Chapter 81: I’m Thick-Skinned, So I’m Not Embarrassed

Zhang Yi’s exaggerated expression made the emperor want to punch him. The others were also struggling to hold back their laughter—this fellow seemed unable to eat unless he mocked the emperor at least once a day.

Moreover, he always chose to speak up in the emperor’s presence. Zhang Yuchu looked at Zhang Normal with a hint of sympathy; he could finally understand why his father so often sighed in resignation back on Mount Longhu. With a younger brother like this causing trouble in the capital, how could anyone avoid feeling exasperated?

Zhu Yuanzhang’s image as a stingy man was now firmly cemented by Zhang Yi’s antics, and old Zhu had no strength left to resist.

“When the Zhang family presents auspicious signs, it’s not surprising they receive rewards. But given the emperor’s temperament, he’s unlikely to grant the Zhangs too much power. As a ruler, to reverse one’s policies is a grave mistake—having declared his intention to suppress the monks and Taoists, no matter how great the Zhang family’s contributions, their rewards can only fall within a strict boundary.

The reward His Majesty gave my father was, in part, a deliberate provocation meant to irritate the Kong family. That’s what I thought at first. But then I remembered—he’s Zhu Yuanzhang! No matter how spiteful he gets, he wouldn’t let his emotions cloud his judgment. Whatever the emperor grants the Zhang family, he inevitably entrusts them with heavy responsibilities. At first, I couldn’t understand, but after hearing my father recount the debate between Liu Ji and Li Shanchang, I realized—promoting the practice of variolation is far more difficult than I had imagined…”

Zhang Yi’s words were utterly sincere. Though he was a man out of his own time, he did not presume to know everything. The deep distrust the common people of early Ming held toward the court was something he hadn’t considered until Liu Bowen pointed it out. On reflection, it seemed obvious.

To him, the Ming dynasty was a continuation of the Han lineage, a dynasty that would last for over two centuries. But in the eyes of the people now, who could say whether the Ming would even survive another year?

No wonder Kong Kejian and the others lacked confidence. When the Red Turbans marched north, they frightened Emperor Shun of Yuan so much he nearly moved the capital—and yet, in the end, it all vanished like smoke. In these past eighty years, countless rebellions had come and gone; how many had succeeded?

The Yuan dynasty was still the legitimate authority in the hearts of the people. Only when the Ming captured Dadu in the latter half of this year would that perception begin to change. Even then, for Zhu Yuanzhang to repair the harm done to the people by the late Yuan government and restore their trust in officialdom—it would likely take many years.

This back-and-forth is precisely why it is so difficult for Zhu Yuanzhang to implement any new policy right now.

Thus, the weight of Mount Longhu was even greater than Zhang Yi had imagined. The imperial court lacked the trust of the people, yet the Zhang family, having cultivated its influence in the south for centuries—especially in recent decades—commanded a deep and widespread faith among the populace.

That is why the emperor both needs to use the Zhangs and feels compelled to guard against them.

One must reward merit. Since the emperor intends to use the Zhang family, he cannot withhold their reward. Yet he also does not wish to see the Zhangs become a privileged power unto themselves. And so, he uses the Zhangs to provoke the Kongs, then relies on the Kongs’ standing among the scholars to deliberately incite criticism of the Zhangs.

With opposition to Mount Longhu present in court, Zhu Yuanzhang always has a pretext in hand for a future reckoning.

As Zhang Yi explained his analysis to Zhang Normal, the latter was left utterly dumbfounded.

Zhang Normal, still shaken, sneaked a glance at the Hongwu Emperor. To serve beside the sovereign is to live beside a tiger; who could have imagined that so many hidden intentions lay behind the emperor’s every move?

Zhu Yuanzhang felt a mix of embarrassment and helplessness. To have his calculations laid bare by this impudent brat—no matter how thick-skinned he was, he could hardly endure it.

Every time he saw Zhang Yi, he found it impossible not to lose his temper.

But the emperor was still the emperor. No matter how awkward the situation, he carried on as if nothing were amiss; as long as he acted unfazed, the discomfort would be someone else’s burden.

With feigned solemnity, he asked, “Then why did you say that the emperor’s scheming against the Zhangs is a good thing?”

Zhang Yi replied, “Our revered sovereign knows full well that, in seeking the merit and renown of eradicating smallpox, the Zhang family is a most useful pawn. The common folk are ignorant and superstitious; the Celestial Masters have cultivated their influence for centuries. Try explaining bacteria and viruses to the masses—they will never understand. Better to use the language of immortals and spirits; it is clear and straightforward!

The emperor’s efforts in promoting this are to his benefit, but the drawbacks are equally obvious. Using Mount Longhu and the variolation method to win over the people and elevate his prestige is well and good—but Mount Longhu gains from it as well! Why did the emperor feel the need to warn my father before? Precisely because he feared the growing prestige of Mount Longhu.

If things were to develop such that the emperor reaped the rewards without imposing any checks on Mount Longhu, then he would no longer be… the emperor!

By inciting the Kongs and the officials to oppose Mount Longhu, the emperor, in a way, is showing a measure of goodwill. What can one do? Our emperor’s nature is just so: if he were to shower Mount Longhu with favor without any restraint, I, for one, would lose sleep!”

Zhu Yuanzhang was at a loss for words. This brat had seen straight through all his designs. Should he fear him and have him killed, or should he feel a rare kinship of minds?

Zhang Yi’s performance reminded him of Liu Ji. In the court, only that old fox could truly see through his intentions, yet this time even Liu Ji had not pierced his arrangements, while Zhang Yi explained them with perfect clarity.

The emperor was left with a complex tangle of emotions.

“In fact, I must say, our emperor is truly remarkable!”

Zhang Yi seemed blissfully unaware of the proverbial sword hanging over his neck; the others around him could only sweat on his behalf.

Suddenly, his tone changed as he began to praise Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang: …

This brat mocks him to his face, then turns around and flatters him.

Perhaps he had been mocked so often that, whenever Zhang Yi praised him, it sounded oddly sincere.

“So, Your Majesty, what is it this time?” The others dared not respond, so old Zhu had no choice but to play along. He, too, wanted to hear what Zhang Yi would say in his praise.

“Liu Ji and Li Shanchang are both extraordinary talents—especially after hearing my father’s account, I, too, have come to admire that Liu… the Censor-in-Chief. But their thinking remains too orthodox; they seldom step outside the bounds of Confucianism. In contrast, Your Majesty’s willingness to make use of Mount Longhu is precisely what sets you apart. You are unbound by any fixed rules, able to employ any resource at hand. That, in itself, is the mark of imperial vision.

Moreover, the choice of Yangzhou is also wise. As one of the great hubs of commerce, Your Majesty must hope that, once the practice of variolation is established in Yangzhou, its fame will spread throughout the empire by virtue of the city’s special status.”

Old Zhu was secretly delighted—this rascal actually saw so deeply.

It is much like when someone goes to great pains to devise a plan and, deep down, hopes someone else will appreciate it. Choosing Yangzhou was, in truth, very much his intention.

“You are not without talent yourself. If it were you in my place, what would you do?” The emperor now felt inclined to test Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi grinned. “If it were up to me, I would be even more ruthless than Your Majesty!”

(End of this chapter)