Chapter 24: Sun Chengzong Requests an Audience

Perhaps due to the influence of the Little Ice Age, the capital had turned bitterly cold these past few days. Add to that the lack of sunshine and days of overcast skies, and it became even harder to bear.

Light snowflakes drifted down from time to time, but they melted the moment they touched the ground. The result was a slippery surface that made walking require extra care.

This kind of weather was already enough to vex anyone, but the affairs within the palace were even more vexing.

His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming had fallen ill, and gravely so. At the same time, rituals were being conducted within the palace, supplicating ghosts and spirits, presided over by none other than the favored Han Li of the Azure Cloud Sect.

At such a time, the ministers could not see the Emperor and were frantic with anxiety — none more so than the Donglin Faction.

Because their people were still locked up in the Eastern Depot, and there was no telling when those imprisoned might confess and implicate the Donglin members still in court. How could the other Donglin men not be anxious?

The Donglin Faction could be said to have tried every conceivable means to enter the palace and see the Emperor.

But there was nothing to be done — the Emperor simply refused to see anyone.

What was to be done then? They couldn't very well storm the palace, could they?

While speculation ran rife outside, deep within the imperial palace, Zhu Youxiao reclined sideways on a daybed.

Before him stood an altar. Han Li of the Azure Cloud Sect, clad in a green Daoist robe, was brandishing a sword in ritual performance — but he dared not make a sound.

Zhu Youxiao wasn't watching the ritual at all. Instead, he was flipping through a booklet.

At that moment, Chen Hong crept lightly to Zhu Youxiao's side and said in a lowered voice: "Your Majesty, Lord Sun Chengzong requests an audience."

Hearing Chen Hong's words, Zhu Youxiao was momentarily startled. Sun Chengzong had come?

In truth, the name Sun Chengzong was absolutely one that could not be bypassed in the late Ming.

Sun Chengzong, courtesy name Zhisheng, had a strikingly imposing appearance, a beard that bristled out like halberds, and a deep, resonant voice.

Sun Chengzong had previously served as a family tutor in the households of court officials such as Jiang Bi, Right Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and Fang Shoushi, a Circuit Intendant.

Later, when Fang Shoushi was promoted to Governor of Datong, Sun Chengzong accompanied him. Datong was a key frontier stronghold of the Ming at the time.

While teaching at the frontier, Sun Chengzong developed a keen interest in military affairs. He enjoyed conversing with old frontier soldiers and low-ranking officers, inquiring about matters of frontier defense.

Gradually, he came to understand the military affairs of the border.

In the thirty-second year of Wanli, Sun Chengzong placed second in the jinshi examinations, was appointed Junior Compiler in the Hanlin Academy, and later transferred to the post of Zhongyun.

In the first year of Tianqi, Sun Chengzong was promoted to Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent.

By this time, Sun Chengzong's reputation was already established — a runner-up in the imperial examinations, combined with his path of promotion over the years and even having presided over a provincial examination, this was the career track leading to Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat. Thus Sun Chengzong was held in great esteem.

It was precisely because of that provincial examination that Sun Chengzong incurred the resentment and jealousy of the factionalists.

The factionalists attempted to use the triennial evaluation of officials to drive Sun Chengzong out of the capital.

Grand Secretary Liu Yijing exerted every effort to protect Sun Chengzong, allowing him to remain safe and undisturbed.

Many later generations claimed Sun Chengzong was a member of the Donglin Faction, but Zhu Youxiao did not see it that way. The Donglin Faction actually had its own internal factions.

Figures like Chief Grand Secretary Liu Yijing and Sun Chengzong — these people all belonged to those who had been labeled.

Moreover, factional strife at court had already reached the point of us-or-them. They had merely walked a bit closer to the Donglin Faction.

If one had to categorize them, Zhu Youxiao would rather group Chief Grand Secretary Liu Yijing and Sun Chengzong together as one faction, because they were more like the pragmatic doers within the Donglin Faction.

If Liu Yijing were truly a big shot of the Donglin Faction, he wouldn't have been removed so quickly and replaced by Ye Xianggao.

As for how to use a man like Sun Chengzong, Zhu Youxiao had actually long since formed an idea in his heart.

The position of Governor-General of Liaodong — Zhu Youxiao had actually been keeping it reserved for Sun Chengzong all along.

In truth, at this time the Great Ming's understanding of the Liaodong situation was not yet deep enough. They simply hadn't realized that the situation in Liaodong had already deteriorated to such a degree, which was why Liaodong had never had a Governor-General established, but was instead managed by a Governor and a Military Commissioner.

"Let him in!" Zhu Youxiao said after a moment's thought, then added: "Push me over there — I'll receive him on the other side."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Chen Hong bowed, then pushed over the wooden wheeled chair that Zhu Youxiao had crafted.

Zhu Youxiao sat down in the chair and let Chen Hong push him into the side hall.

After a short wait, Sun Chengzong walked in from outside.

Although Sun Chengzong existed in his memories, this was the first time Zhu Youxiao had seen the real Sun Chengzong in person.

Looking Sun Chengzong up and down, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but sigh inwardly — they said Sun Chengzong had a strikingly imposing appearance, and indeed, he was truly handsome!

But Zhu Youxiao also knew that in this era, an ugly man could never become an official. In modern parlance, one who looked shifty-eyed was certain to be a treacherous minister.

Throughout history, whenever chaos erupted and everyone rose in rebellion, many civil officials chose their lord based on appearance. A single verdict of "he does not look like a ruler of men" was a death sentence of an assessment.

Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but think of that later-era portrait of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming, that blackened his image. If Zhu Yuanzhang had truly looked like that, he could never have become emperor.

Zhu Youxiao remembered clearly that in his previous life he had planned to watch a drama called "Ming Dynasty" — but when an actor's photo of Zhu Yuanzhang leaked out, Zhu Youxiao instantly lost all desire to continue watching.

"Your subject Sun Chengzong pays respects to Your Majesty." When Sun Chengzong saw the Emperor being pushed out, his heart gave a lurch. Fortunately, His Majesty's complexion was still passable — otherwise Sun Chengzong would have been truly worried.

"No need for ceremony, my dear Sun!" Zhu Youxiao said weakly. "Grant a seat to my dear Sun."

A young eunuch hurriedly brought a chair over for Sun Chengzong to sit on.

Once Sun Chengzong was seated, Zhu Youxiao finally spoke: "I have been unwell these past days, which has delayed much state business. I wonder what matter brings my dear Sun to the palace today? If there is anything urgent, I will immediately arrange for someone to handle it." Having said this, Zhu Youxiao began to cough.

Chen Hong, standing beside Zhu Youxiao, hurried forward a few steps without the slightest delay and hastily offered up the silk handkerchief in his hand.

Zhu Youxiao took the silk handkerchief and covered his mouth. It was a long while before the coughing stopped. He raised his head to look at Sun Chengzong and said: "My constitution is far too weak. I'm afraid I've made a spectacle of myself before you, my dear minister."

"Your Majesty bears the weight of the rivers and mountains of our realm — you must protect your dragon body!" Sun Chengzong looked at Zhu Youxiao with a face full of worry, deep concern written across his features.

"It's nothing." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said with a smile: "I'm just tired. I'll take some medicine and rest for a few days, and that will be that. My dear minister, do tell me what brings you to the palace today."

Sun Chengzong sighed lightly in his heart. The late emperor hadn't thought it was anything major either — but what had been the result? Hadn't he passed away within a short span of days?

But such words could only be thought, never spoken. With that in mind, Sun Chengzong spoke up: "Your subject came to the palace today chiefly to pay respects to Your Majesty. With Your Majesty's health afflicted, the ministers at court are greatly concerned."

"Additionally, your subject wishes to say that matters of ghosts and spirits cannot be trusted. Your Majesty should take medicine and recuperate instead." Sun Chengzong finally said these words — words the court ministers had wanted Sun Chengzong to say, and words Sun Chengzong himself had wanted to say.