Chapter 31

Prince Zhu Heyu, now just over thirty years old, has been officially designated as the crown prince for only four or five years. However, due to the propaganda efforts of a group of upright officials, his reputation for virtue and wisdom has spread far and wide. Almost all the common people believe that once this crown prince ascends the throne, he will surely become a rare and enlightened ruler, and their lives will improve significantly.

As a symbol of the crown prince's wisdom and valor, although he is not yet the emperor, he has already gathered many loyal and capable ministers around him due to his virtuous conduct and personal charm. These people, centered around Crown Prince Zhu Heyu, have been working together in the court for several years and are known as the "Crown Prince's Party."

The term "Crown Prince's Party" is often used negatively, but during this period, because of Zhu Heyu's reputation, the upright officials and clean officials in the court are proud to be part of the "Crown Prince's Party."

It is said that after a senior minister retired last year, he described the situation in the court as follows: "The court is full of corruption and chaos, but the 'Crown Prince's Party' stands out as a breath of fresh air. Although the court is now in turmoil, as long as the 'Crown Prince's Party' and the crown prince are still here, the situation can be rectified and the nation can be revitalized in ten years."

From this statement, one can see how highly the upright officials and clean officials regard Crown Prince Zhu Heyu. It is not an exaggeration to say that they are eagerly awaiting his ascension to the throne.

...

On this day, in the main hall of the Eastern Palace, the members of the "Crown Prince's Party" gathered together.

Over the years, the "Crown Prince's Party" has grown in numbers and influence. The presence of the Three Teachers and Three Lesser Teachers of the Crown Prince, the ministers of the Eastern Palace, and the guests of the crown prince, as well as scholars like Cheng Yuandao of the Wenhua Hall, Li Chengru of the Ministry of Revenue, Lu Chunxiao of the Censorate, and Bao Wenjie of the Ministry of Rites, all gathered in the main hall of the Eastern Palace, sitting on both sides, numbering no less than twenty or thirty, truly a gathering of talents.

Since Zhu Heyu was designated as the crown prince and established his own administration, he has often gathered with the members of the "Crown Prince's Party" to discuss state affairs and exchange ideas on governance, often making insightful remarks. This is where much of his reputation for wisdom and virtue comes from.

In fact, such gatherings are also a result of Zhu Heyu's helplessness. Although the "Crown Prince's Party" has growing influence, influence does not equate to power. Currently, the court is dominated by corrupt officials, and Emperor Deqing often suppresses Crown Prince Zhu Heyu, either intentionally or unintentionally. Therefore, while the "Crown Prince's Party" has a voice and the right to make suggestions in the court, they have very little real power. These gatherings are a way for them to vent their aspirations.

Today's gathering is mainly to discuss Emperor Deqing's desire to tour the south.

Sitting at the head of the table, Crown Prince Zhu Heyu is explaining Emperor Deqing's thoughts to everyone.

"Last night, I sought an audience with my father and again explained the various drawbacks of the southern tour, but unfortunately, he would not listen and even scolded me. Since he proposed the southern tour last month, despite our joint efforts to dissuade him, he has not made a decision. Instead, he has been having people submit memorials to discuss the pros and cons of the tour. It seems he is quite determined to go, and we are just delaying the inevitable."

Crown Prince Zhu Heyu is tall and dignified, with a face that is chiseled and a voice that is steady and noble. His determined and resolute expression never changes, and when he speaks, he exudes a natural charisma that commands respect.

"Crown Prince, do not lose heart," said Cheng Yuandao, the Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall, after coughing. "The Ministry of Revenue cannot provide the funds. If the emperor wants to tour the south, the costs for repairing the imperial palaces and the entourage alone would be enormous, not to mention the expenses for food and lodging. The emperor is unwilling to use the funds from the imperial treasury, and without the necessary resources, it is impossible. In my view, the emperor is just having a fleeting thought and is upset that we have opposed him. In time, he will let it go."

Lu Chunxiao, the Right Censor of the Censorate, shook his head and sighed. "Indeed, the emperor's previous two tours were both large-scale and costly, not to mention the disruption to the people. The two tours combined cost no less than 600,000 taels of silver, but the Ministry of Revenue now cannot even provide 30,000 to 50,000 taels."

Guo Tang, the Lesser Tutor of the Crown Prince, frowned. "Both of you are right, but what I am worried about is not the southern tour itself, but the fact that the emperor has been arguing about it every day and neglecting other important state affairs. The court is already backlogged, and if this continues, it will lead to chaos."

Bao Wenjie, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, also looked worried. "Indeed, the Sichuan chieftain has been causing trouble, and the memorial has been submitted to the emperor for three days, but there has been no response. The situation in Sichuan is complex and cannot be delayed."

Crown Prince Zhu Heyu is skilled in managing his subordinates. Although the gathering seems casual, it is well-organized. Cheng Yuandao, Lu Chunxiao, Guo Tang, and others take turns speaking, and the others listen attentively without interrupting. Compared to the chaotic morning court sessions, this gathering is a stark contrast.

After hearing the analysis from the members of the "Crown Prince's Party," Crown Prince Zhu Heyu's expression became serious, and he said in a solemn voice, "All of you have made valid points. To avoid further complications, we must resolve this matter quickly. Tomorrow at the morning court session, we will jointly advise the emperor on the drawbacks of the southern tour and persuade him to abandon the idea."

As he spoke, Zhu Heyu seemed to remember something and asked Li Chengru, the Minister of Revenue, "Minister Li, is it true that the Ministry of Revenue cannot even provide 30,000 to 50,000 taels of silver?"

Li Chengru smiled bitterly, stood up, and bowed to Zhu Heyu, apologizing, "I will not hide it from the Crown Prince. The remaining funds in the Ministry of Revenue are just an estimate, but I... I do not know the exact amount."

Li Chengru's words shocked everyone in the hall!

As the Minister of Revenue, Li Chengru is in charge of the nation's finances, but he does not know how much silver the Ministry of Revenue has available?!

Seeing the shocked and puzzled expressions of the others, Li Chengru's bitter smile deepened, and he explained, "You have probably heard the rumors. Zhao Junchen, relying on the emperor's favor, has already marginalized me. I have no say in the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue, let alone any influence."

Hearing Li Chengru's explanation, the members of the "Crown Prince's Party" were shocked but did not mock him. Instead, they felt a sense of empathy. Most of them are nominal officials with little real power and are often marginalized and suppressed by corrupt officials in the court. Thinking of their own situations, they all shook their heads and sighed.

At the same time, they finally understood why Li Chengru had joined Crown Prince Zhu Heyu—Zhu Heyu and Zhao Junchen are known to be at odds, and this is common knowledge in the court.

Bao Wenjie, one of the few members of the "Crown Prince's Party" with real power, is shrewd and perceptive. He suddenly asked, "Minister Li, although Zhao Junchen is arrogant and domineering, he was sent by the emperor to inspect the locust disaster in Luan two months ago and has not returned. Who has been managing the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue in his absence? Has Zhao Junchen made the Ministry of Revenue so efficient that you cannot intervene even in his absence?"

Hearing Bao Wenjie's question, Li Chengru's expression became strange, and after a long pause, he explained, "To my knowledge, all the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue over the past two months have been handled at Zhao Junchen's residence. Therefore, I still cannot intervene."

Bao Wenjie was taken aback and asked, "Isn't Zhao Junchen in Luan? Is there someone in his residence who can make decisions on his behalf while he is away?"

After a moment of silence, Li Chengru nodded. "That is correct."

Bao Wenjie frowned and asked, "I have never heard of such a person in Zhao Junchen's residence. Do you know who it is?"

Li Chengru's expression became even stranger, and after a long hesitation, he finally said, "I do not know who it is, but according to rumors, it is... it is a concubine named Fang Ru who is by Zhao Junchen's side."

As Li Chengru's words sank in, the members of the "Crown Prince's Party" were stunned, thinking they had misheard.

A concubine?!

A mere concubine can manage the Ministry of Revenue in Zhao Junchen's absence? This is too absurd!

"Bang!"

Suddenly, a loud noise startled everyone. They turned to see Crown Prince Zhu Heyu, his face ashen, having just slammed the table.

"Zhao Junchen..." The hatred in Zhu Heyu's voice was evident. "To entrust state affairs to a mere concubine, treating them as a game, such a traitor to the nation, if not eliminated, how can the nation be at peace?"

Among the members of the "Crown Prince's Party," Xiao Wenruan, the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, is the oldest and most respected, but he speaks the least during these gatherings. Seeing Zhu Heyu's anger, his usually calm face suddenly frowned.

"Crown Prince, calm down," said Xiao Wenruan, his voice weak and intermittent but carrying an unyielding authority. "As a ruler, one must not show emotions easily, must have depth, and must be more strategic than corrupt officials and villains. Only then can you firmly control the situation. If you let a mere Zhao Junchen upset you so much, how can you achieve great things and revitalize the Ming Dynasty? Zhao Junchen is a minor figure with short-sightedness and is already in a precarious position. Even if you do not act against him, he will not remain arrogant for long. Compared to the old fox Zhou Shangjing, he poses a much lesser threat to you. Why let him upset you?"

Hearing Xiao Wenruan's reprimand, Zhu Heyu finally calmed down, feeling ashamed of his earlier loss of composure. He stood up, bowed to Xiao Wenruan, and said, "Thank you, Grand Tutor, for your guidance. I have learned my lesson."

Seeing Zhu Heyu's humility, Xiao Wenruan's eyes showed satisfaction.

In his eyes, this crown prince is resolute and decisive, hates evil, and is free from stubbornness. He is open to advice and willing to correct his mistakes, truly a rare quality in a ruler.

If there is a flaw in Zhu Heyu, it is Emperor Deqing.

As the Grand Tutor who has taught Zhu Heyu for over ten years, Xiao Wenruan knows everything about him. Zhu Heyu was not originally the clear choice for the crown prince, and there were several others more qualified. But through a series of events, the others either died or were deposed, and Zhu Heyu, who had never been favored by Emperor Deqing, became the crown prince.

Due to the lack of attention from Emperor Deqing, Zhu Heyu, after becoming the crown prince, worked extremely hard to prove himself to the emperor, excelling in everything. However, for some reason, Emperor Deqing became even colder towards him.

Later, Zhao Junchen appeared, and Emperor Deqing's extraordinary favor towards Zhao Junchen, along with the rumors that Zhao Junchen is the emperor's illegitimate son, made Zhu Heyu secretly resent and hate Zhao Junchen.

Because of this, whenever Zhao Junchen is mentioned, the usually composed Zhu Heyu often loses his composure.

Sighing inwardly, seeing Zhu Heyu finally calm down, Xiao Wenruan continued in his weak voice, "If I am not mistaken, Zhao Junchen has been away from the capital for two months and should be returning soon. Even if he does not plan to return, the current situation in the court will force the emperor to recall him."

Zhu Heyu, hearing Xiao Wenruan's words, was slightly taken aback and asked, "What do you mean, Grand Tutor?"

Xiao Wenruan said, "Zhao Junchen may not have many other talents, but his financial skills are impressive, and he always complies with the emperor's requests. I fear that once he returns, he will find ways to gather the funds for the emperor's southern tour. If that happens..."

Hearing this possibility, the members of the "Crown Prince's Party" were shocked.

Cheng Yuandao, the Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall, said, "That seems unlikely. The emperor's southern tour would require at least 300,000 to 500,000 taels of silver, even with strict cost-cutting. Where would he find so much money? Even if he has the ability, if we strongly oppose it..."

Cheng Yuandao seemed to lack confidence and added, "Moreover, not only we oppose it, but the old fox Zhou Shangjing also opposes the southern tour. Would the emperor go against the will of the entire court?"

Just as Cheng Yuandao finished speaking, a guard from the Eastern Palace rushed in and reported, "Crown Prince, we have just received news that Zhao Junchen has returned to the capital!"

Everyone was stunned.

...

If Zhao Junchen wants to become a mature and experienced politician, one person in the current era who can serve as his role model is the current Chief Cabinet Minister, Zhou Shangjing.

Zhou Shangjing is not the sole power in the court, as there are several factions that can challenge him. However, in terms of maintaining his position, he is unmatched—since Emperor Deqing ascended the throne, Zhou Shangjing has held the position of senior minister for nearly thirty years, and no one has been able to threaten him.

It is said that Zhou Shangjing has operated in the political arena for decades, with a vast network of supporters and formidable influence. If he wanted to seize absolute power and dominate the court, no one could stop him. At least, the few factions that can challenge him in the court are no match for him.

However, Zhou Shangjing does not want to do this because, in his view, no emperor likes a minister with too much power, and historically, no powerful minister has had a good end.

Therefore, for thirty years, Zhou Shangjing has always had a "matched" political rival in the court. These rivals have changed several times, but Zhou Shangjing has remained steadfast. Moreover, whatever Zhou Shangjing wants to accomplish, his rivals cannot stop him, and he always succeeds.

...

Zhou Shangjing's residence is located in Scholar Lane, but it is now more commonly known as "30,000 Taels Lane."

Zhou Shangjing has great power, and countless people come to his residence every day to seek his help. If they do not bring at least 30,000 taels of silver, they do not even have the right to leave a name card. If they bring 30,000 taels, they can leave a name card, but that is all. To get things done, they need to spend even more silver.

The name "30,000 Taels Lane" comes from this.

At this moment, Zhou Shangjing is practicing calligraphy in his study. Calligraphy is both his hobby and his habit. When he practices calligraphy, his mind is calm, and his thoughts are clear.

So, when a servant reported that the Prefect of Shun天府, Xue Gui, was seeking an audience, he did not speak. After a moment, he finished his calligraphy and then told the servant waiting outside, "Let him in."

Soon, Xue Gui entered the study, his expression respectful, showing no sign of dissatisfaction with the wait.

Zhou Shangjing is nearly seventy, looking old and frail, but Xue Gui knows very well the immense power and sharp mind of this old man.

"What is it?"

Zhou Shangjing asked, his face wrinkled but his eyes bright and alert.

He knew that Xue Gui, as the Prefect of Shun天府, would not come to see him unless something important had happened.

"Reporting to the Chief Cabinet Minister, I have just received news that Zhao Junchen has returned to the capital."

Hearing this, Zhou Shangjing's brow furrowed.

Like Xiao Wenruan, he immediately thought of the impact of Zhao Junchen's return—the likelihood of Emperor Deqing's southern tour has significantly increased.

He does not want Emperor Deqing to tour the south, but his reasons are different from those of the Crown Prince's Party. He is not concerned about the waste of the national treasury or the burden on the people, as it does not affect his own interests. However, in recent months, Anhui and Zhejiang have been repeatedly attacked by pirates and Japanese pirates, leaving the provinces in chaos. Zhou Shangjing has kept this information from the emperor for certain reasons and has not reported it.

If Emperor Deqing tours the south and sees the situation, he will likely accuse Zhou Shangjing of deceiving the emperor.

Everything was going smoothly, but Zhao Junchen's return has complicated matters for Zhou Shangjing.

"By the way," after a moment of thought, Zhou Shangjing suddenly remembered something and asked, "Have you found out the identity and background of Zhao Junchen's concubine, Fang Ru?"

A few days ago, Zhou Shangjing planned to take advantage of Zhao Junchen's inspection of Luan to place some of his own people in the Ministry of Revenue. However, all his efforts were in vain. Within a few days, all the people he placed were demoted and expelled from the Ministry of Revenue due to various mistakes and crimes. Upon investigation, Zhou Shangjing discovered that the one who obstructed his plans was Zhao Junchen's concubine, Fang Ru!

"Found out, found out!!"

Hearing Zhou Shangjing's question, Xue Gui quickly replied.

When Xue Gui detailed Fang Ru's identity, background, and the secrets he had uncovered, Zhou Shangjing could not help but laugh, a genuine and happy laugh.

"Find an opportunity to leak these little secrets to Fang Ru... it might be an interesting show..."

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