Chapter 24: Searching for Someone, Subjugation!

Prince Wu’s Mansion.

Night had fallen. Zhu Yuntong was lost in deep thought. Although Fang Xiaoru had been passed on to Zhu Yunwen, he still lacked a suitable mentor. This role was critical; it could not be taken lightly. Furthermore, having received the imperial decree to establish a newspaper, Zhu Yuntong found himself without an editor-in-chief. He knew his own limitations—his meager talents were enough for copying poetry, but he was far from qualified to lead a publication. To make matters worse, he had few connections among the civil officials and could not find a suitable candidate on such short notice.

An editor-in-chief required more than just literary talent and the ability to compose articles with ease. More importantly, they needed a sharp political mind, a keen sense of political maneuvering, and the ability to guide public opinion while deftly navigating the taboos of the Old Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang.

The "literary inquisitions" of the early Ming Dynasty were severe. The Emperor had risen from the ranks of the impoverished peasantry. On one hand, after securing the empire, he began to rely heavily on scholars to govern, showing them great respect. On the other hand, he remained deeply suspicious and sensitive, always believing that scholars looked down upon his humble origins. He feared they were prone to criticizing him through veiled metaphors, leading him to scrutinize their words with extreme suspicion and initiate brutal purges. Many had already lost their lives to these inquisitions.

The newspaper Zhu Yuntong planned to run was tasked with extolling the Emperor’s life and praising his monumental achievements. The slightest misstep could cause such praise to be perceived by malicious actors as "attacks and insults." If someone were to stir up trouble, the Emperor would likely raise his butcher's knife once again. Zhu Yuntong understood well that this was no easy task. Given the Emperor’s regard for his own kin, he—as the Imperial Grandson—would be safe, but the fate of those working for the paper was uncertain. One mistake could lead to execution or the ruin of an entire family. Zhu Yuntong did not want a good deed to turn into a catastrophe, nor did he want to incur his grandfather's displeasure instead of earning his favor. He needed an editor with exceptional ability and a razor-sharp political sense.

Who could it be?

He scanned the names in his mind. The first to cross his thoughts was the "demon monk" Yao Guangxiao. Among contemporary talents, none surpassed him in strategy and intellect. Unfortunately, Yao Guangxiao had already been snatched up by the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di. At least for the time being, Zhu Yuntong had no hope of securing him. As for others, most were already spoken for. Even worse, the officials in the imperial court were, for the most part, unwilling to pledge their loyalty to him. Even if he extended an olive branch, it would likely be ignored, especially after he had openly declared his intention to compete for the succession. Aside from the hereditary nobles and military officers who were naturally bound to his cause, the Confucian-educated civil officials all but avoided him. Only those talents still buried in obscurity might be willing to risk their future to join his service.

Truth be told, his options were slim.

Suddenly, his eyes brightened. He immediately summoned a trusted young eunuch. "Go to the Mansion of the Duke of Kaiguo on my behalf and pay a visit to the Duke."

"Ask him how his injuries are recovering," he instructed. After all, Chang Sheng was his uncle; sending someone to inquire after he had been punished with the cane was only appropriate. "Also, I have a task I need my uncle’s help with. Have him send men to Taihe, Ji'an, in Jiangxi province, to find a man named Yang Shiqi. He lost his father at a young age and lives with his mother. He may have sat for the provincial examinations but failed to pass. If you find him, bring him to Jinling immediately. Remember, this is of the utmost importance; tell my uncle he must treat it with gravity."

Yang Shiqi might not have the same reputation as Yao Guangxiao, and he had his shortcomings in governance, but he was undeniably prime ministerial material. At the very least, he would be more than qualified to serve as an editor-in-chief. Such men were adept at political infighting—otherwise, they could never have climbed to such heights—and would be perfect for acting as his strategist. Moreover, there were few talents left in the world who remained undiscovered by the imperial court.

The young eunuch, who had grown up alongside the original Zhu Yuntong, was entirely reliable. He accepted the order and departed immediately.

Yang Shiqi was the most suitable candidate Zhu Yuntong could conceive of. In history, he would go on to serve through five reigns and act as a Grand Secretary for over forty years. With his political acumen and scholarly depth, managing a newspaper would be trivial for him. Most importantly, at this moment, Yang Shiqi was obscure, not even a *juren* degree holder. As a commoner, he lacked the immense fame of a figure like Fang Xiaoru; if summoned, he would likely be willing to serve.

The reason he did not send his own men to Ji'an was that he lacked reliable personnel capable of such a long-distance mission. Having just moved into his own mansion, his staff was essentially a makeshift operation. The only eunuch with any competence, Zhao Rui, and the palace maid Ling'er, were spies planted by Lady Lü. Zhu Yuntong felt a sense of helplessness, but this was a temporary embarrassment caused by his recent separation from the main household. Given a few months, he could cultivate his own loyal and capable core team. But time did not wait; the project had to start now, so he had to rely on Chang Sheng. Not only would this demonstrate his trust in his uncle, but given the Duke’s status and the Chang family’s connections, finding one person should be an easy task.

However, he did need to start grooming his own inner circle. He could not be a Prince without a single reliable and capable servant. As he pondered this, he saw Zhao Rui hobbling into the room. The eunuch was clutching his buttocks, his face twisted in evident pain.

Zhu Yuntong observed him with a smile. "My invention of the rotary mimeograph has earned the Emperor's praise, and that is largely thanks to your diligent efforts. You have performed a great service, and I intend to reward you well." This was the truth; Zhao Rui’s efficiency in sourcing craftsmen and materials had been invaluable. If not for him, the machine would have taken days longer to complete. "I will reward you with a thousand taels of silver. Oh, and do you have any family? You may bring them to the mansion so they can be well cared for."

For a spy like Zhao Rui, controlling his family meant controlling his life. Under the guise of a reward, bringing them into the mansion might yield unexpected benefits.

To his surprise, Zhao Rui dropped to his knees with a heavy thud. "Your Highness, please spare me! I dare not accept such a reward!" he cried, his face streaming with tears.

Zhu Yuntong sipped his tea leisurely. "Did you get a taste of the cane?" He had guessed as much from the way Zhao Rui walked; Lady Lü must have punished him.

"Yes, Your Highness," Zhao Rui sobbed. When news of the mimeograph reached her, Lady Lü had immediately summoned him and had him severely beaten. In her eyes, his assistance to Zhu Yuntong was a shameless betrayal. He was her mole, yet he had become a "meritorious official" in the eyes of the Prince—it was a slap in the face.

Poor Zhao Rui felt more wronged than Dou E. Lady Lü had ordered him to keep the Prince distracted and obsessed with trifles, a task he had carried out perfectly. Who could have known the Prince’s toys would actually be so useful? Was that his fault? Lady Lü had punished him without listening to reason. If she didn't still need him to spy on the Prince, he would likely have been executed on the spot. Hearing that Zhu Yuntong wanted to reward him, he was terrified; if that news reached Lady Lü, he would surely be killed.

"You are a member of my household," Zhu Yuntong said, setting down his cup. "As long as you do not play both sides or work against me, no one but myself has the right to punish you. As for your family, I can bring them into the mansion; once they are working for my household, no one will be able to touch them. But if you remain stubborn and persist in serving others, I can find any excuse to have you beaten to death, and no one would dare speak for you. Think carefully about which path you choose."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Rui kowtowed heavily, weeping loudly. "Your Highness, I swear to follow you to the death. I will never harbor a disloyal thought again! If I do, may the heavens destroy me and my entire family!"

A smile tugged at the corner of Zhu Yuntong’s mouth. "A quick decision. Are you sure you don't need more time to consider?"

"Your Highness, I have considered it clearly," Zhao Rui replied. "From the first day I was sent to your side, I knew that my life was tied to yours. Even if I helped Lady Lü overthrow you, I am still one of your people. If you are punished, I will be punished alongside you. Lady Lü would never admit I was her spy, nor would she ever lift a finger to save me. Harming you is, in effect, harming myself. I understand this perfectly. But I dared not disobey her orders! If Your Highness will not cast me aside and will protect my family, I am willing to repay you with my life!"

Zhu Yuntong nodded slightly. This eunuch was truly a clever man; he saw things with crystal clarity. Excellent. Zhu Yuntong’s appreciation for him grew. "As long as you serve me with loyalty, I will not treat you poorly. Go tonight and bring your family into the mansion." Moving them tonight would not only catch Lady Lü off guard but also prove Zhao Rui’s sincerity.

"Thank you, Your Highness! I will attend to it at once." Zhao Rui was overjoyed, kowtowing repeatedly before hobbling out, ignoring the pain in his rear.

Just then, someone came to report from outside. "Your Highness, the Prince of Yan requests an audience!"