Chapter 553

When *The Snow* updated to the chapter "You Bastard Grandson," Feng Huo, through Huan Wen's words, stated that the Liyang Dynasty had two great mountains.

One was Xu Xiao, whose achievements eclipsed the emperor's, and whose reputation for slaughter reached the heavens.

The other was Zhang Julu, the chief civil official, whose power dominated the court.

Let me digress slightly: After Xu Xiao's death, the current emperor of the Liyang Dynasty will also successively depart. This departure might not mean death, but certainly a retreat behind the scenes, leading to widespread disorder within the Liyang Dynasty's civil official faction.

The reason for this is the struggle for the crown prince.

Although Zhao Kai, born of a palace maid, is dead, it doesn't guarantee a new era where "one emperor brings one set of officials." The imperial system, constrained by factionalism, will inevitably lead to bloodshed and brutal conflicts between supporters and opponents.

The first to bear the brunt will be Zhang Julu, the man with green eyes.

Many believe Feng Huo adapted Zhang Juzheng's character to create Zhang Julu. They are surprised that Zhang Julu encountered such an "enlightened" monarch, allowing him to assist two Liyang emperors and reach the highest position among officials, setting an example. The first of the "Seven Refusals to Kneel at the Vermilion Staircase" was even granted to Zhang Julu. Such favor was enough to overshadow the prestige of thousands of civil and military officials in Tai'an City.

However, according to the historical perspective we learn from books, which helps temper the initial excitement of reading, "thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river." The better Zhang Julu fares now, the more miserably he might end up.

The principle of "when the birds are gone, the bow is put away; when the hares are cooked, the hounds are boiled" implies these palace dramas. Feng Huo might depict these events with a simple stroke, but it's clear that the struggle for the crown prince is devoid of morality and reason.

Among those who will be sacrificed, Huan Wen has already warned Yao Baifeng, the grandmaster of Neo-Confucianism, to resign early and retire. No matter how magnanimous an era seems, it remains an era.

Xu Xiao's era has passed. How much lingering influence will Zhang Julu's departing era still possess?

If literary inquisitions do not rise, then all is well.

If they do, a large faction of civil officials will emerge, directly leading to either the Liyang Dynasty's resurgence or its downfall.

Within this group of civil officials, I believe one person will appear.

Yes, Sun Yin.

Sun Yin jokingly said that when he visits the grave, he would tell Xu Fengnian, on Huan Wen's behalf, that Huan Wen once said he didn't want to see him die.

That statement contains a lot of information.

I reviewed earlier chapters describing Huan Wen and found that he and Zhang Julu were from the same school. Furthermore, the power dynamics within the Department of the Palace Affairs, one of the three central administrative departments, are incredibly intricate and intertwined.

For instance, take Jin Lanting, a complex individual with strong personal abilities but poor character. When Huan Wen punched Jin Lanting, Feng Huo seems to be implying that Jin Lanting will shine in the next round of court struggles. Because of that punch, with Jin Lanting's cunning and adaptable official conduct, even if it didn't wake him up, he would certainly feel the pain.

It's certain that those civil officials in the imperial court who fiercely demanded a posthumous ill-name for Xu Xiao, the King of Beiliang, will one by one follow Zhang Julu to the underworld.

Huan Wen is commonly known as someone who understands everything; in fact, he sees through everything.

The old man appears to take things lightly, but from Sun Yin's single phrase, "old bastard," one can infer that he clearly resents Zhang Julu.

I don't believe that Huan Wen stepping aside for Zhang Julu to become the Palace Attendant and opting for a local official position was a sign of magnanimity or extraordinary ambition.

If Feng Huo is not further exploring human nature in that aspect of his literary creation, then it could be interpreted that Huan Wen simply possesses a heart of a free spirit, like a drifting cloud or a wild crane.

However, if there's truly a hidden plot point here, then something likely happened during the previous emperor's reign, and Huan Wen was sent away to protect his life.

Upon returning, he might have thought, "Damn it, Zhang Julu has truly risen through the ranks."

Huan Wen doesn't expose Sun Yin, and Sun Yin doesn't expose Huan Wen.

The two truly live up to the moniker "Bastard Grandson."

The reason I so closely link Xu Xiao and Zhang Julu is that both were prepared for self-sacrifice to accomplish something for others.

Xu Xiao sacrificed for his son.

Zhang Julu sacrificed for the Spring and Autumn period.

How authentic Xu Xiao was! "I came to the capital just to ensure my son's succession. I'll hit any civil official who can't control his mouth. Do you dare to fight back?"

"When I donned my armor and went to battle, Gu Jiantang retreated thrice."

Throughout his life, Xu Xiao was technically flawless.

As for Zhang Julu, his exceptional ability was such that his personal character seemed to fade into a vacuum.

He was the chief civil official, a grand academician, beneath only one person, but above tens of thousands.

He could promote anyone he wished; if he chose not to promote someone, that person would certainly face great difficulty.

His political vision was radical and fervent. Although he remained outwardly composed when he heard the eunuch declare he didn't need to kneel, in reality, his heart was already filled with utter despair.

His death was almost certainly inevitable, a matter of time.

Or perhaps, Feng Huo would gently arrange for him to retire to his hometown.

But that's utter nonsense, because Sun Yin is still here!

Sun Yin is Xu Fengnian's opening move to dismantle Liyang. Sun Yin is about to play a game of chess with Zhang Julu.

Huan Wen said, "You will win."

Sun Yin replied, "I know."

Winning a game against Zhang Julu would likely lead to him being checkmated within the palace.

When I read *1587, a Year of No Significance*, I admired Shen Shixing, the minor official beside Zhang Juzheng, because he understood that only with the unity of the civil official group could the country maintain orderly administration and the dynasty progress steadily.

Zhang Julu, tainted by the struggle for Crown Prince Zhao Kai, was also a symbol of power envied and coveted by hundreds of officials.

Zhang Juzheng once said something in his later years.

"Like entering a fiery pit, yet finding a cool gate."

Standing in a fire pit, yet feeling like an ice cellar.

As for Zhang Julu, he didn't seem to suppress anyone directly, yet wherever he stood, he weighed heavily on the hearts of all officials, great and small, in Tai'an City.

Do you remember when Xu Xiao donned his armor, preparing to challenge Gu Jiantang, Huan Wen, Zhang Julu, and the Liyang Emperor were discussing the matter in the palace?

Zhang Julu said, "They won't fight."

A fight is about to break out, and this time, Zhao Zhuan's first act upon ascending will be to "remove the mountain."

To remove this great mountain that stands between father and son.

When a new father comes to power, it's not the old uncle's place to dictate.

Get out quickly!