Huangming

Chapter 333 A calculated plan, a sudden realization

The night was as dark as ink, spilling deep into the streets and alleys of the capital.

The stone lions in front of the Duke Yansheng's mansion stood silently in the dim light. The cold autumn wind swept through the porch, carrying fallen leaves and making a low, mournful sound, with a chilling touch.

Qi Shijiao pulled his brocade robe tighter around himself, but his fingertips still felt stiff from the cold, so he couldn't help but breathe warm air into his palms.

"We've been waiting for almost an hour. What exactly does the Duke Yansheng mean by this?"

He muttered under his breath, his brows furrowed, and his pacing feet made the flagstones in front of the door thud loudly.

As the leader of the Qi faction, Qi Shijiao has always considered himself the spokesperson for the interests of Shandong in the court.

The land of Qilu is his foundation, and the Duke Yansheng Mansion, as a cultural symbol of Qufu and even the whole of Shandong, is an important support for the Qi faction in the local area.

But now, the chaos caused by the Fragrance Sect has brought great changes to the Duke Yansheng's mansion, and the direct bloodline has been cut off.

Even more worryingly, news from the palace indicated that His Majesty seemed to have no interest in restoring the Duke of Yansheng's residence, and even had the intention of abolishing the title altogether.

How can we keep him sitting still?

Qi Shijiao gazed at the deep darkness inside the mansion gate, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

His Majesty's life has not been smooth sailing since he ascended the throne.

He had previously been imprisoned in the Imperial Prison due to a fight at the Office of the Court of State Ceremonies.

Although he managed to escape thanks to his teacher Fang Congzhe's influence, he completely lost the emperor's favor and is now ostracized in court. Those officials who used to fawn over him now avoid him.

What infuriated him even more was that with His Majesty implementing new policies and cracking down on corruption, the spies of the Imperial Guard and the secret police were everywhere.

He dared not collect more rent from his land outside the capital, and the tributes from officials in various parts of Shandong that he used to receive also disappeared. He lived in constant fear, afraid that one day the secret police would kick down his door and throw him back into the imperial prison.

This pent-up resentment finally found an outlet with the events surrounding the Duke of Yansheng's mansion.

"Hmph, has His Majesty forgotten the importance of Shandong?"

Qi Shijiao spat on the ground, his tone tinged with indignation.

The Duke Yansheng's Mansion is not only a symbol of Confucius, but also a spiritual bond for countless Shandong gentry and officials.

If this title is truly abolished, the Qi faction's influence in the region will be greatly diminished, and he, as the leader, will have nowhere to put his face.

More importantly, he wanted to use this incident to give some confidence to his fellow Shandong natives who were serving in Shandong.

Your Majesty is right to rectify official corruption, but you can't treat all officials in Shandong as targets of corruption.

By using the pretext of protecting the Duke Yansheng's mansion, one can both win over the people and put pressure on the court, and perhaps even take this opportunity to return to the center of power.

Qi Shijiao had already been calculating this all along the way.

"Go and urge them again!"

He said to his attendants behind him in a deep voice, "Tell them that I have important matters to discuss with you, sir. These matters concern the worship of Confucius and the hearts of millions of scholars in Shandong!"

The cold wind blew again, and Qi Shijiao tightened his collar, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

Whether Kong Shangxian liked it or not, he had to get involved in this matter.

This was not only for the Duke of Yansheng's mansion, but also for himself and for the Qi faction's foothold in the court.

The night dew is getting heavier.

Just as he was about to lose his temper, the heavy vermilion gate of the Duke of Yansheng's mansion finally creaked open.

However, instead of welcoming servants, an old steward in a blue cloth robe emerged from the doorway. His face wore a perfunctory display of humility, but his tone betrayed his aloofness.

"Gentlemen, I am truly sorry. The old master is quite old and has already retired for the night. If there is anything urgent, please come and inform him another day."

The order to leave was made so openly that it immediately caused a stir among the officials at the gate.

Some people looked indignant, while others whispered among themselves, clearly not expecting this outcome.

Qi Shijiao's anger flared up instantly. He took a step forward, his voice suddenly rising: "What time is it? How can you still be sleeping, my lord?!"

His eyes widened, and he pointed towards the interior of the mansion, saying in a deep voice:
"The Yansheng Duke's Mansion has been passed down for a thousand years, with orderly generations. Now, the direct line of the Qufu line is exhausted, and the successor is still undecided! If we do not take this opportunity to establish a system, after the old master passes away, will the title of Yansheng Duke become an unclaimed property? Will the sacrifices to Confucius be abandoned?"

These words were forceful and pointed out the urgency of the matter, while also invoking the name of Confucius, clearly intended to force the old steward to make concessions.

But the old steward seemed to have received instructions beforehand, his face remaining calm and composed as he bowed slightly and said:

"My lord, please calm your anger. The old master said that the succession of the Duke Yansheng is a matter of great national importance, and His Majesty, being wise, will make a fair judgment. Gathering people outside the mansion at this moment may cause controversy and be disgraceful."

These words, though seemingly respectful, actually reveal a clear stance.

The Duke of Yansheng's mansion was not unaware of the urgency of the situation, but they would never get involved in this mess.

Kong Shangxian knew perfectly well that these people came under the guise of protecting the imperial lineage, but in reality, they wanted to use the Duke of Yansheng's mansion as a target to criticize the emperor and disrupt the court.

His old bones couldn't withstand such torment. Rather than being used as a pawn, he'd rather pass the buck back to the emperor.

Qi Shijiao understood the deeper meaning in the words, and his face turned bright red.

Kong Shangxian is determined to protect himself and avoid being drawn into the political struggle.

"Ah~"

He sighed heavily, his tone filled with disappointment and helplessness.

"My lord... you are being far too cautious! You are disregarding the many officials in Shandong."

But no amount of dissatisfaction could change anything.

The host family clearly didn't want to open the door, and they, as outsiders, couldn't just force their way in.

Qi Shijiao stared at the closed door, feeling a tightness in his chest, unable to rise or fall.

Seeing that their leader had lost his nerve, the officials standing nearby also dropped their stance.

Someone whispered a word of advice: "Lord Qi, since the old master has made up his mind, there's no point in waiting any longer. Why don't we go back first?"

Qi Shijiao clenched his fist, but eventually let it go.

He glared fiercely at the tightly closed gates, then turned and left in a huff.

Having been snubbed by the Duke of Yansheng's mansion, Qi Shijiao felt a deep sense of frustration.

The night breeze cleared his head a bit, and with a quick glance, he changed direction and headed towards the Prime Minister's residence in the south of the city.

His teacher, Fang Congzhe, the Grand Secretary of the time, might be able to offer some advice.

Although Fang Congzhe's mansion was not as luxurious as that of a prince, it still exuded a calm and dignified air of someone who had long held a high position.

The vermilion gate was tightly shut, and the two stone lions in front of it gleamed coldly in the moonlight. The gatekeeper, seeing that it was Qi Shijiao and having verified the visiting card, dared not delay and hurriedly went inside to announce his arrival.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he was led through several courtyards to the study.

"Student Qi Shijiao pays his respects to his teacher."

Upon entering the study, Qi Shijiao hurriedly bowed and greeted the guests, his tone tinged with urgency, revealing a hint of the anger he had been holding back at the Duke of Yansheng's residence.

Fang Congzhe was sitting at his desk reviewing documents when he heard this. He put down his writing brush, raised his eyebrows and looked at him. His gaze was cloudy but sharp and insightful: "It's so late. Why aren't you resting at home? What are you doing here?"

Qi Shijiao straightened up, took two steps forward, and asked in a low voice, "Teacher, are you aware that His Majesty intends to depose the Duke of Yansheng?"

Fang Congzhe paused slightly in his teacup, then narrowed his eyes, slowly sipped his tea, and said unhurriedly:
"His Majesty's mind is unfathomable. How could an old man like me possibly fathom His Majesty's thoughts?"

"Teacher, you are the Grand Secretary, second only to the Emperor. How could you not know His Majesty's thoughts?" Qi Shijiao became a little anxious, and his tone rose a few decibels.

"Be careful!"

Fang Congzhe frowned, put down his teacup, and his voice carried a hint of warning.

"You've been a servant for many years now. Don't you know what you can and can't say? What do you mean by 'second only to the emperor'? I'm just a paperhanger who takes care of miscellaneous tasks for His Majesty."

Seeing that his teacher had reacted somewhat, Qi Shijiao quickly restrained himself, but still unwilling to give up, he leaned closer, his tone tinged with indignation:

"Teacher, since His Majesty ascended the throne, you have devoted yourself to assisting him and working tirelessly for the state. Yet, how many people in the court secretly curse you as a mere figurehead? I truly feel sorry for you!"

His words seemed to be in defense of his teacher, but in reality, he wanted to provoke Fang Congzhe's dissatisfaction so that he would intervene in the matter of the Duke of Yansheng.

Fang Congzhe was a seasoned veteran; how could he not see through the subtle hints in the student's words?
He picked up the teacup, gently skimmed off the foam with the lid, and a faint, cold smile curled at the corner of his lips:

"If it weren't for His Majesty's great favor, this old man would have retired long ago and gone back to his hometown in Zhejiang to live out his days. How could I be qualified to 'hold a position without doing any work' here?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Qi Shijiao with a meaningful look:

“There are at least eighty or a hundred memorials impeaching me in the court now, but which one of them hasn’t been kept in the palace by His Majesty? If His Majesty treats me like this, what right do I have to criticize His Majesty’s will?”

Qi Shijiao choked for a moment, his face turning red and white in turns.

He knew his teacher was telling the truth; Fang Congzhe was able to remain in the position of Grand Secretary entirely because of the emperor's tolerance.

But he was truly unwilling to watch the banner of the Duke Yansheng's Mansion, which could unite the forces of Shandong, fall.

Silence fell over the study for a moment.

Looking at the students' unwilling expressions, Fang Congzhe finally sighed softly: "Poetry education, some things can't be rushed. His Majesty has his own plan, and we, as his subjects, should just follow it."

"But how many officials are there in Shandong's bureaucracy? And how many of Qi faction members are involved? How can I, as a student, sit idly by?"

Seeing that Qi Shijiao remained stubbornly unenlightened, Fang Congzhe sighed inwardly.

Although this student has some ambition, he is indeed quite talented, and it would be a real shame to lose him.

He put down his teacup and decided to say one more thing to him.

"His Majesty's desire to reform the Shandong officialdom is already written all over his face."

Fang Congzhe's voice deepened, and his gaze was fixed intently on Qi Shijiao.

"You're still fixated on the matter of the Duke of Yansheng's mansion, ostensibly to protect the imperial lineage, but in reality, you're trying to protect the old guard in Shandong's officialdom. Isn't this openly opposing His Majesty? Do you really think His Majesty's blade isn't sharp enough?"

Qi Shijiao was struck on the spot by these words, and he suddenly took two steps back, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. After stammering for a long time, he finally said stiffly:
"But...but it's better than just sitting here and waiting to die, isn't it?"

"Just sit there and wait for death?"

Fang Congzhe sneered, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

"Who told you to just sit here and wait to die?"

Qi Shijiao's face showed a hint of helplessness, and his voice lowered:
"Teacher, having been in the central government for so long, may not know the intricacies of Shandong's officialdom. Those deeply entrenched relationships are interconnected; moving one will have far-reaching consequences. If we were to truly uproot them, how many Shandong officials in the court would be implicated? At that time, the Qi faction... the Qi faction will likely be completely disintegrated."

"You're still too attached to appearances."

Fang Congzhe shook his head, his tone filled with disappointment.

“Since the day His Majesty ascended the throne, there have been no Qi Party, Zhejiang Party, or Donglin Party in the court.”

He slammed the teacup down on the table, splashing some tea.
"The Qi faction you've been so devoted to is nothing but an old grudge in His Majesty's eyes! Now, in His Majesty's eyes, there are only two kinds of people: ministers who can serve the country, and useless people who are corrupt, lawless, and hold their positions without doing their jobs!"

Qi Shijiao was stunned by these words and stood there, his lips moved but he couldn't utter a single word.

Seeing his distraught appearance, Fang Congzhe finally softened his tone and said slowly, "I can recommend you to His Majesty to serve as the governor of Shandong and assist Yuan Keli in handling post-war affairs."

"what?"

Qi Shijiao suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief, followed by overwhelming joy.

"Teacher... are you telling the truth?"

The governor of Shandong was a powerful regional official!

If he could go to Shandong, he could avoid the troubles in the court and personally stabilize the situation in the local area, which would be a hundred times better than being a figurehead official in the capital.

"A ruler's word is not to be taken lightly, nor is a teacher's word."

"But don't get too excited yet."

Fang Congzhe suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing straight at Qi Shijiao.

"My recommendation for you to go to Shandong is not to let you become a hands-off manager, nor is it to let you protect those old subordinates. You know best the corruption in Shandong's officialdom, who should be investigated, and what should be done. You need to have a sense of right and wrong."

Deal with it as it should be. If you dare to show favoritism or bias, not only will you lose your supporters, but you yourself will likely meet a gruesome end. Understand?

Qi Shijiao felt a chill run down his spine when he saw that look, and the smile on his face instantly froze.

Looking at the teacher's solemn expression, he finally understood the weight of his words.

This is hardly a promotion; it's clearly a way to make him the knife that scrapes the bone to remove the poison, not only to clean up the festering sores in Shandong's officialdom but also to personally sever those deeply entrenched old relationships.

He took a deep breath, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and bowed, saying:
"I understand. Your teacher wants me to clean up the mess left by the Qi faction, to make a contribution, and to help His Majesty completely eradicate the deep-seated problems in Shandong. If you dare to protect corruption, you will not only fail to save anyone, but will also bring about the utter ruin of the entire Shandong officialdom."

"As long as you can figure it out."

Fang Congzhe softened his tone.

"You must remember that you are the one I recommended. If you make a mistake, I, as the Grand Secretary, will be held responsible, and the memorials impeaching me will pile up like a mountain on my desk."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Qi Shijiao's tense profile, before continuing:

"Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, it's no longer about factional strife. Stop clinging to the name of the Qi faction; it's worthless in His Majesty's eyes."

Serving the country diligently and sharing His Majesty's burdens is the right path. This is your only chance to regain His Majesty's favor.

At this point, Fang Congzhe suddenly let out a long sigh, his voice revealing a hint of weariness and vicissitude.

"I'm afraid I can't keep up this saga much longer. Once I'm gone, there will be no one to shelter you from the storm. At that time, the only thing you can rely on is His Majesty's favor."

Qi Shijiao's expression was very grave.

As the new policies were implemented, resistance from the central government grew, and the old forces whose interests were threatened were already eager to act.

If the teachers can no longer support the cabinet's operation, those who depend on the prime minister will be the first to be purged.

"teacher……"

Qi Shi opened his mouth, wanting to say something comforting, but found his throat choked with emotion.

Fang Congzhe waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more: "Go, and prepare well. If things in Shandong are handled well, it will not only be your achievement, but also give me and this crumbling cabinet a little more breathing room."

Qi Shijiao kowtowed deeply, his voice slightly hoarse: "This student will certainly not fail in his mission!"

As he rose and left the study, the night wind rushed into his collar, and Qi Shijiao shivered, yet he felt that the direction in his heart had never been so clear.

Going to Shandong is both a way to save myself and a way to earn merit!
The teacher is right. Rather than going against His Majesty, we should do something.

He couldn't protect those corrupt officials in Shandong's bureaucracy, nor should he.

Rather than letting others expose this sordid affair, I'd rather expose it myself.

Perhaps there is still some room for maneuver.
(End of this chapter)