Chapter 279: An Effective Remedy

"Chen Qixin, a military examinee from Huai'an, submits a memorial: Today the realm suffers from three major maladies. The first is selecting men by examination subject. The essays written today place filial piety and fraternal duty on par with Yao and Shun, and benevolence and righteousness rivaling Confucius and Mencius — yet when they turn to governance, they indulge their own natures and give free rein to greed and cruelty. When they are cruel, the people swallow their cries; when they are greedy, the people have their marrow sucked dry. Since governance and essays so utterly contradict each other, what reliance can be placed on selecting men by examination subject? The second is employing men by qualification. In the early days of the dynasty, Chief Clerk Feng Arrow was appointed Mace Du, Gongsheng Peng Youxin was given a Provincial Administration Commissioner post, and Licentiate Ceng Tai was appointed Minister — when were they ever restricted by qualifications?... But for a Presented Scholar, all noble titles in the realm are mere morsels on his chopping board, all officials in the realm his cronies and faction, rampaging unchecked with none daring to question. And when it comes to transfers and promotions, they speak not of his long tenure but of his deep seniority. Truly it is as Your Majesty once decreed: 'The imperial edict may be slighted, but the twilight gold flows as freely as ever.' What then is gained by employing men by qualification?"

Within the vast Forbidden City in the Capital, inside Jianji Hall on the central axis, a slightly effeminate male voice echoed.

Over a dozen elders in court robes stood in silent reverence within the hall, but seated high above was a young man. He wore a Winged Goodness Crown and a yellow Coiled Dragon Robe with narrow sleeves, each shoulder bearing a coiled dragon motif stitched in gold thread — none other than the Chongzhen Emperor, supreme ruler of the Ming Dynasty.

The Emperor raised a hand lightly toward the eunuch official reciting, and the effeminate chanting voice ceased at once. He turned to the several elders standing solemnly in the hall and said, "After today's daily lecture at Jianji Hall concluded, I received this memorial. Though it lacks great literary refinement, it has points of clarity and novelty. I have therefore summoned the Cabinet Ministers and all you ministers to judge it together. Having heard it, what are your views?"

For a moment, no one in the hall ventured to speak rashly. Most directed their gazes toward the center of the front row, at a minister wearing a court robe with a crane rank badge.

The Emperor waited a moment, and seeing no one speak, turned to that central minister and said in an even tone, "Mr. Wen."

"Your old minister is here." The minister in the crane rank badge stepped forward one pace. He was the current Chief Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent and Grand Secretary of Jianji Hall — Wen Tiren.

His voice was low and steady as he bowed slightly and said, "Your minister believes that Chen Qixin, though dwelling far from the court, cherishes a heart concerned for the nation — this is most estimable. That he, as a Military Examination Candidate, does not confine himself to military matters shows he is accomplished in both civil and martial spheres."

The hall was utterly silent; everyone stared at the tips of their own boots. Wen Tiren's words merely praised Chen Qixin's character and talent while sidestepping any comment on the content of his memorial. As Chief Grand Secretary firmly entrenched in the Emperor's favor, he could play diplomatic games with His Majesty — but the others present might not enjoy the same privilege.

Today the Emperor had specially summoned the assembled ministers to hear a commoner's memorial; this was certainly not just for entertainment. But from what they had heard so far, the memorial touched upon the very foundations of the court — the imperial examinations and the appointment of officials — and could almost be said to declare war on the entire civil officialdom. Even if a real discussion were to be held, it absolutely should not be decided by so few people here. For the moment, no one could fathom the Son of Heaven's intent: was he using this memorial to rap his ministers' knuckles, or did he have some other design? Under the circumstances, keeping silent was the safer choice.

As expected, Chongzhen did not press the Chief Grand Secretary. Wen Tiren's stance at least allowed the Emperor's conversation to continue. The Emperor turned to another Grand Secretary.

"And what does Minister Mace make of it?"

The one addressed was Junior Grand Secretary Qian Shisheng. He too was mentally prepared and, after a dry cough, said, "Your minister's view largely coincides with Wen Laoxiansheng's."

Chongzhen, however, did not grant him the same courtesy he had shown Wen Tiren. He calmly pressed further: "Then does Mr. Mace agree with what Chen Qixin proposes?"

Qian Shisheng had been in the Cabinet for some time and was well acquainted with this Emperor's style. Hearing the follow-up question, he knew he could not brush it off. He had no choice but to brace himself and say, "In reply to Your Majesty, the early-dynasty precedents cited in Chen Qixin's memorial are also laws of our ancestors. There should be nothing impermissible in them."

The dozen or so people standing in the hall were all candidates shortlisted by the Ministry of Personnel's Joint Recommendation for entry into the Cabinet. Currently there were only three Grand Secretaries; the remaining slots were to be chosen from this group. Thus, after today's daily lecture at Jianji Hall concluded, when Chongzhen convened the Cabinet for discussion, he had also summoned this batch of men — as an opportunity to assess them.

As the others listened, each was frantically organizing his own phrasing in his mind, dreading that the Emperor might call on them to speak. Wen Tiren ahead of them had managed to brush it off; Qian Shisheng had only endorsed the early-dynasty precedents portion. The room for maneuver left to those behind was shrinking fast. Everyone had to carefully compose their thoughts to handle the astute Son of Heaven seated above.

Chongzhen's voice came from the high seat: "Since Chen Qixin's memorial has won the approval of a Cabinet Minister, it amply shows he has merits beyond military affairs. Then, Minister Mace, what post do you think this man could suitably fill?"

The other ministers secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Chongzhen's main target today was Qian Shisheng; perhaps he would not call on anyone else to speak.

"This..." Qian Shisheng's forehead began to glisten with sweat. He had never imagined that being suddenly summoned to Jianji Hall today — what he had assumed was routine deliberation — would abruptly plunge him into such an utterly perilous situation.

Judging by the portion of Chen Qixin's memorial they had just heard, the first two points were an attack on the entire imperial examination system. The moment Qian Shisheng granted this man an official post, today's record would appear tomorrow in the Six Offices of Scrutiny for all officials to peruse, and Qian Shisheng would instantly become the enemy of the entire civil official class. Yet the Emperor's words just now were clear: Chen Qixin had merits beyond military affairs. He evidently did not intend to send him to lead troops into battle, but to serve as a civil official in the Capital. Qian Shisheng dared not defy the Emperor's wishes either.

Chongzhen watched Qian Shisheng in the hall with a cold expression. Though he did not press him, neither did he show the slightest inclination to offer him a way out.

"Your old minister, your old minister believes..." Qian Shisheng wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Since Chen Qixin speaks of the realm's three major maladies, your ministers have only heard two points. We still do not know what his third point contains."

Wen Tiren, head lowered, shot a sidelong glance at Qian Shisheng beside him. He reckoned this Grand Secretary had been driven into a corner, to even come up with such a low-grade stalling tactic.

Chongzhen slowly exhaled and said to the eunuch who had earlier read the memorial, "Read the third point for Mr. Mace."

"Third: the recommendation and selection of Judicial Commissioners and County Magistrates for the Censorate. Under the old regulations of the Remonstrance Offices, Supervising Secretaries and Censors were selected from Presented Scholar, Provincial Graduate, instructors, and other categories. In the early Wanli period, Judicial Commissioners and County Magistrates were still selected for transfer — three Presented Scholar, one Provincial Graduate or Gongsheng. Now only Presented Scholar are selected. When they assume office, they already regard themselves as Censorate officials, and the circuit inspectors treat them as Censorate colleagues. Thus they abuse the people and drive them to death. If the people have no peace, how can chaos be averted? What then is gained by making Judicial Commissioners and County Magistrates into Censorate officials? The state suffers these three major maladies: classical essays are useless, factions grow daily stronger, tyranny and cruelty increase by the day, the nets of the law grow ever tighter — only personal gain is pursued, nothing proceeds without favoritism. It has all become a bewildering trap from which there is no awakening!"

This time Wang Cheng'en read very quickly. Qian Shisheng, relying on this brief interval, still had not devised a response. He could only continue to stall: "Whether these three major maladies strike at the crux of the matter, let us set that aside for now. But if a physician diagnoses an illness, he must also have a prescription to cure it. Only then can one infer what use this man might serve."

Chongzhen looked at the somewhat discomfited Qian Shisheng, and a trace of mocking amusement actually appeared on his face. "Wang Cheng'en, read the rest of the memorial."

"I further set forth the remedies for these ills. There are four proposals, with a method for specially appointing a Grand General appended. First: suspend the examination subjects to abolish empty formal writing. Second: promote Filial Piety and Fraternal Duty to honor substantive conduct. Third: abolish the recommendation and transfer of Judicial Commissioners to eliminate entrenched abuses. Fourth: grant Disaster Relief Tax Remission to revive the exhausted and afflicted populace. The generals of today are unfit for use. They curry favor with civil officials and take orders from petty clerks. Since their prestige carries no weight in ordinary times, how can their commands be enforced on the battlefield? Now we must seek out true talent, invite them to ascend the command platform, and perform the Tuigu Rite. All critical military affairs should be left to their discretion. Should any officials harm the people without reform, or fail to provide genuine comfort and relief, they too shall be subject to punishment. Abolish military overseers, burn slanderous letters. In this way, the Platform of Emperor Gaozu of Han, the Xiliu Camp of Emperor Wen, and the Golden Platform of Yan shall reappear in our own day..."

Wang Cheng'en's effeminate voice echoed through the hall. All the ministers kept their heads lowered. Qian Shisheng's forehead was beaded thick with sweat. He did not even need to carefully parse Chen Qixin's memorial — the later part about unfit generals was unimportant, since it only concerned military officers. He only needed to hear the words "suspend the examination subjects to abolish empty formal writing" to know that he absolutely could not grant Chen Qixin any official post whatsoever. Otherwise, the flood of condemnation from civil officials would be enough to drown him. But he still had not come up with a suitable response. In his desperation, he tilted his head slightly to look at Wen Tiren.

Ever since Qian Shisheng entered the Cabinet, he had always acted according to Wen Tiren's wishes. Even so, he was not counted among Wen Tiren's inner circle. A year ago, he would have been entirely dispensable to Wen Tiren. But since Wu Zongda and Wang Yingxiong had left office, only three remained in the Cabinet. Qian Shisheng and Wen Tiren had become each other's backing, sidelining the third and least senior member, Zhang Zhifa. Thus, he now held considerable standing with Wen Tiren. Whether the Emperor's singling out of Qian Shisheng today was related to this was unclear.

Wen Tiren was also looking at him, but his gaze did not meet his; instead, it was directed at the top of his head. Qian Shisheng was momentarily baffled. Wen Tiren signaled with his eyes, then again looked toward the top of his head.

Qian Shisheng was in a state of anxiety, his reactions far slower than usual. Wen Tiren withdrew his gaze and paid him no further attention.

No matter how long a memorial, it must eventually be read to its end. The moment Wang Cheng'en's effeminate voice ceased, Qian Shisheng suddenly grasped Wen Tiren's meaning. He had been looking at his hat — meaning the Crown Sash. He could not help but exhale a long breath of relief. This time, without waiting for the Emperor to question him, he spoke up on his own initiative.

"Reporting for Your Majesty's knowledge: Chen Qixin possesses the talent to diagnose the ills of the age and the courage to speak bluntly and offer remonstrance. Though he comes from a Military Examination Candidate background, in extraordinary times one may adapt to circumstances. Your old minister believes Chen Qixin could be permitted to Walk with Crown Sash through the Six Ministries or the Six Offices, to be tested in a suitable post and observe his subsequent performance. As for precisely which post — Minister Xie of the Ministry of Personnel is present here; he will be far clearer on this than your old minister."

In the back row, Minister of Personnel Xie Sheng gave a slight shudder, never imagining the ball would be kicked his way like this. What Qian Shisheng meant by "Walk with Crown Sash" was to grant no official post — to have him work in the court as a commoner. In this way, he would not gain office and rank through his memorial, thus avoiding offending the civil official bloc, while still satisfying the Emperor's wish to employ the man. It truly offended neither side, but the dilemma was now handed to Xie Sheng.

All the ministers were stealing glances at Xie Sheng. Wen Tiren stood in the front row and could not easily turn his head, but he shot a glance at Qian Shisheng. He saw sweat already dripping from Qian Shisheng's chin, though his expression had relaxed. This should have gotten him off the hook — the Emperor could hardly continue to press him. However, in his haste to extricate himself, he had momentarily forgotten that Xie Sheng was of Wen Tiren's faction, and had inadvertently offended Wen Tiren again.

The Emperor's gaze settled on Xie Sheng. "Mr. Mace says Chen Qixin speaks bluntly and offers remonstrance. What post does the Minister of Personnel believe this man could fill?"

Hearing this, Qian Shisheng's heart again cried out in bitterness. The Emperor had completely ignored the words "Crown Sash" and had directly seized on part of the meaning, ordering the Ministry of Personnel to arrange a post. If word of this got out and was spread by those with ulterior motives, he, Qian Shisheng, would still be unable to escape involvement. But at this moment, he dared not correct the Emperor. He could only find a way to clarify matters afterward.

Xie Sheng knew there was no avoiding it and prepared to step forward and speak. But at that very moment, a figure suddenly rushed out a step ahead of him. Raising his head, he declared in a loud voice, "Your old minister believes this absolutely must not be done!"

Xie Sheng breathed a sigh of relief and stayed where he was. Everyone in the hall turned to look at that man. Even Wen Tiren turned his head from the front row, and only after seeing clearly who it was did he turn back.

Chongzhen looked coldly at the man and said, "Liu Zongzhou, I did not ask you."

Liu Zongzhou held his head high, his manner utterly self-righteous. "Your Sacred Majesty may choose not to ask, but your old minister cannot choose not to speak. What post this Huai'an Military Examination Candidate holds today is a small matter; the harm to the court's fundamental institutions is a great one. The Emperor is endowed with Heaven-sent brilliance, yet often errs on the side of impetuous haste. Thus, in the sequence and priority of his actions, he frequently misses the essentials. A single thought of overcorrection in Your Majesty's mind, and the accumulated momentum brews into a whetstone of disaster, until it becomes nearly irremediable. If this continues, the affairs of the realm will deteriorate day by day."

Liu Zongzhou's open reproach of the Emperor drew sidelong glances from everyone in the hall. Yet no one stepped forward to rebuke him, for it was not uncommon for ministers to refute the Emperor to his face like this. From what they knew of Liu Zongzhou, engaging him in direct verbal conflict would, in most cases, leave oneself covered in feathers, and even if one won, there was absolutely no profit to be gained. Thus, everyone avoided debating with him.

Chongzhen said coldly, "Then speak. In what matters have I been impetuous and hasty?"

"Your Sacred Majesty is resolutely determined to recover Liao, yet a treacherous minister gained advancement through the 'Five-Year Pacification of Liao' proposal — that is impetuous haste."

A flush of red spread across Chongzhen's pale face, and his chest heaved several times. A slight stir rippled through the assembled ministers, for this matter was a scar on the Emperor's heart. A normal minister would never pick at it. Liu Zongzhou had just done so; the consequences were exceedingly difficult to predict.

"Vice Minister Liu is mistaken." Wen Tiren slowly turned around. "In the early days of the dynasty, all the worthies emerged from the common wilds. This shows that among the markets and byways there is no lack of talent. Now the realm is in turmoil, and His Majesty's heart is set on restoration. Promoting only the worthy is no immutable rule. To gather talent for the state, His Majesty must naturally exercise his supreme authority. As long as one has the will to serve the nation, whether by civil or military examination is a secondary matter. Not to mention that Mr. Mace's intent was to have him Walk with Crown Sash and handle affairs, without harming the court's institutions. How can this be called impetuous haste!"

Liu Zongzhou flicked his sleeve. "If Chen Qixin truly has loyal counsel and remarkable strategies, a substantive appointment would not be out of the question. But my concern goes beyond this. To diagnose the ills of the realm, the court has its own Remonstrance Officials. For a petty man like this to peddle his fallacious theories, exploiting every crack and crevice in hopes of gaining advancement — if in the future every marketplace ruffian rises up to imitate him, can the affairs of state still be discussed? Furthermore, how did a mere commoner manage to deliver a letter to the imperial desk? This must be thoroughly investigated..."

"Liu Zongzhou!" Chongzhen's voice came, slightly raised in pitch. Once everyone had fallen silent, the Emperor looked at Liu Zongzhou and said, "You call Chen Qixin's memorial fallacious theories, and you call me impetuous and hasty. Then today I shall let you speak. What effective remedy do you have — what method to exterminate the bandits, pacify the barbarians, and bring peace to the realm?"

Liu Zongzhou stepped forward, and with an imposing, dignified air declared in a loud voice: "That which Your Majesty relies upon to govern the realm is law — yet it is not the means by which law is realized. The means by which law is realized is the Path. If one follows the Path, then one must first embody the heart of Heaven by revering Heaven, and not merely rely on the use of wind and thunder... Issue government decrees with simplicity and brevity, emulate Yao and Shun in setting aside oneself to follow others, nurture talent with magnanimity... Forestall the calamities of imperial clansmen in later ages. Eliminate these three great anxieties, and as for the foundation of the state, what worry need there be of barbarians and bandits? As for these petty brigands, whether to speak of pacification or extermination, there is ultimately no settled strategy. Simply issue a single-sheet edict, painfully stating the former causes that gave rise to the bandits and the present unwillingness to lightly abandon these people. Then dispatch court ministers, bearing funds from the Imperial Privy Purse, to tour the commanderies and kingdoms as Pacification Commissioners, to pacify those who are guiltless yet have been driven into exile. Further order troops to deploy at strategic passes, strengthen defenses and clear the countryside, allowing the bandits to reach their limit and surrender on their own. Apart from executing the ringleaders, not a single person shall be killed. This is the manifest efficacy of a sage governing the realm."

Chongzhen gave a cold laugh. "So your method of exterminating bandits is to issue a single edict, dispatch ministers bearing funds from the Imperial Privy Purse to pacify them, and then the roving thieves will destroy themselves. This is exactly what the disgraced Military Commissioner Yang He did in Shaanxi — once the silver ran out, the bandits blazed up again. Is this your method for pacifying the realm?"

"Not so. Yang He's pacification failed to grasp the root of securing the people's hearts. To set the realm right, one must first set the people's hearts right. As long as Your Majesty reforms from the root and cleanses the source, the roving thieves will destroy themselves..."

Before he could finish, Chongzhen had already stood up. Under the astonished gazes of the assembled ministers, he descended from the imperial throne and strode directly toward the great doors of the hall. Wang Cheng'en hurriedly chased after him, shouting at the top of his voice, "His Majesty returns to his palace!"