Chapter 116: A Hidden Hand

Toss a peach, get a plum in return. Since ancient times, the Chinese have valued reciprocity in courtesy — even an emperor or a sage cannot escape this rule.

Chongzhen enfeoffed Kong Zhenyun as the Duke of Fulfilling the Sage, letting the southern lineage retake control of the Kong family estate — that was a grand gesture, and it had to be repaid. If you show no token of acknowledgment at all, who will bring you along next time?

This is exactly how officialdom works; only those who value gratitude can go far in the bureaucratic world. Those who understand nothing but calculating profit and gain have long since been played to death by people even more calculating, until not even the dregs remain.

After ritually declining three times before "having no choice but to accept the edict," the Duke of Fulfilling the Sage, Kong Zhenyun, was about to leave the capital for the Kong family estate.

Before his departure, however, Lord Kong submitted a memorial requesting that Chongzhen be honored with the title "Grand Master of Confucian Learning."

The reasoning was simple: Chongzhen understood the classics, observed the rites, and possessed considerable insight into the words of the sages — though no one actually knew what sort of insight that was.

After Chongzhen repeatedly declined several times, he saw that the Duke of Fulfilling the Sage was resolute, as if he would dash his head against the golden throne hall and die on the spot should the Emperor refuse this honorific.

Fearing that the Duke might come to some mishap, the Chongzhen Emperor had no choice but to bashfully accept this title, which also signified that, before all the scholars under heaven, Chongzhen had now received the sage's descendant's endorsement as the new-generation Grand Master of Confucian Learning.

Every minister at court who saw Chongzhen wore a beaming expression. Only Empress Zhou in the inner palace knew Chongzhen's reaction after accepting this title: "His mother's! That old scoundrel has insulted Us beyond endurance!"

Empress Zhou, however, was quite puzzled. By all normal reasoning, not even the August Emperor, Grand Progenitor, or the Chengzu Emperor had ever received such an honorific from the Kong family. Why would Chongzhen fly into a rage upon receiving it?

Husband and wife are one body, after all. Concerned that Chongzhen might damage his health with rage, Empress Zhou counseled, "If Your Majesty dislikes it, simply discard the title.

Yet this 'Grand Master of Confucian Learning' was, after all, conferred by the Duke of Fulfilling the Sage — does it not also represent the entire scholarly world's endorsement of Your Majesty?"

Chongzhen, however, sneered. "Endorsement? When We act, do We need the endorsement of these dregs? This so-called 'Grand Master of Confucian Learning' honorific — it is not as if no one has received it before. By giving Us this title, that old scoundrel is plainly trying to disgust Us."

Empress Zhou asked curiously, "Your consort has read little; Your Majesty must not deceive me. It has been nearly three hundred years since the August Emperor, Grand Progenitor, rose like a dragon. Which of our ancestors ever received such an honorific?"

Chongzhen ground his teeth.

"In our Great Ming dynasty, of course no emperor has ever received it.

Heh heh, that old scoundrel presumed We had read too little. This dog-fart honorific he submitted was the one that shameless wretch Yuan Haowen presented to the false khan Kublai during the false Yuan.

That old scoundrel was certain We could not touch him now, so he used a title from the previous dynasty to disgust Us. His heart deserves death!"

Early the next morning, Chongzhen summoned Xu Xianchun alone well before the usual hour. Even Wang Cheng'en and the others were not present. Aside from the ever-present Director of the East, Fang Zhenghua, who scarcely left his side, there was not a second person.

"We have heard that among the Mongols and in Tibet, there is a kind of fierce dog called the mastiff. It recognizes only one master its entire life, and no matter how its master beats or scolds it, its loyalty never changes."

Xu Xianchun was, in truth, somewhat baffled. If His Majesty wanted such a fierce dog, he could certainly obtain one for him no matter what. But to speak of such a dog to him alone now clearly meant this was not as simple as wanting to acquire one to keep as a pet.

As if blessed by sudden inspiration, Xu Xianchun responded, "Your Majesty, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is Your Majesty's mastiff. Whoever Your Majesty says to bite, it will surely bite to death. No matter how Your Majesty beats or scolds it, it will utter no complaint."

Chongzhen grunted in acknowledgment, then said flatly, "We have a matter to entrust to you. You need not go personally, but the men must be absolutely reliable. Men who dare to die, with no elders above and no children below."

Xu Xianchun pondered briefly, and a list sifted through his mind. Bowing, he replied, "Of such men, the Depot and the Guard have many, specially kept for tasks that are not quite honorable. Only, may I ask what Your Majesty requires these men to do?"

Chongzhen said with a faint, ambiguous smile, "The Master said, 'Repay virtue with virtue, and repay injury with straightness.' Yet these bastards had the gall to forcibly alter it to 'repay injury with virtue'! One wonders what Sage Kong would think, if he knew from the nether springs."

Xu Xianchun did not pick up the thread. This sort of talk was clearly not something he could join. The more words, the more mistakes. He was the sharp blade in the Emperor's hand, and needed only to act on the Emperor's orders — a weapon must not have thoughts of its own.

Chongzhen was clearly also very satisfied with Xu Xianchun's consistent performance. He continued, "Many of the methods within the Embroidered Uniform Guard — We heard of them long ago, even while still dwelling in the princely residence.

This time, We want you to assign a few men and bring out those methods."

Xu Xianchun bowed. "I await Your Majesty's command."

Chongzhen nodded, then continued, "We will issue an edict today, arranging for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to escort the Duke of Fulfilling the Sage south. After he goes to receive the coffin and remains of the former sage, he will then return north to the Kong family estate."

Xu Xianchun remained bowed and silent. The Chongzhen Emperor had clearly not finished speaking. If it were only this, the Emperor could not possibly have spoken to him alone as he had just done.

As expected, Chongzhen continued, "Once Kong Zhenyun reaches the Kong family estate and inherits the title, have the men you assign create an accident. We do not care whether he dies from drinking cold water or dies in his sleep.

In any case, We want him never to see the sun of the day after he inherits the title. Do you understand?"

A faint sheen of fine sweat had already appeared on Xu Xianchun's forehead. On an ordinary day, Xu Xianchun, who always prided himself on being a loyal hound, would have been so overjoyed at such a private audience that he could not find north.

But today, if there were even the slightest possibility, he would rather have heard nothing and known nothing today, so that he would not be, as he was now, so terrified that both his thighs felt as if the tendons were cramping.

No matter how much his heart pounded like a drum, Xu Xianchun still responded, "I understand. May I ask Your Majesty, what of the aftermath?"

Chongzhen continued, "Afterward, have men fabricate evidence, pointing the spear at the crimes of the northern lineage, but it must not be too obvious. Do your utmost to provoke the two Kong lineages, north and south, into fighting each other first."

Xu Xianchun then asked, "May I ask Your Majesty, should the men who carry this out be silenced?"

Chongzhen, however, hesitated somewhat. If they were not silenced, the risk of the secret leaking was unavoidable. If the men who carried it out were silenced, it would be a pity for these loyal and devoted Embroidered Uniform Guardsmen. For a moment, he felt quite troubled.

After pondering for a long while, Chongzhen finally said, "Forget it. After the deed, arrange for these men to go to Liaodong and join the army. Then, from among the young seedlings, select the best to continue their family lines, and provide generous compensation and pensions."

Xu Xianchun took the hint. Bowing once more, he responded, "This humble minister understands. I will certainly handle the matter properly and flawlessly."

Chongzhen grunted in acknowledgment, then said, "Put your heart into handling this assignment. There must not be the slightest error."

After Xu Xianchun had received his orders and departed, Chongzhen murmured to himself, "Duke Xiang avenged a wrong nine generations deep, and the Spring and Autumn Annals extolled him. When We take revenge, We cannot let even a single night pass!"

Ahem, it's book recommendation time again. Recommending a book, "I Want to Be Emperor": If heaven is unjust, then this heaven can be done away with.

If the mighty hold sway, then overturn them and start anew. Riding a white horse, grasping a silver spear, Liu Wu points his spear at the vault of heaven and declares proudly, "I want to be Emperor!"

(End of Chapter)