Wanli Ming Emperor

Chapter 211: Water flows and clouds emerge, ordering camel cakes randomly

In Chengguang Hall, there were two cups of steaming tea on the tea table.

There was only one guest left drinking tea.

The emperor stared at the place where He Xinyin had just sat, wondering what he was thinking about.

Zhang Hong, who was standing in the distance, was about to step forward, but he saw the Secretary of the Central Secretariat approach the emperor and then stand still silently.

Wang Yingxuan closed his clean daily record and quickly moved behind the emperor: "Your Majesty, when I was playing the game just now, I was confused and couldn't hear clearly..."

Only then did Zhu Yijun come to his senses.

He turned around and saw Wang Yingxuan with a grumpy expression on his face. It was obvious that he didn't know how to record the daily records.

Zhu Yijun couldn't help laughing: "You can hear it clearly."

Even if the original words were recorded, it would not matter. At most, it would be said that He Xinyin had long been rebellious and the emperor retorted - his words were of course sarcastic, otherwise? Would the court officials dare to understand that the emperor was teaching people to rebel?

But Wang Yingxuan did not retreat immediately.

He hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help but say, "I don't understand why Your Majesty said that to Liang Ruyuan."

After the discussion, Wang Yingxuan found that there were many things he did not understand.

As the Secretary of the Central Secretariat, the emperor's confidant who recorded the emperor's daily notes, he was naturally authorized by the imperial power to ask questions when he had any doubts.

Zhu Yijun stood up slowly, his expression unpredictable: "I want to say it, so I'll say it."

Of course he knew what Wang Yingxuan meant.

It's nothing more than taking advantage of He Xinyin, saying some polite words, and using the old carrot-and-stick tactics to drive him around at will.

There was no need to say that at all - to the point that even the Secretary of the Central Secretariat couldn't tell the truth from the falsehood.

But, just like Zhu Yijun’s answer, he wanted to say it, so he said it.

Wang Yingxuan asked again: "Your Majesty is very wise, I still don't understand, Liang Ruyuan is already in his 60s..."

What is left unsaid is, of course, that He Xinyin was about to die. It was impossible for him to pack up and rebel as soon as he was released from prison, nor was it possible for him to repent and swear to serve until death just because of the emperor's words.

What a bunch of useless work, just to satisfy his desire to ridicule He Xinyin?
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yijun suddenly sighed, his tone somewhat lonely: "Of course you don't understand. You can neither understand He Xinyin nor me."

"How could these words be said only to He Xinyin? The disciples he taught, the friends and associations he associated with..."

Zhu Yijun paused and looked at Wang Yingxuan: "Of course, this includes everyone including you, Wang Qing."

Wang Yingxuan was shocked.

Thinking that the emperor was criticizing him, he immediately apologized.

Zhu Yijun waved his hand and interrupted him: "I can't explain it to you in a short time. You just need to know that I will take full power in reform; I will seek opinions from all sides in governance; I will look ahead when steering the ship."

Wang Yingxuan seemed to understand something, his brows furrowed, and he was speechless for a moment.

Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Yingxuan who was lost in thought and said, "When Deng Yizan was in charge of the Wanshou Palace, he also went through this. Listen and see more. I am more optimistic about you."

After all, Xiao Wang was a Jinshi in the second year of Wanli. Compared with Deng Yizan, he was less experienced, but more in keeping up with the times in terms of ideas.

After Zhu Yijun finished speaking, he patted Wang Yingxuan on the shoulder and turned back to the throne.

Seeing this, Zhang Hong hurried forward and saluted: "I will go and invite Counselor Mei."

Seeing the emperor nodded, he slowly retreated.

……

He Xinyin returned to the familiar Shuntianfu prison again and sat down in the corner with a bewildered look on his face.

After meeting the emperor, most of his sins were forgiven.

This year's case of denouncing the imperial carriage and the case of threatening the prime minister to monopolize the government in February of the third year of Wanli were respectively cleared of all charges by the emperor himself expressing his stance and being magnanimous on behalf of the prime minister - that is, the perpetrator and the person involved reached a private settlement.

In the case of desertion from garrison, he was reassigned as a tax soldier under Shen Li - just like his teacher Yan Jun, who was exiled to Guizhou for only seven days before being invited by Yu Dayou to serve as a military advisor. This was reasonable and legal.

Only the case of playing with prophecies in the 40th year of Jiajing's reign and the case of the evil Taoist Jin Yunfeng instigating the chieftain to rebel and being innocently implicated still need to wait for trial.

The latter was an unjust case which had nothing to do with He Xinyin. As for the former... he was Xu Jie's accomplice anyway, and he was old, and the court was lenient towards him, so the only punishment of depriving him of his honor was worth mentioning.

In this way, He Xinyin can sit in prison peacefully, and wait for Shen Li to rest until the New Year, and then they will go to Shandong together to visit Duke Yansheng.

This actually fulfilled He Xinyin's wish, as it gave him time to sort out his insights gained today.

At this time, the sound of conversation was heard outside the prison.

He Xinyin heard the sound and looked up.

The jailer bowed and nodded as he led two people over. They were Wang Xiangjin, the son of the prefect, and Geng Dingxiang, the left assistant censor-in-chief and assistant to the court officials.

"Please keep your words short, or my father will break my legs if he finds out."

Wang Xiangjin bowed to He Xinyin in the prison and gave him a guilt-ridden warning.

After saying this, he turned and left, apparently going to harass the prefect's father, Wang Zhiyuan.

He Xinyin looked at Wang Xiangjin's back and asked Geng Dingxiang curiously, "The court didn't make things difficult for these scholars, did it?"

Geng Dingxiang waved his hand, signaling the jailer to open the prison door.

He covered his nose and walked in, explaining in a muffled voice: "It's magnanimous, but it's also embarrassing."

"The emperor ordered the scholars who had made the remonstrance to work on the farm and collect manure for composting, and he did not pursue the matter any further."

"The son of the Wang family spent the whole day soaking in the manure vat and was contented. Not only was he gently let go by the emperor, but he was also given some good things as a reward."

"Zhao Jiazi refused to yield because he felt the emperor had humiliated him too much, so he was stripped of his title and sent back to Nanjing."

Naturally, the court officials had no room to plead for the emperor's request. Scholars were farmers, so who wouldn't say that he was well educated?
Carrying manure and making compost are serious jobs.

Why? The Imperial Concubine can do it, but you, a scholar, can’t?
He Xinyin did not find it strange to hear this. When it comes to raising the banner and speaking the truth, the emperor is absolutely the undisputed leader.

Due to limited time, I cannot say more on this topic.

He Xinyin sat cross-legged on the ground and went straight to the point: "The Yansheng family has occupied the land and oppressed the people. Your Majesty wants me to be the vanguard."

Geng Dingxiang took the cushion handed to him by the jailer and was about to put it on the bench and sit cross-legged, but he paused when he heard the words.

He looked at He Xinyin in doubt and uncertainty: "Did Fushan agree?!"

He Xinyin nodded calmly: "I read the file, it was full of blood, I had to respond."

Geng Dingxiang was heartbroken: "What a fool!"

He stretched out a finger, pointed at He Xinyin, and said in a trembling voice: "It's not your turn to do this!"

"From Hai Rui and Chen Wude to Shen Li and Yu Youding, there are so many high-ranking officials in the court, who can't run an aristocratic family!?"

"It's just that the emperor couldn't bear to see them ruined! He let you rush over!"

He Xinyin was silent for a moment.

He naturally understood this principle.

For a family of saints, if they act ruthlessly, they would be betraying their teachers and ancestors and bringing disgrace upon themselves; if they just deal with things perfunctorily, they would be deceiving their emperor and bringing shame upon the people.

The emperor was just about to let him, a commoner, take the lead so that the court could appear helpless and preserve the reputation of people like Shen Li and Yu Youding after their death.

But even though he knew it, he still accepted it without hesitation.

He Xinyin did not look at Geng Dingxiang. His eyes were empty as he murmured, "There is naturally a scale between heaven and earth. Whether it is the emperor or a saintly family, they all have to be weighed."

Geng Dingxiang stood up and paced back and forth in the cramped prison.

"Can it be the same?"

Geng Dingxiang faced the wall, his tone a little anxious: "The emperor is the emperor, and it is the duty of scholars to make direct criticisms against him. No one can say that he is wrong."

"What is the Kong family? It is the cenotaph of the saint! If you dare to uncover the cenotaph of the saint, you will probably become notorious among the scholars!"

He Xinyin shook his head: "I speak for the people, justice will prevail in the hearts of the people."

Geng Dingxiang suddenly turned around and glared at He Xinyin: "Justice only lasts for a while!"

"Yes! With the emperor's support and the Kong family's occupation of land, you will surely beat the Kong family into a deadly mess. The public sentiment will be overwhelming and you will be invincible."

"Then?"

"Once the emperor dies, everyone in the world will rush to overturn the case for the Kong family!"

"By then, the emperor will still have someone to speak for him. I'm afraid you will be remembered as someone who flatters his superiors, betrays his teachers and ancestors, abandons the essence of the nation, and destroys civility!"

Anyone who had attacked the Kong family, even though everyone applauded at the time, would soon launch a counterattack like a storm - and there wouldn't even be a need for anyone to take the lead. The pedantic scholars would choke up when reading about the history of the Kong family being bullied.

There are so many accusations that it is hard to count them, such as destroying the classics, suppressing morals, undermining the old system, and erasing the past.

If not, why didn't the emperor let Hai Rui go this time! ?
He Xinyin met Geng Dingxiang's gaze, thought for a moment, and said inexplicably: "I call myself Zhang Mu, the common people of the world..."

"If my reputation is ruined after my death because I offended the Confucian sect, I can only blame myself for being too weak and failing the people's expectations, leaving them unable to express their opinions or complain, and thus unable to clear my name."

"The more this is the case, the more I should not hesitate."

When Geng Dingxiang heard this, the look of disappointment on his face froze immediately.

He looked at He Xinyin in astonishment. It was really not something He Xinyin would say. Could it be that the emperor had made some offer that was hard to refuse?

He Xinyin saw that Geng Dingxiang was speechless, so he didn't dwell on it and continued, "I called Ziheng here for another reason. I want to disband the Four Gates Society."

He Xinyin looked calm.

Geng Dingxiang was shocked again.

The cell was dry and bright, and was one of the few "superior cells" in Shuntian Prefecture. The two men, one standing and the other sitting, stared at each other for a moment.

Geng Dingxiang was puzzled and frowned: "Why is it so?"

He Xinyin shook his head: "It should be a gathering of like-minded people. Now I suddenly wake up and find that my own path is not very clear."

"If that's the case, why bother gathering thousands of people to entertain me?"

He paused and said earnestly, "I want to practice again, and return to the countryside from among the scholars, until I find a path to climb for my Confucian classics."

The Simen Society recruited people from all over the country, with at least a thousand members. Although it was far smaller than the scale of the Fushe in history, which had "more than tens of thousands of followers", it was still a not small organization.

He Xinyin abandoned it in just a few words.

It always made Geng Dingxiang feel unfamiliar.

He looked at He Xinyin intently: "Has Fushan made up his mind?"

He Xinyin nodded: "I will discuss the Dao with Ziheng once I understand the Dao clearly."

Geng Dingxiang opened his mouth to speak, intending to persuade him again.

But then he thought again, He Xinyin had accepted the task of finding fault with the Kong family, and his reputation might be in jeopardy in the future...

Geng Dingxiang's face was uncertain, and after a long while, he managed to say, "Since Fushan has made up his mind, I won't try to persuade him any further."

"I will write to Luo Rufang, Cheng Xuebao and others to explain this matter later."

Geng Dingxiang served under four ministers, Xu Jie, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng and Shen Shixing, and he was able to avoid conflicts with them all. The key to his success was eight words: having a wide range of friends and being impartial.

Whenever there are strong winds and waves, we must watch the fire from the other side of the river.

Having come up with an idea at this time, Geng Dingxiang simply bowed and said goodbye to He Xinyin - just like the choice made in history, when He Xinyin was imprisoned, he was afraid of being implicated and did nothing, and watched He Xinyin die, which made Li Zhi fall out with Geng Dingxiang on the spot and accuse him of being a "fake moralist."

He Xinyin stood up to return the greeting and silently watched Geng Dingxiang leave.

He looked at this long-time friend, thinking about his attitude towards the Kong family's occupation of land, and suddenly a sense of enlightenment arose in his mind.

Friends are not necessarily people of the same mind.

In this case, what should be the criteria for gatherings?
He Xinyin pulled the mat again, shrank back into the corner of the cell, and lost himself in thought.

……

The twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month in the seventh year of the Wanli reign.

The Chinese New Year is just over ten days away. Wherever there are Han people, people are bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, and the atmosphere is full of the festive atmosphere. For example, Guihua City outside the Great Wall is decorated with lights and colorful lanterns everywhere, and the place is full of joy.

The name of Guihua City makes it clear that it was a name bestowed upon the barbarians outside the Great Wall who surrendered to the Heavenly Dynasty.

This is indeed the case.

After Altan Khan surrendered in the fifth year of Longqing's reign, he became a loyal and obedient citizen of the Celestial Empire.

In the third year of the Wanli reign, in order to please the superior state, Altan Khan took the initiative to build the first city south of the desert, Kukuhetun (Hohhot), and the court named it Guihua City.

This city has become a symbol of eternal reconciliation between the two sides.

Of course, when things are fixed forever, there are often bad times.

For example, today.

An imperial edict from the Ming court made the atmosphere in the main hall of Hongci Temple quite solemn.

The hall was filled with nobles from various departments, who were vying to circulate the imperial edict of the Ming Dynasty emperor.

The third lady sat in the main seat with a golden sword, wearing pearl hairpins and earrings and a golden skirt. As the wife of the Khan, her dress was even more luxurious than that of the Khan.

Bingtu has separated from the family. Although he came today, he made his own decisions and sat next to Sanniang.

Buyanhuang Taiji, Qiejinhuang Taiji and others took their seats one after another.

Only Altan Khan was not in the palace.

Because Altan Khan was seriously ill at the moment and bedridden, it was unclear whether he could survive the winter.

"The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty is angry with us."

Sanniangzi was the only woman in the Buddhist temple, but she was the first to speak.

Bingtu, who was sitting next to Sanniangzi, immediately took up the topic: "Shi Maohua went to Guihua City to ask for an audience with the Khan. The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty knew about it and thought we had offended him."

As he spoke, he kept looking at his so-called mother and scratching his inner thighs from time to time.

"We can find Shi Maohua and send him to the Ming Dynasty to request that we don't have to kneel in the capital." Buyan Huangtaiji expressed his thoughts.

Speaking of this, the atmosphere in the hall was quite gloomy.

Bingtu snorted coldly: "It's long gone! We should have chopped off his head at the beginning and returned it to the emperor of the Ming Dynasty."

Huang Taiji glanced at him coldly and said, "You could have drawn your sword at that time, instead of standing on the horse's butt and firing a cannon."

Bingtu can't stand being ridiculed, and his face immediately turned red when he heard this.

He slammed the table and stood up suddenly.

"Cough cough."

At this time, Sanniang coughed.

The two immediately stopped.

The third lady is only thirty years old, but in her every move, she exudes the majesty of having been in power for many years: "There is no need to argue about what has already happened."

"Moreover, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty was not necessarily angry because Shi Maohua had been to Guihua City."

"Now that the Tumed tribe has lost its leader, it is at its weakest. I doubt the intentions of the Ming emperor."

These words made everyone in the hall look at each other in bewilderment.

What Sanniangzi meant by losing the alpha wolf was not that Altan Khan was dead, but that without the prestige of leading the tribe, it was no different from being dead.

Three years ago, Altan Khan went to war against the Oirat Mongols and returned in defeat, leaving behind many hidden injuries.

In March last year, Altan Khan traveled a long distance to Qinghai to beg for Buddha’s blessing and to eat vegetarian food and worship Buddha.

He was not in the tribe leading the wolves for several months over a year.

Until Altan Khan returned to Guihua City last month, everyone thought that he would show off the power of the alpha wolf.

As a result, as soon as Altan Khan got off the horse, he was lying on the hospital bed, and he was still seriously ill.

This naturally made everyone in the tribe feel like challenging - in Mongolia, a wolf leader who loses his power also loses his prestige.

Huang Taiji was the first to come forward to test the waters.

In front of the bedside of the Buddhist Altan Khan, he announced to everyone that the monks brought back by Altan Khan were liars, and that the Buddhist teachings they practiced were useless and could not save Khan's golden life, and that these monks around Altan Khan must be eliminated.

When Altan Khan heard this, he could only lie on his sickbed and plead for the monks in a cowardly voice, but he could not punish Huang Taiji.

Then, everyone in the tribe could see that the Khan was seriously ill.

Altan Khan's eldest son, Xin Aihuang Taiji, immediately split up the family and took away a large number of Tumed people.

He even boldly wrote a letter to the Ming court, hoping that after Altan Khan's death he could marry his mother Sanniangzi, so that he could fulfill his filial duty and legitimately inherit the title of King of Shunyi.

At the same time, the tribes on the left wing seemed to have noticed something was happening. They gathered their elite cavalry and began to conquer the small tribes on the right wing and seize herds of cattle and sheep.

Not only that, even the Han people in Bansheng began to tentatively reduce the amount of food supplied to Guihua City, delaying the construction of the Buddhist temple.

In this regard, Altan Khan was unable to respond at all and was no different from a dead man in the tribe.

It was under such circumstances that the emperor of the Ming court also poured out his anger...

For a moment, everyone thought of some bad possibilities and their expressions became solemn.

"I made a decision."

At this time, the third lady spoke again.

Everyone's eyes immediately focused.

The third lady stood up and said, "The Khan should stay in the tribe and not go to the capital. I will go there alone to meet the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty."

The voice just fell.

Bingtu immediately stood up and loudly objected: "Mother commands 10,000 elite cavalrymen. She is the soul of the tribe and cannot leave easily."

The third lady shook her head: "The Khan is seriously ill and bedridden, and my eldest son Xin Ai Huang Taiji refuses to obey my orders. I am the only one who has the final say in the Tumed tribe."

"No need to persuade me anymore. I will go to see the governor of Xuanda named Chen Dong tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)