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

Chapter 57 Greedy but Not Cunning: Yin Zhengmao
The Grand Secretary's official residence.

Zhang Juzheng's voice echoed in the study.

"The Minister of Justice in Nanjing is in charge of criminal matters in Southern Zhili. Although Nanjing is the secondary capital, powerful clans and aristocratic families are deeply entrenched. Lord Yin should be extra careful on this trip."

Yin Zhengmao, nearly seventy years old, sat upright opposite Zhang Juzheng.

The spacious study was filled with the gentle fragrance of sandalwood incense.

Yin Zhengmao appeared to be a robust man with a broad face and high cheekbones. The heroic spirit he once possessed from leading troops in battle still lingered in his eyes, but the sharpness in his eyes had been lost.

In contrast, Zhang Juzheng was different; his figure became increasingly hunched, and at first glance, he even looked older than Yin Zhengmao.

However, when Zhang Juzheng raised his eyes, the sharpness in his eyes only increased.

Power, or the means to support people.

Yin Zhengmao sighed and said, "I am deeply grateful for your words, Uncle. I have been retired for three years and did not want to participate in politics again. However, the court is about to implement reforms, so I can only drag my old body to serve the country."

Upon assuming office in Nanjing, I dared not compare myself to Bao Zheng, but I would strive to ensure that punishments were commensurate with crimes and that no one suffered injustice.

Yin Zhengmao spoke earnestly, but by the end, a hint of weariness appeared on his face.

"However, before I retired from office, I had already been impeached by officials for 'corruption' many times, and I was truly exhausted."

Back when Yin Zhengmao was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, there was a constant stream of officials in the court impeaching him.

Even after he retired and returned to his hometown, such voices continued to haunt him. News from the court often reached his hometown in Huizhou, making Yin Zhengmao feel deeply uneasy.

Approaching seventy, Yin Zhengmao had clearly lost the courage to fight in the imperial court.

“Of course I know,” Zhang Juzheng sighed. “Water that is too clear has no fish! Back when Gao Suqing was allocating funds to you for suppressing bandits, he said, ‘Even if half of it is embezzled, it’s better than a mediocre official wasting millions.’ If you want to get things done, you can’t be completely incorruptible.”

He paused for a moment and then encouraged her.

"If you can govern Southern Zhili well, and there are any rumors in the court, Juzheng will take responsibility."

Upon hearing this, Yin Zhengmao was somewhat moved, and he spoke with a serious expression.

"With Uncle Da's words, I, Yin Zhengmao, am willing to risk my old life and even my official hat as collateral to make a name for myself in Nanjing. If I ever commit any acts of favoritism or perversion of justice in the future, I am willing to accept punishment!"

Zhang Juzheng nodded; he still trusted Yin Zhengmao quite a bit.

Both men were Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) in the 26th year of the Jiajing reign (1547), and they have supported each other for many years.

Zhang Juzheng was very good at judging people. He knew that Yin Zhengmao was not as upright as he claimed. However, after serving as an official for many years, he was well aware of the true value of Gao Suqing's saying, "Even if one is corrupt by half, it is better than a mediocre official wasting millions."

With the "Single Whip" law about to be implemented, Zhang Juzheng desperately needed someone like Yin Zhengmao, who was both trustworthy and capable, to assist him.

He clearly preferred a capable corrupt official to an incompetent honest official.

Moreover, Yin Zhengmao was a man of principle; as long as he didn't make any fundamental mistakes, Zhang Juzheng would turn a blind eye.

Of course, there were some things Zhang Juzheng simply couldn't "turn a blind eye to."

Therefore, Zhang Juzheng took a letter from the table and handed it to Yin Zhengmao, saying...

"Lord Yin, now that you have taken office as the Minister of Justice in Nanjing, I have another matter to entrust to you."

"Uncle, what is this?" Yin Zhengmao hesitated for a moment, because he clearly saw that the document was in the format of a memorial to the emperor.

Why did Zhang Juzheng hand the memorial to himself instead of giving it to the emperor?
Zhang Juzheng sighed: "Lord Yin will know once he takes a look."

Filled with questions, Yin Zhengmao slowly opened the memorial and began to read. But what he saw immediately captivated him, and he broke out in a cold sweat. For a moment, Yin Zhengmao's hands trembled slightly, and he stared wide-eyed at Zhang Juzheng, instinctively saying...

"Size bows? The officials of Southern Zhili have some nerve!!"

Even though Yin Zhengmao has a reputation for corruption, saying he is clean would be a blatant lie. But Yin Zhengmao still has a sense of justice.

He knew perfectly well what money could be embezzled for personal gain and what things could not be touched.

He was greedy, but he coveted the money of court officials and merchants; he never thought of taking money from the common people.

Turning the finger at the common people is undoubtedly uprooting the Ming Dynasty! How dare these people do such a heinous thing!

What shocked Yin Zhengmao even more was Zhang Juzheng's wording in this memorial.

The words were full of accusations of deceiving superiors and subordinates, heinous crimes, and corrupt officials who abused their power for personal gain.
The extent of Zhang Juzheng's anger can be seen from just a few words.

This looked like a memorial to be presented to the emperor, and Yin Zhengmao couldn't help but shudder.

What did Zhang Juzheng want to do?
Is this about to overturn the table and uncover a massive case?!

Southern Zhili governed four prefectures, fourteen counties, and ninety-seven counties. If we were to really take this seriously, how many officials would fall from grace because of it?
The current emperor is young and impetuous. As can be seen from the last court assembly, he has long been dissatisfied with the officials below him. How could he let this go so easily!
Yin Zhengmao heard that Zhang Juzheng has a reckless young son. Could it be that he wants to learn that son's impetuousness?
This is to start a war with the powerful gentry and nobles of Southern Zhili!
For a moment, Yin Zhengmao murmured, "Uncle, you must not act rashly. This matter is of great importance. Once the memorial reaches His Majesty, there will be no stopping it!"

Zhang Juzheng shook his head: "Lord Yin still doesn't understand me, Zhang Juzheng."

Yin Zhengmao then realized that if Zhang Juzheng wanted to fight to the death, he wouldn't have shown him this memorial.

But then Zhang Juzheng said with self-deprecation.

“When I learned of this matter a few days ago, I still had some rationality, but I couldn’t sleep at night and wrote this memorial in anger, determined to cleanse the world.”

He sighed, the wrinkles around his eyes furrowing as he looked at the teacup in his hand.

"But I remembered what my youngest son said. Do you know what he said?"

Yin Zhengmao was somewhat puzzled: "Uncle Da's youngest son? Is his name Yunxiu, courtesy name Shiyuan, a clever and shrewd young man since childhood?"

Yin Zhengmao actually knew Zhang Yunxiu, but hearing the tone of Zhang Juzheng's praise, he couldn't help but confirm it again.

Zhang Juzheng did not respond to the other party, but answered on his own.

He said I was skilled at governing the country but inept at self-preservation.

Yin Zhengmao was somewhat surprised, but immediately nodded and said.

"That assessment is quite apt."

Zhang Juzheng exhaled and said, "My youngest son is precocious and has taught me many things, so I have calmed down. Overturning the table won't solve the problem. Now that the 'Single Whip Law' is about to be implemented, tearing apart relations will not be good for the overall situation."

"What does Uncle mean?" Yin Zhengmao asked, somewhat confused.

Zhang Juzheng squinted and said, "Lord Yin's trip to Nanjing is not only to take charge of Xingming, but also to seek justice for the people of Southern Zhili."

“This…” Yin Zhengmao said in a low voice. “Uncle Da’s intention is for me to go to Southern Zhili to collect evidence of his crimes.”

Zhang Juzheng's eyes shone brightly: "Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. Dealing with these deeply entrenched powerful families should also be done slowly and methodically."

This matter is of great importance, and I would never have dared to entrust it to Lord Yin.

However, if Duke Yin has concerns about the dangers involved, then he should understand that Ju Zheng never mentioned this matter today.

(End of this chapter)