I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 176 A Solution! Shen Nian: Let everyone have a way out!
"Not yet, but it should be soon!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue couldn't help but get excited. They hadn't expected there to be a strategy that would satisfy everyone.

"Ziheng, explain in detail! Explain in detail!"

Shen Shixing's eyes lit up; Shen Nian had never disappointed in offering advice and suggestions.

Shen Nian paused for a moment and said, "His Majesty and Grand Secretary Zhang are more aware than anyone of the negative impact of the forced mourning period, but His Majesty still insists on it. Grand Secretary Zhang chose to respond to the forced mourning period by 'observing the mourning period while in office.' Grand Secretary Lü, Grand Secretary Ma, and Grand Secretary Yin all agreed to the forced mourning period. The fundamental reason is that they believe the court cannot do without Grand Secretary Zhang!"

"At present, those who agree with the mourning period and oppose the withdrawal of mourning leave only submit memorials mentioning ancestral laws, rituals, and filial piety, which is completely useless. The correct approach is to devise a solution that satisfies both His Majesty and the Grand Secretaries!"

“I oppose the 27-month mourning period because if this is done, the prime minister will have to be replaced. If the prime minister is replaced, the new policies will be in chaos, which could very likely trigger factional strife and even lead to a crisis on the northern border!”

"So I wondered if there was a good way to avoid these crises."

"At present, my idea is that, in order to avoid escalating the conflict, we can first let Grand Secretary Zhang return to his hometown to observe the mourning period, and then it would be best if he could be reinstated to the court before His Majesty's wedding at the beginning of next year. In addition, we should find a reason to retain Grand Secretary Zhang's position as Grand Secretary!"

Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue nodded in agreement, agreeing that Shen Nian's suggestion was the real solution to the problem.

Officials currently opposing the decision to suspend mourning leave.

At least half of them were officials who used filial piety as a pretext to oppose the new policies or Zhang Juzheng's control of the country.

They failed to see the importance of Zhang Juzheng.

They believed that only after Zhang Juzheng was in mourning and a new prime minister took office would they have the opportunity to be promoted and to bring down Zhang Juzheng's many protégés, former associates, and supporters.

In their eyes, anyone could be the head of the Ming Dynasty.

But they did not consider the fate of the Ming Dynasty or the well-being of its people.

Zhang Juzheng stepped down.

Lü Diaoyang or Ma Ziqiang are the most likely candidates to become the new chief minister, followed by Yin Zhengmao, Zhang Siwei, or Xu Jie.

But these few people.

In terms of energy, talent, authority, and courage, he was inferior to Zhang Juzheng.

Even if they were to implement Zhang Juzheng's new policies, the final results would be far inferior to those of Zhang Juzheng.

This is not the most worrying thing.

The two most worrying hidden dangers are: the inner court and border affairs.

Once the young Wanli Emperor and the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs lacked the checks and balances of Zhang Juzheng, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs would become increasingly powerful, and such incidents of officials being flogged in court might become more frequent in the future.

Court flogging.

While seemingly demonstrating the supreme power of the emperor, it was often a helpless measure that could only exacerbate the conflict between the emperor and his subjects, making the contradictions even more irreconcilable.

As for border administration.

Zhang Xueyan, Qi Jiguang, Li Chengliang, and other generals in the northern border region were all strong supporters of Zhang Juzheng's new policies.

Once the prime minister is replaced.

These people, in order to ensure that Zhang Juzheng can still serve as Grand Secretary upon his return, will certainly not cooperate with the new Grand Secretary. If the new Grand Secretary makes things difficult for them, something unexpected will surely happen.

Border affairs are numerous and complex.

If the Mongol tribes take the opportunity to invade, and war breaks out, the new policies will have to be shelved.

These two hidden dangers could severely damage the court, bring the new policies and reforms to an abrupt halt, and force the Ming Dynasty to regress.

……

Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue looked at Shen Nian with puzzled expressions when he suddenly stopped talking.

Shen Nian helplessly shrugged.

"As for how to persuade His Majesty to allow Grand Secretary Zhang to observe the mourning period before his reinstatement, and how to ensure that the court retains his position as Grand Secretary, I... I haven't figured it out yet!"

"Ziheng, think quickly, this is the key!" Wang Xijue said anxiously.

Wang Xijue subconsciously felt that only Shen Nian could come up with a complete plan, hence his urging.

"Don't put too much pressure on Ziheng. Let's think about it together!" Shen Shixing said.

Immediately.

The three of them sat in chairs, all frowning and deep in thought.

……

About half an hour later, it was time for the government offices to close.

Wang Xijue stood up and looked at Shen Nian.

"Ziheng, I'll go tell the staff to prepare dinner and brew a strong pot of tea. The three of us might have to stay up all night tonight!"

Shen Nian nodded helplessly.

Staying up all night is a basic skill for an official in the capital.

If they can't come up with an answer tonight, they'll most likely have to stay up until tomorrow morning.

Just as Shen Nian and the other two were preparing to stay up all night.

Zhao Shigao, Zhang Wei, Yu Shenxing, Wang Jiaping, Shen Yiguan and other Hanlin officials also did not leave, and were all busy writing memorials to plead for Wu Zhongxing and the other three.

If these four are severely beaten this time, their chances of being flogged in court in the future will increase significantly.

Therefore, submitting a memorial to plead for leniency is not only saving others, but also saving oneself.

Dinner is over.

Shen Nian and the other two pondered and discussed the matter.

It's almost midnight.

Shen Shixing paced back and forth anxiously.

Wang Xijue pulled out more than ten brushes from a pen holder, leaving only the handles.

Shen Nian washed her face with cold water more than twenty times.

However, the three of them still couldn't come up with a solution.

Whether it was to allow Zhang Juzheng to observe mourning before reinstatement, or to preserve his position as Grand Secretary, it was difficult to find a reason that no one could refuse.

Not long after.

The three of them finally couldn't stay awake any longer and fell asleep one after another on their desks.

……

The next day, the seventh day of the tenth month, at dawn.

The sky is slightly bright.

Inside Shen Nian's official residence at the Hanlin Academy.

Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, and Shen Nian were all asleep on the table.

Swish!
Just then, Shen Nian suddenly sat up and exclaimed, "I've got it! I've got it! I've got it!"

Shen Nian's voice was very high-pitched.

This immediately brought Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue to their senses.

Seeing Shen Nian's excited expression and the way he spread out the paper, the two guessed that Shen Nian had come up with a solution.

"Ziheng, I'll grind the ink for you!" Shen Shixing said.

"Ziheng, I'll make you some tea!" Wang Xijue said.

……

Just as Shen Nian was writing furiously, devising a solution to the predicament.

A group of Hanlin officials, including Zhao Shigao, Zhang Wei, Yu Shenxing, Wang Jiaping, and Shen Yiguan, jointly submitted a memorial to the Court of State Ceremonial, pleading for leniency for Wu Zhongxing and his three companions.

however.

At Feng Bao's instruction, the Office of Transmission did not submit this memorial to the Wenhua Hall at all.

They were seized without any reason and locked in a wooden box.

at the same time.

A group of imperial guards patrolled the Forbidden City and various government offices.

Any official found carrying tools such as glue would have those tools confiscated; any official found loitering in front of the Cabinet Office or the Six Ministries Corridor would be driven away.

Also.

If any officials were to wander along the banks of the Jinshui River, Feng Bao would immediately order them to be driven away to prevent any from jumping into the river to remonstrate with the emperor.

Emperor Wanli's instruction was a reluctant one.

His original intention was to make an example of someone, but there are too many officials who want to be the "chicken" nowadays.

If unconventional methods are not used to stop it, the number of officials who are flogged could easily exceed one hundred.

Now that he can't see the officials' dissenting memorials, he doesn't need to review them, let alone punish them.

……

Before long, the sun slowly rose.

Wu Zhongxing, a compiler of the Hanlin Academy; Zhao Yongxian, a reviewer of the Hanlin Academy; Ai Mu, an assistant director of the Ministry of Justice; and Shen Sixiao, a principal of the Ministry of Justice, were taken to the Meridian Gate by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

All four were stripped of their official robes and hats, left in plain clothes, their hands bound with hemp rope, their mouths gagged, and forced to kneel on the ground.

It's still early before noon.

They were brought here in advance to instill fear in the officials and facilitate the successful seizure of their prisoners.

……

Just then, inside the Wenhua Hall.

When the young Wanli Emperor was reviewing the memorials, he still came across one that opposed Zhang Juzheng's decision to revoke the mourning period.

This memorial came from Zou Yuanbiao, a newly appointed scholar who was currently serving as the Minister of Education in the Ministry of Justice.

In order to deliver the memorial to the young Wanli Emperor, Zou Yuanbiao disguised it as a request for leave. Then, when he went to the cabinet to discuss matters, he secretly placed the memorial among the memorials that the cabinet had already drafted.

When the young Wanli Emperor saw this, he was so angry that he almost overturned the table.

Zou Yuanbiao's words were even more venomous than those of Wu Zhongxing and his three companions.

"Does Your Majesty retain Ju Zheng because he is beneficial to the country? Little do you know that while Ju Zheng is in office, although he has the talent, his scholarship is biased; although he has the will to do things, he is too self-willed."

Zou Yuanbiao was an opponent of the new policies.

He listed a series of problems with Zhang Juzheng, such as: insufficient promotion of virtuous officials, excessive imprisonment, lack of open channels for public opinion, and failure to address the grievances of the people, thus condemning the new policies as utterly worthless and Zhang Juzheng as utterly worthless.

"Eighty strokes of the cane, and exile to the far frontier!" Little Wanli roared, clenching his fists.

After a while.

Zou Yuanbiao and the other three, including Wu Zhongxing, knelt before the Meridian Gate to await the punishment of being flogged.

All five men held their chests high, looking defiant.

About a quarter of an hour later.

Emperor Wanli sent Feng Bao to the Meridian Gate to deliver a message that sent chills down the spines of countless officials.

"These treacherous and petty men despise my youth and fear the loyalty and integrity of the Grand Secretary. Unable to act for their own benefit, they use the pretext of moral principles to carry out their schemes to exclude and ostracize me. If any of them harbor evil intentions and deceive the emperor, they will be punished without mercy!"

To put it bluntly: Anyone who dares to slander Zhang Juzheng or oppose the decision to revoke his leave of absence will be flogged eighty times and exiled to the far frontier.

The young Wanli Emperor was clearly driven to desperation.

……

At this time.

Shen Nian finally finished writing the solution to the ending. After Wang Xijue and Shen Shixing read it, Shen Nian quickly explained it to them.

Both of them looked pleasantly surprised.

Shen Nian wrote two versions of this plan.

One was presented to the young Wanli Emperor, and the other to Zhang Juzheng. The content of the plan was largely the same, but the emphasis was different.

Will this strategy work?

The key lies in whether the young Wanli Emperor and Zhang Juzheng can agree to implement it.

at the same time.

The three also learned that Zou Yuanbiao had spoken outrageously, was punished with eighty strokes of the cane, and exiled to the far frontier as a soldier.

Shen Nian stood up.

"Scholar Shen, Chancellor Wang, it seems we'll have to split our forces into three groups next!"

"Scholar Shen, please take this proposal to His Majesty and plead for leniency for Wu Zhongxing and the other four!"

"I went to the Grand Secretary's office to report to Grand Secretary Zhang and asked him to submit a memorial to His Majesty!"

"Chancellor Wang, you must immediately go to the Imperial Academy and the Imperial College and order them not to submit any memorials on this matter for the time being. Submitting a memorial will only exacerbate the conflict and will not serve any purpose. In fact, it will make them easy targets for manipulation!"

“Okay!” Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue both nodded seriously.

immediately.

The three of them then ran towards the outside of the Hanlin Academy.

If any other officials or clerks were present, they would be astonished that Shen Nian dared to issue orders to two officials whose ranks were far higher than his.

But at this moment, Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, and Shen Nian didn't care about these formalities at all.

In the eyes of the three of them: those who actually get things done listen to whoever is right.

……

Wang Xijue rushed to the Shuchang Hall first, but it was too late.

Two junior scholars had already smuggled the memorials into the palace through a snack box and delivered them to the emperor's desk.

These two people.

One was Tang Xianzu, who ranked first in the second class, and the other was Feng Mengzhen, who ranked third in the second class.

The two of them were able to succeed so smoothly.

Clearly, someone within the Forbidden City was secretly helping them, hoping they would oppose the decision to revoke the mourning period. In addition, five students from the Imperial Academy took a different approach, standing in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple with a memorial opposing the decision to revoke the mourning period, loudly reciting their memorial to Heaven and Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, reporting the current chaos in the court.

Emperor Wanli was furious.

He had done everything he could to block the channels through which officials could submit memorials, in order to prevent too much repercussions, but there were always some people who wanted to court disaster.

At that age, the young Wanli Emperor was full of vigor and energy, and his blood was boiling.

There is absolutely no possibility of compromise.

soon.

In front of the Meridian Gate.

The number of officials and students who would be punished with "eighty strokes of the cane and exile to the far frontier" increased to twelve.

……

It was close to 9:00 AM.

In Zhang Juzheng's residence.

Zhang Juzheng, dressed in mourning clothes, knelt before the mourning hall set up in the front hall.

At this moment, he had very mixed feelings.

He hadn't expected so much opposition.

Since becoming prime minister, he has heard all sorts of opposition and insults.

He was not afraid of anything.

Because he could use his power to suppress them, because the young Wanli Emperor unconditionally trusted him, and because what he did was for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and its people.

But this time, the word "filial piety" ruined his reputation.

At this moment, Zhang Juzheng clearly did not want to return to his hometown to observe the mourning period for his father.

Because he didn't want the new reforms to be ruined, and because he knew that after falling from this position for twenty-seven months, it might be difficult to get back to it.

He was at home.

However, it is known that the number of officials and students waiting to be flogged outside the Meridian Gate has increased to twelve.

If the young Wanli Emperor and he continue to insist on seizing the opportunity to mourn, the number of people involved will inevitably increase.

Eighty strokes of the cane in court would be enough to kill all of them.

Zhang Juzheng never expected things to escalate to such a tense point.

He and the young Wanli Emperor were both in a difficult position. He was inclined to compromise, but he was also filled with resentment.

Just then, a servant came to report that Shen Nian had urgent business to discuss with him.

"Please come into the study!" Zhang Juzheng said.

this moment.

Zhang Juzheng suddenly let out a long sigh and murmured to himself: If Ziheng also advises me to observe the mourning period, then I... I will return to my hometown!

……

A moment.

Shen Nian appeared in Zhang Juzheng's study.

"Student Shen Nian greets Teacher, please accept my condolences!" Shen Nian bowed deeply to Zhang Juzheng.

He noticed that in just a few days, Zhang Juzheng had many more white hairs at his temples and looked very listless.

Knowing Shen Nian's purpose, Zhang Juzheng immediately spoke first: "Ziheng, are you going to persuade me to observe the mourning period or to discontinue it?"

Shen Nian said, "First, observe the mourning period, then discontinue the mourning."

Zhang Juzheng shook his head slightly.

"Right now, the court officials are all criticizing me for not observing a day of mourning, so how can I be expected to be reinstated? The reason His Majesty is unwilling to observe a day of mourning is that he knows in his heart that if I observe mourning, it will be much more difficult to force me to return to court early!"

Being in mourning for one's parents means resigning from the position of Grand Secretary, and then an official will immediately fill the position.

"If the Grand Secretary passes away in mourning, will the position of Grand Secretary be reserved for you in the court?" Shen Nian asked in return.

“Keep him? Impossible! The mourning period means resignation, and the Grand Secretary is indispensable. Even if Grand Secretary Lü is appointed, the position will not be vacant! What I am worried about is that, given Grand Secretary Lü's energy, he can probably only work for half a month at most before his body can't take it anymore!”

"The same goes for Grand Secretary Ma, and Grand Secretary Yin has a volatile temper and has just been punished. If Xu Gong or Zhang Siwei were to fill the vacancy, I'm afraid... I'm afraid that when I return from my mourning period, everything will have changed!"

Shen Nian stopped keeping everyone in suspense.

He immediately presented his proposed solution to Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Juzheng picked up the document and began to read it carefully.

After reading it, he looked surprised and murmured, "A new drafting agency? Is that really feasible?"

"As long as His Majesty agrees, it can be implemented!" Shen Nian said with a confident expression.

Shen Nian's solution to the predicament was actually not complicated.

There is currently too much opposition.

Shen Nian suggested that Zhang Juzheng return home to observe mourning for his father and bury him. In order to consolidate the new policies and to express gratitude for Zhang Juzheng's contributions over the years, the court decided to retain his position as Grand Secretary until he returned to take office.

Thus, the problem becomes: the imperial court cannot be without a chief minister for even a day.

Then Shen Nian came up with a plan: to establish a new temporary government office directly under the emperor, called the "Drafting Office".

This government office employs several temporary staff.

Its title was: Drafting and Examining Official (Examining means to investigate and examine, and it was also an official position in charge of confidential documents of the imperial court).

The candidates for the Drafting and Reviewing Officials were recommended by the Cabinet and selected by the young Wanli Emperor from among the Six Ministries and several important government offices, with the number of candidates limited to a dozen or so.

The officials responsible for reviewing draft proposals all possess the power to draft proposals, operating in parallel with the Cabinet's draft proposal process.

That is, two identical copies of the daily memorials were made, one of which was submitted to the cabinet for drafting, and the other to the drafting and reviewing official for drafting.

Afterwards, the decision-making and approval of the temporary government office were uniformly carried out by the young Wanli Emperor, and it was to be abolished when Zhang Juzheng returned.

In the past, Emperor Wanli's revision of the draft bills was seen as a sign of dissatisfaction with the cabinet ministers.

However, it would be considered normal for the young Wanli Emperor to revise and refute the draft proposals, since he was the highest-ranking official in the Draft Proposal Bureau.

simply speaking--

The task of drafting imperial edicts was to replace some of the duties of the Grand Secretary, thus reducing the burden on the cabinet and preparing for the young Wanli Emperor to assume personal rule.

Also.

This also made some officials who frequently attack cabinet ministers aware of how difficult it is to draft proposals.

This is equivalent to Emperor Wanli temporarily losing Zhang Juzheng, the "secretary-general" who oversaw all affairs, but gaining a group of "secretary attendants".

in this way.

This not only resolved the potential for political chaos caused by Zhang Juzheng's return to his hometown after the mourning period, but also provided a solid reason for retaining Zhang Juzheng as Grand Secretary: the new policies and reforms were unshakeable.

There were some hidden meanings that Shen Nian didn't write down, but Zhang Juzheng understood them.

This strategy seems to require waiting for Zhang Juzheng for twenty-seven months, but in reality, the drafting department, being a makeshift team, could not possibly replace Zhang Juzheng's role.

The ability to draft proposals is something acquired only after reading countless memorials and gaining a comprehensive understanding of various affairs of the Ming Dynasty.

If Shen Nian were asked to participate in the cabinet's draft proposals, she would feel inadequate, let alone others.

Therefore, Shen Nian felt that at the beginning of the year, he could find a reason to make Zhang Juzheng return to court despite the mourning period.

By then, all officials will be able to see Zhang Juzheng's importance, and the young Wanli Emperor will have more confidence, while the officials' reasons for opposing him will be weaker.

There's no need for much explanation between intelligent people.

Zhang Juzheng knew that Shen Nian's plan was entirely aimed at getting him back as soon as possible.

this moment.

Zhang Juzheng, who was always strong, had reddened his eyes and gradually became moist.

at this time.

It was during his most painful and vulnerable time that he needed care, but countless people were stabbing him in the back.

Only Shen Nian offered him warmth, giving everyone a way out.

"With this plan, I am at ease, and I am willing to return to my hometown to observe the mourning period!" Zhang Juzheng said.

Subsequently.

Shen Nian ground ink for Zhang Juzheng, who then began drafting a memorial requesting to resign due to the death of a parent, and pleaded with the young Wanli Emperor to lightly punish the officials kneeling in front of the Meridian Gate.

At this moment, inside the Wenhua Hall.

After reading Shen Nian's solution, the young Wanli Emperor interpreted it in a way that was "beneficial for His Majesty to assume personal rule."

The young Wanli Emperor was very pleased to hear this.

After the establishment of the Drafting Office, it seemed that the Drafting and Reviewing Officials had taken away the power of the Cabinet, but in reality, it was the young Wanli Emperor who took away the power of the Cabinet.

And because of the presence of many prosecutors, he wouldn't be too overworked.

In his view, the brilliance of Shen Nian's plan lay in the establishment of the drafting and reviewing official.

Without this official post, if the young Wanli Emperor were to personally review memorials and perform the duties of the Grand Secretary, he would never finish the task, even if he worked himself to death.

This way.

By early next year, he will be able to find a suitable reason to reinstate Zhang Juzheng and bring him back to power.

Until then.

The officials who opposed the decision to deprive Zhang Juzheng of his posthumous honor already knew his value; anyone who tried to obstruct him when the court needed him would be courting death.

Just as the young Wanli Emperor was about to agree, he turned and glanced at Feng Bao.

Feng Bao immediately understood and nodded to the young Wanli Emperor.

He was very pleased to see the power of the cabinet weakened.

He also hoped to leave the position of Grand Secretary to Zhang Juzheng indefinitely.

Because if the Grand Secretary is replaced, the inner court may undergo major changes, and his position may become very unstable.

At this moment, the young Wanli Emperor, caught in a dilemma, couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

He didn't want to be a tyrant, but these officials were pushing him too hard!
After a while.

The three Grand Secretaries, Lü Diaoyang, Ma Ziqiang, and Yin Zhengmao, were all summoned to the Wenhua Hall.

Emperor Wanli always asked these three people what they thought.

After reviewing this solution, the three men all agreed that by establishing a drafting office, no one would be able to squeeze into the cabinet.

All they need to do is maintain stability and wait for Zhang Juzheng to return.

Half an hour later.

There were less than 15 minutes left until noon.

Emperor Wanli received a memorial from Zhang Juzheng pleading for his return to his hometown to observe the mourning period and to intercede for the officials outside the Meridian Gate.

After reading it, the young Wanli Emperor had everyone read it as well.

After reading it, Shen Shixing immediately stood up and said, "Your Majesty, this problem has been solved. I humbly request that the twelve people waiting to be flogged outside the Meridian Gate be punished leniently. They may have been manipulated, but they were truly acting out of a sense of public duty to the court!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

……

Lü Diaoyang, Ma Ziqiang, and others stepped forward and clasped their hands in greeting.

After thinking for a moment, the young Wanli Emperor said, "Because of the Grand Secretary's plea, I will not exile them to the far frontier to serve in the army. They can retain their official positions, but they cannot be spared the court flogging. Otherwise, they will have countless other tricks up their sleeves to target me in the future. Let them all be flogged forty times!"

"Be gentle!" Little Wanli turned to look at Feng Bao.

Upon hearing "be gentler," Lü Diaoyang and the others breathed a sigh of relief. With those three words in mind, the lives of these twelve people were no longer in danger.

……

At this moment, there are less than fifteen minutes left until noon.

A large crowd of onlookers gathered in front of the Meridian Gate.

Wu Zhongxing and twelve other officials knelt on the ground, their backs ramrod straight, each with an expression of resignation to their fate.

They were mentally prepared to be beaten to death.

at this time.

A young eunuch walked over quickly.

"By imperial decree, Your Majesty, the Grand Secretary, being kind-hearted, has once again submitted a memorial requesting to return home due to the mourning period. Moreover, he has not forgotten to plead for you all, so the punishment of military service can be waived, and each of you will be given forty strokes of the cane!"

At this moment, Wu Zhongxing and the others were somewhat bewildered.

Wu Zhongxing and Zhao Yongxian looked at each other, their eyes seemingly asking: Have we won? Is Grand Secretary Zhang going back to his hometown to observe mourning for his parents?
Immediately.

All twelve of them were convinced that the emperor had compromised, and that Zhang Juzheng had compromised!

Immediately, the twelve people straightened their backs again and looked directly at the onlookers around them.

At that moment, they all felt like heroes of the Ming Dynasty, having turned the tide and resolved a momentous event that would go down in history.

at this time.

The Imperial Guards pushed them down one by one, preparing to execute them.

Just as Wu Zhongxing and the others were still holding their heads high, displaying their fearless heroism, their pants were suddenly pulled down, revealing their white buttocks.

At that moment, all twelve people simultaneously buried their heads in the ground.

Pulling down their pants was more humiliating to them than being flogged.

Among the crowd, some officials watching were quite excited, unaware of the existence of the "newly established drafting office".

They believed that with the old chief minister gone, a new one should be appointed, and no matter who held the position, no one could be as strict as Zhang Juzheng.

Next, their spring will arrive.

(End of this chapter)