Wanli Emperor Chapter 64 Part 2 (Patreon)

Chapter 64 Part 2: Harmonizing Yin and Yang, Acting or Retreating as the Situation Demands

Eleventh month, fourth day.

The Censor-in-Chief, Ge Shouli, submitted a memorial stating that Chief Supervising Secretary Jia Daiwen and Censor Hu Xiao had fabricated prophecies and undermined the state's foundation—an act nearly equivalent to treason—and that their crime warranted execution of their entire clans to the ninth degree. He also stated that Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Works Zhang Daoming, Right Vice Minister of Justice Bi Qiang, Hanlin Compiler Shen Yiguan, and eight others had privately colluded with Jia Daiwen and Hu Xiao, dabbled in prophecies, and formed factions for personal gain, with crimes warranting execution of their clans to the third degree.

【TN: Clan punishment extended to family members by degrees of relationship - third degree (immediate family), ninth degree (distant relatives)】

The court erupted in uproar. Ministers looked about, only to discover these men had not attended court at all.

Without allowing time for a court conference, all Nine Ministers concurred. The Senior Grand Secretary, the Associate Grand Secretary, and other auxiliary ministers of the Grand Secretariat approved the draft opinion and submitted it to the emperor.

After reviewing the memorial, the emperor returned it with the comment that these ten men were all pillars of the state and could not be so readily convicted. He ordered the Censorate, Ministry of Justice, and Grand Court of Revision to conduct a joint trial.

Eleventh month, fifth day.

Vice Censor-in-Chief Hai Rui submitted a memorial stating that the Wang Ruyan case involved extensive corruption in Lianghuai and requested permission to personally investigate in Lianghuai.

The emperor granted Vice Censor-in-Chief Hai Rui an imperial token, appointing him Imperial Commissioner-Grand Coordinator of Lianghuai salt administration, to work with Vice Minister of the Grand Court of Revision Chen Dong in thoroughly investigating the Wang Ruyan case.

Both men departed the capital that same day.

Eleventh month, seventh day.

After the Three Judicial Offices had interrogated Hu Xiao and the others for thirty-six hours continuously, all ten men confessed orally, signed their names, and affixed thumbprints. The Embroidered Uniform Guard also discovered letters in their residences, many containing treasonous language critical of the emperor.

With both testimony and material evidence complete, the Three Judicial Offices submitted the case, charging them with using prophecies to sow national chaos and secretly plotting rebellion, and requested the emperor's final decision.

The emperor, stating that the number of implicated individuals was excessive and such action was unworthy of an enlightened ruler, returned the matter to the Grand Secretariat for reconsideration.

At this, the Grand Secretariat and Nine Ministers were deeply moved by the emperor's sagely virtue and thus reduced punishment for the principal culprits to execution of their clans to the third degree, while the eight accomplices were sentenced to death.

On the same day, Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for War Cai Ruxian, Censor of the Huguang Circuit Chen Tang, Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Personnel Luo Zun, and others submitted a memorial pleading clemency for Hu Xiao.

They stated: "There are many forms of good governance for a ruler, but none surpasses rewarding a remonstrating minister; there are also many forms of flawed governance, but none exceeds dismissing a remonstrating minister. Hu Xiao holds the position of Censor; pointing out faults is his duty. Now, for a single phrase involving prophecy, he faces conviction of treason and execution. I fear that henceforth, many will speak with flattery while few will dare offend with direct words."

"We humbly implore Your Majesty to consider that his rashness was without ulterior motive, and to contemplate the dreadfulness of having all channels of speech blocked. Either grant him light punishment or restore him to his post. Then Your Majesty's sagely virtue will be widespread—this is the wish of your great ministers."

Vice Minister of Personnel Shen Shixing attached his name to the memorial, pleading for the ten men.

His Majesty, upon hearing this, was deeply moved.

He immediately issued another decree.

Cai Ruxian, native of Huating in Songjiang Prefecture of the Southern Directly-Administered Region, jinshi of the second year of the Longqing era, and Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for War, had remonstrated with reason and spoken with substance. He was promoted to Chief Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Revenue.

All remonstrating officials who had submitted this memorial were rewarded with the customary five taels of silver and granted a waiver of one year from their evaluation period.

Furthermore, stating that excessive killing harmed benevolence and virtue, and following the words of the remonstrating officials and Vice Minister Shen, he changed the crime of the ten men from treason to disloyalty. Only the two principal culprits would face execution; the remainder would be exiled.

With that, the matter was finally resolved.

…….

Imperial College.

"Director of Studies."

"Director of Studies Li."

Throughout his journey, Doctors of the Five Classics and Instructors all greeted Li Zhi.

Li Zhi returned their greetings perfunctorily and proceeded directly to the Libationer's duty office.

He pushed open the door and declared loudly, "Libationer Tao, His Majesty's verbal command specified that my salary would be doubled! Why do you not honor it? Is this not the crime of deceiving the sovereign?"

When the emperor had persuaded him to come, he had promised, "You will not be managed by others, your salary will be doubled, and you can pursue your studies in tranquility."

Now, it was true that no one managed him—his sole superior, Tao Dalin, was a cautious man who rarely offended anyone and would not even scold subordinates.

Apart from his reluctance to accept responsibility and tendency to retreat behind others when problems arose, he possessed virtually no other faults.

As for pursuing studies, it was indeed quite peaceful.

Imperial College affairs were not demanding, and almost no one disturbed Li Zhi.

But the problem remained: his salary had not been doubled as promised.

The Imperial College was an impoverished office. When salaries fell into arrears, the Imperial College suffered first. When he had been a Doctor of the Five Classics, his salary had been delayed for months at a time, and they had often paid him with Sichuan peppercorns.

【TN: Sichuan peppercorns are the dried husks of a prickly-ash berry famous for their citrusy aroma and tongue-tingling, numbing sensation. In the cash-strapped late-Ming era, low-ranking offices were sometimes paid “in kind”.】

He was truly unwilling to repeat the experience of poverty that had starved his wife and daughter to death.

Seeing the door burst open, Tao Dalin leaped to his feet. Recognizing Li Zhi, he relaxed.

Having endured Li Zhi's pestering for several days, he had grown accustomed to it and naturally understood the subject.

He spoke in gentle tones, "Director of Studies Li, why not inquire at the Ministry of Revenue? Our Imperial College salaries are all determined by the Ministry of Revenue. If you trouble me, I cannot conjure money from nothing."

Li Zhi was speechless. "You said that the day I reported for duty at the Imperial College. Afterward, I went to the Ministry of Revenue to inquire, and they requested the Ministry of Personnel's certificate."

Tao Dalin remained calm. "Then why not approach the Ministry of Personnel, Director of Studies Li?"

Li Zhi pursed his lips. "I went yesterday, and the Ministry of Personnel requested His Majesty's edict."

Tao Dalin rose, closed the door, and returned. "That is correct—where is the edict? The Ministry of Personnel cannot simply grant you double salary without cause."

Li Zhi removed his cap, revealing his closely cropped head. "It was a verbal command! How could there be a written edict?"

Tao Dalin quickly soothed him. "Then why not have the eunuch serve as witness?"

Li Zhi spoke irritably, "I went today, did I not? I just returned."

"They said the Forbidden City has been in chaos recently, clearing out the palace, and they have no time to address my concerns!"

Tao Dalin acted as though he shared the indignation. "Director of Studies Li has truly suffered."

Li Zhi, however, would not relent. "Libationer Tao is a court minister. What arrangements does His Majesty have for me? Why not inquire on my behalf?"

The emperor had summoned him, most likely not merely to have him idle at the Imperial College.

When he observed the emperor launching a new newspaper, he had immediately and keenly sensed that the sovereign was competing for the prestige and voice of both scholar-gentry and common people.

If his salary were to be doubled, there was likely another assignment awaiting him.

He could conceive of no other reason why the emperor would value him, apart from his identity as a heterodox disciple of the School of Mind.

The problem was that he had heard of a major incident in court recently. It was likely because of this matter that the emperor was preoccupied and had no time for his concerns.

This left Li Zhi somewhat uneasy. He feared the emperor had forgotten him.

The travel funds he had brought were insufficient to endure several months of salary arrears at the Imperial College.

He had previously visited the new academy seeking part-time employment, only to be expelled by Cheng Dawei, who claimed he lacked talent—which had greatly angered him.

Now he could only hope the emperor would remember him soon.

Tao Dalin remained unhurried, speaking calmly, "Director of Studies Li, do not be anxious. The capital is not as you imagine."

"After the trial implementation of the Law of Evaluation in the ninth month, both His Majesty and the Grand Secretariat have made clear that officials receiving excellent evaluations this quarter will not only have back pay fully compensated, but will also receive performance bonuses—sufficient for Director of Studies Li to live comfortably."

Li Zhi spoke helplessly, "Libationer Tao, do not attempt to placate me. I have seen the evaluation standards for Imperial College. We will be fortunate to achieve a passing grade."

For an impoverished office, producing results was naturally challenging.

Tao Dalin spoke gently, "A passing grade is not inadequate either. At minimum, it ensures full monthly payment in actual currency, no longer in treasure notes or Sichuan peppercorns."

The Great Ming's salary was actually sufficient—provided it was not in arrears and was paid in actual currency.

Li Zhi grew weary of Tao Dalin's evasiveness.

He ceased his appeals.

Rising to leave, he took two steps toward the door but finally could not restrain himself from one final plea, "If Libationer Tao has the opportunity, please inquire with His Majesty on my behalf."

Tao Dalin smiled and nodded.

Li Zhi could devise no method to deal with his smiling Buddha of a superior and departed, full of frustration.

Along the way, he encountered students greeting him again. Li Zhi forced a smile and returned their salutes individually, without the slightest perfunctoriness.

Seeing the hour was late, Li Zhi prepared to venture into the street for dinner.

Just as he was passing the Records Office, he suddenly saw the Supervisor from the Hall for Correcting Errors hurrying over.

"Director of Studies Li! Someone from the palace seeks you! They await you in the Hall for Correcting Errors!"

Without a word, Li Zhi headed directly for the Hall for Correcting Errors.

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