Chapter 35

After the screen was pulled away, a voice came from above.

"I have just ascended the throne, and there are already court officials submitting joint memorials; is it because I lack virtue?"

The attention of the hundred officials was completely drawn over.

They all looked up one after another.

They saw the young Emperor holding the Analects, his wrists resting on the imperial desk, his body slightly standing up, speaking with a look of astonishment.

Even Feng Bao, who was to the side, did not react to this action.

He bitterly recorded the eunuch Zhang Jing, who had moved the screen, in his heart.

Immediately, he looked at the young Emperor vigilantly, not knowing what kind of scene this was.

Gao Gong was also frowning incessantly.

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

He looked at the young Emperor on the imperial steps and bowed: "Your Majesty, Censors reporting matters based on hearsay has always been the case."

"Perhaps the person being impeached has angered both heaven and man, which is why this happened coincidentally; it is not a joint impeachment and has nothing to do with Your Majesty's holy virtue."

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

The young Emperor was not well-versed in government affairs, so he rarely explained a few sentences.

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

Zhu Zhu Yijun knew clearly that if he showed his face in the court deliberation, he would inevitably be guarded against by both Gao Gong and Feng Bao.

Therefore, this degree must be grasped well.

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

He had long thought through this layer and went straight to the point: "Senior Zhang Gelao, you court officials should discuss this matter well; I will not intervene too much."

"It is just that these court officials are submitting memorials together to impeach my Zhang Daban, and the Zhang Daban says this is forming a clique; in any case, it is too shocking. Can you explain the origin of this to me?"

I don't care how you discuss it or how you vote.

It's just that I was frightened by this matter, with all this talk of forming cliques and joint impeachments.

Just explain what is going on; I will have to know sooner or later anyway.

Even though the words had reached this point, there was still no response for a while.

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

"Simply put, it is that the Great Feng Daban holding these positions is contrary to the ancestral system! It is the beginning of chaos!"

Tsk, what an eye for detail.

If he weren't a Tong Jinshi, Zhu Zhu Yijun would have wanted to give this position of Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial to Li Li Zaiting.

He did not look at Feng Bao's expression beside him and asked suspiciously: "Where is it contrary to the ancestral system? If the Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial is not held by an inner minister, should it be selected from the Tong Jinshi?"

The court officials naturally could not accept these words in vain.

Since the words had reached this point, they didn't mind popularizing the situation for the Emperor.

Zhu Heng, the Minister of Works, a semi-technical official, fell into the young Emperor's trap on the spot.

He smiled and explained: "Your Majesty, the Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial is naturally held by an inner minister; however, according to the ancestral system, he cannot also hold the position of Eastern Depot Superintendent."

Zhu Zhu Yijun seemed to understand.

He turned his head to look at Feng Bao and asked naively: "Zhang Daban, is this really the case?"

Feng Bao was expressionless, answering as if reciting from a script: "This humble servant is of lowly status, how would I know about the precedents of the dynasty."

"This Eastern Depot Superintendent position was appointed by the late Emperor, and this Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial position was promoted by Empress Dowager Li; I have never heard that I should be stripped of any position, so I held them together."

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

Say a thousand or ten thousand things, this matter still could not bypass Empress Dowager Li.

You say it is contrary to the ancestral system, but this servant was just obeying orders.

You all just deliberate in court; I will accept whatever the result is.

Zhu Zhu Yijun secretly glanced at Feng Bao; he was truly as steady as a mountain.

According to the current intensity, with dozens of Censors and Supervising Secretaries submitting memorials, if handled slightly improperly, it would be a major case for the dynasty.

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

When the late Emperor treated Gao Gong as a foster father, he was still driven home by Xu Jie.

An adult Emperor and the Grand Secretariat were still like this, let alone an Empress Dowager overseeing the state and a eunuch.

But Feng Bao was so fearless, it could only mean that someone was about to defect!

As long as some court officials with weight stood on the opposite side of Gao Gong to support Feng Bao, Empress Dowager Li could once again sit calmly in the referee's seat—a referee cannot be wrong.

As for who are the court officials with weight?

That would probably be... for example, Yang Bo, or for example, Lu Lu Diaoyang.

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

Fortunately, he had asked for this court hearing precisely for this matter; backstabbing was fine, but only after Feng Bao had suffered enough.

He asked with a curious expression: "Minister Lu, you are the Minister of Rites; you should know these precedents of the dynasty best. I don't know why these two cannot be held concurrently?"

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

He bowed first and said: "This subject dares not claim to be the best, but perhaps I can resolve Your Majesty's confusion. This Directorate of Ceremonial..."

Before he could finish, Zhu Zhu Yijun raised his hand and interrupted him.

He only wanted the first half; he'd better not say the rest, lest he say something uncontrollable.

Zhu Zhu Yijun: "Minister Lu, court deliberation is a major event for the dynasty. If the Ministry of Rites has no major matters to discuss, why not follow me to the side hall to resolve my confusion?"

No matter what your conspiracy is now, just endure it for today.

Lu Lu Diaoyang opened his mouth, looking like he wanted to say something but stopped.

In the end, he still declined: "Your Majesty, this humble subject does indeed have matters to discuss here."

Then you are even less allowed to discuss them!

Zhu Zhu Yijun hurriedly looked at Gao Gong: "Senior Zhang Gelao, dozens of court officials have submitted memorials; this matter is too big, and I am anxious in my heart, but it is not good to disrupt the court deliberation. Why not lend Minister Lu to me to resolve my confusion?"

"I ascended the throne at a young age and am not well-versed in government affairs; my mother is overseeing the state, a woman in the deep palace, and she truly needs Minister Lu to explain things so that we can understand the indignation of the court officials."

Gao Gong heard the young Emperor say this, and it truly made some sense.

It was terrifying for the court officials to discuss things together, but the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were, after all, women and children in the deep palace, and he was afraid they would not understand the severity of the situation.

Very well, let Lu Lu Diaoyang explain what the situation was.

Thinking of this, he turned to look at Lu Lu Diaoyang: "Minister Lu, let's discuss the Ministry of Rites' affairs tomorrow; since the Emperor has summoned you, how can you decline."

Lu Lu Diaoyang touched the memorial in his bosom, feeling bitter in his heart.

Now that the court officials had brought up the ancestral system, it was an excellent opportunity.

They all said that Feng Bao holding two posts was not following the ancestral system.

These words were certainly correct... but Gao Gong was the same!

Was he not also the Senior Zhang Gelao while holding the position of Minister of Personnel?

The ancestral system was a weapon; it was fine that Feng Bao, a mere eunuch, could not pick it up, but for civil officials, it was universal.

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

But if a minister were to expose Gao Gong's positions, they would be exactly the same as Feng Bao's.

This impeachment of Feng Bao would then become an impeachment of the Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Senior Zhang Gelao; either dismiss them both, or use them both.

You couldn't just apply the ancestral system selectively, could you?

At that time, whether it was the New Party or Empress Dowager Li, they could all smooth things over, using the excuse of maintaining stability in the court to let both of them off lightly.

Not only that, but in this large-scale impeachment, why did the court officials only use the ancestral system to attack Feng Bao and ignore Gao Gong?

Perhaps the Senior Zhang Gelao did not know about it, but were these court officials doing it for the political situation of the dynasty, or were they just using the matter to make a fuss?

Once an investigation was launched, someone would have to be held responsible.

These court officials, as well as the head of the Censors, Ge Ge Shouli, would be the first to bear the brunt!

And the talk of forming cliques that Feng Bao had just brought up could also be used as a pretext to intervene in the Censorate.

To put it plainly, what the New Party had to do now was to save Feng Bao and then break one of Gao Gong's arms.

In this way, they could prevent the fire from burning too brightly, preventing turmoil in the court, while also holding Gao Gong down until he retired with dignity.

These were the tacit understandings with Feng Bao.

And they were also Zhang Zhang Juzheng's instructions before he left.

And today, he was going to let Yang Bo defect and reveal this layer.

As a result, Yang Bo's own hands were not clean; as soon as the court deliberation began, he was sent back to state his own crimes and request dismissal.

If Yang Bo couldn't do it, then forget it; he was only a mid-way joiner anyway. It would be the same if he, Lu Lu Diaoyang, came.

He had a memorial from the Supervising Secretary of Rites in his bosom, and he was just waiting for an opportunity to act!

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

This made him suspicious in his heart whether today was a bad day?

At this moment, being stared at by the Emperor and the current Senior Zhang Gelao, he also understood that it was not the right time.

Yang Bo and he were Ministers of the Six Ministries, and their weight was sufficient; the other court officials were not qualified to speak in front of Gao Gong.

Back then, Cao Cao Daye, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, impeached Gao Gong for ten major crimes, and the next day he was thrown to Ganzhou to be a judge, without making any waves at all.

Facing Gao Gong, one could not play the game of gradual progress.

Very well, then wait until tomorrow's court deliberation; Gao Gong would not be able to escape this encounter anyway.

Thinking of this, he replied to the imperial steps: "Since Your Majesty insists, how dare this subject disobey."

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded with satisfaction and turned from the imperial steps to enter the side hall.

Lu Lu Diaoyang followed helplessly.

Passing by his colleagues, he exchanged a glance with Wang Guoguang and quietly gave a wink.

He also shook his head imperceptibly toward Feng Bao, who had an ugly expression.

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

He did not understand why, but he left the Zhao Wenhua Hall.

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

Lu Lu Diaoyang hurriedly stepped forward and bowed: "Your Majesty."

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded and explained: "I have thought about it, and my mother must also be kept in the dark about this matter."

"I am dull-witted and am afraid I cannot fully understand Minister Lu's words."

"Why doesn't Minister Lu follow me to see my mother and explain it to me and my mother together."

Lu Lu Diaoyang was stunned, and then said embarrassedly: "Your Majesty, how can this humble subject step into the inner palace at will..."

Zhu Zhu Yijun laughed: "Go to my Qianqing Palace; my mother is in my side hall, receiving congratulations from the Duke of Cheng."

Having said this, he turned and headed toward the Qianqing Palace.

He did not forget to wave his hand, signaling Lu Lu Diaoyang to follow.

Lu Lu Diaoyang had no choice but to follow.

Zhu Zhu Yijun walked in front, strolling leisurely, and spoke unhurriedly: "Minister Lu, why don't you tell me first, why these two posts cannot be held concurrently?"

There always had to be a prelude; he couldn't just turn up the intensity on Lu Lu Diaoyang right away.

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

"Simply put, it is that the Directorate of Ceremonial has too much power; all matters such as the dispatch of garrison eunuchs, recording prisoners with the Three Judicial Offices, guarding the camps, and the Eastern Depot all belong to the Directorate of Ceremonial."

"The Seal-Holding Eunuch and the Senior Zhang Gelao hold the keys to the government; the Document-Drafting Eunuchs and the Document-Managing Eunuchs have the same rank as the secondary ministers; their subordinates and minor inner attendants all call themselves inner scholars; in particular, inner officials supervise the Ministry of Personnel and hold the power of promotion and dispatch."

"This is the civil side."

"And the Imperial Commissioner Superintendent of the Eastern Depot leads hundreds of officials and thousands of servants, has weapons and armor, and can arrest, supervise, and investigate."

"This is the military side."

"If the powers of both are in the hands of one person, and the power of the inner court is entirely in his grasp, it is no different from holding the sword by the blade, and it is the beginning of chaos."

No matter what he was prepared to do to defect, he could not lose this political correctness.

No matter what he did, whatever he said with his mouth had to be reasonable.

Zhu Zhu Yijun said "Oh": "So that's how it is; so the ancestral system is about mutual restraint between the large and the small?"

Lu Lu Diaoyang's eyelids twitched, and he hurriedly corrected: "Your Majesty, this is the intersection of powers and the mutual maintenance of civil and military, not that set of mutual restraint between large and small or mutual disturbance through different opinions."

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded repeatedly, indicating he had learned something.

Seeing this, Lu Lu Diaoyang continued: "Our dynasty has many such precedents; for example, the Hai Yushi-in-Chief and the Director of the Office of Transmission both have left and right positions."

"Also, for example, the local military and political affairs are divided between the Provincial Governor and the Three Commissions."

"Previously, the Senior Zhang Gelao was impeached by Cao Cao Daye, saying that the Senior Zhang Gelao should not hold the position of Minister of Personnel; it is all for this reason."

He unobtrusively inserted private goods into it, secretly influencing the young Emperor's perception.

Unfortunately, they were all old foxes; who didn't have a bit of oiliness on their faces?

"Senior Zhang Gelao?" Zhu Zhu Yijun took up the words just right, seemingly recalling something, "So that's how it is. If Minister Lu hadn't said it, I wouldn't have remembered, but now I am surprised that it is exactly the same as what Zhang Gelao Zhang said to me."

His expression was calm, as if this had truly happened.

Lu Lu Diaoyang was stunned: "Zhang Gelao Zhang has spoken to Your Majesty about this?"

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

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

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

The second day of the sixth month was the day Zhang Zhang Juzheng was summoned.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng naturally did not say these things, but since only the two of them were there at the time, what they said later was up to Zhu Zhu Yijun to decide.

Not to mention that Zhang Zhang Juzheng was not there; even if he were, he would have to grit his teeth and admit it.

If you like to pretend to be confused while knowing the truth, then just keep being confused.

But this left Lu Lu Diaoyang completely confused.

What did Zhang Gelao Zhang say to Your Majesty!

Lu Lu Diaoyang was an old hand after all, and he couldn't believe everything he heard, so he couldn't help but probe: "Zhang Gelao Zhang has never mentioned this matter to this humble subject."

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at him strangely: "Why, does Minister Lu often spy on the imperial ears?"

Lu Lu Diaoyang's face turned black, and he hurriedly apologized: "This humble subject..."

Zhu Zhu Yijun was just joking, teasing the old man.

He smiled and waved his hand: "Perhaps because Minister Lu is not a Zhang Gelao, you wouldn't understand even if you were told too much."

"Otherwise, why do you think I support the Examination of Merits Law and condescend to invite the daily lecture officials to examine the studies of the two palaces?"

Lu Lu Diaoyang hesitated this time.

Although the Emperor's support for the Examination of Merits Law had made the New Party excited for a long time.

There had never been an explanation for what kind of mentality it was born from.

Now it seems, could it really be Zhang Zhang Juzheng's secret influence?

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

Seeing the tangled look on his face, he struck while the iron was hot: "It is not just the Examination of Merits Law; I deeply agree with everything Zhang Gelao Zhang said that day."

"Land measurement, the Single Whip Law, the reform of the Beijing camps, maritime transport, official schools, etc., simply made me suddenly enlightened!"

"Minister Lu, this is for the sake of the ancestral temple and the country; learn more from Zhang Gelao Zhang."

Zhu Zhu Yijun strolled leisurely, his words sincere and earnest.

The New Party?

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

He certainly would not accept the content of Zhang Zhang Juzheng's New Laws in its entirety.

The limitations, not to mention anything else, were the forced reporting of land measurement and the Single Whip Law's abuse of the north without regard for economic laws; he could not accept these.

Of course, as the old rule goes, the naming rights are not contested, but the content can be optimized.

He did not need to compete with Zhang Zhang Juzheng for credit.

Lu Lu Diaoyang did not know the Emperor's thoughts.

Even with his cultivation of qi, he could not help but frown frequently and scratch his arm at this moment.

The consensus between Zhang Gelao Zhang and the Emperor actually exceeded that of him, a long-time deputy and trusted comrade!?

Zhang Zhang Juzheng had not told him so comprehensively!

He had only heard a few vague words about the Beijing camps.

What were the official schools and maritime transport going to change?

He was no longer suspicious at this moment, but rather felt a bit heartbroken.

He had reservations about his old friend of many years, but instead poured his heart out to a ten-year-old Emperor.

Sure enough, after mastering the arts of civil and military, one eventually has to sell them to the imperial family.

With the words on the tip of his tongue, he could only force a smile: "Yes, this humble subject should learn more from Zhang Gelao Zhang."

Zhu Zhu Yijun suddenly turned around.

He looked at Lu Lu Diaoyang sincerely: "However, what Minister Lu said is also quite consistent with what Zhang Gelao Zhang said."

"The Great Feng Daban and the Senior Zhang Gelao are indeed somewhat contrary to the ancestral system."

"Then Minister Lu, what is your opinion on this impeachment by the court officials?"

——

PS: Some readers asked about the book club; let me say that due to force majeure, the author will not create any form of discussion group for the time being.

Also, don't criticize the cliffhanger; everyone loves to hoard books, and if I don't attract some follow-up reading this way, this book would have died long ago. Moreover, it is just leaving a small tail while keeping the plot of a chapter complete.

One must always consider reality~

(End of chapter)