Chapter 75: Sharing Honor and Disgrace, The Overall Situation Comes First

The 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, near noon.

Today, the cold wind was still howling, and the heavy snow filled the sky.

Although charcoal fires were burning in the Wenhua Hall for warmth, the Emperor had specifically instructed that the doors and windows be opened slightly, giving the cold air an opportunity to enter.

The chill squeezed into the Wenhua Hall, strand by strand, through the cracks in the doors and windows.

Fortunately, the Classic Mat Lecturers were wrapped tightly in the heavy cloaks bestowed by the Emperor, so it was not too cold.

Today was the last Classic Mat lecture of the year; after this session, the Emperor would be on holiday.

It would last until after the Lantern Festival, and then spring classes would be opened depending on the weather.

The Classic Mat lecture ended, and the Daily Lecturers took their leave one after another.

Zhang Juzheng requested to stay alone: "Your Majesty, I have studied the affairs of past dynasties in detail and compiled a book."

"I have selected 81 events that are good and can be taken as models, following the Yang numbers; and 36 events that are evil and can be taken as warnings, following the Yin numbers."

"Each event is illustrated, followed by the original text of the biography, taking the meaning of Emperor Taizong of Tang using the past as a mirror; it is named 'Illustrated Mirror for Emperors' and is presented to Your Majesty."

The 'Illustrated Mirror for Emperors' was enlightenment reading for the Emperor, giving examples of what a wise ruler was and what a muddled ruler was.

Although Zhang Juzheng discovered halfway through writing it that the current Emperor didn't really need it, he still finished the book with the intention of starting and ending well.

Of course, presenting the book today was merely a pretext. Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Juzheng, knowing that he had intentionally intercepted him at the Wenhua Hall to request an audience.

Zhu Yijun nodded and said: "You have compiled and edited this book, showing your loyalty and love; I am currently using the past as a mirror to govern, and I deeply accept and appreciate it..."

"Follow me to the Warm Pavilion, and before presenting the illustrated volumes, read them for me."

After speaking, he rose and headed to the Warm Pavilion in the side hall of the Wenhua Hall.

Zhang Juzheng followed closely behind.

The other Classic Mat lecturers did not feel anything was amiss and left one after another.

However, the newly promoted Classic Mat lecturer, Xu Guo, couldn't help but turn his head and look twice.

For the past two days, the Emperor had been somewhat absent-minded during the Classic Mat lectures.

Although he was still handling them with ease, he lacked his previous initiative and spirit, giving the feeling of just going through the motions, as if he had something on his mind.

The two assistant ministers also often closed their eyes in contemplation.

Now that the Senior Grand Secretary was staying behind alone, they were inevitably going to talk about something.

Although Xu Guo was still grinding his qualifications in the Hanlin Academy and his official rank was not high, he could still hear some news from the Cabinet court deliberations.

In the past two days, changes had occurred one after another in Nanzhili, which I fear had made the Emperor and the Cabinet somewhat restless.

It was not strange to have this formal audience.

Xu Guo shook his head and turned to leave the Wenhua Hall.

Entering the Warm Pavilion, Zhu Yijun casually took the 'Illustrated Mirror for Emperors' presented by Zhang Juzheng and set it aside.

He looked at Zhang Juzheng: "This book will be sent to the History Office to manifest the righteousness of our ruler and minister working together."

After a pause, Zhu Yijun asked: "Does the Senior Grand Secretary have something to find me for?"

If it were just to present the book, he would have done it when the Classic Mat lecture started, rather than waiting until it ended to stay behind alone.

This action was clearly a request for a formal audience.

Zhang Juzheng did not hide it either and bowed: "Your Majesty, today the Cabinet received a memorial from Wang Zongmu; one of the ships carrying autumn grain to the capital has capsized."

"When the shipyard was repairing it, they discovered traces of man-made damage."

Zhu Yijun was silent for a moment, then sighed: "Heaven wants to rain."

"If we don't tear off the mask, this is the most they can do; only one out of fourteen ships sank, which can be considered restrained."

Hearing these words, Zhang Juzheng's expression became even more complicated.

It was not that he disagreed with the Emperor's words.

Rather, he felt that the Emperor's emotions were too wrong.

The day before yesterday, Hai Rui sent news that the salt merchants were clamoring, making trouble in front of the Huai'an Prefectural Yamen, and some even set fire to the Yamen; the Embroidered Uniform Guard had even been dispatched.

The Cabinet was shocked for a moment.

As a result, the news reached the Wan Shougong and was like a mud ox entering the sea.

The Emperor had no reaction at all.

Yesterday, Zhu Gang of Yingtian Prefecture memorialized again, saying that recently public opinion had been stirred up among the scholars in Nanzhili, saying that the central government intended to suppress Southerners and would deliberately fail Southerners in the next imperial examination; many students believed it to be true.

The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, Wan Hao, came forward to appease them, but the students were surging with indignation and actually beat the Chancellor together, beating him until he couldn't get out of bed.

In the end, it was former Cabinet Minister Li Chunfang who came forward to appease the scholars.

The Cabinet sent the news to the Wan Shougong, but the Emperor remained indifferent.

Even when He Yongqing followed the Cabinet's meaning to ask the Emperor to use the new newspaper, he was still shut out and returned without success.

Such an abnormal state made anyone realize that something was wrong.

The Cabinet requested a formal audience several times, but the Emperor found excuses to drag it out.

Helpless, the Cabinet discussed it and decided to let Zhang Juzheng use the pretext of presenting a book to block the Emperor after the Classic Mat lecture.

Now that Zhang Juzheng had requested the opportunity for a formal audience, he immediately brought up the capsized grain ship to see the Emperor's attitude.

Logically speaking, this sage ruler, no matter what, should inevitably have feelings of anger and annoyance.

But just now, he only sighed that Heaven wanted to rain and had no other expression.

The Emperor's reaction further corroborated Zhang Juzheng's suspicions.

He became increasingly uneasy in his heart; what exactly was the Emperor thinking?

Zhang Juzheng knew that this Emperor was not an unreasonable person, so he simply asked directly: "Your Majesty."

"I do not know why Your Majesty is speaking insincerely; I am terrified!"

"I beg Your Majesty to clarify!"

Zhu Yijun did not answer for a while.

After a long while, he said: "Senior Grand Secretary, do not worry; since the matter of the Two Huai and Nanzhili has been entrusted to the Cabinet, I am at ease letting the Cabinet handle it."

"As for the salt merchants gathering to make trouble, I believe Hai Rui can stabilize the situation; the elite troops brought by Jiao Ze, as well as the tens of thousands of soldiers in the Water Transport Yamen, are there to deal with such things."

"The indignation of the scholars is even more like rootless duckweed; once they know the truth, they should disperse. Since former Grand Secretary Li Chunfang has come forward, there is no reason for the situation to expand further."

"As for the capsized grain ship, it is even more of a case of being fierce in appearance but weak in reality. If more than ten ships had capsized, I might really have to stop, but since it is only one, it shows that they also have their own fragile things they care about."

"Since none of this is to be feared, why should I disturb your thoughts?"

The words were clear and logical, with substance.

Zhang Juzheng couldn't find any faults either.

But he was not so easily fooled.

Zhang Juzheng asked: "Forgive my bluntness, it is not because Your Majesty is silent that I have come to request a formal audience."

"Rather, it is because Your Majesty has been somewhat depressed recently..."

Zhu Yijun took up the conversation: "As if there is some difficult matter?"

Zhang Juzheng was startled, then nodded.

This was exactly what the Cabinet was suspicious about.

Everyone had their guesses but couldn't find the way.

Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but guess: "Could it be that something went wrong with Junior Tutor Xu?"

Now the memorials from Nanzhili were drifting into the Cabinet like snowflakes, and they had a general understanding of the situation.

Yet there was no news from Xu Jie alone.

It was hard not to suspect whether the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Office of Transmission were connecting directly and sending it straight to the Wan Shougong, without passing through the Cabinet at all, and without leaving any files for the Six Offices.

Zhu Yijun suddenly smiled: "The Senior Grand Secretary truly has a delicate mind."

Zhang Juzheng's expression moved, and he hurriedly asked: "What happened to make Your Majesty so troubled?"

He suddenly felt a shock and guessed: "Could it be that he incited the fellow townsmen and soldiers to rebel!?"

Zhu Yijun waved his hand.

He knew Zhang Juzheng was using outrageous guesses to induce him to correct him.

He had long been accustomed to using this trick with his leaders in his previous life.

Zhu Yijun couldn't be bothered to care about these psychological tactics and said with a complicated expression: "How could that teacher of the Senior Grand Secretary be so unwise as to rebel."

"On the contrary..."

"He has already knelt and bowed, begging me for mercy."

As he spoke, Zhu Yijun took a red-marked memorial from his bosom.

He gently placed the memorial on the desk, pressed it with two fingers, and pushed it out: "Senior Grand Secretary, see for yourself."

Zhang Juzheng's expression was solemn as he bowed and walked closer.

Was this the reason why the Emperor was so troubled that he couldn't hide his emotions?

He carefully picked up the memorial and slowly opened it.

His gaze swept over, skipping the ritualistic opening, and he read word by word silently: "... Your subject Jie, mediocre and without virtue, entered the court through profound writing, red shoes, lamb and plain silk."

Zhang Juzheng frowned, not understanding what Xu Jie intended to do.

If he were just bowing his head and tying his neck, how could it make the Emperor have such emotions?

He continued to read.

Further on, it was that he heard the central government had the intention of measuring fields and was willing to cooperate, and so on.

And Hai Rui was cleaning up salt administration in the Two Huai, and he was also willing to provide a helping hand.

Further down...

Suddenly, Zhang Juzheng's expression changed drastically!

He slammed the memorial shut, not daring to look again.

He looked toward the Emperor: "Your Majesty!"

Zhang Juzheng's eyes widened, suspicious and uncertain: "Where is Xu Jie now?"

Zhu Yijun's gaze was empty, his ten fingers interlaced, rubbing back and forth: "The Senior Grand Secretary guessed right; Xu Jie has already surrendered."

Zhang Juzheng's expression shook again, his mouth opened and closed, unable to speak.

After a long while, he gently placed the memorial back on the imperial desk.

He raised his head to look at the bewildered Emperor and couldn't help but comfort him: "Your Majesty, the overall situation comes first."

Zhu Yijun came back to his senses and suddenly smiled: "I knew you would say that."

"I was also in a dilemma, so I hid it from the Cabinet and pondered alone for several days."

"It is not that there was any discord with the Senior Grand Secretary or the Cabinet."

"Senior Grand Secretary, this teacher of yours is truly a hero! The way he saves his life is so far-sighted that even I couldn't help but beat my palms in praise."

"I am now truly in a dilemma."

Zhang Juzheng was silent; persuading him once was already the limit, and he could no longer speak on this matter.

Zhu Yijun did not insist on Zhang Juzheng answering either.

He picked up the memorial again.

He had read this memorial dozens of times, and each time he had different feelings.

Zhu Yijun said while looking at the memorial: "Now you know why I was noncommittal about the memorials sent by the Cabinet?"

"The salt merchants clamoring is Zhu Gang, the Prefect of Yingtian, and Cao Bangfu, the Minister of Revenue, inciting the people."

"The scholars' shock is former Grand Secretary Li Chunfang and Minister of Rites Qin Minglei teaching Wan Hao a lesson."

"The capsized grain ship is the collusion between Duke of Xuancheng Wei Guoben and Water Transport Inspection Hai Yushi Lu Mingzhang."

"The various guards in Nanjing are stirring, and there are also figures of the Ministry of War and the Duke of Wei's mansion; Xu Bangrui returned to Nanjing too late and couldn't manage his own family; Senior Grand Secretary, do you say it is ridiculous?"

"In short, Junior Tutor Xu told me all this in advance."

"So when the Cabinet memorialized, I naturally didn't feel surprised."

"Senior Grand Secretary, do you say Junior Tutor Xu is too loyal to the ruler and loves the country?"

Zhang Juzheng wanted to speak but stopped.

In the end, he still didn't speak.

Only seeing the Emperor look at the next page, he continued: "Not only that."

"Junior Tutor Xu, out of a sincere patriotic heart, also reported to me all the tricks he knew about salt administration, grain transport, tea tax, guards, criminal prisons, fields, and population in Nanzhili over the past three years."

"Ten times, a hundred times more urgent than my urgency, thinking what I think."

"By the way, Senior Grand Secretary, you didn't look further down; I will read it to you."

"I won't mention Nanzhili; there are too many to read; let's talk about the capital."

"The mansion of the Eldest Princess Ning'an received 143,600 taels in bribes over three years; evidence and account books attached."

"The mansion of Senior Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng received 62,100 taels in bribes over three years; evidence and account books attached."

Zhang Juzheng turned his head away.

Zhu Yijun continued: "The mansion of Father-in-law Li Wei received 127,800 taels in bribes over three years; evidence and account books attached, and a separate list of gifts to Empress Dowager Li."

"Minister of Justice Wang Zhiyuan's son committed murder, and he covered it up; human and material evidence attached."

"Cabinet Assistant Minister Yang Bo and Minister of Rites Zhang Siwei received over 480,000 taels in bribes over three years, and the Ministry of Personnel bribed officials to select officials; human and material evidence attached."

"The Duke of England, Duke of Cheng, Marquis of Prince Tai Ning, etc., received over 370,000 taels in bribes over three years; evidence attached."

"Huguang Provincial Governor Wang Daokun, Guangdong Inspection Hai Yushi Yang Yigui, etc., misappropriated grain and tea certificates; evidence attached."

"Besides these, there are also Office of Transmission Commissioner He Yongqing, Court of Imperial Stud Commissioner Fang Hongjing, Vice Minister of Rites Zhu Dashou, Ma Ziqiang..."

Zhu Yijun's own throat was dry, so he simply stopped: "There are too many; I can't read them all."

"From the Inner Palace, Cabinet, Six Ministries, various offices and courts, censors, nobles, to frontier officials..."

"Alas..."

"Senior Grand Secretary, this is the overall situation; I dare not defy it."

"Junior Tutor Xu has tied the overall situation to himself; I am now helpless against him!"

"Do you say I should let it go or handle it all at once?"

Zhang Juzheng did not speak for a long time.

He waited until the Emperor stopped before saying: "If Your Majesty is angry, naturally you should kill the chicken to scare the monkey."

Zhu Yijun nodded; he understood Zhang Juzheng's meaning.

The crimes listed by Xu Jie might not necessarily be true.

At worst, one could selectively handle one or two.

Unfortunately, Xu Jie had also thought of this.

Zhu Yijun suddenly raised his head and looked at Zhang Juzheng: "Does the Senior Grand Secretary know who Junior Tutor Xu surrendered to!?"

Zhang Juzheng seemed to have thought of something, his face changed!

Zhu Yijun slowly stood up and said word by word: "Xu Jie, and those eighteen large boxes of evidence, are all in the Huai'an Prefectural Yamen!"

Zhang Juzheng finally realized what was wrong!

Xu Jie did not bow his head directly to the Emperor and let Zhu Xixiao report it!

But surrendered to Hai Rui!

Zhu Yijun lowered his head, his expression intertwined with gloom, anger, and other emotions.

He looked directly at Zhang Juzheng and gritted his teeth: "So, I have restored Hai Rui for barely two months, and I am going to dismiss him and throw him back to Hainan!?"

To put the overall situation first, one must conclude this case.

Then Hai Rui would become a sacrifice again.

How could he bring himself to do that?

Let someone come out of the mountains, and dismiss them in just two months!?

Then how is he different from the former Emperor!

Zhang Juzheng softened his expression and said softly: "Your Majesty overstates; just change someone to handle this case, and Hai Yushi Hai can return to the capital..."

Zhu Yijun suddenly changed his expression: "Senior Grand Secretary!"

He couldn't help but roar: "Will Hai Rui stay in office!"

"Is he, Hai Rui, the kind of person who sees crimes and turns a blind eye!?"

"Do I also have to send a secret letter to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to burn those eighteen boxes!? Let Hai Rui's heart turn to ash!?"

"How will he look at me!?"

"How will you look at me!?"

"How will the people of the world look at me!?"

"Not to mention that the unofficial histories are full of this dog shit, smeared on my posthumous title..."

"How can I clarify the universe and sweep the world in the future!"

Zhu Yijun vented, and Zhang Juzheng was silent.

The two looked at each other for a long time.

Zhu Yijun took a deep breath and said softly: "Senior Grand Secretary, I will not let Xu Jie off the hook so easily." ===== CHAPTER 76 =====