I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 52: People who received the cards (Part )
Zhang Juzheng hurried over.

Xu Jie briefly told Zhang Juzheng everything that had happened in the main hall of Renshou Palace that morning.

Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but his Adam's apple shaking up and down.

No one knows life better than a teacher!

Zhang Juzheng could guess that the scene in the Renshou Palace today was most likely discussed by the Crown Prince and the Emperor.

"Teacher, the key to this game is the victory in Xianghe. Qi Jiguang led the Southeast Marine Battalion and rushed to the capital from the southeast by boat in 20 days, and defeated Baduer's Duoluo Tuman tribe.

With this great victory, the whole chess game is now alive!"

Xu Jie slapped the armrest of the chair. He is indeed my favorite student. He hit the nail on the head.

"That's right!
With the great victory in Xianghe, the emperor stood up straight and spoke with confidence. He could justifiably arrest Yang Xuan and Xu Shen and punish them.

As for Yang Xuan and Xu Shen, they are connected to Yang Gong of the Ministry of War and me, their teacher. If Yang Gong and I don't know what's best for us, the blame for the chaos in the capital will be borne by me, Yang Gong, Yang Xuan and Xu Shen together.

How can Master and Mr. Yang bear such a huge sin? "

Seeing his teacher Xu Jie's dejected look, Zhang Juzheng knew that his teacher was not like Yang Tinghe and Yang Rong, who were ambitious and scheming.

The teacher no longer has many ambitions, only schemes and means are left.

"Teacher, Hu Zongxian and Tan Lun took charge of the various towns of Xuanda, Shanxi, Ji and Liao, and Duke Cheng was appointed as the Prime Minister of the Beijing Camp Military Affairs. It was just a signboard. I'm sure Duke Zhu knows this."

Xu Jie nodded and said, "I know. If Zhu Xizhong didn't know, how could he become the most favored person among the nobles?"

"The prince can reach into the Beijing camp under the banner of learning with the cooperation of Hu Zongxian and Tan Lun. There are Ji Liao and Xuan Da outside and the Beijing camp inside. What does the emperor want to do?"

"What do you think?" Xu Jie asked back.

"Students don't know."

Xu Jie stood up, walked to the door, looked left and right, and signaled his confidants to watch the corridor and not allow anyone to approach the door.

He closed the door and walked back, sitting down next to Zhang Juzheng, and whispered in his ear, "The Imperial Hospital has news that the emperor has severe erysipelas and is not in good health."

Zhang Juzheng was shocked and finally understood why his teacher was so cautious.

"Your Majesty knows it himself?"

"Don't you know your own body? The emperor is such a smart man, he really thinks those real people can fool him by just drawing a few talismans."

"What is this, Your Majesty?"

"There's another news."

"Teacher, what's the news?"

"News from De'an Mansion."

Zhang Juzheng was startled again, "What happened to His Royal Highness Prince Jing?"

"He was ordered to leave the capital and become a vassal. After he lost the chance to be crown prince, he spent his days and nights in the De'an Palace, drinking and indulging himself in sex, and his body collapsed."

Zhang Juzheng's eyes turned, "Teacher, are you saying that His Royal Highness Prince Jing might have an accident?"

"Yes, now that Prince Jing has passed away, His Royal Highness Prince Yu no longer has to worry about anything. But he is mediocre and doesn't have many opinions of his own, so the Emperor is worried."

"When I was walking in Prince Yu's mansion, I heard that the concubine was pregnant. Prince Yu is still in his prime, so he will definitely have many children in the future. Is the emperor worried that after Prince Yu ascends the throne, something unexpected will happen, which will shake the position of the crown prince?"

Xu Jie did not answer directly, "Your Majesty always thinks long-term when doing things, and we, as ministers, are well aware of this.

Uncle, you just need to know the truth. Although you are also a lecturer in Prince Yu's Palace, you are far less trusted than Gao Xinzheng and the other three.

On the contrary, the people like Hu Zongxian and Tan Lun here are all outstanding talents of the time, well-informed about the times and brave enough to take on responsibilities. But they are not the ones who can reconcile yin and yang and assist in the balance of government. Uncle, among all the people who are familiar with the prince, you are the only one who has this ability. "

Zhang Juzheng's heart beat violently. What the teacher hinted was obvious.

"The prince is harder to serve than the emperor, but on the other hand, he is actually easier to serve."

Zhang Juzheng didn't want to discuss this matter any further.

The emperor's health condition is a huge secret.

Even if he passed away in a few years, there is still His Royal Highness Prince Yu. He is only in his twenties and still very young. It is too early to talk about these things.

"Teacher, regarding the matter of Yang Xuan, Xu Shen, and Hu Zongxian, Yang Gong from the Ministry of War should have discussed it with you. Have you discussed it with him?"

"What the hell is the point of discussing this! We've been sitting here, staring at each other, worrying for half an hour. We might as well ask him to discuss this with Gao Xinzheng."

"Discuss with Gao Xinzheng?" Zhang Juzheng was a little confused about his teacher Xu Jie's tactics. "Hu Zongxian is in charge of Shanxi, Datong and Xuanfu. The most nervous party is the Shanxi Party!" Xu Jie pointed out.

Zhang Juzheng suddenly realized.

Yes, it is the Jin Party.

Why are Shanxi merchants the richest in the north?

One is the salt from Jie Chi, and the other is the control of trade with outside the Great Wall.

Especially the trafficking of tea, silk and other goods across the northern border in exchange for cattle, sheep and horses, which made huge profits!

Sometimes they would also smuggle grain, salt, ironware and other goods that were expressly prohibited by the imperial court, which was extremely profitable.

If Shanxi merchants want to maintain this lucrative financial route, they have to maintain good relations with the border troops in Shanxi, Datong and other border towns.

One of the methods used by Shanxi merchants was to connect with the Jin Party, help the Jin Party advance in the court, obtain high positions and power, and then in turn influence the border army generals in Shanxi and Datongguan Town.

Although Gao Gong was from Xinzheng, Henan, his origin was in Shanxi. Because of his special status and outstanding talents, he was elected as the leader of the Jin Party.

Yang Bo was from Puzhou and was a core member of the Jin Party.

Now Hu Zongxian is going to be in charge of the three towns of Shanxi, Datong and Xuanfu. Behind him there is a coordination office that is causing headaches for the southeastern families. Shanxi merchants and the Shanxi Party will naturally also be troubled, so they must discuss it carefully.

Zhang Juzheng understood and knew his teacher's true thoughts.

After Hu Zongxian and others left the southeast, the pressure on the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Party was greatly reduced. They were happy to see the Shanxi Party fighting Hu Zongxian and others to the death and reap the benefits.

Teacher, what are your ideals and ambitions?

Has it all been dissipated in the high position of high officials, the glory and the wealth?

Did it disappear in the twenty years of open and covert fighting and intrigue with the Yan Party?
But Zhang Juzheng couldn't ask.

He hesitated for a moment, but what came out of his mouth was something else.

"Teacher, are you planning to retreat temporarily?"

"Uncle, if you take a step back, the world will be clear. If you endure for a while, the sea will be peaceful! In the current situation, I cannot afford not to retreat."

Teacher, of course you can say that.

Once you retreat, you can get away unscathed from the Yang Xuan and Xu Shen cases.

Once you retreat, you can sit back and watch Hu Zongxian and others fight fiercely with the Jin Party.

Once you step down, you can officially become the Prime Minister of the Cabinet.

Zhang Juzheng felt a little lonely.

When I was studying in the Hanlin Academy as a scholar, I was ambitious and had extraordinary aspirations. I wanted to change all the ills in the court and the world, make the Ming Dynasty strong and prosperous, and create a peaceful and prosperous era.

Teacher, you also taught me carefully and encouraged me not to give up easily.
Now I haven't given up, but you, teacher, have completely given up.

Zhang Juzheng sighed in his heart and didn't say much.

Gao Gong put his hands behind his back and paced back and forth in the duty room impatiently.

Yang Bo frowned and asked, "Lord Gao, you've been walking around here for dozens of times. I'm dizzy. Do you know what the rules are?"

"Mr. Yang, Shanxi, Datong and Xuanfu are of great importance. If there is any mistake, it will cause an earthquake. Hu Zongxian is brave enough to take on responsibilities, but he is impatient. I am worried that he will do something bad with good intentions in his impatience.

What’s more, he is a member of the Yan Party!”

Yang Bo shook his head: "Hu Zongxian is not a strict party now."

"Why isn't he a Yan Party member?"

Yang Bo was a little annoyed. Why are you worrying about whether the party is strict or not instead of considering the important matters?
What else can the Yan Party do?
It doesn't matter at all!

"Lord Gao, whether Hu Zongxian is a member of the Yan Party or not is irrelevant to you and me. The key is what the emperor thinks. Now in the emperor's mind, Hu Zongxian and Tan Lun are members of the Crown Prince Party!"

After hearing Yang Bo's blunt remark, Gao Gong was stunned for a moment and sat down involuntarily.

The prince's party!
If this is true, it must be carefully considered.

This morning in the main hall of Renshou Palace, this grandparents and grandchildren were really not so easy to deal with.

(End of this chapter)