Chapter 32: What the Minister Desires, Only Reason Dictates

What is Zhang Juzheng's "Memorial on Five Matters" doing? It is defining the Emperor's obligations.

Since ancient times, the Emperor has only had rights, never any obligations.

Especially under the institutional design of the Great Ming, where nothing can be done without the Emperor's seal, the two Emperors Jiajing and Longqing both entered "stealth mode," neither attending court nor handling affairs.

When court officials wanted to remonstrate with the Emperor, they had no point of leverage; they couldn't even see him. Once a memorial was sent to the Directorate of Ceremonial and entered the palace gates, there was never any news again.

Zhang Juzheng is patching the state system of the Great Ming.

Gao Gong's "Memorial on Five Matters" also defined the Emperor's obligations, and Zhang Juzheng is doing the same.

It is just that Zhang Juzheng's "Memorial on Five Matters" is more moderate than Gao Gong's. In summary: court officials must see the Emperor, the Emperor must approve memorials, the Emperor must summon Grand Secretaries, state affairs must be discussed in court, and capital officials must be evaluated.

Of these five matters, the first three offend the Emperor and the Inner Court, while the last two offend the entire civil official system of the Great Ming.

Zhang Juzheng is not just saying this; he is doing it. Once he lacks authority, once the Emperor no longer supports him, Zhang Juzheng will be in true, grave danger.

Xu Jie embezzled so much money and bought so much land. When Hence Hai Rui investigated the major case of land encroachment in Songjiang and presided over the return of land in Songjiang Prefecture, Xu Jie did not return a single acre. Hence Hai Rui was impeached and brought down by court officials on the charge of "oppressing the gentry."

Gao Gong, caught in the vortex of the "Assassination of the Emperor" case, did not end up with his family destroyed.

Zhang Juzheng is offending the Emperor on one side and the court officials on the other—what is he trying to do?

He wants this Great Ming, which is sliding downhill, to slow its descent just a little.

"This is the duty of a minister to repay the late Emperor and be loyal to Your Majesty." Zhang Juzheng did not answer the question of whether he was afraid, but answered from another angle.

Hearing this again, Zhu Yijun was stunned for a moment, then a smile spread across his lips, quickly expanding into a sunny, brilliant grin. Zhu Yijun said with a smile: "What the minister desires, only reason dictates."

Should the Emperor go to the Zhao Wenhua Hall to listen to government? Should the Emperor summon Grand Secretaries for face-to-face discussions when major events occur? Twenty-seven court officials of the Great Ming requested an audience; as the twenty-seven people at the center of the Great Ming Empire's power, should the Emperor see them? Should the Emperor read and approve memorials? Even if just to draw a circle or an 'X'?

Zhu Yijun believes that only reason dictates. What is an Emperor?

To gather the goodness of the world, to exhaust the principles of all things, and to receive the offerings of all people—all of this rests upon my person.

This is the Emperor's right.

Then handling office work, or more simply, applying the seal, is the Emperor's obligation.

Zhu Yijun is not being diligent; he just wants to go to the Zhao Wenhua Hall and watch these brilliant ministers of the empire argue!

As for whether the capital officials accept such harsh evaluations, Zhu Yijun will not bicker with the court officials. He will only stand for Zhang Juzheng. If Zhang Juzheng can do it, he will do it; if he cannot, then when Zhu Yijun grows up, he will do it himself.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great grace." Zhang Juzheng performed a deep, respectful bow. He did not know if the little Emperor truly understood what this round of exchange meant. Zhang Juzheng's gratitude was sincere, from the bottom of his heart.

To put it bluntly, this "Memorial on Five Matters" by Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong's memorial were of the same ilk—both were usurping imperial power, using the belittling of imperial power to establish their own authority, and subsequently pushing through government decrees, using the restriction of certain imperial behaviors to evaluate the officials of the world, including capital officials.

Zhu Yijun's answer was: "Only reason dictates."

Zhang Juzheng was lecturing at the Zhao Wenhua Hall, while the lecture scholar Wang Xijue and the 1565 top scholar Fan Yingqi came to Yang Bo's "All-Jin Guild Hall" to pay a visit.

Zhang Juzheng said that his "All-Quan Quan Chu Hui Guan" was far inferior to Yang Bo's "All-Jin Guild Hall."

The two guild halls were adjacent, but the All-Jin Guild Hall occupied over 80 acres, even more spacious than the Duke of Wei's mansion of Xu Da, the Prince of Zhongshan, in Nanjing. The Duke of Wei's mansion was initially only 80 acres, and it was only after renovations that it reached about 100 acres.

Yet Yang Bo's All-Jin Guild Hall exceeded 80 acres.

At this time, it should have been office hours; why was Yang Bo, the Minister of Personnel, not at the Six Ministries office, but at home?

Leaders not being at the office is a common and extremely widespread phenomenon. As a political official, Yang Bo only needed to review and sign off on specific ministry matters.

Zhang Juzheng becoming the Senior Grand Secretary and still sitting in the Wenyuan Pavilion all day is actually quite rare. What is the Junior Grand Secretary Lu Diaoyang for? What are all those secretaries for?

Wang Xijue and Fan Yingqi walked into the All-Jin Guild Hall and saw Yang Bo in the study, and standing beside Yang Bo was a scholar with an extremely gentle appearance; this man's name was Zhang Siwei.

After Yang Bo left, this All-Jin Guild Hall would become Zhang Siwei's private residence, and Yang Bo had already begun packing his things, preparing to return to his ancestral home for leisure.

After the trial implementation of the "Evaluation Method" in the capital ended, Yang Bo would retire. He had promised Zhang Juzheng, and he would not break his word.

Yang Bo intended to withdraw. If he continued, he would only end up with a ruined reputation. The Jin Party was becoming increasingly bold and increasingly beyond his control.

"The lecture time hasn't arrived yet; shouldn't the two of you be at the Zhao Wenhua Hall?" Yang Bo frowned as he looked at them. Were they kicked out by Zhang Juzheng?

Zhang Juzheng had promised in front of everyone, and by monopolizing the lectures, he had exchanged it for the opening of the Fengtian Hall and the convening of a court session to grant rewards to General Qi Jiguang Jiguang.

Had Zhang Juzheng broken his word?

Wang Xijue stammered and told Yang Bo and Zhang Siwei everything that happened at the Zhao Wenhua Hall lecture in minute detail.

Yang Bo was old; he was about to retire, and he could no longer protect the Jin Party from top to bottom. Hearing Wang Xijue and Fan Yingqi speak like this, he immediately understood that his previous judgment had been accurate.

The little Emperor was not stupid at all. He had indeed been slacking off before, but after being assassinated, he had finally changed his nature and started to take things seriously.

A good thing—this was Yang Bo's first feeling.

Zhang Juzheng had said more than once, in public and private, that Yang Bo was a minister of great virtue.

Yang Bo knew for certain that his previous judgment was correct: the "Assassination of the Emperor" case was only temporarily paused, not ended. When the Emperor grew up and took personal control, this case would be the pretext to uproot the Jin Party.

But this had nothing to do with Yang Bo anymore. He was going to retire, and he was also ill; his time was near. Once a person dies, everything is settled. Could he still manage what happens after he is gone?

"Two pieces of trash!" Hearing that the two were kicked out because of incompetence, Zhang Siwei's gentle expression immediately turned fierce. With this change of face, he became hideous.

Zhang Siwei flicked his sleeves, pointed at Wang Xijue and Fan Yingqi, and scolded them sternly.

Yang Bo reached out his hand, pressed Zhang Siwei's hand down, and said with a smile: "Two scholars, then go back to the office to work. Bai Gui doesn't mind the toil, so let him continue to shoulder the burden of the lectures. Let this matter end here."

"Go, go."

"Yes, the students will take their leave." Wang Xijue and Fan Yingqi hurriedly took their leave.

"Two pieces of trash, they should be dealt with!" After the two left, Zhang Siwei's expression became slightly impatient.

How could Yang Bo let these two scholars off so easily? They didn't handle the errand well—such a good opportunity to control the little Emperor in their own hands!

Zhang Siwei had thought this deal would allow the Jin Party to make a huge profit, but instead, the deal was done, the Fengtian Hall was opened to reward General Qi Jiguang Jiguang, the court discussion had passed, and it had begun, yet Zhang Juzheng still occupied the spot of teaching the little Emperor.

This deal was done, but only a little bit, and the reason it wasn't finished was because Wang Xijue and Fan Yingqi were incompetent. How could this not make Zhang Siwei angry?

Yang Bo disliked Zhang Siwei very much. Yang Bo would rather hand the position of Jin Party leader to Zhang Juzheng, for the Chu and Jin factions to merge, than let Zhang Siwei be the leader.

Yang Bo knew Zhang Siwei's character. Zhang Siwei came from a merchant family, and his nature of chasing profit was already deep-rooted and firm as a rock. Yang Bo knew that a person like Zhang Siwei was very likely to lead the Jin Party into an bottomless abyss.

A person who is not broad-minded and resolute, who has no world in his heart, only private profit—a narrow-minded but unswerving person standing in the high temple is a traitor to the country.

"General Qi Jiguang Jiguang's matter is Bai Gui acting on his own, not an exchange. Do you understand the difference?" Yang Bo looked at Zhang Siwei and explained the distinction.

Zhang Juzheng did not take the little Emperor's education rights out as an exchange. Zhang Juzheng had made it very clear that he was acting on his own.

As for why Zhang Juzheng wanted to give up the monopoly on the classics lectures, Yang Bo also understood: those questions were simply too tricky.

Yang Bo looked at Zhang Siwei, then looked at the backs of Wang Xijue and Fan Yingqi.

At present, the ministers of the Great Ming court had long since lost their sense of submission.

Every minister seemed to attach great importance to the little Emperor's lectures, but Zhang Siwei, Wang Xijue, Fan Yingqi, and those ministers in the court—how many had seriously looked at what the little Emperor and Zhang Juzheng had actually discussed in the Zhao Wenhua Hall?

The lecture scholars would record every word of the discussions every day. If one truly cared about His Majesty's studies, flipping through those "Diaries of Activity and Repose" would reveal that teaching the little Emperor was definitely not that easy.

Yang Bo had looked, seriously looked. He had seen those discussions and knew the little Emperor's nature. Ge Shouli would only fail if he went, so he sent two scholars to lose face.

Scholars, after all, have thick skin; losing a little face doesn't matter.

Ge Shouli thought he had put in the effort, but just couldn't get the benefits. But in reality, Yang Bo was protecting Ge Shouli. If it weren't for Yang Bo shielding him, Ge Shouli would have died countless times already.

Yang Bo had already warned Zhang Siwei, but seeing Zhang Siwei's confused look, Yang Bo did not warn him further.

Under the little Emperor's sunny and cheerful surface, what kind of face was there?

Yang Bo leaned back in his armchair and continued: "In the 40th year of Jiajing, Yan Song was old, and the Minister of Personnel Wu Peng retired. Yan Song's son, Yan Shifan, recommended his uncle Ouyang Bijin to enter the court. Yan Shifan, in his father's name, submitted a memorial saying: 'Recommend relatives without avoiding suspicion, to comfort the old age.'"

"Yan Shifan, in his father's name, submitted a secret memorial to the Jiajing Emperor. The Jiajing Emperor had no choice but to agree and made Ouyang Bijin the Minister of Rites."

"To comfort the old age"—meaning recommending Ouyang Bijin was to comfort the elderly Yan Song.

But the biggest problem with this secret memorial was that Yan Shifan submitted it in his father's name.

Yang Bo continued: "Later, the ministers were dissatisfied, and Ouyang Bijin was dismissed. The Jiajing Emperor, fearing that he would chill the heart of an old minister, personally issued an edict to comfort Yan Song. Yan Song, hearing this, was terrified, hurriedly entered the palace, and informed the Emperor that he knew nothing of this matter."

"Ever since his wife passed away, Yan Song stopped handling affairs. Yan Shifan, behind Yan Song's back, did not know how many things he had done. In the 44th year of Jiajing, Yan Shifan was beheaded, Yan Song's home was confiscated, his official status was stripped, and he returned to his hometown. Penniless and homeless, Yan Song died in poverty and illness."

Why did Yang Bo suddenly bring up an old matter from six years ago?

The "Assassination of the Emperor" case—who was behind it?

Gao Gong? If Gao Gong had that kind of courage, he wouldn't be living in leisure in Xinzheng now. Even if Gao Gong had that courage, he didn't have the strength. Stuffing people into the palace—simple, but also not simple.

Yang Bo highly suspected that Zhang Siwei did it, because Yang Bo was trying to win over Zhang Juzheng, while Zhang Siwei had long coveted the position of Jin Party leader. Yang Bo was 80% sure that Zhang Siwei did it.

Yang Bo was extremely accurate in judging people; Zhang Juzheng admired this point very much.

The mess of the "Assassination of the Emperor" case was cleaned up by Yang Bo. It was Yang Bo who sold his old face to the All-Quan Quan Chu Hui Guan, begging the Senior Grand Secretary of the court to come forward and settle the matter.

Yang Bo was telling Zhang Siwei: Don't be in a hurry. The Jin Party is currently Yang Bo's, but in the end, it will be Zhang Siwei's.

Zhang Siwei's expression did not change, and he said with a smile: "Yan Song and his son relied on favor and abused power, ending up in this state, dying without a place to be buried—it can be considered that good and evil have their rewards."

Yang Bo lost interest in talking to Zhang Siwei. Zhang Siwei had his own ideas and thoughts; it wasn't something Yang Bo could correct by saying a few words.

At such an old age, he wasn't a child anymore; Yang Bo couldn't be bothered to speak again.

"I'm tired, you go back." Yang Bo waved his hand and picked up his teacup to see the guest out.

"Then uncle, I will take my leave first." Zhang Siwei did not say more and bowed to Yang Bo with a smile.

Zhang Siwei's first reason for coming to the All-Jin Guild Hall this time was to see if Yang Bo was still clinging to power and not leaving. Seeing that the All-Jin Guild Hall was packing up, Zhang Siwei felt at ease. Yang Bo had failed to win over Zhang Juzheng, which was good news for Zhang Siwei.

The second reason was to discuss the marriage between his son and Yang Bo's granddaughter.

Yang Bo's son married Wang Chonggu's daughter; they were in-laws.

Zhang Siwei was Wang Chonggu's nephew; they were relatives.

But Zhang Siwei still wanted to be closer through marriage, letting his two sons marry Yang Bo's two granddaughters according to their generation—this was marriage by affinity.

Yang Bo agreed; both matters could be considered accomplished.

"Zhang Juzheng, oh Zhang Juzheng, you are skilled in planning for the country but clumsy in planning for yourself. How will you end well?" Yang Bo sighed and put down his teacup. He had originally intended to marry his daughter—whom he didn't have—to Zhang Juzheng, so they would have an affinity relationship, but Zhang Juzheng refused.

At this moment, inside the Great Ming palace, the little Emperor was practicing martial arts, and the Empress Dowager was listening to Feng Bao report on matters in the court.

Hearing about Zhang Juzheng's "Memorial on Five Matters," Empress Dowager Li's expression changed several times, becoming grave. Her thinking jumped slightly.

Zhang Juzheng had touched the edges of imperial power, and Empress Dowager Li's thinking jumped to the idea that this Senior Grand Secretary Zhang was also going to learn from Gao Gong and usurp the divine vessel.

This orphan and widow managing the empire—how difficult it was!

The Great Ming Empresses all came from the common people and had no help from external relatives. Empress Dowager Li panicked for a moment. ===== CHAPTER 33 =====