Chapter 100: An Opportunity to Offer Aid in a Time of Need

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Yu Maoheng, his expression unchanged, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

He was satisfied with this answer.

Because it meant Yu Maoheng had no intention of getting involved in this matter at all. By declining to voice an opinion, he was signaling that he neither wanted to stand on Zhu Youxiao's side nor on the Donglin Faction's side.

Yu Maoheng was clearly making plain his attitude of not wanting any part in these messy affairs.

Zhu Youxiao would not be angered by Yu Maoheng's refusal to take his side.

It was only natural that Yu Maoheng wanted nothing to do with it. He hadn't tried to curry favor by using this matter, nor had he sought to kick the Donglin Faction while they were down—this was an official of sound moral integrity.

After all, the whole case was murky and baffling. Yu Maoheng believed it hadn't been fully investigated, and in truth, that was indeed the case. But this case probably would never be fully cleared up—it would likely go down in history as one of its unresolved mysteries.

The excuse Yu Maoheng had found was also a good one: I wasn't involved, so I won't offer any opinion.

How could Zhu Youxiao let him off so easily?

He nodded slightly and continued asking: "Then what does my beloved minister think should be done about this matter?"

Still asking? Yu Maoheng felt a bitterness rising in his heart.

This time it was a request for counsel, and as a subject, he had no way to evade it. His Majesty simply had no intention of letting him go.

What Yu Maoheng had said earlier was something he had prepared long in advance, its purpose being to express his stance.

He wanted to tell His Majesty: I simply don't want to take a position, and I have no stance on this matter.

But His Majesty had pressed further nonetheless.

This caught Yu Maoheng off guard, and he knew he could no longer stall.

After thinking it over, Yu Maoheng spoke: "If this matter proves to be true, then your subject believes the punishment should be severe. Whether it be framing frontier generals, accepting bribes, or falsely accusing others, all should be severely punished. And since they are pure-stream censors, they deserve even harsher punishment."

"But your subject did not participate in the investigation of this case and does not know whether it is true or false. Once the truth has been ascertained, Your Majesty may render the final judgment."

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Yu Maoheng again, thinking to himself that this was a rather interesting man. He was clearly no bookish pedant.

Yu Maoheng's meaning was obvious—he was advocating for seeking truth from facts.

If it was truly established that these men had accepted bribes, falsely accused Wei Zhongxian, and colluded with Li Ruzhen, then they should be punished without mercy.

Actually, that was stating the obvious. If their crimes could be proven, then of course they would be severely punished without leniency.

As for leaving the judgment to him—that was even more meaningless talk. How to punish?

Naturally, it depended on the Emperor's wishes. Did that even need saying?

Clearly, this Yu Maoheng had once again played the game of dodging the question.

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao suddenly laughed.

He had originally intended to ask Yu Maoheng his views on forming cliques for private gain, but now he decided not to. Because he already knew what Yu Maoheng thought.

Now that Yu Maoheng's stance was confirmed, Zhu Youxiao was even more firmly set in his plan. He was very pleased with Yu Maoheng. This was a talent he could promote and put to important use.

Of course, there was still one crucial point to consider—Yu Maoheng's attitude toward taxation. But that was a matter for later; there was no need for it at present, so he would set it aside for now.

The most pressing task at hand was to make Yu Maoheng the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, stabilizing the Censorate first and preventing certain people from stirring up trouble.

During the Great Rites Controversy, they had run to the Meridian Gate to petition. Zhu Youxiao did not want something like that happening now.

Zhu Youxiao needed someone to hold the Censorate steady, and that someone was Yu Maoheng.

As for the matter of his having no backers at court—that was easily solved. Once he became Left Censor-in-Chief, he would be a big shot himself, and with his own backing, that would be more than enough.

With matters now clear, Zhu Youxiao no longer had any desire to continue the conversation with Yu Maoheng.

As long as he didn't stand with the Donglin Faction, that was sufficient. That was all he needed from him right now.

Glancing at Yu Maoheng, Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said: "Alright, you may withdraw."

Chen Hong, standing off to the side, let out a sigh. In his view, His Majesty was displeased.

He felt a pang of pity for that Yu Maoheng.

What a golden opportunity this was! These scholars were just too rigid—at a time like this, saying just a little of what His Majesty wanted to hear would have meant a meteoric rise!

He had to go on about all this irrelevant nonsense. Now look—His Majesty was angry, and the cooked duck had flown away.

Yu Maoheng, for his part, showed neither joy nor dismay on his face, though his heart felt somewhat pained.

Why was it so hard to be an official who just wanted to do real work? Did everything have to be about endless infighting?

Now even His Majesty was like this. He felt his prospects were growing dim.

Where was the future of the Great Ming?

Somewhat dejectedly, he walked out of the palace, cast a glance back at the great hall behind him, and let out a sigh.

Under the current circumstances, the court could no longer accommodate an official like himself. Better to return home!

Go back to his hometown, teach a few students, write a few books—that would count as not wasting a lifetime of learning.

With that thought, Yu Maoheng strode forward with large steps.

He was preparing to go back and write a memorial requesting his resignation.

Since things had come to this, rather than waiting for His Majesty to dismiss him, it was better to take the initiative himself—that way he could preserve some dignity.

Zhu Youxiao had no idea that Yu Maoheng had completely misread the situation—that this fellow was actually thinking of going home to write a resignation memorial.

Little did he know that Yu Maoheng, whom the Emperor was very pleased with and preparing to promote to an important post, was already getting ready to throw in the towel and stop working for the Emperor.

Glancing at Chen Hong standing to the side, Zhu Youxiao slowly spoke: "Spread word of today's conversation."

"You know what to do, don't you?" As he spoke, Zhu Youxiao stared at Chen Hong with an expressionless face, his gaze burning.

Chen Hong was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and said: "Rest assured, Your Majesty. This servant knows what to do."

This wasn't the first time he had done something like this, so of course he knew how to handle it.

A somewhat amused expression crossed Chen Hong's face. It seemed His Majesty hadn't given up on this Yu Maoheng after all—this fellow couldn't escape even if he wanted to. After this, he would have no choice but to do it.

Should he go pay him a visit?

As the saying goes, offering coal in a snowstorm is better than adding flowers to brocade. If he could build a good relationship with this Yu Maoheng, setting everything else aside, if Yu Maoheng would just impeach him a little less, that alone would be a benefit.

And if he could get Yu Maoheng to impeach Wei Zhongxian and cause Wei Zhongxian some grief, that would be a truly wonderful thing.

Zhu Youxiao had no idea that Chen Hong was plotting this. If he had known, he would have kicked Chen Hong out the door on the spot.

Chen Hong was reaching for the Censorate? This was a department Zhu Youxiao valued highly—once this affair was over, it was slated for major reform.

The Censorate was not merely something he would use; he would use it to great effect, granting it even more power—but only to have it watch the hundred officials, not to watch him, the Emperor.

Of course, all of that was for later.

Glancing at Chen Hong, Zhu Youxiao gave his order: "Have the Grand Secretariat draft an edict—promote Yu Maohu to Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, in charge of its affairs."

When Chen Hong heard Zhu Youxiao's words, his face stiffened.

Damn it. The chance to offer timely aid was gone.