Chapter 33

After the screen was removed, a voice came from above.

"I have just ascended the throne, and there are censors memorializing together; is it because I am not virtuous?"

The attention of the officials was all hooked.

They all looked up.

They saw the young Emperor holding the Analects, his wrists supporting the imperial desk, his body slightly standing up, speaking in astonishment.

This move, even Feng Bao on the side didn't react.

He hated the eunuch Zhang Jing who moved the screen away and kept it in his heart.

Immediately, he looked at the young Emperor vigilantly, not knowing what this was about.

Gao Gong was also frowning.

At the moment, only he had the status to take this conversation.

He looked at the young Emperor on the imperial steps and bowed: "Your Majesty, censors memorializing by hearsay has always been the case."

"Now perhaps the person being impeached has angered the heavens and the people, so they have this coincidence; it is not a joint impeachment, and has nothing to do with Your Majesty's holy virtue."

"I hope Your Majesty can listen to the government with peace of mind; our court deliberation is to deal with this matter."

The young Emperor didn't understand government affairs, so he rarely explained two sentences.

In short, it has nothing to do with you, go play by yourself.

Zhu Yijun knew clearly that if he appeared in the court deliberation, he would inevitably be vigilant by both Gao Gong and Feng Bao.

Therefore, this degree must be grasped well.

Don't fail to balance, and be pressed down by these two together, which would make people laugh.

He thought about this layer early, and went straight to the point: "Senior Zhang Gelao, you court officials discuss this matter well, I will not interfere too much."

"It's just that these censors are memorializing together to impeach my great companion, and the great companion says it's forming a party; no matter what, it's too sensational, can you explain the origin to me?"

I don't care how you discuss or vote.

It's just that I was scared by this matter, forming a party, and joint impeachment.

Just explain what's going on; anyway, I'll know sooner or later.

Even though it was said to this point, no one responded for a while.

Suddenly, Li Zaiting stepped out and snatched: "Your Majesty, this matter is a long story."

"Simply put, this position of Director Feng is against the ancestral system! It is the beginning of disaster!"

Tsk, this eyesight.

If it weren't for being a Jinshi, Zhu Yijun would have wanted to give this position of Director of Ceremonial to Li Zaiting.

He didn't look at Feng Bao's expression on the side, and asked suspiciously: "Where is it against the ancestral system? If the Director of Ceremonial is not held by an inner minister, should it be selected from Jinshi?"

The court officials naturally couldn't accept these words for nothing.

Since it's here, I don't mind popularizing it for the Emperor.

Minister of Works Zhu Heng, a semi-technical official, was caught by the young Emperor on the spot.

He explained with a laugh: "Your Majesty, the Director of Ceremonial is naturally held by an inner minister, but according to the ancestral system, he cannot hold the position of Eastern Depot supervisor again."

Zhu Yijun seemed to understand.

He turned his head to look at Feng Bao and asked ignorantly: "Zhang Daban, is it really so?"

Feng Bao was expressionless, answering like reading from a script: "This servant is of humble body, how can I understand the nation's precedent."

"This Eastern Depot supervisor was appointed by the late Emperor, and this Director of Ceremonial was promoted by Empress Dowager Li; this servant has never heard of removing me from a position, so I took them together."

"If the result of the court deliberation is nodded by the Empress Dowager, this servant will do as told."

In a thousand words, this matter cannot bypass Empress Dowager Li.

You say it is against the ancestral system, this servant is just obeying the order.

You discuss it yourself, I recognize whatever the result is.

Zhu Yijun secretly glanced at Feng Bao, who was truly unmoved.

According to the current intensity, dozens of censors and officials, if not handled well, will be a major case of the nation.

Let alone his mother, even if the late Emperor was resurrected, he might not be able to stop it!

When the late Emperor served Gao Gong as a foster father, he could be driven home by Xu Jie.

If an actual Emperor and Cabinet ministers are like this, let alone an Empress Dowager overseeing the government and a eunuch.

But Feng Bao is so fearless, it can only be that someone is going to rebel!

As long as some influential court officials stand on the opposite side of Gao Gong to support Feng Bao, Empress Dowager Li can sit on the referee's seat calmly again—the referee cannot be wrong.

As for what is an influential court official?

That is probably... for example, Yang Bo, or for example, Lü Diaoyang.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yijun looked at Minister of Rites Lü Diaoyang, the number two figure of the New Party.

Fortunately, he was the one who asked for the court hearing these few days for this matter; backstabbing is fine, wait until Feng Bao suffers enough.

He asked with curiosity: "Lü Qing, you are the Minister of Rites, you should know these national precedents best; I don't know why these two cannot be held concurrently?"

Lü Diaoyang was thinking about things, and suddenly was called, and hurriedly came back to his senses.

He bowed first and said: "This subject dare not claim to be the best, but I can solve the confusion for Your Majesty; this Directorate of Ceremonial..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhu Yijun raised his hand to interrupt him.

He only wanted the first half, don't say the rest, lest he say something uncontrollable.

Zhu Yijun: "Minister Lü, court deliberation is a major event of the nation; if the Ministry of Rites has no major matters to discuss, why not follow me to the side hall to solve the confusion for me?"

No matter what your conspiracy is now, bear with it today.

Lü Diaoyang opened his mouth, looking like he wanted to say something.

In the end, he pushed back: "Your Majesty, this subject really has things to discuss here."

Then you can't discuss it even more!

Zhu Yijun hurriedly looked at Gao Gong: "Senior Zhang Gelao, dozens of censors memorialized, this matter is too big, I am worried, but it is not good to disturb the court deliberation, why not borrow Minister Lü to solve the confusion for me?"

"I ascended the throne at a young age and don't understand government affairs; the Empress Dowager oversees the government, a woman in the deep palace, and needs Minister Lü to explain, so that I can understand the indignation of the censors."

Gao Gong heard the young Emperor's words, and it was indeed reasonable.

The censors' discussion is indeed terrible, but the Emperor and the Empress Dowager are deep palace women and children, and I am afraid they don't understand the seriousness of the situation.

That's fine, let Lü Diaoyang explain what the situation is now.

Thinking of this, he turned to look at Lü Diaoyang: "Minister Lü, discuss the Ministry of Rites tomorrow; the Holy One has a call, how can you refuse."

Lü Diaoyang touched the memorial in his arms, feeling bitter in his heart.

Now the censors brought out the ancestral law, which is a great opportunity.

They all say Feng Bao holds two positions and does not follow the ancestral law.

This is indeed correct... but Gao Gong is the same!

Already the Senior Zhang Gelao, and still serving as the Minister of Personnel?

This weapon of ancestral law, Feng Bao, a mere eunuch, can't pick it up, but for civil officials, it is universal.

Gao Gong only thought that the court officials and the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers were all of one heart with him, so he dared to be so presumptuous.

But if there is a minister who breaks Gao Gong's position, it is the same as Feng Bao.

This impeachment of Feng Bao becomes impeaching the Director of Ceremonial and the Senior Zhang Gelao; either dismiss both or use both.

Can't the ancestral law be selectively applied?

At that time, whether it is the New Party or Empress Dowager Li, they can mud the water and take the opportunity to let both of them go lightly for the sake of court stability.

Not only that, this grand impeachment, the censors only used the ancestral law to attack Feng Bao, why ignore Gao Gong?

The Senior Zhang Gelao may not know, but are these censors for the sake of the national political situation, or are they borrowing the topic?

Once investigated, someone must be responsible.

These censors, and the censor head Ge Shouli, bear the brunt!

And the theory of forming a party that Feng Bao just put forward can be used as an excuse to intervene in the Censorate.

Simply put, what the New Party has to do now is to save Feng Bao and break Gao Gong's arm.

In this way, it can not only prevent the fire from burning too high and prevent court turmoil, but also hold Gao Gong down until he resigns decently.

These are the tacit understandings with Feng Bao.

It is also Zhang Juzheng's explanation before leaving.

And today, I am going to let Yang Bo rebel and reveal this layer.

As a result, Yang Bo's butt was not clean; as soon as the court deliberation started, he was driven back to confess his crimes and request dismissal.

It doesn't matter if Yang Bo doesn't succeed; he was originally a halfway partner, and it's the same if Lü Diaoyang comes.

He is preparing the memorial of the Ministry of Rites in his arms, just waiting for the opportunity!

As a result, he was also disrupted by the Emperor.

This made him wonder if today is a bad day?

Being stared at by the Emperor and the current Senior Zhang Gelao, he also understood that it is not the time now.

Yang Bo and he are Ministers of the Six Ministries, with enough weight; other censors are not qualified to speak in front of Gao Gong.

When the household censor Cao Danye impeached Gao Gong for ten major crimes, he was thrown to Ganzhou to be a judge the next day, and no waves were made.

Facing Gao Gong, you can't play step by step.

Forget it, wait until tomorrow's court deliberation; Gao Gong can't escape this.

Thinking of this, he replied to the imperial steps: "Your Majesty insists, how can I refuse."

Zhu Yijun nodded with satisfaction, then turned and entered the side hall from the imperial steps.

Lü Diaoyang followed helplessly.

Passing by his colleagues, he met Wang Guoguang's eyes and gave a wink quietly.

He also shook his head slightly at Feng Bao, who had an ugly face.

Lü Diaoyang was originally going to the side hall, but when he arrived at the side hall, the eunuch Zhang Jing said the Emperor was waiting for him outside the Wenhua Hall.

He didn't know why, so he went out of the Wenhua Hall.

Sure enough, he saw the Emperor waiting outside the Wenhua Hall.

Lü Diaoyang hurriedly stepped forward to salute: "Your Majesty."

Zhu Yijun nodded and explained: "I thought about it, the Empress Dowager should also be kept in the dark about this matter."

"I am dull, and I am afraid I can't fully understand Lü Qing's words."

"Why not follow me to see the Empress Dowager and explain it to me and the Empress Dowager together."

Lü Diaoyang was stunned, and then embarrassed: "Your Majesty, how can I step into the harem at will..."

Zhu Yijun smiled: "Go to my Qianqing Palace, the Empress Dowager is in my side hall, receiving congratulations from the Duke of Chen."

After speaking, he turned and went to the Qianqing Palace.

He didn't forget to wave his hand, signaling Lü Diaoyang to follow.

Lü Diaoyang had no choice but to follow.

Zhu Yijun walked in front, strolling leisurely, and said slowly: "Lü Qing, why not tell me first, why can't these two positions be held concurrently?"

There must be a prelude; you can't just give Lü Diaoyang intensity as soon as you come up.

Lü Diaoyang said respectfully: "Your Majesty, this matter is a long story."

"Simply put, the power of the Directorate of Ceremonial is too great; all the transfers of eunuchs, recording prisoners with the three judicial departments, guarding the camp, and the Eastern Depot are all under the Directorate of Ceremonial."

"The Director and the Senior Zhang Gelao handle the secrets; the book-writing and writing-writing and the management of the document room are the same as the secondary phase; their subordinates and little inner servants all call themselves inner scholars; especially the inner officials monitor the Ministry of Personnel and manage the promotion and dispatch."

"This is civil."

"And the imperial envoy supervising the Eastern Depot, leading hundreds of factory guards, thousands of servants, with weapons and armor, can arrest, supervise, and stab."

"This is martial."

"If the powers of the two are in the hands of one person, the power of the inner court is in the palm of the hand, which is no different from holding the Tai'e upside down, which is the beginning of disaster."

No matter what you are preparing to rebel, this political correctness cannot be lost.

No matter what you do, what you say must be reasonable.

Zhu Yijun said "Oh": "So the ancestral law is to restrain each other in size?"

Lü Diaoyang's eyelids jumped, and he hurriedly corrected: "Your Majesty, this is the intersection of powers, the maintenance of civil and martial arts, not the set of restraining each other in size and stirring up different opinions."

Zhu Yijun nodded repeatedly, indicating that he had learned.

Lü Diaoyang continued: "Our dynasty has many such precedents, such as the Hai Yushi-in-Chief and the Office of Transmission, both of which have left and right."

"Also, for example, the local military and political affairs are managed separately by the Provincial Governor and the Three Departments."

"Previously, the Senior Zhang Gelao was impeached by Cao Danye, saying that the Senior Zhang Gelao should not serve as the Minister of Personnel; it is all this truth."

He secretly brought private goods into it, secretly affecting the young Emperor's perception.

Unfortunately, they are all old oil, who doesn't have a little oiliness on the surface.

"Senior Zhang Gelao?" Zhu Yijun took the words just right, as if recalling something, "So it is, Minister Lü didn't say, I haven't remembered yet, now I am surprised, it is exactly the same as what Zhang Gelao Zhang said to me."

His face was calm, as if this had really happened.

Lü Diaoyang was stunned: "Zhang Gelao Zhang told Your Majesty?"

Zhu Yijun showed a look of recollection: "Zhang Gelao Zhang stated the world's major evils to me."

"Speaking of taxes, land measurement, opening the sea, and official administration, he gave some examples."

"When discussing the imbalance of the official system, he talked about the Senior Zhang Gelao, Great Feng Daban, and the affairs of the north and south Zhili."

June 2nd, that was the day Zhang Juzheng was summoned.

Zhang Juzheng naturally didn't say these words, but since only the two of them were there at that time, what they said later was up to Zhu Yijun.

Don't say Zhang Juzheng is not there, even if he is, he has to pinch his nose and admit it.

Like to pretend to be confused, then keep being confused.

But this made Lü Diaoyang unable to figure it out.

This, what did Zhang Gelao Zhang tell the Emperor!

Lü Diaoyang is an old river and lake after all, and he can't believe everything he hears, so he couldn't help but test: "Zhang Gelao Zhang has never told this subject about this matter."

Zhu Yijun looked at him strangely: "Why, Lü Qing often spies on the holy hearing?"

Lü Diaoyang's face turned black, and he hurriedly confessed: "This subject..."

Zhu Yijun was just making a joke to tease the old man.

Smiled and waved his hand: "Perhaps because Minister Lü is not a Cabinet minister, you don't understand if you say too much."

"Otherwise, why do you think I want to support the examination method and condescend to ask the daily lecture officials and the two palaces to examine the lessons?"

Lü Diaoyang hesitated this time.

The Emperor's support for the examination method, although it made the New Party excited for a long time.

But what kind of mentality it came from, there has never been a statement.

Now it seems, is it really influenced by Zhang Gelao Zhang in secret?

Zhu Yijun gave Lü Diaoyang enough time to think, and secretly observed his expression.

Seeing the tangled expression on his face, he struck while the iron was hot: "Not only the examination method, but what Zhang Gelao Zhang said that day, I deeply agree with."

"Land measurement, the single whip method, the reform of the Beijing camp, sea transport, official schools, etc., simply made me suddenly enlightened!"

"Lü Qing, this is for the sake of the ancestral temple and the country, learn more from Zhang Gelao Zhang."

Zhu Yijun strolled leisurely, speaking sincerely.

New Party?

Who said it must be Zhang Juzheng's New Party, why can't it be my New Party?

He certainly wouldn't accept the content of Zhang Juzheng's new law in its entirety.

Its limitations, not to mention anything else, are the forced false reporting of land measurement, the single whip method ignoring economic laws to abuse the north, these he cannot accept.

Of course, the old rules, the naming rights are not contested, the content can be optimized.

He doesn't have to fight for credit with Zhang Juzheng.

Lü Diaoyang didn't know the Emperor's thoughts.

Even if he had a lot of cultivation, he couldn't help but frown and scratch his arms at this time.

The consensus between Zhang Gelao Zhang and the Emperor actually exceeded him, this long-time deputy and confidant!?

Zhang Juzheng didn't tell himself so comprehensively!

What Beijing camp, he only heard a few words vaguely.

What are official schools and sea transport going to change?

He was no longer suspicious at this time, but rather sad.

For his old friend of many years, he was reserved, but he told everything to the ten-year-old Emperor.

Sure enough, after learning the arts of literature and martial arts, he finally had to sell them to the Emperor's family.

Words to his mouth, he could only force a smile: "Yes, this subject should learn more from Zhang Gelao Zhang."

Zhu Yijun turned around suddenly.

Looking at Lü Diaoyang sincerely: "But what Lü Qing said is also quite consistent with what Zhang Gelao Zhang said."

"Great Feng Daban and the Senior Zhang Gelao are indeed somewhat against the ancestral system."

"Then Lü Qing, what is your opinion on this impeachment by the censors?"