Chapter 41: I Request the Execution of the Traitorous Minister

Chapter 41: Requesting the Execution of a Traitorous Official

Zhu Zhanji was born in the first year of Jianwen, making him only five years old by traditional Chinese age reckoning. Unlike his father and uncles, he had never been to Yingtian. From the moment he was born, he lived through the four years of the Jingnan Campaign. While the little fellow never went hungry, he had never enjoyed any luxuries or seen much of the world.

He didn't even have many new toys. His greatest hobby was catching crickets and grasshoppers in the prince’s garden, hiding away there for half a day at a time. He would play with such focus that he would forget to eat or sleep.

His mother, Lady Zhang, was well aware of this, but there was little she could do; the four years of the Jingnan Campaign had been truly arduous. Her mother-in-law, Empress Xu, had personally donned armor and wielded weapons to guard the city walls, while her husband, Zhu Gaochi, had wiped away tears in private. With hundreds of thousands of enemy troops outside the city and only the old, weak, sick, and disabled within, Lady Zhang honestly didn't know how they had managed to survive.

"Fortunately, it is all in the past. Your imperial grandfather has won, and the world now belongs to our family. When we reach Yingtian, Mother will find you the best teachers to instruct you in reading and martial arts, so you can become the finest Imperial Grandson. Don't let yourself be distracted by toys; stay away from crickets and grasshoppers, or your imperial grandfather will be displeased."

Zhu Zhanji blinked his small eyes. "Mother, I... I don't want to go to Yingtian anymore. Can we go back to Beiping?"

"Bah! You good-for-nothing brat, your father is counting on you!" Lady Zhang scolded him again, leaving Zhu Zhanji looking aggrieved.

The mother and son set off from Beiping with a light retinue and arrived in Yingtian in less than a month. By coincidence, it was Xu Jingchang and the Prince of Han, Zhu Gaoxu, who came to welcome them. After they exchanged formal greetings and pleasantries, Lady Zhang felt wary of Zhu Gaoxu, knowing his ambitions. However, it was baffling that Xu Jingchang, who should have been standing with her husband, had aligned himself with the Prince of Han.

Xu Jingchang took the initiative to greet them and said, "When His Majesty first entered Yingtian, fire broke out in the palace, damaging many halls, which are currently being repaired. My aunt has prepared a residence for the Imperial Grandson. She also said that if you don't mind, you could stay at the Xu estate—it’s the garden courtyard she lived in before she was married..."

Before Xu Jingchang could finish, Lady Zhang smiled. "Her Majesty’s arrangements are very considerate. There are too many rules in the palace, and the Prince has not yet entered the capital. The child is unruly and doesn't understand the etiquette. It will be more convenient for our own family to stay at the Xu estate first. I am sorry to trouble you, brother-in-law."

Xu Jingchang looked at Zhu Zhanji. The little boy had a sturdy build, tanned skin, and a pair of bright, dark eyes that darted around incessantly, making him quite endearing.

Xu Jingchang laughed. "Is this the Prince's first time in the capital? Don't worry, I know every good place to eat and have fun. Once you’re at the Xu estate, I guarantee you'll have a wonderful time."

Upon hearing about things to play with, Zhu Zhanji’s eyes lit up, and he happily moved into the Xu estate with his mother.

The next day, Zhu Zhanji climbed out of bed early and ran to Xu Jingchang’s study. As soon as he entered, he heard a crisp, pleasant sound.

"Are those grasshoppers?"

Xu Jingchang smiled, picked up an exquisite cricket cage, and shook it in front of Zhu Zhanji. "Look at this one. It's gold-colored—golden head, golden back, golden legs, with just a hint of blue at the joints. The sound it makes is like a bronze chime, echoing."

Zhu Zhanji listened intently and nodded repeatedly. "Really! It’s so beautiful!"

Xu Jingchang chuckled and brought out a cricket jar. "Look at this one too. A tiger-head, broad-winged cricket. Sitting there, it looks just like a great general. Isn't it majestic?"

Zhu Zhanji was stunned. "Good, truly good!"

Xu Jingchang laughed. "I have more than just these. Look up."

Zhu Zhanji looked up abruptly to see a white Gyrfalcon on a perch, looking incredibly sharp and spirited. It stood motionless, occasionally blinking its piercing eyes.

"An eagle!"

As Zhu Zhanji exclaimed, two medium-sized Hounds ran in from outside. They were of such exquisite breed that they looked as if the mythical Howling Celestial Dog had come to life.

In just over a month, Xu Jingchang had acquired this collection—were they all prepared for Zhu Zhanji? Of course not; a little piglet like him didn't have that kind of luck.

"Your Highness, your cousin-uncle has been sidelined."

Zhu Zhanji didn't understand what that meant; he was busy looking at the dogs and the eagle.

Xu Jingchang huffed. "It’s all your imperial grandfather’s fault. He insisted on stuffing those people from the Secretariat into the Office of Transmission. Now, minor matters are handled by those consultants, and they don't tell me about major ones—they just wait until their rotation to report directly to His Majesty. They’ve cast me, the Transmission Commissioner, aside. Now, I have nothing to do but fiddle with these odds and ends."

Zhu Zhanji lifted his little head and whispered, "I'm just happy to have these things to play with."

Xu Jingchang chuckled. "I originally thought the same—listening to music, fishing, and being carefree. But when you're forced into a corner, you have to find strange hobbies to pass the time; it’s different from choosing to enjoy yourself. If I back down now, it means I’ve been manipulated by those sour scholars in the Secretariat. This is intolerable!"

Xu Jingchang smiled. "Your Highness, fighting crickets is too boring. How about we fight those pedantic scholars in the Secretariat instead?"

Zhu Zhanji hesitated, still eyeing the treasures in the room.

"Once I defeat those bastards in the Secretariat, I’ll be busy in the Office of Transmission, and all these things in this room will be yours to play with as you please."

Hearing this, Zhu Zhanji finally nodded happily.

A smile appeared on Xu Jingchang’s face. Drawing the future Imperial Grandson into a fight against the Secretariat—to prevent them from ever aligning in the future—was definitely a move of foresight.

"Your Highness, do you know what the first step is to deal with someone?" Xu Jingchang asked, guiding him.

Zhu Zhanji clenched his small fist. "Hit him?"

"No, it’s to praise him. Praise him until he’s perfect. Say that he is rare in heaven and unique on earth. You must show sincere admiration. After all, you can only stab someone in the back once you’ve moved behind them. This is the first step of the inner cultivation method; you must remember it."

After saying this, Xu Jingchang led Zhu Zhanji to the Office of Transmission. Although Xu Jingchang couldn't interfere in other matters, he still held control over the *Di Bao* (court gazettes).

The people in the Secretariat hadn't set their sights on this, or perhaps they didn't realize the power of the gazette.

Xu Jingchang called for Wu Shan and ordered the gazettes to immediately go full force in praising the diligence of the scholars.

"Governing the state relies on talent; a prosperous age must have wise men. Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, the scholars of the Secretariat possess both virtue and talent, with exceptional literary grace. Their assistance in governing the nation is comparable to the Zhuge Kongming of old. Since entering the Office of Transmission, all affairs, large and small, have been handled smoothly, with hearts united and everything in its proper place. The administration of the court operates without stagnation; no wise ministers, past or present, can surpass them. Especially Grand Secretary Xie Jin, whose writing is heaven-sent and whose talent is overflowing. Recently, he has even been contemplating the recruitment of 30,000 troops to bolster border defenses, resolving the malpractice of the hereditary military households, and creating a glorious era for the Great Ming... truly an exemplar among court officials, a model of those who dare to take responsibility..."

Xu Jingchang issued these gazettes for three consecutive days. He was even thoughtful enough to have Zhu Zhanji deliver them to the palace for his imperial grandmother and grandfather.

"I see Xu Jingchang is quite magnanimous, not swayed by things or saddened by his own plight; he has the air of an ancient, virtuous man," Zhu Di said, reading the gazette and praising Xu Jingchang’s character.

Empress Xu, holding Zhu Zhanji, laughed. "My nephew does not crave glory or power. When his subordinates do well, he naturally praises them. Since Your Majesty has gained wise men, he is also happy. He is truly magnanimous. It is just that Your Majesty seems a bit petty, insisting on sending people to infringe upon his authority."

Zhu Di laughed. "He is still too young; being over-promoted is not a good thing. One can't reward him forever! Besides, he is a noble; I still hope he can learn more about training troops and fighting battles. When I lead the imperial expedition in the future, wouldn't it be better to have him follow me?"

Empress Xu had nothing to say, and Zhu Zhanji rolled his little eyes without speaking.

Just then, the eunuch Hou Xian hurried in.

"Your Majesty, Empress, Minister Jian Yi and Minister Xia Yuanji are at the Left Prosperity Gate, requesting an audience to impeach someone. Also, the Duke of Qi and others have arrived, wishing to impeach a treacherous sycophant."

"What? What has Xu Jingchang done now?" Zhu Di was furious. Why couldn't this child handle a little praise?

Hou Xian was torn between laughter and tears. What was wrong with His Majesty? Why was he so certain it was the Transmission Commissioner?

"It is not the Transmission Commissioner, Your Majesty. It is Grand Secretary Xie Jin."

"Him?" Zhu Di was stunned. He looked down at the gazette in his hand. Wasn't it just praising him for being capable? How had it suddenly led to a unanimous impeachment by the civil and military officials in court?

Zhu Di had no choice but to issue a decree for them to enter.

Xu Jingchang, as the Transmission Commissioner, followed along with the throng of officials. He swore to the heavens that he was only here to watch the show and had absolutely no intention of harming anyone.

"Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Xie Jin proposed the plan for military recruitment. Is he not trying to abolish the hereditary military household system established by the Taizu Emperor? We believe this is absolutely unacceptable!" Jian Yi spoke first.

Qiu Fu then stepped forward. "Your Majesty, the army is currently full of elite and brave soldiers; there is no need for recruitment. I request the execution of Xie Jin!"

A smile played on Xu Jingchang’s face. This play was getting interesting...

Happy New Year!