Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 245: The Right and Wrong of the Emperor and His Ministers

The next day at noon, after Zhang Yunxiu's wife came out of the palace, she sent someone home as quickly as possible.

Then the door of Zhang's mansion was opened wide, and some people were sweeping the house, and some were hanging whips.

The five brothers of the Zhang family all quickly washed and bathed, and then went to the main gate.

Zhang Yunxiu's wife returned home through the side door, but the large box carried by the palace eunuchs had to be solemnly placed on an altar outside the door, and they knelt down to welcome them into the house.

Such a commotion naturally surprised the neighbors, who wondered what kind of favor the emperor would give to the Zhang family.

Until the firecrackers blew, the five Zhang brothers kowtowed and thanked the emperor many times, then stood up and opened the big box with tears in their eyes. Only then did the people watching from a distance see that it was filled with volumes of books and letters.

"Your Majesty has instructed you to edit and publish the Anthology of Duke Taiyue as soon as possible. When the manuscript is completed, Your Majesty will write a preface for it." Liu Ruoyu, who made this special trip, looked very respectful. After bowing, he said, "There may be some imperial edicts submitted by Duke Taiyue in the past in the palace. If the Imperial Household Department finds them again, they will be sent to you."

"My father spent his entire life writing. How can we, the ministers, be lazy? But God's grace is as deep as the ocean. Even if we were to die, we would not be able to repay even a fraction of it!"

Zhang Sixiu was exiled to Guangdong, where he stayed for twenty years.

During these twenty years, he and his third brother Zhang Maoxiu tried their best to search for their father's scattered articles. But as a descendant of a criminal, how difficult was it to compile and publish the collected works of Zhang Juzheng, who had almost become a taboo figure?

Now, the emperor personally delivered a large part of Zhang Juzheng's manuscripts that were only kept in the Forbidden City, and made it clear: the emperor also hopes to see Zhang Taiyue's collection of essays published as soon as possible, and is willing to write a preface for this collection.

After Zhang Sixiu finished saying these words, he and his four brothers knelt down again to express their gratitude and burst into tears.

The noise at the gate of Zhang's house spread.

In the teahouse, storytellers were telling the story of the Chu Fan case: to new guests and to old guests who had listened to the story yesterday and thought they needed to listen carefully and think carefully about it.

Shen Shixing stayed in the capital, waiting for spring to come and the canal to thaw before setting off for his hometown.

His son Shen Yongmao came back and told him what happened in front of Zhang's house. Shen Shixing was silent for a long time with a dazed look in his eyes.

Zhang Juzheng was Shen Shixing's "master". In the 41st year of Jiajing, Shen Shixing won the first place in the imperial examination, and Zhang Juzheng was his examiner. In the 5th year of Wanli, he was promoted to the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, which was also Zhang Juzheng's support. In the Ministry of Personnel, Shen Shixing followed Zhang Juzheng's wishes in everything, so before his death, Zhang Juzheng recommended Shen Shixing to work in the cabinet as the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel and the Grand Secretary of the Dongge.

Originally he was only ranked last, but unexpectedly Zhang Siwei returned home to mourn his father's father not long after becoming the Prime Minister, and the other two cabinet ministers also died one after another, so he successfully became the Prime Minister.

It can be said that Shen Shixing’s official career in the first half of his life was closely related to Zhang Juzheng.

"...In the eleventh year of the Wanli reign, Zhang Siwei changed his ways..." Shen Shixing only said this, then stopped and sighed desolately, "Harmonize, harmonize, and in the end, everything is harmonious inside and outside."

It’s hard to evaluate Shen Yongmao.

He knew that his father now regretted not being able to withstand the pressure in the eleventh year of Wanli.

But if Zhang Siwei had not figured out the intentions of the retired emperor at that time, how could Zhang Juzheng's reputation have suddenly reversed?

At that time, the remnants of the New Deal had high hopes for Shen Shixing. Whether it was out of consideration for winning over the power of the court, or because Shen Shixing himself was attacked as Zhang Juzheng's confidant, Shen Shixing actually had reasons to clearly defend Zhang Juzheng's reputation and achievements.

But he didn't do it so resolutely.

"Do you still remember the Gao Qiyu case?" Shen Shixing suddenly asked.

"I remember. At that time, my son had just been transferred to the Ministry of War to be in charge of the Chariot and Vehicle Department."

Shen Yongmao was a Jinshi in the 11th year of Wanli. He was transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of War. Shen Shixing had just become the Prime Minister at that time and could have stopped further attacks on Zhang Juzheng.

However, the censor Ding Cilu submitted a memorial to expose the fact that when Gao Qiyu, the assistant minister of rites, presided over the Nanzhili provincial examination, he set the topic "Shun also commanded Yu" in an attempt to persuade Zhang Juzheng to become the emperor.

The Emperor Taishang instructed Shen Shixing to handle his memorial. Shen Shixing replied: "This Lü is a dangerous person who has been executed for his ambiguity. I am afraid that slander will continue. This is not what a clear and bright government should have."

Shen Shixing disagreed with this approach. The then Minister of Personnel Yang Wei followed Shen Shixing's wishes and suggested that Ding Cilu be demoted, and the emperor adopted the suggestion.

Afterwards, a group of censors submitted memorials to impeach Yang Wei and Ashen Shi for blocking the way for speech. The emperor thought they had a point and ordered Gao Qiyu to be dismissed and Ding Cilu to remain in office.

Seeing this, Shen Shixing and Yang Wei submitted a petition to resign. Other cabinet ministers also resigned. The emperor upheld the original decision and demoted Ding Ci and Lu to leave the capital.

"Different opinions are mixed together, haha." Shen Shixing just smiled bitterly, "From now on, nothing will be accomplished. How can I have such great ability?"

"...Father, be careful with your words."

Shen Yongmao knew that his father was lamenting that the retired emperor kept changing his decisions, and his purpose was nothing more than to let the cabinet ministers suppress the censors and let the censors suppress the cabinet ministers.

But later the situation became difficult to handle, and the cabinet ministers were afraid that they would be abandoned and blamed. What about the emperor? He began to live in seclusion and neglect his duties.

Shen Shixing glanced at him and said, "Your father will be returning home soon, so I am here to teach you a few more lessons. You have served in the Ministry of War before. Do you know why you were transferred to the Ministry of Rites first after the establishment of the Privy Council?" Shen Yongmao said, "Since my father is the Grand Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, it is not appropriate for my son to serve in the Privy Council. Otherwise, if the father and son serve in the two ministries, there will be a lot of criticism."

"No. If I had quickly set up various disciplines at the beginning of last year, why couldn't you continue to stay in the Privy Council?" Shen Shixing laughed at himself, "It's just that I have too many concerns, it's my personality. Now, you have to follow my words and deeds, and be cautious in everything. Little do you know that this is a different time, and you don't have as many concerns as your father."

Shen Yongmao was indeed cautious and low-key, otherwise he would not have been promoted from doctor to minister of Honglu Temple last year. His rank was promoted, but it was a demotion in name only, so how could he have so much real power?
Looking at his son, Shen Shixing sighed, "Your elder brother died young, and your younger brother is only a juren. The Shen family will rely on you to be the pillar in the future. Before leaving Beijing, your father requested that you be transferred to the Privy Council. You have always been down-to-earth, and you have been diligent in border affairs when you served in the Ministry of War. The Shen family will specialize in military affairs from now on, which can be regarded as an explanation from your father, the first Grand Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, to the acceptance of Confucianism by hundreds of schools of thought."

"Father!" Shen Yongmao was a little shocked.

Shen Shixing said in a gloomy voice: "Your Majesty, if you have any intention, you should not be afraid to make it known to the world. Just this point alone will make the ministers feel much more at ease."

After saying this, he took out a box from under the shelf in the study and stroked the surface of the box.

Shen Yongmao took a look and found that there was not much dust on it.

Shen Shixing looked at the box with nostalgia, and then said, "You can send this box to Zhang's house. It contains letters from many years ago. Please offer sacrifices to the Taiyue Lord Spiritual Tablet on behalf of your father."

Only then did Shen Yongmao realize that his father had been prepared for this. He had already sorted out the letters between him and Zhang Taiyue since some time ago, and perhaps he had even read them many times.

But this box is spotless, yet it is hidden under the shelf in the study in an inconspicuous place and kept in a box.

Just like Shen Shixing's cautious and twisted life.

Such things don't only happen in the Shen family.

After the incident at the gate of Zhang's mansion spread, countless old officials in Beijing dug out the remaining letters from Zhang Juzheng.

Some people looked at it and recalled many past events.

Some people, like Shen Shixing, chose to send someone to Zhang's house.

The emperor's intentions are clear, and his ministers are accustomed to guessing them.

"Father, what else do you think His Majesty intends?"

Wang Heng has been working in the Zanhua Gallery of the Hanlin Academy and is now seeking advice from Wang Xijue.

"Of course it's not just to restore the reputation of Lord Taiyue." Wang Xijue said as a matter of course, "Shouldn't we study Lord Taiyue's life achievements and writings on administration, finance, military affairs, and even scholarship?"

Wang Heng was stunned for a moment and asked, "Father, are you saying that Your Majesty wants all the civil and military officials in the court to learn from Taiyuegong?"

"Shouldn't I learn? Since the reign of Emperor Shizong, the emperor has been careless, the ministers have been unbridled, the generals have been frolicking on the border, and the scholars have been making noises in the schools. The disaster of the collapse of the Ming Dynasty will be hidden in the days of peace and tranquility. Without the power of thunder and lightning, how can we gather the scattered people from top to bottom? Without the orderly and strict laws, how can we eliminate the long-standing and stubborn habits?"

He also recalled the past, and spoke critically of Emperor Shi Miao's words, his tone full of emotion.

"Jiang Ling knew that, and he generously gave himself to the task. He was vigorous and decisive, and everyone in the palace listened to him. He gave rewards and punishments and made all decisions at his heart. He did not feel ashamed of forcing his superiors, nor did he feel ashamed of the right to die. If you think he was a real man, wouldn't you think he was slandered by the public during his lifetime and suffered a strange disaster after his death? I had already foreseen it when I took office. What I am worried about is that my ambitions cannot be fulfilled and my achievements cannot be established!"

Wang Xijue said this and shook his head: "Now, I am just repeating what I have said. Your Majesty has increased the salaries of officials and has strictly implemented preferential treatment and dismissals, and has not hesitated to appoint many ministers. Isn't this encouraging the civil and military officials of the world to take the world as their own responsibility and work hard to achieve this goal?"

"...But Lord Taiyue has great power in the government..."

"Mr. Taiyue has never been disloyal!" Wang Xijue said decisively, "Your Majesty, by showing the ambition of Mr. Taiyue, you are telling the world that Your Majesty is also determined to take the world as your own responsibility. As long as you are loyal to the emperor, there is no need to worry about Your Majesty's suspicion. Otherwise, why do you have so many ministers? A real man, who doesn't want to protect his title, take care of his wife, and win reputation? Your Majesty has never concealed it!"

The two "prime ministers" who were in the highest positions in the country were teaching their sons, teaching them to understand the emperor's wishes and how to plan their future paths.

Even though the Supreme Emperor was still alive, the Emperor still restored Zhang Juzheng's reputation and increased his influence by first marrying Zhang Juzheng's granddaughter as his concubine, then asking the Supreme Emperor to pardon Zhang Juzheng's "faults", and finally continuously bestowing special favors.

This was naturally telling the people of the world that Zhang Juzheng was a minister whom he admired and respected very much.

This incident was already shocking enough, but on the ninth day of the first lunar month, Duke Chengguo Zhu Dingchen, Marquis Ningyuan Li Chengliang, Marquis Wuding Guo Dacheng, as well as civil officials Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, Tian Le, Zhu Geng, Shen Li, Li Dai, Chen Qi, Wen Chun, Yang Yikui, Zhu Guozuo, and Zhang Sixiu and the two brothers Zhang Maoxiu were suddenly summoned into the palace. Even more shocking news would be reported.

After they entered the palace, they were invited to go directly to the Cining Palace.

In the Cining Palace, the eunuchs and palace maids looked extremely nervous and sad.

They faintly heard the cries of many women.

Tian Yi and Chen Ju were also nervous but solemnly waiting at the door. They started by saying, "The Emperor is seriously ill and has been getting worse over the past few days. After waking up at dawn today, he suddenly felt better and was able to speak again. The acupuncture was done with ginseng soup, so maybe..."

Everyone couldn't help but be shocked.

(End of this chapter)