Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 22 I, Zhu Youjian, am about to begin my performance…

Zhu Youjian slowly walked back to his desk and picked up the three thin booklets.

He didn't say anything, but simply flipped open one of the books.

Long, slender fingers brushed across the pages, making a soft "rustling" sound.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the deathly silent Wenhua Hall at that moment.

Time seems to be infinitely stretched.

Every breath was torture.

Finally, Zhu Youjian closed the book, raised his eyes, and calmly swept his gaze over the assembled officials below the steps, each with their own distinct expression.

This is undoubtedly a sharp sword, but to actually thrust it out would be foolish.

A missile that is not fired is the one that truly possesses deterrent power.

Once it's actually launched, we'll all have to roll around in the mud together.

With over two hundred positions suddenly vacant at the central and local levels, not only will national affairs inevitably come to a standstill and descend into chaos.

The scramble for vacancies, the infighting, the formation of cliques, and the group attacks will further escalate the chaos.

Of course, this is a choice that Emperor Chongzhen would have made in history.

As for me, Zhu Youjian, my choice is naturally to start the performance!
Zhu Youjian raised his eyes and slowly swept his gaze over the crowd below the steps with an almost compassionate look, then gently tossed the three booklets aside.

"I'm thinking, if these three lists are made public and all the cases are investigated, wouldn't the court of my Great Ming be completely wiped out?"

He paused, leaned forward slightly, as if consulting with the group, and asked in a gentle tone:

"My esteemed ministers, what do you say? Should I... publish this list?"

The hall was deathly silent.

No one dared to answer this question.

Should we say that?
This not only offended all his colleagues, but also put himself in the eye of the storm.

Who can guarantee that they are completely innocent and not on that list of over two hundred people?

Shouldn't we say we shouldn't?

That is a way to death!
The new emperor has just taken down seven eunuch faction members with swift and decisive measures, and it is the perfect time to establish his authority. What are your intentions in jumping out and saying that the investigation should not be carried out?

Are you trying to defend corrupt officials, or are you one of them yourself?
This is a question you're guaranteed to fail at.

The officials were terrified and many even lowered their heads, afraid of being caught by the emperor's gaze.

The cabinet ministers standing at the forefront of the officials were also feeling extremely uneasy.

Li Guopu anxiously gestured to Grand Secretary Huang Liji with his eyes.

The role of the Grand Secretary is to mediate between the Emperor and the officials, and to stabilize national affairs. Now is the time for the Grand Secretary to step forward.

However, Huang Lijie seemed not to see his gaze, keeping his eyes down and his head slightly lowered, looking as if he were lost in thought.

Seeing this, Li Guopu felt extremely indignant.

Huang Liji! Huang Liji! You damned old bastard!

The nation has entrusted him with the responsibility of the chief minister; how could he hide away and choose to protect himself at such a crucial time?!
He looked up at the young emperor on the throne, whose young face still wore a gentle smile.

But he clearly saw the smile gradually fade away.

We can't delay any longer; if we keep dragging it out, it won't just be a matter of whether it's public or not.

Silence can sometimes provoke a monarch's wrath more easily than opposition.

By then, it will probably be more than two hundred people. With the prison implicated, who can guarantee that they will remain unscathed?

Where will the nation's affairs go from here?

That's it!

Li Guopu steeled his resolve, took a deep breath, and resolutely stepped forward.

"I believe this is inappropriate."

These words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

All eyes instantly turned to him, filled with surprise and admiration.

Zhu Youjian looked at him, still smiling: "Oh? Why shouldn't you?"

Li Guopu bowed deeply to the throne.

"Your Majesty, the problem of corruption is not something that developed overnight; it is a chronic disease that has been accumulating for many years."

"If the entire list is made public now, it will have far-reaching consequences and cause a great upheaval in the government and among the public."

"At that time, probably less than one-tenth of the various government departments will remain, and the administration of the country will likely be paralyzed."

"The affairs of the state are like the human body. If the illness has been chronic for a long time, we must not use strong medicine. We should use gentle and nourishing methods to gradually address the problem, strengthen the foundation and cultivate vitality. This is the way to long-term stability."

"If we use drastic measures, I fear that the old problems will not be cured, and the vital energy will be damaged first, shaking the foundation of the country!"

His words were extremely earnest, and after he finished speaking, he bowed deeply and remained prostrate on the ground.

The hall remained silent. Everyone awaited the emperor's reaction.

Zhu Youjian was slightly shocked.

He originally planned to perform this one-man show by himself.

Unexpectedly, in the silent and stagnant court of the Tianqi Dynasty, there was such a brave person.

Whose subordinate is this?

Why do I have absolutely no recollection of him when I read later historical records?

Zhu Youjian walked to the screen displaying the officials below the steps, glanced at it for a moment, and then took down the official document for "Li Guopu".

He skimmed through it quickly, then turned around, somewhat incredulous.

"Minister Li, you are actually from Gaoyang County, Baoding Prefecture, Beizhili?"

Upon hearing this, Li Guopu, who was lying on the ground, trembled violently.

coming……

A wave of indescribable sorrow washed over him.

Yes, Gaoyang County is only about seventy li away from Suning, the hometown of the powerful and infamous eunuch Wei Zhongxian.

At this critical juncture, the emperor's mention of his hometown made his intentions clear.

This is a sign of suspicion against him, a suspicion against his "fellow townsman," and an attempt to exonerate the remnants of the eunuch faction!
Overwhelmed by a surge of grievance and resentment, Li Guopu abruptly raised his head, looked directly at Zhu Youjian, and his voice trembled slightly with emotion.

"Your Majesty! Your subject... Your subject and that traitor Wei, though from the same hometown, have never had any dealings with each other!"

“My words today come from the bottom of my heart, all for the sake of the nation's future, and I have no selfish motives whatsoever! If Your Majesty does not believe me, then I…”

"it is good!"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Youjian interrupted him loudly, while his mind raced with thoughts.

What should have been a one-man show has suddenly turned into a story of a loyal and outspoken minister who dares to speak out against injustice.

No problem, watch me turn this around!

"That's so good!"

He walked quickly to Li Guopu, reached out to help him up, and firmly grasped his hands.

His words were extremely earnest: "Guo Pu's words truly resonate with my heart."

"Until today, I was completely unaware of Guopu's loyalty and courage; this was truly my oversight!"

He then turned to face the assembled officials and laughed loudly:

"Gentlemen, please look!"

"Unafraid of suspicion, undaunted by life or death, and devoted to the public good—what defines a loyal minister? This is it!"

"This is my Wei Zheng!"

The entire court was stunned.

Wei Zheng? The emperor actually compared Li Guopu to Wei Zheng?
Seeing the shocked expressions on the faces of his ministers, Zhu Youjian slowly suppressed his smile and became solemn.

"I know that many people think that Minister Li's actions are almost foolish."

His words immediately startled everyone.

"Guo Pu is from the same hometown as Wei Ni, which has already caused controversy. At this critical moment, instead of avoiding suspicion, he steps forward. Isn't that incredibly foolish?"

Zhu Youjian's gaze swept over the crowd, as if he could see through their inner thoughts.

“Minister Li, he knows he will arouse suspicion, he knows he may offend me, but he is more afraid of the country becoming unstable and the government paralyzed!”

"So he was willing to risk being misunderstood and implicated to stand up and say 'it shouldn't have been'!"

"This sense of responsibility to 'do what is impossible' and this integrity to place the nation above one's own life and death—isn't this the Wei Zheng of our time?!"

He turned to signal to the eunuch Gao Shiming, who was in charge of writing.

"Gao Shiming and Grand Secretary Li Guopu are upright, selfless, and dare to speak frankly. They deserve to be commended!"

Li Guopu stood there, stunned, as if in a dream. He imagined countless possibilities: being reprimanded, dismissed from office, even thrown into prison...

But what they never expected was that they would receive such high praise and rewards from the emperor!
His long-dormant heart was suddenly stirred, and countless verses he had read in the past flowed through his mind.

I will repay your kindness on the Golden Terrace and die for you with the Jade Dragon!
Three times he sought advice on the affairs of the realm; two dynasties he served with the heart of a loyal minister!
Complete the king's affairs and win fame in life and after death!
Am I, Li Guopu, truly fortunate to have encountered such a wise ruler today?!
A surge of emotion rushed to his eyes, and the youngest cabinet minister's eyes reddened.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty is wise! Your subject...is unworthy of such praise!"

His voice already sounded like he was about to cry.

Upon seeing this, the courtiers seemed to awaken from a dream, and they all prostrated themselves on the ground, their shouts as loud as a mountain and a tsunami echoing throughout the Wenhua Hall.

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

Zhu Youjian was equally excited. This small accident did not frighten him; instead, it made him feel more energetic.

He has rediscovered the feeling he had at the mobilization meeting in his previous life!

He took a few more steps forward and stood among the officials. Only after the cheers subsided did he slowly speak.

"My dear ministers, please rise."

His voice was calm and magnetic, with a calming power.

“I have lived in the palace since childhood, and when I have nothing to do, I like to read history.”

Upon hearing this, everyone was bewildered, not knowing what the emperor meant.

"History records countless events and a myriad of human characteristics."

"I have seen people who, when they first entered officialdom, also rectified corruption and promoted integrity, spoke of the nation and cared for the people, and aspired to leave their names in history."

"Just like Yan Song during the reign of Emperor Shizong, Grand Secretary Yan passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty-five and entered the Hanlin Academy."

"At this time, Liu Jin was in power, and the court was corrupt. He actually resigned due to illness and stayed at home to study for eight years without taking up an official post."

"If he were to die now, wouldn't he be remembered as a virtuous and capable man in history?"

Zhu Youjian sighed softly, his words filled with regret.

"Unfortunately, the lust for power stirs the heart, and wealth dazzles the eyes."

"The once innocent youth eventually grew evil scales on his body and poisonous horns on his forehead, ultimately becoming a wicked dragon that harmed the country. How tragic and lamentable!"

Zhu Youjian paced slowly, his arms waving as he spoke, his tone gradually rising.

"However, I have also seen another kind of person in the history books."

"His first half of life was infamous, but after a sudden awakening, his second half was marked by a clean reputation, which resonates with history."

"During the Jin Dynasty, Zhou Chu was a young man who roamed the countryside and was known as one of the three scourges, along with the tiger of Nanshan and the dragon of Changqiao. The villagers feared and hated him."

"However, he later repented, slew tigers and dragons, and died for his country, ultimately becoming a loyal and righteous man."

"Who can say that he was born a saint?"

His gaze swept over the assembled officials, and everyone he looked at seemed to feel as if the emperor was watching them.

Those officials who had served for a long time merely glanced at each other, still trying to decipher the new emperor's intentions behind his words.

But many of the younger officials were already completely absorbed, their attention focused entirely on the figure moving around in the hall.

The Book of Songs says: "Nothing is without a beginning, but few things have an end."

"Among all of you present, who has not spent ten years studying diligently and become well-versed in poetry and literature?"

"Who, when passing the imperial examination, did not harbor the ambition to 'make the ruler like Yao and Shun, and restore the purity of customs'?"

"However, the political situation is difficult and the affairs of the world are complicated. Some people are confused for a moment, or they are not in control of their own lives. They are swept up by the torrent of officialdom and gradually forget their original intentions."

Zhu Youjian turned around, ascended the imperial steps step by step, and stood before the throne once more.

"But what if I wish to be like King Zhuang of Chu?"

He paused, his tone extremely imposing, then suddenly flicked his sleeves and turned to face the assembled officials.

"But what if it happens today!"

"Right here in the Wenhua Hall, witnessed by all the court officials."

"Would you all like to have a banquet to mark the end of our lives?"

These words immediately caused an uproar in the hall.

Some people who have read "Shuoyuan" are already deeply moved.

Some people have devoted their entire lives to studying the classics and have exhausted all their energy to pass the imperial examinations, yet they are completely unaware of this story and remain utterly clueless.

"Gao Shiming, bring it here."

Gao Shiming obeyed the order and had a young eunuch carry in a blazing brazier from the back of the hall.

Now almost everyone understood!

The ministers were in an uproar, and the discussion could no longer be contained.

"What 'Banquet of Severed Tassels'? Isn't that just an old story from the time of Cao Cao?"

"According to the storytelling, Cao Cao burned the letters during the Battle of Guandu!"

"Such methods...such methods..."

"Gentlemen!" Zhu Youjian stood in front of the brazier and shouted, interrupting the ministers' discussion.

"The mistakes of a virtuous person are like eclipses of the sun and moon. When he makes a mistake, everyone sees it; when he corrects it, everyone looks up to him."

"I, Your Majesty, am willing to pave this new path for you all today, and let bygones be bygones!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Youjian released his grip, and the three thin booklets fell into the brazier.

In an instant, flames soared high, gradually burning the three booklets to ashes.

The hall fell silent for a moment, and the ministers seemed to be in a dream.

Before the assembled officials could react, Grand Secretary Huang Lijie was the first to rush out of the ranks, prostrate himself on the ground, and burst into tears: "Your Majesty is wise! Long live the Emperor!"

Immediately following was a thunderous response!
"Your Majesty is wise! Long live the Emperor!"

The courtiers followed suit, all bowing down, and the entire hall trembled with intense emotion.

Zhu Youjian breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this scene.

Although there was a slight mishap, the performance was eventually completed, albeit with some difficulty.

However, he doesn't expect this performance to change the image of corruption; that would be too naive.

If every aspect of matters—salary, morale, professional ethics, systems, rewards and punishments, and investigations—is not properly addressed, then the so-called integrity is nothing but empty talk.

Now, all they're doing is exchanging three booklets for a starting point and a legitimate reason to pursue this matter.

As for those three booklets—he did burn them, but who would believe he really did?

He raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.

"As Minister Li said, corruption cannot be accomplished overnight; it must be dealt with slowly and steadily."

His gaze fell on Li Guopu.

"I intend to entrust this matter to Minister Li."

"But corruption affects the nation and is easily attacked, so it has always been regarded as a dangerous path by all dynasties."

"I don't know..."

Li Guopu cupped his hands in greeting, took a few quick steps, and stepped off the train.

He straightened his clothes slightly, then bowed deeply with utmost solemnity.

When he stood up again, his eyes were burning with fanaticism, and his voice was resolute.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to offer my head as a guarantee that I will surely bring peace to the realm!"

Zhu Youjian was immediately solemn.

He stood to one side of the imperial desk, bowed in the same manner, and did so with the same resolute determination.

"If you do not betray me, I will never betray you!"

The courtiers in the palace, witnessing this harmonious scene between the emperor and his ministers, felt a complex mix of emotions.

With countless volumes of history, it is easy to imagine that Li Guopu's name will surely be recorded in the future!

How hateful! How hateful! Why didn't I stand up for myself earlier!

They looked again at the smiling young emperor in the palace, and a vague feeling stirred within them.

Is the Ming Dynasty really about to change?
　[Historical Materials in this Chapter]

　　1. The last character "普" in Li Guopu should be composed of "木" on the left and "普" on the right, but this character doesn't seem to be a standard character. When I previewed it on my phone, it showed as "?", so I replaced it.

　　2. Li Guopu, a native of Gaoyang County, was the same hometown as Sun Chengzong. He was the youngest of the four cabinet ministers and the only one not included in the eunuch faction's list. Historical records state: "He became a prime minister fourteen years after assuming office, thanks to Wei Zhongxian's support due to their shared hometown. However, Guopu always upheld righteous principles." — *History of Ming*, Volume 251

　　3. Some civil officials didn't even know about the Banquet of Severed Tassels. Actually, the prototype I referenced was the plot of "Fan Jin passed the imperial examination, but didn't even know who Su Shi was" from "The Scholars." Although "The Scholars" was written in the Qing Dynasty, this plot comes from the Ming Dynasty, specifically the incident of "Jiang Bao not knowing Su Shi" during the Jiajing era.

　　4. In fact, the Ming Dynasty's imperial examinations did not place a high weight on historical knowledge. In a sense, I think this was a good thing—the more books one had to read and the broader one's perspective required, the harder it was for commoners to pass the exams. By limiting the scope and confining the examinations to a narrow scope, those with high intelligence had a chance to leap over the dragon gate.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)