Chapter 174 – Planning

Xu Chun was ultimately coaxed into bed early that night, receiving just a taste of sweetness before he was lulled to sleep. Xu Chun was easy to please, contentedly hugging Xie Yi until morning came, only to find him gone again, attending the morning court session. He rose slowly, had his breakfast, then summoned Liu Shun and the others to attend to his writing utensils.

He sat upright, meticulously penning his ideas and methods for several memorials. In his heart, he thought that this would only be seen by Jiu-ge, who doted on him and would likely praise him despite any crudeness. But if it were to be presented to the Grand Secretaries, they might frown—any memorial could reach the Emperor’s desk.

He folded the papers and tucked them into his sleeve, rising to leave the palace and head straight for the Imperial Academy.

Qiuhu went to the gate of the Imperial Academy to deliver his calling card. Upon returning, he reported, “Your Highness, the gatekeeper said that Master Shen has been appointed Vice Minister of Rites and concurrently a Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion. He only comes to inspect once every ten days, spending most of his time at the Ministry of Rites.”

Hearing this, Xu Chun was overjoyed. “So Mr. Shen has entered the cabinet! I should prepare a lavish gift to congratulate him. —He must still be in court; I’ll visit his residence later.” He glanced at the sky, ordering Qiuhu to prepare the gift while he headed for the Wu Ying Marquisate instead.

Upon arriving at the Wu Ying Marquisate, he encountered Fang Zijing, who had just returned from outside, stepping out of his sedan chair. Seeing him, he waved him over and immediately asked, “What trick have you pulled? The other day, the Minister of Personnel, Li Changliang, told me he wanted to keep you in the capital. He was considering letting you serve in the Ministry of Revenue first, possibly as an undersecretary in charge of the Board of Shipping. Why did today’s dispatches suddenly name Sheng Changyun as the undersecretary? When I asked Minister Li, he vaguely mentioned that you should have another appointment, but didn’t provide any specifics.”

“I’m busy arranging to go back and accompany the princess,” he replied with dissatisfaction, glaring at Xu Chun. “I know you have the Emperor’s ear. Three months ago, the position of Minister of Revenue fell vacant. Given the Emperor’s usual style of appointing officials, everyone assumed he would choose a young and capable official from outside. Instead, he picked Luo Hengrui, who was about to retire. His credentials were impeccable, but his actions were always safe and moderate—nothing that would catch the Emperor’s eye. Even Luo Hengrui himself was shocked, submitting two resignation requests that the Emperor denied.”

He tapped Xu Chun’s forehead. “I knew this was a path laid out for you. You’d serve as an undersecretary in the Ministry of Revenue for a few years, and when he retired, the position would be yours. How come after all the Emperor’s hard work in arranging this, you suddenly switched it up with Sheng Changyun?”

Xu Chun felt a sweet warmth in his heart, knowing that although Jiu-ge had said he would wait for the memorial before considering it, he had taken a step back. He had given the previously arranged position to Cousin Changyun, planning every step for Xu Chun. He chuckled. “I wanted to stay and learn more from Brother Zijing. What did you plan for me staying in the capital?”

Fang Zijing struck his shoulder with a jade fan. “Don’t pull tricks in front of me. I guess you still want to go to Jinhai, right? That’s not bad. Qin Jie is definitely being transferred back to the capital. Jing’an Bo sent me a generous gift, thanking me for my help. I wonder what assistance I provided. Having you in Jinhai to echo our actions here would be good. I also think it’s better for you to gain more experience in local government. Returning to the capital too soon isn’t ideal.”

As he walked with Xu Chun toward the mansion, he continued, “But if Sheng Changyun stays in the capital, all my subordinates will be military men. I’ll lack someone capable to handle logistics. What a pity.”

Xu Chun suggested, “My eldest cousin, Sheng Changzhou, is more skilled than anyone. He’s also marrying the third place scholar, Zhang Tanhua, who’s from Jiangnan. If you need him, it would be more convenient to use him for any arrangements.”

Fang Zijing agreed, “That works. I’ll think of a way to transfer him from Minzhou.”

Xu Chun asked, “How about Brother Zixing and Nong Dage?”

Fang Zijing replied, “Didn’t Nong Sijǐ just visit the Duke’s mansion yesterday? He said he only met Sheng Changtian and paid respects to your parents. He didn’t know where you ran off to and only returned after lunch. Zixing is taking a break today. I suppose he and Nong Sijǐ went horseback riding. Yesterday, I heard them talk about wanting to try out the new Western horses gifted by the palace and go hunting to test the fire guns. They were so indecisive, I couldn’t tell what they were planning. But the Four Barbarians Office said Nong Sijǐ’s younger brother invited him over. I wonder if he went.”

Suddenly realizing something, he asked, “Why are you visiting me today? You didn’t send a calling card in advance. Was this spontaneous?” He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing him. “You wouldn’t happen to be dropping by because you couldn’t find someone else, would you?”

Xu Chun chuckled. “Aren’t I thinking of staying in Jinhai to open a machinery factory and shipyard? The Emperor asked me to write a memorial. I wrote it but wasn’t satisfied; it lacked eloquence. I planned to seek Mr. Shen’s help for revisions, but I learned he’s already been promoted and entered the cabinet. Today, he’s in court again, surely very busy. I figured I’d bother Brother Zijing instead. After all, you’re both a man of letters and martial arts—the Emperor praised you yesterday!”

Fang Zijing snorted, but there was a hint of pride on his face. He reached out, “Let me see it.” Taking the memorial, he led Xu Chun to the study, instructing him to sit down and ordering the servants to inquire about the whereabouts of Second Young Master and General Nong. “Ask if they’ve gone to the Four Barbarians Office. If they’re still in the mansion, arrange a banquet. If they’ve left, forget it.”

Soon, the steward reported, “Second Young Master and Prince Nong went hunting in the outskirts. They didn’t go to the Four Barbarians Office. The messenger from there came twice, unable to do anything but return with their report.”

Xu Chun said, “Since Brother Zixing isn’t here, I’ll join you for the meal.”

Fang Zijing waved him off. “Save your smooth talking. I enjoy eating alone. Shen Mengzhen must be busy. You should properly corner him at his house. I can see you’re a busy person too. Your invitations probably pile up at the Duke’s gate as soon as you return to the capital.”

Xu Chun laughed. Fang Zijing opened the memorial and read through it, then grabbed a small brush from the table to meticulously revise it. “This won’t do. You’ve only written about the benefits, not the drawbacks. You need to address the downsides and propose solutions in advance.”

“For instance, your bank. If there’s risk at sea, goods are lost, or misfortune strikes, and war breaks out, how will you redeem the bonds? There must be a limit to how many you issue; you can’t rely on the treasury to bail you out. The old foxes at the Ministry of Revenue are meticulous calculators. If there’s a three-tenths risk, they’ll exaggerate it to eight-tenths. You need to calculate it yourself. Isn’t Jiang Mei around? Have him help you crunch the numbers.”

Xu Chun replied, “Jiang Mei is still at the Board of Shipping in Jinhai. I’ll do the calculations myself and ask Mother to double-check them.”

Fang Zijing looked at him. “Hmm, I forgot you’re stronger than average in mathematics. Your mother is even more skilled. I heard that since all three of the Sheng sons are now officials, your mother oversees most of the Sheng family’s business.”

Xu Chun chuckled, pleased with himself.

Fang Zijing handed the memorial back to him. “Copy it here and then take it to the Shen residence. He’s probably going to be the next Minister of Rites. As for whether he or Li Meiya will become the Chief Grand Secretary, it’s uncertain.”

Xu Chun commented, “I think Minister Ouyang is still quite young.”

Fang Zijing remarked, “He’s a seasoned veteran, adept at diplomacy but lacking in innovation. The Emperor has favored bold officials in recent years, but he likes to send them to provincial administrations for training. I suspect he’s planning reforms and waiting for this batch of young provincial officials to return to the capital.”

Xu Chun expressed admiration. “Brother Zijing, you’ve been out of power for so long, yet you remain well-informed about the movements within the court.”

Fang Zijing glanced at him, sighing, “You can say that in front of me, but if you say it to the Emperor, who knows what suspicions he might harbor. I wield such significant military power, after all.”

Xu Chun chuckled. “Brother Zijing dares to say this because you know the Emperor trusts you and won’t doubt you. Didn’t the Emperor bestow a name upon the prince? Carrying on the glory of our ancestors—that’s a promise, isn’t it? Brother Zijing specifically sought a name, betting that should the Emperor ever consider disposing of you, he would at least show mercy for having bestowed the name.”

Fang Zijing stared at him. “Did you figure that out on your own, or did the Emperor tell you?”

Xu Chun replied, “Of course, I figured it out myself. Why would the Emperor tell me such things? You’re a key minister in the court, someone the Emperor trusts deeply. He wouldn’t discuss matters behind your back.”

Satisfied by his words, Fang Zijing said, “Although you seem naive, you’re actually quite astute in human relations. I’m curious about your parents. How could they have given birth to someone as clever as you? This certainly wasn’t taught by the Emperor. The Emperor is naturally dignified, quiet, and solemn, disliking flattery and unwilling to curry favor with his subjects.”

He looked at Xu Chun thoughtfully. “I suspect you’ve charmed the Emperor greatly, otherwise, he wouldn’t have made such efforts to cultivate you and pave your path. Even a wise ruler can’t resist your ability to charm. The Emperor, mature beyond his years, doesn’t have many young people around him. Only you have caught his attention. He’s entrusted you with such important matters.”

Xu Chun laughed. Fang Zijing continued, “But your personality isn’t suited for the political arena yet. You lack the necessary thickness of skin and ruthlessness. Going to Jinhai for a few more years of training is the right choice, but don’t take unnecessary risks again. Your strength doesn’t lie in personal valor; don’t rely on strong ships and powerful cannons to recklessly endanger yourself.”

Xu Chun assured him, “I understand that.”

Fang Zijing said, “The Emperor probably used you initially to open sea routes. Now, using the aid to Silla as an opportunity, he’s consolidated maritime defense, leaving the court officials speechless. With the big picture settled, he’s using you to plan the economy, build factories, and construct ships. It’s truly brilliant. The high-ranking ministers may have noticed, but they can’t touch you. At your age, if you were to serve in the capital, you’d undoubtedly face jealousy and suppression. By elevating the Fang family so prominently, the Emperor has given you more room to maneuver.”

Fang Zijing sighed. “Even I couldn’t have imagined that such a situation could arise from someone as insignificant as you, a spoiled child. Although you’ve indeed proven yourself, the Emperor’s careful planning and ability to recognize talent played a role. He takes a broad perspective but makes silent moves, ensuring each move is strategic. Living in the palace, his wisdom illuminates the entire empire. The Emperor is truly a wise ruler!”

Encouraging Xu Chun, he said, “You must serve diligently and not disappoint the Emperor’s painstaking intentions. His Majesty values you highly, so you mustn’t take it lightly. Every deed we undertake now is a monumental cause that benefits the country and its people.”

Xu Chun’s face lit up, but he remained humble. “Brother Zijing deserves credit for defeating the enemy and remaining loyal. Brother Zijing and the Emperor are a match made in heaven—a tale for the ages.”

Fang Zijing chuckled, not bothering to explain his constant fears. The Emperor indeed showed signs of a wise ruler and wouldn’t act against the Fang family for at least ten years. But with no heir apparent, the future was uncertain. Since the Emperor was willing to entrust power to the Fang family, they mustn’t betray that trust.

Having won the battle, holding military power, and enjoying newfound glory, he had recently fathered a son. He was at the peak of his ambitions and no longer as despondent and doubtful as before. More determined and full of vigor, he wasn’t as afraid of potential future changes.

Looking at the simple Xu Chun, he warned, “Although the Emperor values you now and appreciates your talents, nurturing you carefully, you mustn’t become arrogant and lose your propriety in front of him. The Emperor is a man of detail. When speaking to him, you must remain vigilant.”

Xu Chun assured him, “I understand, thank you, Brother Zijing, for teaching me.”

Fang Zijing remarked, “I see that you’re naturally perceptive. Perhaps you don’t need my advice. You instinctively know how to avoid harm and seek advantage. The Emperor probably likes your natural innocence, which is why he dares to use you. I won’t say more.”

Xu Chun sincerely said, “I understand Brother Zijing’s meaning. Times change, and hearts change. But while the Emperor trusts us now, we should focus on serving the country and its people. As long as we don’t covet wealth and don’t seek personal gain, I believe the Emperor won’t doubt us. Standing between heaven and earth, we must live up to our consciences. Life is fleeting; let’s cherish this moment of peace.”

Xu Chun earnestly advised Fang Zijing, “Brother Zijing thinks too much, always worrying about the future generations and what will happen. Perhaps Brother Zixing and I live more happily without such concerns.”

Fang Zijing checked his pocket watch, then hit Xu Chun’s hand with a jade paperweight. “Hurry up and copy the memorial. Court should be dismissed soon. Be careful you don’t miss Mr. Shen; he’s a busy man now.” He couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ve crossed more bridges than you’ve walked roads, brat. You dare to lecture me!”