Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 19 Loving the Young? Killing the Young? (Long Chapter)
Facing the emperor's questioning, Wei Yunzhen showed no fear.

"No, Your Majesty, what I want to impeach is Zhang Shiyuan, the son of Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng, for the crime of misleading the people, and I want to impeach Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng for the crime of abusing his power and failing to discipline his children properly."

Having learned from Yang Sizhi's example, the censors became more cautious and emphasized that they were impeaching Zhang Yunxiu, not Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Juzheng was not strict with his children, and Zhang Yunxiu was able to act arrogantly and domineeringly in the streets. Was he not at fault at all?

Wei Yunzhen came prepared; he even took out a copy of the Wanli Xinbao newspaper.

"This has already been widely circulated in the capital through newspapers. Your Majesty is kindly requested to take a look."

Emperor Wanli had read it so many times he could almost recite it from memory, but he still pretended he had never seen it before and said...

"Feng Banban, bring the newspaper to me for a look."

"Yes."

Once Emperor Wanli received the newspaper, Wei Yunzhen began his tirade.

"Your Majesty, please look at this newspaper. It has three unforgivable crimes."

First, openly using the imperial reign title is a great act of disrespect. The reign title is a symbol of imperial majesty and is related to the legitimacy of the court.

Secondly, the newspapers and periodicals made unwarranted comments on the government's policies, causing widespread discussion among the public and disrupting the order and discipline of the court.
Thirdly, its content is vulgar and offensive, filled with obscene language and often involving immoral and corrupting acts. Such dregs are enough to corrupt people's minds and erode the moral integrity of scholars and common people.

Compared to Yang Sizhi's previous impeachment, Wei Yunzhen's impeachment is far more sophisticated.

By directing the main contradiction at Zhang Yunxiu and avoiding a direct confrontation with Zhang Juzheng, and by presenting a reasonable and well-founded argument, it is clear that he has made ample preparations for today's impeachment.

As soon as he finished speaking, Bian Youyou, an assistant director of the Ministry of Revenue, stepped forward.

"I also have something to report. Recently, many officials have been engrossed in reading these newspapers and periodicals while on duty, becoming so absorbed in them that they forget themselves completely."

Not only the officials in charge of the department, but also many officials in the six ministries and even scholars in the Hanlin Academy read it privately.

Your Majesty, I am concerned that if this continues, the court will be misled by this object, leading to chaos in governance and shaking the very foundations of the nation!

Several officials stepped forward in succession, seemingly ready to launch a collective attack on the newspaper.

Clearly, some officials wanted to use this as an excuse to attack Zhang Juzheng, while others genuinely couldn't accept the existence of newspapers.

At this point, someone finally came out to refute it.

Wang Guoguang, Minister of Personnel, stepped forward and said: “What Bian Yuanwailang said is utterly absurd. How can officials blame newspapers for their own misdeeds just because they are addicted to them? Court officials should be strict with themselves and uphold their integrity. How can they shift the blame to external things?”

If this is the case, and court officials are obsessed with women, wouldn't it be better to ban all women in the land?

"Minister Wang's words"

The court immediately erupted into another heated argument.

Emperor Wanli felt a headache coming on. He hated these kinds of court disputes the most, but he couldn't avoid them.

The emperor narrowed his eyes; he had clearly discerned the intentions of many officials involved.

In reality, the Wanli Emperor was a very conflicted person.

On the one hand, he wanted to regain the reins of imperial power and make his mark on the court.

On the other hand, he felt he couldn't do without Zhang Juzheng. Without Zhang Juzheng, Emperor Wanli didn't know what to do with all the big and small matters in the court.

Did Zhang Juzheng never consider giving up his power?

During the "seizure of mourning" incident in the sixth year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, he had considered it.

After the emperor's coming-of-age ceremony in the eighth year of the Wanli reign, he also thought about it and even wrote a heartfelt memorial entitled "Requesting Retirement from Power".

The text also mentions that "one should not hold a high position for long, nor should one hold great power for long," which is enough to show that Zhang Juzheng had the idea of ​​delegating power.

But when it came time to actually seize power, Emperor Wanli became somewhat afraid and tried his best to persuade Zhang Juzheng to stay.

In fact, before Zhang Juzheng died, Emperor Wanli had grievances and thoughts, but on the surface he still showed him great favor.

Zhang Juzheng's later fate was related to his own actions, but it was also inextricably linked to the character flaws of the Wanli Emperor.

Emperor Wanli, caught in a dilemma, simply stopped worrying about it and passed the problem back to his chief advisor.

"What do you think, Minister?"

Zhang Juzheng saw through everything perfectly and had already prepared his response in his mind.

"Your Majesty, I believe that Minister Wang's words are pertinent."

He explained.

"Since the promulgation of the Performance Evaluation Law, the government's orders have been implemented smoothly and have achieved some results. However, some officials still harbor illusions and disregard the government's rules. The fact that officials are addicted to newspapers and magazines is not due to external factors, but rather to the lack of oversight by the government."

In my opinion, the most urgent task is to strengthen the supervision of officials in the capital, not only in newspapers, but also to crack down on all matters unrelated to official duties within the government offices.

Absolutely no leniency!

“What the Prime Minister says is very true.”

Emperor Wanli nodded repeatedly. Although he had some reservations about Yuan Fu, he still recognized Yuan Fu's abilities.

The matter was analyzed thoroughly in no time.

The main thing is that the little emperor is feeling comfortable!

These dog-like literati are always controlling him, preventing him from doing this or that.

But then they dared to read the newspaper while on duty!

Heaven have mercy! Even he, the emperor, could only peek at it secretly after court. How dare they!
Emperor Wanli said in a very pleasant mood, "Then let's do it that way."

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, some officials who hadn't spoken were completely dumbfounded.

What's going on? I haven't even said a word, and they want to strengthen the supervision of officials? The performance evaluation system is already tormenting people to the point of demotion and exile, and now they want to strengthen it?

For a moment, many officials looked at the impeaching officials with displeasure.

It's one thing for you to mess with Zhang Juzheng, but don't drag us into it!

But Wei Yunzhen didn't care about this. He stepped forward again and said, "Your Majesty! Strictly supervising the officials of the Supervisory Office and their subordinates is a matter of national importance."

He set the tone, and then revealed his true intentions.

"But this newspaper must be banned. The name 'Wanli Xinbao' itself is already outrageous! Zhang Yunxiu must also be punished according to the law!"

He glanced coldly at Zhang Juzheng on the left side of the imperial steps and said, "Does the Grand Secretary intend to show favoritism and protect someone?"

Zhang Juzheng remained silent.

Minister of Personnel Wang Guoguang stepped forward again to refute: "Newspapers are not entirely without benefit. How can we throw the baby out with the bathwater? You say that newspapers spread rumors and mislead the public, but how many officials in various ministries have privately written books and given lectures?"

During the Ming Dynasty, the practice of lecturing flourished. Some high-ranking officials and many retired ministers enjoyed lecturing in private, engaging in lofty discussions, forming cliques and engaging in slanderous attacks on the government under the guise of lecturing, and wasting their time on empty talk.

The Donglin Party, which emerged later, was also influenced by this trend to some extent.

It wasn't until the seventh year of the Wanli Emperor's reign that the emperor and Zhang Juzheng ordered the banning and destruction of all academies in the country, temporarily suppressing this unhealthy trend.

On the throne, Emperor Wanli's expression also became serious.

His thoughts began to wander, and he especially thought of what Zhang Yunxiu had talked to him about a few days ago.

"In today's world, the scholar-officials and the literati control the discourse. His Majesty's word is law, but their control of public opinion and their incitement of scholars and common people is a great calamity for the country. My newspaper is here to reclaim that discourse!"

Zhang Yunxiu's words were a bit crude and simplistic. The emperor hadn't taken a liking to him before, but now he suddenly had a bit of an understanding.

This newspaper...maybe it really does have some use?
Inside the hall, Wang Guoguang and Wei Yunzhen were still arguing fiercely.

"But this newspaper should not be in the hands of a child!"

"Newspapers are newspapers, and children are children; don't confuse them."

"You! Your Majesty! This newspaper!"

"Enough!" Emperor Wanli interrupted, clutching his chin, annoyed by the noise and his teeth starting to ache again.

Then he looked at Zhang Juzheng. "What does the Grand Secretary think?"

Zhang Juzheng stood up and respectfully bowed and knelt down: "My son is young and his behavior is often absurd and disorderly. I beg Your Majesty to forgive my son's overstepping of bounds. If there is any punishment, it is all due to my poor upbringing. I will bear all the blame!"
As for whether this newspaper should be banned, an investigation can be conducted before a conclusion is reached.

In any case, from Zhang Juzheng's perspective, this newspaper was somewhat presumptuous, from its use of the name "Wanli Xinbao" to the section about Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, as well as various comments concerning the court.

If you don't investigate it closely, it's not a big deal, but if you do, the crime of usurpation can be as serious as beheading.

Zhang Juzheng was a man who would severely punish even Empress Dowager Li's father for committing a crime, let alone his own son.

These words shocked all the officials in the court.

Shen Shixing stood aside, looking at the Grand Secretary's still-high shoulders despite his advanced age, and couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

Parents' hearts are always full of love and concern. Even though Zhang Juzheng was verbally threatening to kill, he still loved and protected his young son.

But Wei Yunzhen was clearly unwilling to give up this opportunity. He was determined to go all out and said angrily from the side.

"Your Excellency, don't try to shift the blame. Do you want to take the fall for your son?"

Filial piety and family affection have resonated with people since ancient times. Most ancient dynasties governed the country with filial piety, and the officials were inevitably moved when they saw the chief minister's ox-like love for his calf.

Even the most vocal opponents fell silent.

Inside the main hall, only Wei Yunzhen's voice remained.

He turned to look at the emperor on the throne, seemingly hoping he would express his opinion.

Your Majesty, we are all fighting for you! Say something! Stand up straight and kick the treacherous minister Zhang Juzheng down!

But the emperor's reaction disappointed the opponents once again.

"Well," the Wanli Emperor said somewhat awkwardly, "I also think that this newspaper is not something heretical. I remember that during the Jiajing era, the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Imperial Archives printed 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'."

"Fictional novels are fine, so what's wrong with newspapers and magazines?"

For a moment, the imperial court fell silent.

Emperor Wanli suddenly started to stutter. The officials in the court were all shrewd and astute!
He knew that Zhang Yunxiu was running a newspaper, and he even named it, but he just couldn't bring himself to say it. What had the officials in the court said about that newspaper?

If I were to tell the truth, I fear it would lead to another impeachment.

Torn between the two options, the emperor simply chose to escape.

He immediately waved his hand and said.

"Let's put this aside for now and discuss it again later."

Before Feng Bao could even acknowledge him, the emperor immediately spoke.

"I am tired. Let's adjourn the court now!"

Before Wei Yunzhen could say anything, the emperor slipped away towards the back of the palace without even turning his head.

Ran? ? ?

The courtiers were completely bewildered, not understanding what the emperor meant.

Many officials turned their attention to Zhang Juzheng, as if to say, "Grand Secretary, you need to do something about this. The emperor keeps running away halfway through meetings every day. What's going on?"

Zhang Juzheng, however, frowned deeply, seemingly lost in thought.

The Grand Secretary's official residence.

The sedan chair came to a smooth stop at the door.

Zhang Juzheng, dressed in a scarlet court robe, lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and stepped out with difficulty.

I had barely taken two steps when I lost my balance and almost fell.

Fortunately, the steward You Qi, who had been waiting, reacted quickly and caught Zhang Juzheng.

"Be careful, sir."

After stabilizing Zhang Juzheng's condition, the steward You Qi then spoke.

"The master came back early without saying a word."

Zhang Juzheng responded, looking somewhat tired: "Yes, I'm not feeling well today, so I've come back to rest. Go to the cabinet later and get back some official documents for me; I still have some to review."

You Qi sighed and said consolingly, "Master, you've been working yourself to the bone lately, and your health is getting weaker and weaker. It's really worrying. Why don't you ask a doctor to come and take a look? I heard that the former Grand Secretary Xu has one."

Before You Qi could finish speaking, Zhang Juzheng waved his hand and said, "No need, I know what I'm doing. Let's talk about the matters at your residence."

You Qi had no choice but to give up, but when the topic turned to the manor, he smiled and said, "There's good news at the manor. Haven't you been looking for the Fourth Young Master and the Fifth Young Master lately? They've both returned today, just thinking of apologizing to you. They even brought back that painting of immortals."

"Oh?" Zhang Juzheng's gaze turned cold. "These two unfilial sons dare to come back? The father is to blame for the sons' misbehavior. Take me there; today I will cleanse this family!"

Before You Qi could react, Zhang Juzheng had already stormed into the mansion, looking so menacing that he was practically brandishing a knife.

You Qi was startled and immediately chased after him to stop him, saying something as he ran.

"Master! Master! Please calm down! The fourth and fifth young masters are still children!"

Zhang Juzheng wanted to find two rebellious sons, but in reality, he didn't need to put in much effort at all, because he went straight to the study in the back hall.

Sure enough, the sound of conversation could be heard from afar.

Zhang Juzheng slowed his footsteps, only then realizing that there were three people in the study.

One is Zhang Jianxiu, and the other is Zhang Yunxiu.

The other was his eldest son, Zhang Jingxiu.

Upon learning that these were the three individuals, Zhang Juzheng immediately felt his blood rush to his head.

Zhang Jianxiu and Zhang Yunxiu, those two unfilial sons, fearing their own punishment, actually called their good elder brother over to plead for them.

He was furious and immediately wanted to reprimand the three of them.

But just as they reached the door, they heard the voices of three people talking inside.

But it was Zhang Yunxiu, the unfilial son, who was speaking.

"My two brothers still don't understand their father. In my opinion, he is just too old-fashioned. Why doesn't he dare to fight against Qingliu?"

Always looking inward for the cause of everything—can looking inward for the cause of everything put food on the table?

If you're always looking for problems within yourself, what's the point of having others? If you become an upright official, you're just giving others the opportunity to become treacherous officials.

"This this."

The eldest brother, Zhang Jingxiu, was terrified and stammered.

"Fifth brother, you must not say another word. If Father hears you, he will really punish you according to family rules."

But Zhang Yunxiu said in an arrogant tone: "When there are too many lice, they don't bite. What does Dad know about new policies and reforms? I acknowledge Dad's abilities, but what kind of people are around him? They're always thinking about protecting themselves. You can't trust them, right?"
My father has failed to manage our relationship with His Majesty, and he has failed to manage our relationship with the Cining Palace. If this continues, even the eunuchs will stop supporting us.

My father is getting old; he's become stubborn and doesn't know how to be tactful anymore.

"Fifth brother, you...you..." The eldest brother, Zhang Jingxiu, seemed to be getting anxious. "Fourth brother, say something! You two mustn't cause any more trouble for Father!"

But then he heard the honest words of his fourth brother, Zhang Jianxiu.

“I think what my fifth brother said makes a lot of sense.”

Zhang Juzheng standing outside the door.

My blood is rushing to my head! I'm about to explode!!!

(End of this chapter)