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

Chapter 84 Students Knock on the Door, Officials Advise Against It (Tenth Update!)

"What are you doing?"

Before the city was locked down, Wang Shishun, a merchant from Huizhou, and his entourage returned to the area around Renmin First Medical Center, only to be stunned by what they found.

As they watched the endless stream of displaced people being brought in, their heads swollen and on the verge of death, their hearts clenched with sorrow.

"The imperial court issued an order to arrange for the elderly and weak displaced people outside the city to be settled in temples and government offices in various parts of the capital. In particular, the seriously ill were all sent to Renmin Medical Hall for treatment."

Wang Shishun answered while wearing a silk mask.

In recent days, many people in Beijing have been critical of face masks, saying that Zhang Shiyuan is using the opportunity to make money.

However, their actions spoke louder than words. Upon hearing that masks could cure diseases, masks launched by Ruijin Silk Company were instantly snapped up by dignitaries and nobles.

Of course, the wealthy would not buy those masks that contained carbon powder, which would make their faces black and were sold to ordinary people for five coins.

Most of them bought the "special edition" for 500 coins each. You think it's too expensive? There are so many people in the capital, and the supply still can't meet the demand!

Wang Shishun was just a step too late and missed out on the "special edition." He thought the masks were just so-so, so he made a batch out of silk.

He felt much more comfortable than Zhang Yunxiu!

"How much silver do you charge for the consultation? It's not going to be five copper coins again, is it?" one of the Huizhou merchants asked anxiously.

"No money is needed. The imperial court provides all the raw materials for the clinic, and all the medicinal herbs in the capital are supplied to it. It can treat ordinary people without paying money." As Wang Shishun said this, the muscles on his face twitched.

"It's over! Utterly over! Our tens of thousands of taels of silver have gone down the drain!"

Upon hearing this, one of the Hui merchants broke down in tears. They could easily understand that Renmin Medical Hall would now be under the control of the imperial court. Could they get back the money they had been tricked into investing by Zhang Yunxiu?

You dare to ask the imperial court for shares?

For a time, the Huizhou merchants were filled with angry curses.

"My money! My money! That damned Zhang Shiyuan! How could he waste money like this!"

"Oh no, I'm not feeling well! Quickly, get this to Renmin Medical Clinic, I need to go to the First Medical Clinic!"

"I'm going to find Zhang Shiyuan! To return the silver! Give the silver back to me!"

Each of them donated several thousand taels of silver, which was almost several years' worth of revenue.

"Shut up!"

Annoyed by the noise, Wang Shishun roared, and everyone quieted down, turning their attention to the owner of the Huizhou merchant's shop.

"I contributed a full five thousand taels of silver! That's the largest contribution!"

Wang Shishun tapped his cane, looked around at everyone, and his face was full of helplessness.

He was filled with regret, wondering how he had been so foolish as to be deceived by Zhang Yunxiu. But he was also very clear-headed about what the right choice was right now.

This will enable the Huizhou merchants to obtain more benefits.

Wang Shishun exhaled and said, "The money has already been given. In this critical moment, you still want to go looking for Zhang Shiyuan? Aren't you courting death?"

A Huizhou merchant said with a sob in his voice, "What does the owner think? We're all doomed without this silver!"

Wang Shishun sighed and said, "There's no other way but to tighten our belts and help each other out. As for the plague, I think we should not only not complain, but also help the court deal with it."

After much hesitation, he finally gritted his teeth and said it.

"Bring out all our medicinal herbs and sell them to the imperial court at cost price."

"Capital?" a Huizhou merchant exclaimed in surprise. "The owner's batch of herbs is incredibly profitable! Right now, the entire capital is desperately seeking herbs to save lives. If we sell them at our capital, won't we lose everything?"

"Confused!"

Wang Shishun struck the man with his cane and angrily rebuked him.

"The imperial decree has been issued. Do you still intend to defy it like those Shanxi merchants? If I weren't out of money, I would have given all these medicinal herbs to Zhang Shiyuan! The court has changed its stance! Human lives are the most important thing now! If you want to continue doing business in the capital, then listen to me!"

"When treacherous officials are in power, the country will never have a peaceful day!"

"The lockdown measures have brought chaos to the world, leaving the people with no means of survival!"

"The high-ranking officials of the court have actually allowed a mere child to handle the plague!"

Outside the Daming Gate, just as dawn was breaking, a group of Confucian scholars dressed in linen turbans and robes had already gathered.

They didn't dare to storm the palace gates. Dozens of Confucian scholars, or students from the capital or the Imperial Academy, knelt down in the direction of the imperial city, shouting relevant words, looking heartbroken.

Officials entering the Great Ming Gate for court sessions would often pause to listen for a few minutes, then shake their heads in resignation and leave.

Just as the Confucian scholars were about to make a scene, an official dressed in a scarlet court robe with a pheasant pattern suddenly stepped out from the crowd and pointed at the leading Confucian scholar.

"You are all well-read scholars, yet you dare to knock on my door and force me to abdicate? You are utterly audacious! Get out of here at once!"

When the leading Confucian scholar saw that an official had finally come out to speak, he immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said...

"Student Wang Xichen pays his respects to the Minister."

The scholar clearly didn't recognize the official, but given the official's robes, addressing him as "Minister" was not wrong.

The scholar said, “The court cannot continue like this! The capital is ravaged by plague, and there are still treacherous officials in the court. His Majesty has been deceived and has allowed a mere child to handle this matter. The Imperial Medical Academy, the Five City Garrison, and even the Beijing Garrison have all been mobilized. Such a thing has never been seen before. Why are the cabinet ministers indifferent? What about the Grand Secretary?”

"Enough!" The official glared at the student, interrupting him. "The decisions of the Six Ministries and the Grand Secretaries of the Inner Cabinet are made by the court officials. How dare you presume to discuss this? Get out of here immediately!"

"Students~Students~"

The scholar was about to say something when an official stepped forward, also dressed in the robes of a second-rank official.

The newcomer was Xu Xuemo, the Minister of Rites. He frowned and said, "Didn't you hear what the Grand Secretary said? You all should leave immediately, or you'll be arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and charged with disrupting the court!"

Upon seeing Xu Xuemo, the scholar seemed to realize something and immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "This student understands, this student will leave now!"

With this Confucian scholar taking the lead, the group of Confucian scholars kneeling outside the palace gates suddenly scattered like birds and beasts.

Outside the Daming Gate, a group of officials witnessed this scene and all cast admiring glances at Zhang Siwei, the Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall, and Xu Xuemo, the Minister of Rites, praising them for their profound understanding of righteousness and their sense of the bigger picture.

All the officials knew in their hearts that these two gentlemen had been consistently opposing the court's implementation of the "Plague Prevention Order."

Upon witnessing this scene, many officials couldn't help but secretly ponder that these two gentlemen were both thinking of the country and its people, a stark contrast to the recent actions of Zhang Juzheng, the Grand Secretary of the court.

Isn't this gentleman's desire to support his own son a bit too blatant? He even disregards the laws of the court and the common people.

In the past, the implementation of the new policies was carried out with great fanfare, and there was endless debate about it in the court. But now, this matter has even made many officials who supported Zhang Juzheng somewhat disheartened.

I couldn't help but have some questions.

What's wrong with the Grand Secretary? Does he really intend to let such a "foolish" and rebellious son disrupt the government?
The scholars knocked on the door, and the officials remonstrated, yet nothing could change Zhang Jiangling's willful act? This is a perverse and reactionary act!
Huangji Palace.

The official in charge of whipping the whip from the Ministry of Rites brandished the whip, and Feng Bao's sharp voice pierced the dawn.

"His Majesty is holding court—"

The officials shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

Before Feng Bao could finish reading his proposal, officials immediately stepped forward, knelt in the main hall, and several of them knelt on the ground, weeping and wailing.

"Your Majesty! I hereby impeach Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng again for condoning his son's misdeeds among the people, his exploitation of the populace, and his opening of a medical clinic—this is tantamount to indulging personal gain and harming the country; forcing imperial physicians to become his disciples and fabricating medical theories—this is a violation of moral principles."

"Your Majesty! In the two hundred years of our dynasty, how could there be any reason to allow a mere child to take charge of the Five Cities Garrison and the Imperial Medical Academy!"

"Your Majesty! This 'Plague Prevention Order' is truly appalling. We have searched through all the historical records and have never seen such an absurd and bizarre decree!"

(End of this chapter)