Chapter Thirty: A Child Worth Teaching

"Oh..." Chen Kan drew out the sound, his tone lingering. Though he did not fully grasp the situation, he felt it must be something significant.

Curious, he asked, "So, Your Majesty’s intent is to grant me a position equivalent to a Guard Commander just to handle a specific matter, and once the task is complete, this position will naturally be dissolved, is that right?"

Fang Xiaoru replied with a complex expression, "Theoretically, that is correct."

Chen Kan understood. He continued with three questions in quick succession: "Then what is this position for, what exactly does His Majesty want me to do, and where am I supposed to report for duty?"

Fang Xiaoru shook his head. "You will know what His Majesty wants you to do once you arrive at the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters. As for reporting for duty, that, naturally, will also be at the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters."

"Oh, the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters."

Wait. The Embroidered Uniform Guard?

"Master, are you saying... the Embroidered Uniform Guard?" Chen Kan could hardly believe it.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard—that was the *Embroidered Uniform Guard*. They were notorious throughout the nearly three-hundred-year history of the Ming Dynasty.

*Damn it! Are you kidding me?!*

Fang Xiaoru gave Chen Kan a sidelong glance. "A Guard Commander is indeed a rank within the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Chen Kan wore a mournful expression. "If I go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, won't my life be ruined? No, I must refuse the imperial decree!"

Fang Xiaoru spoke with dissatisfaction, "It is those whose families were wiped out by the Guard who were truly ruined. What are you talking about? You panic over such a trivial matter—is this the conduct of a scholar?"

Chen Kan grabbed Fang Xiaoru’s sleeve, pleading pitifully, "Master, you are my teacher; you cannot simply watch as your student steps into a mire of filth. Could you not intercede with His Majesty and ask him to rescind the order?"

"Hmm..." Fang Xiaoru stroked his long beard and nodded.

Chen Kan was overjoyed. Given Fang Xiaoru’s reputation, if he were to speak up, Zhu Di would certainly grant him that much face. But the next second, Chen Kan’s hope was shattered.

"I have been thinking, and perhaps His Majesty sending you to the Embroidered Uniform Guard is not necessarily a bad thing."

Chen Kan felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Was this human language? Was this something a great Confucian scholar would say to his own student?

Fang Xiaoru, ignoring Chen Kan’s aggrieved expression, continued on his own: "When the Prince of Yan entered Yingtian, he re-established the Embroidered Uniform Guard on the site of the old headquarters near the Ministry of Justice at the Taiping Gate of the imperial palace, the better to arrest the former officials of the Jianwen Emperor. He split the Guard into the Northern and Southern Investigation Divisions. The Southern Division is headed by one Commander-in-Chief, two Vice Commanders, and two Assistant Commanders. The Northern Division has one Investigating Commissioner and two Guard Commanders. Both divisions are under the authority of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander-in-Chief."

"The entire Embroidered Uniform Guard office oversees fourteen thousand-household stations. Nominally, they are the Emperor's personal troops, but in reality, they conduct espionage and secret operations. Currently, the Commander-in-Chief is Ji Gang, a trusted confidant of His Majesty, while the position of Investigating Commissioner is held by that buffoon, Li Jinglong."

Chen Kan nodded blankly. "Yes, and? How does all this relate to my appointment at the Guard being a good thing?"

Fang Xiaoru smiled. "Do not be so impatient; listen to me carefully."

He continued, "It has been over a month since His Majesty took control of the capital, and the former officials of the Jianwen Emperor have been largely purged by the Guard. Do you know what this implies?"

"What does it imply?"

"It implies that the Embroidered Uniform Guard has lost its opportunity to earn merit."

Chen Kan asked, puzzled, "The Guard has lost its chance for merit—how does that concern me?"

"Of course it concerns you." Fang Xiaoru pulled over a stool and sat down. Dropping the pretense, he said, "The Guard are the claws and teeth of the Emperor, existing to serve him. Once they lose their chance to earn merit, it means they are no longer useful to His Majesty. Therefore, I suspect that to regain His Majesty’s favor, they will inevitably begin to frame innocent officials and carry out mass executions. When that time comes, everyone in the court will be in danger, and the officials will live in fear. That would be a calamity for the nation."

At this, Fang Xiaoru could not help but look deeply worried.

"Oh!" Chen Kan let out a flat, emotionless sound.

He understood. Fang Xiaoru wanted him to prevent the atrocities the Guard was about to commit! In other words, he was being asked to single-handedly stand against the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard office.

*Well, that's just great.* Fang Xiaoru really thought highly of him.

Chen Kan felt numb. He knew that Fang Xiaoru’s predictions would not only come true but would likely be exceeded. Without looking too far into the future, he had already seen the likes of Ru Chang, Xie Jin, Ping An, Sheng Yong, Zhang Jin, and Wang Dun in the Great Hall today—all of them were destined to die at the hands of the Guard.

Zhu Di would reign for twenty-two years, commissioning the *Yongle Encyclopedia*, launching five expeditions against the Mongols, dredging the Grand Canal, and sending Zheng He on his voyages, single-handedly bringing the Ming Dynasty to the pinnacle of the world. In terms of governance and martial achievements, he was second to none among all the emperors throughout history.

Yet, in later ages, he could not escape the title of a tyrant. Why? Because during his reign, he heavily relied on ruthless officials like Ji Gang and Chen Ying. It was this reliance that led to the wrongful deaths of many loyal ministers and the brutal extermination of their families, a legacy that would be criticized for generations to come.

Seeing the grim look on Chen Kan's face, Fang Xiaoru continued, "His Majesty sending you into the Guard, and starting you off with the rank of a Guard Commander, shows just how much weight you hold in his heart. I believe in your ability. If you go to the Guard, even if you cannot fully restrain them, you can at least ensure there is less injustice and less bloodshed in the halls of court."

Chen Kan understood what Fang Xiaoru meant, and he realized he likely could not escape this ordeal. However, he was still unwilling to simply submit.

"Master," Chen Kan asked curiously, "how can you be so sure I won't end up colluding with them?"

"Colluding with them?" Fang Xiaoru laughed as if he had heard the greatest joke in the world, his small mustache twitching. "Heh, it is not that I look down on you, but if you could truly collude with them, I would give you this!" Fang Xiaoru held up his thumb.

Chen Kan felt a bit depressed; he had been looked down upon again.

Fang Xiaoru finished laughing and said, "You little scoundrel, you don't have the stomach to be a cruel official."

"Why not?"

"Because you have me."

Fang Xiaoru said this with a smile. But looking at his kindly, smiling face, Chen Kan suddenly felt as if he had plunged into an icy cellar. He suddenly realized that the man before him was someone whom even Zhu Di had to respectfully address as "Teacher." He was the man whom the brilliant monk Daoyan had called the "Seed of Ming Scholarship."

For the past two days, he had grown accustomed to seeing the old man’s gentle demeanor and had mistakenly thought of him as just a learned little old man. Only now did it dawn on him that he was standing before a towering peak of the Ming Dynasty, one that was almost impossible to surmount.

Chen Kan’s heart shook, and he dared not joke anymore. He straightened his posture and said to Fang Xiaoru, "Yes, Master. I understand. I will report for duty tomorrow. Please rest assured, I will not disappoint your painstaking efforts."

Hearing this, Fang Xiaoru smiled. He patted Chen Kan on the shoulder and said, "A child worthy of being taught."