Chapter 43: This Subject Can Do It Too

Leaving his father’s study, Yan Shifan glanced back once, then looked at the sky, where evening was already drawing near, and flicked his sleeve in displeasure.

He paid little heed to his father’s instructions.

The Yan family could help the emperor bring about the trial opening of maritime trade, and they could display sufficient loyalty to both the emperor and the crown prince.

Even if, as his father had said, they had to contend at court with Lu Ben and the other officials from the southeastern provinces, it made no difference.

After all, the Yan family had managed to stand firm at court all these years not by being good men, but by fighting their way upward.

They had emerged from one struggle after another within the imperial court.

Therefore, they could fight the southeastern officials for the sake of the emperor’s will—but the benefits that belonged to the Yan family could not be diminished.

Not by so much as half a coin!

Having thought it through, Yan Shifan began humming a little tune with a pleased expression and ambled leisurely toward his own residence.

The following day, the court formally issued the decree to trial the opening of maritime trade in Laizhou Prefecture.

The Grand Secretariat and the various offices of the Six Ministries were required to work together in complete harmony.

At least, that was what the decree said.

Once the decree was truly conveyed, the debate over the matter at court rose to a new level.

Officials from the southeastern provinces were naturally pessimistic in their remarks.

Officials from elsewhere merely watched from the sidelines, and for the moment most were unwilling to involve themselves.

The trial opening of maritime trade in Laizhou Prefecture was certain to create many new posts and responsibilities, and open as well as covert struggles soon began to emerge at court.

Within the palace, however, everything seemed unchanged.

For several days in succession, the emperor continued cultivating the Dao in the Western Park, while the crown prince practiced martial arts day after day, paid his respects to the women of the inner palace, studied, and observed the conduct of government.

Until the end of the month, as the fifth month drew near.

On this particular day, everything began as usual.

Amid Zhang Zhi’s praise, Zhu Zairang finished his lessons for the day.

After seeing Zhang Zhi and the others off, he also sent Little Bee and Iron Fool away, intending to practice calligraphy for a while before returning to the Eastern Palace.

Zhang Juzheng was not on duty in the palace that day.

After all, he had only just taken up his new appointment. Having been made an Editor of the Hanlin Academy as well as a Supervising Secretary of the Military Affairs Section, he had countless matters to take over, both at the Hanlin Academy and in the Military Affairs Section.

The court’s transfer order for Weng Wanda had also been issued on the second day after the decree concerning the trial opening of maritime trade in Laizhou Prefecture.

Before Weng Wanda returned to the capital to assume the post of Minister of War, Zhang Juzheng still had to make all the necessary preparations.

After giving it some thought, Zhu Zairang cleared his mind of distracting thoughts, picked up his brush, and was about to begin practicing his calligraphy.

At that moment, Feng Bao entered from outside, treading softly.

“Your Highness.”

After serving in the Eastern Palace for so long, Feng Bao had grown increasingly awed by and respectful of this young heir to the throne.

The mere fact that the crown prince could train in martial arts with Zhu Qi day after day, tempering his muscles and bones, was something few ordinary people could accomplish. Most people simply did not possess such perseverance.

And anyone capable of such perseverance would possess a will far stronger than that of ordinary men.

For this reason, the eunuch now in charge of the Eastern Palace’s affairs did not dare harbor even the slightest thought of currying favor or offering flattery. He could only serve with the utmost caution.

Hearing him, Zhu Zairang paused slightly and raised his brows.

“Hmm?”

Feng Bao lowered his voice. “Someone is requesting an audience with Your Highness outside the hall.”

A puzzled look appeared on Zhu Zairang’s face. “Is it one of those who received an Eastern Palace token?”

When he had first asked Zhang Zhi to recommend talented men, Zhang Juzheng had been selected. Four others had not been chosen, but each had been granted an Eastern Palace token, allowing them to enter the palace freely and request an audience with the Eastern Palace.

Zhu Zairang assumed that one of those four men—someone he had in fact been keeping an eye on—had finally thought to seek him out.

Feng Bao shook his head.

“It is Grand Academician Gao of the Hanlin Academy.”

After saying this, Feng Bao himself felt somewhat perplexed.

Zhu Zairang’s eyes lit up, and a hint of amusement appeared on his face.

“Gao Gong?”

Feng Bao nodded. “Yes, Your Highness.”

Outside the eastern side hall, the sun already shone high overhead.

With the fifth month approaching, the heat had grown increasingly oppressive.

Dressed in the blue robes of a Hanlin scholar, Gao Gong stood outside the hall and gazed up at the cloudless sky, his heart filled with indecision and confusion.

Nine years.

Since passing the metropolitan examination in the twentieth year of the Jiajing reign and being selected as a Junior Compiler, he had spent nine full years in the Hanlin Academy. Only at the beginning of this year had he been appointed Academician Reader, thereby obtaining the post of lecturer for the crown prince’s daily lessons after the prince’s formal commencement of study.

But how many spans of nine years could a man have in his life?

When he had first met the crown prince, he had not thought much of him. Yet with every lecture, the crown prince had brought him one shock and surprise after another.

If a crown prince such as the one he had witnessed could not one day become a wise and enlightened ruler, then there could never again be a truly enlightened sovereign under Heaven.

And yet…

A sourness rose in Gao Gong’s heart.

Zhang Juzheng had passed the metropolitan examination less than three years ago, yet he had already been appointed Compiler of the Hanlin Academy and Supervising Secretary of the Military Affairs Section.

Rumors were already spreading through the court.

Zhang Juzheng had plainly become a rising favorite of the court, a man of influence in the Eastern Palace.

While he himself was still in the Hanlin Academy!

Still here in the eastern side hall, serving as an assistant lecturer to Zhang Zhi and Lu Ben!

A man need not fear having no talent.

What he feared was comparison.

The sun grew ever more intense, leaving Gao Gong hot and restless from head to toe, while a thin layer of sweat appeared on his brow.

Just as he stood there in bewilderment, wondering when he would receive a response, Feng Bao appeared at the hall entrance with a smile.

“Academician Gao, come inside with me.”

Gao Gong tensed all over and forced a smile onto his face.

“My thanks, Chief Eunuch Feng.”

With that, he impatiently lifted the hem of his official robe and hurried up the steps two at a time, entering the eastern side hall.

The moment he stepped inside, a wave of cool air swept over him.

Before Gao Gong could wipe away his sweat and dispel the heat from his body, a hearty voice came from deeper within the hall.

“Academician Gao, you have returned so soon. Is there some error in my lessons today?”

Gao Gong trembled and hurried forward with a deep bow. In a solemn voice, he replied, “Your Highness has been studying for less than three months, yet has already mastered more than half of the Four Books. The Emperor Ming of the Former Han understood the Spring and Autumn Annals at the age of ten, while Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang composed verse at seven. Compared with Your Highness, they are but fireflies and candles beside the sun and moon. There is not the slightest fault in Your Highness’s studies!”

Having finished, Gao Gong quickly lowered his head.

This was the finest praise he had been able to devise.

Seated above him, Zhu Zairang’s mouth twitched.

To make the famously hot-tempered Gao Gong utter words like these was indeed asking a great deal of him.

He laughed heartily. “Academician Gao is too kind. How could I compare with the men of old? I am neither Emperor Ming of Han nor Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. I must rely on the many teachers here to guide me.”

After saying this, he shifted his gaze.

He had some idea why Gao Gong had suddenly requested an audience today.

Men like Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong had never been willing to remain hidden among the common multitude.

Give them an opportunity, and they would seize it at once, then soar straight into the clouds.

Did he not know Gao Gong’s abilities?

Yet ever since the crown prince had begun his formal studies, Zhu Zairang had never sought Gao Gong out on his own except in matters concerning the lessons.

He had done so merely to make the man wait and test his patience.

Now, with curiosity still on his face, he asked softly, “May I ask what brings you back, Academician?”

Standing within the hall, Gao Gong’s heart was struggling fiercely.

He was already thirty-seven years old.

If everything proceeded according to the usual routine—an assessment every three years, nine years before advancement—then by the time he could one day take charge of the imperial court, he would already be in his fifties or even sixties.

That was not what he wanted.

Now, an enlightened ruler stood before him.

Gao Gong drew a deep breath. Clenching the folds of his official robe tightly in both hands, he finally gave them a forceful shake and dropped straight to his knees.

“Your servant, Gong, was born in the seventh year of the Zhengde reign. From childhood I received instruction at home; at five I could compose matching lines, and at eight I had committed the classics to memory. At twenty I devoted myself to the study of the Classics. In the twentieth year of the Jiajing reign, I passed the metropolitan examination, was selected for the Hanlin Academy, and rose through the ranks from Compiler to Academician Reader. I have served at court for nine years and observed the administration of government for nine years. Whenever I have witnessed the accumulated abuses of the two capitals and the thirteen provinces, I have been unable to keep from clenching my fists in frustration. In former days, Junior Academician Zhang was selected for his maritime policy, promoted to the Hanlin Academy, and appointed Supervising Secretary of the Military Affairs Section. This is truly a clear example of how Your Majesty’s enlightened court selects its talent.”

His broad yet resolute voice echoed through the hall.

Zhu Zairang’s brows rose.

His expression grew considerably more solemn.

Having taken the first step, Gao Gong abandoned all restraint.

Kneeling with his head lowered, he clasped his hands and continued in a deep voice:

“Though your servant is dull and unworthy, I have been fortunate enough to rank among the forest of letters, where my only modest service has been rendered through brush and ink. Yet Your Highness, nurtured in the purple halls of the imperial palace and endowed by Heaven with exceptional brilliance, will continue the glory of the Zhenguan era in letters and rival the martial splendor of Yongle in arms. When the day comes for Your Highness to ascend the imperial throne, you will surely inaugurate a transformation unseen in a hundred years! Now, while Your Highness is still in your private residence and gathering worthy talents, though your servant is but a worthless tree, I am willing to serve in whatever duties may be performed with brush and writing. I humbly await your commands. Even if sent ten thousand miles to manage the empire’s vital affairs, how could I dare fail to exert every ounce of my strength?”

In short:

If Zhang Juzheng could do it,

then Gao Gong could do it too!