Volume One: The Young Dragon Opens Its Eyes Chapter 153: The Classic Lectures versus the Hall of Great Foundation

Chapter 153: The Classics Lecture vs. The Grand Secretariat Academy

The most sensitive person to this matter was Yang Rong.

This was because Yang Rong was the one whose interests were most severely impacted by this shift in the political landscape.

Ever since Emperor Xuanzong heavily favored and utilized Yang Rong, Yang Rong had always operated in the capacity of a chief strategist.

Whenever the imperial court had any major military campaigns, Emperor Xuanzong would invariably consult Yang Rong first before making a decision.

And Yang Rong did not disappoint Xuanzong. On numerous military operations, he offered shrewd strategies to the Emperor, and his handling of the Rebellion of the Prince of Han was particularly brilliant.

Consequently, under Yang Rong's leadership, the power of the Ministry of War expanded dramatically—so much so that Wang Ji would request hundreds of personnel at a time from the higher authorities to reinforce the Ministry's ranks.

However, all of this was built upon the premise that the Emperor endorsed this particular governance pathway: an endorsement of the civil official system managing core military and political affairs, and extending its reach into the military garrisons and guard units.

The unfolding developments before him made Yang Rong feel profoundly displeased.

Zhu Qizhen's high regard for Zhang Fu was evident, especially in entrusting Zhang Fu to head the Grand Secretariat Academy. The primary student body of the Grand Secretariat Academy consisted of members of the imperial nobility and the imperial clan. More importantly, there was the underlying literal meaning of the name "Grand Secretariat" (*Da Ben*).

*Da Ben*, *Da Ben*—what did it refer to?

It referred to the Crown Prince, for the Crown Prince was the foundation of the state. Such a political signal was far too obvious.

That Yang Rong did not openly refute it on the spot was already a testament to his exceptional self-restraint.

Yang Shiqi, however, pacified Yang Rong, saying, "I naturally trust the Duke of Ying. While the establishment of the Grand Secretariat Academy follows ancient precedents, too much time has passed since then, and many of the original regulations can no longer be found."

"We must at least be allowed to deliberate among ourselves and discuss a proper charter."

"Even if the Prince of Xiang's heir arrives in the capital, it will not be until the end of the year. Clearing the grounds for the Grand Secretariat Academy and making other preparations means classes will not truly commence until next year."

"Therefore, discussing who shall be in charge of this matter right now is premature."

Zhang Fu retorted, "It is not premature. Precisely because the Grand Secretariat Academy does not even have its first stroke written yet, it requires someone to take charge, does it not?"

Yang Shiqi smiled and said, "You jest, Lord Duke. You are a pillar of the state; could you truly be expected to do the work of a common artisan?" Pausing slightly, Yang Shiqi continued, "Let us do this: the construction of the Grand Secretariat Academy shall be entrusted to the Inner Court. Ruan An possesses some competence in construction. Let us wait until it is built before discussing anything further."

Zhang Fu knew perfectly well that Yang Shiqi was stalling.

Yet, Zhang Fu found himself with nothing to say.

After all, even if Zhang Fu were to truly assume the post of Chancellor of the Grand Secretariat Academy right now, he could not possibly handle the actual preparatory work himself, as it would be far too beneath his dignity and status.

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Fu realized that while the construction of the Grand Secretariat Academy was undeniably important, the Emperor was still young, and there was currently no Crown Prince. What truly mattered right now was merely the signal.

The signal of the Emperor restoring favor to the nobility.

When the time truly came for the Grand Secretariat Academy to become a contested battleground, the prerequisite was for the Emperor to first have a Crown Prince.

Therefore, there was no need to push the matter with such urgency.

Zhang Fu thus said, "Since that is the case, I shall leave this in your hands, Lord Yang."

Yang Shiqi replied, "Easily done. Easily done."

In the Grand Secretariat, Zhang Fu's presence was primarily of symbolic significance, serving in reserve for consultations. Consequently, he did not have many duties on his hands. Waiting only for the battle reports from Luchuan—though judging by the timeline, Meng Ying probably had not yet reached Yunnan—he did not linger long in Wenyuan Pavilion.

After Zhang Fu departed, Yang Shiqi called Yang Rong, Yang Pu, and Hu Ying into his private office.

The private office served as their workplace.

The space was not large, functioning essentially as a suite. The outer room contained desks and bookshelves, while the inner chamber held a bed for resting.

In the event of special emergencies, Grand Secretaries were required to be on duty right here.

Should the Emperor fall gravely ill, the Grand Secretaries, without exception, would generally live within these rooms.

As soon as the four men stepped inside, Yang Rong could no longer suppress his frustration. He blurted out, "What does Zhang Fu mean by this? Does he think Emperor Taizong is still reigning today?"

Yang Shiqi personally poured tea, filling cups for the three of them, and said, "What Zhang Fu's intentions are is hard to say. But what the person deep within the inner palace truly intends—that is the real question."

Hu Ying pondered for a moment and said, "The institution of the Classics Lectures must under no circumstances be abolished. If His Majesty merely wishes to provide the Prince of Xiang with a place to study in Beijing, that is easily managed. But if this Grand Secretariat Academy is genuinely intended to usurp the foundation of the state, I will never consent to it."

Yang Pu chimed in, "Indeed. We must not retreat even a single step on this matter."

Yang Shiqi was naturally well aware of the gravity of this issue.

After all, this institution had been established single-handedly by Yang Shiqi himself, designed specifically to ensure that the Emperor received a Confucian education and grew close to Confucian scholar-officials.

Furthermore, the lecturers for these sessions were all drawn from the Hanlin Academy. Working day and night alongside the Emperor, they would naturally be heavily favored and entrusted with crucial responsibilities once the Emperor ascended the throne.

One could even say that the ironclad rule of the late Ming dynasty—that none without Hanlin background could enter the Grand Secretariat—was directly tied to the Classics Lectures.

Because the ministers who served as the Emperor's lecturers all originated from the Hanlin Academy, and these individuals had a high probability of being heavily promoted, the prestige of the Hanlin scholars was born. Spending twenty years sitting on the cold benches of obscurity could lead to overnight renown across the realm the moment one stepped into the Grand Secretariat.

Entering the Hanlin Academy, in turn, was directly linked to one's ranking in the imperial examinations.

In other words, whether one placed in the top three of the first tier, the second tier, or as an endorsed imperial scholar in the third tier during the palace examinations directly determined the ultimate destination of one's decades-long career amid the waves of officialdom.

Of course, quite a few individuals broke this unwritten rule, such as Hai Rui and others, but they were always the minority.

This was the true definition of a single examination determining one's entire life.

Yang Shiqi had never imagined that things would evolve in this direction or carry such drawbacks, but the original intent with which he designed the system had been perfectly realized.

That was to keep the education of the Emperor firmly under their control.

Most Ming emperors deeply identified with Confucianism; they would neither treat Neo-Confucianism merely as a superficial tool like the founding Emperor Taizu did, nor act as sheer martial brutes like Emperor Taizong.

Even the most eccentric Emperor Wude remained exceedingly polite when facing Yang Tinghe.

Precisely because this matter was of such monumental importance, even Yang Pu, who had always sought to protect himself by staying out of trouble, and Hu Ying, who rarely spoke, could no longer remain silent.

The Emperor growing close to the nobility was a present worry; replacing the Classics Lectures with the institutional framework of the Grand Secretariat Academy was a disaster for the distant future.

Yang Shiqi's expression remained unchanged as he calmly sipped his tea, possessing the unwavering composure of one facing a collapsing mountain without a change in facial expression. After a moment, Yang Shiqi spoke: "This matter must eventually be clarified in the Emperor's presence."

Yang Rong said, "I will go with you."

Yang Shiqi replied, "There is no need. I shall go alone. If all of us go, would that not look like an act of coercing the throne? The two of you just wait here."

Yang Shiqi was a man of prompt action.

He immediately dispatched a messenger to the Qianqing Palace to submit an imperial tablet requesting an audience.

In the Qianqing Palace, upon seeing Yang Shiqi's tablet, Zhu Qizhen immediately instructed, "Grand Tutor Wang, go and welcome the Senior Grand Secretary."

Wang Zhen promptly replied, "Understood."

Watching Wang Zhen leave, Zhu Qizhen felt a trace of nervousness in his heart.

Although Yang Shiqi was the Senior Grand Secretary, upon closer reflection, the number of times Zhu Qizhen had summoned Yang Shiqi in private was actually quite small—a fact Zhu Qizhen himself had not even realized.

The truth was that he harbored a certain apprehension toward Yang Shiqi.

Perhaps this apprehension did not stem from Yang Shiqi himself, but rather from the massive political network standing behind him. Consequently, most of Zhu Qizhen's communication with Yang Shiqi was conducted through Yu Qian.

Most of Zhu Qizhen's meetings with Yang Shiqi took place during court assemblies, whether they were grand assemblies or imperial advisory conferences.

Such a solitary, private audience gave Zhu Qizhen the uncanny feeling of facing a final examination.

Yang Shiqi's pace was unhurried. Moreover, within the Forbidden City, ministers were strictly prohibited from riding horses or traveling by sedan chair. Walking all the way from Wenyuan Pavilion to the Qianqing Palace took Yang Shiqi quite some time.

By the time he arrived at the Qianqing Palace, beads of sweat were already visible amidst his white hair.

As soon as he entered the palace, Yang Shiqi bowed to Zhu Qizhen and said, "This subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

Seeing Yang Shiqi's advanced age and gray hair, Zhu Qizhen hurried forward to support him, saying, "Senior Grand Secretary Yang is a pillar of the state and a veteran official who has served four reigns. You need not stand on such ceremony."

After exchanging a few polite remarks, Yang Shiqi finally took his seat.

Zhu Qizhen inquired, "For the Senior Grand Secretary to come here today, is there a matter of importance?"

Yang Shiqi sighed and said, "This subject is already seventy-five years old, and handling the affairs of the realm has long since grown beyond my physical strength. Previously, before the Grand Empress Dowager returned full governance, I worried that if I were to pass away, unsightly events might occur. Now that Your Majesty has grown to maturity and bears a striking resemblance to the late Emperor, it is finally time for this subject to beg for retirement."

The gaze Yang Shiqi cast upon Zhu Qizhen was filled with doting affection, much like a grandfather looking upon a accomplished grandson.

Hearing Yang Shiqi speak thus and seeing the look in his eyes, Zhu Qizhen felt a wave of deep emotion mixed with inner conflict. At seventy-five years old, regardless of ancient or modern times, a person was exceedingly elderly. Employing a man of such advanced age made Zhu Qizhen feel a lingering sense of unburdened guilt.

Yet, no matter how much sympathy he felt, he could not possibly grant the request.

For, to put it bluntly—though it might sound disrespectful—the realm could exist without Zhu Qizhen, but it could not endure without Yang Shiqi.