Chapter 33: Teaching

A few days later, just as the sky was beginning to lighten.

Zhu Yong rubbed his eyes and sat up in bed. The side hall where he lived was not far from Kunning Palace, and outside the window he could already hear the faint footsteps of maids sweeping.

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang, who had been copying texts until midnight the night before, were now sitting miserably in Dabentang.

Both of their hands were still swollen, making it hard even to hold a brush.

"Third Brother, which copy are you on?" Zhu Gang asked with a grimace.

"The fifth... five more to go. That kid Fifth Prince ran off fast enough yesterday!" Zhu Shuang wrote through gritted teeth.

Zhu Di, who was practicing calligraphy nearby, looked up at this and said, "I didn't skip class."

"You!"

Zhu Shuang wanted to curse, but the pain flared whenever he used his hand, so he had to swallow it back.

Song Lian sat upright at the lectern, eyes closed in meditation, as if he hadn't heard a thing.

At the Chen Hour, Zhu Biao arrived.

He first went to look at the homework Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang had copied, frowned slightly, and said, "The characters are too sloppy. Recopy them."

Both of their faces turned green.

"Big Brother..."

"What, you think it's too much..." Zhu Biao glanced over coolly.

Zhu Shuang quickly shook his head and said, "Not too much, not too much..."

"Then copy them properly."

Zhu Biao nodded and sat down in the Main Seat.

He had come specifically to accompany them in their studies today; Imperial Father had said these two boys needed to learn their lesson.

Zhu Yong also arrived.

He sat down beside Zhu Biao with a simple, honest look, and pulled an oil-paper bundle from his chest, inside which were a few meat pies.

"Big Brother, eat." He handed one over.

Zhu Biao took it and smiled, "Made by Master Wang from the Imperial Kitchen again?"

"Mm, I went this morning, and he said there was a lot of meat today." Zhu Yong picked up one for himself and took a big bite.

Zhu Di's eyes lit up and he said, "Second Brother, are there any more?"

Zhu Yong pushed the oil-paper bundle over and said, "There are two left."

Zhu Di happily took them and gave one each to Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang.

The two were stunned, not expecting Second Brother to have brought them food.

"Thanks, Second Brother..." Zhu Gang said quietly.

Zhu Yong said simply, "Eat up quickly. Once you're full, copy your texts."

Song Lian began his lecture: "'Xunzi: The Great Compendium... The warp of governance is ritual and punishment; the noble person cultivates himself, and the common people are at peace.'"

Zhu Biao listened attentively, and Zhu Yong also tried hard to listen, though there were parts he didn't understand. But Big Brother had said that even if you don't understand, you still have to listen.

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang listened while eating their pies; their hands still hurt, but their hearts felt a little warmer.

After finishing a passage, Song Lian asked, "Crown Prince, what do you think Xunzi means by this?"

Zhu Biao pondered and said, "Xunzi means that the foundation of governing a state lies in combining ritual and punishment. The noble person uses rites and music to educate the people, bringing them peace."

Song Lian nodded and said, "The Crown Prince speaks very truly."

He then looked at Zhu Yong and said, "Prince Wu, did you understand?"

Zhu Yong scratched his head and said, "I... I think, you manage people with rules and a stick. Good people cultivate themselves, and then nobody makes trouble!"

The words were blunt, but Song Lian smiled and said, "Your Highness speaks plainly, but the principle is the same."

Zhu Biao also smiled and said, "Second Brother is right. That's exactly what it means."

The morning lesson ended, and Zhu Biao had to go to Wu Ying Hall for a council meeting.

He stood up and said to Zhu Yong, "Second Brother, come with me."

The two left Dabentang and headed toward Wu Ying Hall.

On the way, Zhu Biao said, "Second Brother, today Father is going to discuss the remnants of the Northern Yuan. It's good for you to listen in."

"I don't understand any of that..." Zhu Yong said simply.

"If you don't understand, then listen. Listen enough and you'll understand. You are Prince Wu. In the future, you'll have to help Father and Big Brother guard the realm." Zhu Biao patted him on the shoulder and said.

Inside Wu Ying Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang was already seated.

Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, Li Shanchang, Liu Bowen, and others stood in two rows on either side.

Seeing Zhu Biao bring Zhu Yong in, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "You're here. Sit."

Zhu Biao sat in the first seat on the left, and Zhu Yong sat next to him.

"Continue," Zhu Yuanzhang said, looking at Xu Da.

Xu Da cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, although the Northern Yuan has been broken and Yesu is dead, the remnants are still scattered across the Grassland. According to reports, Kuokuo Tiemuer has gathered over thirty thousand of the remaining troops and is entrenched around Shen'er Valley."

Chang Yuchun said, "Your Majesty, give me fifty thousand troops, and I will surely capture Kuokuo and present him to you!"

Zhu Yuanzhang did not agree immediately, but instead looked at Liu Bowen and said, "Bowen, you speak."

Liu Bowen pondered and said, "Your Majesty, it is already the seventh month. The Grassland is about to enter autumn. If we dispatch troops now, by the time the army arrives, it will be late autumn or early winter. The Grassland is bitterly cold, which would be disadvantageous for our forces. It would be better to wait until next spring, when the grass grows and the horses are fat, before launching the campaign."

Li Shanchang also said, "Your subject seconds that. Moreover, this year's Northern Campaign has consumed a vast amount of Grain and Fodder. The granaries in Yingtian Prefecture are already depleted by thirty percent. We should rest and recuperate for a year."

Chang Yuchun grew anxious and said, "Your Majesty, speed is of the essence in war! If we give Kuokuo a chance to catch his breath, he may become a real threat by next year!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Biao and said, "Biao'er, you speak."

Zhu Biao stood up and said, "Father, your son believes that what Mr. Liu and Mr. Li said is reasonable. The Northern Campaign has just ended; the soldiers are exhausted, and supplies are insufficient. We truly should rest and reorganize.

However, General Chang's concern is also valid. We cannot allow Kuokuo to grow strong unchecked."

He paused briefly, then continued: "I think we can order the border troops to strengthen their defenses, dispatch scouts widely to probe Northern Yuan movements, and at the same time order the Ministry of Revenue to accelerate settlement and grain stockpiling, while the Ministry of Works rushes to produce military equipment."

"When spring comes next year, if Kuokuo shows any movement, we will dispatch troops to annihilate it at once; if there is no movement, we can still train troops and prepare for war."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Biao Er, you have considered it thoroughly."

He then looked at Zhu Yong: "Yong Er, what do you think?"

Zhu Yong was startled, not expecting Father to ask him. He thought for a moment and said earnestly, "Father, if Kuokuo dares to come, I will go fight it; if it does not come… I still want to go fight it."

Everyone in the hall laughed.

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly: "Good! That's sincere! That Kuokuo scoundrel, we will deal with him sooner or later!"

After the discussion, the ministers took their leave.

Zhu Yuanzhang kept Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong behind.

"Biao Er, how is the case you mentioned the other day?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

Zhu Biao's expression grew serious as he said, "Father, I have investigated and found, Xie Shu reported, that in Songjiang Prefecture officials and gentry colluded to conceal Tax Rent, and we have arrested more than 190 people, among whom there are wrongful cases."

"If over 190 people are all the villains who concealed Tax Rent, then Songjiang Prefecture's Tax Rent would have been impossible to collect, yet last year's taxes and grain from Songjiang were paid in full!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened: "We think the same; in the whole of Songjiang Prefecture, perhaps only thirty to fifty people could conceal Tax Rent, and now we have captured over 190, likely even good citizens were taken."

"Father, what do you intend to do?" Zhu Biao asked.

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed with cold light as he said, "He wants to stain his Official Hat with the blood of the people and be executed with the Nine Clans!"

Zhu Yong felt a knot in his heart.

Although he had regained his memories from his previous life and knew Zhu Yuanzhang's harsh methods, hearing it firsthand still shocked him.

Zhu Biao replied, "Father, the Nine Clans punishment is too severe; Xie Shu's crime lies with him, his clan may not even know. Moreover, his father Xie Cheng is a Founding Merit Official who fought alongside you for many years."

Your son thinks, Xie Shu is an Imperial Censor; if the punishment is too severe, it may chill the speech officials' hearts. Instead, we could strip him of his Imperial Censor post, demote him to a local magistrate, letting him also taste the hardships of serving the people.

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at Zhu Biao and said, "Biao Er, you have become soft‑hearted."

Zhu Biao shook his head: "Father, your son is not soft‑hearted; governing the state must follow the law, yet the law must also have limits. Executing the Nine Clans is too far‑reaching, fearing it will hurt the people's hearts."

"Moreover, Xie Cheng has merited the nation; if his entire clan is exterminated because of his son's crime, it may chill the hearts of the founding merit officials."

Zhu Yuanzhang fell silent.

He looked at Zhu Biao, then at Zhu Yong, and suddenly said, "Yong Er, what do you think?"

This time Zhu Yong thought seriously.

In his memories of his previous life, he vaguely knew that in the early Ming Dynasty there were many corruption cases, and Zhu Yuanzhang killed ruthlessly.

But he also remembered that his elder brother Zhu Biao often offered counsel.

He said earnestly, "Father, I don't understand these matters, but my elder brother is right: the bad ones should be killed, but we must not indiscriminately kill good people."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him for a while, then suddenly laughed and said, "You two… one talks of demoting officials, the other of not killing good people indiscriminately; fine, we will follow Biao Er, so let's do it that way.

However, if the wrongful cases exceed fifty, we still must re‑investigate them!"

Zhu Biao breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Father, you are wise."

After leaving Wu Ying Hall, Zhu Biao said to Zhu Yong, "Second brother, you answered well just now."

"I just speak the truth," Zhu Yong said.

"Speaking the truth is enough."

Zhu Biao smiled, then wrapped his arm around his younger brother's shoulder and said, "Governing the state sometimes doesn't require many twists and turns, but it also cannot be too straightforward."

"Just like today, Father wants to execute the Nine Clans to intimidate all officials; I request demotion of officials to embody benevolent governance; you say not to kill good people indiscriminately, which reflects the people's voice."

"These three together form the complete way of governing the nation."

Zhu Yong nodded as if half‑understanding.