It’s nearly noon on the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month.
Today the cold wind is still howling and the sky is covered with heavy snow.
Although there was a charcoal fire burning in the Wenhua Hall for heating, the emperor specifically ordered the doors and windows to be opened slightly, giving the opportunity for air conditioning.
The cold air occasionally squeezed into the Wenhua Hall along the cracks in the doors and windows.
Fortunately, the banquet officials wrapped themselves tightly in the cloaks given by the emperor, so it was not too cold.
Today is the last sutra feast of the year. After this feast, the emperor should take a holiday.
Spring classes will not start until after the Lantern Festival, depending on the weather conditions.
After the banquet was over, the Japanese lecturers resigned one after another.
Zhang Juzheng asked to stay alone: ​​"Your Majesty, I carefully studied the events of the past dynasties and wrote a book."
"I have summarized eighty-one good things that can be done for the Dharma, numbered from Yang; thirty-six bad things that can be done as a warning, numbered from Yin."
"Each incident is a picture, and a biography will be recorded later. Taking the meaning of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty from the past as a guide, it is called "Emperor's Guide to Pictures" and is entrusted to His Majesty."
The Dijian Tushuo is an enlightenment reading for the emperor, giving examples of what is a wise king and what is a cowardly king.
Although Zhang Juzheng realized halfway through writing that it was not really needed, he still finished the book with a beginning and an end.
Of course, presenting the book today was just a pretext. Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Juzheng and knew that he was intentionally stopping him in the Wenhua Hall to ask for a memorial.
Zhu Yijun nodded and said: "You compiled the book and cataloged it, showing your loyalty and love. I use ancient methods to rule the country, and I will use them deeply..."
"Follow me to the Nuan Pavilion, and sit in front of the album and read it for me."
After saying that, he got up and went to the Nuan Pavilion in the side hall of Wenhua Hall.
Zhang Juzheng followed closely behind.
The other banquet officials didn't feel anything was wrong and left one after another.
On the other hand, Xu Guo, the newly promoted banquet officer, couldn't help but look back a few more times.
The emperor was quite absent-minded during the feast these two days.
Although he was still able to handle things with ease, he was not as active and spiritual as before. He felt like he was just coping with the situation, and he seemed to have something on his mind.
The two assistant ministers also often closed their eyes and meditated.
Now that the chief assistant is alone, there must be something to talk about.
Although Xu Guo was still working on his qualifications in the Hanlin Academy and his official rank was not high, he could still hear more or less news about the cabinet discussions.
In the past two days, there have been successive changes in southern Zhili. I am afraid that the emperor and the cabinet have some trouble sleeping and eating.
It’s not surprising that this remark is right.
Xu Guo shook his head, turned around and left the Wenhua Palace.
…
After entering the Nuan Pavilion, Zhu Yijun casually took the Emperor Jian Tu presented by Zhang Juzheng and put it aside.
He looked at Zhang Juzheng: "This book is distributed to the History Museum to show the meaning of friendship between our monarch and our ministers."
After a pause, Zhu Yijun asked: "Yuan Fu, are you looking for me?"
If you simply offer the book, you should offer it when the sutra feast begins, instead of waiting until the end to leave it alone.
This action is obviously a request for correct performance.
Zhang Juzheng did not hide anything, bowed and said: "Your Majesty, today the cabinet received a report from Wang Zongmu that a ship carrying autumn grain to Beijing capsized."
"During repairs at the shipyard, traces of man-made damage were discovered."
Zhu Yijun was silent for a moment, then sighed: "It's going to rain."
"If I don't break my heart, the most I can do is this. Only one of the fourteen points has sunk, which is considered restrained."
Zhang Juzheng's expression became even more complicated after hearing this.
It’s not that I disagree with the emperor’s words.
Rather, he felt that the emperor's mood was too wrong.
The day before yesterday, Hai Rui came with news that the salt merchants were making noise and causing trouble in front of the Huai'an government office. Some people even set fire to the government office, and the Jinyi Guards were dispatched.
The cabinet was horrified for a moment.
As a result, the news reached the Longevity Palace like a mud cow entering the sea.
The emperor showed no reaction at all.
Yesterday, Zhu Gang of the Yingtian Prefecture reported that public opinion had recently aroused among scholars in Nanzhili, saying that the central government intended to suppress southerners and that the next imperial examination would deliberately depose southerners. Many students believed it to be true.
Wan Hao, who was offering wine to the Imperial Academy, came to appease him. As a result, the students became angry and beat him up together, beating the wine to the point where he could not get out of bed.
In the end, it was former cabinet minister Li Chunfang who came forward to appease the good scholars.
The cabinet sent the news to the Longevity Palace, but the emperor remained indifferent.
Even when He Yongqing followed the cabinet's instructions and went to ask the emperor for instructions on using the Xinbao, he was rejected and returned without success.
This was so uncharacteristic that everyone noticed something was wrong.
The cabinet requested several times to report the matter, but the emperor found excuses to hold him back.
In desperation, the cabinet discussed it and decided to let Zhang Juzheng use the excuse of presenting a letter to block the emperor after the banquet.
Now that Zhang Juzheng had a chance to make a speech, he immediately brought up the incident of the shipwreck to see the emperor's attitude.
It stands to reason that no matter what happens to this Holy Sage, he must be angry and angry.
But just now he just sighed and said it was going to rain, without any other words.
The emperor's reaction further confirmed Zhang Juzheng's suspicion.
My heart became more and more uneasy. Emperor, what on earth are you thinking about?
Zhang Juzheng knew that the emperor was not unreasonable, so he went straight to the point and asked: "Your Majesty."
"I don't know why Your Majesty doesn't mean what you say. I'm scared!"
"Your Majesty, please make it clear!"
Zhu Yijun didn't answer for a while.
After a while, he said: "Yuan Fu, don't worry too much. Since the affairs of Huainan and Zhili have been entrusted to the cabinet, I can rest assured and let the cabinet handle it."
"The salt merchants gathered together to cause trouble. I believe Hai Rui can stabilize the situation. The elite soldiers brought by Jiao Ze and the tens of thousands of soldiers from the Caoyun Yamen are just to deal with this kind of thing."
"The righteous indignation of Shilin is even more rootless. Once the truth is known, it should be dispersed. Now that former bachelor Li Chunfang has come forward, there is no reason to escalate the situation."
"As for the capsized grain ship, it's even more serious. If more than ten ships capsize, I don't think I'll really stop, but since it's just one, it means they also have bottles and cans they care about."
"Since there is nothing to fear, why should I disturb your thoughts?"
The words are clear and meaningful.
Zhang Juzheng couldn't find fault with him either.
But he was not fooled so easily.
Zhang Juzheng asked: "Excuse me for speaking frankly. It is not because Your Majesty is silent that I came to ask for the right report."
"But, His Majesty has been a little depressed recently..."
Zhu Yijun took over the conversation: "There seems to be something embarrassing?"
Zhang Juzheng was stunned for a moment, then nodded.
This is exactly what the cabinet is concerned about.
Everyone has some guesses, but they can't figure it out.
Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but guess: "But is there something wrong with Master Xu?"
Nowadays, memorials from South Zhili are floating into the cabinet like snowflakes, and everyone has a general understanding of the situation.
But there was no news about Xu Jie.
It is hard not to make people wonder whether the Jinyiwei and the General Affairs Department had a single point of contact and were sent directly to the Wanshou Palace without going through the cabinet at all and leaving no files for the Sixth Section.
Zhu Yijun suddenly smiled: "Yuan Fu really has a thoughtful mind."
Zhang Juzheng's expression changed and he quickly asked: "What happened to put Your Majesty in such a difficult situation?"
He was suddenly horrified and guessed: "Could it be that the villagers and soldiers are being encouraged to rebel!?"
Zhu Yijun waved his hand.
He knew that Zhang Ju was using outrageous guesses to induce him to correct himself.
He had long been accustomed to using this trick with his leaders in his previous life.
Zhu Yijun was too lazy to care about these psychological tactics, and said with a complicated expression: "How could that teacher Yuan Fu be so smart, and do such unwise things as rebellion?"
"on the contrary……"
"He has already knelt down and bowed his head, begging me for mercy."
With that said, Zhu Yijun took out a memorial marked in red from his arms.
He gently placed the memorial on the table, held it down with two fingers, and pushed it out: "Yuanfu, read it yourself."
Zhang Juzheng looked solemn, bowed and walked closer.
Is this what made the emperor so embarrassed that he couldn't hide his emotions?
He carefully picked up the memorial and slowly opened it.
His eyes swept over, skipping the opening remarks of the ceremony, and then silently read word for word: "...the rank of ministers is mediocre and without virtue, the profound text is straight, the red horse is several, the lamb is plain silk."
Zhang Juzheng frowned, not understanding what Xu Jie wanted.
If he simply bowed his head and tied his neck, how could the emperor be in such a mood?
He continued to look down.
After that, he heard that the central government wanted to transfer the land, and he was willing to cooperate.
He was also willing to help Hai Rui clean up the salt administration in Huaihe River and Huaihe River.
Further down...
Suddenly, Zhang Juzheng's expression suddenly changed!
He closed the memorial suddenly and did not dare to read it any more.
He looked towards the emperor: "Your Majesty!"
Zhang Juzheng opened his eyes wide and said in confusion: "Xu Jie, where are you now?"
Zhu Yijun looked blankly, crossed his fingers and rubbed them back and forth: "Yuan Fu guessed well, Xu Jie has already surrendered."
Zhang Juzheng's expression was shocked again, his mouth opened, unable to speak.
After a long while, he gently put the memorial back on the imperial desk.
He raised his head and glanced at the bewildered emperor, and couldn't help but console him: "Your Majesty, the overall situation is the most important thing."
Zhu Yijun came back to his senses and suddenly smiled: "I knew you would say that."
"I was also in a dilemma, so I hid the secret from the cabinet and thought about it alone for several days."
"It's not that there was any disagreement with Yuan Fu or the cabinet."
"Yuanfu, you are truly an outstanding teacher! The way you survive is so far-sighted that I can't help but praise you."
"I am really in a dilemma now."
Zhang Juzheng remained silent. A word of advice was the limit, and he could no longer speak on this matter.
Zhu Yijun did not insist on Zhang Juzheng's reply.
He picked up the report again.
He has read this memorial dozens of times, and has different feelings every time.
Zhu Yijun looked at the memorial and said, "Now you know why I refused to comment on the memorial sent by the cabinet?"
"The salt merchants are making noise because Ying Tianfu Yin Zhu Gang and House Secretary Cao Bangfu are coercing public opinion."
"The scholars are in shock. It's Li Chunfang, the former great scholar, and Qin Minglei, the Minister of Rites, who are teaching Wan Hao a lesson."
"The sinking of the water transport ship was caused by the internal and external collusion between Xuancheng Bowei and Lu Mingzhang, the censor of the canal patrol."
"The guard posts in Nanjing are ready to move, and there are also the Ministry of War and the Duke of Wei. Xu Bangrui returned to Nanjing too late and couldn't control his family. Does Yuan Fu think it's ridiculous?"
"Anyway, Master Xu has told me all these things in advance."
"So when the cabinet came to report, I was naturally not surprised."
"Yuanfu, do you think Master Xu is too loyal to the emperor and the country?"
Zhang Juzheng was about to speak but stopped.
In the end, he didn't say anything.
The emperor looked at the next page and continued: "It's more than that."
"Out of his sincere patriotism, Master Xu also reported to me all the tricks he knew about the salt administration, grain canal supply, tea classes, health centers, prisons, fields, and settlements in the past three years in Nanzhili.
"
"Ten times, a hundred times anxious about what I am anxious about, thinking about what I want."
"By the way, Yuan Fu didn't look back, I read it to you."
"I won't talk about the one in Nanzhili. There are too many to mention. Let's talk about the one in Beijing."
"Ning'an Grand Princess Mansion, took bribes of 143,600 taels in three years, with physical evidence and accounting books attached."
"The chief assistant, Zhang Juzheng, accepted sixty-two thousand one hundred taels of bribes in three years. Attached is the physical evidence account book."
Zhang Juzheng looked away.
Zhu Yijun continued: "The father-in-law, Li Wei's Mansion, accepted bribes of 127,800 taels in three years, with physical evidence in the account book, and a separate list of gifts to the Queen Mother Li."
"The Minister of Punishment Wang Zhigao, his son took human life seriously, tried to cover it up, and attached personal and material evidence."
"Cabinet Assistant Minister Yang Bo and Minister of Rites Zhang Siwei accepted more than 480,000 bribes in three years, and bribed officials in the Ministry of Personnel to select officials. Personal and material evidence are attached."
"The British Duke, Cheng Guogong, Taining Marquis, etc., took more than 370,000 bribes in three years, with physical evidence attached."
"Wang Daokun, the governor of Huguang, and Yang Yigui, the censor of Guangdong, misappropriated grain, rice, and tea, and attached physical evidence."
"In addition, there are He Yongqing, the general envoy, Fang Hongjing, the minister of Taipu Temple, Zhu Dashou, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, Ma Ziqiang..."
Zhu Yijun's mouth was so dry that he simply stopped: "There are too many, I can't even remember them."
"From the inner palace, the cabinet, the six ministries, each department and temple, the officials, the nobles, the feudal officials..."
"Why……"
"Yuan Fu, this is the overall situation, and I don't dare to rebel against it."
"Master Xu has tied the overall situation to himself. I have nothing to do with him now!"
"Do you think I should let it go together or do it together?"
Zhang Juzheng didn't speak for a long time.
He waited until the emperor stopped and then said: "If your Majesty is angry, he will naturally kill the chicken to scare the monkeys."
Zhu Yijun nodded, he understood what Zhang Juzheng meant.
The accusations made on Xu's steps may not be true.
The worst thing is to deal with one or two selectively.
It's a pity that Xu Jie also thought of it.
Zhu Yijun suddenly raised his head and looked at Zhang Juzheng: "Does Yuan Fu know who Master Xu surrendered to!?"
Zhang Juzheng seemed to have thought of something, and his expression changed!
Zhu Yijun stood up slowly and said word by word: "Xu Jie and the evidence of his eighteen large boxes are all in the Huai'an Mansion Yamen!"
Zhang Juzheng finally realized what was wrong!
Xu Jie didn't just bow to the emperor and let Zhu Xixiao report it!
Instead, he surrendered to Hai Rui!
Zhu Yijun lowered his head, his expression mixed with gloom, anger, and other expressions.
He looked directly at Zhang Juzheng, gritted his teeth and said: "So, after two months of reinstatement of Hai Rui, I am going to dismiss him and throw him back to Hainan!?"
To put the overall situation first, this case must be settled.
Then Hai Rui became a victim again.
How could he do this?
He asked someone to come out, and then he was dismissed from his post in just two months!?
Then what is the difference between him and the late emperor!
Zhang Juzheng calmed down and said softly: "Your Majesty has said something serious. All you need to do is change someone to handle the case. Yushi Hai can return to Beijing..."
Zhu Yijun suddenly said: "Yuan Fu!"
He couldn't help but roared: "Will Hai Rui still stay in office?"
"Is Hai Rui the kind of person who turns a blind eye when he sees a crime!?"
"Am I also going to send a secret message to Jin Yiwei and burn those eighteen boxes? This will make Hai Rui's heart become desolate!?"
"What will he think of me!?"
"What do you think of me!?"
"What will the people of the world think of me!?"
"Not to mention that the unofficial history is full of such bullshit, and it's all about my posthumous title..."
"How can I clarify Yuyu and bring peace to the world in the future?"
Zhu Yijun vented his anger while Zhang Juzheng remained silent.
The two looked at each other for a long time.
Zhu Yijun took a deep breath and said softly: "Yuanfu, I will not let Xu Jie pass so easily."
Chapter completed!