Spring waters flow eastward as time turns; towers and halls stand firm, tempering themselves against the mountains and rivers.
In the years that followed, the court continued to refine the new official evaluation and performance assessment systems. A group of clean and capable officials was brought into the capital, and the court presented the sight of a strong ruler matched by capable ministers.
During morning court sessions, debate over national affairs was still as heated as ever.
Only it was no longer the partisan strife of factions pursuing private gain — rather, it was officials speaking their minds freely, examining new policies from every angle so that those policies could fit the times and truly benefit the people.
Following Taicang Prefecture and Shuang’an Prefecture, the southern Guangzhou Prefecture became the third port opened to maritime trade. Merchant vessels shuttled like looms through the waves, and Da Qing’s crafted goods flowed ceaselessly to lands beyond the sea. Common people, quick to spot an opportunity, built workshops suited to local conditions, and every trade and industry turned like wheels set in motion.
Various novel grain varieties arrived with the returning ships and were brought into Da Qing, beginning to be grown and promoted in the southern regions where the seasons were mild all year round.
Maritime commerce spurred Da Qing’s shipbuilding industry. In pursuit of sailing further and carrying more cargo, large numbers of skilled craftsmen gave full play to their ingenuity. Larger, longer, and sturdier ships were constructed without cease, breaking one record after another.
When the towering black wood vessels, great as buildings, sailed across the sea, foreign peoples who beheld them dared only admire them from a distance — not daring to draw near and cause trouble.
Da Qing’s ships traveled ever further, opening new maritime routes in constant succession. In step with this, the range of the court’s maritime defense maps grew ever wider, and their content ever more detailed.
……
In the year Pei Shaohuai turned thirty, he was appointed Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Senior Grade Three.
That same year, the eighty-year-old Pei Jue stepped down from the position of Minister of Personnel and retired once more.
The court did not seek out a new candidate for Minister of Personnel. The position was left vacant, and the Ministry of Personnel was in practice managed entirely by Pei Shaohuai.
The Emperor intended for Pei Shaohuai to continue reforming the court’s system for appointing officials.
On the day Pei Jue retired and relinquished the official seal, the sky was clear and the light was bright.
Pei Shaohuai accepted the Ministry of Personnel seal with both hands and said: “Young in age, he entered office; now in his twilight years, he returns home. Today, Your Excellency the Minister departs with the generous grace of His Majesty’s favor, magnificent in formal dress and honors. I offer these words of congratulation: may Your Excellency hereafter watch idle clouds drifting by, gather flowers beside the fence, and spend your days in harmony and peace.”
This retirement was one that Pei Jue himself had memorialized to request. Pei Shaohuai thought to himself: this great-uncle who had striven and contended all his life — perhaps this time he was genuinely ready to put his heart at ease.
What the second branch of the family had done could not be treated as if it had never happened. The two families could not reconcile and make peace. Both Pei Shaohuai and Pei Jue understood that their relationship could only remain one between superior and subordinate.
But on one point Pei Shaohuai had to acknowledge: Pei Jue could fairly be called the one who first enlightened him in the ways of “the art of the gray official.”
To move along the edges of darkness and still emerge unscathed — that was Pei Jue’s ability.
Pei Jue watched as Pei Shaohuai took the official seal, his eyes following it with unmistakable reluctance to part. He gave a slight bow with his hands cupped, accepting Pei Shaohuai’s words of congratulation.
Pei Jue said: “I say again what I have always said: if one only wishes to be praised and never maligned, one cannot go far and cannot accomplish great things. From ancient times to the present, which person who accomplished great deeds was not both lauded and reviled in equal measure? Here, I also wish Lord Pei as Vice Minister every success as you lead the Ministry of Personnel forward — may your achievements be without end.”
During his three years of reinstatement, Pei Jue had earned considerable merit. He had moved with decisive speed to cut through tangled situations on the Emperor’s behalf, investigating and dealing with many corrupt officials, and brought discipline to the officialdom through rigorous means.
The former Grand Secretary Hu Qi, the former Minister of Justice, and the former Left Vice Minister of Justice — these were all people Pei Jue had personally taken down.
Pei Jue and Pei Shaohuai walked different roads, yet he knew Pei Shaohuai well. He felt that Pei Shaohuai was too benevolent — lacking a touch of ruthlessness.
“I am grateful for Your Excellency’s guidance and will keep it firmly to heart,” Pei Shaohuai said.
The formalities complete, Pei Jue, dressed in the first-rank official’s robe bestowed by the Emperor, departed the palace through the East Flowery Gate. A mild breeze accompanied his measured steps, and the merit jade pendant hanging from his waist belt chimed clearly and steadily with each step.
Pei Jue cherished that sound of the wind moving through jade. He was a man who, in his lifetime, would never breathe out the sentiment of “fame and rank are to me as floating clouds.”
With merit resounding in one’s ears and a glorious retirement, return home in splendor to the sound of music and song.
Pei Jue stood outside the palace gate and looked back at the Forbidden City gleaming in the bright sun — golden light blazing and dazzling to the eye. Compared with his previous retirement, this time he departed with no lingering regrets.
That year, he had led his family on a long journey to take up a post in Sichuan, all along the way under ceaseless drizzling rain — the drizzle that had fallen from that day had at last, today, given way to clear skies.
……
……
Beyond his position as Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Pei Shaohuai also held the concurrent post of Chief Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince’s Household, assisting the Crown Prince and instructing the Imperial Crown Prince.
On the day of instruction, Pei Shaohuai proceeded to the Crown Prince’s Household, where the Imperial Crown Prince Yan Zhen was already waiting in the study. The fifteen-year-old Yan Zhen had taken on the appearance of a young man. In his behavior and words toward Pei Shaohuai, there was evident respect at every turn.
Pei Shaohuai understood: the Imperial Crown Prince had already learned to conceal his true feelings.
When examining his studies, the lesson left from the previous day was answered by Yan Zhen fluently and articulately.
When Pei Shaohuai asked: “The one thousand six hundred and fifty-two place names on Da Qing’s map — have you memorized them? Have you learned all of their locations?”
Yan Zhen’s expression showed some difficulty. He lowered his head and said: “I have memorized them… but I have not yet learned all of their locations.”
Pei Shaohuai understood that with Yan Zhen’s intelligence, if he had truly applied himself diligently, he could not possibly have failed to memorize a mere single map of Da Qing.
The only explanation was that Yan Zhen had not taken it seriously and had not put in the effort.
Just at that moment, Pei Shaohuai noticed several new books pressed under a pile of books on the bottom of Yan Zhen’s writing desk and immediately understood — it seemed Yan Zhen did not fully accept the curriculum being taught, and was privately seeking out other books to read on his own. Yan Zhen was too sharp, too set in his own views.
Yan Zhen noticed his teacher’s gaze and lowered his head a few degrees further, stammering: “Teacher Pei…”
Pei Shaohuai sat in the grand official’s chair while Yan Zhen stood.
Pei Shaohuai said: “If Your Highness has any doubts in your heart, you may speak them to me directly.” He drew out those several new books from beneath the pile and continued: “If Your Highness feels that what your subject teaches is improper, that too may be spoken plainly, so that your subject may adjust the teaching method — or petition His Majesty directly to resign from this post.”
Hearing the word “resign,” Yan Zhen became somewhat flustered and hastened to explain: “There is nothing improper in what Teacher teaches — it is that my own private intentions were too strong, and I sought another path.”
“Then why?”
“I know that Teacher possesses great wisdom and is deeply trusted by Imperial Grandfather. Teacher was specifically chosen by Imperial Grandfather to be kept in service as a trusted minister for my father. In days to come, Teacher will surely devote yourself wholeheartedly to assisting Father.” Yan Zhen spoke some of what was in his heart.
Put plainly: Yan Zhen felt that Pei Shaohuai was his father’s man — and not his own.
It is said that family matters are difficult to mediate, and imperial family matters are all the more so. Caught between the Crown Prince and the Imperial Crown Prince, Pei Shaohuai was, in truth, in a difficult position himself.
Pei Shaohuai understood clearly that the imperial authority in the Imperial Crown Prince could not be suppressed. The more it was suppressed, the more it would backfire.
Pei Shaohuai asked: “So Your Highness is concerned that I am focused primarily on assisting the Crown Prince and have neglected teaching Your Highness — concerned that I am teaching things that will come to nothing and not teaching Your Highness the heroic ambition and great aspirations of a thousand-year sovereign?”
He paused, then continued: “On the contrary — if Your Highness truly possesses heroic ambition and great aspirations, all the more reason to commit every inch of Da Qing’s map to heart.”
Yan Zhen held a genuine respect for Pei Shaohuai — though tinged with some doubt, the respect was real. He was now listening attentively.
Pei Shaohuai pointed to a floor tile beneath Yan Zhen’s feet and asked: “Does Your Highness know what you stand upon?”
Yan Zhen was puzzled. After a moment he replied: “It is only an ordinary floor tile.”
“Not so.” Pei Shaohuai shook his head. “The tiles that floor each of the palace halls are square and smooth, new-looking despite the years — and if you strike them lightly with a hard object, you can hear a clear and pure metallic ring that lingers and resounds. They are thus known as ‘imperial kiln golden bricks.’ There is no gold or silver within each of these golden bricks, and yet they are worth more than gold or silver. From the gathering of clay to the firing of the kiln, each passes through the hands of several hundred craftsmen and takes two to three years to complete.”
Pei Shaohuai asked again: “Does Your Highness still consider them ordinary floor tiles?”
Yan Zhen shook his head and said with shame: “I was not aware of any of this before.”
“It is not only this single trivial brick beneath Your Highness’s feet — the things Your Highness uses each day, the clothes you wear, everything within the reach of your gaze: which of them could possibly be ordinary?” Pei Shaohuai said. “I tell Your Highness these things because I wish to convey: if you grow accustomed to luxury and take it all for granted, you will never come to know that the riches of the Forbidden City are taken from the people. You will never become a sovereign for the ages. In the same way, if Your Highness’s gaze lingers only within the imperial city, your vision will be forever confined within those walls — you will neither see nor be able to hold the whole world in your grasp.”
When all one’s eyes hold is the throne, one sees Prince Huai as the enemy, and once Father ascends the throne, one sees Father as the enemy too.
Such an heir apparent was too dangerous.
Pei Shaohuai had no wish for Yan Zhen to use his cleverness and intelligence in the pursuit of power and position. While Yan Zhen was still young enough to be taught, Pei Shaohuai hoped he could transform that calculating mind into grand ambition and great talent — and channel it toward resisting foreign peoples, expanding territory, opening maritime frontiers, and sheltering his people.
Knowing that the imperial authority could not be suppressed, he would instead help it grow in the right direction.
“What is Teacher’s prescription?” Yan Zhen held Pei Shaohuai’s wisdom and strategy in genuine esteem.
“Observe the world in order to have a worldview,” Pei Shaohuai said. “Memorizing Da Qing’s map is only a beginning. If one cannot yet carefully observe and commit to memory even a map on paper, how can one go on to observe the world in days to come?”
A ruler of a nation cannot be ignorant of geography — otherwise, the conceit of “thinking one’s own small state is the greatest in the world” will be repeated.
Pei Shaohuai spoke earnestly and with deep sincerity: “If one does not go and see what lies north of the northern frontier, Your Highness will forever think of the grasslands as merely grasslands and never know how many treasures lie buried beneath the ground. If one does not go and come to understand the Tatar way of life, to understand their customs, Your Highness will mistakenly believe that the Tatars are by nature cavalry fighters on horseback and ferocious in battle, and will only use brute force to repel their successive incursions — the northern frontier will thus never find true peace.”
“Looking east to Jie Rock, to observe the vast sea — if Da Qing’s people do not sail abroad and establish a presence in the broad expanse of the ocean, the great ships of foreign peoples will one day press into our maritime territories. The rules of this world are simply: ‘if not you going out, then others coming in.'”
“In terms of years, Your Highness is younger than those who are senior. In terms of numbers, Your Highness stands alone against ten thousand subjects. If Your Highness does not know the sufferings of the people under heaven, does not understand what brings them joy, how in the future can you call yourself a ruler and father to them, and in turn call them your children and people?”
“And so, your subject believes: Your Highness should first observe the map, then go and observe the world,” Pei Shaohuai concluded. “Your subject had Your Highness memorize the map — not to deliberately fob Your Highness off.”
Pei Shaohuai’s words stirred in Yan Zhen both excitement and shame. At once he brought a charcoal brazier and, before his teacher’s eyes, burned those nameless books to ash, and said in remorse: “I was in the wrong. I ask Teacher to forgive me.”
Then he said: “I also earnestly beseech Teacher to continue instructing me. I will adhere to it faithfully.”
Pei Shaohuai nodded his agreement.
In his heart he was glad — gratified that yet one more step had been taken forward. The Crown Prince was benevolent but without strategy; the Imperial Crown Prince had a calculating mind but depth of character. Only by turning the Crown Prince’s grandson’s gaze toward a more distant horizon could father and son be prevented from fighting with each other within the palace walls.
Moreover, Pei Shaohuai harbored genuine expectations for the Imperial Crown Prince, Yan Zhen.
……
……
In the forty-eighth year of the Chengshun reign, Pei Shaohuai turned thirty-five. After completing one full year of mourning for his grandfather and grandmother, his reinstatement was proclaimed by the court. He was appointed Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and took up residence in the Chamber of Literary Depths, becoming the youngest Grand Secretary in Da Qing’s history.
That same year, Pei Shaojin — for his meritorious deeds in advancing the “tea-horse trade” and winning over the Uriankhais and the Oirats — was ennobled as the “Marquis of Wuqing.” Concubine Shen and Lu Yiyao were accordingly bestowed honorary titles.
One household, two marquises.
What made the Pei family both laugh and lament was this: Pei Bingyuan had only two sons, and both had become marquises — their titles ranking a full degree above his own.
Pei Bingyuan burst out laughing and said in self-mockery: “With two sons like this, I, the ‘Earl of Jingchuan,’ no longer know who to pass this title on to.” The entire family laughed along with him.
At court, Pei Shaohuai proposed one new policy after another. Each was discussed with vigorous debate, refined and perfected, and then implemented.
During full court deliberations, officials still sometimes jumped forward to refute Pei Shaohuai’s views and point out the shortcomings in his new policies — among them were even Pei Shaohuai’s own disciples. They argued as they argued, they debated as they debated — yet whenever the matter touched on Pei Shaohuai’s character and talent, not a soul would slander or belittle him.
Pei Shaohuai had risen to high office, and yet no one failed to be convinced.
……
In the fiftieth year of the Chengshun reign, Yan Ze had been on the throne for fifty years, and Da Qing was now in an age of great prosperity.
The wise ruler grieved to see his hair turn white; the people gave thanks for living in a prosperous age.
After the Autumn Sacrifice rites that year, the Emperor cited his advanced years as the reason and announced he would retire behind a screen, leaving the Crown Prince to govern.
Civil and military officials submitted memorials in droves urging the Emperor to remain in power for a few more years. Only Pei Shaohuai understood the Emperor’s painstaking consideration for his children and grandchildren — the more the Imperial Crown Prince showed grand talent and great ability, the more the Crown Prince’s mediocre abilities were thrown into relief. The Emperor’s retirement behind the curtain was a deliberate setting of precedent, to leave a way out for the Crown Prince in the future.
……
In the imperial study, the Emperor — who had attended morning court for several decades — found it difficult to adapt to not having court sessions. He stood at the window, listening as the sound of morning court from the front hall reached him, then faded as court was dismissed. He could not help but feel a degree of loss.
After court sessions ended, if ministers had matters to discuss, they would first report to the Crown Prince who now presided over court, leaving the imperial study empty and desolate, no longer thronged by competing ministers seeking an audience.
The Emperor had anticipated all of this.
The Emperor was about to turn back to his writing desk when he saw a figure in a crimson official’s robe making its way unhurriedly toward the imperial study. The figure in the “official’s robe” did not have anyone report his arrival either, and was generally rather free and easy in his ways.
The Emperor immediately broke into a broad and cheerful smile.
The moment Pei Shaohuai stepped through the door of the imperial study, he said: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty — shall we play a couple of rounds, shall we play a couple of rounds…” Just like a neighbor who had returned from a casual stroll and was spontaneously in the mood to match wits at chess.
“You, Pei Boyuan — you grow bolder and bolder in Our presence.”
The Emperor was full of white hair, yet no less authoritative than before. However, what he turned toward Pei Shaohuai was a face full of warmth and laughter.
“Oh — Your Majesty is occupied today? Your subject has intruded upon you… Your subject will return to the Chamber of Literary Depths to attend to official business then.” Pei Shaohuai lifted the hem of his robe and made a show of leaving.
“Come back,” the Emperor called out with full vigor. “We have been bored to distraction these past few days, and have long been wishing to play a few games with you.”
The two of them were just as they had always been — playing chess and talking idly at the same time.
The difference was that before, they had needed to close the doors and keep other ministers away. Now they could open the doors wide and play chess in full view of everyone.
The Emperor still used the white porcelain cup Pei Shaohuai had given him. After years of steeping tea, the bottom of the cup had been stained a tea-green color, adding an ever more pleasing patina.
“Does the Crown Prince listen to counsel in how he conducts himself?” the Emperor asked with concern.
Pei Shaohuai nodded and replied: “The Crown Prince is steady in his affairs and listens well to counsel.”
Though the Crown Prince was of average ability, he was no fool. Before taking charge of governance, he had spent several years following closely at the Emperor’s side. Even if he had not grasped the essence of things, he had at least come to understand what mattered most and what mattered least.
He understood his father’s painstaking efforts and sacrifice, and understood that Pei Shaohuai was the supporting official his father had left for him.
As for the Crown Prince’s personal pursuits in private — when Pei Shaohuai assisted by his side, he did not restrain the Crown Prince.
If the road ahead was broad and clear as the sky, and the Crown Prince still refused to walk it — would that not mean he was thoroughly and completely foolish?
“Once the Crown Prince finishes with state affairs later, he will most likely come over.” Pei Shaohuai added: “Your Majesty’s painstaking efforts on the Crown Prince’s behalf have all been understood by the Crown Prince.”
“You understand me best,” the Emperor said. “However, my decision to retire behind the curtain is not entirely for Zhenghao’s sake — it is also for myself.”
Pei Shaohuai said teasingly: “Could it be that Your Majesty has a side that your subject has never known — that in your heart you also long for leisure and play?”
“There are but a few years remaining. I wish to sit with you and play a few good games of chess,” the Emperor said.
“But is your subject not here playing chess with Your Majesty right now…” Before the words were finished, Pei Shaohuai paused, his hand poised to place a piece coming to a stop.
After hearing “We” so many times, and saying “your subject” so many times himself, this was the very first time Pei Shaohuai had ever heard the Emperor say “I.”
The Emperor continued: “I know there has always been a barrier between you and me. While I am on the throne for a single day, you will never be able to play a single game of chess with me on an equal footing… This is not your fault.”
The Emperor was lonely.
Especially after Xiao Jin had swallowed the poisoned wine.
“From today onward, let us play chess properly,” Pei Shaohuai said with a smile. “Only — with me playing on equal footing, my chess skills will still be just as poor as ever.”