Chapter 319: Consolidating the Military Establishment

Zhang Zhiji kept wondering what his father intended to do, and at this very moment, as if by a stroke of intuition, such a thought surfaced in his mind.

Once this thought had taken shape, there was no way to make it disappear.

Lifting his head to glance at his son, Zhang Weixian smiled and said, "Not bad, you're starting to get the picture. But your scope is still a bit small. What can you accomplish relying on those meritorious nobles and imperial relatives who only know how to rake in money? Their vision is too narrow, and they're too useless—they can only wave flags and shout cheers, nothing of any real use."

Hearing his father's words, Zhang Zhiji grew even more alarmed. He swallowed hard, a gulp audible in his throat, before speaking slowly: "Father, this is something that touches upon taboo!"

At this moment, Zhang Zhiji had already understood what his father intended to do.

In the Great Ming Dynasty—or indeed in any dynasty—few dared to touch one thing: military power. This matter was far too sensitive, so sensitive as to be frightening.

If it were merely a matter of uniting the meritorious nobles and imperial relatives, perhaps there would be no great problem. With his family's title, plus his father's current status and position, leading the meritorious nobles and imperial relatives would be nothing major—His Majesty would not say anything.

But if his father truly meant to make a move on military power, then the matter would be enormous. This was also the source of Zhang Zhiji's terror—once one's hand reached too far, it would mean the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire family.

Military power was not like other things; His Majesty would not permit anyone to lay a finger on it.

Glancing at his son, Zhang Weixian wore a smile that said "you're still too young," and shook his head as he said, "You're overthinking it. It's not about laying hands on military power—it's about consolidating the military establishment."

Looking at his son, who still seemed puzzled, Zhang Weixian took a sip of tea, then said slowly, "Since you want to know, then I'll tell you. Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has done many things. Do you know who this reminds me of?"

"Who?" Zhang Zhiji had several answers in his mind, but none of them seemed to fit. Hesitant and afraid to speak, he could only ask slowly.

"Many people say His Majesty resembles Emperor Chengzu, and some even say he resembles Emperor Taizu. But in my view, that's not the case. I think His Majesty is more like Emperor Xianzong."

Zhang Weixian smiled and said, "This is where my view differs from theirs. When Emperor Xianzong ascended the throne back then, the Great Ming had just experienced the Tumu Crisis. The meritorious nobles at court had been wiped out, and the army was weak and crippled. In the northwest, facing the Mongols, we suffered defeat after defeat; the Jurchens in Liaodong were also restless; the court was treacherous and unpredictable—the entire realm was in imminent peril."

"Civil officials threw governance into chaos, military commanders declined in stature, and on top of that, Emperor Yingzong's restoration meant the entire Great Ming was churned up for decades. The court's finances were insufficient—the state was already riddled with holes."

"Now look at the present: civil officials monopolize power, the Donglin Faction is mighty; the court's finances are insufficient, we suffer defeat after defeat in Liaodong, and we've just experienced the defeat at Sarhu; there are rebellions in the southwest. Don't you see how similar the court situation is to when Emperor Xianzong was on the throne?"

Hearing his father say this, Zhang Zhiji seemed to have been awakened. He nodded slowly and said, "It really is quite similar."

"After Emperor Xianzong ascended the throne, he rectified the court and replaced a batch of court officials. The most famous were naturally those senior ministers known as the Three Paper-Pasted Grand Secretaries and the Six Mud-Molded Ministers."

"At the same time, he gave prominence to Wang Zhi. You must understand that the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard had already become useless by then—they had long since colluded with the civil officials. That's why Emperor Xianzong employed Wang Zhi."

"When you look at the things the current His Majesty has done since ascending the throne, can you find some pattern in them?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhiji let out a sigh and slowly sat down on a chair. In a voice tinged with shock, he said, "The only one who could perceive this point is probably Father!"

"There are many capable people in this world, and many who can see things clearly. Someone has probably seen through it long ago. Look at the Grand Secretaries and Ministers on the court today—what do you think of them? Would you say they lack ability?"

"Han Kuang, Sun Chengzong, Xu Guangqi—which of them is easy to deal with? And then there's Huang Kezuan—he's not to be trifled with either. And Feng Congwu at the Imperial Academy—hasn't he been rising in prominence lately?"

"Although His Majesty did not establish the Western Depot, he still employed Wei Zhongxian. When Luo Sigong of the Embroidered Uniform Guard proved somewhat inadequate, His Majesty replaced him with Xu Xianchun. What was he doing?"

"Look at the Censorate—His Majesty had Wei Zhongxian extend his hand into the Censorate. What was that for?"

"On the surface, the court seems full of disputes, but they all check and balance one another, with the overall situation firmly in His Majesty's hands. This is where His Majesty's brilliance lies." Zhang Weixian's tone carried a note of admiration.

"If all of this is His Majesty's scheming, then that seems rather terrifying." Zhang Zhiji drew in a cold breath as he spoke.

"Some things shouldn't be described as terrifying." Zhang Weixian smiled at his son and continued to explain, "Originally, things could have stopped there. But His Majesty instead did the opposite and directly established the Staff Office. If things were as you imagine, why would His Majesty establish the Staff Office? Was it just to put it on display for everyone to see?"

"Establishing such an office naturally means there is work to be done, so this Staff Office is no idle move by His Majesty. Throughout the court, there has been word that His Majesty intends to appoint a Chief of Staff, yet it always seemed to be a baseless rumor—but it spread with such conviction, as if it were truly going to happen. Where did this news come from?"

"Such important news—the people of the Staff Office don't know it, the Grand Secretariat doesn't know it either. Who else could know? Everyone says it came from within the palace, but do you think it's so easy for news to leak out of the palace?"

"You mean... this was deliberately released by His Majesty?" Zhang Zhiji stood up, looking at his father with some uncertainty, and slowly paced about the room.

Zhang Weixian did not disturb his son, quietly letting Zhang Zhiji think.

After a long while, Zhang Zhiji's eyes grew brighter and brighter. Then he suddenly clapped his hands, turned to look at his father, and said, "His Majesty is testing the several Staff Ministers, and at the same time, he is sending a signal to the outside."

Gently stroking his beard, Zhang Weixian nodded with satisfaction and asked with a smile, "What signal do you think His Majesty is sending?"

"His Majesty wants to tell everyone that he intends to give the Staff Office great importance, and that he wants to select a capable person for it!" Zhang Zhiji said excitedly.

"Exactly so." Zhang Weixian nodded with satisfaction, looking like a teacher pleased with a teachable pupil.

Then, Zhang Weixian smiled and said, "Anyone can see that the Staff Office is meant to weaken the power of the Grand Secretariat. Setting aside everything else, the mere existence of a Military Justice Department is already a reduction of power."

"In the past, when military personnel committed crimes, it was civil officials who investigated, the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review who tried them, and the Ministry of War who managed them. But now this has shifted to the Military Justice Department. What does that mean?"

"It means the civil officials' control over the military is being loosened—His Majesty is loosening the reins on the military. Under such circumstances, His Majesty needs someone to step forward and consolidate the military establishment for him."

"A consolidated military is the military His Majesty wants. This is also the purpose behind His Majesty's establishment of the Staff Office, and likewise the criterion for selecting the Chief of Staff."

Having said this, Zhang Weixian smiled and asked, "Now do you understand what your father intends to do?"

"I understand." Zhang Zhiji nodded and said, "First, this person must cut himself off from the meritorious nobles and imperial relatives, and ideally ruin his own reputation and connections. He can unify the military, but he must not form cliques or build factions for private gain."

"That's why His Majesty placed the Duke of Cheng in the Staff Office—that is a card His Majesty is holding in reserve. If no one can satisfy His Majesty, he will choose the Duke of Cheng."

"Although the Duke of Cheng has grand ambitions but meager talent and a cowardly disposition, he has already cut himself off from the meritorious nobles and imperial relatives. That is what His Majesty values. If truly no one else can be chosen, His Majesty will have him do it."

"Now you've got it right." Zhang Weixian smiled and nodded. "If Yuan Keli could cut himself off from the civil officials, then this position might also be his. But one thing I can be certain of: Yuan Keli does not have that kind of resolve."

"But is it worth doing?" Zhang Zhiji said hesitantly.

"You!"

Zhang Weixian pointed at his son and said, "You need to take the long view. Do you think that if I don't do this, His Majesty won't make a move against the meritorious nobles and imperial relatives?"

"That's impossible. His Majesty will not let these people off. Collecting taxes on their estates is only the beginning. At this point, if anyone still clings to their ancestors' glory without budging, their final fate will not be good."

"Especially those imperial relatives—with their poor reputations and no real merit to the court, do they truly think His Majesty can't bring himself to act?"

"At a time like this, only change brings progress. If one stubbornly holds fast, then one can only be meat on the chopping block, to be carved up however His Majesty pleases."

"Then why does Father want the Duke of Ding to carry out this matter?" Zhang Zhiji looked at Zhang Weixian and asked slowly.

"One needs helpers to get things done. Additionally, there is a crucial point: wanting to do something is one thing, being able to do it is another. The person His Majesty seeks must not only be willing and daring, but also capable. If I can make the Duke of Ding listen to me, then naturally I can make others listen in the future."

"I see." Zhang Zhiji nodded, then widened his eyes and said, "His Majesty did not promote the Duke of Ding, and even snubbed the Duke of Wei—could it be because of this? Or are these two men targets that His Majesty has set up?"

Shooting an appreciative glance at his son, Zhang Weixian smiled and said, "Now you've hit the nail on the head. Only that fool of a Duke of Ding would think this is a small matter. If they don't stir up some major commotion this time, their family will be the first to fall. What could be bigger than toppling a duke? When that happens, countless people will be implicated."

"Would His Majesty really do such a thing?" Zhang Zhiji said with some hesitation. "Isn't this matter too big?"

Glancing at his son, Zhang Weixian smiled and said, "This is where you don't understand. Matters must be viewed from different angles. If things truly reach a certain point, a duke amounts to nothing. They already moved against the Prince of Fu—would one Duke of Ding make a difference?"

Zhang Zhiji sat on the chair, unable to recover his senses for a long while.

Zhang Weixian said nothing either, only quietly watching his son, waiting for him to recover from the shock.

After a long pause, Zhang Weixian finally continued, "This is the tide of the times. His Majesty is pushing it forward—either you merge into it, or you get crushed beneath it."

"Do you think those old men in the Grand Secretariat don't know anything? Why is it that something as major as establishing the Staff Office didn't stir up even a single ripple? Do you really think those old men can't see through any of it?"

"It's not that they can't see through it—it's that they pretend not to. Because every one of them knows full well in their hearts that His Majesty is determined to do this. If anyone opposes it, then that person goes home, with not the slightest possibility of negotiation."

"This time His Majesty has also employed quite a few civil officials in the Staff Office. Do you know what that means? If the meritorious nobles and the relatives of the imperial clan don't measure up, His Majesty will have civil officials take charge of the Staff Office. If we lose even that bit of foundation we have in the military, what use is there in keeping the likes of us around?"

Hearing his father say this, Zhang Zhiji was startled, then slowly nodded and said: "Yes, indeed, we'd be useless."

"Could His Majesty not fear that the Staff Office and the Grand Secretariat might collude with each other?" Zhang Zhiji asked in confusion.

"You've seen merchants who make money, haven't you? Making money becomes an addiction—even if a man's wealth is already enough for several lifetimes, he still thinks about making more."

"Being an official is the same—being an official is also addictive. Once a man enters officialdom, it's as if he's contracted a demonic affliction: a seventh-rank man wants to rise to fifth rank, a fifth-rank man wants to be third rank, and once he reaches third rank he wants to enter the Grand Secretariat. Who doesn't want attendants before and behind, and eight bearers for his sedan chair?"

"Those scholars studied bitterly by the cold window, rose and fell in officialdom for decades, and finally sat in high positions—do you think anyone would be willing to give up the power in their hands? The Grand Secretariat or the Staff Office?"

"And then there are the people from the Imperial Academy—those who enter the Staff Office are reserve forces. They were never accepted by officialdom to begin with, and now they've come to a new office like the Staff Office, so they're certainly being squeezed out from all sides. How easy is it to go along with the crowd? Everyone fights for every bit they can get—how would they be willing to yield to anyone?"

Zhang Zhiji nodded and let out a sigh, saying: "But if that's so, isn't His Majesty's scheming a bit too deep? Could it be that Father is overthinking things?"

"Whether I'm overthinking—we'll find out by testing it." Zhang Weixian said with a smile: "Once this routine memorial is submitted, you'll understand what's going on."

At the same time, the Western Park.

Zhu Youxiao sat in a chair drinking tea, his body gently swaying, his eyes slightly narrowed, looking half-awake and half-asleep.

Standing beside Zhu Youxiao, Chen Hong was reporting on the situation outside.

"Your Majesty, that is roughly the situation." After Chen Hong finished speaking, he bowed and stood to one side.

"When the Duke of Ding returned, what did his expression look like?" Zhu Youxiao looked at Chen Hong and asked slowly.

"That I don't know—it was too dark to see clearly." Chen Hong also answered slowly.

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao laughed to himself, then waved his hand and said: "The Duke of Ding is at the end of his rope, so he ran off to beg the Duke of Ying. But is Zhang Weixian someone easy to deal with?"

"I expect this time the Duke of Ding, Xu Xi, is going to be sold off and counted out for him. But I'm afraid Xu Xi won't take it lying down either—there'll be a show to watch."

After a brief moment of deliberation, Zhu Youxiao said: "Go spread word that I, the Emperor, see the sons of the capital's meritorious nobles and imperial relatives spending their days carrying birdcages, bullying men and abusing women, and doing nothing proper—I want to rein them in."

"Say that I intend to establish a school in the Western Park, where the sons of these nobles and imperial relatives will all come to study, learning letters and martial arts to serve the nation."

After saying this, Zhu Youxiao instructed further: "Just spread the word and see what the reaction is before we decide anything else."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong promptly agreed: "This servant will make arrangements as soon as I return."

Zhu Youxiao nodded with satisfaction and slowly closed his eyes.