I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 513: The great waves wash away the sand, and someone will always be eliminated
"The Retribution of Minister Xu", "The Splendid Records of Lord Zhang" and "Dream of Spring in the Western Garden", the three major banned book cases, caused a sensation in the court and the country.

Not only did they ridicule the Minister of the Court, but they also extended their claws to the Western Garden, daring to compile a ridiculous "palace dream" that took place in the Western Garden. These anonymous literati, the black hands behind the scenes, have never been hit by the iron fist of feudal society!

The Jinyiwei Zhenfu Division treated this case as a top-ranked case and soon found out that the three banned books were printed by Jinling Bookstore, formerly the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue Printing House.

The general manager of the bookstore was Gao Wenchang, Gao Gong's nephew.

Gao Wenchang was sentenced to immediate execution for the crime of treason.

Gao Gong was therefore ordered to return to his hometown to study.

After the cabinet resigned, the chief ministers Li Chunfang and Chen Yiqin, one was given the title of Grand Tutor and the other was given the title of Junior Tutor, and went to the Law Courts to take on the important task of compiling laws.

Although she has no real power after getting married, she will have higher honors and heavier responsibilities, which can be considered a good thing for her.

Zhang Juzheng was directly promoted to the Prime Minister's Cabinet and became Prime Minister.

Zhao Zhenji was promoted to Chief Censor and continued to be in charge of the Censorate. He also joined the Council of State Affairs with Zhang Juzheng.

According to the new provisions of the National Law, the Advisory Bureau is an institution that assists the emperor in making decisions on national affairs. In the eyes of the public, it is an enhanced version of the Cabinet and the Supervisory Office, and is more powerful than the Cabinet.

Among the former cabinet ministers, only Gao Gong was ordered to return to his hometown to study. This was only because the emperor gave him a break for the sake of the late emperor.

It is said that when the late emperor passed away, he held the emperor's hand and told him to take good care of Gao Gong.

Ugh!
The tall and bearded man played a good hand of cards badly!
The emperor trusted him so much at the beginning and entrusted him with the power of new policies. He didn't expect that he would fail to live up to his expectations. Not only was he defeated by Zhang Juzheng, but his family was also involved in such a big case.

Now Xu Wei suddenly mentioned this major case and asked me to help investigate it. What does that mean?
Wang Shizhen and Wang Shimao were shocked.

Wang Shizhen, in particular, was very nervous.

Old Xu, you don't suspect that these three banned books were written by me, do you?
Yes, I do have a little talent. I have written many opera librettos and several popular storybooks anonymously, but these three banned books really have nothing to do with me.

Wang Shizhen asked tentatively, "Brother Wen, you want me to check these three banned books, but where should I start?"

Xu Wei said straight to the point: "Brother Yuanmei, these three banned books are very well-chosen in word choice and sentence structure, and are elegant and beautiful, reflecting the style of Jiangnan literature.

And they were able to do it so perfectly that even the Jinyiwei couldn't find any clues for a while. It must be the Jiangnan family. Only they can cover up the matter and do it so secretly. "

Wang Shizhen agreed with Xu Wei's analysis in his heart.

Xu Wenchang, worthy of being called the genius of Southeast China and think tank of Xiyuan, saw through it at a glance.

Wang Shizhen said with embarrassment: "There are more than a dozen aristocratic families in Jiangnan. I am familiar with some of them, but not with others. I don't know where to start."

Xu Wei, who had been observing Wang Shizhen, replied leisurely, "Brother Yuanmei, in fact, I have always suspected that this matter was instigated by someone behind the scenes."

"Which one?" Wang Shizhen asked.

Wang Daokun and Wang Shimao also looked at Xu Wei curiously.

"Huating County, Songjiang Prefecture." Xu Wei said word by word.

"Former Prime Minister Xu Fu?" Wang Shizhen was shocked.

Wang Daokun and Wang Shimao's expressions also changed.

"Mr. Wen, please don't say such things casually!" Wang Daokun said hurriedly.

"Brother Boyu, I have a basis for my speculation."

"What's the background?"

“My three friends, the three banned book cases have caused a lot of uproar, but up to now, the only one who has suffered the most is the former cabinet minister Gao Gong.

The students were wondering if this case was aimed at Gao Gong. "

Wang Shimao was stunned, very puzzled, "Aiming at Gao Xinzheng? Aren't these three banned books the same purpose as the booklets and posters by Wang Lin and others?"

“If there were only two books, Records of the Punishment of Minister Xu and Records of the Splendid Beauty of Minister Zhang, I would have believed that their purpose was the same as that of the pamphlets and posters by Wang Lin and others, attacking the new learning and slandering the officials of the new policy.

There is also a disrespectful book called "Dream of Spring in Xiyuan". This is extremely malicious. "

Bad intentions?!
The three of them understood the meaning of Xu Wei's words.

Wang Daokun had a good relationship with Xu Wei, and couldn't help but ask, "Brother Wen, you said that these three banned books were written by someone in the Xu family behind the scenes, in an attempt to bring down Gao Gong?
Gao Gong is a cabinet minister after all, why would the Xu family take such a big risk to deal with him secretly?"

"Cai Guoxi!" Xu Wei replied immediately, "Cai Guoxi was appointed as the right councilor of the Jiangsu Provincial Government, in charge of land surveys and population censuses.

The Xu family was the first to be affected in the land survey. In addition, when Cai Guoxi was the prefect of Songjiang, he was once humiliated by the Xu family. Fortunately, he met Hai Gangfeng who was visiting incognito, which helped him to turn the tables.

A gentleman's revenge is never too late. Now that Cai Guoxi is the right councilor of Jiangsu Province, will he take control of the Xu family? Besides, everyone knows that he was appointed to Jiangsu at the instigation of Gao Gong and Gao Xinzheng. "

Wang Shimao was stunned and immediately asked, "What does Gao Gong instruct? Does he have a grudge with Xu Gong?"

Wang Shizhen sighed inwardly, thinking that his younger brother was even more ignorant of the world than himself.

But it’s better this way, it saves a lot of trouble.

"Jingmei, during the Jiajing period, Gao Xinzheng served in the cabinet once. Later, he left the cabinet and returned to his hometown to study. It was said that it was because of the Shanxi merchants colluding with the enemy. In fact, the then Prime Minister Xu Gong did a lot to add insult to injury.

Gao Xinzheng was vindictive and kept it in mind. He took advantage of the opportunity of presiding over the land survey and the establishment of the new province of Jiangsu to let Cai Guoxi serve as the right councilor of Jiangsu, naturally heading for Xu's mansion.

By then, Cai Guoxi will be in the local government, Gao Gong will be in the central government, and with both sides working together, Xu Gong will also be in trouble. "

Wang Shimao understood his brother's explanation, "Xu's mansion was behind the scenes instructing people to compile and publish three banned books, and then linked it to Gao Wenchang, putting the blame on Gao Gong and forcing him to resign.

Once Gao Gong left, Cai Guoxi in Jiangsu would be unable to support himself. The Xu family, which was deeply rooted in Jiangnan, would find it easy to control Cai Guoxi. "

"exactly."

Wang Shimao was terrified when he heard this.

The ups and downs of officialdom are so dangerous. I feel that I am alive today only because of God’s blessing.

Wang Shizhen turned around and asked Xu Wei meaningfully, "Brother Wen, you want me to verify the connection between the Xu Mansion and the three banned books?"

Xu Wei said indifferently: "Brother Yuanmei, if you can find it, then do it. If you can't find it, forget it. It's a bit too much to ask something that even the Jinyiwei can't find." Wang Shizhen understood and nodded: "Then I understand."

Xu Wei took out a brocade box from the side and handed it over with both hands: "Yuan Mei and Jing Mei are returning home, and Yuan Jing said he would come to see them off. But the Tumed and Yongxiebu tribes suddenly became abnormal, and Yuan Jing followed the imperial edict and went to Fengning Xinghua City to deal with this matter.

I left in a hurry and didn't have time to say goodbye to you two. I happened to be ordered to escort him out of the customs, so he asked me to prepare an agenda and pass it to you two when you left Beijing.

This is Yuan Jing's gift, please don't refuse it, or it will make Yuan Jing feel cold."

Wang Shizhen looked at the brocade box with a complicated expression. After hesitating for a while, he stretched out his hands and took the gift.

"Thank you Yuan Jing for your kindness. When I return home, I will write him a letter to express my gratitude in person. I also thank Brother Wen."

The four of them finally raised their glasses, and Wang Daokun said somewhat sadly: "We are busy with the king's affairs and running around. I don't know when we will get together again.

Let's drink this glass of wine, and take care of each other in the long run."

Sitting in the carriage leaving Beijing for the dock, Wang Shizhen looked at the brocade box in his hand, lost in thought and extremely melancholy.

Wang Shimao asked curiously, "Brother, what's wrong?"

"When the winds rise and the clouds surge, the waves wash away the sands. Some people rise to the top, while others fall from grace and fall to the dust. Back then, I was the leader of the Jiangnan poetry world.
Now, Qi Yuanjing has been made a marquis and is enjoying the same glory as the country. Xu Wei is now a prefect and will soon be appointed as a prime minister. But you and I, brothers, left the capital in panic. "

Wang Shimao comforted him, "Brother, Zen Master Zhigong once said, 'Life is like the winding water, and the world is like the overlapping mountains. There are many changes from ancient times to the present, and poverty and wealth are in a cycle.'

We brothers are like this, it's time, it's fate. We were able to leave Beijing safely, thanks to the help of our good friends Wenchang, Boyu, and Yuanjing.

They have achieved great success, and they still remember their old friendship, which is enough."

Wang Shizhen felt very uncomfortable.

Xu Wei's action was actually a humiliation, like a dagger piercing his sensitive heart.

It was more of a threat, making him feel anxious. But he didn't want to say it, because he didn't want his brother to feel anxious too.

"Jingmei, the situation is really changing now! Morality and literature are no longer worth a penny. The emperor values ​​economic talents who can manage complex and urgent matters, control the economy, and practice the art of kingship and hegemony.

We were swept away by the overwhelming tide!"

The carriage swayed out of Chaoyang Gate. Wang Shizhen opened the curtains, looked back at the majestic city tower, and said sadly: "This city tower really looks like a tombstone!

The aspirations and ideals of so many people of noble character and lofty ideals are buried here.”

In another carriage, Wang Daokun asked Xu Wei.

"Wen Chang, why did you suddenly tell Wang Yuanmei about the three banned book cases? What's your intention?"

Both of them were highly intelligent and clever people. They had both worked in "intelligence" and were very good at observing people's words and expressions and understanding their minds. Wang Daokun saw Xu Wei's "ulterior motives".

"Brother Boyu, you worry too much. I just said this casually."

"Bunaga, you said it so casually, but Yuanmei remembered it. He has a sharp mind and will definitely be restless after returning home."

"Brother Boyu, you must be joking. Yuanmei has nothing to do with this matter. Why is he so uneasy?"

"Wen Chang, don't play dumb with me. Checking the three forbidden books is the job of the Royal Guards. What can Yuan Mei do? You said it deliberately for his ears, but in fact you were warning him.

This case must be the work of a Jiangnan family. If Xu Gong and the Xu family can be suspected, then won't Yuan Mei and the Wang family be suspected? The Wang family is also a family of the Three Wus, and poetry and books have been passed down for a hundred years.

If it weren't for my old friends trying their best to exonerate Yuan Mei during the morning court session on the first day of February, he would have been severely punished like Wang Lin.

You left Beijing in a panic, and you deliberately beat him up. Yuanmei must have been restless when he returned. Once involved in the three major banned book cases, exile to the border would be a light punishment. Wang Yuanmei didn't have any disciples serving as prime ministers in the court.

Wen Chang, you still have resentment in your heart."

Xu Wei was silent for a while, then replied, "Bo Yu, the resentment in my heart was like a raging fire that almost burned me to death.

I thought it was over, but I didn't expect those scholars and writers in the southeast would still treat students like this! The emperor praised my knowledge and talent.

It's just that I was unlucky before and failed the science test. Am I going to be mocked and despised by these people for the rest of my life?"

Wang Daokun felt Xu Wei's anger, thought for a while and then tried to comfort him: "Wen Chang, forgive him when you can. You are a disciple of a famous sect after all, and some of your actions are too extreme to be tolerated by the world."

"Unacceptable to the world? Boyu, which world are you talking about?" Xu Wei asked back, "You and I both know that the teachings of the saints and the principles of Cheng and Zhu have been largely abandoned by the emperor.

Now the emperor wants economic talents who can manage the country and finances, enrich the people and strengthen the army, rather than literary talents who are proficient in poetry and study the classics. Haha, they look down on me and make it difficult for me to be accepted in the world.

Let's wait and see who will be the one who will be hard to tolerate in this new world!"

Wang Daokun was speechless for a moment, thinking of his many good friends and old acquaintances in the southeast. They were well versed in the classics of sages and were good at poetry and literature, but they were afraid that they would never be able to make a name for themselves in the future.

They will be eliminated by the rolling tide like the Wang brothers.

Time is also fate!
Wang Daokun couldn't help but sigh.

The carriage suddenly stopped and there was a traffic jam ahead, blocking the way.

"Xu Jiu, come and see what happened?" Xu Wei instructed through the car window.

"Yes."

After a while, Xu Jiu hurriedly reported from outside the car window: "Master, something big has happened!"

"What happened?"

"We just received an urgent report that Lord Gao is dead at the Linqing Post Station. Some of his students and former officials are leaving the city gate to offer sacrifices."

"what!"

"Mr. Gao? Is he the former cabinet minister and Minister of Revenue Gao Gong Gao Suqing?"

"Yes."

Xu Wei and Wang Daokun looked at each other, their faces full of surprise and solemnity.

(End of this chapter)