Eunuchs Had It Hard

The news that the army would be reduced by a hundred thousand men finally caused a sensation in the capital.

No one had expected the new emperor to possess such boldness and skill, ordering the dismissal of a hundred thousand troops with a wave of his hand.

History was full of emperors expanding their armies, but rarely did one hear of them cutting their forces.

And so some civil officials believed an age of "civil governance" was about to begin. They submitted memorial after memorial, praising the emperor as an enlightened ruler.

Yu Xin, the minister of revenue, sipped his tea with a smile and said to Xia Yuanji, a bureau secretary in his ministry, "His Majesty's move was brilliant indeed."

Xia Yuanji cupped his hands. "Minister Yu, it seems the Ministry of Revenue will save a considerable amount of money and grain this year. In the past, the hereditary nobles wielded great power, and Taizu looked after their interests. Though the Ministry of War had the authority to regulate them, it had no real control. Besides, the troop registers were all held by the Chief Military Commissions of the Five Armies. Whatever numbers they reported, the Ministry of Revenue had to disburse the corresponding military funds and grain. His Majesty's action now is truly a blessing."

Yu Xin took a relaxed sip of tea and said easily, "Indeed. A cavalryman receives two shi of grain a month, and an ordinary soldier one shi. Grain provisions alone place an especially heavy burden on the capital. Cutting a hundred thousand troops will save three million six hundred thousand shi of grain each year. Summer is here now, with plenty of rain, and repairing river dikes and providing disaster relief all require money and grain..."

"The Ministry of Revenue certainly has a hard lot."

Xia Yuanji spoke teasingly.

Yu Xin chuckled. "Weizhe, you must shoulder more of the burden. The ministry's affairs will need more of your care."

Xia Yuanji's courtesy name was Weizhe.

Xia Yuanji nodded solemnly. Looking at Yu Xin, who was beginning to show his age, he slowly asked, "Could the troop reduction be connected to summoning the Prince of Yan to the capital?"

A sharp gleam flashed through Yu Xin's eyes. Then he chuckled and said, "This emperor of ours is truly no ordinary man. Have you heard the news? Xie Jin has entered the Hanlin Academy."

"I have. During Taizu's reign, Xie Jin was frivolous and arrogant, but he was unquestionably an upright man. He pleaded for the people and spoke out with unbending conviction. Having such a man at His Majesty's side is a good thing."

Xia Yuanji did not stint on his praise.

Yu Xin rose and walked over to Xia Yuanji. "It is strange, though. When His Majesty was crown prince, Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng both served in the Eastern Palace. Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, Qi Tai remains vice minister of war, and Huang Zicheng remains a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. None of his close ministers have been promoted, yet Xie Jin has... It is rather unusual."

For a newly enthroned emperor, the first men entrusted with important posts were usually the ministers closest to him.

Yet Taizu had already been laid to rest in the Xiaoling Mausoleum for some time, and the new emperor still showed no sign of favoring his former retainers. The first man he promoted was actually Xie Jin, who had been away from court for years. It was truly puzzling.

"Perhaps His Majesty has other plans."

Xia Yuanji spoke mildly.

Zhu Yunwen remained deep within the palace and did not attend court.

In the court hall, the officials gazed about until their eyes ached, looking left and right, but Zhu Yunwen never appeared.

Memorial after memorial had been submitted. If no one approved them, how were they supposed to get anything done?

Was the Great Ming to keep functioning or not?

Some lower-ranking officials even speculated that the emperor had fallen ill from excessive grief over Taizu's death. They asked around everywhere, hoping to submit a few words of concern and express their loyalty.

Zhu Yunwen stepped out of the Hall of Martial Valor and watched the sun slowly sink. The magnificent palace would soon fall into darkness once more.

Were it not for his clear memories of a later age, Zhu Yunwen would almost have forgotten where he had come from.

"Shuangxi, do you miss your family?"

Zhu Yunwen asked softly.

The eunuch Shuangxi stared at Zhu Yunwen in astonishment. During Zhu Yuanzhang's reign, eunuchs had been treated with extreme severity. Even a slight mistake could earn them broken legs at best, or cost them their lives at worst.

After ascending the throne, Zhu Yunwen had continued that harsh treatment. Concern and questions like these were almost unimaginable.

In fact, the historical Zhu Yunwen had indeed never treated eunuchs as human beings.

During Zhu Di's rebellion, many eunuchs became his eyes and ears. One reason was Zhu Yunwen's "cruelty." Though he had a reputation for "benevolence," that was reserved for officials and commoners. Eunuchs, personal attendants, and other castrated palace servants were beaten with rods whenever they made a mistake.

Palace servants and eunuchs defected to Zhu Di because he treated them as people and trusted them.

The Eastern Depot, whose name would resound through later ages, was an institution headed by eunuchs, ample proof of Zhu Di's trust in them.

Shuangxi was so moved he wanted to cry. He hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, this servant thinks of them from time to time. But I will never have the chance to see them again."

Zhu Yunwen shook his head. "Why can't you see them again?"

Shuangxi answered respectfully, "Once this servant entered the palace, I became Your Majesty's man. How could I see them again? Besides, even if I went back, they would not acknowledge me."

Shuangxi was right.

In ancient times, great importance was placed on continuing the family line and preserving the clan.

A eunuch was not entitled to enter his clan's ancestral hall and was an object of contempt.

At least, that was the case in the early Ming.

Looking at the despondent Shuangxi, Zhu Yunwen asked, "Is everyone in the inner palace in the same situation?"

"Of course."

Shuangxi answered at once.

Zhu Yunwen's eyes flickered, but he said nothing more.

The two continued walking. Suddenly, Zhu Yunwen noticed a palace maid carrying a food box kneeling beside the path. He stopped and asked, "Where are you from?"

The palace maid was terrified and hurriedly answered, "Your Majesty, this girl is from Suzhou."

"Suzhou? I've been there. Do you know the Lion Grove?"

Remembering a visit to the Lion Grove in his later life, Zhu Yunwen asked with a smile.

The palace maid hastily shook her head.

Zhu Yunwen sighed. "What a pity. Still, the Lion Grove probably hasn't grown to much of a size yet. How long has it been since you last saw your parents and family?"

"Your Majesty, it has been three years."

The palace maid answered quietly.

Zhu Yunwen rubbed the space between his brows and said to Shuangxi, "Go. Send someone to fetch Kunji."

Shuangxi gave a personal attendant beside him a meaningful look.

Zhu Yunwen opened the maid's food box and looked inside. Seeing only a few lightly seasoned dishes, he asked, "Who is this for?"

The palace maid hurriedly said, "It is for Consort Ning."

Zhu Yunwen narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment before remembering that there was indeed such a woman. She seemed to be gentle, graceful, and independent, and had been neglected ever since entering the Eastern Palace.

That neglect had not been intentional. In the final years of the Hongwu reign, Zhu Yuanzhang had been in poor health, and his grandson still had to play the dutiful grandson for a while, tending him day and night without even loosening his robes. After Zhu Yuanzhang passed away, the mourning rites for the state had kept him busy. Where would he have found the time to visit her...