Chapter 284: I was inconsiderate at the beginning

Zhang Zhang Juzheng seeing Xu Xu Jie was to warn Xu Xu Jie, telling him to be honest. The capital was not Songjiang Prefecture; the end of acting recklessly was implicating his family and falling into a bloody disaster.

The Ming Emperor Zhu Zhu Yijun didn't like Gao Gong because Gao Gong really had talent, but he didn't bring his talent to the extreme. However, the Ming Emperor didn't want to kill Gao Gong. The two major cases of assassination and palace fire—if the young Emperor had gritted his teeth and stomped his feet, bearing a little infamy, Gao Gong would have been dead, just like Zi Xia Yan was beheaded back then.

His Majesty wanted Gao Gong to live and witness the Ming's revival.

The meaning of the young Emperor holding his breath to kill Xu Xu Jie was too obvious.

The reason for this was not complicated. Xu Xu Jie caused Hu Hai Zongxian to die in prison, and His Majesty sympathized with Hu Hai Zongxian's death in prison because Hu Hai Zongxian was really pacifying the Japanese pirates and didn't play the trick of "raising bandits to respect oneself." So the Emperor's attitude toward Xu Xu Jie was extremely poor, and he didn't even meet him.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng, who watched Zhu Zhu Yijun grow up, knew the young Emperor too well. The second year of Emperor Wanli, Xu Fan and Gao Zhu Qiyu were sent to the West as envoys—this was the most obvious signal. Xu Fan left the Ming Dynasty to go to the West as an envoy, which was the beginning of the Emperor's determination to kill Xu Xu Jie. The Ming was clearing land in the Southern Southern Yamen, and Xu Xu Jie led a group of powerful and wealthy families to resist the new policies.

Seeking glory and humiliation is not allowed. This was His Majesty's very clear attitude.

"Is there no way to save him?" Xu Xu Jie obviously understood Zhang Zhang Juzheng's meaning. He had guessed this possibility before entering the capital, but holding on to some fluke psychology, he still came.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng hesitated and said: "Be safe."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was now in mourning, and his ability to interfere in the court was limited. Xu Xu Jie returning to the capital would itself be pushed to the forefront. There were countless court officials who wanted to advance, and the Emperor's attitude of hating Xu Xu Jie was so clear that all kinds of shit pots would be buckled on Xu Xu Jie's head.

His Majesty refused to protect him, so Xu Xu Jie would definitely die.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng had no position to plead for Xu Xu Jie. He had just protected those censors who were pitted by Wang Wang Chonggu. For a short time, Zhang Zhang Juzheng would not sell his old face to ask His Majesty for this favor.

Xu Xu Jie successfully settled in the Western Tucheng. Shortly after Zhu Zhu Yijun entered the capital, the issue of Xu Xu Jie became the talk of the streets, and major miscellaneous newspapers began to strike hard.

Some praised Xu Xu Jie as a star of literature descending to earth. For example, Xu Xu Jie was very good at couplets when he was a child and could frankly admit his mistakes. When he was the Education Commissioner in Zhejiang, Xu Xu Jie's knowledge was inferior to a scholar in one place, but Xu Xu Jie frankly admitted his mistake and recorded this scholar as a *juren*, etc.

Others scolded Xu Xu Jie angrily. What "good at couplets"? It was clearly prepared by Xu Xu Jie's elders long ago. At the age of five, he couldn't even distinguish tones, so how could he make such neat couplets? What "frankly admit his mistakes"? That scholar who was recorded as a *juren* failed the imperial examination repeatedly and sought employment from the Ministry of Personnel but was never used. Was this magnanimous?

Obviously, the miscellaneous newspapers of the "Revivalist" faction were praising, while the *bizheng* led by Wan Wan Shihe were shaking out all the black materials that had been prepared long ago. The one that hurt Xu Xu Jie the most was the Hu Hai Zongxian death in prison case.

The "Daoist Master" didn't need to kill Hu Hai Zongxian. Watching the border troops in the Northwest raising bandits to respect themselves, and then watching the Japanese pirate trouble gradually subside, loyalty and treachery were self-evident.

One can scold the Daoist Emperor for neglecting government affairs, and even more so for having no ambition in his later years. Even an old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand miles, yet the Daoist Emperor, as the Son of Heaven, lacked great ambition, leading to the ills of a poor ending; he truly deserves to be scolded. However, one cannot scold the Daoist Emperor for not understanding court infighting. The Daoist Emperor's art of court infighting was top-tier and formidable—this was something certified by Yang Yang Tinghe.

The "Daoist Master" knew Hu Hai Zongxian was harmless. At that time, Hu Hai Zongxian was dismissed from all official positions and returned home to idle, and was not even allowed to sign official documents. Hu Hai Zongxian's biggest backer, Yan Song, had already frozen to death in the tomb shed, and Yan Yan Shifan had been beheaded. Hu Hai Zongxian was a bereaved dog. If the "Daoist Master" wanted to use him, it was protection; if he didn't use him, Hu Hai Zongxian couldn't turn over any waves. Killing Hu Hai Zongxian would instead make a mess.

Wan Wan Shihe produced key evidence: in the Hu Hai Zongxian death in prison case, Hu Hai Zongxian's memorial of defense was detained in the cabinet and not sent to the Ceremonial Secretariat.

Xu Xu Jie was the Grand Secretary of the cabinet at that time. Who detained the memorial was self-evident. And the person who provided this key evidence was the Junior Grand Secretary, Wang Wang Chonggu.

The Ceremonial Secretariat's seal-holding eunuch checked all the documents of the Ceremonial Secretariat and found no such memorial. Then he went to the cabinet to search. The cabinet also searched for more than half a month before finding Hu Hai Zongxian's self-defense memorial in a corner. And this self-defense memorial did not have the red approval of the Ceremonial Secretariat, representing that it was not transferred back to the cabinet from the Ceremonial Secretariat, but remained in the Zhang Wenyuan Pavilion.

There were several major doubts about Hu Hai Zongxian's death, one of which was whether Hu Hai Zongxian's self-defense memorial had been seen by the Emperor Jiajing Emperor.

Now the truth was out. This memorial had been deliberately intercepted. The next day, all the miscellaneous newspapers, and no one said a good word for Xu Xu Jie.

The circulation of the Ming Dynasty's memorials—you can temporarily detain them and make an issue of them. For example, after the military generals' memorials were no longer presented to the imperial front through the Five Chief Military Commissions, but circulated from the Ministry of War, the status of the military generals became extremely awkward. But this memorial absolutely could not be completely detained. Pressing it for a while, the time of detention depended on the urgency of the event. Hu Hai Zongxian's self-defense memorial was not a small matter; Xu Xu Jie did it intentionally.

The last person who intentionally detained memorials and didn't let the Emperor see them was named Hu Hu Weiyong.

People often pity Li Shanchang because the Taizu High Emperor's handling of Li Shanchang's treason case was not beautiful. When Li Shanchang was disposed of, he was already at the advanced age of seventy-seven. Li Shanchang absolutely had no possibility of treason. But with Tan Sima Yi's precedent, it was hard to say whether there was treason or not. Everyone sympathized with Li Shanchang.

But no one pitied Hu Hu Weiyong's case. Hu Hu Weiyong was in the Central Secretariat, and he actually detained the memorials and didn't let the Taizu High Emperor see them, disposing of them himself. Wasn't this riding on Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's head and peeing, tired of his nine clans' lives?

Xu Xu Jie had substantially usurped imperial power after the fortieth year of Emperor Jiajing.

This was Xu Xu Jie's first major crime. And Wan Wan Shihe didn't launch a further pursuit of Xu Xu Jie, but was waiting for the Emperor's wind direction. Wherever the Emperor's wind blew, Wan Wan Shihe's public opinion would blow. Wan Wan Shihe, as the Ming's Minister of Personnel, was doing the work of the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Rites had also gotten used to it. Didn't the Minister of Rites, Ma Ma Ziqiang, also point fingers at the Ministry of Personnel's affairs all day? Even the examination of officials and education officials was managed.

The Emperor's wind direction was clear. Besides usurpation, Xu Xu Jie had another crime that he couldn't escape no matter what.

On the twenty-fourth day of the second month, the court officials began to enter the Zhao Wenhua Hall from the Donghua Gate for the court debate. The Emperor, who had returned to the capital from the Western Hills, didn't rest for even a quarter of an hour and arrived at the Zhao Wenhua Hall a quarter of an hour earlier than the court officials. The Emperor would stay at the Grand Preceptor's mansion for a night, which was a well-known thing. The court debate on the twenty-fourth would be postponed by an hour to facilitate His Majesty riding slowly back to the capital to continue participating in the court debate.

"Your subject and others pay respects to Your Majesty. Is Your Majesty's holy body peaceful?" The group of ministers saluted.

Zhu Zhu Yijun stretched out his hand and said with a smile: "I am peaceful. Gentlemen, please stand up and take your seats for the court debate."

"Your Majesty, your subject has a memorial to report." After everyone took their seats, Wan Wan Shihe walked out, holding the *hu* tablet, bowed, and said: "Your Majesty went to the Yicheng Earl's mansion. The Earl is the Grand Preceptor, and Your Majesty went to visit him, which is a model of respecting teachers in the world and a classic of all ages. But Your Majesty's journey was exhausting, and this court debate on the twenty-fourth is too rushed. It would be better to have a day of rest to complete the reputation of Your Majesty's respect for teachers."

The court officials looked at Wan Wan Shihe with slight disgust. This Wan Wan Shihe was simply a sycophant!

Hence Hai Rui couldn't stand such people, but Wan Wan Shihe's words also made sense. The Emperor returned to the capital from the Western Hills and would ride back to the capital at the Lugou Bridge. In order not to delay the time, His Majesty's riding skills were excellent, but it was always a bit dangerous. If there was a rest on the twenty-fourth, His Majesty could take a carriage and return to the capital slowly.

Sometimes, one needs to combine work and rest. His Majesty was already very diligent. If he was forced too hard, what if the young Emperor took out the "muddling through" method of the Shizong Emperor? How to deal with it?

And every time the Emperor returned from the Yicheng Earl's mansion, he was laughing very happily, and the court officials were also happy to see the Emperor laugh more. The young Emperor, who was as cold as a stone, even made the already suicidal Luo Luo Rufang afraid.

"The Grand Preceptor has a heart. It doesn't matter." Zhu Zhu Yijun still said with a full smile.

Wan Wan Shihe still didn't return to his class and take his seat, but bowed again and said: "Your Majesty, recently these relocated wealthy households have returned to the capital. They must be resentful. Your subject is worried for Your Majesty. At such a time, I fear there may be an opportunity to take advantage of. Your subject thinks it is not advisable to be too hasty."

Hence Hai Rui's eyebrows twitched, and he came out of the class and bowed: "Your Majesty, your subject agrees with the Grand Preceptor's proposal."

This sycophant Wan Wan Shihe really mentioned a point that the court officials hadn't noticed. The powerful and wealthy in the capital had been taught a lesson many times and had already been taught well. Most of them didn't dare to do such rebellious things. Besides, the Emperor himself was skilled in martial arts and was already the number one expert in the youth group. He wasn't so easy to kill.

But these wealthy households relocated from the Southern Southern Yamen hadn't been taught a lesson yet. They must have resentment in their hearts, which would inevitably be put into action.

The court officials were used to the invincible His Majesty and didn't think there was a problem, but the sycophant Wan Wan Shihe noticed it.

As an Emperor's party, Wan Wan Shihe exhausted his ability to flatter, worrying about what His Majesty worried about and fretting about what His Majesty fretted about.

"Gentlemen's words make sense. Let it be according to your proposal. There is no need to stop the military exercises." Zhu Zhu Yijun agreed.

The court debate was the court debate, and the military exercises were the military exercises. Zhu Zhu Yijun still had to go, taking the military road of the Desheng Gate.

"Your subject and others obey the decree." Seeing His Majesty agree, Wan Wan Shihe breathed a sigh of relief. The political struggle methods of the Southerners and Northerners were completely different, and their styles were different. Back then, the Emperor Chengzu Wen Emperor was very unaccustomed to the Southern Southern Yamen and resolutely came to the North, head-on. Zhu Di was afraid of no one, but eating too many soft nails was really uncomfortable.

Unfamiliar with their methods, Wan Wan Shihe was afraid that the young Emperor would fall. If the young Emperor fell, a sycophant like Wan Wan Shihe would be the first to die.

Wang Wang Chonggu's situation was even worse than Wan Wan Shihe's. Of course, he didn't want the young Emperor to have any accidents. He was still counting on His Majesty to share the profits with him!

After the court debate, the court debate on the twenty-fourth was a day of rest after the Emperor's grand wedding on the third day of the third month. The Emperor rested, but it didn't mean the court officials would rest. Besides the court debate, there were a pile of things to do.

Ma Ma Ziqiang took out a memorial and said: "The matter that Your Majesty is worried about is that the Ming *Ming Jinshi* are high-minded and low-handed. They say one set of things—even iron trees can bloom—but once they start to do it, they show their flaws."

"Actually, in the early days of the nation, the Taizu High Emperor had already noticed it."

"The Taizu High Emperor had already noticed it?" Zhu Zhu Yijun was stunned. He felt that the base scholars were ruining the country, but this wasn't the public opinion he brought? It existed in the early Ming Dynasty?

Ma Ma Ziqiang bowed and said: "In the sixth year of Emperor Hongwu, the Taizu and the Zhongshan Wang Xuda played chess and said: 'I established the imperial examination to seek the virtuous and talented in the world, striving to obtain scholars who are clear in the classics and cultivate their conduct, and whose literary quality matches their substance, so that they can be appointed. Now, those taken by the officials are mostly young people. Looking at their literary style, it seems they can do something, but when tested and used, few can put what they have learned into practice.'"

"'I seek the virtuous with a sincere heart, but the world responds to me with empty literature. This is not my intention of seeking the virtuous.'"

In the sixth year of Emperor Hongwu, the Ming God of War, the Great Wall of ten thousand *li*, Xu Da, was defeated in Lingbei and returned to Yingtian Prefecture in a sorry state, waiting for Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's disposal. Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang pardoned Xu Da's defeat on the grounds of his great merit.

Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang, who had fought all his life, of course knew one thing very clearly: victory or defeat is a common matter for military strategists. There is no such thing as a general who always wins. Fighting a war, Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang knew very well, is a matter of human effort. The Yuan Emperor Zhaozong and Wang Wang Baobao of the desert north were of one heart, but they didn't win. It was because the Hu Yuan's energy was not yet exhausted.

"The Founding Emperor had already noticed this?" Zhu Zhu Yijun was stunned. He felt that the 'base scholars' were ruining the country, but this wasn't the public opinion trend he had brought about; it had existed since the early Ming Dynasty?

Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang complained while playing chess with Xu Da that he established the imperial examination to seek virtuous talents, but the *Ming Jinshi* who passed the examination were all high-minded and low-handed. This was not his intention of seeking the virtuous.

Zhu Zhu Yijun felt that the scholars' mouth skills were first-class, but once they fell into practice, they showed their true colors. This immediately became the ancestral law.

Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang had said so; if you are unconvinced, go and oppose Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang!

"Your subject says this old matter, in fact, is to say the necessity of examining the Theory of Contradictions and mathematics today. Those who can put what they have learned into practice must be insightful about the word 'contradiction' and clearly understand the rules of mathematics, which is appropriate for governing the world."

"This Renhe County made out 12 million *mu* of fields, which also makes the poor and laborers laugh at our Ming *Ming Jinshi*—they can't even clear the land clearly, making themselves a laughingstock." Ma Ma Ziqiang added reasons for his official governance law. High-minded, unable to put what they have learned into practice, it would be better to keep them in the Zhang Wenyuan Pavilion and not let them go to the local areas to harm the commoners.

"The Grand Preceptor's words make sense. At that time, how did the Zhongshan Wang Xuda reply to the Taizu High Emperor?" Zhu Zhu Yijun was curious. Did Xu Da have any magical means for these base scholars? Not copying this ready-made homework would be a waste. This was the ancestral law!

Tan Lun said coldly: "Join the army."

Tan Lun knew this old matter.

"Join the army." Ma Ma Ziqiang confirmed Tan Lun's answer. For these high-minded and low-handed guys, joining the army was the best method. At that time, the Ming Dynasty had many wars, and joining the army was a life-threatening job. Joining the army was bitter, but after joining the army, the Ming scholars' messy problems were all cured.

Wan Wan Shihe said very confidently: "Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand *li*. At that time, joining the army required traveling ten thousand *li*. At least their horizons were broadened, and they were no longer stingy in doing things. Just like Zhou Zhou Liangyin who arrived at the Ningwei, the knife hanging over his head forced him to put what he had learned into practice, otherwise, it was death."

Tan Lun's short-range soldiers were almost invincible in the world, even Qi Qi Jiguang was not his opponent. When Zeng Ceng Shengwu, the Junior Minister of War, commanded the army to pacify the Duzhang barbarians, he also went deep into the wilderness. Wang Wang Chonggu's ring-headed saber was also played to the point of perfection, which Wang Qian had a deep understanding of.

Tan Lun was the Zhejiang Party, Zeng Ceng Shengwu was the Chu Party, and Wang Wang Chonggu was the Jin Party. Whether good or bad, these were all capable officials. If you gave them tasks, they could really handle them properly.

"With no strength to tie up a chicken, crying and shouting after entering the Capital Guard, and all of them being ancestors after arriving at the military camp." Yu Yu Dayou opposed the base scholars joining the army. The Emperor didn't like base scholars, and the soldiers in the army didn't like the "big heads." This group of base scholars entered the Capital Guard, wanting treatment and inciting the military heart. The military's mountain-head culture was already serious, and adding these base scholars, the Capital Guard, no matter how strong, would become weak. It would be better not to have them.

Yu Yu Dayou opposed the base scholars joining the army.

"The Yu Commander's consideration is comprehensive." Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded in agreement. He practiced military exercises every day. If the base scholars arrived at the military camp, they would be stinking dog shit that ruined a pot of soup. The Ming's revitalization trend would inevitably be hindered. Rather than letting the base scholars join the army, it would be better to let the soldiers read books.

Xu Da's homework couldn't be copied, but it didn't mean the Ming Emperor had no means to clean them up. If they couldn't pass the mathematics examination, put their names outside the Donghua Gate. Just this one move could make the base scholars sleep and eat uneasily. In this day and age, to be an official, one needs reputation. If they fail the examination year after year, where would the reputation come from?

"Grand Preceptor, did examining the Theory of Contradictions and mathematics cause obstacles to the selection of officials?" Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Wan Wan Shihe and asked if this new policy could be implemented, whether it would make the selection of officials extremely difficult, and whether there were any difficulties. Wan Wan Shihe was a sycophant; if he didn't ask, he wouldn't say.

"No obstacles." Wan Wan Shihe said truthfully: "Mathematics is a bit too difficult. It would be better if it were simpler."

"Uh, I, a child, can do it, but they can't?" Zhu Zhu Yijun spread his hands. He had already been very restrained in setting the questions. How could someone still say it was difficult? How shameful! And they still have the face to claim they are *Ming Jinshi* and *juren*? Is this their level?

"Mathematics is really not something they can do. His Majesty is too modest. His Majesty's talent in mathematics is extraordinary, known to both humans and gods." Wan Wan Shihe was also full of worry. The Theory of Contradictions was indeed difficult, but His Majesty's mathematics was even more difficult.

"Then fine. I can reduce the difficulty a bit and give a redundancy of five points. No more." Zhu Zhu Yijun thought about it and decided to reduce the difficulty again, considering the practice of the Ministry of Personnel.

"The Censorate's court debate: Xu Xu Jie's corruption should be erected in a monument outside the Zhaoyang Gate. According to the clearing and confiscation, Xu Xu Jie's monument is currently the highest one in the Happy Monument Forest outside the Zhaoyang Gate, and there is difficulty in construction." Lu Lu Diaoyang said very earnestly.

Xu Xu Jie had returned to the capital, and the Censorate's General Censor, Hence Hai Rui, Hai Hai Gangfeng, how could he let him go? The grievances that were not settled in the Southern Southern Yamen were finally coming to an end!

In the Southern Southern Yamen, it was hard to handle, but Xu Xu Jie had arrived at the Northern Tucheng, so Hence Hai Rui naturally had to handle him.

The Right Censor of the Censorate, Li Li Youzi, sat up straight and said: "The silver he embezzled—the monument to be built exceeds forty *zhang*. I went to the Ministry of Works to ask the master craftsmen, and the craftsmen said it couldn't be built, because to stand firmly, this monument must be at least fifty *zhang* or more. Reasonably speaking, let bygones be bygones, but this Xu Xu Jie, in the Emperor Wanli years, still entrusted and protected each other. Xu Xu Jie as Grand Secretary is a matter of great importance, so it is not easy to dispose of, but this monument must be erected."

"Fifty *zhang*?!" Zhu Zhu Yijun was surprised. Fifty *zhang* was as high as a sixty-story building!

This couldn't be blamed on the Ming craftsmen for having no strength; it was really that Xu Xu Jie embezzled too much.

The Minister of Works, Guo Guo Chaobin, said helplessly: "Your Majesty, such a high monument—even the glazed pagoda of the Great Gratitude Temple is only nine stories and twenty-some *zhang*. This fifty-*zhang* monument, your subject is really powerless."

Zhu Zhu Yijun waved his hands repeatedly and said: "This doesn't blame Minister Guo; it's that I was inconsiderate when I built the Happy Monument Forest."

"Your Majesty, build a five-*zhang*-high monument and carve the monument text clearly. Your subject has also studied whether it can be steel-reinforced, but such a high building, I'm afraid it will collapse and hit people, which would not be good." Wang Wang Chonggu, who was good at construction, was also at his wit's end about this monument. The Happy Monument Forest outside the Zhaoyang Gate was crowded with people. This thing, even if it collapsed after he died, he would be scolded to death.

Zhu Zhu Yijun thought and thought and said: "How about this? Hai General Censor, let's find a mountain peak forty *zhang* high in the Western Hills and carve the monument text on it. In this way, it satisfies the height and the construction needs. Carve it on the mountain!"

"Good! Good idea!" Hence Hai Rui's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. His Majesty still had a way.

Guo Guo Chaobin and Wang Wang Chonggu actually both thought of this method, but the corruption monument was in the Happy Monument Forest, which was the boundary set by His Majesty. Changing the place required His Majesty to open his golden mouth. Golden words and jade speech—His Majesty said to find a mountain peak, so the Censorate didn't need to be embarrassed, and the Ministry of Works didn't need to be embarrassed. Both difficulties were resolved, and it was easy for everyone to handle.

"The Ministry of Works must keep the accounts well and ask Xu Xu Jie for this construction fee." Zhu Zhu Yijun said very solemnly to Guo Guo Chaobin: "The matter of accounts cannot be sloppy. At the end of the year, the Ministry of Revenue will check the accounts. If there are leaks, it won't be good."

As for who would bear the cost, that was naturally the Old Duke Xu Xu Jie! To build a corruption mountain monument for himself, would the Old Duke Xu not pay the money, and let the court pay it instead?!

The court didn't have that much surplus grain.

"Your subject obeys His Majesty's teachings." Guo Guo Chaobin bowed and received the decree.

Wang Wang Guoguang tried hard to hold back his laughter. His Majesty's stinginess—don't even think about getting a cent of extra silver from His Majesty's hands.

As for whether this corruption mountain monument would become a beautiful landscape of the Ming Dynasty in the future, that was not something Zhu Zhu Yijun could decide.

"The 'He-Yi' group case and other criminals, Wang Zhang Xian'gu, will be escorted to the capital tomorrow, along with Wang Li Shizhen." Lu Lu Diaoyang took out the Ministry of Justice's proposal, his expression slightly hesitant. This Wang Li Shizhen, really, good things couldn't find him, but bad things happened one after another.

Leader of the "Seven Masters of Revival," leader of the literary world—every one of these titles was in the range that the Emperor didn't like. This "He-Yi" group case was an evil spirit case, and Wang Li Shizhen was involved in such things, so he was doomed.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng had the face to ask His Majesty for leniency, and the court officials didn't know whether Zhang Zhang Juzheng had pleaded for Wang Li Shizhen. After all, they were contemporaries. The wedding gift the Emperor received was a painting Wang Li Shizhen sent to Zhang Zhang Juzheng, a very expensive painting.

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Lu Lu Diaoyang and said very surely: "I talked about the 'He-Yi' group case yesterday and naturally talked to the teacher about Wang Li Shizhen. The teacher's original words were clear."

These four words were what Zhang Zhang Juzheng said when Gao Gong was implicated in the assassination case, meaning that this matter had nothing to do with him. If there was evidence, handle it; if there was no evidence, don't handle it—a neutral position.

"The teacher is very sorry for Wang Li Shizhen. If he could put what he learned into practice, he would be a virtuous talent for governing the world. It's a pity." Zhu Zhu Yijun said again about Zhang Zhang Juzheng's judgment of Wang Li Shizhen. This was a talented person, but Wang Li Shizhen didn't bring his talent to the extreme time and time again.

"Wang Junior Grand Secretary, did Wang Li Shizhen participate in the 'He-Yi' group case?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked the Minister of Justice, Wang Wang Chonggu.

Wang Wang Chonggu sighed and said: "Yes."

"Self-inflicted, cannot live." Ma Ma Ziqiang shook his head repeatedly. He was from a great family in Longxi, also a family of official caps, but Wang Li Shizhen's choices were all running wildly on the wrong path. Reaching this step, it was truly self-inflicted.

"He participated in two prayers of dissecting the abdomen to take umbilical cord blood. According to the *tiqi*'s report, he just felt he had never seen it before." Wang Wang Chonggu had already tried his best to restrain himself. Dissecting the abdomen to take blood for prayer was a typical prayer ritual of the "He-Yi" group, and Wang Li Shizhen participated twice, so it wasn't an accident, but intentional. He knew what the scene was and still participated again.

Zhu Zhu Yijun waved his hand and said: "Kill him. He is the shame of the literary world."

Wang Li Shizhen's behavior was actually very consistent with the core concept of the "Revivalist" faction—to follow the laws of the three generations. Above the three generations, there was human sacrifice, and it was very popular.

Duke Lu Ai and Zai Wo (Confucius's disciple) discussed politics and talked about "She" (the altar of the soil). Duke Lu Ai asked: "Those who have a country must have a *She* to sacrifice to the earth. I don't know the meaning of it."

Zai Wo said: "Those who established *She* in ancient times must plant trees. The Zi Xia Dynasty established *She* with pine trees; the Yin people established *She* with cypress trees; the Zhou people established *She* with chestnut trees."

"The reason why the Zhou people used chestnut trees is to take the meaning of trembling. Because killing people must be at the *She*, wanting the people to see it and tremble in fear."

This was human sacrifice. Even Confucius's disciples criticized this means of sacrifice, but the "Revivalist" faction, in following the laws of the three generations, liked this style, and the three generations were above the law, while below the three generations, there was no law.

The three generations were Zi Xia, Shang, and Zhou.

Wang Li Shizhen knew what it was and still wouldn't withdraw. This was obsession. Killing such base scholars was just killing them.

"Your Majesty, I have a matter about the 'Hui Shan Tang' (Benevolent Hall) run by Xu Xu Jie. I don't know if I should let the miscellaneous newspapers publish it." Wan Wan Shihe took out a memorial, looking embarrassed.

I, the young Emperor, was inconsiderate at the beginning, or did Xu Xu Jie embezzle too much? Ask for monthly tickets, Aowu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 285 =====

The Three Dynasties refers to the Zi Xia, Shang, and Zhou.

Wang Li Shizhen knew clearly what that was, yet still refused to withdraw; this is being obsessed and not realizing it. Such base scholars can be killed if they are killed.

"Your Majesty, I have a report here regarding the 'Hui Shan Tang' managed by Xu Xu Jie. I don't know if I should let the 'Miscellaneous News' publish it." Wan Wan Shihe took out a memorial, looking troubled.

Is my little Emperor Majesty lacking consideration, or is Xu Xu Jie too greedy? Begging for monthly votes, Awoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(End of this chapter)