Chapter 19

The sixth year of Longqing, the sixth day of the sixth month, early morning.

……

Today is the sixth, not only a day for the regular court but also the time for the third petition.

As the Crown Prince's daily lecturer, Yu Youting naturally has a share in the excitement and has to get up early.

Because today's petition is more formal than what is worn when sitting in the yamen, one must wear the official uniform of a beam crown and red silk robes, and miscellaneous accessories like leather belts and ribbons cannot be left behind.

After all the tossing and turning, if he didn't get up earlier, he wouldn't be able to catch a bowl of hot soup at the end of the alley.

Yu Youting has been drinking at the mutton soup shop at the end of the alley since he passed the imperial examination and settled in the capital; it has been exactly ten years now, and it has always been to his taste.

For this reason, he even specially wrote a whole page for this shop in his notes, leaving it for later generations to ponder.

This was inspired by a book, "The Eastern Capital: A Dream of Splendor," by Meng Yuanlao of the Song Dynasty.

At that time, the Northern Song was broken by the Jin people, and the prosperity of the Song capital vanished in an instant; while Meng Yuanlao was displaced, he frequently looked back at the capital that satisfied people's hearts.

Yu Youting saw that since the Jiajing reign, the situation in the world had taken a sharp turn for the worse—Japanese pirates, Tatars, land annexation, finance and taxation, military equipment, and local affairs were all a mess, almost looking like the sun setting over the western hills.

If in his lifetime things didn't go well, rather than recalling the prosperity of the capital afterward, it would be better to record it stroke by stroke now, so as to preserve the happy state of mind at that time.

Yu Youting held the three-feather beam crown in his arms and flicked it lightly, wondering how many more years he would have to endure before he could change it to five feathers and enter the hall.

Although there is nothing wrong with the fifth rank, if he could enter the Six Ministries and serve as one of the Nine Ministers, it would naturally be even more vast.

Thinking this, he had already walked to the mutton soup shop at the end of the alley.

The hour was still early, and the sky was not yet bright, but someone was even earlier than him.

When Yu Youting stepped over the threshold, Shen Shixing was already drinking, and Wang Xijue was also by his side.

The three were successful candidates in the same year; Shen Shixing was the top scholar, Wang Xijue was the second, and their friendship was naturally not shallow.

Among them, Shen Shixing served as Left Advisor and Reader of the Hanlin Academy, also serving in the Hanlin Academy, and since he didn't live far away, he usually went to work with Yu Youting.

It was Wang Xijue who was clearly serving in the Nanzhili (Nanjing); how did he get here?

Yu Youting sat down and asked curiously: "Yuanyu is not serving in the Nanzhili; why did you come to the capital? Were you promoted?"

Yuanyu is Wang Xijue's courtesy name.

The three, as the top three of the same year, all have the qualifications for Zhang Gelao; Yu Youting's current position as daily lecturer is a kind of polishing.

Just like Shen Shixing, as the top scholar, he served as the late Emperor's daily lecturer last year. Although the late Emperor passed away half a year later, this did not prevent Shen Shixing from having the qualifications to enter the Six Ministries.

But Wang Xijue was unlucky; because he offended Zhang Siwei, he was moved to the Nanzhili, far from the center of power.

The Ming Dynasty has two capitals, one south and one north, but there is a distinction between high and low. If one is moved from the Nanzhili to the capital, even if the official rank is not changed, it is considered a promotion.

But Wang Xijue shook his head, denying Yu Youting's conjecture: "I was on official business, but for today's petition, I was grabbed by the Ministry of Rites to make up the numbers."

Yu Youting understood.

The petitioning officials, wave after wave, all localities have to grab some people to go through the motions, which is also to recognize the new sovereign's face.

"Serious Illness, look, Yuanyu has come from so far away, and you, who live the closest, left the latest," Shen Shixing laughed.

Serious Illness is Yu Youting's courtesy name.

Among the three, Wang Xijue is the youngest at thirty-six, the most straightforward, and has a hard temper.

Shen Shixing is only one year older, the top scholar of the same year, lively and full of ambition.

Yu Youting is over forty and easygoing.

At this time, Shen Shixing saw that Wang Xijue didn't want to talk about the promotion and changed the subject.

Yu Youting also woke up and sighed: "Recently, things have been busy, and I've been a bit sleepy."

After saying this, he called the shopkeeper and ordered a bowl of mutton soup.

Shen Shixing sipped the soup and said: "Serious Illness is in his prime; there is still plenty to be busy with."

The top three successful candidates have accumulated qualifications, and their future is boundless, so naturally, there is plenty to be busy with.

Yu Youting knew what Shen Shixing meant, but he was a bit helpless. Shen Shixing is ten years younger than him, a top scholar, and has enough qualifications; he has a smoother official path than him, yet he comes to tease him.

Fortunately, they are good friends, so he didn't take the teasing to heart.

He put the beam crown aside and sighed: "It's just that the Classics Office has been busy recently, and I have to serve as a daily lecturer, so I'm a bit tired."

The late Emperor passed away, and the old and new were replaced. As the nominal subordinate yamen of the Eastern Palace, the Classics Office rarely had some serious official business.

At this time, Wang Xijue suddenly interjected: "Speaking of daily lectures... Serious Illness, since you are a daily lecturer, do you know if this Crown Prince is really as the rumors in the streets say?"

Shen Shixing also looked over curiously.

Yu Youting was stunned: "Street rumors? What street rumors?"

Wang Xijue asked in confusion: "You are a reader, and you don't know? I just arrived in the capital yesterday and heard people talking about the Crown Prince."

Seeing that Yu Youting was still confused, he couldn't help but explain: "The streets are all saying that the Crown Prince was extremely naughty before, only playing with hawks and birds in the palace."

"He looked like he couldn't be entrusted with a great task, making the two palaces and the Senior Zhang Gelao angry at his lack of ambition."

"Later, he received a dream from the late Emperor and woke up overnight. Now, not only has he corrected his mistakes, but he is also striving to make progress and cultivate virtue."

"It is said that when the Crown Prince was reading before the spirit tablet, it was as if he had divine help, and some people in the palace even saw the phantom of the Emperor beside the Crown Prince, helping him with his lessons."

"And then his progress was truly rapid."

"Not only did Empress Li look at him with new eyes, but even Zhang Gelao Gao praised him yesterday, saying that the Crown Prince has been 'studying diligently, increasing the benefits of cultivating virtue; attending court with solemnity, possessing the wonder of a heavenly appearance,' which made him look at him with new eyes."

"Now street vendors are teaching their children by this example, saying things like 'Have you seen the Four Books and Five Classics in the middle of the night?', which made oil lamps sell out."

"I am not in the capital; I don't know how much of these rumors are true?"

Yu Youting listened to Wang Xijue's enumeration, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.

Shen Shixing on the side was calm and composed, drinking mutton soup without saying a word.

Wang Xijue saw that Yu Youting didn't answer and couldn't help but urge him again.

Yu Youting was helpless; after thinking about it, he slowly said: "It wasn't that exaggerated before; at most, it was some childish behavior, and his mind wasn't settled. How could it be as exaggerated as playing with hawks and birds?"

"As for the Senior Zhang Gelao being angry at his lack of ambition and the late Emperor's dream, that is even more nonsense."

"But in the last few days... he really does have the meaning of striving to make progress."

The waiter brought a bowl of mutton soup, and Yu Youting immediately closed his mouth.

After the person left, Wang Xijue asked: "How about the last few days? Don't keep me in suspense."

Shen Shixing's eyes drifted, but he also pricked up his ears.

Yu Youting took a sip of soup, feeling a warm current enter his stomach, which was very comfortable.

After savoring it for a while, he slowly continued: "In the last few days, the Crown Prince has indeed changed his attitude."

"He goes to pay respects to the two palaces every day without the slightest negligence; it can be called pure filial piety."

"He has also made great progress in his studies; his reading and recitation can be called photographic memory, and he can even draw inferences from one instance, summarizing the principles of governing the country and cultivating virtue himself. The speed of progress truly makes me feel that he is a god."

"I am not qualified to attend the morning court, so I don't know much about it, but Zhang Gelao Gao privately said that the Crown Prince's behavior is measured, possessing the dignity of the imperial family; I think it is not an empty word."

Yu Youting didn't have much feeling about the Crown Prince's intelligence; to say something disrespectful, which of the successful candidates isn't a prodigy? The Crown Prince's appearance really can't compare to him back then.

What surprised him was the great change before and after, which left him dumbfounded.

He couldn't help but doubt whether the late Emperor had really appeared in a dream to enlighten the Crown Prince.

Shen Shixing held the bowl without moving for a while.

Seeing that Yu Youting had finished speaking, Wang Xijue said with some surprise: "If you say so, isn't it really a brand new look?"

"No wonder the streets are full of rumors that the late Emperor appeared to enlighten the Crown Prince."

Shen Shixing was silent for a moment and finally couldn't hold back.

He looked around, and seeing no one nearby, he leaned over and whispered: "Could it be a bit exaggerated?"

"I heard that Zhang Gelao Gao is quite favored by the Crown Prince's affection. After the daily lecture yesterday, the Crown Prince finished practicing calligraphy and specially gave him a scroll with the words 'Entrusted with the regency, heart and soul, teacher and guardian for the orphan, heart and liver shining on each other'."

The implication is whether the Crown Prince's reputation was intentionally exaggerated by Gao Yi to show that his education was effective, both to stand for the Cabinet and to strengthen his own position in the Cabinet.

Shen Shixing had heard some rumors; the Cabinet has been very active recently, especially in its fierce fight with the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Yu Youting shook his head without explaining much; he knew that court officials would probably not believe the Crown Prince's current demeanor unless they saw it with their own eyes.

Even he, who watched the Crown Prince change, hadn't come to his senses yet, let alone outsiders.

Wang Xijue suddenly interjected: "I doesn't understand Grand Secretary Gao."

"Zhang Gelao Gao is the teacher of my younger brother Wang Dingjue. When I saw my brother yesterday, he told me about this."

"He said that Zhang Gelao Gao has had the intention of retiring for some time."

"That scroll was written only after the two palaces and the Crown Prince tried their best to keep him, which almost made the old man burst into tears."

Shen Shixing hurriedly excused himself, lost in thought.

Yu Youting intervened at the right time: "In the past, we didn't have the chance to attend the morning court; wouldn't it be better to watch from afar during today's petition?"

This was to stop continuing this topic.

Wang and Shen immediately understood and agreed, skipping over the matter.

After some discussion, they finished their breakfast without knowing it.

The three of them went to the Imperial City together.

Wang Xijue brought up another matter: "I also heard yesterday that the Cabinet is discussing a new method of official assessment; I don't know if it's true or false?"

The current official performance assessment has assessments; capital officials are assessed every six years, and local officials every three years.

But often, if the superior says you are good, you are good; if they say you are bad, you are bad.

There is no specific assessment standard, and it has gradually become a formality.

And what the Cabinet is discussing this time is this specific assessment standard.

Since the late Emperor ascended the throne, the voice of administrative reform has gradually become overwhelming.

People have repeatedly submitted memorials requesting the rectification of administration.

Whether it is Cabinet court officials, censors, or local officials, they have all submitted memorials requesting this matter.

Among them are Zhao Zhenji's "Three Nine Ills and Three Trends Memorial," Zhang Juzheng's "Six Matters Memorial," and even Wang Chonggu has requested this matter.

And after Gao Gong took charge of the Ministry of Personnel, he pushed this matter to its peak.

Just in the last year, he dealt with the matter of local officials falsely reporting dates to receive empty pay; impeached the officials appointed by the Imperial Clan Court to Yunnan, Guizhou, and the two Guangs for incompetence; rectified the "corrupt and greedy" matters of the Court of Imperial Stud, the Court of Imperial Parks, and the Salt Transport Commission; ordered that official business must be returned to the capital within the prescribed time limit, and punished dozens of people who exceeded the time limit; and stipulated that the promotion term must be calculated after arriving at the post, and used this to punish dozens of people who falsely reported.

Dozens of corruption cases of all sizes and long-standing ills set off a huge trend inside and outside the court.

But these have always been carried out in the form of the Ministry of Personnel submitting memorials and the Emperor reading and approving them.

Likewise, there is no specific standard, and "hundreds of officials have nothing to rely on."

The current court deliberation is preparing to implement a new written law on the basis of capital assessment and grand planning to reform administration.

Specifically, how to count as qualified, how to count as unqualified, and how to act to be promoted.

This is the focus of the current New Law.

Shen Shixing has the highest official rank and the most well-informed news; he nodded: "The Cabinet has been blowing the wind for a long time; it was discussed on the fourth, and it was discussed for a whole day yesterday."

Wang Xijue asked curiously: "Why is there no result? Is there resistance?"

Yu Youting interjected: "It would be strange if there were no resistance. In the past, monks who didn't ring the bell also had incense money; now the abbot asks the monks to ring the bell and also wants to supervise the incense money. The monks all say that if it's like this, it's better to return to secular life."

Shen Shixing suddenly added: "It's fine for the monks to make noise, but the Buddha is also unwilling, and Ananda and Kasyapa are learning to chant crooked scriptures."

Wang Xijue was stunned and immediately realized that this meant the two palaces were also unwilling to express their stance, and the Directorate of Ceremonial was guessing the imperial will and stirring things up in the court deliberation.

He is also a smart person; after thinking about it, he understood why the two palaces were unwilling to express their stance—no other reason, it offends people.

The late Emperor just passed away, and they are about to offend hundreds of officials; what if they cause trouble?

If the monks gather and make a big scene, the abbot can retire, but what about the three Buddhas? The future Buddha is only ten years old.

After understanding this layer, Wang Xijue was even more surprised.

He can see it; there is no reason for the Cabinet not to see it.

Wang Xijue deliberated: "Why doesn't the Cabinet want to think more comprehensively before reporting to the two palaces?"

The old and new are replaced; it is better to be quiet than to move. Why not wait a little longer?

Once the court situation stabilizes, the implementation of the New Law will be smoother.

Yu Youting sighed: "Who knows? Our official ranks haven't reached that step, so we can't see that layer of the situation."

Wang Xijue shook his head and didn't think much: "That's fine too; the sooner the administration is rectified, the more breathing room the Ming Dynasty will have."

Shen Shixing nodded and said nothing.

He sighed in his heart and recalled what his teacher Lu Diaoyang said to him yesterday.

Zhang Gelao Zhang discussed with the Senior Zhang Gelao, saying that assessing hundreds of officials with the Performance Evaluation Law, although it can rectify administration, hurts imperial virtue and inevitably "collects power in the Cabinet," which the Crown Prince may not agree to when he gets older.

With this, he persuaded the Senior Zhang Gelao to promote this matter in the court deliberation.

Shen Shixing did not agree with such intense action and even felt that the Performance Evaluation Law was too harsh; one must know that the human heart is like water, and it cannot be prohibited by the severity of the Legalist school.

This matter should be planned slowly; only by taking small steps can one reach a thousand miles. Intense action is like a strong medicine; the backlash is so great that it is terrifying to think about.

It's just that...

His teacher Lu Diaoyang just shook his head and said one sentence: only those who act intensely now have the space for later generations like them to plan slowly.

Shen Shixing pondered until now, feeling more and more mixed emotions.

"I, hurry up, don't miss the petition," Yu Youting called him.

Shen Shixing responded and followed quickly.

In his heart, he couldn't help but think: is the Crown Prince Zhu Yijun, this younger generation, within the scope of what his teacher said?