The Yan Estate at Night
The atmosphere was exceptionally heavy.
In the unusually spacious main hall, there were over twenty confidants, more than usual. This was because everyone wanted to see how Yan Song and his son would resolve the current crisis. If they couldn't, they might consider switching allegiances later.
But the mood today was different. Though everyone was present, they eyed each other silently, unable to speak, not daring to even take a deep breath.
Yan Shifan was dejected, losing even the mood to fiddle with his ivory. He occasionally looked up, seeing only his most core confidants. Yet, for some reason, today he found himself annoyed by the familiar faces of Luo Longwen, Yan Maoqing, Gao Hanwen, Zhang Jing, Zhao Wenhua, Liu Boyue, Niu Xin, and Zhang Yu! As for his father, he sat listlessly on the couch, his eyes vacant, as if he were either foolish or had lost his soul.
Everyone had thought that with Yan Song's reinstatement and the censors' renewed attacks, the defeat at Zhoushan had been reversed. However, Zhu Mo had played a dirty trick, completely ruining the situation. And today, the Emperor had shown his hand, directly stripping him of his title as the "Blue Word Prime Minister." It was a swift fall from peak joy to dire misfortune.
He thought they couldn't just remain silent like this. With a sigh, he said:
“There are no outsiders here. Everyone, please, say something… It might also comfort the old man… Moqing, say a few words…”
Gao Hanwen cleared his throat and said:
“Young Grand Secretary, the Grand Secretary has done so much for the Great Ming and for His Majesty throughout his life. The officials of the realm will naturally form their own judgments… The blue words written by Grand Secretary Yan were famous for a time, and how are they inferior to that Zhu Mo? I believe that what happened today, with so many officials witnessing it, will naturally lead to their thoughts…”
Mm-hmm.
Everyone felt that his words were right, but for some reason, they felt rather hollow. They all whispered amongst themselves, wondering if those officials were merely opportunistic flatterers who would have no genuine opinions. Even if they were dissatisfied with the Emperor discarding his loyal servants, what could they do? As the saying goes, if the ruler wishes the subject to die, the subject must die. At this moment, no one could do anything. Even Yan Song himself could only endure this humiliation.
Yan Shifan smiled faintly, voicing everyone's unspoken thoughts:
“Moqing, what can we do if the Emperor decides to discard us after we've served him? What good is dissatisfaction? Since ancient times, who has been able to do anything about it? You, stop believing in those scholars’ notions… What kind of nonsense is 'public opinion'? Whoever has power calls the shots!”
Everyone nodded in agreement. They thought that today's defeat had greatly blunted their momentum. If they couldn't quickly regain their footing, they would become increasingly passive. Those with shallow roots would gradually switch their allegiance and never darken the Yan family's door again.
At this thought,
Everyone turned their gaze back to Yan Song.
Just then,
Yan Song chuckled inexplicably, then suddenly laughed:
“It's not bad not to write blue words… This old man will try his hand at writing like the sages… Tingyi, I recall you mentioning that there are many Franks, as well as Koreans and Ryukyuans on Zhoushan Island?”
Zhang Jing, who had been inexplicably dismissed as Governor of Fujian and Zhejiang today, felt even more indignant than Yan Song. Yet, he now appeared calm and composed, answering placidly:
“Grand Secretary, there are. The Franks number over a thousand, the Koreans five to six hundred, the Ryukyuans three to four hundred, the Japanese around two thousand. In addition, there are some Annamese, Hui people, and among the pirates, a portion are from various Southeast Asian countries…
Uh, Grand Secretary, I believe that His Majesty's actions today, though seemingly sudden, are actually a step-by-step plan… Ever since Zhu Mo's reforms, His Majesty has been targeting us! Now that he has achieved two victories, he is dealing us a heavy blow… Grand Secretary, Young Grand Secretary, we must be cautious! I believe we must prepare for the worst…”
Prepare for the worst?
Upon hearing this, everyone pondered for a moment, and a chill ran down their spines—
Damn it,
What are you planning to do?
Could it be…?
“Hahahahaha…”
Yan Shifan suddenly burst into laughter and said:
“Tingyi, I didn't expect you to be so bold! These Zhu family members are going too far. We are all destined to die sooner or later. I think you're absolutely right! We must prepare for the worst!”
Wow!
Hiss!
Everyone was even more shocked—
Are we really going to risk everything?
Overthrow the Zhu family?
Those present today were already the innermost circle. In fact, even if they were to prepare for the worst, they could only follow through, with no other choice. Thinking of their wealth and lives, their lifelong prosperity, they knew that this day would come sooner or later. Everyone sighed silently, accepting the reality.
Luo Longwen then said:
“Young Grand Secretary, earlier the Grand Secretary mentioned trying his hand at writing like the sages… I believe this is the right time… Even if we prepare for the worst, we must first make our best efforts…
Brother Tingyi also mentioned that there are many foreigners on the island. These people may not all be bandits… Old Yan and I heard in Jiangnan that there are many overseas merchants residing on the island, sometimes as many as twenty to thirty thousand. To call all of them Japanese pirates would be unreasonable… Think about it, how could good merchants be surrounded by Zhu Mo and Yu Dayou? httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
The sage said, 'The kingly way is straightforward; all under heaven are the king's subjects.' Are these foreign people not subjects of the Son of Heaven? Using righteousness to restrain tyranny is acceptable, but we cannot act indiscriminately. Moreover, will the shogunate and the Emperor of Japan stand by and watch their merchants being besieged? The Franks are so overbearing, will they simply let their merchants be trapped?
Therefore, I believe, Grand Secretary, that the 'sage's writing' should start here. We can tell that Soza not to focus solely on military might, but also to talk about moral principles!”
* * *
Yan Song repeatedly clapped his hands, nodding continuously, and lamented:
“Luo Longwen, courtesy name Hanzhang. Hanzhang, excellent, excellent… These Japanese pirates, they didn't harm people from the beginning; at first, it was for trade… Back then, the deceased Zhu Wan, when he was the Governor of Zhejiang and Fujian, ordered Yu Dayou to attack and destroy Shuangyu Port. I remember at the time, the Franks sent envoys. Later, that Zhu Wan also banned maritime trade, claiming to restore the Taizu's decree of 'not a single plank can go to sea.' Fortunately, upright censors impeached him, saying he arbitrarily killed people. That Zhu Wan was imprisoned, and out of anger, he committed suicide… Cough, cough, cough…”
Having said this,
He seemed tired and coughed a few times, unable to catch his breath. Gao Hanwen, who had recently gained favor, quickly went to pat his back.
Yan Song recovered and said:
“Shifan, you explain. Some of you know the inside story, while others do not… These Japanese pirates are not all bad people. There was a Huizhou man, named Wang Zhi, who explained it quite clearly… Later, later, cough, cough, cough…”
He couldn't recall it immediately, having only begun his sentence when he started coughing again.