Chapter 55 The Secret is Out

Probably guessing what Ma Xun was thinking, Empress Ma said, "You are the imperial brother-in-law. Do you know what that means?"

Ma Xun smiled and replied, "Glory, wealth, and prestige, I suppose. Civil and military officials, dukes and marquises alike, will all have to show me some respect."

Empress Ma said earnestly, "Since you understand this and know you are entitled to such wealth and glory, heed this: if you were an arrogant and unruly person, your brother-in-law and I would find a way to settle you down. It wouldn't hurt the Great Ming to keep a good-for-nothing alive."

Ma Xun quickly responded, "Sister, I'm not much better than a good-for-nothing."

"You are just cowardly and slick!" Empress Ma retorted directly. "You are afraid that one day your brother-in-law might want to kill you, afraid that I might disown you as my younger brother, and worried that your descendants won't be able to secure their futures!"

Ma Xun was at a loss for words for a moment, but then said, "I hadn't thought quite that deeply. I simply don't like clever people like Chancellor Li."

Hearing Ma Xun speak from the heart, Empress Ma felt a brief sense of comfort. In the past, her younger brother would never talk about such matters, acting as though he couldn't trust anyone at all.

Empress Ma asked with a serious expression, "If you only want to live a life of idleness, that is fine too, as long as you tell me. Once you say the word, no one will interfere with your eating, drinking, making merry, or idling away your time. Whether they are civil or military officials, none of them will be allowed to cross your threshold."

For a split second, Ma Xun was tempted, but after thinking it over, he said, "I still want to accomplish something. I just don't wish to be too deeply entangled in court politics."

Though it sounded somewhat affected, Empress Ma could understand it—it was nothing more than a desire to avoid being dragged into the factional struggles of the court.

Empress Ma said earnestly, "Do you know why your brother-in-law wants you to take charge of the Imperial Academy?"

Seeing Ma Xun shake his head, Empress Ma continued, "Your brother-in-law doesn't have many scholars at his disposal. Now that he is setting out to govern the empire, he needs scholars. You tell me, apart from the men of Eastern Zhejiang, who else is there?"

"Aren't the students of the Imperial Academy from all over the country?" Ma Xun asked, puzzled. "I heard that prefectures and provinces recommend students to the Imperial Academy. How could they all be from Eastern Zhejiang?"

"There are many men from Eastern Zhejiang, and they hold high positions!" Empress Ma said bluntly. "It's difficult for people from anywhere else to get ahead. Must our Great Ming eventually end up like the Song dynasty, plagued by factional strife and regional prejudices?"

Yes, there undoubtedly would be. Regional bias would exist no matter the era.

However, when it came to matters involving factional strife, one could not take it lightly and had to handle it with extreme caution.

Empress Ma went on, "Your brother-in-law never worries about military affairs. No matter how many hidden agendas some people might have, your brother-in-law can keep them under control. Now that the state has been established, governing it is the hard part. You must help me cultivate a batch of true officials for the Great Ming!"

A wave of pressure instantly washed over Ma Xun. "Sister, how could I possibly have such an ability!"

"I'm not asking you to teach books; I'm asking you to keep a close eye so these scholars aren't led astray!" Empress Ma said even more bluntly. "The officials currently under your brother-in-law are either frustrated scholars who failed to make their mark like Chancellor Li, or former officials who once served the Yuan dynasty like your father-in-law. These men can be used, but they cannot be relied upon forever!"

Ma Xun digested this carefully, then asked, "You mean to cultivate a batch of officials who truly belong to the Great Ming?"

Empress Ma smiled and nodded, "This batch of people must be properly taught. Right now, most of the officials in the Great Ming are holdovers from the former Yuan. Once we have enough officials of our own, many things will become much easier."

Not having enough officials—this was the persistent dilemma Zhu Yuanzhang faced.

His territory was growing larger by the day. Conquering land was easy, but governing it was another matter entirely. Apart from the very few who voluntarily surrendered, the majority of the time, once a territory was taken, the former officials were simply left in their posts.

Naturally, Zhu Yuanzhang could not feel at ease with this arrangement. He needed to cultivate his own civil bureaucracy rather than relying on a group of officials who seemingly served the Great Ming only out of helpless necessity.

Especially since most of these officials were at the grassroots level, dealing directly with the populace, which inevitably gave rise to anxiety—given that the governance during the Yuan dynasty could be described as utterly corrupt.

Seeing Ma Xun deep in thought, Empress Ma added, "You needn't worry about entering the Secretariat; it's not your turn to step forward yet. Nor do you need to worry about Chancellor Li. He is already fifty-six and hasn't been in good health lately."

Not in good health?

Chancellor Li’s poor health seemed to flare up strictly on a cyclical basis. Who knew how long he might live if no unexpected accidents befell him?

Empress Ma smiled and told Ma Xun, "You may maintain ordinary social ties with Chancellor Li, but you are strictly forbidden from associating with Hu Weiyong, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. That man was recommended by Chancellor Li; he is capable, but he is also full of ambition."

Ma Xun nodded repeatedly, resolving that he would certainly have nothing to do with Hu Weiyong and would stay as far away from him as possible.

"Yang Xian and the other Left Assistant Administrators of the Secretariat—you are not to associate with them either," Empress Ma stated flatly. "Aside from those in the military, you can ignore everyone else in the Secretariat altogether."

Just as Empress Ma was continuing to guide Ma Xun through the intricate landscape of court politics, she suddenly saw Zhu Yuanzhang striding over in a towering rage.

"Look at this! Just look at this!" Zhu Yuanzhang slammed a letter heavily onto the table. "Mu Ying has defied military orders! What an impressive display of arrogance!"

Empress Ma was startled. "Surely not? Wenying is not that kind of person."

"He wouldn't dare, but someone else certainly does!" Zhu Yuanzhang said with utmost fury. "Returning the army without an imperial edict, and even trying to enforce military law—does Feng Zongyi think I wouldn't dare execute him?"

Empress Ma’s face turned ashen. After reading the letter in which Feng Sheng impeached Mu Ying, she naturally saw the joint report submitted by Mu Ying and the others as well.

"Chongba, you must issue an edict immediately, or the Guanzhong and Longxi campaigns will have been fought in vain," Empress Ma said at once. "Send Tiande back immediately. I simply cannot trust this Feng Sheng anymore."

Zhu Yuanzhang raged, "To withdraw troops in the dead of winter—leave it to him to come up with such an idea! If they retreat now, are we still going to fight Wang Baobao or not?"

Ma Xun quickly asked, "Brother-in-law, is there no major crisis in Guanzhong and Longxi?"

"The problem shouldn't be too severe; Feng Sheng only took a portion of the troops with him," Zhu Yuanzhang said, breathing heavily. "It's a good thing you are the kind of person who always expects the worst in others, otherwise this would have ruined a major enterprise!"

Ma Xun wasn't sure whether this was meant as praise or criticism, but as long as the situation wasn't too dire, that was good enough.

Empress Ma, still shaken, remarked, "Although Feng Sheng has repeatedly made small mistakes in the past, this trip has simply been far too lawless."

Zhu Yuanzhang said angrily, "Just because he has achieved a modicum of success, he thinks the Great Ming was conquered by him alone, and that no one else can defeat Wang Baobao! Such arrogant and unruly generals—I will deal with them severely sooner or later!"

"And to think I was just telling my little brother that the military is securely under your control and he needn't worry, only for Feng Sheng to pull a stunt like this!" Empress Ma said, her lingering anger still palpable. "These arrogant and unruly generals cannot be left unchecked; it's time to establish strict rules for them."

In recognition of their merits, they were naturally granted titles of marquises and generals, along with rewards of gold, silver, and jewels.

However, they must never become arrogant because of their achievements, nor should they repeatedly test the emperor's bottom line by virtue of their past services.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Ma Xun and asked, "Instead of going to your father-in-law or Xu Da, you came to have your sister teach you how to be an official?"

Empress Ma immediately stepped in to shield him. "We were just talking about him, so don't start lecturing him now. If you say too much, he won't dare enter the palace again, and it's been so hard for us to grow closer."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Ma Xun and said, "Little brother, you are my brother-in-law. There are some things you cannot avoid. Whether you like it or not, these matters will eventually come knocking at your door."

Ma Xun understood well enough. "I already told my sister just now that I was being too petty-minded before."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "I don't blame you. If you weren't cautious, you wouldn't have survived until now. I only want to tell you this: your sister is the empress, and your nephew is the crown prince. You must protect your nephew!"

Ma Xun instinctively blurted out, "Then give me an official post in the Eastern Palace."

Zhu Yuanzhang beamed with joy, and Empress Ma quickly chimed in, "Earlier, I was afraid you would overthink things, so I didn't mention it. Once you are married, we will appoint you as Grand Preceptor of the Crown Prince, making it convenient for you to come and go in the Eastern Palace. You must spend more time interacting with Biao'er!"

The Great Ming currently only had the 'Three Junior Preceptors of the Crown Prince', rather than the Three Senior Preceptors.

In other words, by receiving such an honorary title, Ma Xun would hold a rank equivalent to Chancellor Li, and the same level as Xu Da (Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince) and Chang Yuchun (Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince).

While such honorary titles naturally did not represent substantive bureaucratic rank or actual executive power, titles symbolizing such supreme glory and status were more than enough to signify a person's weight in the emperor's heart and their future plans.

Grand Preceptor?

I am supposed to impart knowledge to the Crown Prince?