Chapter 108

I Truly Do Not Attend to My Proper Duties, Main Text, Chapter 112: The Impregnable, Flawless Fortress. Luzon, in the second year of Wanli, was the busiest trade center and port in the entire world.

In the sixteenth year of Zhengde, the Spanish colonizer Hernán Cortés breached the city of Tenochtitlan. The Aztec Empire fell, and Mexico, Cuba, Peru, and other places became Spanish colonies.

This war of national annihilation was, in retrospect, extremely ridiculous. The ruler of the Aztec Empire, Moctezuma II, did not know he was hosting devils; he hospitably received the Spanish delegation, and subsequently, Moctezuma II was taken hostage.

In a mere ten weeks, the vast Aztec Empire vanished into the long river of history.

In the fourteenth year of Jiajing, Spain established a viceroyalty and formally began its colonial rule over Mexico. That same year, at Cerro Rico in Peru, the Spanish were astonished to discover that this seemingly desolate and barren mountain was the richest silver mine mother lode ever discovered by humanity.

Upon discovering the treasure the Incas had attempted to conceal—a mountain of silver—the Spanish were ecstatic. They immediately mobilized countless Inca and Indian slaves to mine the silver. Tens of thousands of people flocked to Cerro Rico, building the city of Potosí.

In the forty-fourth year of Jiajing, on the banks of the barren Ica River, near the city of Huancavelica, a massive mercury mine was discovered. Mercury could be used to extract pure silver from ore.

In the thirty-second year of Jiajing, the Spanish reached out toward the East, and in almost identical fashion, they overthrew Luzon and established a new colony.

The Spanish felt the prosperity of this place in Luzon.

To the colonizers, this distant East was a place where the people were ingenious, their craftsmanship exquisite, capable of making anything one could imagine. The silk here was smooth and fine, the porcelain delicate and translucent, and the tea refreshing to the spirit.

Mercury was mined from the Ica River, then transported to Cerro Rico to refine silver. Following the ancient roads built by the Incas, the silver was transported to the city of Potosí and Lima. In the mints of both places, the silver was pressed into coins, then set sail from the port of Lima—either transported back to Spain or shipped to the port of Acapulco in Mexico, crossing the vast Pacific Ocean toward the distant East, arriving directly at Manila in Luzon.

And at this time, Manila in Luzon was the busiest trade center and port in the entire world.

Products from all over the world were gathered and distributed here: Chinese porcelain and silk, carpets from India and Persia, perfume from Malacca, cloves from Java, cinnamon from Ceylon, and pepper and cotton from India. Moreover, the purchasing power of silver in Luzon was more than three times higher than in Mexico and Spain.

The shipping routes from Dianbai Port in Guangzhou Prefecture, Yue Port in Fujian, and Songjiang Prefecture to Manila were very mature. Deng Zilong, as a general who had fought on the front lines against the Japanese pirates for years, landed at the port of Manila with familiar ease.

Deng Zilong's identity was that of a merchant, and his ship carried some cargo. These goods were extremely popular: they were called Foshan iron pots.

Each pot could be exchanged for one piece of eight.

Relying on his high-quality goods, Deng Zilong stepped into the port. As soon as he landed, he saw a castle fortress that was particularly glaring.

This castle was the bridgehead originally built by the "Red-Haired Barbarians." Relying on the waterways for supplies, for a long time, the King of Luzon could do nothing about this castle.

The exiled King of Luzon, Soliman, was eventually killed by the Governor Francisco, and Luzon fell. The Red-Haired Barbarians established the Luzon Viceroyalty, became the Empire on which the sun never sets, and began their colonial rule.

After Deng Zilong went ashore, the crew scattered and vanished into the bustling port, beginning to gather intelligence. Such collection was extremely efficient for civilian intelligence, but extremely inefficient for military intelligence.

This was because the Red-Haired Barbarians hid inside the castle and rarely interacted with outsiders, while the Ming people, Luzon people, Japanese, and Nanyang people were all refused entry into the castle.

Deng Zilong walked through the streets and alleys of this port, purchasing some goods with the currency of the Red-Haired Barbarians. After witnessing the magic of money, he revealed a smile; he had already found the secret to exploring military intelligence.

Money in Manila seemed to be omnipotent.

The scattered crew returned to the ship at night. Deng Zilong lit an oil lamp. He was an Assistant Regional Commander and also a "Sitting Pond" among the Night Scouts, specifically responsible for intelligence collection. The scouts and runners had already gathered a lot of information.

The first scout spoke: "I chatted with a sailor for a long time. This sailor is a Japanese man purchased by the Red-Haired Barbarians. The Red-Haired Barbarians' ships set sail from the port of Acapulco in Mexico, traveling west all the way to our feet; it generally only takes two or three months."

"But the return journey requires heading toward Japan and then returning to Mexico, which takes eight months. More than ten years ago, the Red-Haired Barbarians had a missionary named Urdaneta who discovered the Kuroshio Current. The Kuroshio is called a river in the ocean; following its flow can save at least five months."

The second scout said with a heavy expression: "Starting from the twenty-ninth year of Jiajing, Japanese pirate raids arose everywhere. People from Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangzhou, and other places fled here, gathering on the opposite bank of the river. These people farm, fish, carry goods, and sew to make a living. Without them, the city of Manila could not function. There are many fleeing people who act as small leaders on the galleons, while the Luzon people are low-caste slaves."

"Here, except for the Red-Haired Barbarians who are not slaves, everyone else is a slave."

The third scout spoke: "The reason the Red-Haired Barbarians want to build a shipyard in Manila is that they can use the teak produced in Nanyang. Teak is light, sturdy, and highly malleable; it can effectively prevent shipworms. Moreover, they can obtain cheap tung oil. It is worth noting that the Red-Haired Barbarians have two shipyards in Manila; the shipyard that builds galleons is inside that castle."

"The shipyard we can see here only builds single-masted schooners. The castle is completely inaccessible; any probing inquiries will arouse suspicion."

The scouts reported intelligence continuously, while Deng Zilong held a pencil, quickly sketching and drawing, outlining the shape of Manila.

The pencil was a reward from the capital; His Majesty's rewards were very generous, and this type of sketching pen was faster for intelligence work.

Intelligence was being gathered rapidly.

Politically, the viceroyalty established by the Red-Haired Barbarians in Luzon was a slave system. Here, except for the Red-Haired Barbarians, everyone else was a slave. Life and death were under the control of the Red-Haired Barbarians. The laws only applied to the Red-Haired Barbarians, and only applied to that castle.

Militarily, it consisted of an elite force of one thousand to two thousand Red-Haired Barbarians, and over ten thousand Luzon people as auxiliaries. These Luzon people often thought they were superior, but in fact, they were just part of the slaves. The elite were equipped with a large number of firearms, including muskets and various types of cannons, while the Luzon people's equipment was just a knife, and at most, a bow and arrow.

Economically, the pillars were the Ming people who fled here when the Japanese pirate raids arose everywhere. They suffered great hardships here, but they were also the pillars and diligent producers. Porcelain, gunpowder, sulfur, steel, iron, mercury, copper, flour, dried fruits, textiles, ships, etc., were all produced by Ming people.

Culturally, it presented a magical state of multi-cultural intersection. The people here had different beliefs. Killing, or rather, mutual harm at the bottom level, was extremely common. This was the basic manifestation of a slave system: artificially dividing the differences between slaves and using their conflicts to make them harm each other, so they would not threaten the status of the slave owners.

Deng Zilong collected all the intelligence and said with a serious expression: "Our enemy is even more powerful than we imagined, but it also shows that we have found the reason why the Japanese pirate raids are repeatedly suppressed but never extinguished. This place is one of the old nests of the Red-Haired Barbarians."

The causes of the Japanese pirates were extremely complex. Although large-scale Japanese pirate raids had been quelled, small groups of Japanese pirates would still constantly invade the borders, and the Red-Haired Barbarians were undoubtedly one of the reasons.

"I will personally go to the camp fortress tomorrow to investigate the enemy situation." Deng Zilong assigned the scouting mission again.

As a "Sitting Pond," Deng Zilong was extremely adept at intelligence work. This intelligence would be reported every month via merchant ships to Guangzhou Prefecture to the Regional Commander, Zhang Yuanxun.

The next morning, Deng Zilong set off for the camp fortress. The walls of this stone castle were made entirely of stone, over ten li in circumference. The walls were about three zhang high and about three zhang wide at the base. The outer surface of the walls was not suitable for climbing; it could even be said to be impregnable.

Because all the walls here were irregular—not square, but concave and convex. Every so often, there would be protruding watchtowers, and in the watchtowers, there were mortars containing cannons.

Below the walls, above the moat, was a circle of parapets, no more than one zhang high, connected to the walls, forming a platform about two zhang wide.

The moat was three zhang deep and wide. Outside the moat, there were gentle slopes. When soldiers charged, these slopes would slow their speed while also keeping them completely within the firing angles of cannons, muskets, and bows and arrows.

The camp fortress was completely connected to the ocean and had two water gates, which were the entrances for supplies.

The exiled King of Luzon, Soliman, could do nothing about this castle. Deng Zilong looked at this camp fortress and also found no way to attack. As long as this turtle shell could hold out for a period of time, it could obtain supplies. This was extremely bad news for a siege.

Through the city gate, one could see the stone roads on the ground inside the city, the towering cathedral, the huge square, and the city hall at the end of the square.

After Deng Zilong walked around, he began to investigate the interior of the castle. Deng Zilong's investigation of the enemy's camp fortress was not by climbing walls, not by swimming through water gates, not by hiding under vegetable carts transporting to the camp fortress, nor by breaking in with men, but by walking in swaggeringly.

He walked right in!

Manila was a city with prosperous trade. Here, as long as you had silver, you could buy everything, including a pass.

The eunuchs of the Ming Imperial Palace used their official authority to let scholars disguise themselves as various identities to enter the Imperial Palace to see the Son of Heaven's residence. This camp fortress was the same; as long as you had silver, you could also disguise yourself as any identity and investigate inside as if walking through an empty place.

Deng Zilong was never a rigid person. He spent some silver, put on a veil hat to almost completely cover himself, and walked into this mysterious camp fortress as a Nestorian believer.

He even went to the cathedral to piously attend mass. As for how much reverence he actually had, only Deng Zilong himself knew.

After Deng Zilong finished mass, he began to investigate. The streets here were not very wide, and most were two-story and three-story buildings. The first floor was too damp and not suitable for living, and the houses were scattered red-tiled, white-walled buildings.

Deng Zilong's investigation lasted for more than two full months. Even with the power of money to make ghosts grind flour, the Ming Assistant Regional Commander Deng Zilong got to know high-ranking officers like the Red-Haired Barbarian Commander Gao Di and Le Bisali. As a big merchant, Deng Zilong was even invited by the Commander to the City Hall to take a look.

In the sixth month of the second year of Wanli, Deng Zilong bid farewell to the Commander Gao Di and Le Bisali, and bid a lingering farewell to the red-haired beauty Luo Lian, whom he had just met this month, and embarked on the return journey.

Deng Zilong did not have any relationship with Luo Lian, mainly because this woman did not bathe.

Deng Zilong found it very difficult to understand. These Red-Haired Barbarians had unique aspects in building cities, slave rule, trade, culture, etc., but why were they so unwilling to bathe? A beauty who looked extremely dignified in her features, if she didn't bathe, would have a foul odor when approached, and one could even see lice crawling back and forth.

This made it very difficult for Deng Zilong to accept!

Although this beauty repeatedly hinted that Deng Zilong could go further.

During the ten-plus days of the return voyage, Deng Zilong sorted all the intelligence about Manila into categories, verified it several times, compiled it into a volume, and finally obtained a defense map of Manila.

When Deng Zilong returned to Nanaodao, he saw the Big Dipper banners of the Ming hanging on Nanaodao, and he knew that the pacification had been concluded.

When he went ashore, he only saw Lin Afeng; he did not see the other two leaders.

"The Minister is also on the island. He came yesterday and is leaving tomorrow. Assistant Regional Commander Deng, please follow me." Lin Afeng and Liang Shouyu welcomed Deng Zilong.

Deng Zilong was still calculating the affairs of Manila, Luzon, and asked distractedly: "Where are the other two leaders?"

"I killed them." Lin Afeng said with slight embarrassment and helplessness: "They always felt that the path I chose was wrong. They believed that our acceptance of the imperial court's pacification was only pacification on the surface, but it was actually to make it easier to suppress the pirates; it was a conspiracy. Then the two of them gathered some people and wanted to kill me and immediately conquer Manila."

"Then they were killed by me. They actually didn't understand that there seemed to be two paths before us, but in fact, there was only one. The Red-Haired Barbarians in Manila are actually very powerful. We are just sea pirates; it is hard to say if we can beat the Red-Haired Barbarians. Going south is just a desperate gamble at the end of our rope."

"If the imperial court is willing to pacify us, it is better to accept the court's pacification. Leaning against a big tree makes it cool; only then is it possible to truly take Manila."

*Water Margin* was very popular, and Lin Afeng was seen as Song Jiang of the Liang Shan Marsh—that guy who surrendered—which was not likable.

"You are very smart." Deng Zilong highly approved of Lin Afeng's thinking.

Lin Afeng walked through the water fortress. Although it had only been a short three months, it had changed its appearance. The rotting corpses on the roadside had disappeared, and those sallow, thin sea pirates finally had some spirit. The Nanaodao water fortress had taken on a new look.

Yin Zhengmao had come to inspect. The pacification was entirely the responsibility of the Regional Commander Zhang Yuanxun. It took three months of management before Yin Zhengmao was invited over.

Yin Zhengmao coming to Nanaodao was an attitude, a promise regarding the pacification.

The local officials, powerful families, Japanese pirates, Red-Haired Barbarians, and desperate outlaws in the Liangguang region all highly approved of Yin Zhengmao. His credibility was extremely firm. If he said he would suppress the pirates and pacify the Japanese, he would absolutely not leave behind a mess. If he said he would dismantle doors and move beds, he would absolutely not leave behind a threshold.

The credible Yin Zhengmao coming to Nanaodao could be considered as having pacified the hearts of these former sea pirates.

Yin Zhengmao also spoke his mind. The training on Nanaodao was to take Manila and achieve extraordinary merit, only then could they atone for their crimes. If they couldn't take it, then everything would be over. Even he, as a Minister, might not be able to get a good outcome.

Deng Zilong reported in detail everything he had seen and heard in Manila from beginning to end.

Deng Zilong summarized: "This castle looks impregnable. From the perspective of military affairs, its defense is flawless."

Yin Zhengmao smiled and said: "Are there any impregnable, flawless cities in the world?"

"No." Zhang Yuanxun smiled and said: "I have thought of nine ways to kill the Red-Haired Barbarians in the city in a short time. In front of cannons, how could there be an impregnable city?"

Zhang Yuanxun was not joking when he said this. He based it on years of war experience. Over these years, it wasn't as if the Japanese pirates hadn't breached Ming cities. Sieges were indeed difficult before the appearance of cannons. The Red-Haired Barbarians building strong camp fortresses was just a way to bully barbarians who didn't have cannons.

"Thirty-five thousand taels of silver in military pay." Yin Zhengmao looked at Deng Zilong and smiled: "It has been gathered. Assistant Regional Commander Deng, you have no way to dismantle doors and move beds."

Deng Zilong said with great concern: "Among the powerful families, there are also people who communicate with the Red-Haired Barbarians. I also saw Ming merchants in Manila."

"At the port of Manila, almost every day, thirty to forty Ming two-masted galleons arrive. Once the news that we are going to attack Manila is known by the powerful families, the Red-Haired Barbarians will know too."

Yin Zhengmao smiled and said: "This is why I am here. This is an island, which makes it easier to keep secrets."

"The Minister is thoughtful." Deng Zilong understood immediately upon hearing this; Yin Zhengmao was guarding against those powerful families!

That was why he had to train these pacified sea pirates on the island, and when raising military pay, he didn't tell the powerful families where he was going to suppress the pirates.

Zhang Yuanxun said with a strange expression: "Most powerful families believe that it was they who said in the congratulatory memorial that the Minister was corrupt, and the Minister is retaliating, which is why he asked for 350,000 taels of silver. And it is indeed so; after all, this time even the beds were moved away, so this time the military pay collection went quite smoothly."

"Ahahaha." Deng Zilong was stunned for a moment and could only say that the powerful families were truly a bit afraid of Yin Zhengmao.

For a time, the entire Juxian Hall was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

The next day, Yin Zhengmao returned to Guangzhou Prefecture. After formulating the battle plan with Zhang Yuanxun, it was sent to the capital via the post road at high speed. They planned to launch the attack on Manila in mid-August, because at that time, the galleons loaded with goods would leave the port, which was when the Red-Haired Barbarians in Manila were at their weakest.

In early July, the Ministry of War received the report. The report was sent into the palace from the Left Shunmen. After practicing martial arts, Zhu Yijun saw Yin Zhengmao's report.

In the report, Yin Zhengmao still did not explain the reason for his corruption. Raising troops for self-respect was one thing when done privately, but it was another thing entirely when stated in a memorial.

Zhu Yijun put away the report, looked at Feng Bao, and said with worry: "Feng, my attendant, is the Regional Commander's illness any better? Can he get up and walk?"

"The Regional Commander's old wounds have recurred. Like the Duke of Cheng, he was injured while defending the capital back then. At this age, once old wounds recur... The Imperial Physician Chen has done his best. The Regional Commander has been ill since the fourth month and has dragged it out until now. It will be these few days." Feng Bao said with a sorrowful expression.

"Has the divine physician Li Shizhen not been found yet?" Zhu Yijun asked with a furrowed brow.

Feng Bao bowed and said: "He is already on his way to the capital."

Zhu Yijun held the report, stood in the Wu Yi Room, took a deep breath, revealed a reluctant smile, and said: "Birth, aging, sickness, and death are human nature. In a while, I will take my sparring partners to see the Regional Commander."

Zhu Yijun changed his clothes, took the report, and headed toward the Duke of Cheng's mansion.

The sparring partners did not enter the door; they came as disciples to send off Zhu Xixiao.

Chen Shigong's medical skills had improved in dissection, but the series of complications caused by the recurrence of old wounds still made Zhu Xixiao extremely painful. Since the fourth month, with the change of seasons, Zhu Xixiao had caught a cold and had been bedridden. Soon, one arm could not be used properly, and in less than three days, Zhu Xixiao could no longer walk.

In the face of pain, death was instead a relief.

"Regional Commander, I have come to see you." Zhu Yijun walked in, saw Zhu Xixiao leaning on the couch, and walked over.

Zhu Xixiao's face was like gold paper, and through his skin, a yellowish-green color of death emerged. It seemed that every breath he took was signaling the countdown to death. It seemed the line between life and death no longer existed and was already in the process of being crossed.

Zhu Xixiao wanted to salute, but remembering that he could no longer walk, he said weakly: "Your Majesty."

"This is what I have written over the years... *Six Strategies for Border Preparation*. I have never served on the border, and this memorial is just empty talk, so I won't let Your Majesty be amused."

Zhu Xixiao pointed to a box, inside which was a memorial about the *Six Strategies for Border Preparation*. He was just the Regional Commander of the Northern Embroidered Uniform Guard and did not know much about border affairs. He just wanted to say that he, like his brother Zhu Xizhong, was worried about the country, but his ability was limited and he could not do more.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Li Shizhen has entered the capital and will be here soon!" Zhang Hong ran in hurriedly from outside, out of breath but still finished his words quickly.

Before long, Li Shizhen, with slightly graying hair, high spirits, and dressed as a physician, walked in hurriedly carrying a medical box.

"No need for formalities, quickly diagnose the Regional Commander." Zhu Yijun did not let Li Shizhen salute; see the patient first, life was at stake!

Li Shizhen put down the medical box, communicated with Chen Shigong, and then took Zhu Xixiao's pulse. Amidst the expectant gazes of everyone, Li Shizhen shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, the commoner is incompetent. The Regional Commander's illness is beyond medical help. That the Imperial Physician Chen could drag it out until now is already the work of a divine physician."

"Oh." Zhu Yijun said blankly: "Oh, I understand."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am leaving. I cannot look after Your Majesty's martial arts practice anymore. I actually have no talent and no ability; it was just a coincidence that I was the Regional Commander, so I became Your Majesty's martial arts teacher. If there is anything I cannot rest easy about, it is that I did not see the day when the Ming military might shines again." Zhu Xixiao smiled. Saying this was already very strenuous.

Zhu Yijun held the memorial and said quite definitely: "It is soon. Yin Zhengmao has sent a memorial from the far south about attacking Luzon. The plan is very detailed. The Northern Barbarians are powerful, but the Red-Haired Barbarians are no less so. I believe Yin Zhengmao and the others can win. Regional Commander, wait a little longer, wait a little longer and you will see it."

"Oh, that is very good, very good." After Zhu Xixiao finished speaking, he revealed a relaxed expression, drew a smile, and said: "Very good."

"He has seized quite a few powerful families in the far south again, and even moved away their beds. The gentry in the far south are full of complaints..." Zhu Yijun stood in front of Zhu Xixiao's bed, rambling about the affairs of the Ming.

For example, the Governor of Zhejiang and the Governor of Fujian had both begun to implement the Single Whip Law under the Examination Law, and the Ming was flourishing.

Zhu Yijun kept talking, but Zhu Xixiao had no reaction at all. This Regional Commander who had captured Wang Jinglong together with Zhang Hong during the case of assassinating the King, his own martial arts master, ultimately could not withstand the ruthlessness of time.

Zhang Hong finally couldn't help but step forward and whisper a reminder: "Your Majesty, the Regional Commander has already passed away. The Regional Commander had no unfulfilled wishes."

Zhu Yijun stopped and said: "I know. Let the Ministry of Rites draft a posthumous title."

The young Emperor restrained his emotions, repeatedly telling himself that birth, aging, sickness, and death were human nature. He turned to Li Shizhen and said: "Divine Physician Li, you have worked hard on the journey. Rest well for a few days, then go to the Dissection Institute to work."

"The commoner accepts the decree." Li Shizhen said hurriedly.

Zhu Yijun left the Duke of Cheng's mansion. He suddenly stood still and looked at the sign of "Jingyi Garden" for a long time. The Prince of Dingxiang, Zhu Xizhong, liked flowers and plants. After Zhu Xizhong passed away, Zhu Xixiao had been tidying up this garden. The young Emperor had heard Zhu Xixiao mention it several times.

This garden had not been tidied up for long when, during the Jiajing period, the two brothers of the nobility, Zhu Xizhong and Zhu Xixiao, passed away one after another.

"Let the Ministry of Rites bestow a posthumous title and gift an official rank." Zhu Yijun withdrew his gaze and said to Feng Bao.

Pillar of the State, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Left Commander of the Rear Chief Military Commission, Zhu Xixiao, fell ill in the fourth month of the second year of Wanli and passed away in the sixth month. He was gifted the rank of Grand Tutor and the posthumous title "Zhongxi." The Son of Heaven was shocked and mourned, providing funeral grain, linen, gold coins, and currency, suspending court for one day, and ordering the Ministry of Rites and other officials to manage the funeral.

The Junior Grand Secretary Lü Diaoyang wrote the spirit way stele inscription, Minister of War Tan Lun wrote the calligraphy, and Minister of Justice Wang Zhigao carved the seal, showing the utmost grief and honor.

After suspending court for one day, the Ming bureaucratic machine resumed operation.

On the seventh day of the seventh month, the sun was bright and scorching. After Zhu Yijun met with the court officials, he said: "The Regional Commander has passed away, and I am deeply pained. The position of Regional Commander of the Northern Embroidered Uniform Guard is vacant. I have ordered Zhao Mengyou to be the Regional Commander, serving as the Regional Commander in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Zhao Mengyou was a military *jinshi* from the forty-fourth year of Jiajing and was a popular candidate for Regional Commander. Zhao Mengyou's son, Zhao Zhenyuan, was a guard of the nobility and served as a sparring partner for the young Emperor in the palace.

This appointment was quite unexpected. Almost everyone believed that Inspector Luo Bingliang Bingliang, the Assistant Regional Commander of the Southern Yamen who was busy confiscating property everywhere, would be in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Northern Embroidered Uniform Guard. However, His Majesty arranged for Zhao Mengyou to take charge.

Moreover, this personnel appointment did not go through court discussion or the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet; it was an imperial decree from the palace.

The court officials looked at Zhang Juzheng, who was standing in the center. His Majesty did not go through court discussion or the Cabinet. How did the Senior Grand Secretary view this appointment?

Moreover, Zhao Mengyou and Zhang Juzheng actually had old grievances. It is a long story, but Zhao Mengyou's younger brother, Zhao Mengxiang, had once committed a crime. Zhao Mengyou found a way through Qi Jiguang, begged the Quanchu Guild Hall, and asked Zhang Juzheng for help.

But Zhang Juzheng did not help, and Zhao Mengxiang was stripped of his military *juren* degree and official position, which was considered a grudge.

"His Majesty is wise." Zhang Juzheng bowed and said. Regarding the appointment and removal of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he did not question it, let alone exercise the Cabinet's power to reject the Emperor's decree.

The group of officials looked at each other and had to follow suit, saying: "His Majesty is wise."

Minister of Personnel Zhang Han stepped out and bowed, saying: "Your Majesty, is this not inappropriate? The commoner heard that when Zhao, the Assistant Regional Commander, handles cases, he is cunning and good at hooking people's intentions, and there is evidence of corruption. He is not suitable for such an important position."

Zhang Han was truly not acting as a partisan of Zhang Juzheng to oppose Zhao Mengyou's appointment, but was genuinely standing from the perspective of the Minister of Personnel, believing that Zhao Mengyou could not handle the job. Zhao Mengyou had a bad reputation, which was mainly concentrated in three aspects: first, framing; second, corruption; third, collective punishment. He could not be compared to Zhu Xixiao, and even less to Lu Bing.

Zhang Han was not a failure as Minister of Personnel; he genuinely knew that the position of Regional Commander was not easy to handle. The Northern Embroidered Uniform Guard, caught between the inner court and the outer court, had to consider everything thoroughly and be careful in everything, and Zhao Mengyou was not a qualified candidate.

Zhang Han bowed and said: "If we speak of virtue, I recommend the Assistant Regional Commander Inspector Luo Bingliang Bingliang."

Inspector Luo Bingliang Bingliang did the work of confiscating property in the Southern Yamen. Zhang Han's bias was not that his butt was crooked, but that he felt Inspector Luo Bingliang Bingliang was better than Zhao Mengyou in every aspect. After all, Inspector Luo Bingliang Bingliang's son, Luo Sigong, sparred with the young Emperor every day and was in the Emperor's heart, with imperial favor flourishing. Moreover, Inspector Luo Bingliang Bingliang was always cautious in handling cases; the Gu family confiscation case he handled was clean and left no future troubles.

Zhu Yijun shook his head and said: "Inspector Luo Bingliang Bingliang is in the Southern Yamen. The affairs of the Southern Yamen cannot do without him for a few years."

Zhu Yijun's move was naturally a small test of power under the shield of imperial authority, and it was indeed true that there was no one else available. There were two candidates in total, and Inspector Luo Bingliang Bingliang was of course the best choice. However, the affairs of the Southern Yamen needed Inspector Luo Bingliang Bingliang. If Inspector Luo Bingliang Bingliang were not in the Southern Yamen, those powerful families might stir up some waves again.

"Your Majesty's handling is appropriate." Zhang Han pondered for a moment; one could not ask for perfection in everything, so he did not remonstrate further.

Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Juzheng and asked: "What does the Senior Grand Secretary think?"

"I think it is good." Zhang Juzheng bowed again, agreeing with the Emperor's handling. Zhao Mengyou's reputation in the past was a bit poor, but one could not always look at people with old eyes. Zhang Juzheng preferred not to speak when handling affairs in the capital; this was the core of imperial authority.

"Then let it be discussed in court." Zhu Yijun waved his small hand and said with a smile.

Zhang Juzheng took out a memorial, his expression complex, and said: "Hanlin Academy Compiler Wu Zhongxing impeaches the Senior Grand Secretary for moving his father to live with him and bringing his father to the capital."

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