Chapter 1457: The Zheng Family

After the crown prince, still quite young, took up residence there, he spent his days studying all manner of subjects under a group of tutors while also frequently visiting the military camp to learn the practical art of statecraft from his imperial father; his progress was remarkably swift.

Guided by an attending official, the crown prince, dressed in plain clothes, soon arrived at the small side hall where the emperor ordinarily handled memorials.

The furnishings of this small side hall followed the same plain, utilitarian style found everywhere else: apart from the bookshelves and documents lining the four walls, there was only a desk, a few stools, and a bed for resting when tired. When the crown prince entered the study, the emperor was sitting on a gently rocking chair, resting with his eyes closed.

"Your son pays his respects to Imperial Father!" The moment he entered, the crown prince bowed deeply, saluting his father.

Although many of his tutors had told him that the most important thing for a crown prince was to conceal his brilliance, to maintain constant reverence toward the emperor, and never to displease his imperial father in any way, his imperial father had never demanded much of him in the way of ceremony. In fact, the first time he knelt to salute his imperial father, the emperor had lost his temper, rebuked his tutors, and then admonished the crown prince that what mattered most between father and son was closeness and harmony; when he saw his imperial father, he need not kneel, a simple bow would suffice. So ever since that time, the crown prince had saluted his imperial father only in this manner, yet the reverence and respect in his heart had never diminished by half a fraction.

Yes, the crown prince worshipped his father utterly, wholeheartedly wanting to become a great hero and a good emperor like his imperial father, and for that reason he held himself to the strictest standards so that he could shoulder heavy responsibilities as soon as possible.

Amid the crown prince's soft call, the emperor slowly opened his eyes.

"Oh, you've come," he said, smiling as he gently raised himself up. "That was quick — I'd only dozed off for a moment…"

"Summoned by Imperial Father, how could your son not hasten here?" the crown prince answered respectfully, then walked to the side of the reclining chair and reached out a hand to help his imperial father rise.

"I've put you to trouble, calling you over on a mere whim." The emperor lightly patted the crown prince's head. "Good, you've grown a bit taller again lately."

He was only thirteen years old, his frame still somewhat slender, but he was already quite tall, and his character had shed the childishness of his earlier years, becoming steady and solid. Moreover, under the meticulous instruction of his handpicked tutors, he had already acquired a considerable breadth of learning at this age; all he lacked was some practical experience. And with his own covert assistance, opportunities to gain that practical experience would not be lacking.

Once helped up, the emperor took the crown prince by the hand, walked over to the desk, and the two of them sat down together.

"My son, lately your tutors have all said your studies are excellent, that you are diligent and hardworking, and that your scholarship has now made great strides. I am very pleased — well done." As the emperor spoke, he stroked the still-young crown prince's hair, his eyes brimming with fatherly affection.

Although he was extremely imposing in front of outsiders, when the emperor was in private with his children his manner was very genial and his terms of address very affectionate; he had no wish whatsoever to let the bond between father and son be worn away by power — especially when his son was still so young.

"Your son dares not forget Imperial Father's teachings even for an instant. If your son does not learn what he ought to learn early on, how can he share Imperial Father's burdens?" Because he had received his imperial father's praise, the crown prince was also very happy, his face flushing slightly. "Your son merely frets that time is limited and he cannot thoroughly finish studying everything his various tutors are now teaching."

"Ah, don't say that — you're already diligent enough, don't push yourself any harder." The emperor patted his hair again. "The sea of learning is boundless; you cannot finish learning everything all at once. No matter how anxious you are, you can only proceed step by step. Besides, I have been keeping an eye on your studies all along; you have already learned what you ought to learn quite well, and I am very satisfied. The reason I called you here today is to tell you in advance that for the New Year period I am giving you a one-month holiday. Go outside and get some fresh air, let out all the pent-up frustration in your heart. Tension and relaxation, toil and rest — that is the proper way… So let it be thus: starting tomorrow, go out and roam about with those young attendants of yours, ride horses, go hunting, and take a good look at this great Han realm!"

Hearing such encouraging words from his father, and learning that he could break free from his high-intensity education and have a month's holiday, the crown prince would have been insane not to be overjoyed.

"Your son thanks Imperial Father!" The crown prince's delight showed plainly on his face.

"It's nothing — if you do well, naturally there will be rewards." The emperor smiled and pinched the crown prince's cheek, very affectionately.

Although it was ostensibly a holiday, to the emperor it was actually also a form of education for the crown prince. For one thing, riding and hunting outdoors would temper his body and incidentally familiarize him with conditions outside, preventing him from losing touch with reality; for another, the crown prince could deepen his relationships with those attendants of his.

These crown prince attendants were all handpicked youths between the ages of ten and fifteen, generally the scions of meritorious noble houses and the future pillars of the court. Letting them have more contact with the crown prince would also cultivate their loyalty to the court and to the crown prince.

To the emperor, however, these considerations were all just natural byproducts, so he did not intend to explain much to the crown prince; he only wanted him to have a good time and enjoy some pleasures that might be hard to come by later in life.

Still, that being said, there were some important matters he had to tell him in advance; he had to let him be prepared.

"Remember, get close to that boy from the Zheng family — you will have need of him before long." The smile on the emperor's face slowly faded, and his expression began to turn serious. "Fun is fun, but after the New Year, you will be very busy, my son…"

"The boy from the Zheng family?" The crown prince was first a little startled, then immediately caught on. "Does Imperial Father mean Zheng Sen?"

The Zheng family was the family of Zheng Zhilong. Zheng Zhilong had taken to the sea beginning in the final years of the Wanli reign, first serving under the maritime giant bandit Yan Siqi, gradually rising by smuggling and plundering at sea. After Yan Siqi's death, Zheng Zhilong united various pirate chieftains, calling themselves the Eighteen Zhi, and possessed the most powerful armed force and commercial fleet along the Fujian coast at the time, commanding tens of thousands of sea bandits engaged in smuggling and plunder, rampaging across the Taiwan Strait. After the new dynasty was established, through many years of management, the Zheng family had become renowned grand magnates.

When the new dynasty pacified the north and began sweeping southward, this maritime titan, a native of Fujian who had run rampant for a time, after a period of hesitation and deliberation, resolutely threw in his lot with the new dynasty and became a member of the Great Han court.

After the Zheng family pledged allegiance, he donated a vast sum of wealth to the court for military expenses. As for those pirates and smugglers who had originally followed their family in their seafaring adventures, some came ashore with them, bought houses and land, and resumed the lives of law-abiding landsmen; some who still harbored ambitions for rank and honor remained at sea and were incorporated into the court's navy — these men, through years of seafaring, possessed ship-handling experience and tactical proficiency in naval warfare, and thus greatly expanded the navy's strength. Of course, a small minority, accustomed to a life of plunder, were too blind to the times to submit to the court; they became targets of vigorous suppression and were swiftly swept clean from the coastal waters.

To commend the Zheng family's merit in donating wealth and leading their forces in submission, the court several years earlier had enfeoffed Zheng Zhilong as Marquis of Kuaiji and bestowed numerous other rewards, allowing this maritime titan, whose sole desire was to return home in glory, to go back contentedly and live as a wealthy gentleman. Moreover, the court had recently summoned his son Zheng Sen, ten years old by nominal reckoning, to court to serve as an attendant to the crown prince — though, of course, some below were wagging their tongues, saying this had the implication of holding his son as a hostage, but both the court and the Marquis of Kuaiji absolutely refused to acknowledge such absurd and unfounded rumors.

The moment his father mentioned it, the crown prince recalled that Zheng Sen.

Although this youth was several years younger than himself, he was full of vigor and possessed a heroic, spirited boldness; even toward the crown prince himself he was always neither servile nor overbearing, his bearing perfectly proper, and one could see in him the makings of a young hero. It was precisely because Zheng Sen had displayed such youthful heroic spirit in his usual dealings with him that he had left a deep impression on the crown prince.

"Correct, it's that Zheng boy." The emperor nodded. "It seems you're quite familiar with him?"

"I wouldn't say very familiar, only that this Zheng Sen is full of heroic spirit, which your son secretly admires, so your son was able to recall him at once." The crown prince answered in a low voice, inwardly pondering his imperial father's intention.

"Full of heroic spirit? That's no small praise — you don't lightly praise others. It seems this Zheng boy truly is quite something; then I am reassured." The emperor smiled again. "Take good care of him during this period — you'll need him!"

"May your son presume to ask Imperial Father, what… what exactly is this about?" The crown prince fell silent for a brief moment, then finally mustered the courage to ask. "Why… why suddenly bring up Zheng Sen?"

Could it be that Imperial Father had designs on the Marquis of Kuaiji's family? If that were the case, there would be upheaval at court and in the Fujian region… Under years of education, the crown prince had already begun to think with the tint of a statesman; though still somewhat raw, he was already immeasurably beyond his peers.

"Don't be nervous — I'm only telling you to make use of him as a person; I have no intention of doing anything to the Zheng family." The emperor saw through the crown prince's thoughts and immediately reassured him. "To be precise, I want you to shoulder a great responsibility in another place."

"Shoulder a great responsibility?" The youth's heart instantly tightened. "What great responsibility?"

The emperor fixed his gaze on the crown prince and said, deliberately, one word at a time, "What kind of country Japan is, and where it is — you know that, right?"

Thanks to old friend "Duan Yichen" for the tip, and thanks to everyone for your subscriptions and monthly tickets — thank you all.