Chapter 27: A Great Man — Such Should He Be!

The eighth month brought a touch of fire, and the late-autumn weather was perfectly pleasant.

The old locust tree in the Hanlin Academy, dense with branches and leaves, cast a great swath of shade that rustled crisply in the wind.

But the atmosphere beneath that tree was now several degrees more sweltering than the dog days of summer.

A few Hanlin officials sat in a circle, nominally to savor tea, but in truth every sentence touched on this morning's court session.

"His Majesty's move today was truly an inspired stroke."

"When King Wu of Wei burned the incriminating letters, or King Zhuang of Chu cut the hat-strings, those rulers had already been on the throne for many years. Who would have thought that such a youthful Son of Heaven could accomplish so magnanimous a deed?"

The speaker was Fu Guan.

He wore a moon-white Hangzhou silk straight robe, spotlessly clean, and the mottled bamboo fan in his hand had a bone frame as warm and smooth as jade, complementing his pampered face with the easy grace of a noble scion.

"Conduct like this truly carries a whiff of cunning."

The one who picked up the thread was the newly appointed Zhuangyuan, Yu Huang, his brows deeply furrowed, his face heavy with worry.

"We only knew that when His Majesty was still in his princely residence, he never let a book leave his hand, and we assumed he was immersing himself in the Way of Yao and Shun. Who could have guessed it was actually the arts of Shen Buhai and Han Fei? If this continues, I fear there will be no more blunt-spoken, upright ministers left in the court."

Fu Guan, hearing this, smiled faintly but could not be bothered to argue.

A slightly hoarse voice from the side cut in — it was Sun Zhixie.

"Yet it is precisely this that shows how earnestly His Majesty yearns for good governance!"

"In ancient times, the Duke of Zhou would spit out his food mid-meal to receive guests, and all hearts under Heaven turned to him."

"And now that His Majesty has wiped the slate clean of past affairs, he too is planning for the sake of the dynasty. As his ministers, we ought to comprehend the imperial heart."

This speech was high-sounding and magnificent, but coming from the mouth of that sort, it simply made everyone too weary to respond.

The assembled Hanlin officials exchanged a few discreet glances and one after another raised their cups to invite tea.

After one round of tea, Hua Qifang, who had remained silent the entire time, quietly refilled everyone's cup and then abruptly looked up, his tone filled with longing: "I wonder when His Majesty will reopen the Classics Colloquium?"

"I wonder when His Majesty will reopen the Classics Colloquium?"

The moment these words were spoken, the hearts of all the Hanlin officials trembled.

Everyone says the Hanlin are pure and noble, and that nobility lies precisely in daily reading and lecturing, in drawing close to the imperial presence.

In this way, riding the wind for a single leap, one could often soar straight up a thousand li in an instant.

That was far, far quicker than going round and round in an administrative post, grinding through annual evaluations year after year.

Just as everyone's thoughts were twisting in a hundred directions, the sound of footsteps suddenly came.

They raised their eyes and saw Yang Jingchen, Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and concurrently Hanlin Academy Chancellor, walking deferentially half a step behind an elderly man as he escorted him in.

That elderly man, in a crimson official robe, hale and hearty in spirit, was none other than the Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat whom the Son of Heaven had personally praised in court today as "my Wei Zheng" — Li Guopu.

"Grand Secretary Li!"

With a sudden rush, everyone shot to their feet; the earlier leisurely ease vanished without a trace.

This man was the hottest stove in the entire court right now!

What was he doing at the Hanlin Academy?

Li Guopu's gaze, almost tangible in its weight, slowly swept across every person present.

His look was not fierce, but it carried the authority of one long accustomed to high office, and every person it touched could not help but lower their head.

Yang Jingchen walked beside him, precisely half a step behind, his face fixed in a deferential smile.

"Grand Secretary, look at you — you didn't send word before coming, so this humble official could have come out to greet you."

"What wind has blown you to our doorstep?"

Li Guopu paid no heed to his flattery. He walked straight to the stone table, his voice flat yet carrying clearly to every ear.

"Jingchen, this old man has come today on imperial orders to borrow some men from you."

"Borrow men?" Yang Jingchen's smile did not falter, but his mind raced.

"Indeed." Li Guopu's eyes abruptly sharpened. "His Majesty has decreed that this old man is to immediately examine the files of all officials who, from the Tianqi reign onward, were convicted for their words, stripped of rank, and banished or demoted — to screen them one by one, draw up a list, in preparation for reinstatement!"

The four words "in preparation for reinstatement" exploded through the small courtyard like a thunderclap!

Everyone's scalp tingled, stunned by those four words.

So soon? This was only the third day since his accession!

Was this new sovereign not acting a bit too hastily?

But in any case, a fresh storm was visibly looming right before their eyes.

And the only passage onto the ship was held in the hands of the Grand Secretary Li standing before them!

This was no longer a simple assignment — it was a monumental merit, a ladder straight to the heavens leading to the center of power!

Whoever could take part in it would be able to claim a share of the spoils in this coming great political tempest!

Every gaze was nailed dead onto Yang Jingchen's face, as if trying to burn a hole through him.

Sun Zhixie was so agitated that he trembled all over. He practically rushed in front of Li Guopu, his voice distorted with excitement.

"Grand Secretary! Grand Secretary! His Majesty is sagely and enlightened! This humble official… this humble official is willing to share your burden, and would not refuse even ten thousand deaths!"

His wretched display drew looks of undisguised contempt from the colleagues around him.

Li Guopu's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He still did not look at him, only directing his gaze at Yang Jingchen.

Yang Jingchen drew a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and declared in a clear voice: "To share His Majesty's burden is the fundamental duty of us ministers! The Hanlin Academy brims with talent and will certainly not fail the Grand Secretary's trust!"

He extended a finger and steadily named three people.

"Yu Huang, the new Zhuangyuan — his literary brilliance is outstanding; he can serve for drafting and composition."

"Hua Qifang, the new second-place palace graduate — his temperament is steady and he works solidly; he can serve for collation and proofreading."

"Fu Guan, the second-place palace graduate of the previous examination — widely learned with a strong memory; he can serve for textual research and verification."

He paused, then bowed deeply to Li Guopu. "Grand Secretary, these three are all pillars of our Hanlin Academy. This humble official has given you the very best treasures from the bottom of his chest."

The three whose names had been called suppressed the wild joy in their hearts, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to Li Guopu.

Li Guopu nodded with satisfaction, but his gaze suddenly shifted, drifting toward a corner of the courtyard.

Wu Kongjia stood alone at the edge, utterly out of place amid the fervent atmosphere around him.

For a moment, Li Guopu felt strangely dazed.

His mind went back to the night before the new sovereign ascended the throne.

Back then, his heart had been full of indignation, yet in the end he had merely gone along with the vulgar current.

But this young Hanlin, at that very time, had dared to speak the words: "The great mandate renews; with favor we begin anew."

"The great mandate renews; with favor we begin anew" — what fine words those were!

Now that I wish to cleanse the official world, why not test the mettle pent up in your breast as well!

His mind made up, Li Guopu no longer hesitated. He turned to Yang Jingchen and gave a faint smile.

"Since we already have the Zhuangyuan and the Bangyan, why not yield the Tanhua of the Yichou examination to this old man as well, and complete the set of Three Tripod Laureates — what do you say?"

"Weng—!"

A stifled cry of astonishment burst from the crowd, and in an instant every eye shot toward Wu Kongjia.

Wu Kongjia's body gave a violent shudder; his eyes were filled with utter bewilderment.

He looked at Yang Jingchen, his lips quivering, yet not a single word came out.

Yang Jingchen's mind raced, but for the moment he could make no sense of it.

This Wu Kongjia…

No matter. A trifling affair — it cannot touch me. Agree first, and consider later.

A radiant smile instantly bloomed across his face. He clapped his hands and laughed heartily. "The Grand Secretary is right — it was this humble official's oversight."

"Three Tripod Laureates from a single examination, jointly assisting such a grand undertaking of the new reign — it is only fitting!"

Sun Zhixie, standing to the side, saw that no one was speaking up. Panic seized him, and gritting his teeth, he prepared to recommend himself once more.

Just at that moment, a clamor of noise suddenly swept in from the distance, drawing nearer and nearer.

The crowd looked at one another, all utterly baffled.

As the noise grew louder and louder, they surged out of the courtyard gate to see what was happening.

There on East Chang'an Avenue, they saw that at some unknown moment a sea of people had gathered, blocking the passage of carts and horses.

A cordon of Embroidered Uniform Guard lieutenants, clad in flying-fish robes and wearing embroidered-spring sabers at their waists, had formed a human wall to protect the center.

And within that human wall, a colossal plaque was being borne slowly forward by eight strongmen.

Sunlight spilled down, and the four great gilt characters on the plaque blazed with dazzling brilliance — MY WEI ZHENG!

From the offices of the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of War lining both sides of the avenue, countless officials rushed to their gates, craning their necks, their faces etched with shock and envy.

"A plaque bestowed by the Son of Heaven himself! Heavens above, what extraordinary honor is this!"

"Grand Secretary Li… truly a paragon for us civil officials, the very pinnacle of a subject's achievement!"

"Such a bond between sovereign and minister — a tale for the ages! In the annals of history, it will surely leave a stroke of the boldest ink!"

To the sound of drums and pipes all along the way, the honor guard soon crossed East Chang'an Avenue and proceeded straight toward Li Guopu's residence.

Along the entire route they drew countless commoners to watch; throngs of children ran cheering behind them, and shouts of "Wei Zheng is coming!" rang out to the very clouds.

The men of the Hanlin Academy watched the honor guard recede into the distance, their hearts and minds shaken by this torrent of imperial majesty, standing rooted to the spot in a daze.

Only after a long while did they start as if waking from a dream. They spun around abruptly and cast their gazes upon the center of this storm — Li Guopu.

They saw the Grand Secretary, his temples faintly grizzled, his lips trembling, his face now streaked with tears.

Shaking, he wiped roughly at his face with his wide sleeve, his voice grown hoarse and choked with emotion.

"Your Majesty… Your Majesty's boundless grace… this old subject… even were this old subject to spill his liver and brains upon the ground, he could not repay one ten-thousandth part of it!"

With these words, he turned sharply toward the direction of the imperial palace, lifted the front hem of his robe, and knelt down ramrod-straight. He knocked his head heavily against the ground!

"Thud!"

That dull thud seemed to strike the heart of every person present.

When he rose again, he had recovered the composure of a Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat — only his red-rimmed eyes still betrayed the surging tide within him.

"There is no time to lose. Let us set out at once for the Office of Transmission!"

He cupped his hands hastily toward Yang Jingchen, then strode off with great vigorous steps, taking with him those lucky few upon whom Heaven's favor had fallen.

Yang Jingchen stood where he was, utterly crestfallen, gazing after Li Guopu's back, which seemed in an instant to have grown so much straighter and taller.

He looked again at the honor guard, now receding so far it was nearly out of sight, and an indescribable feeling welled up in his heart.

Was it admiration? Was it envy? Or was it… unwillingness to accept?

He could not help murmuring to himself, his voice so soft that only he could hear it.

"A true man ought to be just like this…"