Chapter 13: Mountain Prime Minister

Behind the Zhang University Scholar Mansion, there is a small four-cornered pavilion, separated from Zhang Juzheng's study by only two walls.

In the past, if the sun was good, Zhang Juzheng would always come here to bask in the sun for a while.

Just past noon on this day, Zhang Juzheng and Li Youzi walked slowly into the small pavilion and sat down.

It was already the third month; green willows were sprouting new buds, elm seeds were blooming in green, and melted snow water gathered in the pond, turning into rolling spring waves, making the spring scenery of the North look even more charming and moving.

A light breeze brushed his face, and the beard on Zhang Juzheng's face swayed with the wind, giving him quite the appearance of an immortal with a refined, otherworldly air.

Li Youzi, standing to the side, saw it clearly and couldn't help but tease, "Shuda, your complexion lately is much better than before. It seems that the doctor's medicine and what that brat Yunxiu said were indeed correct."

Zhang Juzheng's complexion used to be on the darker side, but now it had become somewhat fair.

This was partly due to Wang Dafu's medicine, combined with the complementary effects of the "Five Animals Frolic." Secondly, it was because Zhang Yunxiu had set a quota for Zhang Juzheng: he was only allowed to engage in marital relations once every ten days.

The rest of the time, Zhang Yunxiu would stand guard at the door.

Although Zhang Juzheng was annoyed in his heart, thinking that the New Policy still needed to be implemented, he could only suppress it.

After more than a month like this, he did indeed feel that his body was much better.

"Let's not talk about this for now," Zhang Juzheng waved his hand, took out a memorial, and handed it to Li Youzi, "Help me look at this. If there are no problems, I will have someone submit the memorial."

Li Youzi took it and glanced at it roughly; it was about the reform method of the "Single Whip Law."

There was a passage in it: "Silver is scarce in the North, so the imperial court should adapt to local conditions, led by the Ministry of Revenue, to verify prices, so as to prevent powerful and wealthy families from taking the opportunity to manipulate prices and exploit the common people."

"Shuda," Li Youzi said after reading it, tossing the memorial onto the table and looking at Zhang Juzheng, "Your method is good, but how exactly will this price verification be implemented?"

"You can't just have the imperial court forcefully step in to help farmers buy grain."

"Why not?" Zhang Juzheng stood up and added, "For example, grain in Shaanxi can be purchased by the imperial court and local authorities, then transported directly to Yulin and Ningxia. This way, the common people get real benefits, the border troops have military rations, and the imperial court saves on transport costs."

"Isn't that killing three birds with one stone?"

"It's not the same."

"How is it not the same?"

"Grain is expensive in those places. If you really buy it at the normal market price, it's not cost-effective." Li Youzi looked at Zhang Juzheng and said, "It would be better to let the merchants do it themselves, and we can just buy the grain from them later."

Zhang Juzheng glared at his good friend and raised his voice, "Those merchants are all maggots in a hole; if we really let them do it, this country will surely be ruined."

"Shuda, listen to me. If you want the 'Single Whip Law' to be implemented smoothly, you have to give them some sweetness."

Zhang Juzheng did not speak upon hearing this.

Li Youzi glanced at his old friend and, remembering what Zhang Yunxiu had once said to him, felt a chill run down his spine.

He licked his lips and continued to persuade, "Shuda, actually, you could completely stay behind the scenes and oversee the overall situation."

"What do you mean?"

"In the Tang Dynasty, there was a Mountain Prime Minister named Li Mi. I mean, you could also step down."

"You want me to go back to Jiangling?" Zhang Juzheng's eyes narrowed, shooting out a cold light.

Li Youzi knew his friend was angry, but for the sake of the future, he had to continue persuading, "Zhou Gong feared the days of rumors, Wang Mang was humble before he usurped the throne. Shuda, the current Emperor is already twenty-one, and you are also about to reach the age of sixty."

"The ancients said, at fifty one knows the mandate of heaven; it is time for you to make plans for the future."

"Each emperor has his own court; if you prepare early, everyone can have a graceful exit."

"The Emperor is only twenty; how can he manage the world?" Zhang Juzheng stomped his foot and turned around abruptly.

"The Emperor ascended the throne at ten, and it has been ten years now. For ten years, he has been diligent and conscientious, waking up at the hour of the rabbit every day and not sleeping until midnight. His learning and strategies are no worse than the sage kings of old." Li Youzi's mouth was dry from talking; he picked up the teacup on the table, gulped it down his throat, and continued, "Besides, you, Zhang Juzheng, would be going home to observe the mourning period for your father, not dying."

"As long as you are still there, how would a few petty villains dare to turn the world upside down?"

Zhang Juzheng narrowed his eyes, staring at the fish swimming in the pond, but in his mind, the old events of the sixth year of Wanli emerged. At that time, his father had just passed away, and the reform was at a critical moment.

In order not to step down from his position of power, he had stubbornly resisted the requirement to step down for mourning.

The Great Ming ruled the world with filial piety; whenever parents passed away, officials were required to resign from their posts, return home to observe a three-year mourning period, and then return.

As the Senior Grand Secretary and the model for the literati, he was actually greedy for power and unwilling to observe the mourning period.

Even his own good friend and in-law, Wang Zhigao, could not understand it.

At that time, he truly had the feeling of being an enemy to the whole world.

Seeing the silence, Li Youzi continued, "Shuda, the country is now peaceful and happy, and the Emperor is at the age to personally govern. You should step down first."

"Firstly, returning home to fulfill filial piety shows that you are not greedy for power, which will shut the mouths of the censorate officials. Secondly, it will also let the Emperor see that this world is not so easy to govern."

"Do you also think I am someone greedy for power?" Zhang Juzheng turned his head and asked him with a smile.

Li Youzi shook his head, walked up to Zhang Juzheng, and earnestly persuaded, "I know you want to be someone like Zhou Gong, Yi Yin, or Lv Wang. If you really want to leave behind a good name, you really should step back a bit."

"Zhou Gong spat out his food to welcome scholars, and the world's heart turned to him. Now the world's heart is with you, yet you delay observing the mourning period; how will the people of the world see you?"

Zhang Juzheng waved his hand, signaling him to stop, and pulled the topic back again: "I must have someone submit this memorial. This matter must be implemented. You in the Ministry of Revenue prepare the silver; we will start implementing it this autumn."

*Sigh. * Li Youzi could not persuade his friend; he shook his head and became a defeated rooster.

Suddenly, as if thinking of something, he said, "By the way, Shuda, the Emperor is going to confer titles on the Nine Concubines next month and said to take 200,000 taels of silver from the Taicang Silver to reward the officials."

"I already know about this."

"Then are we doing it or not?" Li Youzi asked anxiously.

"Do it, why wouldn't we?" Zhang Juzheng smiled. Li Youzi thought Zhang Juzheng had finally seen the light and was happy, but unexpectedly, Zhang Juzheng added, "However, 200,000 taels is indeed too much for rewards. In my opinion, 20,000 taels is about right."

"Shuda!" Li Youzi was so shocked he stomped his foot.

"30,000 taels, no more than that." Zhang Juzheng waved his hand, allowing no refusal, "Although the country has some savings now, there is no guarantee we won't encounter a great disaster. As the Emperor, he should be frugal to set an example for the world."

Li Youzi was about to reply when a figure walked in.

It was Zhang Jingxiu.

"Father, Uncle." He bowed immediately upon seeing the two.

Li Youzi nodded and smiled.

Zhang Juzheng looked at his eldest son and asked, "Has that brat's studies improved lately?"

"Improved quite a bit; I think he has become sensible," Zhang Jingxiu replied respectfully.

Zhang Juzheng nodded slightly, pointed at Zhang Jingxiu, and instructed: "Have that rebellious son prepare himself; five days from now, he is to enter the palace to study alongside the Emperor and broaden his knowledge."

"Ah?" the two of them exclaimed in shock.

"What are you 'ah-ing' about? That rebellious son is still the Director of the Seal Office, yet he idles away his days—what kind of behavior is that?"

(End of chapter)