Chapter 13: Each Has Plans, Moths Fly to the Flame

"Bai Gui, if you have time to play house with children, you might as well look at this mountain of memorials."

As soon as Zhang Juzheng returned to the entrance of the Cabinet office, he heard Gao Gong's voice coming from inside.

Bai Gui was Zhang Juzheng's childhood name; Gao Gong was like this, calling people by their childhood names without feeling it was disrespectful, instead feeling it was a show of closeness.

Zhang Juzheng was used to it; he walked into Gao Gong's office and picked a chair to sit down: "I can only pretend not to hear what the Chief Assistant said."

Gao Gong didn't even lift his head, writing furiously: "There's no outsider now; the ones on duty have all gone to the Sishan Gate to pay respects."

Zhang Juzheng poured himself a cup of tea and moistened his throat: "Chief Assistant, with the late Emperor gone, the Crown Prince seems to have truly opened his wisdom; his words and demeanor made me look at him with new eyes."

"In my opinion, he might not be a wise monarch in the future."

He praised him, speaking casually, his tone seeming like chatting about family matters.

Gao Gong shook his head: "There are wise monarchs in every generation, and there are muddled monarchs in every generation; what's the meaning?"

"Emperor Shizong suppressed the Cabinet ministers as soon as he ascended the throne at fourteen, and then reformed old ills and revitalized the discipline; isn't he a wise monarch? But what happened after? He practiced Daoism for twenty years without holding court!"

"Bai Gui, don't always think that if there is a wise monarch, the Great Ming Dynasty will be stable for ten thousand generations; even if he is early-wise, can he compare to those of us who passed the imperial examinations?"

Gao Gong spat out all kinds of rebellious words, and Zhang Juzheng could only remain silent.

After a long time, Zhang Juzheng opened his mouth: "Suqing, you and I are ministers, and we will always be ministers; the monarch is ultimately the monarch."

Gao Gong said "En," obviously not taking it to heart: "The monarch is naturally the monarch, especially a monarch like the late Emperor who entrusted the government to the Cabinet; he is truly a good monarch."

Zhang Juzheng sighed in his heart.

This was the difference between him and Gao Gong that could not be bridged—Gao Gong was too radical!

In other words, Gao Gong was impractical and too wishful.

He, Zhang Juzheng, wanted to be in charge of the great government, that's true, but how much longer could he live?

After saving the sky, he would return the great government and the new law to the monarch; even if it were like Shang Yang, leaving the law but not the person, it would be fine; he was not greedy for power.

But Gao Gong didn't think so; this golden-stone friend was tired of the set of loyal ministers and wise monarchs, and wished that from now on, all monarchs would rule by doing nothing.

Simply wishful thinking!

He didn't know to what extent Gao Gong wanted to go, but no matter what, it was unrealistic.

Suppressing for a while is still controllable, but if it were really done like Gao Gong, the monarch whose power was eroded would inevitably rely on the Directorate of Ceremonial to counterattack crazily, with internal and external confrontation.

The Great Ming Dynasty could not afford to be tossed.

Unfortunately, he knew he couldn't persuade Gao Suqing, just as he, Zhang Juzheng, wouldn't agree with Gao Suqing.

Zhang Juzheng lightly skipped this topic: "Is the Chief Assistant writing a memorial to impeach Feng Bao?"

Gao Gong waved his hand: "I have already sent the impeachment memorial to the palace; this is about Xuan-Da, I am writing a letter to Wang Chonggu."

Zhang Juzheng's eyes flashed when he heard that the impeachment memorial for Feng Bao had just been sent.

But he was expressionless on the surface: "What does Minister Yang of the Ministry of War mean about Xuan-Da?"

Gao Gong paused and continued writing: "Yang Bo said that the Tatars in Xuan-Da are indeed making a lot of trouble, and the border troops have been in arrears for too long; Wang Chonggu is also forced to do so."

Zhang Juzheng was surprised: "Wang Chonggu can't suppress the border troops?"

This could not be taken lightly.

Gao Gong sneered: "It's Yang Bo who can't suppress Wang Chonggu!"

He handed over a memorial: "Take a look."

Zhang Juzheng stood up and took it, looking at the cover; it was a censor's inspection memorial.

He opened this memorial with doubt.

After scanning it at a glance, Zhang Juzheng's expression immediately became solemn.

He restrained his face and said: "Of the 50,000 warhorses purchased last year, only 30,000 can be used!?"

Gao Gong had seen it beforehand, so he naturally knew what Zhang Juzheng was talking about; his tone carried anger: "Not only that, the quota given to him by the Ministry of War last year was 70,000!"

"In the first month of this year, all the horse price silver from the Court of Imperial Stud was sent over."

"The Mongols didn't sell the horses, they are making trouble for this!"

Zhang Juzheng closed the memorial, his brows furrowed.

So that was it; the various tribes on the grassland were just waiting for the mutual market to fill their stomachs; if this matter was discounted, it would be strange if they didn't make trouble.

As for the whereabouts of the money for buying horses, it went without saying.

Even so, they still had the face to talk about arrears? Not to mention anything else, 270,000 taels of military pay were sent to Xuan-Da in the second month of this year!

The commercial taxes of Xuanfu didn't even need to be handed over to the central government, yet now they were still asking the central government for money!

Xuan-Da was almost becoming a blood-sucking meat tumor!

Zhang Juzheng opened his mouth: "Then this letter from the Chief Assistant is..."

The central government's official letter was public, so there was no room for maneuver.

Gao Gong was obviously unwilling to go to this step, so he wrote the letter in his personal name.

Gao Gong snorted coldly: "I am asking him, when he is preparing to rebel by building high walls and storing grain."

Zhang Juzheng knew Gao Gong was speaking in anger; he shook his head: "Chief Assistant, I believe that Wang Chonggu is greedy and excessive by harboring bandits to bolster his own position; if you say he is preparing to rebel, I'm afraid it's a bit too heavy."

"His two sons are still in the capital."

The Great Ming Dynasty was in danger, but no one dared to be the first bird yet.

Gao Gong was silent for a while after hearing this.

Finally, he sighed: "Bai Gui, how could I not know this? I just hope he will restrain himself."

"He made contributions to the Andahan tribute (a certain Mongol tribe surrendered and attached); entering the Cabinet is just a step away; I'm afraid he won't be able to keep his integrity in his later years."

He and Wang Chonggu were in the same class of imperial examinations, and their private friendship was not bad.

Zhang Juzheng also worried: "The national situation is difficult."

Gao Gong quickly restrained his emotions and waved his hand: "Bai Gui, go sign the official business first; it's an eventful autumn, I really can't handle it anymore."

Zhang Juzheng nodded, stood up and said: "Exactly, I still have to discuss the late Emperor's temple name with Zixiang and the Ministry of Rites, I'll go first."

After saying this, he turned and retreated from the room.

Gao Gong watched Zhang Juzheng's departing figure, his expression slowly becoming serious.

In the empty office, he said coldly: "Did you hear what I said?"

As soon as the voice fell, a figure walked out from behind the screen behind his desk.

He walked slowly to Gao Gong's side: "I heard everything I should have heard."

Gao Gong picked up the letter he had just written, turned his face and stared straight at him: "Zhang Siwei, pass this letter to your uncle Wang Chonggu."

"Help me bring another sentence, just say, he is already too big to be controlled in Xuan-Da; I will no longer trust him; he must come to the central government next year, entering the Cabinet is fine!"

"Otherwise, just rebel in Xuan-Da; I will pull the other towns empty and cut him off to sacrifice the flag!"

The undisguised anger made Zhang Siwei tremble.

If someone else said this, he could take it as being fierce in appearance but weak in reality, but coming from Gao Gong's mouth, he dared not not believe it.

Zhang Siwei reached out and took the letter from Gao Gong's hand, hesitating: "Chief Assistant, does Minister Yang know about entering the Cabinet..."

Don't look at Zhang Siwei as just a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel; his uncle was Wang Chonggu, his cousin's father-in-law was Yang Bo, and he himself was the big manager behind the Jin merchants.

It could be said that this was the Crown Prince of the Jin Party.

The next leader of the Jin Party was none other than him.

His status and position were significant, not something that could be explained by a mere official position.

At this time, Gao Gong brought up the conditions of the Cabinet in exchange for Wang Chonggu letting go of Xuan-Da; he naturally had to stand from the perspective of the Jin Party and confirm it.

After all, Yang Bo was still the leader of the Jin Party and Wang Chonggu's direct superior.

If it were really as Gao Gong said, he was afraid that Yang Bo would have a grudge and have an internal conflict with his uncle, which would be bad.

Gao Gong didn't answer directly, just said: "You just bring the words."

He said all he had to say; he had already communicated with Yang Bo, but Zhang Siwei was not worthy of his explanation.

Zhang Siwei showed his cards and opened his mouth: "Chief Assistant... our Jin Party is not like others; perhaps, can you give Minister Yang another quota?"

"When the time comes, we can contribute more..."

They were the dignified Jin Party, with Jin merchants for money, Yang Bo for power, and Wang Chonggu for soldiers; with such strength, isn't it more worth fighting for than those goods from Nanzhili, Huguang, and Zhejiang?

Not bargaining would be unreasonable.

Gao Gong was too lazy to answer; what kind of person did the Jin Party think he, Gao Gong, was? He would retreat a little for his own ambition, but he would not be coerced by anyone!

If it weren't for the fact that the matter of real prime minister power was extremely difficult and required many civil officials to work together, he might not have tolerated Zhang Siwei making noise here.

That's right, real prime minister power was Gao Gong's plot!

The current Cabinet was different from the Three Departments system of previous dynasties.

The Cabinet seemed to be a prime minister's office, but it was actually just the Emperor's private office; the actual official position of the Cabinet ministers was Grand Secretary of the Hall, only fifth rank, only for the Emperor's consultation.

Since its establishment, there had been no reality of a prime minister.

Only after generations of assistant ministers seized power, following Xia Yan, Yan Song, and others, until Gao Gong here, did it gradually have the reality of a prime minister.

But even so, the private office of the Emperor, the fifth-rank official position, its status and official system were still inherently insufficient; it could be achieved by people, but it was not a regular system.

Unless—real prime minister power, truly raising the Cabinet to the status of prime minister in the ritual system!

And this required raising the Cabinet's official rank, and also required taking the veto power of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and even more required the full support of civil officials and scholars!

If it weren't for this, why would he tolerate the Jin Party, the Zhe Party, and even repeatedly show favor to Nanzhili.

If it weren't for this, why would he linger in the position of Minister of Personnel.

If it weren't for this, why would he twice recommend the person in charge of the seal, and even target Feng Bao now? Outsiders only thought he was narrow-minded and loved to hold grudges; they really looked down on him, Gao Suqing.

Thinking of this, Gao Gong was even more impatient with Zhang Siwei, who guessed him with the heart of a villain.

He pointed with his sleeve: "Go out from the side door."

Gao Gong had been powerful for a long time, and Zhang Siwei didn't dare to say more, hurriedly stopping his words.

But he didn't leave, instead mentioning another matter: "Chief Assistant, I sent the impeachment memorial for Feng Bao to you through the path of the eunuch Chen Hong."

"However... Feng Bao is deeply trusted by Li; some words about corruption and isolating the inside from the outside, I'm afraid they are of no use, right?"

Now the Jin Party was betting on Gao Gong; for this kind of investment, he naturally had to ask carefully, otherwise it would be too late if there was a mistake.

Gao Gong glanced at Zhang Siwei and mocked.

He twisted his beard, his face looking a bit proud, and opened his mouth: "I was angry yesterday; if I didn't have any action, wouldn't it make him more vigilant?"

"This is just a smokescreen; let him be proud for a few days, my real means have not been used yet."

He took out a memorial from under the desk, "Five Urgent Matters for New Policy."

Zhang Siwei had just seen the words on the cover when Gao Gong took it back.

He hurriedly asked: "Chief Assistant, this is..."

Gao Gong didn't answer directly: "You will know when the time comes."

"I won't make a move if I don't, but if I do, I will press the Directorate of Ceremonial to death! With the momentum of my Cabinet, the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers, the censors and scholars, and the governors of various localities, Li won't be able to stop it!"

Zhang Siwei didn't dare to delve deeper, hurriedly flattering: "Chief Assistant has the heart of mountains and rivers, and a deep plan; it is my over-worrying, our Jin Party will definitely be the tail of the Chief Assistant's horse."

Gao Gong looked at Zhang Siwei lightly.

Calculating in his heart how to break up these Jin Party and Zhe Party after the Cabinet had real prime minister power, he warned on the surface: "Alright, go back and learn more from Yang Bo, don't spend all day pondering your fly-like and dog-like things."

Zhang Siwei was driven away again, helplessly bowed, and prepared to retreat.

Just as he retreated one step, he seemed to remember something and paused.

Suddenly opened his mouth: "Chief Assistant, Zhang Juzheng is protecting himself, Gao Yi is hesitating; I'm afraid neither can be entrusted with great matters."

"This morning, I saw the Crown Prince's affection for Gao Yi, and their relationship seems to be unusual; Gao Yi may not agree with the Chief Assistant's matter of virtual monarch and real prime minister."

Don't look at Gao Gong holding great power now; in fact, every Cabinet minister cannot be underestimated.

If Gao Yi really raised the banner of the royalist party to respect the monarch's prestige, I'm afraid the trouble would not be small.

Gao Gong didn't care.

He only united all parties to achieve his goal, which was why he promised the Cabinet position to the ungrateful people who formed cliques like the Jin Party and Nanzhili.

When the Cabinet was handed over from his hands, it would inevitably be that these clique-forming people had all been cleared out, leaving a central prime minister's office where the capable go up and the inferior go down, and where they can govern the country.

To really do things, one still had to rely on capable officials like Gao Yi and Zhang Juzheng who cared about public affairs.

Now the people who form cliques are saying that Gao Yi and Zhang Juzheng are unreliable; it's really reversing the world.

He waved his hand and said casually: "Since they are civil officials, how can there be any reason not to agree with this matter?"

"Furthermore, Zixiang and Bai Gui both follow my lead in everything."

"Although I haven't told them the bottom line, but..."

Zhang Siwei gathered his courage and suddenly interrupted Gao Gong: "Chief Assistant, think twice."

Gao Gong frowned at him.

Seeing this, Zhang Siwei hurriedly persuaded: "Chief Assistant, what if the matter is not successful?"

"We small people can still be safe, but if a Cabinet minister like you participates, it won't be so simple."

"Since you have a deep private friendship with them, why not think more for them? This is also for their own good."

This sentence seemed to move Gao Gong.

After thinking slightly, he finally nodded slowly.

Gao Gong opened his mouth: "Alright, I will let Gao Yi take sick leave and Zhang Juzheng inspect the mountain mausoleum."

The so-called inspecting the mountain mausoleum is to check how the late Emperor's mausoleum is being built.

It has always been led by Cabinet ministers.

Going back and forth will take some time.

Zhang Siwei breathed a sigh of relief and finally retreated this time.

——

Note 1: Xuanfu Town reported that in the first half of this year, the original number of cavalry and recruited soldiers in the city and various castles, newly purchased 51,521 warhorses, 31,037 were usable, etc., 20,484 were not purchased. — "Veritable Records of Ming Shenzong"

Note 2: First month of the fifth year of Longqing, issued 25,000 taels of silver from the Court of Imperial Stud to Xuan-Da and Shanxi three towns to buy horses, at the request of the Minister of War Wang Chonggu. — "Veritable Records of Ming Muzong"

Note 3: Second month of the sixth year of Longqing, issued 127,300 taels of silver from the Taicang to Xuanfu, 150,700 taels to Datong, 89,600 taels to Shanxi, to fill the military pay for the main and guest troops. — "Veritable Records of Ming Muzong"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 14 =====