Chapter 173

Why would Zhu Zhu Yijun refuse to unjustly execute Gao Gong to let himself save face, let the world save face, and just muddle through by smoothing things over? Everyone would have face.

In fact, the Jin Party had already completely abandoned Gao Gong. Gao Gong was a man of great courage and stubbornness in his work, and he had already offended many people. It was not that Zhu Zhu Yijun wanted to kill Gao Gong, but the Jin Party—or more precisely, the clan faction within the Jin Party—that wanted to kill Gao Gong.

Gao Gong also agreed, and he even found a charge of "intimidating the sovereign" for himself; he indeed wanted to abolish the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Therefore, killing Gao Gong was indeed the best choice for compromise.

But Zhu Zhu Yijun refused to unjustly execute him.

The harm caused by Emperor Gaozong of Song, Zhao Gou, unjustly executing Grandmaster Yue Fei was far greater than he had imagined. In the more than one hundred years of the Southern Song Dynasty, the Jin and Mongol empires gained a total of seven Han hereditary lords from the Two Huai River region. From the standpoint of legitimacy, did these hereditary lords from the Two Huai River region betray their ancestors by defecting to the Mongols and Jin?

Undoubtedly, they did.

But if you defect to the Southern Song, the Emperor will unjustly execute you, with the butcher's knife already at your throat; you have no choice but to leave. Wu Xi, the grandson of Wu Lin, who was enfeoffed as a prince in the early Southern Song, directly rebelled against the Southern Song.

Unjust executions cause people's hearts to scatter.

While Emperor Gaozong of Song was still alive, he began to rehabilitate Grandmaster Yue Fei, because he knew that without rehabilitation, the Southern Song empire would definitely not be preserved; it would perish while he was still alive.

As for the rehabilitation of Yu Qian, as soon as Emperor Ming Baozong of Ming died, he was immediately rehabilitated. Moreover, it was Emperor Xianzong, the successor, who personally issued the edict, stating that Yu Qian had supported him, not the son of Prince Xiang, and that the charges were entirely fabricated. Emperor Ming Baozong had already known that Yu Qian had been wronged while he was still alive.

Seeking glory at the cost of shame damages the cohesion of the state. The cohesion of the state is something ethereal yet real, and precious. Since Yu Qian, the officials of the Great Ming began to excel at self-preservation, and the world fell into restlessness.

Zhang Zhang Siwei could not understand why Zhang Zhang Juzheng wanted to revitalize the court.

Yu Qian's end, Zi Xia Yan's end, Zhu Wan's end, Hu Hai Zongxian's end!

Indeed, while Zhang Zhang Juzheng was alive, he was invincible; everyone admitted this, and he was formidable. But what about after he died?

Knowing full well that after death, there was a high probability of suffering every humiliation just like the reformers in history, why do it?

Zhu Zhu Yijun's refusal to unjustly execute Gao Gong was for the sake of this last bit of spirit in the Great Ming.

As the Emperor, he had the obligation and responsibility to sustain this spirit.

Wang Wang Chonggu is a petty person; he is afraid because he was beaten. Zhang Zhang Siwei is not afraid because he was not beaten.

To this day, Zhang Zhang Siwei had never directly clashed with Zhang Zhang Juzheng, which is why he was so bold and reckless. Including Wu Dui, Fang Fang Fengshi, and others—being beaten is something one knows the warmth and cold of only by drinking water oneself.

After the little Emperor was beaten by Luo Luo Sigong, would the little Emperor go around saying how much it hurt? Obviously, he would not.

Luo Luo Sigong—his name was meant to make him think more about being respectful and obedient. The respect and obedience Luo Luo Sigong thought about was listening to the Emperor.

As soon as Zhang Zhang Siwei saw Wang Wang Chonggu directly agree to San San Niangzi entering the court, he immediately jumped out and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that since the foreign envoys from afar are barbarians, they have never witnessed the solemnity of the court's rituals. If we do not first show them the etiquette and have them practice once or twice, I fear that once they have an audience, they will be terrified by Your Majesty's heavenly might, become flustered, and lose decorum. This would not be the way to manifest virtue and illuminate a grand occasion. I humbly beg for an imperial date to be set for the ceremony, with careful rehearsals being appropriate."

"Especially now that the Three Great Halls have been burned down, it is even more inappropriate to grant an audience."

Are we supposed to grant an audience to San San Niangzi on the foundation? Where is the majesty of the Heavenly Court? Where is the face?

If San San Niangzi is terrified by Your Majesty's heavenly might and gets scared, wouldn't that be bad? If the people from afar lose face, the court will also lose face. Therefore, take it slowly and rehearse carefully. As for when the rehearsals will be finished, that is a matter of interpretation.

The "delaying tactic" is tried and true.

When the time comes, criticize them thoroughly in the Ministry of Rites. It would be best if San San Niangzi cannot stand the court's cumbersome rituals and returns to the grasslands in a rage; then this matter will be over.

Zhang Zhang Siwei's thinking is very reasonable, because ritual and law are the discipline of the state. Violating ritual and law damages the majesty of the court.

Therefore, Zhang Zhang Siwei is not acting out of shame and anger, nor is he making a desperate gamble because his business failed to make money; he is simply trying to prevent San San Niangzi from entering the capital. The drunken singing and dancing between San San Niangzi and Wu Dui in Xuanfu, lingering and forgetting to return—this unbreakable political alliance like father and daughter is gradually disintegrating.

Wu Dui sends clothes and headwear; every time San San Niangzi arrives in Xuanfu, she can take things from Wu Dui's private residence at will. San San Niangzi dances at the drop of a hat, softening up under Wu Dui's knees.

What a beautiful scene.

But San San Niangzi suddenly says she wants to enter the capital to see the Emperor; that means she intends to abandon the Northwest Jin Party and directly flirt with the court.

How can that be allowed?

Zhang Zhang Siwei wants to kill three birds with one stone: kill this muddle-headed emperor, kill Gao Gong, or use the burning of the Hall of Supreme Harmony as an excuse to block San San Niangzi from entering the capital.

Compared to the court's majesty and punishment, Zhang Zhang Siwei is more worried about San San Niangzi's backstabbing, because once the threat of the Northern Barbarians is lost, the court can deal with the Northwest clan faction at will.

Those bureaucrats, those powerful families who occupy land, and those border generals will all suffer losses of interest.

San San Niangzi's entry into the capital is very sudden, but it is within Wang Wang Chonggu's expectations. At present, the largest trade under Altan Khan's command has shifted to the wool business. Compared to the profits of other trades, the wool business is gradually becoming the largest trade.

And the wool business is entirely under the control of the court, not the clan faction. It is not that Zhang Zhang Siwei has not tried, but if he cannot play the game, he cannot play it. The construction of the official factory is a systematic project; the legal regulations alone have six chapters. Zhang Zhang Siwei, a corrupt and lowly Confucian, does not have that ability.

Previously, San San Niangzi raised prices in the name of Altan Khan, which had actually started a round of competition with the court over the distribution of profits from the wool business. However, the Great Ming also found white clay in the Marquis Ningyuan Guard, which immediately caused the Northern Barbarians to lose the initiative in the distribution of profits from the wool business.

Therefore, San San Niangzi intends to come and talk in person.

"San San Niangzi and the Minister of Justice are also old acquaintances, right? How about leaving this matter to the Minister of Justice to handle?" Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Wang Chonggu.

Wang Wang Chonggu bowed his head and said, "I obey the decree. I will be responsible for receiving her into the court, and the Court of Diplomatic Reception will host her. I am supervising the wool official factory, but as for the negotiations, the Ministry of Rites is more proficient. I am not good with words."

To avoid suspicion, Wang Wang Chonggu even brought up that he was not good with words.

Ma Ma Ziqiang looked at Zhang Zhang Siwei and said quite indifferently, "There is no need for Manager Zhang to worry about the affairs of our Ministry of Rites. If we fail to do the job well, it is our Ministry of Rites that loses face; why should Manager Zhang worry?"

Ma Ma Ziqiang is a direct subordinate of Zhang Zhang Juzheng; he can handle this little task.

"Where is San San Niangzi?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked.

Chen Chen Xuehui bowed his head and said, "In Xuanfu, waiting to enter the court."

"Is Xuanfu her home? She is in Xuanfu every day. Those who know are naturally clear that Xuanfu is the capital's territory; those who don't know might think Xuanfu belongs to the Jin Kingdom." Zhu Zhu Yijun maintained his usual combat effectiveness in humiliating people.

He was scolding the rotten situation in the Northwest, where the actual controller of the Northern Barbarians spends all day having fun in Xuanfu.

"Minister Chen, when can she enter the court and when can she have an audience?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked again. The first principle of the "Law of Examination" is a time limit—finish the prescribed task within the prescribed time.

Chen Chen Xuehui said quite solemnly, "Three days."

"Very fast. Does anyone else have any different opinions? This is a Grand Court Meeting. Although the Hall of Supreme Harmony has been burned down to nothing but a foundation, the Hall of Supreme Harmony is still the Hall of Supreme Harmony. If you want to object, say it here. The court officials can discuss it, and the ministers of the Six Ministries can all answer. If you act in compliance in public but in opposition in private, then don't blame the court for being ruthless." Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at the court officials.

The Ministry of Rites, which should have been talking about the majesty of the court, said nothing. Others looked at each other. Little Emperor, this is simply forcing people to take sides!

Zhang Zhang Juzheng really taught the little Emperor these court tricks without reservation!

"What does the Master think?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked for Zhang Zhang Juzheng's opinion.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

The majesty of the court was not lost by the Emperor; the Three Great Halls, the Qianqing Palace, and the Kunning Palace were not burned down by the Emperor playing with fire, but by someone else playing with fire!

Your Majesty has not damaged the majesty of the court, and the majesty of the court does not lie in whether the halls are magnificent.

If the Great Ming wins repeatedly abroad, even if it grants an audience to the envoys of the Hu barbarians on the roadside, the Hu barbarians would not dare to show the slightest contempt. If the Great Ming loses repeatedly abroad, even if it grants an audience in the Nine-Fold Heavenly Palace, the Hu barbarians would still humiliate it to its face.

The new law of enriching the country and strengthening the army has had initial results. The victory at Marquis Ningyuan Guard has forced the Hu barbarians, who are good at speaking with knives, to have to talk to the Great Ming, rather than relying on path dependency and directly going south to plunder.

"I have a memorial to present." Zeng Tongheng, the Governor of Shuntian Prefecture, stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, last year when the Earl of Marquis Ningyuan entered the capital, I requested Your Majesty to be alert to the Earl of Marquis Ningyuan having rebellious intentions."

"Oh?" Zhu Zhu Yijun signaled Zhang Hong to present the memorial. After reading it carefully, he asked, "Governor Zeng, are you reading history now too?"

"Your Majesty's instruction, I dare not disobey." Zeng Tongheng bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang held a banquet at the Qinzheng Tower to entertain the Military Governor of the Three Frontiers, An Lushan. Emperor Xuanzong saw that An Lushan had a big belly that hung over his knees, so he asked: 'Hu child, what do you have in your belly?' An Lushan replied: 'Nothing else, just a heart of red loyalty.' Xuanzong laughed heartily and rewarded him continuously."

"Your Majesty, when the Earl of Marquis Ningyuan entered the capital last year, his appearance was loyal and cautious. I am truly worried that he might have the fears of a Military Governor. Your Majesty, if Liaodong becomes entirely his family's slaves, I am terrified."

Zhu Zhu Yijun smiled and said, "En, you spoke very well, and your worries are not wrong. It is not just you who are worried; in fact, the court ministers also have such worries, and even the Earl of Marquis Ningyuan himself."

"Even including the Earl of Marquis Ningyuan?" Zeng Tongheng was stunned and repeated it.

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded and said, "Even including the Earl of Marquis Ningyuan. If he were not worried, he would not have sent Hou Hou Yuzhao to Liaodong."

"This is not a problem of the Earl of Marquis Ningyuan, but a problem of the court. Let me ask you: you said Emperor Xuanzong of Tang held a banquet for An Lushan at the Qinzheng Tower. I think the name 'Qinzheng Tower' is very good; it means to encourage diligence. Why did Emperor Ming of Tang not manage state affairs diligently there, but instead indulged in feasting and drinking?"

Zhu Zhu Yijun used Zeng Tongheng's own words to ask him back, performing a boomerang on the spot.

Zeng Tongheng thought for a long time and bowed his head, saying, "This tower was built in the early years of Xuanzong. At that time, he was diligent in governing, hence the 'Rule of Kaiyuan'. As for the Tianbao period, Emperor Xuanzong's will became desolate, which led to the disaster of displacement. The Mawei Slope mutiny, abandoning his woman at the front, hence this shame."

Displacement is the danger of an emperor being forced to flee the capital.

Zhu Zhu Yijun smiled and said, "Indeed. Look, you yourself have found the answer and the key to the problem."

"I am dull." Zeng Tongheng was still a bit confused; he seemed to have realized something, but it seemed he hadn't.

"Master, tell him." Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Zhang Juzheng and asked for the Grand Secretary's opinion. I am indeed presiding over the meeting at this Grand Court Meeting, but you, Zhang Zhang Juzheng, are in charge of the country, and you haven't said a word, only shouting "Your Majesty is wise." Are you trying to be lazy?

You are the one in charge of the country now!

"I am terrified." Zhang Zhang Juzheng looked at Zeng Tongheng and said, "Your Majesty is very happy that you can read history, because Your Majesty does not want to see the study of history turned into Neo-Confucianism or the School of Mind. If you read history like that, you won't understand the principles. And the question you asked is right on the surface: feasting at the Qinzheng Tower."

"Human nature has always been like this: it is easy to have a beginning but hard to have an end; many go from being governed at the beginning to being chaotic at the end, and many go from being sage-like to being crazy. Therefore, since ancient times, sage emperors and wise kings have all been diligent and cautious day by day, worrying about the difficulty of having a good end. Having a good end is too difficult; giving up halfway is easy."

"Xuanzong could not maintain this cautious and diligent heart, so he ended up in chaos. When Zhang Zhang Jiuling was in the middle of the Kaiyuan period, he knew that Lushan had the appearance of a rebel and wanted to execute him because of an incident to cut off the root of the disaster. Xuanzong did not use his words. When the imperial carriage went to Shu, he thought of Zhang Jiuling's straightforward words and foresight, but it was too late to regret. He sent someone to Lingnan to sacrifice to him."

Zhu Zhu Yijun continued, "Too late to regret, too late to regret."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, not to mention previous dynasties, it is the same today. Even our Emperor Shizong, in the early years of Emperor Jiajing, built the Wu Yi Hall in the West Garden to encourage farming and agriculture, wanting to know the hardships of the royal enterprise. He also ordered Confucian scholars to lecture on the 'Wu Yi' chapter of the Book of Zhou, and after the lecture, he feasted the civil and military officials in the hall. This went on for twenty years, diligent and cautious day by day, without change. The world already had a scene of prosperity."

"However, towards the end of his life, he advocated burning incense and cultivation, and the imperial carriage no longer visited the hall, only using it to copy Taoist books and worship mysterious images. The atmosphere of diligence and focus on the people of the past was no longer seen, and the work of governance was not as good as the beginning. Even with Emperor Shizong's brilliance, this still happened. From this, we know the difficulty of having a good end."

"The road is blocked and long; this is the same principle of the infinite things in the world. Being weak leads to cowardice; this is truly the instruction for a monarch. Your Majesty, I am overstepping and daring to ask Your Majesty to take the difficulty of having a good end as a warning."

In the bare Hall of Supreme Harmony, Zhang Zhang Juzheng criticized Emperor Shizong of the Great Ming, Emperor Jiajing, saying that he was a wise monarch for twenty years, and the Great Ming had a scene of revival, but in his later years, he only knew about Taoist cultivation. Moreover, he directly named and criticized Emperor Shizong for losing the courage to face difficulties. More directly, Zhang Zhang Juzheng criticized Emperor Shizong as a coward who was weak and timid.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng's criticism was more direct and crisp than Hai Rui's "Memorial on Peace and Order," and it didn't even have those complimentary words.

"Master, you have said too much." Zhu Zhu Yijun reminded Zhang Zhang Juzheng not to say everything. Saying everything will only harm you! You are right, but you cannot say it in front of so many people.

When Emperor Shizong was here, you didn't say it. After Emperor Shizong left, you started pointing fingers. You even called the old Taoist a coward; aren't you a coward yourself? If you have the ability, scold him to his face!

Look at Hai Rui! He always speaks out to people's faces.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was silent for a moment, bowed his head, and said, "Your Majesty, this was what I said in a memorial in the thirty-second year of Emperor Jiajing. Emperor Shizong was furious, called me to the imperial presence, and angrily rebuked me as a mad scholar, asking me: 'Are you the only loyal, good, and virtuous person?' I replied: 'I am only a subject of the Great Ming; criticizing and presenting good advice is my duty.'"

"Emperor Shizong was a person of unparalleled intelligence. Hearing what I said, he waved his hand and let me leave."

Zhu Zhu Yijun frowned, recalled for a moment, shook his head, and said, "I have read the Veritable Records of the National History; why is there no record? Grand Minister of Rites—no, Grand Minister Wan, did I miss it?"

Wan Wan Shihe stepped out, bowed his head, and said, "Your Majesty did not miss it. This 'Memorial on Current Politics'—a chapter on the five diseases of congestion and numbness—is briefly mentioned."

"Briefly mentioned?" Zhu Zhu Yijun was stunned.

"That is to say, the Veritable Records of the National History briefly recorded the content of this memorial, not the full text. It is not that Your Majesty missed it; it was originally briefly mentioned. As for the truth of what the Grand Secretary said, I do not know." Wan Wan Shihe bowed his head again. He was responsible for annotating the Veritable Records of the National Dynasty for the little Emperor, with Zhang Zhang Siwei as his deputy. Zhang Zhang Siwei did not do any work and felt he had no merit.

Wan Wan Shihe was not very proficient in reading history at the time, and because of the trend of Neo-Confucianism and the School of Mind in the court, he did not know much about the national history and made a fool of himself repeatedly. He had a sense of shame, so he finished reading the thick Veritable Records of the National History.

Wan Wan Shihe was already the best of the bunch; at least he had a sense of shame.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed his head and said, "At that time, Xu Xu Jie was in the court, and Gao Gong was also in the court. Gao Gong is entering the capital today. If Your Majesty wants to ask, you can ask him."

"Commander, go and ask." Zhu Zhu Yijun was silent for a moment and asked Zhao Zhao Mengyou to ask clearly. It was not that he didn't trust Zhang Zhang Juzheng; this involved the compilation of history and Zhang Zhang Juzheng's posthumous reputation, so he couldn't be careless.

Ma Ma Ziqiang whispered a few words to the Vice Minister, and the Vice Minister hurried away.

Soon Zhao Zhao Mengyou returned and bowed his head, saying, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Master Xinzheng said... said..."

"Speak directly; don't stutter." Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Zhao Zhao Mengyou. Could there be hidden circumstances?

Zhao Zhao Mengyou took a deep breath and said, "The Duke of Master Xinzheng said: 'The Grand Secretary's temper used to be worse than mine. After being reprimanded by Emperor Shizong, he insisted on leaving. When Shizong asked about him again, the Grand Secretary used illness as an excuse and had already returned his seal and left, which angered Emperor Shizong so much that he ordered him to be arrested and brought back to the capital.'"

The Vice Minister of Rites returned to the hall. Of course, only a threshold remained of this Hall of Supreme Harmony.

"Your Majesty, the old case has been found. This is the memorial submitted by the Grand Secretary that year." Ma Ma Ziqiang found the original from that year and handed it to Zhang Hong.

This memorial had already turned yellow, and there was some dust on it. After opening it, the paper inside had become brittle, but the content was not much different from what Zhang Zhang Juzheng had just said, and it was scolded even more harshly...

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was already very restrained today.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng used the "difficulty of having a good end" and "being weak leads to cowardice" to encourage Emperor Emperor Jiajing to be more diligent and brave. There was also Emperor Emperor Jiajing's rescript on it: "A mad scholar who does not know the difficulty of affairs."

Zhu Zhu Yijun closed the memorial and said to Zhang Hong, "Put it in the seventh display cabinet of the side hall of the Zhao Wenhua Hall, and make a copy."

Zhu Zhu Yijun thought for a while and said, "Is this the reason why the Master left the court in the thirty-second year of Emperor Jiajing? And the cause and effect of returning to the court in the thirty-fifth year?"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng explained again, "I returned on my own; it was not that Emperor Shizong sent someone to arrest me and bring me back to the capital. I was a person of no importance at the time, and Emperor Shizong was probably afraid that he had already forgotten about me, this mad scholar."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was lying, trying to make up for the old Taoist. With the old Taoist's heart being smaller than the tip of a needle, someone scolded him as a coward to his face; could he not remember? It was impossible not to remember! He scolded the person away, but when he needed to use someone, he had them arrested and brought back; how embarrassing.

A capable official who had turned around and realized his own mad and arrogant words returned to the capital to admit his mistake, which made the old Taoist look good—the subject was wrong, the Emperor was not.

"The road is blocked and long; the difficulty of having a good end." Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Hai Rui and said, "Grandfather, he still cherished talent very much."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng called the old Taoist a coward, and Hai Rui called the old Taoist "Emperor Jiajing, Emperor Jiajing—everyone is clean." Both of them scolded him very harshly, but the old Taoist still kept both of them.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was also making up for the old Taoist. After all, the throne was passed down, not fought for.

This segment, when rendered, is another beautiful story of Emperor Shizong having the capacity to tolerate people and leaving talented people for the world. It is very reasonable.

Zhu Zhu Yijun knows how to make up for things.

"Your Majesty, there are some grievances that Your Majesty cannot suffer!" Zhang Zhang Juzheng once again expounded his governing policy: respect the power of the sovereign, respect the sovereign's power of majesty and blessing.

Everyone is human. If these grievances and disappointments accumulate too much, they will turn into despair. Even the most brilliant person, if they suffer such grievances too much, no matter how great their ambitions, will become weak and timid.

The Great Ming is an imperial system. Once the Emperor fails, the affairs of the world will inevitably become rotten and unbearable.

Some grievances cannot be suffered! When it is time for blood to flow like a river, it must flow like a river—for example, this case of the imperial palace being burned down! It must be investigated to the end.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng transferred Qi Qi Jiguang back because he was afraid that Qi Qi Jiguang's war in Marquis Ningyuan Guard would not go smoothly and would delay the investigation of the imperial palace case.

And Zhu Zhu Yijun always firmly believed that Qi Qi Jiguang could go from one victory to another.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng is a subject and has his way of being a subject; Zhu Zhu Yijun is a monarch and has his way of being a monarch.

This difference in political views will not lead to discord between monarch and subject.

"Master, I understand." Zhu Zhu Yijun promised Zhang Zhang Juzheng that he would investigate to the end and exterminate the three clans; this is a golden word.

"Minister Zeng, if Emperor Ming of Tang had been as diligent as at the beginning, would An Lushan and Shi Shi Siming have dared to rebel? Could they have rebelled?" Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Zeng Tongheng and told him the answer to why he asked about the feasting at Qinzheng Tower; the answer was in the question itself.

What determines whether the Earl of Marquis Ningyuan will be An Lushan is not the Earl of Marquis Ningyuan or Liaodong, but the court.

"I obey Your Majesty's instruction." Zeng Tongheng bowed again. He understood. This was the first time the Emperor had discussed the Liaodong issue in front of the court officials, and it was also a clear expression of the court's worry about the fears of the Liaodong Military Governor. At the same time, it also gave a preliminary answer to the problem: Liaodong is just a place; whether Liaodong is a Military Governor's territory lies not in Liaodong, but in the court.

Hai Rui stood out and bowed his head, saying, "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present. I impeach the Censor of Southern Zhili, Yan Shiqiao, for protecting corrupt officials and embezzling salt silver totaling 201,087 taels. He should be dismissed."

"Present it." Zhu Zhu Yijun saw Hai Rui's memorial.

In this memorial, a total of 27 salt administration officials headed by Yan Shiqiao were listed for their corrupt acts. This was also the first impeachment memorial in the Great Ming regarding bribery. The Censorate specializes in investigating officials. This case was handled by the Governor of Yingtian, Song Yangshan, the Governor of Songjiang, Wang Daokun, and the Governor of Zhejiang, Xie Xie Pengju.

It was well-documented.

"What does the Master think?" Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Zhang Juzheng. Zhang Zhang Juzheng advocated first eliminating the harm of indulgence, and then killing the wind of corruption. Has the time come to kill the wind of corruption?

"Your Majesty, although the poison of indulgence has not been completely cleaned up, this wind of killing corruption and bribery can be carried out simultaneously." Zhang Zhang Juzheng had actually communicated with Hai Rui and believed that in some areas, the fight against bribery could begin.

"In that case, dismiss them all, strip them of their official status, and send them back to their hometowns to live in leisure; they are not allowed to sign official documents." Zhu Zhu Yijun issued a rescript on Hai Rui's memorial and handed it to Zhang Hong, saying, "Send it to the Ministry of Personnel for supervision. Grand Minister Wan, is this matter difficult?"

Wan Wan Shihe took the memorial and bowed his head, saying, "It is not difficult."

He did not feel that there was anything difficult about it. This list included people from the Jin Party, the Zhe Party, and the Zhang Party. Everyone was treated equally, and there was no favoritism. If anyone felt he was not capable, they could impeach him, and he would immediately resign.

He was already forced into this position; if he didn't cooperate, he would immediately resign and go home.

"If you have matters, step out and report early; if not, roll up the curtain and dismiss the court." Feng Bao took a step forward, waited for a moment, and seeing no one reporting, looked at the Emperor. Seeing the Emperor nod, he flicked his whisk and said, "Dismiss the court."

Feng Bao announced that the Grand Court Meeting on the third day of the fifth month of the fourth year of Emperor Wanli had officially ended.

"We respectfully see Your Majesty off." The officials paid their respects.

Zhu Zhu Yijun, with a long tail of people, went down the wooden ladder from the foundation and headed straight for the Zhao Wenhua Hall.

The officials' eyelids jumped! In the past, the Emperor would leave from the back hall; this time he left directly from the foundation.

This open-air court meeting will surely become a heavy stroke in the court meetings of the Great Ming; this is the shame of the Great Ming Dynasty.

Is the Emperor humiliating himself? No!

The Emperor is humiliating all the officials of the Great Ming. What can a fourteen-year-old child do? Someone set fire to the palace, and it was found out by the secret agents in the palace that it was man-made, not a natural disaster!

Forcing the Emperor to hold court on the foundation of the Hall of Supreme Harmony—this is the way of the Great Ming officials!

Everyone thought of one person in unison: the loyal Hou Hou Yuzhao. If it weren't for him submitting that memorial asking the Emperor to come out and see the court officials, how could so many humiliating things have happened!

"Grand Minister of Justice, stay a while." Ge Ge Shouli stopped Wang Wang Chonggu, leaned in a few steps, and said, "Grand Minister of Justice, this Hall of Supreme Harmony is not losing the Emperor's face; the Emperor has not yet personally governed. This is losing the face of our Great Ming officials. When future generations discuss this absurd matter, I fear we will not be able to close our eyes in the underworld."

"The matter of repairing the Three Great Halls, the Qianqing Palace, and the Kunning Palace in the imperial palace must be fast. Before the Emperor's wedding, it must, must, must be completed."

"Otherwise, when the time comes, I fear the Emperor will have to have his wedding on the foundation, becoming the first emperor in history to have his wedding on a foundation."

"That won't happen, right? The Emperor can also have his wedding in the Zhao Wenhua Hall," Wang Wang Chonggu said in horror.

"Do you guess the Emperor will do that?" Ge Ge Shouli said with worry, "This is a shame."

Wang Wang Chonggu thought for a moment and immediately realized that something was wrong. The Emperor would definitely be able to do it!

The construction of the imperial palace must not be delayed and must be completed on schedule. Otherwise, when the time comes, the eight words "Heavenly Court, wedding on the foundation" will probably make even Li Li Yashi laugh to death. This is truly a "foreign surprise"!

Sometimes when reading historical materials and seeing the words Zhang Zhang Juzheng said to the Emperor Wanli Emperor, I have an indescribable feeling. How could he, the Emperor Wanli Emperor, forget all of Zhang Zhang Juzheng's words so cleanly? How could he bear to let his long-cherished wish flow to the east? Ask for monthly tickets, awoo!!!!!!!!!!!

(End of chapter)