Chapter 234: Wang Chonggu

Why wasn't Wang Chonggu afraid that His Majesty would use the crime of "secret collusion with the barbarians" to behead him?

If the Emperor really wanted to take action against Wang Chonggu, he wouldn't need the crime of secret collusion with the barbarians at all. Just the fact that the title for his daughter's marriage to Yang Bo's son was in gold characters was enough to behead him directly. This was a true violation of the system. How many crimes there were depended entirely on whether His Majesty was willing to give him the hat.

First, he committed the crime of violation (the gold characters of the daughter's title), then he committed the crime of corruption (the construction of the Xuan-Da Great Wall), then he committed the crime of greed (the Jin merchants smuggling prohibited items abroad), then the crime of rebellion (the Northwest feudal lords' self-governance of rites and music), then the crime of gathering wealth (the Yongding official factory and the Western Hills coal bureau), then the crime of forming cliques (the core of the Jin faction), and then the crime of fleeing (hanging up his seal and running away).

And he had an even heavier crime, which was the "50,000-word memorial on settling the hooligans" he submitted, the crime of subverting the Great Ming's foundation.

The memorial on settling the hooligans would change the Great Ming's class structure. Once Wang Chonggu really fulfilled his promise, it would break the gentry's strong personal attachment to the poor. If one day the furious common people suddenly discovered that the Great Ming's greatest evil was the Emperor who lived deep in the nine-fold palace, what then?

The memorial on settling the hooligans was Wang Chonggu's declaration and goal for entering the Grand Secretariat. As long as he fulfilled his promise, he would walk the same path as Zhang Juzheng. There was no way back. It was just that Zhang Juzheng did it for his full ambition, while Wang Chonggu did it for his life, a decision based on his strong desire to survive.

Therefore, after he entered the Grand Secretariat, the first suggestion he gave to the Emperor was to kill.

"What is the Grand Secretary's opinion?" Zhu Yijun looked at Lu Diaoyang. After Zhang Juzheng resigned, the second Grand Secretary was promoted, and Lu Diaoyang became the Great Ming's first Grand Secretary. Zhu Yijun naturally had to ask for Lu Diaoyang's opinion.

"I have no objection." Lu Diaoyang stepped out and bowed.

Lu Diaoyang had never thought that Zhang Juzheng would resign. He entered the Grand Secretariat only after Gao Gong went home in the sixth year of the Longqing reign. The work he did was always "Grand Secretary Zhang is right," helping Zhang Juzheng with chores. He rarely put forward his own opinions. He had a relatively gentle personality, handled affairs very fairly, and didn't like forming cliques, let alone having subordinates.

Zhang Juzheng charged into battle, and Lu Diaoyang was the one doing logistics. Now that he was the head of all officials, it wasn't that he couldn't do it, but he could only do a little bit—like Zhang Juzheng, shouting "The Emperor is wise" and singing praises.

The Great Ming's current situation was a typical "clay second Grand Secretary, paper-pasted six Ministers."

When Zhang Juzheng was there, bumping into the Emperor was criticizing Chen Shan. After all, there was Zhang Juzheng at the front. Whether it was the crime of overawing the sovereign or persuading the Emperor to be benevolent, Zhang Juzheng bore it all.

But now that Zhang Juzheng was gone, all the thunder and rain had to be borne by the court officials alone.

The Emperor called Zhang Juzheng "Mr. Zhang," which was a teacher-student relationship. He called Lu Diaoyang and Wang Chonggu "Grand Secretary" and "Cabinet Minister," which were official positions.

Wan Shihe thought for a long time, stepped out and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I once heard that the Later Ruler Liu Shan was a weak and indecisive person, so there were many satires about him being the 'A Dou who couldn't be lifted.'"

The Great Ming's current situation seemed to be relatively similar to that time, and even worse than that time. After all, A Dou was sixteen years old when he succeeded to the throne, but the Emperor in front of him, who had been Emperor for five years, was only fifteen. At that time, the Shu Han was a separatist regime; now the Great Ming was unified. The violent conflict of contradictions was not quite the same.

But it could still be compared.

Zhu Yijun looked at Wan Shihe. This old oil-slick spoke without leaking a drop of water. It seemed he said everything, but he said nothing, waiting for the Emperor to pick up the conversation and then distinguish the wind direction. Anyway, Wan Shihe had always spoken like this and would never say things to the end.

Zhu Yijun knew what Wan Shihe wanted to say, so he shook his head directly and said, "I don't think so. Liu Shan was actually quite decisive. I heard that there was an official named Li Miao who said a few things about the Zhang Yuanfu after the Zhang Yuanfu left. Liu Shan directly sentenced him to prison for 'insulting my father-in-law' and had him executed the next day. Is there such a thing?"

Wan Shihe bowed and said, "Your Majesty, you have studied well. It is indeed true. In the twelfth year of Jianxing, the Zhang Yuanfu passed away. The Later Ruler Liu Shan wore mourning clothes to mourn the Zhang Yuanfu. At this time, Li Miao submitted a memorial saying."

"Lü Lu and Huo Yu did not necessarily have different intentions, wanting to rebel against the state. Emperor Xuan of Han did not want to become a monarch who killed ministers."

"Because ministers fear the Emperor's coercion, and the monarch fears the ministers' merit and prestige, the monarch and ministers are suspicious of each other. The Zhang Yuanfu relied on elite troops alone, looking at things like a wolf or tiger. The five powerful people should not guard the frontier, so I often worry about the state's safety."

"Now, Zhuge Liang has passed away, so the imperial clan can be preserved, the war on the western frontier can stop, and people are celebrating because of this."

"The Later Ruler was furious when he heard this, immediately sentenced Li Miao, and executed him the next day."

Zhu Yijun continued to ask, "What merit did Li Miao have? A thousand years later, discussing him today, he must have made some extraordinary achievements to be remembered."

Wan Shihe replied again, "Your Majesty, please listen. Li Miao had no merit; he was only known because he slandered the Zhang Yuanfu twice. The first time he slandered the Zhang Yuanfu, the Later Ruler was furious and wanted to kill him, but the Zhang Yuanfu was still there and persuaded the Later Ruler not to kill people indiscriminately, and to remember that a holy king should be benevolent. In the twelfth year of Jianxing, the Zhang Yuanfu passed away, and this Li Miao slandered the Zhang Yuanfu again. No one persuaded the Later Ruler anymore, so Li Miao was executed the next day, and thus became famous."

"So that's it. Everyone should study hard like the Grand Minister. Among all the civil and military officials, there are not many who know Li Miao." Zhu Yijun said to the group of officials.

Because of the influence of public opinion, the Great Ming scholars didn't read history, and didn't even read the Zuo Zhuan, which led to their stereotypical impressions of some historical figures in dramas, storytelling, and storytelling.

Therefore, with Zhu Yijun and Wan Shihe singing in harmony in their memorial exchange, the base scholars could not interject at all. Wang Xijue likes to talk about the laws of the Three Dynasties, constantly bringing up Yao, Shun, and Yu, but Zhu Yijun and Wan Shihe also talk about history.

This audience had several meanings.

The first meaning is that Zhang Juzheng's significance to the Great Ming is no less than Zhuge Liang's significance to the Shu Han, and Zhang Juzheng's significance to the Great Ming Emperor is no less than Zhuge Liang's significance to the Later Ruler.

Zhuge Liang's significance to the Shu Han and the Later Ruler is those two words: "Father-in-law."

Zhang Juzheng's significance to the Great Ming and the Emperor is those three words: "Ming Regent."

This is the definition.

The second meaning is that the Later Ruler was decisive in killing Li Miao. Even the Later Ruler Liu Shan, who was always regarded as weak and indecisive, was unbearable toward those who slandered his father-in-law, hating them so much that he executed Li Miao the next day. The Emperor had waited until the court meeting to go through the process before killing, which was already giving the officials a lot of face.

Giving face is going through the process; not giving face is not even going through the process.

If the Great Ming Emperor couldn't even kill these people who started shouting when Zhang Juzheng hadn't left and there was a possibility of losing power, wouldn't it be saying that the Great Ming Emperor was not as good as the Later Ruler Liu Shan?

This is the reason.

The third meaning is that Li Miao's crime was slandering the Zhang Yuanfu and being recorded by the Spring and Autumn history books. Therefore, these people's crimes were the same as Li Miao's, and they should all be handled urgently. The reason it was dragged on until now was because the Great Ming Emperor wanted to give Zhang Juzheng some face.

This is a warning.

The fourth meaning is to emphasize again the significance of Zhang Juzheng in the court. Zhang Juzheng is a buffer zone for the court officials.

Those who can understand the meaning here will naturally not defy the imperial will. Those who cannot understand the meaning here, after defying the Emperor's will, will understand.

"Before Mr. Zhang left, I went to Chaoyang Gate with him. Mr. Zhang pleaded for Zhang Jiayin, a disciple of the New Zheng Duke. Zhang Jiayin returned to his hometown to observe mourning in the third year of the Wanli reign and resumed his post in the sixth year of the Wanli reign. He was restored to his original position. Mr. Zhang said that Zhang Jiayin had just returned to the court and submitted a memorial to speak on matters, not echoing the attacks. I agreed. Commander, release Zhang Jiayin tomorrow and restore him to his original position." Zhu Yijun said to Zhao Mengyou.

Wang Xijue pleaded, but it didn't work. Zhang Juzheng pleaded, and it was agreed, and he was restored to his original position.

This was Zhu Yijun's attitude, a very clear attitude, without any doubt. The court officials didn't need to guess what his attitude toward Zhang Juzheng was.

Zhang Jiayin was a student of Gao Gong. Zhang Juzheng pleaded for Zhang Jiayin only because Zhang Jiayin was a law-abiding official who could do things.

After Zhang Jiayin observed mourning, Zhu Yijun didn't know such a person, so he naturally wouldn't retain him. Zhang Jiayin observed mourning for twenty-seven months, and when he returned to the court, he attacked Zhang Juzheng as a national thief, which was why he was arrested. If it were in the past, there were many people who scolded Zhang Juzheng, and Zhang Juzheng didn't care, and Zhu Yijun didn't bother to care. But it just happened to coincide with Zhang Juzheng taking leave, which caused such a huge trouble.

Zhang Jiayin truly believed that Zhang Juzheng was a national thief, because Zhang Jiayin was a student of Gao Gong. Standing from Gao Gong's position to look at Zhang Juzheng, wasn't it like looking at a national thief?

This was Zhang Juzheng. After Gao Gong fell from power, Zhang Juzheng didn't carry out any liquidation. If he had, where would Zhang Jiayin have the opportunity to scold Zhang Juzheng as a small person and a national thief?

How did Xu Jie deal with Yan Song's faction? He exterminated them all, even killing Hu Zongxian!

Xu Wei was also locked up and hadn't seen the light of day for several years.

After deciding on the appointment of the Grand Secretary Lu Diaoyang and the second Grand Secretary Wang Chonggu, and the execution of the slanderers, Zhu Yijun didn't continue to deal with state affairs, but looked around at the court officials without saying a word, just watching them quietly, making the group of officials more and more terrified the more they looked.

"Scholar Wang." Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Xijue.

Wang Xijue was startled, knelt on the ground, and shouted submissively, "I am here!"

Wang Xijue thought that just because he had chanted scriptures, he was going to go to the yellow springs with these twenty-six officials. This scared his legs soft. It was truly because this little child's actions were so heavy-handed.

"You, you didn't want to save these people at all. You were just persuading benevolence according to the precedent." Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Xijue and said with a mocking tone, "If you really wanted to save people, knowing that Mr. Zhang's words were useful, you would have gone to the Western Hills to invite Mr. Zhang."

This group of base scholars didn't intend to save people at all. If their intention was strong, it wouldn't be too late to move reinforcements from the Western Hills now. But none of them planned to do so. They were just using the banner of saving people to test the Emperor's heart.

Some court officials who had little schemes in their hearts immediately felt the sound of their hearts beating wildly. This was naturally not the sound of a heartbeat, but the fear that the Emperor had seen through their tricks.

Zhu Yijun was so simple; did he still need to be tested?

As long as you were useful to the Great Ming, you were a loyal and good minister. If you were useless to the Great Ming, no matter how famous you were, when it was time to die, he wouldn't show the slightest mercy.

"I... I... Your Majesty is wise." Wang Xijue wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and bowed again, shouting loudly.

"Return to your ranks." Zhu Yijun waved his hand, signaling for Wang Xijue to return to his ranks.

Zhu Yijun still didn't speak, because he was distracted.

When exactly did the Wanli Emperor start the liquidation of Zhang Juzheng?

From the 24th day of the sixth month of the tenth year of the Wanli reign, four days after Zhang Juzheng died.

Before Zhang Juzheng died of exhaustion, he recommended his teacher Pan Sheng as the Grand Secretary to continue assisting the monarch. Seven censorate officials, including the Censor Lei Shizhen, tentatively impeached Pan Sheng. The Wanli Emperor immediately approved the censorate officials' memorial and completely dismissed Pan Sheng. This was a signal for the liquidation of Zhang.

Afterward, it was the Supervising Secretary Zhang Dingsi who saw clearly the Wanli Emperor's hatred and intention to liquidate Zhang Juzheng, and immediately began to attack Qi Jiguang. The Wanli Emperor didn't even give Qi Jiguang a reason to argue, and directly issued an order to transfer Qi Jiguang away from the Capital Region.

Zhang Dingsi was a member of Zhang Siwei's clique.

In the eighth month, the old ancestor Feng Bao in the palace was transferred to Nanjing. This towering tree of Feng Bao collapsed suddenly.

On the 14th day of the twelfth month of the tenth year of the Wanli reign, the dust raised by Feng Bao's fall hadn't settled yet when the first shot of the liquidation of Zhang was fired.

The Shaanxi Circuit Censor Yang Sizhi submitted a memorial, discussing the fourteen great crimes of the late Grand Tutor Zhang Juzheng, roughly saying that he was greedy, usurped power, formed cliques, forgot his relatives, deceived the monarch, and harmed the people. And the Wanli Emperor's reply that day was: "Considering the entrustment of the late Emperor and my youth, he had ten years of assistance. Now that he is dead, I will not pursue it."

That is to say, Zhang Juzheng was guilty, but he had the merit of assistance, and today he was already dead, so he wouldn't be pursued.

On the 14th day of the twelfth month of the tenth year of the Wanli reign, that was the day Zhang Juzheng changed from the Great Ming's Pillar of State and Duke Wenzhong to a treacherous official.

Four days later, Sichuan Circuit Censors Sun Jixian, Chen Yujiao, Xiang Rihong, and others submitted memorials, starting a fierce tearing at Zhang Juzheng.

Three months later, in the third month of the eleventh year of the Wanli reign, the Wanli Emperor issued an edict, stripping Zhang Juzheng of all his honors, including Pillar of State, Grand Tutor, and Duke Wenzhong. Moreover, he stripped Zhang Juzheng's three sons of their jinshi titles, and further liquidation and pursuit were brewing.

The pursuit and liquidation lasted for a whole year, with various crimes emerging one after another. By the twelfth year of the Wanli reign, the Wanli Emperor, on the grounds that Zhang Juzheng had abolished the Liao Prince's mansion and harshly treated the imperial clan, sent the Directorate of Ceremonial Eunuch Zhang Cheng, the Vice Minister of Justice Qiu Xun, the Supervising Secretary Yang Wangxiang, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Cao Yingkui to start raiding Zhang Juzheng's mansion in Jiangling.

In the third month of the twelfth year of the Wanli reign, the local officials of Jingzhou received the order and didn't dare to neglect it. They simply drove the Zhang family to their old house and sealed the door, forbidding them from going out.

By the time Qiu Xun and Zhang Cheng arrived to open the door and search, more than a dozen old and weak members of the Zhang family had already starved to death in the old house. What was even more miserable was that during those days, the surviving family members could only watch helplessly as starving dogs gnawed on the bodies of their dead relatives in the courtyard.

In the fifth month, Zhang Juzheng's eldest son committed suicide.

What did the Wanli Emperor find when he raided the house?

Ten thousand taels of gold, one hundred thousand taels of silver, and a total of ten qing of land, which was one thousand mu.

This was all the savings Zhang Juzheng had accumulated in his decades in the Great Ming officialdom. And the source of most of these assets was the rewards from the imperial family from the first year of the Wanli reign to the tenth year of the Wanli reign, when Zhang Juzheng was the Grand Secretary. There were a total of 98 times, all of which could be verified by the "Daily Records."

From the first year of the Wanli reign, the Emperor and the two Empress Dowagers were almost never without rewards for Zhang Juzheng, and there was no time without rewards. The frequency of the rewards and the high amount of the rewards were staggering. The generosity of the rewards was a precedent unprecedented in ancient and modern times.

And the Wanli Emperor's raid only found this little bit, starving more than a dozen people to death and forcing his eldest son and third son to commit suicide, only to find ten thousand taels of gold, one hundred thousand taels of silver, and one thousand mu of land. The Wanli Emperor had just taken back what he had rewarded.

Zhu Yijun looked around at the court officials and said, "Whoever speaks of Mr. Zhang's faults shall be beheaded, no discussion."

Saying that Zhang Juzheng had faults meant beheading, and he didn't allow memorials to discuss it. This was the clear line Zhu Yijun drew after Zhang Juzheng left the court. As long as one crossed this line, it was death.

"If you have anything to say, step out early. If not, roll up the curtain and dismiss the court." Feng Bao stepped out again and shouted loudly.

"If you have anything to say, step out early. If not, roll up the curtain and dismiss the court."

"Dismiss the court."

Zhu Yijun stood up, walked to the edge of the moon platform, and looked at the group of officials with some confusion. They didn't shout "Long live" to send the Emperor off as usual, but were all stunned.

"Do you have anything to say?" Zhu Yijun asked.

"We respectfully send off His Majesty!" Lu Diaoyang woke up from the shock and shouted loudly.

"We respectfully send off His Majesty."

Zhu Yijun nodded with satisfaction, took a tail of people, left the Hall of Literary Brilliance, and headed toward the Baoqi Department.

Wang Chonggu and Lu Diaoyang walked at the end. The two were clay Grand Secretaries. Whatever the Emperor said was what it was. The Cabinet Ministers had the power to reject the Emperor's holy orders, but neither Wang Chonggu nor Lu Diaoyang did so.

Wang Chonggu didn't dare, and Lu Diaoyang didn't want to.

"Sigh, His Majesty is old even though he is young." Wang Chonggu's words were a bit disrespectful. He witnessed the Emperor's decisiveness, especially the sentence "Whoever speaks of Mr. Zhang's faults shall be beheaded," which highlighted a decisive and firm attitude, not giving anyone any room to argue. As long as one said that Zhang Juzheng had faults, it was death.

This crime was legal under the imperial system. This was the correctness of non-punishment.

Wang Chonggu shook his head and said, "When we were fourteen or fifteen, we all felt that Heaven was number one, Earth was number two, and I was number three. We felt we could catch dragons and snakes with our bare hands and argue with our parents until the sky fell. At this age, His Majesty is in the court, playing schemes with us old men. Zhang Juzheng truly has a ruthless heart."

"For the sake of the Great Ming's invigoration, he has no choice but to be like this."

Lu Diaoyang looked back at the Hall of Literary Brilliance. He always felt he had an illusion: that sunny and cheerful child would probably never be seen again until Zhang Juzheng returned to the court.

Over the capital of the Great Ming, a nameless monster was lurking.

At this age, His Majesty indeed shouldn't have to bear these, but who told His Majesty to be the Emperor?

"It's just that Mr. Zhang taught him well. Now that Zhang Juzheng has left, there isn't even anyone to give His Majesty lectures." Lu Diaoyang sighed. The person qualified to be the Emperor's teacher had run to the Western Hills to observe mourning. He submitted a memorial to ask His Majesty how the lectures should be arranged, and the Emperor's reply was: "Is there anyone suitable?"

Lu Diaoyang looked around the court, but couldn't find anyone qualified to be the Emperor's teacher.

In the end, it was left unsettled.

Sitting and discussing the Dao with His Majesty was not a simple task.

Wang Chonggu looked at the court officials leaving the palace in twos and threes, and said with disdain, "Who says it isn't? These guys, what on earth are they thinking? Forcing Zhang Juzheng away, what good does it do? Can they do less of this kind of work that harms others and doesn't benefit themselves? It would be better to do some practical work like Hou Yuzhao."

"When will the Cabinet Minister Wang enter the Grand Secretariat to handle affairs?" Lu Diaoyang talked about the work arrangement for the Grand Secretary of the Hall of Literary Brilliance.

"I am doing fine in the Ministry of Justice." Wang Chonggu shook his head and said, "It is better for the Grand Secretary to be hard-working. The 'floating tickets' are stuck by the Grand Secretary. I have too many tasks, and I have to run around. It is inconvenient to be in the Hall of Literary Brilliance. This Hall of Literary Brilliance is in the palace, and going in and out is inconvenient. I am better off in the Ministry of Justice."

"You, how can you be so timid now? How can a Cabinet Minister still handle affairs in the department?" Lu Diaoyang was stunned. Wang Chonggu, this guy, had accepted the appointment but didn't take office, and the reason was so high-sounding!

"Haha." Wang Chonggu flicked his sleeves and hummed a little tune as he left, leaving behind an angry Lu Diaoyang.

This Hall of Literary Brilliance was entered, but it seemed it wasn't entered.

After the court meeting, Zhu Yijun changed his clothes, took a tail of people, and headed straight for the Beijing Camp in the Northern Tucheng. The reason it was so early was that he still had to go to the Earl of Yicheng mansion in the Western Hills in the afternoon.

On the 3rd and 18th, Zhu Yijun would go to the Earl of Yicheng mansion. Today was the 3rd. Going to the Earl of Yicheng mansion to play was considered reporting on work. Such a great Buddha who could speak naturally had to be seen, and he had to chatter with Zhang Juzheng about these bits and pieces in the court.

The soldiers of the Beijing Camp could still see His Majesty's figure in every corner of the Beijing Camp.

After using lunch in the Beijing Camp, Zhu Yijun rested for a while in the Hall of Martial Valor, preparing to head to the Western Hills. As a result, Zhang Hong said in a low voice with a hesitant face, "Your Majesty..."

"Speak if you have something to say." Zhu Yijun asked with a frown.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Zhang won't let you go." Zhang Hong said in a low voice.

Zhu Yijun stood up and said angrily, "Good for you, Zhang Juzheng! The world is all mine! Where I want to go, I can't go?! I must learn from the State Surname Zheng how to tear down someone's door and move someone's bed!"

"The reason? What is his reason for doing this? I am not summoning him for an audience; it is I, the Son of Heaven of the Great Ming, running to see him, and he won't let me?"

"Mr. Zhang said, Your Majesty's wisdom is already mature." Zhang Hong was so scared that he trembled, knelt on the ground, and hurriedly said.

"Qi Jiguang, mobilize ten thousand troops. I don't believe that today I can't enter the door of this Earl of Yicheng mansion!" Zhu Yijun flicked his sleeves. He was already in military uniform when he inspected the troops, so he didn't need to change.

"I will mobilize the troops immediately. Give me a quarter of an hour, and I will follow Your Majesty on a personal expedition to crusade against the Grand Tutor's mansion!" Qi Jiguang loved to watch the excitement and immediately agreed, going to mobilize the troops.

Mobilize troops to the Grand Tutor's mansion, capture Zhang Juzheng alive!

Yu Dayou wanted to stop him. Before he could say it, Qi Jiguang had already agreed.

"Forget it, forget it." Zhu Yijun waved his hand and said unhappily, "General Qi, no need to mobilize troops. I am tired today, let's talk about it later."

"Ah? Why not mobilize troops? Anyway, it's just to move around." Qi Jiguang said eagerly. Even if the Emperor really wanted to do something to Zhang Juzheng, Qi Jiguang could only obey, but Qi Jiguang knew nothing would happen.

"How about we move around?" Zhu Yijun raised his eyebrows when he heard this. Being idle was being idle.

"Your Majesty! The major affairs of the state are only sacrifice and war. How can war be such a child's play! If the court officials misunderstand, wouldn't it cause a great mess?" Yu Dayou finally couldn't bear it anymore and reminded them of their identities.

One was the supreme Emperor of the Great Ming, and the other was the General in charge of heavy troops. How could they be so reckless.

"Misunderstanding is just right. My sword has not yet been tested." Zhu Yijun explained to Yu Dayou with a smile.

It was just right

Yu Dayou pondered for a moment before realizing what kind of fish was being fished for. He said helplessly, "Ah, this... serving as an official in the court is indeed a bit exhausting."

"Forget it, next time." Zhu Yijun stood up. Play is play, and trouble is trouble, but one shouldn't make a joke of the Capital Battalion. This is the concrete manifestation of the state's violence. Next time, if he leads the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he won't have this concern.

Zhu Yijun left the Capital Battalion and continued with his daily affairs.

After Zhang Juzheng settled into the Yicheng Marquis Mansion, apart from signing official documents, he did not post a single floating slip. Although the Emperor gave him this power, he did not express any views on the court situation. Mourning is mourning, and returning power is returning power; this is also the reason Zhang Juzheng refused the Emperor's visit to the Western Hills.

Last time, when His Majesty changed the five-day military inspection to a daily drill, Zhang Juzheng still had to help the Emperor mount his horse. Now, His Majesty no longer needs his support to move forward.

He knows this, and he also needs to let the people of the world know.

Zhu Yijun knows very well what Zhang Juzheng is thinking. He thinks it is unnecessary, but since Zhang Juzheng insists so much, then it shall be as the Master says.

Upon returning to the capital, Zhu Yijun saw Ge Shouli's memorial for retirement. Ge Shouli was outside the Guanghan Hall, requesting an audience.

"Proclaim Ge Shouli for an audience," Zhu Yijun said to Zhang Hong.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty. Long live, long live, long long live Your Majesty." Ge Shouli performed a grand kowtow tremblingly. Zhang Hong helped Ge Shouli up and guided him to a seat.

"Is Ge Gong also going to abandon Me?" Zhu Yijun said, looking slightly helpless.

"Your subject is old. If I don't leave now, I won't be able to handle affairs anymore," Ge Shouli said with a chuckle. "Your Majesty, time spares no one. Your subject originally intended to wait until after Your Majesty's grand wedding to speak of retirement, but this old body truly cannot hold on any longer."

"I implore Your Majesty to allow this old subject to return to my hometown to rely on my relatives."

"After Ge Gong leaves, who will fill the position of leader of the Jin Party?" Zhu Yijun looked at Ge Shouli's white hair; he was indeed old. Yang Bo had already been dead for five years.

Ge Shouli stroked his beard and said with a chuckle, "Grand Secretary Wang is loyal to the monarch and can still fill the position."

"Loyal to the monarch and devoted to the state" are usually used together. Ge Shouli only said Wang Chonggu was loyal to the monarch, but did not say he was devoted to the state. Regarding what Wang Chonggu intends to do, Ge Shouli also holds reservations.

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(End of this chapter)