I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 387 Zixiang, accept your fate.

Gao Yi and Ge Shouli looked at each other in surprise.

Lao Gao, when did you learn how to tell fortunes, and how can you tell them so accurately?

As soon as he came back, even though there were bound to be guests coming, he changed into his official uniform.

Gao Yi was anxious and asked immediately, "Who is visiting?"

The steward at the door answered, "The eunuch Yang Jinshui, the seal-bearing eunuch of the Imperial Household Department."

Gao Yi and Ge Shouli were both incredulous and asked in unison: "Why is he here? Lord Xinzheng, how did you know he would come?"

Gao Gong stood up and said to the two men, "My two brothers, please sit here for a while. I will go and greet Eunuch Yang. After we finish talking, I will come back to answer your questions."

After saying this, Gao Gong lifted his collar, took square steps, and walked out of the study.

When Gao Gong arrived at the front hall of the front yard, he saw Yang Jinshui, who was wearing a bullfighting suit and a gilded three-peaked hat. He hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Eunuch Yang, thank you for your visit. I am sorry for not coming in person to welcome you. I am so rude!"

Yang Jinshui replied with a smile: "Mr. Gao, you are too polite. Jinshui came uninvited and disturbed your peace and quiet."

"Eunuch Yang said this, please have tea in the flower hall of the central courtyard, please!"

"please!"

Gao Gong invited Yang Jinshui to the flower hall in the central courtyard. The two sat down opposite each other. The servant brought teacups and Gao Gong asked straight to the point.

"Eunuch Yang, you have come to my house. Do you have any advice for me?"

"I came here because of the incident at Zuo Shunmen."

"Zuo Shunmen!" Gao Gong became furious when he mentioned Zuo Shunmen.

At the end of the first year of Longqing, Wei Yunlai, a Beijing official, hanged himself because of the excessive salary reductions paid by the Ministry of Revenue. Later, his good friends, the "Five Righteous Men of Chaoyang", set up bowls to beg at Chaoyang Gate, which became the biggest stain on Gao Gong's official career.

Now someone is rubbing salt into his wounds that are almost healing, and of course he is angry.

"These three scoundrels have no respect for their superiors. They actually acted recklessly in the imperial city and the inner chambers, confusing the public and slandering the officials of the court. They must be severely punished!"

Gao Gong was so angry that his beard stood up.

Yang Jinshui pointed at Gao Gong and said with a smile: "Mr. Gao, look at you, you are anxious again!"

Then he said in a serious tone: "Mr. Gao, you are going to be a cabinet minister, holding power and assisting the emperor in handling government affairs. You should be a role model for all officials. Why are you so anxious again?"

Gao Gong's expression changed several times, and then slowly turned calm. He stroked his beard and replied, "Eunuch Yang is right. I am just too impatient and have suffered too much.

It's a pity that this temper has never changed from my youth to my old age. However, in the past two years, I have restrained myself a lot, but what happened today really made me angry."

Yang Jinshui glanced at him and said, "We think that getting angry is just asking for trouble.

As the saying goes, a prime minister has a broad mind, and Mr. Gao is about to enter the cabinet, which is what the people call "being appointed prime minister."

Gao Gong quickly replied: "I am a humble minister with limited knowledge and moral integrity, so I dare not hope for anything."

Yang Jinshui seized on his words and pressed him, "What extravagant hope? Is Lord Gao going to decline the opportunity to join the cabinet?"

Gao Gong didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Yang Jinshui continued, "When we left the West Garden, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince told us that Minister Gao was not magnanimous enough in this matter.

It is not worthwhile to bear the grudges of the three minor officials. I should have been more open-minded at the beginning and left a good reputation for being magnanimous and generous. "

Gao Gong replied awkwardly: "This is my nature, it is really hard to change.

Yang Jinshui shook his head: "If others say it can't be changed, we believe it. But if Mr. Gao says it can't be changed, we don't believe it at all. Who is Mr. Gao? He is a talent chosen by the late emperor to be the emperor's teacher. He is the best among thousands of scholars and talents.

This minor flaw can be fixed easily."

Gao Gong understood that what people were talking about was not changing his bad habits, but changing the opinions he had always held.

What idea do you want to change?
He figured it out in his mind, but didn't give a direct answer.

“Since I entered the officialdom, I have strictly followed the ancestral system and the etiquette of a minister.

The Emperor has ascended the throne, the Crown Prince has taken power, and I have been summoned from my farming land by grace, promoted from a commoner to a ministerial position, and entrusted with a responsibility that is more than ten thousand pounds. I have done my best to rectify the shortcomings, reform and strengthen the country, and work hard day and night to fulfill the favor of Heaven. "

Yang Jinshui laughed loudly: "Mr. Gao is really capable of adhering to the ancestral system and making innovations." Gao Gong smiled faintly, his expression unchanged, and was not moved at all by Yang Jinshui's sarcasm.

Yang Jinshui nodded: "Mr. Gao can say such words, it seems that the anger about Zuo Shunmen has subsided. It seems that not only is Mr. Gao magnanimous, but also Lords Nanyu and Chuan have been effective in persuading us."

Gao Gong narrowed his eyes slightly.

Gao Yi and Ge Shouli followed him into the mansion, and Yang Jinshui also knew about it.

Is he warning me?
Yang Jinshui did not go into this point further, but changed the subject: "I was delighted to hear that Gao Gong had entered the cabinet. According to the division of labor between His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Gao Gong, Wang Ruguan (Wang Guoguang), Pang Shaonan, and I are all comrades on the economic front of the Ming Dynasty.

Lord Gao is in charge of finance and taxation and is in charge of the banner. Wang Ruguan, Pang Shaonan and our family each perform their duties and do their best for the Ming Dynasty's national treasury and the inner treasury.

Now that Lord Gao has been appointed to the cabinet, we can speak louder. "

Gao Gong's expression changed.

The main part of the drama is finally here. This is the promise that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince made to himself.

After entering the cabinet, he took charge of the "economic" power and continued to implement fiscal and tax reforms such as the land survey and the Single Whip Law. Yang Jinshui cooperated with him in the inner court.

it is good!
This old man has been waiting for this sentence!

When Yang Jinshui saw Gao Gong's expression ease, he knew that he understood what he said, and he felt very happy.

The sweet dates have been given, and it’s time for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to whip us.

Yang Jinshui gestured back and forth between himself and Gao Gong with his right hand, "Mr. Gao, we are from the same group, we are family, there are some things from the heart that we have to say."

Gao Gong quickly replied, "Eunuch Yang, please speak."

"Lord Gao, the matter of Zuo Shunmen can be big or small. Why should Lord Gao continue to dwell on it? Could it be that Lord Gao is willing to sacrifice his life and career to die with these three?"

perish together?

Gao Gong pondered in silence.

What does Yang Jinshui mean by this?
I understand. If this matter is investigated further, I will not be able to escape the consequences. I will be ordered to return to my hometown to study. It is not worthwhile to exchange my career as a cabinet minister for three minor officials of the sixth rank.
Yang Jinshui watched Gao Gong stroke his beard faster with his right hand, smiled faintly in his heart, and added: "Mr. Gao, so, some minor flaws should be corrected. Only by correcting them can we have a clear and blue sky!"

Gao Gong was silent for a minute or two, and finally stopped stroking his beard, and said with his hands clasped, "Please report this to His Highness. I will follow His Highness' instructions and will definitely correct my minor faults, and completely correct them.

The three people from Zuo Shunmen will be dealt with according to the laws of the country and the court. I will not take it to heart."

Yang Jinshui laughed out loud: "Mr. Gao is a man of high moral character!"

After seeing Yang Jinshui off, Gao Gong walked back to the study room quickly and steadily.

Ge Shouli asked, "Are you done talking?

Gao Gong nodded.

Gao Yi asked curiously, "Why did Yang Jinshui come? By the way, Gao Xinzheng, is he the guest you are waiting for? How did you know he would come?"

Gao Gong replied, "Zi Xiang, we should not be concerned about the new law to regulate the various vassal states and royal families."

Gao Yi's eyes shone, and he asked sternly, "Why?"

Then he asked, "Did Yang Jinshui come here to tell you about this? Ask him to come find me!"

"Why are we looking for you? Zixiang, Xiyuan knows everything. If we still insist on not changing our ways, not to mention whether I can still join the cabinet, I'm afraid we won't be able to protect our lives and property!"

Gao Yi was shocked: "What happened to him?"

"How dare we? Zixiang, do you think Xiyuan dares to do this? Do we dare to take this gamble?"

Ge Shouli said hurriedly, "Zi Xiang, isn't what the Duke of Xinzheng said clear enough? We can't gamble. We can't even try to gamble with the patience of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!
Stop it! Stop all that stuff.

Otherwise, everything will be wiped out, but the new law to discipline the various vassal clans will still be implemented. It is better to take a step back and save the green mountains so that there will be no shortage of firewood! "

Gao Yi had a look of grief and indignation on his face and remained silent.

Gao Gong stood up, walked up to him, patted his shoulder, and said nothing.

Ge Shouli raised his head and sighed, "Zi Xiang, just accept your fate. This is at least a good result."

Gao Yi was silent for a long time, and finally sighed, floating quietly in the room.
(End of this chapter)