The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

Chapter 120 Midwinter

From the moment the first snowflake fell on the palace, less than half an incense stick later, a deluge of snowflakes began to fall, covering the dust.

The eunuchs on duty at the West Garden were the first to notice the unusual celestial phenomena, and in an instant, the entire West Garden was filled with excitement.

The arrival of heavy snow as expected is irrefutable proof of the interaction between Heaven and humanity and the divine heart's connection to Heaven.

In a short while, officials from the Cabinet, the Six Ministries, the Censorate, and the Nine Ministers all abandoned their official duties and braved the snow to rush to the West Garden.

The officials stood in the wind and snow, their scarlet and blue robes covered in white snow. No one dared to shiver or retreat in the cold. Everyone looked respectful and solemn, waiting to pay homage to the emperor and congratulate him on the auspicious omen.

The Jiajing Emperor, dressed in a plain Taoist robe, sat cross-legged on a futon. In front of him, smoke curled from an alchemical furnace, and on the table were displayed Taoist inscriptions, jade seals, and talismans.

His eyes were slightly closed, his expression peaceful. As he listened to the eunuchs report on the snowfall, a rare warmth, a hint of relaxation, appeared in his usually aloof eyes.

Huang Jin walked in cheerfully, deliberately not wiping the snow off his clothes: "Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Yan, along with the Six Ministries, the Nine Ministers, and all civil and military officials in the capital, are waiting outside the palace gates for an audience to congratulate you on this auspicious snowfall!"

Jiajing glanced at the snow on Huang Jin's clothes and nodded slightly: "Summon officials of the fourth rank and above to an audience. The rest of you shall return to your government offices and continue your duties."

"promise."

The long, drawn-out message pierced through the wind and snow, echoing between the palaces and pavilions of the Western Garden.

A moment later, under the eaves of the study, Yan Song led the way, kneeling in the snow. Cabinet ministers, ministers of the six ministries, left and right censors of the Censorate, governors, and dukes and marquises—all officials of the fourth rank and above in the capital knelt here.

"Your Majesty, we offer our heartfelt congratulations! Your sagacious virtue is as vast as the heavens, your sincerity reaches the heavens, and you have moved the heavens to send down auspicious snow to nourish our capital. This is a blessing for the nation and a fortune for all the people. We are overjoyed and respectfully offer our congratulations to Your Majesty!"

As the courtiers offered their congratulations, Jiajing slowly rose, refused the fur coat that Huang Jin offered him, and walked out of the palace gate wearing only a thin Taoist robe. He stood facing the wind and snow, looking at the courtiers.

"I reside in the Western Garden, cultivating myself and bringing peace to the people. I pray for snow every month, not for my own sake or for the sake of all living beings. The auspicious snowfall is not due to my own merit, but to Heaven's protection of the Ming Dynasty and its people."

Yan Song immediately kowtowed and replied loudly, "Your Majesty is humble and virtuous. Heaven has no favorites, but only favors the virtuous. If Your Majesty were not pure of heart and free from desires..."

With devout faith in Heaven and diligent governance to protect the people, how can one move the heavens?

"For the past month, your humble servants, lacking virtue and holding high positions, have failed in their ability to assist in governing, resulting in the accumulation of turbidity in the world and the delayed arrival of auspicious snow. This is all our fault. Today's snowfall is a sign of Your Majesty's sagacity in dispelling the calamities plaguing the court and the people."

"Get up." Jiajing raised his hand with satisfaction. "The snow is an auspicious sign from heaven, indicating that the emperor and his ministers are of one mind. From now on, each of you should perform your duties and keep to your responsibilities. If you can bring peace to the court and the people, you will not fail the will of Heaven, nor will you fail my heart."

"Your Majesty, we obey!"

After offering their congratulations, the group left the West Garden. On the way, Yan Song instructed Xu Jie: "The Hanlin Academy should draft a document to proclaim to the world, recording His Majesty's virtues and praising His Majesty's grace, so that all people throughout the land may know that His Majesty is devout in loving his people and whose benevolence reaches the heavens."

Then he turned to Ouyang Bijin and said, "Please ask the Ministry of Rites to choose an auspicious day, prepare gifts to thank Heaven, and repay the blessings of the heavens!"

The arrangements for the other two princes to leave the palace and return to their residences will be made after the snow stops.

'

"I will obey the Grand Secretary's orders."

"Military strategy? I know it!"

Since it snowed, there was no way to practice martial arts, so Qi Jiguang wanted to ask Zhang Juzheng for advice on policy essays. After all, Zhang Juzheng was from a military family and was so smart that he thought he could help him pass the imperial examination. But unexpectedly, Xu Wei suddenly appeared next to him.

Qi Jiguang asked hesitantly, "Brother Wen, you also understand military strategy?"

Xu Wei reached into his waistband and pulled out a small wine pot. He lifted the lid, took a sip of warm wine, and tilted his head back slightly. "My calligraphy is first, poetry second, prose second, painting third, and military strategy last."

That didn't sound very reliable, but Qi Jiguang still wanted to learn from Zhang Juzheng.

The military examination was for those who excelled in archery, horsemanship, swordsmanship, and stone carving in the outer arena, and in military strategy and policy writing in the inner arena, prioritizing military skills over literary skills.

-

He was confident about the external exams, and no one else could help him with those. He was also very familiar with the internal exams, which included "The Art of War," "The Art of War by Wu Zi," "The Art of War by Sima," "The Art of War by Wei Liao Zi," and "The Six Secret Teachings." He was just a little worried about the policy essays.

Zhang Juzheng glanced at Xu Wei, then first asked Qi Jiguang, "Brother Yuanjing, you were able to pass the military examination, which shows that there are established methods for policy essays. Are you worried that your essay might not meet the examiners' standards?"

"Indeed, I have been in the military for a long time, and my writing tends to be straightforward. I am afraid that if I write too plainly, the examiners will find it vulgar. If I write too fancy, I am afraid that I will lose the essence of practical combat. I really do not know how to write an article that will suit the tastes of the examiners in the capital."

Zhang Juzheng pondered for a moment and said, "Although I have studied military strategy, it is only superficial. All I can teach you is the general principles of the imperial examination."

The military examinations never tested abstract military strategies, but only asked about the urgent issues of the time. Currently, the Mongol leader Altan Khan invades the north every year, the nine borders are under pressure, the Japanese pirates are gradually rising in the southeast, the coastal areas are not peaceful, the capital garrison is deeply troubled, military households have deserted, farmland has been abandoned, weapons and equipment have deteriorated, and food and pay are insufficient.

The topic of the essay should largely lie within this framework. Brother Yuanjing has personally experienced military life, witnessed the ills of war, knows the hardships of soldiers, and understands the gains and losses of battle. He only needs to shed his rough, colloquial language, transform his practical experience into a well-structured essay, and cite the essential principles of military strategy to support contemporary tactics. That would be an excellent answer.

Qi Jiguang nodded repeatedly as he listened, his mind suddenly clearing up and most of his confusion from the past few days dissipating.

"I'll give you another tip for answering exam questions: start by quoting ancient military strategies, discuss current problems in the middle, and implement solutions in the final paragraph."

Citing classical texts is for the examiners, criticizing current affairs shows your vision, and focusing on local issues determines your ranking.

, 7

Upon hearing this, Qi Jiguang's eyes widened, and he immediately fumbled for paper to take out and write it down.

Xu Wei, standing to the side, finished the last of his wine and shook his head, saying, "You're all bound by rules and prejudices, insisting that every word conforms to court regulations and pleases your superiors. What kind of true military strategy is that?"

Qi Jiguang frowned upon hearing this: "Brother Wen, there are regulations for the imperial examinations and military law in the army. If one writes as one pleases and writes at will, even if one has insightful views, it will be difficult to pass the examinations. I only hope to pass the examinations and serve the country, so naturally I must abide by the rules."

"Hmph." Xu Wei sneered: "Such a fine military strategist's spirit has been completely worn away by rigid rules. It's acceptable to be strict in the examination room, but when two armies are facing each other on the battlefield, can they really follow the rules and use the exam questions to fight?"

Zhang Juzheng's expression hardened slightly as he looked at the unrestrained Xu Wei and slowly said, "What Wenchang said is about the true soldiers in chaotic times, while what Yuanjing seeks is a strategy for taking the imperial examination in prosperous times. The two are not contradictory."

When selecting officials for the imperial court, one must first abide by the rules to enter officialdom before one can implement one's own policies, correct abuses, and promote benefits.

"Without holding the position, one cannot govern effectively; empty talk about saving the world is utterly useless."

Zhang Juzheng first rejected Xu Wei's radical remarks, but then said to Qi Jiguang: "Yuanjing, although Brother Wenchang's temperament is extreme, his talent is absolutely top-notch in this era. I'm afraid only Yang Shengan can surpass him."

Since he dares to discuss military strategy alongside his calligraphy, poetry, and painting, he must be very capable.

Xu Wei casually tossed aside the small wine pot, shaking his head and saying, "Yang Shengan is learned and adheres to etiquette, but he has been bound by Confucianism for half his life. My path is different from his. He is a proper Confucian scholar, while I am a layman. We are not worth comparing."

Zhang Juzheng ignored him and continued to advise him: "Yuanjing, what I taught you was a shortcut to the examination hall, a ladder to break through barriers and enter the world. But what Wenchang has in his heart is the true strategy for the battlefield and the military tactics for quelling rebellions and winning battles. I know you also have your own strategies, but you can only achieve great things by learning from others' strengths and making up for your own weaknesses."

Upon hearing this, Qi Jiguang put away his paper and pen, and solemnly cupped his hands to Xu Wei, his posture upright and sincere: "I was previously ignorant and mistakenly thought that you were joking and frivolous, and that you did not recognize true learning. I hope you will forgive me, Brother Wen."

"Of course, of course. Give me a jar of the good wine that His Highness left for you."

"I'll give it all to my brother!" Qi Jiguang was extremely straightforward. He liked to drink, but he didn't consider wine anything precious. He would drink it if there was wine, and he was fine with it if there wasn't.

"Haha, that's great!"

Xu Wei went to fetch the wine himself. He was not stingy and immediately filled the cups for all three of them. Then Zhang Juzheng posed a question, and Qi Jiguang and Xu Wei responded with their answers.

Its exterior reflects frost and snow, while its interior burns with heroic spirit.

For the next two weeks or so, snowflakes swirled and rolled across the sky, instantly obscuring the sun and the outlines of streets and buildings were swallowed up by the heavy snow, making people's figures blurry just inches away.

Travelers wrapped their robes tightly around their hands, clutching the expensive grain they had bought, and hurried along, heads down, barely able to recognize each other when they met face to face.

Thick layers of snow covered the eaves, corners, and palace walls, and crows huddled on withered trees, unable to fly.

The poor, refugees, beggars, the elderly, and the infirm suffered from collapsed houses and lack of coal, freezing to death in droves on the streets, along city walls, and under temple eaves at night.

In broad daylight, candles were lit throughout the hall, and the underfloor heating was running, making it warm. However, Zhu Zaizhen's expression was still somewhat grim, not directed at anyone in particular, but simply a sign of his worry about the natural disaster.

"This awful weather! It either doesn't rain at all, or it just keeps raining!"

Living in the imperial palace, clad in fine clothes and with a constant supply of charcoal, he naturally had no worries about being cold or hungry. However, the thought of the countless ordinary people inside and outside the capital made his heart sink.

This blizzard came suddenly and violently, and it will not stop in just one or two days. Moreover, due to the influence of the Little Ice Age, the cold weather will continue for the next few months.

With roads blocked by snow, grain carts can hardly get through, and firewood and coal are becoming increasingly scarce. The poor people living in mud houses and shantytowns on the outskirts of the city are unlikely to survive this long winter, and freezing to death on the streets is a foregone conclusion.

Just as he was pondering, Zhou Zheng and Zhang Xing entered quietly and bowed to report: "Your Highness, this servant just went to check and found that the residences of the gentlemen and Scholar Qi are well-stocked with grain, rice, firewood and charcoal. The lambskin coats that Your Highness bestowed have also been delivered in full."

"Alright." Zhu Zaizhen nodded upon hearing this: "Send a few more people to investigate outside the Nine Gates and in various suburbs, focusing on how many refugee settlements and collapsed houses there are."

He couldn't possibly show his face directly. As a prince, no one would care if he did bad things, but doing good things would be a major taboo.

Is he trying to win over the people and stage a rebellion?

Therefore, he could only exert influence through the Yan family, but how effective that would be was uncertain, since the Yan father and son would not really care about those starving and dying people.

Of course, the same would have happened if it were Xu Jie, and regardless of whether he cared or not, the Ministry of Revenue simply couldn't produce enough grain and firewood to save all the poor people in the surrounding area.

Unless the palace officials, nobles, wealthy merchants and powerful families all donate the grain from their granaries for free, is that even possible?

We can only hope that the imperial court will provide disaster relief. With his supervision, Yan Song will have to do something to appear respectable. I dare not say how much, but perhaps thousands or tens of thousands of people could be saved because of this.

Moreover, if the Ming Dynasty is like this, the snow on the grasslands will only get heavier, and if they can't survive, what will they do? It goes without saying.

Zhu Zaizhen looked towards the West Garden. He had to give it a try. If it didn't work out, he would accept it. But if he didn't try, he wouldn't be able to sleep soundly.

-