Chapter 401: Grand Secretary Sun's Promotion

Hearing Chen Hong's words, Sun Chengzong's expression remained indifferent, showing no sign of delight.

Sometimes, when others congratulate you, it really isn't necessarily a good thing for you. Especially at such a critical moment, the slightest stir could provoke unnecessary turmoil.

"Many thanks, Eunuch Chen." Sun Chengzong cupped his hands politely and said, "May I ask what good fortune has befallen me?"

Hearing Sun Chengzong's words, Chen Hong could not conceal the delight in his expression. He raised his left hand toward the sky and said with a smile, "His Majesty has issued an edict—Grand Secretary Sun is due for a promotion!"

As he spoke, Chen Hong took the imperial edict from the young attendant following beside him.

Sun Chengzong dared not be negligent. He hastily lifted his robes, knelt down, and prepared to hear the edict.

Seeing this, those around him also knelt down.

Imperial edicts of the Great Ming came in several forms.

One kind was when the Emperor gave his command and the Grand Secretariat drafted the edict. This counted as a true imperial edict, representing the will of the entire court. No one anywhere could refuse such an edict—defying it meant execution.

Apart from this, there was also the direct palace edict. This kind was written by the Emperor himself, bypassing the Grand Secretariat and the civil officials. Under ordinary circumstances, it also carried supreme authority, especially for eunuchs, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, or the military.

But among the civil officials, direct palace edicts sometimes did not carry much weight. This was a privilege the civil officials had carved out for themselves, serving as a check on imperial power. Only this check was malformed—it served the interests of the civil officials, used to expand their own authority. Just whose side carried more weight, no one could really say.

The edict Chen Hong read this time was, naturally, a direct palace edict.

Although a direct palace edict did not carry quite the same authority as a full imperial edict, it still depended on the circumstances. As the saying goes, times change and circumstances shift—following the tide is the true path. Right now, Zhu Youxiao the Emperor enjoyed towering prestige and overwhelming authority, and few truly dared to refuse his direct palace edicts.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Since the Three Sovereigns ruled the world and the Five Emperors took their turns, emperors have made the nurturing of the people the foundation of the state. Military affairs are the great matters of the nation—the ground of life and death, the path of survival and ruin—and cannot be left unexamined.

"Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat Sun Chengzong, well-versed in military texts and thoroughly knowledgeable in the art of war, has often offered remonstrance—truly a minister of the court who understands military matters. I cherish him and value him, and so I shall honor him and employ him. Sun Chengzong is hereby transferred to serve as Chief Military Advisor of the Advisory Office, to assume his post immediately.

"By imperial grant."

Once the edict had been read, Chen Hong folded it together and said with a smile, "His Majesty thinks very highly of Grand Secretary Sun. Grand Secretary, give thanks for the favor and accept the edict."

Even if everyone present racked their brains, none of them could have imagined an edict like this.

His Majesty had simply transferred Sun Chengzong straight to the Advisory Office?

This move truly left one at a loss for words.

Sun Chengzong currently oversaw the Ministry of War. If His Majesty wanted to elevate the status of the Advisory Office, the greatest obstacle was naturally the Ministry of War.

Sun Chengzong, holding the posts of Minister of War and Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat simultaneously, could be said to have been placed over an open fire. If he refused to agree to elevating the Advisory Office's status, it would certainly create contradictions and conflicts, and could even be exploited by those with ulterior motives.

But if he agreed, he would have difficulty answering to the Ministry of War, and might even provoke backlash from the civil officials—in the worst case, ending up alienating both sides. Old foxes like Han Kuang would very likely seize the chance to hit a man when he was down.

Under such circumstances, Sun Chengzong's position was no longer tenable.

Now His Majesty had transferred Sun Chengzong directly to the Advisory Office, so Sun Chengzong himself naturally had no more problems. With the man transferred away, the matter of elevating the Advisory Office's status could hardly be blamed on him.

As for the problem of resistance from the Ministry of War, that naturally vanished as well. With no one left in charge, who could you expect to step forward?

The other officials of the Ministry of War? Were they even qualified?

Whether the Left Vice Minister of War or the Right Vice Minister of War, at this moment they could only obey.

His Majesty's move was like the horn of a celestial antelope leaving no trace behind—utterly untraceable, exquisite to the finest degree.

Once the Ministry of War had no Minister, it would naturally become a heap of loose sand. Judging from the current situation, His Majesty likely would not appoint a new Minister of War anytime soon.

Everyone's gaze fell upon Sun Chengzong.

If there was any room for maneuver now, it lay in Sun Chengzong refusing the edict.

But everyone knew what the consequences of refusing this edict would be—Sun Chengzong would likely offend His Majesty to the utmost.

Someone could not help but shiver. This too was probably a scheme of His Majesty's.

If Sun Chengzong refused the edict, His Majesty would likely use that very offense to send him packing, without dragging the Ministry of War or the Advisory Office into it.

If Sun Chengzong accepted the edict, then naturally everyone would be happy.

"Your servant gives thanks for the favor and accepts the edict." Sun Chengzong said with a solemn expression, extending both hands to receive the edict.

Among those present, some immediately showed looks of disappointment, inwardly calculating whether to spread some rumors to damage Sun Chengzong's reputation.

But on reflection, they let it go—it wasn't worth it. The bigwigs of the court all knew that as long as His Majesty trusted them and power rested in their own hands, losing a bit of reputation meant nothing.

Besides, His Majesty was surely watching this matter closely right now. Whoever stuck their head out to stir up trouble would be dealt with by His Majesty. To damage a bit of Sun Chengzong's reputation and end up sacrificing oneself in the process—that truly was not worth the loss.

"Congratulations to Grand Secretary Sun." Chen Hong cupped his hands with a smile and said, "I still have matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave."

"Farewell, Eunuch Chen." Sun Chengzong did not try to detain him. Smiling as he spoke, he made a gesture of invitation and saw Chen Hong out.

After Chen Hong had left, Sun Chengzong's smile faded. Paying no heed to the congratulations and felicitations of those present, he took the edict and went straight back to his duty room.

Sun Chengzong needed to return and think carefully, to ponder what he should do next. Once he arrived at the Advisory Office, what stance should he take?

While Sun Chengzong went back to think, the others in the Grand Secretariat were also thinking.

At the same time, the news quickly spread out from the Grand Secretariat, throughout the capital, and the entire officialdom learned of Sun Chengzong's promotion to Chief Military Advisor.

For a time, public opinion was in an uproar, causing a great stir among the civil officials.

Everyone had originally been focused on the matter of the Advisory Office's noble title reforms, but now that Sun Chengzong's appointment as Chief Military Advisor had come out, everyone's attention was drawn away.

The reason was also simple: with Sun Chengzong transferred to the Advisory Office, he would have to resign as Minister of War and also step down from his position as Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat. What did this mean?

It meant that two high-ranking official positions had suddenly opened up at court—one being the post of Minister of War, and the other the post of Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat.

Anyone qualified to fill either position was tempted. With that, who still cared about the Advisory Office's military reforms?

Do whatever you like with that—it's a matter for the nobility anyway, and has little to do with us. We need to contend for these two official posts now.

For a time, the officialdom of the capital was in complete chaos, thoroughly thrown into disarray.

At the home of Minister of Rites Shen Tingyun, a modest spread of wine and dishes was laid out in the study.

A guest worthy of being entertained here by Shen Tingyun was naturally no ordinary person—it was none other than Xu Guangqi, Second Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat.

Setting down his wine cup, Xu Guangqi smacked his lips and said, "His Majesty's move truly exceeds all expectations."

"But the effect is excellent." Shen Tingyun remarked with a sigh: "In this way, everyone's eyes are fixed on the post of Minister of War and the vacant Grand Secretary position. Who still cares about the Advisory Office's noble title reforms? Excellent—truly excellent!"

Xu Guangqi nodded and said, "Exactly so. And the benefits don't end there. With the post of Minister of War vacant, the Advisory Office can seize the opportunity to expand its authority. His Majesty really does indulge them. At this rate, the Ministry of War may well become a hollow shell of a government office."

"I don't quite see it that way." Shen Tingyun shook his head and said, "As the saying goes, times differ and circumstances change. The advantage may be with you today, but it could be with me tomorrow. The Advisory Office was just established, and it does indeed need some authority. It's understandable that His Majesty would suppress things temporarily to prevent anyone from obstructing them."

"Once this period has passed, some balance will likely need to be restored. Governance at court is all about equilibrium. If the Advisory Office's power grows too great, that wouldn't be a good thing for His Majesty either. So the Ministry of War will certainly remain, and its authority won't be small."

Xu Guangqi nodded thoughtfully and said, "Should we compete for them?"

Shen Tingyun naturally knew what Xu Guangqi meant by that. The so-called competing naturally meant contending for these two official positions.

So Shen Tingyun asked hesitantly, "Which position have you set your sights on?"

"I've set my sights on both, of course." Xu Guangqi said it as if it were only natural.

"Isn't the position of Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat just right for you?" Xu Guangqi didn't hide his intentions either, and said directly: "You're currently the Minister of Rites. Advancing into the Grand Secretariat would do you no harm—on the contrary, the benefits would be considerable."

"Feng Congwu's influence is great. Once the Imperial Academy reform is complete, his standing is sure to rise like a boat with the tide. At that point, you as Minister of Rites probably won't be able to keep him in check. If we seize this chance to push you into the Grand Secretariat, then for him to try to step over you would be nothing but wishful thinking. Didn't you just say that court politics requires balance? This should also count as balance."

Shen Tingyun's eyes brightened somewhat, and he nodded, saying, "What you say makes sense, but I'm afraid it won't be easy."

"Within the Grand Secretariat, only three Grand Secretaries remain now. Han Kuang and Huang Kezuan are as thick as thieves, and now that Sun Chengzong has left, I find myself isolated and weak. Wouldn't it also be just right to bring you into the Grand Secretariat?" Xu Guangqi still said it as if it were only natural: "If we plan this carefully, it's not necessarily impossible to succeed."

"Then what about the candidate for Minister of War?" Shen Tingyun looked at Xu Guangqi and said directly: "We don't have any suitable candidate in our hands. You know this as well as I do—after all, our foundation is still somewhat shallow. The post of Minister of War won't be easy to fill. Just as you said, for a long time to come, whoever holds it will likely be standing at the very crest of the storm."

"I know that," Xu Guangqi set down the wine cup in his hand, his expression turning serious as he said: "There is one suitable candidate, and I believe His Majesty would approve as well."

"Who are you talking about?" Shen Tingyun asked with some hesitation.

"Wang Xiangqian." Without the slightest hesitation, Xu Guangqi spoke the name directly.

Xu Guangqi looked at Shen Tingyun and said: "I won't belabor his battle achievements and merits—I'm sure you know of them as well. With him as Minister of War, I'm confident there will be no problem."

"Are you familiar with him?" Shen Tingyun looked at Xu Guangqi and asked: "You two don't seem to have had much interaction, have you?"