Wanli Emperor Chapter 35 Part 1 (Patreon)

Chapter 35 Part 1: Offering Counsel and Dissent, Creating Something from Nothing

After the screen was removed, a voice rang out from above.

"I have just ascended the throne, and already the speaking officials have submitted a joint memorial. Is it because I lack virtue?"

The hundred officials' attention was completely captured. They all looked up to see the young emperor holding a copy of the Analects, his wrist resting on the imperial desk, his body slightly raised as he spoke with apparent astonishment.

This unexpected action caught even Feng Bao, standing beside the throne, off guard. He resentfully made a mental note of Zhang Jing, the eunuch who had moved the screen, then regarded the young emperor with wariness, wondering what manner of performance this might be.

Gao Gong also frowned. At this moment, only he possessed the status to respond to such a question.

He looked up at the young emperor on the imperial dais and bowed. "Your Majesty, it has always been the practice for Censors to report what they have observed. Perhaps the person being impeached has indeed incurred the wrath of Heaven and the resentment of the people, which is why this has occurred without any prior coordination. This is not a joint impeachment, and it bears no reflection upon Your Majesty's sagely virtue. Please, Your Majesty, rest assured and attend to governance. We, your subjects, convene this court conference precisely to address this matter."

The young emperor was inexperienced in political affairs, so Gao Gong offered only a brief explanation. In essence: this is none of your concern—go amuse yourself elsewhere.

Zhu Yijun understood that if he revealed too much at this court conference, he would surely invite vigilance from both Gao Gong and Feng Bao. This balance required careful handling. He had no desire to fail at playing mediator only to find himself suppressed by both sides—that would be truly laughable.

Having long grasped this dynamic, he went straight to the point. "Senior Grand Secretary, you court ministers should discuss this matter thoroughly. I shall not interfere overmuch. It is simply that the speaking officials have submitted a joint memorial impeaching my Grand Attendant, while the Grand Attendant claims this constitutes factionalism. In any case, the matter is quite alarming. Could you explain the circumstances to me?"

I won't interfere with your discussions or how you draft your recommendations. I'm merely startled by all this talk of factionalism and joint impeachments. Simply explain what is happening—I will learn of it sooner or later, regardless.

Though he had spoken at length, for a moment no one responded.

Suddenly, Li Zaiting stepped forward, preempting the others. "Your Majesty, this is indeed a lengthy matter. To state it simply: the positions held by Grand Attendant Feng violate the ancestral system! This marks the beginning of chaos!"

Tsk, what keen insight. If the man weren't a jinshi, Zhu Yijun would have considered granting him the position of Seal-holding Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Without glancing at Feng Bao's expression, he asked with apparent confusion, "Where does it violate the ancestral system? This position of Seal-holding Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial—if not held by an inner courtier, should it be selected from among the jinshi?"

The court officials naturally could not simply accept such words. Since matters had reached this point, they saw no harm in offering the emperor a small lesson.

The Minister of Works, Zhu Heng—a semi-technical official—immediately fell for the young emperor's stratagem. He explained with a smile, "Your Majesty, the position of Seal-holding Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial is naturally held by an inner courtier. However, according to ancestral precedent, he cannot concurrently hold the position of Admiral of the Eastern Depot."

Zhu Yijun appeared to comprehend. He turned to regard Feng Bao and asked with an innocent expression, "Grand Attendant, is this truly so?"

Feng Bao's countenance remained expressionless, as though reciting from a prepared text. "This slave is merely a humble person. How would I possess knowledge of the dynasty's established precedents? This position of Admiral of the Eastern Depot was bestowed upon me by the late emperor. This position of Seal-holding Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial was conferred by Empress Dowager Li. Since this slave has heard no directive to abandon either post, I have retained both. Should the court conference reach a decision that gains the Empress Dowager's approval, I shall naturally comply as instructed." [1]

No matter the discussion, this matter could not bypass Empress Dowager Li. You claim it violates ancestral precedent, but I merely followed orders from my superiors. Discuss among yourselves—I shall accept whatever conclusion you reach.

Zhu Yijun secretly observed Feng Bao. The man was truly unshakeable. At the current intensity, with dozens of Censors and speaking officials from the Censorate and Remonstrance circuits involved, if mishandled, this could become a dynasty-defining case.

His mother aside—even if the late emperor were to rise from the grave, he might lack the power to stop such momentum! Previously, the late emperor had treated Gao Gong almost like a foster father, yet Xu Jie had still succeeded in driving him into retirement. If an emperor and his trusted Grand Secretariat minister could face such a fate, how much more precarious was the position of a regent empress dowager and a eunuch?

Yet Feng Bao displayed such fearlessness. This could only mean someone intended to defect to their side! Should influential court ministers emerge to oppose Gao Gong and support Feng Bao, Empress Dowager Li could once again occupy the judge's seat with tranquility—for the judge could commit no error.

What constituted an influential court minister? Presumably the ministers of the Six Ministries... Yang Bo, for instance, or perhaps Lü Diaoyang.

With this thought, Zhu Yijun regarded the Minister of Rites, Lü Diaoyang—the New Party's second-ranking figure. Fortunately, he had requested permission to observe governance these past days precisely for this matter. Backstabbing was acceptable, but only after Feng Bao had suffered sufficiently.

He inquired with a curious expression, "Minister Lü, as Minister of Rites, you should best understand these dynastic precedents. I wonder why these two positions cannot be held concurrently?"

Lü Diaoyang had been deep in contemplation. Suddenly addressed, he quickly collected himself, first bowing before responding, "This humble subject dares not claim superior knowledge, but perhaps I may resolve Your Majesty's doubts. The Directorate of Ceremonial..."

Before he could continue, Zhu Yijun raised his hand in interruption. He required only the opening acknowledgment—the remainder was best left unsaid, lest uncontrollable words emerge.

"Minister Lü, the court conference constitutes a dynastic matter of great import. If the Ministry of Rites has no pressing business, why not accompany me to the side hall to address my uncertainties?"

Whatever you're plotting, you'll need to contain it today.

Lü Diaoyang opened his mouth, hesitation evident. Finally, he declined: "Your Majesty, this humble subject does indeed have matters requiring discussion."

Then I cannot permit your discussion!

Zhu Yijun quickly turned to Gao Gong. "Senior Grand Secretary, dozens of speaking officials have submitted memorials. This matter carries enormous weight. I am filled with trepidation, yet I hesitate to disrupt the court conference. How about lending me Minister Lü to resolve my doubts? I ascended the throne at a tender age and lack familiarity with political affairs. My mother, as a woman of the deep palace, requires Minister Lü's explanations so we might comprehend the righteous indignation of the Censors and speaking officials."

Gao Gong found the young emperor's words reasonable. The speaking officials' tumultuous outcry was indeed alarming, but the emperor and empress dowager were, after all, a woman and child of the deep palace who likely failed to grasp the situation's gravity. Very well—let Lü Diaoyang properly explain the circumstances.

He turned to Lü Diaoyang. "Minister Lü, the Ministry of Rites' business may await tomorrow's discussion. His Majesty has summoned you—how can you refuse?"

Lü Diaoyang touched the memorial within his robes, his heart bitter. Now that the speaking officials had invoked ancestral precedent, this presented an excellent opportunity. They all claimed Feng Bao's dual positions violated ancestral law—and this was certainly correct... but was Gao Gong not identical?

He already served as Senior Grand Secretary, yet still held the position of Heavenly Official of the Ministry of Personnel? This weapon of ancestral precedent—while a mere eunuch like Feng Bao might lack authority to wield it, for civil officials it proved universally applicable.

【TN: Heavenly Official: the formal title for the Minister of Personnel, considered the most prestigious of the Six Ministries】

Gao Gong dared such bold presumption only because he believed all court officials and the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers stood united with him. But should a minister point out that Gao Gong's dual positions differed little from Feng Bao's, this impeachment of Feng Bao would become an impeachment of both the Seal-holding Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Senior Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat. Either both would face dismissal, or both would be retained. Surely ancestral precedent could not be selectively applied?

At that juncture, whether the New Party or Empress Dowager Li could play mediator, using court stability as a pretext to absolve both lightly. Moreover, in this grand impeachment, the speaking officials had employed ancestral precedent solely against Feng Bao while ignoring Gao Gong entirely. Were these speaking officials truly acting for the nation's political welfare, or merely using the topic to create disturbance?

Once investigated, someone would bear responsibility. These speaking officials, along with the Censor-in-Chief Ge Shouli, would be the first to suffer consequences! And Feng Bao's earlier accusation of factionalism could then serve as a pretext for interfering with the Censorate.

Bluntly stated, the New Party's present task was preserving Feng Bao while severing one of Gao Gong's arms. This would not only prevent the flames from burning too fiercely and causing court turmoil, but also constrain Gao Gong until his dignified retirement. Such were the tacit understandings with Feng Bao—and Zhang Juzheng's instructions before departure.

Today, he had planned Yang Bo's defection to expose this layer. Yet Yang Bo proved unreliable—as soon as the court conference commenced, he was dismissed to submit self-recrimination and request removal from office. Never mind Yang Bo's failure; he was merely a mid-course addition. The same result could be achieved if he, Lü Diaoyang, acted instead.

He carried the Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Rites' memorial, awaiting the proper moment! Yet he, too, found himself disrupted by the emperor. This made him wonder whether today carried inauspicious portents.

Presently, under the gaze of both emperor and current Senior Grand Secretary, he recognized the moment's inappropriateness. Yang Bo and he were both ministers of the Six Ministries, possessing sufficient weight. Other speaking officials lacked the qualification to address Gao Gong directly.

Previously, when Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Revenue Cao Daye had impeached Gao Gong on ten major charges, the following day found he was dispatched to Qianzhou as sub-prefectural magistrate, creating not the slightest ripple. Against Gao Gong, gradual approaches proved futile.

Very well—he would await tomorrow's court conference. Gao Gong could not escape this ordeal regardless.

With this resolution, he finally responded to the imperial dais: "Since Your Majesty insists, how dare this subject disobey?"

Zhu Yijun nodded with satisfaction and departed toward the side hall from the imperial dais. Lü Diaoyang helplessly followed.

As he passed his colleagues, he exchanged glances with Wang Guoguang, offering a subtle signal. He then gave Feng Bao, whose expression had grown unsightly, an almost imperceptible shake of his head.

—----

[1] 【TN: "This slave" reflects both literal origins and formal court protocol. While 奴婢 (núbì) was ceremonial self-deprecating language required of all palace servants before the emperor, many Ming eunuchs actually did come from enslaved or bonded backgrounds. The term emphasized both their historical low status and ritualized submission to imperial authority】

----

Would you like to read in advance? Join as an Enforcer on Patreon to access content before anyone else.

If you are enjoying the story, please leave a 5 rating on Novel Updates!

[Terminology]

[Index]

[Prev] || [Next]