Chapter 68: Called the Directorate of Ceremonial, in Truth a Secretariat!

Soon, only Zhu Youjian and Gao Shiming remained in the main room.

The atmosphere in the room fell quiet for a moment; even the birdsong outside the window seemed unusually distinct.

"Sit." Zhu Youjian pointed at the long bench opposite him.

"This slave dare not."

"Sit and we'll talk." Zhu Youjian's tone brooked no refusal.

Only then did Gao Shiming cautiously sit down, still perching on just half the seat.

Watching him, Zhu Youjian laughed despite himself. "Companion Gao, sit properly. Between us, sovereign and subject, why stand on such ceremony?"

At these words, an embarrassed smile flickered across Gao Shiming's face. Murmuring formulaic pleasantries like "Your Majesty's favor leaves this slave trembling with trepidation," he shifted his rear inward a little, but in the end still did not sit fully.

Zhu Youjian did not press him further. He simply leaned forward slightly, fixed his gaze earnestly on him, and spoke. "Companion Gao, do you feel that We are dividing your authority?"

Gao Shiming had by now grown somewhat accustomed to this sovereign's startlingly blunt "frankness."

Calmly, he rose to his feet, ready to beg forgiveness for his offense.

"Sit down!"

Zhu Youjian reached out and pressed the air, stopping him from rising, and instead stood up himself.

In psychological terms — a height differential between speakers can, to some degree, translate into intangible psychological pressure.

He walked over to Gao Shiming, gently patted his shoulder, and said with utter seriousness, "We know your loyalty. But today, We are indeed dividing authority."

Gao Shiming wanted to stand but dared not. He could only bow his body forward and say with a rueful smile, "Your Majesty... why would Your Majesty say such a thing? Everything this slave has is granted by Your Majesty. What authority is there to speak of? In all matters, this slave simply awaits Your Majesty's command."

"We know." Zhu Youjian nodded, his face showing approval. "We knew Companion Gao was loyal."

He paced a couple of steps and said slowly, "In the past, when We were at the Prince Xin Residence, We read through the Collected Statutes of the Great Ming."

"Our Great Ming's inner court established twenty-four government offices, each originally with its own designated duties."

"Yet ever since the Directorate of Ceremonial grasped the great power of red endorsement, personnel, fiscal and tax matters, oversight... and even the authority over instruction at this Inner Palace School," he paused, gesturing with his finger around the room, "all of it has gradually been gathered into the Directorate of Ceremonial."

He shook his head and sighed. "This is not good."

"When authority grows excessive, arrogance and recklessness breed of their own accord; when governance issues from a single source, obstruction and isolation follow."

"Since We and Companion Gao have entrusted our aspirations to one another, We truly do not wish to see, one day, something happen that neither of us, sovereign or subject, could bear to speak of. Therefore, today, We must deal with this in advance."

A dawning understanding came to Gao Shiming. Though he still could not fully grasp it, this should be goodwill extended by the Emperor.

At a moment like this, according to convention, he ought to...

Gao Shiming rose to his feet, faced Zhu Youjian, and bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty is so considerate of this slave. This slave... this slave could be ground to dust and still never repay Your Majesty's grace in recognizing and employing him!"

"It is good that you can understand Our painstaking intent." Zhu Youjian nodded with gratification. "After you leave, assign each of those three their full complement of personnel, and have them get these tasks up and running."

"However, these three matters will not establish formal offices for now. For the time being, they will all remain attached under your Directorate of Ceremonial. Do not make a show of it."

"This slave obeys the decree." Gao Shiming acknowledged and made to withdraw.

"Not so hasty, Companion," Zhu Youjian stopped him. "We have not finished speaking."

He paused on the spot for a moment to deliberate, organized his words, and finally spoke.

"With this division of authority, the Directorate of Ceremonial's miscellaneous duties within the palace will lessen. In Our view, that is precisely as it should be. It will allow you to direct more energy toward the outer court."

Gao Shiming was taken aback, looking at the Emperor with some puzzlement.

Zhu Youjian continued, "There are four matters We have long pondered. From now on, they shall be placed here with your Directorate of Ceremonial to carry out, and they can only be carried out by you."

"The first is called 'itinerary management.'"

"Starting today, your Directorate of Ceremonial shall, based on the reports of the various ministries and courts, intelligence from within and without, and Our instructions, draft the following day's itinerary for Us. This includes whom to summon, what matters to discuss, when to hold the Classics Colloquium, when to review the troops, and so forth. Every morning, present it to Us for confirmation."

"The second is called 'official yellow registers.'"

"That screen of officeholders We had you make earlier — from now on, it is to be scaled up and made routine."

"Later, have several bookcases custom-made and placed right here in Qianqing Palace, to replace that screen."

"You are to periodically obtain intelligence on the hundred officials from the Eastern Depot and constantly update the contents. Whenever there is any important change, report it promptly."

"The third is called 'task management.'"

"Hereafter, for every routine memorial submitted by the outer court, after it has received red endorsement, you are to record each one for Us in a register and organize them into tables."

"We want to know, once an edict is issued, which ministry received it, when they received it, whom they dispatched to handle it, when it was completed, and what the result was."

"To sum it up in one phrase: you must ensure they achieve this — every matter has an accountable party, every item has a settled outcome, and every task has a response!"

"The fourth is called 'red and green rewards and punishments.'"

"At present, the Ministry of Personnel's merit evaluations have fallen into disuse. In selecting officials and assigning posts, to avoid entreaties from those of the same examination year or native place, they have actually resorted to drawing lots to decide — this is utterly absurd and laughable!"

"We shall of course issue an edict ordering the outer court to revive merit evaluations, but this matter carries grave implications and cannot be left solely to the Ministry of Personnel to execute."

Zhu Youjian's gaze grew intent. "In the future, for the results of every undertaking, We shall also assign red or green marks."

"In the past, Our red and green rewards and punishments could only assess matters that We personally paid attention to. But going forward, red and green rewards and punishments shall be determined based on the results of your 'task management.'"

"The capable, the excellent — We shall personally mark them in red, to serve as the basis for promotion and reward! The mediocre, the inferior — We shall personally mark them in green, to serve as the grounds for reprimand and dismissal!"

"Only thus can We drive out the foul and promote the pure, selecting and filtering out talents who can truly serve the state!"

The more Gao Shiming listened, the more shaken he felt inside.

Each of these four matters was utterly unheard of, yet each struck precisely at the crux!

How was this dividing his authority? This was clearly granting him even greater authority! A kind of unprecedented power, sufficient to influence the entire court of the Great Ming!

Only when Zhu Youjian had finished did Gao Shiming feel as though he had just woken from a dream. He hurriedly cupped his hands and accepted the command. "This slave... obeys the decree!"

But Zhu Youjian did not end it there. He stepped forward and tightly grasped Gao Shiming's hand.

"Companion Gao," Zhu Youjian's voice was filled with sincerity and expectation, "since We have entrusted Our aspirations to you, how could We indulge in groundless suspicion?"

"It is simply that these matters, far more important than trifling palace affairs, also require someone We trust, like you, to share Our burdens."

"Everyone says the seal-holder of the Directorate of Ceremonial is the inner chancellor. Today, We truly entrust you with the affairs of a chancellor! We hope, Companion, that you can join your heart with Ours and strive together to overcome these trying times!"

Gao Shiming heard these words and stood utterly stunned.

A moment later, his face flushed crimson, his lips trembled, yet in the end he did not weep and wail as he had the last time.

He merely, with the utmost solemnity, faced Zhu Youjian and performed the grand obeisance that only outer-court ministers used — a deep bow from the waist, held to its lowest point.

"This subject… dares not but obey!"

In this moment, he no longer called himself "this slave," but "this subject."

Zhu Youjian saw this, burst into hearty laughter, and caught him by the arm to raise him up.

"Good, good, good! Come, let us return to Qianqing Palace first! After we eat, you and I, sovereign and minister, shall begin with the governance of the capital — and light this first fire till it blazes!"

A long while later, two small figures at last entered the main room that had just decided the future shape of the inner court.

They were none other than Wang Cheng'en and Fang Zhenghua.

"Bah! That Du Xun — just because he's a few years older than us, he dares order his grandpa here and there!"

Fang Zhenghua wiped the table with vigorous effort, cursing all the while.

"We already moved all the tables and chairs, and now he still sends us two to sweep the floor! Why doesn't he come do it himself? Just wait till your grandpa here completes his studies and gets selected — see if I don't make him wash his old man's feet every day!"

Wang Cheng'en, however, said not a word. He simply kept his head down and silently, meticulously swept every scrap of paper and every speck of dust from the floor into the dustpan.

The two were still busily at work.

Suddenly, a clamor rose from outside, and the voice of a supervising eunuch carried from a distance.

"The monthly examination results are posted! By order of the Superintendent Eunuch, for this month's examination, extra dishes will be granted according to rank! The top ten — a plate of meat for each!"

"Meat!"

Fang Zhenghua's eyes lit up. He tossed the rag in his hand onto the table and was just turning to call Wang Cheng'en.

But he saw only a thin, small figure, already like an arrow loosed from the bowstring, dart past him — the very first to burst out the door and be gone!