Wanli Ming Emperor

Chapter 251 Defeat and Disarray, the Scattering and Gathering of Worldly Ties

Spring breezes still fill Jianzhang Palace; I return once more to pick up my brush and address the emperor.

Judging from the fact that those who are favored by the emperor are bound to be talented, there is no place where new poems do not shine.

While hiding his head in the room from the emperor's gaze, Yin Shidan, amidst self-mockery, vaguely recalled the poem given to him by Li Panlong—a poem he had once greatly admired.

The spring breeze of the following year blew into Jianzhang Palace, just like myself, who had been idle at home, having survived the Longqing era when I was suppressed by Gao Gong, and once again ascended to the clouds during the Wanli reign.

Eight years ago, he was reinstated as a high-ranking official with the titles of Junior Guardian and Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince, and concurrently served as Governor-General of Salt Administration, Military Commander, Governor of Shandong and other places, and in charge of ticketing. Who can deny that he was "favored by the emperor"?
Even Yin Shidan himself was filled with ambition, wanting to reach new heights before the new emperor and compose another unparalleled new poem.

However, for some reason, things in this world always seem to revolve around the word "however".

Nearly ten years after the arduous journey of starting his business, the emperor met him again, but shook his head and sighed, saying with regret, "Let's part ways amicably."

A clean break?

The gathering was certainly a good one. At that time, the emperor had just ascended the throne. Not to mention that his position was not yet secure, he could not fully exert his power and influence. In order to use Yin Shidan's prestige to suppress the Huai River region, consolidate the salt administration, and introduce salt tickets, he truly treated Yin Shidan with courtesy and welcomed him with open arms.

It's different when it's scattered.

He sat motionless in the main seat, no longer holding hands, his tone stiff, listing all the faults of Yin Shidan, revealing a helpless expression of "you have betrayed me first," truly heartbroken, a sight that evoked pity.

Is this really the case?

Don't try to make your Zhu family emperor laugh.

Yin Shidan almost wore a mocking expression on his face.

To say that betting on the government would be unacceptable to the emperor, but apart from Zhang Juzheng and other core members of the New Party, how many people in the court would risk their lives on the new policies?
Wang Chonggu's family was engaged in business and official corruption, making them incredibly wealthy. Yet, this didn't stop him from taking charge of the Five Armies Commandery and managing the Nine Border Armies and Three Armies.

Deng Yizan was ordered to conduct a land survey in Henan, but he was unable to control his relatives and friends from taking advantage of the situation. He colluded with Hua Qizhi and Ye Zun to extort money from wealthy families in Henan, and was not reinstated to his post.
When Wang Xiangjin, the eldest son of Wang Zhiyuan, the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, followed He Xinyin in spreading graffiti to insult the emperor, why was he so lightly punished instead of being forced to retire from the military?

Xu Jie even led the resistance against the new policies, yet he still shamelessly remains a close advisor to the emperor.
They can tolerate any Tom, Dick, or Harry, but when it comes to Yin Shidan, he's two-faced and intolerant.

Yin Shidan naturally knew the answer to this: the emperor had already gained enough power and, in order to reclaim control of the salt administration and ticketing, he simply discarded the bird after it was used up!

How can anyone accept this?!
How can I possibly accept this?!
A thousand thoughts swirled within him, a myriad of grievances welling up within him. Yin Shidan stood frozen, speechless for a moment, lost in thought.

Li Changchun and Yu Shenxing, who were standing nearby, saw their tutor looking bewildered and their eyes revealed a hint of worry. They both looked at the emperor and moved closer to speak.

With the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues above all else, and the bond between ruler and subject firmly in mind, if one's own tutor were to utter even a single word of resentment, he would likely face certain death!
The atmosphere was tense. As Yin Shidan's students, whether out of teacher-student affection or out of the emperor's good intentions in choosing them to accompany him, it was time for the two of them to speak up and mediate.

However, perhaps because their official ranks were slightly lower, and they were not quite able to grasp the emperor's intentions, they were about to speak when the emperor gave them a sidelong glance.

Startled by that glare, the two immediately stopped in their tracks, their words caught in their throats.

It was during this brief interruption that Yin Shidan finally made a move.

Yin Shidan lowered his head dejectedly, lifted his robe, slowly knelt down, and replied in a weak but powerful voice, "Your Majesty, I am not convinced."

As soon as he finished speaking, the room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop!

Not convinced! ?
This is a high-ranking official's response to the emperor!
How dare you!?
Aside from seasoned and highly confidential courtiers like Wei Chao and Jiang Keqian, who could remain silent, even Luo Sigong, who was standing guard at the gate, couldn't help but glance at Yin Shidan.

He wondered whether this person was suffering from a terminal illness and living a life of unbearable torment, or whether they had an irreconcilable feud with their entire family.

Li Changchun and Yu Shenxing looked at each other in shock. Ignoring the emperor's earlier stern look that had been directed at them to be quiet, they hurriedly stepped forward, their hearts pounding.

The two men stood between the emperor and the tutor, facing Yin Shidan, and angrily shouted, "Insolence!"

Li Changchun immediately rolled up his sleeves, opened his large hand, and reached out to Yin Shidan, seemingly unsure of what to do next.

"If you two gentlemen cannot restrain your tongues, why not go downstairs, seize the gavel, and have a good talk?"

The emperor's slightly sarcastic voice rang out behind the two of them.

Li Changchun turned around awkwardly and hid his hands behind his back: "Yin Shaobao has acted improperly before the Emperor and dared to speak against His Majesty. I was indignant for a moment."

Yu Shenxing nodded repeatedly from the side.

The two men laughed awkwardly, trying to calm the emperor down and prevent him from getting angry.

Zhu Yijun ignored them, his gaze sweeping over the onlookers and landing directly on Yin Shidan.

After Yin Shidan finished speaking, he appeared completely submissive, ready to be slaughtered.

Zhu Yijun neither got angry nor feigned politeness, and asked calmly, "What is it that you disagree with?"

Yin Shidan remained prostrate on the ground, but answered very quickly: "I have rendered meritorious service but am innocent, yet Your Majesty dismissed me in one fell swoop. I feel truly wronged."

Zhu Yijun gave a soft "hmm": "So I just recognized your achievements. Whether it is a promotion or a national record, I will reward you for your contributions. It's just that I have lost your trust, so I came here specifically to ask you to retire when you have accomplished your mission."

Yin Shidan still wouldn't give up: "I have never placed any bets, yet I have inexplicably lost Your Majesty's favor, and I am especially dissatisfied with this."

Zhu Yijun clicked his tongue and nodded, saying, "Since that's the case, then I'll put it another way: you're just observing from the sidelines."

Yin Shidan remained silent for a moment before speaking with difficulty: "It is not my duty to conduct a survey."

Zhu Yijun smiled slightly: "Trusting Yin Qing is not my duty as emperor; nor should ticketing be the responsibility of the Salt Administration."

As the emperor and his minister exchanged words, the close advisors accompanying them in the room kept glancing back and forth between Yin Shidan and the emperor.

This scene was truly strange.

The expected scenario of the emperor's fury and the execution of Yin Shidan's entire clan did not materialize; in fact, the emperor even discussed the matter with the emperor.

That's fine, but when do emperors and ministers ever speak without ambiguity? Yet now they speak so frankly and without any pretense.

Yin Shidan made no attempt to hide his grievances, and the emperor repeatedly expressed his loss of trust—they were like a divorced couple, locked in a stalemate over who was right and who was wrong.

Luo Sigong, the commander of the Imperial Guards standing guard at the gate, frowned deeply. Jiang Keqian, the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who was watching over Yin Shidan, seemed to be deep in thought. Wei Chao, the chief eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who was beside the emperor, remained expressionless.

Yu Shenxing and Li Changchun exchanged a glance, finally realizing what was going on.

The Ministry of Revenue had long intended to reclaim control over salt administration and ticketing, but fearing that Yin Shidan might act impulsively and plot against them, it had been brewing this plan for a long time without taking any action.

Now, the emperor, taking advantage of his southern tour, first summoned Yin Shidan incognito and then spoke frankly to his face, his purpose being to directly address Yin Shidan's dissatisfaction.

Yin Shidan clearly understood the emperor's meaning immediately!
Since the emperor intended to question him face to face, Yin Shidan would inevitably have to pour out his grievances and express his grievances—whether it was to debate right and wrong or to lay out conditions, it was a special privilege granted today, and would not be available again later.

On the contrary, if Yin Shidan had chosen to endure the humiliation and remain calm in such a situation, he would have truly met a righteous end!
However, even though it was a grievance granted by imperial authority, it was still difficult not to reveal one's true feelings in such circumstances.

"Eight years ago, I received Your Majesty's imperial edict and was entrusted with the task of reorganizing the salt administration in a time of crisis. Did Your Majesty not trust me at that time?"

Yin Shidan suddenly raised his head, his teeth, which had fallen out and were now like mortise and tenon joints, were bitten so hard that they seemed to be loosening. His wide pupils, through his slightly reddened eye sockets, stared straight at the emperor.

Unlike Zhang Juzheng and Gao Yi, Yin Shidan did not gain power through the favor of former officials of the Eastern Palace.

He was initially employed based on his abilities, but now he is dismissed based on his trustworthiness. Is it because he is old and incompetent, or because the emperor is becoming increasingly suspicious?

Those present could see the staggering sorrow on Yin Shidan's face at that moment, and they felt a certain resonance with him.

Even Zhu Yijun, who came with the intention of making a political exchange, couldn't help but feel a pang of pity at this moment.

Zhu Yijun pondered for a long time before slowly standing up.

He walked up to Yin Shidan, who was kneeling on the ground, and said, "Since you have expressed your grievances to this extent, I will also tell you about my difficulties."

"It's neither that I've exhausted Yin Qing's talents and allowed the Ministry of Revenue to reap the benefits, nor that I've become cold-hearted and heartless after sitting on the throne for so long."

As he spoke, he reached out his hands and gently helped Yin Shidan up.

"It's simply because I have no choice in the matter."

As Zhu Yijun helped Yin Shidan to a chair, he freed one hand, pointed at Yin Shidan, and then at himself: "You are not free to do what you want, and neither am I. Therefore, you and I, ruler and subject, can only part ways."

Yin Shidan was in a hurry to meet the emperor and didn't have time to put on knee pads. After kneeling for a long time, his legs were sore and numb. With the emperor's help, he sat down on a chair with a thud.

Hearing the emperor's words, he opened his mouth as if to speak.

Zhu Yijun waved his hand, interrupting Yin Shidan, and continued to speak to himself: "Take this shallow pool in Jining as an example."

“The Wang and Lu families have been kind to you by passing on their knowledge; Wu Yue was your fellow townsman in the court; Guo Chaobin is your relative by marriage; Wen Tingzan served you as your teacher… the list goes on.”

"The small salt administration office was crammed with distant relatives, sons-in-law, and illegitimate children of the local aristocratic families. They were so eager to send even the village dogs to guard the salt administration office."

"How can Yin Qing be a loyal minister if he associates with these insects?"

The Wen family, to which Wen Tingzan belonged, was a family descended from General Zhaoyong Wen Shi'an. His third-generation descendant was promoted to Commander of Jinan Guard in the tenth year of Chenghua, and his fourth-generation descendant was demoted to Assistant Commander of Jining Guard. From then on, the position of Commander of Jining Guard was hereditary.

Wang Gao, Lu Ying, Wu Yue, and Guo Chaobin were four ministers from the Jiajing and Longqing reigns, who also established the four highest lineages among the powerful families of Jining.

Of course, there are also those who need no further explanation, such as Kong Hongfu, the prefect of Jining Prefecture and the magistrate of Qufu County, and his assistants surnamed Yan and Meng, and so on.

The important figures who held nominal positions in the central government were naturally extremely powerful in the local areas, and the minor officials in Jining Prefecture had been moving between these powerful families for many years.

These are all well-known stories in Jining, even children on the roadside have heard them – after all, the common people love to spread the rhymes of the powerful and wealthy, such as "a small county with four ministers," "a cloud and two flowers," and "counterattacks against eighteen families," and so on, and this has been the case throughout history.

In short, Yin Shidan's establishment of a salt administration office in Jining Prefecture in such a short time was inseparable from the assistance of these powerful figures.

This is just Jining; there are countless relatives and fellow villagers throughout Shandong.

The way of being an official has always emphasized mutual benefit and harmonious cooperation.

For this reason, Yin Shidan's control over the salt administration was far superior to that of any high-ranking official parachuted in, to the point that even Zhu Yijun was hesitant to act against him and had to offer him kind advice.

On the other hand, this is also the fundamental reason why Yin Shidan remained on the sidelines and placed his bets.

As the saying goes, what brings success will inevitably lead to failure.

Once he loses the support of his fellow villagers, Yin Shidan's influence will inevitably decline sharply, and he will probably no longer be able to act as a local strongman, but can only be a good loyal minister. Unfortunately, his descendants are not up to par and have no chance of getting into officialdom.

In the world of martial arts, one is often not in control of one's own destiny; such is the way of the world.

As the emperor spoke, Yin Shidan's lips, which had been moving as if about to speak, began to tremble.

Wei Chao then brought over tea and pastries.

Zhu Yijun did not dwell on Yin Shidan's lack of control, but simply said: "You are constrained by your relatives and fellow villagers and thus have no choice in your own life. I am bound by the power of the country and naturally have even less autonomy."

“When I was young, I read through the history of the country and I felt particularly disgusted whenever I saw emperors mistreating meritorious officials. I secretly vowed that I would never be an ungrateful ruler in the future.”

At this point, Zhu Yijun suddenly gave a self-deprecating laugh: "But now I realize that in the midst of the arduous task of starting a business, there was no room to treat the meritorious officials well."

The people in the room looked at each other, occasionally exchanging glances.

Zhu Yijun sensed something, turned to look at Li and Yu from the Hanlin Academy behind him, and asked casually, "You two are well-versed in history and literature, and have a strong memory. Do you know why?"

The two thought of the Tang and Han dynasties, and recalled the founding emperor of their own dynasty. They looked at the emperor, then at Yin Shidan, and were filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Unfortunately, the shrewd emperor had already pressed them for answers, so the two could no longer resort to their usual empty promises.

Yu Shenxing thought for a moment, then raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that it is not necessarily because your merits are too great and threaten the throne, making it inconvenient to pass on the throne."

Zhu Yijun shook his head repeatedly: "Is the throne something so inconvenient?"

Li Changchun quickly tugged at Yu Shenxing's sleeve and took his place, retorting, "I think so. It is because people's hearts are always changing. One may achieve merit at one time and commit crimes later, which is beyond the control of the ruler."

This was just empty flattery, Zhu Yijun smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"I do have some insights."

Zhu Yijun did not dwell on the matter. Under the gaze of everyone, he walked to the window with his hands behind his back and said: "Eight years ago, when the country was in decline and a change of dynasty was imminent, I ascended the throne at a young age. The people and the military were naive, and factions were fighting in the court. My authority was not prominent. I wanted to do things, but it was difficult to do them."

"Back then, when it came to employing people, there was no question of trust or distrust; there was simply no other choice."

"Although Yang Bo formed cliques for personal gain, I valued his deep roots and harmonious nature, so I employed him; although Wang Chonggu engaged in corrupt practices, he was the most prestigious in the army, so I also employed him; although Zhang Han's abilities were mediocre, he was recommended by the Grand Secretary, so I had no choice but to employ him."

Yin Shidan leaned to listen, knowing that after the groundwork was laid, it would be his turn.

as predicted.

"When I reinstated Yin Qing, I even thought of him as a boastful and pedantic scholar who wrote poems and essays that either boasted about being a 'favored minister of the emperor who wielded his brush' or flaunted his experience as a 'discussing scholar in the Golden Flower Hall'."

"In particular, Yin Qing is quite proud of being called a 'literary official' or a 'favored official,' which makes it difficult for me to have a good impression of him as someone who can do things properly."

“But at that time I intended to dismantle the salt tax in Lianghuai and control the south of the Yangtze River from the north. Only someone with great prestige in Shandong could do this. Apart from Minister Yin, I really had no other choice.”

When Yu Youding served as Yin Shidan's deputy, Wang Xilie followed closely behind as governor of Shandong, partly as a backup in case Yin Shidan became incompetent.

The emperor had his back to everyone, and kept speaking cold words.

Yu Shenxing and Li Changchun exchanged a furtive glance, feeling a pang of sympathy between them.

Who knew the wind direction would change so quickly?

Back in the reign of Emperor Shizong, there were many talented officials who could produce prime ministers who wrote eloquent poems. Who would have thought that the current emperor, this good grandson, would be so unworthy of his grandfather and prefer honest and upright officials?

Yin Shidan, on the other hand, remained unmoved. His official persona was merely for currying favor with his superiors. After the establishment of the Salt Administration Office, it was no longer necessary to say whether he was capable of doing anything.

He sadly echoed the emperor's words: "As emperors ascended the throne for a long time, their power and influence grew, and they had no other choice."

Zhu Yijun nodded, then shook his head: "These are conditions, not a certainty. Ultimately, it's about the evolution of the situation and the implementation of national policies. There are always times when great waves sweep away the weak, and the national power is so overwhelming that even emperors throughout history have no choice but to act against it." As the saying goes, when fortune smiles, heaven and earth lend their strength; when fortune turns, even heroes are powerless.

When starting a business is arduous, fortunes are constantly changing.

While Han Xin was indeed a hawk in the sky and a tiger in the forest when leading troops into battle, after the world was at peace, he was completely unaware of the current situation and immediately became like a dragon swimming in shallow waters.

Although Li Shanchang was a veteran of the dynasty with outstanding achievements, he went against national policies and stirred up factional strife in the court. He constantly talked about "you" and "me," so he deserved to die.

No matter how great a meritorious official is, they must adapt to changes in national policy and undergo a series of trials and tribulations. If they cannot keep up, they will be demoted at best, and die at worst. Unfortunately, too many people cannot keep up, or rather, do not want to keep up.

From the execution of Shi Guangzu, the Earl of Huairou, by beating him to death in the county government office, to the forced retirement of Zhang Han, the Minister of Justice, nothing could be more tragic than this.

As for Yin Shidan at present...

Previously, when the new policies were in their infancy, there was no condition to demand a stance. Now that the new policies have reached this stage, it is no longer possible to allow these ministers and high-ranking officials to continue to hold their opinions and make their own decisions. This is the evolution of the situation and the change of fortune. Although Zhu Yijun is still young, it is never too early to guard against these old ministers who are biding their time and plotting a counterattack.

This southern tour is essentially a larger-scale suburban sacrificial ceremony to Heaven. It is called an anti-Ruk movement, but in reality it is still about taking sides for national policy!
As the first high-ranking official on the southern tour of Beizhili, Yin Shidan, who remained a bystander to the land survey and wavered between national policy and his local faction, was naturally the first to be targeted!

Yin Shidan appeared dazed.

This was the first time he had so genuinely and directly confronted the emperor's inner thoughts. Regardless of how much of it was true or false, his attitude was certainly perplexing.

At the same time, the reason given by the emperor was so irrefutable that it completely shattered Yin Shidan's hopes, causing the sorrow on his face to fade somewhat.

Almost subconsciously, Yin Shidan murmured a rebuttal: "The path of righteousness is solitary; I fear few courtiers can remain forever close to His Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yijun turned around to look at Yin Shidan and shook his head seriously: "Minister Yin, there are not many ministers who hold such important positions."

"Moreover, Mr. Yin's words are too much of a case of judging others by oneself. Even in this small room, there are students who have surpassed their teachers."

Zhu Yijun turned around and gestured to Yu and Li.

Even if very few people can keep up, there will always be people who do.

Yin Shidan glanced at Yu Shenxing and Li Changchun: "They've only been in the court for a few years. How much do they know?"

Zhu Yijun was speechless for a moment, referring to the classic example of repressive education for students.

The emperor remained silent, and Yin Shidan also kept quiet.

The two remained silent for an unknown amount of time before Yin Shidan broke the silence once more: "Your Majesty, I dare to ask you for one last thing."

Zhu Yijun waved his hand gently: "I know what you want to ask for. It is these things that have ensnared you and left you unable to move."

Upon hearing the emperor's comments, Yin Shidan felt a mix of emotions, and his tone became weary: "I cannot learn Zhang Juzheng's heart of stone that disregards the consequences of his actions, nor can I cultivate Xu Jie's ruthless forbearance in cutting off his own tail to save his own life."

Zhu Yijun didn't hide anything and nodded without hesitation, saying, "Yin Gao, along with Kong Chenghou, Meng Yanpu, and Yan Sishen, all doctors of the Five Classics of the Hanlin Academy, have been sent to the Nanjing Ministry of Justice."

Yin Shidan thought to himself, "Just as I thought," and then wanted to say something.

But the words were on the tip of his tongue, and he swallowed them back.

There was a long silence.

After an unknown amount of time, Yin Shidan finally let out a long sigh of relief. All the resentment and dissatisfaction in his heart turned into a single sentence of submission: "Your Majesty's sins are unforgivable, but I am fortunate to have received Your Majesty's grace in allowing me to retire unjustly. I am completely convinced!"

Innocence is the same as being innocent. This was Yin Shidan's condition, which he accepted wholeheartedly, and his final plea, both to himself and to Yin Gao.

Its posture can only be described as humble.

Seeing this, Zhu Yijun felt even more emotional. It was true that they were intertwined; they had only hinted at the danger, yet their respective relationships had already come together to plead for mercy.

Not to mention Yin Shidan, who is pleading for Yin Gao, or even the sage families like Confucius and Mencius.

Yan Sishen, a down-on-his-luck man, attracted countless people: Gong Yiyang, the prefect of Mengyin County (now Yuzhou) and a relative by marriage of his eldest son; Kong Hongfu, the prefect of Jining Prefecture and acting magistrate of Qufu County and a relative by marriage of his second son; Guo Caiding, the assistant prefect of Yangxin Prefecture and a relative by marriage of his third son; Liu Buxi, the vice minister of the Court of Imperial Stud and a relative by marriage of his eldest daughter; as well as his classmates, Jia Sanjin, the supervising secretary of the Military Affairs Office of the Five Military Commissions; Liu Guanhai, the vice minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices... the list goes on and on.

Zhu Yijun was in a daze for a moment before he came to his senses.

He did not immediately agree to Yin Shidan's conditions, but instead brought up a new topic: "The situation of land survey and household clearing is most unpredictable in Jiangnan, like an iceberg hiding the sea, where even the best warriors fail; while in Shandong it is the most intense, with several peasant uprisings taking place, daring to be the first in the world."

"When I was sitting in the Nine Heavens, I was particularly puzzled by the differences. Now that I have met Minister Yin, I feel that everything has a traceable pattern and can be said to be natural."

The emperor's words were quite far off, and Yin Shidan frowned in confusion.

"Throughout history, the Jiangnan region has undergone the greatest changes. Whether it is a matter of forgetting one's roots or innovating, according to the two Grand Secretaries, Shen and Wang, the Jiangnan region is closest to the imperial examination system, but in reality, it is furthest from the classics of the sages."

“The Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues are shelved, personal gains and losses are put first, official rank is regarded as worthless, and one can easily resign and return to the countryside, devoting all one’s heart to cultivating reputation among scholars and forming cliques for personal gain.”

"But from what I have seen during my travels, Shandong province is exactly the opposite."

"In the ancestral land of Confucianism, even in this dynasty, much of the ancient tradition still remains. Scholars still aspire to attain high office and are concerned about the well-being of the people."

Yin Shidan listened but remained unmoved.

Having served as an official for many years, he naturally knew that the emperor's criticism was not a sincere compliment.

Yin Shidan was in turmoil, and he spoke only on instinct, dryly replying, "Your Majesty flatters me. The customs of different provinces may vary, but people's hearts are the same. The scholars of Shandong are no exception to the tendency to scheme and plot against each other."

This is a common way of expressing humility. I acknowledge the strengths of my family, but I also have their weaknesses.

Unexpectedly, the emperor nodded in deep agreement after hearing this: "That is exactly what I wanted to say."

"The scholars of Jiangnan, undeterred by the emperor's power, righteously resisted the land survey, united in purpose, hoping to appease the emperor by adding 30,000 qing of land; while the scholars of Shandong, wanting to resist the land survey but fearing it would ruin their careers, appeared hesitant and contradictory."

"Especially since you are the most sentimental, the people in the province are either your students, former officials, relatives by marriage, or classmates."

"A tree with deep roots and a complex web of connections can easily become self-contradictory, leading to several civil unrests, and we will have to rely on your caution and restraint."

Widespread contradictions appear calm and undisturbed; direct contradictions, however, can ignite at the slightest provocation.

By the time of the civil unrest, Shandong had surveyed over 200,000 hectares of land, which was equivalent to several times the area south of the Yangtze River. If Shandong were truly like the Jiangnan region, disregarding the emperor and the central government, they would have already presented this figure to the authorities.

However, this was unavoidable as Shandong scholars were undergoing a moral transformation and their thoughts were in a state of great turmoil.

In the grand scheme of officialdom, some want to protect their own wealth, while others want to make a name for themselves in the officialdom—there have never been many people who give up their family fortune to pursue an official position.

In terms of personal gain or loss, everyone wants to conform to the major policies, but is also afraid of losing their own interests.

Ultimately, some people want to do good, some want to do bad, and some want to do good but are afraid of ruining their own affairs. When they are evenly matched and contradictory, the conflict becomes the most direct and rapid.

Yin Shidan's indecisiveness and shifting bets perfectly encapsulate the Shandong officialdom and scholarly circles.

What is said with good intentions may be taken to heart by the listener.

Yin Shidan understood, and as he sat down, he also took his seat.

Therefore, he had no answer.

Zhu Yijun: "Everyone says that children's discord is all due to the lack of virtue of the elders."

“Look, Yin Qing, the people of Shandong have developed rifts over the land survey, which has led to instigation of civil unrest and mutual sabotage.”

"Am I, an old man, to compromise again and again for your sake, even to gloss over the crimes of inciting unrest and resisting land surveys, and to let the people of Shandong, like you, continue to be unable to distinguish right from wrong and to struggle with their own conscience?"

The words sent a chill down Yin Shidan's spine.

At this moment, the emperor finally revealed his true intentions!
Unless Yin Shidan takes sides in the land survey and sets an example, the only way to restore public morale is through the Yanzhou Prefecture civil unrest case!
If he could really do such a thing, then what was the point of him standing by and watching in the first place?

"Chen...chen..."

With his mind in turmoil, Yin Shidan stammered for a long time, unable to utter a coherent sentence.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Yijun's disappointment was evident: "Minister Yin was extremely aggrieved just now, but ask yourself honestly, how could you face me if you allowed Yin Gao to obstruct the great policy?"

If it was previously the emperor who forced meritorious officials to retire without cause, and Yin Shidan vented his resentment, the emperor was willing to bear it.

After Yin Shidan pleaded for Yin Gao, he immediately lost his momentum, and the emperor seized the opportunity to put on his airs as a sovereign.

Faced with this question, Yin Shidan was naturally speechless and hastily bowed in submission: "I have failed in my duty to educate my son; I am guilty!"

Setting an example for land surveying is a difficult task, and Yin Shidan was willing to share the blame with his son.

Of course, at most it was a matter of poor parenting; the claim of indulgence was clearly a slip of the tongue by the emperor.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yijun sighed deeply: "I, as the sovereign and father, am truly the one who has failed in educating my son."

As he spoke, he waved his hand and said, "So be it, so be it, isn't this also a case of Yin Qing having no choice in the matter?"

Yin Shidan, who was caught in a difficult situation, would never dare to undermine his relatives and fellow townsmen. The emperor expressed his deep understanding and said, "Then I won't let you offend them."

Yin Shidan couldn't tell whether the emperor was deliberately waiting here or had truly lost patience.

But at this moment, he could only bite the bullet and reply, "Your subject is ashamed before Your Majesty and Father!"

Zhu Yijun shamelessly nodded: "Yes, Minister Yin should be sorry for what he did to me."

Fortunately, the emperor did not make things too difficult for the old minister.

The emperor abruptly changed the subject: "Do not speak of your guilt to me in private."

"When I toured Southern Zhili and Zhejiang, and finally arrived in Jiangxi, I was to hold a meeting at Wugong Mountain to review the rights and wrongs of the land survey with the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Huguang, Henan, and Shandong, including the case of the civil unrest in Yanzhou Prefecture."

Yin Shidan became increasingly embarrassed and struggled to speak: "What should this humble subject do?"

Zhu Yijun stared intently at Yin Shidan, his gaze deep and unwavering: "In that case, Minister Yin, you shall come to personally bid me farewell at the appointed time, and incidentally set the tone for the Wugong Mountain Conference. Let it be..."

Let's do some self-criticism!

……

Yin Shidan left.

After praising the Emperor's boundless grace, he was helped away by Yu Shenxing.

Recalling the image of Yin Shidan being helped across the threshold, Li Changchun felt that this veteran official of three dynasties, a high-ranking official, had become much more hunched over the moment he stepped over the threshold.

He kept this scene firmly in his mind, taking it as a warning.

Jiang Keqian, who was standing to the side, was still puzzled: "Didn't the Ministry of Rites say before that the meeting would be held at Mount Lu?"

Zhu Yijun pursed his lips but did not reply.

Wei Chao, the Director of Ceremonial, replied politely, "Your Majesty has recently been warned by the heavens, and the constellations of Wing and Chariot have been unstable at night. Fearing that discussing matters there would incur divine retribution, Your Majesty chose Wugong Mountain, a place of great religious significance, to suppress the celestial signs with human virtue."

Upon hearing this, Li Changchun thought to himself how strange it was that even the emperor had come to believe in the connection between heaven and man.

The emperor clearly didn't want to dwell on this matter, and simply turned to Luo Sigong and instructed him: "Commander Luo, quickly gather the guards who are deployed. We need to return to the imperial palace first today to see the scenery along the way to Xuzhou."

"Once I change into my military uniform, we will depart immediately."

Even the white dragonfish costume has its own rules; different outfits are needed for outings, receiving guests, and traveling.

Without any hesitation, Luo Sigong accepted the order and turned to leave.

Seeing the emperor's swift action, Li Changchun quickly reminded him, "Your Majesty, Scholar Yu's escort of Governor Yin back to his office may cause a slight delay."

Zhu Yijun opened his arms, letting Wei Chao and Jiang Keqian help him change his clothes, without even blinking: "I won't wait any longer."

"Huh?" Li Changchun did not expect the emperor to respond in this way.

Zhu Yijun inexplicably recalled Yin Shidan's earlier remark, "They've only been in court for a few years? How much do they know?" There was indeed a lot to learn.

He looked at Li Changchun, shook his head and chuckled: "What do you think is the purpose of me bringing the two of you here to listen in for so long? And what was the purpose of mentioning you two earlier?"

Li Changchun paused for a moment, then seemed to remember something and opened his mouth.

It took him a while to fully realize what had happened. He bowed and apologized, saying, "Your subject is dull-witted and slow to realize."

Zhu Yijun didn't mind that the new recruits of the Hanlin Academy should learn more: "Yu Qing was transferred from the Hanlin Academy to the Salt Administration Office, where he was appointed as the Salt Management Director; Li Qing was transferred to the Ministry of Revenue, where he was appointed as the Shandong Qingli Division Director, assisting in the management of ticketing affairs."

Both of them were students of Yin Shidan, and Yu Shenxing himself was from Shandong, which naturally reduced the rejection within the system.

This was a situation that both Zhu Yijun and Yin Shidan could accept; there were no disagreements, so there was no need to bring it up in public.

Today's conversation was filled with unspoken understandings.

Putting aside everything else, just Zhu Yijun's initial phrase "two-faced" would have inevitably led to Yin Shidan's suicide if said in public, and the salt administration would have had to be restarted from scratch. Speaking of it privately was part of the tacit understanding.

After countless back-and-forth struggles, the two finally fulfilled their promise to "finish things properly" from the beginning.

Outsiders like Li Changchun and Yu Shenxing were completely unaware of the turbulence involved. They probably thought that the emperor's words were law, and Yin Shidan bowed down without hesitation, having a very smooth experience.

"Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to your expectations!" Li Changchun could not see clearly, but that did not stop him from bowing and accepting the decree first, and he would slowly work his way up in the future.

Zhu Yijun was already dressed in military uniform.

The rhinoceros-hide shoulder armor and bronze beast-shaped clasp on the chest add a touch of heroic spirit.

"With the example of Lord Yin, Minister Li, do not do anything to hurt me in the future." Zhu Yijun patted Li Changchun on the shoulder. "Let's go to Xuzhou."

(End of this chapter)