Chapter 73: The Great Ming Company Hands Out Benefits

The junior eunuchs moved with light, quick steps, filing in like fish in a stream, and before long the three long tables of purple sandalwood set side by side in the hall were laden with an array of dishes of every kind.

Each dish was securely covered with an exquisite silver lid.

Gao Shiming stood in attendance beside the imperial throne and called out softly, "Uncover."

At that single command, the eunuchs standing by the tables moved in unison, silently lifting off each silver lid, holding them in their hands, and stepping back with bowed bodies.

In an instant, the hall full of rare delicacies at last revealed their true appearance.

"Changqiu, let us dine."

Zhu Youjian took Zhou Yu by the hand and seated himself in the host's place.

Looking out across the spread — dishes, soups, sweets, teas and wines — it was a dazzling feast, lacking for nothing.

Fresh shrimp in pepper-vinegar, roast goose, sheep's head and trotters braised over a fire, pressed goose, sheep's tripe with salted black bean and mustard, white-blood soup with garlic and vinegar, five-flavor steamed chicken, sheep bones in rich stock... an array so extensive it numbered over thirty kinds.

Yet after Zhu Youjian and Zhou Yu had each lifted their chopsticks a few times, they both found the meal somewhat dull and flavorless.

Apart from those first few days after his enthronement and entry into the palace, when the novelty had still held, they had long since become thoroughly disenchanted with the palace imperial cuisine.

This imperial fare, for all its seeming luxury, suffered from one fatal flaw.

The Directorate of Imperial Meals was no short distance from Qianqing Palace; from the moment a dish left the wok, passed through layer upon layer of hands, and finally reached the Emperor's table, it took the better part of an hour.

Even though the dishes were kept warm below with hot water and covered above with silver lids, the perfect moment for the palate had, in the end, been missed.

"Your Majesty, this food... it hardly seems as good as what our own cook made back at the Prince Xin Residence," Zhou Yu murmured in a small complaint.

Zhu Youjian could not help but smile at this. The kitchen at the Prince Xin Residence had been right in the rear courtyard — a few steps from wok to table — and naturally could not be compared to the red-tape-ridden great inner palace.

He was just about to say something when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a plate of steamed crabs, their shells a golden-red, set off in a corner.

Before he could speak, the junior eunuch in attendance had already followed his gaze, nimbly brought the plate of crabs over, and placed it with great care before His Majesty.

Gao Shiming stepped forward at just the right moment and, with a smile, introduced them: "Your Majesty, these are Chengyang Lake crabs that arrived in the capital only yesterday from the Southern Metropolitan Region. Now that autumn is high and the air crisp, it is precisely the season when the crabs are fat and the roe is rich — they could not be sweeter."

Zhu Youjian was about to begin, but Zhou Yu was a step ahead of him.

She picked up a crab, deftly lifted off the shell, removed the heart, then broke off a leg and used it like a bamboo skewer, easily teasing out the meat.

Then, taking a silver pick, she gathered the roe and meat together in a small white-jade dish and pushed it before Zhu Youjian.

"This is a flavor of my home region. Since coming to the capital, I have not tasted it for a very long time." Her voice carried a note of nostalgia.

Zhu Youjian tasted a bite; the flavor was not much different from what he remembered in later ages.

He looked at the mound of crabmeat in the dish, then at the dazzling array of dishes across the table, and a thought stirred in his heart. He suddenly spoke: "Gao Shiming."

"This subject is here."

"I wish to send ten of these lake crabs to each of the three Grand Secretaries and to the Duke of Ying's residence. Is there any established precedent for such a thing?"

Gao Shiming's face was wreathed in smiles as he bowed and said, "Your Majesty's benevolent heart cherishes his ministers — this is the virtue of a sage sovereign. How could there be any question of it not conforming to ritual?"

"In years past, when Master Zhang Taiyue suffered a stomachache, the Wanli Emperor, upon hearing of it, even personally made him a bowl of spicy noodles."

The corner of Zhu Youjian's mouth could not help but twitch.

A stomachache... and he sent spicy noodles? Are you certain that was imperial favor, and not a brat getting revenge on his teacher?

He suppressed the urge to snark, looked seriously into Gao Shiming's eyes, and said, "In that case, while it is still light, send someone to deliver them."

"This subject obeys the decree." Gao Shiming took the hint at once and bowed in acknowledgment. "No doubt by tomorrow morning, word of Your Majesty's tender care for his ministers will once again spread throughout the capital."

Zhu Youjian nodded, long since accustomed to Gao Shiming's sharpness.

The meal was soon finished. Gao Shiming waved a hand and had the eunuchs clear away the dishes, which had barely been touched, then personally presented two freshly steeped cups of chrysanthemum tea.

Zhu Youjian rinsed his mouth, took a light sip of tea, and after a moment of deliberation, began to speak slowly.

"Of all these dishes, Her Majesty the Empress and I consume no more than one or two parts in ten. It is truly a terrible waste. Moreover, most of them are rich, greasy meat dishes, which do the body no good at all."

He set down his teacup. His voice was not loud, but it carried an authority that brooked no dissent.

"Convey my decree: starting tomorrow, have only eight dishes prepared, with an emphasis on light, healthful fare."

Gao Shiming hastily bowed in compliance: "Your Majesty is sagely and wise. Such an act of thrift and diligence will surely be praised throughout the realm and admired by all the people."

Zhu Youjian nodded with satisfaction, then turned to Zhou Yu, his gaze softening considerably.

"Changqiu, when you have a moment, compile a list of the birth dates and eight characters of the three Grand Secretaries and the Duke of Ying. In the future, on their birthdays, select some fine tribute goods from the palace storehouses and bestow them as gifts."

He paused, then added, "Include the newly appointed Minister of Personnel, Yang Jingchen, as well. If new names are added to this list later, I will inform you."

Zhou Yu, hearing this, nodded solemnly and accepted the charge: "Your Majesty, set your mind at ease. This consort will certainly handle this matter well."

Zhu Youjian looked again at Gao Shiming: "Also, have Wang Tiqian's office, from now on, make a copy of any report that a high official or noble has fallen ill, and pass it along to the Empress's side. Let the Empress arrange everything, and let it all be done in my name when the gifts are distributed."

"This subject obeys the decree."

Zhu Youjian laughed inwardly to himself.

Birthday gifts, care during illness... were these not the very methods those internet giants of later ages used to win people's hearts?

What you spend are scraps and leftovers, what it costs you is the slightest effort, yet it gives those beasts of burden who sell their lives for you a little extra capital to show off before the other beasts of burden, and fosters the illusion that "the company treats me well."

People do not fear having little; they fear unequal distribution.

Well, pardon me, but today, I intend to personally create precisely that inequality!

His thoughts had already raced even further ahead.

Once the affairs of state were somewhat settled in the future and the finances improved, it would not be out of the question to set up a whole system of pensions and retired-rank titles for these civil officials.

On the one hand, it would serve to reward their service; on the other, it would be a means of keeping them in check.

When that time came, who would dare throw a tantrum and hand in their resignation, begging to be put out to pasture? You want to leave? Fine — but your retirement benefits will be wiped clean in one stroke!

As for all these tribute goods in the palace, since he could not possibly eat or use them all himself anyway, rather than leaving them to gather dust in the storerooms and waiting for the eunuchs to pilfer them, he might as well bring them out and turn them into a convenient favor.

As one scheme after another flashed through his mind, Zhu Youjian lifted his teacup and drained the remaining chrysanthemum tea in one draught, feeling thoroughly at ease.

He gave another instruction to Gao Shiming: "Have the Directorate of Palace Upkeep clear out the Zhaohe Hall in the Western Park, and have the Directorate of Palace Construction build two rows of duty rooms beside it. I... will be going to stay in the Western Park for a few days from time to time."

(p. s. The Jiajing Emperor's Longevity Palace burned down during the Wanli era, so living there is out of the question. This Zhaohe Hall was repaired in the thirty-second year of Wanli, so it should still be habitable... probably?)

"This subject receives the command." Gao Shiming bowed formally, then quietly withdrew.

Only at this moment did Zhu Youjian belatedly realize what had just happened.

Wait, that's not right…

Wasn't it already agreed that we'd knock off early today and get some proper rest?

How did the conversation drift right back into piling more work on myself?

He shook his head helplessly and gave a self-mocking laugh.

Never mind. Today's business, done today.

He turned his head and saw Zhou Yu listlessly blowing secret bubbles into her teacup, so he smiled and extended his hand toward her.

"Come, Changqiu, keep me company and have a look at those Capital Gazettes."