Chapter 312: I Have Broken Faith With the Realm

When Zhu Zhu Yijun learned that Zhang Zhang Juzheng was coming to the palace for an audience, he smiled.

In truth, Zhang Zhang Juzheng was not incapable of defeating a mere boy still wet behind the ears; Zhu Zhu Yijun's meager abilities were mostly learned from Zhang Zhang Juzheng himself.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng simply could not let go of the Great Ming state—Zhu Zhu Yijun seized upon this weakness and pressed relentlessly, how could Zhang Zhang Juzheng not fail?

Just as in the beginning, in the thirty-fifth year of Emperor Jiajing, Zhang Zhang Juzheng returned to the capital from his travels and became a political creature—he simply could not let go.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report," Feng Bao said, bowing before the emperor, who wore a broad smile.

Zhu Zhu Yijun replied succinctly: "Speak."

Feng Bao clearly hesitated; he dared speak only because the emperor was in good spirits, for this was clearly an inappropriate matter—one that inevitably involved the power struggle between the inner and outer courts.

Eunuchs were a sharp blade the Ming emperor wielded, one that might cut his own hand; Emperor Emperor Chongzhen believed that filling the court with upright ministers would save the Ming, and killing the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Wei Wei Zhongxian was no mistake—Wei Wei Zhongxian could not save the Ming, and in fact contributed greatly to the chaos of the late Ming.

Yet Emperor Emperor Chongzhen voluntarily recalled all eunuchs sent to the provinces, and the civil officials spiraled completely out of control, becoming one of the causes of the state's further decay.

Later, Emperor Emperor Chongzhen realized this error and began relying again on eunuchs like Wang Cheng'en—but it was already too late.

Feng Bao swept his sleeve, knelt on the ground, and bowed low: "Your Majesty, I oversee the Office of Attendants and the Inner Study Hall. The spring examinations are imminent. I propose allowing our palace eunuchs from the Inner Study Hall to take the examination as well—rank them, but keep them within the palace service."

"Hmm?" Zhu Zhu Yijun did not bid Feng Bao rise; he stared at him, brows furrowed, pondered long, then said: "Stand up and speak."

"Your servant humbly thanks Your Majesty's grace!" Feng Bao exhaled deeply; had he served any other master, he would never have dared utter such words—but His Majesty was no capricious ruler. He clearly sensed Feng Feng Daban's hesitation, his desire to advance yet fear of doing so.

What did eunuchs intend by joining the outer court's official selection exams? Did passing mean eunuchs might one day hold office in the outer court?

Collusion between inner and outer courts was the Ming emperor's greatest taboo; the only eunuch rebellion in Ming history—led by Cao Cao Jixiang and others—occurred during the Tianshun reign, when Emperor Ming Bao sat the throne.

The Ming had ancestral edicts forbidding eunuchs from interfering in governance; the Office of Attendants itself violated ancestral law.

"How did you come up with this idea?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked, curious about Feng Bao's motive—what drove him to propose eunuchs take the official selection exam?

Interestingly, the Ming spring examination took place in June; the delay was naturally due to the emperor and ministers' power struggle over the exam questions. Though late, the spring exam had finally arrived.

"Wan Shihé, Minister of Personnel," Feng Bao stated with certainty.

Why had Wan Shihé resolved to study? Was it not because he was scolded by the young emperor in the Zhao Wenhua Hall, then scolded by Feng Bao? A eunuch studying better than a Ming Jinshi? That was a disgrace. Feng Bao's aim was to humiliate the outer court officials and push the emperor's new policies on mathematics and dialectics.

"Interesting. Do you know those outer court scholars are all Ming Jinshi—men who passed through a gauntlet of thousands?" Zhu Zhu Yijun raised an eyebrow, skeptical: "Are you confident?"

"To take the provincial or metropolitan exam and fail still leaves one as a scholar-recluse, living free as clouds and cranes. But in the Inner Study Hall, if you study poorly, you die," Feng Bao replied with full confidence. The eunuchs of the Ming Inner Study Hall, especially those specializing in dialectics and mathematics, were no match for Confucian scholars—perhaps even superior.

The outer court officials' struggle was a zero-sum game; the inner palace eunuchs' struggle was a life-or-death prisoner's dilemma—their levels of internal competition were incomparable.

When Zhu Zhu Yijun once reprimanded Feng Bao, he was astonished by Feng Bao's gentleness. Chen Hong, former head of the Office of Attendants, bore undeniable responsibility for Emperor Longqing Emperor's sudden death—yet Feng Bao merely exiled him to the corridor quarters instead of drowning him.

Later, the young eunuchs and noble guards who trained together—the young eunuchs bit their tongues off to endure, while the noble guards performed slightly worse. This was the difference in stakes: noble guards who failed were merely sent home, still inheriting titles and stipends; young eunuchs had nothing—if they could not endure, they were drowned.

"Hmm, interesting. Then let them take the exam," Zhu Zhu Yijun agreed to Feng Bao's request. Let the eunuchs prove themselves—if they failed against the Confucian scholars, it was only natural; these scholars had studied their entire lives. But if they surpassed them, they would crush the scholars' faces into the mud, rub them raw, then spit on them.

Before dawn the next day, Zhang Zhang Juzheng, who had lodged at the Quanchu Guesthouse in the capital, had bathed and changed, preparing to enter the palace. You Qi and the servants of the Yicheng Marquis had cleaned the guesthouse. Wan Shihé had arrived; since Zhang Zhang Juzheng was entering the palace, he had already resolved to receive the imperial decree.

The previous evening, Ming Confucian scholars had gathered en masse to visit the Quanchu Guesthouse—all were turned away by Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

This time, Zhang Zhang Juzheng's forced removal from mourning had been jointly petitioned by twelve censors and remonstrators; public sentiment favored it. Compared to the emperor's new policies, court officials now found Zhang Zhang Juzheng's reforms far more palatable.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng donned his court robes and stepped out of the Quanchu Guesthouse. He had barely stepped forward when he saw the palanquin before him—carried by thirty-two men—and froze in shock.

Recall that the emperor had previously rejected Prince Consort Xu Xu Congcheng's petition for a shoulder-borne palanquin, forbidding military nobles from riding in palanquins. Since then, both civil and military officials had quietly switched to horse-drawn carriages.

The emperor had only banned military nobles—but civil officials immediately stopped using palanquins altogether. To insist on one now, when the emperor disliked it, was to rush headlong into the spear's point—foolish and suicidal.

Yet today, as Zhang Zhang Juzheng stepped out, the Ming emperor had directly deployed a thirty-two-man palanquin to parade him through the streets!

The scribe eunuch Li Li Yougong flicked his fly-whisk and shouted: "Imperial decree: The Master has labored tirelessly and merits great merit. Bestowed: a thirty-two-man shoulder palanquin to enter the palace for audience. So decreed."

"Your servant cannot obey," Zhang Zhang Juzheng refused the decree outright. To sit in that palanquin would drown him in spit. Dozens of gossip writers in the Ming court watched him closely—even a carriage would be far preferable to this thirty-two-man spectacle!

"The Emperor knew the Master would refuse," Li Li Yougong grinned, his face creased with mirth. His Majesty had peculiar whims—he'd heard rumors that Zhang Zhang Juzheng's residence possessed such a palanquin but could never find it, so he simply gifted one. Yet Zhang Zhang Juzheng still refused to take the bait.

Li Li Yougong's eunuchs immediately disassembled the palanquin on the spot and assembled it into a carriage—the palanquin was unusable as-is.

Within moments, a carriage with a " Mian " shock-absorbing device was assembled. According to Zhang Zhang Juzheng's rank as Yicheng Marquis, it was drawn by five horses—fully compliant with Ming ceremonial standards.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was truly awed by the emperor—always digging pits, and now, right after returning to the capital, had dug a massive one for him to jump into.

The carriage arrived at the Wumen. Zhang Zhang Juzheng dismounted before the Five Golden Water Bridges. Inside the Wumen, only the carriages of the Empress Dowager, the emperor, and the empress were permitted. Any other person entering by carriage risked forfeiting their head.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng walked step by step through the Wumen, past the long corridor, and before him opened a vast vista: crimson-clad Tiqi stood on either side, clad in iron armor, clearing a path. He passed the Huangji Gate and entered the Huangji Hall—the site of the Ming court's grand assemblies.

Drums, horns, and cannon fire began to sound, solemn and majestic.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng felt a strange familiarity. Long ago, he had defied all opposition to bring Qi Qi Jiguang, who had defeated Dong Dong Huli at Xifengkou, to the capital for rewards. The emperor had received Qi Qi Jiguang in the Huangji Hall—acting unilaterally, granting him a title without consultation. That ceremony had been organized personally by Zhang Zhang Juzheng and the Minister of Rites, Lu Lu Shusheng.

Now, he was the one being honored.

Unlike before, the imperial palace's central axis had been rebuilt after disaster, now more splendid than ever. Zhang Zhang Juzheng lifted his robe hem, crossed the Inner Jin Shuiqiao, passed the Huangji Gate, walked past the assembled civil and military ministers, and reached the Huangji Hall's entrance. He performed the full five prostrations and three kowtows.

"Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years," Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed respectfully.

"Read the decree," Zhu Zhu Yijun signaled Feng Bao.

Feng Bao stepped forward three paces. A young eunuch unfurled the edict. Feng Bao flicked his fly-whisk and cried in a high-pitched voice: "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees…"

The decree had three parts: first, listing Zhang Zhang Juzheng's achievements; second, describing the state's difficulties during his absence, and how, at the ministers' request, the emperor, ever willing to follow good counsel, recalled the Yicheng Marquis—the Master's filial piety was known throughout the land; his forced removal from mourning was to preserve him for the realm.

Finally, it announced Zhang Zhang Juzheng's restoration to his former post, rejoining the Grand Secretariat and assuming control of the Ministry of Personnel.

Zhu Zhu Yijun had married; he was now head of his household and sovereign of the realm—he could no longer speak to Qi Qi Jiguang or Zhang Zhang Juzheng as "General Qi" or "Master," nor say, "The ministers bully me." He had passed the age of childhood.

"Master, rise," Zhu Zhu Yijun extended his hand, calmly.

"Your Majesty, I humbly request the revocation of my title as Yicheng Marquis. I dare not claim credit for heaven's deeds," Zhang Zhang Juzheng insisted firmly: "In the thirteenth year of Emperor Jiajing, Emperor Shizong decreed: no title may be granted without battlefield merit."

This was indeed ancestral law.

"Your words, Minister Wan, are mistaken," Wan Shihé stepped forward and bowed: "Your Majesty, I find this improper. Once a title is granted, it cannot be revoked. If we follow the Master's request, must we also strip the title from the Wuqing Marquis? I fear this would damage familial bonds."

Wan Shihé meant: this ancestral law was ignored. Li Wei, Empress Dowager Li's father, held the title of Wuqing Marquis—what merit had he earned? As imperial kin, merely not causing trouble was enough to merit gratitude. If Zhang Zhang Juzheng's title was "unearned," then Li Wei's must be stripped too.

How then would the emperor explain this to Empress Dowager Li? This would sever familial bonds—and the emperor's broken promise, revoking a granted title, would be a breach of trust.

You, Zhang Zhang Juzheng, upon returning to court, have plunged His Majesty into a state of filial impiety and broken faith—what is your intent?

Wan Shihé excelled at killing a debate with one sentence.

When something violated ancestral law, he claimed it was "adapting to circumstances," "responding to trends," "analyzing each case individually."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng looked at Wan Shihé and confirmed: this man had substance.

Men like Wan Shihé were called "oil slicks"—utterly slippery!

"Minister Wan speaks wisely," Zhu Zhu Yijun said firmly to Zhang Zhang Juzheng: "No hereditary patent exists; Master, you must accept it."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng could only bow: "Your servant thanks Your Majesty's great grace."

At this point, further resistance would be disloyal—was he to place His Majesty in such an embarrassing position?

Wang Wang Chonggu, observing Wan Shihé's outstanding performance, nodded firmly: Wan Shihé did well! Few could make Zhang Zhang Juzheng stumble.

Wang Wang Chonggu feared Zhang Zhang Juzheng most—because even if the emperor took no side, Wang Wang Chonggu could not defeat this chief minister.

Lu Lu Diaoyang wore a relaxed expression: Zhang Zhang Juzheng's return meant ease for him—he no longer had to endure being called a man who couldn't even produce a sound after three slaps.

Court officials wore varied expressions, but all were relieved.

Zhu Zhu Yijun sat upright and addressed the ministers: "I have one matter in which I have broken faith with the realm. I have always known it, even if no minister has reproached Chen Shan. That matter is the mutual checks among civil, military, and inner court officials in the Tax Inspection Bureau. Now that the Master has returned, I entrust this to you."

"Your servant obeys," Zhang Zhang Juzheng was surprised—the emperor had given him a promotion package upon his return: the civil oversight issue of the Tax Inspection Bureau. Zhu Zhu Yijun had promised it, then reneged. Now that Zhang Zhang Juzheng had returned, it could proceed.

A triangle is most stable; mutual checks among three parties create a chain of suspicion, ensuring the Tax Inspection Bureau endures—not a fleeting bloom.

Only then could the Ming tax system become truly healthy, and the emperor's credibility stand firm as a rock!

Zhu Zhu Yijun entrusted this to Zhang Zhang Juzheng because Zhang's faction—Zhang's party—had seventy-seven members, divided into sixty-four core members and thirteen peripheral ones, based on shared examination cohorts, hometowns, marital ties, friendships, teacher-student relationships, colleagues, and retainers.

The peripheral members were mostly retainers, like You Qi—his real name was You Ge Shouli, known to few. Zhu Zhu Yijun once asked Feng Bao out of curiosity and learned You Qi's true name.

Yin Yin Zhengmao, Song Song Yiwang, Ling Ling Yunyi, Liu Liu Yingjie were fellow Ming Jinshi; Liang Liang Menglong, Pang Pang Shangpeng, Zhang Zhang Xueyan, Chen Rui, Shang Wei Zheng, Xu Xu Zhenming were teacher-student pairs; Tan Lun, Wang Wang Guoguang, Wu Wu Guifang, Qi Qi Jiguang, Li Li Chengliang, Zhang Zhang Jiayin, Pan Pan Jixun, He Qiming were colleagues.

During Zhang Zhang Juzheng's mourning year, these men's Zhang-party identity gradually became imperial-party identity—they could only survive by relying on the emperor. Now that Zhang Zhang Juzheng had returned, it aided the Ming state's institutional construction and refinement.

In the original history, Zhang Zhang Suiwei, as Grand Secretary, spent two years dismissing all these men before beginning to dismantle Zhang Zhang Juzheng's posthumous reputation. In Emperor Wanli twelve, over a dozen of Zhang Zhang Juzheng's family starved to death; his eldest son committed suicide to prove his loyalty.

Indeed, the Emperor Wanli Emperor could purge Zhang Zhang Juzheng—but history still passes judgment.

Zhu Zhu Yijun spoke again: "Master, you shall serve as chief examiner of the official selection."

"Your Majesty is wise," Wan Shihé began leading the praise again. The official selection exam was also a promise the emperor had made—after Zhang Zhang Juzheng's return, civil officials would jointly draft the questions. The emperor's questions were merely too difficult—nothing else wrong.

"Master, follow me. Dismiss the court," Zhu Zhu Yijun rose, ending the grand audience immediately.

Today, all capital officials were summoned to the Huangji Hall—nearly a thousand officials stood in the sun before the hall—solely to welcome Zhang Zhang Juzheng's return. Nothing else.

Zhu Zhu Yijun led Zhang Zhang Juzheng to a side hall of the Zhao Wenhua Hall, smiled broadly, and ordered Feng Bao to bring a chest: "Master, the Taoyue chest you designed has now been produced in hundreds of thousands. Everywhere from south to north, they are everywhere—and after long practice, they have been improved many times."

"Isn't this called the Cao Liang Box?" Zhang Zhang Juzheng was stunned. He had indeed invented the box—but why was it named after his sobriquet?

Zhu Zhu Yijun waved his hand: "Everyone calls it that."

Everyone called You Ge Shouli "You Qi"—so he was You Qi. Names work that way: the more they're used, the more they're accepted.

The Cao Liang Box now had additional corners—perfect for locking, making it more stable. Its top featured an iron handle for easier transport. Inside, a wooden partition improved grain distribution, reducing corner accumulation. Two peachwood rods ran through the center to repel insects. A matching base allowed shaking to compact the grain tightly.

These improvements made the Cao Liang Box far more practical.

Zhu Zhu Yijun enthusiastically described the enhancements to the Cao Liang Box. He personally modified only one feature; the rest emerged from practical experience. Meanwhile, standardized versions of oil tanks, dry goods containers, liquid tanks, and fur containers were all invented.

The strangest was a chilled fruit box, designed specifically for fruit.

A single rider brings dust, the concubine smiles—none know it's lychees arriving.

In the past, Yang Yang Yuhuan craved lychees; Emperor Xuanzong dispatched couriers on horseback to race them from the south. Now, this chilled fruit box preserved fruit perfectly—Zhu Zhu Yijun had already tasted seasonal fruits from the Southern Office.

This was an extremely profitable trade. Only the powerful and wealthy could afford seasonal fruit in this age.

Zhu Zhu Yijun never engaged in losing ventures.

Zhu Zhu Yijun had Feng Bao bring up several models, pointing to the largest: "This is the model of the five-masted ocean-going ship, Type C, sent by the Songjiang Shipyard, built at a 1:200 scale."

The third-generation five-masted ocean-going ship's model—nearly as tall as Zhu Zhu Yijun himself—was the latest design.

The entire model was exquisitely crafted, made entirely of proportional, identical materials. Every cannon position, sail, and rudder was clearly visible. Compared to the first-generation ocean-going ship, this one was smaller in size, longer and slimmer, faster and more agile, yet carried seven additional cannons—superior firepower.

The new Type C ocean-going ship completely abandoned boarding combat, relying entirely on cannons and muskets. This transformation was radical: boarding duties were now assigned to war transports, creating clearer, more rational division of labor.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng discussed various ship types with the emperor—such as landing craft, designed for amphibious assault. These vessels had no masts, carried twelve men, featured foot pedals connected to a screw propeller, had steel-plated fronts for protection, and upon landing, served as cover against enemy muskets, cannons, and arrows.

There was also a larger passenger ship, specifically designed to carry people—one vessel could accommodate 1,200 persons—but it had no firepower whatsoever.

Of course, there were various bizarre ship designs, all ultimately rejected by the Maritime Academy: a three-section towed vessel that proved unworkable in practice, as it could not withstand ocean waves—even on inland rivers, it was utterly useless, and its turning capability was far too uncontrollable.

"Opening the seas has cost 27.07 million taels this year; I only hope we'll see some results next year," Zhu Zhu Yijun set down all the models and spoke to Zhang Zhang Juzheng about his investments, his words pouring out without pause.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng knew these matters intimately—the Emperor had once ordered that memorials submitted to the Zhang Wenyuan Pavilion also be copied to the Mansion of the Earl of Yicheng; Zhang Zhang Juzheng was not ignorant of state affairs, but since His Majesty wished to speak, Zhang Zhang Juzheng was willing to listen.

At this moment, the Emperor was not the awe-inspiring, unfathomably majestic ruler of Great Ming—he was merely a student who had mastered his studies, enthusiastically describing his achievements; Zhang Zhang Juzheng naturally offered affirmation, for all of it deserved affirmation: the Emperor had devoted all his energy and passion to state affairs.

In the final years of the Southern Song, after the defeat at the Battle of Yashan, Lu Lu Xiufu carried the young Emperor Song and said: "The great edifice is about to collapse; we cannot turn the tide. I shall drown myself to die for the state—will Your Majesty join me, to preserve our honor?"

The young Emperor Song replied: "One hundred thousand soldiers and civilians have marched together to face national disaster. Though the state is falling, though I am young, I will not survive in shame!"

Lu Lu Xiufu carried the young Emperor Song into the sea; at that moment, he had firmly resolved to die rather than become a slave of a fallen nation.

In political struggles, Zhang Zhang Juzheng toppled Gao Gong; during his tenure as chief minister, the state was in disarray, with pirates plaguing the south and barbarians threatening the north, the treasury severely depleted, and the sovereign young with the realm in doubt—how different was he from Lu Lu Xiufu carrying the young Emperor Song?

Now, the Emperor has finally come of age, and Zhang Zhang Juzheng feels only satisfaction.

"Master?" Zhu Zhu Yijun noticed Zhang Zhang Juzheng was distracted and waved his hand.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng quickly snapped back to attention and bowed: "Your servant is here."

"I entrust you with the selection examination," Zhu Zhu Yijun said. "By the way, Feng Da said the eunuchs should also take the exam—as a standard for palace service. What do you think?"

"Is it merely a standard for eunuch appointments?" Zhang Zhang Juzheng asked sharply.

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded: "Precisely."

"No objection," Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed. Many Ming scholars held eunuchs in contempt; the conflict between inner and outer courts had long festered, and a struggle was not unthinkable—but if eunuchs sought to use the examination to enter the outer court, that was absolutely impossible.

The greatest eunuch of the Great Ming was Wang Zhi, who fought in Liaodong; even under Emperor Xianzong's special trust, Wang Zhi never held office in the outer court. This was a bottom line—inner-outer collusion and power consolidation were grave matters that would shatter the balance.

Wei Wei Zhongxian, the "Nine-Thousand-Year-Old," was far inferior to Wang Zhi.

Wang Zhi rode into battle in Liaodong as army supervisor, completing the During Chenghua Liting, defeating the Oirat incursions at Xuanfu and Datong, and winning the great victory at Heishiy Ya as a eunuch commanding troops; off the battlefield, he oversaw the Western Depot, acting as Emperor Xianzong's vanguard, fabricating grand conspiracies and purging the court.

Wei Wei Zhongxian, the "Nine-Thousand-Year-Old," could neither lead troops into battle nor act as Emperor Emperor Tianqi's vanguard to purge the court.

In Emperor Tianqi's second year, after losing Liaoyang, Liaodong Provincial Governor Wang Wang Huazhen, ignoring opposition from his generals, stationed 130,000 troops outside Guangning City—only to be annihilated in a single charge by the old chief Nurhaci.

After the defeat at Guangning, Wei Wei Zhongxian executed Xiong Xiong Tingbi, who was stationed at Jia Shanhai Pass, yet protected Wang Wang Huazhen—simply because Wang Wang Huazhen was a disciple of Ye Ye Xianggao, the leader of the Donglin Party; Wei Wei Zhongxian had never purified the court for Emperor Emperor Tianqi.

Wei Wei Zhongxian was the "Nine-Thousand-Year-Old," Liu Jin was the "Standing Emperor," but Wang Zhi was merely Wang Zhi—the Director of the Western Depot.

Zhu Zhu Yijun kept Zhang Zhang Juzheng for lunch in the palace; to court officials, this seemed a positive signal of harmonious ruler-minister relations, but in truth, Zhu Zhu Yijun and Zhang Zhang Juzheng had discussed the models so long they missed their departure time—and since it was mealtime, they simply ate together. Zhang Hong, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Kitchen, naturally made elaborate preparations.

When Zhang Zhang Juzheng departed, he received fourteen ship models—all sent by the Songjiang Shipyard to the inner court; among them, the model of the Type-B ocean-going vessel existed in only two copies worldwide.

Zhu Zhu Yijun's ship models were off-limits even to Prince Lu Zhu Zhu Yilou, yet Zhang Zhang Juzheng received fourteen at once.

After returning to the Quanchu Guildhall, Zhang Zhang Juzheng became busy: numerous court officials came to offer congratulations, their gifts filling the entire guildhall. Yet two figures from the capital's high offices did not come: one was Qi Qi Jiguang, a Grand General who had once been Zhang Zhang Juzheng's disciple—better to avoid contact; the other was Gao Qi, who knew full well that even if he came, Zhang Zhang Juzheng would not see him.

Wan Shihé also published the Emperor's notoriously difficult spring examination questions in the gazette, making it clear to scholars across the land why Zhang Zhang Juzheng had returned to court: stop babbling, and practice your questions.

The scholars preparing for the selection exam in the capital were stunned! Thank heaven Zhang Zhang Juzheng had returned—if he hadn't, even those who passed the Ming Jinshi or juren exams would never hold office!

The July heat remained scorching; as chief examiner, Zhang Zhang Juzheng began the first selection examination. The Confucian scholars showed him extraordinary reverence—genuine, heartfelt submission—and upon leaving after the exam, they all paid him the formal rites of a disciple.

The examination questions set by Zhang Zhang Juzheng as chief examiner were difficult enough, but compared to the Emperor's set, they appeared exceedingly simple.

What angered Zhang Zhang Juzheng was that over a dozen scholars, upon seeing eunuchs from the Inner Library taking the exam, immediately declared they would not sit alongside "eunuchs." Zhang Zhang Juzheng sent word: "Take the exam, or go home."

When the results were announced, the Confucian scholars felt as if they had been slapped twice—hard—on both cheeks, their faces burning.

In mathematics, the lowest score among the eunuchs from the Inner Library was 89; among the 127 eunuchs who took the Inner Library exam, 27 achieved perfect scores, and all ten of the Emperor's practice partners scored perfectly.

The young eunuchs who served as the Emperor's practice partners were all carefully selected for their intelligence and quick wit—each one a top-tier overachiever among overachievers.

A total of 10,300 Confucian scholars took the exam—including all students from the National Academy, Hanlin Academy's junior scholars, Hanlin academicians, and Ming Jinshi—yet only 127 achieved perfect scores. If we exclude the Mingli Hall of the National Academy, only 57 did. In absolute numbers, the Confucian scholars seemed to have won—but proportionally, they had lost face all the way to the West.

Because the Western envoy Li Li Yashi, accompanied by his wife and children, had come to the Donghuamen gate to view the results; Li Li Yashi, bearing the seal of Philip II, was Philip II's subject, and reporting what he saw was his duty.

This instantly shocked the friendly nations!

After the Guangning defeat, Wei Wei Zhongxian protected Wang Wang Huazhen; as the leader of the eunuch faction, his shielding of a disciple of the Donglin Party's leader meant Emperor Emperor Tianqi had completely lost control of court affairs—hence, Emperor Emperor Chongzhen executed Wei Wei Zhongxian, and he died without injustice. Yet in his early reign, Emperor Chongzhen pursued a court full of upright men, failing to see the true faces of these base Confucians. Please vote for monthly tickets! Awooo!!!!!

(End of Chapter)