Wanli Emperor Chapter 35 Part 2 (Patreon)

Chapter 35 Part 2: Offering Counsel and Dissent, Creating Something from Nothing

Lü Diaoyang had originally intended to proceed to the side hall, but upon arrival, the eunuch Zhang Jing informed him that the emperor awaited outside Wenhua Hall. Puzzled, he emerged to indeed find the emperor waiting beyond Wenhua Hall.

Lü Diaoyang quickly approached and bowed. "Your Majesty."

Zhu Yijun nodded and explained, "Upon reflection, my mother should also remain uninformed of this matter. I am of limited understanding and fear I cannot fully comprehend Lü Qing's explanations. Why not accompany me to see my mother and explain the situation to us both?"

Lü Diaoyang appeared taken aback, then responded with some difficulty: "Your Majesty, how can this humble subject casually enter the rear palace..."

Zhu Yijun smiled. "We proceed to my Qianqing Palace. My mother occupies my side hall, receiving congratulations from the Duke of Cheng." With that, he turned toward Qianqing Palace, gesturing for Lü Diaoyang to follow.

Lü Diaoyang felt helpless and could only comply.

Zhu Yijun maintained a leisurely pace, saying unhurriedly, "Minister Lü, why not first explain why these two positions cannot be held concurrently?"

Some preliminary discussion is necessary—I cannot simply confront Lü Diaoyang directly from the start.

Lü Diaoyang responded respectfully, "Your Majesty, this is indeed a complex matter. To explain simply, the Directorate of Ceremonial holds enormous power that spans both civil and military domains.

"On the civil side, the Directorate of Ceremonial controls: dispatching supervising eunuchs throughout the empire, jointly reviewing prisoners with the three judicial offices, and overseeing the capital garrisons and Eastern Depot. The Seal-holding Director works alongside the Senior Grand Secretary on the most critical state matters. Below them, the Scribes, Scribe Eunuchs, and Document Office serve as second-in-command, while their subordinates style themselves as inner Hanlin academicians. Most importantly, palace officials from the Directorate supervise the Ministry of Personnel itself, controlling all promotions and appointments.

"On the military side, the same person who holds the Eastern Depot superintendency commands hundreds of factory guards plus thousands of subordinates. He possesses weapons, armor, and the authority to arrest, investigate, and spy on anyone suspected of treason.

"Should one person control both these civil and military powers simultaneously, all the inner court's authority would concentrate in his hands. This would be like putting a fox in charge of the henhouse—a recipe for disaster."

Regardless of any intended defection, this political orthodoxy could not be abandoned. No matter what one planned to do, what one said had to remain reasonable.

Zhu Yijun responded with understanding. "So the ancestral system involves the great and small checking each other?"

Lü Diaoyang's eyelids twitched. He quickly corrected: "Your Majesty, this represents interwoven duties and balance between civil and military authority. It differs from 'the great and small checking each other' or 'different opinions creating disturbance.'"

Zhu Yijun nodded repeatedly, showing he had been instructed.

Seeing the emperor's receptive response, Lü Diaoyang continued: "Our dynasty has established many such precedents. For instance, both the Censor-in-Chief and Director of the Office of Transmission maintain left and right positions for balance. Similarly, regional military and administrative affairs are managed separately—governors handle civil matters while the three commissions 【Civil, military, and judicial branches that divided regional authority】 manage their respective domains. Previously, Senior Grand Secretary Gao Gong was impeached by Cao Daye, who argued that serving simultaneously as both Senior Grand Secretary and Minister of Personnel violated this same principle."

He subtly wove his own agenda into these explanations, hoping to influence the young emperor's thinking. Unfortunately, they were all experienced political players, each well-versed in such maneuvering.

"The Senior Grand Secretary?" Zhu Yijun appropriately seized upon this point, seemingly recalling something. "So that is the case. Had Minister Lü not mentioned it, I would not have remembered. Now I suddenly realize this precisely matches what Grand Secretary Zhang explained to me."

His expression remained composed, as though this had genuinely occurred.

Lü Diaoyang appeared stunned. "Grand Secretary Zhang told Your Majesty this?"

Zhu Yijun assumed a thoughtful expression. "It was on the second day of the sixth month. Grand Secretary Zhang was explaining the world's great ailments to me. He discussed taxes, land surveys, opening maritime trade, and rectifying the bureaucracy, providing various examples.

"When addressing imbalances in the bureaucratic system, he mentioned the Senior Grand Secretary, Grand Attendant Feng, and the matter of the Southern and Northern Directly-Administered Regions."

The second day of the sixth month marked Zhang Juzheng's audience day. Zhang Juzheng had naturally not spoken such words, but since only the two had been present, future claims would rest upon Zhu Yijun's account.

Even if Zhang Juzheng were present, he would have to acknowledge it through gritted teeth. If you enjoy playing ignorant while understanding perfectly well, then continue your blissful ignorance.

This left Lü Diaoyang deeply uncertain. What exactly had Grand Secretary Zhang revealed to His Majesty?

Lü Diaoyang was, after all, a seasoned political veteran. He could not simply accept such claims at face value and felt compelled to probe further: "Grand Secretary Zhang has not mentioned this matter to this humble subject."

Zhu Yijun regarded him with apparent surprise. "What—does Minister Lü make a habit of prying into the imperial mind?"

Lü Diaoyang's expression darkened. He quickly confessed fault: "This humble subject..."

Zhu Yijun had merely been jesting, teasing the elderly minister. He smiled and waved dismissively. "Perhaps because Minister Lü is not a cabinet minister, you would not comprehend even if informed. Otherwise, why would I support the Law of Evaluation and condescend to have daily lecturers and the Two Palaces evaluate my studies?"

Lü Diaoyang hesitated this time. The matter of the emperor's support for the Law of Evaluation had long excited the New Party, yet no clear explanation of his motivations had emerged. Now it seemed—could Grand Secretary Zhang truly be secretly influencing him?

Zhu Yijun allowed Lü Diaoyang ample time for consideration, secretly observing his expression. Noting the man's conflicted appearance, he struck while the iron was hot: "Not merely the Law of Evaluation. What Grand Secretary Zhang spoke about that day earned my profound agreement.

"Land surveys, the Single Whip Reform 【a major fiscal reform consolidating various taxes into a single payment, usually in silver】, reform of the Capital Garrisons 【Capital Garrisons: the main military forces stationed in and around the capital】, sea transport, official schools 【the state-sponsored education system】, and such—it proved truly enlightening! Minister Lü, this exemplifies planning for the ancestral temples and the nation. You should learn more from Grand Secretary Zhang."

Zhu Yijun maintained his leisurely pace, speaking with complete sincerity.

The New Party? Who says it has to be Zhang Juzheng's New Party? Why couldn't it become my New Party instead?

He would naturally not fully embrace Zhang Juzheng's new laws' content. Their limitations aside, merely the land surveys' false reports and the Single Whip Reform's disregard for economic principles while ravaging the north—these he could not accept.

The old rule applied: he would not contest naming rights, but content could be optimized. No need to compete with Zhang Juzheng for credit.

Lü Diaoyang, however, remained ignorant of the emperor's thoughts. Despite years of self-cultivation, he could not help but frown repeatedly and fidget.

Grand Secretary Zhang and the emperor's consensus had surpassed even his own understanding—and he was Zhang Juzheng's deputy of many years, his trusted confidant! Zhang Juzheng had never spoken to him with such specificity! What about the Capital Garrisons? He had heard only fragments. What about official schools and sea transport? What reforms were actually planned?

Now his emotions had shifted from suspicion to genuine hurt. To his old friend of many years, Zhang Juzheng kept secrets, yet to this ten-year-old Son of Heaven, he had apparently revealed everything. Indeed, after learning all the civil and military arts, scholars ultimately must sell themselves to the imperial throne.

Words reached his lips, and he could only force a smile: "Yes, this humble subject should learn more from Grand Secretary Zhang."

Zhu Yijun suddenly turned around, regarding Lü Diaoyang with sincerity: "However, what Minister Lü has said quite aligns with Grand Secretary Zhang's words. Grand Attendant Feng and the Senior Grand Secretary do indeed somewhat contradict ancestral precedent. Then, Minister Lü, what is your opinion regarding the speaking officials' impeachment?"

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