The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 190 Shen Yiguan's Calculation
The first snow of the 13th year of the Wanli reign seemed to never stop falling.

For two days in a row, it was falling like swan feathers, very heavy.

The entire capital city was covered in silver.

The snow keeps falling, and it looks different to different people.

For example, the soldiers in the Beijing camp who were allocated enough land hoped that the snow would fall heavier and last longer, because auspicious snow means a good harvest.

The poor people who have no land, no food to eat and no warm clothes to wear are worried. With such heavy snow, this winter will definitely be very difficult to endure.

The same is true in the court.

Those civil servants with ulterior motives felt a chill in their hearts when they saw the heavy snow. Shen Shixing had returned to his hometown, and Yu Youcai had become the chief minister of the cabinet. What would they do in the future?

Wanli was in a very good mood.

Early the next morning at about noon, he stood under the corridor of the Qianqing Palace again to admire the snow scene.

At this moment, a figure holding an umbrella suddenly appeared in the snow.

Yu Youcai is a really obedient guy. When asked to hold an umbrella, he actually does it.

Seeing this, Wanli went up to him and smiled slightly, saying, "How are you, Bingzhong? Are you cold? How about I order them to make you a pair of woolen gloves?"

Yu Youcai was holding an umbrella in one hand and a stack of memorials in the other, so he couldn't salute.

He quickly handed the umbrella to the eunuch beside him and was about to bow, but Wanli took his arm and said, "No need to bow, no need to bow. Let's go inside and talk."

Yu Youcai was so flattered.

He was just like that. Even after becoming the prime minister of the cabinet, he still felt that he was just a minister and not a big shot.

Wanli also likes those who are not arrogant because of their favor.

He invited Yu Youcai into the imperial study, seated him on either side of the tea table, and ordered fragrant tea to be served. Then he said cordially, "How's it going, Bingzhong? Is there anything special going on today?"

Yu Youcai quickly picked up the top memorial and handed it over with both hands, saying respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty, someone is impeaching the Minister of Works, Yang Wei."

This Shen Yikuan is really quick in his actions.

When Wanli took the memorial and read it, he was stunned.

Chen Younian, Langzhong of the Ministry of Personnel's Examination and Reward Department, submitted a memorial to the emperor, saying that Yang Wei, the Minister of Personnel, was nearly seventy years old and too old to serve in an official position.

This should just be a test, a small bite to the Minister of Works Yang Wei to see his reaction as the emperor.

It is a commonplace that Yang Wei is too old to hold an official position, and this is not a crime.

Shen Yikuan probably just wanted to see whether he, as the emperor, would support his nonsense attacks.

Of course he supports it. He supports whoever Shen Yikuan bites now, and the right thing to do is to start biting as soon as possible.

You can bite anyone from Zhang Juzheng’s old party, Zhang Siwei’s old party, Shen Shixing’s party, etc., just don’t bite his imperial party.

Wanli pondered the memorial for a while, then asked, "What is Chen Younian's background?"

Yu Youcai said without hesitation: "This Chen Younian doesn't have much background. His father, Chen Kezhai, was a Jinshi in the ninth year of Zhengde, but he was dismissed from office because of the great etiquette after he became a censor in the Supervisory Office. He was a Jinshi in the forty-first year of Jiajing, and he was promoted to Langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel's Examination Office after more than twenty years of ups and downs.

However, he is from Yuyao County, Shaoxing Prefecture, Zhejiang Province, which is right next to Ningbo Prefecture, and he seems to have some connections with Shen Yiguan."

Sure enough, this guy and Shen Yi are from the same hometown.

Yu Youcai is indeed talented and can always give the answers he wants.

Upon hearing this, Wanli was quite pleased and said, "Bingzhong, you have done a lot of homework."

Unexpectedly, Yu Youcai said with some embarrassment: "Your Majesty, this humble servant has not done much homework. This humble servant is also a Jinshi in the 41st year of Jiajing. This humble servant is also from Ningbo Prefecture. This humble servant recognizes Chen Younian and Shen Yikuan."

Oh, Yu Youcai and Shen Yikuan are both from Ningbo City!

This is really a coincidence.

Upon hearing this, Wanli asked with great interest, "Bingzhong, did Shen Yiguan come to see you when he was promoted to Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel?"

This one.

Yu Youcai said honestly, "He came to see me. After all, we are all from Ningbo Prefecture, so I couldn't refuse to see him. However, I didn't say anything to Lord Yang Zhaoyang."

Sometimes, there are things that don't require you to say anything.

You and Shen Yiquan are from the same hometown, and you met Shen Yiquan when he came to visit you. That's enough.

When Yang Zhao hears about this, he will definitely give you face and promote Shen Yikuan.

Shen Yikuan is quite good at taking advantage of this.

This guy probably asked Chen Younian to submit the first impeachment memorial because of this.

After all, Chen Younian and Yu Youcai were both from the same school and hometown. It was even possible that Chen Younian was helping Yu Youcai out of respect.

This guy is so calculating!

Wanli pondered and said, "So Zhao Zhigao and you are from the same hometown."

Oh, how could this happen to be such a coincidence?

I don't know why you like Shen Yikuan and the others.

Yu Youcai nodded somewhat helplessly and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, Zhao Zhigao is from Jinhua Prefecture, which is also near Ningbo Prefecture. I knew him before."

You can actually take advantage of this.

The court is full of intrigue and deception.

Wanli nodded slowly and said, "Well, you can get closer to them in the future. After all, we are all from the same hometown."

What does this mean?
Yu Youcai thought about it carefully, then said cautiously, "Your Majesty, do you mean that I should also use them?"

You are indeed talented. If you were not so timid, there would be no reason for Shen Yikuan to be the leader of the Zhejiang Party.

Wanli nodded slightly and said, "Yes, Shen Yiguan and the others are obviously taking advantage of your reputation, and you can also use them to establish your prestige as the Prime Minister.

However, you have to be careful. Shen Yi is a typical person who says one thing in public and another behind the scenes. He is very insidious. You can pretend to be ignorant about some things, but don't let him lead you astray in other things."

Upon hearing this, Yu Youcai nodded solemnly and said, "I understand."

In fact, he is just timid, but he is not stupid at all.

It’s fine if Shen Yikuan wants to use his name to climb up the ladder. After all, they are from the same hometown, so he has to help with this little favor.

However, there is no way Shen Yiquan would use him to do bad things, he would not go into the ditch.

Wanli nodded slightly, looked at the memorial in his hand again, and pondered: "This Yang Wei has been too old to serve in the government for several years. I will treat it as a reward for Shen Yiguan."

Does this mean that Yang Wei should be removed?

Yu Youcai said cautiously, "Your Majesty, Yang Wei is a veteran of three dynasties after all. If I dismiss him directly, I'm afraid it will damage your reputation."

This naturally cannot lead to direct dismissal.

I have to make Shen Shixing and his party understand who is messing with them, otherwise how can I make them fight each other?

Wanli nodded slightly and said, "Well, let me take care of this matter. You can go and do your own thing."

Upon hearing this, Yu Youcai hurriedly bowed and took his leave.

Wanli looked at Yu Youcai's back, and couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth and smile evilly to himself.

After he sent Yu Youcai away, he immediately ordered someone to call Yang Wei over.

Yang Wei is indeed very old. His white beard is almost a foot long and he seems to be walking a little slowly.

It was because he obeyed Shen Shixing in everything that he was promoted and valued by Shen Shixing.

You are so old, why don’t you go home and dig a hole to wait for yourself? Do you want to die in a foreign land?
After the emperor and his ministers exchanged greetings, Wanli handed Chen Younian's memorial over and said expressionlessly, "Lord Yang, will you be seventy this year or next year?"

What does this mean?
Yang Wei bowed and took the memorial, saying carefully, "Your Majesty, I am seventy years old this year."

When he opened the memorial again, he was stunned.

Chen Younian, Langzhong of the Ministry of Personnel's Examination and Reward Department, impeached him for being too old to hold an official position!
This time, he finally understood what the little emperor meant.

What the little emperor meant was, you are already in your seventies and eighties, why don’t you just retire?
In fact, after Shen Shixing resigned, he knew that this day would come sooner or later.

Alas, success and failure are both due to Xiao He.

He was able to hold on to his position as Minister of Works thanks to Shen Shixing.

Shen Shixing has already resigned, so is he still holding on?

This little emperor is very rebellious. Anyone who doesn't know what's good for him will definitely suffer.

It is rare for a person to live to be seventy. Don't let your dignity be ruined in your later years, or you will be ashamed to face the people of Jiangdong.

He sighed secretly, then gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, I beg to return my bones."

I guess you are interesting.

Wanli nodded slightly and said, "I grant you one hundred taels of gold and silver, and a shipload of firewood, rice, oil, salt, and fruits. Go back and celebrate your birthday."

This can be considered a glorious return home.

Yang Wei bowed repeatedly and said, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

(End of this chapter)