Chapter 274: A gentleman can be deceived by the right way, but it is difficult to deceive him with the wrong way

The Great Ming's labor force is too cheap, so the Great Ming's powerful families don't need to think about how to improve production efficiency, because the poor and suffering people are not human, or even livestock, but grass.

This is the current situation of the Great Ming. Promoting labor theory, promoting labor remuneration, and promoting the improvement of productivity have met with resistance from the Restorationists, and the resistance is extremely fierce and tenacious. They hate change, and any change may cause their class to slide downward.

Just like the Great Ming relocating wealthy households, although they became nobles after arriving in the capital, they lost the means of production, land, and turned from big officials into rich men with a little wealth, waiting to be slaughtered.

The court's policy of relocating wealthy households is an unadulterated, unbenevolent, and unrighteous tyranny.

Zhu Yijun explained everything about the Great Ming's new policy to Zhu Yijun in the side hall of the Wenhua Hall.

Although Zhu Yijun listened to it vaguely, he clearly knew that the things here were very important, involving the Great Ming's country and society, and involving the peace and prosperity of the country.

Zhu Yijun's little brain circuit is very simple. The stronger the Great Ming, the stronger the Emperor brother. The stronger the Emperor brother, the better his life will be. For the sake of the throne's bloodline, the Emperor does not accept beauties from ten thousand countries, don't they all go to his Lu Prince's mansion?!

Beauties from ten thousand countries are the pursuit that Zhu Yijun has been pursuing all his life.

After the first court discussion after the Great Ming New Year, two major events began to be promoted. The first was naturally the announcement of relocating the people, and the second was that selecting officials and educational officials must take the "Contradiction Theory" and mathematics.

"Contradiction Theory" and mathematics are not so easy to understand. This immediately exploded. The Imperial Academy and Hanlin Academy can learn "Contradiction Theory" and mathematics, but the Restorationists in the past have never bowed their heads. The Emperor and the Ministry of Personnel clearly pressed the cow to drink water.

In the eyes of the Hanlin of the Hanlin Academy, this kind of official selection exam is the beginning of unfairness. Before, selecting officials looked at human relationships, and also looked at background and ability. Now it depends entirely on exam scores, and even educational officials need to be examined!

This is fine, but when the Hanlin saw the exam syllabus for the first time, they were wailing!

"Does His Majesty think too highly of us Confucian students?" Fan Yingqi frowned at Wang Jiaping, as if he had eaten something bad yesterday.

Fan Yingqi and Wang Jiaping, disciples of Ge Shouli, the former leader of the Jin Party, are two very interesting people. One is now in charge of the Hanlin Academy, and the other is in charge of the Imperial Academy. After they got the exam syllabus, they gathered at the Jin Association and conducted in-depth research on the exam syllabus.

For example, the mathematics exam has ten points, and it actually tests "Zhuishu"!

This is a field that neither Fan Yingqi nor Wang Jiaping has touched. That is to say, the ninety questions other than this ten-point "Zhuishu" must all be done correctly to pass.

"According to the facts, it is indeed very difficult, but according to the truth, His Majesty also has reasons. His Majesty, a sixteen-year-old child, can do the questions, so there is no reason why the 'Presented Scholars' and provincial graduates cannot do them." Wang Jiaping's face was like constipation.

His Majesty has great talent in mathematics. The Emperor goes to the Imperial Academy every month to lecture on mathematics, and recently he has also lectured on "Zhuishu."

This exam syllabus clearly defined the scope of the exam. "Zhuishu" accounted for ten points. Ninety points to pass. The remaining ninety questions must all be correct to obtain the qualification for selecting officials.

"Actually, the most difficult one is 'Contradiction Theory'." Wang Chonggu reminded the two potential figures of the Jin Party that this exam syllabus, mathematics is still okay, but the exam syllabus for "Contradiction Theory" is the most difficult.

Fan Yingqi and Wang Jiaping also looked at another exam syllabus, and they said in unison, "I think the difficulty is okay."

"Right."

"Not difficult."

Fan Yingqi and Wang Jiaping felt that the knowledge of "Contradiction Theory" was even simpler. Many of them were logic questions. Instead, they felt at ease. The Emperor produced five sets of test questions. They could analyze the content of "Contradiction Theory," such as finding problems from phenomena, finding causes based on problems, and giving suggestions that have costs, prices, and can be realized after analyzing the causes.

Fan Yingqi and Wang Jiaping didn't feel that "Contradiction Theory" was difficult. The dialogue between Zhang Juzheng and His Majesty was actually the knowledge of entering the world. As long as one lives in the world, this methodology of seeking truth from facts is very useful.

Fan Yingqi and Wang Jiaping didn't like Zhang Siwei very much, but they didn't have many opinions on Wang Chonggu.

When Yang Bo and Ge Shouli criticized the two of them, they always criticized them according to this methodology, explaining a matter clearly, telling them where the problem was, the reason for the problem, matters needing attention in the future, and giving solutions. This is the criticism method for being a teacher and a master, rather than opening their mouths to scold and roaring at the table. That is not criticism, but emotional venting.

Zhang Siwei liked to slap the table very much, and scolded people very badly, but he never said the phenomenon, problem, cause, and solution of the matter. That is not criticism, but emotional venting.

Wang Chonggu is a businessman who enters the world. His style of doing things has always been how much cost I pay and how much return I expect. Wang Chonggu also did a good job in the practice of "Contradiction Theory."

For example, the criticism method of the Yongding Woolen Factory was set by Wang Chonggu.

If someone made a mistake, Wang Chonggu would post a big character poster, post it in a conspicuous place, and send it to every manual workshop, letting everyone take it as a warning.

This kind of big character poster is a humiliation, but the big character poster would detail the process of the accident, what problem appeared, why it appeared, what punishment would be faced in the future, why it should be punished, all explained very clearly.

They all used vulgar words and vulgar characters. People who were literate in every manual workshop would take people to read the big character poster when they went off work. This is a requirement.

This criticism method was praised and criticized in the woolen factory. Some people always felt that posting names out was too humiliating. However, looking at the fact that Wang Supervisor gave too much, there was no complaint.

In the sixth year of Wanli, the treatment of the woolen official factory made the craftsmen treat the reasonable criticism as literacy.

And this set of criticism methods was also used in the Xishan Coal Bureau. The kiln workers of the Xishan Coal Bureau were grateful to Wang Chonggu.

Because the deep kiln of the Xishan Coal Bureau was much more dangerous than the woolen official factory. The woolen factory might be a loss of interest, while in the Xishan Coal Bureau, every big character poster might be an obituary, and behind every law, it was likely the price of blood.

Before the Xishan Coal Bureau was built, no one cared about the life and death of the kiln people.

In different environments, the same method obtained two completely different results. This is the basic principle of seeking truth from facts, treating specific things specifically.

Fan Yingqi and Wang Jiaping had a deep attainment in "Contradiction Theory." After studying it, they only felt that this was a knowledge of entering the world. Using the contradiction method to analyze some things cannot make great achievements, but it will definitely not make big mistakes.

"You feel it is not difficult because you are willing to learn it. It does help you. But let the 'Presented Scholars' and students learn it, they will be very resistant." Wang Chonggu said with great emotion, "Those who are difficult will not, those who know will not be difficult. Compared with mathematics, which can be learned if you use your heart, 'Contradiction Theory' is not knowledge. It cannot be understood. For 'cheap scholars,' this is the biggest ghost gate."

"Cheap scholars" cannot be down-to-earth, and "Contradiction Theory" must first be down-to-earth.

"If you want to understand 'Contradiction Theory', you must first achieve unity of knowledge and action. It is not enough to know, you must act, and act and then know. It is a process of contradiction succession, which is indeed difficult." Wang Jiaping also nodded. The Confucian students who do not hear things outside the window, facing mathematics is still okay, facing "Contradiction Theory," I am afraid they will have a headache.

"Contradiction Theory" is a knowledge that studies change. Isn't this taking the life of "cheap scholars"?

Just the question at the beginning of "Contradiction Theory"—is Yang Bo a gentleman or a villain? —can make people confused. Right is right, wrong is wrong. How can it be both a gentleman and a villain?

"The Four Books and Five Classics we read in the Jin Association, whose annotations are they?" Wang Chonggu inherited the position of leader of the Jin Party after Ge Shouli left. Now he is the master of the Jin Association. He did not change any rules of the Jin Association because he didn't come often. He was too busy. Various constructions, plus two official factories, Xishan Coal Bureau, and Minister of Justice, he was so busy that he had no time to run to the Jin Association to form a party.

Now he was finally a little free, and he didn't intend to make big changes. In terms of party building, Ge Shouli should indeed be called Ge Gong.

"The Earl of Yicheng, Zhang Juzheng." Fan Yingqi's face flushed, and he opened his mouth after holding it for a long time.

"Eh? Is this Ge Gong's decision?" Wang Chonggu's hand holding the teacup shook. The Jin Party had become Zhang Juzheng's appearance.

The two chief disciples of Ge Shouli had a very high attainment in "Contradiction Theory" and were also particularly proficient in mathematics. Even the family studies of the Jin Association were reading the Four Books and Five Classics annotated by Zhang Juzheng, which was the version the Emperor read.

Is this the Jin Party? This is a purer Zhang Party than the Zhang Party!

Wang Jiaping also said with some embarrassment, "Exactly, exactly."

"Should we change it?" Wang Chonggu waved his hand repeatedly, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "No, no, very good. Our Jin Party is one step ahead now. Even Zhang Juzheng's Quan Chu Hui Guan reads the Zhu Xi version. We are ahead of the opposite association!"

"Very good! Just like this."

The Quan Chu Hui Guan does not read the Four Books and Five Classics annotated by Zhang Juzheng, entirely because Zhang Juzheng wants face. Most of his annotations are used to assist the Emperor in understanding the new policy. Zhang Juzheng doesn't think his annotations are very good.

From the annotations of politics, virtue, filial piety, benevolence, rituals, etc., Zhang Juzheng's annotations are more like telling the Emperor the basic logic of the operation of this world.

"Zhang Juzheng, he is amazing everywhere, I, Wang, admire him, but only in teaching students, he is really not good." Wang Chonggu shook his head repeatedly, "Clearly his own set of things is excellent, but he doesn't take it out to teach, holding those things from five hundred years ago by Zhu Xi, he doesn't believe it himself, how can he teach students?"

"Didn't the Emperor learn very well?" Fan Yingqi asked suspiciously.

Wang Jiaping immediately said, "Exactly, exactly."

"What Zhang Juzheng taught the Emperor is his own set of things, which is different from what he taught in the Quan Chu Hui Guan." Wang Chonggu waved his hand and said with a smile.

Zhang Juzheng himself doesn't believe in the "cheap scholar" set, but he talks about the "cheap scholar" set every day. It is strange that he can explain it clearly, so Zhang Juzheng cannot teach students well.

"Contradiction Theory" is not Zhang Juzheng's independent product. It is the method explored by the Emperor and Zhang Juzheng when they sat and discussed the Tao and explored the path of the Great Ming.

Zhang Juzheng was strengthened three times by the Emperor. The first time was the Emperor's strong support for the performance of imperial power, the second time was the day when "Contradiction Theory" was completed, and the third time was the Emperor's new policy strengthening Zhang Juzheng's new policy, which together constituted the foundation of the basic pattern of the Wanli New Policy.

These three reinforcements allowed Zhang Juzheng to update from version 1.0 to version 4.0. In version 1.0, Wang Chonggu, Yang Bo, Zhang Siwei, Ge Shouli, and Gao Gong together couldn't fight this person.

"Wang Cifu, I often worry that the world has a trend of militarism." Fan Yingqi asked his doubts. It was not easy to catch the Wang Cifu, so naturally he had to ask for advice.

"If the world is militaristic, the people will not live, and the country will be exhausted." Wang Jiaping echoed.

"Do you know why the Emperor wants to fight, and the court officials don't oppose it?" Wang Chonggu looked at the two and asked. It is that they don't oppose it, not that they have reservations. For Qi Jiguang's northern expedition, the Great Ming court officials were very supportive.

Wang Jiaping and Fan Yingqi shook their heads and said, "Don't know."

Wang Chonggu sat up straight, took out the solemn appearance of being a teacher, and said seriously, "People can bear a certain amount of suffering, but if they bear suffering and still bear humiliation, they will hook out the anger in their hearts."

"So, extortion is extortion, don't humiliate the poor and suffering people, otherwise the poor and suffering people will definitely use their feet to make a choice after being humiliated. Either give more treatment, say two words, the poor and suffering people will give some face, after all, they give more."

"The court gathers wealth and seeks profit, where is the money used?"

"One victory report after another is announced to the world. Although it seems to have nothing to do with most of the people, most people actually don't know the benefits after victory. You tell him that we occupied the Great Xianbei Pass, blocking the Northern Barbarians and the Eastern Barbarian Jianzhou Jurchens from colluding, but they don't know where the Great Xianbei Mountain road is, how do they know the meaning?"

"But the battle results are true, and the battle line is also true. It is a matter of cheering after all. The Great Ming won again, which is a matter of celebration. If the Tuman Khan who invaded the capital in the second year of Longqing was defeated, that would be even better."

"But defeat is a great humiliation, because the price of defeat will definitely be borne by the people. Winning may not be good for them, but losing will definitely be harmful to the people. For example, the change in the population of the Beijing area in Shuntian Prefecture is a microcosm of the military disaster."

"The heart of the country's invigoration is like a person's bell. Of course, it cannot be swayed around, but it must exist."

"The poor and suffering people can only count on the Great Ming court to be mighty, hoping for a wise monarch, so that their lives can be improved. More clearly, the poor and suffering people can only count on the country."

This is the historical lesson learned during the Hu Yuan period. History also proves that once the barbarians enter the Central Plains, what kind of days the people will live.

The poor and suffering people may not understand this truth, but if the court is mighty, they can still have a hope, hoping that the wise Emperor will punish the sins in the world and let them catch their breath and live. If even this hope disappears, then the world losing the Tao becomes a matter of course.

Wang Chonggu said very clearly, "Militarism is actually not a problem. If people live without any thoughts, it is the time when the world falls apart."

"Doing things is also the same. If ten thousand people work together, everything can be expected. If one person looks at three things, nothing can be done."

Wang Chonggu felt that Lu Diaoyang was right. The Longqing Emperor's massive rewards for the hundred arts were to make people's hearts less scattered. Now the Emperor's use of force, one great victory after another, is also gathering people's hearts.

If ten thousand people work together, everything can be expected. If one person wants this and that, nothing can be done.

The Aoshan lantern festival has not ended yet, and the Great Ming capital is still very lively. Behind this liveliness, a bigger liveliness is brewing, that is, opposing the two new policies of the court discussion, one is relocating people to enrich the capital, and the other is selecting officials to examine "Contradiction Theory" and mathematics.

"Fuque" (kneeling at the gate to protest) is a very common fighting method. The Emperor is also difficult to deal with. If you beat people to death, it will be a boiling sky. If you don't beat them, you can only retreat.

The Emperor takes one step back, the "cheap scholars" will take three steps forward. The Emperor stands still, and the "cheap scholars" still want to take two steps forward.

Now the Emperor has taken three steps forward, the "cheap scholars" cannot stand still, and they must clearly oppose it!

But if you want to "Fuque," you have to join forces. Constantly communicating between independent people, this kind of joining forces will be defined by the Emperor as "colluding for private gain."

For example, the first time the Emperor punished the speech officials and dismissed Censor Jing Song, Han Bixian, and others, Jia Sanjin joined the speech officials to entangle, and Jia Sanjin was Zhang Siwei's party member, defined by the Emperor as "colluding for private gain." This is one of Zhang Siwei's charges.

The main way to play "Fuque" is that the law does not blame the public. The Emperor cannot punish so many people at once, so he can only muddle through and make peace. No one joins forces, go to the Wumen Gate to "Fuque," then if few people go, they will really be beaten to death.

Soon, a group of brokers active in the capital began to move around in every household. On the sixth day of the first lunar month of the sixth year of Wanli, the Great Ming Emperor woke up and heard about the "Fuque" matter, and was overjoyed!

"Go, go, go! Feng Dabao, Zhang Dabao, pass the order to Zhao Tishuai, point 600 embroidered uniform guards, and surround the Wumen Gate!" Zhu Yijun said excitedly to the close officials, "The Master is not in the court, let's see who dares to plead for them! Who can stop me?"

"Your Majesty, you haven't had breakfast yet!" Feng Bao hurriedly stopped the Emperor. This morning without eating, His Majesty is a martial artist, which is easy to cause deficiency of qi and blood.

Feng Bao stopped the Emperor from going to the Wumen Gate. While stopping His Majesty, he also let Xu Jue notify You Qi to find Master Zhang in Xishan, and also let Xu Jue find Hence Hai Rui, let Grand Censor Hai hurry up and take everyone back. If he doesn't take them back, after His Majesty finishes breakfast, it will be the death date of this group of "cheap scholars"!

Before, the court officials "Fuque," that was Zhang Juzheng in power, and all honor and disgrace were borne by Zhang Juzheng himself. Zhu Yijun still cared about Zhang Juzheng's reputation. Now Zhang Juzheng is observing mourning, Zhu Yijun doesn't care about his reputation at all. Come if you want, who is afraid of whom, whoever is cowardly is a grandson!

Zhu Yijun ate, wind-swept and cloud-rolled, and after eating, he immediately went toward the Wumen Gate.

Feng Bao had no reason to stop him, walking fast in front of the little Emperor, while praying that what he did was useful. If you have nothing to do, you can hang yourself at home, instead of coming out to lose face and damage His Majesty's reputation!

The little Emperor rubbed his hands excitedly, waiting for the heavy gate of the Wumen Gate to open slowly. He walked out of the deep city cave of the Wumen Gate step by step, and the scene in front of him suddenly opened up.

A spring breeze blew, carrying some wind and sand, carrying some withered leaves, spinning in front of the Wumen Gate, drifting into the distance.

In front of the Wumen Gate, let alone people, there wasn't even a hair.

"Where are the people?" Zhu Yijun said angrily.

"Gone." Zhao Mengyou said truthfully, "Grand Censor Hai heard that someone was 'Fuque,' and rushed over, scolding the people away."

"Scolded away?" Zhu Yijun looked at the empty Wumen Gate square, only the spring breeze was howling, telling Zhu Yijun that the "Fuque" speech officials didn't use invisibility, but really no one was there.

Zhu Yijun asked with disbelief, "Hence Hai Rui is good at scolding people, I know, but since they came to 'Fuque,' can they be scolded away in a few words?"

"Grand Censor Hai just said three sentences, and the hundred or so speech officials all ran away, not one left." Zhao Mengyou said very firmly.

Zhu Yijun asked with disbelief, "Three sentences?"

"Three sentences."

"Which three?" Zhu Yijun was even more puzzled. Can this group of "cheap scholars" really be persuaded away in three sentences?

Zhao Mengyou recalled seriously and said, "The first sentence is: 'Not embodying the country's invigoration, no backbone of righteousness.'"

This is Hence Hai Rui's old line. This sentence made this "Fuque" lose any glory, because Hence Hai Rui himself is the representative of the backbone of righteousness. Among the people of the world, no one can do it. This "Fuque" lost the meaning of seeking fame for a while.

"The second sentence is: 'The Wang Wang Cifu Chonggu who colluded in the middle has not arrived.'" Zhao Mengyou said the second sentence.

Zhu Yijun blinked and asked, "Who colluded in the middle?"

"Wang Wang Cifu Chonggu." Zhao Mengyou said very firmly.

"Who?" Zhu Yijun's eyes widened, looking at Zhao Mengyou and asking with disbelief.

"Wang Wang Cifu Chonggu." Zhao Mengyou said very firmly, "Grand Censor Hai said it himself."

"The third sentence is: 'The axe and battle-axe are added to the body, and if you die, you die in vain.' Grand Censor Hai finished speaking and left. The people who 'Fuque' dispersed." Zhao Mengyou was very sure he didn't remember wrong. Hence Hai Rui pointed to the city gate tower and said this sentence.

Zhao Mengyou pointed 600 embroidered uniform guards. What he wanted to do was self-evident. And Hence Hai Rui's words were simple and clear, denying the justice of their actions, telling them they were deceived, Wang Chonggu was borrowing a knife to kill, and this group of fools didn't see that they were greatly deceived. The third sentence was a threat in the physical sense. After all, the embroidered uniform guards would really kill people.

The Emperor is young and not yet married, and the Earl of Yicheng, Master Zhang, is in Xishan. "Fuque" to threaten the monarch like this, the Emperor is young and has no one to protect him, so he can only kill to ensure his imperial power is not infringed.

Hence Hai Rui knew the Emperor could do it.

"Next time, next time you encounter this kind of thing, block their retreat first, block people here, wait for me to come, block them to death, not one can be let go." Zhu Yijun stomped his feet hard. This group of "cheap scholars," running too fast, "Fuque" is to see the Emperor. He hurried, and after a meal, people ran away. Zhu Yijun deeply reflected on himself, next time he would definitely not eat breakfast.

"Your subject cannot do it." Zhao Mengyou said very firmly, "Without the Emperor's edict, the embroidered uniform guards cannot move one person or one soldier."

The embroidered uniform guards and the Red Helmet Generals are jointly responsible for the safety of the Great Ming Palace. The embroidered uniform guards will fight with the Red Helmet Generals first. This is not a mess. Mobilizing more than 50 people on the border is beheading, and the Commander of the embroidered uniform guards mobilizing one person is beheading. Zhao Mengyou, as the Commander, must first ensure His Majesty's safety.

"The Commander's words make sense. Count them as running fast! This group of 'cheap scholars,' their mouths are sharp, and their running skills are also first-class! Hmph, don't let me catch them!" Zhu Yijun flicked his sleeves and went to the Wenhua Hall to participate in the court discussion.

Zhu Yijun went to the court discussion angrily. He was not angry that Wang Chonggu borrowed a knife to kill. Isn't this knife of the Emperor given to the confidants to use? As long as Wang Chonggu is still practicing his political promises, Zhu Yijun is willing to lend the knife to Wang Chonggu. He was also not angry that Hence Hai Rui persuaded people away. Hence Hai Rui is the Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, and it is his duty.

Zhu Yijun was angry at this group of "cheap scholars," who had the heart of a thief but not the courage of a thief. They hadn't been scared yet, and they slipped away without a trace. They didn't even have the courage to "Fuque," and they still wanted to seal the Emperor's edict?

After the court discussion, Zhu Yijun left Hence Hai Rui behind and specifically talked about the "Fuque" matter in the morning. Hence Hai Rui explained what he knew very clearly. This was a game played by Wang Chonggu. The ruthless Wang Chonggu finally couldn't help but take action against his own impeachment. He couldn't fight Zhang Juzheng, couldn't he fight this group of "cheap scholars"?

Sure enough, once Wang Wang Cifu took action, it was a killing move that wanted life, the kind that saw blood with every knife.

"Wang Wang Cifu's methods are very hard! Before facing the Master, he was always exhausted. I thought Wang Wang Cifu was not good at infighting." Zhu Yijun heard the origin of the matter and nodded repeatedly to express his affirmation of Wang Chonggu's methods.

Hence Hai Rui bowed and said, "Your Majesty, a gentleman can be deceived by the right way, and there is a sentence behind it: it is difficult to deceive him with the wrong way. You can use things that conform to the Great Way to make things difficult for a gentleman, just like Yang Bo made things difficult for the Earl of Yicheng, but you cannot use things that do not conform to the Great Way to make things difficult for a gentleman, just like Zhang Siwei bribed the Censor Li Le who inspected the border military affairs, hoping to hide the crimes he committed."

"The Earl of Yicheng is a person who is good at planning for the country but clumsy at planning for himself. The reason why Wang Chonggu couldn't fight Zhang Juzheng is because Zhang Juzheng is a gentleman, and there is nothing he does that does not conform to morality. Therefore, conspiracies and tricks are useless to a gentleman. When a villain meets a gentleman, it is like ghosts and monsters meeting the scorching sun, fearing to avoid them."

The reason why Wang Chonggu couldn't fight Zhang Juzheng is that his tactics were not as good as Zhang Juzheng's, and his Tao was not as good as Zhang Juzheng's. It would be a ghost if he could win.

"Your Majesty, the Master sent the 'Memorial Requesting Leniency for Speech Officials to Manifest Holy Virtue'." Feng Bao took a memorial from the hands of a small yellow gate and looked at the cover, then hurriedly presented it to the Emperor.

Zhu Yijun opened the memorial, still the familiar taste, still the familiar preaching. He stamped the memorial and shook his head, saying, "The Master is still nagging in Xishan. It is rare for the Master to speak after observing mourning. Forget it, forget it."

The only one who can hold back the little Emperor is Zhang Juzheng. Zhu Yijun had already let Zhao Mengyou collect the list of "Fuque."

Obviously, Zhang Juzheng knew that the little Emperor would not let it go, so he submitted such a memorial.

Ask for monthly tickets, Aowu!!!!!!!!!!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 275 =====

The Emperor is not the kind of monarch who likes to keep memorials in the palace without issuing them. His Majesty personally reviews every memorial, and for some hot-button issues, he even patiently provides answers. For such a diligent Ming Emperor to promise the Master that all memorials will be reviewed, even when his hand is injured and he cannot review them personally, he still has Feng Bao write on his behalf—to find such a diligent Ming Emperor, one would have to go back to the Hongwu era!

Even with this, they still want to run off to protest at the palace gate; they truly have no political faith.

"The Second Grand Secretary's methods are quite tough! Before, when facing the Master, he was always exhausted from coping, and I even thought the Second Grand Secretary was not good at infighting." Zhu Yijun heard the ins and outs of the matter and nodded repeatedly, expressing his affirmation of Wang Chonggu's methods.

Hence Hai Rui bowed his head and said: "Your Majesty, 'A gentleman can be deceived by what is right.' The latter part of that sentence is: 'It is difficult to deceive him with what is not the Way.' One can use actions that conform to the Great Way to make things difficult for a gentleman, just as Yang Bo once made things difficult for the Earl of Yicheng, but one cannot use actions that do not conform to the Great Way to make things difficult for a gentleman, just as Zhang Siwei bribed the Investigating Censor Li Le to inspect border military affairs in hopes of concealing his crimes."

"The Earl of Yicheng is a man who is skilled at planning for the state but clumsy at planning for himself. The reason Wang Chonggu cannot defeat Zhang Juzheng is that Zhang Juzheng is a gentleman, and there is nothing in his conduct that does not conform to morality. Therefore, schemes and tricks are useless against a gentleman. When a petty person encounters a gentleman, it is like demons and monsters encountering the scorching sun—they fear nothing more than not being able to avoid them."

The reason Wang Chonggu cannot defeat Zhang Juzheng is that his tactics are inferior to Zhang Juzheng's, and his moral Way is also inferior to Zhang Juzheng's. It would be a miracle if he could win.

"Your Majesty, the Master has sent the 'Memorial Requesting Leniency for Censors to Manifest Imperial Virtue'." Feng Bao took a memorial from the hands of a young eunuch, glanced at the cover, and hurriedly presented it before the Emperor.

Zhu Yijun opened the memorial; it was the same familiar flavor, the same familiar preaching. He used the vermilion brush to annotate the memorial, shook his head, and said: "The Master is still nagging even while at Xishan. It is rare for the Master to speak up after his period of mourning. Forget it, forget it."

The only person who can hold back the young Emperor is Zhang Juzheng. Zhu Yijun has already had Zhao Mengyou go and collect the list of those who protested at the palace gate.

Clearly, Zhang Juzheng knew the young Emperor would not let the matter rest, which is why he submitted such a memorial.

Begging for monthly votes, Awoooooo!!!!!

(End of chapter)