I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 833: The New Protagonist of the Historical Stage
Li Xuan looked at Shu Youliang, who was full of emotion, and felt surprised and happy.

At the beginning, the emperor asked me to follow Shu Youliang to Henan, and also told me to listen more, think more, and learn from Shu Youliang.

I was still wondering at that time.

What is there to learn from an old servant?
If I want to learn, I would like to learn from Hai Qingtian.

But after spending a day together, Li Xuan was surprised to find that Shu Ye was really a treasure old boy!
Although he looks like a vulgar person, he is actually open-minded and clear-headed. He has a clear understanding of the ways of the world and has his own set of principles for dealing with people.

From time to time, he would utter some thought-provoking sentences, just like now, his eyes were full of wisdom, just like a wise man.

No wonder his concubine from Western Yi said that he had an interesting soul in his ordinary appearance.

Li Xuan was still sighing, and the wise man in his eyes turned his head and said to the Shandong merchant at the next table.

"Brother, you Shandong people are also full of evil deeds. Why don't you take advantage of this great opportunity to quickly write a letter to report it, ask Hai Qingtian to investigate your place, and ask Governor Osprey to kill a group of you?"

The merchants around him all echoed: "Yes. This is a great opportunity."

"The Emperor has sent Hai Qingtian and Wang Butang to investigate Henan. You can ask them to investigate Shandong as well."

"Yes, one pig is killed, and a group of pigs are also killed."

The Shandong merchants laughed and said, "There's no need to invite Hai Qingtian and Wang Butang. We in Shandong have already cleaned up the mess ourselves."

Everyone's eyes lit up and their bodies involuntarily leaned towards him, stretching their necks longer.

"Brother, tell me, what's going on?"

"Two years ago, Shandong yamen runners colluded with bandits to rob a merchant caravan. Did you know about that?"

"I know. It's causing quite a stir."

"Because of that incident, the court transferred the governor-general of Shaanxi and Gansu, Mr. Mei (Mei Guozhen), to Shandong as the acting governor.

Lord Mei, who once wielded a knife to kill the northern barbarians in the Nine Borders and the Northeast, came to Shandong to serve as the acting governor. He killed thousands of people in one breath and exiled thousands more. "

Some of the merchants nearby gasped, while others sighed and showed their excitement.

A student asked curiously, "Didn't Master Mei take over the post of envoy to U-Tsang and lead his troops to the snowy plateau to comfort the old Tubo territory?"

“Yes, Lord Mei was promoted, but the successor, Lord Liu, is even more ruthless.

Those who had escaped the net thought they could get away with it and take a breath, but they didn't expect that the successor, Governor Liu, would directly investigate historical accounts and repay historical debts. First, the selection of officials in the province was suspended, all the account books of the six departments in each county were sealed, and several audit teams were invited to review the files of the four departments.

The Household Department reviews taxation and expenditure, the Criminal Department reviews litigation and prisons, the Rites Department reviews county examinations and schools, and the Works Department reviews water conservancy construction.
When a case is discovered, we report it to the higher authorities and arrest a group of people.

In just three months, 26 county magistrates, 15 inspectors, seven prefects, and four councillors were implicated. More than 4,100 clerks and government officials were arrested.
Not only that, Governor Liu also presided over the first open recruitment in the Ming Dynasty, which was open to the whole country, including good citizens, retired officers and soldiers, students, and former students and scholars. A total of 2,670 trainee officials and police officers were recruited to fill vacancies.

It is announced that after the one-year internship, they will be transferred to civil servants and included in the Shandong Licao directory, with the same treatment as recruited officials.

Li Xuan, Ren Boan, Yang Guian and others were all stunned.

Just when you think Hai Qingtian and Governor Osprey are fierce enough, there's someone even more fierce.

Whose general is this?
Everyone looked at the know-it-all Shu Youliang, and Li Xuan asked softly, "Master Shu, do you know this Governor Liu?"

"know."

Mr. Shu is amazing, he really knows everything.

"Then Mr. Shu, do you know what this Governor Liu is up to?"

"Did you know that Yang Jinshui, the Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Household, has two generals, Heng and Ha?"

Li Xuan, Ren Boan and others shook their heads. "Master Shu, I only heard that the former governor of Huzhou and the current Minister of the Imperial Household Department, Mr. Li Sanjiang, is a capable general under Yang Jinshui. I don't know about the other one."

"Li Taifu has the ability of a hawk and a dog, while the other one has the talent of a tiger and a wolf."

"Who said this?"

"My master."

"Master Shu, this talented person is Shandong Governor Liu?"

"Yes. This Governor Liu is named Liu Yupu, with the courtesy name Tangchen and the nickname Feishan Taoist. His ancestral home is in Huaixi. His great-grandfather followed Emperor Taizu to pacify the country and inherited the title of Commander-in-Chief.

During the Hongzhi reign, his great-grandfather moved to Jingzhouwei, Huguang Dusi, where Liu Tangchen was born. His maternal grandfather was Xixi Gong (Song Yifang), a loyal minister who was killed by the rebel Zhu Chenhao during the Zhengde reign.

During the Jiajing period, the sixteen-year-old Governor Liu enrolled in Yehou Academy and was a classmate of Pan Tianguan. Later, his brother inherited the hereditary position and in the thirty-third year of Jiajing, he was transferred to the southeast to suppress the Japanese pirates. Later, he was under the command of Banzhou Gong (Zhang Jing), the right assistant minister of the Ministry of War.

In the Battle of Wangjiangjing in the 34th year of Jiajing, his brother beheaded seven Japanese invaders and was awarded the title of Commander in Chief for his meritorious service. However, he died soon after due to his serious injuries.

Governor Liu had just passed the imperial examination and was preparing to take part in the provincial examination. Upon hearing the bad news, he resolutely rushed to the southeast to inherit his brother's aspirations and accumulated merits over the years as a guerrilla.

Pan Tianguan joined Hu Gong's staff and knew that Governor Liu was a talented person, so he recommended him to join the staff. Later, Eunuch Yang was ordered to supervise the Coordination Office, and Hu Gong recommended Governor Liu to him.

Governor Liu was swift and resolute in his work, as fierce as a wolf and a tiger. Because he was so ruthless, he kept a low profile and did not show off.

The emperor wanted to develop Luanzhou into an industrial base for the Ming Dynasty, and he searched for capable officials. Eunuch Yang recommended Governor Liu.

Everyone said that Luanzhou's prosperity today was due to the ability of Eunuch Yang. However, they did not know that Eunuch Yang stayed in Shanghai in the southeast until the Longqing period when he was recalled to the capital.

Luanzhou's prosperity today is all due to Governor Liu's ability!"

Everyone listened with great interest.

They all knew about the prosperity of Luanzhou's industry, and the ministers in the court were all amazed. Sometimes they also wondered who made Luanzhou what it is today.

The court and the public all said it was Eunuch Yang, the eunuch of the Ministry of Finance, and they believed it. But after hearing what Shu Youliang said today, they suddenly realized that it was indeed Eunuch Yang who returned to the capital during the Longqing period and promoted the donation bureau to the Ministry of Finance.

By that time, Luanzhou had already become a well-known city.

Now it seems that everyone was flattering Yang Jinshui, the second most important figure in the inner court and the eunuch who was favored by the emperor.

The real capable person is someone else.

Li Xuan was excited and suddenly remembered that he seemed to have heard of this name when he accompanied the emperor to study and practice riding and shooting in the Western Garden.

It’s just that the emperor often receives ministers, and there are quite a few of them, with different ranks, so I didn’t pay attention to it at the time.

But why is such a capable minister not valued by the emperor?
Li Xuan asked hesitantly, "Master Shu, when did Governor Liu take over as the Governor of Shandong?"

"Last year, Lord Mei took over as the envoy of U-Tsang, and Governor Liu took over as the governor of Shandong from the prefect of Luanzhou."

"Last year, the fourth year of the Wanli reign?"

"Correct."

Li Xuan's face changed slightly, and he looked uncertain.

"What's wrong, Li Dalang?"

"Why didn't the emperor use such a capable minister? Pan Fengwu, Wang Zijian, and Li Yuanjiang were all summoned to Beijing to join the cabinet and take up important positions, but Governor Liu was sent away?
I can’t figure it out. I really can’t figure it out.”

Shu Youliang glanced at him and didn't say anything in response.

What's so hard to understand? It's your nephew who is trying to balance things out again.

Liu Yupu is a talented person, but he has a close relationship with Pan Yinglong. Now, in the court, a situation of two tigers competing with each other has gradually formed. Although everyone is speculating that Pan Yinglong is the successor to the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, and Wang Yi'e is the successor to the Chief Military Commissioner.

But who can say for sure about this kind of thing!
Wang Yi'e also came from a civil service background. Didn't he want to become the prime minister of the cabinet, take charge of national affairs, continue to preside over the great cause of reform, implement the Wanli New Deal, and go down in history?

When people in the court and the public mentioned Zhang Juzheng, they would blurt out "Prime Minister Zhang Xiang".

When mentioning Tan Lun, one always gets stunned for a moment, and those who pay attention will think, oh, he is the Prime Minister Rong.

However, the Prime Minister is only in charge of military affairs, which has little to do with everyone else, and he does not have much power or influence.

This is the difference.

Pan Yinglong and Wang Yi'e are both talented people. Do you think they will give in?

Your nephew who lives in Xiyuan will definitely strike a balance between the two of them.

The more capable Liu Yupu is, the less likely your nephew will easily summon him to Beijing, as that would disrupt the balance.

Shu Youliang's mind was full of thoughts, but he couldn't tell Li Xuan. He was the emperor's uncle, and blood was thicker than water!

"Perhaps there is no suitable position in the central government. It would be a pity if such a capable official as Liu Tangchen were left idle. It would be a loss to both the country and the people. So it would be better for him to continue to govern the local government and benefit the people."

Li Xuan nodded repeatedly, agreeing with Shu Youliang's statement.

Everyone continued to eat and chat, and when they were ready to leave after having their fill, a waiter came over with a stack of folded newspapers in his hand.

"Everyone, who would like a copy of the Imperial Ming Dynasty Newspaper and the Chinese Political Newspaper that were just delivered?"

Li Xuan held out his hand and said, "Give me a copy of the Imperial Ming Dynasty Newspaper."

Ren Boan said, "Give me a copy of China Political News."

The clerk handed the newspapers to the two men and collected the money. Seeing Shu Youliang staring at him with his eyes darting around, he thought that he had not decided which newspaper to buy, so he asked.

"Sir, would you like one?"

"Is there a Rumor?"

Everyone turned to look at Shu Youliang.

"Why are you looking at me? I don't believe it. You haven't seen it."

Everyone laughed but no one said anything.

The waiter brought hot tea and everyone sat at the table for a while.

"Oh, big news!" Li Xuan said while holding the Imperial Ming Dynasty Newspaper. "The newspaper said that the Ministry of Personnel received an imperial edict and announced to the world that Henan Governor Shi Xing and Henan Provincial Administration Commissioner Liang Cen were dismissed from their posts, and Li E was appointed as Henan Provincial Administration Commissioner and Acting Governor of Henan."

"Li E?"

Everyone was a little surprised by the name.

Ren Boan said, "The chief secretary of Wangbutang."

Everyone remembered that he was the former Chief Secretary of the Governor-General of Huguang and the Chief Secretary of the Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou, and now the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and was Wang Yi'e's most trusted and capable man.

Shu Youliang sighed: "Shi Gong finally got killed."

Li Xuan also sighed: "Shi Gong is also a capable minister, how could he fail to supervise for a moment?"

Yang Guian said, “Just now I heard the Shandong merchants talking about the situation in Shandong, and it’s actually similar.

Logically speaking, when Shi Gong was in charge of Henan, there was such a big mess in Shandong next door. Didn't he have any vigilance? Why didn't he send someone to investigate? "

Others also felt sorry.

Shi Xing has a good reputation for his official conduct, but unexpectedly he was implicated in this major case in Henan.

"Time is destiny!"

Shu Youliang laughed and said, "It's fate. I think Shi Gong is still too attached to the past and can't let go.

According to the popular saying in the newspapers, we are too burdened by history and are still entangled in excessive experience and thinking. We have not broadened our horizons or liberated our minds.

The exact opposite of him was Shandong Governor Liu Yupu and his successor Li E. They were able to let go of historical baggage, liberate their minds, and open up their horizons.”

Li Xuan was stunned.

What Mr. Shu said was exactly like a speech at a meeting of the Advisory Bureau.

Ren Boan and Yang Guian looked at each other.

What Mr. Shu said was so convoluted, but it was actually very simple. Shi Xing has not completely gotten rid of the Confucian ideas of governing the country in the past, and is still bound by certain "unwritten rules" of the past, unable to move freely.

Liu Yupu and Li E, as well as Pan Yinglong, Wang Yi'e, Li Sanjiang, Xu Wei and other ministers who were valued, quickly broke away from the Confucian ideas of governing the country, completely embraced the emperor's new policy ideas, and acted unscrupulously.

Now the stubborn conservatives in the Ming Dynasty have been basically cleared out, and the vast majority of people in the court are new parties who support the new policies.

The new parties that support the New Deal can be divided into two types: one is the conservatives who support reform but hope for steady progress; the other is the radicals who firmly support and fully agree with it.

This is also the difference between Shi Xing and Liu Yupu.

Of course, conservatives are the same word as old party conservatives, but they prefer to call themselves moderates.

The word "radical" has a somewhat derogatory connotation of being impatient for quick results, and radicals prefer to call themselves progressives.

Everyone got up and went upstairs, returned to their rooms to get toiletries and clothes, and went to the bathhouse to take a bath.

When he reached the second floor, he heard a sobbing sound coming from the corridor. Yang Guian couldn't help but look towards the corridor and said, "That stupid guy was crying just now."

"Mr. Bangchui?"

"He was the one who tried to eat and drink for free with the Military Department's Kankou, but was beaten up."

"Oh."

No one took it seriously and continued climbing the stairs.

Shu Youliang glanced thoughtfully at the second floor. Li Xuan behind him couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong, Master Shu?"

"These pedantic and stubborn Confucian scholars will have to cry in the future." Shu Youliang sighed, "Times are changing, and the protagonists are also changing. You finish your performance and I will take my place.

Those who should retire are slowly leaving, leaving the stage of history to new protagonists. "

When everyone heard Shu Youliang's words, they thought of the many noble families that had been wiped out in major cases over the years, and of Xu Jie and Gao Gong.
Thinking back to the major reshuffle in May, many progressive members of the New Party took up important positions, while correspondingly many conservative members of the New Party stepped down.

Shu Youliang said quietly, "I haven't seen Zhang Xiang for half a year. I saw him last month and found that he has aged too. He has really aged a lot!"

The group walked to the corridor on the third floor and their view suddenly opened up.

In the west, the setting sun finally began to fall below the horizon.

In the east, a gibbous moon hung high in the night sky, cool and bright, illuminating the entire world like daylight.

(End of this chapter)