Chapter 96: Kai Hai Ba
Chapter 96: The Eighth of Opening the Sea
If the scope were extended to a certain batch of people, Zhu Qizhen could still voice his thoughts. Yet when it came to one specific individual, he found himself utterly at a loss for words.
He could not possibly target every memorializing court official as an enemy, could he? Doing so would inevitably ignite major trouble within the court.
The Empress Dowager smiled. “Why the uncertainty? Yang Rong has already spoken with you. What did Yang Rong suggest you do?”
Zhu Qizhen replied, “The master advises the grandson to yield one step and punish Wang Zhen.”
The Empress Dowager asked, “What do you think?”
Zhu Qizhen bit his lip and said, “The grandson believes it is reasonable, yet he cannot bring himself to accept it. The grandson still clings to the original plan.”
The Empress Dowager gave a soft laugh. “Very well.”
“When flowers and willows are dense and one can still pick the right bloom, that is skill. When the wind howls and the rain lashes, and one can still stand firm, that reveals deep roots.”
“If you follow my ways—governing with the wisdom of the ancients, resting the people, bringing peace to the realm—such scenes might occur less often. The scholars speak of a Sage Emperor who rules the world with folded arms. But if you truly wish to pursue what you desire, today’s affair marks only a small beginning.”
“It is also because of this old woman that they do not dare to overreach.”
“The great fish remain at the bottom of the water; those surfacing are mere small fry.”
“Emperor, people fear not being foolish but fear thinking themselves clever. They fear not being unenlightened but fear thinking themselves enlightened. And what is the greatest flaw of a clever person? Do you know?”
“Ask the Empress Dowager for instructions.”
“Clever people usually cannot endure. They know too much, think too much, and their minds move too swiftly. Seeing no path ahead, they switch routes.”
“They fail to realize that the great way is the simplest, that warfare uses the roundabout to appear straight and tasks proceed by going straight as if around.”
“This is what is meant by great wisdom resembling folly.”
“For today’s matter, if you stop here, follow Yang Rong. This is the method of Emperor Renzong. Yet if you wish to continue as you desire, employ the approach of Emperor Taizong.”
Zhu Qizhen raised his eyes. “What method should Emperor Taizong employ given the present situation?”
The Empress Dowager said indifferently, “Execute Li Shiming to death.”
Zhu Qizhen was startled. “Empress Dowager, Master Li is an upright official.”
The Empress Dowager replied, “Emperor Zhao Lie remarked that if orchids stand at the gate, they must be removed. Li Shiming is a hard-boned man, a remonstrating minister, and Wei Zheng of this dynasty.”
“Yet since he blocks the way, he has but one possible ending.”
Here the Empress Dowager sighed. “If it were another, it would be simpler. Imprisonment and sentencing would likely make them recant. But Li Shiming is a gentleman who would rather die than alter his words. Do not let him suffer this fate.”
“Empress Dowager, this is not good.”
“How can it be not good? All say that serving a monarch is like serving a tiger, and they believe the emperor is a tiger. Yet they fail to understand that a tiger cannot have its whiskers pulled.”
“The tiger is powerful, but against dozens or hundreds it may not prevail. Thus the tiger must demonstrate its strength—its ability is to occasionally devour someone.”
“Have you not read the Han Feizi? Up and down, a hundred battles daily. Such small skirmishes have only just begun. The cabinet ministers have not yet acted.”
Zhu Qizhen pondered and said, “Master Li is innocent.”
The Empress Dowager smiled. “Innocent? There are no innocents in the court. Those seeking fame, seeking profit, desiring merit, desiring fame in letters, wishing to be the emperor’s teacher, to be a literary paragon of the age, to protect family property, to glorify ancestors.”
“Li Shiming merely sought fame.”
“Vindicate him and lay the blame on me or Wang Zhen.”
After long thought, Zhu Qizhen finally understood.
This matter may not have been orchestrated by Li Shiming, yet handling it would inevitably involve him.
Whether Li Shiming was innocent, framed, willing, or used as a pawn, such deeds demand a price.
The Empress Dowager regarded the memorials below with contempt. She kicked the bamboo basket aside with a light foot; a mountain of memorials spilled across the ground. “These memorials, I find tedious to read. Those who unite to attack are easiest to handle. Seize the leader, beat him with the tiger-whipping rod, then step back one pace. It is sufficient.”
“The more participants, the more they watch one another and the less likely to lead.”
“Those who truly worry and never reveal a hint in the common world are the most dangerous.”
Here the Empress Dowager’s expression grew slightly grave, as though recalling something that stirred her.
Zhu Qizhen hesitated. “The grandson believes Li Shiming cannot be killed.”
“Oh?”
“It is not that the grandson pities Master Li. It is only that, having heard the Empress Dowager, he now grasps the matter. Yet Li Shiming enjoys renown among scholars. Any mishap might stir a great tempest, harming court and realm stability and the present situation.”
The Empress Dowager nodded with a smile. “Good. You have seen a few points. Come, to the Grand Secretariat. Today I have explained everything; it is time you beheld the bearing of the elders.”
Zhu Qizhen still knew not what had transpired.
The Empress Dowager ordered that Zhu Qizhen be brought to the Wen Yuan Pavilion.
Yet the Empress Dowager herself did not enter the Wen Yuan Pavilion; several elders waited there already.
Entering the Grand Secretariat, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor seated themselves side by side. After the five elders and the chief secretary performed their salutes, the Empress Dowager said, “This old woman has no desire to meddle in court affairs. Yet certain matters compel me to appear.”
“Elders, this old woman asks only one question: when can outsiders point fingers at the inner court? The palace servants fall under this old woman’s charge, not under outsiders. Is it that this old woman’s eyes have gone blind?”
The elders knelt at once, saying, “We dare not.”
Zhu Qizhen, hearing the opening, inwardly applauded. “Clever.”
The Empress Dowager seized a pivotal point: Wang Zhen was a eunuch. At minimum, in jurisdiction he belonged to the inner court. Even the mightiest outer censors could not interfere in inner matters.
At least procedurally there was an issue.
Yang Shiji said, “The Empress Dowager is wise. I have already reprimanded the Censorate. Yet there is now one case—the case of Minister of War Liu Yu, who communicated with the inner court. We dare not speak, yet the censors know. The iron law of Taizu applies. The censors dare not remain silent.”
The Empress Dowager struck first; Yang Shiji used substitution to counter, then retaliated.
From his own inclination, Yang Shiji did not wish to clash with the Empress Dowager. Yet certain matters demanded he speak. After all, he was the foremost civil official of the realm. If he failed to protect those below, he would lose the world’s trust.
Of course, in this Ming Dynasty era, it was not yet that of later generations.
Later Ming ministers would rather disappoint the emperor than disappoint the scholar-official world. Yet Yang Shiji merely wished to avoid further entanglement with the Empress Dowager on this point.
Thus he opened with a retreat and relinquished Wang Zhen’s disposal authority in that step.
The Empress Dowager asked, “What has become of Liu Yu’s case?”
Yang Bo answered at once, “The crime is clear. Sentence is being prepared.”
The Empress Dowager said, “No need. For peeping into the inner palace, a crime of great disrespect, sentenced to death. No autumn wait required.”
All eyes turned to Yang Shiji.
Zhu Qizhen thought, “Killing the chicken to scare the monkey?” He guessed the Empress Dowager had not contemplated Liu Yu’s case before arriving and now handled it casually to intimidate the officials.
As for Yang Shiji’s intention, Zhu Qizhen intuitively believed Liu Yu had been cast out by Yang Shiji as an offering.
To let the Empress Dowager wield the knife.
Yang Shiji said, “I obey the decree.”
Upon hearing this, Zhu Qizhen felt instant relief; he was certain Liu Yu’s life had been delivered by Yang Shiji.
The Empress Dowager said, “The emperor has just spoken to me, saying the Western voyages affair is pure fabrication and a slight wind causes the whole court to boil. Why do they not act?”
“Li Shiming spoke out of turn, the investigation remains unclear, and he mentioned the inner palace, damaging the emperor’s reputation. Everyone, what do you say, how should this be handled?”