Chapter 203: Dragons and Serpents in the Court, Each Harboring Their Own Designs

Huo Weihua's gaze shifted to his right rear.

A familiar figure had risen to his feet and was offering a cupped-hand salute.

It was none other than his fellow townsman, his political ally who had stood watch with him in court through thick and thin — Guo Xingzhi, the Chief Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud.

Huo Weihua had imagined countless possibilities.

Perhaps some clueless remonstrance official, seeking to make a name for himself, would jump out and spout a few bland, meaningless platitudes.

Perhaps some marginal department whose interests had been damaged would send a minor player to weep and wail, recounting their difficulties.

But no matter what, it should never have been the dignified Chief Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud who stood up to speak directly.

Huo Weihua furrowed his brow, unable for the moment to grasp what was happening, and resolved to listen carefully to what exactly this fellow townsman intended to say.

Guo Xingzhi began, "Your Majesty, what Administrative Vice Commissioner Hong has said indeed contains insights of earth-shattering brilliance, and this subject too feels deep admiration."

"However, if solely for the matter of the Mongols we precipitately establish an entirely new office, and furthermore transfer to it the powers of the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, the Hanlin Academy, the Court of State Ceremonial, and many other departments and bureaus — this subject believes that to be overhasty and fears it may be inappropriate."

"Take the Bureau of Receptions under the Ministry of Rites: the functions it performs are not limited to Mongol affairs alone. It also oversees the tributary comings and goings of all the native chieftains across the realm, Joseon,"

"Ryukyu, Annam, and the various other tributary states. If all these were transferred wholesale, functions would inevitably become confused, and attending to one would mean losing sight of another."

"Or take, for instance, the Court of the Imperial Stud where this subject serves. The horse-price silver managed by the Court is by no means exclusively dedicated to the bestowal of rewards upon the Mongol tribes."

"Purchasing warhorses, procuring fodder, disbursing military supplies to the frontier garrisons — these myriad complex affairs, with their countless tangled threads, are not entirely related to the matter of pacifying the barbarians."

"A hasty reorganization would not only fail to enhance authority and efficiency, but might instead create chaos, even affecting the upcoming tributary ceremonies for the Longevity Festival. This subject believes this matter still requires careful deliberation. It would be better to first appoint a Governor-General to coordinate the various ministries and proceed gradually. That would be the prudent course."

At these words, Huo Weihua was dumbstruck, staring in disbelief at his fellow townsman.

What — are you an idiot?

Do you think His Majesty cannot hear, cannot see through the real intent hidden beneath your high-sounding rhetoric?

Do you think this is still the Tianqi era, when you could muddle through by papering over cracks, putting up smoke screens, and waving grand banners?

Have you never spoken one-on-one with this young sovereign, never been interrogated by him until you were drenched in sweat as he nitpicked every detail with flawless logic?

Wait — this Minister Guo Xingzhi, ever since the new monarch ascended the throne, it seems — truly has never been summoned for a private audience.

He has never personally experienced that crushing sensation of being utterly seen through, of having every hidden thought laid bare with nowhere to hide!

And so naturally, he has had no way to truly feel this emperor's ability to penetrate and capture the essence of people's hearts, affairs, and interests.

Damn it all!

What difference is there between you playing the fool and me playing the fool?

With you jumping out right now, how will His Majesty see me?

Is this you acting on your own, or am I, Huo Weihua, pulling the strings behind the scenes, sending you out as a "pawn at the vanguard" to test His Majesty's bottom line?

Huo Weihua's heart turned to ice.

This knife had not only stabbed at Hong Chengchou's reform strategy — it had stabbed at his, Huo Weihua's, political future!

Suppressing the tempest raging in his heart, he slowly turned his head, cautiously lifted his eyes, and gazed toward Zhu Youjian, seated high upon the imperial throne.

He was desperate to discern from the Emperor's face even the slightest ripple of emotion.

Was it anger? Displeasure? Or — disappointment?

Yet there was nothing.

On Zhu Youjian's face, there was none of the expressions Huo Weihua had anticipated.

The young sovereign was merely leaning forward slightly, his elbow propped on the imperial desk, listening intently to Guo Xingzhi's speech, his gaze calm.

After a moment, he slowly nodded. "Well said. Minister Guo's words are quite reasonable."

Zhu Youjian even revealed a faint smile as he surveyed the assembly. "This matter is of great importance and indeed warrants broad consultation. My ministers, does anyone have other views?"

The words had barely fallen when Huo Weihua rose almost instantly!

"Your Majesty, this subject dares not concur with those words!"

He first directed a deep bow toward the imperial throne, then turned to face Guo Xingzhi, his gaze complex but his tone utterly flat.

"What Minister Guo has said takes old institutions into account, is thorough in its consideration, and is indeed the speech of a seasoned and prudent statesman."

He first affirmed the other man's point, then shifted his tack sharply.

"However, this subject believes that Minister Guo has seen only the 'constant' but has failed to see the 'change.' Whether ancestral institutions or the functions of ministries and bureaus, all were established according to the needs of the times. Now that the Mongol situation has already undergone great change, if our Great Ming still clings rigidly to the old barriers, then that is not prudence — it is ossification."

Guo Xingzhi's face instantly drained of all color.

He did not understand where he had gone wrong, but it was abundantly clear that he had gone wrong.

Huo Weihua, however, looked at him no longer, but turned once more to face Zhu Youjian.

"Your Majesty, Administrative Vice Commissioner Hong's policy is not overhasty, but far-sighted, perfectly in accord with the principle that 'all things succeed when prepared, and fail when not.' This subject fully seconds it!"

"The Interpreters' College under the Ministry of War — its functions and its officials — can all be transferred wholesale to the new office, so as to concentrate authority and unify the overall command!"

"As for the matter of the Longevity Festival tributary ceremonies that Minister Guo worries about, this subject is prepared to stake a military pledge on it here and now!"

Huo Weihua spoke each word deliberately, with absolute finality.

"The entire Ministry of War will cooperate fully with the new office. This subject will personally oversee all handover matters! Not the slightest error shall occur. We shall ensure that this year's grand spectacle of ten thousand nations coming to court surpasses even those of bygone days!"

With that, he bowed deeply and said no more.

Zhu Youjian raised an eyebrow, overturning yet again the judgment he had just formed. But the data collected was still insufficient — he would listen to a few more opinions.

He continued, "What Minister Huo has said is also truly reasonable. Are there other views?"

As his voice faded, yet another person rose.

"Your Majesty, this subject also has a supplementary opinion."

Everyone followed the voice — it was Lai Zongdao, the Minister of Rites.

The old minister first cupped his hands in Guo Xingzhi's direction, then declared in a clear voice, "Regarding the Court of the Imperial Stud matter that Minister Guo raised, this ministry dares not concur. This new office is merely coordinating the disbursement of horse-price silver; it is not intervening in the original functions of the Court of the Imperial Stud. Where is the confusion he speaks of?"

"But what he said about the Bureau of Receptions under the Ministry of Rites does indeed hold some truth."

"What the Bureau of Receptions oversees is truly not limited to the Mongols, but extends to the various barbarians in all four directions. However, Your Majesty's far-sighted concern about 'the contest between men and land' does indeed require advance preparation."

At that point, he pivoted sharply, the dagger emerging from the map.

"The Mongols are one region, but the various barbarians on all our borders are just as much a concern. Even setting aside outward expansion, within our Great Ming's own interior — places like Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Huguang — we cannot bypass the native chieftains."

"This subject believes the matter is of great consequence. It would be better to take our Ministry of Rites' Bureau of Receptions as a foundation, then examine and select capable men well-versed in frontier affairs and barbarian conditions to prepare for what follows. In this way, existing functions remain undisturbed, yet we can share Your Majesty's burdens."

Inside the great hall, a wave of sudden understanding swept through.

What a man, this Lai Zongdao!

He was not seconding Guo Xingzhi at all — he was plainly seizing this chance to pull the new office's authority straight into his own Ministry of Rites' bowl!

"Your Majesty, this subject has something to say!"

Yan Mingtai, the Superintendent of the Capital Camps, practically could not wait to step forward. He drew a deep breath, his voice ringing out.

"This subject believes we must establish the Governor-General, and we must also merge the offices! Vice Minister Hong's proposal is truly a far-sighted, commanding vision!"

"However, among the Nine Frontiers, Ji-Liao is the most critical. That region involves both the Mongols and the Jurchen. This Barbarian-Pacifying Minister must be someone thoroughly versed in the military conditions of those two areas and well-grounded in defense preparations — no one else will do!"

"Otherwise, some ignorant scholar spinning paper strategies, meddling from a thousand li away — one careless move, and he will wreck the excellent situation on the ground!"

At these words, everyone curled their lips.

Yan Mingtai's intent was a Sima Zhao heart — every passerby on the street could see it.

This "man thoroughly versed in Ji-Liao military conditions" he spoke of — was he not talking about himself, just back from his Ji-Liao posting?

Immediately after, Wei Chiheng, the Chief Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, also stepped forward. Citing the approaching tributary ceremonies for the Longevity Festival and the risk that hasty adjustments might "cost the Celestial Dynasty its dignity," he proposed using the Court of State Ceremonial as the base for reorganization.

Cheng Jiming of the Hanlin Academy said little more, merely stating briefly that he had no objection regarding the Interpreters' Institute and likewise pledged full cooperation, absolutely ensuring no disruption to the Longevity Festival's grand tributary rites.

The remaining officials also spoke up in succession. Some obliquely recommended themselves; the more ambitious, like Yan Mingtai, had their eyes on this Barbarian-Pacifying Minister post, while the less ambitious simply wanted to squeeze their way into the new office.

As for fools who would object on ancestral-constitution grounds — well, not a single one of those was seen at this court assembly.

Upon the imperial throne, Zhu Youjian watched the scene before him with keen interest — this "tableau of a hundred officials' true faces."

Face after face — agitated, earnest, grave — paraded before his eyes in turn.

Scene after scene — probing, scrambling, prudently keeping clear — opened his eyes wide.

Zhu Youjian loved learning most of all!

Inside this young body of his dwelled a soul from an age of information explosion.

In his view, so-called arts of power were, to put it plainly, nothing more than a field of study requiring constant learning and practice.

And if it was a field of study, could it possibly be harder than calculus? More complex than advanced mathematics?

It all came down to human hearts, interests, rules, and games of strategy.

So long as the sample size was large enough and the data rich enough, one could always discern the patterns and derive a methodology.

By 1644, he would only be thirty-four. Even if his natural talent was poor, studying for seventeen years — surely he could not fail to reach a bare passing mark?

For an emperor, a middling aptitude in the arts of power ought to suffice, since he himself was the ultimate arbiter.

A pity that this seated assembly system had only just been established, and the protocols were not yet strictly regulated.

Many people turned around to look at whoever was speaking, leaving him with nothing but the backs of heads, which made his "data collection" work somewhat less than smooth.

But looking at the whole picture, Zhu Youjian still reached a preliminary conclusion.

These men, it seemed, were not nearly as resistant to "losing ministry and bureau authority" as he had imagined.

With the single exception of that Guo Xingzhi.

Though his speech had wound through nine twists and turns, its core was a single word — stall.

For the moment, Zhu Youjian could not figure out what his real objective was.

Could there be a problem with the Court of the Imperial Stud's accounts?

Zhu Youjian carefully filed this matter away in his mind, planning that once people's hearts had settled a little, he would start with the Court of the Imperial Stud and begin auditing the accounts of every ministry.

As for now, better to let it rest. Let the great ministers catch their breath first; the most important thing was to work together to roll out the new policies across Northern Zhili.

But wait — were Guo Xingzhi and Huo Weihua not of the same faction? Fellow provincials, passing the exams one after the other, with posts close in function — did that not count as a political alliance?

Zhu Youjian felt a twinge of doubt, but in his mind, he still lightly faded the color of the line connecting Huo Weihua and Guo Xingzhi.

(Attached image: Zhu Youjian's mental interpersonal relationship chart, haha)

All right, the learning session was over for now. It was time for him to deliver the final decision.

Zhu Youjian picked up the small wooden gavel and struck it once. "My ministers, I have heard all your words."

Every gaze refocused upon the imperial throne.

"Having pondered the matter repeatedly, I resolve as follows."

"First, establish the Court of Colonial Affairs, with overall jurisdiction over barbarian pacification and rewards, instruction and guidance, tributary relations, and frontier trade markets."

"Among the various offices previously mentioned — the Ministry of Rites' Bureau of Receptions, the Ministry of War's Interpreters' Hostel, the Hanlin Academy's Interpreters' Institute, the Court of State Ceremonial's foreign-language interpreters and foreign ushers — all shall be transferred in their entirety to the Court of Colonial Affairs. Current officials, posts, and lines of subordination shall be laterally transferred at once."

"The Court of the Imperial Stud's coordination of horse-price silver related to frontier trade markets shall also be handed over to the Court of Colonial Affairs for unified management."

"However, with the Longevity Festival imminent, to avoid chaos, the concrete execution of this Mongol tributary visit shall for now remain primarily in the hands of the Ministry of Rites' Bureau of Receptions' original personnel, with the Court of State Ceremonial assisting. You must ensure the grand tributary rites are absolutely flawless."

At this decree, a faint, barely perceptible flicker of disappointment crossed the faces of Lai Zongdao and Wei Chiheng, but in the end, neither spoke again.

In truth, Zhu Youjian's original intent had not been nearly this "wild."

Toward anything that might provoke a massive, united backlash from the hundred officials within the Great Ming's existing system, he was always exceedingly cautious.

Whether the Secretariat or the committees, neither was a formal court institution; they were more like "detached-duty posts." The men in them still drew the salaries of their original offices, merely receiving an additional "project stipend" from the privy purse.

But the Court of Colonial Affairs was different from these more "advisory" bodies like the Secretariat and the committees.

To control the Mongols here and deploy various resources and instruments, it had to be a substantive office with clearly delegated authority and clearly defined responsibilities.

That was why he had wanted to use Hong Chengchou's memorial to stage a maximum-pressure probe — "if you want to open a window, first propose tearing off the roof."

He had never expected —

that the officials' resistance would be so utterly feeble.

The bottom line he had originally envisioned was precisely the bottom line Guo Xingzhi had described.

First establish a "Governor-General Minister" similar to the Superintendent of the Capital Camps, and build the formal institution gradually.

One level up, use the existing yamen of Lai Zongdao or Wei Chiheng as the lead to push this forward.

The ultimate goal is to establish an independent Court of Border Affairs.

Tch——this crop of Great Ming civil officials really can't fight, can they.

At this thought Zhu Youjian couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, and only then continued: "Second, the Court of Border Affairs. First establish one Chief Minister, set at junior third rank. Two Associate Ministers, set at principal fourth rank."

"For the ranks and titles of all personnel within the Court, use the old designations for now. Once the institutional adjustments, quotas, ranks, and grades are finalized, they will be formally promulgated."

"As for the candidate for Chief Minister——"

Zhu Youjian's gaze swept slowly across the assembled ministers below the dais.

Everyone pricked up their ears, especially Yan Mingtai, whose eyes brimmed with anticipation.

Zhu Youjian paused, then said slowly: "There is no need to follow the past practice of recommendations."

"In Our mind, there is already a candidate beyond all dispute."

"And that is——"

"The former Governor-General of Ji and Liao, Wang Xiangqian!"

The moment this name was spoken, the assembled ministers understood.

Indeed, in the entire court there was no one more suited to this post than Wang Xiangqian.

Watching the ministers' reactions, Zhu Youjian felt quite helpless inwardly.

He actually did not really want to use Wang Xiangqian; after all, this old gentleman was eighty-two this year.

He would have much preferred to use Hong Chengchou directly.

After all, this was a man who came with an SSR-level halo.

And in the approach taken in his policy essay, as well as in the several subsequent interview discussions, he had displayed extremely strong ability and potential.

But there was no helping it — Old Hong just couldn't be propped up.

This Lord Hong had spent years shuffling around local posts and had never handled frontier affairs; what the hell did he understand about the various barbarians right now!

Right now he doesn't even understand Dayu'er.

In the interviews Zhu Youjian discovered that Hong Chengchou could not even clearly explain basic questions like why the Shitu and Sunang Taiji had fallen out.

Mongol affairs — pull one hair and the whole body moves.

It is tied not only to the implementation of the New Policies in Northern Zhili, and to the clearing and rectification of military pay in Ji and Liao, but is interlocked with the entire grand strategy for Liaodong and with the many follow-up arrangements he had laid.

There was absolutely no way he would toss such an important position so rashly to a "novice" for practice.

That is not a sound way to use talent.

So there had to be an old hand of high virtue and prestige, rich in experience, to lead the way.

And Wang Xiangqian——

Zhu Youjian looked around at them all, his heart full of deep feeling.

This truly was a candidate beyond all dispute.

Setting aside Zhu Xieyuan, far off in the southwest, this was the only Great Ming official who could make him break his "interview first, appoint later" principle.

Because, if one overlooked the "tiny" flaw that he was already eighty-two years of age this year, this Lord Wang's record was simply too perfect.

Wang Xiangqian — a jinshi of the fifth year of Longqing!

Good heavens, a jinshi of the fifth year of Wanli was already considered a senior veteran, and this was the fifth year of Longqing!

County Magistrate, Prefect, minister of the Six Ministries — he had done them all.

Such practical administrative experience was nothing special; what was more formidable was his frontier service record.

He had served in Datong and Xuanfu, and he had served in the Ji Garrison and Liaodong.

The Bianxi, Yongbu, Kharchin, Doyan, Chahar — nearly every tribe on the Mongol steppe with a name worth mentioning had been kneaded and molded by his hands.

All kinds of appeasement rewards and market quotas — summon the various tribal chiefs for a meeting, and he would slash them as he pleased, with not a single man daring to jump up in protest. He was practically the Great Ming's "Mongol Godfather."

Even more astonishing, this old gentleman had also gone to Sichuan and Yunnan-Guizhou to fight in the Bozhou Rebellion, and was thoroughly versed in the ways of the southwestern chieftains as well.

And so, after Zhu Youjian finished reading the "frivolous talk" on Wang Xiangqian — a file a full two fingers thick — he was almost instantly certain that he could never find a more suitable candidate.

As expected — living long is in itself an enormous advantage.

A pity — this Great Ming family heirloom, now passed into his own hands, who knew how many more years he could still be used.

Use him while you can, and treasure it.

Hopefully he can set this whole Mongol business on the right track before he goes.

Hmm, he would have to issue an edict later restricting Lord Wang to only one shichen of work per day, and strictly ensure he got his rest.

Strive to keep him alive until the second year of Yongchang; that way, perhaps through the Wang clan of Xincheng behind him, he could pry open the implementation of the New Policies in Shandong.

Having made up his mind, Zhu Youjian then continued: "There shall be two Associate Ministers. The first shall be filled by Hong Chengchou. The second shall remain vacant for the time being."

"Those fortunate enough to compete for this post shall, as before, submit a statecraft policy essay, to be examined and reviewed by the committee."

"As for Minister Hong," Zhu Youjian looked toward Hong Chengchou, "you must, as quickly as possible, finalize the organizational structure and personnel arrangements of the Court of Border Affairs, and make all necessary preparations before Wang Xiangqian enters the capital. Do not let it interfere with the great tributary affairs of the Longevity Festival."

"If you encounter obstacles, report directly to the committee and ask Gao Shiming to help arrange and coordinate."

"This subject obeys the decree!" Hong Chengchou bowed low, his hands sweeping the ground, his voice carrying a trace of barely suppressed excitement.

At last he sat back down, his heart surging with excitement yet tinged with a trace of regret.

He had made every preparation he could, but the one thing he had not anticipated was that this young new monarch would write in such meticulous detail.

The factional origins and the history of grievances and dealings among the Mongol tribes along the Nine Borders; the trade volumes and commodity types at each frontier market; the entanglements of interests among the local frontier garrison officers, trade officials, merchants, and powerful families — everything was there, everything was covered!

At the first interview, he had walked in full of confidence and walked out utterly despondent, doubting his very existence for a time.

But no matter.

As His Majesty had said — if you don't understand, then learn!

Your Majesty personally brought the eighty-two-year-old Wang Xiangru out of retirement precisely so that he, Hong Chengchou, could study him well!

Leaving aside Hong Chengchou's surging emotions here, Zhu Youjian's voice sounded again as he laid out the final matter: "Third, the selection of personnel for the Court of Border Affairs."

"The officials transferred so far from the various ministries and bureaus are mostly civil officials, with little connection to military matters."

"However, the *Wei Liaozi* states: 'In warfare, take the military as the trunk, and the civil as the seed. The military is the exterior, the civil the interior.'"

"This Court of Border Affairs must likewise integrate both civil and military. One hand civil, one hand military — only then can it walk steadily."

"Otherwise, though this court is established and said to be able to link up with governors-general and governors across a thousand *li*, in the end it will be nothing more than armchair strategy, machine guns—"

Zhu Youjian nearly let slip the phrase "advance the machine-gun position three *li*" and hastily reined himself in.

He coughed once and looked toward Yang Jingchen and Huo Weihua.

"Minister Yang, Minister Huo. You two shall jointly take charge of examining and recommending officials with practical experience in frontier conditions. Draft a list and submit it for review."

"Should there be any who volunteer, they may go through the open channel for statecraft and public service, submitting policy essays to Sun Chuanting at the Secretariat for unified review."

Yang Jingchen and Huo Weihua stepped forward together, bowed, and accepted the order.

Zhu Youjian nodded, picked up the small wooden mallet on the imperial desk, and struck it three times in succession.

"Very well, my ministers. The Mongol affairs shall be discussed no further today. Each of you, go and carry out your tasks."

"When matters arise, do not speculate, do not hesitate. If there is any issue, simply go directly to Gao Shiming to coordinate and connect!"

"Meeting dismissed!"

The assembled ministers rose one after another, performed the full kneeling obeisance to express their gratitude, and then, in order of official rank, slowly withdrew from the great hall.

Zhu Youjian stood up, stretched his arms wide in a great yawn, and felt thoroughly at ease, his spirit clear and refreshed.

Just as he thought — so long as all his subordinates were clever people, even a meeting could be a most pleasant affair.

He smiled faintly, turned to Gao Shiming beside him, and said, "Come, let us return to the Western Park. Since the matters have been assigned, we shall quietly await the results."

"Now, at last, I have the mood to continue working on that experiment of mine."

"Until this experiment is finished, I shall have no heart to see Xu Guangqi—"

Attached illustration: a preliminary sketch of the Wang Xiangru's Xincheng Wang family — a solid examination-household lineage through and through.

This is also one of the new-policy levers the protagonist has prepared in advance, to be deployed in Shandong the year after next. In truth, families of this sort likely exist in every region, and the protagonist will pay attention to all of them.

The Xincheng Wang family's household tradition is sound; every generation has produced *jinshi* degree-holders, and the official reputations of those who served have all been good.

Two little stories as a bonus:

Wang Xiangchun's household had a chicken — it was the fuse that ignited Kong Youde's rebellion, dealing a -10 to the Great Ming's national fortune. (But this chicken probably hasn't been born yet, so no need for excessive worry.)

The name "apple" was, in fact, coined by Wang Xiangjin.