Chapter 116: Rewarding Merit, Measuring Worth

Zhao Wenhua Hall.

Today's court deliberation was quite contentious.

Even outside the hall, one could hear the heated voices within.

"Regardless of whether we agree to the Tartar barbarians, we must still make our preparations in advance," said Shi Shi Maohua, Left Vice Minister of War, in a deep voice.

As soon as he finished speaking, Fu Yi, Right Vice Minister of Revenue, replied coolly: "Vice Minister Shi, please clarify—what exactly do you mean by 'preparations in advance'?"

"Commander Liu Liu Yingjie of the Jizhao Viceroyalty has already deployed troops and rearranged garrisons."

"General Qi Qi Jiguang, the overall commander of the four frontier garrisons, has personally led his troops to defend the border and strengthened fortifications."

"Surely we don't need to draw troops from other frontier commands? Could it be… that funds and grain are insufficient again?"

Liu Liu Yingjie, a former official of the Ministry of Revenue, volunteered after the Gengxu Incident to become Deputy Commissioner of Military Preparedness, later serving as Provincial Governor of Liaodong and Henan, and eventually Viceroy of Jizhao—truly a seasoned and steady general.

Qi Qi Jiguang, even more so, is a famed general with outstanding achievements in the southeast; previously, as Regional Commander, he had been hampered by overlapping authority, but after the Grand Secretariat petitioned and His Majesty granted favor, he was promoted to Overall Commander of the Four Frontier Garrisons.

Both hold high rank and great power—they are the finest choices of the age. What further preparation is needed?

It's simply that the Ministry of War has set its sights on the silver recovered from the salt inspection patrols!

Shi Shi Maohua's expression remained unchanged: "Drawing troops from other frontier commands is not necessary, but the recruitment of soldiers must not be cut."

"Moreover, provisions and fodder must also be prepared in advance."

"I fear some officials, ignorant of military affairs, are fixated solely on silver and gold, undermining border defenses—if another Gengxu Crisis occurs, no amount of silver can make up for it."

Shi Shi Maohua's words, casting such a heavy accusation, amounted to outright attack.

Lately, ministers have grown increasingly heated in their disputes over the salt inspection silver.

Fu Yi's face darkened.

He was about to speak.

Suddenly, a commotion arose upon the imperial dais.

Seeing two young eunuchs carry the imperial throne into place, the ministers understood—His Majesty had arrived.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng immediately cut off the argument.

"Then so be it."

"Five markets in Xicheng Ward shall procure one million two hundred thousand bundles of fodder for border defense."

"Promote Wang Wang Zhiyu, Mobile Corps Commander of Dingzhou, to Garrison Commander of Xifengkou, and recruit two thousand new soldiers."

Fu Yi glared at Shi Shi Maohua, then sullenly fell silent.

Not long after, the young emperor appeared upon the dais.

The ministers all bowed: "Your Majesty!"

When they rose again, all officials simultaneously changed expression.

It was not because His Majesty had come to attend court, nor because he had again disregarded protocol by leaving the screen uncovered.

Rather, it was because, beside the ceremonial officer's position on the dais, a new figure now sat on a low stool, eyes lowered, expression serene.

Xu Jie!

How has this old corpse returned to court again!?

The ministers' minds raced, brows furrowed in thought.

Zhu Zhu Yijun observed the ministers' reactions with quiet amusement.

He turned to Zhang Zhang Juzheng and asked: "Grand Secretary, were you discussing matters of the Jizhao frontier?"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng stepped forward and bowed: "Your Majesty, the Tumeng Khan is invading our borders—this cannot be ignored. We are deliberating a course of action."

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded: "How far have you come?"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng briefly summarized the recent debates: "The ministers hold differing views on Dong Dong Huzi's request to exchange prisoners."

"Qi Qi Jiguang and Liu Liu Yingjie have petitioned to exchange the soldiers, so our troops may see the court's benevolence and serve with greater devotion."

"The Ministry of War, however, fears this will embolden the Tumeng Khan, encouraging him to raid our people, capture them as prisoners, and use them to bargain with us."

"The court is currently deliberating this matter."

"Moreover, Dong Dong Huzi has requested rewards—we dare not decide alone, and await Your Majesty's judgment."

Some unspoken implications remained unsaid.

By "capturing civilians to fill prisoner quotas," they truly feared that prisoner exchanges would become routine, eventually leading to outright peace negotiations.

You raid our borders for plunder, we gain military merit, then we exchange prisoners and call it even—a win-win, a precedent already proven dangerous.

Zhu Zhu Yijun pondered silently.

Yet he made no clear statement, instead setting the matter aside: "Grand Secretary, we shall discuss this later."

"I have just met with Senior Tutor Xu, and now understand the immense difficulties and dangers of the salt inspection. My heart is deeply stirred."

"The rewards for these meritorious ministers must not be delayed."

"Has the Ministry of Personnel and the Grand Secretariat reached a decision on rewards for those who rendered service?"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng glanced at Xu Jie, seated among the ministers, and immediately understood the emperor's intent.

He felt a quiet sigh of relief.

He turned to Shen Shen Shixing and signaled him to speak.

Shen Shen Shixing understood, stepped forward, and said: "Your Majesty, this matter has been reviewed by the Ministry of Personnel and verified by the Censorate. We were about to present it to court."

"Among them, Right Assistant Censor Hai Rui, Right Deputy Chief of the Dalisi Chen Dong…"

He glanced again at Xu Jie seated on the low stool, gauging the emperor's intent, then added: "And former Grand Secretary of Zhongji Palace, Senior Tutor Xu Jie."

"These three are the foremost contributors."

"Others, such as Jiao Ze and Gu Gu Chengguang, rank second."

"Hai Rui is recommended for promotion to Left Assistant Censor, with two years of probation waived."

"Chen Dong is recommended for promotion to Left Deputy Chief of the Dalisi, with one year of probation waived."

"As for Senior Tutor Xu Jie—his rank and stipend are already high; the decision rests with Your Majesty."

The emperor had never indicated how he intended to treat Xu Jie.

One cannot discuss rewards one moment and condemn someone to execution the next.

Moreover, even if rewards were to be granted, Xu Jie's unique status makes it difficult—could one truly give him real power and place him in court to unsettle his colleagues?

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded. The conventional rewards did not surprise him.

After all, he had made too many enemies; he had risen by stepping on others' heads, and lavish rewards would only invite resentment without gratitude.

But to Zhu Zhu Yijun, this amounted to slighting his meritorious servants.

He paused, then spoke: "Shen Qing's proposal follows protocol perfectly—I approve."

Here, his tone shifted: "Yet beyond official promotions, I have a personal gesture to make, lest I be accused of neglecting loyal ministers."

"I grant Chen Dong a residence outside Donghua Sect, rent-free, with permission to bring his wife and children, and Yin two sons into the Imperial College."

Zhu Zhu Yijun had heard Chen Dong's father was a madman, squandering his son's salary on his own whims, and routinely beating and forcing him to kneel—utterly disgraceful to the court's dignity.

But it was a family matter; outsiders could not interfere.

Now, with this opportunity for reward, rather than bestow empty honors, better to give him a legitimate excuse to move out and raise his children himself.

Shen Shen Shixing did not grasp the emperor's true intent, assuming it merely casual favor, and bowed respectfully in acceptance.

Then Zhu Zhu Yijun continued: "As for Hai Rui, who has no heirs, it is difficult to grant Yin kin…"

He feigned deep thought, then reluctantly said: "Bestow upon him the status of Tong Tong Jinshi!"

Shen Shen Shixing had already begun to respond automatically, then snapped back, stunned, raising his head.

Hai Rui's humble origins were well known.

A juren could hardly rise beyond seventh rank.

Yet he had shouldered the entire weight of the Qingliu's moral authority, forged an unblemished reputation, and climbed to the rank of Fourth-Rank Assistant Censor—an extraordinary feat in our dynasty.

To rise further—to Third-Rank minister, a true court official who shapes the empire's fate—is impossible without Tong Jinshi status.

Now His Majesty has granted him the status of Tong Tong Jinshi.

He is paving the way for Hai Rui!

The ministers exchanged glances, their faces filled with resistance.

The emperor had already pushed the limits by forcing the reinstatement of Hai Rui after Gao Gong's retirement.

Does he now intend to make this stubborn mule a Grand Secretary!?

Absurd!

Minister of Rites Zhang Zhang Siwei stepped forward first: "Your Majesty, Tong Jinshi are selected through palace examinations—how can they be granted as rewards?"

"Even in our dynasty, such honors were only bestowed posthumously—never to living men!"

"This is unjust to the juren candidates and undermines the imperial examination system!"

"I beg Your Majesty to reconsider—do not break the ancestral laws!"

Zhu Zhu Yijun replied calmly: "Minister Zhang, you are unaware—though rare in our dynasty, such acts are common in history."

"Lu You, the poet Lu Fangweng, was granted Tong Jinshi status by Emperor Xiaozong of Song."

His face remained gentle, but his heart sneered.

"Ancestral laws"? Merely an excuse.

Granting Tong Jinshi status is no great matter.

Historically, the Emperor Wanli Emperor himself, in the leap month of the forty-sixth year of Emperor Wanli, granted juren status to shengyuan and Tong Jinshi status to juren.

He granted it to a group—yet no one protested.

In truth, it is merely that Hai Rui is disliked, and the ministers resent him.

Minister of Justice Wang Wang Zhigao stepped forward with a stern face and said, "Your Majesty, the previous dynasty was the previous dynasty; this dynasty is this dynasty."

"The selection of Tong Jinshi is a great state ritual; how can it be lightly violated?"

Because of the affairs in Nanzhili, his son had been exiled three thousand li—he naturally held no favorable impression of Hai Rui.

Li Li Youzi, who had just been transferred from Left Assistant Minister of the Dalisi to Minister of the Guanglu Temple, also stepped forward in agreement: "Your Majesty, if Tong Jinshi degrees are granted lightly and become too common, they may Niangchengdahuan."

Following them, several others—including Right Censor-in-Chief Huo Ji, Vice Minister of Rites Ma Ma Ziqiang, and Chief Censor of the Ministry of Revenue Cai Cai Ruxian—among seven or eight officials in total—stepped forward in varying degrees of agreement.

Zhu Zhu Yijun silently observed these court ministers.

Some opposed Hai Rui; others merely feared the emperor would disrupt the imperial examination system.

He had anticipated strong resistance, but not this much.

He cast another glance at Zhang Zhang Juzheng, expressionless as ever.

He sighed inwardly: the Grand Secretariat likely did not wish to see Hai Rui rise above the third rank—that threshold was the gateway to the Grand Secretariat.

Vice Minister of Personnel Shen Shen Shixing surveyed his colleagues' attitudes, made up his mind, and stepped forward to advise: "Your Majesty, why not grant Hai Hai Yushi an official post through hereditary privilege to his parents and ancestors?"

Zhu Zhu Yijun made no reply.

At that moment, Chief Censor of the Ministry of Personnel Li Li Zaiting stepped forward.

He earnestly urged: "Your Majesty, I too believe granting the status of 'equivalent Tong Jinshi' violates ancestral precedent and risks undermining the examination system."

"I propose we follow the example of Yan Shu: allow Hai Rui to sit for next spring's palace examination!"

The moment he finished, Zhu Zhu Yijun immediately spoke, leaving no room for interruption.

He loudly rebuked himself: "Your ministers are right—the Tong Jinshi degree must be earned through talent, not granted lightly."

"Then let us follow Minister Li's suggestion: let him sit for next spring's palace examination."

"From now on, let his talent speak for itself."

The ministers glared angrily at Li Li Zaiting.

What kind of advice was this? The palace examination never failed anyone!

In the Song dynasty, Zhang Yuan had failed the palace examination, defected to Western Xia, and was immediately appointed as a chancellor.

He then led Western Xia's forces to crush the Song, killing tens of thousands in the Battle of Haoshuichuan alone; afterward, he inscribed a mocking poem with the signature: "Grand Tutor, Minister of the Left, and Concurrent Minister of the Secretariat Zhang Yuan, accompanying His Majesty here"—sending the Song court into fits of rage and despair.

With this precedent, everyone understood: talented men must not be left to languish in obscurity; too many such men, neglected, would bring chaos.

Henceforth, palace examinations would only rank candidates, never fail them.

Li Li Zaiting's proposal still granted Hai Rui the status of Tong Jinshi—only by making the procedure formally legitimate.

Even the ministers' earlier complaints about procedural irregularities now seemed like the emperor had been deliberately baiting them.

Censor-in-Chief Ge Ge Shouli stepped forward to endorse: "No ruler could be more enlightened than Your Majesty!"

Wu Tongzheng Office Director He He Yongqing, Vice Minister of Personnel Wen Chun, and others likewise bowed in agreement.

At this point, the Grand Secretariat could no longer remain silent.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng hesitated, then spoke: "Your Majesty, Hai Rui has indeed rendered service, but since the Ministry of Personnel has already granted him an official post, would granting him the palace examination be excessive?"

He simply could not get along with Hai Rui.

Partly due to temperament, but mostly due to divergent political views.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng feared men of spotless reputation who acted without compromise—once they entered the central government, they would disrupt major affairs.

He had heard that Gao Gong had stepped forward to relieve the emperor of burdens in Nanzhili, only to be blocked by Hai Rui.

He watched closely, and understood clearly: for Hai Rui, the grand interests of the Ming state meant nothing; his eyes saw only the emperor and the people.

Such a disposition could not harmonize yin and yang; it was unsuitable for the central government. Standing solely on the emperor's side would only worsen relations between ministers and throne.

The emperor had not yet spoken.

Xu Jie, seated on a low stool below the imperial dais, suddenly rose: "Your Excellency the Chief Secretary does not know."

"In this Nanzhili case, Hai Rui rendered the foremost merit; this old man has contributed not a single bit."

He was attributing merit to Hai Rui—flattering the emperor without risking his own high position being unrewardable.

Court ministers turned to look at Xu Jie.

Many could not help glancing at the emperor.

Again?

If they did not allow merit to be given to Hai Rui, was Xu Jie's return to court the next threat?

Zhang Zhang Juzheng also paused.

Though Xu Jie was his teacher, he did not want him back in court.

At that moment, Zhu Zhu Yijun finally spoke: "Chief Secretary, the Censorate finds it hard to earn merit, and it will only grow harder. I cannot treat senior ministers harshly; granting this slight favor is merely to show my goodwill."

Hearing this, Zhang Zhang Juzheng's expression softened slightly.

The claim that the Censorate found merit hard to earn was obviously false.

The emperor was telling him: he had no intention of letting Hai Rui enter the Grand Secretariat—he was merely paving the way for Hai Rui's appointment as Censor-in-Chief.

If that were the case… it was still acceptable.

The Censorate was Hai Rui's best destination.

Thinking this, Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed deeply: "Your Majesty's deliberations are thorough; I have been thoughtless."

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded.

With the Grand Secretariat's approval, matters became easier.

"Then so it shall be."

"By the way, Minister Xu Jie—I shall keep him in the capital for consultation, and grant Xu Fan the post of Director of the Imperial Seal Office."

Shen Shen Shixing waited a moment; seeing no one challenge the emperor further, he bowed and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Having settled this matter, he looked around the hall.

Zhu Zhu Yijun paused, then exclaimed: "Where is Minister Yang Bo? Why has he not attended morning court today?"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng replied: "Minister Yang is gravely ill, unable to rise. After submitting his resignation a few days ago, he has not entered the palace again."

Zhu Zhu Yijun sighed: "Another pillar minister is about to depart from me."

He ordered Zhang Hong beside him: "Send the Taiyi Academy to examine him. If medicine cannot save him, approve his resignation on my behalf."

"Also, if he wishes to return to his hometown in Shanxi, assign physicians Wang Wenli and Song Zhao to accompany and care for him—I cannot rest easy otherwise."

As he gave these orders, his gaze caught Zhang Zhang Simei, his face trembling with barely suppressed excitement.

He silently shook his head.

He gathered his thoughts and turned to the matter at hand: "Let us speak of the Tumeng Khan."

At last, Zhu Zhu Yijun turned his gaze to Wang Wang Chonggu, the Minister of War, who had just joined the court session but had spoken not a word.

He inquired: "Minister Wang, do you have any suggestions on this matter?"

(End of Chapter)