I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 385: Frustrated Gao Gong

Zhu Yijun turned around and asked loudly, "What happened?"

"In reply to your Highness, the Imperial History Bureau editors Zhou Bingzhou, Yuan Xian'an, and Li Zhibin set out bowls to beg at Zuoshun Gate, and also held up a banner that read, 'Forced by the Ministry of Revenue, no allowances or subsidies, begging to support the family!'"

Zhu Yijun's eyes flickered, and he asked, "The names of Zhou Bingzhou and the other two sound familiar."

"Your Highness, at the end of the first year of Longqing, Wei Yunlai, an assistant teacher at the Imperial College, hanged himself in anger because the Ministry of Revenue had overdue salaries and too many discounts. He was unable to repay his foreign debts and was also troubled by the livelihood of his family.

Zhou Bingzhou, Yuan Xian'an, Li Zhibin and the other five people set up bowls and begged at Chaoyang Gate in order to collect money for Wei Yunlai's funeral and for his family's living expenses.

Zhu Yijun was furious. He turned to look at Gao Gong and shouted, "Gao Gong!"

As soon as Gao Gong heard Feng Bao say that Zhou Bingzhou and two others were begging with bowls at Zuoshunmen, his mind exploded.

He never expected that those petty officials who looked like three stinky rats in his eyes would actually give him a heavy blow at the most critical moment, causing his eyes to glow with gold.

Hearing Zhu Yijun's loud shout again, Gao Gong was so frightened that his heart twitched.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has never been so furious in front of his ministers!

For a moment, he was completely desperate. Decades of hard work and expectations were shattered by this loud shout.

Gao Gong fell to his knees with a thud, took off his black hat with trembling hands, put it aside, and leaned on the ground, saying in a hoarse voice: "I am a person without virtue and ability, I resign and return home!"

Gao Gong's voice was not loud, and he floated in the Taiji Hall like a kite with a broken string.

Gao Yi, Ge Shouli and other members of the Gao Party became anxious.

Lao Gao, why are you doing this again?

You have already knelt down ninety-nine times, and you just trembled at this moment, but you retreat at the critical moment. So many colleagues and patriots have placed their hopes on you. Who can you be worthy of?
Gao Yi knelt down and said loudly: "The editors of the Imperial History Bureau Zhou Bingzhou, Yuan Xian'an, and Li Zhibin are begging at Zuo Shunmen with bowls set up. I think there must be a reason for this. Please investigate, Your Highness.

The appointment of new cabinet members is related to the major policies of the country. I implore Your Highness not to let small matters affect the major issues."

Ge Shouli also knelt down, "Your Highness, I also think there is a reason for this, and I beg Your Highness to look into it. The cabinet has a lot of affairs, and the six ministries, five temples, two courts, and major events in the world are all reported to you from here, so that Your Highness can share his worries and solve his problems.

I beg Your Highness not to let small matters ruin important matters."

Wow, three more assistant ministers knelt on the ground and said similar words.

Zhu Yijun walked up to Gao Gong and asked him earnestly, "Duke Xinzheng, should I say that you are unpopular or popular?"

Gao Gong looked up and understood what Zhu Yijun said.

You are unpopular, and so many important officials in the Taiji Palace are pleading for you.

You are popular, but there are a few low-level officials who are willing to take huge risks to embarrass you.

Your Highness, your question is so tricky that I was speechless for a moment!

Gao Gong had no choice but to stand up straight and answer: "I have always been dedicated to the public and have no regrets for the heavens and the earth, or for my sovereign and father."

Zhu Yijun sighed, nodded and replied, "I know that Mr. Gao is bold and resourceful in his work, and he is forging ahead against all odds. Surveying the land is a difficult matter.

Since the creation of the Yellow Book of Fish Scales during the Hongwu reign of Emperor Taizu, the Ministry of Revenue had not updated the survey for 200 years. Xin Zhenggong took charge of the Ministry of Revenue and acted vigorously and resolutely, overcoming difficulties and completing the survey of the nine frontiers step by step.

It’s not easy! I have seen the diligence and loyalty of Duke Xinzheng to the country.”

Gao Gong was in a state of agitation. The grievances that had accumulated in his heart for a long time could not help but surge up and rush to his head. His nose felt sore, his eyes were swollen, and it seemed as if tears would burst out in the next second.

He sniffed quickly and tilted his head up at 45 degrees.

Zhu Yijun continued, "Mr. Xinzheng, you must handle government affairs, but you must also pay attention to the methods and means. You must find ways to overcome difficulties and also pay attention to uniting your colleagues.

We are all ministers in the same palace, and we all serve the Ming Dynasty. What kind of grudges can't be resolved?

Here, I want to criticize you, Lord Xinzheng."

When all the ministers in the palace heard this, they all understood what was going on.

Your Highness wants to protect Gao Gong, otherwise he would not have criticized you publicly in the palace, but would have directly asked you to return home to reflect on your mistakes and wait for the imperial edict.

The high-ranking ministers thought for a moment and began to speculate.

What happened today, could it be that Your Highness wants to give this stubborn Gao Gong a good beating before he enters the cabinet?

The person who came to report the news was Feng Bao. Feng Bao was the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot. The Eastern Depot had the upper hand in handling these matters!
Moreover, Feng Bao came in to report the news, and the time was so accurate.
Zhu Yijun continued, "I have told you many times before that you should be good at criticism and self-criticism, and you should see the shortcomings of your colleagues, point them out, and urge them to correct them.

But what is more important is self-criticism, to find the faults in oneself and correct them. Lord Xinzheng, I think you are not self-critical enough. "

Gao Gong remained silent and did not answer. He knelt on the ground with his upper body upright.

Gao Yi and Ge Shouli, who were kneeling behind him, had just figured out Zhu Yijun's intention and realized that he had no intention of severely punishing Gao Gong. They couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Seeing that Gao Gong was still being stubborn, he felt both hateful and anxious.

Lao Gao, you've suffered so much because of your bad temper, why don't you change it?
The two men hurriedly poked Gao Gong from behind, telling him to quickly surrender, bow his head and say a few soft words, so that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince could go down the stairs and settle the matter of joining the cabinet in the palace.

Gao Gong remained motionless, his eyes looking straight ahead, his expression serious, and he said nothing.

Zhu Yijun smiled inwardly.

I know you, Mr. Gao, are very concerned about your reputation, but with so many people in the hall, you really can't lose face.

He turned around and sat back on the throne, shouting, "Chen Ju!"

"The slave is here!"

"I will record the cabinet personnel adjustments I just mentioned, but will not issue any decrees for the time being!"

"Yes!"

"Okay, that's all for today's meeting."

Chen Ju quickly sang praises: "All ministers bow and take their leave!"

The ministers knelt down and saluted.

Zhu Yijun got up and left Taiji Hall. On his way back to Qinzheng Hall, he said to Feng Bao, "Go to Zuoshun Gate and tell Zhou Bingzhou, Yuan Xian'an, and Li Zhibin that they work diligently in the Imperial Archives, but they lack food and clothing and can hardly support their families.

The Ministry of Revenue is responsible, and I, who am in charge of the government, am also responsible. You apologize to them on my behalf, and give each of them fifty silver dollars in my name.

But rules are rules, they begged at Zuoshun Gate, disturbed the order of the imperial city, and were imprisoned in Shuntian Prefecture for a month. All of them were demoted to the 8th rank of county magistrate and assigned to different places.

Tell them, don’t they always complain about having no way to serve the country? Now give them a chance, and let them prove to me whether they are a donkey or a horse! "

"Yes. I will do it right away."

Zhu Yijun returned to the Qinzheng Hall and Yang Jinshui was waiting at the door.

"This servant greets His Highness."

"Jinshui is here, come in and sit down and talk."

"Yes." Yang Jinshui replied, but did not dare to sit down. He took Qi Yan's teacup, put it on the table next to Zhu Yijun, and stood on the other side.

"I'll go meet Gao Gong later."

"Yes."

"Lao Gao is a capable man with a bad temper. But it is precisely because of his bad temper and recklessness that he can push the new policy forward. If it were an old wily guy like Xu Shaohu, he would not have a bad temper and would be able to make me happy.

But what I want is to implement the New Deal.”

Yang Jinshui replied quietly, "Your Highness is wise. The Ming Dynasty is now plagued by many problems. It needs a minister like Duke Xinzheng who is bold, capable and courageous to break through rocks and mountains and open up a new path for the Ming Dynasty.

But such people often have hot tempers, are stubborn and stubborn. "

"Yes, he is stubborn and stubborn. I gave him a good beating in the palace today, but he is stubborn and refuses to give in. What I want is a pioneer bull, not a mad bull that breaks into a porcelain shop.

What I want is for him to move forward in the direction indicated, rather than rushing around recklessly. However, there are not many ministers in the court who can take on this important task, and Gao Gong is one of the best.

I have to beat him, but I also have to coax him."

Yang Jinshui understood and said, "Your Highness has done a lot of hard work, but outsiders cannot know it. I will visit Gao's house later and persuade the Duke of Xinzheng."

"Well, I've finished singing the villain role, and it's time for you, the red-faced one, to step forward."

(End of this chapter)