prosperous age

"What, His Majesty approved it."

Sitting opposite Chen Yiqin, Wei Guangde said in disbelief.

"Didn't you already know this day would come?"

Seeing that Wei Guangde's appearance does not seem to be fake, Chen Yiqin asked in surprise.

"He only presented a few memorials, and His Majesty approved them."

Wei Guangde frowned slightly and recalled, feeling a little fast.

"Five volumes have been linked together, plus the previous ones, in more than a month, eleven or two volumes have been missed."

Chen Yiqin replied.

"That's a lot."

Wei Guangde was silent for a while.

"Don't you want to use him to do something?"

Chen Yiqin looked into Wei Guangde's eyes and asked.

"The matter of Kaihai was mentioned at the last court meeting, but the cabinet has not come up with a charter, has it?"

Wei Guangde smiled wryly.

"After he's gone, Mr. Xu and Mr. Li will go back to the pavilion to run errands. There should be a charter coming out soon, so there will be no delay."

When Chen Yiqin heard about it, he just smiled.

"I'm just afraid that Uncle Gao and Huang Sikou will come out to obstruct him."

Wei Guangde was still a little worried.

Most of the officials who opposed the opening of the sea were in the middle and lower levels. Among the high-level officials, Gao Yi and Huang Guangsheng were the leaders. These two seem to be involved in maritime business, so this period of time has not stopped. From time to time, colleagues are invited to the house as guests. The purpose is self-evident.

"It's not a big problem. I learned from Zhang Juzheng that day that Mr. Xu has no objection to Kaihai. After he returns to the cabinet, I will pay more attention to the progress of this matter. Presumably, His Majesty will issue an order to urge him."

Chen Yiqin did not have Wei Guangde's worries, and said confidently, "However, Gao Suqing left Beijing, should we send him off?"

"this thing"

Wei Guangde was also caught in a dilemma. In the current situation, going to see Gao Gong off would easily attract disputes.

When Chen Yiqin asked this question, Wei Guangde knew that he also had the same intentions, so he asked for his own opinion.

"I'll send someone to give him some Cheng Yi in the past two days."

Wei Guangde is not worried that someone will say behind his back that he is cool by nature, and it is normal in the world for people to leave tea cold.

Even though Chen Yiqin was asked to bring a message to Emperor Longqing before, and he could invite Gao Gong back to the court after a few years, that was just an excuse.

In fact, if it were not for a great opportunity, it would be impossible for officials who have been dismissed due to impeachment to have the opportunity to come back.

"Ah."

When Chen Yiqin heard Wei Guangde's plan, he also made up his mind, so he did it.

When Gao Gong left Beijing, he didn't count it as seeing him off, otherwise he wouldn't have asked this question, but thinking of working together in Prince Yu's Mansion for many years, it didn't seem good if he didn't do anything at all.

Sending some things over in advance, Chen Yiqin felt that his heart seemed to have settled down.

"Zhengfu over there."

Chen Yiqin thought of Yin Shizhen again, and Wei Guangde answered the question just as he opened his mouth: "If he asks, we'll just say so."

"Alright."

Chen Yiqin nodded, agreeing with Wei Guangde's meaning.

When he returned to the mansion that night, Wei Guangde called Zhang Ji and asked him to prepare gifts and silver taels and send them to Gaoge's old mansion tomorrow. At the same time, he also wrote a letter and asked Zhang Ji to take it with him.

After the court meeting that day, Gao Gong also said that he would have a banquet for them in the mansion in the future, but now it seems that the wine is not enough to drink.

After Wei Guangde ordered Zhang Ji, after he went down, he couldn't help but think about it.

The news of Gao Gong's resignation was circulated among the top circles in the capital that night. Both Xungui and high-ranking officials in the court knew about it one after another, and everyone expressed silence tacitly.

However, for some instigators, such as Xu Jie, he quickly sent his subordinates out to inform some officials, asking them to keep all the memorials they had prepared in their hands, and not to deliver them up.

If you continue to deliver the impeachment memorial to the palace at this time, I am afraid it will arouse Emperor Longqing's indignation. If you really want to shave this man, maybe it is not wrong to beat a few people to death with the imperial staff. possible thing.

Zhang Juzheng did not go to Xu Jie's mansion today, but sat quietly in the study alone.

In fact, when it comes to Gao Gong's official career, Zhang Juzheng was the most affected.

Although he helped his teacher Xu Jie find a way to deal with Gao Gong, but after all, he worked with him for many years in the Imperial College, and then entered Yu Wangfu, and he and Gao Gong were very close for a period of time.

The two people's ruling philosophy is also very close, that is, to rectify the administration of officials first, but there are some differences in the choice of methods, but in Zhang Juzheng's view, it is not a big deal.

To rectify the administration of officials, the purpose of high arch is to severely punish and punish all officials who have corrupted the law and sweep them out of the official group.

But Zhang Juzheng knew that this method was not advisable.

Corrupt officials in the world can be caught there. The general examination and palace examination every three years will select a group of corrupt officials. Only a very small number of them can stick to their hearts until they die, and most of them will gradually sink in the official career.

Rather than saying that the Palace Examination is a grand ceremony for the country's talents, it is better to say that it is just to select a group of corrupt officials.

Because, in the current officialdom of the Ming Dynasty, corruption has gradually changed from being secret in the past to being open, and many rules have been formed. If they are not implemented, it will be difficult to integrate into the officialdom, and they will be excluded by their colleagues.

Therefore, Zhang Juzheng does not object to officials being a little bit greedy, but the premise is that you do your business well, so that the people under your rule can live and work in peace and contentment.

It's okay to be greedy, don't push the people too hard, you have to have a degree, and if you do your business well, you will be worthy of the sky above and the people below, and you will be considered a good official.

At this time, Zhang Juzheng was actually thinking about the examination method, and planned to implement it as a system for evaluating officials.

In fact, there were quite a few officials around Xu Jie. They were Xu Jie's friends, students, or students. During this time, they were trying to find Gao Gong's fault, and then Xu Jie made the decision.

And these mistakes will eventually be written into the memorial for the impeachment of Gao Gong.

However, Zhang Juzheng was with Xu Jie. Although he helped Xu Jie with his ideas, he never said anything bad about Gao Gong from the beginning to the end, because he knew very well that no one is perfect, and Gao Gong made mistakes, but he could rise up. less than national law.

Xu Jie also asked him about Gao Gong's crimes, but he refused to answer against his will, but said sincerely: "I really can't talk nonsense. If I say one more word today, it may be used as material to slander others tomorrow." .”

Seeing his disobedience, Xu Jie was not very happy, but he didn't force it, and treated him as before afterwards.

Perhaps Zhang Juzheng didn't realize that, in fact, this incident may have planted a thorn in Xu Jie's heart, and this thorn has not been pulled out until the end.

The reason why Xu Jie tolerated Zhang Juzheng's behavior was that if Zhang Juzheng had the opportunity to tell Wei Guangde about the matter, perhaps Wei Guangde would persuade him to be careful of Xu Jie, but Zhang Juzheng did not.

Zhang Juzheng never thought that Xu Jie would be against him. In fact, Xu Jie was not against him. He even left all his political legacy to Zhang Juzheng.

The reason is that Zhang Juzheng can protect the Xu family in the future.

Xu Jie is always an old politician, he thinks farther than Zhang Juzheng and Wei Guangde.

Now Gao Gong is gone, but he is only fifty after all, and he still has a lot of time to survive.

Emperor Longqing is still young, as long as the time is right, Emperor Longqing will recall him as a high master one day, and he can call him back with a decree.

The grievance between him and Gao Gong is already difficult to resolve, and it is impossible not to prepare for himself to protect himself.

Zhang Juzheng was the one he chose.

As for what his thorn led him to do?
Those who are familiar with history will naturally notice it, that is, in those years when Zhang Juzheng was in full power, did Xu Jie ever remind him?

When he oppressed the little Emperor Wanli, did he ever issue a warning?

Xu Jie was on the side, silently watching all this happen.

Xu Jie really lived a long life, he even outlived Zhang Juzheng, he lasted until Zhang Juzheng died, and he saw the end of the Zhang family.

Gao Gong left the capital sadly, with a dejected appearance, and almost all the old and new disciples dared not send him off because of fear.

There was only one student named Wu Dui who sent him to the boat on the Lu River, weeping and saying goodbye.

When this matter got to Xu Jie's ears, he hated Wu Dui deeply and ordered people to freeze him in his original position for a long time without being promoted.

Gao Gong passed a certain mansion on his way back home, and the magistrate knew that he was resigned because he offended the prime minister Xu Jie, so he deliberately despised him.

Someone asked why, and the magistrate replied: "This gentleman has offended the court. Is there any reason for me to be polite to him?"

Gao Gong tasted all kinds of bitter tastes along the way.

To Wei Guangde's surprise, and because of this, Gao Gong hated them all after returning home.

Every time he thinks of what happened during this trip, Gao Gong can't bear the anger in his heart.

Yes, even with Emperor Longqing's will, mules and horses took care of the post road all the way, but the contempt of local officials still troubled the self-respecting Gao Gong.

Thinking of Yu Yu and those people, who should be drinking and talking in the capital at this time, Gao Gong can't wait.

Just as he thought, at this time Wei Guangde and Yin Shizhen really gathered in Chen Yiqin's mansion to drink.

After Gao Gong left Beijing, Xu Jie and Li Chunfang came back one after another and returned to the cabinet. The first thing they did was naturally to call the six ministries, nine ministers and other important officials to discuss the matter of opening the sea.

In the past month, many people have been replaced in the Six Departments. Gao Yao has been replaced by Ge Shouli, and Zhao Bingran has also been replaced by Guo Gan, the former Minister of Nanjing Household Department. When the director was pushed out, the temporary palm.

However, Wei Guangde and others knew that Yang Bo actually didn't see Guo Qian in his heart. He originally wanted to push fellow Huo Ji, but Emperor Longqing singled out Guo Gan who was the least favored in the final selection.

Yes, when the cabinet selected the Minister of the Ministry of War, Huo Ji was naturally the first choice, followed by Guo Qian, but Emperor Longqing chose Guo Gan as the Minister of the Ministry of War.

Old people such as Chen Yiqin and Wei Guangde know that this is intentional.

Gao Gong was expelled, and Yang Bo's role in it was not light, so naturally Yang Bo would not be allowed to fulfill his wish.

They called together the six ministries and nine ministers and other high-ranking officials to discuss the regulations drafted by Zhang Juzheng. As Wei Guangde expected, they were met with fierce opposition from Gao Yi and Huang Guangsheng. Even though they knew it would be difficult to achieve results, they still insisted on opposing the opening of the sea, even if it was only in Fujian. Not even one port.

However, these are actually just routines, just to increase the cost of bargaining in the cabinet meeting.

As the cabinet discussion continued, Grohe raised the issue of limiting the number of commercial vessels.
"Next, I'm afraid it will be Xu Jie."

In private, Wei Guangde, Chen Yiqin, and Yin Shizhen were also talking about this matter.

Kaihai's report has already been sent to the palace, today it was Chen Yiqin who informed them of the contents of the report, and Wei Guangde had no objection to these changes when the overall situation was settled.

In his opinion, as long as the mouth is opened and the coastal boat people have a hope of earning money to support their families, the honest people will never become pirates again.

With the ships coming and going, the taxes and money will naturally be high. Anyway, the matter is not entrusted to him, but in the end it will fall into the hands of Tu Zemin.

Tu Zemin has a brain, let him discuss the details with the cabinet, and he only needs to control the overall situation.

The proposals discussed in the cabinet are actually just the general direction. In the end, there are still details to be implemented, and that is to discuss with the Fujian Province.

Kaihai is rarely recorded in the history of the Ming Dynasty and is almost completely ignored, but the process from being brought up to the court to its implementation is very difficult, and it is even more complicated with fierce struggles in the cabinet.

But after the article is sent up, there won't be much change.

"Your Majesty should still be angry. He hasn't summoned me for the past two days, but when Mr. Xu and Mr. Li returned to the cabinet that day, they summoned him ceremonially to comfort him with gentle words."

Chen Yiqin was not in a good mood at this time, and said casually.

"Nothing, His Majesty is still angry. After a while, I will pass him a knife to extinguish the fire."

Wei Guangde laughed.

"what are you going to do?"

Chen Yiqin asked hesitantly.

"Let people impeach a few jumping and happy subjects, and let His Majesty punish them."

Wei Guangde said casually.

The people impeached must be from Xu Jie's side, that is, the emperor lacked a reason to punish these people.

"Hehe. You."

Yin Shi smiled and shook his head, but didn't say much.

"In the past two days, I have heard news from the cabinet that there are Ke Dao secretly colluding and wanting to point the finger at Mr. Guo Ge.

Shanlen, have you heard about this? "

Chen Yiqin asked suddenly.

"Is there such a thing?"

Wei Guangde was a little surprised, he hadn't received any news about this.

These days, the Ministry of Officials in Nanjing has delivered a large number of documents, all of which are due to the adjustment of officials from Jiangnan.

Although these documents have been issued, it can be said that it is a done deal, but the Beijing Ministry of Officials still needs to understand and record in detail, lest the northern and southern capitals issue different appointment documents, which would be a joke.

After talking about his situation in the past two days, Wei Guangde heard Yin Shixuan say: "I also heard what Yifu said earlier today."

"Guo Ge is quite upright and generous, fair in dealing with things, and has the style of an elder. Unlike Gao Gong, who is a bit impatient and mean, he has always been very popular."

Wei Guangde frowned and said: "Although it was supported by the late emperor through Qing Ci, after entering the cabinet, except for taking sides in the dispute between 'the two', there is nothing wrong with it. How do they want to impeach?"

"I presume that he wants to say that he is attached to Gao Suqing, and he is colluding, and lacks the quality of a minister. That's what I heard."

Yin Shizhen whispered to Wei Guangde.

"Well, they shouldn't mention his name, but they will use it as an excuse."

Chen Yiqin said.

"Brother Yifu, what is the relationship between Mr. Guo Ge and you in the cabinet?"

Wei Guangde lowered his head and thought for a moment before asking.

"generally."

Chen Yiqin knew what Wei Guangde meant, and shook his head when he saw him looking over.

"Xu Jie wants to kill him, let him."

Wei Guangde spoke lightly. (end of this chapter)