Chapter 546: Zuo Guangdou Returns to the Capital

After finishing the tour of the Hundred Crafts Institute, Zhu Youxiao went straight back to the palace. Everything here was settled; there was nothing left worth worrying about, so he could return to the palace and rest easy.

The weather over these past two days had not been good—a heavy snow was likely on the way.

There was much business across the court, but little that could truly trouble Zhu Youxiao. With his layout of the court complete, many matters no longer required his personal attention; he only needed to make the final decisions on the major issues.

If Zhu Youxiao wanted to do nothing more, he could even stay inside the palace for decades.

But that was impossible—he still had more important things to accomplish.

After winter set in, the court's efficiency dropped. Yet in reality, the vast machinery of the government was still spinning at full speed, mostly digesting the benefits gained from Jiangnan and turning them into the strength for the Great Ming to soar.

The noisy, quarrelsome days had finally passed. Once winter arrived, everyone finally quieted down.

Apart from daily trivialities, there was basically nothing major happening. If there was anything the ministers were busy with, it was this year's imperial examinations.

The examinations had been held several times already, so everyone had experience with them, and now the day for posting the results was drawing near. Everyone was happily busy, since the competition in this matter was not within the court itself.

And on this day, when heavy snow sealed the gates, a party of travelers arrived at the capital.

Braving the snow, gazing at the capital's city gates, a smile spread across Zuo Guangdou's face.

To be honest, in recent years he had stayed far from the center of court power, far from all kinds of struggles—yet his heart had not been at peace.

For Zuo Guangdou, he yearned to grasp the power of the state, to walk into the core of power. It was only that the earlier affairs had never settled down.

Now things had turned for the better. In these past years he had rendered no small merit for the court, and the work of promoting new crops had also been done well. This time, Zuo Guangdou had stepped down as Governor of Huguang, and the Emperor summoning him back to the capital naturally meant there was an important task to entrust to him.

Though he did not know what the Emperor would have him do, it was certainly a promotion and a heavy responsibility.

This was not something only Zuo Guangdou knew—the whole court knew it as well. At the same time, Zuo Guangdou's return signified another thing: the matter of the Donglin Faction from those years had finally, at this moment, passed.

Although no one had brought it up in recent years, and no one on the court spoke of it, that did not mean it had never existed. Everyone knew what the original struggle had been about, and especially after these years, with the changes in court policy, more and more people understood in their hearts.

Back then, when the Emperor had dealt with the Donglin men, it was on the one hand because of factional strife, and on the other because of ideology.

Now all kinds of thought were sprouting like bamboo shoots after spring rain—even the Ministry of Justice had produced a school of legal principle—and there were many factions of every sort. The concept of equality among the four classes of people had also taken deep root in people's hearts. The Emperor had won the final victory.

Under such circumstances, Zuo Guangdou returned to the capital.

Everyone could sense that this represented the end of that earlier struggle, and also represented a shift in court policy. But where it was shifting to, no one knew yet. Still, it was surely shifting in a good direction.

"Let's enter the city." Zuo Guangdou shook the snow from his hat and said.

Who would have thought that after arriving at the capital these past few days, it would start snowing so heavily?

The journey had been extremely difficult—his hat was covered in snow, and the cold wind howled, making one feel very chilled.

But Zuo Guangdou's heart was burning hot, and the hearts of the others were burning hot too.

Deep within the imperial palace.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at the sky outside.

Heavy snow days really were unpleasant. Fortunately, the heated room was warm enough; otherwise, he would certainly be wrapped in thick cotton-padded clothes, bundled up in bed.

After returning from Jiangnan, Zhu Youxiao had moved out of the Western Park, come back to the Forbidden City, and taken up residence once more in Qianqing Palace.

To be honest, this move was already somewhat late—after all, the court had been very peaceful these past few years, with nothing happening, so he should have returned long ago.

It was only that Zhu Youxiao had never felt a sense of security in his heart, and only now had he come back.

At this moment, Wei Chao walked in from outside. He wore a red great cloak over his shoulders, with snowflakes still on the brim of his hat, but his expression was calm and peaceful—his days in the palace were going well now.

Coming before Zhu Youxiao, Wei Chao said directly: "Your Majesty, Zuo Guangdou requests an audience."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao was startled.

He had not expected Zuo Guangdou to enter the capital in such weather.

This Zuo Guangdou had been summoned back by him, and coming to see him at the first opportunity upon arriving in the capital was only proper.

He certainly had to receive him—it was a mark of respect, the tacit understanding between sovereign and minister.

But what Zhu Youxiao had not expected was that even such heavy snow could not stop Zuo Guangdou's steps. He had originally thought the man would pause along the way and enter the capital a few days later.

It seemed this Zuo Guangdou was also anxious to return.

Still, that was understandable—having been away from the center of power for several years, he truly wanted to come back quickly. These past years, Zuo Guangdou had been farming out in the provinces, working diligently and suffering no small hardship.

Zhu Youxiao said: "Let him in."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Wei Chao answered promptly.

After Wei Chao left, Zhu Youxiao glanced at Chen Hong and said: "Prepare two braziers, and place them beside Zuo Guangdou in a moment. He's probably frozen stiff. At his age, we mustn't let him ruin his health."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong acknowledged, and promptly had people make the preparations.

This made Chen Hong sigh inwardly with emotion—since returning from Jiangnan this time, His Majesty's temperament seemed to have softened considerably. His attitude toward his ministers had become much more magnanimous, no longer calling for heads and bloodshed as before, and he handled matters more gently as well.

This change in His Majesty, Chen Hong found himself not yet quite accustomed to.

In truth, Zhu Youxiao no longer needed force or threats to display his authority. He had passed the elementary stage of killing people to establish his prestige, and had evolved to a higher stage—beginning to win people over through virtue.

Of course, the prerequisite for winning people over through virtue was having a big enough fist.

Before long, Zuo Guangdou walked in from outside wearing his official robes.

His great cloak had been left outside, because with the snow falling, it had gotten somewhat wet and was not suitable to wear in. Besides, wearing such a thing to see the Emperor was somewhat informal.

Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, Zuo Guangdou knelt directly to the ground and said with sincere tone: "Your subject Zuo Guangdou pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Zhu Youxiao looked at Zuo Guangdou, whose body was trembling slightly, and understood why he was so agitated.

Since he was going to elevate this man anyway, he might as well elevate him all the way.

Zhu Youxiao walked down from the steps, came directly before Zuo Guangdou, and without the slightest hesitation, helped him up with his own hands.

Not only descending the steps, but also personally helping him up—such treatment was not something just anyone could receive. There were few ministers in the court worthy of His Majesty doing this, and Zuo Guangdou had not expected it at all.

"Your subject is overwhelmed with awe!" Zuo Guangdou said hastily.

"My dear minister has suffered no small hardship in various places these past years—I know all of this. Promoting new crops in the provinces is a thankless task, and you did it excellently. This merit, I have also remembered."

As he spoke, Zhu Youxiao turned to Chen Hong and said: "Bring a stool for Minister Zuo."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong acknowledged, and had someone prepare a stool, which was delivered directly before Zuo Guangdou.

Seeing this, Zhu Youxiao frowned slightly, and a look of displeasure immediately appeared on his face.

He said, "It's freezing cold outside, and Minister Zuo must have been chilled all the way here. Have two braziers prepared and brought over."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong replied with a look of utmost trepidation.

This was a textbook example of winning people over.

Even though everything had already been prepared, there still had to be a performance. These things now came to Zhu Youxiao as naturally as flowing water or drifting clouds—there was simply no difficulty in them at all.

Zuo Guangdou hurriedly said, "Your Majesty cares for your servant so deeply, your servant truly…"

"Between sovereign and minister, there's no need for such words." Zhu Youxiao patted Zuo Guangdou and said with a smile on his face, "I know everything you've done, Minister. This is all what you deserve."

"It is all thanks to Your Majesty's far-reaching planning that the people are filled with gratitude. Your servant merely handled some trivial matters." Zuo Guangdou said hurriedly.

When the Emperor wants to win your heart, no matter how immature the methods or how clearly you—being so clever—can see through them, you must not show it. On the contrary, you must appear deeply appreciative and thoroughly enjoying it.

This too was the tacit understanding between sovereign and minister—otherwise, what would you have the Emperor think?

For a time, the great hall was warm as ever, and the tacit understanding between sovereign and minister was complete.

Zhu Youxiao returned to the dragon throne, and Zuo Guangdou also sat down.

After Zuo Guangdou had taken his seat, Zhu Youxiao continued, "I am quite curious about what you have done these past few years, Minister. Although routine memorials have been sent up in ordinary times, they are ultimately not very vivid. So, Minister, tell me about it."

The Emperor wishing to ask about your handling of official duties is a reflection of your merits, and at the same time it gives you an opportunity for self-expression. On the one hand, you express what you've done over the years, what hardships you've endured, and what contributions you've made—this is a form of rewarding you.

On the other hand, it also expresses how much the Emperor values you. This is a rare opportunity.

Zuo Guangdou's heart felt warm. All his years of hardship had not been in vain—the Emperor had seen it all.

This also let the breath he had been holding in his heart finally relax.

The Emperor had not held past matters against him—truly magnanimous and broad-minded. A wise sovereign of a flourishing age ought to be exactly like this.

This made Zuo Guangdou look forward to his future all the more.

And so Zuo Guangdou recounted everything he had experienced over these past few years—sometimes solemn, sometimes earnest, and occasionally sharing some embarrassing anecdotes that made Zhu Youxiao laugh heartily.

Zuo Guangdou handled this sense of proportion very well, and Zhu Youxiao played along equally well. The two seemed to be having a thoroughly enjoyable conversation.