Chapter 26: Seeking No Title of Nobility, Only Peace Across the Seas

Why did Zhu Yijun not suspect that Ge Shouli was acting on behalf of the Jin Party?

Because when it comes to charging into battle and attacking the Senior Grand Secretary, the most logical procedure is for the censors of the Censorate to lead the charge, rather than Ge Shouli—the Chief Censor himself—rushing in and throwing his position away.

Ge Shouli’s suspicions, his doubts, and his interrogations were all based on one fundamental premise: that Zhang Juzheng was "pointing at a deer and calling it a horse."

Zhu Yijun had once inquired about crop yields from an old farmer. Ge Shouli, having served as the Minister of Revenue for the Ming Dynasty, should have had some understanding of agricultural output. Therefore, the moment he heard claims of yields exceeding a thousand catties per mu, his mind immediately leaped to the conclusion that Zhang Juzheng was abusing his power and trampling upon imperial authority.

Zhang Juzheng, as Senior Grand Secretary, was indeed acting somewhat imperiously.

In the north of the Ming Dynasty, a mu of land typically yielded wheat in the summer and millet in the autumn, totaling a little over two shi, or approximately three hundred catties. In the south, where one might harvest rice in the summer and rice, wheat, or beans in the autumn, a mu could yield about four shi, or roughly five hundred and seventy catties.

What did Luo Gongchen say? He claimed yields of several dozen shi. Even if it were fifteen shi, what kind of concept was that? Even if potatoes or sweet potatoes didn't taste good, they were still food. When people are starving, who cares about taste?

In Ge Shouli’s eyes, if this wasn't Zhang Juzheng "pointing at a deer and calling it a horse," then what was it?

Not to mention Ge Shouli, few ministers in the court believed it either. If Zhu Yijun did not know that these yellowish, earthy lumps could truly produce dozens of shi, he would also have thought that Zhang Juzheng was exaggerating and colluding with Luo Gongchen to deceive the sovereign.

Zhu Yijun smiled and said, "Chief Censor Ge, Vice Prefect Luo presented such an auspicious omen for the sake of the Ming Empire. Since the planting has already begun, why not wait for the results before passing judgment?"

"Your Majesty, your subjects are terrified." Ge Shouli flicked his sleeves, knelt on the ground, performed the kowtow ceremony of five bows and three knocks, and said with tears streaming down his face.

Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and asked, "Does Chief Censor Ge farm? I have some doubts regarding the matter and would like to seek your counsel."

Ge Shouli was momentarily stunned. He stammered, "Your subject... does not engage in agriculture."

"Then never mind. You may continue with your discussions." Zhu Yijun waved his hand dismissively, signaling for Ge Shouli to rise and take his seat.

Ge Shouli stood up, dazed, and sat back in his place, only then realizing that he seemed to have walked into a trap.

This impeachment attempt by the Chief Censor of the Censorate against the Senior Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Hall thus ended in nothing, with the Emperor favoring one side.

As Ge Shouli regained his composure, he realized where his error lay. He had been talking about rules, while the Emperor had been talking to him about facts. He had spoken incessantly about "shouldering the heavy burden of restoration," yet he could not even answer the doubts of a ten-year-old Emperor. If so, what was there to talk about regarding "assisting the throne"?

The court session continued, and the matter of Qi Jiguang escorting the nephew of Dong Hu-li back to the capital was put on the agenda.

Zhang Juzheng’s intention was for Qi to enter through the Desheng Gate and receive his reward at the Fengtian Hall. However, Yang Bo proposed that Qi Jiguang hand over the prisoner at the North Earth City, receive his reward there, and immediately return to Jizhou. His reasoning was the fear that the Northern Barbarians might invade the borders again; as a regional commander, Qi Jiguang needed to return as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, Minister of Rites Lu Shusheng also expressed opposition to Qi Jiguang entering the city, arguing that for a border general to enter the city without cause was contrary to propriety.

Zhu Yijun found this extremely amusing. On one side, Tan Lun of the Jin Party had defected to join forces with Zhang Juzheng, while on the other, Lu Shusheng, whom Zhang Juzheng had promoted, had stabbed him in the back by playing nice with the Jin Party.

Lu Shusheng was a native of Huating in Songjiang Prefecture—the same Huating as the Ming Senior Grand Secretary Xu Jie. Lu was a fellow townsman of Xu Jie, and when Xu Jie presided over the Hanlin Academy, he was the teacher of both Zhang Juzheng and Lu Shusheng.

After more than a decade of trials and tribulations, the "Xu Party" that had once toppled Yan Song was long gone, and those who remained in the court had mostly thrown themselves into the arms of either the Jin Party or the Zhang Party.

Zhang Juzheng and Lu Shusheng shared the bond of being former classmates. Thus, after the Emperor Longqing passed away and the position of Minister of Rites became vacant, Lu Shusheng became the Minister of Rites upon Zhang Juzheng’s recommendation.

And yet, in the matters of Luo Gongchen’s attempt to collect taxes on foreign ships, Qi Jiguang’s return to the capital to receive rewards, and the Emperor’s personal interest in agriculture, Lu Shusheng had dealt Zhang Juzheng three severe backstabs.

Zhang Juzheng did not dwell on this too much and continued to preside over the court session until its conclusion.

"Your Majesty’s holy body is in good health; we take our leave." The ministers performed the rituals and began to withdraw from the Wenhua Hall, while the Readers-in-waiting, Lecturers-in-waiting, and Book-exhibiting officials began to enter.

Zhang Juzheng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have someone to recommend. This person comes from a farming background, is familiar with agricultural affairs, and possesses extraordinary insight into such matters. He is a native of Guixi, Jiangxi, and a Jinshi from the fifth year of the Longqing reign."

"Has Master Senior Grand Secretary ever farmed?" Zhu Yijun asked, appearing not to care much.

Zhang Juzheng shook his head and said, "I farmed when I was very young, but after becoming a scholar, I never stepped foot in the fields again. Since Your Majesty has doubts that I cannot resolve, I recommend someone else."

"Oh? Since he is recommended by the Senior Grand Secretary, where is he now?" Zhu Yijun asked with a smile.

Zhang Juzheng bowed and said, "He is currently wandering in the capital."

Zhang Juzheng was from a military household. In the Ming Dynasty's military colonies, soldiers were expected to both garrison and farm, so Zhang had indeed done some farming as a child, but it was merely for play. After he began his studies, he abandoned farming to focus on his career. He became a Xiucai at twelve, a Juren at sixteen, and a Jinshi at twenty-three, never farming again.

The man he recommended, Xu Zhenming, had no ties to the Jin Party in the court, nor did he have much to do with Zhang Juzheng. He was a newly appointed Jinshi with a low ranking. In the Ming court, the relationship between an examiner and his students was a form of political factionalism, but those who placed low in the exams were not qualified to call the chief examiner their mentor. For instance, the chief examiner of the fifth year of Longqing was Zhang Siwei, but he was not Xu Zhenming’s mentor; even if Xu wanted to pay respects to Zhang Siwei, it was up to Zhang Siwei to accept him.

Xu Zhenming knew nothing else but land reclamation and water conservancy. When he served as a magistrate in Shanyin, Zhejiang, he reclaimed thirty-nine thousand mu of land in one year. Just as he intended to push forward with his efforts, he touched upon the interests of the powerful gentry in Shanyin and was obstructed. Coupled with impeachments from the censors, his work was completely halted.

Zhang Juzheng had read Xu Zhenming’s memorials; regardless of anything else, the man was an expert at farming. After being impeached, Xu Zhenming remained idle, traveling to the capital in hopes of finding someone to recommend him, but he found no way in. The court was divided between the Jin Party and the Zhang Party; neither Yang Bo nor Zhang Juzheng’s camp was a place where a low-ranking Jinshi who had served as a magistrate in Shanyin could easily attach himself.

Zhu Yijun nodded and said, "After I finish my martial arts practice today, have him come to Jingshan. I wish to see him."

Zhang Juzheng began the lecture. For one hour, half was devoted to the *Analects* and half to the *Mirror for Emperors*. Whenever there were doubts, Zhang Juzheng answered with extreme care, yet the questions posed by the Emperor were sometimes so sharp and tricky that even Zhang Juzheng, the Senior Grand Secretary, found them difficult to answer.

Zhang Juzheng sat upright and began, "The Master said: 'Do not be concerned that others do not recognize you; be concerned that you do not recognize others.'"

"The gentleman acts with sincerity; he does not do things to be recognized by others."

"Doing good deeds and fearing that the Emperor might not know, fearing that one might not obtain a title or office; having insights and not sharing them with others, fearing that others might steal one’s reputation—these are the worries of those who seek fame."

"The gentleman’s virtue, conduct, and learning reside within himself. Whether others know or approve is not a cause for concern, and it does not affect the gentleman’s actions."

"Your Majesty resides above the nine heavens. If you cannot distinguish who is virtuous and who is mediocre, if you cannot discern whether policies are beneficial or harmful, and if you are easily deceived, you must be vigilant."

"My interpretation: The way of the gentleman is to have no shame in his heart; to be independent and to maintain a pure heart as the foundation."

Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and asked, "Xu Zhenming reclaimed thirty-nine thousand mu of land. If a family of four requires twenty mu, he could support two thousand households—a population of ten thousand. He neither sought credit nor fame; can he be called a gentleman?"

"He is a gentleman," Zhang Juzheng replied quite solemnly. If Xu Zhenming were not a gentleman, Zhang would not have recommended him.

"Qi Jiguang has trained six thousand soldiers for three years, fought for over a decade to pacify the Japanese pirates, traveled thousands of miles without disturbing a single household, maintained strict discipline, and is famous both at home and abroad. Upon reaching Jizhou, he kept the Northern Barbarians beyond the Great Wall, yet his titles remain obscure; can he be called a gentleman?"

"He is a gentleman." Zhang Juzheng sensed something was amiss, but he answered the question directly. According to his military merits, Qi Jiguang should have been ennobled long ago, but where was his title? And what did Qi Jiguang himself say?

Qi Jiguang said: "Becoming a marquis is not my intent; I only wish for the seas to be calm."

Zhu Yijun wrote down the names of Xu Zhenming and Qi Jiguang. He stared at them for a long time before saying, "Xu Zhenming supports ten thousand people, seeking neither credit nor fame, yet he is now idle. Qi Jiguang campaigns north and south, pacifying pirates and resisting barbarians, yet has no title or official commendation."

"Master Senior Grand Secretary, teach me: why does Xu Zhenming have no path to seek redress? Why can Qi Jiguang, after escorting Dong Hu-li’s nephew to the capital, not enter the city to receive his reward, but must instead stop at the North Earth City, receive his reward, and hurry back without lingering?"

Indeed! Zhang Juzheng knew that lecturing the young Emperor could never be this smooth!

Zhang Juzheng pondered for a moment and said, "Xu Zhenming does not need to seek redress; he has already been recommended by me. And Commander Qi will not stay only at the North Earth City."

Xu Zhenming had no way to reach Zhang Juzheng; Zhang had thought of him only because he needed a professional when the Emperor asked about agriculture. As for the matter of border generals entering the city, Zhang Juzheng had already made plans.

Zhang Juzheng was being clever here. The Emperor used facts to question the rules, while Zhang avoided the rules to talk about facts. This was sophistry, but from the perspective of the rules, Zhang could not answer and could only try to be vague.

A smile curled at the corners of Zhu Yijun’s mouth; he could hear that Zhang Juzheng was being evasive.

Qi Jiguang was still considered lucky to have attached himself to Zhang Juzheng’s camp. Yu Dayou was also a famous general who had pacified the pirates and was known throughout the world for his military prowess, yet to this day, he was only a fourth-rank Assistant Commander. He could do nothing; the moment he tried to achieve something, impeachments from the censors followed. Yu was only two ranks higher than Luo Gongchen, the fifth-rank Coastal Defense Vice Prefect.

Zhu Yijun picked up the brush on the table, thought for a moment, and said, "To do things without forgetting one's original intent, to have a heart as firm as a rock, to work diligently and achieve results—this is the true gentleman. To rely on the sharpness of one's tongue, to create something out of nothing, to make trouble where there is none, and to deliberately create conflict—this is the true petty man. Who is a virtuous minister, who is a sycophant, whose actions benefit the Ming, and whose actions harm the Ming—by understanding others, one can use these standards to make a judgment."

"It is said: 'An original intent as firm as a rock, walking steadily to reach the distance—the true gentleman. The sharpness of the tongue, creating troubles in vain—the true petty man.' Who is to be advanced, who is to be retired, who causes loss, who brings benefit—know yourself and know others, and use this as a rule to act."

Zhang Juzheng pondered these words carefully before saying solemnly, "Your Majesty is wise."

Zhang Juzheng felt a sense of doubt. Feng Bao could not teach such principles, and the Empress Dowager Li could not teach such principles. Who had taught these things?

These principles were precisely those that he, Zhang Juzheng, and the Emperor had debated, word for word, during their audiences!

Zhang Juzheng thought it over and discovered that all these principles were things he had taught!