Chapter 28: Gao Panlong

The Liaodong issue would become increasingly sensitive in the Great Ming, and this matter was essentially the starting ground for factional strife — to put it plainly, it was a struggle over interests.

At this moment, the Donglin Faction was beginning to panic. Wei Zhongxian, using Xiong Tingbi's case as his opening move, had arrested Yao Zongwen, then followed up by seizing Feng Sanyuan, Wei Yingjia, and Zhang Xiude, and now a Li Ruzhen had been dragged into it as well.

If Yao Zongwen was merely a small fry who had defected from the Zhejiang Faction, then Feng Sanyuan, Wei Yingjia, and Zhang Xiude were people the Donglin Faction needed to protect.

Feng Sanyuan, Wei Yingjia, and Zhang Xiude needed to be protected, but by now the three of them were no longer the most pressing problem.

Moreover, since they had already opened their mouths, they could no longer be kept. The key issue now was that Li Ruzhen had been dragged in — and who Li Ruzhen would drag in next, and how many people, was anyone's guess!

The people present listened to Gao Panlong's words, and their expressions were none too pleasant. Matters had indeed reached a point of imminent crisis.

"Although Wei Zhongxian is a eunuch, this man bears the look of an eagle watching and a wolf glancing back. From the very moment he sent that Daoist into the palace, this man has harbored ill intentions." Zuo Guangdou began speaking at this time as well.

He continued in a loud voice: "When loyal and upright men at court impeached Wei Zhongxian, he used the Xiong Tingbi affair to take revenge. This is aimed at us — Wei Zhongxian intends to drive us upright men out of the court!"

"Wei Zhongxian bears the visage of a great villain. If he is not stopped, he will surely become another Liu Jin or Wang Zhi — and the calamity he wreaks will far surpass that of Liu Jin and Wang Zhi."

Everyone nodded in unison.

At this moment, Zhao Nanxing also spoke with a face full of indignation: "He can be compared to the likes of Wang Zhen."

Who was Wang Zhen?

By comparison, although Liu Jin and Wang Zhi had wrought severe havoc, Wang Zhen — the eunuch who had brought about the Tumu Crisis — bore a truly heinous guilt toward the Great Ming.

Because the Tumu Crisis he had engineered was the turning point at which the Great Ming shifted from prosperity to decline.

Zhao Nanxing directly compared Wei Zhongxian to Wang Zhen, which showed just how fierce the indignation in his heart was.

Everyone spoke up, discussing the matter in animated debate.

In the end, they reached a decision: they would jointly submit memorials impeaching Wei Zhongxian, and would even go so far as to kneel before the Meridian Gate to plead their case.

Deep within the imperial palace, Zhu Youxiao sat in a wheelchair propping up his chin, a blanket draped over his legs, listening to Chen Hong report to him, his expression never changing throughout.

After a long moment, Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said directly: "Enough, no need to read any more."

The Donglin Faction was making a fuss — Zhu Youxiao understood this clearly in his heart.

After pondering for a moment, Zhu Youxiao spoke: "Go fetch Yang Lian and Gao Panlong for me."

At this time, Yang Lian held the office of Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, while Gao Panlong was an Assistant Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments — neither of their positions was low.

The reason Zhu Youxiao wanted to see these two men was simple: they were too famous.

Yang Lian's loyalty and integrity were praised by people of later generations, and Zhu Youxiao now wanted to see whether he was worthy of use.

The same reasoning applied to Gao Panlong — he was also one of the leaders of the Donglin Faction. If there were usable people within the Donglin Faction, then Zhu Youxiao was willing to do something to split the Donglin Faction apart.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Chen Hong dared not be negligent. He quickly acknowledged the order, then turned and hurried out to find the men. These past days His Majesty had not summoned anyone at all — now summoning Yang Lian and Gao Panlong, there was definitely something behind this!

Before long, the two men arrived.

Hearing Chen Hong's report, Zhu Youxiao spoke: "Have Gao Panlong come in, and take Yang Lian to the side hall to wait. Before the two of them leave, do not let them see each other."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong acknowledged the order, then turned and walked out.

Before long, Gao Panlong walked in from outside. Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, he hurriedly bowed in greeting.

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, signaling Gao Panlong to dispense with formalities, while sizing up this man who would become one of the most famous leaders of the Donglin Faction in later generations.

Gao Panlong had a decent appearance, and standing there he carried a natural bearing that made him look like an upright man. His overall image was like something out of a Zhu Shimao skit, though nothing could be discerned from his features at the moment.

"My beloved minister Gao." Zhu Youxiao called out to Gao Panlong, but immediately afterward he fell into a fit of coughing that seemed as though he might cough out his very lungs.

Gao Panlong hastily looked up: "Your Majesty must take care of your dragon body!"

Only now did Gao Panlong notice that Zhu Youxiao was actually sitting in a wheelchair, a blanket draped over him, his complexion none too good, bearing an unnatural flush.

Gao Panlong's heart gave a jolt — had His Majesty's illness already become this severe?

"It's nothing. There are so many matters of state that even if I wanted to rest easy, I couldn't." Zhu Youxiao said with pointed meaning.

"It is your ministers' failure of duty." Gao Panlong hurriedly bowed.

Zhu Youxiao suddenly smiled: "No need for such words. Today I called you here because I have matters to discuss with you. These past few days I have received quite a few routine memorials, most of them impeaching Wei Zhongxian — saying Wei Zhongxian framed loyal officials, persecuted and retaliated against remonstrating censors, used torture to extract confessions and forced the accused to admit guilt under duress, saying Wei Zhongxian bears the look of an eagle watching and a wolf glancing back, saying he is of the ilk of Liu Jin and Wang Zhi."

At this point, Zhu Youxiao looked up at Gao Panlong: "It was just investigating a case and arresting a few people — how did it stir up such a commotion? My beloved minister, what would you teach me?"

Gao Panlong hastily said: "Your Majesty, the first priority in governing the state lies in official discipline. If the officialdom is unsettled and the hundred officials are in fear, how can there be any talk of official discipline? Wei Zhongxian, in order to take revenge on court officials who impeached him, threw people into prison, and for his own private grudges disregarded the court — his crimes are truly heinous. Your minister requests that Wei Zhongxian be severely punished."

Watching Gao Panlong lift his robes and kneel down, Zhu Youxiao smiled, unsure whether it was Gao Panlong's own nature or the manner of all Donglin partisans.

But the Donglin Faction daring to speak in their memorials, daring to stroke the dragon's scales, even taking pride in finding fault with and attacking the Emperor — this was nothing new, so Zhu Youxiao paid little heed to Gao Panlong's words.

Letting out a light sigh, Zhu Youxiao said with some feebleness: "Enough, get up. Stop with all the kneeling."

After Gao Panlong stood up again, Zhu Youxiao spoke: "This is a routine memorial that came up from the Eastern Depot. You may take a look."

As he spoke, Zhu Youxiao shot a glance at Chen Hong beside him: "Show it to my beloved minister Gao."

Gao Panlong hastily reached out to receive the memorial and quickly flipped through it — his expression turned rather sour.

"Why Yao Zongwen and the others framed Xiong Tingbi is written clearly there — Liu Guojin colluded with Li Ruzhen wanting to drive Xiong Tingbi away, and Yao Zongwen, having a grudge against Xiong Tingbi, naturally helped Liu Guojin impeach Xiong Tingbi. Of course, there was also money to be made in it." As he spoke, Zhu Youxiao picked up another piece of testimony: "These are the confessions of Feng Sanyuan, Wei Yingjia, and Zhang Xiude."

"It is clearly written here that they accepted Li Ruzhen's silver to impeach Xiong Tingbi — three thousand taels of silver each. Quite a generous hand, and three thousand taels per person — fair enough."