The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 306 Imperial Tutor
Flowers bloom and fade in the courtyard, spring comes and autumn goes year after year.

Several years have passed in a flash, and now it is the ninth year of the Xuande reign.

The emperor was in the prime of his life.

The Grand Secretary's authority is overwhelming.

With no powerful enemies outside, wise ministers within, an enlightened ruler above, and peace throughout the land, the Ming Dynasty shone brightly like the sun at its zenith, displaying a grandeur reminiscent of the Han and Tang dynasties.

South of the imperial city and north of the palace gate, there is a six-room hall with black tiles and blue bricks, facing south. This is the Wenyuan Pavilion, the secondary core of the Ming Dynasty's political affairs.

Li Xianmu's power grew stronger day by day, and the power of the Six Ministries was increasingly eroded by the cabinet. Nowadays, people say that "the cabinet is the prime minister, and the Six Ministries are subordinate to it," meaning that the Six Ministries are subordinate to the cabinet and work for the cabinet.

While somewhat exaggerated, it fully demonstrates the power of the current cabinet.

Five years ago, Grand Secretaries Huang Huai and Jin Youzi left the cabinet, and were subsequently replaced by a Minister and a Right Vice Censor-in-Chief.

A second-rank official entering the cabinet as a group of assistant ministers, ranking below the chief minister and the second-ranking minister, was a situation that shocked the scholars of the world.

They have grown increasingly respectful of the cabinet.

The Wenyuan Pavilion occupies a larger area, yet it still feels somewhat cramped, mainly because the number of documents it holds far exceeds that of the past.

The clerks outside were quite busy, carrying in and out stacks of memorials, sorted by category. Although not chaotic, they were in a hurry. Fortunately, the system was clear and well-organized, so there were very few mistakes.

The Grand Secretary occupied a room by himself, with two or three people sitting on each side behind him, each handling their own affairs. If there were any difficulties, the Grand Secretary would approve and make a decision. If there were any major matters, everyone would gather in the central hall of the Wenyuan Pavilion to discuss and finalize the draft proposal.

In the central hall of Wenyuan Pavilion, Li Xianmu sat behind a long table, with a pile of memorials on each side. Every now and then, clerks would take away the memorials on the right side, and new memorials would be added to the left side.

Perhaps feeling a little tired, Li Xianmu put down his pen, gently rubbed his eyes, stood up and walked outside. What he saw was a magnificent sight of red walls and yellow tiles.

Looking up at the sky, the high palace walls make this vast palace resemble a square well, tightly binding people here.

His eyes held an unyielding chill and fierceness, as if deeply etched into his heart.

"It never stops."

Li Xianmu sighed slightly, thinking that governing the world was truly difficult, with endless problems arising one after another. As soon as one problem was solved, another would immediately emerge.

"Motosuke."

A clerk himself came later and called out softly.

Li Xianmu turned around and saw the clerk bowing humbly, bowing his head and clasping his hands. "Just now, the Imperial Steward came to deliver an imperial edict. His Majesty invites all scholars to the Hall of Literary Glory to discuss important matters."

Li Xianmu nodded slightly, indicating that he understood. He looked up and saw that the other Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet had already come out from their respective halls and pavilions. The group gathered together and headed towards the Hall of Literary Glory.

Upon entering the hall, the group knew from the emperor's expression that it wasn't a bad thing.

Emperor Zhu Zhanji stood at the head of the table. His years as emperor had given him an air of sternness and unapproachability.

Over the years, Li Xianmu's power and influence have grown stronger, but the emperor's authority and majesty have also increased. In political affairs, he has delegated most of the responsibilities to his ministers and only participates in important decisions.

In military affairs, however, he did not rely on others at all, and twice personally led expeditions to the north, causing the Oirats and Tatars to flee at the mere sight of him.

He also reorganized the three major military camps, placed loyal confidants in the army, and used marriage alliances and other means to win over high-ranking nobles, thus firmly grasping military power and becoming a true emperor with real power.

Upon seeing the crowd enter, Zhu Zhanji immediately ordered the eunuchs to bring chairs for Li Xianmu and the elderly Yang Shiqi. Soon after, the ministers of the six ministries, the left and right censors, and other officials also entered the hall. Essentially, all the high-ranking officials of the central government of the Ming Dynasty were gathered together.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Zhu Zhanji immediately smiled and said, "I have summoned you all here today because of a rather important matter. The Crown Prince is getting older, and the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and I are all thinking of having him leave the palace to study. I wonder if any of you have any thoughts on this?"

Upon hearing this, all the officials in the hall immediately tensed up, except for Li Xianmu, who narrowed his eyes slightly.

Crown Prince Zhu Qizhen was actually born in the second year of the Xuande reign. Now it is the ninth year of the Xuande reign. All told, when the ninth year of the Xuande reign is over, he will be exactly eight years old, which is indeed the age when he can leave home to study.

The reason why the courtiers were so nervous was naturally because the matter of the prince leaving the palace to study involved a future power struggle.

If we can make arrangements with the Crown Prince in advance, it might have a surprising effect in the future.

Although the emperor is now in his prime, it's always good to make a move early.

Whether in the cabinet or at the ministerial level, there are people who are eager to make a move.

If he could become the Crown Prince's tutor, he would become the Emperor's tutor in the future. With this title, he might be able to rival the Grand Secretary Li Xianmu in the future.

Li Xianmu, however, believed that he had a high probability of not becoming the emperor's tutor.

Unless the emperor insists on choosing him.

But the emperor would most likely not choose him.

Although Zhu Zhanji trusted him immensely, this trust still had its limits. As an emperor who had reigned for nine or ten years, balancing the power in the court was ingrained in his very being.

For example, he could let Li Xianmu do things freely and give him all the support, but he could not let Li Xianmu deal with all the opposition.

Therefore, Li Xianmu did not speak first.

Li Xianmu had some misunderstandings about Zhu Zhanji.

Zhu Zhanji did consider making Li Xianmu the Crown Prince's tutor, but then he thought that Li Xianmu was already very busy and might not have time to teach the Crown Prince his early education, so he ultimately gave up on the idea.

The plan is to wait until the Crown Prince is around fifteen years old, when he can formally begin to engage in politics, before Li Xianmu begins to teach him. He was also around that age when Li Xianmu began to formally teach him.

The Minister of Rites spoke directly: "Your Majesty, I believe that selecting learned scholars to teach the Crown Prince should first use the words of sages to settle his mind and spirit at birth, so as to rectify his soul and bones."

Li Xianmu's brows slowly relaxed.

A learned scholar!

The Minister of Rites uttered these four words to exclude Li Xianmu from the ranks of imperial tutors. Although Li Xianmu was a descendant of a sage and had even achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations, he was not truly a learned scholar and always presented himself as someone who was practical and pragmatic in his dealings with the world.

Since his birth, he has never published a single academic article, nor has he participated in any classical discussions. Even in spreading the philosophy of mind, he has only used his political influence to promote it. The one who truly spread the ideas of mind was his senior brother, Wang Gen.

Although Li Xianmu was putting on an act, he deliberately didn't use his academic talents. It should be noted that after Li Qi used his semi-saintly appearance, Li Xianmu's strongest talent was academic, while his political talent was slightly inferior.

But the world doesn't know that.

I really thought he wasn't good at this.

Li Xianmu naturally couldn't reveal his identity now, so he lowered his head slightly. He wouldn't compete for the title of Imperial Tutor to the Crown Prince.

Pointless.

Becoming an imperial tutor was meant to subtly exert influence on the future emperor, but it was already the ninth year of the Xuande reign, and Zhu Zhanji would pass away next year. There was simply not enough time in a year to exert any influence.

The imperial harem has an empress dowager and an empress. No matter how you compare, how can anyone possibly be better than those two?
The future emperor's attitude actually depends on the attitude of the empress dowager and the empress.

What Li Xianmu was considering was actually the model of cooperation between Zhang Juzheng and Empress Dowager Li, where the emperor obeyed the empress dowager, so the imperial power was in the hands of Empress Dowager Li, who then transferred power to the Grand Secretary through the system.

Gao Gong was initially in charge, but he lost Empress Dowager Li's trust and was thus sent back to his hometown in disgrace. Zhang Juzheng, on the other hand, was trusted and was able to seize power. This was the power operation model during the Wanli era.

Li Xianmu predicted that if Emperor Zhu Zhanji were to pass away, he would most likely hand over power to Empress Dowager Zhang and Empress Sun, and then appoint regents.

The person he should really exert influence over is Empress Dowager Zhang. It is highly unlikely that Empress Sun will be easy to cooperate with, since Sun Guangzong is still imprisoned in Nanjing.

"A learned scholar?"

The emperor repeated the sentence and nodded slightly, "It is appropriate to seek out learned scholars to teach him. In addition to learned scholars, I will also personally teach him and select several more teachers for him. Emperor Taizong selected many teachers for me, which is why I am where I am today. Now I also want the crown prince to be proficient in both literature and martial arts, so that he can succeed to the throne in the future."

Upon seeing that his opinion had been adopted, the Minister of Rites was overjoyed and immediately cited several examples, all of whom were renowned scholars in the court and among the common people.

Seeing that Li Xianmu remained silent, the others couldn't help but start recommending the candidates they thought were suitable.

What does the teacher think?

As soon as the emperor spoke, everyone else fell silent. Li Xianmu calmly and leisurely replied, "The Crown Prince is still young and his mind is not yet settled. What he should be learning now is the method of rectifying his mind, so that in the future the Crown Prince will have the heart to revitalize the world."

The selection of officials in our dynasty is based on both virtue and talent, with virtue being the most important factor.

The same applies to the cultivation of monarchs. Emperor Yang of Sui, who caused the Sui Dynasty to perish after only two generations, was not without talent or ability, but he lacked virtue. As a result, he ravaged the country and ultimately led to the downfall of the nation and the destruction of the state.

I have few recommendations, but I urge Your Majesty to select officials based on this."

Zhu Zhanji smiled and said loudly, "I have kept your words in mind, teacher. They are truly wise. May I recommend some more people today, and I will consider them before making a decision?"

The courtiers in the palace then began to recommend people from their own faction or those related to them.

Of course, most of these recommended people are actually quite capable. They can teach a seven or eight-year-old child. With their level of intelligence, as long as they are above average, they can easily produce a scholar or a graduate.

……

Zhu Zhanji returned to the inner palace with a large group of recommended names, told Empress Sun about the events of the day, and then told her about the candidates recommended by the court officials.

Just then, Zhu Qizhen entered the Empress's palace, paid his respects to the Emperor and Empress, and asked with great curiosity, "Father, Mother, what is this?"

Zhu Zhanji patted Zhu Qizhen's head and said gently, "These are the future teachers that your father has found for you. From now on, you will study with them."

Is the Grand Secretary, Shouzheng, inside?

"Oh? You want to study under Lord Shouzheng?"

Zhu Zhanji was somewhat surprised, but Zhu Qizhen quickly shook his head, like a rattle-drum, and repeatedly refused, saying, "I don't want to learn from Lord Shouzheng, absolutely not."

Zhu Zhanji frowned immediately. "Son, why don't you want to learn from Shouzheng Gong? Although he is not a great scholar, his talent is beyond doubt."

Zhu Qizhen said somewhat embarrassedly, "He is too fierce. Every time I see him in the palace or at a banquet, he is fierce and never smiles, which makes people very afraid."

Zhu Zhanji was taken aback upon hearing this. His furrowed brows immediately relaxed, and he opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. He never expected it to be for this reason.

He initially thought someone had spoken to the Crown Prince. Although he had temporarily abandoned his plan to appoint Li Xianmu as the Imperial Tutor, maintaining a good relationship between the two and preserving initial trust was still necessary.

He knew perfectly well that what his son said was perfectly normal.

Over the years, Li Xianmu has been working diligently in the court to reform officialdom. This is not something a kind-hearted person could do. As a result, he is always serious and his authority grows stronger every day. Every glance and turn of his head is full of oppression. Even his handsome face cannot save him from this kind of mental pressure.

Normally, even other officials fear him like a tiger, let alone the child Zhu Qizhen. After seeing him once, they would probably stop the child from crying at night.

Empress Sun smiled upon hearing what Zhu Qizhen said. "Since the prince is unwilling, then we will not let the Grand Secretary be the teacher. Our Ming Dynasty has many talented people. Are we not sure we can find a few people who can teach the prince?"

Moreover, Your Majesty is the best teacher in the world. My son is growing up by Your Majesty's side, just as Your Majesty grew up by Emperor Taizong's side. He will surely become a wise and benevolent ruler in the future, just like all the previous emperors of our Ming Dynasty.

Upon hearing Empress Sun mention Emperor Taizong, Zhu Zhanji was immediately lost in memories. Seventy percent of his skills were taught to him by Emperor Taizong, demonstrating the genuine affection between the grandfather and grandson.

He gently stroked Zhu Qizhen's head, his eyes full of tenderness, "Your father wants to teach you well, and in the future, he will entrust the entire Ming Dynasty to you."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Qizhen immediately puffed out his chest and said in a strong voice, "Father and Mother, rest assured, your son will certainly learn from our ancestors in the future, defending against the Mongols in the north and suppressing the barbarians in the south. Your son will also like Emperor Taizong and Father, personally leading the army to let the Oirats and Tatars know what it means to be inviolable by the majesty of the Emperor!"

Hearing Zhu Qizhen's spirited and ambitious words, Zhu Zhanji burst into laughter, saying, "Good, my son is indeed like me, ambitious. When I was a teenager, I followed Emperor Taizong on his northern expedition. When you are a teenager, I will also take you on a northern tour to teach you how to deploy troops. Perhaps one day you will become a general-emperor like Emperor Taizong."

It must be said that good traditions will be passed down.

Every emperor of the Tang Dynasty dreamed of becoming Emperor Taizong and hoped to recreate the prosperous Zhenguan era.

The influence of Zhu Di's five campaigns against the Mongols during the Ming Dynasty lingered for a decade. Zhu Zhanji's two northern tours, where he fought against the Mongols outside the Great Wall, were deeply influenced by Zhu Di.

Today, an eight-year-old child, witnessing the great achievements of his father and ancestors, also aspires to personally lead an expedition to defeat the Mongols.

Truly, the torch is passed down from generation to generation, and it is considered a sacred light!
(End of this chapter)