Chapter 150: Yet Speak of the Emperor's Heart Pitying the Innocent

The Chongzhen Emperor, roused from sleep by Tian Ergeng's midnight request for an audience, was now thoroughly furious. Looking at Tian Ergeng kneeling on the floor, Chongzhen gradually forced his anger down, then said flatly, "Get up and speak. What is it?"

Only then did Tian Ergeng rise, and with his body still bowed, said, "Reporting to Your Majesty: today, twenty-six Imperial Academy students gathered at the Spring Breeze Lodge and unanimously resolved to abandon the civil examinations."

The moment he heard that first sentence, before even listening to what followed, Chongzhen's fury instantly flared up. What are those bastards trying to pull? A collective boycott of the examinations to pressure Us?

The Chongzhen Emperor, who was clearly overthinking this, simply narrowed his eyes and asked, "And then? Is that all?"

Startled by the chill in Chongzhen's tone, Tian Ergeng hurriedly replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty: these twenty-six Imperial Academy students intend, after abandoning the examinations, to devote themselves to teaching in their home villages, instructing children who cannot afford schooling in reading and writing.

They will henceforth no longer concern themselves with the examinations or officialdom, but dedicate themselves solely to the profession of teaching."

Hearing this, Chongzhen was momentarily stunned. Isn't this exactly the kind of thing the Hope Project did in the later era?

How is it that someone in the Great Ming has already started playing this game? He absolutely had to get a hand in this.

When it comes to currying favor and winning hearts, if he, the Emperor, didn't get involved, how could they possibly pull it off? Even if they could, We certainly can't let them.

Thinking this, Chongzhen, now clearly intrigued, asked, "The specifics? Tell Us in detail."

Tian Ergeng organized his thoughts and began, "Reporting to Your Majesty: according to a report from Chiliarch Shang Yihan, who commands the dawn-watch under your servant, these twenty-six Imperial Academy students originally went to the Clear Breeze Lodge to amuse themselves and incidentally discuss whether to sit for the examinations in Ming Law, Ming Mathematics, and the Investigation of Things.

It was just that, unexpectedly, during the discussion, one candidate directly declared he would take the Investigation of Things examination and would no longer sit for the jinshi examination."

Hearing this, Chongzhen laughed. This matter was getting more and more interesting.

Now genuinely interested in these students, Chongzhen simply ordered Fang Zhenghua, who was standing guard beside him, "Send someone to fetch the dossiers on these twenty-six Imperial Academy students. We wish to see them."

Fang Zhenghua acknowledged the order and dispatched agents of the Inner Ear Depot to handle the matter, while Chongzhen continued to Tian Ergeng, "Go on."

Only then did Tian Ergeng continue, "Reporting to Your Majesty: the name of that student who directly declared he would abandon the jinshi examination and sit for the Investigation of Things examination is Yi Xingzhi.

His father, because he built a device that increased the output of triple-width cotton cloth, was incited by members of the Restoration Society—who had sought the device but failed to obtain it—and beaten to death by ignorant commoners they secretly manipulated."

Chongzhen interrupted Tian Ergeng, "The Restoration Society? That would be the Restoration Society of Zhang Pu and Zhang Cai, correct?"

Tian Ergeng said, "Yes. After his father's death, Yi Xingzhi was secretly taken away by his uncle and sent to study in the Far West.

He returned only four years ago. His original intention was to request Your Majesty's grace at the palace examination to be assigned as an assistant to Sir Xu at the Royal Academy.

Now, hearing that this Investigation of Things examination has been established, he wishes to abandon the jinshi examination and directly sit for the Investigation of Things examination."

Chongzhen made a sound of acknowledgment and said, "If it were only this, it would hardly be enough to make the other twenty-odd men all abandon the jinshi examination and choose to become private tutors. Continue."

Tian Ergeng bowed and said, "Your Majesty is supremely perceptive. This man Yi Xingzhi's words were largely filled with resentment toward the Donglin faction and the Restoration Society.

He also argued that if the common people could all read and understand reason, his father might not have died such a horrible death. Among the group was one student, surnamed Wang, named Huaiwen, who was deeply moved by this.

On the spot, he swore an oath to abandon the civil examinations and devote himself to teaching the children of commoner families who cannot afford schooling, taking not a single coin for it."

Raising his head to glance at Chongzhen's expression, and seeing no discernible joy or anger, Tian Ergeng could only steel himself and say, "The madam of the Clear Breeze Lodge, and Chiliarch Shang Yihan of the dawn-watch, fearing that these scholars—and this man Wang Huaiwen in particular—were currying favor and winning hearts, dared not be negligent.

After these students dispersed, they reported it to your servant, and your servant also dared not make a decision on his own. It is for this reason that I disturbed Your Majesty's rest.

I deserve death ten thousand times over."

Chongzhen, however, laughed softly and said to Tian Ergeng, "Enough, enough. Spare me the useless talk of dying ten thousand deaths. Serve diligently, and how could We possibly blame you? This matter is a good thing, but also not a good thing."

Seeing that Tian Ergeng still maintained his bowing posture, awaiting orders, Chongzhen suddenly laughed at himself and said, "Right, what am I telling you all this for? Go now.

Bring these two, Yi Xingzhi and Wang Huaiwen, to see Us. Also, check whether Wen Tiren and Shi Fenglai have gone to bed.

If not, summon them to the palace. Furthermore, relay Our decree: court is suspended tomorrow."

Tian Ergeng was, in truth, baffled. He had absolutely no desire to get deeply involved in the matter of these twenty-six students. His own reputation was already foul; if he meddled too much, he feared he would truly become like a stone in a latrine—utterly and irredeemably stinking.

But since the Emperor had given the order, he had to carry it out. As for Wen Tiren and Shi Fenglai—if I, old Tian, am running back and forth without sleeping tonight, you two can keep me company!

Don't say I'm selling out my teammates; when the Emperor summons you, even if you're already sleeping like dead pigs, don't you still have to crawl out of bed at once?

As one squad of Embroidered Uniform Guard officers went to rouse Wen Tiren and Shi Fenglai from their beds, another squad of Embroidered Uniform Guard officers, bearing torches, arrived before the gates of the Imperial Academy.

Looking at the tightly shut gates of the Imperial Academy, the Embroidered Uniform Guard squad leader clearing the way turned his head back to look at the Centurion leading the detachment. That Centurion was the very same man who had led the squad to arrest Kong Xingxie last time.

Ever since arresting Kong Xingxie, he had truly found the thrill of being in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. With a wave of his hand, he barked, "Smash the gate for me and seize the men."

Having received the order from his superior, the Embroidered Uniform Guard squad leader grew excited as well.

Damn it, although the Embroidered Uniform Guard had undercover agents inside the Imperial Academy, those shitty students had always been unbearably arrogant and never took the undercover agents seriously. And the undercover agents were annoyed to death.

These students were as well-behaved as could be, never discussing any political matters, spending every day flaunting their learning by reciting poetry and matching couplets right in front of them. The agents had long been sick of it and had complained to him many times.

Seeing a chance to vent his brothers' frustrations, the squad leader did not stand on ceremony. Bang, bang, bang—he pounded on the gates of the Imperial Academy.

Before long, the gates of the Imperial Academy creaked open a crack. The gatekeeper, bleary-eyed, said, "Who is it, who is it? In the middle of the night, whose soul are you calling for?"

Squinting against the torchlight that hurt his eyes, the gatekeeper peered outside.

Discovering it was a squad of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he immediately put on an ingratiating smile and said, "Yo, officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, at this hour, what noble business brings you to the Imperial Academy?

Shall this humble one inform our Libationer on your behalf?"

Only then did the Centurion clear his throat and say, "By imperial decree, we are to bring the Imperial Academy students Yi Xingzhi and Wang Huaiwen to the palace for an audience. There is no other matter; you need not be alarmed."

(End of Chapter)