Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 19 Donglin Party Summary Meeting (Part )

"Of course it wasn't Cui Wensheng. He's a nobody, just good at picking up bones and wagging his tail, and he's incredibly greedy. The Ministry of Revenue even complained to the Cabinet today. The money seized from the Zheng Mansion is so large, it can't even cover the 540,000 taels of back pay owed to officials below the sixth rank in Beijing." Han Yu sighed. "Cui Wensheng said the confiscation was difficult and asked the Ministry of Revenue to be patient. What are they waiting for? For the money to be in his pocket?"

"Besides, we don't have a place to file this lawsuit. If Cui Wensheng insists that he is not corrupt, will the cabinet ask the Censorate to check the accounts of the East Factory?" Zhao Nanxing continued.

"However, according to convention, the money seized during the confiscation of property usually goes into the Emperor's treasury. The Emperor uses this money to pay the arrears, which is equivalent to taking money from the treasury to subsidize the Ministry of Revenue. This time, they simply skipped that step and let the Ministry of Revenue pay the money directly from the East Depot." Liu Yirong snorted coldly and said, "In other words, Cui Wensheng's behavior is equivalent to reaching into the Emperor's pocket. We can make a fuss about this and have the Imperial Household Department investigate the East Depot. We need to add a few more fuel to the fire and burn Cui Wensheng to death."

"As expected of Lord Liu." Zou Yuanbiao looked at Liu Yirong with a complicated look in his eyes.

Zhao Nanxing nodded in agreement, "That makes sense. We can contact Wang An. He definitely wouldn't mind stepping on Cui Wensheng. Having such a person in charge of the East Factory is not good for either the government or the Donglin."

As a result, Cui Wensheng was once again on the Donglin Party's attack list.

"I don't think it would be Yang Lian who would influence the emperor. Although he was promoted eight levels after the 'Sarhu Case Closing Memorial', Yang Lian had no contact with the emperor before he ascended the throne. His job after the promotion was only to inspect Liaodong, and he did not stay in the confidential department of the capital." Although Yang Lian made Zhou Jiamo lose face at Qianqing Gate, he never held a grudge against Yang Lian for this.

"Who else could it be?" Sun Ruyou asked.

"Gentlemen, you're all too focused on the matter itself." Han Yu continued to keep the conversation a secret. "There are two more people you've forgotten."

"There are two more people?" Sun Ruyou immediately realized what was happening and said, "Are you talking about Xiong Tingbi and Sun Chengzong?"

Han Yu nodded in affirmation, then began to elaborate on his conjecture: "Yes. Have you ever thought about this? When we were fighting with the three factions over the Zheng family's palace relocation, the emperor said nothing. But he promoted Xiong Tingbi and Sun Chengzong, who were a million miles away from the court."

Zhao Nanxing deeply disliked Xiong Tingbi's nasty temper, which made him curse at everyone he met. Furthermore, he was already in a bad mood. So, upon hearing the name Xiong Tingbi, his anger immediately flared up. "The imperial edict says, 'Liaodong Governor Xiong Tingbi has made outstanding contributions in defending the border.' But what achievements has Xiong Tingbi made? He's been in Liaodong for a year and hasn't achieved anything! He's just patched things up to maintain the situation that Yang Hao had ruined."

"He and Yang Hao are from the Chu Party and the Zhejiang Party respectively, so they should get out of Liaodong! Let Yuan Yingtai, who is quite knowledgeable about military affairs, replace Xiong Tingbi and fight a few good battles. If he keeps hiding like this, when will the lost territory in Liaodong be recovered?" Zhao Nanxing was very optimistic about Yuan Yingtai, who was also from the Donglin Party.

Han Yu knew that Zhao Nanxing had been publicly insulted by Xiong Tingbi, so it was natural for him to be angry. However, to continue this insult would be digressing, so he quickly returned to the topic: "Xiong Tingbi was promoted from Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and Right Censor-in-Chief to Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and Left Censor-in-Chief. But like Yang Lian, he had no relationship with the emperor and was far away in Liaodong, so it was impossible for him to have any influence on the emperor.

"So after excluding Cui Wensheng and Yang Lian, the only one who profited during this period was Sun Chengzong."

"Although Sun Chengzong was only promoted from Zuo Yude of the Zhanshi Palace to Shao Zhanshi, don't forget that he now goes to the palace every day to tutor the eldest prince, and Xu Guangqi also came from the Zhanshi Palace."

Han Yu's analysis made everyone present suddenly enlightened.

Zhou Jiamo nodded and said, "Yuchen (Han Yu's courtesy name) is right. Sun Chengzong was not only the Imperial Tutor of the Imperial Household, but also the Crown Prince's lecturer. He's a natural supporter of the Crown Prince, just like the eunuch Wang An. Sun Chengzong must have recommended Xu Guangqi to the Emperor." "That's troubling." Zhao Nanxing held his forehead. "Sun Chengzong has no weaknesses, and his position as the Emperor's tutor makes his favor unmatched. It seems the Donglin Party has gained a formidable enemy."

"They may not be strong enemies, but they could be close allies." Zou Yuanbiao disagreed with Zhao Nanxing's approach of treating everyone outside the Donglin Party as alien. In his view, forming a clique was not an end, but a means to an end. Restoring the Ming Dynasty and revitalizing the court was what scholars should pursue.

"We don't need to target Sun Chengzong. Xu Guangqi himself is riddled with weaknesses. He associates with evil cultists and practices shady tactics all day long. We can attack him from this aspect and force him to step down!" Sun Ruyou and Xu Guangqi had little in common, and should have had no love or hatred for each other. However, Xu Guangqi's advocacy of new learning was enough to make Sun Ruyou regard him as an enemy. What about Europe and Arabia? What's the difference between them and the Japanese pirates on the island nation of Dongyi?
Liu Yirong was speechless to Sun Ruyou: "Jingwen, think carefully about what else Xu Guangqi did?"

"Is this important?" Sun Ruyou didn't care too much.

"Xu Guangqi is the Minister of Rites and the Minister of the Honglu Temple. The Honglu Temple is responsible for the pilgrimage of foreign officials and the tribute of various foreign countries. Xu Guangqi fiddled with Western learning and also served in the Honglu Temple. This shows that the emperor has at least tacitly agreed that those Western Semites will no longer be affected by the 'Nanjing Incident'." Liu Yirong was a little tired.

"More than that. Appointing such a person as the Minister of Rites shows the Emperor is determined to add an extra subject to next year's Spring Examination." Zhou Jiamo didn't mind adding an extra subject. As long as he could cram as many Donglin Party members as possible into the list of new Jinshi candidates, he wouldn't mind adding ten, let alone one.

However, Sun Ruyou disagreed: "How can this be possible? The eight-legged essay is the ancestral system established by Emperor Taizu. How can we change the established laws of our ancestors at will?"

"Then what do you want?" Zou Yuanbiao suddenly began to hate Sun Ruyou.

Sun Ruyou was completely oblivious to this. He thought Zou Yuanbiao was asking for advice. "Mobilize the censors to impeach him."

Liu Yirong rapped his knuckles on the table. "Our current enemies are Cui Wensheng, Fang Congzhe, Xiong Tingbi, the eunuchs, the Zhejiang Party, and the Chu Party. Pushing the Imperial Preceptor into opposition over such a small matter would only be counterproductive. It would also likely displease the Emperor."

"If you don't want to do it, I'll do it myself!" Sun Ruyou said angrily, "The eight-legged essay system for selecting scholars must not be changed!"

"Jingwen, we should prioritize." Zhao Nanxing felt that today's discussion had been fruitful and almost concluded. He concluded, "Sun Chengzong currently enjoys the Emperor's favor and is practically invulnerable. We shouldn't provoke him lightly. Xu Guangqi was most likely recommended by Sun Chengzong, and attacking him could easily push Sun Chengzong into opposition."

"He instigated the Imperial Household Department to attack Cui Wensheng. This man must be eliminated. He will continue to attack the three factions represented by Fang Congzhe and Xiong Tingbi. It is time for me, the Donglin, to clean up the mess in Liaodong."

"Finally, the Donglin Party can turn a blind eye to Jia Ke's affairs, or instigate the three parties to oppose Jia Ke. The Donglin Party should not come forward on its own."

Sun Ruyou wanted to say something, but Zhao Nanxing waved his hand and said, "Dismiss!"

(End of this chapter)