The time goes back to mid-May.
The capital, Fengtian Hall of the Forbidden City.
The early summer morning breeze blew through the heavy palace gates, brushing against the bronze cranes on the white marble steps.
The water clock ticked, and the officials in their court attire began to line up in two rows according to their ranks, filing into the grand hall.
On the dragon throne sat the Emperor of Great Qian, his face gaunt, revealing a tired and exhausted demeanor.
The ministers below kept their heads bowed, none daring to look directly at the Emperor's face. Today's early court discussion was about the candidates for the chief examiner and invigilators for the autumn provincial examination in August.
Minister of Rites Zhou Tingfang held his ivory tablet and stepped out of the ranks.
Holding a yellow silk memorial high with both hands, Zhou Tingfang reported loudly, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the August autumn examination is imminent. We have drawn up the roster of chief examiners and associate examiners for each province. Please review it, Your Majesty."
The eunuch in charge of the Directorate of Ceremonial walked down the imperial steps, took the memorial, and turned to present it to the imperial desk.
The Emperor reached out with skinny fingers, opened the memorial, and glanced at it. The grand hall was silent, with only the slight rustle of turning pages. The Emperor didn't say a word, casually handing the roster to the eunuch scribe beside him. "Pass it around for review."
Seeing this, Grand Secretary Xu Jie adjusted his court attire, stepped forward, and bowed with cupped hands. "Your Majesty, the autumn examination is a grand ceremony for selecting talent and concerns the foundation of the state. I believe that Minister of Rites Zhou Tingfang is profoundly learned and highly respected, and can bear the responsibility of supervising the examination."
The ministers echoed their agreement. There had always been precedents for this matter, and it was customary for the Minister of Rites to serve as the supervisor of the examination, causing no ripples.
"I agree!"
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Personnel has no objections. This is merely the rule of past years."
In fact, the Emperor truly had no other thoughts on this; stability was always good.
But when the discussion turned to the provinces, especially the chief examiner candidate for the Jiangnan examination hall, the atmosphere in the court changed.
Left Censor-in-Chief Zhang Yanling, over seventy years old, was granted a special edict to attend court with a walking stick.
He leaned on the imperially bestowed pigeon-headed staff with both hands and slowly stepped out of the ranks, drawing the sidelong glances of the officials on both sides.
Zhang Yanling was the pure stream leader of the Jiangnan literati. Once this old minister moved, it meant the Jiangnan civil official faction was about to launch an attack.
"This old minister has a memorial to present!" Zhang Yanling's voice was old but full of vigor, echoing in the empty grand hall. "The Ministry of Rites proposed Left Vice Minister of Personnel Wang Xianzong as the chief examiner for Jiangnan. This old minister believes it is highly inappropriate!"
Zhou Tingfang frowned slightly and turned to look at Zhang Yanling. "Lord Zhang, Vice Minister Wang was the third-place winner in the twelfth year of Yuanping, possesses profound knowledge, and has successively served as the education commissioner of multiple provinces. What is inappropriate?"
Zhang Yanling snorted coldly, his pigeon-headed staff thumping heavily on the ground. "Wang Xianzong's knowledge is naturally excellent, but he has recently been very close to the First Prince's mansion! The autumn examination's selection of scholars values fairness above all. If the chief examiner is suspected of associating with a prince, what will the scholars of Jiangnan think?"
"Therefore, this old minister recommends Li Qingyuan, Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy. Lord Li is upright and honest, and is fully capable of this task!"
As soon as these words came out, all the civil and military officials in the court were shocked. Zhang Yanling was directly bringing factional disputes out into the open.
The grand hall suddenly quieted down, and no one dared to easily take up the conversation.
The officials of Wang Xianzong's faction immediately counterattacked.
The Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices stepped out and pointed at Zhang Yanling. "Lord Zhang, these words are malicious! Vice Minister Wang merely went to the prince's mansion to lecture on classics and history. Where is there any favoritism?"
"Li Qingyuan is a native of Jiangnan. If he is to be the chief examiner of Jiangnan, wouldn't he be suspected of favoring his fellow townsmen? Must the talented scholars of Jiangnan only be guided by examiners from Jiangnan?"
The officials of the two factions went back and forth, citing classics and history, spit flying.
The grand hall suddenly became a noisy mess. Some quoted the ancestral teachings of the founding Emperor, while others brought up the examination hall fraud cases of past dynasties. The verbal exchange was fierce, with neither side giving way.
Xu Youde stood in the ranks of the Ministry of Revenue, his eyes on his nose, his nose on his heart.
The Vice Minister of Revenue kept his gaze lowered, looking at the texture of the gold bricks under his feet.
His mind quickly calculated the current situation. Zhang Yanling represented the Jiangnan pure stream, trying to gather all the Jiangnan scholars into their fold; behind Wang Xianzong stood the First Prince, who urgently needed to cultivate his own forces.
The Emperor sat high above, watching the ministers fight, but was actually weighing the various parties. If one party dominated, the Emperor would certainly be displeased.
Director of the Ministry of Revenue Zhao Qian moved half a step closer and lowered his voice to ask, "Lord Xu, do you think the Ministry of Revenue should put in a word regarding the position of the Jiangnan chief examiner? If we can arrange our people in, in the future..."
Xu Youde tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the officials arguing until their faces were red, then withdrew his gaze. Going down into the field at this time would only draw fire upon oneself.
"This is the business of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel," Xu Youde replied in a low voice, his tone flat. "The Ministry of Revenue just needs to manage the money and grain. As for the rest, don't meddle."
Hearing this, a few officials in the front row nodded secretly, feeling that Xu Youde was mature and prudent, not getting involved in factional disputes; others scoffed, secretly cursing Xu Youde as a money-grubber who only knew how to calculate accounts, devoid of literati character, his head full only of copper coins.
The argument grew increasingly fierce.
The First Prince Xiao Jingxing stood below the jade steps. Listening to Zhang Yanling's accusations, his expression remained unchanged, but his mind was calculating rapidly.
This old scoundrel Zhang Yanling was throwing his weight around based on his seniority. If he backed down today, the Jiangnan scholars would all fall into the hands of the pure stream, and he would have less support in the court in the future.
Xiao Jingxing adjusted his python robe, stepped out of the ranks, and bowed in salute. "Imperial Father, this son has something to say."
The hall suddenly quieted down, and the ministers' eyes all focused on the First Prince.
Xiao Jingxing turned, faced the ministers, and spoke earnestly. "Old Lord Zhang's concern for state affairs is admirable to this son. Vice Minister Wang has profound knowledge, and Chancellor Li is upright and honest. Both are pillars of our Great Qian. However, in selecting scholars in the autumn examination, nipping problems in the bud is the most important thing."
"Since Chancellor Li is a native of Jiangnan, if he returns to his hometown to be the chief examiner and recommends his fellow townsmen and comrades, I fear he will be criticized by the scholars of the world and end up with a bad reputation of forming cliques for private gain. This son believes that in order to protect Chancellor Li's pure reputation, it is better to avoid suspicion."
These words were tactful and experienced. On the surface, they were for Li Qingyuan's sake, but in reality, they sarcastically mocked the Jiangnan civil official faction for forming cliques for private gain.
Zhang Yanling's face changed slightly, the veins on the back of his hand holding the pigeon-headed staff bulging, but he couldn't find words to refute for a moment. If this old censor forcefully recommended him, it would confirm the crime of forming cliques for private gain. The First Prince's move of retreating in order to advance was truly ruthless.
On the dragon throne, the Emperor quietly watched the ministers below. The Emperor didn't express his stance, his right hand resting on the armrest of the dragon throne, his index finger rhythmically tapping the gold-lacquered carved dragon.
"Tap, tap, tap."
The tapping sound was exceptionally clear in the grand hall, and the Emperor's coercion silently spread out.
The ministers held their breath and concentrated, waiting for the Emperor's judgment.
The Emperor stopped his movements, his gaze passing over Xiao Jingxing and Zhang Yanling, and landed on Xu Youde in the back row.
"Regarding the autumn examination, knowledge is certainly important, but the bricks and tiles of the examination hall and the pens and ink of the scholars all require money," the Emperor's voice was neither cold nor hot, revealing a bit of laziness. "Minister Youde."
Hearing the summons, Xu Youde immediately stepped out of the ranks, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed. "This minister is here."
"Today the Minister has requested leave, so you can tell me... is there a source for the funds for this year's autumn examination?" the Emperor asked.
The ministers in the hall were all astounded. They were just arguing about the candidate for the chief examiner, so why did His Majesty suddenly ask about money and grain?
Xu Youde prostrated on the ground, his mind quickly calling up the account books of the Ministry of Revenue. He knew very well that the Emperor was using the matter of money and grain to beat down those civil officials who only knew how to engage in empty talk.
"Reporting to Your Majesty," Xu Youde straightened up and announced in a clear, resonant voice. "With the frequent battles at the northern borders this year, military expenditures have been massive, and the national treasury's silver reserves are tight. If we allocate funds for the autumn examinations according to past conventions, we will still face a shortfall of three hundred thousand taels."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Tingfang grew anxious. He stepped forward and argued, "Lord Xu, the autumn examinations are the very foundation of our nation. How can we fall short on funding? If the examination halls are in ruins, how can the scholars take their exams with peace of mind? This is a grave matter that could shake the foundation of the state!"
Unhurried, Xu Youde turned to glance at Zhou Tingfang before continuing his report. "I have already made calculations. This year's grain transport via the waterways has been smooth, reducing losses along the way and leaving a surplus in commuted silver. Furthermore, the salt tax collection in the Lianghuai region has been highly effective, resulting in additional remaining funds."
"The Minister and I propose to allocate one hundred and fifty thousand taels from the waterway transport surplus and another one hundred and fifty thousand taels from the salt tax surplus. These funds will be earmarked specifically to cover the shortfall for the autumn examinations."
"In this way, we will not increase the tax burden on the common people, yet we can still guarantee the repair of examination halls across the provinces and the travel expenses for the examiners."
This report was backed by solid figures and clear logic; every sentence was a practical and tangible arrangement of funds.
Hearing this, the Emperor gave a slight nod, his previously tense expression relaxing a fraction.
Seeing this, Xu Youde seized the opportunity and kowtowed once more. "I am not a man of great learning, and I dare not make presumptuous suggestions regarding the selection of the chief examiner. I only wish to manage the silver well for Your Majesty and coordinate the supplies for the examination halls, so that scholars all over the realm can take their exams with peace of mind."
"I beseech Your Majesty to issue an edict allowing the Ministry of Revenue to take the lead in coordinating the funds and provisions for the autumn examinations!"
The wording of this speech was exceedingly humble, yet it directly inserted the power of the Ministry of Revenue into the preparations for the autumn examinations.
The two factions of officials, who had just been red in the face arguing over the chief examiner position, now had their attention completely diverted by Xu Youde's clever maneuver to pull the rug out from under them.
The Emperor looked at Xu Youde kneeling in the hall, a hint of admiration showing in his eyes.
"Petition granted," the Emperor declared with finality.
