Chapter 57: The Bustling Secretariat of the Chancellery

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The people of the capital knew Ma Xun, the imperial uncle, as the one who had been summoned back by the emperor and empress at the beginning of the year. Truly worthy of being the empress’s brother, he was a master of medicine who cured both the empress and the crown prince. It was said that he also saved the critically ill General Chang Yuchun, rushing through the night across thousands of miles to break the siege of Qingyang.

To many officials or those aspiring to officialdom, what they knew was that this imperial uncle had been brought to the capital early in the year and had stayed in the palace for quite some time. Yet, shortly after opening his official residence outside the palace, he set off on a campaign lasting over half a year.

Now, naturally, the imperial uncle’s current busy affair was his marriage. Though he appeared close to those from Huai West, he was soon to wed the daughter of Liu Bowen from East Zhejiang. Some might say he was an unrefined countryman, but he had not only led troops into battle but also held a high official rank.

He was not a proper Huai West native, nor was there any conflict with the East Zhejiang faction. The emperor and empress seemed pleased to see this uncle connected to both major powers at court, yet not too close to either.

As for the current affairs at court, the issue was General Feng Sheng prematurely withdrawing his troops, which enraged the emperor and prompted the swift dispatch of General Xu Da to Qingyang. Another matter was the Left Chancellor Li Shanchang falling ill, with the emperor urgently sending imperial physicians to attend him. The Left Chancellor had again petitioned to retire.

The end of the second year of Hongwu was tumultuous, but it did not prevent the common people from living peaceful lives. The north had largely been pacified, and there were no significant enemies nearby, allowing people to focus on production and farming.

Ma Xun had indeed been busy lately, but not with ambitions for office—instead, he was engrossed in research.

“This distillation won’t do; it’s still not pure enough. It needs to be sterilized,” Ma Xun said with some disappointment, looking at the liquor in his hand. “I wanted medicinal alcohol, not just baijiu.”

Though alcohol’s main component is ethanol, there’s a crucial difference between medical alcohol and drinking liquor.

After another failed experiment, Ma Xun was unbothered. He was gradually setting up his own little workshop, able to pursue what interested him. The good news was that he had no worries about food or clothing, and even if his tools weren’t the most sophisticated, he could find substitutes.

Wangcai came running over, barking cheerfully.

Ma Xun immediately smiled. “It’s raining today; no going out.”

“Uncle!” Chang Mao came running like the wind. “Uncle, we have to leave!”

Ma Xun pointed outside. “It’s raining today; where would we go? Let’s wait for clear skies.”

Chang Mao quickly replied, “That won’t do—my mother said the Little New Year is near, and everyone will be busy. You’ll be attending court and observing rituals, so we can only see Auntie after the Lantern Festival.”

Ma Xun thought carefully—it was about twenty days away. “What rituals? The custom is to return to your wife’s home on the second day of the New Year, isn’t it?”

“Uncle, you’re not married yet,” Chang Mao teased. “If I weren’t shameless, you wouldn’t be visiting Auntie every few days.”

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Thinking it over, it made sense. Since it was just a light drizzle, no need for an oil-paper umbrella—just wear a straw raincoat.

Wangcai wanted to go out too, so he followed along, becoming a familiar sight in the capital.

If you saw a young man dressed lavishly riding a horse while leading a donkey, it had to be the imperial uncle Ma. If the young man had hair too short to be tied up in a formal crown and insisted on leading the donkey rather than riding it, that was still Ma Xun.

When Ma Xun and Chang Mao arrived, the guards of the Liu household took it in stride and naturally took the rope to arrange fine feed for Wangcai.

Upon seeing Ma Xun, Liu Lian said, “Imperial Uncle, the Little New Year is approaching.”

Ma Xun nodded in understanding. “I’m also busy with some matters. I came today mainly because this kid Chang Mao studies without understanding. My elder brother is quite versed in the classics; I’ll have him teach.”

Chang Mao was stunned. “I came for military strategy, not for learning the classics.”

Liu Lian sighed helplessly. “Imperial Uncle, don’t trouble Chang Mao. He won’t listen to lectures, and I can’t just leave you and your sister-in-law alone.”

Liu Shuning, bringing tea, blushed slightly because her betrothed was indeed somewhat reckless.

“Thank you, Auntie,” Chang Mao immediately stood up with a charming smile. “Auntie, when Uncle came back the day before yesterday, he was hoping for snow so you could enjoy the scenery together.”

Ma Xun rarely spoke without restraint, but many of his juniors seemed to be quite outspoken—there was Li Jinglong before, now Chang Mao, as well as the delicate Zhu Quan and Zhu Xiang.

Though Chang Mao and Liu Lian were like bright spotlights, it didn’t matter much—Ma Xun was not just there for romance.

Ma Xun had little interest in Liu Bowen’s literature or military strategy but was somewhat fascinated by astronomy.

Liu Bowen’s slight cough brought everyone in the main hall back to attention. Actually, Liu Lian was reading, and Chang Mao was dozing.

Liu Bowen looked at Ma Xun and asked, “Do you know about Chancellor Li’s wish to retire?”

Ma Xun thought for a moment. “I heard he wants to retire, but the emperor forbade it.”

Liu Bowen explained helplessly, “Of course the emperor forbade it. But now the imperial physicians have visited several times. Even if Chancellor Li isn’t sick, he must be by now. People over there say you diagnosed him as ill and that he must return home to recuperate.”

Ma Xun was stunned. “How was that my diagnosis? That’s the imperial medical bureau’s business. What does it have to do with me?”

Liu Bowen glanced at Ma Xun and said, “Chancellor Li is begging to retire and go home. Judging by the situation, he’ll be retired before the first month ends.”

Ma Xun casually replied, “I don’t know about that.”

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Liu Bowen sighed, “You’ve just come to the capital and only associate with a few families. Why involve yourself in these matters?”

Ma Xun was frank, “This isn’t up to me, nor anyone else. Uncle, I think Chancellor Li’s retirement would be a good thing.”

Liu Bowen asked, “Do you know whom the emperor intends to appoint as chancellor?”

Seeing Ma Xun shake his head, Liu Bowen felt a deep sense of helplessness.

This was Ma Xun’s uniqueness. No one could deny that the emperor and empress treated him well, but having grown up away, he had only been back for nearly a year. Yet he never interfered in court affairs, and aside from a few close families in Huai West, he had almost no contact with court officials.

Many tried to win him over, seeing him as a rustic countryman—though now an imperial uncle, still easy to influence or control.

But the result was that under the emperor and empress’s protection, he remained aloof and connected to various interest groups without being close to any. He could befriend anyone, yet also offend anyone.

Even Li Shanchang, the head of all officials, was now caught in a bind with no way out.

If you claim illness, the emperor sends the imperial uncle to diagnose you. If the uncle finds you ill, even if you cling to power, you must swallow your pride and accept it.

If you then say you’re not ill, what did your initial petition claiming illness mean?

Li Shanchang must retire, whether he wants to or not. Now it’s a matter of when the emperor will make that decision.

“Yang Xian!” Liu Bowen slowly said, “If Chancellor Li retires, Yang Xian is the most likely candidate for Left Chancellor.”

Liu Lian’s face brightened. “Father, Yang is close to you.”

“That’s of no use. He has the ability but lacks the magnanimity,” Liu Bowen said, looking at Ma Xun. “This Lord Yang came early from Taiyuan, is capable and efficient, but if he becomes chancellor, there will definitely be a power struggle.”

Ma Xun suddenly thought this was quite good. Yang Xian was a northerner, and the Secretariat would become lively indeed.

With Liu Bowen from East Zhejiang, Hu Weiyong from Huai West—seemingly at odds with Wang Guangyang—and now Yang Xian from the north, the Secretariat was bound to be bustling.

But this had nothing to do with Ma Xun. He would not enter the Secretariat anytime soon, knowing it wasn’t a good place to be.

To become chancellor was the ultimate dream for many embarking on official careers, but in the Ming dynasty, it only meant being remembered as the last chancellor in history!