Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 214 The Art of Surrender

Watching the struggle for the country's foundation, the court's party struggles, the years of war, the collapse of financial plans, and the shocking changes in the palace...

Zhao Zhigao once felt from the bottom of his heart that this was a sign of the country's demise.

History has clearly stated that it is not until that day that one can be certain that a country will fall. Many intelligent people can see the general trend.

The basis for his judgment at that time naturally also included the ambitious and extremely selfish Shen Yikuan.

Now Shen Yikuan, under the pretext of considering the emperor and the country, actually persuaded him to come forward together to solve the side effects of the Zhejiang Party's temporary prominence: the dirty tricks that have been hidden in Zhejiang for many years.

"...After so many years, Jianwu is no longer the same."

"Why is Duke Biyang making fun of you?" Shen Yi Guan was a little embarrassed, and then said helplessly, "To be disrespectful, if the emperor was like Your Majesty, even if he only had 60% of the authority and power, why would Duke Biyang be so ill and bedridden?"

"...His Majesty..."

Shen Yikuan knew that he was curious and wanted to make some "justifications" for his current "changes".

So the topic returned to the emperor.

Zhao Zhigao was like that before he retired, and he had to maintain his "paralyzed" persona after he came back. Human nature is just like that, and he doesn't know much about the court's movements. Among those who deal with the emperor at close range, only Shen Yikuan is willing to talk to him in detail in the same capacity.

Zhao Zhigao couldn't help but laugh when he heard that Shen Yikuan had also pretended to be sick but the emperor sent Chen Ju and the imperial physician to treat him.

But from Shen Yikuan's mouth, Zhao Zhigao did hear a very different emperor.

He had only met Zhu Changluo once, on the night of the shocking incident in the palace. Now, the emperor's style described by Shen Yiguan was superimposed on the impression of the emperor who looked like a filial son at that time, and Zhao Zhigao's expression gradually became sad.

"Not to mention exemptions, but strict exemptions and examinations of gentry. Duke Binyang knew about these plans, so didn't he order the clans to clear out the people who donated their land?"

Zhao Zhigao was silent for a moment, and only said one sentence: "As a minister of the old dynasty, I am now sick at home, so it is better to do less than more."

Shen Yi Guan looked at him deeply: "Wang Taicang's family was broken off from marriage, and Shen Rumo's family was beaten to death. What Duke Binyang did is not a small matter."

Zhao Zhigao chuckled, "That's different. The two of them are still in the court. I am a dying man, but I have always been a coward."

"Let's clean up this mess together." Shen Yi Guan said again, "To be honest, I used the Li Zhi incident to resign, but the monarch and his subjects have a tacit understanding. Duke Biyang should also consider nephew Feng Wei. He was impeached and retired when he was the deputy envoy of Lianghuai Salt Transport. Will he be a retired country gentleman in the future?"

Zhao Zhigao frowned, wondering what does tacit understanding mean?

But Shen Yi Guan is so active, it doesn't seem like he wants to return to his hometown to retire.

"Salt tax accounts for half of the national budget, but for many years, the imperial examination officials have regarded the transport department as a stalk-and-stalk place, and have avoided selecting officials. The officials in the department are all bribed and reserved. Although your son was impeached in the past, he still knows a little about salt administration. Changming has already established a salt business. After the whole country has implemented preferential treatment and exemption, Your Majesty will inevitably make some changes to the salt administration. After Zhejiang is sorted out, I will request to select your son again. Your Majesty must always consider the hard work of the old ministers. Duke Binyang, in the future, whether you are in the opposition or in the court will be very different."

The elderly Zhao Zhigao thought about his son and finally let out a long sigh.

Now he is still alive, so he has some blessings. But what about the future?
In the past, cabinet ministers all had imperial favors, but those who were favored were usually Shangbao Sicheng and Zhongshu Sheren. When Zhao Zhigao petitioned to send his son to be the deputy envoy of Lianghuai Salt Transport, he might have intended to slow down the court's financial planning by starting with salt administration so that he could prepare for the war.

But criticism soon followed, saying that he was just asking his son to make money.

With an emperor who lives deep in the palace and does not care about anything, and officials and gentry who are powerful and aggressive, what can Zhao Zhigao do?
Seeing Shen Yiguan's earnest eyes, Zhao Zhigao couldn't help but ask, "I heard that at that time, Your Majesty suspected that the ministers were encroaching on the imperial power. Now, Jianwu firmly believes that Your Majesty will take into account the hard work of an old minister?"

Shen Yi Guan was stunned, and then he could only respond with a joke: "The Duke of Biyang was very skillful at that time, and your majesty is also very skillful. If I were sitting in that position, who else would sacrifice for the new emperor? But looking at the court now, there are still many old ministers who have been supporting the country for many years. Your majesty knows how to use people well."

Zhao Zhigao narrowed his eyes.

Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, Zhu Geng, Shen Li, Tian Le... so many familiar old faces.

Indeed, it was already the second year of Taichang, and the most prominent people in the court were indeed the old ministers of the Wanli Dynasty.

He was making very fundamental reforms and employing only veteran ministers. The emperor did not seem like a young man in his twenties who was brave and diligent.

It's really amazing that he can deal with so many old foxes in the court so successfully.

"Well, I wonder what Jianwu is going to do?"

The two former prime ministers gathered together, and since Shen Yikuan came from afar, he naturally stayed here for the next two days.

They had plenty of time to chat and discuss.

At night, after sending Shen Yikuan and his son to rest in the guest room, Zhao Fengwei helped his old father to the bedroom.

Zhao Zhigao looked at his son's back as he made the bed for him, his weathered eyes filled with both pity and regret.

"When you were the deputy envoy of Lianghuai, did you take the silver?"

Zhao Fengwei paused and answered in a muffled voice, "They took it, but in the end, they found out that they didn't spend a cent, right? If my son didn't take it, how would we know what they do on a daily basis?"

Zhao Zhigao closed his eyes, looking tired.

"You've been very tired today, so you should rest early, father." Zhao Fengwei came over to support him.

"It's been seven years. If you were to do something again now, would it be the same?"

Zhao Fengwei stopped and turned to look at his father.

After a while, he asked, "Didn't father say that the only way for the Zhao family to survive is to stay away from troubles?"

Zhao Zhigao was silent for a long time, then he sat down on the bed tremblingly and said, "Isn't this... a change in the world?"

Zhao Fengwei said nothing.

Zhao Zhigao seemed to be talking to himself: "I studied hard since I was young. I passed the imperial examination at the age of 20, but failed many times. At the age of 45, I finally won the third place. Zhang Jiangling took my love away, and I saved my colleagues, but he hated me. When I was demoted to a commoner and called myself Liuxu, I was already nearly 60 years old and had no intention of serving as an official again. Who would have thought that after Zhang Jiangling left, my colleagues recommended me and I returned."

Of course Zhao Fengwei knew about his father's experience.

From the time he won the third place in the imperial examination in the second year of the Longqing reign to the year before last when he returned to his hometown, Zhao Zhigao only worked as a deputy censor in Guangdong for more than three years in his life, and after being reinstated in the tenth year of the Wanli reign, he served as the Tongzhi of Jiezhou for one year.

At other times, he was a clean official. However, starting from the 19th year of the Wanli reign, Zhao Zhigao had only a reputation as a weak and cowardly official during his ten years as a cabinet minister and two terms as prime minister.

Now that he is very old, his words seem to be saying: He was like that under the world of the past.

"I can't let the historians record my life as a weak and mediocre person, can I?"

"Father, you..." Zhao Fengwei didn't know what his father wanted to do.

Zhao Zhigao fell asleep.

Two days later, Shen Yikuan bid farewell to Zhao Zhigao and returned to Ningbo.

Zhao Fengwei was sent to the post station, and then handed a memorial to the eunuch in charge of the local post station.

Seeing that it was signed "Memorial by veteran minister Zhao Zhigao", how dare they neglect it?

However, the post stations are no longer managed exclusively by the Duzhijian system. There are also deputy post station envoys in various places.

Before Shen Yikuan returned home, Chen Jingji knew that after Shen Yikuan visited Zhao Zhigao, the old prime minister submitted a memorial.

Since it was a secret report, they certainly didn’t know the content.

But the agreed September 8th is approaching after all. Some people from Hangzhou are coming to Ningbo, and the Zhejiang governor's case is all here.

After Shen Yikuan returned home, he rested for another three days until the eighth day of September.

As the official in charge, the magistrate of Yin County also came, although they were prepared to leave after just one meeting.

But when they arrived at the Shen family's reception hall, they saw three people standing there with thorns on their backs.

They are two scholars and one juren from the Shen family.

When Liu Yuanlin, Chen Jingji and others saw this scene, their faces suddenly changed.

"I have been in the court for a long time, and my family has neglected to discipline me." Shen Yiguan also stood up and bowed to the prefect of Ningbo and the magistrate of Yin County: "I will ask about them one by one after returning home. Since the prefect and the county magistrate have come here today, I will first let them apologize for their crimes, and then go to the county government to surrender and return the stolen goods."

The magistrate of Yin County was at a loss. He did not dare to accept Shen Yiquan's gift, nor did he know how to respond, so he looked at the prefect of Ningbo.

But Shen Yiquan made his attitude clear, and Liu Yuanlin and others watched in silence as the Yin County magistrate visited and then took the three Shen children away.

He didn't get straight to the point afterwards, but just exchanged pleasantries.

Naturally, there are many words of gratitude. After all, the people of Zhejiang have received a lot of care from Shen Yiquan over the years.

Shen Yiguan said, "How dare I accept this? I was not admitted to the cabinet until the 23rd year of the Wanli reign, and Duke Biyang was even earlier. Since I was born in Zhejiang, I just thought a little more about the people of my hometown."

"Mr. Longjiang went to visit Mr. Binyang as soon as he returned to his hometown despite the tiring journey. I wonder if Mr. Binyang is in good health?" Liu Yuanlin asked first, and then expressed that he was busy with official duties and had not visited for some time.

"Duke Biyang has nothing to worry about, and his health is getting better and better. Previously, he followed the order to clear out the people in the clan who donated land, and also instructed the clan to strictly implement preferential treatment this year. Now he can walk with crutches and chat for an hour or two without any problem."

Everyone's face changed: Hasn't this guy been paralyzed in bed?

Shen Yi Guan looked at them deeply, "After I returned to Zhejiang, I went all the way to Jinhua Lanxi and saw that many of the water conservancy projects and roads and bridges along the way were in disrepair. You are now serving as officials in Zhejiang, and the people are looking up to you. On the way, I heard that the Empress gave birth to the eldest son of the Emperor, and Your Majesty exempted the country from three years of academic administration, water conservancy, and road and bridge taxes, and also exempted the post station from the burden in the future. Your burden has become heavier. Now that I have retired, I can only hope that you will benefit the people in the future."

Liu Yuanlin looked at Shen Yiguan, gritted his teeth and asked, "Lord Longjiang, don't you see that the people in Zhejiang are in a panic and the people are uneasy?"

"Which people are they?"

"..." Liu Yuanlin's face was full of confusion.

Shen Yi Guan only said: "If His Majesty were in person, he would ask which of the hundreds of surnames is in trouble."

Liu Yuanlin's face changed.

"Your Majesty will personally send people to ask each family kindly to show his concern." Shen Yi Guan explained, "Does the governor understand?"

Liu Yuanlin understood that Shen Yiquan was explaining the emperor's style of doing things, and also explaining why he could not hold on in the court and asked his clansmen to surrender and return the stolen goods as soon as he returned home.

Shen Yiguan sighed again, "There are only three and a half months left in the second year of Taichang. I don't know how to reply to your letters. You still have to wait for me to say something in person? Will Zhejiang be the last one to submit a congratulatory letter to the emperor's eldest son?"

"Lord Longjiang, this is a very reasonable thing to do... Next year..."

Shen Yi Guan shook his head: "That is something you should consider. Seeing that Duke Binyang is in good health, I just hope to live two more years. I didn't catch the Qiantang tide this year, and I don't know if I can see it again next year."

"Mr. Longjiang!" Liu Yuanlin could no longer bear it. "Since you said so, how should we consider it?"

It's the second year of Taichang again, and I don't know if I will be able to see the Qiantang tide next year. Who doesn't understand this?
For a crime punishable by death, can one really consider the consequences and surrender himself?
Shen Yi Guan then looked at them with a serious look in his eyes: "Are you willing to tell the truth and let me help you decide?"

Liu Yuanlin gritted his teeth and said, "May I ask Lord Longjiang, what is the memorial submitted by Lord Binyang..."

Shen Yi Guan answered very quickly: "Since the 19th year of Wanli, Duke Binyang has been willing to surrender and return one million taels of stolen money. How much I am willing to bear depends on what you say."

Everyone's face turned pale: "One... one million taels?"

Shen Yi Guan sighed, "You two old men are risking your lives to save our reputation. I hope you can stop fighting in the future, which will not only bring benefits to the people of Zhejiang, but also take care of our descendants."

Liu Yuanlin's heart sank as he thought about the memorial that was already on the way.

"Can't bear to leave?" Shen Yi Guan sighed and smiled, "Then there's nothing we can do. Who can stand firm when the tide hits us?"

"Lord Longjiang..." Liu Yuanlin was still struggling.

Shen Yikuan suddenly shouted: "If you didn't know how to advance and retreat, why would the matter of Huzhou Changxing have been brought to the emperor's attention, and why would I have to resign?!"

(End of this chapter)