Huangming

Chapter 34 Water and Fire Cannot Coexist, Old Deng Begs for His Retirement
Fang Congzhe's eyes flashed with sorrow as he choked out, "Now I am over sixty years old, my energy is waning, my eyesight and hearing are failing, and I am unable to shoulder heavy responsibilities. I humbly beg Your Majesty to grant my request to retire and to select a more capable and virtuous person instead, which would be a great blessing for the nation!"

Upon hearing this, Han Kuang and Liu Yiju's eyes lit up.

All eyes were on Zhu Youxiao.

Zhu Youxiao's expression was clearly unpleasant, and he said, "No!"

Fang Congzhe was taken aback and knelt down, saying, "I am ashamed to have served in this important position in the cabinet with my mediocre talents. Since I entered the cabinet in the 42nd year of the Wanli reign, in the past seven years, I have failed to assist the Holy Emperor in achieving a prosperous era like that of Yao and Shun, and I have failed to curb factional strife and eliminate national crises. Recently, the Liaodong war has been a complete defeat, and officials in the court have been impeaching me one after another, all saying that 'Congzhe has ruined the country.'"

Whenever I think of these things, my heart aches.

Moreover, regarding the "Red Pill Case," my mishandling has led to constant criticism from both the court and the public. If I continue to occupy my position without performing my duties, I fear it will further jeopardize state affairs. I humbly request Your Majesty to grant this old minister permission to retire and return to his hometown!

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao said again, "No!"

At this moment, the entire Wenhua Hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

For a moment, no one could figure out what the emperor was thinking.

Liu Yizhu took a step back, suddenly feeling unsure of the situation.

Does His Majesty support the move against Fang?

Han Kuang and the others also fell into deep thought and remained silent.

Zhu Youxiao certainly did not support the idea of ​​turning the tables.

It's not supported at least for now.

Now that Fang Congzhe has gone down, who has come up next?

Donglin Party!
Originally, Fang Congzhe was in the cabinet, which could have drawn fire from Zhu Youxiao. With their factional strife intensifying, Zhu Youxiao could have seized the opportunity to take power.

If Fang Congzhe is removed from office, who will the Donglin Party target next?
it goes without saying.

Therefore, Zhu Youxiao immediately said: "Now that the situation is turbulent, is this a time for mediocre people to seek self-preservation? The country is struggling, and this is precisely the time for all ministers to work together!"
The late Emperor's coffin has not yet been laid to rest and remains in the palace; war rages in Liaodong, and the entire border is in dire straits. At this critical juncture of life and death, my dear minister wishes to resign and return home, abandoning the nation and its people as if they were worthless. How can I bear to grant him this wish?

Fang Congzhe was indeed feeling somewhat powerless in the face of the current political situation.

In the cabinet, they're like puppets on strings; what else can they do besides take the blame?
The factional strife is fierce; if he doesn't step down, he might not even have a peaceful end.

Fang Congzhe said again, "I am incompetent, but I beg to retire!"

Zhu Youxiao was so angry at the old man that he laughed.

I also need you to be my human shield to draw fire, and it would be best if you and the Donglin Party could both suffer heavy losses.

You actually dare to quit?
Zhu Youxiao raised his voice and said, "The Ming Dynasty is currently in a turbulent period, and you, my dear minister, are not yet of age to retire! To abandon your service to the monarch halfway is disloyalty; to shirk responsibility in times of crisis is injustice. If all officials follow your example and think of retiring at the slightest setback, who will hold the official seals in the court? Who will take charge of the wars on the frontier?"
I hereby order you, my beloved minister, to remain in your post despite your punishment, to reorganize the ministry, and to weather this national crisis with me. We will discuss your retirement only after the war in Liaodong has subsided and the late Emperor's mausoleum has been properly laid to rest. To bring up the word "retirement" again would be to abandon me to a state of utter misery! You must not decline!

Zhu Youxiao's last two sentences practically blocked Fang Congzhe's path to begging for retirement.

Fang Congzhe almost opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say, so he could only say with a bitter expression, "This old minister obeys."

What was supposed to be a proper lecture has been completely ruined by the factional strife.

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, changing the subject and moving the imperial lecture to the next stage of the proceedings.

"Does the Cabinet have any reports to submit?"

The imperial lectures were not only academic discussions, but also political games.

After the emperor and his ministers exchanged questions, the cabinet would then submit its report.

"Your subject has something to report!"

Han Kuang spearheaded the submission of a memorial to the throne.

He originally intended to submit a memorial impeaching Fang Congzhe, but the situation has changed, and he has to back down now.

He quickly switched to another memorial.

After Han Kuang, officials from the six ministries all submitted memorials, and in no time, Zhu Youxiao's desk was piled high with them.

The ministers stood in attendance.

Zhu Youxiao opened the memorials and began to review them one by one.

During this period, Zhu Youxiao's time spent with his concubines at Cining Palace had some effect; he could understand the memorials and his handwriting became somewhat legible.

After all, he is currently mainly practicing three words: no, possible, and accurate.

Han Kuang's memorial impeached Xiong Tingbi and recommended Yuan Yingtai to succeed him as the Liaodong Military Commissioner.

Zhu Youxiao was aware of Xiong Tingbi's reputation; after all, he was a capable man.

Yuan Yingtai
I've never heard of this person.

Considering the continued deterioration of the situation in Liaodong in the early years of the Tianqi reign, and Xiong Tingbi's reinstatement, this guy definitely had problems with his abilities.

Zhu Youxiao picked up his imperial brush, then put it down and looked at another memorial.

Next, there were some more memorials.

For example, memorials impeaching Xiong Tingbi, Fang Congzhe, He Shixian, and others.

Such impeachment memorials accounted for the majority.

Secondly, the Ministry of War mainly requested reinforcements, provisions, and gunpowder.

The Ministry of Revenue's main requests were for raising funds for military expenses and disaster relief.

The Ministry of Rites was responsible for the specific arrangements regarding the late emperor's funeral.

For example, the temple name and posthumous title of the deceased emperor.

The Donglin Party and the Qi-Chu-Zhe Party have been locked in a tug-of-war over this matter, and the party struggle is gradually moving from the shadows to the open.

The Ministry of Works requested funds for the repair of the late emperor's mausoleum.

In any case, these memorials were either about factional strife and eliminating dissidents, or they were all about money.

When Zhu Youxiao encountered something he didn't understand, he would ask questions on the spot. After the officials of each department explained, if there were no objections, or if it was indeed urgent, Zhu Youxiao would approve it with the words: "Perfect or approved."

Stamped by the Directorate of Ceremonial.

As for the remaining controversial cases and those impeachment memorials, Zhu Youxiao did not review them immediately, but kept them in the central government for later processing.

After reviewing and annotating the memorial, Zhu Youxiao gained a clearer understanding of the current state of the Ming Dynasty.

It was past noon.

Although the sun outside the Wenhua Hall was still blazing, it was already setting in the west.

After finishing his business, Zhu Youxiao finally felt his stomach start to rumble.

"Give them tea and silk."

The lecturer was given a cup of tea and a bolt of silk; the attendant was given a seat and tea.

The tea is a top-grade bud tea from Jiangnan, and the silk is a top-quality silk produced by the government.

A cup of tea was also served to Zhu Youxiao.

The emperor and his ministers drank tea made from tea buds together, and Zhu Youxiao also rose from his throne.

Upon seeing this, the official of the Court of State Ceremonial immediately announced:

"The ceremony is over!"

The officials kowtowed, and the emperor returned to the palace.

The first imperial lecture of the Tianqi reign thus came to an end.

The outcome of this imperial lecture and court assembly naturally brought joy to some and sorrow to others.

Outside the Wenyuan Pavilion, Yang Lian, Sun Shenxing, and others had been waiting for a long time.

Upon seeing Liu Yiju, Han Kuang, and Zhou Jiamo approaching, the group immediately went to greet them.

"How did it go? Did you find anything, Elder Fang?"

Han Kuang's face darkened.

"This is not the place to talk."

Liu Yijun sighed and said, "Perhaps Grand Secretary Fang wants to retire, but His Majesty will not allow it."

What's the point?
Yang Lian was stunned.

"Is there any impeachment?"

Minister of Personnel Zhou Jiamo stepped forward and said, "His Majesty is protecting Grand Secretary Fang, how can we go against His Majesty's will?"

"Has His Majesty agreed to the appointment of the Liaodong strategist?"

Han Kuang snorted coldly and said, "Keep it in the middle."

Zhou Jiamo sighed as he recounted the events of the day's lecture and court assembly.

After hearing this, Yang Lian, Sun Shenxing, and the others exchanged bewildered glances.

Today's meeting of the cabinet did not bring down Grand Secretary Fang, nor did it elevate Yuan Yingtai to the position of Liaodong Military Commissioner. Instead, it resulted in two more people being added to the cabinet.
"Fortunately, His Majesty's philosophy of governance is similar to ours. However, he is currently wary of us. Once he realizes our loyalty, everything will be alright."

Yang Lian frowned; he wasn't so optimistic.

Although the new emperor's enthronement edict contained almost no changes in national policies compared to those of the late emperor, these policies remained largely unchanged.

However.
The provincial mining tax supervisors said they wanted to abolish their duties, but the memorial submitted by the cabinet was kept in the palace and not issued.

Of the officials they requested to be added, very few were approved by the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Yang Lian wondered if the current emperor was pretending to be like the Donglin Party members.
In reality, they wanted to eradicate the very foundation of his Donglin Party.

"Gentlemen, perhaps we need to go a step further and let His Majesty know that our Great Ming Dynasty absolutely cannot do without loyal and capable ministers like us!"

Yang Lian's eyes flickered.

The previous response seemed too mild.

It's time to add a little more heat!

(End of this chapter)