Chapter 391: The Wind Rises

Chen Tingjing, his eyes also showing a hint of surprise, said:

"Duke Jing's plan is indeed more thorough. The old Capital Inspection punished heavily and rewarded little; officials at all levels sought no merit but only no fault, and when handling affairs they would delay whenever possible."

"After the reforms, the Capital Inspection explicitly links examination results to promotion: those who excel are promoted, the poor are demoted or left idle."

"This is tantamount to telling all colleagues that officials who act impartially, serve the people sincerely, and dare to act are what the court needs and encourages!"

"This also precisely matches Your Majesty's earlier statement about not being lazy or negligent in governance. I find this reasoning correct."

Perhaps inspired by Jia Jing's recent remarks, the few ministers now submitting remonstrances have subtly, almost imperceptibly, quoted the Emperor Jing Sheng Di's words.

Jing Sheng Di listened to Chen Tingjing, his expression solemn and thoughtful, and spoke:

"Chief Minister, that sentence is well said! Nowadays many court officials do not act as such; they think merit and fault always go together, they do not seek merit, believing that having no fault is merit!"

"They act sluggishly in duties, report daily as if nothing is amiss, sign documents spotless, yet handle matters in a dragging manner."

"When faced with matters they neither contest nor seize, when disaster strikes they neither push nor take charge, and when responsibility appears they evade faster than anyone."

"If wrong they go with the crowd, if right they echo others, always staying in the middle, never standing out… I think this atmosphere is very bad!"

"The Dao De Jing says: I have three treasures, hold and preserve them: first, compassion; second, frugality; third, not daring to be first in the world."

"Many of them think that 'not daring to be first in the world' here is the essence of officialdom: as long as they make no mistakes they can endure years; as long as they do not step forward they will not be criticized."

"This is a typical case of having read without understanding, completely ignoring the teachings of ancient sages!"

"What does 'not daring to be first in the world' mean here? It refers to desire and the attitude of personal cultivation."

"In the face of power, profit, fame, and status, one must 'not dare' to rush ahead, maintaining humility and restraint."

"But in action and reform, when removing old evils for the court, the state, and the people and creating new situations, one must have the courage and responsibility to 'dare to be first in the world'!"

"'Daring to be first in the world' and 'not daring to be first in the world' have never been opposing or negating each other; they are complementary two sides of one whole."

"True eminent ministers throughout the ages can maintain a subtle tension between the two, daring to be first in affairs while not daring to be first in desire."

"The saying goes, 'One need not achieve merit personally, nor fame personally. Yet if it benefits the family and the nation, I will go forward even among ten thousand people!' This is the way of a true gentleman!"

Jing Sheng Di thundered his criticism of the 'not daring to be first' atmosphere, then glanced at Zhang Tingyu, paused, and asked:

"Minister Heng, you are always well‑read and knowledgeable; do you think this reasoning is correct?"

Zhang Tingyu's expression hardened at the words, his heart startled; he did not quite understand why the Son of Heaven singled him out now, but he quickly responded:

"Your Majesty, there is no wisdom surpassing you! In ancient times, Shang Yang dared to be first, but did not dare to be last, so he was torn apart."

"Wang Anshi dared to be first, but did not dare to be last, so he was twice dismissed as chancellor, and the new policies were completely abolished."

"Fan Wenzheng Gong dared to be first, and also dared to be last; he authored the 'Memorandum on Ten Matters' and promoted the Qingli New Policies, yet he was not greedy for merit, not attached to power, nor competed for personal precedence. Thus, although the New Policies failed, his name endured for millennia."

"We wish to follow Fan Wenzheng Gong, assisting Your Majesty in reviving the Da Han Empire; for matters that must be done, we will be unequivocal; for gains that should not be contested, we will not reach out. In practical work we strive to be first, in fame and profit we stay behind."

At this moment Zhang Tingyu's expression grew solemn, with only one thought in his heart: the Son of Heaven is asking me—was this intentional or unintentional?

If intentional, could it be that I am deemed too cautious in daily conduct? Yet wasn't I just assigned the dirty work of investigating the faction case?

Even though Your Majesty initiated the point, I did not hesitate a moment!

If unintentional, impossible—the Son of Heaven never does meaningless things!

Jing Sheng Di's expression turned inscrutable, and, as if with hidden meaning, he slowly spoke again:

"Minister Heng, your words are sound! However, compared with Fan Chongyan, I prefer Wang Anshi!"

Jing Sheng Di's words seemed to explode like thunder in Zhang Tingyu's mind!

"Your Majesty means…"

Jia Jing, standing nearby, glanced at Zhang Tingyu with a hint of astonishment.

Fan Zhongyan is regarded as a traditional virtuous minister; the core of his 'Reply to the Imperial Edict on Ten Matters' focuses on reforming official conduct, resembling a correction of contemporary faults, making him more of a reformist.

Wang Anshi's ideal was to surpass the three dynasties and become a 'Saintly Minister', proposing 'Heaven's mandate need not be feared, ancestors' laws need not be strictly followed, public opinion need not be heeded.'

His reforms aimed fundamentally at 'strengthening the nation and the army', constituting a profound social transformation involving politics, economy, military, education, and many other fields.

This is the biggest difference between Fan Zhongyan and Wang Anshi: one is a reformist, the other a radical reformer.

The latter does not merely wish to patch the old system, but to create an entirely new institutional framework.

The Son of Heaven perhaps intends for the Da Han Empire to truly pursue reform and strength, while also seeking a genuinely daring, decisive 'reform heavyweight', not a moral paragon like Fan Chongyan!

Moreover, Emperor Shenzong of Song's trust in Wang Anshi was undoubtedly far greater than Emperor Renzong's trust in Fan Zhongyan!

Otherwise there would be no distinction between 'Shenzong' and 'Renzong'!

The Son of Heaven may also be indicating that he will, like Shenzong's trust in Wang Anshi, trust the Da Han's Chief Minister who dares to act.

In short, Zhang Tingyu is likely to… be promoted!

He is currently the Deputy Chief Minister of the Cabinet, Grand Scholar of the Wenhua Hall and Minister of the Ministry of Personnel!

As Chen Tingjing grows older and the court's focus shifts to the New Policies, adjustments among the Cabinet ministers are inevitable.

In other words, if Zhang Tingyu can handle the faction case and the Capital Inspection well, he may be appointed as the new Chief Minister of the Cabinet before Gong Dingzi, truly governing the realm and surpassing his peers!

Indeed, the Capital Inspection, as expected, is likely also Zhang Tingyu's task.

Under the original system, the Capital Inspection was led by the Ministry of Personnel's Examination and Clean‑up Office, in cooperation with the Censorate.

After the reforms, the Capital Inspection's authority is more concentrated in the Cabinet, though the Ministry of Personnel still plays a significant role.

Therefore, no one is more suitable than Minister of Personnel and Deputy Chief Minister Zhang Tingyu to lead this matter!

However, perhaps the Grand Scholar of the Eastern Cabinet and Left Censorate Inspector Fang Congzhe will also take part.

The two, representing the new faction and the old faction, conveniently balance each other!

Sure enough, after a moment of contemplation, the Emperor on the throne said:

"Since none of the ministers have objections to the Capital Inspection matter, let it be decided as such!"

"In the next few days the Cabinet will draft the regulations, trial them for a year, allowing for error correction and deviation, to observe effectiveness. After a year, we will finalize the draft!"

Jing Sheng Di remains highly efficient in handling state affairs; after a single discussion with several Cabinet ministers, he immediately decided to implement the trial!

Jing Sheng Di paused, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Tingyu, Li Guangdi, Chen Tingjing, Fang Congzhe, and others, then returning to Zhang Tingyu, he said slowly:

Now the Cabinet has the authority to draft proposals, the Ministry of Personnel bears the responsibility of merit assessment, and the Censorate has the duty of impeachment.

After the reforms, the Imperial Inspection divided the assessment authority into three: the Cabinet handles examinations, the Ministry of Personnel handles investigations, and the Censorate handles reviews.

Since that is so, one matter should not trouble two masters; for this Imperial Inspection affair, Heng Chen will be the principal, Fang Qing the assistant, you two will have full authority, and if any indecision remains, submit it to me for judgment!

Zhang Tingyu was startled by the words, "Again me?"

He realized the emperor might be intending to employ him, but these two offenses now fall entirely under his charge, and his decades of spotless reputation is likely to be completely ruined!

Therefore, for a moment, his heart was filled with a complicated, indescribable feeling!

Moreover, he doubted that after completing these two tasks and offending the entire court, he would then implement the New Policies and offend the gentry and scholars across the realm!

Later, would he still have a chance to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple? Perhaps he might even be retroactively prosecuted, have his coffin pulled out and be flogged as a corpse!

The gains and losses, the pros and cons of this cannot be weighed clearly in an instant!

Seeing Fang Congzhe already strolling out of the hall, he had no time to linger, his expression turning solemn, and he hurriedly followed to receive the decree and offer thanks!

When the matters were settled, the ministers dispersed, and outside the hall it was as black as ink.

Outside the gate of Qian Qing Gong, the night wind rose from the depths of the palace alley, carrying the scent of dust and vegetation, wrapping around Jia Jing's python robe.

He stepped down the steps, and the hall doors behind him emitted a low, mournful wail in the wind.

The bronze lanterns on both sides of the palace alley swayed slightly in the breeze, their flames leaping against the inner side of the lampshades, casting flickering light and shadow on his face.

"The wind has risen!" Zhang Tingyu, at some point, had walked behind Jia Jing, and suddenly uttered a pointed remark!

"June winds are a rare good breeze! I hope it blows longer, to thoroughly sweep away the dry, poisonous evil qi of Shenjing!"

Jia Jing's expression paused briefly, he did not turn around, and replied with an equally loaded remark.

The wind grew tighter, catching up from behind and then swirling forward, bearing a howling quality.

The lights of Qian Qing Gong behind him flickered wildly in the wind, as if they might be blown out at any moment!

Ten thousand eaves lay silent under the moonlight, each tile resembling a closed scale armor.

Jia Jing and Zhang Tingyu's silhouettes slowly faded step by step into the night of the palace city!