“Alright, Zhao Chong’s matter is settled. Now let’s move on to Zhu Ping’an. I believe Zhu Ping’an used his neighbor as a sacrificial ditch and fostered pirates for his own gain…”
A Yan faction official wasted no time after Zhao Chong’s case concluded, stepping forward to reignite the impeachment of Zhu Ping’an with the same old tune.
“Indeed, Zhu Ping’an failed to fully exterminate the pirates, allowing their remnants to flee into Jiaxing Prefecture and seize the city.”
“Zhu Ping’an has merits, but also faults. He held one city but lost another. At best, his merits and faults cancel out—no punishment, no reward.”
The Yan faction launched into another round of their relentless assault.
“Gentlemen, what does Jiaxing’s fall have to do with Zhu Ping’an? He’s not a god! Out of over forty thousand pirates, he wiped out forty thousand, with only four hundred escaping. That’s already an extraordinary feat. As I said before, it was just four hundred stragglers! If Jiaxing Prefect Zhao Chong had done his job even slightly competently, how could they have taken the city? Those four hundred would’ve just been easy merits!”
Censor Guo Kui stepped up once more.
“Guo Censor, tell me this: Did Xu Hai, Ma Ye, and those four hundred pirates escape from Zhu Ping’an’s grasp?!”
“Wasn’t it Xu Hai and Ma Ye leading those four hundred stragglers who took Jiaxing?!”
“So, Guo Censor, tell me if Jiaxing’s fall has anything to do with Zhu Ping’an or not?!”
A Yan faction member skilled in entrapment fired off a three-part pseudo-dilemma, pressing Guo Kui hard.
“It’s related, but being related doesn’t mean bearing responsibility!” Guo Kui, adept at wordplay, countered.
“I didn’t kill Boren, yet Boren died because of me. Jiaxing’s fall—Zhu Ping’an bears an inescapable responsibility.”
Another round of verbal sparring ensued.
Emperor Jiajing, growing tired of it from his dragon throne, frowned and looked at Yan Song, Xu Jie, and Li Ben, “What do you think?”
As usual, Yan Song subtly glanced at Li Ben.
“Zhu Ping’an’s great merits are undeniable, and it’s true that Jiaxing’s fall to the pirates is connected to him…” Li Ben paused, then said sheepishly, “This old minister doesn’t know how to balance the rewards and punishments right now.”
“For Zhu Ping’an’s rewards and punishments, the rewards need no elaboration—let the Ministry of Personnel and others assess his battle merits and propose them accordingly. As for punishment, consider this: Jiaxing Prefect Zhao Chong is the primary person responsible for losing the city. If even he, who lost his territory, isn’t punished, how can we justify punishing Zhu Ping’an, who achieved such remarkable feats? Otherwise, how do we define ‘clear rewards and punishments’?” Xu Jie spoke up after Li Ben, bowing respectfully.
Then it was Yan Song’s turn.
“Exactly. It makes no sense to spare a fool and punish a pillar of the state,” Emperor Jiajing nodded slightly from his throne.
He turned to Yan Song, “What’s your view, Weizhong?”
Yan Song immediately bowed and replied, “Your Majesty, Zhu Ping’an deserves reward for his great merits. As for Jiaxing’s fall, it wasn’t his intent, so there’s no need to be harsh.”
With the emperor stating it made no sense to punish a pillar while sparing a fool, how could Yan Song dare disagree?
Yan Song had held his position in the cabinet for years by mastering the art of reading the emperor’s mind. He understood exactly what Jiajing meant.
Zhu Ping’an had already won the emperor’s favor.
Without glaring faults or solid evidence, moving against him would be difficult.
With both Emperor Jiajing and Yan Song speaking, even the most oblivious Yan faction officials quieted down.
“Very well, then it’s settled. The Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of War will draft a reward proposal for Zhu Ping’an and submit it to the cabinet. Once the cabinet approves, report it to me. Finalize it within ten days—no delays!” Emperor Jiajing nodded, issuing his verdict.
“Understood.”
The officials from the Ministries of Personnel and War, along with Yan Song, Xu Jie, and Li Ben, accepted the order.
“Oh, and include Suzhou Prefect Shang Weichi,” Jiajing added.
“Understood.”
The officials from the ministries acknowledged again.
“Your Majesty, while Zhao Chong atones with merit and Zhu Ping’an bears no fault, Zhejiang Governor Li Tianchong must be held accountable,” a Yan faction official stood and said.
“Oh? What fault does Li Tianchong bear?” Emperor Jiajing asked.
“Your Majesty, Li Tianchong has three faults: First, as Zhejiang Governor, Jiaxing falls under his jurisdiction. Its fall to the pirates is an inescapable responsibility of his. His failure to suppress the pirates allowed them to proliferate unchecked, growing worse by the day—first attacking Suzhou, then taking Jiaxing. All this stems from his ineptitude, making him undeniably accountable for Jiaxing’s fall. Second, after Jiaxing fell, Prefect Zhao Chong broke out to seek aid from him. At that point, the pirates hadn’t solidified their hold. If Li Tianchong had sent reinforcements, led by Zhao Chong who knew Jiaxing well, they could’ve retaken the city. Yet, he not only withheld aid but jailed Zhao Chong without court approval, overstepping his authority and squandering a chance to reclaim Jiaxing—that’s his second fault. Third, I received a secret report: on the day Jiaxing fell, Li Tianchong received a jug of fifty-year Shaoxing Daughter Red wine. He sent his chef to the market for venison, rabbit, perch, and fresh vegetables, preparing stewed venison, braised rabbit, steamed perch, and stir-fried greens—six dishes and a soup. That night, he drank at home and got plastered! When Zhao Chong sought his help, Li Tianchong was likely drunk! According to衙门 staff, he reeked of alcohol the next day at the office—a damning proof! I impeach Li Tianchong for drinking and dereliction of duty!”
The Yan faction official spoke with conviction, listing Li Tianchong’s three alleged crimes.
“Drinking and dereliction?! He drank that night? Is this true?! I recall when Li Tianchong passed the imperial exam, he wasn’t satisfied after the Qionglin Banquet and invited fellow new scholars for drinks the next day, getting so drunk he was late for roll call the following morning. Back then, among that batch of new scholars, he was known for his love of wine, even earning the nickname ‘Little Li Bai.’”
Another Yan faction official stepped forward, recounting Li Tianchong’s past with vivid detail, including his “Little Li Bai” moniker.
It sounded convincing.
Emperor Jiajing frowned, his impression of Li Tianchong plummeting. He wasn’t fond of alcohol himself—when Zhao Wenhua once offered him floral wine, he’d shown little interest. Daoism placed restrictions on drinking.
Daoism split into two sects: Southern Zhengyi and Northern Quanzhen.
Quanzhen monks lived in temples, adhering strictly to precepts. The Quanzhen “Initial True Precepts” listed five rules: no killing, no meat or alcohol, no deceit, no theft, no illicit sex. Alcohol was explicitly forbidden.
Zhengyi allowed drinking but prohibited excess.
Drinking to the point of dereliction clearly crossed into excess, something Jiajing deeply despised.
“The cabinet will send someone to investigate and verify this. If he truly drank and neglected his duty, I won’t let it slide lightly,” Jiajing said, frowning.
“Understood.”
Yan Song, Xu Jie, and Li Ben accepted the order.
