My father, Zhu Di, was granted a second life by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Chapter 44: Using Jie Jin

Zhu Gaoxi selected several treasures to present to Zhu Yuanzhang. As soon as he entered the Qianqing Palace, he discovered that the Crown Prince Zhu Yunwen was also there.

After bowing respectfully, Zhu Gaoxi was about to leave and return to the vegetable garden when Zhu Yuanzhang called him back.

"Xi'er, don't go yet. We're discussing your studies with your grandson. Although you're young, you're smart and talented. You need to find a teacher as soon as possible. Yunwen's idea is to have Mr. Huang teach you."

Zhu Gaoxi was completely ignorant of Confucian classics. If he fell into Huang Zicheng's hands, wouldn't that expose all his shortcomings to others?

Even without the Mandate of Heaven, Zhu Gaoxi didn't want to become a laughingstock. After all, he was a prince and had to save face.

"Grandpa, Mr. Huang assists my brother in handling government affairs, so he may not be able to spare much time. Why don't we find another tutor from the Hanlin Academy?" Zhu Gaoxi said without batting an eye.

"That's fine. Let your grandson take you to the Hanlin Academy. The two of you can discuss it and see who is more suitable."

In order to enhance the friendship between his two grandsons and promote their close cooperation, Zhu Yuanzhang planned to be a hands-off manager and give them more opportunities to work together.

"Grandpa, you're biased. You personally oversee my brother's studies, but you don't even care about mine. My brother and I are both young, and we're not as experienced as you in managing people!" Zhu Gaoxi didn't want to be suppressed by Zhu Yunwen, so he just casually assigned him a teacher to appease him.

Choosing a lifelong mentor and friend should not be done hastily. Zhu Yuanzhang himself had to intervene to ensure that Zhu Gaoxi could fulfill his wish and choose the most suitable teacher.

Having said that, Zhu Yunwen had no choice but to speak up, "Grandpa, why don't you come with us to the Hanlin Academy? Grandpa has a discerning eye, and my brother and I need to learn more from you."

"You two, all you know how to do is flatter," Zhu Yuanzhang said, pursing his lips as he got up from the kang (a heated brick bed). "I'll go with you."

Upon arriving at the Hanlin Academy, Grand Secretary Liu Sanwu and a group of officials came out to greet them.

Zhu Yuanzhang stated his purpose directly: "Mr. Liu, we have come with the Crown Prince to select a tutor for Gao Xi. He is in the early stages of his education and does not need a great scholar like you to teach him personally. We will find a young talent to enlighten him first. Mr. Liu, who do you think is suitable?"

After hearing this, Liu Sanwu stroked his white beard and pondered, "The compiler Zhang Xin is twenty-two years old, the top scholar of the Jiaxu imperial examination, and is intelligent, well-versed in classics and history, and also acts with composure."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded repeatedly, "I remember him; he is indeed exceptionally talented."

Zhu Gaoxi panicked; his target was Yang Rong.

Who is Zhang Xin? He had no information about Zhang Xin stored in his mind. What if Zhang Xin was stubborn and difficult to get along with? Wouldn't that be troublesome? If a conflict occurred, it would make him seem petty.

"Mr. Liu, I've heard that there's a very outstanding scholar named Yang Rong in the Hanlin Academy."

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't understand his thoughts, Zhu Yunwen was indifferent to the matter, so Zhu Gaoxi had to speak up himself to turn the tide.

"Yang Rong?" Liu Sanwu frowned and pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "There is no such person in the Hanlin Academy."

How could it not be there?

Yang Rong later became one of his adoptive father's cabinet members and was the most trusted and valued by his adoptive father.

In his anxiety, Zhu Gaoxi suddenly realized that it was the 28th year of Hongwu's reign. Could it be that Yang Rong had not yet passed the imperial examination?

This is terrible! Such a huge blunder, it's so embarrassing.

How can I save face?

Zhu Gaoxi lowered his eyes, pondering a solution.

"Alright, it's settled then. Have Zhang Xin go to Zhaoyang Palace tomorrow to give Gao Xi a private lecture on classics and history," Zhu Yuanzhang said with a wave of his hand, finalizing the matter.

Seeing Zhu Gaoxi's embarrassed expression, Zhu Yunwen couldn't help but sneer.

Zhu Yunwen walked much more briskly than usual, and Zhu Gaoxi guessed that he must be in an extremely good mood, striking the perfect balance between the airs of a crown prince and his approachability.

His gloating and vindictive attitude makes it impossible for others to willingly submit to him.

Compared to You Dun, Zhu Yunwen was far inferior, Zhu Gaoxi sighed inwardly, completely forgetting the embarrassment of mispronouncing the name earlier.

At this moment, even if he were to find a crack in the ground to crawl into and commit suicide like the petty clerk in Chekhov's story, it wouldn't change anything, so he might as well forget about it completely.

In life, who hasn't experienced some embarrassing moments?

Regarding the matter of choosing a master, Zhu Gaoxi decided to continue trying.

Although Zhang Xin was the top scholar in the imperial examination, there are countless other top scholars in history who have remained unknown.

Exam scores do not represent actual ability. Since Yang Rong has not yet entered officialdom, let's choose another person with outstanding talent.

Xie Jin, a great scholar, was the chief editor of the Yongle Encyclopedia. He was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the 21st year of the Hongwu reign and was granted permission to return to his hometown in the 24th year of the Hongwu reign.

Zhu Gaoxi remembered Xie Jin's basic information very clearly and there would be no mistakes.

When Xie Jin left the capital, Zhu Yuanzhang made a promise with him that he would be employed again in ten years.

Now, although the ten-year agreement has not yet been reached, as long as Zhu Gaoxi pleads for mercy and promises to restrain Xie Jin's arrogant and conceited nature, it should not be difficult to get Zhu Yuanzhang to change his mind.

Although Xie Jin was not good at interpersonal relationships, he was absolutely learned, no less than a walking library of Confucian classics. Taking him into one's own hands would be perfect for engaging in verbal battles with others and making up for Zhu Gaoxi's own lack of knowledge.

The key to winning a debate is extensive reading and an outstanding memory, and Xie Jin possessed both of these qualities.

It is said that Xie Jin had a photographic memory from the age of two when he first started reading, which was comparable to that of Liu Bowen, the famous imperial tutor of the Ming Dynasty.

After Zhu Yunwen left the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Gaoxi began to shower him with attention in various ways.

"Unsolicited kindness is always suspicious," Zhu Yuanzhang knew this well, so he asked directly, "What is it? Speak, don't beat around the bush."

"Grandpa, I've thought of someone who's perfect to be my teacher," Zhu Gaoxi said with a fawning expression. "Grandpa loves Gaoxi the most, he'll definitely agree."

"You must have misheard Yang Rong. Although Liu Sanwu is old, he can still remember those people from the Hanlin Academy clearly," Zhu Yuanzhang said without looking up, continuing to read the memorial.

Zhu Gaoxi's attempt to please no one resulted in anything.

But he was not discouraged. He persevered and made his ultimate request: "Grandpa, let Xie Jin come back. I want him to be a teacher."

Upon hearing Xie Jin's name, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately put down his memorial.

Zhu Gaoxi quickly added, "Grandpa, you're the best."

"He is well-read, but with his troublesome nature, who knows how much trouble he will cause?" Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head repeatedly. "I can't let him ruin my eldest grandson. He only focuses on studying the classics. You are different from him. You will have a bright future."

These words stirred up many small ripples in Zhu Gaoxi's heart, causing them to swell and ripple continuously.

Zhu Gaoxi suppressed his secret joy and patted his chest, saying, "Grandson guarantees that he can control his temper."

"He's arrogant and haughty, do you think he'll listen to you?" Zhu Yuanzhang didn't believe it.

"If he doesn't listen, I have ways to deal with him," Zhu Gaoxi said confidently.

"Tell me, how do you plan to deal with him?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked with great interest.

"Let him never have the chance to be employed again in his life, possessing great talent but having nowhere to use it," Zhu Gaoxi said.

He believed that this was definitely Xie Jin's Achilles' heel.