Chapter 64

Evening.

Lu Diaoyang led Shen Shixing to the Grand Secretariat and stopped outside Zhang Juzheng's office.

The latter looked at the former in confusion: "Mentor?"

Lu Diaoyang shook his head and said softly: "The Chief Grand Secretary wants to see you alone."

Only then did Shen Shixing realize why Lu Diaoyang had been chattering along the way, giving so many instructions.

He moved somewhat cautiously, preparing to enter.

Lu Diaoyang patted his shoulder and turned back to his own office.

Shen Shixing pushed the door open cautiously and entered.

When he entered the room, he saw Zhang Juzheng resting on the table; it seemed he heard the movement and then raised his head.

Shen Shixing bowed: "Chief Grand Secretary."

Zhang Juzheng rubbed his eyebrows with some fatigue and gestured for him to sit.

After Shen Shixing sat down, he said: "Regarding the matter of meeting the Emperor today, did Minister He tell you on the way here?"

Shen Shixing shook his head: "Teacher said the Chief Grand Secretary would tell me."

Zhang Juzheng nodded and said bluntly: "Jia Daiwen and Hu Xiao fabricated omens, sentence to death, three generations exiled."

"Vice Minister of Justice Bi Qiang, Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Works Zhang Daoming, Compiler Shen Yiguan, and eight others, exiled."

Shen Shixing was shocked.

Zhang Juzheng briefly recounted what happened when meeting the Emperor.

Shen Shixing still hadn't recovered and muttered: "Chief Grand Secretary, this matter is likely not done by Jia Daiwen."

Whether based on his understanding of Jia Daiwen or Jia Daiwen's reaction afterward, he believed this matter was not something Jia Daiwen would do.

Zhang Juzheng nodded: "I believe your statement; not only do I believe it, but the Emperor can also believe this sentence."

Jia Daiwen had no troops in his hands, so why would he dare to be so crazy? If it were said that Zhang Siwei did it, he could believe it more.

Shen Shixing understood this sentence and realized suddenly: "So, Jia Daiwen is to be sentenced to death because of the other twenty percent possibility!?"

How is this different from "unfounded"?

Zhang Juzheng's meaning was difficult to understand: "If Wang Chonggu were not still in Xuan-Da, Zhang Siwei and Yang Bo would also be sentenced to death."

Shen Shixing's shock stopped abruptly, and his body felt inexplicably cold.

Zhang Juzheng explained patiently to this up-and-coming talent: "It is not what you think."

"Princess Qixia died; if it was an accident, so be it, but if it was man-made... those who are suspicious, in the eyes of this Emperor, happen to be people who deserve to die."

"This is taking advantage of the situation, and also satisfying grievances."

Only then did Shen Shixing feel slightly relieved.

After thinking for a moment, he sighed: "After all, it is youthful spirit; I am afraid it will hinder his virtue and reputation."

In the four months since the Emperor ascended the throne, everything he has done can be described as "moistening things silently."

Among the court officials, there is no lack of a reputation for being a benevolent monarch.

But if he really wants to punish the censor officials according to the law and deal with third-rank high officials, this kind of intense action...

The reputation of a benevolent monarch built up before would be abandoned halfway.

Zhang Juzheng had a complex expression and said slowly: "Therefore, we must punish them according to the law, and the Grand Secretariat and the Three Judicial Offices must make this an ironclad case."

Emperor Shizong's reputation is tied to Yan Song.

Just as the late Emperor's reputation is inseparable from Gao Gong.

Now Zhang Juzheng, and even the entire Grand Secretariat, are in the same situation.

Prosperity and loss are shared.

When the majority of court officials reach a consensus, it is not that the Emperor is not benevolent, but that these people are heinous.

Shen Shixing understood: "What does the Ministry of Personnel need to do?"

Zhang Juzheng did not answer directly but asked: "Ru-Mo is only thirty-seven, right?"

Shen Shixing nodded: "Thirty-nine in nominal age."

Zhang Juzheng walked closer and poured tea for Shen Shixing himself: "Minister He thinks highly of you."

Shen Shixing hurriedly stood up, holding the cup with both hands to receive it, saying: "I am honored by the Chief Grand Secretary and my mentor."

Zhang Juzheng nodded: "Now that Lu Shusheng is not coming to take office, you are in charge of the Ministry of Personnel; as the Heavenly Official, you should also be able to stand on your own."

"Therefore, it is not what I want the Ministry of Personnel to do, but what do you think of this matter?"

Shen Shixing was stunned and didn't recover for a moment.

Zhang Juzheng looked at Shen Shixing with encouraging eyes.

Shen Shixing pondered in silence.

He went through everything that happened today in his mind.

A thousand thoughts.

The room was silent for a while.

After waiting for a long time.

Shen Shixing finally tasted the meaning.

He put down the tea and bowed: "Chief Grand Secretary, this matter is too harsh for my Nanzhili fellow countrymen; I cannot sit idly by."

Zhang Juzheng nodded with appreciation.

It is no wonder Lu Diaoyang appreciates this disciple of his so much.

Many times, when one's official rank does not reach a certain level, one cannot think of many things.

But Shen Shixing had not yet entered the Grand Secretariat, and upon hearing today's events, he immediately grasped the impact.

Killing censor officials and dealing with third-rank high officials naturally has a significant impact; internal and external discussions, hostility from the Nanzhili faction, etc., cannot be underestimated.

Hai Rui's words were correct, but they must be said from another direction.

It is precisely that the Emperor should move forward, and the Grand Secretariat should pick up the slack.

Previously, because there was a disagreement between the Grand Secretariat and the Emperor on whether to move against Nanzhili, the degree of cooperation did not seem so high.

But now that he has been persuaded by the Emperor, if the Emperor wants to kill, the Grand Secretariat must wipe his butt for him.

How to smooth out the impact is something the Grand Secretariat must consider.

Zhang Juzheng nodded and said to Shen Shixing: "How can you not sit idly by?"

Shen Shixing did not hesitate and said: "Among the officials from Nanzhili, there are still many talents; I will promote one or two."

This is the gold content of becoming a top palace examination graduate at twenty-seven.

Zhang Juzheng only gave a hint, and Shen Shixing immediately grasped the context.

The Grand Secretariat wants to follow the Emperor's temper and appease the dissatisfaction of the court officials; it can be said that they are coaxing both sides.

Since they want to reconcile yin and yang, they must fall into reality.

As the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Shen Shixing is actually the court official from Nanzhili with the highest rank.

After the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, the Supervising Secretary, and others were dealt with, the Nanzhili fellow countrymen would inevitably be leaderless and panicked.

However, officials from Nanzhili are the most numerous in the court—fair imperial examinations do not mean that the level of all places is consistent, and currently, the educational resources of Nanzhili are second to none.

Therefore, in order to appease this part of the people, Shen Shixing must come forward to be this spokesperson.

Only in this way can he cooperate with the Grand Secretariat to minimize the impact of this matter, and at the same time, serve as a ballast in the matter of the two Huai regions.

Seeing that Shen Shixing really understood, Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but smile with gratification.

His tone relaxed a bit: "Draft a memorial for the people you want to promote; the Grand Secretariat will reject it a few times, you grasp it yourself."

Shen Shixing bowed.

Zhang Juzheng patted his shoulder: "In the future, you don't have to run to my door; if there is anything in the Grand Secretariat, I will let Minister He tell you."

"You are only thirty-seven; it is a good thing to stand on your own earlier."

Shen Shixing was silent.

This is the path a Chief Grand Secretary must take.

Without factions in the court, it is strange; various regional factions cannot all gather under the Chief Grand Secretary.

Just like Gao Gong back then, relying on Yang Bo to command the Jin faction, and relying on Zhang Juzheng to command the Chu faction.

Now that Shen Shixing wants to be the spokesperson for the Nanzhili faction, he naturally cannot run to the Chief Grand Secretary's door all day, otherwise, when the Grand Secretariat wants to cut Nanzhili's meat, it will be difficult to explain.

And Zhang Juzheng mentioned his age twice, and the meaning is also very clear.

If he can really stand on his own, while reconciling the contradictions of the Nanzhili faction in the court, and can also hold the rudder of the Ministry of Personnel to steadily promote the new laws, then the position of the next Chief Grand Secretary is not hopeless.

Of course, there is an unspoken meaning that neither of them mentioned... if Shen Shixing does not have this ability, the Ministry of Personnel will no longer be decided by him, the Vice Minister.

Shen Shixing bowed and performed a great ceremony: "I have learned the teachings of the Chief Grand Secretary."

Maintaining the bowing posture, Shen Shixing backed out of the office.

The room was silent again.

The fourth day of the eleventh month.

Hai Yushi-in-Chief Ge Shouli submitted a memorial: Supervising Secretary Jia Daiwen and Hai Yushi Hu Xiao fabricated omens and overturned the foundation of the country, which is almost no different from treason; they should be sentenced to the execution of nine generations; eight people including Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Works Zhang Daoming, Vice Minister of Justice Bi Qiang, and Compiler Shen Yiguan, along with Jia Daiwen and Hu Xiao, privately colluded, played with omens, and formed cliques for personal gain; they should be sentenced to the execution of three generations.

The court officials were in an uproar, looking left and right, only to find that these people were not attending court at all.

Without giving space for court deliberation, all nine ministers agreed, the Chief Grand Secretary, Second Grand Secretary, and Group Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat approved the ticket and submitted it to the Emperor.

After reading it, the Emperor returned the memorial saying that the ten people were all important ministers, how could they be easily convicted, and ordered the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, and the Court of Judicial Review to jointly try the matter.

The fifth day of the eleventh month.

Assistant Hai Yushi-in-Chief Hai Rui submitted a memorial saying that the Wang Ruyan case involved major abuses in the two Huai regions and requested permission to go to the two Huai regions to investigate in detail.

The Emperor granted Assistant Hai Yushi-in-Chief Hai Rui a tally, patrolling the salt administration of the two Huai regions, and thoroughly investigating the Wang Ruyan case with Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Chen Dong.

The two departed from the capital that day.

The seventh day of the eleventh month.

After the Three Judicial Offices jointly tried Hu Xiao and others overnight for thirty-six hours, the ten people confessed and signed their names, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard searched their residences and found letters, many of which contained words criticizing the imperial carriage and plotting against the sovereign.

With human and physical evidence complete, the Three Judicial Offices submitted the case with the crime of using omens to disrupt the country and plotting rebellion, requesting the Emperor to decide.

The Emperor, considering the excessive involvement, which was not the act of a wise monarch, ordered the Grand Secretariat to discuss it again.

At this time, the Grand Secretariat and the Nine Ministers, moved by the Emperor's holy virtue, reduced the mastermind to the execution of three generations, and the eight accomplices were sentenced to death.

On the same day, Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of War Cai Ruxian, Hai Yushi of Huguang Circuit Chen Tang, Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel Luo Zun, and others submitted a memorial, begging for mercy for Hu Xiao.

They said: A monarch's good governance is numerous, none greater than rewarding remonstrating officials; there are also many flawed policies, none greater than dismissing remonstrating officials. Hu Xiao, as a censor, is responsible for correcting errors, which is his duty. Now that a word involves omens, he is sentenced to treason and executed; I fear that from now on, there will be many who flatter and few who dare to remonstrate.

I beg you to consider his madness and lack of other motives, and think of the fear of blocking remonstrance; perhaps give a light punishment, or let him return to his post, then the holy virtue will be broad, which is the wish of the ministers.

Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel Shen Shixing submitted a memorial, pleading for the ten people.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor was deeply moved.

He issued another decree.

There is Cai Ruxian, a native of Huating, Songjiang Prefecture, Nanzhili, a Jinshi from the second year of Longqing, Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of War, who remonstrated correctly and spoke with substance; promote him to Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue.

Reward the remonstrating officials who spoke this time with five taels of silver each and reduce their inspection period by one year.

Also, because the killing was too heavy and harmed benevolence, following the words of the remonstrating officials and Vice Minister Shen, change the ten people's treason to disloyalty; only the two masterminds are sentenced to death, and the rest are exiled.

With this, the dust finally settled.

Imperial Academy.

"Assistant Director."

"Assistant Director Li."

Along the way, the Five Classics Doctors and teaching assistants greeted Li Zhi one after another.

Li Zhi returned the greetings perfunctorily and went straight to the office of the Libationer.

He pushed the door open and shouted: "Libationer Tao, the Emperor's oral instruction at that time said that the salary would be doubled, why is it not recognized? Is this not the crime of deceiving the Emperor!"

When the Emperor tricked him into coming, he said "not managed by others, salary doubled, peace of mind to study."

Now, indeed, no one manages him—his only superior, Tao Dalin, is cautious and never easily offends people, and he wouldn't even reprimand his subordinates.

Except for not liking to take responsibility and retreating behind others whenever there is a problem, he has almost no other shortcomings.

As for studying, it is indeed quite peaceful.

The affairs of the Imperial Academy are not busy, and almost no one disturbs Li Zhi.

But the problem remains that the salary has not been doubled as promised.

The Imperial Academy is a "clear water" yamen; when salaries are in arrears, the Imperial Academy bears the brunt. When he was a Five Classics Doctor, salaries were in arrears for months, and they always used Sichuan pepper to settle accounts.

He really didn't want to repeat the same mistakes, penniless, starving his wife and daughter.

Seeing the door pushed open, Tao Dalin stood up abruptly, and seeing it was Li Zhi, he relaxed.

He had been annoyed by Li Zhi for the past few days and was used to it, so he naturally knew what was going on.

He said gently: "Assistant Director Li, why not go to the Ministry of Revenue and ask? The salaries of our Imperial Academy are all set by the Ministry of Revenue; if Assistant Director Li finds trouble with me, I can't conjure up money, can I?"

Li Zhi was speechless: "You said that the day I reported to the Imperial Academy, and later I went to the Ministry of Revenue to ask, and the Ministry of Revenue asked me for the certificate from the Ministry of Personnel."

Tao Dalin remained calm: "Then Assistant Director Li, why not go to the Ministry of Personnel and ask?"

Li Zhi curled his lips: "Went yesterday, and the Ministry of Personnel asked me for the Emperor's edict."

Tao Dalin stood up, closed the door, and turned back: "That's right, where is the edict? The Ministry of Personnel cannot issue you two salaries out of thin air."

Li Zhi took off his hat, revealing a small flat head: "That was an oral instruction! Where would a clear edict come from."

Tao Dalin hurriedly comforted: "Then why not let the eunuch be a witness?"

Li Zhi said angrily: "Didn't I go today? Just came back."

"Said the Forbidden City is recently clearing the palace, overwhelmed, no time to pay attention to me!"

Tao Dalin shared his hatred: "It's hard for Assistant Director Li."

Li Zhi refused to give up: "Libationer Tao is a court official; what is the Emperor's arrangement for me? Why not ask for me?"

The Emperor summoned him; it is highly unlikely that he would let him stay in the Imperial Academy to eat for free.

He saw the Emperor running a new newspaper and immediately sensed that this Emperor was competing for the prestige and language of the literati and the people.

If this salary were doubled for him, there would likely be another task for him.

He couldn't think of anything else worthy of the Emperor's attention besides his identity as a heterodox member of the School of Mind.

The problem is that he heard that a major event happened in the court recently, and he guessed that it was because of this that the Emperor was overwhelmed and had no time to pay attention to him.

This made Li Zhi feel uncomfortable; he was afraid that the Emperor would leave him behind.

The money he brought was not enough for him to be in arrears for months at the Imperial Academy.

He had previously run to the New Academy to ask for a part-time job, but was kicked out by Cheng Dawei, saying he had no talent, which made him very angry.

Now he can only hope that the Emperor will think of him sooner.

Tao Dalin was calm and unhurried: "Assistant Director Li, don't worry, the capital is not what you think."

"After the trial of the Examination Method in the ninth month, the Emperor and the Grand Secretariat both clearly stated that officials with excellent performance this season will not only have their arrears made up but will also receive a performance bonus, enough for Assistant Director Li to live comfortably."

Li Zhi said helplessly: "Libationer Tao, don't coax me; I have read the examination standards of the Imperial Academy, it would be good to have a pass."

In a "clear water" yamen, it is naturally not easy to produce results.

Tao Dalin said gently: "A pass is also good; at least it will be paid in full every month, actually paid, and will no longer be converted into treasure notes or Sichuan pepper."

The Ming salary is actually enough—if it is not in arrears and actually paid.

Li Zhi couldn't stand Tao Dalin's Tai Chi.

He stopped pleading with him.

He got up and was about to leave; after walking two steps, he couldn't help but entrust: "Libationer Tao, if you have time, why not ask the Emperor for me."

Tao Dalin smiled and nodded.

Li Zhi had no way to deal with his Maitreya Buddha superior and left the room full of anger.

Along the way, he met students greeting him again; Li Zhi forced a smile and bowed back one by one, without any ambiguity.

Seeing that it was getting late, Li Zhi was just about to go to the street to have dinner.

Just passing by the Registry Hall, he suddenly saw the supervisor of the Discipline Hall running over.

"Assistant Director Li! Someone from the palace is looking for you, waiting for you in the Discipline Hall!"

Li Zhi went straight to the Discipline Hall without saying a word.

Two more chapters, updated within today.