Chapter 330: Consultation

"Your ministers accept the decree!"

The three Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat, with solemn expressions, replied in turn with cupped hands.

Though the Emperor's unorthodox approach left them somewhat taken aback, they were secretly delighted in their hearts.

The Grand Secretariat, though high in position and heavy in power, holding the right of draft rescript to raise differing opinions on memorials from the various ministries and courts, had no directly subordinate departments of its own. Now at last they had room to maneuver under their command. In the future, they could find ways to strengthen the authority of the Health Bureau, gradually shifting the powers of other ministries and offices over into it.

Zhu Youjian had placed the Health Bureau under the Grand Secretariat rather than under the Ministry of Rites, considering that this would make its special status gain the attention and recognition of the court ministers. When the time came, all regulations issued by the Health Bureau would be promulgated in the name of the Grand Secretariat, so local governments would naturally treat them as major matters. But if the Health Bureau were merely a department under the Ministry of Rites, its decrees could easily be selectively ignored by officials.

As for how Wen Tiren and the others would seize power from the other ministries, Zhu Youjian had long anticipated it and welcomed it. Whatever power they could grab would depend on their own abilities. The greater the Health Bureau's authority, the more beneficial it would be for the comprehensive promotion of the medical and health system throughout the Ming. So long as they did not neglect public affairs while seizing power, the division of authority could better prevent and reduce abuses by powerful ministries and courts.

As they spoke, the six Ministers who had received the decree arrived one after another at Zhaoren Hall. Because the Shuntian Prefecture yamen was farther from the palace, Chen Qiyu had not yet arrived.

By the end of the wei hour, several young eunuchs served tea to the assembled dignitaries, then carried in seasonal fruits and pastries, placing them on the small tables between each seat. Zhu Youjian smiled and invited the assembled ministers to have a bite to tide them over, saying they would discuss matters once Chen Qiyu arrived.

The ministers secretly praised the Emperor's many small gestures of consideration toward his subjects. In recent years, with the complete reversal of the situation, both the Taicang treasury and the privy purse had grown full, and the Emperor's temperament had become generous and benevolent. He had also changed many old rules—placing seats in Zhaoren Hall, serving fruit, pastries, and tea—all of which reflected the Emperor's respect for his ministers, a treatment never enjoyed by civil or military officials in any previous dynasty.

As the assembled men enjoyed their tea and pastries, they murmured quietly with their neighbors about various amusing anecdotes they had heard recently. For a time, the modest Zhaoren Hall was filled with a low buzz of conversation.

Among all those seated, only Wen Tiren, occupying the foremost position, sat with his eyes closed in repose, deigning not to converse with Wang Yingxiong at the seat below him.

Zhu Youjian watched the assembled men below the dais with a smile, reached out to pick up a piece of ox-tongue pastry, and turned sideways to pass it behind him. Wang Cheng'en, who had been intently watching the Emperor's every move, was startled.

"Companion, have a pastry to tide you over. The rules require you to stand, so here—take it!"

Zhu Youjian said with a laugh, his tone as warm as if speaking to a family member.

Wang Cheng'en inadvertently met Zhu Youjian's gaze. The warmth in the Emperor's eyes made his own grow red, and overcome with emotion, he wanted to kneel and give thanks. But fearing that the senior ministers below the dais might see and gossip, he instead bowed deeply, raising both hands above his head to receive the pastry. Slowly straightening, he held the piece of ox-tongue pastry in his hands, tears already welling at the corners of his eyes.

As they were speaking, Chen Qiyu finally arrived at the palace. After offering an apologetic salute to Zhu Youjian and the assembled ministers, he found an empty seat and sat down.

This was his first time entering the palace to participate in deliberations since assuming his new post. Seeing that the hall contained none but Grand Secretaries and Ministers—all high officials of the second rank and above—he was grateful for the title of Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion bestowed by the Emperor. Otherwise, though he as a third-rank Prefect had the right to an individual audience with His Majesty, he would have had no qualification whatsoever to participate in consultations on major affairs.

"Companion, distribute the memorials for the assembled ministers to peruse, and then we shall discuss the matter!"

Wang Cheng'en picked up the several memorials from the imperial desk, descended the steps of the dais, and handed them to Wen Tiren and the other Grand Secretaries before returning to Zhu Youjian's side.

The memorials from the several Censors were quickly passed around and read by all the ministers in the hall. Wang Cheng'en collected them and placed them back before Zhu Youjian.

"Reporting to His Majesty, your minister believes that although the contents of these several memorials are somewhat exaggerated, their conclusions strike directly at the heart of the matter! The officials of Nanjing have always taken pride in defying the court's decrees, regarding such defiance as a display of moral backbone. Yet this conduct greatly damages the court's prestige, to the point that in the most prosperous region of the Great Ming—whether commoners, scholars, peddlers, or laborers—the people know only of Nanjing and not of Your Majesty! Your minister does not wish to speak at length, but he believes the Nanjing garrison establishment should be abolished as soon as possible!"

Wen Tiren was the first to state his position, firmly supporting the conclusions put forward in the Censors' memorials.

In Wen Tiren's recollection, he vaguely remembered the Emperor having casually mentioned an idea of transferring the Nanjing ministries to the capital. This time, the Emperor had suddenly summoned the senior ministers, and through the pens of the Censors had expressed what would have been nearly impossible to accomplish—was this not plainly a decision already made?

As for talk of unspeakable disasters—those cowards in Nanjing only dared to oppose the court at every turn because they had money and grain in hand. Even if given a thousand times their courage, they would never dare to set up their own separate stove. Enjoying wealth and glory in peace was the true purpose of that lot. Money and grain they had, true enough—but soldiers? Without soldiers, how could there be the separatist warlord regimes of the Tang? And what was the Nanjing Garrison Commander eunuch for? He was the Emperor's own household slave.

The senior ministers in the hall were all old hands at officialdom—who among them could not see through Zhu Youjian's little play? Even those with connections to the Nanjing interest group dared not step forward to voice opposition at this moment. The Censors' conclusions were far too frightening—that was treason. Who could guarantee such a situation would never arise? Once one was touched by the taint of treason, the Emperor showed no regard for anyone's face.

After Wen Tiren, the ministers all voiced their positions one after another, unanimously agreeing to the abolition. But some raised concerns about how to place the various Nanjing officials. This situation had long been anticipated by Zhu Youjian. Summoning the senior ministers to deliberate on the abolition was merely a matter of presenting evidence to silence all dissenting voices; what truly required consultation was the placement of officials and the redrawing of administrative regions.

"What Minister Wen has said strikes at the ills of the times. Times change, and the Nanjing garrison establishment no longer has any reason to exist. The court's decrees must flow unimpeded throughout the territory of the Ming! Since all ministers have no objections, let the Grand Secretariat draft the rescript for abolition upon returning! Censor Li of the Censorate and the Imperial Guard are presently in Nanjing investigating the Jiangnan market-closure case. I will issue a decree to Censor Li and the Imperial Guard: all those implicated in instigating civil unrest shall be severely punished according to law! Now let the ministers discuss the matter of placing the officials of the Nanjing garrison establishment. Whatever proposals you have, speak freely—so long as the advice is offered for the public good, I shall readily follow it!"

Though Zhu Youjian already had a plan in mind, he still put on the appearance of one who listens to all sides, so that the ministers might feel a greater sense of participation in great affairs. He also hoped to find some brilliant proposal that might supplement and benefit his own plan.

"Since His Majesty has granted permission, your minister shall be the one to cast a brick to attract jade! Your minister believes that although most of our colleagues in Nanjing are persons of noble character, and many are deeply experienced, there are not a few among them who have erred in great matters, causing the court to lose its footing and fall into extreme passivity in its relevant policies. Such instances are truly too numerous to enumerate. Therefore, your minister believes that His Majesty must exercise the utmost caution in the matter of placement!"

Zhang Guowei, the Minister of Rites, was the first to offer his personal opinion, launching an attack on the Nanjing officials with a strategy of praising first and then condemning.

Lin Yuji, the Minister of Rites in Nanjing, was deeply experienced. After passing the jinshi examination in the thirty-fifth year of Wanli, he had been selected as a Hanlin Bachelor. From the early years of Chongzhen through the sixth year of Chongzhen, he had served as Vice Minister of Rites. Later, for attempting to rehabilitate Yuan Chonghuan, he had incurred the Emperor's wrath and been sent off to Nanjing to serve as Minister of Rites.

In terms of reputation and examination credentials, Lin Yuji far surpassed him. If Lin returned to the Ministry of Rites in the capital, his own position as Minister would be severely threatened. Working in the same yamen, with the other man also holding the rank of Minister, any friction over power would be highly detrimental to his own reputation and future prospects. But since the abolition and merger were now a foregone conclusion, the urgent task was to find a way to prevent the other man from returning to the capital, or failing that, to seize control of the ministry's leadership after the merger.

Wen Tiren and the others in the Grand Secretariat did not rush to state their positions. The merger had no effect whatsoever on the Grand Secretariat, so they regarded the matter as mere bystanders. When the overall situation was settled, it would not be too late for them to step forward and help.