Everyone takes part: the Empress offers counsel through Song history

The Hall of Martial Valor.

Zhu Yunwen looked at Wang Shen, who had hurried over to request an audience, with some irritation. No one would be happy to have his holiday interrupted.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial College is also part of Great Ming. In matters concerning the foundations of our nation, it should be given a chance to participate and contribute what wisdom it can."

Wang Shen pleaded.

Zhu Yunwen tossed the memorial onto his desk, stepped down, and said to Wang Shen, "I thought you had shut your ears to everything beyond your window and devoted yourself solely to the sages' books. If the Imperial College students hadn't come looking for you, were you planning to wait until after the Lantern Festival to enter the palace?"

Wang Shen drew a deep breath.

The emperor's words made two things clear: first, he knew the happenings in the Capital extremely well; second, he was telling Wang Shen not to remain so blind and deaf to the world.

On reflection, it made sense. The Grand Secretariat was busy and could hardly be expected to notify him. The Six Ministries were holding meetings, but he had no place at them. The Five Army Commandery was even less likely to summon him...

Had the Imperial College students not come to his door, Wang Shen would still have known nothing about these matters concerning the nation's foundations.

"I was indeed at fault for failing to learn the news promptly. But I can guarantee that, if the Imperial College is permitted to participate, we will not fall behind the Grand Secretariat, the Five Army Commandery, or the central Six Ministries."

Wang Shen understood the profound significance of taking part in creating Great Ming's national flag, national emblem, and national anthem. He knew even better that this was an opportunity that came once in a thousand years-miss it, and it would never come again. Whatever happened, he could not give it up.

Zhu Yunwen found himself in something of a quandary.

The Imperial College answered directly to the Rites Ministry, yet the ministry had ignored it and instead joined forces with officials from the other five ministries.

With personnel from all Six Ministries participating, their numbers and manpower were already at capacity. The Rites Ministry probably would not consider bringing in students from the Imperial College as well.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

Shuangxi ran in, his steps light and his face brimming with excitement.

Zhu Yunwen turned to Shuangxi and asked, "What is it?"

Shuangxi beamed. After paying his respects, he said, "Your Majesty, wonderful news! Word has come from outside that people in the Capital have gathered on Central Upright Street, Ma Residence Street, West Gate Outer Street, West Eighteenth Street, and elsewhere, petitioning to take part in the three great national undertakings. They wish to contribute their humble efforts to the national flag, national emblem, and national anthem. The cloth shops, dye works, and craftsmen's workshops are especially eager. Er, even the girls at the Jade Smoke House intend to sing for the nation..."

"Insolence!" Xie Jin, who had just entered the Hall of Martial Valor, immediately shouted upon hearing this. "How can prostitutes be allowed to take part in the three great national undertakings of the flag, emblem, and anthem? If future generations learn of this, how will Great Ming hold its head high before the world? Wouldn't we lose every shred of face?"

Zhu Yunwen shot Xie Jin a glare. I haven't even spoken yet. Aren't you the one being insolent?

He did not flare up. Instead, Zhu Yunwen said earnestly, "To my mind, this is not a bad thing at all. Whether they are merchants, townspeople, farmers, or prostitutes, strip away their stations in life and they are all subjects of Great Ming. Although I have the final say in Great Ming's national affairs, whether these things can take root in the people's hearts and win universal acceptance must ultimately be decided by the people of Great Ming!"

"Since the people support this and wish to do their part, why should we of the imperial household concern ourselves with their status? I say everyone should participate in matters concerning the nation's foundations. Xie Jin, pass word to Xu Huizu and Chen Di. Have them notify the people of the Capital-no, the entire country, both capitals and all thirteen provinces, every prefecture, subprefecture, and county. Those who wish to participate may submit proposals, which the Three Judicial Offices Commissioners shall deliver to the Capital this September."

"As for the final proposals, they will be submitted to the court for a decision. The Three Judicial Offices Commissioners from every region will also take part in the discussions. We shall strive to settle on the final proposals in October, and by National Day next year, they should have spread throughout the country."

Shuangxi hastily acknowledged the order and hurried away.

"Your Majesty, wouldn't this greatly increase the expense?"

Xie Jin was somewhat concerned.

Zhu Yunwen said softly, "The expense is a small matter. But you should also see that only by involving all the people can we unite their hearts. Having the people's hearts turn toward us is worth far more than gold or silver."

"Your Majesty, in that case, may the Imperial College also participate in drafting proposals for the nation's foundations?"

Wang Shen hastily asked.

Zhu Yunwen nodded firmly. "The Imperial College must naturally take part. But Wang Shen, the problems within the Imperial College need to be identified as soon as possible. You must not let this drag on too long."

Wang Shen said solemnly, "I will not fail the mission entrusted to me. Then I shall take my leave."

Zhu Yunwen waved a hand. "Go. Tell the Imperial College students that I hope to see the fruits of their efforts."

After returning to the rear palace, Zhu Yunwen picked up Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital again and read it closely.

Ma Enhui shook her head slightly and asked, "Your Majesty takes quite an interest in the former Song dynasty. Are you pondering its failures in governance?"

Zhu Yunwen leafed through Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital, which recorded the flourishing splendor of the former Song dynasty, and said softly, "Empress, listen to this passage: 'When the principal wine merchants saw a small wine shop purchase wine two or three times, they would readily lend it silver vessels weighing two to five hundred taels. Even poor households that ordered wine from a shop had it delivered in silver vessels.' What do you think?"

Ma Enhui considered this. "The former Song dynasty was indeed wealthy and prosperous, readily lending out silver vessels weighing two to five hundred taels. Such a thing would be a rare sight in our dynasty. Yet, Your Majesty, wealthy though the former Song was, the people's suffering went unheeded. From my reading of the History of Song and other works, I found that, throughout the dynasty's three hundred-odd years, peasants raised their poles in revolt almost without interruption. Count them carefully, and there were more than four hundred uprisings, large and small."

"If Your Majesty seeks the wealth of the former Song only to plunge the people into fire and water, then even if Great Ming enjoys an age of prosperity, it will belong to the imperial family and the nobility-not to Great Ming, nor to all its people. I beg Your Majesty not to scrape wealth from the people for riches' sake. Whatever policies you pursue, you must proceed with the utmost caution."

Zhu Yunwen set Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital aside, looked at Ma Enhui, and said earnestly, "If I can acquire wealth without harming the people, will you stop opposing the lifting of restrictions on merchants and repeatedly counseling me against it?"

Ma Enhui was startled. She hurriedly knelt and said, "I have erred. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

The rear palace must not interfere in government. This was an iron law laid down by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Although Zhu Yunwen paid little heed to such rules and often discussed affairs of state with Ma Enhui, she knew that interference in government by the rear palace was a grave taboo.

Yet whenever Zhu Yunwen needed her, she could not turn him down, nor did she wish to deny her own inclination. Once, then again, until it gradually became a habit.

If Zhu Yunwen asked, she would take part and offer a few opinions.

If Zhu Yunwen did not ask, she devoted herself to the rear palace and never brought up affairs of state on her own.

Zhu Yunwen sighed, stepped forward to help Ma Enhui up, and said, "I don't blame you. Some things cannot become clear without debate. You are the person closest to me. If I cannot even persuade you, how am I to persuade all my officials?"

"Persuading me will not be easy, Your Majesty."

Ma Enhui still felt shaken, but she remained convinced that lifting the restrictions on merchants was unworkable.

Zhu Yunwen smiled faintly, certainty shining in his eyes. "Not easy? I wouldn't be so sure. Empress, how is the medical gauze coming along? Shall we go and take a look?"