Chapter 88: Shared Honor and Shame, Priority to the Greater Cause

The twenty-ninth day of the twelfth month, nearing noon.

Today the cold wind still howled, and snow fell heavily from the sky.

Though charcoal fires burned in the Wenhua Hall, the Emperor had specifically ordered the doors and windows slightly opened, allowing the cold air to seep in.

Chills occasionally slipped through the cracks in the doors and windows, threading into the Wenhua Hall.

Fortunately, the Confucian lecturers had wrapped themselves tightly in the greatcoats the Emperor had bestowed, so they were not overly cold.

Today was the final lecture of the year; after this, the Emperor would take his holiday.

Spring lessons would not resume until after the Lantern Festival, depending on the weather.

When the lecture ended, the Confucian lecturers all took their leave.

Zhang Juzheng alone requested to stay: “Your Majesty, I have thoroughly examined historical precedents and compiled a book.”

“I have selected eighty-one virtuous examples worthy of emulation, corresponding to yang numbers, and thirty-six wicked examples worthy of warning, corresponding to yin numbers.”

“Each example is illustrated with a diagram, followed by the original text from historical records, following Emperor Taizong of Tang’s principle of learning from the past. I name it The Emperor’s Mirror: Illustrated Explanations, and present it to Your Majesty.”

The Emperor’s Mirror: Illustrated Explanations was an introductory text for the Emperor, illustrating what constituted a wise ruler and what a foolish one.

Although Zhang Juzheng had realized midway through writing that the current Emperor had little need for it, he still completed the book out of principle.

Of course, today’s presentation of the book was merely an excuse; Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Juzheng and knew he had deliberately stayed behind to request an audience.

Zhu Yijun nodded and said: “Your diligent compilation of this book reveals your loyal and earnest devotion. I adopt your examples from antiquity to guide governance, and deeply appreciate your efforts…”

“Come with me to the warm pavilion. Before presenting the illustrated volumes, read them aloud to me.”

Saying this, he rose and headed to the warm pavilion adjacent to the Wenhua Hall.

Zhang Juzheng followed closely behind.

The other Confucian lecturers felt nothing amiss and gradually departed.

Only the newly appointed lecturer Xu Guo could not help turning back to glance twice.

These past two days, the Emperor had seemed distracted during the lectures.

Though he still performed with ease, he lacked his former initiative and liveliness, appearing merely perfunctory, as if burdened by some concern.

Both senior ministers often sat in silent contemplation.

Now that the Chief Grand Secretary remained alone, something important must be discussed.

Though Xu Guo was still serving in the Hanlin Academy, lacking high rank, he had still heard rumors from the Grand Secretariat’s deliberations.

These past two days, repeated disturbances had come from the Southern Zhili region, likely causing the Emperor and the Grand Secretariat sleepless nights.

It was no surprise, then, that an audience was being requested.

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

…

Entering the warm pavilion, Zhu Yijun casually took the Emperor’s Mirror: Illustrated Explanations from Zhang Juzheng and set it aside.

He looked at Zhang Juzheng: “This book shall be delivered to the Historiography Office, to demonstrate our mutual commitment to self-cultivation as sovereign and minister.”

After a pause, Zhu Yijun asked: “Chief Grand Secretary, what is it you wish to discuss with me?”

Had this been merely a book presentation, it could have been done at the start of the lecture, not held until the end for a private audience.

This act clearly signaled a request for an audience.

Zhang Juzheng did not conceal his purpose, bowing deeply: “Your Majesty, today the Grand Secretariat received a memorial from Wang Zongmu: one grain transport vessel capsized.”

“During repairs to the shipyard, signs of deliberate sabotage were discovered.”

Zhu Yijun fell silent for a moment, then sighed: “It’s going to rain.”

“Without breaking the surface, this is as far as they can go—fourteen ships, only one sunk. They’ve shown restraint.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Juzheng’s expression grew even more complex.

He did not disagree with the Emperor’s words.

Rather, he felt the Emperor’s emotional state was deeply off.

Two days ago, Hai Rui sent word that salt merchants had gathered in protest before the Huai’an Prefectural Office, even setting fire to the building, forcing the Embroidered Uniform Guard to intervene.

The Grand Secretariat was stunned.

Yet when the news reached the Wanshou Palace, it vanished as if swallowed by the sea.

The Emperor showed no reaction whatsoever.

Yesterday, Zhu Gang of the Ying Tianfu submitted a memorial stating that public opinion among scholars in Southern Zhili had surged, claiming the central government intended to suppress southerners and would deliberately fail southern candidates in the next imperial examination—many students believed it.

The Director of the National Academy, Wan Hao, attempted to calm them, but the students turned violent, mobbing and beating him until he could not rise from his bed.

Only after the former Grand Secretary Li Chunfang intervened did the scholars finally quiet down.

The Grand Secretariat sent this news to the Wanshou Palace, yet the Emperor remained unmoved.

Even He Yongqing, acting on the Grand Secretariat’s instructions, was turned away when he sought the Emperor’s approval to launch the new gazette.

Such abnormal behavior could not go unnoticed by anyone.

The Grand Secretariat had repeatedly requested audiences, but the Emperor had delayed them with excuses.

Helpless, the Grand Secretariat had agreed to let Zhang Juzheng use the book presentation as an excuse to intercept the Emperor after the lecture.

Now that Zhang Juzheng had secured the audience, he immediately raised the issue of the sunken grain ship to gauge the Emperor’s reaction.

Logically, this Emperor, no matter how composed, should have shown anger or outrage.

Yet he had merely sighed, “It’s going to rain,” and said nothing else.

The Emperor’s response confirmed Zhang Juzheng’s suspicions.

His unease deepened: What was the Emperor thinking?

Zhang Juzheng knew this Emperor was not unreasonable; he spoke plainly: “Your Majesty.”

“I do not understand why Your Majesty speaks insincerely. I am terrified!”

“I beg Your Majesty to clarify!”

Zhu Yijun did not reply immediately.

After a long while, he spoke: “Chief Grand Secretary, do not overthink it. The affairs of the two Southern Zhili regions have been entrusted to the Grand Secretariat; I have full confidence in your handling of them.”

“The salt merchants’ unrest—I trust Hai Rui can stabilize the situation. The elite troops sent by Jiao Ze, along with the tens of thousands of soldiers from the Grain Transport Office, exist precisely for such emergencies.”

“The scholars’ indignation is baseless rumor; once they learn the truth, they will disperse. Since the former Grand Secretary Li Chunfang has intervened, there is no reason for the situation to escalate further.”

“As for the sunken grain ship, it is merely bluster. If more than ten ships had sunk, I might truly have to back down. But since only one went under, it shows they still care about their own fragile vessels.”

“Since none of this is truly threatening, why should I disrupt your deliberations?”

His words were clear, logical, and substantive.

Zhang Juzheng could find no fault in them.

Yet he was not so easily deceived.

Zhang Juzheng pressed: “Forgive me, Your Majesty, it is not your silence that has brought me here.”

“It is that you have lately appeared… subdued.”

Zhu Yijun picked up the thread: “As if burdened by some difficulty?”

Zhang Juzheng paused, then nodded.

This was precisely the Grand Secretariat’s concern.

All suspected something, yet none knew how to uncover it.

Zhang Juzheng ventured: “Could it be an issue with Xu Shaohu?”

The Grand Secretariat had received a flood of memorials from Southern Zhili and understood the general situation.

Yet there had been no word from Xu Jie.

It was hard not to suspect that the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Tongzheng Office had bypassed the Grand Secretariat entirely, delivering reports directly to the Wanshou Palace without recording them in the Six Boards.

Zhu Yijun suddenly smiled: “Chief Grand Secretary, your mind is truly sharp.”

Zhang Juzheng’s expression shifted; he immediately pressed: “What has happened to cause Your Majesty such distress?”

He suddenly froze, guessing: “Could he have incited the villagers and soldiers to rebel?!”

Zhu Yijun waved his hand.

He knew Zhang Juzheng was using outrageous guesses to provoke him into correcting himself.

He had used this psychological tactic often with his former superiors.

Zhu Yijun had no interest in such tactics; his expression turned complex as he spoke: “How could your former teacher, a man of such wisdom, resort to such foolishness as rebellion?”

“On the contrary…”

“He has knelt before me, begging for mercy.”

As he spoke, Zhu Yijun pulled a red-marked memorial from his robe.

He placed it gently on the desk, pressing it with two fingers and pushing it slightly toward Zhang Juzheng: “You may read it yourself.”

Zhang Juzheng’s face grew solemn; he bowed and stepped forward.

Was this the reason the Emperor’s emotions had become impossible to conceal?

He carefully picked up the memorial and slowly unfolded it.

His eyes scanned past the formal opening, then silently read each word: “...Your servant Jie, mediocre and lacking virtue, entered the Inner Court in humble service, wearing red sandals, clad in white wool.”

Zhang Juzheng frowned, unable to fathom Xu Jie’s intent.

If he merely submitted in submission, why would this so trouble the Emperor?

He continued reading.

Further on, he wrote that he had heard the central government intended land surveys and was willing to cooperate, and so forth.

He also offered to assist Hai Rui in reforming the salt administration.

And below...

Suddenly, Zhang Juzheng’s expression changed drastically!

He slammed the memorial shut, unable to look further.

He turned to the Emperor: “Your Majesty!”

Zhang Juzheng widened his eyes, voice trembling: “Where is Xu Jie now?”

Zhu Yijun’s gaze drifted into space, his fingers interlacing and rubbing back and forth: “You guessed correctly, Master Zhang—Xu Jie has turned himself in.”

Zhang Juzheng’s expression trembled again; his mouth opened, but no sound came out.

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

He looked up at the Emperor, whose expression was dazed, and could not help but urge: “Your Majesty, the greater good must come first.”

Zhu Yijun snapped back to himself and suddenly smiled: “I knew you’d say that.”

“I was torn, so I kept this from the Grand Secretariat and pondered it alone for days.”

“It’s not that I’ve had any disagreement with you, Master Zhang—or with the Grand Secretariat.”

“Master Zhang, your teacher is truly a genius! Even his way of saving his life is so far-sighted, I couldn’t help but applaud him.”

“Now, I am truly caught between two impossible choices.”

Zhang Juzheng remained silent. One word of advice had been his limit—he could no longer speak on this matter.

Zhu Yijun did not demand a reply from Zhang Juzheng.

He picked up the memorial again.

He had read it dozens of times; each reading brought a different feeling.

As he read the memorial, Zhu Yijun said: “Now do you understand why I’ve given no response to the memorials sent by the Grand Secretariat?”

“The salt merchants’ uproar is orchestrated by the Prefect of Nanjing, Zhu Gang, and the Minister of Revenue, Cao Bangfu, manipulating public opinion.”

“The scholar-officials’ unrest is stirred by former Grand Secretary Li Chunfang and the Minister of Rites, Qin Minglei, reprimanding Wan Hao.”

“The canal shipwrecks result from collusion between the Marquis of Weiguo, Wei Guoben, and the Inspector of Canal Transport, Lu Mingzhang.”

“The restless movements among Nanjing’s garrisons also involve the Ministry of War and the Wei Duke Mansion—Xu Bangrui returned to Nanjing too late and couldn’t control his own household. Master Zhang, isn’t that laughable?”

“In short, all of this was forewarned to me by the Junior Grand Secretary Xu.”

“So when the Grand Secretariat submitted their memorials, I was not surprised at all.”

“Master Zhang, do you think the Junior Grand Secretary Xu is too loyal to the Emperor and the state?”

Zhang Juzheng opened his mouth but held back.

In the end, he said nothing.

The Emperor turned to the next page and continued: “It’s not just that.”

“Out of pure, heartfelt patriotism, Junior Grand Secretary Xu has reported to me every single corruption, every hidden scheme he knew of in Nanjing’s salt administration, grain transport, tea taxes, garrisons, judicial cases, landholdings, and population records over the past three years.”

“He anticipates my concerns tenfold, a hundredfold—thinks exactly as I think.”

“By the way, Master Zhang, you didn’t look further—I’ll read it to you.”

“I won’t list Nanjing’s cases—they’re too many. Let’s talk about Beijing.”

“The Palace of Princess Ning’an received bribes totaling 143,600 taels over three years; physical evidence and ledgers attached.”

“The residence of Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng received bribes totaling 62,100 taels over three years; physical evidence and ledgers attached.”

Zhang Juzheng turned his head away.

Zhu Yijun continued: “The residence of the Emperor’s father-in-law, Li Wei, received bribes totaling 127,800 taels over three years; physical evidence and ledgers attached, including a separate list of gifts to Empress Dowager Li.”

“The Minister of Justice, Wang Zhihao, shielded his son after he recklessly took lives; witness and physical evidence attached.”

“Grand Secretaries Yang Bo and Minister of Rites Zhang Sizheng received bribes exceeding 480,000 taels over three years, along with bribery in official appointments by the Ministry of Personnel; witness and physical evidence attached.”

“The Marquises of Yingguo, Chengguo, and Tai Ning, among others, received bribes exceeding 370,000 taels over three years; physical evidence attached.”

“The Provincial Governor of Huguang, Wang Daoqun, and the Inspector of Guangdong, Yang Yigui, embezzled grain and tea certificates; physical evidence attached.”

“Also involved: Tongzheng Office’s He Yongqing, Director of the Imperial Horse Bureau Fang Hongjing, Vice Minister of Rites Zhu Dashou, Ma Ziqiang...”

Zhu Yijun himself grew hoarse and finally stopped: “Too many—I can’t read them all.”

“From the Inner Palace, the Grand Secretariat, the Six Ministries, all offices and bureaus, censors, noble families, provincial governors...”

“Ah...”

“Master Zhang, this is the greater good—I dare not defy it.”

“Junior Grand Secretary Xu has tied the greater good to himself. Now, I am powerless against him!”

“Do I let him go, or do I punish him?”

Zhang Juzheng remained silent for a long time.

Only when the Emperor fell quiet did he speak: “If Your Majesty is furious, then naturally, you should make an example of one to warn the rest.”

Zhu Yijun nodded—he understood Zhang Juzheng’s meaning.

The charges Xu Jie submitted may not all be true.

They could simply choose to punish one or two selectively.

But Xu Jie had thought of that too.

Zhu Yijun suddenly lifted his head and stared at Zhang Juzheng: “Master Zhang, do you know to whom Junior Grand Secretary Xu turned himself in!?”

Zhang Juzheng seemed to realize something—his face changed.

Zhu Yijun slowly rose to his feet, speaking slowly and deliberately: “Xu Jie—and his eighteen large chests of evidence—are now in the Huai’an Prefecture Yamen !”

Zhang Juzheng finally understood what was wrong!

Xu Jie did not surrender directly to the Emperor through Zhu Xizhong!

He surrendered to Hai Rui!

Zhu Yijun lowered his head, his expression a storm of gloom, anger, and other emotions.

He fixed his gaze on Zhang Juzheng and gritted his teeth: “So after only two months of reinstating Hai Rui, I must now dismiss him and send him back to Hainan!?”

To preserve the greater good, this case must be closed.

Then Hai Rui becomes another sacrifice.

How could I possibly do that?

To bring someone out of retirement and dismiss him after only two months!?

What’s the difference between me and my predecessor?

Zhang Juzheng softened his tone and spoke quietly: “Your Majesty, that’s too harsh. Simply assign another official to handle the case—Inspector Hai can return to Beijing...”

Zhu Yijun suddenly snapped: “Master Zhang!”

He could no longer hold back his roar: “Will Hai Rui remain in office!?”

“Is Hai Rui the kind of man who sees evidence of crime and pretends not to notice!?”

“Should I send a secret letter to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to burn those eighteen chests and crush Hai Rui’s spirit!?”

“How will he see me!?”

“How will you see me!?”

“How will the people of the realm see me!?”

“Not to mention the filth of unofficial histories clinging to my posthumous title...”

“How will I ever cleanse the heavens and pacify the realm?”

Zhu Yijun vented his fury; Zhang Juzheng remained silent.

The two stared at each other for a long while.

Finally, Zhu Yijun took a deep breath and whispered: “Master Zhang, I will not let Xu Jie off so easily.”