Chapter 197: Two Pots on the Imperial Father-in-Law's Head

After finishing all the affairs and replacing all the officials with his own people, Zhu Youxiao had one very profound realization — that his own workload had decreased.

The ministers at court could all handle their own responsibilities without needing him to worry. The most crucial point was that no one was pointing fingers at his harem affairs anymore, nor were there people thinking all day about submitting memorials to admonish him.

This was a very good thing for him. And so Zhu Youxiao's harem life began to grow harmonious as well.

This was actually the result of Zhu Youxiao's purge of the inner court — no one in the harem dared to cause trouble anymore.

On this day, Zhu Youxiao was flying kites with Empress Zhang, the two of them chatting and laughing, surrounded by a circle of eunuchs and palace maids.

Everyone looked on with envy at the most honored man and woman under heaven.

The palace maids gazed at Empress Zhang with admiration — everyone knew of His Majesty's favor toward Empress Zhang.

"Your Majesty, Fang Zhenghua has arrived." Taking advantage of the moment when Zhu Youxiao turned around to drink tea, Chen Hong came to his side and said respectfully, "The Imperial Father-in-Law has come along as well."

Hearing his words, Zhu Youxiao nodded imperceptibly, then smiled and continued flying kites with Empress Zhang, seemingly unconcerned about the arrival of the Imperial Father-in-Law and Fang Zhenghua.

Only after they had played until they were tired did Zhu Youxiao take Empress Zhang's delicate hand and walk back.

Looking at Empress Zhang, whose forehead was slightly beaded with sweat, Zhu Youxiao said with a smile, "Go make preparations — We and the Empress wish to bathe."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong hurriedly acknowledged.

Hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Empress Zhang's face flushed slightly. She cast a coy glance at her lord and master, then went with him to bathe.

After an indescribable bath, Zhu Youxiao changed into fresh clothes and returned to the Qianqing Palace.

Tapping lightly on the table, Zhu Youxiao mused, "Go summon the two of them."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong acknowledged and hurried off to deliver the message.

Before long, Zhang Guoji and Fang Zhenghua walked in from outside.

"Your subjects pay respects to Your Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Fang Zhenghua and Zhang Guoji, and asked expressionlessly, "Is there something the two of you came about today?"

"In response to Your Majesty, regarding the affairs of the Imperial Household Department, Your subject wishes to speak with Your Majesty." Zhang Guoji said with a solemn expression.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Zhang Guoji without changing his expression, then nodded and said, "If my beloved minister has something to say, speak freely."

"Your subject came today to speak with Your Majesty about the selection of officials for the Imperial Household Department." Zhang Guoji said with cupped hands: "Your subject wishes to select Imperial Household Department officials through a method of recruitment. In this way, the entire department up and down can recruit more talent."

"Moreover, the Imperial Household Department exists to serve Your Majesty in the first place. Such an approach can demonstrate Your Majesty's strategy of employing talent without rigid restrictions. At the same time, it can give those who have no hope in the imperial examinations an opportunity, allowing them to enter the Imperial Household Department to serve Your Majesty loyally. This is a method that kills two birds with one stone. Therefore, Your subject wishes to select Imperial Household Department officials through open recruitment."

Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhang Guoji, smiled, and nodded as he said, "This is a good method. Then do as my beloved minister says."

Seeming not to have expected His Majesty to agree so readily, Zhang Guoji was briefly stunned, then hastily stood up and said respectfully, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. Your subject will do his utmost and will absolutely not disappoint Your Majesty. Your subject will handle the matter beautifully."

Nodding lightly, Zhu Youxiao said with a smile, "We trust my beloved minister."

"Then Your subjects will take their leave."

With the matter concluded, Zhang Guoji and Fang Zhenghua took their leave.

But after going around once, Fang Zhenghua returned. "Your Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao had not left either — he was waiting there for Fang Zhenghua. After glancing at Fang Zhenghua, he said expressionlessly, "Go on, then."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Fang Zhenghua hurriedly acknowledged, and said with a bowed body, "In truth, Your subject did not exert much effort. These days, although on the surface no one has been seeking out the Imperial Father-in-Law anymore, in private there are still quite a few people coming to him. Only, compared to last time, they have been far more humble. They have mostly gone about it through bribery, hoping to have people arranged into the Imperial Household Department."

Zhu Youxiao nodded. He actually knew something of this matter already, because someone had already reported it to him.

But Zhu Youxiao did not expose it. Turning to look at Fang Zhenghua, he frowned and asked, "Who came up with this idea for the Imperial Father-in-Law? Open recruitment? Some people, once they've crawled into the money hole, forget everything else."

"In response to Your Majesty, it is said to be a trusted confidant of the Imperial Father-in-Law, named Liu Bing." Fang Zhenghua said with some hesitation.

"Then make contact with him and make him obedient." Zhu Youxiao said expressionlessly.

Fang Zhenghua was just about to acknowledge when Zhu Youxiao spoke again: "Never mind. We'll have Chen Hong handle this matter."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After pondering briefly, Zhu Youxiao said with a grave countenance, "Just keep a close watch on the people and don't let anything go wrong. When the time comes, bring the list over for Us to see. We will pick some out from it, and then have those people enter the Imperial Household Department."

Fang Zhenghua said with some hesitation, "Your Majesty, what about the Imperial Father-in-Law's side..."

"What does he have to do with any of this?" Zhu Youxiao asked with some puzzlement.

"Promoting talent on merit alone — that is what you ought to be doing. As for other matters, you need not concern yourself, and you know nothing about them either. Understand?" Zhu Youxiao found that Fang Zhenghua's head was a bit stiff — perhaps this was a common ailment of martial artists.

If it were Wei Zhongxian or Chen Hong, they would have understood with a single hint. This Fang Zhenghua actually required him to spell everything out so clearly.

But that was fine too — at least Fang Zhenghua would not go off and misunderstand things on his own and ruin the matter. Better to spell it out clearly, so that at least he clearly knew how to proceed.

"Yes, Your Majesty. This servant understands." Fang Zhenghua hurriedly acknowledged.

First, through open selection, this meant that the Imperial Household Department's method of selecting officials was in fact another form of the imperial examinations in disguise — those who were unsuccessful in officialdom could take the examination for the Imperial Household Department.

Once they entered the Imperial Household Department, they would be set in opposition to officials in the regular bureaucracy. Officials who came through the orthodox imperial examinations would certainly look down on them, and they would inevitably have to fight back.

The most crucial point was that by doing this, Zhang Guoji would offend a great swath of civil officials.

For the civil officials, the Imperial Household Department was meat in their mouths — they wanted to swallow it whole at any moment, and the simplest method was to transfer officials over from other various offices to fill the Imperial Household Department.

There were many officials in the Six Ministries who wanted to go to the Imperial Household Department. Under such circumstances, once open recruitment was chosen, what were these civil officials supposed to do?

Many big shots wanted to reach their hands into the Imperial Household Department, or arrange their own people to enter it. If it truly became open selection, under such circumstances, what would these big shots do?

Zhang Guoji certainly could not keep this hidden — he would probably be impeached before long.

Of course, this was not even the first big pit. Doing this was certain to offend people, so what Zhang Guoji was doing now could be considered fairly standard practice.

The second big pit was the bribes Zhang Guoji had accepted. Having accepted bribes, he would have to arrange positions for people — but who was arranged into the Imperial Household Department was managed by Fang Zhenghua, and even more so decided by His Majesty Zhu Youxiao himself.

The people Zhu Youxiao personally selected naturally could not be the ones Zhang Guoji had taken bribes for. In other words, Zhang Guoji would offend yet more people. These people had given Zhang Guoji money, yet he had not gotten things done for them — would those people be angry at him?

Only, Zhang Guoji's status was special — he was the Empress's father. It was estimated that no one would really file accusations against him, but his reputation would certainly be ruined.

With these two pots smashed down on his head, Zhang Guoji would be crippled by half right away. From then on, wanting to thrive and flourish in the Imperial Household Department would basically be impossible.

In other words, once the entire framework of the Imperial Household Department was set up, this old father-in-law of his would have to step down.

Having offended so many people, Zhang Guoji would have no way to do his work in the Imperial Household Department. Of course, this was also part of Zhu Youxiao's earliest plan.

That was why Zhu Youxiao had instructed Fang Zhenghua that even if no one went to his old father-in-law to suggest adopting the method of selection and recruitment, he himself would arrange for someone else to go suggest it.

"Alright, go back and do your work well." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said.

"This servant takes his leave." Fang Zhenghua acknowledged, then bowed and withdrew.

After Fang Zhenghua had left, Zhu Youxiao let out a soft sigh.

Things were finally about to get on track. Now he didn't need to do anything more—he only needed to watch and wait steadily.

The moment Zhang Guoji and Fang Zhenghua returned to the Imperial Household Department, news spread immediately.

The Imperial Household Department would adopt a system of selection and recruitment. Anyone with a juren degree or higher could register for the examination; once they passed, they could take up a post in the department.

The moment this news came out, the entire capital was thrown into a stir.

Because of the Imperial Academy affair, quite a few scholars had gathered in the capital. No one had expected the Imperial Household Department to do something like this as well, and so there was another round of heated discussion.

Unlike the mixed support and opposition among the common folk, the court was overwhelmingly opposed—no one at all approved of what the Imperial Household Department was doing this time.

Supervising Secretaries from the Six Offices of Scrutiny began submitting routine memorials impeaching Zhang Guoji, accusing him of favoritism in appointments and accepting bribes.

Such accusations were, of course, true, but Zhu Youxiao chose to ignore them.

Zhang Guoji's reputation began to plummet rapidly. Many scholars said he had changed, that he had become no different from those hereditary nobles and imperial relatives.

At the same time, Zhang Guoji's residence saw an increasing number of visits from hereditary nobles and imperial relatives.

The gifts sent by these nobles and relatives also grew more numerous and more valuable, and the Zhang residence took on an appearance of bustling prosperity.

This caused Zhang Guoji's reputation among the scholars to grow worse and worse.

While the capital was bustling and buzzing with commotion, Liaodong was still in the tail end of winter—though it too was beginning to warm up.

Since the last great battle, Liaodong had enjoyed a long stretch of peace.

The Jianzhou barbarians had not sent anyone to harass them again, which allowed Xiong Tingbi to breathe a sigh of relief. He could now calmly attend to Liaodong's defenses.

"Lord Xiong." A voice suddenly sounded from behind Xiong Tingbi.

Xiong Tingbi turned around to look and saw that it was Wei Chao.

This eunuch who had come from the palace was someone Xiong Tingbi dared not offend. He quickly smiled and stepped forward, cupping his hands in greeting: "I pay my respects to Eunuch Wei."

Ever since delivering the imperial edict last time, this Eunuch Wei had never left—as if he were waiting for something.

Xiong Tingbi didn't dare ask. If the eunuch wouldn't leave, then so be it—Liaodong could afford to feed him. Still, Eunuch Wei hadn't come around in some days; today he must have a purpose in visiting.

"Lord Xiong, the thing this servant has been waiting for has arrived. Why not come with me to take a look?" Wei Chao said with a smile. "I believe Lord Xiong will certainly be pleased."