Chapter 219: This Is What a Grand Chancellor of the Great Ming Should Be

For all officials of the Great Ming, the front gate of the Chief Grand Secretary's residence was a hard door to get through, yet every day the number of people coming to pay their respects remained very large.

It wasn't that there were no officials in the court who could see the situation clearly, but there weren't many. Under such circumstances, many people felt that Han Kuang, this Chief Grand Secretary, was quite remarkable.

Although people had many opinions of Han Kuang, and his reputation wasn't all that good, in this world, the thing you treat as more important than life itself may be worth nothing at all in someone else's eyes.

Many people thought Han Kuang was no good and didn't want to associate with him; but many others felt that this kind of Han Kuang couldn't be better.

The people waiting to call on Han Kuang at his doorstep were truly very numerous.

Among them, three young men were not particularly conspicuous. They mingled in the crowd, looking around in all directions, wearing expressions of curiosity and amazement.

"As befits the household of the Chief Grand Secretary, it really is bustling with activity." Song Yingxing said with a sigh.

"Surrounded by attendants front and back, living in luxury with eight seats, holding the power of life and death in one's hands — this is what makes the official world so intoxicating. Once one becomes an official, it's very hard to be willing to let go of power. In this world, those who can achieve that are truly few and far between." Zhang Yu said with a smile, yet his face showed complete calm, as if he didn't think there was anything wrong with what he'd said.

Song Yingsheng beside him glanced at Zhang Yu and said with a stern expression: "I've told you several times, don't be so extreme in your views."

"Becoming an official may not be for these things. Many people do it to accomplish real things for the common people, to display the ambitions in their hearts, to do something for this country, to not be ashamed before the sage books they've studied."

"With such extreme thinking, it will sooner or later affect your conduct; and if your conduct is also extreme, then something will go wrong." After saying this, Song Yingsheng looked at Zhang Yu and said in a deep tone: "When you get the chance, read some Buddhist scriptures."

"You know full well I can't get into them." Zhang Yu said with a smile, his expression unchanged, as if he hadn't taken Song Yingsheng's words to heart at all.

Seeing Song Yingsheng glaring at him, Zhang Yu had no choice but to change his tune and say: "People like the ones you describe certainly exist, and I believe that you, Song Yingsheng, are one of them."

"But this is a filthy world, with even more chaotic and messy things going on. I now feel instead that Xunzi's teachings make more sense. Human nature is evil; whether it's study or law, they exist for no other reason than to suppress this evil."

"Why do people study? Because study allows one to understand principle. Why understand principle? If people were born good by nature, then there would be no need to study, and the world wouldn't have so many filthy affairs."

"It's precisely because human nature is evil that people are born with all kinds of desires. Because one must eat to live, people have the desire to eat; when hungry, they want to be full; when full, they want to eat well; when eating well, they want to be able to eat whenever they wish — this is what's called the bottomless pit of desire."

Song Yingsheng looked at Zhang Yu with some helplessness. Among the three of them, only Zhang Yu could say such things.

They had all studied the same Guan School of learning, yet he had no idea how Zhang Yu had managed to twist his scholarship askew. Ever since he'd stirred up that business about Xunzi, he'd increasingly developed in this direction.

This made Song Yingsheng very worried. He didn't know whether bringing Zhang Yu to see Han Kuang today had been right or wrong.

The three had already arrived at the entrance hall and handed up their visiting cards.

Clearly someone must have given prior instructions, for after the gatekeeper saw the three men's visiting cards, his expression instantly brightened, and he hastily made a gesture of invitation, indicating for the three to enter.

This puzzled the people outside. These three looked like they had no background at all — how had they been welcomed inside?

Judging from their dress, they were not high officials, merely ordinary scholars. Looking again at the clothes they wore, one could tell at a glance they weren't high-grade goods; the price probably wasn't expensive either, and they weren't from some great wealthy household.

Although these people were puzzled in their hearts, no one dared to go up and ask.

As the saying goes, even a servant before the prime minister's gate ranks as a seventh-grade official. That gatekeeper they dared not provoke, so they could only wonder to themselves.

After the Song brothers and Zhang Yu were received inside, they were quickly led to a reception hall.

The decor in the room wasn't particularly luxurious, but it looked quite elegant. Several paintings hung on the walls, none of them by famous masters.

Although there were a few familiar names, they were basically all current court officials — clearly these were gifts from someone. If one were to ask, there should be some story behind them.

"Look here." Zhang Yu walked to the front of the bookshelf, looking at a piece of calligraphy hanging there.

The two Song brothers hurried over. A piece of calligraphy was indeed hanging there, but it bore no signature.

However, all three were scholars who had seen Han Kuang's handwriting before, so they recognized at a glance that this piece was written by Han Kuang himself.

"Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth."

Seeing these large characters before him, a smile suddenly appeared on Zhang Yu's face.

He suddenly felt that things were becoming interesting. Perhaps the time had truly come for him to spread his wings and achieve great things.

Naturally, none of the three were unfamiliar with this phrase, because it was something His Majesty had said.

At the time, this phrase had stirred up great controversy, but now it was regarded by many as truth.

Of course, there were those who were dissatisfied with it, but they didn't dare openly voice their doubts either.

"Do you young men think this old man's calligraphy is well written?" Han Kuang walked out with a smile.

Hearing the voice, Song Yingsheng and the other two quickly turned around. Seeing Han Kuang looking at them with a beaming smile, they hastily bowed and said: "Your students pay respects to the Grand Secretary."

"You haven't entered officialdom yet, and this isn't the court, so relax." Han Kuang made a gesture of invitation with a smile and said: "Let's sit and talk."

At the same time, he instructed the steward beside him: "Serve tea."

Only after the several of them had taken their seats as host and guests did Han Kuang continue asking with a smile: "What do you think of this old man's calligraphy?"

Song Yingsheng and Song Yingxing exchanged a glance and were just about to speak when Zhang Yu beside them spoke up first: "The Grand Secretary's calligraphy is naturally written well. But if I were to say so, the craftsman's air is too heavy — it looks very stiff and rigid, a bit like it was printed from movable type."

The moment these words came out, the atmosphere in the room instantly became awkward.

Song Yingsheng and Song Yingxing both looked at Zhang Yu in disbelief.

If among the three, who was best at socializing? Who was best at handling interpersonal relationships?

Then it would have to be Zhang Yu.

The Song brothers were both lacking in this regard. But who would have thought that today Zhang Yu would come out with such an offensive remark right off the bat.

Since Zhang Yu wasn't the sort to be frivolous and rash, there was only one possibility — he had said it deliberately.

So Song Yingsheng and Song Yingxing both said nothing, only quietly waiting and watching, wanting to see just what Zhang Yu was up to.

"Truly unexpected — after all these decades, I can still hear such words." Han Kuang said with a smile, his face seemingly carrying a hint of emotion and reminiscence.

Seeing all three of them looking at him, Han Kuang said with some helplessness: "As the saying goes, know your own family, know your own affairs. This old man knows very well what his calligraphy is like. Just as this young brother said, the craftsman's air is too heavy — it looks solemn and neat, but in reality it's extremely stiff."

"This may also be because this old man is overly fond of neatness. From childhood to now, I've liked everything to be neat and orderly, and writing is the same — the characters must be uniform in size, with horizontal strokes level and vertical strokes straight."

"When I was studying as a youth, my teacher once said this of me — that my calligraphy carried too heavy a craftsman's air. In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed, and no one has evaluated this old man that way again. This piece has been hanging here for quite some time."

"Although it wasn't this exact piece before, they were all written by this old man as well. I asked everyone who came here, and they basically all said only pleasant things. At that time, I already understood — those who spoke that way were all, without exception, flatterers and bootlickers."

"More people would say they didn't understand calligraphy, or modestly dare not comment — in reality, they simply didn't want to go against their own hearts, but were also afraid that speaking frankly would offend this old man. In all these years, only you, young brother, have dared to say such a thing. Not bad, not bad."

Zhang Yu looked at Han Kuang and said with a smile: "This is the breadth of mind a Grand Chancellor of the Great Ming should possess. Since the Grand Secretary has already reached the position of Chief Grand Secretary, what should be remembered by posterity in the future is the name of a worthy minister, not that he wrote good calligraphy. When later generations mention the Grand Secretary, they should speak of one of our Great Ming's rare good ministers of the Grand Secretariat."

Hearing Zhang Yu's words, Han Kuang immediately laughed. Reaching up to stroke his beard, he nodded and said: "This young brother speaks correctly. Indeed, it should be so — this is also this old man's wish. As the saying goes, a scholar should strive to make his sovereign the equal of Yao and Shun. Frittering away the years on the arts of calligraphy and painting is truly not what this old man wishes to do."

Having said this, Han Kuang straightened his back, leaned slightly backward, and his entire bearing immediately changed.

If just now he had seemed like an affable uncle next door, at this moment his demeanor was that of a true superior — the bearing a man in power ought to have.

The expressions of Song Yingsheng and the other two also turned serious—after all, this was the Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, and the pressure he exerted on them was considerable.

"In that case, let us speak of proper matters." Zhang Yu said with a smile: "Since the Grand Secretary has summoned the three of us here, surely it is not for idle chatter. So if there is anything you wish to say, please be straightforward, Grand Secretary."

"Young men have good temperaments. Very well, let us speak then."

Han Kuang smiled as he looked at Song Yingxing and said: "The reason I know of you is because of that debate you had with Wei Dazhong last time. That matter had already reached His Majesty's attention, and His Majesty himself mentioned you. It was then that I took note of you."

"After this period of observation, I have found that all three of you are talents. The most crucial point is that you do not belong to anyone's faction—this is something I value greatly. You must understand that the court is currently rife with contending voices. Today you strike at me, tomorrow I seize from you—for the Great Ming, this is a severe form of internal attrition."

"The Jianzhou barbarians in Liaodong watch us with hungry eyes, to the west and north there are still the Mongols, and within our borders natural disasters run rampant while man-made calamities abound. The Great Ming has reached a moment of imminent peril, yet at this very time, those people at court think not of saving the nation but only of internal strife. I see it all before my eyes, and it pains my heart deeply."

Song Yingsheng and the other two looked at the deeply grieved Han Kuang, yet no change crossed their faces. Had it not been for Zhang Yu's earlier analysis, the three of them might well have believed Han Kuang's rhetoric.

But at this very moment, Song Yingsheng and the other two truly could not get into character. No matter what Han Kuang said, they all felt he was lying.

To keep themselves from being exposed, the three could only keep their mouths shut, grit their teeth, and force their faces to remain expressionless.

Even if their faces showed pain, they absolutely could not laugh, absolutely could not commit any improper act—otherwise, they would surely be remembered with resentment by this fellow.

So Song Yingsheng and the other two kept their faces solemn, wearing expressions of utmost seriousness.

Han Kuang was very satisfied with the performance of these three young men. From the expression of each one, he could see that they had been moved by his words.

Youth is a fine thing—youth is full of vigor, believing whatever others say. He himself had walked that same easy path back in his own day.

Han Kuang picked up his teacup and took a sip, then continued: "As the Chief Grand Secretary and Grand Secretary of the Great Ming, I too have been searching for a way forward—for this realm, for the rivers and mountains of the Great Ming!"

"Until one day, I heard of your affairs, heard of the Guanzhong Learning."

Han Kuang's gaze fell upon Song Yingsheng and the other two, his tone carrying sincerity as he said: "It was then that I realized you three could accomplish this task. So long as people believe in the Guanzhong Learning and are willing to act according to its teachings and precepts, then why worry that the realm will not achieve Great Unity?"

Song Yingsheng and the other two listened to Han Kuang's words, strange expressions creeping across their faces.

As for Zhang Yu, he did not know what he felt at this moment—mostly, it was disappointment.

Could it be that the esteemed Chief Grand Secretary and Grand Secretary of the Great Ming was only of this caliber?

Who could possibly believe such words?

It was plainly just an attempt to hoodwink them.

But then Zhang Yu thought it over and understood—if the three of them were merely green scholars fresh out of the gate, they would probably have been fooled just like that.

And thinking back to when Song Yingxing had gone to debate Wei Dazhong—was that Wei Dazhong not precisely a green scholar who knew not the weight of his own words?

This strategy was relatively fitting, but clearly Han Kuang had underestimated the three of them.

At this moment, the Song brothers could not be allowed to speak, so Zhang Yu likewise put on a pained expression and said: "Are we not the same as the Grand Secretary? You sit in a high position, and though we are but juren, do we not likewise hold the common people in our hearts, hold our family and country in our hearts? It is only that in many matters we are powerless—we have no door through which to offer our service, no road by which to repay our country!"

"Today, meeting the Grand Secretary and witnessing your breadth of mind and your noble aspirations, we who are but latecomers and junior scholars cannot help but feel boundless admiration!"

Song Yingsheng and Song Yingxing exchanged a glance, then together looked at Zhang Yu, who was nearly beating his chest and stamping his feet, their faces bearing expressions that defied description.

But at this moment, the two Song brothers naturally could not say anything against Zhang Yu—they could only sit quietly and silently to one side, watching him converse with Han Kuang.

Han Kuang glanced at Zhang Yu, great appreciation in his eyes, and said with a smile: "Though you are only juren for now, you are still young—youth is the foundation upon which you may accomplish things. I also believe that in the future you will soar ten thousand li."

"Then we shall rely on the Grand Secretary's generous guidance and support." Zhang Yu hurriedly rose to his feet, made a vigorous bow with clasped hands, and said humbly: "We are willing to attach ourselves to the Grand Secretary's coattails, to exert our own strength for the Great Ming and for the common people of the realm! For this, we would not begrudge even our very bodies!"

Zhang Yu's expression was somewhat agitated, and his gaze toward Han Kuang was filled entirely with gratitude and reverence—he looked for all the world like a man who had just met the idol he had long worshipped.