I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 354 You guys can fight each other from now on!
Xu Jie knew better that even if Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng did not want to fight, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would find ways to fan the flames and make the two of them fight.

So harmonious!
Make up for what you lack!
The Crown Prince asked the late Emperor Jiajing to write a picture with the words "Harmony" and hang it in the Cabinet meeting hall. Did he really think that he hoped the cabinet elders would be in harmony?
Listen to the opposite.

If the cabinet is really harmonious, Xiyuan will be in trouble.

Xu Jie said slowly: "Gao Xinzheng has a bad temper. Not only is it well known in our outer court, but also in the inner court, many people must have suffered from him.

I remember that Eunuch Feng had been scolded twice in public in the Taiji Hall after being beaten by Lao Gao.

Yang Jinshui said nothing and listened quietly to him continue.

"A few days ago, because of a memorial, Gao Da Huzi ran to the cabinet and grabbed Zhang Shuda and started a quarrel. The quarrel was so chaotic that the whole cabinet was shocked."

Yang Jinshui asked in surprise, "There is such a thing? It is indeed a bit unreasonable to cause a big disturbance in the cabinet. Can't Mr. Xu persuade them to do something?"

"If I hadn't intervened, the two would have fought. Originally, Zhang Shuda was a cabinet elder, and Gao Suqing was a minister of six ministries. Going to the cabinet to cause trouble was against the rules, or to put it bluntly, it was wanton behavior. I was going to impeach Gao Xinzheng.

But Zhang Shuda is my disciple. If I submit this memorial, someone will definitely accuse me of bias. Alas, Zhang Shuda and Gao Suqing were both lecturers in the palace and ministers in the same palace. They should have a close relationship. How come they are so estranged?
It's really a pity!"

Yang Jinshui also sighed, "Yes, Gao Hubu and Zhang Ge Lao were both ministers in the palace, and they both served as tutors to the emperor. It's a pity that it has become like this now.

Just now Mr. Xu mentioned that Minister Gao has a bad temper, which is true. The Taiji Hall is full of important ministers, including His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, but he made Eunuch Feng from the Imperial Household Department lose face. Alas!
Eunuch Feng and I both worshipped Mr. Huang as our godfather, and we once worked together in the Imperial Household Department. We know his temper, and he is very proud. After being stripped of his face like this, it is hard to say what will happen in the future.

I also ask Mr. Xu to mediate and remind the Ministry of Revenue to forgive others when possible and not to be aggressive in everything."

Haha, do I need to say it?

Xu Jie turned around and thought that Yang Jinshui was actually hinting that he should talk to Zhang Juzheng and win over Feng Bao while Feng Bao and Gao Gong were having a falling out.

He had said that Feng Bao was a face-conscious person, and Zhang Juzheng, as a senior official, would naturally come down the ladder if he made some concessions to him. If the two of them became close, many things would be easier to handle, and they would be able to form a check and balance with Gao Gong and Yang Jinshui's group.

You actually brought up such a revealing topic with me. This must be a task assigned to you by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and it must also be the main purpose of your coming to my house to announce the decree this time.

He is indeed worthy of being the most trusted eunuch of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Xu Jie nodded and replied, "Eunuch Yang is right. Without the help of the inner court, many things in the outer court will be difficult to handle. Gao Suqing is a reckless person, but he is wholeheartedly devoted to the country and the people. I will definitely persuade him well."

"With Mr. Xu's words, our family feels relieved."

Yang Jinshui picked up the teacup, but put it back on the table without drinking it. Xu Jie immediately shouted, "Someone, bring some hot tea and some snacks."

After a while, Xu Kun and the steward brought two cups of freshly brewed hot tea and four plates of exquisite snacks, removed the old tea that had been mostly drunk and turned cold, and left quickly with their heads down.

"Was that the second son of Mr. Xu?"

Yang Jinshui's question made the flesh on Xu Jie's face jump slightly. After going around in circles and talking about a bunch of issues, the issue that he was most concerned about was finally touched upon.

"It is my second son, a mediocre boy, who can only stay at home and study."

"Mr. Xu is too polite. A tiger father will have a dog son. Everyone in the world knows that the Xu family has three unicorn children."

It's a bit embarrassing!
These three in my family, ah, it’s hard to describe them in words.

"Mr. Xu, I heard that the eldest son was so sad and heartbroken over the death of his wife that he became disillusioned with the secular world and entered Hanshan Temple to become a monk?"

Xu Jie sighed: "My son is trapped in his love affair and has no intention of serving his country. Such a mediocre person should just become a monk!"

"The ancient Buddha and the green lamp can purify one's mind and character, which is also a good thing. Mr. Xu retired and returned to his hometown with fewer worries."

Xu Jie's heart, which was almost seventy years old, began beating violently.

The prince meant that the matter of Xu Fan was over, and the Xu family would no longer have to worry about old accounts being brought up again.

He pondered for a while, then said, "My son is stupid and often causes troubles. It brings misfortune to our family. I am worried day and night."

"Why did Mr. Xu say that? His Royal Highness the Crown Prince once told us that Mr. Xu is a man of high moral character and talent, and is well-known throughout the country. He will retire soon and return home, where he will be able to enjoy his remaining years in peace and enjoy the company of his grandchildren, and he will be able to teach his children and grandchildren with all his heart."

The Crown Prince has explained this to me, and that's it! Elder Xu, please relax. Just one thing at a time, when you go back, you should teach your children and grandchildren well and exercise more restraint. If something new happens, that's another matter!

Xu Jie heard it clearly, and said with a folded hand: "Alas, I have taught 400 students, especially Zhang Shuda, Wang Zijian and others, but I have no problem disciplining my own children and grandchildren. I am ashamed!"

Yang Jinshui smiled faintly, picked up the teacup and started drinking again.

"Good tea, good tea. Today we are at Mr. Xu's house and we are drinking really good tea."

"Eunuch Yang, you're welcome."

After sending Yang Jinshui to the gate of the mansion and seeing the group of people disappear around the corner of the street, Xu Jie let out a long sigh and turned back to the inner courtyard.

Xu Kun followed closely behind him and asked softly, "Father, today Eunuch Yang announced that Xiyuan's trust in you is growing day by day."

Xu Jie turned his head and glanced at him. "Give orders to everyone to quietly pack up their things. And then ask the steward to quietly order a boat or a car."

Xu Kun was stunned. "Father, what do you mean?"

"Spring is coming, it's time for me to go back to my hometown to eat loquats!"

Xu Jie flicked his sleeves, walked into the study, and closed the door, leaving Xu Kun standing outside with a confused look on his face.

Xu Jie wrote a letter of thanks and another letter of resignation.

"I bow to your majesty and make this report.

I have been away from my hometown for decades, repaying the country's kindness but neglecting the spirits of my ancestors. Now the emperor's grace is so great that I receive treasures from all over the world for sacrifices and receive surplus funds from the imperial palace for food and clothing. This is not enough. I am so honored and yet so anxious that I can only ask for my bones to return to my hometown. From now on, I will enjoy the company of my grandchildren and will not be able to participate in government affairs again. "

After finishing writing, Xu Jie placed the Huzhou wolf-hair brush on the pen holder, put the memorial aside, and let the ink dry in the shade.

I am finally leaving the court, this place of trouble!
Xu Jie felt relieved, as if a heavy burden had been lifted; but he also felt empty, as if something was missing.

Next, it’s time to talk to Zhang Juzheng.

From then on, the court was dominated by him and Gao Gong. Both of them were considered reformists, but wouldn’t reformists fight among themselves? Conservatism and reform were just means for officials to defend their own interests.

The need to create new interests is reform; the need to maintain existing interests is conservatism. In another twenty or thirty years, Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong will surely become conservatives like me.

It's just that maybe we can't see it.

"Someone come here!" Xu Jie said.

A trusted steward walked to the door and said, "Master, Xu Qi is here."

"Go and ask Uncle Zhang to come over and tell him that I have something to ask you."

Xu Qi hesitated for a moment and replied, "Master, Master Zhang is busy now, so it's hard to invite him. The last few times you invited him, he declined once or twice.

This time I go to invite him, but I can’t guarantee that I can get him back.”

Xu Jie's face turned cold, and he stroked his beard and thought for a while, "Then let's not invite him for now."

"Yes, sir."

Xu Jie leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and felt very tired.

Zhang Juzheng had grown stronger. Not only did he take over part of his own power, he also secretly made friends with a group of people and quietly set up the Chu Party, whose strength should not be underestimated.

The legacy that I want to pass on is a gift, an entrustment, strength, and responsibility.

It seems that Uncle Zhang doesn't want to take over completely at the moment.

Xu Jie closed his eyes and thought for a long time, then suddenly opened his eyes, opened the letter paper, picked up the brush, and wrote: "This book is sent to you."

(End of this chapter)