Chapter 160: Demanding a Position

Although Sun Shenxing said this, Gao Panlong's expression still did not improve.

Sending himself to the Ministry of War to find Sun Chengzong — the most likely intent was to have him attach himself to Sun Chengzong, and also to have Sun Chengzong protect him a bit.

The reason Sun Shenxing did this was because Sun Shenxing could no longer protect him.

Looking at the current situation, his side had been thoroughly purged. With only himself and Sun Shenxing left, would those people let them go?

Whether out of coveting the positions of the two of them or fearing that they would seek revenge, crushing them completely was the best choice. So the two of them would still face more attacks — that was already certain.

What he should be thinking about now was not counterattack, but how to protect himself.

Sun Shenxing had always been the one with ideas. Now that he was actually telling him to go attach himself to Sun Chengzong, it meant Sun Shenxing had run out of ideas — he no longer had confidence in protecting him, or rather, he no longer had confidence in protecting both him and himself.

What did this mean?

It meant Sun Shenxing felt like a clay Bodhisattva crossing the river — barely able to save himself — which was why he said such things.

When he asked Sun Shenxing whether things were really that bad, Sun Shenxing said with his mouth that it was better to be prepared, but in reality the situation was already exactly that bad.

The position of Minister of Rites was simply too critical. Why did everyone think so?

Because there was one power in the hands of the Ministry of Rites — that was carrying out moral edification.

The so-called carrying out moral edification meant overseeing the education of the entire realm, while also holding the imperial examinations in every locality — all of this was managed by the Ministry of Rites.

So the position of Minister of Rites was extremely important. The imperial examination was coming next year, and no one would leave that position to Sun Shenxing, so Sun Shenxing had already prepared himself for the day he would be attacked into resigning. Most critically — did His Majesty still want Sun Shenxing to continue in the post?

Seeing Gao Panlong's gloomy gaze turn toward him, Sun Shenxing said with a smile: "There's no need for that. We should have long expected this day would come, so there's nothing much to it. If I leave, you must take good care of yourself."

"Now the court has treacherous villains in power, powerful ministers in ascendancy, and eunuch dogs running rampant. I have the will but not the strength, but there will always be a day when the clouds part and the sun shines through. So you must take care of yourself, wait for the right moment in the Ministry of War, and at the same time unite with men of benevolence and resolve as much as possible, to await tomorrow."

Hearing Sun Shenxing's words, Gao Panlong stood up, respectfully bowed to him, and said: "I will go. I believe there will also be a day when you return. When that time comes, we will jointly assist an enlightened sovereign, cleanse the court, and restore the Great Ming to peace and clarity."

Sun Shenxing nodded and said with a smile: "I don't know whether I can still return, but there is one thing I want to tell you — and that is to do your work well. Even if I cannot return due to circumstances, as long as you can accomplish these things one day, I will be very pleased."

Taking his leave of Sun Shenxing, Gao Panlong left his house and went straight to Sun Chengzong's residence.

The place was now as busy as a marketplace — people came and went in great numbers, and the number of visitors presenting name cards each day was especially large, but not everyone could get to see Sun Chengzong.

Some people met Sun Chengzong and naturally left delighted; some could not see him and, unwilling to give up, lingered outside the Sun residence every day.

Sun Chengzong was now a Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, so naturally he would not receive people casually; even if he were not a Grand Secretary, Sun Chengzong would not ordinarily receive them lightly either.

They were simply not on the same path. Besides, Sun Chengzong had only just been recognized and put into use by His Majesty — if he immediately engaged in forming cliques for private gain, where would that put His Majesty?

The homes of the other Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat were the same as Sun Chengzong's — although people always loitered about, the Grand Secretaries did not much receive them.

But Gao Panlong was naturally different. When he came to Sun Chengzong's home, he would naturally receive an audience.

In the main hall of the rear residence, Sun Chengzong met Gao Panlong.

Seeing Gao Panlong's utterly dejected expression, Sun Chengzong roughly knew the reason, but he did not bring it up, because he truly did not know how to speak of it.

Matters having fallen to this state, there was no longer any room for turning things around.

That Yuan Yingtai and Wang Huazhen had not died was already the greatest achievement; wanting to protect anyone else was basically impossible.

Especially for the sake of saving Yang Lian — many people were rushing about crying out on his behalf, but Sun Chengzong knew it was utterly hopeless.

Sun Chengzong had read Han Kuang's interrogation records. Han Kuang had not failed to give Yang Lian a chance — rather, he had given Yang Lian the opportunity to defend and exonerate himself. As long as Yang Lian named someone — whether Zou Yuanbiao or Gao Panlong — either would have been acceptable.

It was only because Yang Lian did not open his mouth that he ended up in his present predicament. Going to the palace to plead for mercy at this point was completely meaningless.

This matter made Sun Chengzong deeply dissatisfied with Gao Panlong.

In Sun Chengzong's view, Yang Lian was a victim. The entire affair had been stirred up by Gao Panlong and Zou Yuanbiao, and had little to do with Yang Lian — yet now Yang Lian was the one carrying the blame, and was even about to lose his life over it.

Zou Yuanbiao was already dead, so there was no need to speak of him. What chilled the heart was Gao Panlong. In all these days, Gao Panlong had never submitted a routine memorial, nor had he rushed about on Yang Lian's behalf.

And then there was Minister of Rites Sun Shenxing. They had done many things, but the one thing they had not done was rescue Yang Lian. They shifted the blame onto Han Kuang, forcing Han Kuang to handle matters strictly by the book.

In the end, things escalated to today's state — the emperor became dissatisfied with the powerful ministers, the Grand Secretariat was purged completely, and even the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue were all dragged into it.

If not for Sun Shenxing and Gao Panlong acting out of their own selfish motives, matters would not have reached their current state.

Sun Chengzong knew all of this, but he could not say it. Sun Chengzong had intervened once before, and after that time he had never intervened again. By this day, he could not possibly intervene anymore either.

If Gao Panlong and Sun Shenxing truly had a conscience, then they should have reached out a hand to pull Yang Lian up. But the two of them had not done so.

Although Sun Chengzong received Gao Panlong, he only wanted to hear what Gao Panlong had to say.

After the two met, they took their seats as host and guest, and tea was quickly brought up.

Sun Chengzong asked: "Yuncong, is there something you've come for today?"

"In reply to Your Excellency the Grand Secretary, there is indeed something." Gao Panlong said: "I heard that His Majesty has asked Your Excellency to select personnel for the Ministry of War. Though your subordinate is untalented, I wish to try my hand in the Ministry of War. In ancient times there was Mao Sui offering himself, and I naturally wish to emulate the worthy predecessors, so today I have come especially to request an audience with Your Excellency, hoping Your Excellency will consider me."

Gao Panlong's bluntness startled Sun Chengzong.

Was this how things were done now?

Looking Gao Panlong up and down, Sun Chengzong said: "May I ask which position you have your eye on?"

"Does the Ministry of War not still lack a Vice Minister?" Gao Panlong said: "Your subordinate believes himself capable of the post."

Sun Chengzong said nothing. Vice Minister of the Ministry of War...

As for Gao Panlong, Sun Chengzong naturally understood him well.

Gao Panlong passed the jinshi examination in the seventeenth year of Wanli, and later returned home to observe mourning upon his father's death. In the twentieth year of Wanli, he was appointed a Messenger in the Office of Messengers.

In the twenty-second year of Wanli, Gao Panlong submitted a memorial impeaching Chief Grand Secretary Wang Xijue, and was demoted to Constable of Jieyang, Guangdong.

The following year he resigned from office and returned home, and together with Gu Xiancheng and his brothers rebuilt the Donglin Academy, lecturing and teaching at home for over twenty years.

It was not until the late emperor ascended the throne that Gao Panlong was reinstated, appointed by the late emperor as Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, and subsequently transferred to Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

With such qualifications and such a career record, how did he have the confidence to become Vice Minister of the Ministry of War?

Look at what he had actually done.

What merit had he rendered for the court?

When he first entered officialdom, Gao Panlong promptly submitted the "Memorial on the Most Urgent Matters of Today," claiming that to change the empire's precarious situation, one must first rectify the root, and secondly must "abolish corporal punishment," "hold court-wide discussions," "employ remonstrating officials," "dispense from the privy purse," and reform governance.

Look at these few items:

Abolishing corporal punishment — in simple terms, it meant that punishment should not be applied to high officials.

The whole court was saying, "Your Majesty, you should come to our lectures every day."

"Use remonstrance officials—who are the remonstrance officials? Look, I just submitted a routine memorial."

"Dispense from the privy purse—Your Majesty, hurry up and take out all the money from your little treasury and let us all spend it."

If the Emperor agreed to any of these policies, it would be a miracle, so he simply ignored him entirely.

Then Gao Panlong went and impeached the Chief Grand Secretary, and was promptly demoted and sent home. When he was later recalled, he went straight to become Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, and then transferred to Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

What is this?

This is getting promoted by talking big!

Meanwhile, officials who steadily and honestly climbed step by step were all stuck at the bottom. Under such circumstances, who would still choose to do things honestly and steadily?

Everyone might as well just talk big—after all, once the new sovereign takes the throne, that will be our time to soar. They wouldn't even need to wait until then; people like themselves would already be soaring.

Those who talked big were also supported and revered by everyone in the localities, their reputations spreading across the realm. Not doing such a good thing would make one a fool.

But how could such people contribute to the country?

A man who had taught at home for over twenty years, who had never had any experience governing a locality, and had never served in the military—he wanted to come straight in and be Vice Minister of the Ministry of War?

Sun Chengzong truly did not know what to say. He very much wanted to throw the man out, but he could not.

The other party's credentials were too high. How many students had he taught over all these years? Over twenty years with disciples spread across the realm—how many of his students were serving in what positions?

He himself had no idea at all. If he threw Gao Panlong out like this, then he estimated that accusations and slander would fill the realm against him.

But could he agree to let Gao Panlong take the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of War?

Sun Chengzong smiled bitterly inwardly.

How could he agree? What was the situation at court right now? If he reported this up, what would His Majesty think?

Besides, Gao Panlong did not even have the ability for it. If he reported it up, how would others see him?

When the time came, the label of forming cliques for private gain would definitely not be avoided. What would he do then?

Still, he had to refuse.

Although it was very difficult, Sun Chengzong also knew that he could not avoid refusing, so he spoke up: "There are quite a few people around right now. I need to think this matter over, and I also need to consult with the other Grand Secretaries in the Grand Secretariat."

Hearing these words, Gao Panlong knew they were just placating words, and his expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

For Gao Panlong, Sun Chengzong was his junior—whether in officialdom, in the Donglin circle, or in the scholarly community, Sun Chengzong was all his junior.

He was willing to serve under Sun Chengzong, which was already doing him considerable honor. At a time like this, Sun Chengzong actually dared to refuse him?

Gao Panlong stood up and said, "If that is the case, then so be it!"

After saying these words, Gao Panlong turned and walked out, and one could tell at a glance that he was very dissatisfied with Sun Chengzong.

Sun Chengzong stood in place, watching Gao Panlong leave, his brows slightly furrowed, not knowing what he was thinking.