Volume One: The Infant Dragon Opens Its Eyes - Chapter 145: The Aftermath of the Grand Court Session

Chapter 145: Aftermath of the Grand Court Session

Wasn't Emperor Taizong's attitude toward Li Ji precisely this? He demoted Li Ji so that Emperor Gaozong could eventually employ him.

During the reigns of Emperors Hongwu and Xuande, Meng Ying had faced severe ostracism, drifting between Yunnan and Nanjing. When Emperor Zhengtong ascended the throne, Meng Ying returned to the capital, albeit holding merely a sinecure.

The implication behind this was crystal clear.

Was it not to reserve him for the current Emperor's future use?

The only question was whether His Majesty could fully fathom this intention.

Yang Shiqi said, "Wang Ji won't do; Yu Qian will. Wang Ji is far too yielding and pliant; I fear he will lack backbone when facing crises in the future. Yu Qian, however, possesses more than enough uprightness and firmness, but the rigid and inflexible are easily snapped. You must understand that the position of a Grand Secretary is not that of a Censor. What the realm needs is someone who can harmonize the dual forces of yin and yang, capable both of halting the Emperor's erratic impulses and enabling the ministers to accomplish practical work."

"Neither of them is suitable yet."

In history, Wang Ji was accused of attaching himself to Wang Zhen—whether true or false remains unclear; at the very least, he never reached the level of trust where Yang Rong would have him preside over the court's military and political affairs.

As for Yu Qian, though he rose to immense fame due to the Defense of Beijing and became a renowned official throughout the realm, his eternal flaw was being far too upright.

Upholding principles is certainly correct, but what a minister needs is not merely to act as an unbending remonstrator before the Emperor.

The Three Yangs appeared to enjoy an unblemished reputation throughout the empire, but a close examination of their resumes reveals that every single one of them was full of strategic calculations. It was simply that once they attained lofty positions, they primarily employed open, orthodox strategies, rendering covert intrigues unnecessary.

Yang Shiqi turned his head and said to Yang Pu, "Hongji, you are nearly ten years younger than the two of us. Future affairs will eventually have to be entrusted to you."

Upon hearing this, Yang Pu immediately responded, "My lord, why do you utter such words? What virtue or ability does this humble official possess to receive such a charge from you?"

Yang Rong let out a cold laugh and said, "Hongji, you are far too cautious. Right now, there are only the three of us here; what is there that cannot be spoken? Lord Dongli and I are of similar age; who knows who will draw his final breath first? Zhang Fu is a military general; allowing him a seat in the Grand Secretariat is already an immense manifestation of imperial grace. As for Hu Ying, his entire life will likely amount to no more than Minister of Rites."

"In the future, even if new Grand Secretaries are appointed, who could possibly bypass you?"

Both Zhang Fu and Hu Ying possessed inherent shortcomings. Zhang Fu's shortcomings have already been discussed, but Hu Ying's stemmed from having far too little experience in the bureaucratic arena.

Yang Shiqi and the others had all assisted Emperor Renzong when he served as Imperial Regent in Nanjing, and later held central roles during the reigns of Emperors Renzong and Xuanzong. It can be said they possessed decades of seasoning. But what had Hu Ying spent the first half of his life doing?

He spent his time running the length and breadth of the country searching for the whereabouts of the Jianwen Emperor. It was not until the twilight years of Emperor Taizong's reign that this mission concluded, after which he was thrust directly into the central government.

Yet he lacked the experience of bobbing and sinking through the lower tiers of the bureaucracy.

He was passable enough as a reserve Grand Secretary, but to serve as the Senior Grand Secretary at the helm of the entire empire, he simply would not do.

Strictly speaking, Yang Rong was more suited for the role than Yang Pu.

Yet, just as Yang Rong had noted, Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong were roughly the same age and had vied with one another for the greater part of their lives. Though Yang Rong appeared full of schemes, he had still been overshadowed by Yang Shiqi for half a lifetime—a hair's breadth difference that remained unchanged from youth to old age.

Although the Grand Empress Dowager had returned governing power to the Emperor, based on their understanding of His Majesty, the Emperor had no intention of drastically shaking up the court. The three of them could practically remain in these positions until their dying day.

In his heart, Yang Rong genuinely felt a pang of the sentiment: "Since Yu was born, why must Liang also be born?"

Hearing this, Yang Pu maintained his deferential tone: "Both my lords will surely live to be a hundred. Though Yang Pu is slightly younger, who is to say I might not depart before the two of you?"

"The affairs of this realm still require the two of you to shoulder the burden."

Yang Rong emitted another cold chuckle, said nothing further, and instead cast a glance at Yang Shiqi.

Yang Shiqi, however, appeared quite satisfied and said, "Hongji, just remember two words for the future: caution. His Majesty is young and currently at the peak of his vigor. Remember to overcome the rigid with the yielding."

Yang Pu replied, "This humble official understands."

Immediately afterward, the three men turned their discussion to the management of the aftermath of this court session. Yang Shiqi said, "It is impossible for Wang Wen to remain in the post of Left Censor-in-Chief. Naturally, we must arrange another position for him. What post do you gentlemen deem appropriate?"

Yang Rong replied, "That depends entirely on the Emperor's will. The authority to reward and punish must originate from above. However, in my view, since His Majesty previously mentioned sending someone out to investigate unlawful activities among the imperial princes, we might as well assign that task to Wang Wen."

Yang Shiqi nodded. "An excellent suggestion; it is most fitting."

Yang Shiqi still harbored a desire to protect Wang Wen. If he were sent out to investigate unlawful acts among the princes, he would naturally still hold the title of Imperial Commissioner, meaning it could scarcely be considered a demotion. With the imperial princes scattered across the vast expanses of the realm, inspecting them one by one would also serve as a way for Wang Wen to lie low and weather the storm.

By the time he returned, this entire affair would have blown over.

Yang Shiqi then asked, "Then who shall succeed him as Left Censor-in-Chief?"

Yang Rong answered, "Let us include this appointment together in our drafted memorials and let His Majesty select the candidate."

Yang Shiqi murmured thoughtfully, "Indeed. His Majesty has grown up."

After all, now that the Emperor had matured, many things could no longer be handled as they had been during the early days of the regency.

Such is the nature of power: even if the Three Yangs were willing to cede it, the Emperor still had to be capable of seizing it. From the position of Left Censor-in-Chief alone, the Three Yangs could easily conjure countless suitable candidates.

Yet one could only wonder how many names the Emperor had hidden up his own sleeve.

Even as the Three Yangs deliberated on the aftermath, over at the Duke of Ying's residence, Zhang Fu was engaged in a secret consultation with Zhu Yong.

The two men had a feast laid out in the study. Dismissing all maidservants entirely, they left themselves alone behind closed doors.

Zhu Yong drained a cup of wine and said, "Are those remnants of the Jianwen regime simply going to be let off like this? I always feel unsatisfied."

Zhang Fu replied, "This was naturally to be expected from the very beginning. Back then, Grand Preceptor Yao Guangxiao advised Emperor Taizong that anyone in Nanjing could be killed, save for Fang Xiaoru. In the case of Fang Xiaoru, Taizong did indeed go too far. If His Majesty wishes to accomplish great things, he must first win the hearts of the people. Pardoning the remnants of Jianwen is likewise a gesture to pacify the populace. Otherwise, do you really think the Three Yangs would have nodded in agreement so easily?"

In the imperial court, while Zhang Fu and Wang Wen appeared to be at daggers drawn, the ones truly making the decisions were actually Yang Shiqi and the Grand Empress Dowager.

It is rarely those who speak the most who prove to be the most pivotal figures.

More often than not, those who speak the least are the ones who truly matter.

Still discontented, Zhu Yong argued, "That won't do! Fang Xiaoru can be set aside, but men like Sheng Yong, Ping An, and Tie Xuan slaughtered countless of my brothers on the battlefield. We absolutely cannot let them off."

Zhang Fu said, "They are already dead; what is the use of dwelling on this now? A pardon must be granted. However, if you feel you cannot swallow this grievance, you can simply send a word to the Ministry of Rites and have them select a thoroughly vile posthumous title for them."

Zhu Yong retorted, "Brother Zhang, surely you know what I am really trying to say? I don't care about the Jianwen remnants, but can we afford to ignore the posthumous reputations of our own fathers?"

This was the very crux of Zhu Yong's internal conflict: if the men who served Jianwen were loyal subjects, what did that make their own fathers?

Zhang Fu's father, Zhang Yu, and Zhu Yong's father, Zhu Neng, were both meritorious generals of the Jingnan Campaign; this was a matter they could not possibly brush aside.

Zhang Fu laughed heartily. "You are overthinking it. As long as the one sitting in the Inner Palace remains of Taizong's bloodline, you needn't ever expect those pedantic scholars to overturn certain matters. If you are truly worried about this, you should pay all the closer attention to today's events."

Zhu Yong asked, "How do you mean?"

Zhang Fu explained, "His Majesty is not like Emperor Renzong; he is like Emperor Taizong. Today's affair appeared to be the Grand Empress Dowager wishing to settle the Prince of Xiang, but in reality, it was entirely His Majesty's intention."

Hearing this, Zhu Yong received a jolt to his heart and asked, "Could it be that my nephew left some instructions behind?"

The epicenter of this recent debate had been the Memorial on Feudal Investiture. Since that essay had been authored by Zhang Zhong, Zhu Yong naturally assumed Zhang Fu possessed deeper insider information.

At the mention of Zhang Zhong, a trace of sorrow inevitably clouded Zhang Fu's heart. He said, "That essay was written precisely in accordance with the Emperor's will. His Majesty is preparing for war."

"Splendid," Zhu Yong declared. "That is the finest news I have heard in years."

Zhang Fu cautioned, "Brother Zhu, do not rejoice too early. We have fought the Oirats ourselves; we know what kind of formidable adversaries they are. Today, Toghon is even more exceptional than Mahamu, and the Oirat military might surpasses anything in the past. But what is the condition of the Capital Garrison and the Nine Garrisons? You know as well as I do."

"If we venture beyond the passes once more to wage a major war against the Oirats, can Brother Zhu guarantee absolute victory?"

Zhang Fu's single question plunged Zhu Yong into deep contemplation.

Had anyone else posed such a query, Zhu Yong certainly would not have uttered disheartening remarks. But the one asking was Zhang Fu. Zhu Yong respected no one else, yet he held Zhang Fu in high regard, forged by a lifetime of brotherhood. Being one of his own, Zhu Yong had no desire to conceal his thoughts from Zhang Fu, knowing full well that while he might fool others, he could never deceive Zhang Fu.

Zhu Yong stroked his protruding belly, let out a soft sigh, and remained silent.