In the evening, in Xu Jie’s study, Xu Jie was discussing the current political situation with Zhang Juzheng, who had come to pay his respects.
“Master Xu, this student is puzzled. Why does Master Xu recommend Zhao Wenhua to succeed as Governor of Jiangnan? The Yan Party is eyeing the position of Governor of Jiangnan, plotting to seize military authority and consolidate their faction’s position. If they get their way, the Yan Party’s influence will grow even stronger than before, covering the sky with one hand. By then, we upright officials will find it even harder to stand firm.”
Zhang Juzheng asked with a face full of bewilderment.
At today’s court assembly, Xu Jie had unexpectedly recommended Zhao Wenhua to the Emperor to succeed as Governor of Jiangnan, leaving Zhang Juzheng greatly perplexed.
If Xu Jie had privately indicated to Yan Song and others that he supported Zhao Wenhua succeeding as Governor of Jiangnan, that would be nothing unusual.
Or, if it were not Xu Jie making the recommendation, but some member of the Yan Party recommending Zhao Wenhua to succeed as Governor of Jiangnan, with Xu Jie then concurring in support, that too could be understood.
However, before anyone from the Yan Party had even spoken, Xu Jie had taken the initiative to step forward and declare his recommendation for Zhao Wenhua to succeed as Governor of Jiangnan. Why such eagerness? Zhang Juzheng racked his brains but could not fathom it, and he could not approve of Xu Jie’s approach.
“Heh, Uncle Da, who is the one who decides the successor to the governorship?” Xu Jie chuckled and asked.
“Naturally, it is the Emperor,” Zhang Juzheng replied without hesitation.
Xu Jie then asked, “Let me ask you this: if I do not recommend Zhao Wenhua to succeed as Governor of Jiangnan, will Yan Song and the others still recommend Zhao Wenhua for the position?”
“They would naturally still recommend Zhao Wenhua to succeed. They want to seize military authority, and this is their best opportunity,” Zhang Juzheng replied without the slightest pause. This was beyond doubt; the Yan Party would certainly push for Zhao Wenhua to succeed as Governor of Jiangnan.
“Heh, Uncle Da, do you believe me when I say that if I recommend Zhao Wenhua to succeed as Governor of Jiangnan, he will inevitably not get the position?”
Xu Jie said with a face full of confidence.
“Ah?”
Zhang Juzheng’s mouth fell open in surprise. What did Master Xu mean? Why did Master Xu say that if he recommended Zhao Wenhua to succeed as governor, Zhao Wenhua would definitely not succeed?
“Why?” Zhang Juzheng asked, puzzled.
“Heh, Uncle Da, the reason behind this requires you to ponder it carefully. Once you have pondered it thoroughly, come and discuss it with me.”
Xu Jie smiled faintly. He did not give Zhang Juzheng the answer but instead told him to go back and mull it over slowly. Once he figured out the answer, he should come back and share it, thereby honing Zhang Juzheng’s political sensitivity and analytical skills.
“Yes, Master Xu,” Zhang Juzheng understood that this was Xu Jie’s well-intentioned guidance, so he nodded in agreement.
Zhang Juzheng refilled Xu Jie’s tea, then asked humbly with a modest expression, “Master Xu, if Zhao Wenhua cannot succeed, then who will succeed as Governor of Jiangnan? The Japanese pirate threat in Jiangnan is growing ever more severe. Without a Governor of Jiangnan to lead the suppression of the pirates, it will not do. This position is crucial; Jiangnan cannot be without a governor for even a day.”
“This still depends on the power plays, but there is one point that can be confirmed.”
“Master Xu, which point can be confirmed?”
“That the successor to the Governor of Jiangnan cannot possibly be from the Yan Party, but nor can it be from the upright faction. The Yan Party is powerful, the upright faction is weak; this successor will most likely be a centrist who leans towards the Yan Party.”
“Why can it not be from the Yan Party, nor from the upright faction?”
“This point you must ponder carefully, grasp the mindset of those seeking higher office, understand the strategy of checks and balances; it will benefit you greatly in the future.”
“But, Master Xu, if it is neither from the Yan Party nor from the upright faction, then once he takes up the post as governor in Jiangnan, what support will he have in the court? He is not from the Yan Party, so the Yan Party will not back him. He is not from the upright faction, so the upright faction will not lend him full support either. With neither side supporting him, how can he sit firmly in the position of governor? Even if he assumes the post, hemmed in from both sides without strong backing, how can he properly fulfil the duties of governor?”
“Very good, it is commendable that you can see this point. Therefore, this successor will inevitably be a sacrificial pawn, unable to sit firmly as Governor of Jiangnan, and will be dismissed for lack of achievement within a few months of taking office.”
In their question-and-answer exchange, Zhang Juzheng and Xu Jie, in just a few words, foretold the identity and outcome of the successor to the Governor of Jiangnan.
“Then the next successor to the governorship cannot possibly still be neither from the Yan Party nor from the upright faction, can it?” Zhang Juzheng sighed.
A governor who is neither from the Yan Party nor from the upright faction cannot effectively wield power, wasting time in vain.
“This is hard to say; it still depends on the Emperor’s will. However, at most there will be one more centrist selected; after another dismissal for lack of achievement, in order to advance the overall campaign against the pirates, the next successor will inevitably be someone from the Yan Party, or from the upright faction. This too depends on the power plays; with the Yan Party so strong, the likelihood of someone from the Yan Party succeeding is greater,” Xu Jie said slowly, narrowing his eyes slightly.
“Master Xu, I wonder if Zihou has a chance?” Zhang Juzheng asked.
After Zhu Ping was demoted to Jiangnan, Zhang Juzheng had felt pity and regret for him. However, Zhu Ping had not been brought down; instead, he had ascended step by step through his achievements.
Now, Zhu Ping was already the Governor of Zhejiang. Just the day before yesterday, he had presented two white turtles and dragon’s saliva incense to the Emperor as auspicious omens.
The Emperor was overjoyed. It had been a long time since His Majesty had left the Western Garden, yet he specially took the two white turtles to the ancestral temple to offer incense and comfort the ancestors. Not only that, the Emperor had also convened a special ritual of abstinence and prayer, announcing it to heaven above.
Zhu Ping had repeatedly earned military merits and now presented auspicious omens; did he have a chance to take over the hotly contested position of Governor of Jiangnan?
Zhang Juzheng’s feelings on this were complex: envy, yes, even jealousy. After all, Zhu Ping had entered officialdom later than he had and was his junior, yet Zhu Ping’s current accomplishments far surpassed his own. Moreover, Zhu Ping had recently eradicated Japanese pirate strongholds in southern Zhejiang, earning further military merit, and presented auspicious omens, clearly gaining great favour in the Emperor’s eyes. Zhu Ping would surely advance further, and it was not impossible for him to ascend to the lofty position of Governor of Jiangnan. If Zhu Ping did ascend to that high position, how could Zhang Juzheng, as his senior, not feel envious and jealous? After all, he was not the Emperor.
Of course, if the choice for succeeding as Governor of Jiangnan were between someone from the Yan Party and Zhu Ping,
Zhang Juzheng would much prefer Zhu Ping.
If Zhu Ping succeeded as Governor of Jiangnan, Zhang Juzheng would envy him, even feel jealous, but if someone from the Yan Party succeeded, Zhang Juzheng would hate it.
If the Yan Party succeeded in taking the position of Governor of Jiangnan, their hand would extend into military authority. With military authority in hand, the Yan Party would be invincible.
The Yan Party already wielded wind and rain at will; with military authority added, they would truly cover the sky with one hand.
A Yan Party that covered the sky with one hand, one dared not imagine how arrogant they would become, how they would eliminate dissenters, how they would disrupt the court, how they would frame the loyal and upright, how they would sell offices and trade in titles, how they would plunge the Great Ming into such a miasma of corruption…
