Chapter 358: Temple Affairs

One has to admit, there is real truth to the saying that a tiger father does not beget a dog son.

Though Wen Tiren could hardly be called a capable minister, he had after all served as an official for many years, and his skill at fathoming the hearts of men had long since reached the pinnacle of refinement.

And having been steeped in it since childhood, plus spending these past few years at his father's side coming and going from the highest administrative organs and coming into contact with every manner of official, Wen Kan had absorbed seven or eight parts of his father's craft.

His judgment moments ago regarding the standing of the Court of Agriculture had been in no way different from Zhu Youjian's own conception.

According to Zhu Youjian's original intent, he wanted to establish a Ministry of Agriculture in one stroke, placing it at the forefront, and over the next ten years treat agriculture as the top priority, fundamentally raising and improving the people's standard of living.

Yet under such unprecedented circumstances, when suitable candidates were lacking, rashly establishing a full second-rank government office was truly somewhat too hasty a move.

Only after careful deliberation did Zhu Youjian decide to restore the Court of Agriculture under the pretext of emulating a previous dynasty, and once the time was ripe, raise its rank—at which point it would not provoke too much criticism.

"What my son has pondered is most astute, and I too have guessed as much! Judging by the current situation of the Great Ming, His Majesty must surely be making agriculture the top priority going forward, striving to produce more grain in order to thoroughly settle the people's hearts and ensure no further calamity of roving bandits arises!"

Hearing Wen Kan's words, the smile on Wen Tiren's face grew even broader.

In the few years his second son had spent at his side, his thinking and his horizons had both broadened considerably, and his judgment of matters was no longer limited to the surface.

"This position of Grand Minister of Agriculture your father holds is clearly a temporary assignment. After a year or two, His Majesty will surely send someone to take over this post. In the meantime, your father must do his utmost to help this office achieve merit, so that the Court of Agriculture may establish achievements visible to all, and so that the post of Grand Minister of Agriculture may be taken up by one of the two vice ministers of this office. My son will then naturally move up in rank as well—only thus will your father's pains not have been in vain!"

Wen Tiren saw it very clearly: his own position as Grand Minister of Agriculture was merely transitional. Once a suitable candidate appeared, he would have to make room for them.

And if some other civil official took over the post of chief minister of the Court of Agriculture, it would suppress everyone beneath him, making it very difficult for anyone in the Court of Agriculture to be promoted—and his own son would become a victim as well.

The best course was to find a way for one of the two vice ministers to take over as Grand Minister of Agriculture. Wen Kan would then very likely rise to the vacated vice minister post, completing the transition from mid-level to high-level official and becoming one of the crimson-robed high ministers.

"Your father has already had people make inquiries. This Yan Weiqing has served in the Ministry of Revenue for many years and is quite versed in its affairs; in terms of ability he already shows the makings of a capable minister. His temperament is steady and resolute, and his dealings with others are thorough and considerate. Having now been elevated to the fourth-rank position, he must surely wish to make his mark and then set his sights on the post of Grand Minister of Agriculture. For such an ambitious and capable man, the court will naturally lend its full support!"

Yan Weiqing was the courtesy name of Yan Junshan, the new left vice minister of the Court of Agriculture, who had assumed office this time after nomination by the chief officials of the Ministry of Revenue and investigation by men sent by Zhu Youjian.

"Father, your son has quietly observed His Majesty's intent—the court's foremost duty at present is to make grain the foundation. While opening wasteland and expanding fields across the realm, how to increase per-mu yield has become the pressing task at hand. Since you are the Grand Minister of Agriculture, why not put forward corresponding proposals and strategies on this matter, thereby winning His Majesty's favor?"

"My son's words are most reasonable! This matter is truly the key point for cutting into the affairs of our office! In these next few days, prepare yourself on this subject. In a few days' time, your father will summon Yan Weiqing and Song Changgeng for consultation, to discuss the affairs of the office and the matter of increasing field yields, striving to find a solution—and when spring plowing comes next year, we shall select a place in the capital's outskirts to trial it!"

Several days later, in a none-too-spacious public chamber within the Grand Secretariat, the first high-level consultation since the restoration of the Court of Agriculture was being held.

"Heh heh, Weiqing, Changgeng—is this your first time in the Grand Secretariat? Though I hold the post of Grand Minister of Agriculture and stand above you in rank, the affairs of the Grand Secretariat keep me so busy that only today have I found a bit of leisure to discuss the office's business with you. I hope the two of you will not fault me for my neglect, heh heh heh heh!"

Wen Tiren, seated in the place of honor, had shed his usual stern demeanor and explained with a smile to Yan Junshan and Song Yingxing, who sat in the lower positions on either side.

In the corner of the room sat two braziers burning silver charcoal, making the cramped chamber warm as spring.

Yan Junshan and Song Yingxing, who had only recently donned their crimson robes, both sat upright with solemn expressions. Facing the Chief Grand Secretary of the Great Ming Empire, both felt somewhat tense within.

Wen Kan sat in the seat beside Song Yingxing. As one of the principal officials of the Court of Agriculture, he too had been permitted to attend this consultation.

"To be frank with the Chief Grand Secretary, this official has accompanied his ministry superiors to the Grand Secretariat a few times before, but never had a seat of his own. This is the first time in my life I have sat within a chamber of the Grand Secretariat. Now that I am honored by the Chief Grand Secretary's inquiry, I do feel a measure of nervousness!"

Yan Junshan, handsome of feature with thick brows and large eyes, smiled and cupped his hands in frank admission.

"This official comes from humble origins and previously served only in county and township posts. Only now, elevated by His Majesty's grace, have I reached this high position. This is my very first time entering so vital a place as the Grand Secretariat. If I commit any breach of propriety, I hope the Chief Grand Secretary will be magnanimous!"

Song Yingxing, dark of complexion and with the look of an old farmer, rose and cupped his hands in reply.

"Changgeng, sit down at once! You and I are fellow officials—why stand on ceremony? I have long heard of Changgeng's reputation, and have even read Changgeng's great work. Privately, I have great admiration for Changgeng's talent. Thanks to His Majesty's keen eye, he was able to recognize a great talent like Changgeng from among the fields and villages, and resolutely elevate and employ him. Were it not so, Changgeng, for all his talent, might well have been left to rue his fate in the countryside!"

There was not the slightest exaggeration in Wen Tiren's words. Had the present Zhu Youjian not been a man from a later age, Song Yingxing would indeed never have received any significant appointment in history.

Cases like his were hardly rare in any dynasty—worthy men left to waste in the wilds, never employed. Such things were simply too numerous to count.

Thousand-li horses are common, but a Bole who recognizes them is rare—so it has been in ancient and modern times alike.

Song Yingxing, who was not skilled in speech or social intercourse, sat down quietly after offering his salute.

Seeing the respect Wen Tiren showed him in his words, Yan Junshan gained a new measure of regard for Song Yingxing.

When the Ministry of Revenue had been selecting the left vice minister for the Court of Agriculture this time, Yan Junshan, now past thirty, had won out in the fiercely competitive recommendation thanks to his close friendship with Vice Minister Zuo Zhiqian.

After learning the backgrounds of the Court of Agriculture's principal officials, Yan Junshan quickly sorted out the interests at stake, and at the same time developed a deep longing for the future post of Grand Minister of Agriculture.

As for Song Yingxing, the right vice minister who would be his partner, Yan Junshan—who had never heard the man's name before—had made extensive inquiries, only to find that almost no one knew anything of his origins. In the end he learned only that the man had entered the Imperial Academy with a juren degree, and now, after only a few years, he was to be promoted to the high fourth-rank position.

Just as Yan Junshan was puzzling over who Song Yingxing's backer might be, Wen Tiren's words just now finally resolved the mystery in his mind: so he was someone with direct access to the emperor's ear. No wonder he had shot up so fast in just a few years—in daily dealings from now on, he must not put on official airs with him.

"Weiqing, Changgeng—though Zhenyu is my second son, in daily official business you two must hold him to strict discipline. Do not concern yourselves with my face; let all matters of public office take precedence. This point you must bear firmly in mind!"

Wen Tiren put away his smile and said solemnly.

"Rest assured, Chief Grand Secretary. Though this official and the others stand above Brother Wen in official rank, we are in truth close colleagues as well. When conducting public business, we shall take collective counsel as our guide, and surely work together with one heart to handle the office's affairs properly!"

Yan Junshan hastened to make his position clear: Chief Grand Secretary, rest assured—though your son is nominally the subordinate of myself and Song Yingxing, in ordinary times we naturally will not treat him as an inferior. The affairs of the office will be settled by the three of us in consultation.

"This official is shallow of learning and meager of talent. In days to come I must rely on my two superiors to be generous in their guidance. Should the office's affairs require running errands, exerting effort, or liaising between inside and outside, this official will naturally not shrink from the task and will bear it all himself!"

Wen Kan rose, saluted his two superiors, and said with a smile.