Chapter 283: Monarch and Minister? Conjugate Teacher and Student

"Can it be left behind?" Zhu Zhu Yijun leaned back on the chair again, seemingly having become accustomed to such dirty things.

Over the years, Zhu Zhu Yijun had seen too much evil—from the initial assassination attempts on the King, to the Jin Party constantly testing the limits and even hoping to take complete control of the Capital Guard, to Zhang Zhang Siwei burning the palace, to the base scholars twisting black and white, to seeing that even Qi General Qi Jiguang Jiguang's achievements in pacifying the Japanese pirates could be spoken of nonsense, to seeing the "doubling" of those who held the power of prestige and instead acted in usurpation, to seeing evil spirits causing trouble, to seeing the suffering of the people under natural and man-made disasters.

He had seen too much evil. Zhu Zhu Yijun should have been disappointed, but Zhang Zhang Juzheng had told Zhu Zhu Yijun that this was the goal of the base scholars: to let disappointment accumulate constantly until it became despair, to let ambition be constantly worn away in countless filth, and in complete despair, to resort to the teachings of Huang-Lao and "rule by doing nothing."

The reason Zhu Zhu Yijun was not disappointed was that he also saw the virtuous and capable people of the Ming Dynasty who were saving the nation from collapse. He saw Zhang Zhang Juzheng, Zhu Zhu Zaiyu, Qi General Qi Jiguang Jiguang, Tan Lun, Wang Wang Guoguang, Yin Yin Zhengmao, Ling Ling Yunyi, Pan Pan Jixun, and others, and even the loyalty to the monarch and love for the country of Hou Hou Yuzhao and Zhou Zhou Liangyin. He saw the bravery and fearlessness of the Night Scouts of the *Duntai* distant Marquis and the sea defense inspectors who flew on the sea. He saw the Capital Guard that won every battle, reported to the Son of Heaven, and saved the common people, with strict military discipline. He saw the Yongding Official Factory rising from the ground, saw the Ming's exploration of science, and saw the diligent commoners farming on the land.

The bad is the Ming, and the good is also the Ming. This is all the Ming.

Disappointment and hope were constantly intertwined, and the spear and shield were constantly colliding to produce sparks.

Just as Zhang Zhang Juzheng said, the trend of the times was changing. The public opinion that was worshipped, and people's morality, were also changing. Today, new policies are implemented, and after the country is revitalized, why continue the new policies? The development of all things in the world is the release of contradictions, a situation of spiraling upward.

"It can be left behind." Zhang Zhang Juzheng washed his hands in the pool of water that had just thawed and said with a smile: "Your Majesty once said, 'One is one, two is two.' Having been here, this Ming Dynasty's mountains and rivers will eventually be different. Everyone will know that it turns out one can live like this. Even if there is a counter-attack and correction of errors in the future, they will still remember that it could be like this."

"No, no, no, the teacher is too optimistic." Zhu Zhu Yijun leaned back on the chair. His optimistic attitude was completely different from Zhang Zhang Juzheng's. He waved his hands repeatedly and said, "The teacher still underestimates this group of monsters and ghosts."

"The teacher is a gentleman; it is very difficult to imagine the evil of despicable villains. Even if one speculates about them with the greatest malice, one will still overestimate their lower limits. I, the Son of Heaven of the Ming, do not believe in the wisdom of future generations."

Zhu Zhu Yijun and Zhang Zhang Juzheng had differences in their attitude toward whether things could be left behind, and they were completely different.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was more negative, so he was more radical. Zhang Zhang Juzheng was more optimistic; he chose to mourn and retire, he chose to return power. He was now more optimistic, and his optimism was entirely because the Emperor he cultivated had become talented. If the Emperor was not promising, Zhang Zhang Juzheng would probably be more negative and more pessimistic.

People are all going to change.

"Your Majesty, you still need to be vigilant against Wang Wang Chonggu." Zhang Zhang Juzheng sat on the other side. He was not interested in who wanted to kill him—there were countless people who wanted to kill him—and he was not interested in the slander of the base scholars against him—the insults against him were endless. He was very concerned about His Majesty's safety.

In his view, Wang Wang Chonggu had the danger of usurping the monarch.

In the Ming officialdom, which was entirely responsible to the top, the only people who could truly threaten the Emperor's safety were the court officials. No matter what kind of conspiracy, the conspiracy against the Emperor, only those in the position of court officials were a substantial threat.

The Western Hills assassination case seemed dangerous, but in fact, the Emperor only needed to not lead the charge under the protection of the *tiqi*, and he would absolutely not hurt his right arm.

Wang Wang Chonggu had committed the crime of usurpation. Zhang Zhang Juzheng was not in the court, and Lu Lu Diaoyang was definitely not Wang Wang Chonggu's opponent. If His Majesty really trusted Wang Wang Chonggu too much and Wang Wang Chonggu usurped power again, the world would be in danger of collapse. Lu Wang was obviously not the material to be Emperor. If the ruler was young and the nation was in doubt again, the Ming mountains and rivers would inevitably be in the wind and rain.

Zhu Zhu Yijun also said very solemnly: "After the teacher went into mourning, you only spoke about national affairs once, and that was to ask for leniency for the censors who were clamoring for the court. Are you so wary of Wang Wang Chonggu?"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng said very definitely: "His clamoring for the censors to petition the court, using the Emperor's knife, was itself a usurpation."

"What the teacher said makes sense." Zhu Zhu Yijun understood. The starting point of Zhang Zhang Juzheng's memorial was Wang Wang Chonggu's behavior of clamoring for the censors to petition the court, borrowing a knife to kill, which itself was a crime of usurpation.

The political struggles of court officials should not involve the Emperor. For five years, Zhang Zhang Juzheng had never used the Emperor to clean up anyone. Wang Wang Chonggu had only been in the cabinet for a short time, and he wanted to use the Emperor to kill people.

Zhu Zhu Yijun thought for a long time, combed through the whole thing again, and then said: "I actually think I can lend him the knife. He is different from the teacher; he has technique but no way. If he didn't borrow my knife, it would instead arouse my wariness."

Wang Wang Chonggu also had to create an atmosphere where all his power came from the Emperor, which could also make the Emperor feel at ease. Wang Wang Chonggu was completely different from Zhang Zhang Juzheng. Zhang Zhang Juzheng was the Emperor's Grand Preceptor, while Wang Wang Chonggu was making up for his crimes. That strand of hair was still in the palace, just like he couldn't invest in the Southern Southern Yamen's maritime affairs and could only borrow Zhu Zhu Yijun, this Emperor. When Wang Wang Chonggu didn't borrow the Emperor's prestige, he couldn't show any power.

Zhu Zhu Yijun and Zhang Zhang Juzheng each had their own positions, and naturally had different attitudes toward one thing.

This was just a difference, not a struggle of lines. Differences are very common between people, while a struggle of lines means "those with different ways do not conspire together."

"What the teacher said is very true." Zhang Zhang Juzheng also agreed with the Emperor's thoughts. Wang Wang Chonggu was doing things after all, and doing them extremely well. The Emperor's consideration was also very comprehensive. Zhang Zhang Juzheng's request for leniency for the censors was to let the Emperor have a way to deal with Wang Wang Chonggu when he needed to, without being unable to start.

When the Emperor lost speed, Zhang Zhang Juzheng had to step on the brake.

"Since the teacher is so worried about me, why not just return to the court? Why go around in such a big circle?" Zhu Zhu Yijun began to clamor for Zhang Zhang Juzheng to return to the court to handle affairs. With Zhang Zhang Juzheng not in the court, Zhu Zhu Yijun didn't have much time to do "non-official business" and was busy with national affairs all day.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng smiled and didn't discuss this issue anymore. He was good to everyone in the Western Hills. When the mourning period ended and His Majesty personally ruled, the monarch and ministers returning to their respective positions would be the greatest blessing for the world.

"Teacher, I don't intend to move the palace. After the grand wedding, I will still live in the Western Garden." Zhu Zhu Yijun communicated a major event to Zhang Zhang Juzheng. Moving the palace was impossible.

The court officials were all waiting, waiting for the Emperor to return to the Qianqing Palace after the grand wedding, but the court officials were completely wrong. The young Emperor had no intention of going back at all.

"This..." Zhang Zhang Juzheng's face changed. He had a psychological shadow over the Western Garden. After the "Daoist Master" lived there, the Ming Dynasty became muddy, and the national situation became even more decadent after a slight revitalization.

"Your Majesty, why not move back to the Qianqing Palace?" Zhang Zhang Juzheng tentatively remonstrated. He said sincerely: "Returning to the Qianqing Palace, the two Empresses Dowager can also see Your Majesty often. Your Majesty going to the Western Garden, the two Empresses Dowager can only see Your Majesty on the first and fifteenth of the month."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng didn't think that after the fire burned the palace, there would be any danger in the Qianqing Palace. Wang Wang Chonggu had put in great effort in the construction of the Imperial Palace, so even if the Thunder God, Lightning Mother, and Fire Virtue True Lord descended to earth together, they couldn't burn the Qianqing Palace.

"I won't go back!" Zhu Zhu Yijun said very stubbornly: "I will live in the Western Garden. That guy Zhang Zhang Siwei, never let anyone overturn his case for all eternity."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was vengeful, and the young Emperor's heart was smaller than a needle. Zhu Zhu Yijun really living in the Western Garden for a lifetime meant Zhang Zhang Siwei would never be able to overturn his case for all eternity. Forcing the young Emperor to this point, Zhang Zhang Siwei was a "villain official" made of iron.

"Then live in the Western Garden." Zhang Zhang Juzheng chose to compromise and stopped remonstrating. Living in the Western Garden was also fine. The Emperor living in the Western Garden didn't mean he wouldn't handle national affairs.

Zhu Zhu Yijun flicked his sleeves and threw out a *Minbao* (People's Newspaper). There was an article on it, the content was a new edition of *Journey to the West*, written by the Censor Wang Qian. Wang Qian was using the new edition of *Journey to the West* to satirize some things.

"This Wang Qian, his pen is still very hard." Zhang Zhang Juzheng finished reading the "Three Strikes on the White Bone Demon" in the new edition of *Journey to the West* and said with great appreciation.

Yan Song's son, Yan Yan Shifan, was also very smart, and his wisdom was close to a demon, but as he walked, Yan Yan Shifan thought the sky of the Ming Dynasty was supported by him, and even solicited bribes from the Yu Prince's mansion. How could the "Daoist Master" not be angry when he found out?

Wang Qian and Yan Yan Shifan were very similar, but also not quite the same. Wang Qian didn't dare to commit the crime of usurpation because his father had already committed it.

The protagonist of this "Three Strikes on the White Bone Demon" in the new edition of *Journey to the West* was not the master and disciples on the pilgrimage, nor the White Bone Demon who was beaten, but the evil ghosts and tree demons watching the play.

A hundred-year-old evil ghost was called Lingniang, and a thousand-year-old tree demon was called Granny.

Granny and Lingniang heard the news that day that the Tang Seng had brought the pilgrimage group to Bai Hu Ridge.

Granny said to Lingniang: "These few days, you must be quiet. If you don't have to go out, don't go out, lest your soul fly away and scatter."

Lingniang was surprised: "Eating this Tang Seng meat can make one live forever. Why be quiet and not go out?"

Granny explained the severity of the situation to Lingniang.

Who was this Tang Seng? The reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, the second disciple of the Tathagata Buddha. That was a Buddha's son. And that Sun Sun Wukong was the one who wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago. That ability to rampage was taught by Bodhi Patriarch. And who was this Bodhi Patriarch? In the three realms, one only heard the name, but no one had ever seen his true face.

This pilgrimage errand was arranged by the Buddha, presided over by Guanyin Bodhisattva, and protected by the Four Values, Five Directions, and Six Soldiers and Six Armor Guardians. Who could be provoked at will?

The Granny said meaningfully: "The severity of this, Granny will tell you, you must know."

"This Tang Seng and the monkey-faced thunder-god-mouthed monk, wherever they pass, the City God Temples are all crazy. Within five hundred *li* of Bai Hu Ridge, those who should get serious illnesses are made to die early, those who should die are hooked away in advance. Mountain bandits and robbers, whether known or unknown, are all sent away by Ox-Head and Horse-Face. Even the yellow weasel that stole two eggs was split in half vertically."

"Just waiting for this Jin Chanzi and the Bodhi Patriarch's eldest disciple to pass by, seeing the world peaceful and the people happy, and then saying a few good words in heaven—that is a great merit."

Lingniang still refused to accept it and said: "Then what about the White Bone Lady in the White Bone Cave of Bai Hu Ridge? She is still fine, swaying and annoying."

"That was prepared long ago, just waiting for Jin Chanzi and the Great Sage to subdue demons. If the stage is set but there is no one to sing, how can it work? Talking nonsense, if there were no White Bone Lady, we wouldn't be a tribulation, wouldn't that be a waste of Jin Chanzi and the Great Sage's time? This White Bone Lady is just right." The thousand-year-old tree demon Granny had seen great storms and waves and was very clear about the ways here.

"Lingniang, your little face is quite pretty. Add a bit of peach color. When a few noble people pass by here, use the water transported from the South Sea and the rice sent from the Daughter Kingdom to cook a pot of rice carefully. When the noble people pass by, you pretend to be a daughter, and I will pretend to be an old mother lying in bed. When the noble people come to beg for alms, you send the rice, let the Tang Elder say a few auspicious words, and I will crawl out of bed and kowtow to the Tang Elder. This matter will be done."

Lingniang doubted again and asked: "Why is this? Didn't you say that the Six Ding and Six Armor are on the side, not letting us go out?"

Granny slapped Lingniang on the head and sneered: "Stupid! You think that after the Tang Elder eats a bowl of our rice, after the Tang Elder becomes a Buddha, he can still let us be these lonely ghosts in this desolate mountain? Even if the Tang Elder forgets, the monks in the local City God Temples and temples will still come to our place to drive away evil? Registering locally, we can at least get some light."

"We are not in the tribulation, so the Great Sage is too lazy to use his magical powers."

On the third day of the eighth month, the White Bone Lady was indeed beaten by the Great Sage in three or two strokes. And Lingniang did send rice to the Tang Elder who was begging for alms, but she didn't see Sun Sun Wukong. It turned out that this Sun Wukong had struck the White Bone Demon three times and was written a letter of demotion by the Tang Elder and sent back to the Flower Fruit Mountain to be a mountain king.

This tribulation was not the White Bone Lady, but the gap between the master and disciples because of this matter—that was the tribulation.

This Lingniang was beautiful and looked pitiful, and was taken a fancy to by the second disciple, Bajie. After Bajie became the "Cleaner of the Altar," he summoned Lingniang to his side to be a maid who cleaned the altar. She had finally obtained a great fortune. This Lingniang had a great fortune and no longer recognized the tree demon Granny who had protected her for many years.

Granny didn't resent Lingniang either. After all, the tree demon had also received some favors; at least those local Daoists and monks no longer looked for Granny's trouble, and it was indeed much quieter.

As the saying goes: "Bajie meets Lady Ling by chance, the cause and effect are all fate."

"The story is written very well. Don't write it in the future. His satire is indeed the case, sigh." Zhang Zhang Juzheng found that this young man, Wang Qian, was really a young man.

He was using satire to attack the Ming Dynasty's governors and inspectors, especially those who went to the local areas to gain experience with gold-plated goals.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng also had such people under his door, such as Wang Wang Xiyuan who went to Yunnan, and Li Le who was still the Assistant Prefect in Yingtian.

Being covered by big figures would indeed get special treatment, and the local areas would deliberately leave some small problems that were not so eye-catching for those who were gold-plated to make achievements. The attack was very reasonable, but don't attack in the future.

These were all the norms of officialdom. Officialdom was not all killing; there was also human sentiment.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng, who advocated using the 'Evaluation of Officials' to break the ills of indulgence, also sent Wang Li Shizhen, the head of the 'Seven Masters of the Revival' and the leader of the literary world, to Yunyang to serve as the Viceroy. The Yunyang Viceroyalty happened to govern Zhang Zhang Juzheng's hometown, and as a result, Wang Li Shizhen stubbornly played himself into a position of being dismissed and sent back to his hometown to live in idleness.

Matters of human relationships and worldly wisdom are unavoidable. Zhang Zhang Juzheng's 'Evaluation of Officials' to break the ills of indulgence was also meant to make the rules fair and the world clear and bright, but even Zhang Zhang Juzheng could not achieve that.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was becoming more and more gentle. If it weren't for the worry of the nation's collapse, he would be traveling around the mountains and rivers. Why would he return to the court to handle affairs in the thirty-fifth year of Emperor Jiajing?

Zhu Zhu Yijun and Zhang Zhang Juzheng chatted for a long time, from the heavens to the earth.

On the morning of the next day, Zhu Zhu Yijun specially got up early. The first batch of Jiangnan gentry and wealthy households moving to the Western Tucheng arrived at the Western Tucheng today.

The Western Tucheng itself was a military fortress, built during the Emperor Jingtai years. The Ming Emperor Yingzong caused the Tumu Fortress disaster, and Esen invaded the capital region from the Zijing Pass, camping arrogantly less than ten *li* outside the Xizhimen of the capital, and sent the Ming Emperor Yingzong to call the gate.

This "gate-calling Emperor," Ming Emperor Yingzong, called the gate once in Xuanfu, once in Datong, and once in the capital, totaling three times.

During the Emperor Jingtai years, the Emperor Jingtai Emperor began to build the Western Tucheng outside the Xizhimen, which was also a renovation. Built on the old site of the Yuan Dynasty's Dadu, this military fortress became dilapidated again after the Ming Emperor Yingzong disbanded the Capital Guard in the first year of Tianshun. Now it was picked up by Wang Wang Chonggu again to build a place for the relocated wealthy households.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng also had to go. The first was to see an old friend. Xu Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and Zhang Zhang Juzheng were all old subordinates of the Yu Prince's mansion. The three of them advanced and retreated together in the Yu Prince's mansion, and later had their own different fates.

Xu Xu Jie went on the path of corruption, Gao Gong went on the path of conditional anti-corruption, and Zhang Zhang Juzheng went on the path of shouldering the Ming's restoration. Everyone would leave their names in history. As for who would be scolded, that was a matter of opinion.

Zhu Zhu Yijun actually didn't want to see Xu Xu Jie. He had resentment toward Xu Xu Jie. Why didn't this old thing get involved in the "He-Yi" group's affairs? Xu Xu Jie would definitely not have a good end like Luo Luo Rufang. Luo Luo Rufang at least had a decent end by committing suicide; Xu Xu Jie would definitely be beheaded and displayed by Zhu Zhu Yijun.

Zhu Zhu Yijun could use the return of land to recover the corruption, but what about the bad influence brought by Hu Hai Zongxian's death in prison and the seeking of glory and humiliation? How to recover it?

"Your subject Xu Xu Jie pays respects to Your Majesty. Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years." Xu Xu Jie's carriage was blocked by the *tiqi*. Xu Xu Jie was old and dim-sighted, but seeing the bright red belts of the *tiqi*, he knew the Emperor was here.

The "Ti" in *tiqi* meant the color of silk, red. The Ming Dynasty was the Fire Virtue, and the *tiqi*'s waist belts were red, representing the Emperor's personal arrival.

Before Xu Xu Jie walked three *zhang* from the imperial carriage, he hurriedly took his son to salute, fearing that he would lose etiquette. Arriving in the capital, it wasn't the Songjiang Prefecture where he could run wild at will. In this place, one brick down, they were all big officials.

"You came from Xu Huating, Songjiang. I don't ask you to embody the court's spirit of revitalization or loyalty to the monarch, just tell you: many people are waiting to use you, the former Grand Secretary, to make an issue. Behave yourself." Zhu Zhu Yijun's tone was extremely cold. He didn't even meet Xu Xu Jie, nor did he let Xu Xu Jie stand up. He didn't recognize the relationship of being Xu Xu Jie's grand-disciple. As soon as he opened his mouth, it was a warning, and a severe warning at that.

"Behave yourself"—translated, it meant don't look for death, don't make trouble.

Zhu Zhu Yijun's warning was not without a target or groundless. The assassination case of the King almost implicated Gao Gong, and the palace fire case almost implicated Gao Gong. If anything else happened, Xu Xu Jie would definitely be covered in a pot of shit.

Feng Bao saw that His Majesty didn't want to say more, flicked his whisk, and shouted loudly: "Set off and return to the palace!"

Zhu Zhu Yijun opened the other side of the carriage and said to Zhang Zhang Juzheng with a full smile: "Teacher, I'm taking the girl back to the palace first. I'll come to see you next month."

"Your subject respectfully sends off Your Majesty." Zhang Zhang Juzheng hurriedly bowed and saluted.

"Gone." Zhu Zhu Yijun waved his hand, and Feng Bao signaled the imperial carriage to head toward the capital. Leaving the Yicheng Earl's mansion in the Western Hills, His Majesty became the monarch who ruled the world and was dignified without anger again, instead of the lazy "scrounger." His Majesty was most relaxed at the Yicheng Earl's mansion in the Western Hills.

Xu Xu Jie looked at the Emperor's appearance and knew that the Emperor was a political figure. The first element of a political figure was that they had a dog's face—changing as soon as they turned. Just now he was warning Xu Xu Jie, and then he was full of smiles at Zhang Zhang Juzheng. If this wasn't a dog's face, what was?

Looking at the Emperor's appearance, Xu Xu Jie knew that the Emperor was a political figure. The first essential element of a political figure is having a face like a dog's—changing it whenever he pleases. He had just warned Xu Xu Jie on one side, and on the other, he was beaming with smiles at Zhang Zhang Juzheng. If this isn't a dog's face, what is?

"Duke of Xu Huating." Zhang Zhang Juzheng stepped forward to salute. Xu Xu Jie's official rank was first-rank, but Zhang Zhang Juzheng was an extraordinary Earl, and a civil official who was made an Earl, so Xu Xu Jie also had to salute.

The eldest son, Xu Fan, was traveling in the West, the second son, Xu Kun, was handling property in Songjiang, and the third son, Xu Ying, followed him to the capital.

After the two saluted, they looked at each other and didn't speak. Things were different, and people were different. Xu Xu Jie had been in power for ten years, and the Ming Dynasty had undergone earth-shaking changes.

"In the first year of Emperor Longqing, the Tatar Khan invaded the capital region. You and I both failed the trust of the Emperor Shizong." Zhang Zhang Juzheng's first sentence was an accusation, saying the real reason for Xu Xu Jie's downfall. In the Yu Prince's mansion, there were three people: Xu Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and Zhang Zhang Juzheng. Gao Gong did cover up for the Jin Party, but at that time, to reconcile with Altan Khan, he had to do so. At that time, the Ming Dynasty was completely unable to fight on two fronts—one was Altan Khan, and the other was the Tatar Khan.

Xu Xu Jie's real crime was failing the trust of the "Daoist Master." Xu Xu Jie's corruption was not the problem; Yan Song was corrupt, and Xu Xu Jie was corrupt. The pure stream and the muddy stream reached the same destination by different routes.

But Xu Xu Jie was incompetent.

The Emperor Longqing Emperor was an Emperor who didn't care about things. Xu Xu Jie, as the Grand Secretary in power, let the Tatar Khan break in, which was his incompetence.

Yan Song was a treacherous and incompetent minister in the twenty-seventh year of Emperor Jiajing when he defeated Zi Xia Yan, and Altan Khan invaded in the twenty-ninth year of Emperor Jiajing. So Yan Song was a treacherous minister, a sycophant, and an incompetent minister, and no one overturned his case.

Yan Song was treacherous and incompetent, so was Xu Xu Jie loyal and capable?

"I know! I know you are powerful! Is that enough!" Xu Xu Jie flicked his sleeves and said angrily.

Xu Ying knew his father best and knew what Xu Xu Jie's heart disease was: Zhang Zhang Juzheng was stronger than him, and several times stronger than him. This was one of the fundamental reasons why Xu Xu Jie couldn't accept it and had always been unconvinced.

However, when Xu Xu Jie was in power, not only did he not block this crisis, but when the Tuman Khan invaded the capital region, the imperial court was shaken.

This was the biggest fire Xu Xu Jie had made since his retirement. Being lectured by his own disciple to his face, the fire of shame and anger.

Zhu Zhu Yijun wanted to kill him, and Xu Xu Jie knew it before he came. But Zhang Zhang Juzheng's face-to-face counting made Xu Xu Jie completely unable to accept it, especially saying he was incompetent, rather than saying he caused Hu Hai Zongxian's death, or saying he was corrupt. Because corruption and party strife led to his downfall, he could still blame the enemy for being too strong. Because he was incompetent, this was a denial of a person's life.

In terms of killing the heart, Zhu Zhu Yijun and Zhang Zhang Juzheng were of the same vein, and it couldn't be said who taught whom. They were roughly the same kind of people.

"Your Majesty is wise, why should I sit up?" Zhang Zhang Juzheng revealed his cards and explained the reason why he spoke like this.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was telling Xu Xu Jie that he was relieved to return power because the Emperor was very promising. The Emperor was very powerful. If he really wanted to die, he should weigh the Emperor's thunderous wrath.

Xu Xu Jie immediately understood. Zhang Zhang Juzheng was actually well-intentioned, reminding him that the Emperor was not to be trifled with.

As for sitting up and walking down, naturally, it referred to the throne of the Ming Emperor. Zhang Zhang Juzheng really acted as regent for five years. Walking down was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's own choice. The young Emperor's retention was sincere, not a tentative probe of "retreating to advance." In order to keep the teacher, Zhu Zhu Yijun even gave Zhang Zhang Juzheng the title of Earl of Yicheng and kept him in the Western Hills of the capital to mourn.

These were all the Emperor's decisions, and they were also the only two foreign ministers the Emperor trusted: Zhang Zhang Juzheng and Qi General Qi Jiguang Jiguang.

The Emperor came to visit Zhang Zhang Juzheng every month and wrote to Qi General Qi Jiguang Jiguang every month. Wang Wang Chonggu, Wang Wang Guoguang, Wan Wan Shihe, and even Hai Rui didn't have this honor.

"The censors in the court are no longer good. The Emperor went to a minister's house to pay respects and visit, coming once a month, and these censors didn't scold you to death. They are really trash." Xu Xu Jie was still stubborn, but his anger had gone down. Zhang Zhang Juzheng was indeed stronger than him, and several times stronger. This was an indisputable fact. Xu Xu Jie had to be unconvinced.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng said with a smile: "If I didn't protect these censors, before you entered the capital, these censors would have been beaten to death by His Majesty. But you are right; they are indeed trash, a bunch of idiots. Wang Wang Chonggu set a trap for them, and they still drilled into it."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was indeed protecting the group of ministers; he was responsible for stepping on the brake for the Emperor.

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

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 284 =====

The Emperor came to visit Zhang Zhang Juzheng every month and wrote letters to Qi General Qi Jiguang Jiguang every month. Whether it was Wang Wang Chonggu, Wang Wang Guoguang, Wan Wan Shihe, or even Hai Rui, none of them had this special honor.

"Those censors in the court are useless. The Emperor runs to a subject's home to pay respects and visit, coming once a month, and these censors actually didn't scold you to death; they really are trash." Xu Xu Jie was still stubborn, but his anger had subsided. Zhang Zhang Juzheng was simply better than him, better by several times; this was an indisputable fact, and even if Xu Xu Jie didn't want to admit it, he had to.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng said with a smile: "If I didn't protect these censors, before Duke Xu Huating entered the capital, this group of censors would have been beaten to death by the Emperor with the 'court beating' punishment. But you are right, they are indeed trash, a bunch of fools. Wang Wang Chonggu set a trap for them so obviously, and they still dove right into it."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was indeed protecting the court officials; he was responsible for stepping on the brakes for the Emperor.

Begging for monthly votes, Awoo!!!!!!!!!!

(End of this chapter)