Chapter 1045: I have come to deliver the imperial travel permit for Your Majesty

"I have done two right things in my life: one is the mastery of numbers, and the other is the consolidation of the world's taxes into the court." Wang Guoguang leaned on the back of the chair. He was already at the end of his life. Looking back on his life, he came to the world to do only two things.

The mastery of numbers and the consolidation of the world's taxes. In Wang Guoguang's view, one injected mathematical thinking into Chinese culture, and the other extended the life of the Great Ming Dynasty, comprehensively perfecting the Great Ming's financial and tax system.

Looking back, he felt that the mastery of numbers was more important.

Since the two Song dynasties, the development of numbers in China has become slow, and even past achievements have been lost. By the Great Ming, there were even fewer people reading mathematics, and reading mathematics even became a synonym for calculation.

This is actually not strange, because for various reasons, many Great Ming scholar-officials don't even read history books, only the "Spring and Autumn Annals."

Zhu Yijun looked sad and grabbed Wang Guoguang's somewhat withered arm, whispering: "The Great Ming will remember Minister Wang."

Wang Guoguang was critically ill. For six days, Wang Guoguang could only drink water and not eat. The Great Medical Officials tried every method to let Wang Guoguang eat some liquid food, but since yesterday, Wang Guoguang began to be unable to eat or drink. Great Medical Official Pang Xian said that I am afraid it will be these few days.

Wang Guoguang, a person who is cautious when alone, even when alone, is cautious and does not violate the rules. As the Great Ming's financial minister, as the initiator of the mastery of numbers, and as an important pillar of the Wanli Reform, Wang Guoguang is also about to say goodbye to the Great Ming he loves deeply.

Wang Guoguang is a traitor, a traitor of the Jin party. As a Jin party member, at the most critical moment of the Chu-Jin decisive battle, Wang Guoguang chose Zhang Juzheng.

"Your Majesty can come, I can be considered to have left decently." Wang Guoguang actually wanted to persuade His Majesty that deep affection does not last long. His Majesty is still young and will experience such things many times. There is no need to be overly sad. He died, but he lived in people's hearts in another way.

The Emperor's ability to come is a great decency. Sending off by lowering the steps is a courtesy, representing His Majesty's recognition of Wang Guoguang's lifelong achievements.

Wang Guoguang's consciousness was quite clear. He hadn't eaten for several days, but he didn't feel any hunger at all. It was not that he wasn't hungry, but that his body could no longer provide feedback on hunger. He didn't have any strength left in his whole body.

Death, Wang Guoguang is not afraid. Everyone has a death, either heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather.

He asked himself repeatedly these few days whether he had wasted his life, and the answer was negative.

He came to the world for this trip, worthy of his parents, worthy of his family, worthy of his colleagues, worthy of the court, worthy of His Majesty, and worthy of the common people. He did not waste his time.

As long as he was awake, he let his son and the Great Medical Official lift him to the reclining chair and put him in the courtyard. He wanted to see the flowers, plants, trees, sunshine, and rain again. He had infinite attachment to the world. He let his son read those Court Gazettes to him every day.

He liked to listen to the good news in the Court Gazette: Zhong-Sheng good potatoes had a bumper harvest, Ningfeng late-maturing good potatoes were successfully cultivated, and the Great Ming planted many fast-growing poplar forests again. Although there was the trouble of poplar catkins, it was better than having no trees at all, which made people feel at ease.

As a financial minister, he actually knew very well that after thousands of years of logging, the Great Ming's vegetation had been exhausted.

The collapse of the natural environment, coupled with population explosion and natural disasters, made the Great Ming really difficult to support, but recently the Great Ming has paid great attention

"The matter of consolidating all tax revenues of the world under the imperial court will require Your Majesty's leadership. Many people are waiting for me to die so they can restore the ancestral system." Wang Guoguang voiced his concerns; many people were waiting for him to die.

Once he died, they could begin attacking him and attacking his policies. Dead men tell no tales, and they are the easiest to bully.

"They wouldn't dare!" Zhu Yijun gripped Wang Guoguang's hand tightly, revealing a reassuring smile as he said, "In these years, I haven't learned anything else, but I have learned how to kill and how to strike at the heart. If they invert right and wrong and insist on being unreasonable, I will not only kill them, but I will also nail them to the pillar of historical shame to stink for ten thousand years."

Zhu Yijun was a tyrant. He had personally executed Xu Jie and even had Xu Jie's corruption written on the Happy Stele Forest and carved onto the Western Hills, just to ensure Xu Jie would stink for ten thousand years.

Opposing the New Policies meant opposing Zhu Yijun, the Emperor himself.

"It doesn't necessarily have to involve killing." Wang Guoguang was somewhat startled, but then he also revealed a smile.

In the first month of the third year of Wanli, addressing the daily decline of grain reserves in the border regions, Wang Guoguang proposed a strategy of paying salaries in kind while paying silver in the capital, effectively turning the salt in the 'Opening-the-Grain' system into silver.

In the third month of the same year, the censorate officials began to attack Wang Guoguang, but Zhang Juzheng smoothed over this attack.

At that time, Wang Guoguang wondered why such an offensive was launched against him. Later, after careful calculation, Wang Guoguang realized that the Bai Yin-for-Salt law allowed the imperial court to oversee and audit the treasuries of the Nine Frontiers; this was the fundamental reason he was attacked so fiercely. Some people simply did not want the imperial court to clarify local accounts.

In the fourth month, Wang Guoguang began formulating policies to consolidate all tax revenues under the imperial court's management. By the twenty-sixth day of the tenth month, Wang Guoguang completed the institutional design and submitted a memorial requesting the imperial court's approval.

At that time, Zhang Juzheng was acting as regent, and he agreed to all the strategies and executed them resolutely.

The fiscal and tax system designed by Zhu Yuanzhang could be considered the strangest among the Qin, Han, Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties.

It could even be said that at the beginning of its design, sustainability and executability were never considered; it was filled with the impulsive and wishful thinking of the ruling class. Zhu Yuanzhang felt these were decrees that treated the people kindly, yet they resulted in the Great Ming dynasty being unable to even collect taxes.

The chaos of the Great Ming's fiscal and tax system led to extreme inefficiency in the use of finances, and no one knew where the money and grain went, how it was spent, or who handled it. Even those who spent this money and grain could not explain where it went; they couldn't even keep the books straight.

In fact, the flaws of this system were exposed as early as the Hongwu years; the outbreak of the 'Empty Seal Case' was a struggle centered around the fiscal and tax system.

But Zhu Yuanzhang did not perfect the fiscal and tax system; on the contrary, cruel political struggles pushed the perfection of the fiscal and tax system to the sidelines, and the struggle became the most important thing at the time.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not do it, and later, with the ancestral laws in place, the Great Ming dynasty's fiscal and tax system fell into a state where correction was completely impossible.

The high officials of the Wanli Reform did not intend to blame Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang had been dead for over two hundred years, and his descendants failing to correct the errors was more a matter of unfilial descendants.

The importance of the Wanli Reform lay in correction. Wang Guoguang's consolidation of all tax revenues under the imperial court, which began in the third year of Wanli, was his implementation of the 'Six Books and One Account,' along with the establishment of a strict year-end audit mechanism. The thirteen departments of the Ministry of Revenue each had different responsibilities; for example, the Guizhou Department was responsible for tariff audits, while salt taxes fell under the Shandong Department, and so on.

The goal was to ensure: one party per department, one matter per manager, six books and one account, every item clarified, so that those who oversee have accountability, and those who execute have no excuses—this is a rule that can last.

Strictly speaking, everything Wang Guoguang did severely violated the ancestral laws. It was equivalent to saying that after the third year of Wanli, Zhu Yuanzhang's fiscal and tax system was abolished and replaced by Wang Guoguang's tax law; if the 'Six Books and One Account' were not done correctly, one would be held accountable.

Land surveying was one aspect, and auditing accounts was another. This was also the reason why, starting from the sixth year of Wanli, the Great Ming's finances finally achieved a surplus, and they could even give the Emperor an extra two hundred thousand taels of silver as pocket money.

Likewise, as long as Wang Guoguang was alive and in the capital, and the Emperor still treated him with courtesy, counter-attacks and settling of scores could not be launched. However, once he died, everything would be easy... or would it?

The fact that His Majesty was willing to lower his status to see Wang Guoguang off on his final journey was in itself a statement: anyone who acted recklessly would be slapped by His Majesty, and if they caused too much trouble, His Majesty would truly kill.

The tactic of labeling someone a 'sinner against the teachings' had only been used by His Majesty against Xu Jie, but everyone could see its power.

His Majesty had the methods, the means, and the determination to lead the Wanli Reform; His Majesty was not the late Emperor who was elusive, liked to hide away, disliked politics, and had a somewhat weak personality.

"I intend to grant Wang Situ's eldest son the hereditary rank of Director of the Seal Office, and the second son the status of a student at the Imperial Academy, to be granted an official post upon graduation." Zhu Yijun spoke of Wang Guoguang's posthumous arrangements.

Wang Guoguang weakly shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, these two sons of mine are each more incompetent than the other, so there is no need. If virtue does not match the position, it will instead be a disaster and a calamity. One is a Juren, one is a Xiucai; that is fine as it is."

Wang Guoguang's eldest son had only passed the Juren examination and failed the Jinshi examination three times, not even getting into the Imperial University in the capital. As for the second son, he only had the title of Xiucai, and even that was purchased, not earned through examination.

The Emperor gave too much, and they could not hold onto it with their talent and virtue; it was better not to give it and let them live a peaceful life.

"It must be given." Zhu Yijun patted Wang Guoguang's hand and said, "Otherwise, those ambitious people in our Great Ming will deal with them."

Wang Guoguang thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Then I will obey Your Majesty."

There was no other way; he was about to die, and once a person is dead, they are dead. If the Emperor wanted to give it, he could not jump out of his coffin to object, so it was better to agree.

"Your Majesty, I... have one final unfinished matter." Wang Guoguang struggled to sit up but failed. He stared at His Majesty with bright eyes and said forcefully, "Your Majesty, open the seas."

The essence of the Wanli Reform was to use the five Maritime Trade Offices as fulcrums to plunder overseas wealth on a large scale, thereby alleviating the domestic contradictions caused by the reform.

There was only one chance; if it succeeded, it succeeded. If it failed, the Great Ming would perish.

Moreover, the Westerners had already begun to sail globally. This was not just a struggle for wealth, but also for the right to survive. If the Great Ming perished, it perished, but China could not perish.

The 'Record of Foreign Nations' about the ancient Inca Empire written by Wan Wengong and Wan Shihe stimulated the anxiety of Great Ming scholar-officials regarding the decline of Chinese civilization. It turned out that a civilization that had been passed down for thousands of years could be wiped out completely in just three generations—so thoroughly.

"The seas have been open for over twenty years, and a large group of rent-seekers has already been cultivated in the coastal regions. Even if I were to say I wanted to ban the seas now, no one would agree. Just the tariff revenue alone—I am willing to give it up, but the imperial court is not." Zhu Yijun told Wang Guoguang to set his mind at ease.

Opening the seas was initiated by Zhu Yijun, the Emperor, but banning the seas was something he, the Emperor, could no longer do. The interest groups that profited from opening the seas would not allow the Emperor to issue such a foolish order.

"That is true." Wang Guoguang smiled, his eyes filled with comfort and an infinite attachment to the world, and he whispered, "The Great Ming of today is truly good. I wish I could see it a few more times."

After Wang Guoguang finished speaking, he slowly closed his eyes. After a few breaths, his hand slipped from His Majesty's grasp.

Zhu Yijun gripped it tightly, but he was only a mortal monarch and could not hold onto a life that had passed.

After a long while, the Chief Physician Pang Xian stepped forward, checked, and then whispered, "Your Majesty, Wang Situ has already passed."

"I know, I know. I will stay a little longer." Zhu Yijun waved his hand, signaling Pang Xian to withdraw. Zhu Yijun knew the moment Wang Guoguang passed, and he accepted the result, but he just wanted to stay a little longer.

Looking at Wang Guoguang's remains, Zhu Yijun suddenly felt that he had truly been overthinking.

The theory of freedom and the alienation of money were coming on aggressively, and Zhu Yijun was very worried about this, but looking at Wang Guoguang, this high official who had passed away, he knew he had been completely overthinking.

You can destroy my body, you can even occupy my homeland, but you cannot conquer my will, make my soul submit, or make my faith bow.

In the bones of the Chinese people, there is naturally a kind of integrity and bloodiness that is hard to describe in words. Under this integrity and bloodiness, every citizen hopes that their death is an ultimate finale, rather than a bleak and ordinary life.

Furthermore, the Chinese standard for judging a person is not based on success or failure, but on integrity and bloodiness.

What supports the Great Ming and supports China is never the Confucian discipline of people, or the order of family and state established by Confucianism, but integrity and bloodiness.

Lu Xiufu manipulated power and engaged in factionalism; no matter how you look at it, he cannot be considered a loyal official in the traditional sense. Some even put him in the same category as Qin Gui and Jia Sidao, but with that jump at Yashan, he became a loyal official whose name would live forever.

From the moment he jumped into the sea, he only had a flawed methodology, not flawed values.

A similar experience was that of the Chongzhen Emperor. Chongzhen was truly not a wise monarch; he had too many shortcomings, but at the moment he hanged himself on Coal Hill, the evaluation of him was just the phrase 'having the heart to kill the thieves but lacking the power to turn the tide,' at most adding that he was somewhat incompetent.

A person cannot love their country only when they are winning. Martyrdom, bloodiness, and integrity all prove that this person still deeply loved this land and everyone on it even when they were losing.

Bloodiness and integrity represent a great love—a great love that does not require one to be the one who achieves success.

I may not be able to realize my ideals, but ideals can be realized through me. This is integrity and bloodiness.

This is the foundation of China. Whether it is the theory of freedom, the alienation of money, or anything else, none can shake these two foundations of integrity and bloodiness, and thus the Great Ming still exists.

Undoubtedly, Wang Guoguang possessed this integrity and bloodiness. He knew that the things he did would bring many hidden dangers to him and his descendants when the time came to settle scores, but he still did it alongside Zhang Juzheng.

"When someone needs to stand up, someone must truly be able to stand up." Zhu Yijun let go of Wang Guoguang's hand and signaled for Wang Guoguang's son to collect the remains, ending his life of struggle.

Zhu Yijun would continue the remaining battles.

Wang Guoguang's New Policies, in summary, were: adopt practical politics, distinguish between the complex and the simple, hold local officials accountable, show compassion to low-ranking officials, and abolish arbitrary levies. These five points were the general guiding principles, and the method of implementation was to consolidate all tax revenues under the imperial court, 'Six Books and One Account,' and year-end audits.

These New Policies inevitably harmed the interests of some people. While he was alive, his remaining prestige still existed; once he died, the counter-attack and settling of scores began immediately.

The Ministry of Rites requested the posthumous title 'Wending.' 'Jing tian wei di' (to regulate heaven and earth) is called 'Wen'; 'Ci hui ai min' (benevolent and loving to the people) is called 'Wen'; 'An min da lv' (great consideration for the peace of the people) is called 'Ding'; 'Chun xing bu shuang' (pure conduct without deviation) is called 'Ding.'

Pure and simple behavior, without distracting thoughts or deviations, without violating one's own spirituality or cognition, loyal to the monarch, loyal to the state, loyal to the world, loyal to the people, and even more loyal to oneself—this is 'pure conduct without deviation.'

The posthumous title given by the Ministry of Rites fully took into account Wang Guoguang's character of being cautious and independent throughout his life, never overstepping or speaking recklessly even in private.

However, the censorate officials felt this title was very inappropriate. Their reason was that although Wang Guoguang had some achievements in his life, he was by no means without flaws in his conduct. Giving the title 'Wending' was giving him too much credit; he should have been given 'Gongyi.'

'Jing shi gong shang' (respecting affairs and serving the superior) is called 'Gong.' As the Minister of Revenue, Wang Guoguang gathered wealth and promoted profit, collecting all the silver for the imperial court, and the 'Golden Flower Bai Yin' for the Emperor rose from one million taels to the current two million four hundred thousand taels. This was 'respecting affairs and serving the superior.'

'Shang neng bu zheng' (able to not contend) is called 'Yi,' referring to Wang Guoguang, who, as a member of the Jin Party, betrayed the Jin Party to cater to Zhang Juzheng's power, acting like a fox borrowing a tiger's might and acting as a tiger's accomplice.

It looked like a beautiful title, but every word and sentence was an insult.

"So, anyone who has made even the slightest contribution to the Wanli Reform must go through this, right? Wang Chonggu was indeed a treacherous official by origin, and he admitted it himself, so I accepted the counter-attack. But what did Wang Guoguang do to provoke them?"

"I can see it now: anyone who works for me must be subjected to their verbal attacks and written criticisms!" Zhu Yijun slapped the memorial on the table. A total of twelve censorate officials had joined with thirty-four other officials to stir up public opinion.

"Zhao Mengyou!" Zhu Yijun shouted. He was a person who never internalized his frustrations; since someone made him unhappy, he would make them unhappy, and in this way, he, the Emperor, would be happy.

"I am here!" Zhao Mengyou was waiting in the Imperial Study and, hearing the Emperor's order, immediately shouted loudly.

Zhu Yijun said with a serious expression, "Take all forty-six of these censorate officials to the Northern Internal Security Bureau and prepare for a court beating at the Huangji Gate! After the beating, send their entire families to Jilin in Liaodong to reclaim wasteland. Tell the Jilin Prefect Ye Xianggao and the Jilin General Li Rumei not to give them any special treatment!"

"Let them farm for five years first. If I still remember them then, I will allow them to submit a memorial of confession!"

"I obey the decree!" Zhao Mengyou's eyes lit up, and his response was very loud. The Embroidered Uniform Guards received the highest salaries in the Great Ming, had the Emperor's complete trust, had their own school, and even the Embroidered Uniform Guard office was located right next to the Tonghe Palace.

After so many years, the Embroidered Uniform Guards finally had to do something to prove their loyalty!

Now the opportunity had finally arrived. Previously, the Emperor had never punished anyone for their words.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards immediately took action, not only arresting the officials but also going to their residences in the various Shiyong wards to send their families to the Northern Internal Security Bureau together. The Emperor said 'entire family,' so not one would be missing; the whole family would be kept together.

The speed of the Embroidered Uniform Guards' action this time was so fast that the court officials could not react before they were all arrested and taken into the Northern Internal Security Bureau.

Lu Guangzu, as a Grand Secretary, requested an audience to plead for these officials, but he was not granted permission. Lu Guangzu, running around in a panic, sought out Shen Shixing, but Shen Shixing indicated he was powerless.

Before Wang Guoguang passed away, Shen Shixing had already warned these censorate officials that Wang Guoguang was a pillar of the state and they should not speak recklessly.

At the very least, they should speak with substance rather than opposing for the sake of opposing. His Majesty was most disgusted by this.

Lu Guangzu had no choice but to beg at the gate of the Yicheng Marquis Mansion, hoping that Zhang Juzheng could step forward and ask His Majesty to withdraw his thunderous wrath.

But the answer Lu Guangzu received was that the Grand Secretary and Imperial Tutor Zhang Juzheng was not in the capital; he had gone to Tianjin Prefecture a few days ago, saying he wanted to observe the customs. Mr. Zhang had gone to see the large ships and learn about life at sea from the sailors.

Zhang Juzheng was truly not in the capital; it was not an excuse.

Lu Guangzu hurriedly wrote a letter, wishing he could attach wings to it to go to Tianjin Prefecture and invite Zhang Juzheng back to the capital. At this critical juncture, how could Zhang Juzheng not be here! How could he not be here!

The next morning, Lu Guangzu received a reply containing only one sentence: "This old man is weak and has already retired; I have no strength, and even less heart."

If Zhang Juzheng had not retired, he would have had the standing and ability to block His Majesty, and over the years, he had done so many times.

But now he had stepped down!

With nothing to worry about, he was now a Marquis of Yicheng, a hereditary official, and no longer had the standing of an official selected by examination, nor the ability to block His Majesty.

After Zhang Juzheng learned the news, he only felt that it was quite good for His Majesty to make a scene. Young people, after all—if they weren't spirited, they wouldn't be young. And this wasn't the first time.

Last time, when Shen Shixing's entry into the cabinet was rigged, His Majesty directly abolished the court discussion system.

Now, after more than a year, His Majesty's anger had finally dissipated. Ling Yunyi had used the opportunity of his retirement to lobby His Majesty to change it to once a month, but when it would be convened depended entirely on His Majesty's will.

There had already been one, and to provoke His Majesty's authority a second time—in Zhang Juzheng's view, the court officials somewhat felt that without him, Zhang Juzheng, His Majesty had become easy to bully.

Therefore, Zhang Juzheng's answer was that he had no strength and no heart, and he remained in Tianjin Prefecture, continuing to look at his large ships.

Zhang Juzheng was very happy staying in Tianjin Prefecture because the grain boxes he had tinkered with for canal transport were called 'Taiyue Boxes' by the people—it was the box invented by him, Zhang Taiyue. Moreover, all kinds of canal transport boxes for different goods and specifications were called Taiyue Boxes.

Zhang Juzheng would casually ask some sailors, and these sailors were all very respectful to him, feeling that it was he, Zhang Taiyue, who provided them with their livelihood.

When he first tinkered with these canal grain boxes, it was mainly to ensure the smooth implementation of maritime transport and to solve the problem of grain ships easily capsizing. He never expected it would have such a far-reaching impact; because of the invention of these grain boxes, maritime transport ushered in a booming opportunity.

There was nothing happier than seeing with one's own eyes that one's political decrees benefited the people. Zhang Juzheng was still reluctant to return to the capital; he would go back to see Wang Guoguang off after His Majesty finished venting his anger.

Zhu Yijun was actually waiting for Zhang Juzheng's reaction. No matter what, the face of the Grand Secretary and Imperial Tutor had to be given.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Zhang has replied." Li Yougong handed a sealed letter to His Majesty. After checking it, Zhu Yijun opened the letter.

It was even more concise, containing only three words: "Well beaten."

"Mr. Zhang isn't even pretending anymore." Zhu Yijun looked at these three powerful and forceful words. Seeing the writing was like seeing the person. Although Zhang Juzheng only wrote three words, he wrote them very easily. It seemed he truly did not want to deal with these messy affairs in the court.

Previously, he had to stand in the position of an official selected by examination and block the Emperor out of a minister's duty. Now, with only a hereditary title, he only had the teacher-student relationship with His Majesty, so Zhang Juzheng was too lazy to continue acting as that stubborn conservative.

"Well beaten" was Zhang Juzheng's sincere attitude. His own disciple, on his own turf, with the Capital Battalion nearby, could still be bullied by officials?

Wang Guoguang was completely different from Wang Chonggu. Wang Guoguang's life was upright and honorable, and he never did anything with improper conduct. Moreover, his policies, although gathering wealth and promoting profit, never involved oppressing the people.

It was indeed inconvenient for the Emperor to personally come forward regarding Wang Chonggu's posthumous reputation, which was why he let the craftsmen go down the mountain. Now that it was Wang Guoguang's turn, however His Majesty chose to protect him was only natural.

"Commander, take them to the Huangji Gate and beat them. After the beating, send them to Liaodong." Zhu Yijun looked at Zhao Mengyou and gave a clear instruction.

The game between imperial power and ministerial power had always been like this: if you take one step back, the other side will take three steps forward. In many cases, if you really want to retreat, you must take three steps forward and two steps back, rather than retreating directly.

Zhu Yijun did not intend to take any steps back in this matter, so he took three steps forward directly. He wanted to see if these officials could reach the point of "The state has raised scholars for two hundred and twenty-six years; now is the time to uphold integrity and die for righteousness."

In the third year of Jiajing, Yang Shen gathered two hundred and twenty-nine people to the Left Shun Gate to force the palace and prostrate themselves, shouting that phrase, "Now is the time to uphold integrity and die for righteousness." Zhu Yijun wanted to see if the contradictions would intensify to that point.

To Zhu Yijun's great disappointment, even though he had acted recklessly to this extent—hanging the censorate officials up and beating them, and even acting under the suspicion of punishing people for their words—

the result was that not a single 'base Confucian' helped these censorate officials plead for mercy.

Only the Minister of Justice, Wang Jiaping, arrived.

"Minister Wang has come; I am deeply surprised." Zhu Yijun sat on the square in front of the Huangji Gate, looking at Wang Jiaping kneeling before him and the forty-six censorate officials waiting to be punished, and asked somewhat puzzled, "Could it be that all of this was done by Minister Wang?"

Wang Jiaping had the reason and the motive to do these things. He was a core member of the Jin Party. It was not as if the Jin Party would vanish just because Wang Guoguang betrayed it; it was still an important force in the Great Ming court.

Organizing censorate officials to negate Wang Guoguang's posthumous reputation—Wang Jiaping had the motive, and as a Grand Secretary, he also had the ability.

"I never expected it would actually be you." Zhu Yijun sighed. Wang Jiaping was a Grand Secretary; how could he not understand that even without Wang Guoguang betraying the Jin Party, the Jin Party would inevitably perish?

"It wasn't me! It wasn't me!" Wang Jiaping was startled. Originally prostrate on the ground, he suddenly sat up, waving his hands repeatedly and saying, "Your Majesty, please be clear. If I had colluded with the censorate officials to maliciously frame Wang Situ, how would I dare to come to the Huangji Palace to face Your Majesty?"

"Then what did you come here for?" Zhu Yijun asked with a frown.

"I came to deliver the official warrant to Your Majesty!" Wang Jiaping said, sweating profusely. "Your Majesty, I am the Minister of Justice, in charge of laws and criminal matters. Our Great Ming also has laws, and they are the King's Law."

Without an official warrant—that is, an official document from the Ministry of Justice—it would be a 'Yellow Paper Case' if it were an imperial decree, and a 'White Paper Case' if there were no imperial decree at all. Whether it was a White Paper Case or a Yellow Paper Case, it would give people something to use against him. For example, Zhao Mengyou, who was specifically handling this case, could be impeached.

Admittedly, the ministers could do nothing to the Emperor, but they could do something to the Emperor's hawks and hounds.

Wang Jiaping had come to deliver the official warrant to prevent the case from becoming a Yellow Paper Case or a White Paper Case, and to give the Great Ming laws some dignity.

Moreover, Wang Jiaping discovered that there was something suspicious about this case.