Chapter 118: Sincerity is the Greatest Ultimate Move

Did Li Chengliang annihilate the Jianzhou Jurchens entrenched in Gule Village and capture the rebel chiefs Wang Gao, Lai Lai Li Hong, and others, completing the suppression and conquest of Liaodong?

Not at all.

The main forces in Liaodong were divided into the Jianzhou Three Guards, the Haixi Jurchen Atai, the Uriankhai three tribes Chahan Khan, as well as a large number of small tribes and small ethnic groups. These were the main reasons for the rotten situation in Liaodong.

This is not denying Li Chengliang's merit. Li Chengliang took the initiative to fight outside the pass and won in one battle, promoting the Great Ming's national prestige, heavily striking the covetousness of the Liaodong tribes towards the Great Ming, confirming that the Great Ming still possessed a formidable ability to rule in Liaodong, proving that the Great Ming still had the ability to fight in the field, and that the Great Ming had the ability and determination to sweep the holes and plow the court for enemies who dared to offend the Great Ming, sweeping away the Great Ming's previous rotten image of weak military preparation, maintaining the stability of local rule, protecting the Great Ming's fertile land, and maintaining the Great Ming's interests in Liaodong.

However, the Liaodong battlefield was definitely not a suppression of Gule Village that could completely and commandery-ize the rule.

After Li Chengliang annihilated Gule Village, there were two special captives. One was named Nurhaci, and the other was named Šurhaci. These two were the sons of the hereditary local official commander of the Jianzhou Left Guard, Takši. These two special prisoners of war had to rely on their maternal grandfather A-gu Dudu because their stepmother made things difficult for them in every way when they were young. Li Chengliang promised to take them in and raised them as family members.

Giocangga and Takši, the Jianzhou Left Guard Dudu and Commander, who were the father and grandfather of the two brothers, requested Li Chengliang to be lenient and were willing to let the two children be raised under Li Chengliang's gate to be driven. Li Chengliang agreed and recognized them as family members.

Giocangga and Takši were the guides who allowed Li Chengliang to successfully break Gule Village.

Li Chengliang did this to appease the emotions of the Jianzhou Three Guards, Haixi Jurchens, Tumets, and other tribes, preventing the war from expanding further.

Li Chengliang also needed to play the trick of "pitting one against another" in Liaodong, using the blood feuds between these tribes and the realistic contradictions such as farmland and pastures to repeatedly incite infighting among these tribes, so that these scattered tribes would not form a joint force and form a substantial threat to the Great Ming.

Once a ruthless person appeared and twisted the entire Liaodong tribes into a rope, Liaodong would inevitably form a rotten situation like the Northwest.

A ruthless person did indeed appear in history, and it was precisely the running dog under Li Chengliang's gate, the fifteen-year-old Great Qing Taizu Gao Emperor, Nurhaci.

Zhu Yijun expressed emotional stability about this. Before the Great Ming had the ability to comprehensively conquer, occupy, and stably commandery-ize Liaodong, as long as Li Chengliang did not claim to be king in the Northeast, Zhu Yijun would not stop him. Li Chengliang's strategy of "pitting one against another" to control the barbarians in Liaodong was a very cost-effective method that conformed to the current national conditions of the Great Ming.

Zhu Yijun also wanted to immediately mobilize 500,000 troops, go out of the Shanhai Pass in three ways, sweep Liaodong, occupy it, and commandery-ize the entire Liaodong territory.

But wasn't it impossible to do?

"General Qi trains troops like this. When will our Great Ming be able to revive its martial arts?" Zhu Yijun's martial arts teacher changed from Zhu Xixiao to Qi Jiguang. He pointed to his curriculum and was quite dissatisfied. The intensity was too low.

The little Emperor, who had already entered the door, only needed to train on time according to the method given by Qi Jiguang every day. However, the curriculum given by Qi Jiguang was really a bit too low in intensity and had no challenge at all.

Standing on a stake for half an hour, running and walking endurance training for half an hour, shooting thirty arrows, and even the increase in the weight of the bow had become slow.

Who are you looking down on!

Zhu Yijun directly questioned Qi Jiguang.

A nameless fire in Qi Jiguang's heart was ignited at once. What kind of words! What kind of words are these!

The Great Ming Capital Battalion Regional Commander, Qian'an Bo Qi Jiguang, finally knew why the Great Ming's Tishuai Zhu Xixiao was so bold. The little Emperor's mouth could really hook the anger deep in people's hearts in two or three sentences. Qi Jiguang was best at training troops.

He wrote two military books introducing his training methods. He dared to write books and establish theories, and the books he wrote could be recognized by military generals because there was no one in the world who trained troops better than him. After walking in the rivers and lakes for so many years, he had never been questioned that his training method was wrong!

"Since Your Majesty wants to increase the amount, then add a little." Qi Jiguang bowed his head calmly, increasing the intensity for the little Emperor, letting the little Emperor know how powerful he was!

"So be it." Zhu Yijun nodded.

"Summon the Zhejiang Circuit Censor Ma Yongji, the Rites Section Supervising Secretary Liang Shiti, the Henan Circuit Censor Yu Zhenzhen, and the Military Section Supervising Secretary Liu Xuan to see me, and call the Master over too." Zhu Yijun said to Feng Bao.

The twenty-ninth day of the twelfth month, suitable for scolding people.

It was almost the New Year, and the little Emperor still wanted to summon people to see him, just not letting them have a good New Year. Zhu Yijun wanted to respond to the things these imperial censors said face-to-face, to save them from clamoring that the Grand Secretary was isolating the inside from the outside.

The capital government offices were already on holiday, but Zhang Juzheng was still on duty in the Wenyuan Pavilion. He had to write the floating tickets for the last few memorials before the New Year.

Zhang Juzheng was also startled when he heard that the little Emperor was summoning court officials in the Wenhua Hall again. The Emperor's mind was no longer just ordinarily vicious.

"Military Section Supervising Secretary Liu Xuan, audience." Zhu Yijun pointed to one of them first, holding the edict, his expression unhappy.

Liu Xuan entered the hall trembling with fear. The Emperor was really cold and ungrateful. Couldn't he wait until after the New Year to summon him?

"Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be safe." Liu Xuan said respectfully.

Zhu Yijun asked calmly: "Liu Xuan, are you under Zhang Siwei's gate?"

"Yes." Liu Xuan shivered. Everyone knew that the little Emperor hated Zhang Siwei. This relationship of the master was known to the Emperor, and His Majesty even asked it out.

Zhu Yijun held the memorial and said: "You submitted a memorial saying that the rewards and punishments are unfair."

"For the same Liaodong military patrol and viceroy, Viceroy Zhang Xueyan was promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of War but still supervised Liaodong, while the Liaodong Viceroy Yang Zhao had no rewards; Regional Commander Li Chengliang and Deputy Regional Commander Cao Fu had merits and rewards, while Deputy Regional Commander Zhao Wanze had no rewards; and the Ministry of Revenue grain-managing Physician Wang Nian was outside the reward list and on the punishment list."

"You submitted a memorial saying that although the officials did not go out of the pass to conquer, they still had the merit of defense and should be rewarded as a whole."

"Wang Nian has been dismissed and brought to the capital for questioning. This person is hated by dogs in Liaodong. He missed the roll call many times, was harsh on grain and pay, and when the army was conquering, this person stayed in brothels and wine shops. He colluded with officials for years to embezzle border pay. Viceroy Zhang Xueyan impeached him many times, and the court reprimanded him twice. Wang Nian did not know how to repent, still posted placards, and slandered him. He bribed Zhang Siwei's gate to argue."

"Wang Nian is very generous. When knocking on the door, he gave five thousand taels of silver."

"How many taels of silver did Zhang Siwei give you to let you submit this memorial?"

Liu Xuan said helplessly: "Your servant didn't take silver. The master didn't give it."

Zhu Yijun heard this and said with disgust: "How can there be such a thing? Making people work without giving money? Do you know what mistake Wang Nian made now?"

"Your servant really doesn't know he is so unbearable. I thought it was the exclusion of civil and military officials in Liaodong, so someone slandered him. Your servant begs Your Majesty to forgive my sins." Liu Xuan was shocked. He was just a gun used by Zhang Siwei to write this memorial. He didn't know the details at all. This suddenly fell into a passive situation.

Liu Xuan became a gun in Zhang Siwei's hands.

Zhu Yijun continued: "Why was Liaodong Viceroy Yang Zhao not rewarded?"

"Zhu Heng of the Ministry of Works submitted a memorial that Yang Zhao repeatedly asked for armor. In five years, a total of 37,000 sets of cloth-faced armor were issued. But Viceroy Zhang Xueyan calculated that the storage had evidence, but the issuance had no calculation. The actual issuance was no more than 12,000 sets, and the rest disappeared. The military equipment in the Liaodong treasury was empty. Liaodong is a heavy place, and I am afraid of barbarian trouble, so I didn't impeach."

"Do you know where these armors went?"

"This time, Ningyuan Bo Li Chengliang broke Gule Village and found 300 Great Ming cloth-faced armors. Do you know where these armors went? They went to the bandit camp."

"Your servant, your servant..." Liu Xuan was speechless. Where did the armor go? Did he still need to ask?

Yang Zhao sold these armors to the Northern Barbarians and Jianzhou Jurchens in exchange for ginseng, fur, and other things. Where else could they go! Liu Xuan was sweating on his forehead. In this winter, Yang Zhao was going to be struck by lightning. Liu Xuan was too close and was implicated.

Liu Xuan now wished he could eat this memorial.

Wang Guoguang repeatedly talked about giving physical military pay to the border. After supervision, the capital transferred silver to the border. This post-positioning of military pay had practical significance. These physical objects always had a destination and wouldn't disappear out of thin air. Silver didn't have a name written on it, but these armors really had names written on them—the names of the craftsmen engraved under the cloth surface.

The Gule Village armors were all armors issued by the Great Ming to Liaodong.

"Let's talk about Deputy Regional Commander Zhao Wanze." Zhu Yijun paused.

Liu Xuan shivered, knelt on the ground and bowed his head: "Your servant deserves to die ten thousand times. I beg Your Majesty to spare my life! Your servant really didn't know."

Zhu Yijun continued: "Ningyuan Bo had just left when Zhao Wanze reported the news of the guest troops' expedition. The Tumets heard the wind and moved, forcing Jinzhou. The Haixi Jurchen Wang Tai ran to Tieling to ask for rewards. Fortunately, Ningyuan Bo fought fast, and the rebel chief Wang Gao was defeated fast. If the army was defeated, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"What worries me most is that Liaodong Viceroy Zhang Xueyan and Ningyuan Bo did not want to impeach the two of them, but only impeached Wang Nian, the Physician. It was only after the full pay, rewards, and imperial edicts arrived in Liaodong that Zhang Xueyan and Ningyuan Bo were willing to impeach the two."

"Liu Xuan, you tell me, how should I approve this memorial? Reprimand Zhang Xueyan and Ningyuan Bo for not reporting? Or say Ningyuan Bo refuses to trust the court?"

"You move forward, and the people behind you are desperately dragging your legs and giving you a knife. After the victory, you still have to smile and pretend to be polite. What should you do?"

The reason Li Chengliang set up the Great General Cannon at the Dragon King Temple to pray for snow, Zhu Yijun had always thought Li Chengliang wanted to fight a beautiful annihilation battle to manifest his martial arts. It wasn't until the rewards arrived in Liaodong that Li Chengliang and Zhang Xueyan tentatively impeached the Viceroy and Deputy Regional Commander. Zhu Yijun then knew that Li Chengliang was not only waiting for an opportunity for an annihilation battle, but also waiting for an opportunity when the enemy had no reinforcements.

Shocking.

Liu Xuan knelt on the ground, trembling, and said: "Your servant deserves to die."

Zhu Yijun handed the memorial to Zhang Hong and said: "Heaven, Earth, Monarch, Kin, Teacher. You are under Zhang Siwei's gate. In the future, when he instructs you to do things, you must see clearly. If there is another time, you will be severely punished and not forgiven. Take the memorial and think about it carefully. Does Zhang Siwei really not know? You are by his side, you should know better than me."

Zhang Siwei must have known, because they did the same thing in Xuan-Da. They resisted the enemy and suppressed the barbarians, but died in battle one after another. They were snakes and rats in the same hole.

Liu Xuan thought about it a little, and knew that his master knew it very well, so he didn't dare to submit a memorial, but instead pushed him to the center of the stage.

"Your servant, kowtow to thank Your Majesty for your great grace." Liu Xuan knelt on the ground holding the memorial for a long time before exiting the Wenhua Hall.

Liu Xuan never expected that he would escape unscathed. His Majesty only reprimanded him twice.

Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Juzheng and said with some helplessness: "Master, can Yang Zhao and Zhao Wanze be beheaded?"

"The facts are conclusive, they will definitely die." Zhang Juzheng said quite definitely.

Zhang Juzheng said "your servant is incompetent" twice in total. Once was the case of assassinating the king, and the other was driving Wang Chonggu out of the capital to Xuan-Da. In these two things, Zhang Juzheng was really slightly powerless. In the fierce collision of contradictions, Zhang Juzheng won, but didn't win completely.

But Zhang Juzheng would never allow himself to say he was incompetent a third time.

Two treacherous officials of the Jin Party, behead them if you want. Liaodong won a great victory, and the nine borders were all encouraged and inspired. The morale was available, and the Northwest Altan Khan was crazy. At this time, he was lightly starting border trouble.

"It depends on the Master." Zhu Yijun heard this, his eyes lit up. At the beginning of the assassination case, the Master didn't say that! Finally, Zhang Juzheng refused to retreat, which meant that the clan party could no longer threaten the capital.

Indeed, Zhang Juzheng really couldn't do it at that time. Now if Wang Chonggu jumped again, the Jin Party had so many people. If Wang Chonggu was beheaded and replaced by Wu Dui, he could also preside over the tribute matter and stabilize the Northwest.

"Summon the Rites Section Supervising Secretary Liang Shiti to the hall." Zhu Yijun picked up the second memorial.

Liang Shiti submitted a memorial saying that this year's New Year, the Lantern Festival, could they hold Aoshan fireworks? The country had a victory, such a good time, celebrate it, and make it lively.

"Supervising Secretary Liang." Zhu Yijun held the memorial and said with a smile: "Don't be nervous."

"Your servant is here." Liang Shiti shivered. Just wanted to be lively and hold a lantern festival, was it necessary to be scolded in the Wenhua Hall? His Majesty the Emperor said don't be nervous, but was Liang Shiti not nervous?

Zhu Yijun smiled and said: "You submitted a memorial saying that Aoshan fireworks are an ancestral system."

"Liang Qing should still read more books. Aoshan fireworks are not an ancestral system. They started in the Chenghua reign. Emperor Xianzong did it to serve the Empress Dowager. However, at that time, those who remonstrated were not only imperial censors, but even three or four people from the Hanlin Academy submitted memorials."

"During the Jiajing reign, it was also held indirectly, also to serve the gods, not for sightseeing. It was not as expensive as the 30,000 taels of Aoshan fireworks today. Since Longqing, it has been the entertainment for the Lantern Festival every year. It is wasteful and useless. It is in the New Deal, and it should be saved."

This was Zhang Juzheng's criticism of the late Emperor, and it was written in a memorial. If history is revised in the future, it will be recorded. Zhang Juzheng bitterly criticized the late Emperor for being too wasteful and useless to the country, which showed no respect.

Since the first year of Longqing, Zhang Juzheng had submitted many memorials because the late Emperor spent too much money. He even cut the price of the 300,000 taels of silver from the Ministry of Revenue to 100,000 taels.

During the Longqing reign, Zhang Juzheng criticized the late Emperor for being wasteful. During the Wanli reign, Zhang Juzheng also criticized the waste.

Liang Shiti was not severely criticized when he heard this, and his courage grew a little. He tentatively said: "Your servant knows that the country's finances are in deficit, but this is a great victory, and it is a battle outside the pass to sweep the bandit's nest. Your servant thinks, maybe it can be held to manifest the prosperous event?"

The Ministry of Rites was responsible for celebrations. The little Emperor repeatedly declared thrift, making the Ministry of Rites seem like they were just eating and not doing anything.

Zhu Yijun looked at Liang Shiti and said calmly: "No money."

"Ah?" Liang Shiti was stunned. Was the Emperor's speech always so direct?

Zhu Yijun looked at Liang Shiti and said: "No money. Both the inner treasury and the national treasury have no money. Liang Qing has not been in the court for long, so you don't know this. The rewards for the Saint's Festival, New Year's Day, and Lantern Festival are all over 100,000 silver according to old examples. There are too many nameless expenses. Others, even if they can't be avoided, should be measured and saved."

"The people's strength in the world is exhausted, and the officials have no way to plan. Now that there is nothing to do, pay attention to thrift and save a little for use. This year, the national treasury's savings were emptied by the Gule battle. I am afraid that the people's fat and cream will not be enough."

"Then don't hold it."

Sincerity is the greatest ultimate move.

The Aoshan fireworks for the New Year in the first and second years of Wanli were not held. This year there was a great victory. If it wasn't explained clearly, the Ministry of Rites would be chattering endlessly, and Zhu Yijun wouldn't have to spend the New Year, just listening to them chattering every day.

When Zhu Yijun received the memorial, he also wanted to be lively and get rid of the bad luck. As a result, Wang Guoguang calculated the account book. Besides the 30,000 taels for the lights, there were more than 100,000 taels for rewards. The landlord's family had no surplus grain, so Zhu Yijun chose not to hold it.

Why hold it!

"Your servant obeys the edict." Liang Shiti bowed his head and accepted the order. Since it was said to this point, and His Majesty was so sincere, if he entangled again, that would be not knowing what is good for him.

"Summon Censor Ma Yongji and Yu Zhenzhen to see me." Zhu Yijun pointed to another imperial censor to enter the hall.

Zhu Yijun frowned and said: "You submitted a memorial saying that these things are to heat up the rotten rice and eat it again?"

Zhu Yijun scolded the two of them for not even being able to catch up with the hot rice if they ate shit.

Ma Yongji and Yu Zhenzhen were very interesting. They ate rotten rice.

Specifically, Zhang Jin beat an imperial censor Wang Yi the year before last. Wang Yi ran a bookstore himself and infringed on the little Emperor's copyright. The "Contradiction Theory" published in the world was naturally printed by whoever wanted to print it. But this version with added ingredients had the Emperor's words in it, so it couldn't be interpreted indiscriminately. At least while Zhu Yijun was alive, don't even think about it.

Feng Bao immediately said: "You two, your families run bookstores. Seeing that the books printed by the Three Classics Factory sell well, you have to get involved. Right? In the eighth month of the first year of Hongwu, the Great Ancestor Gao Emperor issued an edict that books, brushes, ink, fields, and tools should not be taxed. Besides not taxing these books, it's fine not to pay taxes on weekdays. What are you doing? It's simply greedy."

"In the twelfth year of Jiajing, it was explicitly stated that the supervised editions could not be reprinted or engraved separately. Such entanglement is just for money."

In the tenth year of Jiajing, the Jiajing Emperor issued an edict to expand the Three Classics Factory. The Three Classics Factory belonged to the inner office and was fully responsible by eunuchs. The number of engravers, carvers, mounters, and folders under the Three Classics Factory had reached more than a thousand, making it the largest book-engraving institution in the inner office of the Great Ming.

The books printed by the inner office were called "supervised editions," which were exquisitely produced and sold at high prices, but there were also many buyers.

From the eleventh year of Jiajing, the Ceremonial Secretariat printed the long novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" by Luo Guanzhong, which sold very well. Selling books was also a business, but soon private bookstores began to reprint them, and the palace's income decreased greatly.

The Jiajing Emperor thought of a little trick, letting the Ceremonial Secretariat specifically add a few words of the Jiajing Emperor's original words. If they dared to reprint again, they would be dealt with as prophecy and demonic books, which stopped the reprinting. Later, during several large-scale printings, Jiajing used this trick.

The Ceremonial Secretariat printed one more copy this year than last year. Besides the "Contradiction Theory," there was also the "Four Books Direct Explanation" annotated by Zhang Juzheng, and both had the little Emperor's reading notes and the little Emperor's understanding. Of course, those questions about whether the monarch-father and monarch-country were one were not recorded.

Even if the little Emperor asked to engrave it, the Ceremonial Secretariat didn't have the guts.

Feng Bao saw through it at a glance. The two imperial censors ate this rotten rice. On the surface, they were fighting for the integrity of the officials, the eunuchs leaving the palace to fish for meat, the Great Ming's literary education should be prosperous, the Four Books Direct Explanation had long been established, and the inner officials were greedy, printing the books used by the Emperor and the chapters and sentences spoken by the Emperor, which was a crime of great disrespect.

Zhu Yijun said calmly: "Two imperial censors, besides seeking money, the key is that the Four Books Direct Explanation has long been established, right? The Four Books annotated by the Master are popular, and your Four Books Direct Explanation and your schools are afraid of being subverted. You really couldn't find anything, so you had to take the matter of Zhang Jin beating people and say it."

Zhu Yijun noticed a blind spot. In the Great Ming, there were regulations that all books involving the imperial examination must be reprinted according to the official version, and private engraving was treated as a demonic book.

Don't talk about the "Contradiction Theory," let alone the little Emperor's understanding. Just the "Four Books Direct Explanation" annotated by Zhang Juzheng was already rebellious enough. Just this one word "zheng" (political/correct), Zhang Juzheng's understanding was not only a noun, but also a verb expression of "correcting the incorrectness of others." Just this one word, Zhang Juzheng could be labeled as a Legalist heretic.

Of course, besides the little Emperor, no one could punish Zhang Juzheng.

Feng Bao thought that both families ran bookstores to seek money, while Zhu Yijun thought that these two imperial censors were fighting for the power of interpretation of knowledge.

Both purposes were present.

Zhu Yijun said with some emotion: "Zhang Jin and Zhang Cheng received ten 'zhang' (punishment), and the imperial censor Wang Yi of the Southern Yamen was only reprimanded. You two are trying to force the court to set a crime of prophecy and want Wang Yi to die?"

The Ceremonial Secretariat just wanted to make money, but Ma Yongji and Yu Zhenzhen really wanted Wang Yi to die.

"But I have thought about it carefully. What you two said also makes sense. Literary education is a major event of the country. I agree. Let's ask about the case of Zhang Jin beating Wang Yi again." Zhu Yijun changed the subject and prepared to approve this memorial.

It was Ma Yongji and Yu Zhenzhen who wanted to turn over the old account. The little Emperor also had two old accounts to turn over here, such as the Hu Zongxian case, the assassination case, the Wu Dui false military report case, and the Xu Fan murder case.

Ma Yongji and Yu Zhenzhen were overjoyed. His Majesty actually agreed?

Zhang Juzheng saw this posture and immediately said: "Confucius says: 'Success is not spoken of, completed things are not remonstrated, and past things are not blamed.' The court discussion has already had a conclusion. If you have to bring it up again, you two must think clearly. Once this precedent is opened, the consequences are unpredictable."

"Master!" Zhu Yijun heard this and said with some resentment: "Zhang Juzheng, whose side are you on!"

Zhang Juzheng was rarely confused. The little Emperor hadn't personally governed, and Zhang Juzheng was in charge of the country. So was he protecting the little Emperor, or was he protecting the court officials?

If he released the little Emperor from the cage of not being able to personally govern, what kind of terrifying monster would be released?

Look at this sunny and cheerful guy. If his eyes turn, it's a ghost idea. All tactics turn into a family.

Duke Ai of Lu asked Zai Wo to build a community to sacrifice to the earth. What wood should be used for the god position?

Zai Wo replied that the Xia dynasty used pine wood, the Yin people used cypress wood, and the Zhou people used chestnut wood. The reason for using chestnut trees was to take the meaning of trembling. During the Zhou dynasty, sacrifices would kill living war prisoners or citizens, with the purpose of making the people tremble and not dare to resist.

Confucius heard these words and warned Zai Wo that past things don't need to be explained, completed things don't need to be remonstrated, and past things don't need to be blamed.

This is the source of "past things are not blamed."

Things that have been completed, accomplished, and passed should not be spoken of, remonstrated, or blamed.

The sage's teachings are not always followed. For example, Xianzong restored the emperor title of his uncle Zhu Qiyu and rehabilitated Yu Qian; for example, the Hu Zongxian case, recording Hu Zongxian's merit in suppressing the barbarians.

Zhang Juzheng was reminding the two idiots that if they had to eat rotten rice and got a stomachache, don't blame him, the Grand Secretary, for not reminding them.

Ma Yongji and Yu Zhenzhen widened their eyes and looked at each other. They were just a little bit away from falling into the little Emperor's trap. Turning over old accounts, unless it's a major event, for a little thing like a eunuch beating an imperial censor, people will die, and a lot of people will die.

Who will die is unknown, but Ma Yongji and Yu Zhenzhen will definitely die.

"Your servant's words were not thoughtful, I beg to withdraw the memorial." Ma Yongji bowed his head, not daring to breathe.

"Boring!" Zhu Yijun gave the memorial to Zhang Hong. If it weren't for Zhang Juzheng's reminder, these two guys would have fallen for it.

Zhang Juzheng saw the two imperial censors leave in fear and bowed his head: "Your Majesty, why bother with two confused ordinary people? Such broad but not resolute people, aren't they those who are born without knowing, learn without thinking, and are difficult without understanding?"

The little Emperor read books very well. Using the sage's teachings to refute was just right. Summoning these two people over, it was obvious that from the beginning, he was prepared to set this trap for the two imperial censors. Could the two idiots play with the insidious and cunning little Emperor?

"The prey is in the trap, but the Master scared them away." Zhu Yijun said with some dissatisfaction.

Zhang Juzheng said helplessly: "Your Majesty, not teaching and killing is called cruelty. Not teaching and punishing, then punishments are frequent and evil does not win; teaching and not punishing, then treacherous people are not punished; punishing and not rewarding, then relatives are not encouraged; punishing and rewarding without classification, then the lower ones doubt, customs are dangerous and the people are not united."

Not teaching and punishing is not a good word. If they cannot be taught, then kill.

Wan Shihe advocated being gentle to people from afar, and if they couldn't be gentle, then fight.

"They have parents and teachers. Do they still need me to teach them?" Zhu Yijun frowned and retorted.

Zhang Juzheng bowed his head again and said: "Monarch-father is one, monarch-country is one, monarch-teacher is one."

"Fine, fine, the Master is always right." Zhu Yijun heard these words and knew he couldn't argue anymore. Zhang Juzheng had already opened the big move.

Monarch-teacher is one, actually saying that after the palace examination, the Emperor personally selects the scholars, and all the scholars are the Son of Heaven's students, and all the scholars in the world are desperately reading books to become scholars and become the Son of Heaven's students.

Zhang Juzheng would never cut off this concept. This problem entered a link that could not be argued.

Zhu Yijun smiled and said: "Mother asked me yesterday if the Master's parents are still alive?"

"Your servant replied that the Master's parents are both alive and in their seventies, very healthy. Mother then said that the Master is the Grand Secretary, working hard for the country, and the Master is the Imperial Teacher, teaching and educating people tirelessly. Parents are both alive, each in their seventies, healthy and enjoying glory, so they should be rewarded to complete the five constants. Your servant deeply agrees, and specially bestowed a red python robe, twenty taels of silver, seven jade flower pendants, and six pieces of colorful gauze."

Zhu Yijun was indeed respecting the teacher and valuing the Dao. If Zhang Juzheng were not Zhang Juzheng, the Emperor would not reward him so generously.

"It's the Master who submitted a memorial yesterday. Your Majesty doesn't understand. I bestowed the eight characters 'Assist me alone to protect the mandate of Heaven' on the Master. Shouldn't I?" Zhu Yijun asked about what Zhang Juzheng submitted yesterday.

It was New Year, and Zhu Yijun bestowed eight big characters on Zhang Juzheng. As a result, Zhang Juzheng submitted a memorial and was very sarcastic.

Zhu Yijun tapped his finger on the table and said playfully: "The Master said that Emperor Cheng of Han knew music and could play the flute and compose songs. The Liang Yuan Emperor, Chen Houzhu, Sui Yangdi, Song Huizong, and Ningzong of the Six Dynasties could all write articles and were good, but they couldn't save the country from chaos and death. It can be seen that the virtue of the monarch does not lie in skills. Now His Majesty is wise and open, so he should lecture on governance in time and take the holy emperors and wise kings as the law. If it is about writing, it is just to collect the heart, even if it is close to Zhong Wang? What is the benefit?"

"In the Master's eyes, am I the monarch of a fallen country like Emperor Cheng of Han, Liang Yuan Emperor, Chen Houzhu, Sui Yangdi, Song Huizong, and Song Ningzong?"

Zhang Juzheng heard this, and his eyes went black. He spent all day watching the fun, and today the fun was his own!

He frowned and said: "Your Majesty took it out of context."

"Does the Master mean I was wrong?" Zhu Yijun smiled and pursued the question again.

Zhang Juzheng hurriedly said: "Your Majesty is not wrong."

"Then the Master was wrong?"

"Your servant didn't mean that. Your servant meant that 'Assist me alone to protect the mandate of Heaven', these eight characters are too heavy, your servant cannot bear it. This passage is just a sentence from the resignation memorial, which is to take these fallen monarchs as a warning." Zhang Juzheng said extremely helplessly.

Zhu Yijun suddenly realized and said: "Oh, I understand. It is that Uncle Zhu Zaiyu is good at music, and the Master is afraid that I will only care about learning music with Uncle, playing with things and losing my will, and missing state affairs? The Master's roundabout remonstrance is intended to alienate familial affection!"

"Your Majesty." Zhang Juzheng deliberated very seriously before saying: "Your servant is guilty."

The one he taught, he is not angry.

"Alright, alright, stop teasing." Zhu Yijun waved his hand with a smile and said: "This year, follow the old system, meet with local officials, county magistrates, elders, and the people. The Master will arrange it."

"Your servant obeys the edict." Zhang Juzheng bowed his head.

The content of this article is excerpted from the discussion between the Wanli Emperor and Zhang Juzheng about Aoshan fireworks. In the end, Zhang Juzheng won, and Aoshan fireworks were no longer set up. After Zhang Juzheng left, Aoshan fireworks became the norm. It was very wasteful. Seeking monthly tickets for history, awoo!!!!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 119 =====

He taught it himself, so he shouldn't be angry.

"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore." Zhu Yijun smiled and waved his hand, then said, "This year, we will still follow the old system. Meeting with foreign officials, county assistants, village elders, and the common people—Master, you can make the arrangements."

"Your subject obeys the decree," Zhang Juzheng said, bowing his head.

Part of the content of this article is excerpted from the discussion between the Wanli Emperor and Zhang Juzheng regarding the Aoshan fireworks. In the end, Zhang Juzheng won, and the Aoshan fireworks were no longer set up. After Zhang Juzheng left, the Aoshan fireworks became a common practice. The waste was quite heavy. Begging for monthly tickets in history, Awoo!!!!

(End of this chapter)