Chapter 839: The Three Great Faults of Hence Hai Rui

Hence Hai Rui was already advanced in years, and having been bedridden, he had become somewhat muddled. Yet, in his final moments of clarity, he spoke a word of justice for Wang Qian.

Wang Qian was the son of that treacherous official Wang Chonggu, but the upper beam was not crooked, so the lower beam was not askew. Although Wang Qian was insidious, cunning, ruthless, and full of schemes, he was truly a good child—this was Wang Qian in Hence Hai Rui's eyes.

"Although Wang Qian was born into a wealthy family and has never known hardship since childhood, he has the common people in his heart. He hopes to do things, to do good things. Although his methods are somewhat extreme, there is no problem with his morality and conduct. To be a lone, isolated official is a waste of his talent," Hence Hai Rui explained his reasoning.

A "Nine Prohibitions" blocked the dreams of many who wanted to enter the Yanxing Tower to make a fortune and cut off the rent-seeking of many in power. The standards of the Yanxing Tower's Nine Prohibitions alone were worth the Emperor's attention. Wang Qian did not spare himself in his work; this was extremely rare.

If Wang Qian did not promote the Nine Prohibitions, he could have used the power in his hands to seek rent, hiding it from the Emperor, and who knows how much silver he could have made.

"Once the Second Grand Secretary retires, I will promote Wang Qian. Chief Censor, rest assured, I am watching him." Zhu Yijun agreed in one breath without hesitation. He thought for a moment and said, "Father and son serving in the court together already invites much gossip, and on top of that, Wang Qian cheated on the provincial examination, so I can only suppress him and not promote him. Once the Second Grand Secretary retires, I will arrange his promotion, and there won't be so much idle talk."

"He works for me; if I do not protect him, the scholars of the world will surely be disheartened. Who else will then serve me with loyalty and devotion, and who else will work for the imperial court?"

"Your Majesty is wise." Upon hearing the Emperor's words, Hence Hai Rui realized that the Emperor's heart was as clear as a mirror and that he had long since made arrangements for Wang Qian. Wang Qian was still pondering how to be a lucky, isolated official, while the Emperor was planning to give him an opportunity in the open.

Wang Qian had two shackles upon him: cheating on the provincial examination and his father being the Second Grand Secretary.

While Wang Chonggu was in court, Wang Qian could only maintain his current state. The father and son Yang Tinghe and Yang Shen, and the father and son Yan Shifan and Yan Song, had made things too ugly back then; anyone who saw the aftermath would guard against it.

Hence Hai Rui said with some emotion: "Wang Qian is a 'Plain-Robed Censor.' This sounds strange, but over these years, he has indeed held himself to the standards of a Plain-Robed Censor. Every time he handles a case, he even pays out of his own pocket. Others who serve as censors amass considerable family fortunes, but he instead sends money into it. It is truly strange."

"He says himself that he is just being stubborn with Yao Guangqi, feeling that he should not be worse than that 'King of Kelp,' Yao Guangqi. But as I look at it, he is not actually being stubborn with Yao Guangqi; he is loyal to his own spiritual cognition. This is the reason I value him."

"For a person's words and deeds to be loyal to what they have learned, and loyal to their own cognition and spirituality, is very rare. Yang Bo could not do it back then."

"The Chief Censor speaks with reason." Zhu Yijun nodded and said with a smile, "Yesterday, the Marquis of Ningyuan beat a base scholar named An Xifan. This fellow knew everything, but..."

"... he just had to spout nonsense. He was punched twice and kicked once by the Marquis of Ningyuan, and I have exiled him to Jinchuan."

Yang Bo was a long time ago, and this An Xifan was even more typical—knowing everything but insisting on spouting nonsense.

"This Marquis of Ningyuan beats people in the capital every day; it is truly... an insult to refinement." Hence Hai Rui revealed a smile upon hearing this and shook his head repeatedly. It was simply too unruly. Li Chengliang was over sixty years old, yet he was like a child who had not grown up, and the Emperor actually indulged him.

Zhang Juzheng sat on the other side and said, "Moving the body about is harmless. Some people's mouths deserve to find such a bully to tear them apart."

Li Chengliang had not read many books, nor had he ascended to the halls of refinement. His way of handling things had a rather rustic air. To the gossiping long-tongued women and rumor-mongers in the village, a slap to the face would make them know to repent.

Although rude, it was effective.

"This second matter is the imperial court's anti-corruption and anti-graft efforts. Your Majesty, anti-corruption and anti-graft cannot stop. It is not to say that all corrupt officials in the world must be killed, but to rectify the atmosphere, to tell everyone that this is wrong, to establish norms, and to reduce the scale of corruption." Hence Hai Rui spoke of his unfinished business: anti-corruption and anti-graft.

Hence Hai Rui was extremely incorruptible throughout his life, but in the process of anti-corruption and anti-graft, he knew deeply that "if the water is too clear, there will be no fish." Regarding some matters, he would choose to turn a blind eye. As long as it was not too excessive, he would not stare and pursue it relentlessly. Everything required a degree of moderation.

"If you abandon anti-corruption and anti-graft, it will be the unforgivable mistake of the Wanli Reform," Hence Hai Rui said, gripping the Emperor's hand tightly.

Zhu Yijun took a deep breath and said, "I know, I know. The Chief Censor has said that corruption is a chronic disease attached to the ruling class, the beginning of self-alienation. I will be careful. Purging corruption and punishing abuses is not merely a technique for the eternal peace of the temple, but truly the public heart of the millions of people seeking justice. If there is integrity, the country will prosper; if there is corruption, the nation will collapse."

Hence Hai Rui had specifically submitted a memorial discussing the definition of corruption, its manifestations, its impact, and the necessity of anti-corruption. What Zhu Yijun said just now came from Hence Hai Rui's memorial: anti-corruption and anti-graft is not a technique for the eternal peace of the court, but the public heart of the millions of people wanting to realize fairness and justice.

An official is the master of power, not the slave of power. Once they begin to be corrupt and are alienated by corruption, they will gradually become slaves of power, losing all sense of proportion, and in the end, like Yang Bo and Fan Yingqi, knowing it is wrong, they will continue to do it.

Hence Hai Rui continued: "This third matter is the Plain-Robed Censors. Your Majesty, this anti-corruption and anti-graft work must ultimately be done by people."

"The key to selecting Plain-Robed Censors actually lies in the word 'loyalty.' At the very least, they must be loyal to their own original heart to be considered upright officials of backbone, and only then can they serve as these Plain-Robed Censors."

Inheritors of the mantle, imperial court systems, and the implementation of systems—these were the three things Hence Hai Rui cared about most.

"What about the Chief Censor's own affairs?" Zhang Juzheng looked at the constantly falling leaves and asked Hence Hai Rui. It was all state affairs, with...

... no private matters of his own.

Hence Hai Rui said with a smile: "Your Majesty has treated me with kindness as heavy as a mountain. My private family has no worries, and I seek no more. Actually, I did not want this Qingqin Garden either, but Your Majesty said that if I did not take it, the world would think the imperial court had treated me poorly, so I had no choice but to take it."

This Qingqin Garden was truly shoved into Hence Hai Rui's hands by Zhu Yijun. He was incorruptible and had no surplus wealth at home. If he left no property to be inherited after his passing, there would truly be no one left by his side. During festivals, besides official sacrifices, there would not even be anyone to perform sacrifices.

"Your Majesty." Hence Hai Rui looked at the Emperor and called out softly.

"I am here." Zhu Yijun answered hurriedly.

"I was once bold enough to scold Emperor Shizong. Emperor Shizong was magnanimous and said, 'He wants to be Bi Gan, I do not want to be King Zhou of Shang,' and spared my life. Before he passed, Emperor Shizong said he wanted to leave me, this divine sword, for future generations to use."

"I am ashamed, not knowing what flexibility is. Looking back today, I have barely lived up to Emperor Shizong's expectations." Hence Hai Rui was quite emotional. He did not know how Emperor Shizong had suppressed the anger in his heart to spare his life, but if he had to do it all over again, he would still carry his coffin to submit a memorial.

The world is the Zhu family's world; if you, the Zhu family Emperor, do not love the country, who else will?

Zhu Yijun said with a smile: "If something is done well, it should be praised; if it is not done well, can it not be spoken of?"

Hence Hai Rui looked at the Emperor, revealing a gratified smile; at this point, he had no regrets in this life.

His Majesty is different from Emperor Shizong; His Majesty will not be slothful, nor will he hide in the palace like a quail after a defeat. The current Emperor is somewhat like Emperor Chengzu Wen, like a warrior, always fighting, a warrior who can only die in battle!

It is just that His Majesty's battlefield is not the desert grasslands of the north, but the imperial court.

Zhu Yijun and Hence Hai Rui chatted under the tree for a long time until Hence Hai Rui showed signs of fatigue. Only then did Zhu Yijun push Hence Hai Rui back into the room. After the Grand Physician had examined him, Zhu Yijun left by carriage.

On the second day of the eighth month of the sixteenth year of Wanli, the tragic news arrived: Hence Hai Rui passed away from illness at Qingqin Garden at the age of seventy-four.

Zhu Yijun issued an imperial decree to suspend court for three days in commemoration. For being virtuous and knowledgeable, he was called 'Wen'; for considering the state and forgetting his family, he was called 'Zhong'. He was granted the posthumous title 'Wen Zhong' to manifest his conduct and honor his merits.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty! The Marquis of Ningyuan beat a Confucian scholar to death at Baofu Lane in Mingzhao Ward! He struck him six times and kicked him in the stomach; the scholar was already dead by the time he was sent to the Dissection Institute!" A young eunuch ran hurriedly into the Imperial Study. He was running so fast that he fell directly to the ground; it was not an act, he was truly anxious.

A matter of utmost importance.

Li Chengliang had a very good sense of proportion when beating lowly Confucians. Having killed people for so many years, he knew perfectly well what level of force would cause what kind of injury; this final kick was aimed purely at taking a life.

"Why did the Marquis of Ningyuan kill someone?" Zhu Yijun's brows were tightly locked. This Li Chengliang was a man of great discretion in his actions; how could he be so reckless?

The young eunuch climbed up and took a Miscellaneous

Gazette from his sleeve, handed it to Feng Bao, and said: "After Grand Censor Hai passed away, this Confucian scholar openly published an article in the Miscellaneous Gazette slandering Grand Censor Hai. The title was 'Hence Hai Rui's Three Excesses': first, his rigidity was excessive; second, his bluntness was excessive; third, his strictness with others was excessive. These were the three great excesses."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard prohibited the publication of this gazette and recalled these copies. This Confucian scholar printed the demonic book himself and distributed it everywhere. The Marquis of Ningyuan was furious and searched for him everywhere; the Shuntian Prefecture was also searching for him. As it turned out, the Marquis of Ningyuan found him first and struck him with six punches and a kick. This scholar, who lacked the strength to truss a chicken, how could he withstand the full force of the Marquis of Ningyuan?"

"And so he died."

Zhu Yijun finished reading the gazette in his hand, feeling the veins on his forehead throbbing. He slammed the gazette onto the table with force and said: "Well struck! He deserved to die! This matter is absolutely not that simple."

"Zhao Mengyou!"

"Your subject is here!" Zhao Mengyou hurriedly bowed his head and said.

Zhu Yijun looked at Zhao Mengyou and said: "Dispatch troops, dispatch troops immediately! Investigate this case clearly. Go and arrest the entire family of this lowly Confucian Zhang Limin and bring them to the capital for questioning. Although this lowly Confucian Zhang Limin is dead, this matter cannot just end here. I always feel that there is a follow-up and an inside story to this."

"Your subject obeys the decree." Zhao Mengyou immediately accepted the order and went to the Northern Suppressing and Pacifying Division to dispatch Chen Mo to rush to Songjiang Prefecture to make arrests. By the time the Cabinet knew, Chen Mo had already arrived at Zhaoyang Gate and boarded a train heading south.

In the Wenyuange, the four ministers looked at each other in dismay.

"Should the Senior Grand Secretary go and persuade him?" Wang Chonggu asked tentatively.

Zhang Juzheng shook his head and said: "Criminal law is not within my jurisdiction; it is only right for the Junior Grand Secretary to go and persuade him."

"I am certainly not going. His Majesty is in a fit of rage; if he vents his anger on me, where can I go to reason? Recently, my work has been ineffective; I've tossed and turned over the Labor Alliance several times and still haven't managed it properly." Wang Chonggu waved his hands repeatedly and looked at Shen Li: "Should the Minister of Rites go?"

"I am not going. I am not Minister Wan; I don't have the ability to persuade His Majesty to calm his anger. If you want to go, you go." Shen Li did not even lift his head, blindly sticking floating slips onto the memorials. The three-day suspension of court had not yet ended, and Hence Hai Rui had only just passed away, yet someone had already begun to attack him. The fire in His Majesty's heart was like the scorching sun of the summer solstice.

At this moment, even the Cabinet Ministers were unwilling to touch this unlucky matter.

The Cabinet Ministers knew as clearly as a mirror that the purpose of these lowly Confucians doing this was not to attack Hence Hai Rui, but to attack the plain-clothed censors and the national policy of anti-corruption and greed-hunting.

Hence Hai Rui's three excesses—this lowly Confucian Zhang Limin had a lot of nerve!

Even the Daoist Master, who had been pointed at and scolded directly by Hence Hai Rui, did not think Hence Hai Rui was wrong. This lowly Confucian Zhang Limin opened his mouth and listed three great excesses; this was clearly aimed at the Wanli Reform.

The Emperor's grand-scale handling of this was to tell the world that the Wanli meritorious officials designated by the Emperor were meritorious officials, and no one was allowed to dispute it.

"How should the matter of the Marquis of Ningyuan killing someone be

handled?" Wang Chonggu asked for Zhang Juzheng's opinion.

Zhang Juzheng shook his head and said: "This Zhang Limin dared to jump out and say such things; the Embroidered Uniform Guard forbade the publication, yet he insisted on privately printing demonic books—isn't that just courting death? Now he has his wish; he deserved to die."

Shen Li immediately said: "Should it not be handled? The Great Ming Code, the Nine Iron Tablets, the Ming Statutes, and the Collected Statutes of the Ming—every single one has regulations. Meritorious nobles and their servants must not violate the prohibitions; those who do will be severely punished. If the Marquis of Ningyuan's estate is not handled, I fear the military nobles will violate the law at will. How can this be treated lightly?"

Zhang Xueyan shook his head and asked: "The Liaodong Agricultural Reclamation Bureau is currently being promoted. If you punish the Marquis of Ningyuan, will the Liaodong Agricultural Reclamation Bureau continue to reclaim land or not? A lowly Confucian has died, that is all. The situation is special; one must learn to be flexible."

The Wenyuange had differing opinions on how to handle the Marquis of Ningyuan Li Chengliang killing someone in the street. The Ministry of Rites insisted on the law, while the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue advocated for compromise. This lowly Confucian deserved to die, and so he died. Zhang Juzheng did not believe that any Ming official would dare to defy the Emperor over this matter.

The Nine Iron Tablets were an imperial decree issued by Zhu Yuanzhang on the thirtieth day of the sixth month of the fifth year of Hongwu, which was engraved onto iron tablets, namely the "List of Admonitions to Dukes and Marquises." It contained nine articles in total, imposing strict restrictions on the dukes and marquises. The consequence of wantonly violating the law was severe punishment, and Zhu Yuanzhang meant what he said.

The meritorious nobles of the early dynasty mostly rose from humble beginnings. After years of warfare, they were extremely indifferent to human life, very similar to Li Chengliang's situation. To prevent the nobles from violating the law, Zhu Yuanzhang issued a decree to explicitly restrain them from doing evil; even if the stewards, managers, servants, or their relatives in their households violated the law, the nobles would be held collectively responsible.

For a duke or marquis to kill someone in the street was a capital offense, and it could not be easily pardoned.

"A lowly Confucian died, so he died." Zhang Juzheng took a deep breath and said: "It was just that the Marquis of Ningyuan found this Zhang Limin first. If His Majesty had found him, he would have killed him in the street too. What would you gentlemen do? Would you punish His Majesty as well?"

"The state has state laws, and the family has family rules." Wang Chonggu said with some difficulty: "Senior Grand Secretary, these cannot be mentioned in the same breath. His Majesty is His Majesty, and the nobles are the nobles."

"You are right; they are indeed different." Zhang Juzheng agreed with Wang Chonggu's statement. He thought for a moment, looked at Wang Chonggu, and said: "This is not just a criminal case; it is also a political case. I wonder if the Junior Grand Secretary agrees."

Wang Chonggu pondered for a moment and nodded: "Of course! Grand Censor Hai's body is not yet cold, and these lowly Confucians are stirring up trouble! This is to oppose the new policy of anti-corruption and greed-hunting. It is a political case planned long ago and must never be treated as an ordinary criminal case!"

"Just like when General Qi led the Capital Battalion on an expedition, and the lowly Confucian Chen Youren beautified the Japanese pirates—that was also a political case, not a criminal one."

"Indeed." Zhang Juzheng looked at Shen Li and asked: "What does the Minister of Rites think?"

"The Senior Grand Secretary is right. This case cannot be viewed as a military noble violating the prohibitions, but rather as someone deliberately creating trouble while taking advantage of Grand Censor Hai's passing. However, there must still be punishment, otherwise the majesty of state law will not exist." Shen Li's expression was somewhat hesitant.

He sighed and said: "I will go and speak with His Majesty."

A Secretariat Drafter ran hurriedly into the Wenyuange and bowed his head: "Gentlemen of the Cabinet, news has come from Tonghe Palace that the Marquis of Ningyuan has bound himself and gone to Tonghe Palace to plead guilty. His Majesty summons the Cabinet Ministers to go there."

When Zhang Juzheng and the other Cabinet Ministers arrived at Tonghe Palace, Li Chengliang, bound with five-flower ropes, was kneeling before the gate of Tonghe Palace, just kneeling there.

"His Majesty is doing this for outsiders to see. Now, the news of the Marquis of Ningyuan pleading guilty has spread throughout the entire capital." Zhang Juzheng sat in the carriage and whispered to Wang Chonggu.

"Eh, that makes sense." Wang Chonggu raised an eyebrow. He had thought His Majesty was angry at Li Chengliang, but with Zhang Juzheng's explanation, everything became very reasonable.

Li Chengliang had been beating lowly Confucians for more than half a year; that was under imperial order. With Li Chengliang kneeling and His Majesty not receiving him, it was clearly to let everyone in the capital know that Li Chengliang's attitude in admitting guilt was good.

Soon, the young eunuch summoned everyone to the Western Flower Hall for an audience.

"Your subjects pay respects to His Majesty. May His Majesty be well." The ministers performed the rites.

"The guilty subject Li Chengliang pays respects to His Majesty. That Zhang Limin was spouting nonsense; I couldn't stand him, and it just so happened I ran into him when I went out. Who knew he was so fragile? With a few strikes, he gave up the ghost. I am guilty; my crime is beating him to death. But if I meet him again, I will still beat him! I do not regret beating him to death." Li Chengliang stiffened his neck. Pleading guilty was for the crime of murder; he did not regret killing Zhang Limin.

He had the air of someone who would not admit he was wrong even if the Emperor punished him with death. He firmly believed that he was guilty, but not wrong.

"Rise." Zhu Yijun handed a scroll of case files to Zhang Juzheng and said: "Li Shuai, you said Li Rusong was imprudent. In my view, Li Rusong's imprudence is all learned from you!"

"This Zhang Limin—the gazette was banned, yet he continued to print demonic books. The yamen runners and the Embroidered Uniform Guard were all looking for him. How is it that he was suddenly run into by Li Shuai?"

Li Chengliang suddenly raised his head and said in disbelief: "Does Your Majesty mean that I was set up?"

Zhu Yijun nodded: "That's right. Killing two birds with one stone. The first bird is to question Hence Hai Rui and test the court's reaction, especially the reaction of the Senior Grand Secretary. You must know that the Senior Grand Secretary has always opposed Grand Censor Hai returning to the capital. If the Senior Grand Secretary had the heart, he could have abolished the national policy of anti-corruption and greed-hunting first."

"The second bird is you, Li Shuai. This Zhang Limin, an abandoned pawn, was sent right in front of you by someone with a motive, just so you would beat him to death."

"You, a dignified military noble, killed someone in the street. According to the Nine Iron Tablets, at the very least, you should be stripped of your title."

Li Chengliang said blankly: "How vicious."

The scholar-officials of the capital played truly devious games. Li Chengliang never thought that he, a crude military man, would actually be a target worth these scholars putting so much effort into dealing with.

Zhang Juzheng passed the case files down. The investigation into Zhang Limin was still unfolding. This case, as expected, was not as

simple as it appeared on the surface.

Zhang Limin was an ordinary writer from Songjiang Prefecture. He was originally an accountant for the Xu family of Huating. After Xu Jie died, the Xu family fell apart. Zhang Limin entered the capital and became a writer for a gazette. He usually wrote articles and lived off a meager income. Everything seemed normal.

But the Embroidered Uniform Guard's investigation found that Zhang Limin frequently visited the Taibai Tower. That place was a money pit; even the wealthiest people would be skinned alive if they went in. Yet Zhang Limin could go there frequently. His meager income could never support such a lavish lifestyle.

But Zhang Limin was already dead. Who was behind him was actually very difficult to investigate clearly.

Zhang Limin kept a prostitute at the Taibai Tower. According to the prostitute's confession, Zhang Limin was a heavy opium addict. In the five years he had been in the capital, Zhang Limin had smoked seven thousand taels of opium and had become a consumptive, his body extremely weak. And then this incident happened.

Zhang Limin's appearance at Baofu Lane in Mingzhao Ward was sudden; he was sent specifically to Li Chengliang. This was clearly a trap. Some people couldn't stand Hence Hai Rui's rigidity, and some couldn't stand Li Chengliang beating scholar-officials, so they took advantage of testing the court's direction to set a trap for Li Chengliang that was almost guaranteed to succeed.

Wang Chonggu looked at the case file, his eyes dark and unclear: "I fear it is more than that. The Capital Battalion is about to return in triumph. Li Rusong is a meritorious official; his father has been punished by the court. What will Li Rusong think? What will the soldiers of the Capital Battalion think?"

"His Majesty will go to inspect the troops in the future and will see Li Rusong every day. Will he suspect that Li Rusong harbors resentment?"

"As long as there is a rift between the monarch and his subjects, and they cannot trust each other, this rift will grow larger and larger, eventually leading to a loss of heart and loyalty."

"This is also one of the goals—killing three birds with one stone."

Can a general not trusted by the Emperor still serve as the Commander of the Great Ming Capital Battalion?

Wang Chonggu was more adept at conspiracy than Zhang Juzheng. He saw another layer of purpose. This Zhang Limin was an abandoned pawn, and even that gazette office was an abandoned pawn, because all the gazettes and demonic books were printed in advance and were not even printed in the capital.

This Zhang Limin's network of relationships was very clean; apart from visiting brothels, he almost never interacted with anyone.

The clues the Embroidered Uniform Guard continued to investigate had been completely severed.

As expected, it was consistent with Zhang Juzheng's judgment: this was a political case, not a criminal one.

Zhu Yijun's fingers tapped on the table incessantly. He thought for a long time before stopping, sat up straight, and said: "Li Shuai, you killed someone in the street; I must punish you, otherwise state law is no different from waste paper. Today, I strip you of your title to Marquis of Ningyuan, exile you to the Hami Guard, and let you atone for your crimes through service."

"Take those guest troops you have in Liaodong and conquer the Western Regions."

Punishment was mandatory; this involved state law.

Great Ming nobles rarely violated the law because of the strict laws and harsh punishments of the early dynasty. Any illegal act would result in being stripped of their

title, and vicious incidents would result in even more severe punishment. This case was the focus of everyone's attention; not punishing him was impossible. However, Zhu Yijun's punishment was to send Li Chengliang to the Western Regions to continue expanding the territory for the Great Ming.

This meaning was very clear: wait a few years, and even if Li Chengliang did nothing, his title could be restored, and it would not affect Li Rusong's future.

"Your subject thanks His Majesty for his great grace!" When Li Chengliang took action, he had even thought about being exiled to places like Coconut Sea City in Java or the Jinchi Governor's Office. To go to the Western Regions and be allowed to take those guest troops—this was imperial grace.

Zhu Yijun's tone was somewhat cold and stern: "I will definitely investigate this case to the end! This is a provocation against me, as if saying to me that the old officials are gradually withering away, and that I, the Emperor, am nothing without these old officials, trying to make me obediently listen."

"I indeed cannot find anything from Zhang Limin, but it doesn't matter. I can start with these gazettes. Even if he hides in the West, I will drag him back to be punished according to the law!"

The Emperor was clearly truly angry. As the old officials gradually passed away, the first and second teams of the Great Ming Emperor were handing over. The attacks on Hence Hai Rui and the conspiracy against Li Chengliang were telling the Emperor that without these officials, you, the Emperor, are nothing.

"Your Majesty, your subject thinks that this is just a test—a test to see if I would launch a counterattack against Hence Hai Rui because of his passing. This is the main goal. As long as I don't move, no one will continue to do anything." Zhang Juzheng analyzed the situation. Zhang Limin, the abandoned pawn, was mainly to test Zhang Juzheng.

The Emperor treated Hence Hai Rui with such courtesy, bestowing a grand garden, granting the posthumous title 'Wen Zhong', and sending him to the Western Mountain Mausoleum. These were all courtesies. Would Zhang Juzheng, as the Senior Grand Secretary who opposed Hence Hai Rui returning to the capital, want to do something, but find it inconvenient to do it himself?

Zhang Limin, the abandoned pawn, was mainly a test. The conspiracy against Li Chengliang and the sowing of discord were just incidental and not the main goals.

Once Zhang Juzheng made no response, there would basically be no further actions. The Emperor's Embroidered Uniform Guard was definitely not to be trifled with. The more they acted, the more dangerous it was. Only by completely muddying the waters would they dare to move around.

"This is actually very normal. Rebels generally dare not go against the trend. Your Majesty, scholars rebelling—it won't succeed in three years. These monsters and demons hiding in the dark cannot become a climate at all." Wang Chonggu had a lot of experience in being a rebel. He understood rebels very well, especially those who engaged in conspiracy; they could never succeed.

Shen Li echoed: "These monsters and demons, apart from disgusting people, actually cannot do anything. Only by chance can they hit the trend and gain some benefits."

Zhu Yijun understood the ministers' concerns. The Cabinet Ministers were not persuading the Emperor to hush things up, but were afraid that the Emperor, for the sake of a momentary dispute of pride, would lose his sense of proportion, fail to distinguish between the important and the urgent, and muddy the waters on purpose to fish, instead causing greater damage to the Wanli Reform, which would be a loss outweighing the gain.

"Your subject has a way. Didn't Grand Censor Hai have an adopted son named Hai Zhongshi? Let Hai Zhongshi act as bait, run to Qingqin Garden to fight for the family property, file a complaint at the Shuntian Prefecture yamen, and make a scene—the louder the better. Those with ulterior motives will naturally gather around Hai Zhongshi, and we can round them all up." Wang Chonggu offered a conspiracy.

Zhang Juzheng glanced at Wang Chonggu. After so many years, Wang Chonggu was still very adept at such base methods.

"No. Using Grand Censor Hai's funeral affairs as bait is not what I wish. I will let the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigate slowly." After hearing this, Zhu Yijun did not think much and chose to refuse.

"Your Majesty is wise." Wang Chonggu said very sincerely. His Majesty often appeared like a scholar, but his bottom line was very clear. This was the reason why monsters and demons could not defeat His Majesty, and also the reason why Wang Chonggu had lost to Zhang Juzheng his whole life.

The Dao is greater than techniques. Techniques may win a momentary victory, but the Great Dao is open, and it will definitely win.