Chapter 160: The Imperial Treasure of the Great Ming Emperor

I truly am not neglecting my duties. Volume 170: The Imperial Treasure of the Great Ming Emperor. Zhu Zhu Yijun had finished reading the brief Annals of Emperor Muzong and did not endorse Gao Gong's achievements.

In the first year of Emperor Longqing, the Jin Faction led by Gao Gong and the Xu Faction led by Xu Xu Jie engaged in fierce party strife and mutual scheming in court. Gao Gong was caught in a scandal and, in May of Emperor Longqing's first year, was impeached by censors and forced to retire and return home.

Gao Gong's downfall was tied to the Hu Hu Yingjia case of Emperor Longqing's first year.

In the first year after Emperor Emperor Longqing ascended the throne, he reviewed minor officials. Minister of Personnel Yang Bo was responsible for evaluating metropolitan officials and demoted censors Zheng Qin and Hu Weixin. Assistant Censor Hu Hu Yingjia questioned Yang Bo: Why were there no officials from Shanxi ranked as inferior in the January evaluation? He impeached Yang Bo for unfair assessment, favoritism, and corruption.

Gao Gong deemed Hu Hu Yingjia's accusation partisan and false, drafting an edict to strip him of office and reduce him to commoner status. This triggered fierce backlash from the censors.

Within five months, dozens of officials—including Acting Censor Qi Kang of Guangdong Circuit, Assistant Censor Cenyongbin of Nanjing's Ministry of Personnel, Inspector Yin Xiao of Huguang Circuit, Chief Censor Ouyang Yijing of the Military Censorate, Inspector Li Fupin of Nanjing's Guangdong Circuit, and Censor Li Zhao Zhenyuan of the Ministry of Works—successively submitted memorials impeaching Gao Gong. Gao Gong could only repeatedly petition to retire.

In May of Emperor Longqing's first year, Gao Gong retired and returned home.

Gao Gong fell because Minister of Personnel Yang Bo showed favoritism to his fellow provincials, shielding Shanxi officials, dismissing officials out of personal grudges, and promoting factionalism—actions Gao Gong defended.

Gao Gong was vilified as a great national parasite, the Great Ming's Cai Jing, and disgracefully departed the imperial court amid political struggle.

In political maneuvering, Gao Gong's tactics were far inferior to Xu Xu Jie's, let alone Zhang Zhang Juzheng's. Who among these literati could have outmaneuvered Zhang Zhang Juzheng while he lived?

Xu Xu Jie was eventually toppled, accused of idle officeholding and dereliction of duty. During Emperor Jiajing's reign, the emperor obsessed over immortals and construction, yet Xu Xu Jie, as a senior minister, not only failed to rebuke such excesses but largely endorsed them, even letting his son Xu Pan oversee the Yongshou Palace. Xu Xu Jie forged marital ties with Yan Song and for fifteen years uttered not a single word of opposition to him. Yet the moment Yan Song fell, Xu Xu Jie immediately attacked him—unfaithful as a minister, untrustworthy in friendship.

Most critically, the Hu Hai Zongxian death-in-prison case left Xu Xu Jie in a dangerously weak position.

In July of Emperor Longqing's second year, Xu Xu Jie retired and left court.

In August of Emperor Longqing's second year, Zhang Zhang Juzheng submitted a ten-thousand-word memorial, proposing six measures to revitalize court discipline. This memorial, famously known as the "Six Measures Memorandum," offered concrete solutions to the empire's myriad problems.

Emperor Emperor Longqing, faced with the lengthy "Six Measures Memorandum," ordered the Six Ministries to review it. The final review results showed opposition from the Censorate, Ministry of War, Ministry of Revenue, and Ministry of Personnel. Emperor Emperor Longqing ultimately replied with a single phrase: "Understood."

In December of Emperor Longqing's third year, Grand Secretary Li Li Chunfang and Zhang Zhang Juzheng petitioned to reappoint Gao Gong. Gao Gong entered the Grand Secretariat to oversee the Ministry of Personnel, beginning his tenure as de facto ruler.

During this period, Gao Gong accomplished one major feat: the Anma Tribute.

Liang Liang Menglong managed maritime transport—he was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's protégé. Qi Qi Jiguang reformed border defenses—he too was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's protégé. When Qi Qi Jiguang commanded the Jizhao frontier, Gao Gong was still in Master Xinzheng, yearning for court reappointment. It was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's loyalist, Huguang Circuit Inspector Chen Tang, who recommended Yin Yin Zhengmao; it was Zhang Zhang Juzheng who overruled opposition and appointed Yin Yin Zhengmao as Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi. This appointment marked the decisive break between Zhang Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong.

Yin Yin Zhengmao performed well. Though he suffered initial defeats, he later dismantled homes to raise military funds and finally stabilized Guangdong and Guangxi.

After reading the Annals of Emperor Muzong, Zhu Zhu Yijun did not endorse Gao Gong's achievements, deeming him incompetent. He personally believed Gao Gong was unimpressive, especially regarding his first downfall, which stemmed from shielding Yang Bo's favoritism toward Shanxi officials.

As for his second downfall, Zhu Zhu Yijun was the direct target: Gao Gong sought to dismantle the emperor's claws—the Office of Supervising Eunuchs.

Zhu Zhu Yijun viewed Gao Gong through his own lens, heavily biased—after all, Gao Gong was targeting his own retainers. Naturally, Zhu Zhu Yijun saw Gao Gong as noseless, eyeless, and repulsive.

Perhaps it was because the emperor's tutor, the empire's Grand Secretary Zhang Zhang Juzheng, was simply too capable! This led the emperor to develop the illusion that a Grand Secretary ought to be this competent.

In governance, Zhang Zhang Juzheng implemented the Examination System starting in Emperor Wanli's first year; by Emperor Wanli's third year, he introduced anonymous grading and filled official records with names.

In military affairs, he supported Liu Zhang Xian and his son in suppressing the Zhangdu Man rebellion, backed Li Li Chengliang's great victories beyond the frontier, pacified the Gule Zhai, and stabilized Guangdong and Guangxi.

In economics, starting in Emperor Wanli's second year, Song Yangshan of the Southern Office began land surveys; from Emperor Wanli's third year onward, Shandong, the Southern Office, Huguang, Jiangxi, Fujian, and Guangdong and Guangxi began land surveys and land restitution, implementing the Six-Book and One-Account system and double-entry bookkeeping.

In culture, he reformed the education system, evaluated provincial education supervisors, purged academic corruption, and abolished sixty-four idealistic, empty scholarly academies.

Since assuming power, Zhang Zhang Juzheng has been gradually fulfilling the promises of his "Six Measures Memorandum" from Emperor Longqing's second year, steadily advancing his new policies, pulling the decaying Great Ming out of the deep mire.

"Your Majesty, you became full after eating the fifth bun—don't disregard the first four." Zhang Zhang Juzheng reminded the emperor: his judgment of Gao Gong's incompetence was subjective and ignored facts.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng believed his Jiangling New Policies were built upon the foundation laid during Gao Gong's tenure, not constructed as an airy castle from nothing.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng never believed Gao Gong had the courage, ability, or resolve to commit regicide. Gao Gong merely viewed the eunuch faction of the Office of Supervising Eunuchs as a plague upon the state.

"My virtue is slight and my years young, so I rely on you, Master, to assist me. You have done excellently." Zhu Zhu Yijun said calmly to Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

Regardless of his inner thoughts, the young emperor could only say this—it was political posturing to reassure Feng Bao and Zhang Zhang Juzheng, signaling his continued support for the new policies. Zhu Zhu Yijun was emperor, a political figure; ambiguity in stance would only bring chaos.

"Your Majesty is wise." Zhang Zhang Juzheng understood. At this age, the emperor had mastered court intrigues with the finesse of a decades-long veteran official—reassuring, yet profoundly moving, for the emperor was only fourteen by traditional reckoning.

Traditional age counts the months in the womb; actual age begins at birth.

When Gao Gong addressed the emperor, he habitually ignored the emperor's youth. He saw only a sovereign seated high above, a sage who comprehended the infinite principles of all things, a man of clear moral discernment.

The emperor before Gao Gong constantly shifted between a radiant boy and an indescribable monster. When speaking with Gao Gong, he appeared indescribable; when speaking with Zhang Zhang Juzheng, he appeared radiant.

"Master is right. Eating the fifth bun satisfies you—the first four cannot be ignored. Indeed, compared to Yan Song and Xu Xu Jie, Gao Gong of Master Xinzheng is already a rare capable minister." Zhu Zhu Yijun spoke sincerely.

When Yan Song ruled, the northwest collapsed; when Xu Xu Jie ruled, land consolidation ravaged the realm. Compared to them, Gao Gong appeared all the more precious. Gao Gong, too, had sought silver, gold, and copper coins in reverse.

Zhu Zhu Yijun had been generous—he had not equated Gao Gong with traitors like Cai Jing.

After Cai Jing came the Jingkang Humiliation; after Gao Gong came the Emperor Wanli Revival. Gao Gong was among the few capable ministers among literati—this was Zhu Zhu Yijun's objective evaluation of him.

"Feng Da, show Gao Gong of Master Xinzheng the side halls of the Zhao Wenhua Palace." Zhu Zhu Yijun smiled at Feng Bao.

Now came Feng Bao's moment to perform. After Gao Gong's departure, what had the young emperor done? Feng Bao would detail it all, for Gao Gong was the chief regent appointed by the late emperor—a matter of accountability. You were driven out, Gao Gong, yet Zhang Zhang Juzheng, the Grand Secretary, has performed admirably, and the state has not been ruined.

"The Theory of Contradictions." Feng Bao led Gao Gong to the first display case. Inside the transparent glass lay the original manuscript of the Theory of Contradictions, jointly authored by the emperor and the Grand Secretary, bearing the emperor's personal seal and annotations—the original palace-printed edition.

Feng Bao took out the Theory of Contradictions and flipped through it. Had Gao Gong paid attention, he would have noticed the content was even more explosive: the emperor repeatedly sought to separate ruler from father, ruler from state, ruler from teacher—topics Zhang Zhang Juzheng always avoided. These passages were absent from the palace edition; even Zhang Zhang Juzheng dared not touch them.

Feng Bao did not let Gao Gong touch the Theory of Contradictions. After flipping through it, he returned it to the glass case. In Feng Bao's eyes, this was the imperial treasure—the Dao, the Dao that gave birth to One, One to Two, Two to Three, Three to all things.

Feng Bao still understood the Theory of Contradictions only superficially. No scholar in the realm understood it as well as the emperor and the Grand Secretary.

"The Sweet Potato Treatise." Feng Bao arrived at the second display case. This was a book jointly compiled by Xu Zhen and the emperor, collecting agricultural texts to expound agronomy. Compared to the thin volume of the Theory of Contradictions, the forty-four-volume Sweet Potato Treatise was a divine remedy to save the people from famine.

This too was an imperial treasure. Food was the source of all governance, the inexhaustible engine of the Great Ming's new policies.

The Sweet Potato Treatise devoted much space to sweet potatoes and potatoes. These were auspicious gifts presented by Luo Luo Gongchen, a protégé of Zhang Zhang Juzheng. Luo Luo Gongchen had approached Tan Lun and sought Yang Bo, but was turned away; he then went through Qi Qi Jiguang to lobby Zhang Zhang Juzheng for taxing foreign ships.

Gao Gong looked at the third display case—empty—and asked, puzzled: "Why is this one empty?"

"Above it is written 'Gong'—the emperor says agriculture and industry are the pillars of the state. Once we collect sufficient works on industry, they will be placed here. We haven't found any yet, so it remains empty." Feng Bao shook his head, gazing at the empty case.

Since this case was built, no sufficiently weighty book had been placed inside—it remained the emperor's regret.

Where there are machines, there are mechanical affairs; where there are mechanical affairs, there is mechanical intent. Those skilled in machinery, obsessed with it, are inevitably schemers. Haste leads to failure. Under this prevailing public opinion, the young emperor could not find even a single comprehensive treatise on Great Ming industry.

"The Jixiao Xinshu on Military Discipline and The Record of Military Training." Feng Bao arrived at the fourth display case, gazing at two military texts. These were the emperor's personal study notes. Compared to his other dazzling talents, the emperor's military aptitude was nearly nonexistent. He cherished The Jixiao Xinshu on Military Discipline and The Record of Military Training, reading them incessantly. Yet after years of study, he grasped only one truth: never give blind orders.

The emperor could not comprehend these texts, yet they were not less an imperial treasure—they were the overarching blueprint for building the Great Ming army, the surest path to repeated victories. The principle is simple: few can ever achieve it.

"The Six-Book and One-Account Double-Entry Bookkeeping and the Western 'Debit-Credit Bookkeeping Method.'" Feng Bao led Gao Gong to the fifth display case, where two accounting methods were displayed.

These were vital theoretical supports for the Great Ming's tax reform and concrete manifestations of the empire's mastery of measurement. The Six-Book and One-Account system was Wang Wang Guoguang's original creation; the debit-credit method was translated from Western mathematics by Wang Shihé and Chen Chen Xuehui. They were placed here because they represented the fiscal reforms of the new policies.

Behind them lay land surveys, land restitution, state factories, and other fiscal reforms—sufficient reason to enshrine them as imperial treasures in the side halls of the Zhao Wenhua Palace.

"The Introduction to Mathematics by Prince Zhu Zhu Zaiyu, The Precious Mirror of Mathematics by Wang Wang Wensu, and The Comprehensive Treatise on Mathematics by Cheng Cheng Dawei." Feng Bao arrived at the sixth display case. Here lay the concrete achievements of the empire's mastery of measurement—the culmination of Great Ming mathematics. Also placed here was an unfinished manuscript: The Emperor Wanli Calendar and Astronomy. This was the imperial treasure of measurement and mathematical classics.

"The Great Ming Code: Emperor Jiajing Continuation, The Examination System, and The Treatise on Public and Private." The seventh case held three volumes. To Zhu Zhu Yijun, The Examination System was the bridle to control officials, The Great Ming Code was the guiding framework, and The Treatise on Public and Private was the moral compass for political conduct. In essence, these were political science—vital to the state.

Seven display cases: philosophy, agronomy, industry, military science, finance, mathematics, and politics.

Gao Gong stared at the seven cases, sensing something amiss. "Where is Confucianism? Where are the Four Books and Five Classics?"

After viewing the seven cases, Gao Gong realized the problem: the Great Ming was gradually abandoning Confucianism. This was an extremely dangerous signal, touching upon the empire's fundamental issue—or rather, the overarching allocation of interests—now being ignored.

Gao Gong thought himself bold enough—he sought to remove the emperor's fangs: the Office of Supervising Eunuchs.

But Zhang Zhang Juzheng was bolder: he disregarded human sentiment, promoted capable administrators, and now sought to abandon Confucianism. This was nothing less than leading the young emperor in rebellion!

Rebellion against Confucianism!

If Zhang Zhang Juzheng succeeded, would the Great Ming still be the Great Ming?

Feng Bao looked at the seven cases, then at Gao Gong, and offered a faint, ambiguous smile. As the emperor had said: Gao Gong was already politically dead.

Feng Bao would not answer Gao Gong's question. The tour was merely a tour—he had no intention of explaining. He walked to the window and said: "These are His Majesty's two telescopes. The Bureau of Astronomy is currently constructing a large telescope with a diameter of three chi six cun six fen and a length of three zhang six chi five cun four fen. We simply cannot polish a larger parabolic mirror—this is the maximum size possible."

"It is to help resolve His Majesty's questions. As the saying goes: to perfect a task, one must first sharpen the tools. Gao Gong of Master Xinzheng need not worry—all expenses come from the imperial treasury, for His Majesty's stargazing."

Zhu Zhu Yijun's new toy: a super-large telescope to clearly observe Saturn's rings. Currently, Saturn's rings appear like two small ears—its true form remains invisible. This is a marvel.

If asked its use, no immediate benefit is apparent. But if asked if it is useless, the navigators aboard every Great Ming ship would have something to say.

Without understanding this device, ships would lose their way.

Feng Bao led Gao Gong to the prism, explaining that white light is composed of seven colors, and beyond these seven colors, heat still exists—proving light beyond the visible spectrum. Further ahead were models: a junk model, a three-masted junk model, a five-masted ocean-going ship model, a hydrofoil ship model, and a pleasure barge model—the barge being one of the Great Ming's vessels.

The three-masted junk model: the Great Ming built only two—one in Songjiang Prefecture, one in the Lu Song Governor-General's office—then ceased construction.

There were countless hydrofoil ship models of various types, designed for different missions. The most suitable for ocean voyages was the three-hull hydrofoil ship—capable of sailing as far as Lu Song and beyond.

A 108-key clavichord: every five days, Wang Yao would come to play. Zhu Zhu Zaiyu had not given up, hoping to cultivate the young emperor through art. The emperor, however, believed the art of farming surpassed the art of music, and always resisted musical theory.

Woolen cloth and woolen cloaks produced by the wool factory were also displayed in the side halls of the Zhao Wenhua Palace. Designed by the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau, they were grand and majestic. This woolen fabric was not only sold at the imperial estates but also in Beijing's clothing shops. Yet one bolt was hard to obtain—the palace had purchased vast quantities to weave uniforms for Great Ming soldiers.

Wang Wang Chonggu was desperate—extremely desperate. He urgently needed to expand production capacity. All that silver, white and gleaming! The Yongding Wool Factory could not meet the Great Ming's voracious demand for wool.

As Feng Bao introduced the wonders of the Zhao Wenhua Palace's side halls and the empire's development, he noted that state finances remained extremely tight. Though tax revenue had increased, expenditures had increased even more.

"Even with the Office of Supervising Eunuchs, the Great Ming can still renew itself. The Grand Secretary says eunuchs are a vital force in imperial oversight—though weak, they are indispensable." As Feng Bao returned Gao Gong to the emperor's presence, he spoke coolly.

The conflict between Feng Bao and Gao Gong lay here: Gao Gong believed governance was paralyzed by eunuchs, that they were a national tumor. Feng Bao, as the tumor itself, naturally disagreed.

Eunuchs were the emperor's household servants; when they left the palace, they exercised imperial authority to supervise. Gao Gong sought to eliminate eunuch interference in governance.

After viewing all this, Gao Gong asked himself: if he were Grand Secretary, could he have helped the emperor achieve these things? The answer was no.

Gao Gong was stubborn. These heretical innovations, in his view, should be entirely banned. What kind of emperor was this, playing with swords and fighting like a thug?

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was a capable administrator: he used whoever could get things done, studied whatever was useful. That was the classic capable administrator. Gao Gong was not. He wondered why Confucianism was absent from the seven cases.

"What do you think of the Grand Secretary's new policies, Gao Gong of Master Xinzheng?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked Gao Gong.

Gao Gong bowed and replied: "I believe the rise or fall of the state hinges on appropriateness and substance. What is appropriateness? It means suitability and propriety—not foolishly revering antiquity and ignoring current realities. That is wrong. What is substance? It means seeking truth, aligning with reality—not falsehood or delusion."

"Objectives must be appropriate, plans must be appropriate, benefits must be appropriate, laws must be appropriate; words must be truthful, actions must be truthful, achievements must be truthful, punishments must be truthful. These four appropriatenesses and four truths—only thus can state affairs be settled, hearts unified, and the realm prioritize fundamentals and substance, addressing urgent matters without engaging in useless endeavors."

"Jiangling Gong has done excellently."

Gao Gong called Zhang Zhang Juzheng "Jiangling Gong"—a term of contempt. Gu Ge Shouli had once used this to trap Zhang Zhang Juzheng. Now, before Zhang Zhang Juzheng's face, Gao Gong called him Jiangling Gong, for Zhang Zhang Juzheng had truly performed well.

Even Yi Yin could not have done better.

"I have a memorial, 'Eliminating Eight Evils,' and humbly request Your Majesty's perusal." Gao Gong pulled a memorial from his sleeve. It was frayed at the edges, clearly written long ago and frequently consulted. Zhu Zhu Yijun gestured to Zhang Hong to present it, then read the "Eliminating Eight Evils" memorial carefully.

The full title was "Memorial to Reverse Corrupt Customs and Uphold Sacred Governance." Zhu Zhu Yijun read every word of Gao Gong's memorial, closed it, and handed it to Zhang Zhang Juzheng via Zhang Hong. He said: "Master Gao surpasses Xu Xu Jie and Yan Song—he is a capable minister of state affairs."

"I wonder why Master Gao wrote this memorial during Emperor Jiajing's reign yet never submitted it?" Zhu Zhu Yijun had never seen this memorial; neither had Zhang Zhang Juzheng. Clearly, Gao Gong had written it himself but never presented it—a reform blueprint hidden away.

This memorial addressed governance, eliminating entrenched abuses, with its core being anti-corruption. During Gao Gong's twenty-nine months as Grand Secretary, he punished sixty-four corruption cases and removed one hundred sixty-four corrupt officials. His anti-corruption efforts were highly effective.

Yet Gao Gong had never submitted this memorial.

Zhu Zhu Yijun realized he had indeed been biased against Gao Gong, as Zhang Zhang Juzheng had said.

"At that time, Yan Song and Xu Xu Jie ruled. Both were monstrous corruptors. I could not submit this memorial then." Gao Gong recalled the past. The memorial had long been written, but the political climate then made its submission impossible—had he done so, he would have instantly become the target of all.

So Gao Gong chose to keep it in his own hands.

"Your Majesty, I do not agree." Zhang Zhang Juzheng finished reading the memorial, returned it to Zhang Hong, and shook his head. "I have never seen this memorial from Master Xinzheng, but I have seen Master Xinzheng's actions—he punished corruption and cleaned up graft. Yet, Your Majesty, I still believe that tolerance fostered by bribery is the greatest evil of the state. Without eliminating tolerance, how can one truly punish corruption?"

The greatest political divide between Gao Gong and Zhang Zhang Juzheng was whether to fight corruption: Zhang Zhang Juzheng believed one must first eliminate tolerance before tackling bribery; Gao Gong believed bribery was the root of tolerance, and eliminating bribery meant eliminating tolerance.

Gao Gong was a clean official—if he had taken bribes, Feng Bao would have long since hunted him down to Master Xinzheng. How could he still be alive today?

The greatest achievement of Gao Gong's tenure was punishing corruption.

Gao Gong practiced tolerance—he tolerated the Jin Party, tacitly approved Yang Bo's protection of his own faction members while serving as Minister of Personnel, and not a single official from Shanxi was dismissed.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng broke tolerance through the Kaocheng Method: promotions and dismissals of officials depended not on personal favoritism but on performance evaluations; names were concealed, lists were drafted anonymously, and records were filled in behind the scenes. Only by eliminating tolerance could bribery be rooted out; otherwise, under the great evil of tolerance, punishing corruption would be like floating duckweed—utterly ineffective.

"Place it in the seventh display case—for political studies." Zhu Zhu Yijun ordered Zhang Hong to put the memorial into the Political Studies display case, endorsing Gao Gong's advice.

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Gao Gong and said: "I believe Master is right—punishing corruption must be done. But eliminating the great evil of tolerance should come first. I shall place Master Gao's memorial in the seventh display case. When the Kaocheng Method is fully implemented, we shall punish corruption and eradicate the evil of bribery."

Zhu Zhu Yijun still supported Zhang Zhang Juzheng's approach: first break tolerance. The complex web of kinship, teacher-student ties, examination cohort bonds, and marital alliances had created a network of mutual protection and cover-up. If tolerance is not dismantled, how can one fight corruption?

Gao Gong was stubborn. He admitted Zhang Zhang Juzheng was doing well, but he would never admit he himself was wrong. He still believed his own view was correct: punish corruption first, eradicate bribery, and tolerance would collapse on its own. This fundamental disagreement in statecraft ultimately drove Gao Gong and Zhang Zhang Juzheng apart.

The conflict reached its peak in January of Emperor Longqing Sixth Year, when Fujian's Censor Du Huazhong impeached Qi Qi Jiguang, Regional Commander of the Three Garrisons of Jizhou, for corruption and bribing Vice Minister of War Gu Zhongxu.

Among those named in the impeachment were Qi Qi Jiguang, Fujian's Assistant Regional Commander Wang Wang Rulong, Mobile Corps Commander Jin Ke, and Fujian's Regional Military Commissioner Zhu Jue.

The final outcome: Vice Minister of War Gu Zhongxu and Fujian's Governor He Kuan were ordered to return to their home regions for investigation; Fujian's Surveillance Commissioner Mo Rushan retired; the Surveillance Commission's acting Transport Commissioner Li Tingguan was stripped of office and placed on indefinite leave; Judge Li He Yi Zhong was demoted.

But the military officers suffered no consequences, because Zhang Zhang Juzheng protected and tolerated the generals.

Qi Qi Jiguang's position in Jizhou was vital—both the Emperor Jiajing Twenty-Ninth and Emperor Longqing First Year invasions were connected to this region.

Gao Gong valued pure scholars; Zhang Zhang Juzheng valued capable administrators.

Zhu Zhu Yijun valued capable administrators even more than Zhang Zhang Juzheng. The Great Ming was already rotten to the core—use whoever could get things done. So what if Yin Yin Zhengmao was corrupt? So what if he tore down doors? So what if he moved people's beds? If you don't crush the Japanese pirates and bandits, even the powerful won't have their doors or beds left—let alone their lives.

If Zhu Zhu Yijun had to choose in Emperor Longqing Sixth Year, he would still pick Zhang Zhang Juzheng, not Gao Gong.

"Your servant is dull-witted and still sees no fault in himself." Gao Gong held fast to his own convictions.

Zhu Zhu Yijun waved his hand. "Master Gao, return to Master Xinzheng today."

"Your servant takes his leave." Seeing the young emperor completely blinded by Zhang Zhang Juzheng, Gao Gong bowed his head and withdrew.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng left with him, as a final gesture to his former comrade. In the early Emperor Jiajing and Emperor Longqing years, they had been allies—sharing ideals, walking the same path, enjoying each other's company. But they had grown farther apart over time.

"Master Jiangling has taught His Majesty very well." The first words Gao Gong spoke to Zhang Zhang Juzheng as they exited the Zhao Wenhua Palace were an acknowledgment of Zhang's teaching.

Gao Gong actually had no faith in the Emperor Wanli Emperor. "At three, one sees the child; at seven, one sees the man." Emperor Wanli lacked breadth and resolve, especially in his lack of consistency—he was, by nature, unruly and disobedient. Thus, Gao Gong had long sought to dismantle the Palace Eunuch Office, curb imperial overreach, and restore order to the realm.

But today, watching the young emperor's demeanor—where was the boy he once was?

Clearly, this transformation was all due to Zhang Zhang Juzheng's excellent teaching.

"I recalled Master Master Xinzheng to the capital intending to reopen the case of the assassination attempt in the first month of Emperor Longqing First Year. But His Majesty forbade it, so I dropped it." Zhang Zhang Juzheng spoke plainly: his goal was to use Gao Gong's presence to investigate the Jin Party, purge its poisonous influence. But the emperor still refused, choosing to fully trust Qi Qi Jiguang—as Qi Qi Jiguang trusted the emperor.

Zhu Zhu Yijun firmly believed Qi Qi Jiguang would keep winning, eventually driving Tumeng Khan entirely out of Liaodong, provoking conflict between Tumeng Khan and Altan Khan. Only then would be the true moment to purge the poison—the perfect opportunity.

Gao Gong widened his eyes, flung his sleeve, and shouted: "Zhang Zhang Juzheng, you've done nothing but evil! I've already been sent home, and you still use me as an excuse! How cruel you are!"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng smiled. "Master Master Xinzheng flatters me."

This chapter was locked for two hours because the four characters 《 Zhen Guan 》《 Zhen Guan 》 Xianghu were unstoppable. Today my child was sick; I took the morning off to go to the hospital. At noon, I saw the chapter was locked. I contacted my editor Yaya, who said: "I've caught a fever, didn't come to work." Everyone, please take care of your health. Please vote for monthly tickets! Aowu!!!!!!!