Chapter 47: The Governor Oversees Education

As they drew closer to the capital, Ma Xun felt none of the sentimental nostalgia typically associated with returning home.

He had no clear notion of where his true hometown lay, nor did he care much about it. He was content to take things as they came, as long as there was a roof over his head and a place to rest.

Still, returning to the capital brought him genuine pleasure—not only because friends and relatives awaited him here, but also because the living conditions were far superior.

Xu Da and the other officers and soldiers were visibly ecstatic. Having been away from the capital for far too long, the thought of reuniting with their families was near at hand.

Hardly had they crossed the Yangtze River when a scout came galloping up on a fast horse, shouting, "Reporting to the Grand General! His Highness the Crown Prince, accompanied by all the civil and military officials, is waiting outside Longjiang Pass to welcome the Grand General in triumph!"

Longjiang Pass was where the Longjiang Shipyard was situated, right by the harbor. Close by stood the Yifeng Gate, the western gate of Yingtian Prefecture, which boasted a total of thirteen gates.

Xu Da and his commanders immediately straightened their attire and accelerated their pace toward Longjiang Pass.

Prince Zhu Biao, with his jade-like complexion and refined, scholarly demeanor, stood smiling at the very front of the officials to welcome the victorious army.

Xu Da and the others leaped down from their saddles and strode forward quickly.

"Your humble servant Xu Da, returning by imperial decree, pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness live for ten thousand autumns."

Zhu Biao immediately stepped forward to support Xu Da by the forearm. "The Grand General has rendered monumental service on the Northern Expedition. When the news of victory arrived, His Imperial Majesty was exceedingly pleased and specifically commanded this prince to come and greet you."

Xu Da hastily replied with due humility, "This subject is overwhelmed with awe and trepidation!"

After helping Xu Da up, Zhu Biao took a few quick steps forward. "Uncle, please rise quickly! How could your nephew ever dare to accept such a grand bow from you?"

Ma Xun, being a sharp-witted man, immediately chimed in, "His Highness is the foundation of the Great Ming; this humble subject would never presume to overstep my bounds."

"Uncle!" Zhu Biao said with a touch of reproach in his voice. "If you speak thus, will you not place your nephew in an impossible position before His Majesty and the Empress? When I go to pay my respects at my grandfather's shrine, how could I ever show my face?"

Such words were meant only for polite discourse. Had Ma Xun remained standing upright at that moment, the memorials of impeachment from the waiting officials would have instantly overwhelmed the Emperor.

Even Empress Ma would have been implicated by association—how could she countenance a younger brother who showed disrespect to the foundational pillar of the state?

In private they could be as close as they pleased, but on formal occasions, proper etiquette had to be observed. That sense of propriety was essential.

Having helped Ma Xun to his feet, Zhu Biao then gestured for the accompanying generals and soldiers to rise as well.

Only then did he turn to Xu Da and say, "The Grand General has labored arduously and achieved great merit. Ordinarily, it should be this prince driving the carriage to welcome you into the city. However, since you are the commander-in-chief of the army, it is still most fitting for you to ride on horseback."

Naturally, no one had any objections. The Crown Prince coming personally to welcome them was proof of the Emperor's high regard for Xu Da. Had the Crown Prince actually driven the carriage, Xu Da would not have dared to sit inside anyway.

Zhu Biao then turned toward the gathered officials and commanded, "Second Brother, Third Brother, come forward and lead the horses for the Grand General and my uncle."

Both Xu Da and Ma Xun were cautious and modest men, and they hastened to decline. Although since ancient times there had been the supreme honor of having imperial princes drive carriages or lead horses, the time for that had not yet come.

Only when Wang Baobao was truly driven away or the Yuan Emperor captured would it be fitting to have imperial princes lead their horses; the Northern Expedition was not yet completely finished.

Since Xu Da and Ma Xun demurred, the arrangement shifted so that Zhu Biao rode at the very front, with Xu Da and Ma Xun following slightly behind him to his left and right, trailing by half a horse's length.

Princes Zhu Shuang and Zhu Jin followed behind on horseback, while Zhu Di rode proudly with a donkey in tow. The fifth prince, being too young, had not been permitted to leave the palace.

The grand procession passed through the Yifeng Gate and entered Yingtian Prefecture, heading straight toward Zhengyang Gate.

Along the way, countless citizens gathered to watch. Although the people of Yingtian had grown accustomed over the years to armies returning in triumph, this time was different—this was a triumphant return from the Northern Expedition, marking another glorious victory.

The northern territories had essentially been conquered, and the regions of Shaanxi and Gansu were secured. What a tremendous cause for celebration this was!

Prince Zhu Shuang suddenly urged his horse forward a few paces and whispered, "Uncle, Aunt must be right up ahead. Mother already sent people to inform her yesterday."

Ma Xun turned his head and murmured in a low voice, "Talk nonsense and you'll ruin her reputation."

Zhu Biao smiled and said to Ma Xun, "Uncle, Third Brother speaks the truth. The match was already settled some time ago; Uncle only needs to wait until after the Lantern Festival to be married."

Zhu Shuang eagerly claimed credit, "Uncle, I was the one who went to deliver the betrothal gifts on your behalf!"

Zhu Jin, burning with indignation, quickly chimed in, "Uncle, I went too! Second Brother was the chief emissary, and I was the companion."

My goodness, this efficiency was astonishingly fast!

Amidst this banter, Ma Xun caught sight of a carriage not far ahead. Lady Chang-Lan stood upon it happily waving her handkerchief, and standing right beside her was not Chang Wan, but Liu Shuning.

Just as Ma Xun was inwardly lamenting that he had not tidied up his appearance properly, he suddenly felt something was amiss.

Princes Zhu Shuang and Zhu Jin were each carrying a massive standard on their shoulders—bearing the emblematic inscriptions "Grand General Suppressor of the State" and "Ma."

Their swaggering, puffed-up airs were even more imposing than Ma Xun's own, and they thoroughly seemed to relish the citizens' discussions, curiosity, and awe.

This was far too high-profile; it was not what he wanted!

Outside the Hongwu Gate, the procession halted. Zhu Biao dismounted and raised a hand slightly, prompting a eunuch to step forward immediately.

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Whereas the Grand General, Right Chancellor, and Duke of Xinguo, Xu Da, has captured Shandong, Henan, Yan, Ji, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and other prefectures and counties, vanquishing the enemy and securing victory, uplifting the majesty of the state, pacifying the military and the populace, and displaying the true spirit of a great general, he is hereby awarded five hundred taels of fine white gold and fifty bolts of patterned silk!"

Xu Da immediately received the imperial decree and kowtowed in gratitude. This reward was neither too lavish nor too meager, and it served as a fitting confirmation of his achievements.

Zhu Biao continued reading the imperial decree: "Grand General Suppressor of the State Ma Xun has healed countless officers and soldiers, was the first to scale and breach city walls, and captured and executed enemy generals, thus claiming the foremost merit. He is awarded five hundred taels of fine white gold, fifty bolts of patterned silk, and is promoted to Right Administrator of the Grand Military Commission, concurrently administering the affairs of the National Academy!"

Ma Xun's brain short-circuited for a moment. Just like that, I am now the Right Administrator of the Grand Military Commission?

That placed him at the prestigious second rank, on par with the ministers of the Six Ministries!

What left Ma Xun even more speechless was that he was going to take charge of the supreme institution of learning in the Great Ming—the National Academy, which would soon become the Imperial Academy!

During the Yuan dynasty, there had already been an Imperial Academy in Beiping, and when Zhu Yuanzhou first established his capital in Jinling, he immediately converted the Yingtian Prefecture Academy into the National Academy.

After the capital was officially established, new school buildings were to be reconstructed beneath Jiming Mountain, and within a few years, it would be officially designated as the Imperial College.

Am I considered a civil official or a military general?

Yet, upon reflection, it was quite normal. Historically, Li Wenzhong simultaneously held authority in the Grand Military Commission while overseeing the affairs of the Imperial Academy, and Mei Yin, an imperial son-in-law, served as the Education Commissioner of Shandong.

In the early days of the Great Ming, many institutions were still incomplete. However, in the foundational years of most dynasties, military might outweighed civil governance, and it was entirely natural for the Emperor's most trusted confidants to manage vital government offices.

Still, Ma Xun suffered from a severe case of imposter syndrome. Men like Li Wenzhong and Mu Ying were versatile talents proficient in both civil and military arts. Mei Yin, although the nephew of Marquess of Runan Mei Sizu, was deeply read in the classics and well-versed in canonical principles—he simply could not compare to them!

Xu Da was genuinely happy for Ma Xun, as well as for himself.

After reading the imperial decree, Zhu Biao announced that apart from a very few commanders and officers who were permitted to enter the palace, the rest of the troops were to return to their camps.

Upon entering the palace grounds, Zhu Biao turned and instructed, "Uncle, go first to pay respects to Grandfather, and then you may head over to your brother-in-law's place."

Ma Xun had no objections. He cupped his fists in salute to Xu Da and said, "Brother Xu, I'll take my leave first."

Xu Da smiled and returned the salute. "Little Brother, remember that in a few days we must have a proper drink together. I'll bring Yungong along to your residence to pay a visit, so don't find us a nuisance."

Ma Xun hastened to offer polite assurances, and then led Zhu Zhu and the others toward the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Meanwhile, Zhu Biao and Xu Da walked together, chatting and laughing as they went to see the Emperor to report on affairs of state and military matters.

"Uncle, let's have someone send Wangcai back first," Zhu Di bounced forward and said. "We're going to pay respects to Grandfather; it wouldn't do to bring Wangcai along."

Naturally, Ma Xun had no objections and had someone lead Wangcai away.

Zhu Shuang was filled with endless curiosity and eager anticipation. "Uncle, was fighting in this war interesting?"

Zhu Jin eagerly chimed in as well, "Everyone says that Zhang Liangchen was a formidable rebel leader with seven sworn sons wielding seven spears. How on earth did you capture and execute them, Uncle?"

Ma Xun's face flushed red. "Most of his seven sworn sons died on the battlefield. Qingyang was surrounded by the Grand General and the others until they ran out of food and ammunition, and Zhang Liangchen and his son jumped into a well before being hauled up and beheaded."

Zhu Di immediately pressed further, "Uncle, then how did you manage to be the first to scale and breach the city wall? Did you charge ahead of your men, Uncle?"

Ma Xun's face turned even redder. He hadn't even known how the city wall was breached, and he hadn't even set foot inside Qingyang City!

It had to be said that Zhu Shuang and his brothers were all battle-hungry youths; whenever the topic of warfare came up, their faces would light up with excitement and longing.

They should go pay their respects first. The affairs of the battlefield could not be explained clearly in a short while anyway, so it was best not to spin tall tales for the children.