Chapter 87 The Old Immortal of Great Purity

In the Song dynasty, the list of those who passed the provincial examination was announced, and although the officials responsible for overseeing the examination had the final say, the finalized list still had to be submitted to the emperor for approval and ultimate decision. Thus, it could be said that Lin Xi and others were merely examiners in name, while the emperor was the true examiner, the actual chief examiner for every imperial examination.

Before this, the list of successful candidates was also sent to the Ministry of State Affairs for review.

Prior to the reforms of the Yuanfeng era, the Song had three departments—Central Secretariat, Military Affairs, and Fiscal Office—each responsible for political, military, and financial matters respectively. The power of the prime minister was divided among the heads of these departments. The prime minister, the military affairs commissioner, and the fiscal commissioner held equal authority, and none was subordinate to the others. The prime minister’s power was further checked by the addition of associate ministers, so the transfer of authority typical of the Tang’s three ministries and six departments had essentially disappeared.

After the Yuanfeng reforms, the Tang system was restored, establishing the heads of three departments—Minister of State Affairs, Chancellor of the Secretariat, and Chief of the Chancellery. However, these positions were merely honorary and never actually conferred. Later, following the Tang model, the roles of Minister of State Affairs were fulfilled by the Left and Right Assistant Ministers; the Left Assistant Minister also served as Deputy Chancellor of the Chancellery, and the Right Assistant Minister as Deputy Chancellor of the Secretariat, acting as the actual chief ministers. At this point, the associate ministers were abolished and replaced by four deputy chief ministers: Deputy Chancellor of the Chancellery, Deputy Chancellor of the Secretariat, Left Vice-Minister of State Affairs, and Right Vice-Minister of State Affairs.

At this time, only the position of Left Assistant Minister was given to Zhang Dun, and the Right Assistant Minister was not appointed, so Zhang Dun was the sole chief minister, wielding nearly absolute power.

The Ministry of State Affairs was also in Zhang Dun’s hands; thus, the list of successful candidates submitted for review was really sent to Zhang Dun, who would then pass it on to the emperor.

Song, at the residence of the Military Affairs Commissioner, Zeng Bu

On this occasion, Lin Xi, the acting examiner for the imperial examination, rushed into Zeng Bu's study, sweating profusely and clutching the finalized list of candidates. He found Zeng Bu calmly practicing calligraphy.

“Ay, Commissioner, at such a critical moment, you’re still at leisure?” Lin Xi complained anxiously.

“Oh, you’re here?” Zeng Bu, seeing the agitated Lin Xi, gently set his jade brush on the rack and smiled, “Master Lin, what has you so flustered?”

Lin Xi hurriedly produced the candidate list and Li Sanjian’s answer sheet, spreading them on the table before Zeng Bu. “Master Zeng, please look first before speaking.”

The finalized list? Zeng Bu nodded with satisfaction and began to examine it closely, then carefully read Li Sanjian’s examination script.

“To listen to all sides brings clarity, to trust only one brings darkness.” Seeing these eight words in Li Sanjian’s essay, Zeng Bu couldn’t help but silently praise them.

Wasn’t this precisely what Zeng Bu had long wished to say to Emperor Zhao Xu, but never found the perfect opportunity? He hadn’t expected Li Sanjian to include these words in his essay, in response to a question on current affairs.

“Who is this candidate?” Zeng Bu asked.

Lin Xi rolled his eyes; wasn’t the name written clearly on the script? Did it need repeating?

Though puzzled, Lin Xi answered, “He is a candidate from Lingnan, Guilin Prefecture, surname Li, given name Sanjian, courtesy name Hanren, only seventeen years old. His father died early, leaving only his mother. I’ve also heard he is a pupil of Su Shi.”

“A disciple of Su Shi?” Zeng Bu’s heart warmed toward Li Sanjian. After a moment’s thought, he asked Lin Xi, “Why haven’t you submitted the list to the Ministry of State Affairs?”

Lin Xi rolled his eyes again. Wasn’t he waiting precisely for this moment? If Zhang Dun were toppled, Zeng Bu would surely rise, and Lin Xi himself could benefit as well. So he thought.

Now sixty-two, Lin Xi was a native of the west gate of Fuqing, Fuzhou Circuit, and had passed the imperial examination in the Dingyou year of Emperor Jiayou’s reign. He had served as Scholar of the Baowen Pavilion, Prefect of Chengdu, Scholar of the Zizheng Hall, among other posts.

After Zhang Dun came to power, he recommended Lin Xi for the position of Secretariat Drafter, participating in the compilation of the “Records of Emperor Shenzong.” Later, Lin Xi was promoted to Minister of Rites and Personnel, and Scholar of the Hanlin Academy.

Thus, Zhang Dun had been a benefactor to him. The reason Lin Xi now sought to topple Zhang Dun was that Zhang Dun had promised him a post as chief minister, but had failed to fulfill it, leaving Lin Xi resentful and keen to see Zhang Dun replaced.

Zeng Bu, on the other hand, had repeatedly promised Lin Xi that if he became chief minister, he would certainly promote Lin Xi.

To attain a post as chief minister was Lin Xi’s lifelong dream.

“Zhang Ziho is currently ill at home,” Lin Xi replied.

Zeng Bu was secretly pleased; with Zhang Dun indisposed, the list need not pass through the Ministry of State Affairs, but could be submitted directly to the emperor. Zeng Bu exchanged a glance with Lin Xi and asked, “Shall we submit it?”

“That is exactly my intention, and why I’ve come to seek your opinion,” Lin Xi replied, delighted.

“Very well, let’s do so,” Zeng Bu nodded.

Lin Xi joyfully responded, gathered the list and Li Sanjian’s script, and prepared to leave.

“Master Lin, wait!” As Lin Xi was about to exit, Zeng Bu remembered something and called him back.

“Master Zeng?” Lin Xi turned, puzzled.

“Have the eunuch Liang submit the list—no, fetch him here, I have something to say,” Zeng Bu said after a moment’s thought.

“An excellent suggestion,” Lin Xi replied.

Having spent years in officialdom, Lin Xi immediately grasped Zeng Bu’s meaning. Toppling Zhang Dun was no easy feat; relying on a single essay was mere folly. Ultimately, success depended on the emperor’s attitude, and to discern Zhao Xu’s intentions, one must consult those closest to him.

Once the list was submitted, if Zhao Xu confirmed Li Sanjian as a new successful candidate, it would indicate some change of heart—perhaps even dissatisfaction with Zhang Dun. Then Zeng Bu, Lin Xi, and their allies could arrange for their own censors to submit memorials impeaching Zhang Dun, and the situation might shift dramatically.

...

Zhang Dun’s mansion, Kaifeng Prefecture

Zhang Dun, courtesy name Ziho, styled “Master of the Great Cleanse,” was sixty-two years old, the same age as Lin Xi, born in Pucheng, Jianning Commandery, and passed the imperial examination in the fourth year of Emperor Renzong’s Jiayou reign.

In the third year of Yuanfeng, Zhang Dun was appointed Associate Minister of State Affairs, i.e., deputy chief minister. He supported Wang Anshi’s reforms, and during the Yuanyou Restoration, was branded a Yuanfeng partisan, impeached by Liu Qing, Su Shi, and others, and exiled for seven or eight years.

After the Shaosheng and Shaoshu reforms, Zhang Dun gained Zhao Xu’s trust, was appointed Left Prime Minister while the position of Right Prime Minister was left vacant, making Zhang Dun the most powerful man in the Song after the emperor.

Zhang Dun was straightforward and outspoken—a veritable firebrand.

His forthrightness often made him disregard others’ feelings and act unilaterally. He was upright and incorruptible, never granting office to favorites—even his own sons were sent to serve as officials in distant provinces, with none holding posts at court.

Due to his age and the strain of state affairs, his health had recently declined, and he had been confined to bed for days.

On this day, as his illness abated, Zhang Dun was enjoying the fish in his pond, seeking to moderate his own irascible temper.

As he was peacefully watching the fish, the estate steward hurried over and whispered a few words into his ear.

“Let him in,” Zhang Dun instructed.

For one of the chief examiners, Xu Duo, to send a messenger during the examination’s sequester suggested something urgent, so despite not being fully recovered, Zhang Dun resolved to meet him.

“Someone, bring my robes quickly. I must go to the palace at once,” Zhang Dun ordered upon hearing the visitor’s purpose.

Zhang Dun understood Zhao Xu too well. When Zhao Xu first ascended the throne, he was fiercely suppressed by the Yuanyou partisans led by Empress Dowager Gao, and harbored intense resentment. Thus, as soon as Empress Dowager Gao passed away, he immediately enacted the “Shaoshu” reforms, exiling Yuanyou partisans and abolishing their policies. Yet, as time passed and his anger waned, signs of relaxation appeared, and recently he had increasingly favored officials who treated Yuanyou partisans kindly, such as Zeng Bu, and recalled Li Gefei and others, which was evidence enough. If Zeng Bu and others now seized upon this matter, it could spell disaster.

No further upheaval could be allowed, Zhang Dun thought.

...

Zhang Dun, still not fully recovered, hurried to the palace to see the emperor. In a side hall, he found Zhao Xu, also showing signs of illness, sitting weakly on the throne, frowning over some papers, while Zeng Bu, Cai Bian, Cai Jing, Xu Duo, Lin Xi, Liang Shicheng and others stood by. Lin Xi was still speaking.

“Your servant Zhang Dun, prostrates before Your Majesty. Long live the emperor!” Zhang Dun stepped forward, bowed deeply, hands nearly touching the golden tiles, his voice choked with emotion.

He exerted himself so much he nearly stumbled.

“Careful, Minister Zhang,” Zhao Xu exclaimed.

“Someone, bring a chair for Minister Zhang,” Zhao Xu instructed Liang Shicheng.

“Your servant obeys,” Liang Shicheng replied, dispatching a eunuch to fetch a chair.

When the emperor summoned ministers, they could only stand; thus, being granted a seat was a supreme mark of favor.

“Has Minister Zhang recovered?” Zhao Xu asked with concern.

“Your Majesty’s care overwhelms your humble servant,” Zhang Dun replied, choking back tears. “My worthless body is of no consequence, not deserving of such concern. It is Your Majesty’s health that matters for the realm and the people. Your Majesty, you must take care of yourself.”

Whether genuine or feigned, tears streamed down Zhang Dun’s cheeks.

Zhao Xu’s eyes grew moist as well, and he sighed, “Minister Zhang, you are my right-hand man. You must take care of yourself. State affairs are heavy, and you have poured your heart and soul into serving the country and the people. Take care of your health from now on.”

“Your Majesty,” Zhang Dun’s voice grew strong, “I have given everything for Your Majesty, for our great nation, and for Your Majesty’s grand ambitions. I will devote myself until death. Yet I dare not relax, for there are those who seek to obstruct Your Majesty’s great enterprise, to hinder the fulfillment of your father’s and brother’s legacy.”

As he finished, Zhang Dun cast his hawk-like gaze toward Zeng Bu, Lin Xi, Cai Bian, and others.

Cai Jing, standing nearby, was secretly impressed. Indeed, the elder is wiser; Zhang Dun, facing the emperor, played the emotional card first, not mentioning the issue at hand. The outcome for Lin Xi and the others might now be grim.

Meanwhile, Li Sanjian’s name was etched deeply into Cai Jing’s memory.