Chapter 2048: The Final Journey 16

Even within the traveling palace, Zhang Ji's stride was imposing, his aged face bearing a hint of reverence—but only a hint. Upon reaching the corridor beneath the hall, Zhang Ji swept a glance at the two men, Hou and Liu, who both bowed in salute.

Zhang Ji said nothing, merely nodding in acknowledgment, then raised his head and caught sight of Hu De emerging from the hall doors. His expression shifted instantly, and he greeted him with a beaming smile: "Much obliged to you, Chief Steward Hu, for coming out to receive us!"

Faced with the effusive Zhang Ji, Hu De's attitude was no longer as cordial as when he had first arrived in Guangzhou. His eyelids lifted slightly as he glanced at Zhang Ji, and with a flick of the white horsetail whisk in his hand, he draped it over his arm and said coldly: "His Majesty summons the three of you. Enter the hall for an audience at once!"

Hu De's attitude made Zhang Ji's heart skip a beat, and his face stiffened for a moment—but only for an instant. He quickly plastered on a smile, leaned in closer, and asked in a low voice: "I presume to ask, Chief Steward, has this humble official or his colleagues been lacking in some courtesy?"

At this, Hu De looked at Zhang Ji. After their gazes met briefly, Hu De resumed his aloof demeanor and replied flatly: "Governor Zhang, do not keep His Majesty waiting!"

He would not spare even a single superfluous word. Such an attitude naturally stirred displeasure in Zhang Ji's heart, but no matter how aggrieved he felt, he dared not show it. He had to lower his posture and force a smile: "May I trouble the Chief Steward to announce us? Your servants request an audience!"

"No need! His Majesty has issued an oral decree: Zhang, Hou, and Liu, the three ministers, are to present themselves immediately!"

After this little episode, Zhang Ji's entire face was dark as he entered the hall. What concerned him was naturally not how Hu De, this eunuch, behaved, but rather what the old Emperor's attitude behind this coldness revealed—clearly, things did not bode well.

Zhang Ji naturally knew that the old Emperor had gone out on inspection today, and even knew roughly where. But what exactly had incurred the old Emperor's displeasure, to the point that even these eunuchs, so accustomed to reading the mood, had undergone such a dramatic shift in attitude—the implications of that were truly worth being wary of.

Still, though somewhat uneasy at heart, Zhang Ji remained fairly composed. Perhaps it was due to his long service as a high official in the provinces, or perhaps because he shared a certain closeness with the old Emperor, but when it came to dealing with the old Emperor, Zhang Ji always possessed an inexplicable confidence.

By region, Zhang Ji could be considered a southern official—born in Chuzhou, raised in Huainan, but entering officialdom in the Central Plains. His uncle Zhang Yi had once been a general of the Southern Tang, and had submitted to the court during the Great Han's campaign to pacify Huainan. Before his death, he had risen to the post of Chief Commander of the Huaixi Circuit.

Zhang Ji was the junior Zhang Yi valued most. Before he was even twenty, he was sent to Kaifeng to take the imperial examinations. Before sitting for the exam, he was fortunate enough to encounter the old Emperor on an inspection tour, and after the palace examination, he became a Tanhua—third-place graduate. Anyone familiar with the development of the Great Han's examination system knows that in the early and middle Qianyou era, the Tanhua was the Emperor's favored one, with an even brighter future ahead. Zhao Yan, Zhang Ji, and Zhao Kuangyi were all representative figures of this.

Among the many political factions of the Great Han, there was another extremely important faction—or more precisely, a background and career track—known as the Chongzheng Academicians. They formed an especially important branch of the early "Emperor's Party," serving as the Emperor's reserve talent pool. Essentially every Chongzheng Academician, so long as he committed no major error, was guaranteed a bright future.

The Cabinet Academicians of today, compared to the Chongzheng Academicians of those years, suffered a vast disparity in status—whether in actual power or influence. And Zhang Ji was a core figure of the Chongzheng Academician faction.

These two identities alone—Qianyou Tanhua and Chongzheng Academician—were enough to serve Zhang Ji for a lifetime. In fact, given Zhang Ji's nearly forty years of official career and the depth of his résumé, there were few in the entire court who could match him even now.

To be truthful, he ought not to have been merely an Administration Commissioner of the Guangnan East Circuit. Remember, twenty years ago, he had already served as Fiscal Commissioner of Hedong—a circuit-level grand official. By the normal rules of promotion, even if he dared not aspire to the Chief Chancellorship, a seat in the Hall of State Affairs was well within his reach to contend for.

Yet, at every critical moment, he was always outshone by others. It was not always due to nobles or imperial relatives—trace it back to the root, and one would find that he simply could not pass muster with the old Emperor. The reason was not complicated: in the old Emperor's view, Zhang Ji possessed petty cleverness but lacked great capacity. Though his literary talent was outstanding, his character was fawning and treacherous—not the mark of a good minister.

Of course, these were still only surface issues. What most displeased the old Emperor was that this man loved to stir up trouble, acted on his own initiative, and was especially fond of currying favor with factions of ministers. But even so, after all these years, Zhang Ji had never lost his high position, and the purple robe he wore had never faded.

For Zhang Ji himself, such "circumstances" could hardly be called comfortable, and he was not a magnanimous man by nature.

As a prince, one always harbors designs on the throne; as a minister, one inevitably wishes to sample the view from the high seats of the Hall of State Affairs. But over more than twenty years, multiple attempts and multiple failures had wrought some subtle changes in Zhang Ji's psyche.

These changes, manifested in his specific conduct in governance and personal dealings, appeared as a certain ostentatious arrogance, pride, and stubbornness.

The old Emperor, senile as he was, always reflected when faced with matters and could not help but engage in self-examination. Zhang Ji, however, from beginning to end, had never recognized or analyzed his own faults, merely feeling that his luck was bad.

Therefore, even though he sensed something unusual about the old Emperor summoning him in the dead of night, and though he was somewhat on guard, deep down he still did not think there was any major problem—at least not one that would originate from him. After all, being merely an Administration Commissioner of the Guangnan East Circuit was already doing him a disservice. Would it not be excessive for the Emperor to come down on him further?

However, when he saw the old Emperor's icy gaze and faced those sharp interrogations, Zhang Ji was somewhat stunned.

"Is this Guangzhou Prefecture still the realm of the Great Han? Is it still under the governance of the court?"

These two questions caused the faces of the three uneasy Guangnan East grand officials to change drastically. Hou Yanguang barely managed to hold steady, Liu Changyan's legs gave way and he knelt directly, and Zhang Ji, though not so utterly undone, had his aged face turn several shades paler.

It was true that he was arrogant to the point of losing self-awareness, but that did not mean he had lost even the most basic political sense. The old Emperor's questions were far too serious—serious enough to cost a man his head at the slightest misstep.

Suppressing the terror in his heart, Zhang Ji bowed with clasped hands and said in a deep voice: "This humble minister does not know why Your Majesty speaks thus; we are filled with dread! Guangzhou Prefecture is naturally under the rule of the Great Han, and we shall strictly obey the court's edicts."

"Is that so?" The old Emperor was not the least bit courteous, directly challenging: "What is the meaning of the Fanfang Street in the city? Foreigners may enter, but Han may not? And if they do, they are beaten out?"

Just as I thought, Zhang Ji mused. Meeting the old Emperor's icy gaze, he hurriedly explained: "To answer Your Majesty, the foreign merchants and their customs are utterly incompatible with those of our Central Kingdom. To avoid conflict, a dedicated Fanfang Street was established—" "Did I ask you to explain the origins of Fanfang Street?" The old Emperor cut him off directly: "Dodging the issue and dwelling on the trivial—that is how you people deal with me these days. Do you truly think me so easy to deceive?

What customs conflict? Is that a reason to let those foreigners establish a state within a state on the soil of the Great Han? Who gave you the authority? Who gave you the audacity?"

The old Emperor's fury erupted, and Zhang Ji could no longer remain standing. He knelt in a fluster, panic-stricken. The four words "state within a state" were too severe—he truly could not bear them. He hastily kowtowed: "Your Majesty, allow me to explain! The foreigners in Guangzhou remain under the governance of the officials; they would never dare defy the court's commands!"

"Then who is it that openly defies the court's edicts?" the old Emperor retorted. "Those mosques in Fanfang Street—don't tell me you, as Administration Commissioner, know nothing of them!

Years ago, the court issued a decree to abolish foreign temples and prohibit the faith of Islam. All Muslim believers were to be expelled from the realm. Is this how the Guangnan East Circuit executed that decree?"

Hearing the old Emperor say this, in the dead of winter, Zhang Ji could not help but break out in cold sweat. He stammered somewhat clumsily in reply: "Your Majesty, although there are Muslims among the foreigners in Guangzhou Prefecture, they have always been respectful to the court and the officials. In Guangzhou, they conduct their business honestly and have never once acted against the authorities or offended the common people.

This minister believes that the purpose of the court's decree was merely to strengthen control over these foreigners, lest they beguile the people, wreak havoc in the localities, and disturb the scholars and commoners.

But since they have already been law-abiding, there is no need to treat them too harshly. These foreign merchants, with their trading ships coming and going each year, bring substantial tax revenue to Guangzhou Prefecture, and the entire Guangnan East Circuit benefits greatly from them.

As for the faith of Islam, it does not occupy any land of the Great Han, and its doctrines are directed only at those Muslims, with little influence on the scholars and people of the Great Han. When Your Majesty rectified the Buddhist orders back then, it was also done through institutional restraint, and yet they are still allowed to preach to this day."

"Bullshit! Outrageous!" Hearing Zhang Ji's lengthy speech, the old Emperor could no longer contain himself. He casually picked up the bamboo staff at his feet and hurled it at Zhang Ji—and his aim was true, striking him directly in the eye.

Zhang Ji, a civil official of advanced age, could hardly bear such pain. In that instant, all decorum and propriety were forgotten as he clutched his eye and howled without cease, nearly rolling on the ground.

"You beast! How have I tolerated you all these years? I should have cut you down long ago!" the old Emperor cursed, feeling a sense of satisfaction. "Arrogant and self-important, reckless and defiant of your sovereign—you dare to openly substitute your own will for the policies of the court! Who gave you the dog's gall to spout such grand nonsense before me?"

Facing such a fierce rebuke from the old Emperor, Zhang Ji finally recovered somewhat from the sharp pain in his eye. His wailing subsided, and he sobbed with some grievance: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, see clearly! This minister would never dare!"

Hearing this, the old Emperor sneered twice: "I said you don't know the bigger picture, and you wouldn't accept it! Now it seems I truly can read people!

Originally, I intended to hear your explanation, but now it seems there is nothing more to say! Get out."

Zhang Ji was now thoroughly panicked. Though still somewhat dazed, he instinctively pleaded: "I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness! This old minister acknowledges his crimes!"

Seeing this, the old Emperor could not hide the disgust on his face and said icily: "Sparing your old life and letting you return home to retire is already me thinking of our many years of sovereign-minister bond. Otherwise, do you think you could walk out of this traveling palace tonight?"

"Your Majesty—" Zhang Ji could not help but cry out.

"Drag him out!"

At this, Hu De moved swiftly, summoning two guards who hoisted Zhang Ji up and carried him out of the hall, accompanied by Zhang Ji's hysterical, tearful cries.

As the sound faded into the distance, the Dacheng Hall gradually fell silent. Only then did the assembled company slowly come back to their senses—especially Liu Changyan. Zhang Ji had been his direct superior, a man whose word was law in the Guangnan East Circuit, insufferably arrogant. And just like that, he was finished? The vicissitudes of the world were truly disorienting.

When he felt the old Emperor's gaze fall upon him, Liu Changyan's body tensed up. He kowtowed rapidly. "You were recommended by Zhao Pu, and I trust Zhao Pu's judgment. Regarding the matter of Fanfang Street, I will not pursue it against you for now. But as Prefect of Guangzhou, you owe me an explanation!

I give you three days to eliminate the ills of Fanfang Street. If anything is left undone, past and present offenses will be punished together!"

"This minister shall strictly obey Your Majesty's decree!" Liu Changyan replied immediately. However, he could not help but hesitate: "Your Majesty, there are hundreds of thousands of foreigners within Guangzhou Prefecture, and many of them are devout Muslims. If we act too hastily, I fear it may provoke unrest—"

The old Emperor turned his gaze to Hou Yanguang, who had likewise already knelt, and said coldly: "Do you know why I summoned you?"

At the question, Hou Yanguang was even more direct. Clasping his fists, he said: "This minister understands! I shall fully cooperate with Guangzhou Prefecture in rectifying the heretical faiths and foreign customs, and restore clarity to Guangzhou Prefecture!"

"I observe that many of the city's scholars and commoners have taken to imitating the foreigners, wrapping their heads in turbans and covering their faces with white cloth. What, are they guilty of something, afraid to show their faces?

Issue my decree to prohibit this entirely," the old Emperor added with disgust.