[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties":3,"chapter-i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-chapter-29":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Really Am Not Neglecting My Duties",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2363298,4622,"Chapter 29","i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-chapter-29",29,"\u003Cp>Empress Dowager Li finished her meal slowly and methodically before explaining the story in detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zhen, a scholar of agriculture, was a Daomeidan —he offended people while reclaiming wasteland in Zhejiang; who would remain a tenant if he gathered displaced peasants? Who would till the fields for the great benefactors? If no one tilled the land, would the great benefactors till it themselves?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great benefactors banded together and sought out Fan Yingqi, a Hanlin Academy compiler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Yingqi, a native of Zhejiang, paid substantial fees to enter the Imperial Academy through grain donations in the thirty-first year of Jiajing, and finally topped the imperial examination in the forty-fourth year of Jiajing, becoming the top-ranked jinshi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Xu Zhen began reclaiming wasteland in Shanyin, Zhejiang, these powerful families approached Fan Yingqi, urging him to find a solution; Fan Yingqi, himself a Zhejiang magnate whose family owned half the county’s arable land, heard that Xu Zhen was oppressing the gentry and immediately enlisted censors to impeach him for oppressing the gentry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui was also impeached and forced into retirement on the charge of oppressing the gentry—the gentry enjoyed judicial and tax privileges; this accusation toppled Hai Rui, and it could just as easily topple Xu Zhen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Xu Zhen return to the capital, attempting to seek patronage under someone’s wing to regain office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Fan Yingqi impeached Xu Zhen, the court was locked in a fierce struggle between Gao Gong and Chen Hong on one side, and Zhang Juzheng and Feng Bao on the other—the battle raged fiercely, and the memorial had already been processed according to protocol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after Zhang Juzheng assumed power and took control of the Grand Secretariat did he fully understand what Xu Zhen had actually done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young emperor wished to reclaim wasteland, and Zhang Juzheng immediately thought of this man and recommended him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Dowager Li paused briefly, weighed her words, then spoke: “This top-ranked jinshi, Fan Yingqi, belongs to the Jin Party; the Grand Secretary’s promotion of Xu Zhen may well be an attempt to suppress the Jin Party.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Dowager Li had no desire to dwell on these sordid matters, but the young emperor must eventually rule in person and confront these storms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fan Yingqi belongs to the Jin Party?” Zhu Yijun found this strange—wasn’t Fan Yingqi from Zhejiang? How had he become part of the Jin Party?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Dowager Li smiled and said: “Fan Yingqi was a jinshi of the forty-fourth year of Jiajing; the chief examiner of that year’s metropolitan examination was Gao Gong, and Zhang Siwei was one of the co-examiners.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mentor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Siwei, who wavered between factions, was the nephew of Wang Chonggu; after Yang Bo retired, Zhang Siwei was poised to become leader of the Jin Party. As one of the chief examiners of the forty-fourth year of Jiajing, Fan Yingqi, the top-ranked jinshi, naturally pledged allegiance to Zhang Siwei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng recommended Xu Zhen not only because Xu Zhen excelled in land reclamation, irrigation, and agriculture—how many in the Great Ming truly studied agronomy? After searching far and wide, Zhang Juzheng found only this one man—and incidentally, he used the opportunity to dampen the Jin Party’s morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These ministers, no matter whom they recognize as their mentor, are merely fighting among themselves,” Empress Dowager Li said, sharing her experience. “My son sits calmly on his fishing platform, watching them fight to the death—when a result emerges, you simply affix the seal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was another way of living: neither striving nor fighting, merely watching tigers battle from the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching tigers battle from the mountain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun knew clearly that this approach could ensure the smooth functioning of the Great Ming’s state institutions, but it could never revive them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The methods employed since Jiajing and Longqing were not ideal, but they were certainly functional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun nodded slightly, as if deeply convinced: “I understand. I will organize my thoughts on today’s farming, especially since Scholar Xu sent me several annotated agricultural texts—I’ll go read them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go to bed early,” Empress Dowager Li said, still concerned for her child. “The lectures are exhausting, martial training is exhausting, and farming is even more exhausting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun returned to his inner palace chamber, sat at the long desk, and began reading Ma Yilong’s Nong Shuo—a mere six thousand characters, yet Xu Zhen had annotated over twenty thousand, detailing every minutiae, which made reading this book immensely convenient for Zhu Yijun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He singled out the sections on plowing and seed storage, translating them into vernacular Chinese with a pencil; he worked until palace maids arrived on Empress Dowager Li’s orders to urge him to rest, at which point he extinguished the lamp, lay on his bed, and repeatedly reflected on the day’s events, ensuring nothing was missed, before falling asleep contentedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The morning sun bathed the palace in golden light, and another full day began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the court deliberation over Qi Jiguang’s arrival in the capital for rewards was charged with tension; both sides exchanged sharp words and fierce arguments, a lively spectacle—but it had little to do with Zhu Yijun, who sat on the moon terrace, diligently studying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Occasionally he overheard snippets, and learned why Qi Jiguang could not be granted a noble title, and why even his arrival in the capital for rewards was so difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court regarded Qi Jiguang as a zhuìyóu—a useless Zhuiyou , a superfluous burden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this was not merely the view of one or two individuals; it was the opinion of most in the court, held not only by civil officials but also by military nobles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Qi Jiguang’s own Yiwu troops held this view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the Longqing Accord and the Ansa’s enfeoffment, the northern barbarians no longer raided southward; even minor bandits could be driven off with a little silver—what use was Qi Jiguang’s military training now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Jiguang was appointed Regional Commander of Jizhen and Liaodong, overseeing three frontier commands, commanding over a hundred thousand troops, at enormous cost, yet he achieved no great victories, only minor ones—if each such minor success were lavishly rewarded, wouldn’t other generals grow resentful?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivating literature to pacify distant peoples is the Way of the Nine Classics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivating literature to pacify distant peoples has just achieved a great success—the Ansa’s enfeoffment is proof!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivating literature to pacify distant peoples: first, it saves court expenditures; second, it prevents fierce warriors from rebelling; third, it promotes literature, suppresses militarism, and cultivates benevolence; fourth, it allows the court to use wall-building for defense as an accounting pretext.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the thirty-fifth to the forty-fifth year of Jiajing, the Great Ming fought the Ansa Khan for over a decade, lost more than ten Regional Commanders, spent millions in silver annually, and still failed to win—this was a disgrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet through cultivating literature to pacify distant peoples, border stability was achieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Ming and the Tatar Ansa Khan have reconciled—does that mean military training is now useless?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Qi Jiguang’s subordinates—Assistant Regional Commanders, junior officers, orderlies, and soldiers—were deeply dissatisfied with him; peace had lasted so long that the last major battle was seven years ago; such strict training, such harsh military discipline—even stepping on a stalk of rice could cost a man his life—how heartless was such treatment of soldiers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within and without the court, among officers and soldiers alike, Qi Jiguang’s training and defense efforts were seen as zhuìyóu—how could his ambitions be realized? How could his military talent and ability be demonstrated?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viewed as a zhuìyóu, how could he ever find room to act?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court, from top to bottom, officials and soldiers alike, regarded Qi Jiguang as superfluous and useless—how then could his aspirations be fulfilled?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As one of the most renowned military strategists in the history of the Central Plains dynasties, Qi Jiguang’s situation was extremely difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the twenty-seven court ministers, only Tan Lun and Zhang Juzheng did not regard Qi Jiguang as superfluous or useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This matter is settled,” Zhang Juzheng finally grew impatient and chose to act unilaterally—his obstinacy bordered on stubbornness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the earlier lectures, the emperor had already approved opening the Fengtian Hall to reward Qi Jiguang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Minister of Rites he had promoted, Lu Shusheng, was the leading opponent of Qi Jiguang’s entry into the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jizhen was barely a hundred li from the capital, effectively part of the metropolitan region, yet the Jizhen garrison remained a frontier force under the Nine Garrisons system; for a frontier commander to enter the capital and be rewarded in the Fengtian Hall violated ritual propriety—Zhang Juzheng’s action seemed to trample on everyone, asserting his own authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I knew it—you’re overstepping the imperial authority!” Ge Shouli exploded. “When His Majesty assumes personal rule, see how you fare!” He glared at Zhang Juzheng—such manipulation of power could only end badly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a court deliberation—how did it become Zhang Juzheng’s personal dictatorship?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng looked at Ge Shouli and suddenly said: “Grand Inspector Ge, you’re dissatisfied that I monopolize the lectures—would you like to take over the lectures yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?” Ge Shouli stared, dumbfounded, at Zhang Juzheng; all his arguments, from the thousand-gold-per-mu potato and sweet potato, had revolved around Zhang Juzheng’s monopoly of the lectures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Ge Shouli’s view, this was Zhang Juzheng’s source of power and confidence!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had hoodwinked the young emperor into confusion—wasn’t that precisely how Zhang Juzheng dared to overstep the imperial authority?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Zhang Juzheng was actually surrendering this core privilege!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To secure the Fengtian Hall reward for Qi Jiguang, Zhang Juzheng was truly willing to pay a heavy price!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng maintained his refined, amiable smile; the young emperor’s questions had been too sharp, too difficult for him to answer—since Ge Shouli—or rather, the Jin Party—wanted it, let them have it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Bo, who had been quietly resting and not participating in the debate, immediately opened his eyes and said: “Grand Inspector Ge’s duties as Chief Censor involve inspecting prefectures and counties, evaluating and impeaching officials—his official duties are piled high, complex and tedious; let Scholars Wang Xilie, Wang Jiaping, and Hanlin Fan Yingqi handle the lectures.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Shouli was stunned—he had been about to accept, for although the Censorate was busy, teaching a ten-year-old child for an hour a day was still manageable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yang Bo clearly had no intention of entrusting such an important task to Ge Shouli.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Bo considered Ge Shouli too blunt and inflexible, inferior to Wang Jiaping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Shouli felt a pang of resentment—he was from Shandong, not Shanxi; though a staunch, even core member of the Jin Party, all major positions and benefits still went to Shanxi men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Jiaping was from Shanxi, a true insider of the Jin Party; he was already a lecture scholar, known for his calm demeanor, and would never stir up trouble—now, the Jin Party’s primary task was to consolidate its position and prestige in court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng smiled and said: “No objection.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun smiled and returned to his writing—Zhang Juzheng had just effortlessly sold himself to the Jin Party!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Chen Shigong’s third-rank hemorrhoid cure—the “three-inch spear”—was thrust in, I won’t even sprinkle fennel powder to numb the pain for Zhang Juzheng!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it’s settled!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng shivered, suddenly feeling a chill down his spine, a coldness surging from his tailbone to the crown of his head; he glanced around—the Great Ming emperor was still diligently reading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the court deliberation ended, Zhang Juzheng joined the ministers in chanting “Retreat,” and the lecture scholar entered the hall to begin the lecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Jiaping was confident; as the second-place jinshi of the second class in the second year of Longqing, he considered his scholarship no less than Zhang Juzheng’s, and with Fan Yingqi, the top-ranked jinshi of Jiajing forty-four, lending weight, he was certain he could not fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teaching a ten-year-old emperor to read—how hard could it be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servants shall clarify your doubts,” Wang Jiaping bowed respectfully and began the lecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Master said: ‘To govern by virtue is like the North Star: it remains in its place while all other stars revolve around it.’” Wang Jiaping began his explanation with the first line of the Analects’ “Government,” and Zhu Yijun sat upright, eyes fixed on Wang Jiaping, awaiting his interpretation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Interpretation: The most important thing in governing a state is virtue. When His Majesty cultivates virtue, he will be like the North Star—calm and unmoved, while all other stars revolve around him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun blinked, looking at Wang Jiaping; Wang Jiaping looked back at the emperor; their eyes met—silence thickened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s it?” Zhu Yijun broke the awkward silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Jiaping and Fan Yingqi exchanged glances; the Grand Secretary cleared his throat and asked: “Does His Majesty have a question?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is governance?” Zhu Yijun asked plainly.\u003C\u002Fp>",2128,"2026-06-21T07:55:54.218Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","2137a96893f7cef5dd4d6c0cb44f43addcc0cf82605057ed6e8429d8fb162ea5","i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-chapter-30","i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-chapter-28",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-cover.jpg"]