Chapter 85: Planting Teachers and Friends, Hanging Ears and Lowering Heads

Regardless of how the Emperor planned to deal with Xu Jie, before the boots hit the ground, outsiders had to serve this person well.

Thanks to the hundred officials returning the bribes this time, there were quite a few vacant residences in the capital.

Two of them were taken back by the Ministry of Rites and used to house high-ranking officials who had arrived in the capital in a hurry without a residence.

Xu Jie was suitable to be placed in one of them—Xu Jie had a private residence in the capital, but that residence was implicated in the case of the fifth year of Longqing and was confiscated.

But Xu Jie changed his bad habit of enjoying pleasure and righteously refused Li Jin, actively requesting to be placed in the post station, no different from ordinary officials waiting for summons, truly showing high integrity.

In short, Li Jin finally took Xu Jie to the post station, left a small official from the Ministry of Rites to accompany him, and two Embroidered Uniform Guards to watch over him, and then left directly.

It is said that one should have a calm spirit when facing major events.

After settling down, Xu Jie plunged into the bed and slept soundly, resting a little.

In broad daylight, he slept for an hour and a half.

If it weren't for the faint snoring and the rise and fall of his chest, the Embroidered Uniform Guards guarding the door would have thought he had passed away.

It wasn't until dusk approached and the sky darkened that Xu Jie woke up faintly.

He stretched comfortably, put on his clothes, and shouted outside the door: "Someone."

The small official from the Ministry of Rites who was accompanying him walked out of the room next door: "What are the Senior Grand Secretary's orders?"

A fallen tiger is not something these small officials can offend.

Xu Jie, while putting on his clothes, said: "This official wants to go out for dinner; is there anything inappropriate?"

The small official said respectfully: "Senior Grand Secretary, your words are too heavy; what could be inappropriate? This subordinate will lead the way for you."

Dinner can be eaten, but you can't go alone.

Xu Jie naturally understood, and he didn't mind, nodding.

He dressed meticulously, tidied his sideburns with a bronze mirror, and then stood up slowly: "Let's go, lead the way."

Imperial City, outside the Meridian Gate.

At noon, the sky darkened, and Zhang Juzheng walked out of the Imperial City slowly.

As soon as he exited the Meridian Gate, the steward You Qi immediately let the servants lower the sedan chair to wait respectfully.

Zhang Juzheng skillfully pushed aside the curtain and drilled in.

A voice came from the sedan: "Is there something at the mansion?"

Generally speaking, if there wasn't something at the mansion, You Qi wouldn't wait outside the Meridian Gate, and there was no shortage of people to carry the sedan chair.

You Qi followed beside the sedan, walking in small steps, and lowered his voice: "Master, at noon, Wang Chonggu submitted a visiting card, wanting to see you in the next few days."

Hearing this, Zhang Juzheng rubbed his eyebrows in the sedan, feeling a bit exhausted—another matter he couldn't shirk.

Since becoming Senior Grand Secretary, there were more and more matters to handle.

First was the *kaocheng* method.

The problem of the court's official administration was too serious; now that it had been tested for two seasons, problems were exposed one after another.

Shen Shixing of the Ministry of Personnel was always inferior to Gao Gong in prestige and decisiveness, and he had to discuss with Zhang Juzheng to handle it.

At the same time, in order to set an example, Zhang Juzheng actively submitted a memorial to the Emperor to conduct *kaocheng* on the compilation of the "Veritable Records of Emperor Muzong."

The so-called "work must have a schedule before it can be held accountable," Zhang Juzheng overcame all opposition and set a schedule for this matter.

Every month, the compilation officials of each hall had to complete the writing of one year's events, which would be modified and perfected by Zhang Siwei at the end of the month, and then handed over to Zhang Juzheng every half year for deletion and polishing.

The plan was to complete the compilation of one year every month, and complete the organization of three years every quarter, gradually accumulating, in the hope of final success.

Of course, what was indispensable was the monthly and half-yearly assessment.

This kind of thing was simply thankless and exhausting.

Not to mention being scolded by the Ministry of Rites, he himself was also tired.

But there was no way; in the Emperor's words, this was called "exemplary leading role," and he deeply agreed.

Besides this, there was the matter of the two Huai regions and salt administration that the Emperor had forced upon him.

It was not that once the Emperor set the general direction and made two personnel appointments, it could be implemented in reality.

Just the change of the Commander of River Operations concurrently serving as Provincial Governor involved changes in the official system.

The Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Revenue, and Ministry of War negotiated several times before he rushed to discuss a result.

Even so, he still forcibly demanded a position of Left Assistant Censor-in-Chief from the Censorate, making Ge Shouli toss and turn for several days.

In addition, there was the matter of the Salt Administration Office.

Although there was a general consensus, there were still disputes over some key issues.

For example, the printing rights of salt *yin* were not something the Ministry of Revenue and the Emperor were willing to let go of.

Whether the Salt Administration Office should reach the Emperor directly or be responsible to the Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Revenue was also something that could be discussed.

Discussion was discussion, but things had to be pushed forward; just today, an edict was issued for Yin Shidan to enter the capital to deliberate on this matter together.

These internal affairs were fine.

Who knew that the Jiliao side would have border provocations again.

Dong Huli was an old opponent; during the Jiajing and Longqing periods, there was no lack of his figure invading the border, and now that it was the Wanli year, it was naturally no exception.

The Tumen Khan fought a battle with Qi Jiguang at the border; it was impossible for the central government not to invest attention.

Fighting was fighting, but prisoners still had to be exchanged.

Besides that, it was fearing that these barbarians would not get the rewards and would stir up large-scale border provocations again.

Fighting a war was too expensive!

Judging by the actions of this Emperor, time was on the side of the Great Ming; if they could drag a major war for a few years, it might not be a bad thing.

Matters were chaotic, and Wang Chonggu happened to enter the capital.

Zhang Juzheng only felt a bit exhausted.

He lifted the carriage window curtain and instructed: "Two days later; you go and invite Wang Chonggu to come to the mansion for a dinner party."

You Qi responded, indicating he understood.

He paused and said: "Master, there is one more thing."

A nasal sound came from the carriage.

You Qi said slowly: "At noon today, Sun Yizheng came to send things to the mansion again; I made a decision and drove him away."

Zhang Juzheng replied absent-mindedly: "This is because the *kaocheng* is not qualified and he is afraid after being impeached by Li Zaiting."

"You did the right thing; it should be so."

The Emperor had clearly told him that if money was short, the inner treasury could provide it.

Since the Emperor had done this, he had no reason to touch Sun Yizheng's stinking dog shit anymore.

He paused, remembered other things, and asked: "What new things have been in the New News recently?"

The New News was said to be hosted by He Yongqing of the Office of Transmission, but court officials all knew who was doing it.

Just the circulation volume throughout the North Metropolitan Region was not something that the Office of Transmission's budget could cover.

Now the New News had gradually become a system; besides publishing in the North Metropolitan Region, it would also print some extra copies and send them to local government offices and post stations along with the *Di Bao* (Court Gazette) for announcements.

In remote places, although the quantity was small and it took time, the commoners seemed to love reading it.

Even in the localities, there was already a business of copying and selling the New News.

It was quiet outside the sedan for a while, obviously recalling.

After a while, You Qi's voice was heard: "Since the last revision, it has become twice as large and can be folded; the form has not changed since then."

"The content is also the same: anecdotes, current politics, enlightenment on calculation, occasionally interspersed with insights about the New Academy, saying that after the summer, there will be an 'experiment'."

"Oh, by the way, the serialization of 'Journey to the West' is finished, and the next issue will start serializing a new novel."

Zhang Juzheng nodded.

Since the Emperor collected the manuscript of "Journey to the West" and translated it into plain language, Zhang Juzheng knew the audience of the New News.

Now publishing enlightenment on calculation was even more proof of his idea.

He had read it twice, but those twisted symbols really couldn't raise his interest.

He did know something about the "experiment" You Qi mentioned.

The Emperor had told him about it last year.

Rotting grass turning into fireflies... he was actually quite curious.

Zhang Juzheng asked and answered some official business, such as market rice prices, whether the tax exemption for the Nine Gates was being violated, and whether the children in the family were studying well.

Halfway home, it finally became quiet in the sedan.

Zhang Juzheng took out the memorial from his sleeve and took advantage of this time to read it.

At the position of Senior Grand Secretary, there was no absolute rest time.

Either dealing with political affairs or on the way to deal with political affairs.

Now that Nanzhili had just been bled by the Emperor, there were quite a few people who needed to be appeased.

Whether writing letters to soothe hearts or promoting people to sell favors, everything had to be handled.

Not to mention the two maritime trade offices waiting to be fulfilled; the memorials from various places concerning this matter could be said to be drifting into the Grand Secretariat like snowflakes.

There was exclusion and resistance—saying that establishing maritime trade offices was harmful and useless, and would only invite banditry.

There was concern and questioning—especially concerning whether it was only for tribute ships or if civilian ships could truly pass, as well as asking about the amount of customs duties and the number of stationed troops.

There was no time for Zhang Juzheng to be idle at all.

Zhang Juzheng read while being shaken by the sedan chair all the way.

Before long, he actually fell asleep.

You Qi heard the snoring in the sedan and didn't dare to disturb him.

It wasn't until they bumped all the way to the gate of the mansion and landed steadily that You Qi woke up his master.

Zhang Juzheng woke up suddenly.

After coming to his senses, he lifted the curtain and drilled out.

Just as he straightened up and took a step back to the mansion, his eyes suddenly froze.

He saw an old man standing quietly beside the gate of the Zhang mansion, with his hands behind his back, looking up at the couplet at the gate.

Zhang Juzheng looked twice more carefully, and his face changed slightly.

He waved his hand to let You Qi, who intended to support him, enter the mansion first.

He himself straightened his clothes and walked forward slowly after taking a deep breath.

Zhang Juzheng walked behind the old man, performed a disciple's great salute, his tone respectful, and called out softly: "Teacher."

The person waiting outside the mansion was none other than his teacher, Xu Jie.

Xu Jie didn't look back either, only saying meaninglessly: "When I was teaching at the Hanlin Academy, I only had eyes for you, but I didn't expect you to reach the position of Senior Grand Secretary."

"Why not set up another gate pillar and specifically list your family's valve status?"

Zhang Juzheng was silent for a long time before saying: "Teacher, valve status is only needed for old homes in the countryside; this is the capital, a pair of couplets is enough."

As soon as the words fell, Xu Jie turned around slowly.

The former Senior Grand Secretary had a look of admiration and relief on his face, smiling: "Soft on the outside and hard on the inside; not bad, truly the aura of a Senior Grand Secretary."

He didn't care about the alienation hidden in Zhang Juzheng's sharp words and didn't stint on praise.

Xu Jie reached out to help Zhang Juzheng up and said casually: "Running around for the King's business, rushing into the capital, just settled down, coming to your place to beg for a dinner."

Zhang Juzheng looked at this teacher and understood his situation, his eyes becoming even more complicated.

He took the initiative to bend over and support Xu Jie: "Teacher, the disciple has already eaten dinner in the Grand Secretariat; the mansion hasn't prepared anything. I will take you to a restaurant to wash away the dust for you."

Xu Jie's footsteps toward the mansion stopped.

He turned his head, looked at Zhang Juzheng deeply, and nodded slowly.

Xu Jie didn't expect his own disciple to be so ungiving of face.

He came forward on his own initiative, not willing to help, and didn't even want to bring him into the mansion, fearing that outsiders would misunderstand.

Truly a good Senior Grand Secretary.

Zhang Juzheng didn't look at his teacher's expression and supported his teacher to turn and walk out.

The two had their own thoughts and were in no mood to eat any delicacies, so they found a restaurant nearby, picked a private room facing the water, and sat in.

Zhang Juzheng respectfully supported Xu Jie to take his seat, fulfilling the disciple's etiquette.

The latter also accepted it calmly, his expression showing nothing inappropriate.

Xu Jie pushed open the window, looked at the night outside, and the river in the distance, saying casually: "The water in the Tongzi River is clearer than when I left."

The Tongzi River is the Jinshui River, which comes from Yuquan Mountain, passes through the Great Interior, exits the capital city, and flows into the Tonghui River.

It is a moat that connects the inside and outside.

Zhang Juzheng sat opposite Xu Jie, his tone soft: "It is all thanks to the Emperor's governance; after the fire in the Cici Palace last year, the Emperor specially cared about these water systems."

He paused and said sincerely: "After all, it is a river that connects the inside and outside; everyone is watching, so it is better to be clearer."

Zhang Juzheng also had his own difficulties.

Being in the position of Senior Grand Secretary, connecting the inside and outside, it was impossible to learn from Yan Song and abandon public duty for private interests.

Xu Jie shook his head: "If it is just for fish swimming in the algae, for the sake of tourism, it is inevitably a waste of materials."

Zhang Juzheng explained patiently: "It is not so; the Emperor said that in case of a fire, this water can truly be relied upon."

This was fearing that the palace would catch fire again, and at that time, they would have to rely on this pool of water.

The two kept exchanging sharp words.

Xu Jie kept testing, aggressive, but achieved nothing; Zhang Juzheng's tone was sincere, but he didn't give an inch.

The two stalemated for a long time, and Xu Jie sighed in his heart.

Speaking to this point, he also understood that it was unlikely Zhang Juzheng would loosen his mouth and truly exert effort to save him.

This disciple, seemingly respectful, was actually the same as his character—cold and heartless—for the sake of his so-called ambition, he could abandon most things.

Xu Jie had to change his plan.

He skipped the previous matters and turned to talk about today's interesting events: "I met Tatar envoys on the way here."

Zhang Juzheng also tacitly stopped talking about the previous topic and took over: "Hmm, recently the Tumen Khan has been invading the border again; entering the capital is also to ask for rewards."

Calling it rewards was actually their euphemistic way of saying it.

It was no different from robbery; give money and they won't fight, don't give it and the army will invade.

Xu Jie couldn't help but persuade: "The overall situation is paramount; if a major war truly starts, another few million taels will have to be scattered."

Zhang Juzheng pouted: "The Ministry of War means the same, but Qi Jiguang said in his memorial that the bandits are greedy and insatiable, and even rewards will be of no avail."

Xu Jie smiled: "Then it depends on the Grand Secretariat's decision."

Zhang Juzheng heard this and was silent for a moment.

After a while, he looked up at his teacher and said seriously: "Teacher, since ancient times, war and sacrifice have come from the Son of Heaven; naturally, it depends on the Son of Heaven's decision."

Zhang Juzheng's attitude toward the Emperor was flawless.

Xu Jie smiled without speaking, secretly putting his hand into his sleeve and pinching himself to keep calm.

Looking at Zhang Juzheng's oil-and-salt-resistant appearance, he had to make his words clearer: "Speaking of the Son of Heaven... I will see the Son of Heaven tomorrow, and I don't know what kind of heavenly wisdom the Emperor has; I am truly anxious."

He sighed in his heart; Zhang Juzheng didn't want to help, but he couldn't stop him from saving himself, right?

If he wasn't even willing to reveal what kind of person the Emperor was, then this meal wasn't worth eating.

Zhang Juzheng was silent again, and Xu Jie waited for his answer.

After a long while, Zhang Juzheng looked up at Xu Jie and said seriously: "Teacher, no need to be so anxious; the Emperor... is a benevolent monarch."

Xu Jie was startled.

He never expected to hear this evaluation of the Emperor from Zhang Juzheng's mouth.

A benevolent monarch!?

So the viciousness toward him was all fake, right? The turmoil in Nanzhili this time, killing hundreds of innocent officials and salt merchants, and pretending not to know, right?

Zhang Juzheng didn't care about Xu Jie's expression and said earnestly: "Since the Emperor ascended the throne, he has been respectful to teachers, filial to the two palaces, kind to old ministers, and tolerant of nobles; naturally, he can be called a benevolent monarch."

Zhang Siwei was disrespectful in the daily lectures, Tao Dalin was muddling through, but the Emperor didn't lose half a point of etiquette.

The two palaces were often at odds, but the Emperor circled between the two empresses, mediated in the middle, and served them filially; outside ministers all saw it.

Gao Gong had such behavior but still had a good ending.

How could he not be called a benevolent monarch? Even if outsiders didn't recognize it, Zhang Juzheng at least recognized it.

Xu Jie was thoughtful.

Looking at it this way, the Emperor was still very tolerant toward close ministers, otherwise Zhang Juzheng wouldn't protect the Emperor like this.

If so, then it was a good thing.

At least it meant the Emperor wouldn't kill him just to vent his anger because of a temporary mood!

Furthermore...

This was actually a good thing.

At least it meant the Emperor wouldn't kill him just to vent his anger because of a temporary mood!

However...

This was actually a good thing.

Thinking of this, Xu Jie slowly took out a memorial from his sleeve.

He pushed the memorial in front of Zhang Juzheng and said seriously: "After I retired, I lived in Nanjing for a long time and had quite a few experiences and insights regarding local governance, Japanese pirate invasions, and local gentry."

"Now that there is an opportunity to see the Emperor, I thought of writing it into a memorial to offer to the Emperor for reference."

"Senior Grand Secretary, can you send it to the West Garden for me?"

Speaking to this point, he no longer called himself a teacher, but instead called him Senior Grand Secretary.

Zhang Juzheng was startled.

He hurriedly stood up, bent over respectfully, and took the memorial.

He straightened it and looked down.

He saw six big characters on the cover: "Memorial on the Five Evils of the World."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 86 =====