Chapter 418: Study Companion

Everyone in the hall looked at Zhang Guowei as if he were a dead man after hearing the Emperor's words.

Zhu Youjian's words were clearly backing Wen Tiren, directly ignoring Zhang Guowei's existence, and it was only a step short of dressing him down on the spot.

If you'd just stuck to the matter at hand, that would have been one thing, but why did you have to drag in the famously vindictive Chief Grand Secretary? And the thing is, when it comes to the art of pinning labels and wielding cudgels, you don't even have one-tenth of his skill.

Now you've offended both the Chief Grand Secretary and the Emperor—who in this world can still save you?

Zhu Youjian paid no heed to the crestfallen Zhang Guowei. Sweeping his gaze across the assembled ministers, he continued: "My mind is made up regarding the Crown Prince leaving the palace—no further debate is needed! In my quiet moments of reflection, I have discerned a critical flaw: whether it be the Crown Prince and princes within the palace, or the sons and nephews of ministers at court, unless they are exceptionally gifted, they rarely have much intercourse with the outside world. Once they reach adulthood, they will inevitably fall prey to others' deception! This is because their experience is far too simple—the people and matters they encounter daily are few, and they lack effective understanding of the treachery of human hearts and the vicissitudes of the world. Hence they are easily beguiled by those with ulterior motives. This is the principal reason I have decided to send the Crown Prince out of the palace!"

At this point, Zhu Youjian paused once more, noticing that many faces bore expressions of thoughtful contemplation. Seizing the moment while the iron was hot, he continued: "I trust you all also hope your descendants will produce talent in abundance, allowing your families to live in comfort and dignity forever. But have you ever considered—in the past two hundred years, aside from the hereditary nobles, how many descendants of renowned ministers have distinguished themselves? Where are those families to be found today? What exactly has led to this state of affairs?"

Since Grand Ancestor founded the dynasty, the Great Ming could be said to have produced renowned ministers in abundance.

From the Three Yangs, Hu Guang, and Xie Jin in the early years of the state, to Li Xi'an, Peng Shi, and Liu Jian in the Chenghua era, then to Li Dongyang and Yang Tinghe in the Zhengde era, Yang Yiqing, Xia Yan, and Xu Jie in the Jiajing era, and Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng in the Longqing-Wanli period—every one of these formidable figures was illustrious in their own time, and their words and deeds exerted profound influence on the entire Great Ming.

But what of now?

Where are Li Dongyang's descendants?

Are Zhang Juzheng's sons and grandsons well?

They have all faded into obscurity.

The families that enjoyed glory and wealth alongside them while they held office have for the most part vanished like smoke.

"Ministers, the Great Ming, which has endured for over two hundred years, must undergo reform. The roving bandits who nearly toppled the dynasty appear to have arisen from natural disasters, but I believe human failings played an even greater role! From myself on down, every official and gentry member in the realm should engage in self-reflection! If I could better understand the people's sentiments, if officials could personally put policy into practice, effectively responding to natural calamities with concrete measures, reducing the number of starving refugees, and giving disaster victims hope of survival—then the roving bandits would become water without a source, a tree without roots! And if the government armies could suppress the bandits effectively, how could such a small clutch of rebels ever gain momentum?!"

Apart from Zhu Youjian's impassioned voice, the assembled ministers all sank into deep contemplation.

"At this pivotal juncture of a thousand years, the Great Ming must change, and this change must begin from the palace, from the court! The Crown Prince leaving the palace to study is but the first step! Only by letting the future sovereign personally experience the hardships of the common folk and understand the people's needs can policies be formulated with precision, and only thus can the people be pacified and nurtured to the greatest extent! If he grows up deep within the palace, knowing nothing of the outside world, governing solely through memorials and reports—how could such a person possibly govern a land so vast, a nation with a population numbering in the hundreds of millions?"

At this, Zhu Youjian suddenly rose to his feet, looking down upon those assembled, and raised his voice further: "I decree that it shall be a permanent rule for the Crown Prince to leave the palace at the age of twelve to study! After the four-year term is complete, the Crown Prince shall travel the realm in disguise, also for a period of four years, during which he may not return to the palace! The Court of the Imperial Clan will send attendants to accompany him throughout, to prevent any slacking or idleness! This applies not only to the Crown Prince—all princes within the palace must follow this measure! Any who violate it shall be immediately struck from the clan register! All officials of the third rank and above may select a son or nephew of similar age from their households to serve as study companions. Over the eight years, a policy of selecting the superior and eliminating the inferior shall be enforced; those whose conduct proves deficient shall be forever barred from official appointment or hereditary privilege! After eight years, those whose character and ability prove worthy may take up official posts!"

The Crown Prince training plan Zhu Youjian had devised was unprecedented—it shattered the training strategies of emperors across all Chinese dynasties over the past millennia.

With a full eight years spent among the common people, an emperor cultivated in this manner would never again be a clay idol or wooden statue with no knowledge of the mortal world.

Traveling and studying, personally experiencing and coming into contact with the myriad complex affairs and diverse peoples of the common world—this would lay a solid foundation for the future emperor to stay grounded in reality and not mistreat the common people once he ascended the throne.

Although Zhu Youjian had not stated or promised anything explicitly, these sharp-witted men in the hall immediately grasped the essence of it.

The Emperor had opened a back door for his senior ministers—as long as their sons or nephews could become the Crown Prince's study companions, spending four years in daily contact with him, then unless they were truly hopeless, their future official careers would be smooth sailing, and their descendants' wealth and glory would stretch on without end.

As for the four years of traveling the realm, that too was a form of training for these young men—sweetness after bitterness. For these senior ministers, it was nothing at all; with their strict family traditions, they had no habit of spoiling their children.

After these eight years of tempering and experience, it would also be an achievement and a trial for their own sons—perhaps years later, it would produce a great many capable ministers who would leave their names in history.

Moreover, this strategy was beneficial and harmless for maintaining a family's enduring prosperity. As long as family precepts were established and descendants were required to abide by them, then as long as the Great Ming did not fall, their own wealth and glory would be preserved for a long time to come.

"His Majesty's words are thought-provoking, and the examples cited are deeply contemplative. The Great Ming has indeed reached a time when reform is necessary! With a wise sovereign now on the throne, just beginning to strive for strength, how could we not devote ourselves fully to assisting and supporting him? This old minister is willing to follow His Majesty in founding a legacy of ten thousand generations for the Great Ming!"

Wen Tiren, without yielding to anyone, was the first to rise, bow with deference, and make his impassioned declaration.

He had long since planned it out—his eldest son and eldest grandson, Wen Fang, was already fourteen, two years older than the Crown Prince Zhu Cilang, which made him a plausible study companion for the Crown Prince. Now he would pass on his years of official experience to him, teaching him how to gauge the sovereign's intentions and then cater to his preferences.

Although Wen Fang had begun his studies at age five and the family's household tutors had been changed several times over, his progress in scholarship had always been too slow. Passing the orthodox imperial examinations to enter officialdom would likely prove very difficult, so why not take another path? Perhaps when other grandsons grew up, one of them might produce talent in the examination halls.

The key was that during this long process, the Wen family could not withdraw from the upper echelons—only thus would it be more conducive to the family's continued survival and development.

Since Wen Fang could not become a capable minister, he might as well become a favored minister, clinging tightly to the Crown Prince's leg.

The Crown Prince was only twelve, and His Majesty was not yet thirty. He himself could still serve in the Chief Grand Secretary's seat for another three to five years, and by the time he retired, Wen Kan should have produced some achievements in governance.

As long as he lived, the Emperor would remember old ties, and Wen Kan's official career would be secure. By the time the Emperor grew old, Wen Fang would have grown up alongside the Crown Prince.

When the Crown Prince left the Imperial Academy to travel, Wen Fang absolutely must accompany him—this point was crucial, its significance far surpassing that of being a study companion. When the time came, he would have to fight to secure this opportunity for his eldest grandson.

Calculating this entire series of measures, the Wen family's wealth and honor were assured for decades to come—and in those decades, could they really fail to produce a single talent?

"His Majesty's vision is far-reaching indeed, far beyond what we could attain! Your minister approves of the Crown Prince leaving the palace to study and travel. My legitimate grandson has just turned eleven, close in age to the Crown Prince, and he has been clever and studious since childhood. Your minister is willing to let him enter the Academy as a study companion, to strive alongside the Crown Prince!"

Seeing that Wen Tiren had seized the first opportunity, the Second Grand Secretary Wang Yingxiong, unwilling to be outdone, unhesitatingly swung over to Zhu Youjian's side, completely forgetting that he had just been firmly opposing the Emperor's so-called absurd scheme.

Although he knew he was about to be retired from office, his two sons at home were both unpromising—even worse than Wen Tiren's household, for at least Old Wen had a second son who could barely pass muster.

If he retired and returned to his hometown this time, although the silver he had accumulated and the fields he had purchased over the years would suffice for several generations of comfortable living, if no one in the family held official position, then just as the Emperor had said, before many years passed, the Wang family would also gradually decline.

Since the Emperor had thrown out a big gift package this time, why wait—now was the time to fight desperately to grab it!

"This old minister has been truly obtuse—only when His Majesty made plain the crux of the matter did I come to understand His Majesty's painstaking efforts! I retract what I said earlier. His Majesty is indeed a wise sovereign without equal in generations; every policy is formulated from a commanding height and executed with precision! My eldest grandson is also of suitable age, and I am willing for him to serve as the Crown Prince's study companion!"

Another Grand Secretary, Zhang Zhifa, harboring the same thoughts as Wang Yingxiong, decisively switched sides.

"Heh heh, ministers need not be impatient. Since I have established this policy, I will naturally take into account the circumstances of each of your households. There is no question of first come, first served—all eligible sons and nephews of suitable age from your households shall be included among the study companions, with one person limited per household!"