Chapter 156: Summary (Going on the Paid List — Please Subscribe!!!)

On the twenty-seventh day of the second month of the eighteenth year of Chongzhen, in Huangji Hall, the assembled officials were performing the mountain-shaking kowtow in homage.

After all the stumbling and setbacks along the way, the Chongzhen Emperor had finally managed to survive those deadly seventeen years safe and sound. In truth, being the emperor of the Ming dynasty was nowhere near as easy as later generations imagined it to be for the Chongzhen Emperor.

At first he thought he would have wives and concubines in abundance, but a man's energy was limited. The Chongzhen Emperor had no intention of dying from overindulgence in carnal pleasures, and on top of that, in the beginning his very life hung by a thread, so he had little inclination to go seeking romantic diversions.

Aside from that, the Chongzhen Emperor had originally looked forward to the imperial kitchen's fare as an emperor of the harem, but who would have thought that what the emperor ate wasn't any kind of delicacy at all.

Fine, so it wasn't delicacies — the Chongzhen Emperor could endure that, after all, these were extraordinary times. But there was one thing he truly could not stand: did the imperial kitchen have to serve tofu at every single meal?

That's right — ever since the Chongzhen Emperor had transmigrated over, for the first several months, every meal of every day had tofu, and it was always the same style, the kind that couldn't even be bothered to change.

At first he thought it tasted pretty good, but now, the mere sight of tofu made the Chongzhen Emperor want to vomit.

A few more days and it would be Little New Year. According to custom, the various prefectural and county government offices outside the capital had already started their holidays back in November of last year. Perhaps because of the approaching festival, the Chongzhen Emperor's imperial meals had finally improved a bit.

The local government offices were the first batch, and the various ministries and courts in the capital region had also gradually gone on leave with pay by the end of December. The personnel of the Eastern Depot, the Western Depot, the Inner Depot, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard had also begun rotating turns to go home for the New Year, so one could say that security precautions on all fronts had relaxed somewhat.

After all, these officials were just like public servants in later generations — they all had families they needed to reunite with. Spring Festival and Little New Year were different from ordinary holidays; they were the most important festivals of Chinese civilization. This was all only human nature.

The assembled ministers had already been home for a while, and the surveillance of the depots and guards had relaxed during this period. But today, this benighted ruler, for reasons unknown, had actually summoned them all back — and declared that no one was allowed to be late or absent, on pain of severe punishment.

This so-called "severe punishment" was, plainly speaking, just an excuse for the Chongzhen Emperor to confiscate property and behead people. Was there anything an emperor couldn't do if he wanted?

No one wanted to bring disaster upon themselves during this joyful time of family reunion at the festival — to have their entire household executed. Naturally, everyone hurriedly dressed properly and came to Huangji Hall to await the imperial will.

Sure enough, the Chongzhen Emperor was already seated on the dragon throne humming a little tune, looking as though he was in a rather good mood.

The moment the assembled ministers finished their kowtow, the Chongzhen Emperor immediately said: "I know that everyone has been at home reuniting with their families, but I have summoned you all today because there are important matters to discuss. You gentlemen are the pillars of this Great Ming and naturally cannot be compared to common folk. There are some things that ought to be discussed now."

"Your servants await Your Majesty's sacred will." The assembled ministers had nothing much to say, and shouted this out under the leadership of Chief Grand Secretary Wei Zaode.

"The first matter is this: the seventeenth year of Chongzhen has already passed, and the Great Ming is still standing strong. I am also fine. Let no more talk of dynastic change be heard — otherwise, if the depots and guards hear it and report it to me, no one will be able to enjoy this New Year."

"I only thought of it last night — in previous reigns, after the year's end, was any kind of summary ever made?" As he spoke, the Chongzhen Emperor turned his head to look at Wang Dehua.

Wang Dehua shook his head, thought for a moment, and said: "This servant truly does not know about such a matter. It should be that there wasn't one."

"Mm." The Chongzhen Emperor nodded and continued: "In any case, I've already set quite a few precedents this year. Since Little New Year is approaching, I might as well go along with the occasion and set another precedent. From now on, in the seven days before Little New Year at the end of each year, all officials must hold a summary conference with me."

"A summary conference?" Hearing this, the assembled ministers all looked baffled. Having lived most of their lives, many of them were hearing this new term for the very first time.

Seeing the confusion on his ministers' faces, the Chongzhen Emperor explained: "This summary conference, as the name implies, is when, at the end of the year, I lead everyone in summarizing the mistakes of the past year and having a proper discussion."

"The reason this Great Ming has been on a downward slope since the Wanli reign is that there are too many malpractices. From now on, every year I will lead everyone in eliminating the old malpractices and then set the various policies and plans the court is to implement in the new year. This is what is meant by summarizing the past and looking toward the future. Only in this way can the Great Ming grow better and better and begin to climb back uphill."

Looking at the smiling Chongzhen Emperor, the ministers exchanged a few words of discussion among themselves, when Grand Secretary Feng Quan stepped out of the ranks, bowed, and said: "Your Majesty is sagely and enlightened. This summary conference is a blessing for our dynasty and a blessing for all the people under heaven."

"Your Majesty is sagely and enlightened!" Since Feng Quan had already spoken, the assembled ministers could only follow along in agreement.

The Chongzhen Emperor smiled and waved his hand. Though he had heard this kind of flattery many times, it was still pleasant to the ears. "During the summary conference, you ministers must do your best to state the mistakes you committed in the past year."

"During the festival period, I will not punish anyone too severely. Only by knowing one's mistakes can one correct them. Only then can this Great Ming enjoy lasting peace and order, with clean governance, and become better."

As he spoke, the Chongzhen Emperor looked toward Chief Grand Secretary Wei Zaode and smiled: "No one is willing to speak first on such matters, so let the Grand Secretary and the ministers of the Grand Secretariat take the lead."

In truth, when Wei Zaode heard the Chongzhen Emperor mention this so-called summary conference, he had already been secretly pondering countermeasures in his heart. As Chief Grand Secretary, if anything happened, he would certainly be the one to take the lead.

After the Chongzhen Emperor said these words, Wei Zaode also quickly came forward, bowed, and reported:

"I report to Your Majesty: in the past year, your servant has not engaged in any act of corruption or bribery, and has been diligent and conscientious, exhausting himself utterly for Your Majesty and the Great Ming. But my abilities are limited, and I cannot, like Grand Secretary Zhang, eliminate malpractices and rectify the court's discipline for Your Majesty. Truly, I have failed in my duties."

"Your servant has failed in his duties. I beg Your Majesty to dismiss me from office and reduce me to commoner status, so that the position of Chief Grand Secretary may be held by one of greater ability."

Wei Zaode's earlier words were nothing but a subtle show of false modesty. The Chongzhen Emperor listened with furrowed brows, and only after hearing it all through did he burst into a few laughs and wave his hand, saying:

"Grand Secretary Wei has been diligent and conscientious in the post of Chief Grand Secretary — without great merit, yet also without fault. I do not grant your request, Grand Secretary."

Wei Zaode felt no ripple of emotion inside. He had long known that since he was so obedient, the Chongzhen Emperor would never actually remove him — otherwise, who would take the blame for him?

Even so, Wei Zaode maintained a look of utmost fear and trepidation on his face. He immediately prostrated himself on the ground and cried out: "Your Majesty trusts this humble minister, and this humble minister is willing to smash his liver and brains on the ground to repay Your Majesty's grace!"

All the ministers present had spent many years in officialdom. With a single glance, they could tell that the Chongzhen Emperor and Wei Zaode were putting on a coordinated act, but no one exposed it. Wasn't the officialdom of this Great Ming exactly like this? Didn't officials spend their days acting with one another as well?

Though he had anticipated it in his heart, when Second Grand Secretary Jiang Dejing heard that the Chongzhen Emperor had not granted the request, his expression still darkened. However, he quickly adjusted his state and stepped forward to say:

"I report to Your Majesty: your servant has not engaged in corruption or bribery, and no matter of bullying others through power has ever occurred. Your servant believes he has no particular faults!"

The Chongzhen Emperor neither confirmed nor denied it. He nodded and said: "I believe what Minister Jiang has said. You may return to your place."

"As Your Majesty commands."

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