Chapter 238: Prying Apart the Joints, Discerning the Divergent Currents (With Thanks to Alliance Leader

The new policies and the old policies are not merely a matter of Sun Shenxing and Liu Zongzhou as individuals.

They are simply one expression of the voice of all those who favor the old policies — and a relatively candid, even comparatively loyal expression at that.

But while principles can be debated, the line of advance must not be shaken. This is the fundamental truth of accomplishing great things.

From ancient times to the present, no true dynastic transformation has ever been a dinner party; it is impossible to satisfy everyone.

What is called accommodating all sides often means yielding to the greatest resistance, and the final result can only be mediocrity and failure.

Zhu Youjian chose this moment — when the new policies in Northern Zhili were on the verge of being launched but not yet launched — to convene this grand assembly precisely in order to unify the thinking of the central government completely.

"My first principle — is that every law has advantages and disadvantages. There has never been a perfect, all-encompassing law in this world."

"Judging by the discussions of Minister Sun, Minister Liu, and indeed the many senior officials over this past month —"

"The advantage of the Yongchang New Policies lies in their speed and thoroughness; their disadvantage lies in dividing hearts, in the desuetude of the old policies, and in the potential for factional strife."

"The advantage of the Wanli reform method lies in its stately orthodoxy and established precedents; its disadvantage lies in slow results, the mixing of dragons and fish, and insufficient thoroughness."

"Do you all agree?"

The assembled ministers reflected briefly, then one after another concurred.

No one attempted to debate the specific advantages and disadvantages that had been enumerated.

These elite men of the Great Ming were all dragons and phoenixes among men; they understood perfectly that what was being discussed now was fundamental principle, not minor details.

That the Son of Heaven could state the advantages and disadvantages so impartially, however, was in itself a mark of extraordinary stature.

Even Sun Shenxing and Liu Zongzhou nodded along.

The atmosphere in the hall was solemn; all waited in unison for their new sovereign's next principle.

Seeing this, Zhu Youjian's face showed a trace of a smile, and he lightly clapped his hands.

"My ministers, we are not now holding a formal audience between sovereign and subject, but rather sitting in discourse as in ancient times. Why such gravity and constraint?"

"Attendants, replace the tea in every minister's cup with hot tea. Moisten your throats before we speak further."

At these words, the taut atmosphere in the hall immediately relaxed.

The inner attendants filed in and changed the tea for hot.

The soft sounds of tables and chairs being shifted, murmured thanks, and the noise of tea-drinking mingled for a moment; that oppressive, heavy feeling was considerably diluted by this ordinary touch of everyday life.

Whether a state, a company, or a gang, spirit and culture are of vital importance.

Qualities like openness, equality, and addressing matters on their merits — though they slightly erode the "imperial authority" Zhu Youjian inherited — seem a trifling disadvantage when weighed against saving the nation's destiny.

The power Zhu Youjian loses through concessions in ritual propriety, he will naturally reclaim through other means.

As for later descendants — if they lack this ability, then that is a matter for later descendants.

Zhu Youjian picked up his own tea mug and gulped down a mouthful, then simply rose to his feet, stretched a great, lazy stretch before the imperial throne, his joints emitting a series of faint cracking sounds.

This behavior made a few of the older ministers' eyelids twitch violently.

What a scandalous lack of decorum!

Yet, precisely this undignified behavior dispelled much of the lofty, sovereign pressure that emanated from Zhu Youjian, replacing it instead with a candid, distinctive presence that compelled one to take him seriously.

He did not sit back down, but leaned lightly against the table and continued with perfect composure: "My second principle — is that no matter which method is adopted, the most important thing is that once decided, one must pursue it with firm resolve."

"Do not vacillate left and right; do not entertain wild and disorderly thoughts. Hesitation itself does greater harm than any specific advantage or disadvantage."

"Do you all consider this principle sound?"

The assembly again nodded in agreement.

For those who govern, nothing is more taboo than changing orders at dawn and rescinding them at dusk, causing political turmoil. This principle was naturally the consensus of the majority.

Sun Shenxing already felt a vague sense of foreboding, but in this candid atmosphere, he truly did not know how to open his mouth to protest.

Zhu Youjian nodded.

"Good. If these two principles are true, then the third principle emerges naturally."

"If one can establish the correct law, then implement the correct law."

"If one cannot establish the correct law, and unfortunately settles upon a deviant law — a deviant law is not necessarily all disadvantage; it always has its advantages."

"Our striving to remedy its disadvantages and amplify its advantages is still better than hesitating between two courses, changing orders at dawn and rescinding them at dusk. Is that not so?"

This line of reasoning, layer building upon layer, was virtually irrefutable.

The ministers of the New Policies faction nodded one after another, but Sun Shenxing's brow furrowed deeply.

His views were not entirely identical to Liu Zongzhou's; he was an absolute opponent of the New Policies.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something.

"Your Majesty —"

But Zhu Youjian, smiling, raised a hand and stopped him.

"First, hear my fourth principle."

Zhu Youjian paced away from the imperial desk and came to a halt before Sun Shenxing's table.

He looked at the old minister, his beard and hair already streaked with white, pondered a moment, and then spoke: "Confucius said: 'When the Way does not prevail, take a raft and drift upon the sea.'"

"Then, if one's personal choice runs counter to the choice of the sovereign and of the majority of one's colleagues — how should one choose?"

Zhu Youjian's voice rose slightly as he looked directly at Sun Shenxing.

"Minister Sun, I ask you today."

"If I refuse to listen to a single word of remonstrance, and forcibly press ahead with the New Policies according to the present plan — and any who continue to submit memorials of remonstrance, disrupt the line of advance, or sow hesitation shall be dismissed from office!"

"At that time, will Minister Sun continue to submit memorials, risking dismissal and removal from office, just to contend for the righteous indignation in your breast?"

"Will Minister Sun choose to 'take a raft and drift upon the sea,' and then sigh upon the shores of the Eastern Sea, 'I said so all along, and only regret that His Majesty would not heed my words, deceived as he is by treacherous ministers'?"

"Or will you choose, within the framework I have laid down, to strive to remedy the disadvantages of the present law?"

This entire speech was nothing but moral blackmail!

Absolutely shameless to the extreme!

Sun Shenxing shot to his feet with a whoosh, his face flushed crimson, his graying beard fairly trembling. "Why must Your Majesty goad us with such words!" he said angrily. "Eating the sovereign's grain, I serve the sovereign's cause — how could I ever stoop to the petty posturing of a resentful malcontent!"

Watching his indignant display, Zhu Youjian suddenly burst out laughing.

He stepped forward, personally clapped Sun Shenxing on the shoulder, and motioned for him to sit, his tone instantly turning warm and sincere.

"Minister Sun, there is no need for that. We are young in years and shallow in virtue, given to unmeasured jests — what We said just now was mere banter."

"We have long known that Minister Sun is a loyal and upright minister, a pillar of the state. How fortunate the dynasty is, and how fortunate We are, to have a remonstrating minister such as you."

In the space of a few words, pushing and pulling, he laid bare the full extent of his shamelessness.

Sun Shenxing was already past sixty. Faced with this performance from the young sovereign, he felt at once angered and amused; the pent-up frustration in his chest lingered long, yet in the end found nowhere to go.

He opened his mouth, but all that came out in the end was a long sigh as he slowly sat back down.

Without pausing, Zhu Youjian strode across a few paces and came to stand before Liu Zongzhou.

"Minister Liu," he began, "Confucius also said: when the beating is light, endure it; when the beating is heavy, flee."

"If We are determined to press forward with the present new policies, in Minister Liu's view, does that count as a light beating, or a heavy beating?"

Liu Zongzhou had watched Sun Shenxing's "fate" from the sidelines, and his mind was already on high alert.

A heavy beating or a light beating — whichever one chose, wasn't it still saying that His Majesty was thrashing them? Was there even a choice?!

He bowed, sidestepping the trap, and answered gravely: "Your Majesty, sovereign and minister are one body."

"If Your Majesty has truly decided, then it is state policy, and we your subjects shall of course obey, examining for gaps and remedying deficiencies, devoting ourselves wholeheartedly — whence comes any talk of light or heavy beatings?"

"Good!" Zhu Youjian nodded and paced back to the imperial dais. "The fourth principle, then, is this: the conduct of a gentleman lies in engaging with the world."

His gaze swept the hall as he spoke.

"Before Us, reward and punishment have always been based solely on success or failure, never on differences of opinion, and never by way of dismissal."

"But should any minister, out of momentary pique, request to resign — or even deliberately resign — thereby abandoning the affairs of state, then he is no longer, in Our mind, a minister of gentlemanly character."

This speech, for all its high-sounding rhetoric, was in truth shameless to the extreme.

Strip away the classical allusions and the verbal finery, and the gist of it was roughly this —

One: if you agree, you do it; if you don't agree, you still do it! Refuse to do it, and you can wait to find yourself on the emperor's little list!

For a moment, everyone in the hall was utterly speechless.

And yet, on the moral plane, this reasoning was genuinely beyond reproach!

When had this new sovereign learned such arts of "persuasion through reason"?

Zhu Youjian chuckled inwardly and continued.

"From this day forward, in all matters of reform — whether new policies or old —"

"if there are doubts, if there are objections, we close the doors, gather here in Wuying Hall, and hold thorough meetings. We may discuss, we may debate; it is no matter if faces grow red and tempers flare."

"But once a conclusion is finally reached, once we step out that door, let there be no more obstructionist maneuvers, no more words of opposition. Where there are flaws, mend them; where there are gaps, fill them; do your utmost to carry it out."

"Anyone who memorializes otherwise thereafter is stirring up hearts and minds, acting against the new policies — is seeking to foment factional strife like that of the Song dynasty!"

"If, in the end, the work thus done proves to be in error, then the fault lies not with you, my ministers, but with Us — the one who made the final decision and gave the final word!"

"No groundless attacks, no factional strife that unsettles hearts and minds — that is how it shall be!"

"Gentlemen, do you acknowledge this principle?"

His words fell, and the hall was silent.

Sun Shenxing let out a long sigh; the last shred of wishful thinking in his heart scattered like smoke.

So be it. So be it.

The Son of Heaven, in his supreme dignity, had once he set aside his stature, personally descended into the arena to "dispute the Dao" with you, and then struck this sage-like pose of "the blame rests with Us" — who under Heaven could withstand such overwhelming pressure?

He cupped his hands toward the throne, too weary even to answer, merely signaling his submission by the gesture.

Huang Liji, however, would not let him off. He rose directly to his feet, cupped his hands, and answered: "This subject acknowledges this principle."

At this signal, the ministers in the hall rose one after another, forcing Sun Shenxing to rise with them, and in unison they declared: "Your subjects acknowledge this principle."

The sound reverberated through the hall, proclaiming that a divergence in ideological line had, at least on the surface, been declared unified.

Zhu Youjian nodded with satisfaction and motioned for everyone to sit.

He laughed, breaking the solemn atmosphere: "This has rather turned out as though We were forcing everyone to bow their heads and admit fault."

"Rest assured — on a few fundamental bottom lines, We are indeed stubborn."

He extended his fingers, enumerating one by one: "First: the prime minister must rise from the provinces, the fierce general must emerge from the ranks. This is the bedrock of governance — it cannot be shaken!"

"Second: unify thinking, work with combined strength, avoid internal friction. This is the bedrock of court administration — it cannot be shaken!"

"Third: carry out reform, accomplish what the Huaxia realm has been unable to do for a thousand years, surpass the dynasty's own peak. This is Our aspiration, and it is the aspiration of all you ministers — and it too cannot be shaken!"

"However," he shifted tone, "when it comes to the specific details of implementing the new policies and the old, those are not matters on which We are immovable."

"Pros and cons, pros and cons — they are determined by the workings of Heaven and Earth, by the harmony of men and the advantages of terrain. How could We alone presume to set the frame for all of it?"

"Everything, in the end, comes down to just eight words: seek truth from facts, be realistic and pragmatic!"

He looked toward Sun Shenxing and added:

"Minister Sun, when the summer tax season arrives next year in the seventh month, we shall speak again on the fundamental path of the new policies."

"But before the seventh month, let there be no public memorials stirring up hearts and minds."

"If there are problems, if there are current ills — close the doors and come discuss them here in Wuying Hall. Will that do?"

With the matter put this far, Sun Shenxing had nothing left to say. He rose, cupped his hands, but said nothing, and sat back down — clearly still somewhat aggrieved, yet in the end he had fully yielded.

Having secured the fundamental principles, Zhu Youjian now turned his gaze to the newly appointed Grand Secretary, Zheng Sanjun.

"Minister Zheng, you will speak next. Outline for us your preliminary framework for the old-policy performance evaluations."

Zheng Sanjun, who had remained silent throughout, observing the new sovereign's methods, was jolted back to attention by this sudden summons.

He had previously had only four face-to-face conversations with this new sovereign, all devoted entirely to the matter of old-policy performance evaluations.

At the time, he had merely marveled at the acuity and intelligence the sovereign displayed toward administrative details and the threads of governance, but he had never personally witnessed what the capital meant by "stirring men's hearts."

Only upon seeing it today did I understand why.

What "stirring people's hearts" is there in this?

The rumors in the capital have truly only glimpsed the surface, never seen the root.

This is plainly seizing one end of the great Dao and, with overwhelming momentum, walking the open path of righteous stratagem — making you fully aware of the intent yet utterly unable to refuse.

For the supreme Son of Heaven to personally step into the arena — this is truly something.

"Minister Zheng?" Zhu Youjian gently prompted.

Zheng Sanjun swiftly banished his stray thoughts, rose to his feet, cleared his throat, and began: "The framework for evaluating old governance, as Your Majesty has put it, can broadly be divided into several parts for discussion."

"First, we must clarify: what exactly is the impact of the divide between new governance and old governance?"

The moment Zheng Sanjun opened his mouth, there was no empty talk — it was all substance.

"This subject privately visited twenty-seven old-governance officials, while Your Majesty interviewed sixteen. Colleagues in the Secretariat, each working their own connections, privately consulted one hundred and forty-seven old-governance officials."

"In all the records, some names were redacted, some were not, but every person swore an oath to Heaven to speak without reserve."

"After each was collated and cross-checked against the others, the conclusions are as follows:"

"A small number of officials did indeed, after the new governance was finalized, gradually show signs of slackness. Their reactions varied: some spoke of promotion, some of leave, some of increased stipends — each different from the next."

"But the majority of officials are not slack. Rather, they are protesting the absolute boundary drawn between new governance and old governance."

Next, Zheng Sanjun began to cite concrete examples.

"For instance, Bureau Secretary Zhou Guangxia of the Ministry of Works, who oversees the Bamboo and Timber Levy Sub-Office at the Dragon River Shipyard."

"In the past, the bamboo and timber collected often piled up and rotted, so it was converted into a silver commutation."

"Now he wishes to slightly adjust the silver commutation back toward collection in kind, in order to stockpile relevant timber for the future launch of maritime transport."

"Under old-governance evaluation, a decrease in silver commutation would be rated as the lowest grade."

"Yet in practice, this aligns with the coming maritime transport reforms."

"So does this count as reform or not? If it does, the matter is too trivial, and there is no place for it under the new-governance quota. If it does not, then a heart devoted to serving the country is instead constrained by the evaluation system — how could one not protest?"

"Another example: an official, unwilling to disclose his name, offered only a hypothetical. Suppose, beyond the Northern Metropolitan Region, a County Magistrate somewhere in Guangdong, stirred by the new governance, even without a new-governance quota, spontaneously undertakes a cadastral survey, fixes the taxes, and builds waterworks, hoping to earn the highest evaluation grade."

"Yet next year's new governance, following the order of self-cultivation, family regulation, state governance, and world pacification, will at most extend to Henan, Shandong, and the like. How then should this Guangdong magistrate's merit be assessed?"

Zheng Sanjun spoke without pause, reeling off seven or eight cases in one breath, covering capital officials, guard stations, remote local officials, and many other groups.

His entire address, with its data, cases, and details, was far more persuasive than the remonstrances of Sun Shenxing and Liu Zongzhou, which, though grounded in principle, were somewhat vague.

Zheng Sanjun caught his breath, then continued.

"The cases above mostly lean toward 'resistance' and 'discontent,' rather than 'dereliction' or 'corruption.'"

"This is mainly because, with this method of face-to-face inquiry, no matter what oaths are sworn, everyone will ultimately hold something back."

"Almost no one will directly say they would engage in corruption, but most will cite examples of other people or some other official — yet this is sufficient as a certain kind of reference."

"Therefore, based on the above facts, the key conclusion this subject and Your Majesty have reached regarding new and old governance is —"

"The crows under Heaven truly divide into two kinds. One is the white crow; the other is the black crow."

"But between black and white, there is yet another kind: the gray crow."

"These may be three-tenths white, or five-tenths white, or seven-tenths white."

"They have the will to accomplish things, yet they may harbor misgivings or be constrained."

"These are precisely the targets the new governance must unite and encourage, and also the group that requires the greatest attention under old-governance evaluation!"

"On this basis, the approach for old-governance evaluation can be settled!"

"All white crows shall be placed under new-governance evaluation and management. Their stipends shall be generous, their promotions swift, their merits honored — to encourage the men of action throughout the realm!"

"Gray crows and black crows, meanwhile, shall be placed under old-governance evaluation and management!"

"Old-governance evaluation shall support the reform measures the gray crows wish to undertake. Once reviewed and approved, they shall be evaluated along lines similar to new-governance thinking."

"All those who earn the highest evaluation grade under old governance within the first year of Yongchang shall, in the second year of Yongchang, be given priority entry into the new-governance sequence as a reward!"

"As for those black crows unwilling to work, slack and indolent in governance, devoid of ability, and rotten with corruption —"

Zheng Sanjun let out a cold laugh, swept his gaze around the hall, and a chill gleam flashed in his eyes.

"His Majesty's new-governance blade is sharp — but was the evaluation sword of Lord Jiangling in days past any less keen!"

"Men seeking office in this realm are as numerous as carp crossing the river — when has there ever been a shortage of officials!"

As his words fell, the assembled ministers were first stunned, then sank into deep thought.

The method sounded complex, but its core was very simple.

To put it plainly, between new governance and old governance, between white crows and black crows, they had carved out a separate group: the "gray crows."

Thinking one layer deeper — was this not precisely what His Majesty always had on his lips: "unite the many, strike the few"?

This was taking the several hundred "white crows" of the new governance, layering on an unknown number of "gray crows," to strike at that last stubborn, unrepentant portion of "black crows."

In one stroke, it eased the absolute confrontation between white crows and black crows.

The remaining black crows might, in absolute numbers, be several times or even ten times the white and gray crows.

But in the open, in the court's moral authority, in the places where voices could be raised, they had become the absolute minority — the group with the weakest voice, the group left to be carved up at will!

In a certain sense, even the most capable, the most ambitious, and the best-connected had all concentrated among the gray crows and white crows!

What game was left for the black crows to play?

Nothing more than slacking off, dragging their feet, and lining their pockets in the shadows — that was all.

But that circled right back to Zheng Sanjun's domineering remark: "When has this realm ever lacked officials!"

Exquisite!

Truly exquisite!

This method, born of the Wanli-era new governance laws and blended with certain techniques of the Yongchang new governance, could be called the finishing stroke!

Only, one wondered — was this method proposed by Zheng Sanjun, or by this Son of Heaven himself?

At first, the applause began in the ranks of the secretariat.

That clapping was crisp and ringing, like a catalyst that instantly ignited the whole of Wuying Hall.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The applause went from scattered to dense, finally merging into one continuous wave that thundered through the hall.

Zhu Youjian waited until the applause gradually subsided, then spoke with a smile.

"Minister Zheng is indeed a veteran of officialdom. His eye is seasoned and incisive — one remark struck straight at the greatest abuse. To have gained Minister Zheng, I truly feel as though I have gained a Zhang Liang."

"Then, Minister Zheng, going forward, refine this evaluation framework, settle on the detailed regulations, and then convene a meeting to discuss and finalize them."

"The Ministry of Personnel and the Directorate of Ceremonial will both cooperate with you."

Zheng Sanjun cupped his hands and accepted the decree, struggling to contain his excitement.

The other ministers, however, kept their faces expressionless. They had gradually grown immune to this sovereign's cost-free flattery.

Zhu Youjian paused, then turned his gaze toward Sun Shenxing.

"Minister Sun, can this solution somewhat curb the human failings you spoke of?"

Sun Shenxing wrestled inwardly, hesitating for a long time. Finally he rose, sighed, and said, "Your Majesty, this method can indeed somewhat curb the abuse. But — this subject still worries about morality, about the general climate —"

Zhu Youjian shook his head and cut him off.

"Then I can do nothing about that."

"Since ancient times, there has never been a perfect law."

"The dynasty's climate has fallen to this point. If we truly had to rely on morality to push through the new policies, I have not the slightest confidence."

"This abuse — I can only endure it for now."

"Once the new policies gradually spread, the court's climate shifts, and white crows grow more numerous, we can speak of morality then. How about that?"

Sun Shenxing's lips quivered, and at last it turned into a long sigh. He bowed and said, "This subject still does not fully concur. But as Your Majesty says, this subject will respectfully obey the sacred will. Before the seventh month of next year, I will submit no further memorials on this matter, and will do my utmost to find omissions and fill gaps for the new policies."

Zhu Youjian nodded, then looked toward Liu Zongzhou.

"Minister Liu, what you said earlier about factional strife — that too is truly reasonable."

"Once the gray crows are introduced, matters grow more complex. When facing the black crows, the white crows and gray crows are allies. But seen from the other side, the splitting off of the gray crows makes factional strife between the old and new factions all the more likely."

Having said this, Zhu Youjian pointed at Zheng Sanjun and said, "This matter, moreover, does not shift according to Minister Zheng's will."

"After all, of the myriad principles under heaven, only one is irrefutable: getting things done requires resources."

"Resources are finite. Give more to this side, and that side gets less. Strife is unavoidable."

"On my side, I can only say that I hope the strife among you ministers will be, as far as possible, over getting things done, and not merely over getting office."

Zhu Youjian casually uttered a line he himself did not believe, and only then did he put away his smile and look toward one person among the seats.

"But merely making a moral pact like this — I still feel it is not enough!"

"Minister Fang, there is a problem with the work on your side!"

Fang Zhuangli's heart jolted in alarm. He hurriedly rose, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, this subject is here."

Zhu Youjian suppressed the anger in his heart as much as he could, striving to remain even-tempered.

"Last month I told you to keep the censorial organs in order, and not to recklessly attack the new policies."

"And the result? Memorials attacking the new policies have decreased — but memorials offering suggestions for the new policies have decreased too!"

"That pack of censors under you has practically plunged headlong, almost to a man, into the mire of wrangling over personnel selections!"

"Anti-corruption! Anti-corruption! On my imperial desk, among the memorials related to anti-corruption, only four came from your Censorate!"

As Zhu Youjian spoke, his temper rose again, but he forcibly pressed it down, struggled to maintain his poise, and forced a smile back onto his face.

"Minister Fang — how can this way of doing things possibly work?"

Fang Zhuangli, seeing the Emperor's tone ease slightly, hurriedly seized the opening to defend himself: "Your Majesty, allow this subject a word! The thirteen circuits of censors in the Censorate, by regulation, have the right to report matters on hearsay. Many things are not within this subject's power to restrain. They —"

"I know you have many difficulties!" Zhu Youjian waved a hand and cut him off. "But not done well is not done well!"

"Minister Fang, the dynasty established the censorial organs like a hanging sharp sword. Their purpose is to cut down treachery and eliminate evil, to cleanse the realm."

"Not to stuff my imperial desk day after day with waste paper full of factional attacks, wasting my time!"

"Morality on the lips, self-interest in the heart!"

"Those petty factional attacks, those little schemes to seize power and position — when I look at them, I can only laugh!"

Zhu Youjian slammed the table with a thunderous "Bang!" that made the whole of Wuying Hall tremble.

The atmosphere, from the earlier harmony and good cheer, plunged precipitously to a freezing point.

"I give you one final month!"

"If you can manage it, then manage it well for me! If you cannot, then someone else will be brought in to manage it!"

"Is that clear!"

Fang Zhuangli, from the moment he was called to rise, had not managed to finish a single sentence before being subjected to this blistering reprimand.

His treatment was utterly worlds apart from that of Liu Zongzhou and Sun Shenxing.

But he dared not offer any further defense. He could only cup his hands in panic: "This subject — obeys the decree!"

Zhu Youjian's gaze swept over his face, and in his heart he could not help but heave a heavy sigh.

The censorial organs! The Great Ming's distinctive censorial organs!

Earlier, Liu Zongzhou had admonished that factional strife might arise.

And where would factional strife arise from?

The Ministry of War versus the Ministry of Revenue? The Ministry of Works versus the Ministry of Rites? Of course not!

The Great Ming's distinctive factional strife — it begins from within the censorial organs!

To say nothing else, he had ordered the Directorate of Ceremonial to sort through the list of the "Donglin Faction" in the Donglin Comrade Register.

Gao Panlong, Left Chief Censor.

Zuo Guangdou, Left Assistant Censor-in-Chief.

Huang Zongxi's father, Huang Zunsu, Censor of the Shandong Circuit.

Wei Dazhong, Chief Supervising Secretary of the Personnel Section.

In short, of the 109 people on the list, 55 held the supervisory posts of Supervising Secretary or Censor — just over half the list!

Among these, the Supervising Secretaries of the Six Offices of Scrutiny were scattered, with no unified command, so there was no need to worry about a formal organization.

But the Censors of the Censorate's thirteen circuits were nominally under the authority of a Left Censor-in-Chief.

Was Fang Zhuangli's job difficult? Of course it was, because this nominal authority could hardly constrain the censors' impeaching inclinations to any real degree.

But no matter how poorly he performed, Zhu Youjian could reprimand him, dismiss him, and replace him with someone else of "poor repute."

Yet there was absolutely no possibility, at this moment, of handing the Censorate over to men of good name like Liu Zongzhou or Sun Shenxing to manage.

Because Zhu Youjian was gradually seeing clearly that, in the Ming dynasty's environment, morality seemed like a tattered rag, yet it was not truly without effect or influence.

If a moral gentleman like Liu Zongzhou took charge of the Censorate, the entire censorial system might well, through moral cohesion, be genuinely bound into a formidable supervisory force.

Its overall efficiency in fighting corruption and conducting oversight would also rise substantially.

This was the unique advantage of "men of virtue" within the Ming system.

But conversely, should a certain reform fail to conform to these "moral guardians'" traditional notions —

such a sharp blade could just as easily become a weapon thrust at Zhu Youjian, or at the New Policies!

Therefore, at this stage, Zhu Youjian would rather "employ the wrong men" and bear the corresponding loss of efficiency, than "entrust loyal ministers" and risk even the slightest chance of disaster.

Ah, to have ambitions one cannot fully pursue — so it is.

Truly overhauling the Censorate, and even reordering the present jumble of ad hoc and traditional structures, would have to wait until after the Yongchang New Policies had achieved initial success.

Holding his nose and acting against his own moral inclinations, Zhu Youjian dealt with this matter, finally papering over the cracks between the new and old systems a little.

He was just about to continue speaking, to push through the last and most important part of the New Policies in one go,

when he caught a glimpse of several senior ministers with strange expressions, looking rather restless and fidgety.

In an instant, Zhu Youjian understood.

He had seen this sort of thing far too many times over these months of mountains of documents and seas of meetings.

— It was simply that, having just been served tea, these old gentlemen's bladders were now finding it hard to hold out.

Zhu Youjian did not call attention to it, but merely smiled gently and said,

"We have been deliberating for so long that I too am somewhat weary. My ministers, let us take a tea break. We shall resume the meeting in a quarter hour."

With that, he rose directly and withdrew behind the hall.