I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 237: These Imperial Censors Who Are More Frustrating Than Helpful

Gao Yi, the Minister of Rites, hurried into the Ministry of Revenue. When people saw him, they hurriedly stood by the roadside, bowed and said respectfully, "Greetings, Minister Gao."

Gao Yi held up his lapel, nodded all the way, walked through the corridor, and soon arrived at the innermost signing room of the Ministry of Revenue and broke in.

Just now a servant came running in front to report the news.

"Lord Xinzheng, something happened!" Gao Yi shouted as he entered the door.

Gao Gong put down the document, turned around the desk, asked Gao Yi to sit down, and asked the servants to serve tea.

"What happened? Why did Lord Nanyu rush from the Ministry of Rites to my Ministry of Revenue?"

Gao Gong no longer had to worry about money, and he gradually regained his foothold in the court. He began to implement the "new policy" in his mind. Everything went smoothly, so he was naturally in a good mood.

"The matter of Baoen Temple."

"That matter," Gao Gong curled his lips and said disdainfully, "It was so clumsy that I don't even want to mention it."

Anyone who truly understands the real situation of the court would not believe the rumors that the mastermind behind the Bao'en Temple is the crown prince, who is trying to eliminate his only competitor, the third prince.

The Crown Prince was born to the previous Princess, the true eldest son, with a good family background!
The third prince is just a bastard. What do you have to fight with him?
Besides, with the power in the hands of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, if he really wanted to get rid of the Third Prince, he would not be alive today!
This is like someone reporting that the Grand Master was holding a sword to kill him, but instead of killing him he managed to drop the sword.

Gao Yi said solemnly: "There is a follow-up!"

"Are you going to make a last resort?"

"Yes. This morning, someone claimed to be Zhang Daxiong, the murderer Zhang Erxiong's brother. He took the letter Zhang Erxiong left for his family to the Wucheng Bingmasi and asked the patrolling censor on duty to report himself."

Gao Gong reacted quickly and asked sharply, "Who is the imperial inspector on duty?"

"Yang Sizhi."

"Yang Sizhi?"

"He became a Jinshi in the 41st year of Jiajing, served in local government for three years, and was later appointed as the Supervisory Censor of the Metropolitan Censorate. At the beginning of the year, he was appointed as the City Patrol Censor."

"He was a Jinshi in the 41st year of the Jiajing reign. Could his master be Mr. Song Gu?"

"It is the current Minister Chen."

When Gao Gong heard that the case suddenly involved the cabinet minister Chen Yiqin, he became uneasy.

This person was his old colleague who had served as a lecturer in Prince Yu's Palace for many years.

Gao Gong narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze was as sharp as lightning and swords, and after a long while he slowly said: "Chen Yifu is foolishly loyal!"

Gao Yi immediately understood what he meant.

After Chen Yiqin entered the cabinet, he submitted a memorial entitled "Ten Things to Do Cautiously", in which he proposed ten suggestions, including setting one's mind, loving the people, advocating frugality, employing people, taking over, listening to opinions and seizing power. These suggestions were highly praised by Emperor Jiajing and Zhu Yijun.

When Emperor Longqing ascended the throne, he submitted another memorial entitled "Four Matters to be Held with Efforts to Improve Government", which was highly praised by Zhu Yijun.

Gao Gong and Gao Yi knew that Chen Yiqin's four-point memorial was actually an extension of "grabbing power". He requested the emperor to cultivate virtue and be rational, and then seize power and formulate strategies.

After a while, Gao Yi said slowly: "Mr. Songgu, in the "Ten Things to Do with Cautious Beginning" and "Four Things to Do with Diligent Governance", you can speak your mind and touch upon taboos, saying things that others dare not say."

Gao Gong glanced at him and said leisurely, "I and he were both ministers in Prince Yu's Palace. We had a good relationship, but some of our philosophies were completely different. 'The people are the most important, the country is second, and the emperor is the least important.' That's why I say he is a bit foolishly loyal."

Gao Yi knew what Gao Gong meant.

Gao Gong had great ambitions and wanted to achieve unprecedented achievements, so of course he had to seize power. Where did he get it from? Of course, he took it from his colleagues and from the emperor.

Chen Yiqin advised the emperor to take power, but that went against his will!

Blind loyalty?

This is quite interesting. Is Yue Fei considered to be blindly loyal?
Gao Yi saw Gao Gong's eyes flickering and knew that he had some ideas in his mind.

Last time, the cabinet was short of a senior official, Yin Shidan, and Gao Gong was not appointed to replace him. First, the cabinet was not short of manpower at that time and could still be maintained. Second, Gao Gong was deeply troubled by the Ministry of Revenue at that time, so how could he be appointed to replace him?

It was different now. If Chen Yiqin was kicked out of the cabinet, the situation would be too favorable for Gao Gong. At this time, Gao Gong had already established a firm foothold and had political achievements.

In addition, after Chen Yiqin left, the cabinet was short of people and had to be filled. Among the cabinet elders, only Zhang Juzheng, a young old man from the Qiandi Palace, was left.

The emperor has been on the throne for less than two years, and the old people in the palace are no longer needed. Where is his face?
After all the calculations, if Gao Gong could seize the opportunity to kick Chen Yiqin out, he would be able to enter the cabinet smoothly.

Gao Yi wanted to give some advice.

At this moment, the Crown Prince and Xu Jie will not let you join the cabinet.

Gao Yi's intuition told him that the Crown Prince's attitude towards Gao Gong should be to suppress him further and kill his arrogance, and then release Gao Gong into the cabinet after certain chess pieces were in place.

As for Xu Jie, he was very clear that when Gao Gong entered the cabinet, it was the beginning of his retirement.

Although he no longer has any motivation, why not stay in the position of Prime Minister for one more day?

There is no great benefit, why would Xu Jie let you grow a tall beard?
But Gao Yi knew that Gao Gong was already obsessed with love and could not be persuaded, so he remained silent cautiously.

"Lord Nanyu, I still have to go to the Imperial Household Department to discuss the issue of Ma Zheng's money there, so I won't keep you here any longer." Gao Gong stood up and bowed.

Gao Yi knew that Gao Gong was going to understand the situation, then gather his followers and plan the next course of action.

He felt a little regretful for coming to tell Gao Gong about this matter, but then he changed his mind and thought, wouldn't he also like his ally Gao Gong to be able to enter the cabinet smoothly?

It would be of great benefit to him if Gao Gong entered the cabinet, and maybe he could be pulled into the cabinet as well.

After all, among Gao Gong's followers and allies, it would be difficult to find anyone else except himself who was qualified to join the cabinet.

Gao Yi bowed and left the Ministry of Revenue with mixed feelings. He stood in front of the sedan chair and thought for a while, then got into the sedan chair and said, "Go to the Ministry of Works."

Zhu Yijun soon received Zhao Zhenji's report.

The Five Cities Military Command was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War, while the City Patrol Censors were under the jurisdiction of the Censorate.

Yang Sizhi, the imperial censor who patrolled the city, wrote an impeachment memorial and submitted it through the normal channels of the Censorate. When Zhao Zhenji, the left imperial censor, saw it, he did not dare to neglect it and immediately went to Xi'an Gate to hand over the sign.

Zhu Yijun immediately summoned him into the Ziguang Pavilion.

"Your Highness, this is a memorial written by Yang Sizhi, the Imperial Censor of the City. It concerns the mastermind behind the murder of Zhang Erxiong at Baoen Temple."

Zhu Yijun took the memorial, read it quickly, and his expression changed slightly.

What do they want to do?
"Zhang Daxiong turned himself in to Yang Sizhi, saying that Zhang Erxiong was the second son of the Earl of Gu'an, and that he was bribed and instigated by Jinyiwei Commander Chen Shanyan?"

"Yes, Zhang Daxiong presented Zhang Erxiong's confession to Yang Sizhi, as well as 100 taels of gold and silver."

Zhu Yijun frowned, "That's all?"

Based on these two pieces of evidence, whose authenticity is unknown, you dare to accuse Queen Chen's second brother Chen Shanyan of being the mastermind behind the Bao'en Temple attack?
This is too much of a joke!
Zhao Zhenji smiled bitterly and said, "Your Highness, these witnesses and evidence are irrefutable evidence for the impeachment by the Censor of the Metropolitan Censorate."

Zhu Yijun looked at Zhao Zhenji's face, trying to find out from his expression that he was not joking.

Unfortunately it was not found.

What are you doing!
I was on high alert waiting for your ultimate move, and this is what you gave me?

In history, Emperor Wanli was criticized by the Qingliu censors and became autistic. If this is the routine and intensity, then Third Brother, your psychological quality is too poor!
Zhu Yijun quickly thought of another problem and said to Zhao Zhenji: "Mr. Dazhou, what these people are doing is not only disgusting, but it can easily cause a series of troubles."

Zhao Zhenji said helplessly, "Your Highness, this inspector Yang Sizhi, Chen Gelao is his teacher."

Zhu Yijun slammed the table and said, "These bastards are more likely to cause trouble than to help!"

After standing up and walking around the room twice, Zhu Yijun stopped and looked at Zhao Zhenji: "Mr. Dazhou, could disrupting the government be just their second step?"

Zhao Zhenji's eyes flashed, "Your Highness, do you mean they have another step?"

(End of this chapter)