Chapter 164: The Ancestors

The reason Zhu Zhu Yijun gave Zhang Han his final shred of dignity was simply because he was a court official of the Great Ming. That was all.

The Great Ming's "vital ministers" and the Great Ming's "censorate officials" were also a pair of contradictions, and the conflict was intense.

The censorate officials impeached Tan Lun for coughing at the Sun Altar—that was in the first year of Emperor Wanli, not long ago. If they blamed the vital ministers, it would easily release the wrong signal.

Zhang Han was silent for a long time before flicking his sleeves, kneeling on the ground, and bowing deeply, saying: "Your Majesty, your subject can no longer serve by Your Majesty's side."

Zhang Han still wanted a bit of dignity, rather than leaving the court without any dignity at all. He finally chose to retire to his hometown and did not choose to tear his face off or continue to speak wildly.

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Han and continued: "Zhang Han, I have heard a story."

"A story that the Left Censor-in-Chief Wang Wang Tingxiang told Emperor Shizong during the Emperor Jiajing years."

"Censor-in-Chief Wang said: When he entered the city in a sedan chair, it rained. One of the sedan chair bearers was wearing a pair of new shoes. The bearer cherished the new shoes very much. From the Ash Factory to Changan Street, the bearer was looking for a place without water to walk, fearing he would dirty his shoes."

"After entering the city, the mud became more and more. The bearer accidentally stepped into the mud, dirtying one shoe. In order not to dirty the other shoe, the bearer still chose where to walk. Later, he accidentally dirtied that shoe too, so he stopped caring."

"Censor-in-Chief Wang said to Emperor Shizong: This is like the way of life in the world. If you lose your footing occasionally, you will break the jar and throw it away. If you are not cautious in handling affairs, you will have many times. As the saying goes: 'If a single thought of desire cannot be controlled, disaster will flow to the heavens.' The way of self-cultivation is also like this. If you lose your footing once, you will go to everything."

"Only by being cautious can one establish oneself, establish merit, establish words, and establish virtue;"

"If you are not cautious, you will naturally be frustrated, defeated, failed, and destroyed."

The reason Zhu Zhu Yijun mentioned Wang Wang Tingxiang was because Wang Wang Tingxiang not only told this story to Emperor Shizong but also to Zhang Han. Zhang Han's teacher was Wang Wang Tingxiang, but Zhang Han had forgotten Wang Wang Tingxiang's teachings.

"Your subject obeys the holy instruction." Zhang Han bowed again. The little Emperor summarized his two-plus years as Minister of Personnel. It was indeed like this. As a member of the Jin Party, he could have originally chosen to be like Ge Ge Shouli, or even if not like Ge Ge Shouli, he could have been like Wang Wang Chonggu. But ever since Zhang Han took Zhang Zhang Siwei's silver, he could only be like this—one wrong step, every step wrong.

When Zhang Han walked out of the Huangji Hall, he felt even relaxed. Looking at the rising sun, he let out a long sigh of turbid air and revealed a few smiles. He was an official in the court, he was the Minister of Personnel, so he had to move forward. Now that he had retired, he was light without an official position. From then on, the court's infighting and historical guilt had nothing to do with him. Zhang Han had originally been a gentry member, not the Minister of Personnel of the Empire.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng's method of filling the list with blank names had effectively damaged the power of the Ministry of Personnel. Everyone in the Ministry of Personnel pushed him forward; he was a member of the Jin Party and took Zhang Zhang Siwei's silver, so he had to speak for the Jin Party. Those clan parties, like Fang Fang Fengshi and Wu Dui, pushed him forward; he was a wealthy household of the Zhang clan of Renhe, and the powerful and wealthy wrote letters to him in succession. The powerful and wealthy were also forcing him to deal with Zhang Zhang Juzheng; those wealthy households injured by the Tax Collection Bureau, those injured by the land surveys, and those injured by the prohibition of gathering disciples to lecture were all pushing him forward.

And now, he had retired, and the Emperor had approved it, so these had nothing to do with him.

From then on, he was just a gentry member. Returning from the Minister of Personnel of the Empire to the status of a gentry member made Zhang Han very relaxed. He should have been a gentry member, not the Minister of Personnel of the Empire.

Virtue not matching position will lead to disaster; talent not matching the appointment will lead to suffering.

"Grand Secretary, recommend someone to be the Minister of Personnel." Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Zhang Juzheng and said: "Why don't you concurrently hold the Ministry of Personnel? Didn't Gao Gong of Master Xinzheng also concurrently hold the Ministry of Personnel as the Grand Secretary? Selecting officials is a major task for the state's governance. I will trouble you, Grand Secretary."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng said very solemnly: "Your subject cannot concurrently hold it."

"Gao Gong could do it, but you cannot?" Zhu Zhu Yijun frowned upon hearing this. This was a great court session. Teacher, can you give the little Emperor some face? Refusing the Emperor's appointment in the hall like this—and you say you are not intimidating the sovereign!

"Your subject cannot do it." Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed.

"Then recommend someone." Zhu Zhu Yijun retreated to the next best thing. Zhang Han and Wan Wan Shihe were both recommended by Yang Bo and Zhang Zhang Juzheng. The Minister of Rites gradually became the Grand Minister amidst the intense court infighting, and Zhang Han walked into a dead end and could never come out.

It couldn't be said that Yang Bo didn't know people. Wan Wan Shihe became easy to use. It could only be said that people are constantly changing. In the intense collision of contradictions, they walked and walked and walked apart.

"Your subject has a memorial to report," Censor Shen Pi of Huguang Circuit took the lead and bowed: "I request the holy decree to compile the current regulations, ordering all departments to follow the years and months, classify them by category, extract the essentials and remove the tedious, and deliberate on the gains and losses, then submit them for presentation. Publish them to the world. Transmit them together with the 'Collected Statutes' and other laws and decrees, so that everyone in and out of the country can understand them. The state's laws and regulations are all recorded in the 'Collected Statutes'."

Shen Pi, a *Ming Jinshi* in the 44th year of Emperor Jiajing, was a *Ming Jinshi* in the same batch as Fan Fan Yingqi. His meaning was to re-compile the "Collected Statutes of the Great Ming" to clarify the laws and discipline. This was not the idea of the Jin Party, but Zhang Zhang Juzheng's own idea. Re-compiling the "Collected Statutes" was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's own idea.

"Let the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Justice discuss this matter. If there are no mistakes, we will start compiling next year." Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Zhang Juzheng and said: "Grand Secretary, for this compilation of the 'Collected Statutes', the manpower and material resources required must be stated in a memorial."

Did Zhang Zhang Juzheng have any regrets? Of course. From the perspective of later generations, it was the regret of policies dying with the man.

But when Zhang Zhang Juzheng was seriously ill at the end of the tenth year of Emperor Wanli, there were censorate officials who tentatively impeached Zhang Zhang Juzheng, and they were beaten by the Emperor Wanli Emperor with the court punishment. The Emperor Wanli Emperor issued a clear decree: "Attempting to drive away the auxiliary ministers, making me isolated and helpless to achieve their private ends—this court punishment is just a small punishment. If there is any more talk, it will be treated as disloyalty, unfilial piety, and great rebellion."

When Zhang Zhang Juzheng passed away, his greatest regret was that the "Collected Statutes of the Great Ming" he presided over could not be completed. The "Collected Statutes of the Great Ming" had been stumbling and compiling, and it was not until the fifteenth year of Emperor Wanli, five years after Zhang Zhang Juzheng's death, that it was finally completed and published to the world.

"Compiling the 'Collected Statutes'?" Wan Wan Shihe took the lead and bowed: "The 'Collected Statutes' is a book that lists the laws and regulations of the dynasty, and the gains and losses of the successive sages. Compared with the 'Rites of Zhou' and the 'Tang Statutes', it is truly transcendent. To change it so easily—isn't that violating the ancestors' established laws? It will surely change the ancestors' established laws too much, which is not the blessing of the state."

"Bright are our ancestors, the rulers of ten thousand states. With laws and rules, they bequeath them to their descendants. The weights and measures are in the royal palace. If we abandon their legacy, we will destroy the clan and sacrifice."

Minister of Rites Wan Wan Shihe took the lead in opposing the re-compilation of the "Collected Statutes," the reason being that the ancestors' established laws cannot be easily changed, and this is not the blessing of the state.

"Then why were there two re-compilations and additions in the eighth year of Emperor Jiajing and between the twenty-fourth and twenty-eighth years of Emperor Jiajing?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked back when he heard Wan Wan Shihe's inquiry.

The "Collected Statutes of the Great Ming" is the administrative law of the Great Ming, which is the legal norm concerning the subject and authority, behavior and procedure, illegality and responsibility, and obligations of the Great Ming's officials.

It is the outline of what Great Ming officials should do, how they should do it, what procedures each should follow, and what responsibilities they bear if they violate them.

Wan Wan Shihe said with great regret: "It is only because the old statutes recorded various regulations that were contradictory and conflicting, confusing the ears and eyes, and no one knew which clause to follow. The good laws and beautiful intentions of our ancestors were almost lost."

"What is even more regrettable is that the 'Collected Statutes' compiled in the eighth year of Emperor Jiajing and the twenty-eighth year of Emperor Jiajing were still not published to the world."

Zhu Zhu Yijun asked again: "Why were they not published to the world after they were compiled?"

"The ancestors' established laws cannot be violated," Wan Wan Shihe returned to the original topic.

Zhu Zhu Yijun continued to ask: "Because the ancestors' established laws cannot be easily changed, they cannot be compiled, and even if they are compiled, they cannot be used. But the 'Collected Statutes' compiled during the Hongzhi years were not easy to use. When officials consulted the 'Collected Statutes', they found that the statements conflicted with each other, confusing and unclear. How can we govern the country by law like this? Isn't this a contradiction?"

Wan Wan Shihe repeated: "Isn't this a contradiction?"

"On one hand, it is the ancestors' established laws; on the other hand, it is the practice of reality. Your Majesty, all things and affairs in the world are constantly colliding in contradictions, producing various confusions. To solve these confusions, we constantly try and explore. Contradictions follow one another, and all things change and advance, thereby constantly reaching a state of harmony, balance, and stability. This is the 'Qi of Harmony' mentioned by the Grand Secretary."

"This is not the end. After harmony, there will be new contradictions. This cycle repeats, and the infinite principles of the world gradually become clear."

After Zhu Zhu Yijun finished listening, he said quite solemnly: "The Grand Minister's 'Theory of Contradictions' is read extremely well."

Wan Wan Shihe continued: "The ancestors' established laws cannot be violated, the practice of reality cannot be abandoned—how to resolve the dilemma?"

"Your subject believes that there is the learning of the world and the learning of entering the world. The Hongzhi 'Collected Statutes' belong to the Hongzhi years, and the Emperor Wanli 'Collected Statutes' belong to the Emperor Wanli years. The Hongzhi 'Collected Statutes' enter the Taimiao as a classic, which is 'entering the world'; the Emperor Wanli 'Collected Statutes' walk the world as power, which is 'entering the world'. This is the two-pronged strategy of not violating the ancestors' established laws while obtaining the practice of reality."

Wan Wan Shihe's talk was very interesting. The ancestors belong to the ancestors, and the present belongs to the present. The ancestors' laws are held high, and the practice of reality is firmly on the ground. This is Wan Wan Shihe's method of compromise.

After Zhu Zhu Yijun finished listening, he said in amazement: "The Grand Minister understands compromise."

As soon as Wan Wan Shihe said this, everyone was discussing it. Holding the Hongzhi "Collected Statutes" in the Taimiao is a common practice. The "Collected Statutes" compiled during the Emperor Wanli years are used as power and published to the world. You cannot say Wan Wan Shihe violated the ancestors' established laws, because the Hongzhi "Collected Statutes" are still the highest legal code of the Hongzhi years.

"The disciple does not have to be inferior to the teacher, and the teacher does not have to be wiser than the disciple. The present does not have to be inferior to the past, and the past does not have to be wiser than the present. The past and present each have their own trends, and the past and present each have their own established laws. It is appropriate for each generation to draw up a regular code," Wan Wan Shihe bowed again.

The biggest obstacle to the Emperor Wanli "Collected Statutes" was the shackles of the ancestors' established laws. And now, Wan Wan Shihe used the method of compromise to hold the Hongzhi "Collected Statutes" high, while using the learning of practicing reality.

Wan Wan Shihe's set of rhetoric was truly both "and" and "stand" and reasonable.

"Grand Secretary, then let's follow the Grand Minister's words. Choose a day to open the hall and divide the bureaus to compile. Correct the errors and fill in the omissions. How about it?" Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at the President of the Emperor Wanli Great Ming "Collected Statutes," Zhang Zhang Juzheng. Zhu Zhu Yijun would not give this President position to anyone else.

"Your subject obeys the decree." Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed to accept the order, and after speaking, he took a look. This Wan Wan Shihe was truly eye-catching.

"Your subject has a memorial to report," Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of War Liu Xie took the lead and bowed: "Your subject impeaches the Earl of Marquis Ningyuan for arrogance and lawlessness."

"Hmm? What is the matter? Tell me in detail," Zhu Zhu Yijun asked with a solemn expression when he heard the impeachment of Li Li Chengliang, who was standing in the hall.

"He beat the Tuman Khan's envoy Buyan. That punch almost killed Buyan. The post-station guards at the Huitong Hostel saw it with their own eyes. Your subject dares not falsely accuse," Liu Xie bowed and said. He was not slandering Li Li Chengliang; Li Li Chengliang really beat someone!

"I told him to beat him. The Earl of Marquis Ningyuan followed my oral decree, and the nine ministers were present and witnessed it," Zhu Zhu Yijun said when he heard that Liu Xie was not falsely accusing. Li Li Chengliang did indeed beat Buyan, which was clearly stated by the little Emperor. Liu Xie didn't know it wasn't a clear decree, but there were witnesses, and the nine ministers of the six ministries were all witnesses.

"Your subject heard it. His Majesty did indeed give an oral decree," Hai Rui took the lead and bowed, confirming that His Majesty did indeed say in front of everyone to let Li Li Chengliang go and beat Buyan.

This was also to let Li Li Chengliang make a statement.

"It wasn't just one beating. Later, the Earl of Marquis Ningyuan beat Buyan again and broke one of Buyan's arms," Liu Xie bowed again.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was stunned and looked at Li Li Chengliang. He really didn't know much about this.

Li Li Chengliang stepped out and bowed: "It happened yesterday afternoon. Your Majesty, please allow your subject to report in detail, hahaha."

Before the Earl of Marquis Ningyuan could speak, he started laughing, and he laughed extremely wantonly and extremely arrogantly, as if he had thought of something funny. The court officials were also confused by the laughter.

"Your Majesty, your subject is rude. The matter is like this," Li Li Chengliang finally stopped laughing and said: "Your subject went to the temple fair yesterday. The capital is more prosperous than Liaodong, and there are many rare things. Your subject saw them and was happy, so I played around and bought many novel items."

"Did you pay?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked when he heard this.

"Your subject is His Majesty's Earl of Marquis Ningyuan. Going out, that is the face of the martial nobility, the face of His Majesty. In total, it was less than ten taels of silver. How could your subject be harsh to the common people? Poor people and bitter laborers only get enough to eat and wear for a day's work. Your subject naturally paid!" Li Li Chengliang hurried to bow and said. Some people don't pay when they buy things, but he pays.

"Some of the city gate captains of the Wucheng Military Commission, when common people push a dung cart out of the city, they wish they could drink two mouthfuls. Earl of Marquis Ningyuan, continue." Zhu Zhu Yijun's mouth was so sharp that he could make people feel ashamed. He was talking about the captains of the Wucheng Military Commission who were not clean-handed at the city gate, taking the common people's goods, which turned into drinking two mouthfuls when a dung cart passed the gate.

Li Li Chengliang was stunned when he heard this, shook his head and said: "Your subject went out without a crowd, just brought two Iron Forest Army personal guards. Hey, walking and walking, I ran into Buyan, whom your subject had beaten, shopping. Your Majesty, guess what?"

"What happened?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked with a frown.

Li Li Chengliang raised his eyebrows and said: "Hey! This Buyan, as soon as he saw your subject, he brought two attendants, and immediately shouted, pointing at your subject and yelling: 'The Liaodong hillbilly who beat me is right there, catch him!' They had at least ten people!"

"Many people and powerful forces," Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded.

"Isn't it many people and powerful forces? They relied on having many people and wanted to come and take your subject. Your subject planned to retreat, a good man doesn't suffer immediate losses. Your subject hadn't retreated yet, and Buyan rushed over. It was said to be late, but it was fast. Buyan took three people, climbed over the railing, and rushed directly at your subject!" Li Li Chengliang spoke faster and faster, as if the situation was extremely critical.

"Then the Earl of Marquis Ningyuan fought four hands with two fists and won by having many people?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked with a slight frown.

"That's not it," Li Li Chengliang shook his head.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was puzzled: "Not it?"

Li Li Chengliang said very firmly: "Your subject saw that I couldn't hide, so I prepared to beat them up severely. Buyan was cursing and pointing, but he ran too fast and wanted to climb over the railing. As a result, he didn't climb well, and Buyan fell out, and his guards behind him were tripped by Buyan and pressed underneath."

"Ah? Ah, hahaha!" After Zhu Zhu Yijun finished listening, he laughed directly. The entire court of officials was stunned, and a smile appeared on the corners of their mouths.

It turned out that the matter was so ridiculous. Buyan tripped himself and tripped his guards.

One can imagine the scene: seeing the enemy, Buyan stretched out his hand, cursing all kinds of filthy language, saying things like "Today I will kill you if I don't have your surname," and then a jump was tripped, and a group of people were tripped.

"Buyan's arm was broken by his own people. Many people at the temple fair were witnesses," Li Li Chengliang shook his head repeatedly and said: "Your subject really didn't break his arm. He broke his own arm."

"Minister Liu, what do you think? Are you satisfied with this answer? Do you need the court officials and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate?" Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Liu Xie with a smile.

Liu Xie was also stunned. He just knew that Li Li Chengliang had another conflict with Buyan, but he didn't expect the matter to develop in such a strange angle.

"Your subject is a censor, reporting on hearsay. There is indeed this matter, so I reported it. Please, Your Majesty, clarify. Your subject is not falsely accusing," Liu Xie flicked his hands in terror, knelt on the ground, and said loudly.

"It is Minister Liu's duty, naturally you should report it. As long as it is not empty talk, no need for formalities," Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Li Li Chengliang and asked: "Does the Earl of Marquis Ningyuan want to pursue it?"

Li Li Chengliang hurried to say: "It is the duty of the Supervising Secretary."

"That's it," Zhu Zhu Yijun waved his hand, signaling the two to return to their ranks.

Hanlin Academy Compiler Shen Yuan took the lead and bowed: "Your subject has a memorial to report: Recovering Daning Wei is indeed a grand event for the dynasty, but Your Majesty, the ancestors abandoned Daning Wei because Daning Wei was extremely expensive. Is there still an old worry about re-establishing Daning Wei?"

Shen Yuan's words were a booming wind of public opinion in the court. Daning Wei is too expensive. Can the court really afford it?

Minister of Justice Wang Wang Chonggu became anxious when he heard this and took the lead to bow: "Your Majesty, please allow me to report. The Northern Barbarians monopolize white soil, livestock, and wool business, and have repeatedly raised prices. The circulation of goods inside and outside the Great Wall is what the people inside and outside expect. This Altan Khan has no heart of submission and raises prices wantonly. This Taotu Mountain was not easy to get. If it is to be abandoned, your subject thinks it is inappropriate."

"Why can't we afford it? Just digging soil in Taotu Mountain is enough. And it's not just the woolen factory that uses this bleaching agent. It is of great use for removing impurities. Your subject thinks that from a financial perspective, it should absolutely not be abandoned. Is it expensive? It's not expensive at all!"

Blocking people's wealth is like killing their parents. Wang Wang Chonggu had just obtained the white soil, and the quality was better than in the Northwest, and the price was also very suitable. If Daning Wei, or even the east of the Great Xianbei Mountain, were completely controlled by the Great Ming, the Altan Khan would completely lose his bargaining power.

The Northwest clan party and the Altan Khan also had conflicts and contradictions!

The Altan Khan raised prices repeatedly, which made Wang Wang Chonggu angry.

"The Great Ming has everything, nothing is missing. If we look carefully, we can always find white soil," Shen Yuan frowned and argued.

Wang Wang Chonggu immediately realized the key to the problem: Shen Yuan was targeting him. He immediately said: "Find it then! Find it and then talk. Such output, such quality, and so convenient to transport to the capital—you find it, can you find it?"

"If you can't find it, why say these things here? Do you mean I didn't look carefully and deliberately relied on the Altan Khan to increase my own importance? Is that what you mean? If you have the ability, find it yourself!"

"Your Majesty, your subject has done his best to manage the woolen factory. This white soil was also explored and improved by your subject. From forty people picking five catties of wool a day, to now three people picking six hundred catties a day, I ask Your Majesty to clarify."

Zhu Zhu Yijun was very clear about Wang Wang Chonggu's desire for white soil or silver. Wang Wang Chonggu was truly attentive to this white soil matter. The Great Ming didn't have it, so it didn't have it. Daning Wei had it, and it was extremely convenient for open-air mining, and the quality was superior.

"Minister of Justice, you have worked hard. I heard that you have improved the craftsmanship again?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked Wang Wang Chonggu with a smile.

"Alas, I just did a small thing. I didn't expect Your Majesty to know. Your subject did improve the craftsmanship, using coal from the Western Hills to boil the wool, which can further remove impurities. It's just a bit hot in the summer, but the wages in the summer will also be higher. Your subject hasn't reported it yet," Wang Wang Chonggu bowed and said.

Wang Wang Chonggu improved the craftsmanship in removing impurities, which was boiling. The wool became more vibrant and soft, and the quality of the wool fabric went up another level. Considering the scorching heat in the summer, the great philanthropist Wang Wang Chonggu also had to pay high-temperature subsidies. If he didn't pay, there would be others to do it. He paid because he was doing a good deed. Paying high-temperature subsidies was to make people work well and create more profit. Wang Wang Chonggu was from a merchant family and was truly good at business. Paying high-temperature subsidies was also to prevent the censorate officials in the court from impeaching him for being harsh to the poor and bitter laborers. The poor and bitter laborers were indeed tired because of the improved craftsmanship, but he gave more money.

"Ah, for the sake of white soil, we can't lose Daning Wei. Otherwise, the Altan Khan will climb on our noses. I am young and don't understand, is that what the Minister of Justice means?" Zhu Zhu Yijun's smile became even stronger. As long as he acted like a person, Zhu Zhu Yijun would not be stingy with praise.

Wang Wang Chonggu breathed a sigh of relief and bowed: "Your Majesty is wise."

"Does Shen Qing have any doubts? If Shen Qing can improve the craftsmanship or find white soil, then listen to Shen Qing." Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Shen Yuan. The economic significance of occupying Daning Wei was not to let the Altan Khan climb on their noses. Was this reason enough? If Shen Yuan could find white soil, then approve it. If he couldn't find it, don't babble and delay people's work.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng looked left and right and showed a smile. "The nine classics of the world, only one is practiced—trust and reality." This was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's understanding of the unity of the nine classics of the world. Obviously, His Majesty understood and listened, and even provided him with ammunition to counterattack the court officials.

"Your subject has no doubts." Shen Yuan sighed. White soil was really hard to find. Why could it absorb impurities? Why could it bleach? How was white soil formed? Where could white soil be found? He didn't know, and he couldn't find it. If he couldn't find it, he couldn't question Wang Wang Chonggu, so there was no way to refute the re-establishment of Daning Wei from an economic perspective.

"If there is anything to report, report it; if not, roll up the curtain and retire from court," Feng Bao flicked his whisk again and asked loudly.

The court officials had exhausted some ideas, but they couldn't calculate the fine calculations. It was indeed a great event to take down Daning Wei, and it had important significance in military, political, and economic aspects. How could they oppose it?

Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile: "Announce the decree."

Feng Bao took a step forward, two eunuchs pulled open the imperial decree, and Feng Bao said with cadence: "By the order of the Emperor, the decree says:"

"The barbarian horses graze in the south, from spring to summer, luring our fugitives and disturbing our farming. They can use many methods to mislead us, but we cannot use strange tactics to control them. Alas, how dangerous it is."

"Wang Wang Chonggu supervised the Xuan-Da region, and the Xuan-Da region was peaceful. He has experienced seven towns, and his merits are recorded on the border. He blocked leaks, stabilized the border, and herded nineteen thousand people. Now he is supervising the official factory with great effort. I hereby promote Wang Wang Chonggu to Junior Preceptor of the Crown Prince, bestow upon him a python-patterned crane cloak, to manifest his merit."

"Bestow one hundred taels of silver, five sets of patterned silk, five tables of tea and rice, three sheep, and five bottles of national cellar wine. This is to show grace, no need to decline."

"I am young and inexperienced. Since I ascended the throne, the Grand Secretary has governed the state, focusing on military strategy and border affairs. Reports of victory have been frequent. I am happy that the state affairs have slightly recovered. The Grand Secretary has insight into the key points and delegated responsibilities, allowing the Great Ming generals to display their talents, so that matters have been successful. Seeing this, the Grand Secretary's merit cannot be erased."

"I have rewarded the Grand Secretary many times, but the Grand Secretary has firmly declined because of 'trusting in rewards and punishments'."

"Bestow upon the Grand Secretary fifty taels of silver bean leaves and eight treasures, three pieces of bright red cloud-crane patterned silk, and nine bottles of national cellar wine; bestow upon the Junior Grand Secretary Lu Lu Diaoyang forty taels of silver bean leaves, two pieces of bright red cloud-crane patterned silk, and five bottles of national cellar wine. This is to show grace, no need to decline."

"Civil and military officials inside and outside the country who work hard—each capital official is bestowed two taels of silver, each external official is bestowed one tael of silver, and each soldier of the Capital Battalion is bestowed two taels of silver."

"Respect this."

After Feng Bao finished reading, the group of officials was stunned. They had only heard of the Emperor asking for silver from the state treasury, but where had they heard of the Emperor distributing money?

"Your subjects kowtow to thank the holy grace."

"Retire from court," Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile: "Grand Secretary, Li Shuai, follow me."

"Retire from court," Feng Bao flicked his whisk again and shouted loudly, and the little eunuchs and the censorate officials shouted in unison: "Retire from court."

"Your subjects respectfully send off His Majesty." The group of officials paid their respects again.

And Zhu Zhu Yijun led Zhang Zhang Juzheng and Li Li Chengliang toward the Taimiao, Zhang Hong leading a long tail, and these eunuchs held the seven glass display cases from the side hall of the Zhao Wenhua Hall.

At the end of the third year of Emperor Wanli, the little Emperor took Zhang Zhang Juzheng and Li Li Chengliang to the Taimiao to make an annual report.

"I haven't done anything this year, just these things, to report to the ancestors." Zhu Zhu Yijun had people place the seven glass display cases under the offerings.

The child is sick with tonsillitis, and there have been some things recently, so the update time is unstable, but the word count is not missing. I am righteously asking for monthly tickets, Awoo!!!!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 165 =====

"Your Majesty, please give your orders. Your subject will certainly go through fire and water, and will not refuse!" Li Li Chengliang said very sincerely: "Really, I wouldn't lie to Your Majesty."

Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile: "It's not going through fire and water. The Tuman Khan's son, Buyan, is in the capital, and the Ministry of Rites is not talking to him very happily. Can the Earl of Marquis Ningyuan help me go and talk to Buyan? Just reason with him and move him with emotion."