Chapter 602

Zhang Zhang Juzheng did not have the strength to usurp the throne in the first year of Emperor Wanli, but he had such strength now.

In the first year of Emperor Wanli, the court had Yang Bo, Ge Ge Shouli, Wang Wang Chonggu, Tan Lun, and Wang Wang Guoguang, all of whom were of the Jin Faction. No matter what, Zhang Zhang Juzheng could not monopolize power. Even if he successively dismissed these people, he still didn't have the strength to usurp the throne. Zhang Zhang Juzheng's influence now could be said to have been given bit by bit by Zhu Zhu Yijun over these twelve years.

When the Emperor was seriously ill, the first thing Zhang Zhang Juzheng thought of was to have Wang Wang Chonggu be buried with the Emperor.

Wang Wang Chonggu ran to the Xishan Coal Bureau because he was truly afraid. Now that His Majesty's illness had taken a turn for the better, Wang Wang Chonggu was overjoyed and ran back, filing a complaint against Zhang Zhang Juzheng! Whether it was useful or not, at least there was a place to seek justice.

"Yesterday at noon, the Grand Secretary suddenly sent the Iron Forest Army from his own mansion to surround your servant's mansion. If your servant hadn't been away from home, and was just preparing to go to the Xishan Coal Bureau, I would have been caught by the Grand Secretary. I called my son Wang Qian and rushed to the Xishan Coal Bureau before the city gates closed. Your servant and Wang Qian ran away, but my family fell into the hands of the Grand Secretary."

"Your Majesty, please make the decision for your servant!" Wang Wang Chonggu cried so miserably. Fortunately, he ran fast.

"What is the reason?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked curiously.

Wang Wang Chonggu kowtowed again and said in fear, "There is no reason. He just surrounded your servant's mansion for no reason."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng relied on his status as a hereditary military noble to mobilize the Iron Forest Army to surround the Wang family, allowing entry but not exit, without any reason. What he wanted to do was self-evident.

After His Majesty woke up, he inquired of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Zhao Zhao Mengyou. Zhao Zhao Mengyou gave an affirmative answer that the Iron Forest Army of the Yicheng Earl's Mansion and the Quanchu Guild Hall had indeed been mobilized, and Zhang Zhang Juzheng had mobilized the troops to surround the Wang family in the capacity of a military noble, allowing entry but not exit, without any reason. After His Majesty turned the corner this morning, Zhang Zhang Juzheng ordered the withdrawal of troops and opened the gates of all the wards.

After Zhu Zhu Yijun woke up, he issued an imperial decree to open the nine city gates. Wang Wang Chonggu knew that His Majesty was safe and sound, so he returned to the capital.

"Didn't he withdraw the troops?" Zhu Zhu Yijun forcibly rounded it up for Zhang Zhang Juzheng. He nodded and said, "The Master was truly too excessive! I will talk to him properly later!"

There wasn't even a reprimand, let alone punishment. But just with this "talk," Wang Wang Chonggu got up from the ground smoothly. He was already very satisfied with the result.

That's about enough. It was already not bad that His Majesty was willing to talk about it. One had to know the closeness of the relationship.

Wang Wang Chonggu and Wang Qian sat down, but neither spoke, because His Majesty was thinking, so it was not appropriate to disturb him.

Zhu Zhu Yijun understood, and Wang Wang Chonggu understood what Zhang Zhang Juzheng wanted to do. Zhang Zhang Juzheng intended to perish together with Wang Wang Chonggu, directly exchanging pieces. With such an unreasonable mobilization, forcing people to death, Zhang Zhang Juzheng would have to give an explanation. Dealing with His Majesty's funeral arrangements and following Wang Wang Chonggu to follow His Majesty was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's plan.

To usurp the throne, two necessary factors were needed: a person with huge influence in politics, such as Zhang Zhang Juzheng; and a person with huge influence in the military, such as Qi Qi Jiguang.

Neither could be missing. Zhang Zhang Juzheng's plan was also very simple: let the Prince of Lu be enfeoffed, let the eldest imperial son Zhu Zhu Changzhi inherit the throne, and have Zhang Zhang Juzheng and Wang Wang Chonggu, these two faction leaders, perish together, and let Shen Shen Shixing enter the capital to start balancing the situation.

In the first year of Emperor Wanli, Zhang Zhang Juzheng didn't have the strength to usurp the throne and could only act as regent because his foundation was shallow. The Great Ming could survive the crisis of a young ruler and a suspicious state in the early Emperor Wanli years, not just because of Zhang Zhang Juzheng's conscience, but because Zhang Zhang Juzheng really couldn't do it back then. After all, Zhang Zhang Juzheng's foundation was shallow.

Shen Shen Shixing's foundation was also not deep. Entering the capital to act as Grand Secretary, he also couldn't usurp the throne.

This was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's plan. Surrounding Wang Wang Chonggu's mansion was for this purpose.

Actually, Wang Wang Chonggu also saw it clearly. They were all thousand-year-old foxes. It was just that he didn't understand at first, but after a day and a night, he understood.

Wang Wang Chonggu said Zhang Zhang Juzheng was a loyal official. This was how he was loyal.

"The Master was also anxious. I didn't expect this to happen either." Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile, "Second Grand Secretary Wang, don't be alarmed. I will definitely talk to the Master properly. Second Grand Secretary Wang has also suffered this time. When you go back, take two jars of National Cellar from me."

Two jars, not two bottles, counted as comfort.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great kindness!" Wang Wang Chonggu naturally had complaints in his heart, but the Emperor's death would be world-shattering. If the nest was overturned, how could there be any whole eggs? His Majesty's dragon body was unwell. Zhang Zhang Juzheng didn't want to be a traitor, and didn't want Wang Wang Chonggu to become a traitor again, so he could only do this.

"Trouble the Second Grand Secretary to go to the Brother Jinshan Cemetery to pay respects to the Minister of War Tan Lun, and the Marquis of Zhangping, Qi Qi Jiguang. I suddenly saw them both while I was critically ill, fighting to the death with the Japanese pirates. As soon as I thought that the Japanese pirates hadn't been wiped out yet, I immediately became energetic." Zhu Zhu Yijun talked about his illness with a smile.

Wang Wang Chonggu had also fought the Japanese pirates and could be considered a comrade-in-arms of Tan Lun and Qi Qi Jiguang.

"Your servant obeys the decree." Wang Wang Chonggu received the order. He could actually understand the Emperor's meaning. On one hand, it was sharing something that no one else could possibly know, indicating extra closeness. On the other hand, it was also telling Wang Wang Chonggu why Zhang Zhang Juzheng did that.

Why Tan Lun, who was recommended to return to the court by the Jin Faction leader Yang Bo, finally betrayed the Jin Faction? As the current leader of the Jin Faction, Wang Wang Chonggu knew better than anyone else. Wang Wang Chonggu was the culprit. The list of Beijing Camp military officers he compiled was the direct reason.

"Your Majesty, the memorials have been brought." Feng Bao said in a low voice with eight drafting eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial, holding a large pile of memorials.

Wang Qian looked at the brush, ink, paper, inkstone, vermilion ink, etc., and said in horror, "His Majesty has just recovered from a serious illness. Does he have to read memorials again without resting for two days?!"

If the donkey of the Ba Yi family saw this, it would have to curse him for being a "roll king." If the king of eagles, the gyrfalcon, saw this, it would have to say, "Don't torture the eagle like this!"

"There's no other way. I've broken the fever, so there's nothing else. If the memorials are not approved, the Cabinet won't be able to move, and all matters cannot be pushed forward. If I delay here for one day, everything will be delayed for ten days, a month. It cannot be delayed." Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile, "I'm used to it."

Empress Dowager Li said that delaying for a few days wouldn't cause the Great Ming to collapse. This was true. Not to mention delaying for a few days, even if the Emperor lay in the harem without holding court or approving memorials, the Great Ming could still hold on for another seventy years.

But if he delayed here for one day, the Great Ming would have to spend ten days or half a month to find the efficiency lost due to administrative rigidity. Since this illness, Zhu Zhu Yijun felt more and more that time waited for no one. He didn't know whether an accident or tomorrow would come first, so he had to seize the day.

"Your servants withdraw." Wang Wang Chonggu left the sickroom of the Dissection Institute with his son.

Wang Qian stopped after walking a dozen steps and looked back, saying in a low voice, "Father, you said that His Majesty insisted on performing surgery to pull his wisdom teeth. Was it because the toothache affected his reading of the memorials that he had to pull them?"

"It's possible." Wang Wang Chonggu said deeply, "It's too terrifying! Son, in this life, besides the mountains and rivers of the state, there are also the love of children and the trivial matters of the family. To be alive, one must have a sense of relaxation. That's right, one must have a sense of relaxation!"

"Your son will strictly follow Father's teachings." Wang Qian didn't act as a rebellious son this time, but fully approved of his father's point of view. He looked back again and shivered, saying, "It's really too terrifying."

Zhu Zhu Yijun felt good. The toothache was a continuous pain that could kill you. After pulling the tooth, the wound still ached faintly, but it was very occasional, just a small moment, and he didn't even notice it. Zhu Zhu Yijun's efficiency in handling government affairs returned to its original high efficiency.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was resigning again. It was a memorial written today.

"The state affairs have been entrusted to others, and there are people to restore and save them. The Second Grand Secretary has delusions, but it is just a fantasy. Your servant can return to his original clothes and leave for a long time without worry. Thinking about it day and night, my strength is not equal to my heart, just cutting my heart."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng meant that state affairs had been entrusted to people who could be trusted, and there were wise people in the court, so he could leave for a long time without worry. Even if Wang Wang Chonggu had any inappropriate thoughts, he was no longer the Emperor's opponent. His mood was very urgent.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng realized that the power in his hands was too great. Before, he felt that the Emperor was young and could outlive the old man. After all, His Majesty was in his prime. But now Zhang Zhang Juzheng realized that accidents were also something he needed to consider, so he had to leave.

Zhu Zhu Yijun thought for a while and replied: "The Master teaches me that a great man is born between heaven and earth. Since he has dedicated his body to the country and the state, he should just exhaust his efforts! What else can he say? Today, the Master carries the heavy responsibility of the safety of the world. Avoiding it because of rumors and criticism, is that what a great man should do?"

The boomerang is truly too easy to use!

This was truly something Zhang Zhang Juzheng had said. Once, Zhu Zhu Yijun asked Zhang Zhang Juzheng what a great man was.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng had indeed summarized many characteristics of a great man, just like the *Wang Jian Ru Tong Ji Shu* back then. Any wise monarch and sage ruler was a great man, and any great man must possess one quality: consistency. Once he sets off, he must walk to the end, exhaust his efforts, and walk to the end without complaining. Life has many forks in the road; do not be confused about your goals on the road.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was very good at using boomerangs, defeating Zhang Zhang Juzheng with his own words.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was approving memorials. He had only been ill for a day and a night, so the memorials hadn't piled up much. Zhu Zhu Yijun quickly finished approving them. Today's memorials were all memorials of inquiry. Zhu Zhu Yijun took out the "I am well" seal and stamped all the inquiry memorials he had read, stamping for a full quarter of an hour before finishing.

He originally planned to go to the Northern Camp, but was stopped by the Imperial Physician Chen Chen Shigong. As soon as Chen Chen Shigong heard that the Emperor wanted to go to the Northern Camp for intense exercise, he lay on the ground, saying that if he killed him, His Majesty could go. He had just escaped the crisis of becoming a sinner in history, and this crisis followed like a shadow.

He really couldn't have any more accidents.

Zhu Zhu Yijun naturally wouldn't kill Chen Chen Shigong, so he had to stay in the sickroom, waiting to remove the stitches before engaging in activities. In this era where even a cold could kill you, His Majesty the Emperor indeed had to be cautious.

Chen Chen Shigong wouldn't receive any punishment; on the contrary, he would receive more rewards. Before performing the surgery, Chen Chen Shigong had fulfilled his duty of notification, kneeling and begging His Majesty to wait two more years and use opium for pain relief first. It was His Majesty himself who refused.

If an accident occurred during the surgery, it was even less because Chen Chen Shigong had any bad intentions; it was just an accident during the surgery.

Zhu Zhu Yijun picked up a periodical, read it twice, and said with tightly knit brows, "Commander, send someone to raid this publishing house. Arrest the person who wrote this article and the person who approved its publication, throw them into the Northern Town Prison, and wait for the verdict."

"Your servant obeys the decree!" Zhao Zhao Mengyou didn't care about the bad influence of silencing people. The Emperor's imperial order was the highest will.

The core content of the whole article was just one meaning: the treacherous villain Zhang Zhang Juzheng, the upright gentleman Master Xinzheng Duke.

Master Xinzheng Duke was Gao Gong.

This article was about the fact that in the sixth month of the sixth year of Emperor Longqing, Gao Gong was dismissed from the court by Empress Dowager Li's decree.

In the description of this article, a eunuch, a poisonous woman, and a treacherous official harmed the upright gentleman Gao Gong. The eunuch referred to Feng Bao, the poisonous woman referred to Empress Dowager Li, and the treacherous official referred to Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

Seeing this article, if Zhu Zhu Yijun didn't do something, he wouldn't be a tyrant.

Feng Bao was very greedy, and Zhang Zhang Juzheng was indeed not an upright gentleman, but this article scolded Empress Dowager Li. Scolding the father and mother of the son, Zhu Zhu Yijun, as the Emperor, had the power to seek revenge. Directly imprison them and execute them in autumn.

Why was Empress Dowager Li scolded as a poisonous woman? After Emperor Emperor Longqing passed away, Zhu Zhu Yijun actually called Empress Dowager Chen "Mother" and ascended the throne. This was the legal mother. And Empress Dowager Li was also an Empress Dowager, but she had no title. The one with the title was the Empress, and the one without was just an addition.

Empress Dowager Li's title was given by Zhang Zhang Juzheng leading the Cabinet to submit a memorial after Gao Gong was driven away, giving Empress Dowager Li the title of "Cisheng." In this way, the two Empresses stood side by side, and Empress Dowager Li could rightfully move into the Qianqing Palace to take care of the Emperor.

During the whole process, Empress Dowager Chen didn't have any objections. After all, there was no offspring born, and Empress Dowager Chen was already very satisfied to maintain her noble status. The Emperor was Empress Dowager Li's own son, so objecting would be losing her own dignity.

Empress Dowager Li doted on the Prince of Lu and was extremely strict with the Emperor, while Empress Dowager Chen was extremely good to the Emperor.

And in this article, the reason Empress Dowager Li wanted to drive Gao Gong away was for the title, for moving into the Qianqing Palace, and for power.

Therefore, Empress Dowager Li was a wicked woman and a poisonous woman who sought power.

But Empress Dowager Li moved out of the Qianqing Palace in the fourth year of Emperor Wanli, and the Emperor was already independent. This statement didn't hold water at all. Empress Dowager Li didn't hesitate to move out of the Qianqing Palace, and there was no "ruling from behind the curtain."

The reason Feng Bao wanted to drive Gao Gong away was very clear. Gao Gong had a very good relationship with Chen Hong. If Chen Hong became the eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, then Gao Gong would truly monopolize power. Therefore, after Emperor Emperor Longqing passed away, Gao Gong wanted to abolish the Directorate of Ceremonial, which was actually aimed at Feng Bao.

The Directorate of Ceremonial had been an ancestral law since the Yongle years. No matter how powerful Gao Gong was, it was very difficult for him to abolish it. Dealing with Feng Bao and letting Chen Hong take the position was a matter of course.

The relationship between Chen Hong and Gao Gong could be traced back to when Gao Gong was in the Prince of Yu's Mansion. The relationship was extremely close.

And in this article, the reason Feng Bao wanted to drive Gao Gong away was also to fight for fame and profit, for power, because Feng Bao had forged an imperial decree!

When Emperor Emperor Longqing passed away, Feng Bao was definitely not a minister receiving the last words. It was Zhang Zhang Juzheng who, in order to curry favor with Feng Bao, deliberately added Feng Bao to the list of ministers receiving the last words, adding one person to the three ministers receiving the last words: Gao Gong, Gao Yi, and Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

And Feng Bao was also sowing discord. Gao Gong clearly said, "The ten-year-old Son of Heaven, how can he govern the world?" Feng Bao told Empress Dowager Li: "A ten-year-old child, how can he be the master of people?"

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at this periodical and said angrily, "Is it interesting to quibble over words? Isn't it the same meaning? Don't I deserve to be the Son of Heaven when I was ten? I was indeed a child back then, and it was indeed a young ruler and a suspicious state, and I couldn't make correct decisions. But Gao Gong clearly said this to the Cabinet Ministers. What does he, Gao Gong, want to do!"

"Gao Zhu Qiyu was targeted by the Master for ten years just because he presided over the provincial examination and didn't avoid suspicion! The courtiers all said the Master had thoughts of rebellion because Gao Zhu Qiyu didn't avoid suspicion. Gao Zhu Qiyu only didn't avoid suspicion, but Gao Gong spoke wildly to the Cabinet Ministers, face to face! He said it himself to others!"

"Gao Gong also submitted the 'Five Things Memorial,' saying that I read the memorials, which was 'arbitrary internal approval'!"

"Your Majesty, there is no need to be angry, and even less need to arrest people. The more successful the New Policies are, the more these people look like clowns. There is no need to argue about who is an upright gentleman and who is a treacherous villain. Whether it is the Grand Secretary or the Inner Minister, no matter how high their character is, in the end, it all depends on their political achievements," Feng Bao said with a calm face, without any breakdown at all.

There were many people who scolded him. If he, the eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, argued with everyone, could he still live his life?

If you do a good job, you are good. When evaluating a political figure, don't you evaluate their political achievements? Do you evaluate their private character?

"You are quite steady." Zhu Zhu Yijun was a bit surprised by Feng Bao's attitude.

"Gao Gong's integrity was indeed very high. He protected the Jin Faction but never accepted bribes from them. But this doesn't change the fact that he was incompetent. When the Retired Emperor passed away, when building the mausoleum, the internal treasury and external treasury combined only had 390,000 silver. It wasn't until the first year of Emperor Wanli that the remaining 110,000 silver was paid off. It was truly shabby," Feng Bao said quite calmly. Even if he faced the Retired Emperor, Feng Bao had nothing to be afraid of.

He didn't know what the Retired Emperor thought of this imperial mausoleum, which had a budget of 500,000 silver and was in arrears of 110,000 silver. Being in arrears of 110,000 silver meant that the quality of the project was very difficult to guarantee, and it was only completed on schedule by making do in every way.

Since Gao Gong entered the Cabinet and concurrently held the position of Minister of Personnel in the second year of Emperor Longqing, the Retired Emperor relied on him as his confidant and listened to him in everything. In the end, there was only this much silver for the Retired Emperor's funeral, and it was still in arrears. It was too shabby.

Even for an event like the Retired Emperor's passing, there was only 390,000 silver. Then, for so many things in the world, which one could be handled?

Now, there was a silver mountain piled up with silver ingots in the internal treasury, with a scale as high as 15.83 million silver, which worried the Emperor every day. He gave pressure to the Ministry of Works every day, asking the Ministry of Works to increase the production capacity of silver coin rolling.

Zhu Zhu Yijun pointed to the memorial and said, "This article also scolds the Master! When Gao Gong passed away, the Ministry of Rites asked for Gao Gong's posthumous title. How did I reply? I said: 'Gao Gong was disloyal and bullied me. I hate him deeply. Now that he is dead, his wife still comes to beg for favors. Do not grant them.' That is all."

"The Master followed me and made a scene, even submitting memorials with the Cabinet Ministers, having a great attitude of not giving Gao Gong a posthumous title, so I reluctantly agreed."

"And they say the Master is a treacherous villain and Gao Gong is an upright gentleman. They fought so fiercely back then. Even if the Master was pretending to be magnanimous, he was still magnanimous! When it came to the final verdict, he didn't step on Gao Gong!"

Pretending to be magnanimous was still magnanimous. Gao Gong's posthumous title was requested by Zhang Zhang Juzheng. Otherwise, Gao Gong wouldn't even have a posthumous title.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards handled the case extremely quickly. With a gust of wind and fire, they arrested everyone and threw them into the Northern Town Prison, waiting for the verdict. Zhao Zhao Mengyou added urgency to the interrogation, and by the next morning, Zhu Zhu Yijun saw the case file.

The case was not complicated. It was Luo Lu Yuren, the son of Gao Gong's student Luo Zun, who felt aggrieved for Gao Gong, so he wrote this article by name, without any cover-up. This periodical *Half-Month Miscellaneous Talk* was also published directly to attract people's attention.

Luo Lu Yuren was a Ming Jinshi of the eleventh year of Emperor Wanli. His famous work was the "Memorial on Wine, Lust, Wealth, and Qi," which scolded the Emperor Wanli Emperor to the point that he summoned Shen Shen Shixing on the first day of the Lunar New Year to deal with this Luo Lu Yuren, and in the end, he was only dismissed and returned to his hometown.

One dared to write, and one dared to publish, highlighting a lack of fear of the powerful.

"The Master is waiting outside." Feng Bao said in a low voice. Zhang Zhang Juzheng had come early in the morning.

"If he is here to plead for this Luo Lu Yuren, then go back." Zhu Zhu Yijun didn't see Zhang Zhang Juzheng, but he knew why he came. Wasn't it to plead for this Luo Lu Yuren? Zhu Zhu Yijun could even think of what Zhang Zhang Juzheng was going to say.

"Your Majesty, in the first year of Emperor Wanli, Your Majesty promised the Master that you would receive the Cabinet Ministers and meet with the court officials." Feng Bao reminded His Majesty of the promise he made back then. The Cabinet Ministers could see the Emperor, which was the request Zhang Zhang Juzheng made back then.

"Announce him." Zhu Zhu Yijun waved his hand. It wasn't worth breaking his promise for Luo Lu Yuren. Zhu Zhu Yijun had never broken his promise on matters that would collapse the sky or crack the earth. One article by Luo Lu Yuren was not worth it. The Emperor's credibility needed to be guarded by the Emperor himself.

"Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty. Your Majesty's holy body is peaceful." Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed to pay respects, looked at His Majesty's complexion, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty is in his prime, so your servant is at ease."

"Did the Master come just to see my complexion?" Zhu Zhu Yijun was stunned. This Zhang Zhang Juzheng had always spoken directly. Had he also started to beat around the bush?

"Your servant still has lingering fears and cannot eat or sleep. Yesterday, I heard His Majesty's heavenly voice, which was full of energy, and my heart was slightly settled. Seeing you today, it is no different from the past, so your servant can also be at ease to handle the Cabinet's affairs," Zhang Zhang Juzheng said very firmly.

"Your servant really has one thing."

"Sure enough, Master, please speak." Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded. What should come would come.

"Your servant sent troops to surround the Second Grand Secretary Wang's mansion yesterday, intending to take him with me when the sky changed." Zhang Zhang Juzheng clearly told the Emperor that he was prepared to kill Wang Wang Chonggu at that time.

"I heard about the change in the sky suddenly, and was terrified and uneasy. In a hurry to respond, I could only take this desperate measure. The Second Grand Secretary Wang did not falsely accuse your servant."

For Wang Wang Chonggu to file a complaint with the Emperor, he first had to rule out the possibility of false accusation. Zhang Zhang Juzheng testified that Wang Wang Chonggu did not exaggerate or falsely accuse him, Zhang Zhang Juzheng. He was indeed aiming to kill.

"The Second Grand Secretary Wang took two jars of wine from me yesterday. I have apologized to the Master on your behalf. The Second Grand Secretary Wang does not intend to haggle over every ounce." Zhu Zhu Yijun explained the result of the matter. Zhu Zhu Yijun gave two jars of wine to calm his shock, which counted as an apology on Zhang Zhang Juzheng's behalf. For the Son of Heaven to apologize to Wang Wang Chonggu, he had already given enough face.

Wang Wang Chonggu didn't make a scene, because if the Emperor was truly gone, let alone Wang Wang Chonggu, even the Prince of Lu and the imperial heirs would be in danger. His Majesty's dragon body was unwell. Zhang Zhang Juzheng didn't want to be a traitor, and didn't want Wang Wang Chonggu to become a traitor again, so he could only do this.

"Doesn't the Master want to ask about Luo Lu Yuren?" Zhu Zhu Yijun took out the periodical and handed it out.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng already knew about Luo Lu Yuren's matter. His Majesty handled this case with a warrant from the Ministry of Justice, not a "white paper case" or "yellow paper case," but an ironclad case. It had also passed through the Cabinet. Zhang Zhang Juzheng felt it wasn't important. No matter how big the matter was, it wasn't as important as His Majesty's dragon body being healthy.

"Your Majesty's dragon body is unwell, and the publication of this periodical article at this time is rebellion. If it were ordinary times, your servant would naturally persuade Your Majesty to be benevolent and forgiving. But now, since Luo Lu Yuren dared to place a bet, he must be willing to accept the loss. Your servant actually feels that Your Majesty is a bit too soft and benevolent. Beheading him in public is a bit too easy for him; he should be sent to the Dissection Institute," Zhang Zhang Juzheng was not prepared to persuade the Emperor to be benevolent and forgiving.

He even felt that the Emperor only preparing to behead him in public was a bit too soft and benevolent.

The news that the Emperor's dragon body was unwell had already spread like wildfire. Luo Lu Yuren wrote such a periodical article at this time, which was rebellion. Luo Lu Yuren was betting that the Emperor would die. His Majesty was fine, so it should be Luo Lu Yuren who had something wrong. He should be willing to accept the loss.

Then there was nothing to argue about. Beheading him in public was already His Majesty's benevolence. Sending him to the Dissection Institute would be in line with the justice of non-corporal punishment.

With the revitalization of the state, His Majesty's desire to kill had become lighter and lighter in these two years.

"Ah, am I soft and benevolent? Master, you are truly joking." Zhu Zhu Yijun scratched his head. He thought Zhang Zhang Juzheng was going to persuade him to be benevolent and forgiving, but it was completely not the case.

"This article's timing is obviously premeditated." Zhang Zhang Juzheng emphasized again that the timing of the periodical was very problematic, drumming up this kind of wind and public opinion while the Emperor was ill, and even Empress Dowager Li became a poisonous woman.

Zhu Zhu Yijun pointed to the periodical and said, "This article has problems. Gao Gong failed the Retired Emperor's trust. When Yang Bo's son married Wang Wang Chonggu's daughter, the title given was in gold! This is usurpation! Titles all have to pass through the Cabinet. Does Gao Gong dare to say he didn't know about this!"

"An upright gentleman, is this how he repays the monarch who trusts him? Is this the way of a minister!"

Zhu Zhu Yijun was extremely disapproving of the fact that Gao Gong was an upright gentleman. Putting everything else aside—this was already putting facts aside—just this one thing of Gao Gong giving Wang Wang Chonggu's daughter a gold title was enough to show Gao Gong failed Emperor Emperor Longqing's trust.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng said with a stiff scalp, "Your Majesty, back then, negotiating peace with Altan Khan had to rely on the Northwest. The Master Xinzheng Duke was also helpless. At that time, your servant was also in the Cabinet, and I didn't report it to the monarch, which was also losing the way of a minister."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng still found a few excuses for Gao Gong. At that time, Altan Khan was not as obedient as he was now, lying in his coffin with his head and body separated, motionless.

In order to stabilize the Xuanfu and Datong directions in the Northwest, Gao Gong could only do this. Zhang Zhang Juzheng was also in the Cabinet and knew about this.

"An upright gentleman who deceives his superiors and hides from his subordinates? Hmph." Zhu Zhu Yijun put the periodical aside. Zhang Zhang Juzheng had never created a persona of an upright gentleman. On the contrary, "vengeful" was the biggest label on Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

"The Master submitted a memorial to resign yesterday. I rejected the memorial, so the Master doesn't need to test me anymore." Zhu Zhu Yijun said, talking about Zhang Zhang Juzheng's request to resign.

"Your servant obeys the decree." Zhang Zhang Juzheng was very straightforward. He didn't resist, and being hit by the boomerang was actually quite uncomfortable.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Prince of De has come holding a pickling stone for pickles." A small eunuch said with a confused face.

"Ah? Announce him." Zhu Zhu Yijun also said in a daze.

What kind of tricks had this Imperial Uncle prepared?