Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 16 Xu Guangqi

On August 30th of the 48th year of the Wanli reign, Xu Guangqi, Junior Secretary of the Chancellery and Censor of Henan Province, received an imperial edict ordering him to go to Beijing to meet the emperor.

After the disastrous defeat at Sarhu in the 47th year of the Wanli reign, Xu Guangqi repeatedly submitted petitions requesting military training, and finally obtained the approval of the Wanli Emperor. He was promoted from the sixth rank Zuo Chunfang Zuo Zanshan of the Zhanshi Palace to the fourth rank Shao Zhanshi and concurrently the Censor of Henan Province, and supervised the training of the new army in Tongzhou.

However, due to difficulties in supplying military pay and equipment, Xu Guangqi's training plan was not going smoothly. But think about it, after the Battle of Sarhu, the situation in Liaodong was precarious, and any money had to be given to Xiong Tingbi first, not to him.

Tongzhou was very close to the capital, and news traveled quickly, so Xu Guangqi was aware of recent events in the court, but he did not think they could affect him.

Although Xu Guangqi was considered by many to be a member of the Donglin Party, he himself did not fully approve of the Donglin Party, at least not their strategy of "many righteous people filling the court." If the court only had the voices of the Donglin Academy, would the emperor still be the emperor?
Therefore, Xu Guangqi was always just a peripheral figure. Even when the Donglin Party was liquidated, it was only his turn at the end.

Xu Guangqi was more concerned with military training than what happened at Qianqing Gate. So, after the situation calmed down, he wrote several more memorials requesting funds. Unexpectedly, the reply came not from the Ministry of War or the Ministry of Revenue, but from the Cabinet.

After receiving the imperial edict, Xu Guangqi naturally dared not delay. He traveled overnight and arrived in Beijing at 2:15 AM on August 30th. At that time, the court was still in session at Qianqing Gate, so the emperor would not see him, so he had time to eat breakfast.

The place where Xu Guangqi ate was called Liubiju, which is said to be a century-old restaurant that has been in business since the early years of the Jiajing period.

"Sir, this is the mutton soup and pork buns you ordered." The waiter put the wooden plate on the table, then placed a soup bowl filled with heart, stomach, lungs, liver and a basket of buns in front of Xu Guangqi.

"Thank you." Xu Guangqi took out a dozen copper coins and put them on the plate.

"Are you going to Beijing to report on your work?" The waiter immediately understood what Xu Guangqi meant when he saw him wearing his official uniform, looking very tired, and speaking a northern dialect with a southern accent.

"I guess so." Xu Guangqi didn't want to say anything more, so he changed the subject and said, "Why is it so noisy over there so early in the morning?"

"Oh, that's Zheng Zuodu's house. Eunuch Cui is leading the Dongchang people to search the house. They've been going back and forth for several days, and a lot of things are being taken out every day. In addition, there are many women, most of whom are going to be sent to the Jiaofangsi." The waiter immediately became interested. "I heard that Zheng Zuodu has a group of beautiful maids and many romantic stories are rumored. People are saying that he was ruined by women this time."

"Waiter, give me another pot." A drunk man leaning against the window shouted, which helped Xu Guangqi out of the predicament from a distance.

Alas! There are too many self-made people in Beijing. Xu Guangqi smiled bitterly and stuffed the pork bun into his mouth.

After breakfast, Xu Guangqi went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to report. When the official on duty saw him, he told him not to delay and to go directly to the cabinet duty room to wait. After the court was dismissed, a eunuch would come to lead him into the palace to meet the emperor.

This surprised and alarmed Xu Guangqi. What was the new emperor trying to do by summoning him so urgently? Could it be another "Nanjing Incident"?

At 10:00 a.m., Xu Guangqi was led by a eunuch to the right wing of Huangji Hall. This was his first time entering Huangji Hall.

When he arrived, Xu Guangqi saw a senior eunuch wearing a bright red dragon robe standing at the door of the wing room with a smile on his face, as if waiting for him.

Xu Guangqi had never met this eunuch, but that didn't mean he couldn't guess. He walked up to the eunuch and offered a greeting: "Wang Bingbi."

The new emperor had no eunuchs holding the seal of office, only a few who held the imperial seal. Among these, Cui Wensheng and Wang An were the most popular. Cui Wensheng was leading the search and seizure outside, so the only one standing here was Wang An.

"Xu Shaozhan." Wang An greeted him with a smile. "The emperor is inside listening to Sun Shaozhan's lecture. I'll take you in right away." Listening to a lecture? Why would an emperor of nearly forty listen to a lecture after attending court?

Xu Guangqi sighed silently: But it is still much better than the late emperor who "drank every night, got drunk every time he drank, and got angry every time he was drunk. After being drunk, he would be beaten to death with a stick if his attendants said something slightly against his will."

"Then I'll trouble you, Wang Bingbi."

After Xu Guangqi entered, he found that the situation was not what he expected. The two young people were mainly listening to Sun Chengzong's lecture, while the fat middle-aged man was sitting in the back with a pen, writing something.

Moreover, the content Sun Chengzong taught was not traditional Confucian classics, but Western mathematics! Xu Guangqi was shocked. The imperial tutor was actually teaching Western knowledge to the prince! If this matter were to get out, it would probably become another major event no less serious than the "Great Ritual Debate" during the Jiajing period.

Xu Guangqi was well aware that in the eyes of the vast majority of officials, apart from the Confucian disciplines, all other subjects were merely peculiar tricks that were not worthy of being displayed on the public stage.

"Your Majesty, Xu Shaozhan is here." Wang An whispered in Zhu Changluo's ear.

"Come, Xu Shaozhan, sit with me." Zhu Changluo patted the seat next to him.

"I dare not." Xu Guangqi lifted up the front of his robe and knelt down to salute.

"I give you two choices. One is to lie there for the whole morning, and the other is to come and sit with me for half an hour." Zhu Changluo's voice was not loud, but the threat was obvious.

Xu Guangqi sat on pins and needles while studying with the emperor and the two princes for half an hour. During that time, he realized that what Sun Chengzong was saying was a reversal of his own translation work. He had reverted to Western expressions.

However, Sun Chengzong's teaching style was far superior. Teacher Sun explained abstract mathematical concepts in a simple, humorous way, illustrating them with concrete examples, incorporating historical allusions and even Confucian classics. Even the nine-year-old Fifth Prince listened with rapt attention, nodding his head repeatedly.

Only the emperor student was restless, barely looking up at the teacher, instead constantly writing something. However, Xu didn't dare to tell the teacher about his misconduct.

Half an hour later, Teacher Sun finished the get out of class. Four students representing the old, middle-aged, young and young groups stood up and saluted, then divided into groups of two to start the "recess activities".

Zhu Youxiao took his brother and said hello to his father and the teacher he had not met, then walked out of the right wing and closed the door obediently. He found Wang An and asked, "Wang Bingbi, have you finished that matter?" Zhu Youxiao's face was full of mystery.

Wang An understood and said, "Don't worry, Your Highness. I have made all the necessary arrangements and will ensure that nothing goes wrong."

"Brother, what are you and Eunuch Wang talking about?" Zhu Youjian suddenly thought of something and asked innocently, "Are you and Eunuch Wang plotting a rebellion?"

He wanted to say "conspiracy," but slipped up and said "rebellion." At his age, he couldn't quite grasp the true meaning of these words, just as he couldn't understand the weight of the words "king of a fallen country."

"Shut up! Are you trying to kill me and Eunuch Wang?" Zhu Youxiao's face turned pale with fright, and he raised his hand and slapped Zhu Youjian on the butt.

Zhu Youjian felt very aggrieved by his brother's sudden rebuke, but just as he was about to burst into tears, Zhu Youxiao covered his mouth and carried him away. "Father is in there discussing matters with Mr. Sun. Don't disturb them with your howling."

(End of this chapter)