I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 329 Someone wants to try again

Although it was a day off, Feng Bao still waited until the afternoon when the government office was dismissed, and waited for Zhu Yijun to finish his government affairs in the Qinzheng Hall, and then went back to the Wanshou Palace for dinner. Only then did he leave the West Garden, get on the sedan chair, and go straight to Zhang's house with his guards on both sides.

On holidays, the cabinet needs the elders to take turns on duty.

As Xu Jie was old, he was exempted from the rotation and was replaced by Li Chunfang, Chen Yiqin and Zhang Juzheng.

Today was Zhang Juzheng's turn to be on duty. He returned home after work, changed into casual clothes, and prepared to have dinner with his family when suddenly a servant came to report.

"Master, Eunuch Feng from the Imperial Household Department has sent a note to visit."

"Eunuch Feng Bao?" Zhang Juzheng was surprised.

The eunuch Feng Bao, who was the seal holder of Silijian, Huang Jin, Li Fang and Chen Hong were sent out of the palace for retirement, and he became the head of Silijian.

Since it was a petition, it did not come with an imperial decree, but was a private visit.

But my Eunuch Feng, you visit the residence of a senior official so blatantly, don’t you have any taboos at all?

"Please come to the main hall and have tea. Is Eunuch Feng wearing his official uniform?"

"Yes, sir, in a bullfighting costume."

"Okay, wait till I change into my official uniform."

Feng Bao sat down in the main hall of Zhang's house and picked up the teacup slowly.

What is there for him to be afraid of!
He was ordered by the Crown Prince to visit Mr. Zhang, the Lord of the Cabinet. What was he afraid of?
This morning he saw with his own eyes in Yun'e Palace the Emperor's attitude towards the Crown Prince, a fatherly love and a son's filial piety, and they were in great joy.

The prince has achieved this much, and his reputation can only be compared to that when he was appointed as the prince after the Xuanwu Gate Incident during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang.

The prince is so wise, so what is there for me to be afraid of?

One of the culprits behind the crying and remonstration at the Meridian Gate was Jin Dou.

This guy was willing to be an insider because his family members outside the palace were bribed. He took the opportunity to spy on the prince from the emperor's place. Now he was beaten into a pool of rotten meat and buried at a random place outside the city.

The family members were also arrested by the Eastern Depot and are being interrogated to find out who bribed them.

Another culprit is Yu Changde.

If Feng Bao had followed his idea, why would he waste so much time talking? He could have just been arrested and put in prison. He could have gotten anything he wanted under the three wooden bars. What crime could he not have been charged with for treason?
You can bite anyone you want, and just catch those guys in the court who are against the prince in one fell swoop!
But the prince insisted that I consult with Zhang Juzheng and find a crime for Yu Changde.

What do you mean?
Feng Bao did not say anything else, but he carried out Zhu Yijun's words meticulously and resolutely.

He sipped his tea with full of doubts, and soon waited for Zhang Juzheng who came in hurriedly.

"Mr. Feng, I'm so sorry. I just came back from my shift at the Cabinet and changed into my official uniform. When I heard that Mr. Feng was coming to visit, I hurriedly changed into my uniform again. The trip back and forth delayed me and made Mr. Feng wait for a long time."

"Mr. Zhang, you're too polite. We're all family, there's no need to be so polite." Feng Bao tried to be friendly.

After a few words of consolation, Feng Bao said, "Mr. Zhang, have you heard that someone is crying and making a petition at the Meridian Gate?"

"I heard about it. They were arrested by the Shuntian Prefecture Central City Patrol Bureau on charges of causing trouble in public and disturbing public order, and are now in Shuntian Prefecture Prison. They said they will be transferred to the Shuntian Prefecture Censorate for trial and sentencing."

"Yes, in our opinion, the worst one is Yu Changde, who has a reputation for nothing but a reputation for being a scholar, but is hypocritical and has no loyalty to his father or his lord. In our opinion, he should be sent to prison."

Zhang Juzheng glanced at him.

The prince would never send Yu Changde to the imperial prison.

If it was really sent, it would actually help him.

The country has nurtured scholars for 150 years, and they are now fighting for their integrity and sacrificing their lives for justice.

He dared to shout out such words.

Times have changed, and the world is different now.

Feng Bao was very smart. He saw the reason why Zhang Juzheng remained silent and smiled faintly, "I am the prince's servant. If someone wants to throw dirty water on the prince, I will never let them off easily.

We are a naturally weak and crude people who do not know any rules. We only know that if anyone dares to offend our prince, we will bite him to death even at the cost of our own lives. "

Zhang Juzheng said quickly: "Mr. Feng's sincerity to the prince is evident to all."

Feng Bao glanced at him and continued, "Although I am angry, I also know the seriousness of the matter. I will do whatever the prince tells me to do.

It just so happens that the prince asked us to come to Mr. Zhang to discuss the matter of Yu Changde. "

Zhang Juzheng was also confused: "Are you looking for me to discuss this?"

"Let's work together to come up with a charge that is the most appropriate."

Zhang Juzheng was dumbfounded.

I'm not familiar with Yu Changde at all.

Although we once worked together in the Imperial Academy, our political philosophies were fundamentally different. I looked down on him and he looked down on me. We almost never interacted with each other until we died.

How to find a crime for him?
But Zhang Juzheng knew his student's ability, and he was a man who would think ten steps ahead before taking one step. He asked Feng Bao to come to him, which must have a deeper meaning.

He asked tentatively: "Mr. Feng, what else does the prince say?"

Feng Bao made a bitter face and shook his head.

Zhang Juzheng was troubled. Could it be that the prince had completely learned from the late emperor and started to become a riddle teller?
At this time, the steward was reporting outside the main hall.

"Master, someone has been sent to deliver a letter." "Who?"

"He said he was the steward of Yang Gonggong, the eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, and he was ordered to deliver a letter to the master."

Zhang Juzheng's mind turned, and he immediately said, "Hurry and bring it in."

Soon, the steward hurried in with a letter and handed it to Zhang Juzheng with both hands.

Zhang Juzheng hurriedly opened the sealing wax envelope, took out the letter and read it quickly.

He let out a long sigh and handed the letter to Feng Bao.

Feng Bao was stunned: "Show it to me too?"

"The letter said that I should read it with Mr. Feng."

After Feng Bao took the letter and read it, his face turned pale, but he soon calmed down and said, "Mr. Zhang, now that everything is clear, let's go our separate ways."

"Okay, Eunuch Feng, we will each do our own thing. If there is any progress, we will discuss it together in time."

"That's right, we need to discuss it in time. We need to do our job well and complete the task entrusted by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Feng Bao came and left in a hurry.

After sending him to the gate of the mansion, Zhang Juzheng turned back and shook his head.

Indeed, Feng Bao is still inferior to Yang Jinshui.

Feng Bao and Yang Jinshui should have received instructions from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to work together with him to deal with Yu Changde's affairs.

Feng Bao ran to his house fearlessly to discuss the matter with him face to face, but Yang Jinshui remained calm and sent him a letter at the right time.

Although you are acting on the orders of the Crown Prince, you should not be too ostentatious. Just come quietly.

Besides, you are the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, and I am the cabinet elder. Although you and I are both trusted by the crown prince, we belong to the inner court and the outer court respectively. You and I sit here, close the door, who knows what we are discussing?
Yang Jinshui was much smarter. He only sent someone to deliver the letter and did not meet with him in person, thus avoiding a lot of suspicion.

Zhang Juzheng was somewhat puzzled. Yang Jinshui was so talented, why didn't the prince put him in the Imperial Household Department? Instead, he used Feng Bao, who was not as talented and thoughtful as him?
After thinking for a while, Zhang Juzheng suddenly realized that perhaps it was because Yang Jinshui was too smart and capable that the prince, after repeated consideration, decided not to place him in the Silijian, which was in charge of power, but in the Shaofujian, which was in charge of money.

In the study room of Gao Gong's mansion, Gao Gong sat at the top, with Gao Yi, Zhang Siwei and Wang Lin sitting on his left and right respectively.

Wang Lin asked bluntly, "Duke Xinzheng, it has been three months since the northern and southern expeditions, why is there no news at all?"

Gao Yi glanced at him and said bluntly, "Ji Jin, the Northern Expedition and the Southern Expedition are not children's fights that will produce results in just a few moves. This is a national war that may last for a year or two.

There is no news yet, which is normal.”

Wang Lin glanced at him, lowered his head, a look of disdain flashed across his eyes, and when he raised his head his face was full of concern for the country and the people.

"It is precisely because this is a national war that students are so anxious. Weapons are dangerous tools and ominous things. Now that the nine borders are peaceful and the South China Sea is far away, but for their own selfish interests, they arbitrarily provoke border conflicts and engage in war. What should we do?

Lord Xinzheng, let me ask you, how is the war going?"

Gao Gong was somewhat annoyed at Wang Lin's aggressiveness.

Military affairs are top secrets and must not be disclosed to anyone. This is the iron rule set by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I participated in the collection of food and wages, so I know a little bit. If it is leaked, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will definitely turn his face against me.

"It's going well, Jijin, don't worry."

"Why shouldn't I be worried? Military affairs are a major national issue, but they are being kept secret. Did the northern barbarians not let us know until they have reached Chaoyang Gate in the capital?"

Seeing Wang Lin’s exasperated expression, Gao Gong and Gao Yi knew what he was thinking but did not say anything.

"I think that now the government is in a state of obscurity and the military secrets are kept secret. It won't be long before the treacherous party seizes power and brings disaster to the country and the people!"

Zhang Siwei quickly spoke up to defend him, "Ji Jin, that's too much. You've gone too far."

"Why did you say "over"? When a new emperor ascends the throne, there should be a new atmosphere, clearing up the government affairs, and having all the wise men assist him. But since the first year of Longqing, with so many military and national affairs, has there been any that have been discussed by the court?
If this isn’t called abducting power, what is it called? "

Everyone sneered in their hearts.

In the court's public opinion, you, the upright people who control public opinion and are good at verbal battles and accusations, can stir up trouble and influence the court.

It doesn’t matter whether you can make the right decision or truly solve the problem, but at that time you can get whatever you want, lead public opinion, influence decision-making, and it’s so impressive.

This is the name!

This is power!
This is what you, the upright people who claim to be indifferent to fame and fortune and to care about the country and the people, dream of!
It’s no longer possible now. Xiyuan has taken back all the power, and Qingliu has really become a Qingliu, a clean and useless Qingliu. How can you not be angry?

Gao Gong glanced at him and reminded him, "Ji Jin, Yu Yude is now in prison, awaiting trial. You should think of a way to protect him!"

Wang Lin grabbed his beard and almost pulled it off.

It was because he was worried about this matter that he lost his composure.

He knew Xiyuan's methods. Yu Changde looked righteous and respected, but in fact
What crime will they charge him with?

This is of great importance. If charges are brought against him such as treason and disrespect, there is still room for maneuver, because everyone in the world knows that these charges are false and are enough to stir up trouble.

But Xiyuan would not do that. He would make Yu Changde lose his reputation, be despised by the world, and even expose all the accomplices behind the scenes.

Wang Lin felt even more uneasy.

(End of this chapter)