Chapter 53: Luo Sigong

What did Zhu Youxiao think of this kind of claim?

He thought it was just fine.

What was so special about it? Did imperial rule rely on some Mandate of Heaven?

It never had. Since ancient times, that had merely been deception.

In Zhu Youxiao's view, this was self-deception. Damn the Mandate of Heaven — on this land of Cathay, there had always been the cry of "Are kings and generals, ministers and chancellors, born to their station?"

Rule always relied on raw power, not on any of that other miscellaneous nonsense. When the emperor held command of the nation's armies, his rule was secure; when he did not, it was all empty talk.

Was there anything so earth-shattering about Li Zhi's claims?

In Zhu Youxiao's view, Li Zhi's thought could actually provide him with some foundation.

Take Li Zhi's idea of equality, for example: according to the principle that all things are one, there was fundamentally no distinction of high and low, noble and base in society. Commoners were not base — they had qualities worthy of honor; marquises and kings were not noble — they too had their base aspects.

What could this line of thought provide for him, Zhu Youxiao?

It could provide him with justification for cleaning up the hereditary nobles, imperial affines, and gentry. You lot have nothing noble about you either; you have your base sides too. That being so, if you break the law and I deal with you, it is naturally perfectly proper — and righteous.

This line of thought allowed Zhu Youxiao to raise his butcher's blade high and stamp the idea of "punishments do not reach the great, rites do not descend to the common folk" into dust.

Of course, some parts needed revision, needed to be implemented according to his own ideas — taxation, for instance.

He could simply transplant the modern concept of taxation wholesale. Taxes are taken from the people and used for the people; paying taxes is the duty and obligation of every subject of the Great Ming. You want to avoid paying taxes? That is simply impossible.

Most importantly, Li Zhi's school and the Cheng-Zhu School of Principle were at odds with each other.

How did Li Zhi die?

In the thirtieth year of Wanli, Supervising Secretary Zhang Wenda of the Ministry of Rites, acting on the instructions of Chief Grand Secretary Shen Yiguan, submitted a memorial to Emperor Shenzong impeaching Li Zhi. In the end, Li Zhi was arrested in Tongzhou on the charge of "daring to advocate seditious doctrines, deluding the age and deceiving the people," and his works were burned.

After Li Zhi was imprisoned, he said calmly: "Famous mountains and great ravines I have climbed them all; only within these walls have I not yet set foot. Ill, I now realize my body is in bonds — how many times have I watched the white sun, how many the yellow dusk?"

Later, when he heard the court intended to escort him back to his native Fujian, he remarked with feeling: "I am seventy-six years old — to die, what need is there to return?"

On the fifteenth day of the third month, Li Zhi left behind a gatha: "A brave man does not forget he may die in a ditch; a martyr does not forget he may lose his head." Thereafter, on the pretext of shaving his head, he snatched the barber's razor and cut his own throat, dying at the age of seventy-six.

In the later era's 1974 Criticize Lin, Criticize Confucius campaign, Li Zhi was again exalted as a hero who honored the Legalists and opposed the Confucians, and his works were classified under the "Legalist school."

Now, Zhu Youxiao could do exactly the same thing. Li Zhi was dead, after all, so his thought could be freely developed and freely repainted by him, remolding the School of Mind into his own ideas.

Li Zhi's disciples could be put to his use. They bore grudges against the School of Principle, against the current Donglin Faction, and against everyone in officialdom — they were the perfect replacements. After the Donglin Faction was destroyed, they would be the best successors.

There was one thing Zhu Youxiao saw very clearly: most of the people who joined the Donglin Faction did so in order to become officials. These people had no bottom line and no resolve to die defending the Way.

As long as he set up a banner for them, they would charge straight over. After the eunuch faction's banner was raised, how many people charged over? How many people built shrines to Wei Zhongxian while he was still alive?

By comparison, once the banner of the Li Zhi school was raised, these people would charge over with even less hesitation and even fewer scruples — even more thoroughly than those who threw in with the eunuch faction.

Especially the disciples of the School of Mind — they would swarm in as if they had finally found their backbone.

How powerful were these people?

The answer was: very powerful. They kept at it right up until the end of the Ming.

Li Zhi had once lectured in Jiangnan as well, sparking a phenomenon of tens of thousands following him. Whenever Li Zhi opened his platform to lecture, no matter whether it was a temple or deep in the mountains and forests, monks, woodcutters, peasants — even women bravely pushed open their bashful boudoir doors — and nearly the whole city emptied as everyone came running to hear Li Zhi teach.

In a flash, Li Zhi became an academic superstar sweeping across Confucians, Buddhists, and common folk alike. Even by the end of the Chongzhen era, Li Zhi still had a great many followers.

How could such a line of thought be left unused?

"Chen Hong." Zhu Youxiao turned his head and called out.

Chen Hong hurried over and bowed, saying: "Your Majesty."

"Summon Luo Sigong to the palace." Zhu Youxiao gave the order with an expressionless face.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong acknowledged and hurried off to find someone to summon Luo Sigong.

Luo Sigong was not yet the Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. In the forty-first year of Wanli, when Wang Zhizhen, the Left Commissioner-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was dismissed from office, Luo Sigong, as an Assistant Guard Commander, took up the post of managing the Embroidered Uniform Guard and began to serve as its principal officer.

In the seventh month of the forty-eighth year of Wanli, when his convenient father, the Taichang Emperor, passed away, Luo Sigong, as an Eastern Palace guard, took charge of internal and external security, dutifully protecting the person of the new Son of Heaven, the Tianqi Emperor, and rendered meritorious service.

For this achievement, Luo Sigong was promoted to Regional Military Commissioner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, with the titles of Junior Guardian, Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, and Left Commissioner-in-Chief of the Rear Military Command.

This time, Zhu Youxiao also wanted to test Luo Sigong as a man. If he proved useful, he would keep him; if not, he would replace him outright.

Luo Sigong came from a family with generations in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. His father, Luo Bingliang, had been a Chiliarch of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and in the twentieth year of Wanli had led the Guard on campaign to Joseon to gather military intelligence and the like — what history calls the Imjin War.

He had ability, especially in intelligence work — Luo Sigong was extremely skilled at it. It was just that he was not on the same path as Wei Zhongxian; or rather, he looked down on Wei Zhongxian.

That was not a big problem for Zhu Youxiao either. It was better that they looked down on each other — if they got along, then what would be left for him, the Emperor, to do?

Although the Eastern Depot supervised the Embroidered Uniform Guard, it could only supervise — it absolutely could not direct and command. Otherwise, why not just establish one Eastern Depot?

The Embroidered Uniform Guard had its own role, something the Eastern Depot could never match — of this, Zhu Youxiao was very clear in his heart.

Luo Sigong arrived quickly.

For Luo Sigong, this period had been one of great pressure for both the Embroidered Uniform Guard and himself. The Eastern Depot's prestige was rising, and it enjoyed the deep trust of His Majesty — which meant hard times for the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Now that His Majesty had summoned him, Luo Sigong naturally dared not be negligent and hurried straight over.

Entering the great hall, Luo Sigong lifted his robes, knelt to the ground, and said: "Your subject, Luo Sigong, Regional Military Commissioner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, pays respects to Your Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said expressionlessly: "Rise."

Once Luo Sigong had stood up, Zhu Youxiao looked straight at him and asked: "Is the Embroidered Uniform Guard still up to the task?"

Hearing this, Luo Sigong knew there was work for him to do. He stepped forward at once and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, the Embroidered Uniform Guard stands ready at any time to die for Your Majesty."

"Very good." Zhu Youxiao said with satisfaction: "There is a matter I am entrusting to you. Help me find a man."