The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

Chapter 95 National Scholar

"There's no need for that. Now that I've brought you and your child to the capital, I will certainly take good care of you."

Zhu Zaizhen made no attempt to conceal his intention to recruit, speaking frankly and openly.

"Moreover, since I have treated you with the respect due to a national hero, I expect you to repay me in the same way."

Guoshi, a poor scholar who hadn't even passed the provincial examination, was treated as a national scholar by the prince when he was at his lowest point, suffering the cold looks of his neighbors.

He originally thought that King Jing might just need him to write and draw, and that he was just looking for a staff member. He never expected to be treated like this.

It's important to understand that employing someone and treating someone as a national hero are two different things.

Xu Wei's tears flowed uncontrollably, as if he wanted to vent all the grievances he had suffered over the years.

Meanwhile, Ma Dezhao whispered to Zhang Juzheng, "It's the same in your household."

Zhang Juzheng felt a warmth in his heart. He looked at Xu Wei, who was almost sobbing, and thought to himself, "Everyone says I'm a child prodigy, but it seems they were wrong. I'm far inferior to Your Highness."

What was I doing when I was two or three years old? I think I passed the imperial examination and became a scholar—oh—that wasn't too bad.

He had seen too many ways to recruit talented people: some offered high-ranking positions and generous salaries, some gave gold, silver and land, some used the friendship of being from the same hometown and the same year to win them over, and some used the name of their master's school to keep them connected.

But it's rare to see someone as straightforward as King Jing. He doesn't humiliate you, doesn't test you, doesn't try to tame you right away, and doesn't make you guess his thoughts. Instead, he openly tells you, "I need you, I respect you, I trust you, and I am willing to treat you as a pillar of the state."

Few can resist such an offer, especially when the person is the future ruler of the world.

Given your esteemed status, it's rare that someone could treat you like a dog and order you around, yet still chooses to treat you like a human being and show you courtesy.

Let alone a prince, even a scholar or a county magistrate would not treat Xu Wei with such care and consideration.

He's just a poor, pedantic scholar with a bit of talent, but he's also short-tempered and doesn't know how to behave. Just ask him to write a couple of poems or paint a picture, then give him a few compliments and send him on his way.

Your mother? What does it matter to me whether your mother has food to eat or not!

Are you all here to freeload?

Zhu Zaizhen personally helped Xu Wei up, but the guy just stood there wiping away tears, making Zhu Zaizhen look short in comparison. He really wasn't as good at socializing as our Zhang prodigy. Zhu Zaizhen could only pull him down to sit down first.

Xu Wei finally asked, "Why does Your Highness treat me this way? What difference does it make whether Your Highness has me or not?"

Under Zhang Juzheng's smiling gaze, Zhu Zaizhen could only passionately recount his grand ambition to revive the Ming Dynasty—fortunately, it had a good effect.

"I am willing to serve Your Highness and will not fail in your kindness!"

"I will never betray you!"

It took Xu Wei a while to calm down and sit down. Zhu Zaizhen didn't say anything more. Zhang Juzheng took the initiative to pour wine and cleverly poured tea for Prince Jing.

Actually, the alcohol content of wines during this period was not high, especially the imperial wines, which emphasized aroma and mellowness rather than spiciness.

However, Zhu Zaizhen still showed no interest in drinking; he was still developing and wanted to be cautious.

"I'll serve tea instead of wine. You two must enjoy yourselves to the fullest and not waste this fine wine."

The two had just been at odds, but they both knew that the other was no ordinary person, and it was clear that their positions beside His Highness would not conflict in the future, so things remained relatively harmonious.

However, Zhu Zaizhen knew that with their personalities, the two would never become close friends, because Zhang Juzheng would not always be willing to give in to Xu Wei, and Xu Wei would always have times when he could not stand Zhang Juzheng's way of doing things.

Of course, Xu Wei's personality was undoubtedly the bigger problem. He was not the type to stand on his own. He was full of talent but had an extreme personality, so he could only work as a staff member to give advice or write books and paint.

The art of employing people is not about molding them into the shape you want them to be, and not everyone can be molded. Even the founding emperor used the "skinning method" (a form of exploitation), but those who were greedy still remained greedy.

People live and do things, all for the sake of fame and fortune. You can't expect people to work themselves to the bone without giving them anything in return.

You can have expectations of people, but you can't hold them to the standards of a saint.

After returning to the classroom after lunch, Zhu Zaizhen said frankly to Xu Wei, "With your intelligence, you should know my situation."

Xu Wei nodded. In the past half month, he hadn't been idle in the capital. He had wandered all over the streets and alleys, and in the teahouses and markets, there were always people discussing the government. The foundation of the country was naturally of paramount importance.

"That's good. Now there's only one thing I need you to do, sir. Here is a painting by Emperor Xuanzong called 'Springtime Play in the Tang Garden.' Please make a copy of it."

Ma Dezhao unfurled the scroll on the table, and Zhang Juzheng and Xu Wei immediately gathered around to admire it, for it was a rare sight to see an imperial painting.

Zhang Juzheng merely admired the painting, while Xu Wei's expression was much more serious. His fingertips hovered over the scroll, his gaze carefully memorizing the composition, brushwork, and coloring of the painting, his expression solemn.

He did not resent the fact that the first thing King Jing asked him to do was to copy paintings, because he had seen King Jing's sincerity. If he were just going to use him as a painter, he would not have been treated like this.

Moreover, since he has acknowledged a master, he must do his utmost. Your Highness can use him for advice and strategies, and he can certainly use him for calligraphy and painting.

After reading it, Xu Wei said, "Your Highness, I am good at freehand ink painting, while His Majesty Emperor Xuanzong's style is the meticulous and delicate coloring of the court style, combining fine brushwork with small freehand brushwork. The styles are quite different, but it is acceptable to just copy it."

If you only copy the general idea and don't strive for perfect resemblance, you can probably finish in two or three hours. If you want to meticulously copy and strive for realism, you can finish in one day by putting ink and color on the paper, and in two days.

To achieve the highest level of precision, completely replicating the silk texture, brushstrokes, and the spirit of the imperial calligraphy, requires five days of meticulous sketching, two days of polishing, and seven days to complete.

""

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zaizhen smiled and said, "There is plenty of time. I will trouble you to do seven days' work."

Xu Wei bowed in agreement, and then he and Ma Dezhao moved the painting to one side to observe it more carefully, without rushing to put pen to paper to show off their skills.

Zhang Juzheng looked at it for a moment and then returned, saying, "With his talent, it would be a real pity if he only achieved the rank of Xiucai (a lower-level scholar).

Zhu Zaizhen shook his head: "If he were truly willing to conceal his talents and conform to the rigid eight-legged essay style, he would have passed the imperial examination long ago with his abilities."

Many scholars far less talented than Xu Wei passed the imperial examinations and became successful candidates in the provincial and metropolitan examinations. The reason for this was that they were willing to put their heads in the noose of the eight-legged essay. Xu Wei must have understood this principle, but he did not change it.

Zhang Juzheng did not understand Xu Wei's insistence. He believed that the eight-legged essay was merely a stepping stone to officialdom. He should follow the rules to gain fame and fortune for the time being, and then realize his ambitions later. Why should he be so stubborn and confined?

A few days later, Jiajing suddenly remembered this matter and asked with great interest, "The scholar he invited to the palace—"

"Is that all?"

Huang Jin replied, "He entered the palace three days ago. That day, His Highness had lunch with Zhang Juzheng and Xu Wei, and specially asked me for a jar of 'Full Palace Incense'. These past few days, he has been going in and out together, and they are very close."

As Jiajing reviewed the memorials, he saw the Yan faction and the Qingliu faction attacking each other with various means in their struggle for the position of Minister of Rites.

Of course, it wasn't just these two vying for the position of minister, but the others were no match for them and were merely there to make up the numbers.

"Hmph, childish tactics! Is this how you manage subordinates?"

Jiajing's words carried a disdainful air, looking down on his son. Zhang Juzheng was one thing, but what was Xu Wei's status? Even if he had some real talent and learning, he shouldn't be treated with such courtesy, which would disrupt the proper order of things.

Huang Jin followed up on Jiajing's words, saying, "Your Highness is still young and does not understand the rules of governing subordinates. He simply treats people with sincerity."

Just then, a notification sound came from outside. Huang Jin went out and saw that it was a golden elixir sent by Tao Zhongwen. Huang Jin reached out and took it.

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