Chapter 75

The Emperor truly neglects his proper work. Chapter 75: The affairs of the world have both constants and changes; in a gentleman's conduct, there are both fixed principles and situational flexibility. Hence Hai Rui is a typical "pure official"; the intensity of his rhetoric is enough to leave his name in history, so much so that his actual administrative ability is not as widely renowned as his reputation for integrity.

Hence Hai Rui is a man willing to lower himself to find answers; he is a man of virtue, willing to bow his head, bend his waist, and walk the earth to practice what he knows and does. Likewise, Hence Hai Rui is a man of unyielding integrity.

One is one, and two is two. Zhang Cheng should not have made the decision to levy duties on foreign ships, but it was indeed necessary to levy them; therefore, it was wrong, yet correct.

"If one's sister-in-law is drowning, to pull her out with one's hand is situational flexibility." From *Mencius: Li Lou, Part I*.

"Flexibility" (quan) is the weight on a scale; it is the counterweight used to measure the heaviness or lightness of an object. Thus, in a person's conduct, measuring principles to achieve balance is called "flexibility."

Chunyu Kun was a debater from the State of Qi. Upon meeting Mencius, he asked: "Men and women should not touch when giving or receiving items; is it truly ritual propriety to refrain from direct hand-to-hand contact?"

Mencius said: "That is indeed ritual propriety."

Chunyu Kun then asked: "If one's sister-in-law is drowning, should the brother-in-law extend a helping hand to save her, or should he remain bound by ritual propriety and watch her die?"

Mencius replied: "To not save a drowning sister-in-law is to be a jackal or wolf. Men and women not touching is ritual propriety; to pull her out with one's hand when she is drowning is to act according to situational urgency."

Zhu Zhu Yijun actually knew this allusion. Zhang Jiling, as an Imperial Tutor, was extremely qualified; he excelled at citing classics. When discussing ritual propriety, Zhang Jiling had already mentioned this matter.

Hence Hai Rui continued: "The affairs of the world have both constants and changes; in a gentleman's conduct, there are both fixed principles and situational flexibility."

"When a sister-in-law is drowning, not touching is the constant principle of ritual; pulling her out with one's hand is the situational flexibility of the matter. Today, foreign ships have arrived at Yuegang; for eunuchs not to interfere in politics is the constant principle of ritual; for the Military Provisions Office to collect provisions is the situational flexibility of the matter."

"By weighing the urgency and importance, one seeks to align with the Heavenly Principle and the uprightness of the human heart. If one knows only ritual but not flexibility, the achievements will be small and the losses great. Zhang Cheng's actions show an understanding of the times and the ability to adapt."

After Hence Hai Rui finished speaking, he felt somewhat uneasy. He feared the Emperor might not understand what he was saying. If one only knows ritual propriety but not situational flexibility, that is rigid dogmatism. Doing things that way results in little gain and much loss.

After all, on the dais was only a ten-year-old sovereign with a sunny, cheerful smile. Hence Hai Rui feared his pedantic language would be lost on the Emperor.

"Censor-in-Chief Hai, should the imperial court set up checkpoints to collect taxes?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked with a smile.

Hence Hai Rui replied with great certainty: "They should. If the imperial court has no money or grain, what will it use to support the soldiers, stabilize the frontiers, and let the people live and work in peace? What will it use to let the poor scholars of the world learn to read and know ritual propriety? What will it use to nurture talent? And what will it use to support the hundred officials and govern the four corners of the land?"

Hence Hai Rui's pedantic speech just now was an attack on Ge Ge Shouli, which is why he was so wordy. But facing the ten-year-old sovereign, Hence Hai Rui tried his best to use language the boy could understand.

Hence Hai Rui believed the court should collect taxes, especially from those gentry who caused the court's tax base to shrink—like that fellow Xu Xu Jie, who owned half of Xu Huating County. They should be hit hard. Hence Hai Rui had been impeached and forced into retirement precisely because he had preyed upon the gentry like Xu Xu Jie.

Now, Hence Hai Rui had returned!

Zhu Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and asked: "So, the court levying duties on foreign ships is in accordance with ritual propriety, or rather, in accordance with the Heavenly Principle and the uprightness of the human heart."

"Zhang Cheng, Luo Luo Gongchen, and the others decided to levy duties on foreign ships because the matter was urgent, which is why they made a temporary decision. After all, this involved the major matter of whether the Military Provisions Office would continue to provide provisions in the future."

"What shouldn't be done shouldn't be done, so they must be punished; but what they did was not wrong, as it maintained ritual propriety, so they must also be rewarded. Is that what you mean, Censor-in-Chief Hai?"

The logic of the Emperor's statement was extremely complete, showing that the Emperor truly understood what Hence Hai Rui had been saying. This made Hence Hai Rui exceptionally encouraged. Having experienced the two "hidden" monarchs of the Emperor Jiajing and Emperor Longqing eras, Hence Hai Rui looked at the Emperor as if seeing the rising sun illuminating the East.

Hence Hai Rui hurriedly said: "Rewards and punishments must be clear; merit is merit, and fault is fault. It should be so."

"How does the Censor-in-Chief think it appropriate to handle this?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked with a smile.

Hence Hai Rui thought for a moment and said: "They should be fined and demoted—fined half a year's salary and demoted three ranks. They should also be rewarded—record their merit to await promotion to a key position, to serve the country and act as the Emperor's vanguard."

Punish them, but also record their merit and choose a time for them to take on key positions; this was the reward.

"What does Censor-in-Chief Ge think?" Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Ge Ge Shouli, who had impeached Zhang Cheng and Luo Luo Gongchen. Was Censor-in-Chief Ge satisfied with Hence Hai Rui's handling? If not, what did Censor-in-Chief Ge intend to do?

Ge Ge Shouli pondered for a moment and said helplessly: "I believe there is nothing wrong with this."

Ge Ge Shouli chose to surrender. With Hence Hai Rui saying this, how could Ge Ge Shouli refute it? Should he continue to harp on the eunuch faction harming the country and the people, or competing with the people for profit?

But the Ministry of Revenue would not follow Ge Ge Shouli in impeaching the eunuch faction, and Ge Ge Shouli could not stand alone.

Of course the Ministry of Revenue wouldn't follow. They had already pocketed the money. The Ministry was so poor they were about to pawn their pants. Since they hadn't borne any responsibility but had gained a huge sum of silver, why wouldn't they shut their mouths, close their doors, and laugh? Why would they impeach Zhang Cheng?

Others might be able to do it, but Wang Wang Guoguang could not.

"What do the Grand Secretary and the Minister of Personnel think?" Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Jiling and Yang Bo, asking for their opinions. If they disagreed, they should say so early, rather than chewing on this matter behind his back later.

"We have no objections." Zhang Jiling and Yang Bo looked at each other and expressed no dissenting opinions.

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded and said: "Constants and changes, principles and flexibility, are not separate; they are one body. Ritual has constant principles, like the markings on a scale beam, where each weight is distinct; flexibility has no fixed master, like using a standard to measure objects, balancing weight and lightness."

"The two are used in conjunction; the logic of understanding the times and adapting is the way of a gentleman's conduct."

"Then let it be as the Grand Secretary and Censor-in-Chief Hai have discussed." Seeing no one object, Zhu Zhu Yijun chose Hence Hai Rui's decision.

After hearing the Emperor's summary, Hence Hai Rui looked at the ten-year-old sovereign in shock. What kind of words were these? Was this something a ten-year-old child could say? He then looked at Zhang Jiling, who was sitting steadily in the first position on the left. How exactly did this Zhang Jiling teach such a sovereign?

Was Zhang Jiling really that formidable as a teacher!

"The Emperor is sagacious." Zhang Jiling bowed and said, looking at Hence Hai Rui's shocked expression with a smile.

This was only the beginning. There were still many things that would surprise Hai Hai Gangfeng.

"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present!" Hence Hai Rui did not return to his seat. He bypassed the Grand Secretary Zhang Jiling and bowed to the Emperor on the dais: "Your Majesty, I request a thorough investigation into Xu Xu Jie's illegal occupation of 240,000 mu of fertile land. The ancestors established the Yellow Registers and Fish-Scale Registers to collect the wealth of the world to stabilize the world. The court's collection of taxes is the constant principle of ritual. Xu Xu Jie's occupation of farmland—if this case is not pursued, the government will be lax, the country weak, and discipline will fall into ruin. If Xu Xu Jie does not return the land, the national treasury will suffer a great loss, and the world will lose its way!"

The twenty-seven court officials looked at one another, their eyes filled with the realization that it was just as they had expected.

Hence Hai Rui was still that same unyielding Hence Hai Rui. He could not tolerate a grain of sand in his eyes. In the case of Xu Xu Jie, to this day, Xu Xu Jie had not returned the land. This matter was not over!

The Grand Secretary and Imperial Tutor Zhang Jiling was Xu Xu Jie's student. Did Hai Hai Gangfeng consider Zhang Jiling's face when he said these words!

Hence Hai Rui's return to court was a dogfight among the officials. In truth, it was a compromise made by the Emperor to prevent the censorate officials from siding with the Jin Party and impeaching Tan Lun. Tan Lun was impeached because he had abandoned the Jin Party and defected to the Zhang Party.

Now, on the first day of Hence Hai Rui's return to court, he immediately submitted a memorial to continue investigating unfinished business from years past. Xu Xu Jie's students, Zhang Jiling and Lu Lu Shusheng, were still sitting in the court. Hence Hai Rui truly gave no face to anyone.

Lu Lu Shusheng immediately stood up and said: "Censor-in-Chief Hai, are you using the court's virtue of honoring the elderly to pursue your own private agenda?"

"At that time, the treacherous officials Yan Song and his son were in power. Most officials in court relied on the treacherous ones and dared not speak out for justice. Who was it that remonstrated, had Yan Song dismissed, and had Yan Yan Shifan convicted?"

"The Heir Apparent and the Zhuangjing Heir Apparent passed away one after another. The Emperor did not appoint a new Heir Apparent. Establishing the Heir is a major state ceremony. The Emperor's will was delayed, and no one dared to remonstrate. Who was it that bore the expectations of the people, received the Emperor's favor, and had the merit of supporting the new Emperor?"

"Lord Xu swept away the accumulated ills of the Emperor Jiajing years, which is why we have the achievements of today."

"Lord Xu only slightly deviated. You criticize him so harshly just for a bit of reputation, disregarding the court's virtue of honoring the elderly, and pursuing Lord Xu—in what position does this place the Emperor!"

Lu Lu Shusheng refuted Hence Hai Rui and laid out Xu Xu Jie's merits one by one: bringing down the Yan faction, the death of the Emperor Jiajing Emperor's two heirs, the Emperor Jiajing Emperor not appointing a new heir until the day he died, when he issued the edict for the Prince of Yu to ascend the throne.

And the edict for the Prince of Yu to ascend the throne was written by Xu Xu Jie!

Hence Hai Rui squinted at Lu Lu Shusheng and sneered: "Ridiculous."

"You!" Lu Lu Shusheng never expected to receive only two words. "Ridiculous." That kind of contempt and disdain was just like the look Zhang Jiling gave him on weekdays, as if he were looking at a joke.

Yang Bo remained silent, letting Ge Ge Shouli calm down. Everyone had expected that Hence Hai Rui would pursue this case upon his return to court.

Hence Hai Rui looked at the Emperor and said with great certainty: "Minister Lu, Yan Yan Shifan muddied the government, stole power, emptied the national treasury, and exhausted the people's wealth, finally tasting the bitter fruit. Why did the Yan faction fall? Yan Song was old, and Yan Yan Shifan extorted 1,500 taels of silver from the Prince of Yu's household! Only then did Yan Yan Shifan agree to issue the annual stipend!"

"This matter became known to the Emperor. The Emperor was wise and decisive, dismissing Yan Yan Shifan, and only then was Yan Song brought down."

"As for the merit of supporting the new Emperor, the Heir Apparent and the Zhuangjing Heir Apparent passed away, and the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth sons all died before reaching the age of one. In the 44th year of Emperor Jiajing, Prince Jing passed away. Of the eight sons of the Emperor, only the late Emperor remained. When the Emperor passed away, did he have a choice? Minister Lu, do you still dare to bring this up?"

"Minister Lu, what kind of cursed place is our Great Ming palace, that of eight sons born, only the late Emperor remained?"

"You people are truly greedy for merits that belong to Heaven!"

Hence Hai Rui's words were directed at Lu Lu Shusheng, but they were for the little Emperor. The Emperor must be vigilant against them.

In his *Memorial on Peace and Order*, Hence Hai Rui mentioned the relationship between the Emperor and his officials. In his view, the Emperor Jiajing Emperor's obsession with Daoist cultivation was certainly a problem, but did the officials not have problems too?

"The people of the world have not been straightforward with Your Majesty for a long time; this is known to all officials, inside and outside the court."

The Emperor had problems, and the officials had problems. And in the end, on the day the Emperor Jiajing Emperor passed away, he only had the Prince of Yu as a choice.

When Hence Hai Rui said this, the entire Zhao Wenhua Hall fell silent. Some people carefully observed the little Emperor on the dais.

There were some topics that could not be touched. The Emperor Jiajing Emperor's fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth sons all died before they were a year old. By the 44th year of Emperor Jiajing, only the Prince of Yu remained. This topic was absolutely forbidden, but Hence Hai Rui insisted on touching it!

Hence Hai Rui looked at Lu Lu Shusheng, slightly melancholy, and said: "And as for this virtue of honoring the elderly, Yan Song lived off the scraps of a tomb, with no coffin for burial and no one to mourn him. Where is this virtue of honoring the elderly?"

"Yan Song was a treacherous official; how can he be mentioned in the same breath as Lord Xu!" Lu Lu Shusheng, hearing Hence Hai Rui compare Yan Song and Xu Xu Jie, became anxious. As soon as these words were out, Lu Lu Shusheng felt annoyed; he had fallen into Hence Hai Rui's trap.

Hence Hai Rui was not sympathizing with Yan Song's fate at all; he was comparing Xu Xu Jie to Yan Song, treating them both as treacherous officials. Clearly, when Lu Lu Shusheng spoke, he had already fallen into Hence Hai Rui's trap.

Hence Hai Rui sneered: "Yan Song was a treacherous official, and Xu Xu Jie is not? After Yan Song was dismissed, it was just like before Yan Song became Zhang Yuanfu!"

"Yan Song was corrupt for millions, and Xu Xu Jie was not corrupt? Deceiving and delaying the transport of pigment silver, encroaching on and seizing money and grain—it is all documented!"

"Yan Song's son built a great palace, and Xu Jie's son did not build a great palace? There is still an inscription in the Yongshou Palace, which was built under the supervision of Xu Fan."

"Is Xu Xu Jie's occupation of farmland also fake? Half of Xu Huating County and half of Songjiang Prefecture are all surnamed Xu. The land deeds and case files are all there!"

"Is it fake that Xu Xu Jie and the wealthy merchant Zhu Tang operated a cloth shop? To this day, in the capital, there are still cloth shops belonging to the Xu family."

"Songjiang Prefecture has many cotton fields. Xu Xu Jie exhausted the people's wealth, letting his servants buy cotton at low prices. The people suffered unspeakably. This is what I saw with my own eyes when I was managing water in Songjiang Prefecture!"

"After Yan Song was dismissed, it was just like before Yan Song became Zhang Yuanfu; it was not a clear and bright world." This was Hence Hai Rui's original statement in his *Memorial on Peace and Order*.

Zhu Zhu Yijun had studied Hence Hai Rui's *Memorial on Peace and Order* many times. No matter how he looked at it, this was not a compliment: After Yan Song was dismissed and Xu Xu Jie took power, it was just like before Yan Song became Zhang Yuanfu; it was not a good world.

In this confrontation between Hence Hai Rui and Lu Lu Shusheng, Lu Lu Shusheng fell into a disadvantage and was speechless for a time, not knowing how to refute.

In fact, the pursuit of Xu Xu Jie did not end because of Hence Hai Rui's retirement.

After Hence Hai Rui retired, Xu Xu Jie hoped to rise again. When Gao Gong saw that Xu Xu Jie still wanted to rise, he kept investigating Xu Xu Jie's case. Hence Hai Rui's words were not empty talk, but truthful words. Lu Lu Shusheng was at a disadvantage entirely because Xu Xu Jie was doing the same things Yan Song had done, and even worse.

How could Lu Lu Shusheng argue against this? Everyone usually spoke vaguely according to the rules, setting aside the facts. But if you insist on speaking of facts, breaking things down and chewing them over, how can one debate?

Lu Lu Shusheng looked at Zhang Jiling for help, but Zhang Jiling was flipping through the memorial in his hand without saying a word, as if all this had nothing to do with him.

Lu Lu Shusheng coughed hard. Zhang Jiling seemed to have just come to his senses. He looked at Hence Hai Rui and asked calmly: "Censor-in-Chief Hai, what do you want?"

Hence Hai Rui said concisely: "Return the land."

Lu Lu Shusheng said in surprise: "Just return the land, and that's it?"

Hence Hai Rui had made such a big scene, and Lu Lu Shusheng thought Hence Hai Rui was going to do something earth-shattering. In the end, after all that talk, it was just returning the land?

Returning the land—back and forth, in the end, it would just fall back into Xu Xu Jie's pocket.

Zhang Jiling looked up at Hence Hai Rui. Hence Hai Rui's performance upon returning to court exceeded Zhang Jiling's expectations. Was this someone who didn't understand political struggle? He was clearly a typical, flexible official who understood the times.

Zhang Cheng and Luo Luo Gongchen collecting duties on foreign ships—Hence Hai Rui used the "sister-in-law drowning" analogy to separate merit from fault. And in the case of pursuing Xu Xu Jie, Hence Hai Rui showed his attitude: the pursuit must be carried out, but he did not directly kill them all.

Zhang Jiling discovered that he had underestimated Hence Hai Rui. This man had idled at home for two years, and he didn't know what kind of principles he had realized. Hence Hai Rui, who had learned to be flexible, would be very difficult to deal with.

"How should it be returned?" Zhang Jiling asked with a furrowed brow.

"I have a memorial." Hence Hai Rui took out the memorial and placed it in front of Zhang Jiling. Zhang Jiling flipped through it and read a few lines, then immediately closed it. He narrowed his eyes at Hence Hai Rui and said: "Censor-in-Chief Hai, your intention is to benefit the people; you are truly a pillar of talent. Let me report this to the Emperor for a decision."

After Zhang Jiling finished speaking, he tucked Hence Hai Rui's memorial into his sleeve and bowed to the dais: "I believe what the Censor-in-Chief said is not inappropriate."

"Hmm, then let's continue the court discussion." Zhu Zhu Yijun felt a bit strange. What exactly was in Hence Hai Rui's memorial that made Zhang Jiling so cautious, even tucking it into his sleeve so others couldn't see it, let alone discuss it in court?

The court discussion ended in noise. The officials paid their respects and bid farewell to the Emperor. Except for Zhang Jiling, Hence Hai Rui also stayed behind.

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty. Long live, long live, long live Your Majesty." Hence Hai Rui performed the great ritual again, swinging his sleeves, bowing five times and knocking his head three times, extremely solemnly. He was able to return to court not because of anyone's recommendation, but because the Emperor himself had issued the decree. Hence Hai Rui did not need to owe anyone any favors.

Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile: "My dear official, you don't need to kneel when we speak in private in the future. The court also needs a 'mountain pen rack' in court to clear the atmosphere and rectify people's hearts."

"I obey the decree." Hence Hai Rui stood up and bowed: "Your Majesty, I lived in Qiongzhou, returning to poetry and books, seeking to be cautious and quiet to deal with my worries. I have worries. I could neither hang up my hat and resign to return to nature, nor could I protect my official position and salary to live in peace. I could not even drink wine and sing wildly, acting recklessly. Principles run through my heart and liver, and loyalty fills my bones. The court ordered me to sign official documents, and I could not help but do so. I am ashamed. I cannot find peace of mind, and I cannot cultivate myself in seclusion."

"Who ordered you not to sign official documents?" Zhu Zhu Yijun frowned, sensing something abnormal. The gentry enjoyed judicial privileges in the localities and also had the obligation to settle the land and shepherd the people. Therefore, for local affairs, the Southern Yamen also had to discuss things with the gentry. If there were remonstrances, they could use the official post roads to communicate with the capital. This was called "signing official documents."

For example, Gao Gong was retired at home and could not point fingers at state affairs. Being retired meant he could not sign official documents, could not use official post roads, and could not contact officials in the capital.

Xu Xu Jie, however, could correspond with the Supervising Secretary Shu Hua and the Supervising Secretary Dai Dai Fengxiang in the capital. In the end, Hence Hai Rui was transferred on charges of preying upon the gentry and was eventually forced to retire.

When Emperor Zhezong of Song ascended the throne and Empress Dowager Gao ruled from behind the curtain, Lu Huiqing, the right-hand man of Wang Anshi's reform, was appointed as the Vice Military Governor of Jianning Army, settled in the prefecture, and was not allowed to sign official documents.

As far as Zhu Zhu Yijun knew, Hence Hai Rui was retired. According to the official rules of the Great Ming, as a member of the gentry, he could also point fingers at state affairs.

But some people wouldn't let him.

"It is all in the past." Hence Hai Rui did not want to talk much about this matter. The matter was already in the past, and one should not dwell on the past, but look to the future.

"Who?" Zhu Zhu Yijun insisted on getting to the bottom of it. He wanted to see who was playing these kinds of tricks.

Hence Hai Rui thought for a moment and said: "Former Junior Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, Shu Hua."

At this time, Hence Hai Rui should have said it was all his own fault, that he didn't cultivate his virtue and didn't get along with his colleagues, and that he couldn't blame others. In Confucianism, this is called: "Be lenient to others, be strict with yourself."

But Hence Hai Rui felt there was nothing he couldn't say. Shu Hua dared to do this, so why couldn't he say it?

Zhu Zhu Yijun flipped through the list of names and said with great emotion: "Former Junior Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, Shu Hua, retired in the seventh month and has already returned to his hometown."

As soon as Hence Hai Rui returned, Shu Hua ran away. This was because he knew what he had done and feared Hence Hai Rui would take revenge upon his return. But Hence Hai Rui said it was all in the past; in truth, he didn't intend to be too petty.

Hence Hai Rui continued: "Along the way, I have been worried. Thanks to Your Majesty not abandoning me and raising me from among the common people, what I have seen and witnessed is shocking. The people suffer from land annexation, the government is plagued by old ills, and corrupt habits are rampant. I am truly heartbroken."

"I have just returned to court and am not clear about many things in the court. Eager to repay the Emperor's grace, I dare to be presumptuous and ask about a few things."

"What things?" Zhu Yijun had long expected this. He signaled for Hai Rui to ask. Before his retirement, Hai Rui held the position of Censor-in-Chief and was the Governor of Yingtian. After returning to court, he was also the Right Censor-in-Chief. Officials who flatter and follow, leading to disaster and extinction—Hai Rui was an upright official; this was his basic character.

"When the country is dark and chaotic, and actions are not in accordance with the Way, yet one dares to offend the Emperor's face, speak of the monarch's faults, and not refuse death, dying so that the country may be safe, and not regretting one's actions even at the end—this is an upright official."

Hence Hai Rui had heard too many things along the way that made him worried, so naturally, he had to ask so he could have peace of mind.

"I have heard that Your Majesty practices martial arts, agriculture, plays with pearls and slingshots, and kicks football in the side hall. I dare to be presumptuous and ask about Your Majesty's studies." Hence Hai Rui asked his first question. The Emperor practicing martial arts, farming, playing with slingshots, and kicking football—no matter how one looked at it, this seemed like neglecting his proper work, so Hence Hai Rui had to ask about the Emperor's proper work.

"In the future, also make a copy of the lecture notes and give them to Censor-in-Chief Hai." Zhu Zhu Yijun gestured, and the Lecturer Xu Xu Zhenming handed Hence Hai Rui the Emperor's examination papers from the 29th day and the daily lecture notes.

Hence Hai Rui flipped through two pages and hurriedly bowed: "Your Majesty is naturally sagacious and wise. Regarding the affairs of the palace and the government, whether large or small, you have never let others handle them. Regarding Your Majesty's studies, I have nothing to say."

Hence Hai Rui just flipped through them and knew that although the Emperor was a bit neglectful of his proper work, he hadn't fallen behind in his studies. If he neglected his proper work, so be it.

The Emperors of the Great Ming all had their own little hobbies; it was just that the Emperor had a few too many.

"I have heard that some people are close to the eunuchs, or that some people are used because of the eunuchs, or that some people are of the Master Xinzheng faction and should not be retained, or that some people were promoted by Master Xinzheng and should not be used. There is much talk. I dare to be presumptuous and ask about the eunuchs and the Grand Secretary intimidating the sovereign and usurping the divine vessels." Hence Hai Rui bowed again and asked about the second matter. There was much talk outside, and Hence Hai Rui intended to ask the person involved—the Emperor.

The eunuch was Feng Bao. Some people being close to the eunuchs referred to the Grand Secretary Zhang Jiling.

Some people being used because of the eunuchs referred to the Supervising Secretaries of the Six Ministries who were replaced during the implementation of the Examination Law.

Some people being of the Master Xinzheng faction referred to the dismissal of Gao Gong's faction, mainly the ten assistant commanders including Lin Lin Shaohuai, Wu Zhe, Ma Fang, Ma Gui, and Ma Jin, who were dismissed in the case of the inspection of the construction.

Some people being Gao Gong's subordinates who should not be employed referred to many people. Many people believed Hence Hai Rui was in the same boat as Gao Gong, and that Hence Hai Rui should not be employed, precisely because Hence Hai Rui investigated Xu Xu Jie and offended Zhang Jiling.

The finger was pointed at Feng Bao and Zhang Jiling for intimidating the sovereign and usurping the divine vessels.

"A pack of lies." Zhang Jiling sneered and bowed to the dais: "Your Majesty, the implementation of government decrees is constantly met with obstruction. Sometimes matters are already decided, yet disputes continue endlessly, even provoking trouble. It is all because one or two officials, coveting power they cannot obtain, spread their talk between the North and the South. Those who listen do not investigate, and speak lightly. Once the superiors and inferiors suspect each other, and the North and South are like ice and charcoal, then they blame me for being unable to maintain harmony? I cannot."

"My shame is in the Way; my friendship is known. I dare to speak my heart, hoping only for Your Majesty's judgment."

The little Emperor had not yet personally taken charge of the government, but even before the decrees were moved, he saw the filth. Matters were already decided, yet there were still many disputes, and some people were deliberately provoking trouble. It was just some people coveting power they couldn't get, deliberately spreading rumors between the North and the South. Some people listened and chewed on their tongues. Once the monarch and his officials had a gap, the North and South were like ice and charcoal, and then they said he, Zhang Jiling, as Grand Secretary, couldn't maintain harmony.

Of course he couldn't.

Rumors like this humiliation were everywhere. Zhang Jiling knew this, but he couldn't cut his heart open to show others. He could only ask for the Emperor's clear judgment.

Zhang Jiling was somewhat aggrieved. Did he or did he not intimidate the sovereign and usurp the divine vessels? How could the Emperor not know?

"Blood-spitting! It's simply blood-spitting! How would I dare to usurp Your Majesty's divine vessels! Don't slander a person's innocence for no reason!" Feng Bao immediately became anxious. With the little Emperor's hidden ruthlessness beneath his sunny and cheerful exterior, even if Feng Bao had a hundred guts, he wouldn't dare to usurp the divine vessels.

Those iron boxes in the palace could take his life at any time, and the eunuch Zhang Hong of the Qianqing Palace was watching like a tiger.

"Grand Secretary, Grand Tutor Feng, do not be disturbed." Zhu Zhu Yijun stretched out his hand again and gestured: "Scholar Xu, show the Diary of Activity and Repose to Censor-in-Chief Hai."

The Diary of Activity and Repose was the record book that recorded everything the Emperor did daily, as a basis for compiling the national history.

The Great Ming Taizu Emperor established the Diary of Activity and Repose, but later it was abolished, and even the officials in charge were dismissed. The Emperors of the Great Ming never had a Diary of Activity and Repose until the little Emperor Wanli, when the Emperor's Diary of Activity and Repose was finally established.

The Emperor Wanli Emperor's Diary of Activity and Repose was proposed and established by Zhang Jiling. The officials in charge of the diary were to record the Emperor's daily life, record the Emperor's edicts, decrees, and books, etc.

Zhang Jiling created this Diary of Activity and Repose specifically for the people of the world to see. Everyone said that Zhang Jiling was in power and intimidating the sovereign, but the Diary of Activity and Repose recorded it clearly.

Hence Hai Rui was in the Zhao Wenhua Hall today for his first court session.

"Distance tests a horse's strength, and time reveals a person's heart." Whether he was intimidating the sovereign, Hence Hai Rui only needed to watch to be clear.

"I dare to be presumptuous." Hence Hai Rui checked the Diary of Activity and Repose very solemnly. After flipping through a few pages, he closed it and bowed: "I am terrified. Your Majesty is naturally sagacious and wise. Regarding the affairs of the palace and the government, whether large or small, you have never let others handle them. Grand Tutor Feng, Grand Secretary, I am ashamed. I ask for the Grand Tutor and the Grand Secretary's forgiveness."

Hence Hai Rui apologized.

Before the Emperor Jiajing Emperor passed away, he didn't wait for Hence Hai Rui, who was in the heavenly prison, to soften his stance. Hence Hai Rui only looked at the Diary of Activity and Repose for a moment and apologized to Feng Bao and Zhang Jiling.

Because Feng Bao interfered in external politics, but that was the responsibility of the Directorate of Ceremonial. The Directorate of Ceremonial had been established since the Yongle years, and its duty was to maintain imperial power. Feng Bao's words and actions did not exceed the scope of the Directorate of Ceremonial's duties. Zhang Jiling was even more "inwardly nurturing the monarch's virtue, outwardly managing the affairs of the people." Hence Hai Rui was disgusted just looking at the rotten things the Jin faction had done.

Hence Hai Rui had believed rumors along the way and had even spoken about them in the Zhao Wenhua Hall. Right is right, and wrong is wrong. When it was time to apologize, Hence Hai Rui would not cling to his reputation and stubbornly speak nonsense.

Zhang Jiling then raised his hands and said with a smile: "Censor-in-Chief Hai is also worried about state affairs, respecting the sovereign's power and authority."

"Censor-in-Chief Hai, it is good that you understand the principles. Don't learn from Censor-in-Chief Ge, who is deceived by others all day long without knowing it." Feng Bao raised his eyebrows and laughed. Hence Hai Rui was the most famous upright official in the court. Hence Hai Rui's apology could be considered an affirmation from Hence Hai Rui.

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Jiling and said solemnly: "Censor-in-Chief Hai wants Xu Xu Huating to return the land. What does the Grand Secretary think should be done?"

This matter had to be made clear. Although Zhang Jiling expressed support in the court discussion, Hence Hai Rui's memorial on returning the land had not been submitted. Whether Zhang Jiling supported Xu Xu Jie returning the land or not—now was not the court discussion, so he needed to ask clearly. If the land was to be returned, a charter and method had to be produced.

Zhu Zhu Yijun certainly did not suspect that Zhang Jiling was outwardly agreeing but inwardly opposing, detaining Hence Hai Rui's memorial and deliberately delaying it. Zhang Jiling putting away the memorial was extremely solemn; clearly, the matter was of great importance.

What exactly did Hence Hai Rui say that made the Grand Secretary so cautious?

"I believe this matter should be discussed in the long term. It is not a delay, but because what Censor-in-Chief Hai said about returning the land requires a capable official to go there. I am still considering it." Zhang Jiling took out the memorial and handed it to Zhang Hong, who presented it to the Emperor.

Zhu Zhu Yijun opened it and read it for a long time, without making any comments. He returned it to Zhang Hong and said: "Grand Secretary, Censor-in-Chief Hai, this matter must be handled thoroughly, cautiously, and carefully. Handling this matter properly is a matter of great interest to the country."

Hence Hai Rui had just returned to court and brought Zhu Zhu Yijun a huge surprise. Simply put, letting Xu Xu Jie return the land was just a pretext.

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