Chapter 36: Partisans of the Eastern Palace

"How bold!"

"How insolent!"

"A mere junior compiler dares to speak such wild words about lifting the maritime ban before the Emperor?"

"Is this the lack of decorum you were taught in the Hanlin Academy?"

Within the Wuyi Hall, a roar of indignation erupted in an instant.

Lu Ben, already frustrated by the day’s proceedings, reprimanded Zhang Juzheng publicly, his voice booming with fury: "Who taught a lowly junior compiler like you to sprout such nonsense before the Sage, defying the ancestral laws?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Zhi’s face darkened: "Senior Grand Secretary Lu, are you suggesting that I have failed to properly instruct these scholars of the Dingwei year?"

The atmosphere in the hall tightened. Everyone turned their gaze toward Lu Ben, who had initiated the attack, and Zhang Zhi, who had responded head-on.

This was not without cause. Zhang Juzheng and his cohort, the successful candidates of the twenty-sixth year of the Jiajing reign, had been under the tutelage of Zhang Zhi—then the Senior Vice Minister of Personnel and Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy—since their appointment as junior compilers. As their three-year term had not yet concluded, they remained under his guidance.

Yan Song, sitting calmly on a cushioned stool, spoke up softly: "I recall this matter well. In the fourth month of last year, His Majesty issued a decree ordering both Longhu and Shaohu to jointly oversee the instruction of the junior compilers."

Longhu was the courtesy name of Zhang Zhi, while Shaohu was that of Xu Jie. By coincidence, both men’s names contained the character for "lake."

At Yan Song’s remark, Lu Ben’s expression faltered, and he glanced sideways. Nearby, Xu Jie’s face also shifted slightly.

Just as Lu Ben was about to offer an explanation, Xia Bangmo, the Minister of Revenue, cast a playful look at both Lu and Xu before stepping forward: "Your Majesty, since the junior compiler Zhang Juzheng has already petitioned for this audience outside the hall and has received your permission, perhaps we should let him explain his proposal to lift the maritime ban first."

Above, Zhu Zaiji withdrew his gaze from the bickering officials and looked toward the old Taoist priest on the throne.

Jiajing smiled. "Since I have granted permission, he may speak."

Under the prodding of Xia Bangmo, this was a slap in the face to Lu Ben, who could only lower his head and retreat in silence.

Zhang Juzheng bowed with his hands clasped, his expression resolute and fearless: "Your Majesty, I read in the *I Ching* in my youth that when things reach an impasse, change is required; through change, one finds a way; through a way, one finds longevity. I look upon the world today and see the nations of the Far West traversing the four seas in massive warships. The Franks occupy Haojing, and the Red-Haired Barbarians eye the Penghu Islands. This is not a divine omen of calamity, but an opportunity to transform our maritime frontiers!"

"Recall the time of the Ancestor, when Zheng He set sail for the Western Oceans, demonstrating the might and virtue of the Great Ming to distant lands. Though the maritime ban existed then, our silk, porcelain, and tea still reached Japan, Malacca, and beyond. Why was this?"

Before the gathered pillars of the court, Zhang Juzheng showed no restraint in puncturing the prevailing delusions.

Zhu Zaiji watched with amusement as the faces of the officials shifted at Zhang’s blunt words. He found it laughable; if the Ming’s maritime ban were truly effective, and if these men truly respected the ancestral laws, how could Ming goods have ever reached foreign shores?

Zhang Juzheng continued: "The Ancestor’s ban on a single plank of wood from putting to sea, and the Ancestor’s legacy of the Western voyages—these eventually became shackles, causing our maritime borders to shrink and the people’s livelihoods to wither. Today, outside the hall, I faintly overheard Senior Grand Secretary Lu, Minister Wen, and Minister Xu speaking of the suffering of the people in the coastal provinces of Zhejiang and Fujian. I am deeply moved by their sentiments."

Hearing Zhang Juzheng turn his own words against Lu Ben, Wen Yuan, and Xu Jie, Zhu Zaiji could barely contain himself and had to lower his head to look at the floor.

He knew exactly what Zhang Juzheng would say next.

Zhang Juzheng pressed on: "Since Lu, Wen, and Xu all speak of the hardships of the coastal people, they must acknowledge that the current maritime ban is misguided. If not, why was there so much criticism and impeachment when the late Censor Zhu Wan was ordered to strictly enforce the ban and execute those accused of being pirates?"

The faces of Lu Ben, Wen Yuan, and Xu Jie changed drastically.

Zhu Zaiji silently pinched his own hand to stop himself from laughing aloud. This Zhang Juzheng was truly using their own words to gag them.

Zhang continued, his tone steady and calm: "If the maritime ban has harmed the coastal people and caused them such misery, why must we uphold it? Since the pillars of the court all agree that the coastal people are suffering, why does Your Majesty not consider lifting the ban and opening the seas?"

"As Guanzi said, one who does not understand the balance of weight cannot govern the people. Today, the Southern Seas are vast and rich, and the Western seas are piled high with exotic goods. Why not follow the old system of the Treasure Ships, allowing merchants from Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong to carry maritime banners to trade abroad, exchanging silk and porcelain in Malacca for silver in Luzon? The annual revenue for the Great Granary would exceed that of the land tax many times over."

Zhang Juzheng stood tall, looking directly toward the throne.

"Your Majesty, all the ministers say that Zhu Wan’s strict enforcement harmed the people, and the pillars of the court speak of the coastal people’s hardship. This proves that the civil and military officials know the ban has wounded the nation and that it truly cannot continue."

"I dare to petition Your Majesty to issue a decree: let the central government issue maritime banners, let the Maritime Trade Office oversee the collection of customs duties, and let us strictly punish the extortion by petty officials while opening the seas to trade. Let us build sturdy ships and powerful cannons to defend against enemies abroad, assist in suppressing pirates, and protect our people as they set sail."

"If we open the seas, the coastal people will no longer complain of having no way to make a living. Each province will compete to build ships, equipping them with escorts. With our naval warships raising their sails, the pirates will be swept away, and they will never again dare to land and plunder."

At this point, Zhang Juzheng paused. He clasped his hands high above his head, glanced at Zhu Zaiji standing beside the throne, and then prostrated himself.

"I, Zhang Juzheng, relying upon the holy wisdom and benevolent governance of the Emperor, petition on behalf of the court ministers and the coastal people of all provinces: please open the seas and lift the ban."

Inside the Wuyi Hall, Zhang Juzheng remained prostrate. Lu Ben and the others wore expressions of utter gloom. Lu Ben’s gaze kept shifting between the kneeling Zhang Juzheng and the Crown Prince standing beside the Emperor.

This Zhang Juzheng had not been well-known until recently, when Lu Ben himself had recommended him to the Crown Prince to serve in the Wenhua Hall. Since then, he had become close to the Prince, and now he had caused this scene.

Lu Ben racked his brains: was this mere junior compiler acting on his own, or was it the Prince’s intent? Regardless, whether it was Zhang Zhi or Zhang Juzheng, they were ironclad members of the Eastern Palace faction! This Zhang Juzheng was merely their shock trooper!

Yet, as Zhang petitioned for the opening of the seas, no one in the hall voiced their support. While Zhang appeared to be of the Eastern Palace, he was not the Prince himself, and therefore he did not receive the same support that the Left Censor-in-Chief Tu Qiao had given Zhu Zaiji earlier.

Even Yan Song and Xia Bangmo watched the developments in silence.

On the throne, Jiajing examined his ministers, his gaze finally settling on Zhang Juzheng. He was well aware of the close relationship between this junior compiler and the Prince. But was this petition today the son’s idea? Jiajing harbored doubts, though he suspected it was likely the case.

After all, the Prince had told him only days ago that there should be voices in the court calling for the lifting of the maritime ban.

Jiajing smiled slightly. "So, you are saying that it is the maritime ban itself that has caused the people in our coastal provinces to suffer, driving them to take risks and become pirates, only to be executed by Zhu Wan?"

This statement leaned toward agreeing with Zhang Juzheng’s petition. Lu Ben and the others became anxious. Lu Ben glanced at his peers.

Wen Yuan, the Minister of Personnel, immediately stood up: "Your Majesty, our dynasty’s strict maritime ban began in the time of the Ancestor. It has been in effect for over two hundred years and has long become law. If the coastal people are poor, the local government can provide relief; if pirates invade, the regional military commands can suppress and expel them."

After stating his point, Wen Yuan continued: "As for opening the seas, since the founding of our dynasty, only during the time of the Ancestor did we gather the strength of the entire empire and expend countless wealth and labor to produce hundreds of treasure ships—and the people did not gain a single cent of profit. Moreover, to this day, the blueprints for the treasure ships no longer exist. We have no great ships to send to sea. If we allow officials and commoners to venture out, the vast ocean with waves higher than mountains would turn all ships, official or private, into duckweed. In an instant, they would be reduced to nothing, and all would be buried in the bellies of fish."

Hearing this stale, worn-out rhetoric, Zhu Zaiji felt a sense of delight, but he did not intend to speak yet. After all, his little brother Zhang Juzheng had been bold enough to charge forward today; there was no hurry for him to show his hand.

Sure enough, a moment later, Zhang Juzheng sneered and said in a deep voice: "May I ask Minister Wen, should one stop eating because of the risk of choking? Should one stop trading because there are thieves on the road? Should one abandon the frontier because the Mongols often invade the Nine Garrisons?"

Wen Yuan’s face grew urgent: "You!"

Zhang Juzheng, now completely fearless, raised his chin and continued: "People are born, grow old, fall ill, and die; should the people stop having children for that reason? Fires often occur—does the Minister not cook in his own home?"

This barrage of retorts left Wen Yuan flushing deep red, burning with indignation. He pointed an angry finger at Zhang Juzheng: "You... you... you insolent brat, there is no reasoning with you!"

With an angry shout, Wen Yuan flicked his sleeves and turned away, refusing to look at the troublesome Zhang Juzheng any longer.

Zhang Juzheng chuckled softly: "Could it be that the Minister’s earlier words—claiming that the people of the southeast coastal provinces were poor, that the provinces had more mountains than fields, and that they had no choice but to go to sea to find food—were all empty lies? Is it a bad thing to open the seas, allowing the people to go out and feed themselves?"

As Zhang Juzheng continued his verbal assault, Xu Jie was filled with worry. He had originally intended to cultivate this junior compiler, but he had never expected him to be so foolish and insolent. Seeing Zhang Juzheng continue his relentless tirade, Xu Jie’s face darkened: "Zhang..."

However, before he could finish, Zhang Juzheng snorted. The young junior compiler, in front of all the high-ranking officials of the court, spoke with a cold hum.

"Could it be that you, the pillars of the court, who enjoy the Emperor’s salary, said before that the maritime people were suffering, yet now oppose opening the seas to relieve that poverty—are your words contradictory..."

"Or is it that you are all deceiving the Emperor!"