promoted to the Personnel Selection Office of the Imperial Household Department, Zhu Youxiao could finally breathe a sigh of relief—the Imperial Household Department was now on the right track.

However, there was still one matter to handle, and that was the question of selecting personnel for the Imperial Household Department. Although it was to be decided through examination, this was not a fair selection, but one filled with political bias.

This burden would have to fall on his father-in-law, Zhang Guoji.

Tapping the tabletop slowly with his fingers, Zhu Youxiao pondered how to get his father-in-law to agree to this matter—he might need to think of some way.

His father-in-law, although timid, incompetent, and corrupt, was not stupid—he knew which things were not easy to do.

As for what method to use... how about arranging a person for his father-in-law?

That was a good idea—he would think it over carefully later.

Meanwhile, in an inn in the capital, two people were conversing.

One was a thin, small-framed young man, looking utterly dejected at the moment, sitting in a chair drinking wine, speaking with some hesitation: "Are you really not going to reconsider?"

These words were directed by the young man at the man sitting across from him.

Sitting across from him was also a young man—somewhat plumper by comparison, with delicate features, a sturdy build, and a very spirited appearance.

Hearing his words, the man smiled and said: "There's no need to reconsider. I don't want to try again. I've taken the examinations several times in a row now, and not once have I succeeded."

"Three years and another three years, three years and another three years—how many three-year periods does a man have in his life?" Saying this, the man laughed at himself wryly.

"Tuizhi, why go this far? How can this not be another opportunity?" the thin man said earnestly. "If the path of the imperial examinations is blocked, we can take other roads—there's no need for this."

The man called Tuizhi wore a bitter smile on his face. He raised his head, looked at the thin man, and said helplessly: "Chang Geng, how is it you still don't understand? It's not that our scholarship is lacking—it's that we've sided with the wrong camp. This world will not give us a way out."

The man called Chang Geng was taken aback, then asked hesitantly: "Why would Tuizhi say such a thing?"

"Who do we believe in? We believe in Zhang Zai, we study the Guanzhong School. No one at court will give us a chance. We can pass the juren examination, but we will absolutely never pass the jinshi. Why can't you understand this?" Tuizhi spoke like a man awakened from a dream, as if he had already recognized his place.

"It's not that we're inadequate—it's that we believed in the wrong learning, we studied the wrong learning. It was the same with the imperial examinations before, and it's the same with the Imperial Household Department now. And what is the Imperial Household Department anyway? It's merely His Majesty's household servants—where is there any room for advancement? We've read the books of the sages for so many years—do we really just want to become household servants for the imperial family?" After speaking, Tuizhi drank heavily.

Raising his head to look at Tuizhi, Chang Geng said firmly: "No one is going to take the Imperial Household Department examination, and we have not believed in the wrong learning, nor have we studied the wrong learning. If there is any fault, then the fault is not ours—the fault is with this age, absolutely not with our learning!"

Just as the atmosphere was growing tense, a man suddenly burst in from outside, walking hurriedly with a joyful expression on his face.

Seeing that the atmosphere between the two was off, the joy on the newcomer's face faded, and the words he had wanted to say were swallowed back down.

He hesitated slightly, then turned to look at Chang Geng and asked: "Second brother, what's wrong? Why are you arguing with Tuizhi again? How many times have you two argued? Why can't it ever end?"

"Big brother, Tuizhi wants to leave." Chang Geng said with a sigh.

Hearing this, the big brother also fell into silence. Though his expression showed some hesitation, he still turned to look at Tuizhi and said consolingly: "Why go this far? The court is already changing—can't you see that?"

"What is there to see? Before it was the School of Principle, now it's the School of Mind—what difference is there?"

"Do they have the breadth of mind to embrace all schools? They don't. They will do the same things those before them did, and we will still have no chance to rise." Tuizhi spoke with righteous indignation.

Then turning to look at the two men, Tuizhi said bluntly: "You, Song Yingsheng, and you, Song Yingxing—you two brothers have studied together since childhood, diligent beyond ordinary men, gifted beyond ordinary men. You passed the xiucai examination early, and passed the juren examination early. But what has been the result?"

"Many times, doing scholarship well is useless—the road simply doesn't lead anywhere."

"I, Zhang Yu, Zhang Tuizhi—am I not the same? I've studied since childhood. Of the classics, histories, philosophers, and collected works, what do I not understand? Of the Four Books and Five Classics, what am I not versed in? But so what?"

"Devoting my heart to serving the state yet finding no gate to serve it—isn't it just because we studied the Guanzhong School? Isn't it just because we're not their people and don't believe in their doctrines?"

Song Yingxing looked at Zhang Yu and said in a deep voice: "I, on the contrary, feel that this time is an opportunity."

Zhang Yu gave a cold laugh, said nothing, and sat down to one side, no longer speaking—clearly having no intention of continuing the conversation with the two men. It was plainly a case of "I can't convince you, and you can't convince me."

Looking at the two men, Song Yingsheng spoke up: "I won't argue with you two about this—the matter between you two, you'll have to resolve it yourselves. But perhaps I can provide you both with a direction, because I have indeed discovered some things. Perhaps this time really is an opportunity. News has just come out from the court."

Hearing these words, Song Yingxing quickly raised his head.

Beside him, Zhang Yu also raised his head. Though he had spoken fiercely and decisively just now, it was precisely because he cared, precisely because he was unwilling to accept it, that he was so decisive and so fierce.

"Wang An, a eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, gave Empress Zhang an idea—to have her tell His Majesty about the matter of positions in the Imperial Household Department."

"His Majesty has just issued an edict—all those who sought positions in the Imperial Household Department have had their salaries docked; and His Majesty also issued an edict reprimanding some people."

"His Majesty said that this selection of Imperial Household Department personnel must uphold the principles of fairness, justice, and openness, and absolutely no favoritism or fraud would be permitted." As he said these words, Song Yingsheng's face was filled with longing, and he concluded: "The Great Ming is about to produce an enlightened sovereign."

Hearing Song Yingsheng's words, Zhang Yu said helplessly: "That's not what people outside are saying. They say His Majesty dotes on eunuchs, believes in demonic Daoists, lives extravagantly, and takes precious items to refine elixirs; that he keeps a large number of craftsmen in the palace for amusement, reportedly to manufacture wondrous and ingenious trifles for His Majesty. I'm now somewhat confused—which version is the truth?"

"Hearsay is not enough—one must observe his words and examine his deeds." Song Yingxing chimed in from the side: "Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has rectified the court's discipline, overturned the wrongful case against Xiong Tingbi, and investigated those vermin in the court. This major case has implicated many people—it is excellent proof of His Majesty's ambition and decisiveness."

"But some say it was Wei Zhongxian of the Eastern Depot who framed them." Zhang Yu said helplessly.

"Whoever says that is blind." Song Yingxing said disdainfully: "What about the silver that the late emperor brought out? That silver simply disappeared. If no one had reached out their hands, if no one had been corrupt, then where did the silver go? This is ironclad evidence of guilt—they simply refuse to admit it."

"Over the years, the officials at court have come and gone, but the court is iron while officials flow through like water—aren't they all still their people? When have any of us ever had our chance? No matter what we do, isn't it all the same in the end?"

"But this time I feel things are different. His Majesty has appointed Xu Guangqi, and also appointed Shen Tingyun. They say the Hundred Crafts Workshop is a place for His Majesty's amusement, but I don't think so at all. You both know the learning we study—it is completely and utterly different from theirs. But that is precisely why this is an opportunity."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu couldn't help but laugh, saying helplessly: "I truly don't know whether to call you naive or foolish. The School of Principle takes principle as the foundation of all things; the School of Mind takes the mind as the foundation of all things. What about our Guanzhong School? We take qi as the foundation of all things!"

"Do you think the School of Mind will be any different from the School of Principle? What makes you think they will accept us? They won't. Everything will be the same for us—nothing will change."

"That's exactly why we must go and change it!" Song Yingxing said loudly: "If no one is willing to change things, then it will forever remain this way!"

"We must take the imperial examinations—that is how we make our voices heard; if the path of examinations is blocked, then we will become teachers, instruct students, and write treatises to spread our ideas."

"As long as a person lives, he must strive. If one person can't do it, if two people can't do it, if one generation can't do it, if two generations can't do it—then ten people, a hundred people, a thousand people; then ten generations, a hundred generations, a thousand generations! I am willing to start with myself!"

After saying this, Song Yingxing looked directly at Zhang Yu and said firmly: "I am going to take the examination for the Academy—that is an opportunity. Once we enter the Academy, we will have the chance to come into contact with His Majesty; once we come into contact with His Majesty, we will have the chance to present our doctrines to him."

"His Majesty was willing to accept Chen Kedao's doctrines—there's no way he cannot accept ours. This is an opportunity. To encounter such an emperor is our fortune. Whether I succeed or not, I will do it."

"Zhang Tuizhi, if you want to leave, I will not blame you." After saying this, Song Yingxing flicked his sleeves and strode out, carrying a distinct air of "those with different paths do not plan together."

In the room, Song Yingsheng and Zhang Yu were left behind.

"You're certain you want to leave?" Song Yingsheng looked at Zhang Yu, asking with some regret.

"Why would I leave?" Zhang Yu downed the wine in his bowl in one gulp—the liquor went down his throat like fire piercing through.

He stood up and declared in a clear voice: "Everything I said just now was only to make Chang Geng understand one thing—the road ahead is difficult, and one must not retreat."

"I, Zhang Yu, courtesy name Tuizhi—but I will not retreat."

"Why did you go to such lengths to provoke him?" Song Yingsheng shook his head and said with a wry smile.

"Because he is the one among us most capable of doing it. If there is one person who can accomplish it, then it can only be him." Zhang Yu watched the direction Song Yingxing had left, smiled calmly, and spoke in a gentle tone, without any trace of the anger from just moments ago.