Chapter Twenty-Five: Undercurrents in the Imperial Council

"Your Majesty! Minister Wang's eagerness to serve is commendable. The affairs of the Capital Garrison are weighty, and there is no room for jest before the throne. The policies for provisioning the Capital Garrison must be documented, finalized within the ministry, and then presented as a formal proposal. The financial assignments pertaining to the Capital Garrison are under the jurisdiction of the Yunnan Bureau. I ask Your Majesty to be patient, and wait for Bureau Chief Nan Yunjie’s accompanying memorial, which will detail strategies for raising funds; thereafter, I shall submit my own memorial to Your Majesty and further discussion can ensue." Fu Shuxun replied in a deep voice, his expression notably grim.

Chen Xinjia’s eyes flickered.

The deputy undermines the principal, and the principal retaliates against the deputy. This drama within the Ministry of Revenue has now reached the imperial court.

After Fu Shuxun spoke, Wang Zhengzhi lowered his head slightly, his gaze sharp. Fu Shuxun’s rebuff was more than mere words. Wang Zhengzhi had the support of the clerks, but the Ministry’s operations and authority lay in the hands of its officials. The bureau chief and clerks of the Yunnan Bureau were not necessarily under Wang Zhengzhi’s sway!

Such a warning gave Wang Zhengzhi a jolt, further revealing the formidable nature of his superior—but Wang Zhengzhi was not without his own cards.

Wang Zhengzhi, eyes narrowed in a smile, said, "I would never dare deceive His Majesty. Recently, there was a fire in the Yunnan Bureau's treasury, and all documents were destroyed. Thus, the bureau has yet to produce written proposals. Out of concern for Your Majesty's anxiety, I boldly spoke ahead of time. Since His Excellency prefers it so, I shall submit a written memorial within three days. I trust His Excellency will also devise a plan to ease Your Majesty’s concerns."

Everyone present was astute and immediately understood the tense exchange between the two.

The dignified Ministry of Revenue—how could a fire break out so easily?

Just as Fu Shuxun was about to speak again, Wei Zhaocheng smiled and said, "Minister Wang's diligence is exemplary. Since there is hope for funds, the security of the capital is all the more assured. I offer my congratulations to Your Majesty."

With Wei Zhaocheng’s intervention, the others’ eyes subtly shifted to Fu Shuxun. Wei Zhaocheng’s move left Fu Shuxun with nowhere to retreat.

Cornered, Fu Shuxun would not shrink from the fight; gritting his teeth, he declared, "To raise military provisions and relieve Your Majesty’s worries is my duty. In three days, I too shall submit a memorial proposing strategies for supplying the Capital Garrison."

Watching the Ministry’s principal and deputy joust and compete to submit their plans, it seemed the matter of military provisions would soon be resolved. This brought a long-lost excitement and joy to Chongzhen’s face. "Good, good, good! I await glad tidings from both of you!"

After the four ministers departed, Chongzhen suddenly recalled the image of Zhu Cilang, the crown prince, whose resolute demeanor somewhat resembled his own.

Fifteen years on the throne, Chongzhen was now well versed in the arts of power and intrigue. Coupled with news from Wang Cheng’en, he quickly grasped the situation.

The crown prince, disguised as Qin Xia, had entered the Ministry of Revenue. By outwitting the local clerks loyal to the capital faction, he won the trust of the Zhejiang-Shaoxing clerks, obtained confidential ledgers, and then sought out Fu Shuxun—without revealing his identity. Remarkably, he persuaded Fu Shuxun to stake his position and side with the prince, embarking on a risky venture with seemingly slim chances of success.

Indeed...

A fourteen-year-old enters the Ministry of Revenue, and with a single gust of wind, the capital is stirred...

...

For most, the Forbidden City is an imposing, unattainable fortress. But for high officials and those wielding power, it is like a sieve where news grows wings and swiftly reaches all interested parties.

Such as Chen Gaowen, Nan Yunjie, the many confidants of Fu Shuxun and Wang Zhengzhi in the Ministry, and... Nan Yunjie, bureau chief of the Yunnan Bureau, and Yu Jing, the clerk—those small figures dragged into the vortex, self-styled as important men.

That night, Fu Shuxun’s residence was far from peaceful.

The following day.

On the road to Chengqing Lane, a small sedan chair swayed briskly. The window was lifted from outside by a burly young man.

This young man had thick eyebrows, large eyes, a square face, and skin tanned to a deep wheat hue. He wore a long robe that did not quite suit his bearing, rode alongside on horseback, keeping an eye on the road, and occasionally glanced at the man beside him, listening to bursts of grumbling from within the sedan.

"A mere impoverished scholar from rural Wuqing—how did he catch the attention of His Excellency? And now he has managed to provoke such dangerous actions."

...

"I may not boast a degree from the Imperial Academy, but I am principal clerk of a major bureau, a sixth-rank official. Yet here I am, about to call upon a lowly, unofficial clerk for advice—what an insult to scholarship!"

...The square-faced rider simply smiled, saying nothing.

"If not for Elder Fu’s earnest invitation—'Once this battle begins, there is no turning back,' he said; 'The odds rest mostly on Elder Fu’s judgment,' meaning that victory depends almost entirely on Qin Xia! What sense is there in that? Ah, if Qin Xia throws his weight around and disrespects the literati, I shan't serve him!"

"Ah, Ru Gui, tell me—isn’t that right?"

The one addressed as Ru Gui was Fu Shuxun’s second son, Fu Rugui, principal clerk in the Ministry. The fair-skinned, sweating, and incessantly chattering man in the sedan was Yu Jing, clerk of the Yunnan Bureau.

To Yu Jing’s complaints, Fu Rugui could only smile helplessly, still silent.

"Well, I heard yesterday the court convened in the Palace of Heavenly Purity... In two days, the left vice minister and His Excellency will both submit their strategies for the Capital Garrison’s provisions..."

Yu Qing and Fu Shuxun were both natives of Xiaogan in Huguang—a bond of locality, the lowest threshold for official alliances. As Yu Qing continued his rambling, Fu Rugui rode quietly behind the sedan, largely ignoring the chatter, but at the last mention of the military funding strategies, his expression showed a hint of emotion.

The young, burly man Yu Qing called Ru Gui replied, "Father sent us today precisely for this matter. All recent events stem from that young man. The turning point, the solution to the deadlock, lies with him. Perhaps he will find a way to raise provisions."

Yu Qing frowned slightly at these words.

What sort of nonsense was this? Fei Jizong, Chen Gaowen, and others represent the clerks of the Ministry; faced with mortal danger, they could yield great benefit and allow Wang Zhengzhi to solve the problem. But Qin Xia?

A young clerk of obscure origin, clearly just a penniless youth—how could he possibly conjure up silver?

His heart was full of disbelief, and he regarded Fu Rugui with increasing disdain.

Fu Rugui, nearly twenty, was Fu Shuxun’s second son. At such an age, most would already have a career. Yet he disliked literary pursuits, much to Fu Shuxun’s frequent frustration. Unlike his steady elder brother Fu Rujin, Fu Rugui had insight into many matters. Accompanying his father as governor across north and south Zhili, and managing provincial funding, he developed a unique practical perspective, sometimes even protecting his father from danger. Gradually, Fu Shuxun came to accept his unconventional second son.

But in Yu Qing’s eyes, all this amounted to one thing: neglecting proper duty!