Huangming

Chapter 47 The Factions of Qi, Chu, and Zhe: A Rising Tide (Please continue reading!)

Although Fang Congzhe's body was thin, he was bursting with tremendous energy at this moment.

“I am not a heartless ruler, and you are a minister who saves the country. The country is in dire straits. Only when you and I, as ruler and minister, work together can we turn the tide.”

Zhu Youxiao looked intently at Fang Congzhe and said, "As long as I live, I will ensure the Fang family's wealth and honor. This is my promise."

Upon hearing this, Fang Congzhe's heart pounded.

If he had previously acted as the horse's vanguard out of sheer passion, Zhu Youxiao's words now completely removed his worries.

"Your Majesty's grace is deeply appreciated. I am moved to tears and will dedicate myself to Your Majesty and to our Great Ming Dynasty. This old minister takes his leave."

Zhu Youxiao watched Fang Congzhe's retreating figure, feeling a mix of emotions.

Fang Congzhe wanted to retire, but Fang Congzhe was forcibly dragged to the battlefield.

They hoped to gain the support of the imperial power and compete with the Donglin Party for power.

Or does he truly wish to become the Great Ming Divine Sword, dispelling the gloom?

Zhu Youxiao was unaware of this at the moment, nor did he need to be.

Lu Yao knows horsepower and sees people's hearts over time.

All he needs to do is remain aloof and play the role of the fisherman.

When the Qi-Chu-Zhe faction impeached the Donglin Party, they dug up the Donglin Party's past and exposed their crimes.

When the Donglin Party retaliated, they also dug up the old dirt of the Qi-Chu-Zhe Party and exposed their crimes.

Finally, none of his subordinates were clean.

Those who should resign should resign, and those who should be transferred should be transferred.

Power naturally fell into the hands of the emperor.

Now is not the time for him to get involved.

However, this was only Zhu Youxiao's most optimistic estimate.

Even with a Grand Secretary to fight for him, it would be difficult for him to truly seize power.

Fortunately
The situation is moving in a positive direction, isn't it?
"Wei Chao, have Zhang Zhiji and Luo Yangxing come to Duanbentang to await me."

No matter how the situation changes, your own health is the most important thing.

Who knows what medicine the imperial physician gave you when you were sick?

September 15th of the first year of the Taichang reign passed quietly, as if nothing had happened.

It is past 5 PM.

Outside the duty room of Wenyuan Pavilion, the night was as dark as ink, pressing down heavily.

Inside the duty room of Wenyuan Pavilion.

Fang Congzhe was still handling government affairs.

Grand Secretary Zhu Guozu stepped forward, bowed to Fang Congzhe, and said gently, "Grand Secretary, political affairs are numerous and complex. How can you possibly handle them all? I hope you will take care of your health. The heavy burden of the Ming Dynasty still needs your support."

It's time to go off duty.

Liu Yiju and Han Kuang had already finished their shifts and left.

Zhu Guozuo is the cabinet minister who remains at the Zhilu Pavilion today. He must be on standby from 5 PM to 5 AM the next day.

"Let's process more."

Fang Congzhe's pen didn't stop; he wrote out a series of lengthy comments, his eyes resolute.

Zhu Guozuo was puzzled, so he could only instruct the clerk to warm some tea and prepare some pastries for Fang Congzhe.

It was very late at night when Fang Congzhe finally put down his pen.

He had almost finished drafting the petitions that had piled up.

He said to his subordinates, "Send all of these to the Directorate of Ceremonial for approval."

Not knowing how intense the factional strife would become, Fang Congzhe dealt with the matters he could handle in advance.

After watching his subordinates leave, Fang Congzhe also got up and left.

Zhu Guozuo immediately got up to see him off.

"Your Excellency, please."

After leaving the duty room, Fang Congzhe turned around and said, "The mountains are high and the roads are long, Zhaolong, there's no need to see me off."

Is the mountain high and the road long?

Zhu Guozuo was stunned for a moment, not understanding the meaning of those four words.

Fang Congzhe, led by two servants carrying lanterns and escorted by four Jinyiwei captains, gradually left Wenyuan Pavilion and headed north through the cabinet's exclusive passage to Huiji Gate.

From afar, the palace lanterns glowed faintly. Two lantern-bearing servants led Fang Congzhe, dispelling the darkness, only to be swallowed up by the engulfing darkness once more.

Until it became completely invisible. Zhu Guozuo was preoccupied with worries.

This morning, Grand Secretary Fang presented his petition to the Emperor at Cining Palace, and returned feeling depressed.

Now they are even working through the night to draft memorials to the throne.

He had a bad feeling.

Could it be that.
Grand Secretary Fang is preparing to retire, and has His Majesty agreed?

Zhu Guozuo seemed to have a premonition that a bloody storm was about to break out in the imperial court!
And what can he do?

On the other side, after Fang Congzhe left Donghua Gate, he boarded a blue sedan chair carried by four men. The top of the sedan chair was adorned with a plaque that read "Grand Secretary of the Cabinet," and the curtains were covered with black gauze to prevent prying eyes.

"Master, where are we going?"

The personal page immediately stepped forward to inquire.

Although our master is old, what does age have to do with romance and poetry?

Yan Song is old and frail, yet he still needs two beautiful young girls to warm his bed!

Fang Congzhe lifted the sedan curtain and said in a low voice:
"Head to Xuanwu Gate in the west of the city, Zhejiang Guild Hall."

He slowly lowered the sedan curtain, then paused and said, "Send someone to summon Qi Shijiao and Guan Yingzhen."

The personal page naturally knows who to call.

But calling so many people out late at night made him feel a little uneasy.

"Curfew will be imposed in an hour, sir. Is there anything you need to discuss tomorrow?"

"Go if I tell you to."

The old page had no choice but to nod and leave.

Fang Congzhe, who was heading to the Zhejiang Guild Hall, sat upright in the sedan chair, his eyes closed in deep thought.

If we're going to fight, let's fight to the fullest!
Let the storm rage on!

The Zhejiang Guild Hall was located on the west side of Xuanwumen Outer Street, next to Luomashi, and served as a liaison center for Zhejiang officials and gentry.

This place was often used as a cover for public gatherings such as banquets for fellow townsmen and celebrations of the imperial examinations. In reality, it was a place where Zhejiang officials discussed confidential matters, such as strategies for attacking the Donglin Party.

In reality, the Donglin Party members were no good, and the Qi, Chu, and Zhe Party members were all the same, just vying for power.

Fang Congzhe stepped down from the blue sedan chair and strode into the guild hall.

After passing the front gate tower, screen wall, and the plaque above the gate that reads "Zhejiang Guild Hall," Fang Congzhe entered the middle courtyard, passed through the middle courtyard's council hall, banquet hall, and side rooms, and went straight to the dark room on the east side of the back courtyard. The entrance was hidden behind the ancestral hall's offering table, making it very secretive.

In the secret room.

As soon as Fang Congzhe settled into the main seat of the grand chair, the manager of the Zhejiang Guild Hall served him hot tea with a fawning expression.

"Your Excellency, why have you arrived so late at night? I wonder what brings you here?"

Fang Congzhe took the teacup, took a small sip, and his eyes lit up.

"Is this Changxing tea?"

The manager immediately smiled and said, "It is Guzhu Zisun tea produced in Changxing. It is picked before Qingming Festival, stored in cellars for several months, and then opened in September. The tea soup is sweet and mellow, with the fragrance of 'peony in its first bloom'."

"good."

Fang Congzhe sighed, “The tea from Jiangsu and Zhejiang is truly nourishing!”

I just don't know if I'll be able to get back alive.

Fang Congzhe put down his teacup and said to the steward, "Go outside and wait, don't let anyone get close to this place."

The manager bowed his head and agreed, but a slight smile played on his lips.

A summons at midnight is a serious matter, so those who were notified to come to the Zhejiang Guild Hall acted very quickly.

"Your Excellency, what exactly has happened?"

Yao Zongwen, the Right Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, arrived in a hurry. His forehead was covered in fine sweat, and he was breathing rapidly, clearly having run all the way there.

"Come sit down, and we'll talk when everyone has arrived."

Despite his many doubts, Yao Zongwen had no choice but to sit down obediently.

As time went by, more and more people arrived.

Liu Tingyuan, formerly the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and now the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate; Huang Ruliang, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites; Qi Shijiao, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel; Zhou Yongchun, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites; Guan Yingzhen, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue; Wu Liangsi, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel; and Huang Yanshi, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Works.
The cramped, secret room was instantly filled with water.

Fang Congzhe looked around at everyone and slowly said, "I know you all have doubts about my summons tonight."

"Master, please speak freely!" Qi Shijiao's eyes gleamed, as if he knew some inside information.

That expression clearly said:
Teacher, please take us on a trip just this once!

(End of this chapter)