Comparable to the Edict of推恩令, Your Majesty Has an Expert Behind the Scenes

Liu Bowen watched Zhang Yi depart, his emotions churning for a long time.

It was only after Xu Cunren urged him that he reluctantly suppressed his rising anger.

"Though this boy has some talent, he is impractical, ambitious beyond his means, and completely detached from reality—he will never amount to anything! I suppose the people of Mount Longhu are all cut from the same cloth."

Liu Bowen sharply berated Zhang Yi, leaving Xu Cunren stunned and instinctively displeased.

Although Zhang Yi had refused to acknowledge him as a formal master, he was still considered half a disciple. Furthermore, Xu Cunren and Liu Bowen were fellow townsmen with years of friendship, and he knew very well that Zhang Yi had truly pushed Liu Bowen to his limits today.

"You probably haven't heard yet, but a major event occurred in the imperial court today. The Emperor has issued new regulations regarding the reform of the imperial examinations..."

"Oh? What are they?"

Xu Cunren genuinely had no knowledge of this. The Imperial Academy was far removed from the administrative center, and recently he had been overwhelmed to the point of exhaustion simply trying to relocate the academy and recruit a mathematics instructor.

"The Emperor has divided the imperial examinations into Northern and Southern Lists. From now on, candidates from the South and the North will be evaluated and admitted separately! Moreover, the Emperor has decreed that prior to the special examinations, any Southern candidates willing to relocate and settle in the North will be admitted under the Northern List!"

"What? The Emperor is acting rashly!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Cunren reacted just like everyone else—with instinctive resistance.

However, as Liu Bowen continued, Xu Cunren gradually calmed down.

"By doing this, the Emperor is likely laying the groundwork for future governance in the North. For centuries, the hearts of the Han people in the North and South have drifted apart. This policy can win back the allegiance of some. Furthermore, knowing that the Emperor of the South cares deeply for the North will reduce the governing costs for our Great Ming army! Although this move infringes upon the interests of the South, for the realm as a whole and for the rule of Great Ming, it is a stroke of pure genius!"

Setting aside self-interest, Liu Bowen returned to the mindset expected of a Confucian scholar who cared for the world. The more he thought about it, the more brilliant Zhu Yuanzhang's scheme appeared.

Only then did he regain the true demeanor of a celebrated scholar.

Like other officials of Zhejiang origin, Xu Cunren had initially been fiercely opposed to the division of the examination lists, but once Liu Bowen explained it, he understood as well.

"The right or wrong of this matter depends entirely on whether your standpoint is your own self-interest or the perspective of the entire realm! I won't mind making a fool of myself by telling you that today, when the Emperor announced the Northern and Southern Lists, I led the civil officials to pressure the throne. Yet the Emperor seemed to have anticipated our reaction all along; he directly punished a few to set an example while co-opting others. Even though I know how difficult it is to leave one's ancestral land, this imperial policy will surely entice a multitude of people to migrate to the North. After all, the allure of the imperial examinations is simply too great... I refuse to believe that certain merchants will be able to resist the temptation and refrain from settling in the North! Once they settle there, their resources and businesses will follow them over the course of a decade or several decades. Before long, they will become bone-deep Northerners! Old Xu, the division of the lists is an overt stratagem! On my way here, I had already figured it out, and I am certain that by tonight, many others will also come to understand the Emperor's calculations. But so what? The Emperor's policy of the Northern and Southern Lists rivals the Decree to Extend Favor! Even if we see through it and understand the Emperor's design, we cannot stop the impending momentum! Over the next two years, countless people—or rather, the resources belonging to Jiangnan—will inevitably tilt toward the North."

Xu Cunren was left gaping in astonishment. He had failed to perceive the underlying significance of the divided examination lists, yet Liu Bowen was able to analyze so many implications from a single event?

It seemed Zhang Yi was right: he could hardly be considered a qualified politician; at best, he was an academic bureaucrat.

And Liu Bowen, having stepped outside the circle of self-interest, was now radiating his true brilliance.

Yet, through Liu Bowen's narrative, Zhu Yuanzhang emerged as the object of Xu Cunren's true admiration.

The division of the examination lists into Northern and Southern sections, combined with the inclusion of mathematics in the imperial examinations!

These earth-shattering changes were enough to cement Zhu Yuanzhang's legacy in the history books.

The policy of the Northern and Southern lists could simultaneously weaken and fragment the power of the South while diverting pressure from the North... coupled with the effect of winning the hearts and minds of the people.

This meant that the Emperor had successfully achieved decentralization, won public support, and balanced the North and South through a single policy. It truly deserved to be called a magnificent overt stratagem.

"That Emperor of ours is certainly no ordinary man. Just thinking about such meticulous planning keeps me awake at night!"

Liu Bowen cast a meaningful glance at Xu Cunren and said, "Brother Xu, do you truly believe this was the Emperor's own idea?"

"Isn't it?"

In response to Xu Cunren's counter-question, Liu Bowen shook his head.

"It doesn't seem like it. I am more inclined to believe there is a master strategist behind the Emperor... An overt stratagem comparable to the Decree to Extend Favor must have been conceived by that master and imparted to the Emperor!"

"A master strategist?"

Xu Cunren wrinkled his brow, struggling to recall anyone in Zhu Yuanzhang's inner circle who could fit such a description.

Among Zhu Yuanzhang's founding cohort, the only person worthy of being called a master strategist was perhaps Liu Ji right before him.

Li Shanchang was an adept administrator, capable of matching Liu Ji in political acumen, and perhaps even surpassing him in certain aspects. Yet, in terms of all-around capability, Li Shanchang fell short of Liu Bowen.

If even Liu Ji could not be considered a master strategist, who else could possibly exist within Zhu Yuanzhang's faction?

Seeing his expression, Liu Bowen smiled.

"It is certainly not any of our old acquaintances... Not to sound arrogant, but in my eyes, the rest of them are not worth worrying about."

"That can't be right! If that's the case, it's even less likely for the Emperor to have a master behind him. How many days has our Majesty been on the throne? Where would such a high-level strategist suddenly emerge from to pledge allegiance to him? Even if someone wanted to pledge their loyalty, they would choose to wait and see until the situation in Dadu is settled before making a decision. How did you deduce that there is someone behind the Emperor? Are you not just letting your imagination run wild?"

Liu Bowen replied, "Absolutely not. The Emperor's policy on the Northern and Southern Lists was introduced with great haste. Last time you proposed incorporating mathematics into the imperial examinations, the Emperor clearly had not yet conceived of this policy, which is why there was no movement whatsoever. If he had even the slightest inkling of it back then, he would not have left it entirely unheralded. But today, he abruptly rolled out this stroke-of-genius policy without any prior buildup, clearly riding the momentum of introducing mathematics to simultaneously overhaul the imperial examinations. This proves indirectly that until very recently, the Emperor himself knew nothing of this policy. Therefore, within the past two days, a brilliant strategist must have enlightened the Emperor regarding the Northern and Southern Lists! And the Emperor, like myself, recognized the brilliance of this policy, which is why he is pushing it forward with such force."

Liu Bowen glanced at Xu Cunren and added, "Before I came here, I even harbored some suspicions that you might have been the one to propose it. It appears I was wrong..."

His remark reminded Xu Cunren, sending a sudden pang of guilt through him.

The inclusion of mathematics in the imperial examinations had already subjected Old Xu to immense pressure; while some people curried favor with him, far more harbored resentment toward him.

He could ill afford to take the blame for the Northern and Southern Lists as well—that sort of thing was lethal!

"Forget it, let's not speak of this anymore. Let us return to more pressing matters. I will compile the mathematics textbook for you within ten days and hand it over to you then. You can submit it alongside your disciple's textbook and see which one the Emperor chooses..."

Changing the subject, Liu Bowen steered the conversation back to the mathematics curriculum.

Mentioning Zhang Yi immediately soured his mood once more.

Xu Cunren chuckled sheepishly. "Why must Brother Liu harbor resentment toward a child? He was merely speaking off the top of his head. When it comes to compiling textbooks, Zhang Yi couldn't hope to hold a candle to you!"

"Brother Xu need not dwell on that. Since the boy is so arrogant, I wish to test his capabilities myself. If he were merely an ordinary child, I would let it pass, but since he hails from Mount Longhu, we cannot allow him to look down upon us!"

Hearing this, Xu Cunren dropped the subject.

As a scholar himself, he naturally understood the deep-seated sectarian bias in Liu Bowen's heart.

Do not be fooled by how approachable these men usually appeared, mingling freely with monks and Daoist priests; when core principles were at stake, the vast majority of scholars still looked down upon Buddhism and Daoism from the bottom of their hearts.

Had Zhang Yi possessed a different background, Liu Bowen would likely have welcomed him warmly.

However, Zhang Yi and the Mount Longhu lineage behind him—from Zhu Yuanzhang utilizing them to suppress the Confucius clan, to the practice of inoculation, to interfering in the imperial examinations—were viewed by his old friend as acts of outright heresy!

The very reason Xu Cunren had taken a special interest in Zhang Yi from the beginning was precisely to drag him back to the "right path," strip away his Daoist robes, and transform him into a true scholar.

"Very well, even if the boy loses, it is no disgrace. Let him be!"

Thinking this to himself, Xu Cunren said aloud, "Then I must thank Brother Liu for his trouble."

"Brother Xu is too polite. This is a matter of duty for men of our standing!"

Having settled the arrangements, Liu Bowen turned and left.

Xu Cunren personally escorted him out, but upon returning to his study, he found Zhang Yi biting the end of his brush, lost in thought.

As Xu Cunren stepped into the room, he let out a long sigh, looking utterly distracted.

Zhang Yi looked at him with curiosity. "Teacher, what is the matter with you now? Did that old Liu bully you? Do you need your student to avenge you?"

Xu Cunren glared at him, lacking any inclination to banter.

He said, "Liu Bowen told me something of even greater magnitude than mathematics entering the imperial examinations, and this matter might even be related to your teacher..."

"What matter?"

Zhang Yi was half-hearted, merely doodling on his paper, but the moment the words "Northern and Southern Lists" left Xu Cunren's lips, he dropped his brush in sheer fright.

"What did you say?"

"The Emperor made a temporary decision today: to implement the Northern and Southern Lists as part of the imperial examination reforms. From now on, there will be one list of successful candidates for Southerners and another for Northerners!"

"Good grief!"

This time, Zhang Yi completely lost his composure. Why had the Northern and Southern Lists appeared in the territory of Great Ming thirty years ahead of schedule?

His mind immediately flashed back to the conversation he had shared with Zhu Biao. Could it be...

A myriad of thoughts raced through Zhang Yi's mind.

"Wait, Teacher, did you say this matter has something to do with me?"

Only then did Zhang Yi understand the reason for Xu Cunren's sighs. Xu Cunren looked at him listlessly and replied, "Strictly speaking, it has to do with you as well."

"How on earth does this trace back to me?"

"Remember when we discussed 'fairness' the other day? I mentioned those arguments to the Emperor. When Liu Bowen spoke of it today, he mentioned his suspicion that there was a master strategist behind the Emperor... At first, I didn't think much of it, because those of us who have followed the Emperor from the beginning know that he has never had the opportunity to consult outsiders, let alone easily trust a master strategist! Liu Bowen believes there is someone behind the Emperor, but I was reminded of our discussion regarding 'fairness' behind the Northern and Southern Lists. Therefore, I am eight parts certain that the so-called Northern and Southern Lists are something the Emperor deduced himself based on what I said that day..."

As Xu Cunren recounted the conversation of that day, Zhang Yi broke out in a cold sweat.

That scared the hell out of me!

He had feared that the secret of the Northern and Southern Lists had leaked through Zhu Biao!

Where you stand depends on where you sit; different perspectives yield different kinds of fairness.

These were all theories he had debated with Xu Cunren.

Xu Cunren had shared them with the Emperor, and the Emperor had grasped the underlying principle, thereby conceiving the Northern and Southern Lists?

Though it felt somewhat bizarre, it was not entirely impossible.

His trust in Zhang Zhengming made Zhang Yi instinctively accept Xu Cunren's explanation.

Xu Cunren relayed everything Liu Bowen had said.

Upon hearing it, Zhang Yi slammed his hand onto the table.

"I was wondering why Liu Bowen suddenly came to see Teacher—so he had been reprimarded by the Emperor! Well said, that fellow deserved to be put in his place..."

Liu Bowen enjoyed a lofty historical reputation, and Zhang Yi respected him.

Yet, since they had become adversaries in reality, he certainly didn't mind blackening his name a little.

His own affairs were minor; what truly thrilled Zhang Yi was the Hongwu Emperor's masterful deployment of the Northern and Southern Lists.

In history, the Northern and Southern Lists were merely a remedial measure Zhu Yuanzhang was forced to adopt after realizing he had erred in attempting to bridge the North-South divide, leading to deep-seated problems he could no longer resolve.

Yet, applied here in the first year of Hongwu, the exact same policy became a stroke of pure genius.

Especially the strategy decreed by Zhu Yuanzhang—granting household registration to anyone willing to migrate to the North—was simply too brilliant for words.

This policy did not exist in the historical Northern and Southern Lists, and it was a crucial factor that dispelled Zhang Yi's remaining doubts.

Was this not the ancient equivalent of migration for better examination prospects?

And it was college entrance examination migration personally spearheaded by the Emperor himself.

With this policy in place, Zhang Yi knew that any attempt by the Southern gentry and Neo-Confucian scholars to form a united front against the Emperor was destined to shatter.

This was a blatant strategy of divide and conquer, an overt stratagem where even if you recognized it, there was nothing you could do!

The gentry and scholars of the South might scoff at the benefits the Northern Lists offered to the Northerners, but the common-born scholars of humble origins were entirely different.

The reluctance to leave one's ancestral land became utterly worthless in the face of material interests, especially when it concerned one's official career and reputation!

By splitting the conflicting interests that should have united the Southerners against the Northerners, the so-called rebellion was deprived of its source and foundation.

The emergence of this policy filled Zhang Yi with wholehearted admiration for the capabilities of the Emperor residing within the deep palace.

"As expected of Old Zhu, truly formidable..."

Zhang Yi's praise for Zhu Yuanzhang was entirely sincere.

With this policy enacted, the national fortune of Great Ming was very likely to shift for the better.

Balancing the North and South, winning the allegiance of the Han people!

Great Ming had stepped onto an even more promising path.

Though the matter of the Northern and Southern Lists inevitably planted a seed of doubt in Zhang Yi's heart, he ultimately managed to suppress it.

"Very well, return to your quarters. Remember to attend your classes when you have time; you have skipped far too many. If the Emperor finds out, you won't escape a beating either!"

Being in a foul mood, Xu Cunren lacked the patience to converse further with Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi chuckled inwardly. Old Xu must have been terrified out of his wits by the whole affair of the Northern and Southern Lists.

If outsiders ever discovered that he was the one who sowed the seed for the policy, he would likely be pelted with stones by his fellow villagers even if he fled back to his hometown!

From Xu Cunren, Zhang Yi had also learned another piece of news: the Emperor intended to relocate the Imperial Academy.

He understood that as he interfered in more historical events, the butterfly effect would inevitably manifest.

The Imperial College, which historically might not have appeared for another decade or more, was about to emerge across the land of Great Ming much sooner.

Remembering this, Zhang Yi's thoughts immediately turned to Zhu Biao.

"Understood, Teacher, farewell!"

Bidding farewell to Xu Cunren, Zhang Yi returned to the Daoist temple.

Upon seeing the carriage parked outside the temple gates, Zhang Yi knew immediately who had arrived.

"Brother Huang, you've arrived quite early."

The person waiting for Zhang Yi was naturally Zhu Biao.

Ever since Madame Sun had proven the efficacy of allicin, the father and son had attached unprecedented importance to it.

Zhu Biao had come today on a mission: to secure a larger supply of allicin.

After all, one of the Emperor's imperial concubines was still waiting for her life to be saved!

"No time for idle chatter. How much allicin have you managed to produce recently? I want all of it..."

"Well, there are about a dozen bottles left, each containing roughly a day's dose. However, I have run out of garlic; I've practically bought up all the garlic in Yingtian Prefecture!"

Garlic was hardly a daily necessity, at least not in this era.

With commercial enterprise suppressed by the imperial court, even in a place like Yingtian, acquiring large quantities of garlic was no easy feat.

Zhang Yi and Deng Zhongxiu were merely Daoist priests without extensive commercial connections, so naturally, they could not procure vast amounts.

"I'll have several thousand catties delivered to you shortly!"

In order to preserve lives and effectively utilize allicin, Zhu Biao gritted his teeth and made the promise to Zhang Yi.

"Zhang Yi, have you ever considered turning allicin into a formal business venture? I wrote home to mention it to my father, and he should be quite interested!"

Zhu Biao wanted to test the waters regarding allicin, and after a moment's thought, Zhang Yi nodded in agreement.

In any case, keeping the substance entirely in his own hands served little purpose beyond acting as a charlatan to fool the common folk or occasionally currying favor with the powerful; it had limited practical application for him.

He had no desire to court the upper echelons of society. From the perspective of making money, letting the Huang family father and son handle the operations was a viable option.

Provided they proved trustworthy, he could entrust them with future inventions as well.

Of course, the prerequisite was that they played no double games.

"Here is your dividend from the pencil business!"

Zhu Biao had come prepared, having long since readied a batch of silver taels.

"As for the allicin, I have invested a thousand taels of silver in it for you, and taking your current stock today will serve as the initial offset. From now on, whenever I take a bottle of allicin from you, if it's the small bottle containing a single dose, I will purchase it for three taels of silver. If it's the large bottle containing three doses, I will pay twelve taels of silver! If my family takes the allicin out to sell, how about we split the excess profit six-and-four? Since our side must shoulder certain operational costs, I shamelessly claim the larger share."

Hearing Zhu Biao speak in this manner, Zhang Yi actually grew more inclined to trust him.

Merchants spoke the language of commerce; had he been overly generous and offered the lion's share of the profits to Zhang Yi, the latter would instead have suspected Zhu Biao's motives and true identity.

However, the profit-sharing model proposed by Zhu Biao was entirely reasonable.

He needed Zhu Biao's commercial channels, and Zhu Biao needed his technology; the two sides struck a chord immediately.

"Once my father returns, we will open a workshop in the city!"

Zhang Yi nodded in consent, and the two even signed a formal contract.

Suddenly, Zhang Yi asked, "Brother Huang, since your family has come to the capital, your family business must be flourishing as well. I still don't know the name of your family's drapery shop, nor where it is located. If I happen to pass by another day, I must drop in to support your business!"

Zhu Biao was momentarily taken aback, realizing Zhang Yi was staring intently at him. He broke into a smile.

"If you're curious, I will take you there another day. Our family's drapery shop isn't hard to find; the next time you head to the Imperial Academy for your studies, you might even pass right by it..."

Zhang Yi's probing was effortlessly deflected by Zhu Biao.

Instead, Zhang Yi decided to probe further.

"Elder Brother, I actually have some good news to share with you!"