Chapter 170: The Unplayed Card Is the Most Deterrent

During these days, Zhang Juzheng's partisans came to the Zhang University Scholar Mansion incessantly to inquire. Some were concerned, some were worried, and some were fearful.

The Grand Secretary is ill; can this illness be cured? When will he recover?

These officials felt like fifteen buckets hanging in a well—seven up and eight down.

To ensure Zhang Juzheng was not disturbed, and at the same time to prevent panic from spreading, Zhang Yunxiu declined all visitors one by one.

It was quiet for two or three days in a row.

This morning, a four-bearer sedan chair with apricot-yellow embroidered curtains slowly drove into the sedan hall of the Zhang University Scholar Mansion.

As soon as the sedan chair landed, an old man of about sixty years old bent over and walked out from inside.

He was of medium build, with full cheeks and a slightly plump figure, yet he could not hide his noble air.

That was the Minister of Personnel, Wang Guoguang.

It is said that a few days ago, Wang Guoguang heard that Zhang Yunxiu had captured Wang Dehan and interrogated him under torture, obtaining a list. He knew the implications were significant and had been looking for an opportunity to offer a reminder.

Yet, he had never found the right opportunity.

For one, he did not want to dampen this young man's passion; for another, the capital was already in a state of extreme anxiety, and he did not want the situation to escalate further.

Caught between these two complex contradictions, he was instead somewhat indecisive.

Regarding this Acting Senior Grand Secretary Zhang Siwei, he only had some fellow-townsman sentiments.

Compared to his long-standing friendship with Zhang Juzheng, Wang Guoguang naturally leaned more toward the Zhang Family. Especially since this Acting Senior Grand Secretary had, upon taking office, immediately promoted several people whom Zhang Juzheng had previously demoted to Nanjing.

In such an eventful autumn, Wang Guoguang naturally felt a sense of alarm.

Yesterday, news of the Emperor's bestowed marriage spread throughout the officialdom of the capital.

This was no different from giving the Zhang Family and the officials close to the Zhang Family immense confidence and courage—the Zhang Family remained favored by the Emperor.

At the same time, Wang Guoguang knew the time had come to talk to Zhang Yunxiu.

Led by You Qi to the study, Wang Guoguang looked inside to see Zhang Yunxiu already standing there waiting. Upon seeing each other, Zhang Yunxiu cupped his hands in a salute and invited Wang Guoguang to sit.

After they were seated with the etiquette of host and guest, Wang Guoguang did not waste words and went straight to the point: "Nephew, it is good that you have the heart to share the nation's burdens, but sometimes you must mind your sense of proportion. In such an eventful autumn, it is better to be calm and patient."

"Is Uncle here to plead for those officials?" Zhang Yunxiu asked, turning his body slightly.

Wang Guoguang waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no, no. I also know the ills of this officialdom. Although you have the Emperor's favor, in terms of status, you are merely a scholar of the Hanlin Academy; how can you shoulder such a heavy responsibility?"

Matters of this kind, even if Zhang Juzheng were handling them, would require extreme caution.

Does Zhang Juzheng not know about corruption? He likely knows.

Then why not manage it? Wang Guoguang had been an official for nearly forty years, having experienced five Senior Grand Secretaries: Xia Yan, Yan Song, Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng.

How could he not know that if the officials of this world were truly scrutinized, who could withstand the investigation?

Take Yan Song, for example; everyone says he was a massive embezzler.

Yet the wealth confiscated from his home was far less than that of Zhang Juzheng's teacher, Xu Jie.

Therefore, Wang Guoguang concluded.

This young man before him was looking to purge people.

"What is there that I cannot shoulder?" Zhang Yunxiu smiled and added, "Besides, what does this matter have to do with me? These days I have not stepped out of the house, often serving by my father's side. The Embroidered Uniform Guard is under the jurisdiction of the Emperor; if they want to do something, I cannot control it."

Zhang Yunxiu's meaning was very simple: this matter has nothing to do with me. "Nephew, you are muddled!" Wang Guoguang glared and reproached, "Who in the entire capital does not know that Han San is your man? When he acts, it represents your intentions. To go deeper, it represents the Senior Grand Secretary's intentions."

At this point, Wang Guoguang swallowed hard and continued: "Think about it, if everyone you capture is a partisan of Zhang Siwei, and this gets out, how will those 'pure' officials and the officials of the world view the Grand Secretary?"

When the masses speak, gold melts; when the masses push a wall, it must collapse.

If he really did this, Zhang Yunxiu would become the target of public criticism.

Zhang Yunxiu was unhurried. He first smiled at this old Minister, then said: "Uncle, rest assured. I am about to be married, so naturally I will not cause a big stir during this period. Whatever happens will have to wait until later."

"It won't do later either; this matter can only be handled by the Grand Secretary."

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and did not speak.

After thinking for these few days, he felt that there was much to be gained from Wang Dehan's list.

At the same time, he realized a truth: a trump card that has been played is no longer a trump card; only when it is held in one's hand is it a trump card.

When experts cross swords, whoever reveals their trump card first is the passive party.

As long as he grips this list tightly, he will neither say he is investigating nor say he is not.

This is a Sword of Damocles, hanging over the heads of these officials, making them walk on thin ice with every step.

Wang Guoguang was about to speak again, but Zhang Yunxiu spoke first: "Uncle, do you remember when Hai Rui carried a coffin to insult the Jiajing Emperor, and the Emperor was furious and ordered this 'pure' official to be thrown into prison?"

Hearing this, Wang Guoguang was visibly stunned.

He was in the court at the time of the Hai Rui incident; how could he not know? Back then, Hai Rui spoke out of righteousness, and the Shizong Emperor was furious, immediately ordering Hai Rui to be thrown into death row.

Had it not been for the officials below using the "delay" tactic, Hai Rui would likely have been in grave danger.

Wait, the delay tactic?

Wang Guoguang thought of something. He slowly raised his head, and a sharp light suddenly shot from his aged eyelids as he looked at Zhang Yunxiu.

Zhang Yunxiu nodded and replied: "As I said, I am about to be married, and I do not want to deal with these sordid matters anymore. As for when this matter will be brought up again later, I do not know."

Wang Guoguang nodded and cast a complex look at Zhang Yunxiu.

It contained both approval for Zhang Yunxiu's mature political maneuvering and dissatisfaction at having been deceived.

His previous demeanor was entirely that of a hot-headed youth, clearly intending to fight to the death. Today, he suddenly made a 180-degree turn, which instead made him run this errand in vain.

However, if Zhang Yunxiu knew what Wang Guoguang was thinking, he would surely cry out in grievance.

He made this decision only after the Emperor and the Empress Dowager bestowed the marriage yesterday, which made him truly realize. There is plenty of time; he is only in his twenties, and the Emperor is also only in his twenties.

Zhang Siwei is old and frail; why should he compete with him for this moment of anger? The two men each harbored their own thoughts. After a few seconds of silence, Wang Guoguang glanced at the sky outside.

Seeing that the weather was fine, he smiled and suggested: "The weather is nice today; why doesn't Nephew push the Grand Secretary out? It would be good for him to bask in the sun."

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle."

Zhang Yunxiu cupped his hands and returned with Wang Guoguang to Zhang Juzheng's bedroom.

On the large bed inside, Zhang Juzheng lay with his eyes wide open, and the Fifth Concubine was sitting beside him.

Zhang Yunxiu spoke a few brief words to the Fifth Concubine, and she nodded.

The group then exerted their strength together to carry the immobile Zhang Juzheng out.

(End of this chapter)