Chapter 393

Anti-corruption: Gao Gong studies corrupt officials, Zhang Zhang Juzheng studies the corrupt environment caused by indulgence, and Wang Qian studies concubines and mistresses.

It must be said that even a traditional anti-corruption expert like Gao Gong was a bit stunned when he saw Wang Qian's methods.

As Wang Zhi narrated, Gao Gong could only shake his head repeatedly. The voices of these gossiping women were loud, and they said everything. These words were true and false, but Wang Qian, this guy, used silver to pave the way. Seeing money, these gossiping women naturally spread some ambiguous news.

It couldn't be simpler to guard against this method, and that is not to keep mistresses or concubines.

Can they endure it? Gao Gong knew that anyone who was greedy would definitely not be able to endure it.

Food and sex are human nature. This sex and food are listed together. Once greed is opened, this sex naturally follows. The temptations sent by those wealthy families who drill into every crack can be endured once or twice, but ten or eight times, they naturally cannot endure.

Gao Gong and Wang Zhi chatted for a long time, from the north to the south, until Gao Gong was a bit tired, and Wang Zhi planned to say goodbye.

"Duke Master Xinzheng, take care of your health. Our Great Ming is renewing itself. It's good to see more of this great landscape." Wang Zhi looked at Gao Gong and exhorted him.

"Old and sick, not much time left." Gao Gong waved his hand. He stopped talking, but actually, he wanted to invite Zhang Zhang Juzheng over, but in the end, he didn't say it.

The imperial physicians come every fifteen days. In fact, Gao Gong knew very well that the Emperor didn't want him to die; he wanted him to watch, watch the Great Ming change with each passing day, watch the Emperor lead the Great Ming to reform. Gao Gong naturally wanted to see more.

The Emperor didn't pursue the matters of the past, but Gao Gong was a very stubborn person. In fact, he had already wavered. No matter from which angle you look at His Majesty, at least at this point in time, he is a wise monarch. His saying to Wang Zhi that he didn't think highly of the Emperor was just being stubborn.

Old people can't survive the winter and spring. Winter is cold, and spring is full of diseases. Gao Gong took the imperial physicians' exhortations to heart. At the end of the second month of the eighth year of Emperor Wanli, Gao Gong became seriously ill again. On the third day of the third month, Zhang Zhang Juzheng, who was busy with ten thousand machines, followed the imperial order and took the court officials to the Gao mansion in West Earth City.

"Duke Jiangling is busy with ten thousand machines, coming to visit, it is a great honor." Gao Gong lay on the sickbed, already tortured by illness to the point of near-death.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng sat in front of the sickbed and said with great emotion: "Duke Master Xinzheng, you should rest well."

"A person lives on a breath of spirit. If this spirit is gone, the remaining life is just lingering on. Death is fine, everything is over." Gao Gong touched a memorial from under the pillow. He had been writing this memorial intermittently for a year. Later, he couldn't write it, so he asked his son to write it for him, and finally finished it.

"Duke Jiangling, help me submit this to His Majesty." Gao Gong's last memorial was nothing else, but a memorial of confession, named "Memorial of Confession on the Sickbed."

All kinds of disputes after the late Emperor passed away in the sixth year of Emperor Longqing would come to an abrupt end and be completely finalized because of this memorial. Gao Gong was very stubborn and very stubborn, but he considered himself a gentleman. Since he was wrong, he admitted his mistake.

His Majesty is already grown up, wise and martial. Gao Gong admitted in the memorial that he had misjudged, admitted that he had done wrong, and admitted that he had brought it upon himself. It was a complete explanation to His Majesty and a complete explanation to his own life.

Gao Gong leaned on the pillow, looking at Zhang Zhang Juzheng, who was already a bit blurry, and said with some smiles: "I remember when I celebrated my sixtieth birthday, more than one hundred scholars from the Hanlin Academy, and seventy or eighty of my students, wrote birthday tables for me. They also asked Duke Jiangling to write two prefaces for me."

"There is indeed such a thing." Zhang Zhang Juzheng remembered this. The difference was that Gao Gong's two prefaces were written by Zhang Zhang Juzheng himself.

"That Zhang Zhang Siwei also wrote a birthday preface for me. This guy, the birthday preface was only 1190 words in total, and he used 333 words to praise his own name. It really made me angry!" Gao Gong's voice was a bit louder when he said this, and his face was a bit rosy. Obviously, he was angry. Besides being angry that Zhang Zhang Siwei wrote nonsense in the birthday preface, he was also angry that Zhang Zhang Siwei was assassinating the monarch.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng said with a full smile: "Alright, alright, it's all in the past, don't be angry with him."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong chatted for a long time. They talked mostly about state affairs: examinations, maritime transport, land measurement and return to fields, northern barbarian wars, etc. Gao Gong also mentioned that Wang Zhi was in his prime and could still be reused, but was rejected by Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

Wang Zhi was indeed an in-law, but Wang Zhi's retreat at the beginning directly led to Wang Wang Chonggu returning to the capital from Xuan-Da, and also put Zhang Zhang Juzheng, who was in the court at that time, into some passivity. The two characters "Sun Hongyi" were Zhang Zhang Juzheng's standard for looking at people. Obviously, Wang Zhi still lacked some "perseverance."

At the beginning, even Wan Wan Shihe stayed.

On the fifth day of the third month, Gao Gong passed away.

Zhu Zhu Yijun issued an edict for an official burial, bestowed Gao Gong the title of Grand Tutor, gave the posthumous title of Wenxiang, and gave his son Gao Gao Wuguan the position of Assistant Minister of the Imperial Treasure Office, without having to attend to affairs but receiving a salary.

Gao Gong's departure was not sudden. He had already started to get sick intermittently in the winter of the seventh year of Emperor Wanli. With the ability of the imperial physicians of the Dissection Institute, he could only do his best to treat him. During the New Year, he improved slightly, but suddenly worsened at the end of the second month, and finally passed away.

The Ministry of Rites submitted a total of three memorials, requesting an official burial, posthumous title, and grace for Gao Gong, but none were approved. It wasn't until Zhang Zhang Juzheng went to the Imperial Study of the Retired Palace that he finally requested the posthumous grace. Even so, Zhu Zhu Yijun's vermilion comment to the Ministry of Rites was: "Gao so-and-so communicated maritime transport, reorganized border defense, pacified Diannan, pacified Lingbiao, subdued the western barbarians, took responsibility for surrender, the northern barbarians paid tribute, his merit cannot be erased."

In terms of address, Zhu Zhu Yijun still called Gao Gong "Gao so-and-so," and did not stop the court for mourning because Gao Gong passed away. Obviously, the Emperor did not like Gao Gong.

Without Gao Gong, the Jin Party would definitely not have developed to this scale. His indulgence directly caused the political landscape in the early Emperor Wanli years and Zhu Zhu Yijun's passivity. Assassinating the monarch and burning the palace were indeed not done by Gao Gong, but the Jin Party indulged by Gao Gong committed many mistakes.

Even after repeated weakening and checks and balances, the Jin Party was still the second largest faction in the Great Ming court.

Yin Yin Zhengmao stayed in the capital for more than half a month. At the grand wedding ceremony, the Great Ming Princess Hu Yingjia, Zhu Xuanchang, took a generous dowry and married Yin Yin Zhengmao's third son, Yin Yin Zongxin.

Consort Zhou, who was already pregnant, cried like a tearful person. On one hand, it was joy that this daughter, who was only seven years younger than her, had a good destination. On the other hand, it was sadness. Once she left, I'm afraid they would never see each other again in this life. From then on, they would be far apart.

Lu Song is far overseas. If Zhu Xuanchang wants to come back, it is as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Zhu Xuanchang is the name given by Empress Dowager Li. Zhu Zhu Yijun hadn't seen this cheap daughter once until the day she married, only seeing her portrait.

Great Ming princesses also have their own names. The Shizong Emperor only had one daughter left named Zhu Luzhen, and the four daughters of the Emperor Longqing Emperor who were still alive were all named Zhu Yao-something. The last character must have the female radical. According to Empress Dowager Li's plan, Zhu Zhu Yijun's daughters were all named Zhu Xuan-something, and must also have the female radical, so there was the name Zhu Xuanchang.

Zhu Zhu Yijun sent off the princess he had never met, which was considered to have firmly established Yin Yin Zhengmao's status as an imperial relative.

Not long after Yin Yin Zhengmao left, at the end of the third month, Zhu Zhu Yijun received news from the Strait of Ma Liujia again. Meneses, the Governor-General of Goa, requested surrender, hoping to divide and rule according to the current actual control area. The west side of the Strait of Ma Liujia belongs to them, and the east side belongs to the Great Ming.

Meneses's letter of surrender did not cause any waves in the imperial court. The Great Ming Emperor wrote "looks ugly and thinks beautifully," which was considered the result.

The court officials already knew the importance of the Strait of Ma Liujia very well. This throat-like place, no matter what, cannot be in the hands of the West, otherwise the Great Ming's maritime borders will have no peace.

Zhu Zhu Yijun had some doubts. Meneses's letter of surrender was a bit inexplicable. He would soon get the answer to this question.

The violent waves of the Atlantic Ocean could not affect the noise of the Free City. The sea breeze blew through this free land, the city of sin. Under the light singing of the sea breeze, seagulls were spreading their wings and soaring. The sound of chirping echoed with the noise of the port. The sunset by the sea paved the sea surface with gold and then was shattered by the waves.

Xu Fan lived near the City Hall in the city, in a three-story castle. This was a renovated church, with stone arched roofs and some spires. This was obviously influenced by the Hui people. The corridors supported by Roman columns were both support and solemnity. Sunlight shone into the House of Wisdom through the intricate patterns of the window flowers and sprinkled on Xu Fan.

(Xu Fan's residence — House of Wisdom)

Antonio and Marcus broke into this House of Wisdom, rushed into the study in a hurry, and said with great excitement: "Consultant, the Pure One is dead. Philip II killed the Portuguese King Henry I!"

"I have already received the news, Your Highness, don't panic, calm down, wait for me to finish this article." Xu Fan had been writing and drawing. He was writing an obituary. His father was dead, and he died in the Great Ming's death row in a humiliating way. Xu Fan had already received this news.

When Xu Fan received the news, he felt a mix of five flavors. He left at the beginning because he saw the stubbornness of Xu Xu Jie and Xu Heng. The wind had changed long ago, but Xu Xu Jie kept staring at those interests and went his own way.

When Xu Fan left, he thought this day would come. He couldn't say the four words "blame oneself" as a son.

Fortunately, the Great Ming Emperor did not exterminate the Xu clan. Only Xu Xu Jie and Xu Heng died.

Guiyan Bay private market. During the Japanese pirate chaos in the southeast, Xu Xu Jie was the Chief Grand Secretary, the Chief Grand Secretary for twenty years. Could Xu Xu Jie not know the horror of the private market?

In the end, for the sake of profit, he died on profit.

Xu Fan did not hate the Great Ming Emperor. The Shizong Emperor, the Emperor Longqing Emperor, and His Majesty had all forgiven Xu Xu Jie's sins several times, especially His Majesty. He didn't take action when measuring land and returning fields, and he didn't take action when relocating wealthy households. Zhang Zhang Juzheng was in mourning, and the Emperor still didn't take action. Taking pity as a matter of course, who can he blame?

Xu Fan put away the obituary. When he was busy, he would burn incense for his father's spirit tablet. Xu Xu Jie's spirit tablet was carved when he was in the Great Ming.

According to the saying of mourning, he shouldn't be doing things at this time, but people have already arrived in the extremely free Free City, so there is no need to strictly abide by the rituals of the East. Just follow the customs of the place.

"Does Your Highness want to go to Lisbon (the capital of Portugal) to inherit the throne?" Xu Fan looked at Antonio and asked.

"This is what I yearn for!" Antonio shouted: "Of course! After so many years of hard work, isn't it for the arrival of this day?"

"No, you are just walking into a trap set long ago by going to Lisbon now. Even if you can ascend the throne, I conclude that you won't last a year." Xu Fan said quite confidently: "Philip II can't do anything to you now because your fleet is elusive and cannot be caught. Once you enter Lisbon, your fleet must be nearby. In this way, you fall into his advantage."

"Even if it's seventeen five-masted ocean-crossing ships, it won't work?" Antonio was unwilling. The old king was dead, and he, as the heir, couldn't go. He was unwilling, but the wise man told him the danger.

Xu Fan's intelligence and ruthlessness, Antonio had seen more than once. Antonio actually didn't lack military force, he lacked wisdom.

"Five-masted ocean-crossing ships are invincible at sea, but once they are bound in the port, they are dragons trapped in shallow water. No matter how great the power, it will turn into meat on the chopping block because of the lack of time and place, and be slaughtered." Xu Fan's perspective always stood from the angle of a chess observer.

Compared to Philip II's strength, Antonio was really too weak.

"From the beginning, I told you that the only way to get the throne is to make Philip II feel it's not worth it." Xu Fan said slightly helplessly: "If you insist on going, I won't stop you, but I don't suggest doing so."

Antonio thought for a long time and shouted: "I decided to go to Lisbon. If I wait any longer, Philip II will receive the investiture from the Pope."

Xu Fan drank a cup of tea and said unhurriedly: "Okay, but have you considered how to repay His Majesty's war loan? Twelve of these ships still carry a war loan of 3.5 million silver. Shouldn't you consider the repayment of the compensation first?"

"You probably decided that people die and debts disappear, or simply renege on the debt. But I remind you, Philip II would be very happy to accept this debt. Borrowing the Great Ming's debt in the capacity of the Crown Prince, for him, this debt can make him rule Portugal more easily. He will obtain a generous image, use his own financial resources to calm the anger from the East, which represents smoother trade, and will also make Portugal better accept him."

"This is probably the most unacceptable fact for you. Your enemy is stronger because of you. Think about it, you hate it to the bone, yet you are helpless."

Xu Fan's words completely calmed Antonio down. Xu Fan's words poured a bucket of cold water on him. He had five-masted ocean-crossing ships, and Philip had them too. When the ships arrived at the Free City of the Atlantic, according to the agreement, the ten five-masted ocean-crossing ships purchased by Philip II had already been delivered.

Philip is extremely powerful, which is an indisputable fact.

From beginning to end, the only path Xu Fan gave Antonio was to make Philip II feel it's not worth it.

If Antonio didn't abide by the agreement and detained Philip II's ten five-masted ocean-crossing ships, the furious Philip II would definitely use the God of War, the First Marquis of Santa Cruz, Alvaro de Bazan, to exterminate him.

Diego de's father, Alvaro, the undefeated myth, still hasn't been broken by anyone. The West also has the problem of merit overshadowing the master. To stabilize the country, Philip II doesn't let Alvaro go on expeditions much anymore.

"What does the wise man think should be done? Henry is dead, Portugal has no king!" Antonio was extremely anxious. He stood up and walked around, venting his restlessness.

"I can leave tomorrow, see the Falanxi King in Falanxi, and then go to England to see the English Queen. If I can get the support of the Falanxi King and the English Queen, you can return to Lisbon to inherit the throne, and Philip II will not easily use force." Xu Fan pointed out the second path.

The flames of war in the Netherlands are everywhere. Even if Don Juan goes to suppress it, it will end in nothing. But for Philip, the Netherlands is extremely important. Even if the resistance is so active, Spain can still get more than 2 million silver and 100,000 taels of gold in taxes from this region every year.

If England and Falanxi publicly intervene in the Netherlands, from secret support to reasonable intervention, I'm afraid Spain will lose the Netherlands forever. Philip really can't bear it.

"Good, good, good!!" Antonio's eyes lit up. Xu Fan's proposal made him very moved. Although he would pay a lot of price, it was a way out after all.

"Actually, there is a third path. This path will take a long, long time, but I believe that if you finish this path, you will become a true king." Xu Fan said very calmly. As a strategist and consultant, he naturally had to inform Antonio of the true path of kingship.

"What is it?" Antonio sat down and asked curiously.

"You have the support of the commoners, but the power of the commoners has not been displayed. You retreat now, let Philip II inherit the Portuguese King, and then send your people back to Portugal to launch a real war, a war belonging to all the people of Portugal, against tyranny. On the day of success, you will be the true Portuguese King. Retreating to advance is the superior strategy." Xu Fan said the third path, which could truly send Antonio to the throne.

Philip II's rule is not friendly at all. It can be clearly said that it is brutal.

The people in the Netherlands are not old birthday stars hanging themselves because they are tired of living. Knowing that Spain has an invincible fleet, they still resist. The cruel ruling policy makes the people of the Netherlands miserable. The rise of manual workshops gives them wealth and vision. The emerging bourgeoisie cannot accept the rule and exploitation of the Inquisition.

Philip II's rule in Portugal will also be like this, and will never be friendly.

"How long will it take?" Antonio asked with a frown.

"Ten years, or more." Xu Fan smiled and said: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, you don't have to worry too much about His Majesty's war loan. The benevolent His Majesty will definitely understand the difficulties of the Crown Prince in the early stage of the throne, and will definitely give you a suitable deadline to extend the repayment of these loans."

"His Majesty's imperial edict says very clearly: the high interest rate is only maintained during the war. When you win, the interest rate will be reduced from 24% to 4%, and you will also get extensions of twenty, forty, and seventy years."

"What a benevolent His Majesty."

For Antonio at this time, this is of course a gift. For Antonio in the future, it is the exploitation that is painful to the extreme.

"Let me think about it before giving the wise man an answer." Antonio looked painful. He had three paths in front of him.

The inferior strategy is to go to Lisbon immediately to inherit the throne. This is a losing situation. Even if he can escape by luck, he can only rely on others for the rest of his life.

The middle strategy is to send envoys to Falanxi and England, pay a huge price, and get the support of the Falanxi King and the English Queen. Even if he gets this support, Philip II may still use force to obtain the Portuguese throne.

As for the superior strategy, Antonio is not sure if he will win, and the time is really long. In this long time, he may need to borrow more money. By then, even if it is extended for a hundred years, the pressure of repayment is extremely great, and the riddled Portugal needs to recover, which will be another astronomical figure.

How does this make Antonio choose? He fell into infinite entanglement.

It is still because the strength is weak. If Antonio had ten thousand, no, only three thousand sharp soldiers like the Great Ming navy, he would go to Lisbon without fear, obtain the throne, and if Philip dared to commit an offense, Antonio would also have the confidence to rush to the Strait of Gibraltar to intercept the Invincible Armada.

The Great Ming navy's sharp soldiers, their strength, Antonio saw with his own eyes.

But Antonio didn't have them. He only had a group of sea pirates. Although these sea pirates were extremely cruel, they didn't have any military discipline at all.

(Topographic map)

"If I were you, I would choose the third one. Although high debt will make people feel suffocated, you will become a true king." Xu Fan put forward a very sincere suggestion. He further explained: "Compared to the promises and support of the Falanxi King and the English King, His Majesty is more credible, and has supported you with real gold and silver."

Xu Fan's sincere suggestion did not convince Antonio. Antonio left with his first mate Marcus. They had to figure out the pros and cons before making a choice.

And Xu Fan saw it very clearly. Antonio would choose the middle strategy, send envoys, and let Xu Fan go to Falanxi and England as a consultant.

This is not short-sightedness, nor is it Antonio's indecision, but Antonio does not believe that the power of the commoners will win the final victory. The wealthy Philip only needs to reveal a little bit of wealth, no, Philip only needs to be slightly gentler and plunder less, and the resistance of the commoners will turn into support.

Antonio is deeply liked and supported by the commoners, but Antonio does not believe in the power of the commoners.

Xu Fan did not further persuade him. He had already made it very clear. How to choose is Antonio's responsibility.

The second path, can Antonio really sit firmly in the position of king? Xu Fan had already imagined countless endings, all pointing to defeat, without exception.

Superior, middle, and inferior strategies? The weak actually have no choice. Antonio's only way to survive is the third path, to be placed in a dead end and then live.

Xu Fan came to the West, isn't it also to be placed in a dead end and then live? If he didn't choose this way, he was destined to end tragically.

"I need an identity, so that my children and grandchildren can return to the Great Ming openly." Xu Fan looked at the obituary in his hand. Xu Xu Jie was dead. Xu Fan didn't intend to go back in this life, but he intended to fight for the rest of his life, get an identity, and let his children and grandchildren go home.

"Special Envoy Xu, someone outside the door asks to see you." Chen Chen Dazhuang walked in and said very respectfully.

Chen Chen Dazhuang had served as a guest soldier under Ling Ling Yunyi. Chen Chen Dazhuang killed a dog of the Kong Mansion's lackey, and his father was forced to send the dog to the funeral. The Yanzhou Kong Mansion had already fallen. Last year, Chen Chen Dazhuang took a large sailing ship to the West and became Xu Fan's guard. He led three guest soldiers to protect Xu Fan.

Xu Fan was still an official of the imperial court, the special envoy to the West appointed by His Majesty.

"It was sent by Philip II, it's a priest." Chen Chen Dazhuang explained the visitor.

"Please come in." Xu Fan nodded, signaling Chen Chen Dazhuang to lead the person in.

Only one person came alone. This person wore a gray pointed hat, draped in a linen cloak, without the disgusting smell of not bathing all year round. There was a short sword at his waist, and the heavy white beard almost covered the cross on his chest.

The visitor bowed and said very sincerely: "Guest from the East, your wisdom can be heard even in Toledo. This time, coming to visit rashly and hastily, regardless of the occasion, is the guidance of the Lord and the order of the King. I hope it didn't make the guest feel uncomfortable."

"Please sit." Xu Fan signaled the priest to sit down.

"Your Latin is as fluent as a nobleman's. You can call me Solon. I am the King's court secretary and court pharmacist." Priest Solon looked at the furnishings in the room and nodded to Chen Chen Dazhuang.

Solon sat up straight and said: "My King once met you once. This time, my King brought you some gifts. This clock from Niulunbao, I hope the guest can like it."

"Thank you for your gift." Xu Fan accepted this Niulunbao egg. The same egg-like watch, the Great Ming Emperor also had one, which was given as a national gift at the beginning.

Solon took off his hat and said very sincerely: "The guest's wisdom from the East has brought my King a lot of trouble. Antonio is wealthy in military force. If he becomes wealthy in wisdom, he will be an extremely difficult opponent. Facts have also proven this. The last crushing defeat made my King extremely troubled. My King hopes you can agree to our conditions. Compared to Antonio, the stage of Spain is easier for your talent to be fully displayed."

"We brought full sincerity."

Xu Fan shook his head and said: "I come from the East. Since I work for Antonio, I will not easily betray him."

"Please listen to our sincerity." Solon took out a piece of parchment and said: "If you agree to our conditions, this contract will be distributed to every corner of the diocese through the Holy See. You don't have to worry about my monarch breaking his promise."

"This is the King's autograph letter."

Xu Fan opened the parchment. It was indeed Philip's autograph letter. The handwriting was almost the same as the state letter written to the Great Ming.

Full of sincerity.

Xu Fan could get the position of Chief Secretary of the Court, a fief of more than 5,000 *qing* in Castile, the title of Count, and the official position of Spanish diplomat after arriving at the Summer Palace.

"The Great Travel Activity excludes our Spain from the entire West. We lack talent in this area. The most famous people in Spain are all martial artists who only know how to speak with their fists. Many wars are actually completely unnecessary. Your suggestions will also be given priority. We secretaries are actually very incompetent. The King has to write more than 4,000 letters a year to communicate with governors everywhere." Solon chose to tell the truth. Philip II's diligence was often caused by the incompetence of their secretaries.

"The conditions are very moving, but I still don't intend to go." Xu Fan finally chose to refuse.

Does he want the Portuguese throne, and Philip II is willing to give it?

"What does the guest need to be willing to work for my monarch?" Solon was not in a hurry. Doing business, how can you not let the other party bargain?

"I want the Portuguese throne." Xu Fan said directly.

Solon took out another piece of parchment and said: "Yes, my monarch is never stingy. What Antonio can give, the generous King can give you double. What Antonio cannot give, we can also give."

Xu Fan was very sure that there was nothing wrong with him; it was the other party who was abnormal.

How can there be such a way to win people over? Which Great Ming special envoy to the West can withstand such a test?!

I don't know if I can understand the extension here, which is divided by the end of the war. After the end, it is 4%. The 4% forty-year extension, that interest, is also an astronomical figure. This number is already very gentle. Those who lend money in the Emperor Wanli era have an annual interest rate of even more than 50%. Ask for monthly tickets, Aowu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(End of chapter)