Chapter 252

Before long, the Emperor arrived.

Everyone rose and performed the full rites between sovereign and subject, but still unsure of the protocol, they could only stand in two rows.

They saw Zhu Youjian wave his hand, walk straight to the center of the hall, unceremoniously grab a meditation cushion, and sit down cross-legged with absolutely no imperial bearing. "All of you, sit. Each of you pick a cushion and sit."

The group looked at one another, momentarily at a loss. After a brief hesitation, they obediently complied.

But old habits die hard. Unconsciously, they again divided into civil and military columns, sitting a few paces apart, facing the Emperor in a rigid, orderly formation.

Zhu Youjian slapped his forehead at the sight, utterly exasperated.

"Sit closer, form a circle, just like when we usually gather around a table to discuss things."

The group hesitated another moment, then finally began to shift.

"Closer, closer still! Why sit so far away? We won't eat you!"

Under Zhu Youjian's repeated urging, after much shuffling, these young officials and officers at last sat in a circle around Zhu Youjian. Yet the circle was still somewhat elliptical, subtly positioning the Emperor's spot at the very front.

Outside the great hall, the bitter winter wind shrieked past the window lattices, howling like wailing ghosts, which only made the silence within the hall all the more profound. The group exchanged glances, each feeling an unprecedented sense of novelty.

Seeing that the formation was finally adjusted to his satisfaction, Zhu Youjian nodded approvingly and spoke.

"Though today is called a banquet, there is no wine and no food, only tea to serve."

"And as for games, we shall not play pitch-pot or drinking games."

"We will only try a new diversion, to play with you all."

"This diversion is called 'The Game of Factional Strife'!"

As his words fell, the whole assembly fell silent.

The phrase "factional strife" was a grave taboo in this dynasty, something everyone blanched at and feared being tainted by — and the Emperor actually wanted to make a game of it?

Before anyone could question it, Zhu Youjian signaled Gao Shiming to step forward and explain the rules.

The rules sounded quite novel, but their core was actually the later-era "killer game," only cleverly re-skinned by Zhu Youjian into the context of the Great Ming court, with three roles.

First, the "Ordinary Minister," who had no special ability and could only join the discussion during the day to discern the loyal from the treacherous.

Second, the "Censor," who after daybreak could initiate "Inspection" to secretly verify one person's identity and learn whether they were loyal or treacherous.

Third, the "Treacherous Minister," who after nightfall could initiate "Impeachment" to have one person "imprisoned and removed from play."

In today's session, there were twelve people on leave in total, so they set two Treacherous Ministers, two Censors, and eight Ordinary Ministers.

The Treacherous Ministers' goal was to eliminate all the Censors.

The goal of the Censors and loyal ministers was to identify and "nominate by court" all the Treacherous Ministers.

After Gao Shiming finished explaining the rules, the group was still utterly confused, most only half-comprehending.

At that moment, a figure abruptly stood up.

It was none other than Huang Daozhou of the Hanlin Academy.

He bowed deeply to Zhu Youjian and declared in a ringing voice, "Your Majesty, this subject has a memorial to present!"

"Your Majesty, the phrase 'factional strife' is like poison to our dynasty."

"We who eat the sovereign's grain should bridge divisions for the state, not make a game of them."

"This game, I fear, brings no benefit to the state and harms the morale of the scholarly class. I beseech Your Majesty to reconsider!"

No one dared to breathe loudly; all cast sidelong glances.

Zhu Youjian looked at him quietly, but instead of anger, a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Minister Huang, what you say is indeed quite reasonable."

He first affirmed Huang Daozhou's point, then shifted his tone.

"However, if you are willing to trust us, would you first play a few rounds with us?"

"If after playing, you still feel this game is harmful to the state, we shall issue a decree that henceforth the 'Game of Factional Strife' shall never again be mentioned in the palace. What say you?" Huang Daozhou was silent for a moment. Considering this Emperor's past conduct, he bowed deeply once more, his voice no longer as rigid as before. "Your Majesty is open-minded and receptive; this subject... shall naturally oblige."

"Good!" Zhu Youjian clapped his hands and laughed. "Then let us begin!"

Gao Shiming brought out twelve folded slips of paper. Everyone drew in turn, checked their own identity, and then put the slip away.

Zhu Youjian's gaze swept over each person with keen interest.

He saw that after Yang Sichang read his slip, the corner of his mouth curled into a smile, then instantly returned to an expression of unruffled calm.

He saw that Mao Yuanyi merely glanced at his slip indifferently before tucking it into his sleeve, as if he had picked up a blank sheet of paper.

He saw that when Huang Daozhou saw his own identity, his brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed, a weight of gravity entering his eyes. And Cao Bianjiao of the Valiant Guard Camp looked utterly bewildered and curious, clearly still not grasping the situation.

"Alright, everyone remember your identity," Gao Shiming announced. "Night falls — please close your eyes!"

Everyone closed their eyes as instructed. The hall fell silent once more, leaving only the occasional crackle and pop of the charcoal fire.

The game had begun.

However, the first few rounds were a complete chaotic farce.

"Night falls — please close your eyes!"

"Treacherous Ministers, please open your eyes!"

But Cao Bianjiao still had no idea what was going on and opened his eyes, locking gazes with the real Treacherous Ministers, Ni Yuanlu and Yang Sichang.

Zhu Youjian laughed uncontrollably on his cushion, which only made Cao Bianjiao blush crimson.

"This round is void! Start over!"

In the second round, the process was at last somewhat smoother.

The game proceeded normally to the stage where the Censors opened their eyes to inspect the Treacherous Ministers.

"... Censors, please open your eyes."

Gao Shiming waited a long time, only to find that only Zhang Zhiji had opened his eyes. He called out again and again, but the other Censor simply made no sound.

Ultimately forced to void the round, they then discovered that Duke Xingguo, Zhang Tongchang, had been too nervous and had kept his eyes tightly shut the entire time.

"Ah, I... I am the Duke... uh, I understand, I understand now, it won't happen again."

The whole room burst into laughter, and Zhu Youjian laughed so hard tears streamed down his face.

But no one knew that in the Yongchang Emperor's tears, there was actually something else.

By the third round, everything seemed to be back to normal.

The game went on for several more rounds, the atmosphere growing ever more heated.

The loyal ministers had fallen one by one, until only Ni Yuanlu remained.

He had already locked onto a treacherous minister — none other than Huang Daozhou!

But he was too agitated, and he shouted, "I want to investigate him!"

The moment those words were spoken, everyone opened their eyes, and the round was voided again.

The fourth round, the fifth round, the sixth round.

After several practice runs, everyone grew more and more familiar with the rules, and mistakes were almost nonexistent.

Everyone also truly grasped the charm of this game and began to immerse themselves in it.

In fact, as the arguments grew fierce and the debates heated, these young men even forgot the most important thing of all…

—to disguise their true natures before the Emperor!

Every single one of them either wanted to destroy the person across from them, or to curse out their own stupid teammates, or the petty men who had wrongfully accused them.

At last, the final round began!

"Very well, gentlemen." Gao Shiming's voice rang out. "Night falls. Close your eyes."

Everyone closed their eyes as instructed, and for a moment the hall was silent save for the crackling of the candle flames.

"The treacherous ministers, open your eyes and impeach one official."

Two gazes crossed briefly, then swiftly returned to stillness.

"The Censor, open your eyes and investigate one official."

Another moment of silence.

"Very well." Gao Shiming's voice sounded again. "Day breaks. Open your eyes."

Everyone slowly opened their eyes and looked at one another, each gaze carrying a trace of caution and probing.

Yang Sichang swept his eyes across the room without any visible reaction, taking in every micro-expression.

"Last night, the official thrown into prison was…" Gao Shiming paused, his gaze settling on Zhang Zhiji. "Zhang Zhiji."

Everyone's eyes instantly focused on him.

Zhang Zhiji himself was perfectly composed. He looked left and right, spread his hands somewhat helplessly, and sighed.

"I know nothing at all. Out in the first round — just bad luck. Carry on, everyone. I'll go to prison obediently. Nothing much for me to say." His roguish attitude drew a round of chuckles, but immediately, everyone's expressions turned serious again.

In order, they began to speak one by one.

First was Cao Bianjiao of the Valiant Guard Camp. He opened his mouth in a gruff voice, appearing rough and brash, yet his words concealed a needle.

"The one thrown into prison is from the Secretariat. I think the one who struck last night is very likely also one of the Secretariat's own people. After all, they know each other best."

At these words, Ni Yuanlu and the others furrowed their brows.

Next, it was Huang Daozhou's turn.

His face was utterly solemn; he had already tossed his earlier remonstrance to the back of his mind.

"In my opinion, judging by past performance, there are a few people who require special attention."

"For instance, Yang Sichang. For instance, Ni Yuanlu. I have no inclination yet, but I will listen carefully to what they have to say."

Yang Sichang, whose name had been called, felt not the slightest ripple in his heart. When his turn came, he merely smiled faintly and said,

"I have had a role for three rounds in a row now. This round, it absolutely cannot be me again."

"This time, I am just an ordinary official. I will listen carefully to everyone's statements, and then cast my vote. That is all."

His tone was frank, as if he truly were just an outsider.

After several rounds of statements, the tension grew ever more intense.

When it was Mao Yuanyi's turn, he adjusted his sitting posture, but his gaze fell upon Zhou Yuji.

"General Zhou's expression seems somewhat unnatural."

Zhou Yuji started, never expecting the fire to burn onto himself.

In the final court nomination and vote-tallying phase, after several rounds of guidance, everyone's votes actually did fall one after another upon Zhou Yuji.

"I…" Seeing himself chosen, Zhou Yuji's face instantly flushed scarlet, and he shot to his feet. "I've been wronged! I've been wronged! How can you not believe me!"

He pointed furiously at Cao Bianjiao. "Cao Bianjiao! We're brothers from the same camp — how could you vote for me too!"

Cao Bianjiao, with that finger pointed at him, merely scratched his head and mumbled wordlessly, the very picture of simple-minded bewilderment.

And Yang Sichang watched it all quietly from beginning to end, not uttering a single word.

Amidst his unwilling roars, Zhou Yuji was "eliminated."

"Night falls. Close your eyes."

The second night descended in silence.

When everyone opened their eyes again, Gao Shiming announced the new result.

"Last night, the person thrown into prison was… Huang Daozhou, Master Huang."

"What!" Huang Daozhou flew into a towering rage, springing to his feet, his voice like a great bell. "I am the Censor! I am the Censor! I tell you, last round I investigated Ni Yuanlu — he is a good man! You have voted the Censor out!" This self-exposure instantly clarified the entire situation, and also threw the loyal minister side completely onto the defensive.

Ni Yuanlu closed his eyes and let out a pained groan.

Yang Sichang merely shook his head slightly, sighing inwardly: Huang Shizhai, ah, Huang Shizhai — that temper of yours is loyalty and uprightness in the court, but in this game, it is simply courting death.

Everyone spoke in turn.

Cao Bianjiao spoke again, and this time he targeted the intern Zhang Tongchang: "I suspect Zhang Tongchang. He was sitting right beside me just now, and I sensed movement from him during the night."

The reasoning was utterly absurd.

Yang Sichang frowned slightly, but when his turn came, he still chose the safest answer: "I have no opinion. Pass."

He knew this was not the moment for him to speak.

The turn fell to Zhang Tongchang. The young man's face was bright red, from nerves as much as from anger.

"General Cao concluded I was a treacherous minister based on nothing more than 'sensing movement.' This is clearly a case of trumping up charges — the very tactic a treacherous minister would use! I suspect he is the treacherous minister!"

The two argued fiercely. Everyone chose sides, and at last they voted.

Regrettably, under the covert guidance of Cao Bianjiao and Mao Yuanyi, Zhang Tongchang was pushed out by court nomination by the slimmest of margins.

"Night falls. Close your eyes."

The third night.

"Day breaks. The one imprisoned last night is… Ni Yuanlu, Sir Ni."

As Gao Shiming's words fell, Yang Sichang let out a soft sigh.

He knew the game was lost.

He said nothing more, merely flicking the identity plaque before him forward with a casual toss.

The plaque flipped over, clearly inscribed with three characters — "Ordinary Minister."

Beside him sat the Count of Pingxi, the Secretariat intern Ye Shi, still somewhat bewildered.

Then they heard Gao Shiming announce loudly: "The game is over. The treacherous ministers win!"

"Boom!"

Inside the great hall, an uproar instantly erupted!

"It must be Cao Bianjiao! It must be Cao Bianjiao!" Zhang Tongchang, wrongly executed, practically leapt to his feet as he shouted. "Who is the other one! Who is it!" Ni Yuanlu, his face full of reproach, looked at Huang Daozhou: "Brother Shizhai! You should not have protected me! The moment you protected me, didn't the treacherous ministers know I was your teammate and directly impeach and imprison me!"

Huang Daozhou's face was crimson, overcome with shame. He had played the Ordinary Minister for several rounds; never imagined that the first time he drew the Censor plaque, he would get his teammate killed. At last, everyone revealed their hidden plaques one by one.

Treacherous Ministers: Mao Yuanyi, Cao Bianjiao.

Censors: Huang Daozhou, Ni Yuanlu.

The truth laid bare, another burst of clamorous argument and post-mortem analysis followed.

Yang Sichang merely narrowed his eyes and watched it all in silence.

He had seen through it completely.

This game, deceptively simple, was in truth a miniature power struggle.

Treacherous ministers moved in concert, naturally possessing an information advantage; their actions were difficult to detect.

But whom they impeached and imprisoned, and even their votes in the daytime court nominations, would inevitably betray their inclinations.

In this round, for instance, he had long since seen that Mao Yuanyi and Cao Bianjiao were in league.

Cao Bianjiao's seemingly reckless remarks muddied the waters every time, while Mao Yuanyi fanned the flames from the side — appearing casual, yet always managing to turn the spearpoint toward the loyal ministers.

It was just that Huang Daozhou had exposed himself too quickly.

That upright and unyielding character of his truly made it difficult to conceal the identity of a Censor; drawing the plaque and not drawing it made him seem like two entirely different men.

In this round, he had given himself, this "Ordinary Minister," no time at all to build connections, analyze, or persuade others.

Otherwise, he was confident he could have turned the tables.

As expected, one must draw an identity plaque to get things done properly.

A gleam of sharp light flashed through Yang Sichang's eyes.

No matter! The next round would be the moment he exerted his strength.

Yet just as the clamor raged and everyone argued without restraint —

"Clap!"

A crisp clap of hands rang out.

Zhu Youjian, a smile on his face, finally spoke.

"Gentlemen, did you enjoy yourselves?"

Inside the great hall, dead silence fell in an instant.

Only then did the men wake as if from a dream, one after another bowing deeply, their hearts filled with trepidation.

The Emperor was here! They had played so hard they forgot themselves!

Zhu Youjian swept his gaze across them, waiting until the atmosphere had utterly quieted before he spoke.

"We devised this game not, of course, to have you study the ways of factional strife."

"But by the same token, neither do We imagine that banning this game would make factional strife disappear."

"In truth, how could factional strife ever be eradicated?"

"Fellow provincials, teachers and students, even men of the same examination cohort — promoting familiar old acquaintances is human nature, and unavoidable."

"We had you play this because We wished you to grasp two principles."

"First: in conducting affairs in this world, within our New Policies, one must of course be direct and sincere."

"But what of beyond this circle? Once you are dispatched to the localities, those deeply entrenched local bullies and evil gentry, those old-school bureaucrats with honey on their lips and murder in their hearts — will they speak to you of benevolence, righteousness, and morality?" Zhu Youjian's gaze slowly swept past them, finally resting upon the crimson-faced Huang Daozhou.

"They will not. If we go to battle against them armed with nothing but moral fervor, what will be the result? You have all just witnessed it." "The treacherous ministers are cunning; the Censors must therefore be more cunning still, more resourceful. Righteous ardor alone will only harm yourself, and harm your teammates as well."

Huang Daozhou's head drooped even lower; he wished he could find a crack in the floor to crawl into.

Zhu Youjian smiled, and his tone softened slightly.

"Of course, such methods are for external use. Should anyone play these tricks within the New Policies, We shall absolutely not let them off lightly." He spoke this line — one he himself did not believe — lightly, then continued: "And the second principle is that in doing things, one must speak with logic." "Have you all perceived it? If you wish to persuade others, to unite with others, relying on oaths and curses alone is useless."

"It may work once, but do it too many times, and who will still believe you?"

"You must lay out the logic clearly. Clarify and define each matter, one by one; your arguments must be reasoned, your statements grounded in evidence."

"Whom do you suspect, why do you suspect him, and what is your evidence? Whom do you protect, why do you protect him, and on what basis do you make that judgment?" "So it is in the game; so it is, even more, in real affairs."

"Every decision you make, every court nomination, must not rest on gut feeling or personal closeness."

"By solid evidence, by logic. The more evidence there is, the clearer and plainer it becomes, the more people you can convince, the more things you can accomplish." Zhu Youjian finished speaking and rose to his feet.

"Well then, today's game of factional strife ends here."

"It is getting late. Go back and each of you ponder it carefully. In your leisure hours, you may also play this game more often — it will always give you a deeper understanding of how things are done in this world."

Seeing the Emperor give the order, the company, though still somewhat reluctant to leave, all bowed in salute and withdrew.

But only once they stepped out of the Hall of No Ease did they realize with a start that it was already dusk.

When they had bowed and withdrawn one by one, Zhu Youjian turned his head and said to Gao Shiming,

"Companion Gao, the Jianzhou barbarians use the game of the hunt to combine recreation with military drill."

"And this game of factional strife is my method for training civil officials. What do you think — it does count as a holiday, does it not?"

Gao Shiming nodded and smiled.

"This method carves human nature to the bone, yet it is truly full of interest. It is a fine method indeed."

Zhu Youjian nodded, a measure of satisfaction in his heart, yet still a measure of regret.

This was the game he had loved most in his youth in the later age. A pity that though he had now brought it to the Ming dynasty, he himself could never play it again. Once he truly entered the fray, every minister would certainly never dare to truly open their minds and exert their full strength.

Still, he had after all nudged this era a little closer to his own habits. That was enough.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Zhu Youjian strolled along, carrying a little pleasure and a little regret, and headed back toward the Western Park.

So then, regarding that game — were the two principles Zhu Youjian had just spoken of to his ministers true or not?

They were partly true.

Zhu Youjian did indeed intend, through this game, to train the abilities of his innermost core circle.

Logic, judgment, deduction, persuasion, oratory, performance… many abilities that are ordinarily hard to quantify were all fused together in this one small game.

One can well imagine that if this game were promoted throughout the entire officialdom of the Great Ming, the benefits would be plain to see.

Those foolish scholars who only know how to study by rote and prattle idly about morality would grow far fewer, and the entire bureaucratic system's capacity for practical work and its wisdom in struggle would both rise a step.

Of course, there were drawbacks as well.

Namely, that for him as the Emperor, peering into the hearts of his ministers in the future would likely grow harder and harder.

But that, in the end, was only a minor problem.

The essence of factional strife lies in the distribution of interests, not in "the capacity for factional strife."

So long as interests exist in this world, factional strife can never cease for a single day.

Compared to that, it was still better to raise his ministers' abilities as high as possible.

After all, only a ruler who merely preserves what he has inherited fears his subordinates being too clever.

A man who truly means to do great things has never done anything but lament that his subordinates' abilities are insufficient.

And the other part, the deeper purpose left unspoken and unrevealed to these ministers, was…

This was also a selection test by the Emperor!

Only, what it tested was not statecraft and official documents, but logic, oratory, performance, character… everything that is very hard to test in ordinary audiences and interviews.

But in this kind of fierce struggle and debate, a person's true nature has nowhere to hide.

For example, Yang Sichang…

Zhu Youjian now understood why, in the original history, he had been able to win such powerful trust from the Chongzhen Emperor.

Zhu Youjian smiled faintly, and in his heart quietly moved that name up a notch.

After nightfall.

In the Western Park, within the warm chamber of the Hall of Earnest Reflection, candle flames flickered, and a cozy warmth suffused the air.

"Your Majesty, this concubine… this concubine's eyes are not dimmed — why must I wear these ai-hun…"

Zhou Yu's face was already flushed crimson. She held a pair of delicate crystal spectacles in her hand, feeling only that the Emperor's mood tonight was rather peculiar. These "ai-hun" — she had seen Companion Gao wear them when reading memorials. Her own eyes were perfectly fine; what was she to do wearing these?

Zhu Youjian, however, gave a sly chuckle, took the spectacles from her hand, stepped forward himself, and gently fitted them onto her.

"It won't interfere… it won't interfere."

He stepped back two paces and studied her closely.

The candlelight flickered, reflecting off the crystal lenses on Zhou Yu's face, casting a drifting, hazy halo of light.

The dignified gentleness with which she ordinarily embodied the model of motherhood for all under Heaven, and the cool, bookish air this curious accessory lent her — two wholly different charms now blended perfectly in a single person, forming a heart-stirring allure.

How could Zhu Youjian withstand such a trial!

No longer able to restrain himself, he strode forward, and amid a startled cry, swept the Empress up horizontally into his arms in a single motion.

"Your Majesty!" Zhou Yu cried out in alarm, one hand clutching Zhu Youjian's sleeve, the other reaching to steady her askew spectacles.

Zhu Youjian cut her off decisively.

"Call me husband! Do not call me Your Majesty!"