I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 123 Gao Gong and Wang Chonggu, who both knew the truth
Gao Gong felt a little regretful in his heart, but his inherent pride prevented him from showing this regret.

I am a person who is trusted by the world and I have served as the prince's teacher, but I cannot even handle a young boy. How can I have the face to lead a group of heroes, reform and eliminate corruption, and revive the Ming Dynasty?

Gao Gong's face showed the arrogance that Wang Chonggu was familiar with. He stroked his beard and said, "It has been the long-cherished wish of the people of Shanxi to have a meeting with Altan Khan and open up border trade in Shanxi. We can't do it, but the prince can.

This is really hard to accept.”

Wang Chonggu looked at Gao Gong and asked calmly, "Xinzheng Gong is wrong. Do we have to wait until you come to accomplish the great affairs of the world?
What was the purpose of those people who petitioned to open border trade? Everyone knows it well. "

"Isn't it for the sake of peace on the border and benefiting the countryside?"

Wang Chonggu stopped arguing about this matter and changed the subject. "I think if we want to open the door to welcome guests, we have to clean the house. Otherwise, the food we earn is not enough for rats to gnaw on for half a day."

Gao Gong's eyes flickered, "Lord Jianchuan, are you going to cut yourself off from the people of Shanxi?"

"Self-destruction?" Wang Chonggu laughed. "What evil things have I done that the Duke of Xinzheng would say that? Did I secretly communicate with the northern barbarians and smuggle in violation of the ban, or did I sell out military intelligence and invite the invaders to break through the border?"

Gao Gong's face suddenly turned ashen.

These crimes were the charges brought against those members of the Shanxi Party and merchants who were found out during the Gengxu Incident in the 43rd year of the Jiajing reign. The charges were announced to the whole country and were infamous for eternity.

Now they were picked out one by one by Wang Chonggu, as if they were stabbing into Gao Gong's heart.

Gao Gong took a few deep breaths and calmed his mind.

Although Wang Chonggu was from Shanxi, he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi in the 20th year of Jiajing. After serving in the six ministries in Beijing for a few years, he was sent to the countryside and served as the prefect of Anqing and Runing. He was then transferred to the deputy envoy of the military preparations of Changzhen in Nanzhili and began to fight against Japanese pirates in the southeast for more than ten years, making many military achievements.

After defeating the Japanese pirates, they entered Guangdong and Jiangxi to hunt down the bandits.

His nephew Zhang Siwei's family had close ties with Shanxi merchants, but he himself had little contact with them.

Because Wang Chonggu had been in officialdom for more than 20 years, and had neither served in border towns such as Shanxi nor in an important position in the capital, Shanxi merchants felt that he was of little use and would certainly not try to curry his favor like they did with Gao Gong, Yang Bo, Chen Xixue, and Zhang Siwei.

So Wang Chonggu said what he just said with confidence, and no matter how angry Gao Gong was, he couldn't say a word.

Gao Gong felt a little regretful.

During these days when he resigned and returned to his hometown, he had been reflecting on his own extreme character, which had made him many enemies for no reason. He wanted to change his temper, stop being so rebellious and violent, and find a way to improve his relationship with the crown prince and his party.

He also knew that Wang Chonggu must have a purpose in coming here today, and he had made up his mind to have a good talk and not to draw the sword to attack.

As the conversation went on, my temper started to come back.

"Lord Jianchuan, I have a bad temper, please don't mind it."

Wang Chonggu smiled and replied: "Xinzheng Lord is wrong. Everyone knows your temper. It is because of your fiery temper that you can suppress the evil people in all directions."

Gao Gong also laughed, as if all the grudge he had just had had disappeared.

"Southern Jiangxi is a place with high mountains and dense forests. Strong men gather there and the imperial court has been unable to eradicate them. As Mr. Jianchuan said, three parts are for military affairs, two parts for governance, and five parts for economy. Let us wait and see."

Hearing Gao Gong turn the topic to government affairs again, Wang Chonggu also followed his lead.

"Yes, now the court has retained Wang Yi'e in Jiangxi as the governor of Jiangxi to continue to implement this strategy. I hope that results can be achieved as soon as possible."

"Wang Yi'e?" Gao Gong thought for a moment. "But Wang Yi'e was from Quzhou County, Northern Zhili. He passed the imperial examination at the age of 19. Before that, he was the prefect of Jianning Prefecture in Fujian. He defended the isolated city and then launched a surprise attack to defeat the Japanese pirates and bandits?"

"It is Wang Yunqu."

"In the southeast, we are suppressing the Japanese, and many talented people are emerging."

Gao Gong also did not expect that Zhu Yijun's original move of doing his best to protect Hu Zongxian, setting up a coordinating office and doing his utmost to support the suppression of Japanese pirates in the southeast would actually yield so many talents.

These people stood out in the campaign to suppress Japanese pirates in the southeast, and were then recommended by Hu Zongxian, Tan Lun, Cao Bangfu, Wang Chonggu and others. They caught the eye of Zhu Yijun, who then sought permission from Emperor Jiajing to promote them one by one.

One leads ten, ten lead a hundred, and they quickly become the prince's party.

It just so happens that these people have emerged from the complex military and political affairs, and each of them is a capable and competent official.

Thinking of this, Gao Gong couldn't help but sigh in his heart that the crown prince had a very sharp eye. He focused on Hu Zongxian, a chess piece, set up the game, and built up his own team in no time.

Shaking his head, Gao Gong continued, "The bandits in Jiangxi and Guangdong are relatively peaceful, but Guangxi seems to be still not at peace." "The Yao people in Guangxi are in turmoil, which has been intermittent since the Chenghua period until now, and has never been eradicated, and sometimes even spreads to Guangdong. Behind this is the black hand of Annan.

Sometimes, when the imperial court was in a hurry to pursue and suppress Guangxi, a group of pirates would gather from the south to harass the Guangdong waters. Their wolfish ambitions were known to everyone.

Last year, the imperial court in Guangdong, based on the Fujian navy, expanded the South China Sea navy to protect the seas of Fujian and Guangdong. Now the Guangdong pirates are becoming increasingly weak. "

Gao Gong stroked his beard and said, "The naval and land disturbances in Guangxi and Guangdong were all instigated by Annan behind the scenes? If we want peace in Guangdong and Guangxi, we must get rid of this black hand of Annan? Expanding the South China Sea Navy is an attempt to suppress Annan?"

Wang Chonggu glanced at Gao Gong who was sitting opposite him.

He is tall and has a big beard. He has a bad temper, but he is really capable. With just two sentences, he was able to see through the key points of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's strategic deployment in Lingnan.

But he was too stubborn and proud, and always conceitedly believed that he was the only one in the Ming Dynasty who could be loyal and dedicated and reform and eliminate corruption.

Wang Chonggu answered irrelevantly: "Yin Zhengmao is now the governor of Guangxi, which is a headache for him."

Gao Gong understood his avoidance and asked, "Isn't Yin Zhengmao Hu Ruzhen's fellow villager?"

"Exactly."

"What's troubling him?"

"After Hai Gangfeng left Beijing and returned to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors, he traveled around. First he went to Jiangxi, and now he has gone to Guangxi. Shi Ting (Yin Zhengmao) is having a headache."

"Hai Gangfeng?" Gao Gong raised his head and laughed. Who in the world doesn't have a headache with him?
After chatting for two quarters of an hour, Wang Chonggu insisted on leaving. Gao Gong tried to persuade him to stay, but then he did not force him to stay.

After Wang Chonggu left, Gao Gong stood in the yard with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky.

The relationship with the crown prince could not be eased after all.

But it doesn't matter. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is in the prime of his life. Just give yourself ten years and he will surely make the Ming Dynasty flourish again!

Wang Chonggu returned to the post station and immediately ground ink to write a letter, detailing what happened today. After thinking for a while, he finally wrote: "Gao Xin and Zheng Chi are both arrogant and conceited, and it is difficult to communicate with them. From now on, there may be conflicts of will."

Wang Chonggu put down his brush, read the letter again, and then put it down with satisfaction.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is right. The old Jin Party and the old Jin merchants have been swept into the dustbin of history. What should emerge now is the new Jin merchants with a brand new look.

With new merchants, there will naturally be new parties. Why can't I become the leader of the new party?

Just like now in the southeast, a group of people who are developing maritime merchants, factories and trade are emerging and are starting to form a new party.

Hu Zongxian became their leader.

The situation is changing and talented people are emerging.

"Master." The trusted servant reported at the door.

"What's the matter?" Wang Chonggu asked, "Master, there's a letter from Puzhou, the Zhang family invites you to take a detour back?"

Zhang Siwei!
Wang Chonggu said immediately, "Reply for me, saying that I have the emperor's order and cannot delay."

"Yes!"

Wang Chonggu hesitated for a moment and called out to the servant, "Uncle Qiang."

"master."

"You go to Puzhou in person and bring the Madam, the young master, and the young ladies to the capital. Also, I have a letter for you to take back, asking Madam to find a reason to cancel the engagement between the second son's family and the Zhang family."

The servant was stunned.

Wang Chonggu glared at him.

The servant immediately responded, "Yes, sir!"

(End of this chapter)