I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 169: The court without Gao Gong is like a dark night without a bright moon
The Tonghui River Wharf at Dongbianmen was blocked by hundreds of sedan chairs early in the morning.

Officials got on the sedan chairs. Some wore scarlet robes, some wore blue robes, and the majority wore green robes. Like ants, they lowered their heads, squeezed at the back, and followed closely.

The people around couldn't help but talk about it.

"What's going on today? Why are you here at the dock? Who are you going to pick up to take you back to Beijing?"

"You don't know yet?" the well-informed person began to show off.

He kept the audience in suspense at first, and then, after a circle of people gathered around him, he spoke proudly.

"Former cabinet minister Mr. Gao has returned to Beijing!"

"Oh my god! Mr. Gao is back in Beijing? This is terrible."

"Which Mr. Gao?"

"You are so ignorant! Even Lord Gao doesn't know. He was a tutor in Prince Yu's residence for nine years. He was a true imperial tutor. He entered the cabinet in the 42nd year of Jiajing. In the 43rd year, he was banished by the late emperor and sent back to his hometown because of a major case in Shanxi."

"It turned out to be Lord Xinzheng. My goodness, when he comes back, he will be like a hidden dragon rising from the abyss."

"That's right. The emperor's teacher has been by his side for nine years. Who has such a great affection for him? When he comes back, he will definitely be the prime minister."

Someone said with certainty.

"If he becomes the Prime Minister, what will happen to Lord Xu?"

"Be a secondary assistant."

"How can that be? Mr. Xu, a veteran of two dynasties, served as the second assistant for more than ten years. It was not easy for Yan Song to fall and he became the first assistant. Now he has to retreat back to the second assistant. How can you swallow this?"

"If you can't swallow this, just retire and return home. Mr. Xu has a lot of experience and a high reputation, but can his favor in front of the emperor compare to that of Mr. Gao?"

"That's it, that's it!"

"No wonder so many officials came here today, they are all here to curry favor with the new Prime Minister!"

"Haha, you see it but don't say it."

Amid the discussion, Wang Lin, who was standing at the front, looked at the sky and asked a man in a green robe next to him.

He was not tall but had a handsome appearance. He stood out among a group of officials in red robes, but he remained calm.

"Yuanchuan, I want to ask when the ship of Lord Xinzheng will arrive?"

"A message came from Tongzhou that Lord Xinzheng arrived at Tongzhou Wharf at midnight last night. He did not rest and immediately changed to a fast ship to head to the capital. I asked the manager at the wharf and according to the itinerary, he should arrive in another two or three quarters of an hour."

The speaker was Han Ji, a native of Puzhou, Shanxi. He was a Jinshi in the 44th year of Jiajing, and was selected as a Shujishi, and was appointed as the Minister of Public Affairs. After the academy was closed, he was appointed as the Jieshizhong of the Criminal Department.

The three memorials he submitted emphasized that "the king's way is in Zhengshi", and the chief minister Xu praised it highly, calling it "the first memorial of the restoration."

Historically, he was selected by Gao Gong, who presided over the imperial examination, and was appointed as his teacher.

In this life, Gao Gong was called back to his hometown and could not become Han Ji's teacher.

But he had studied under Yang Bo for two years and was recommended to Gao Gong by letters. When he went to Beijing to take the imperial examination, he went to Xinzheng and visited Gao Gong's house, where he had a good chat with Gao Gong.

Then he received a letter from Gao Gong, asking his good friends in Beijing to take care of him, and they became de facto teacher and student.

"That's good. Yuanchuan, we, your righteous and upright subjects, have waited for two years and finally waited until today!" Wang Lin said with emotion.

The people around echoed and looked excited.

They were either old friends of Gao Gong or former officials and students of Gao Gong.

Just after a quarter of an hour, an official ship slowly approached. The flag on the mast read: "Returning to the capital, Xinzheng Gaofu official, by imperial decree."

Wow!
The sound of the crowd was like a strong wind blowing through a forest, rustling the leaves.

The green-robed official at the back leaned his head forward and tried hard to look forward, but was glared at by the "seniors" and "superiors" in front, and shrank back.

The officials in scarlet robes standing in the front, headed by Wang Lin, had solemn expressions and stood straight, as if they were going to court.

The official ship slowly approached, and Gao Gong stood proudly at the bow with his hands behind his back.

He was wearing a plain robe and a big hat, and he looked dusty. His eyes were extremely determined, and his long beard was blown by the wind.

With a clang, the boat landed on the shore. Gao Gong bowed to everyone, his eyes slightly red, his emotions agitated, his voice choked with sobs: "My fellow comrades, kill me!"

Wang Lin stepped forward, bowed, and said in a loud voice: "Without Lord Gao in the court, it is like a dark night without a bright moon. We have finally welcomed Lord Gao back!"

The people behind shouted in unison: "We have finally welcomed back Lord Gao! The Ming Dynasty is fortunate! The people of the world are fortunate!" The voices shook the sky and resounded throughout the heavens and the earth.

Xu Jie had a rare moment of free time in the duty room and actually started writing.

Li Chunfang walked in and saw Xu Jie standing behind a desk, writing with a brush.

He walked to the side and saw Xu Jie writing two lines of words on rice paper.

"If it is done out of righteousness, then all benefits are righteousness; if it is done out of profit, then all righteousness is profit"

Li Chunfang thought for a moment and then praised: "The word 'Yuan Fu' is written in a round and straight way, which is wonderful."

Xu Jie put down his brush, picked up his handkerchief and wiped his hands, then asked with a smile: "What do these two lines of words mean?"

Li Chunfang smiled and replied, "The knowledge of Duke Xinzheng was passed down from Duke Sumin (Wang Tingxiang). These two lines of words reveal the roots of his politics."

"Gao Xinzheng is a man who is willing to work hard, both for righteousness and profit."

"Has the Prime Minister heard about what happened at the Dongbianmen Wharf today?"

"I heard Wang Jijin (Wang Lin) say loudly, 'Without Gao Gong in the court, it is like a dark night without a bright moon.' I wonder if it came from the heart."

"The Prime Minister is joking. Wang Jijin and Gao Xinzheng have a very good personal relationship. This statement must be from the heart."

"It comes from the heart. Fortunately, I didn't say that if Xinzheng doesn't leave, the Ming Dynasty will be in eternal darkness." Xu Jie said quietly, stroking his beard.

Li Chunfang also laughed.

After a brief exchange of words, Li Chunfang got down to business.

"Prince, Gao Xinzheng is back. The emperor is very happy and has ordered an audience in Wenhua Palace tomorrow. This kind of favor from the emperor is rare."

Xu Jie narrowed his eyes and spoke slowly.

"Gao Xinzheng has been teaching the emperor in the palace for nine years. How many nine years can a person have in his lifetime? The bond between teacher and student is something that no one can erase."

"Prince, personal relationships are personal relationships, and state affairs are state affairs. If the emperor appoints Gao Gong to the cabinet, the cabinet will suddenly have six ministers."

Xu Jie replied with a smile: "The cabinet is so big that six ministers can sit in it. But Gao Xinzheng was exiled to his hometown by the late emperor's strict decree and is considered a criminal.

The last person to be punished, Hai Rui, was still holding the title of Right Counselor of the Ministry of Public Administration, and was idle in Beijing. However, the six ministries were short of staff, especially the Ministry of Revenue, which was in charge of land registration and taxes, and the Ministry of Revenue, but the position of Shangshu had been vacant for a long time.

I have a headache. "

Li Chunfang understood what Xu Jie meant and smiled, "Yuan Fu's words are really mature and wise."

Wang Lin and others, surrounded by Gao Gong, a group of more than a hundred sedan chairs, took a detour and entered the city from Chaoyang Gate.

As soon as they entered the city, an imperial envoy stopped them on the road and announced the imperial decree.

"Gao Gong has made great contributions and has traveled a long way. He was given a pot of fine wine and a feast of delicious food to welcome him. He was also given a set of official uniforms with golden pheasants and a house in Fu'anfang as his residence.
Rest for a night and be ready to be called tomorrow morning."

It was Meng Chong who announced the decree.

After he finished reading, he stepped forward to help Gao Gong up, held up the imperial edict, handed it to Gao Gong, and said with a smile: "Mr. Gao, the emperor thinks of you several times a day, and today, he finally brought you here.

The emperor has instructed me to clean up the new residence and send you there. Let him have a good rest. The emperor will be waiting to see you tomorrow to talk about the relationship between the emperor and his subjects. "

Gao Gong bowed his hands towards the Forbidden City and said loudly: "I thank God for his grace!"

Wang Lin, Han Ji and others looked at each other in great excitement.

With the support of Lord Gao, everyone finally has a backbone!
In a side hall of the Wanshou Palace in Xiyuan, Zhu Yijun leaned back in a chair with his hands in his sleeves. After listening to Feng Bao's report, he smiled.

"Hundreds of people came to welcome Gao Da Hu Zi. He must be quite famous."

"Your Highness, Gao Gong has been a Hanlin for more than ten years and has presided over several provincial and imperial examinations. He is indeed knowledgeable and has many students and former officials."

"'Without Gao Gong in the imperial court, it is like a dark night without the bright moon.'"

Feng Bao lowered his head and remained silent.

"Haha, Feng Bao, do you know where the moon's light comes from?"

Feng Bao raised his head quickly and replied with a smile: "Your Highness, I don't know. Isn't it the light that shines by itself?"

"The moon's light comes from the sun."

(End of this chapter)