Chapter 37: Who Is the Head of the World

After Empress Dowager Li heard about Zhang Juzheng's "Memorial on Five Matters," she stood up, but her expression was one of shock and uncertainty, and she remained silent for a very, very long time before finally sitting back down in her chair.

Empress Dowager Chen of the Cining Palace, watching Empress Dowager Li's anxious and wavering appearance, simply laughed.

Concern leads to chaos; having no desires leads to firmness.

Empress Dowager Li's son was sitting on the throne, while Empress Dowager Chen had no children, and thus saw things more clearly.

Empress Dowager Li's various worries and doubts, in the final analysis, were not about the outer court, not about Zhang Juzheng or Gao Gong; not about the inner court, not about Feng Bao or Zhang Hong.

The key, the absolute key, was the little Emperor who was gritting his teeth and practicing his horse stance.

If the little Emperor succeeds, the Great Ming will have a clear sky; if the little Emperor fails, the Great Ming will have no hope, and everything will be lost.

Will the little Emperor succeed or not?

"To drive away a wolf and invite a tiger—is this a good strategy?" Empress Dowager Li watched the little Emperor practicing his stance, his face covered in sweat, and felt even more distressed. Gao Gong was the wolf that had been driven away, and now this tiger, Zhang Juzheng, was beginning to show his fangs.

Empress Dowager Chen, however, said quite indifferently: "I don't know what you are afraid of, sister. Our Emperor is a dragon."

"Wolf or tiger, what can they do? No need to worry."

Empress Dowager Li was a bit anxious and chaotic. Even if Zhang Juzheng were truly a tiger, so what?

The Emperor is a true dragon and does not fear such jackal-like ministers at all.

Is the little Emperor a true dragon?

Empress Dowager Chen believed he was.

Empress Dowager Chen seemed a bit uncertain, turned to look at Zhu Yijun, then revealed a reassuring smile, confirming she was right. She continued to crack melon seeds in her hand and said: "The Emperor has great perseverance and has his own ideas. The Senior Grand Secretary Zhang cannot be bullied."

Watching the little Emperor's serious expression, Empress Dowager Chen knew he would definitely succeed and was definitely a true dragon.

Those who are harsh on themselves are tough people.

Empress Dowager Chen stretched lazily. Ever since the "Assassination of the Emperor" case, the little Emperor's performance had become increasingly reassuring. Those guards and sword-bearing attendants were not as firm in character as the Emperor.

Empress Dowager Chen had also read the discussions between the Emperor and Zhang Juzheng, where Zhang Juzheng was occasionally asked questions that left him only able to speak vaguely.

Empress Dowager Chen's expectations and confidence in the little Emperor were much more certain than Empress Dowager Li's.

Prince Lu, Zhu Yiliu, lay on a stool, grabbing the back of the chair, watching his brother's hardship. At four years old, he had just learned to speak in complete sentences. He pointed at the little Emperor and said: "Mother, what is brother doing?"

Empress Dowager Li touched Zhu Yiliu's little head with great doting and said with a smile: "Brother is practicing martial arts."

Empress Dowager Chen watched Empress Dowager Li's behavior but said nothing more. In complete contrast to her strict demands on the little Emperor, Empress Dowager Li was simply too doting on little Prince Lu, doting to the point of indulgence. If he broke something, Empress Dowager Li would only angrily scold the palace servants for not taking good care of him.

But if the little Emperor broke something, Empress Dowager Li would only scold the Emperor for losing his decorum.

Zhu Yijun finished his practice and looked at Luo Sigong. Having been discovered by Zhu Xixiao yesterday when he wanted to slack off, Luo Sigong was extra serious today. Even though his legs were shaking from exhaustion, he had no intention of slacking off.

This was progress. As long as he was willing to progress, Zhu Yijun would allow it once or twice, but he would not allow it a third time.

After finishing his practice, Zhu Yijun revealed his sunny, cheerful smile again, walked to the two Empress Dowagers, bowed, and paid his respects: "Mother, Mother."

"Sit down and rest quickly. You are covered in sweat. The weather has warmed up, and even the peach and pear blossoms have bloomed. Tomorrow is the 23rd, no need to study; why not rest from martial arts for a day?" Empress Dowager Chen pulled out a stool and placed a bowl of rock sugar pear water in front of the little Emperor, taking advantage of the temperature being just right to replenish his fluids.

On the 3rd, 6th, and 9th days, the Emperor rests from studies. Zhu Yijun could rest nine days a month. If he followed Empress Dowager Chen's words, then resting nine days out of thirty—what martial arts would he practice?

The Zhao Wenhua Hall court discussions would not stop for a single day.

If he agreed to Zhang Juzheng's "Memorial on Five Matters," Zhu Yijun would have to go to the Zhao Wenhua Hall every day to listen to government, not resting for a single day.

This was the first article of the "Memorial on Five Matters": The Emperor must attend court and listen to government.

Zhu Yijun shook his head and said: "Thank you, Mother. Diligence without stopping; this martial arts practice cannot be rested for a single day."

I, Zhu Yijun, love to study!

Zhu Yijun looked at Feng Bao. Feng Bao shook his head with slight helplessness. The Emperor was clearly asking about the "Memorial on Five Matters," and Feng Bao could only shake his head to indicate that Empress Dowager Li was still hesitant.

Empress Dowager Li would, of course, be hesitant.

If she agreed now, would this fierce tiger Zhang Juzheng push for more?

"Today, Senior Grand Secretary Zhang lectured on the 'Illustrated Mirror for Governing,' speaking of the story of Tang Daizong and Guo Ziyi." Zhu Yijun remained sunny and cheerful, seemingly talking about his studies.

"Guo Ziyi's son, Guo Nuan, married Tang Daizong's daughter, Princess Shengping. Once, Guo Nuan and Princess Shengping were arguing, and the Princess scolded him: 'My father is the Son of Heaven, yet you dare to contradict me.'"

"Guo Nuan said: 'Your father is only Emperor because my father doesn't want to be Emperor!'"

"He said: 'Do you rely on your father being the Son of Heaven? My father doesn't bother to be the Son of Heaven!'"

Empress Dowager Chen asked in shock: "He Yi was Guo Nuan so arrogant? How could he speak so recklessly? Isn't this going to harm Guo Ziyi?"

Zhu Yijun continued: "Princess Shengping rode her carriage back to the palace and reported it to her father, Tang Daizong. Tang Daizong said: 'You don't know, it is indeed so. If Guo Ziyi truly wanted to be the Son of Heaven, this world would not belong to your family.'"

"He said: 'This is not something you know. It is indeed so; if he wanted to be the Son of Heaven, would the world still belong to your family?'"

Empress Dowager Li frowned, remained silent for a moment, and asked: "And then?"

"Later, Guo Ziyi heard of this, shackled his son Guo Nuan, and sent him to Tang Daizong, requesting the Emperor to punish him. Tang Daizong said: 'Children arguing, don't take it seriously. If you aren't deaf or foolish, you can't be a patriarch. Words spoken in the boudoir by children—why listen to them?'"

"The Daizong Emperor pardoned Guo Nuan's slip of the tongue, but Guo Ziyi still caned his son Guo Nuan, and only let him go after Princess Shengping pleaded for him."

Guo Nuan said such bold words—my father doesn't want to be the Son of Heaven, so your father is the Son of Heaven. Translation: I give him face by calling him Son of Heaven; if I don't give him face, I'll let the Son of Heaven and the Li Tang dynasty go into the dirt together.

Tang Daizong just laughed it off, not punishing him because it was boudoir talk.

Zhang Juzheng lecturing on this passage was mainly to talk about the trust between Tang Daizong and Guo Ziyi, expressing an ideal political environment: a sage ruler and wise ministers.

Of course, under the brilliance of this sage ruler and wise ministers, there were always some small shadows.

It wasn't that Tang Daizong hadn't thought about taking action against Guo Ziyi, whose merits shook the master and whose power covered the world.

In the spring of the 4th year of Dali, in the first month, Tang Daizong's eunuch Yu Chao'en invited Guo Ziyi to tour the Zhangjing Temple together. This was after the An Lushan Rebellion, when the world was gradually stabilizing, and it was Tang Daizong's first test of Guo Ziyi, carried out by the eunuch Yu Chao'en.

Guo Ziyi's subordinates feared Yu Chao'en would harm him, so over three hundred soldiers in armor followed to protect him. Guo Ziyi ordered his subordinates to retreat, took a few servants, and toured the Zhangjing Temple with the eunuch Yu Chao'en.

Yu Chao'en's final end was dying as a treacherous eunuch.

After Tang Daizong died and Tang Dezong ascended the throne, he honored Guo Ziyi as "Shangfu" (Imperial Father). Dong Zhuo had also been "Shangfu," and Guo Ziyi, bearing the title of Shangfu, rebuilt the Li Tang royal family, his merits covering a generation, having been the safety of the world for twenty years.

Zhu Yijun stopped here, waiting for Empress Dowager Li to figure it out herself.

The An Lushan Rebellion was the turning point where the Great Tang went from prosperity to decline, and Guo Ziyi made immense contributions in suppressing it.

The Gengxu Incident, the Northern Barbarians moving south—from the 32nd year of Jiajing to the 44th year of Jiajing, twelve years of mutual warfare left the Great Ming's vitality severely damaged. Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng pushed for the "Fenggong" (tribute trade) with Altan Khan; this was the merit of stabilizing the border.

After the An Lushan Rebellion, the Great Tang went from prosperity to decline, with feudal lords standing everywhere. With Guo Ziyi there, the feudal lords dared not rebel and imitate An Lushan and Shi Siming.

The Great Ming was also half-buried, its national situation precarious, unable to even defeat the Northern Barbarians who had been chased around the world by the Chengzu Emperor.

Tang Daizong could tolerate Guo Ziyi, and Zhu Yijun could tolerate Zhang Juzheng.

Everything for the Great Ming to rise again, everything for the Great Ming to be great again!

Empress Dowager Li thought for a long time, slightly distracted. The little Emperor specifically mentioned this matter, naturally speaking of the "Memorial on Five Matters." Empress Dowager Li finally sighed and said: "Forget it, forget it. It's just that it's hard on the Emperor."

"The child doesn't feel it's hard, just feels it's interesting." Zhu Yijun remained sunny and cheerful, continuing to talk about what he learned today.

It was not strange that Empress Dowager Li agreed. Zhang Juzheng was not Gao Gong. Behind Gao Gong stood the Jin Party, which took privileged economy as its core interest and was tightly combined with marriage and hometown ties. Whether Gao Gong wanted to push for more or not, the Jin Party would push Gao Gong forward.

And Zhang Juzheng, in employing people, had neither marriage ties nor hometown ties.

The most critical thing was that Zhang Juzheng's "Memorial on Five Matters" did not intend to abolish the Directorate of Ceremonial, pull out the little Emperor's fangs, or restrict the Emperor from approving memorials. While requiring things of the Emperor, it also made requirements of the capital officials.

"Time to farm!" After finishing today's lessons, Zhu Yijun ran off energetically, intending to go to Jingshan.

Farming is the top priority; one must go see it every day.

"Brother, take me." Zhu Yiliu shouted loudly, seemingly wanting to go play together, but Empress Dowager Li picked up the four-year-old child and did not let him follow.

Zhu Yijun had to open the kiln today, or more accurately, to raise seedlings. The special research on planting potatoes and sweet potatoes—regardless of anything else, first, they must be planted successfully.

If sweet potatoes and potatoes are planted successfully, the common people can eat their fill, and only then will they have strength. Only with sufficient strength can one overcome heaven!

"Greetings, Your Majesty. Is Your Majesty's holy body at peace?" Xu Zhenming led several old farmers to pay respects. Although these old farmers had no experience planting potatoes or sweet potatoes, they were the farmers found among the people who were most skilled at planting water chestnuts.

He Yi was Zhu Yijun obsessed with potatoes and sweet potatoes, and why did he want to put down the dignity of the Son of Heaven to do this?

Because under the Great Ming system, only the vassal kings and the common people have the chance to rebel. When the common people have nothing to eat, they will attack the capital, smash the Emperor's head, and feed the people. If the people are fed, they won't come to the capital to twist off the Emperor's head and kick it like a ball.

Zhu Yijun waved his hand and said: "At peace. Rise."

"Your Majesty, sprouted and green potatoes are absolutely not to be eaten. They are poisonous and will really kill people." Xu Zhenming reminded His Majesty that sprouted potatoes are poisonous. If the Emperor were to eat sprouted potatoes and even just get a stomachache, that would be a major event.

Xu Zhenming was the person who least wanted anything to happen to the Emperor. He was a firm representative of agricultural prosperity. If the Emperor were to have an accident eating potatoes and he were gone, the matter of reclaiming land and farming would all be abandoned.

Zhu Yijun nodded. Great Ming Emperors had "tasters"—little eunuchs specifically for testing for poison before serving dishes.

"What work shall we do today?" Zhu Yijun looked at the completed fire room. Under the strict orders of the eunuch Feng Da, over a hundred eunuchs worked overtime to build the fire room and even installed the glass.

Xu Zhenming said quite definitely: "Raise seedlings."

The eunuch Feng Bao, head of the Directorate of Ceremonial in the palace, specifically found a little eunuch to pass a message to Xu Zhenming: do not leave the dirty and tiring work for His Majesty to do.

Zhang Juzheng, the Senior Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion outside the palace, specifically sent his family's head steward, You Qi, to pass a message to Xu Zhenming: personally engaging in agriculture is mainly a gesture. The Emperor listens to government and lectures in the morning and practices martial arts in the afternoon, which is already extremely hard work.

Xu Zhenming understood and implemented the spirit! ===== CHAPTER 38 =====

"Causing trouble?" Zhu Yijun was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood exactly what kind of trouble it was.

Zhu Yijun thought for a while, then thought again and said, "Who is considered the leader of the empire's remonstrating officials?"