Chapter 258: The Waves Behind

Perhaps because many scholars had traveled from afar specifically to participate, this year's Imperial Academy political discussions were exceptionally lively and substantive, to the point that they continued for two full days before stopping.

It could only be said that the scholars' enthusiasm for participating in and discussing politics was still very worthy of promotion and encouragement.

However, the one blemish was that, for some unknown reason, His Majesty had seemed somewhat listless these past few days, spending most of his time sitting there blankly, letting officials interact with scholars and Imperial Academy students... According to rumors, His Majesty had caught a chill and was unwell, but there were also high-level sources revealing that Lord Zhao had always been this wooden and statue-like; rather, it was last year, because there was a war to fight, that he had been constantly tense and appeared spirited. Now that the war was over, he had suddenly relaxed, naturally becoming like a sage or a Buddha, and also somewhat listless.

Regardless, the lively twelfth month soon passed. Before the New Year, the political discussions ended, the national bonds finished selling, the cuju matches and sumo competitions also concluded, and after Lord Zhao hosted a banquet, the various military governors each returned to their jurisdictions to continue their duties.

But as expected, with the increase in various political activities at the end of the year and a large number of political issues being placed on the agenda, the conflict between Grand Councilor Zhao Ding of the Secretariat and Privy Councilor Zhang Jun became increasingly apparent.

At this point, many people had already realized the opposition and impropriety between these two men.

To put it bluntly, Zhao Ding was in his forties this year, came from the occupied Hedong region, had struggled through the middle and lower ranks for half his life, and was steady and rather conservative; while Zhang Jun was just over thirty, came from a powerful family in Shu, had achieved success young, was impulsive and rather rash... the two of them simply could not get along.

As for personal friendship, mentioning personal friendship at this level was laughable.

However, it was worth noting that Zhao Ding was the Senior Grand Councilor of the Secretariat, with a naturally higher rank and reputation. He was familiar with administrative affairs and grassroots operations, skilled at uniting officials. Moreover, given the standoff between north and south, people's hearts naturally leaned towards stability. He should have been able to easily suppress Zhang Jun by relying on the general trend... but in reality, it was not so. After all, Zhang Deyuan was naturally closer to His Majesty, better at guessing the emperor's intentions, and often able to achieve victory through unexpected moves. Many people also recognized this and gathered around him, forming a certain power base.

Therefore, the two of them were always evenly matched, neither weaker than the other. This time, their sudden intensification of conflict could be considered a clash of titans.

However, this conflict had barely shown signs of intensifying when it was forced to temporarily halt, because with New Year's Day arriving, the seven-day New Year holiday also came... taking seven days off for the New Year was an old tradition dating back to the Tang Dynasty, but in previous years, the Great Song had been in such a state, so the New Year's holiday of the fifth year of the Jianyan era and the first restoration of the regular New Year's imperial gifts seemed quite symbolic.

Returning to the present, this day was the first day of the new year. The morning New Year's grand court session was, of course, not conducted according to the so-called "formal New Year's court" regulations. It simply had Lord Zhao sit upright, while Public Minister Lü Haowen led the hundred officials in performing the rites, presented a New Year's congratulatory memorial, and then finished neatly.

Immediately after, the hundred officials dispersed, and the holiday officially began.

Among them, the mid- and low-level officials generally went first to the old Department of State Affairs opposite Xuande Tower to receive their New Year's gifts to get through the festival. It should be noted that Grand Councilor Zhao Ding of the Secretariat naturally did not need to collect them in person; after all, clerks would deliver them... but he still took the initiative to go there, personally overseeing the process, and only felt at ease after seeing that the lower-level officials had properly received their gifts.

That was not all. After finishing matters at the old Department of State Affairs, he personally took some supplies, had people drive a mule cart, and headed to the Imperial Academy, preparing to comfort the few Imperial Academy students who were too poor to return home.

However, this time he was a step too late. Privy Councilor Zhang Jun, Zhang Deyuan, was faster than him, having already arrived with supplies.

With no other choice, the two men, Zhang and Zhao, had to exchange pleasantries, then spent some time idling together at the Imperial Academy before bowing farewell and returning to their respective homes.

Leaving aside Zhang Deyuan's return, let us only speak of Zhao Yuanzhen, who arrived home around dusk. He was older in age and had been working hard continuously for many days before the New Year, already showing signs of exhaustion. As soon as he got home, he prepared to take a good bath and rest early... but having reached this position, there were some things he could not easily avoid.

"Who?"

Zhao Ding, who was getting out of the carriage while leaning on his son Zhao Fen's arm, did not hear clearly at first.

"Zhang Jun's nephew, Zhang Zigai." Zhao Fen repeated in a low voice right in front of the carriage.

Zhao Ding stopped in his tracks, immediately frowned and stroked his beard: "You should address him as Colonel Zhang... but why is Zhang Zigai in the capital at this time? Didn't he return with his uncle?"

"It is said that a few days ago, before leaving, his uncle Colonel Zhang specifically asked His Majesty for a favor and had him assigned to the Imperial Personal Guard." Zhao Fen corrected himself promptly. "He also said that now that Father is the Grand Councilor of the Secretariat, unlike before, Colonel Zhang did not dare to disturb you lightly while accompanying His Majesty in the capital these past few days, to avoid suspicion and criticism. That is why he has come only now."

"At least he has some sense." Zhao Yuanzhen nodded. "Zhang Boying and I have had many dealings in the Huai region; he is no ordinary military man. I will go wash my face. You bring Zhang Zigai to the rear hall to see me..."

Zhao Fen immediately acknowledged.

A short while later, Zhao Ding indeed came to the heated rear hall to meet Zhang Zigai. After exchanging some New Year's pleasantries, Zhang Zigai, being young and a military man, straightforwardly stated his purpose.

"Uneasy?" Zhao Ding, sitting calmly in the seat of honor and holding his ginger tea, looked puzzled. "Uneasy about what? Who is uneasy? Why are they uneasy?"

"Councilor." Zhang Zigai spoke cautiously. "To be honest with you, Councilor, my uncle has grown increasingly uneasy since his audience with His Majesty a few days ago, and I have also felt some unease since starting my post here... My uncle is uneasy because he feels his contribution in the Battle of Yaoshan was the least. As for me, I am uneasy because, having come here as a member of the Imperial Guard, I have not even received a palace attendant title, not even a single proclamation attendant position. I worry I will be looked down upon."

Zhao Ding put down his teacup, frowned, and sighed: "You cannot blame your uncle for the matter of military merit. His jurisdiction was the furthest east, and Yaoshan was west of the pass. For him to send Tian Shizhong and those three thousand long-axe soldiers over was already the utmost he could do. There is no need for him to belittle himself. As for you not receiving the title of military proclamation attendant, I can tell you, though you may not believe it, the truth is nine times out of ten that His Majesty has always been too lazy to remember such tedious formalities and simply forgot. And the relevant departments, like the Secretariat and the Privy Council, because the Imperial Personal Guard involves the Imperial City Bureau, are unwilling to interject and remind him about such a small matter, to avoid awkwardness. In my opinion, rather than seeking my help to resolve this, it would be better for you to forget about this 'proclamation attendant' title and just quietly serve as an Imperial Guard."

Zhang Zigai opened his mouth but could only nod.

"Is that all?" Zhao Ding pressed further. "Your uncle and I have been colleagues for many years, not an ordinary relationship. You don't need to hold back."

Zhang Zigai nodded but spoke cautiously again: "To be honest with you, Councilor, my uncle's unease is not just about lacking military merit. Before he left at the end of the year, he talked with me late into the night. He said that in the three or four years he was in the Huai region, he built seven or eight large mansions, acquired several thousand mu of fertile land, married four or five concubines, and fathered three sons and a daughter. Yet His Majesty, from Nanyang to Dongjing, has always remained frugal... Before Yaoshan, one could say he was sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall. After Yaoshan, my uncle thought His Majesty would at least, at least..."

"Follow the old system." Zhao Ding casually finished the sentence for him. "Not to mention indulgence, but just following the old system—repairing the dilapidated rear palace, recruiting a few hundred eunuchs, taking in a few hundred palace maids—no one would have said a word. In fact, the relevant departments had long advised His Majesty to do so, but he simply turned a deaf ear, preferring to spend the money on a cuju league rather than renovating the rear palace... It's not just your uncle; we also feel His Majesty is being a bit too austere."

Zhang Zigai nodded repeatedly: "After I joined the Imperial Guard, I was also greatly shocked... No wonder my uncle is uneasy."

"Actually, His Majesty must surely be aware of your uncle's behavior." Zhao Ding picked up his ginger tea again but sighed softly. "Military men, after all—if they don't covet wealth and women, and are truly incorruptible, wouldn't they end up like Yue Fei, being closely watched by those censors? As for His Majesty, perhaps it's because there are still some gaps in the state finances, and he doesn't want to give people a handle to criticize him? Once we pacify the Dongting Lake rebellion this year and endure until summer, when our strength recovers a bit and the finances improve, we can advise him again."

"It can only be so." Zhang Zigai sighed along with him. "Thinking back to my uncle's lament that day, it's hard being a military official. If you are corrupt, your conscience is uneasy. If you are not corrupt, you fear His Majesty will become suspicious... Councilor..."

Zhang Zigai kept talking and was about to say more when he saw Zhao Ding's expressionless face, sipping his ginger tea without stopping. He suddenly understood and quickly stood up: "Councilor, thank you for your guidance today. I will take my leave... I will come back in a few days to seek out some of your sons for fun, and won't disturb you further."

Zhao Ding smiled back and let his son see the other out.

A moment later, Zhao Fen returned, shaking his head repeatedly: "Father, that Colonel Zhang is truly shameless... Saying he's afraid His Majesty will suspect him if he's not corrupt—has His Majesty ever suspected Colonel Yue?"

Zhao Ding, who had long put down his ginger tea, shook his head but then nodded: "Zhang Boying's situation is a bit special. His corruption was tacitly permitted by His Majesty; it was exchanged for his military merits in the Huai region back then. Coupled with sending Tian Shizhong over this time, he hasn't failed in the big picture... But in the end, it's still his incorrigible greed! Otherwise, how could he have fallen so far behind Han Shizhong? And let Li Yanxian, Yue Fei, and these others catch up? Now, in His Majesty's heart, he probably can't even compare to Zhang Rong or Wu Jie. He's only slightly better than Qu Duan."

Zhao Fen nodded emphatically.

"You didn't accept any heavy gifts from him, did you?" At this point, Zhao Ding suddenly remembered something.

"No." Zhao Fen replied respectfully. "Father, rest assured. Your son knows what he is doing."

Only then did Zhao Ding nod heavily, finally setting aside all matters and going to bathe in peace, preparing to enjoy the holiday.

The night passed peacefully. The next day, the second day of the new year, this Grand Councilor of the Secretariat slept in until the sun was high in the sky. After getting up, he slowly and leisurely bathed, had only some congee and snacks, then ordered the servants to close the gates and refuse guests. He then went to the courtyard, sat down in the early spring warmth, and had his son bring the latest official gazette to read aloud to him.

As the first new gazette after the New Year, it should have been issued the previous evening and copied out today, so there was nothing particularly newsworthy in it.

And indeed, as Zhao Fen read aloud, it talked about the New Year's court ceremony, about Lü Haowen, Lord Lü, leading the four councilors to convey His Majesty's greetings to the realm, and then even mentioned how Zhao Ding, the Grand Councilor of the Secretariat, and Zhang Jun, the Privy Councilor, had gone together to the Imperial Academy to comfort the Imperial Academy students. Finally, it listed a few New Year's congratulatory addresses with decent literary merit. That was the end of the official political section.

Next, turning to the last two pages of the leisure section, the first item was naturally the "Miscellaneous Records of the Journey to the West Subduing Demons," which had been serialized for two or three months, attributed to the Blue Bridge Celestial Being and transmitted from the palace.

Today's episode described how Sun Xingzhe fought the Black Bear Spirit but was unable to defeat him, and then, just as he was about to point at Guanyin Temple and seek Guanyin Bodhisattva to reason with, it cut off abruptly.

After finishing the reading, half unsatisfied and half exasperated, Zhao Fen couldn't help but speak up: "Father, do you think His Majesty, just to spin a story, deliberately made him unable to win? The Great Sage Equal to Heaven has such great ability—how could he not defeat a Black Bear Spirit?"

Zhao Ding unhurriedly looked at his son and calmly replied: "First, His Majesty has never said he wrote this thing. Second, whether it was written by Lady Wu or ghostwritten for her is also undetermined. Third, if you ask me, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven being unable to defeat the Black Bear Spirit is precisely what makes it brilliant... Otherwise, how could he go and invite Guanyin Bodhisattva over?"

"Father's instruction is correct." Zhao Fen suddenly understood and smiled. He was about to lower his head and continue reading when he suddenly remembered something and laughed casually at his father's side. "However, to avoid suspicion, this thing transmitted from the palace, with this pen name, really makes one suspicious... Father may not know, but ever since this 'Miscellaneous Records of the Journey to the West Subduing Demons' came out, the monks and Daoists in Dongjing have been arguing endlessly. The monks say the story reveres Buddhism and suppresses Daoism, while the Daoists say it reveres Daoism and suppresses Buddhism... I wonder what Father thinks?"

"His Majesty is the Son of Heaven who scraped off the gold powder from the statues of the Daoist Ancestor and the Buddha to use as military funds. How could he be revering Buddhism or Daoism?" Zhao Ding lay back in his seat, closed his eyes, and gave a scornful laugh. "This story has been in circulation. It's fine for His Majesty to adapt and elaborate on it. But if one insists on assigning a meaning, it seems to be satirizing the various misdeeds of the former Emperor, the Daoist Lord..."

Zhao Fen was lost in thought, then suddenly realized, and was momentarily speechless... His own father forbade him, the son, from saying it directly, yet how could he himself say that His Majesty had 'adapted' it?

Of course, he was his own father, so Zhao Fen didn't say much, only continuing to sigh: "Speaking of it, our dynasty has many storytellers. In the past, a story would come out, storytellers would turn it into a routine, and then the high officials would listen to it. Who would have thought that now His Majesty is the one creating the routine, and the storytellers are reciting it to the people of the realm?"

"This is precisely one of His Majesty's intentions in carefully managing the gazette." Zhao Ding replied with his eyes closed, his tone already softening, seeming somewhat drowsy. "To convey his intentions directly, bypassing the Secretariat and the Privy Council, as a hint... Is there anything else? First, read the titles."

Zhao Fen hurriedly flipped through, then reported the topics of the remaining articles in the leisure section: "Qingshan Mr. (Hu Anguo) is talking about his 'Qi' again..."

"Completely useless. No need to read it."

"Yes... There's a miscellaneous piece by Lü Benzhong, the eldest son of Lord Lü, talking about the Jiangxi Poetry School..."

"Let him be. He's getting on in years, and through a twist of fate, his future was cut short. He can only occupy himself with these idle matters all day... I'm not interested today. Forget it."

"There's one more..." Zhao Fen suddenly stopped speaking.

"One more what?" Zhao Ding still had his eyes closed, and his drowsiness grew even heavier.

"One more is a short essay signed by Lord Lu Xiang, discussing Heavenly Principle." Zhao Fen became slightly more serious. "The essay is extremely short."

Zhao Ding had no choice but to force his eyes open, then sat up with obvious weariness: "The Lu family's scholarship is mostly a mix of Buddhism and Confucianism, not necessarily as sound as Hu Anguo's 'Qi,' but in the end he is the Grand Councilor overseeing military and state affairs, the reigning prime minister—we cannot afford to treat it lightly... Read it to me carefully."

"Yes." Zhao Fen immediately stood up straight and read aloud in a raised voice. "Heavenly Principle is the foundation, first forming the Supreme Ultimate. The Supreme Ultimate suddenly gives birth to Yin and Yang, thus the origin of Heaven emerges. The origin of Heaven, having received the Principle of Heaven, then forms the myriad things. Humans are the most spiritual of the myriad things, born unstable, therefore they must follow human desires to discern Heavenly Principle. To discern Heavenly Principle, one must investigate the myriad things. To investigate the myriad things, one must learn and practice, implement and act upon it, to achieve moral virtue. When moral virtue is complete, the ultimate principle of human life is attained—that is the Sage."

As soon as the words finished, Zhao Ding's eyes were already flickering, shocked and alarmed.

How could Lord Zhao not understand? With Lu Haowen's current status, to publish such a thing in the official gazette directly controlled by His Majesty, during this window when neither court nor commoners could voice opinions... wasn't this essentially signaling an earth-shattering change?

But even knowing, what could be done?

In the current configuration, who could shake the alliance between His Majesty and Lord Lu? Even if this thing sounded vaguely reasonable—at least it was smoother than Hu Anguo's 'Qi'—even if it made no sense, wouldn't they still have to accept it?

With this thought, Zhao Ding lay back down again, but his eyes were bright, and there was no trace of drowsiness left.

Zhao Yuanzhen was not pondering Heavenly Principle; rather, he had suddenly realized that he had never truly understood His Majesty's intentions.

And as a Grand Councilor of the Capital Secretariat, the actual overseer of daily court affairs, to not know the intentions of His Majesty who held absolute authority above him—or rather, to have reached the position of Grand Councilor without understanding His Majesty's fundamental intentions—was itself an absurd thing.

"Father, I really don't want to go..."

Just as Lord Zhao Ding and many others were lost in thought, in a certain area west of the city where nobles and high officials gathered, inside a garden that was excessively large, a thin youth of about sixteen or seventeen was pleading with a pained face to a middle-aged man in plain clothes, who had a proper appearance and a jade-like bearing. "I'm not cut out for studying!"

"Kneel!"

The middle-aged man in plain clothes, holding a freshly copied gazette in his hand, turned around and changed his expression upon hearing this.

Startled, the youth immediately knelt down.

"All of you, withdraw." The middle-aged man in plain clothes turned his head and spoke to the surrounding servants, but his expression became gentle again. Paired with his proper face, it truly inspired goodwill.

The surrounding servants dared not be negligent and quickly shuffled away.

Once they were gone, the middle-aged man in plain clothes—that is, the head of the Pearl Wu family, one of the two current Imperial Fathers-in-Law, Wu Jin—simply clasped his hands behind his back and coldly looked down at his son kneeling before him: "Wu Yi!"

"Here!" The sixteen-year-old Wu Yi actually shivered on the spot.

"You were born of a concubine; the family estate and future have nothing to do with you. But who told you that your elder sister became an Imperial Consort? So, whether you like it or not, our Wu family's future can only be pressed upon your head... your several elder brothers can't even compete for it!" Wu Jin sighed rarely. "Otherwise, do you think I'd be willing to manage you? After letting you run wild for eleven or twelve years, I suddenly force you to do this and that?"

"Father." Wu Yi on the ground shed tears, clearly having suffered no less from studying in these past few years, just like his sister. "I truly don't want to not work hard, but I'm really not cut out for studying... And I've already studied arithmetic for a few years, finally learned to manage accounts, and now that's useless..."

"Let me tell you," Wu Jin said, growing more impatient upon seeing the other cry. "This matter is not up to you, nor up to me, nor even up to your sister... Who told us we are relatives by marriage? His Majesty currently has no close kin of his own clan. As relatives by marriage, some things are truly beyond our control!"

Wu Yi on the ground stopped crying, but looked somewhat dazed.

"Let me tell you," Lord Wu, the Imperial Father-in-Law, sighed even more deeply at the sight, his words becoming sincere. "If His Majesty were someone who appears one way on the surface but another inside, outwardly lenient but inwardly suspicious, then not to mention doing business, studying, or accounting—you would have to spend your whole life revering Daoism and Buddhism, being a 'person among immortals.' The family business would have to be handed over to your elder brothers to manage on your behalf, and you couldn't interfere."

"If His Majesty were a romantic figure like the Retired Emperor, the Daoist Lord, then you would have to spend your life as a romantic hanger-on, writing lewd lyrics, composing wanton poems, playing cuju and chess—like the young Master Xiao Yi of Great Ming Prefecture in the old days, or the former Grand Marshal Gao by His Majesty's side... all the better to accompany His Majesty on visits to brothels."

"And if His Majesty were a man of great talent and bold vision but casual in employing people, then even if you were terrified of death, you would have to eat yourself fat and strong, then don armor, wave blades and spears all day, pretending to be His Majesty's Wei Qing. Then, just before going into battle, grit your teeth and imitate Huo Qubing's sudden death—dying before the campaign even begins. That way, it would be good for both the state and the family."

"But now, His Majesty hasn't sent you to die, nor to be a pimp. He only wants us to find ways to beat the drum for Lord Lu's 'Principle Study.' As for you, it's just sending you to the Imperial Academy to be a Lord Mengchang who throws money around... Whenever you see someone willing to investigate things according to Principle Study, you have to praise them, boost them!" Wu Jin finally showed a hint of frustration at a pupil who would not learn. "Such a simple thing, how can you not understand? Who really told you to go to the Imperial Academy to study? Study, study, study—become a Doctorate? What use is that? Can relatives by marriage become officials? Sending you to the Imperial Academy is for you to enjoy yourself!"

Wu Yi suddenly understood.