Chapter 435: In the Name of the Great General Who Conquers the Northern Hu, I Announce: Altan Khan, You Are Captured

When Buyan Huang Taiji saw the ten thirty-jin fire cannons, he knew that the morale in Bansheng City had completely dropped to a negative number. There was only one result for the entire Bansheng City, and that was defeat.

There are many ways to be defeated, and surrender is the most decent way. Altan Khan had truly tried his best, but Great Ming's "money ability" was truly too strong.

While Altan Khan sent his son to discuss the surrender, a riot occurred in Bansheng City. The strong men with weapons carried out looting against the ordinary civilians in the city. This had been going on since the first day Qi Qi Jiguang besieged the city. At first, this kind of riot was just desperate people relying on their own force to extort money, but soon it turned from extortion to burning, killing, and looting.

On the third day after Altan Khan's "Thunder Break," he thoroughly lost control of Bansheng City. Surrender was being discussed, and Bansheng City was in chaos, while Guihua City closed its city gates tightly.

The negotiations were not successful. Great Ming demanded unconditional surrender, and Altan Khan's son wanted to fight for his old father.

The ten-thousand-household commander of Guihua City, Yang Ding, was a Han person himself. After he had no way out, he surrendered to the Northern Hu and became a member of Guihua City, eventually becoming a Han ten-thousand-household commander. Yang Ding, this name, he himself was already very unfamiliar. He had a Northern Hu name called Ulus Buka.

Ulus Buka himself had no good feelings for Great Ming, and similarly, he had no good feelings for the Northern Hu or Altan Khan.

He was a frontier person. In his own view, Northern Hu? Where are there any Northern Hu? They are all Han people who were forced to live in the pass and fled outside the pass, so there were Northern Hu. Everyone looks the same, speaks the same, and uses the same characters. Is this a foreign enemy?

Altan Khan was fierce, wasn't it because the old men in the pass were oppressing, so Altan Khan gained manpower and material resources.

Especially after Ulus Buka read "Contradiction Theory," "Public and Private Theory," "Production Illustration," and "Class Theory," he was even more certain of the truth of his thoughts.

The Han old men were cruel in oppression, but weren't the Northern Hu old men cruel in oppression? They also cruelly oppressed and exploited, and the means were more direct.

Therefore, Yang Ding also didn't like Altan Khan. San San Niangzi's reconciliation became the consensus of many people on the grassland. At least Guihua City was like this.

The reason why Guihua City chose to remain motionless was not because they wanted to do anything, and it was not because they intended to support Bansheng, but mainly because they were afraid that any action would cause Great Ming's

The reason Guihua City chose to remain stationary wasn't because they wanted to do anything, and certainly not because they intended to support Ban Sheng; it was mainly fear that any action would cause a misunderstanding with Great Ming, whose cannons were like great thunder, bombarding continuously for a very, very long time.

It is widely rumored among the grassland people that the Great Ming Emperor is indeed the reincarnation of the True Martial Great Emperor, and that General Qi requested the Thunder Method from the Emperor to punish sinners.

This understanding, while absurd, carries a certain logic.

On the tenth day of Qi Qi Jiguang's siege, the main army began to enter Ban Sheng City. At this time, Ban Sheng had already become a living hell, a world in complete disorder. Qi Qi Jiguang had seen such living hells many times before; back then, wherever the Japanese pirate scourge reached, it looked just like this—everywhere were broken walls and ruins, and the air was filled with a decaying smell, a stench of rotting corpses and scorched earth.

A great fire broke out in the city.

The survivors looked at the entering army with eyes full of suspicion and terror; they dared not come out from their hiding places because they did not know if these soldiers were the same kind of villains as those thugs.

Qi Qi Jiguang arrived at the Golden Tent. There were no thugs harassing the place; the Keshig, Altan Khan's personal guard, were still protecting the Golden Tent, and the fire in the city had not spread there.

Altan Khan, leading his ten-thousand-household commanders and lamas, presented the golden seal before the Golden Tent. Kneeling on the ground, he handed the golden seal to the Great Ming Grand General. This golden seal was the Prince Prince Shunyi seal bestowed upon Altan Khan by Great Ming after the Emperor Longqing peace talks, and only this golden seal could fully represent his status.

"Back then, the Great Ming capital region—Yanqing, Changping, Huairou, Prince Shunyi, Miyun, Tongzhou, Jizhou, Zunhua—was the same as Ban Sheng is today." Qi Qi Jiguang drew the sword bestowed by the Son of Heaven, held it to Altan Khan's neck, and said calmly: "In the name of the Great Ming Emperor who appointed me Grand General Conquering the Caitiffs, I declare: Altan Khan, you are captured."

Qi Qi Jiguang had been fighting for thirty years; he knew clearly what he was doing. The civil officials in the capital feared his violence, power, and cold-bloodedness. Ban Sheng City was indeed tragic, but were the people of Great Ming not tragic from the 29th year of Emperor Jiajing all the way to the 2nd year of Emperor Longqing?

Today's Ban Sheng is just like the various towns of the Great Ming capital region back then; such tragedies also once happened in Great Ming.

Great Ming and the Northern Caitiffs must have a conclusion to thoroughly stop such tragic events from happening.

Buyan Huang Taiji negotiated surrender terms with Great Ming, but they ultimately failed to reach an agreement. This is why Qi Qi Jiguang had to enter the city on the tenth day, rather than Altan Khan coming out to surrender.

Altan Khan is a captive, not a surrendered subject.

Initially, Buyan Huang Taiji proposed that Altan Khan retain his Prince Prince Shunyi title and enjoy the same treatment as the Suzerain Khan. Qi Qi Jiguang refused to agree. The Suzerain Khan did indeed invade in the first year of Emperor Longqing, but he didn't gain any advantage that time; instead, due to the weather and the soldiers' resistance, he ended up in a miserable state, causing the Suzerain Khan to lose all face.

The reconciliation between Great Ming and the Suzerain Khan was largely related to Qi Qi Jiguang's northward march in the second year of Emperor Longqing, where he won multiple intense conflicts. Great Ming's several campaigns had already achieved their goal of revenge.

The slaughter caused by Altan Khan could not be washed away with blood.

Altan Khan was not put in shackles or fetters; he was put into a covered prison cart and escorted to the capital along with Dong Dong Huli.

On the tenth day of Qi Qi Jiguang's siege, the 11th day of the 6th month of the 9th year of Emperor Wanli, Ban Sheng City fell. On the 12th day of the 6th month, Yang Ding, a ten-thousand-household commander of Guihua City, arrived at Ban Sheng City to surrender. Seeing that the outcome had been decided, Yang Ding surrendered immediately. This was originally one of San San Niangzi's instructions: if Altan Khan won, Guihua City would maintain its original reconciliation stance; if Great Ming won, they would surrender.

Great Ming could lose many times, but after Altan Khan built the city, he could only lose once.

Reconciliation is the total compromise of one side to the other. San San Niangzi's reconciliation had never changed from beginning to end, and that was total reconciliation.

Guihua City had long been prepared. On the 22nd day of the 6th month of the 9th year of Emperor Wanli, the Great Ming Datong Guard army, led by Viceroy of Xuan-Da Wu Wu Baipeng and Datong Regional Commander Jiao Su Chengxun, arrived at Ban Sheng and Guihua City.

It was also on this day that Qi Qi Jiguang carried out the beheading of over five thousand people.

These were the dregs of the dregs who had plundered ordinary civilians during the siege, their hands stained with the blood of Han people and also the blood of Tatars. In the context of Great Ming, these were desperate outlaws, and their crime was aiding rebellion and creating chaos.

This action actually carried immense political risk for Qi Qi Jiguang, as it was easy for the censorate to impeach him for wantonly killing the innocent and killing captives. But if Qi Qi Jiguang did not kill these people, Great Ming's recovery of the Ordos would still not be able to enjoy long-term peace and stability. For the sake of Great Ming's long-term rule over the Ordos and other areas, Qi Qi Jiguang firmly chose to kill.

And Qi Qi Jiguang's intention in this move was very clear: if the grassland people needed an object of hatred, it could not be Great Ming, the imperial court, or His Majesty, but rather he, Qi Qi Jiguang, as an individual.

This was also one of Qi Qi Jiguang's goals.

Making impulsive mistakes on the front lines is also a way for military generals to survive. If one insists on being unappreciative and having achievements that overshadow the master, that is a lack of submissiveness.

On the 23rd day of the 6th month, with the guard army stationed there, the Great Ming Cavalry Battalion led by Li Li Rusong acted as the vanguard and marched toward the Ordos. Destroying Ban Sheng and capturing Altan Khan alive was not Great Ming's goal; recovering the Ordos was.

Altan Khan, Dong Dong Huli, Buyan Huang Taiji, Khan Chahan Chahan Naoer, the Great Lama Sonam Gyatso, and a group of other criminals were escorted to the capital and locked in the Northern Depot prison.

"General Qi is mighty." Zhu Zhu Yijun said to Feng Bao: "Issue an edict to the Grand Secretariat; I want to announce the good news of General Qi's victory at the Meridian Gate! Now, immediately prepare the carriage for the Grand Marshal's mansion; I want to tell the Grand Marshal this good news."

The Great Ming Grand Marshal was still Tan Lun. Even though he had begun to become muddled, the recovery of the Ordos, which he had been thinking about day and night, had finally taken a big step forward. Just as Tan Lun said to the new Tan Sima Ceng Ceng Shengwu, no matter what, take it back first; the rest can be discussed later. Even if it cannot be governed now and can only be militarily controlled, it is still better than not being able to take it back later.

The biggest problem with the Emperor Longqing peace talks was that after the peace talks, the Ordos region actually belonged to the Northern Caitiffs.

Zhu Zhu Yijun's carriage soon arrived at Tan Lun's mansion. During this period, Tan Lun's condition had not worsened, but he became less and less inclined to speak. Even when his eldest son asked him questions, he would avoid speaking if he could. His personality also changed from being temperamental to being completely closed off. The time he spent in a stupor grew longer and longer, and his time awake was not much. Zhu Zhu Yijun waited for more than half an hour before Tan Lun woke up.

"Paying respects to Your Majesty." Tan Lun wanted to perform the rites. He felt he had performed the meticulous five-bows-and-three-knockings rite, but in reality, his body hadn't moved at all. Tan Lun always felt the Emperor before him was very strange; in his impression, the Emperor was still that ten-year-old chubby child.

"Grand Marshal, General Qi has conquered Ban Sheng, captured Altan Khan alive, and is marching toward the Ordos. The Northern Caitiffs have been defeated, thoroughly defeated." Zhu Zhu Yijun held Tan Lun's hand, speaking very slowly, enunciating every word clearly, fearing Tan Lun wouldn't understand.

"Good, good, good." Tan Lun nodded repeatedly and said: "Well fought, well fought. Your Majesty, shouldn't General Qi be granted a military title? General Qi has made great contributions to the imperial dynasty."

"I will grant him a title, Grand Marshal, rest assured." Zhu Zhu Yijun did not correct Tan Lun's cognitive error. Tan Lun could no longer remember that the Emperor had already granted Qi Qi Jiguang the titles of Earl of Qian'an and Marquis of Qian'an, and this time he even intended to grant Qi Qi Jiguang the title of Duke after announcing the victory at the Meridian Gate.

Tan Lun felt it was unfair; Qi Qi Jiguang had so many military achievements but couldn't even get a title, not even a hereditary one. This was too unfair. Tan Lun was also emboldened by the fact that he was dying, which was why he dared to make such a bold request.

A sense of dislocation in time and space.

After Tan Lun became muddled, Zhu Zhu Yijun could always feel this sense of dislocation. Great Ming had changed tremendously, so this conversation felt like a mismatch.

"Your Majesty, Duke Jiangling is strict in his requirements, but it is for the good of Great Ming. He was a bit too hasty in doing things. Your Majesty, as the Son of Heaven of Great Ming, should consider the grand plan of Great Ming and exercise some patience." Tan Lun gripped the Emperor's strong hand, frowning and saying: "The Master's requirements are strict because the state of the nation is in peril. Your Majesty, please understand the Master's difficulties a little."

"I have noted the Grand Marshal's instructions, noted them." Zhu Zhu Yijun patted Tan Lun's hand, leaned in closer, and said with certainty.

Tan Lun was worried that Zhang Zhang Juzheng would not have a good ending. Zhang Zhang Juzheng had offended too many people, and the only person he could rely on was this somewhat strange Emperor before him.

Zhu Zhu Yijun briefly talked about Li Li Rusong's great victory in Wuchuan, and after finishing, he prepared to talk about the situation in Ban Sheng City, but Tan Lun had already become muddled again, so Zhu Zhu Yijun had to give up.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the common lot of man. When Zhu Zhu Yijun left Tan Lun's mansion, he could only console himself with this.

"Issue an edict to the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Rites, ordering Tang Tang Kekuan's son to have his hereditary rank of Guard Commander restored." When Zhu Zhu Yijun returned to the Tonghe Palace Imperial Study, he immediately issued an edict to restore the hereditary official position of Tang Tang Kekuan's son. Even if he didn't lead troops, receiving a salary was what he deserved. Tang Tang Kekuan died for Great Ming on the border; this had been Zhu Zhu Yijun's stance from the beginning.

Now that Dong Dong Huli had been captured, it could be considered avenging Tang Tang Kekuan, and this matter had thoroughly resolved the karma.

"Your Majesty, the Master is waiting outside the Imperial Study." Feng Bao said, bowing his head.

"Summon him."

Zhu Zhu Yijun knew very well why Zhang Zhang Juzheng had come to the Imperial Study: to announce the victory, or rather, to grant Qi Qi Jiguang the title of Duke.

On the matter of Qi Qi Jiguang being promoted to Duke, Zhu Zhu Yijun and Zhang Zhang Juzheng were equally stubborn, both very persistent. Now that Qi Qi Jiguang had sent Altan Khan back to the capital, this matter had to be argued to a conclusion.

"Master, dispense with the formalities, sit down and speak." Zhu Zhu Yijun sat up straight, ready for battle.

"Your Majesty, I believe Your Majesty should not personally go to the Meridian Gate to announce the victory; let the Tan Sima Ceng Ceng Shengwu announce it." Zhang Zhang Juzheng went straight to the point: not only could he not be granted the title of Duke, but the announcement of the victory should also be performed by the Tan Sima on his behalf.

"I disagree. Master, you taught me that state affairs are complex, but the executor is one; believe in rewards and punishments, and if rewards and punishments are clear, then the state will have great trust. General Qi destroyed the Jin state and captured the Caitiff King alive; this is a first-class merit and should be granted the title of Duke to show that rewards and punishments are clear. This is what you taught me, Master. Why are you now saying that we cannot believe in rewards and punishments?" Zhu Zhu Yijun's tone was calm.

Today, either Zhang Zhang Juzheng would be persuaded, or Zhu Zhu Yijun would persuade Zhang Zhang Juzheng; there was no other option. This title of Duke of Duke Fengguo—Zhang Zhang Juzheng had to agree, and Zhu Zhu Yijun would grant it; even if he didn't agree, he would still grant it.

"Your Majesty, I did indeed say that." Zhang Zhang Juzheng was used to being hit by his own boomerangs. He bowed his head and said: "Your Majesty, I am also doing this to protect General Qi. Those with great power are destroyed, and those with great achievements are ruined. Is Yang Bo a gentleman or a villain? Yang Bo wanted to be a gentleman, but he no longer has the opportunity to turn over a new leaf."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng talked about the issue of the "Contradiction Theory" already being deleted, and the question of whether Yang Bo was a gentleman or a villain. Sometimes, when a person climbs to a high position, they become unable to control their own actions. Zhu Zhu Yijun was willing to give Zhang Zhang Juzheng the temple name of "Ming She Zong," but he couldn't; this was the core point Zhang Zhang Juzheng wanted to express.

Qi Qi Jiguang had already climbed high enough; there was no need to climb any higher.

"Master, you taught me that the Great Dao should be practiced, but now you tell me that I cannot do so. Then why did you teach me, Master?" Zhu Zhu Yijun played the unreasonable card: "I don't listen, I don't listen, no matter how many reasons you have, I won't listen."

This was acting shamelessly. Zhang Zhang Juzheng was talking about practice, while Zhu Zhu Yijun kept talking about theory. This was simply sophistry. Zhu Zhu Yijun's reasons were completely valid, but the problem was that in practice, one needs to compromise with reality.

"This is also General Qi's intention. General Qi has used the Son of Heaven's bestowed weapons twice. Since the weapons have already been bestowed, do not bestow the title. General Qi beheading the unscrupulous merchants accompanying the army in the borderlands and beheading the defeated captives in Ban Sheng was precisely to avoid going any further." Zhang Zhang Juzheng continued to speak facts.

Qi Qi Jiguang's two killings were both "act first, report later," especially the desperate outlaws in Ban Sheng. Actually, it should have been the Viceroy of Xuan-Da, Wu Wu Baipeng, who submitted the memorial to request the beheading. These desperate outlaws had to die, but who did the killing was the key to the problem.

Qi Qi Jiguang killed them directly, which was splashing dirty water on himself.

"No, no, no. I have asked the Grand Minister of Rites about this matter. Wan Wan Shihe told me that this is a convention. Back then, when the Duke of Ying, Zhang Fu, campaigned in Annam, he also acted first and reported later. Every time he took a city, he would behead the desperate and treacherous to prevent them from gathering and causing chaos. This is an inevitable behavior in military operations; it's no big deal. The Duke of Ying, Zhang Fu, campaigned in Annam twice and did the same. To this day, the Annam state still has shrines for the Duke of Ying, Zhang Fu, and the Annamese do not hate Zhang Fu." Zhu Zhu Yijun waved his hands repeatedly.

After Zhu Zhu Yijun received the report from the front lines, he immediately summoned Wan Wan Shihe to ask if there was a way to "clean up" the situation. Wan Wan Shihe indicated that this didn't need cleaning up; wasn't this expected? He then brought up the old precedent of Zhang Fu killing the desperate every time he took a city. These killings were not the reason Great Ming lost the thirteen divisions of Jiaozhi.

Huang Fu, the Administrator and Surveillance Commissioner of Jiaozhi, served in Jiaozhi for nineteen years, exercising both prestige and kindness, and was deeply loved by the people. Once he left, the remaining officials cruelly exploited the people, eventually leading to Li Li's total rise to power.

Zhang Fu's slaughter in Annam was even heavier, but the Annamese felt those desperate outlaws deserved to die.

Qi Qi Jiguang killing people was not the problem; it didn't even need cleaning up. There were ancestral precedents to fall back on. If what Zhang Fu did was wrong, why didn't Emperor Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di punish him? Could it be because Emperor Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di was too muddled?

"Your Majesty." Zhang Zhang Juzheng looked slightly helpless. He was talking about Qi Qi Jiguang's personal wishes, but Zhu Zhu Yijun started talking about facts again. From beginning to end, the Emperor was avoiding the heavy and dwelling on the light.

Bad news: His Majesty is learning from the lowly scholars.

Good news: He has learned it all!

"Your Majesty, this is not a good thing for General Qi. If he is granted the title of Duke like this, General Qi will not be able to lead troops into battle in the future." Zhang Zhang Juzheng talked about the impact on Qi Qi Jiguang again. Qi Qi Jiguang could currently lead the Capital Battalion to strike everywhere as the Marquis of Qian'an, but once Qi Qi Jiguang became the Duke of Duke Fengguo, he could only retire.

Although Qi Qi Jiguang was old, he was still far from being unable to lead troops. Granting him the title of Duke like this would likely be like clipping the wings of an eagle, forcing it to hibernate.

Not being able to fight is torture for a general.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was about to say, why can't a Duke lead troops into battle? But after thinking carefully, it really was like that.

In the early days of the dynasty, Dukes could of course lead troops into battle because Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di were the most capable fighters, but now the state of the nation was completely different. Zhu Zhu Yijun was not the most capable fighter, so the matter of a Duke leading troops was indeed as Zhang Zhang Juzheng said.

Zhu Zhu Yijun discovered that Zhang Zhang Juzheng was definitely prepared. As long as he fell into the topic of discussion set by Zhang Zhang Juzheng, he would become passive.

"General Qi's return to the capital will still take some time. Master, I hear that you have been uncomfortable sitting for long periods recently. How about this: I will let the Grand Physician Chen Chen Shigong treat you, and I will give you a month's leave to see a doctor." Zhu Zhu Yijun played a card to change the subject and shelve the matter for now, using Zhang Zhang Juzheng's illness as an excuse to give him leave to see a doctor.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng's long periods of sitting had led to an illness that had to be treated. Over the years, although Zhang Zhang Juzheng had avoided spicy food, "ten out of ten people have hemorrhoids," and this was not a strange thing for Zhang Zhang Juzheng, who sat for long periods. Grand Physician Chen Chen Shigong had practiced for so many years, and he had a hundred percent certainty that he could cure it within seven days.

Chen Chen Shigong's current strength in surgery far exceeded the past. Just the number of people he had performed "lingchi" (death by a thousand cuts) on for dissection was over a hundred, and the number of hemorrhoid surgeries he had performed was enough to stretch from the capital to Jizhou. For Zhang Zhang Juzheng's hemorrhoids, Chen Chen Shigong had sufficient confidence; without confidence, he wouldn't dare talk to the Emperor about surgery.

Chen Chen Shigong had invented a "Three-Grade One-Gun" method; it only needed one shot to solve the problem.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng also agreed to the surgery. As for whether he would die, he didn't have too many worries. His death wouldn't have too drastic an impact on the Great Ming imperial dynasty. He had already arranged the content of the land equalization and labor service reforms. Perhaps His Majesty would be very tired for a period of time, but the next "roll king" (overachiever) would appear in the court along with the selection system of the Examination Law to continue assisting His Majesty.

"Your Majesty." Zhang Zhang Juzheng was truly helpless. He was the Emperor; who could be more shameless than His Majesty?

"Master, my intention to grant General Qi the title of Duke of Duke Fengguo is decided; there is no need to persuade me further. Even if you drag the Grand Secretariat and the Five Chief Military Commissions to oppose it, this must be done." Zhu Zhu Yijun gave Zhang Zhang Juzheng a very clear answer: this matter must be done.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was silent for a long time, thinking and thinking, his right thumb constantly rubbing against his index finger, before he finally opened his mouth and said: "Then grant it."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng compromised. If he didn't compromise, His Majesty would still act shamelessly. He couldn't act like Gao Gong and stop His Majesty from handling state affairs. Since it was to be granted, then the Emperor and the Grand Secretariat would be in complete agreement.

In fact, the root of the disagreement was that Zhang Zhang Juzheng and the Emperor had different positions on the Capital Battalion.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng had always viewed the Capital Battalion as the Emperor's sharp blade, the most useful tool for maintaining stability, and the ballast for the New Policies. This was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's positioning of the Capital Battalion, and also the fundamental purpose of Zhang Zhang Juzheng's revitalization—his political stance of respecting the Emperor's supreme power.

Zhu Zhu Yijun, on the other hand, had more expectations for the Capital Battalion. If it were only a tool for maintaining stability, there would be no need to spend so much money to build it. His positioning for the Capital Battalion was to conquer the disobedient, and a more explicit indicator of this positioning was the expansion of territory through real-land counties.

One was for maintaining stability, the other was a sharp blade for expansion. Different positioning determined the different upper limits for the Capital Battalion's commanders.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was not determined to lead the Grand Secretariat to sing a different tune from the Emperor. If he really wanted to sing a different tune, he wouldn't have agreed to the Capital Battalion's campaign against Ban Sheng. It was common knowledge that Altan Khan was about to die of old age. If they waited two years, Altan Khan would die, and through the economic control of the wool trade, they could slowly plot for the Ordos.

Since His Majesty insisted on this, Zhang Zhang Juzheng no longer opposed it. He hesitated for a moment, handed a sealed memorial to Feng Bao, and then said: "Your Majesty, if Heaven does not grant me time, Your Majesty can open it and read it then."

"Good." Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded.

"I take my leave." Zhang Zhang Juzheng stood up and bowed.

After all, it was surgery, and there was a possibility of problems. He gave this memorial to His Majesty as his last will and testament. If he really died under the "Three-Grade One-Gun," it wouldn't be too late for His Majesty to read the will. If he was blessed by Heaven and didn't die, then there would be no need to open it.

"Feng, my attendant, see the Master off." Zhu Zhu Yijun waved his hand, signaling Feng Bao to see him off on his behalf. As soon as Zhang Zhang Juzheng left, Zhu Zhu Yijun opened the memorial and read it carefully.

It was a memorial highly similar to Zhuge Liang's "Chu Shi Biao" (Memorial on the Expedition) in both structure and content. The earnest and tactful words exhorted the Emperor to be diligent and not neglect state affairs, warned the Emperor not to forget the difficulties of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Emperor Shizong, and urged the Emperor to open up channels for advice, clarify rewards and punishments, and stay close to the virtuous and far from the sycophants. The expectation for Great Ming to become great again rested entirely on the Emperor's shoulders. He hoped His Majesty would not fail the expectations of the people, and he wrote very clearly about who could be used and who could not.

The "Chu Shi Biao" was a last will and testament. When Zhu Zhu Yijun memorized it in full, he just felt Zhuge Liang was long-winded. Only when he read it later did he thoroughly understand its content. At that time, during the campaigns, the travel was exhausting, and a moment of carelessness could mean death on the long journey, but Zhuge Liang still led the army to continue the northern expedition.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng's last will and testament was similar.

Compared to Zhuge Liang, Zhang Zhang Juzheng was actually slightly inferior. Zhang Zhang Juzheng's military talent was not very strong, and Zhang Zhang Juzheng did not have the ability to command large-scale military operations. Zhang Zhang Juzheng was also a great corrupt official who accepted tributes from military generals and external officials.

Zhu Zhu Yijun did not have a Zhuge Liang, but he had Zhang Zhang Juzheng to assist him, Qi Qi Jiguang to rely on for military affairs, and Hai Rui as a moral model. This was completely enough; Heaven had already been good enough to him.

In the 9th year of Emperor Wanli, the nineteen-year-old Zhu Zhu Yijun already had sufficient experience to handle state affairs. Zhang Zhang Juzheng had taught him very well—the good and the bad, he had taught him all. But if Zhang Zhang Juzheng really left, Zhu Zhu Yijun would become exceptionally busy, which would delay his "neglect of proper work."

The next day, the Inspector Zhao Zhao Mengyou mobilized eight hundred embroidered-uniform guards to surround the entire Quanchu Guild Hall. Everyone entering or leaving had to undergo strict inspection, and the fruits and vegetables entering the mansion were no longer purchased by the Quanchu Guild Hall itself, but were uniformly purchased and delivered by Zhang Hong, dispatched by the Emperor, to ensure that Zhang Zhang Juzheng would be safe during this period of weakness.

After preparations for the surgery were completed, Zhu Zhu Yijun personally arrived at the Quanchu Guild Hall but did not go in. The pressure given was already great enough; if the pressure were any greater, he was afraid Chen Chen Shigong's hands would shake.

"Wang Qian, why are you here too? Could it be that you want to harm the Master?" Zhu Zhu Yijun held a "Three-Grade One-Gun" in his hand, studying its structure. It was indeed very exquisite, and the zinc plating for rust prevention was done extremely well.

Zhu Zhu Yijun didn't go in, fearing Chen Chen Shigong's hands would shake. Wang Qian didn't go in either; he was also standing in front of the door waiting. He had come because his father had sent him.

"Your Majesty, you can't just say things like that! I have absolutely no such intention. If I had a guilty conscience, would I dare to stand here?" Wang Qian waved his hands repeatedly. His Majesty usually liked to make jokes, but these words were truly heart-piercing.

"That's true." Zhu Zhu Yijun returned the "First-Grade Three-Gun" to Zhang Hong and then said: "Wang Qian, I have not treated your father and son poorly. If you want silver, I can give it; if you want status, I can give it; if you want reputation, I can give it; if you want to be remembered in history, I can give it."

"But the Master's life, I cannot give."

Wang Qian shuddered. As a political rival, it wasn't that Wang Qian hadn't thought about making some moves while Zhang Zhang Juzheng was weak, but when Wang Qian told his father his thoughts, his father drew his seven-star ring-headed sword and, at the age of nearly seventy, chased Wang Qian for two streets before stopping.

Some things, Wang Wang Chonggu saw more clearly than Wang Qian. The Great Ming Emperor was simple and easy to understand; some things could be touched, but some things really could not be touched.

"This time General Qi won a great victory, and my father was so happy that he rewarded me with seventy thousand taels of silver for pocket money. Tsk tsk, he's really generous." It wasn't easy for Wang Qian to return this answer. He answered the question flawlessly from another angle.

General Qi won, and Wang Wang Chonggu was very happy. Seventy thousand taels of silver for pocket money was unique in all of Great Ming.

On the other hand, this was also claiming credit. Although the Jin Party had sycophants, their overall performance could be considered loyal to the monarch and patriotic. They didn't cause trouble for Qi Qi Jiguang's campaign for the sake of silver, and they didn't cause any impact on the campaign. This was claiming credit.

Wang Wang Chonggu was truly happy. With Qi Qi Jiguang's victory, the Jin Party's past act of "raising bandits to increase their own importance" could be considered to have landed safely.

"Your Majesty, the surgery was very successful." A small eunuch ran out from the front of the Quanchu Guild Hall and reported the situation inside in a loud voice.

"Very good, I will come to see him again tomorrow." Zhu Zhu Yijun still hadn't gone in, fearing he would bring bacteria inside, but he came every day to ask.

The only regret was that the chili powder Zhu Zhu Yijun said he would sprinkle on the "Three-Grade One-Gun" could not be fulfilled.

Back when the Jin Party made trouble for Zhang Zhang Juzheng over the exclusive occupation of the lecture hall, Zhang Zhang Juzheng didn't hesitate at all and threw Zhu Zhu Yijun to Wang Wang Jiaping and Fan Fan Yingqi. At that time, Zhu Zhu Yijun had planned to sprinkle a handful of chili powder on the "Three-Grade One-Gun" to let Zhang Zhang Juzheng know what it meant to be vindictive and what it meant to hold a grudge.

Dong Dong Huli was right; the Great Ming Emperor really held grudges.

(End of this chapter)