Chapter Fifteen: Why Use a Sledgehammer to Crack a Nut?

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Zhu Yijun stepped out of the rear door of the Wenhua Hall, shook off something from his sleeve, and handed two sheets of paper to Feng Bao. He said, “Feng Dabian, I have two tasks for you. Have these two items crafted well—one will be needed tonight, the other by tomorrow.”

Feng Bao took the two sheets, glanced over them, and saw that they were the emperor’s doodles made during the court lectures at Wenhua Hall. The lines were extremely precise, with measurements, details, and explanations of their purposes. One blueprint depicted a slender pen; the other showed a set of knives.

The pen was to be slender and refined; the knives, sharp and precise.

“After reporting to the Empress Dowager, I shall personally go to the Armory Bureau to forge these two items. The emperor has given the order—I will lay down my life to fulfill it!” Feng Bao accepted the blueprints and suddenly knelt, bowing with solemn respect.

Feng Bao’s sudden deep bow was significant—this was the first task entrusted to him by the emperor since the assassination attempt on the king. This signified trust. Being entrusted by His Majesty meant his position as Grand Eunuch could be maintained.

The emperor was still young but would inevitably grow.

Since the assassination attempt, the emperor first used Empress Dowager Li’s doubts about Feng Bao to strip him of the eunuch authority over the Qianqing Palace. Then, through Zhang Hong’s disguise, he cleared Wang Zhanglong’s suspicion of framing him. Now, he skillfully engaged in exchanges with the outer court, forcing Zhang Juzheng to stand opposed to the civil officials.

In Feng Bao’s eyes, this round of political bargaining aimed chiefly to compel Zhang Juzheng to commit a deed so outrageous it would incite universal outrage. Even if Zhang Juzheng lacked loyalty and sought to emulate Gao Gong’s insubordination, he would have to consider whether he was capable of such defiance.

The Dissection Institute was a matter that violated the core Confucian virtues and disrupted heavenly harmony, yet it was spearheaded by Zhang Juzheng.

With such a notorious reputation, Zhang Juzheng had no choice but to rely more heavily on imperial authority.

This was Feng Bao’s perspective.

Zhu Yijun, however, believed that the Dissection Institute itself was the greatest achievement of the case, as it could greatly advance medical progress in the Ming Dynasty.

The institute would undoubtedly attract countless voices of doubt—talk of declining morals, the erosion of ancient virtues, the collapse of rites and music would be incessant. Petitions opposing the institute would snowball onto his imperial desk.

All of this was to be handled by Zhang Juzheng. If he could not suppress even these small waves of opposition, what use was he as a chief minister?

“Zhang Hong,” Zhu Yijun told Feng Bao to rise, then turned to the eunuch standing on the right.

“I am here,” Zhang Hong replied, already bowing slightly and stepping forward to whisper.

Zhu Yijun smiled openly and said, “Learn more from Feng Dabian. Today in court, Feng Dabian scolded Ge Shouli with eloquence and references, leaving him speechless. This is the benefit of scholarship—study more in the future.”

“Sharp-tongued officials must be defeated in their own expertise!”

“I obey the order.”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s praise!” Feng Bao’s face lit up. Twice praised by the emperor—that was immense affirmation.

Due to the assassination case, Empress Dowager Li no longer trusted him as before, and the emperor frequently admonished him. If this continued, could he still maintain his position as Grand Eunuch?

That afternoon, Zhu Yijun arrived promptly at the martial training grounds to practice martial arts, still beginning with tendon loosening and standing meditation, letting out continuous cries of pain.

After standing meditation, Zhu Yijun felt his leg tendons twitch incessantly. Imperial physician Chen Shigong took his pulse and said it was nothing serious—mainly because the emperor was a bit overweight.

This was related to the Wanli Emperor’s diet; he favored sweets and disliked exercise. At ten years old, he weighed about a hundred jin, so standing meditation was naturally more strenuous for him.

Chen Shigong advised increasing lean meat intake, reducing sweets, losing weight and building muscle—control the diet, increase activity.

Zhu Yijun told Chen Shigong about the Dissection Institute. The famed surgeon of the Ming was both surprised and pleased.

He had entered the Imperial Medical Academy to advance medical knowledge. After three years reading all the academy’s books, he had achieved his goal and was preparing, like Li Shizhen, to resign and travel the world to improve his skills.

At this moment, His Majesty gave him another choice.

Surprise came from the young emperor’s ruthlessness—these were living people.

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Joy came from the young emperor providing another path for medical progress.

Chen Shigong quickly convinced himself that under imperial rule, Wang Zhanglong dared to attempt regicide; Chen Hong, a palace eunuch, dared to betray his lord—these were unpardonable crimes against Confucian morality. Could they still be called human?

Since not human, treat the culprits like animals.

Such prime material, to hand over to the executioner for slow dismemberment, would be a waste.

“Your Majesty, perhaps the execution need not be observed?” Chen Shigong humbly proposed. The emperor overseeing the execution made him nervous; the bloody scene might frighten the young emperor.

Zhu Yijun shook his head. “If I have time, then I shall go see.”

While Zhu Yijun was diligently training, Empress Dowager Li listened to Feng Bao’s report and smiled, saying, “His Majesty praised you; you shall be rewarded fifty taels of silver from the inner treasury.”

She took a tally stick from a palace maid—a vermilion stick with a golden band at the top—each one allowed withdrawal of fifty taels.

“Thank you for the Empress Dowager’s grace,” Feng Bao said joyfully.

Though the emperor did not control finances and could not grant monetary rewards, the Empress Dowager’s favor delighted Feng Bao beyond measure.

Most importantly, this reward signaled to the entire palace that Feng Bao was still deeply trusted by both the Empress Dowager and His Majesty. That was the key—power secured, wealth was but a small matter.

In Feng Bao’s report to the Empress Dowager, the court debate section focused primarily on his vehement rebuke of Ge Shouli, pleasing the Empress Dowager—a necessary exercise.

Regarding the post-lecture exchanges between the young emperor and Zhang Juzheng, Feng Bao’s report attacked the Jin faction’s usurpation of imperial authority and lamented the uneasy peace behind the scenes.

As for the Dissection Institute, which aroused universal wrath and was shunned by gods and men alike, Feng Bao interpreted it as Zhang Juzheng’s declaration that he would not merge with the Jin faction, or, in other words, would not join the ministers in restricting imperial power like Gao Gong.

“Must it cease entirely?” The Empress Dowager spoke with some reluctance.

Though Zhang Juzheng’s deed was outrageous, his choice to fully side with the emperor brought a long sigh of relief.

Zhang Juzheng was more formidable than Gao Gong. If he too followed Gao Gong’s example, how could an orphaned young emperor and his mother hold the realm?

Yet those lawless ministers went unpunished, leaving the Empress Dowager deeply frustrated.

Feng Bao could only say helplessly, “The chief minister acts with restraint, all his thoughts are for the Ming, for His Majesty. The minister does not want the realm to be a tattered, battered Ming when the emperor finally assumes full power.”

“The Ming cannot endure such turmoil. Gao Gong wasted the late emperor’s trust.” The Empress Dowager’s feelings toward Gao Gong were complicated.

Gao Gong, who had assisted her late husband, had some loyalty while the emperor lived. After his passing, relying on the Jin faction and party members throughout the court, he sought to limit the emperor’s review of memorials—a thing the Empress Dowager would never tolerate.

At this stage of the case, regardless of the truth, the official verdict had to be that Chen Hong, the treacherous eunuch, was deceived by a forged letter, believing he colluded with the fallen former chief minister Gao Gong, and committed this grave crime out of resentment over lost power.

This was the official stance.

Zhang Juzheng had already indicated his preference for peace. Should the Empress Dowager insist on pursuing the matter, it would push the new chief minister Zhang Juzheng entirely into the Jin faction’s camp.

The Jin faction had long courted Zhang Juzheng, even within the palace, the Empress Dowager had heard whispers.

She was quite satisfied with Zhang Juzheng’s attitude—seeking power without fame was just right, unlike Wang Mang who sought both.

Letting Gao Gong go in exchange for Zhang Juzheng’s allegiance, trading political interests for political interests—this was a tactic the Empress Dowager had clumsily learned since the late emperor’s passing.

“Child, are you tired?” The Empress Dowager looked at Zhu Yijun’s limping figure. Yesterday he limped heavily; today, after tendon loosening and standing meditation, he limped lightly.

Learning some martial arts to protect oneself was not bad. In these turbulent and declining times, every bit of self-defense skill mattered.

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Zhu Yijun shook his head, blinking his big eyes. “I am a bit tired, but Imperial Physician Chen said I have to keep moving. Children who move more grow taller.”

The Empress Dowager waved her hand, signaling Feng Bao to withdraw. She had accepted the political bargain—she did not want the emperor to inherit a broken Ming.

After Feng Bao reported the details of the Wenhua Hall proceedings to the Empress Dowager, he headed straight for the Armory Bureau. He would personally oversee the crafting of the emperor’s requests.

“What did the emperor study today?” The Empress Dowager asked about his lessons. Yesterday Zhang Juzheng had praised Zhu Yijun’s studies; today there was no praise, which puzzled her.

“We studied the story of ‘using an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken,’” Zhu Yijun knew the Empress Dowager was testing his knowledge. She was the primary guardian of the young emperor’s education. The court lecture lasted an hour, covering much material; he selected one passage to recount.

“Confucius once traveled to Wucheng in Yanzhou. Everywhere he went, the sounds of zithers and songs could be heard. At that time, the county magistrate of Wucheng was Confucius’ disciple Ziyou. When Confucius met Ziyou, he smiled and said: ‘Wucheng is a small town; why use the grand rites and music? Isn’t that like using an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken?’”

“Ziyou didn’t realize Confucius was using him to teach the disciples. He replied: ‘Gentlemen learn the way to love people; petty men learn the way to be easily used.’ Meaning: the master advocates universal education; though Wucheng is small, as Ziyou studies under the sage, he dares not neglect teaching the people of Wucheng rites and music.”

“Confucius then told all the disciples: ‘Ziyou speaks rightly. My previous words were just a jest.’”

The Empress Dowager finally understood the origin of the saying “using an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken.” She asked, “How did Chief Minister Zhang interpret this?”

Zhu Yijun answered confidently, “Chief Minister Zhang said: ‘The late emperor of Shu Han, Emperor Zhaolie, left a will: Do not commit small evils thinking them insignificant; do not neglect small good deeds thinking them unimportant. Only the worthy and virtuous can win the people.’”

“Even the smallest evils should not be done, as small evils accumulate into great ones; even the smallest good deeds should be done, as small goodness accumulates into great virtue.”

“And what does Your Majesty think?” The Empress Dowager nodded repeatedly, pleased that Zhang Juzheng was earnestly guiding the emperor’s studies.

Zhu Yijun pondered and said, “Chief Minister Zhang is correct.”

“Ah? Haha.” The Empress Dowager covered her mouth with a light smile. Zhu Yijun’s answer was both expected and surprisingly mature, eliciting a gentle laugh.

Zhang Juzheng was a proper scholar, well-versed in the classics. The worry was about some ministers, who despite their learning, spoke nonsense, reversed right and wrong, and confused matters.

Zhu Yijun then solemnly replied, “I asked Chief Minister Zhang: does ‘gentleman’ refer only to the sovereign? He said: ‘A gentleman is one who governs people.’ That is, those who manage the state—not just the monarch.”

“I also asked: if a gentleman does evil, does small evil become great evil, and small good become great good? He answered: Yes.”

“I understand this as: ‘A gentleman governs people; if a gentleman does evil, the nation suffers greatly; if a gentleman does good, the nation prospers. Hence, a gentleman studies the way to love people.’”

“The chief minister fell silent for a long moment and said: ‘Now that there is a wise ruler, I will do my utmost to assist and continue the ancestral legacy, uphold the great order, and eradicate rebellion.’”

The Empress Dowager’s eyes brightened upon hearing this. She smiled and said, “Very good, very good. My son is intelligent. Previously, those ministers all had their own reasons and confused him.”

When a child struggles in school, it is often blamed on poor teaching. This logic fit perfectly with Zhu Yijun’s situation. A ten-year-old child, encountering multiple interpretations from different teachers, would naturally be bewildered. Even Zhang Juzheng was at times confused; the young emperor, all the more so.

The Empress Dowager tested him with a few more questions. Zhu Yijun explained according to the classics, Zhang Juzheng’s commentary, his own understanding, and the chief minister’s evaluation, following a clear narrative structure.

The court reader compiled the records of today’s court lecture and presented them to the Empress Dowager.

After examination, she nodded repeatedly. Though the child practiced martial arts and was somewhat distracted, his studies were not neglected.

Most importantly, Zhu Yijun’s scholarship had received the chief minister’s approval and recognition.

Zhu Yijun was very relieved that the Empress Dowager agreed to the peaceful resolution. He had prepared arguments to persuade her but found she did not insist on punishment. This eased his mind.

Dealing with the deeply entrenched Jin faction in court was the priority.