Chapter 38: Measure the Inches and Confront the Courts

Zhu Yijun always thinks three steps ahead before taking one step.

Feng Bao had already been thinking about the right candidate for the post of East Factory.

Zhang Hong was the first one he excluded.

Firstly, he might not be able to take over smoothly as there would be too much resistance. There were many people targeting him and Zhang Hong.

Even Empress Dowager Li might not agree.

Secondly, even if you can pick the peaches, it is easy to cause unnecessary hostility from all parties.

Zhang Hong might not be able to withstand Feng Bao's counterattack.

Thirdly, Zhang Hong’s team is too bad.

After all, Dongchang is a military position, and Zhang Hong does not have this foundation.

Feng Bao had been in charge of the East Factory for six years since the first year of the Longqing reign, and his roots were deep.

If Zhang Hong takes over, he will not be able to take control easily for a while.

Moreover, Feng Bao occupied the Imperial Household Department and was the nominal superior of the Eastern Depot. If he commanded the Eastern Depot's trusted old subordinates from afar, it would be hard to say who would be in charge of the Eastern Depot.

And Li Jin is the perfect fit.

The Imperial Stable Supervisor was a military official among the eunuchs. In a narrow sense, he was in charge of raising horses, and in a broad sense, he was in charge of the guard camp.

As the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Stables, Li Jin would have his own team even if he was transferred.

In addition, Li Jin is a relative by marriage. Once his status is raised, a large number of eunuchs will immediately come close to him. This is something Zhang Hong cannot compare to.

Various factors will enable Li Jin to take actual control of the East Factory as soon as possible.

The most important thing is that Li Jin is the cousin of Empress Dowager Li, and he has done favors for them mother and son.

Whether it is relatives or favors, it can be said that the trust level is naturally passed.

This will reduce the feeling of being coerced by the outer court.

You can also use this cover to block unnecessary sights and hidden arrows.

As for how to control Li Jin...hasn't this already been done quietly and subtly?

He was a man who valued gratitude - otherwise he would not have used the back door to send Empress Dowager Li into Prince Yu's Mansion.

As for what happened today, Li Wei will publicize it among his relatives.

Li Jin should naturally know who he should be grateful to for his promotion.

Zhu Yijun thought about it carefully and felt that there was nothing he had missed, so he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Another phased step.

When I came to my senses, I heard Zhu Xizhong's voice.

"Sharing your worries is my duty." Zhu Xizhong replied while kneeling beside him.

Zhu Yijun looked over.

This Duke Chengguo is really reliable in his work and never lets down his guard.

He was reluctant to see the Duke pass away.

I couldn't help but sigh: "Duke should take good care of your health and share more of my worries."

Zhu Xizhong heard this and smiled bitterly, "Life is predetermined by heaven, how can I go against it?"

"However, a hundred years after I die, the Duke's Mansion will continue to share your majesty's worries."

Zhu Yijun laughed, this was asking for a promise from him.

He walked over and helped Zhu Xizhong up.

He said in a relaxed tone, "Is the jade pendant that I sent Zhang Hong to deliver that day still with the Duke?"

Zhu Xizhong quickly reached into his arms, ready to return the item to its original owner.

Zhu Yijun held out his hand to stop him, and said with a smile: "This jade should be kept by the Duke."

"It can also remind me at any time. As long as this jade is not broken, I will remember the Chengguo Mansion."

What he meant was that as long as he was alive, he would not let down the Duke's Mansion.

After hearing this, Zhu Xizhong paused for a moment before he sighed, "I have served three dynasties and enjoyed the grace of heaven. I am truly blessed."

Believe it or not, thank you for this favor.

He also knew that the emperor had already reached his limit by making such a promise.

You can't ask people to swear to heaven.

Zhu Yijun nodded and said, "My mother has a niece who is of marriageable age. If there are any talented people in the Duke's family, we can visit each other."

This is a practical benefit besides the promise made to Zhu Xizhong.

Not as good as minor characters like Zhang Hong and Jiang Keqian.

For a Jinyiwei commander who is also one of the Three Dukes, it would be too weak to make just a verbal promise.

It would be a tangible benefit if the Duke's Mansion could be related by marriage to Empress Dowager Li, thus giving it an extra layer of background.

He had just discussed this matter with Li Wei. It cannot be said that he was interested, but he could only say that he was ecstatic.

With Li Wei's attitude, I could make the promise with confidence - after all, it was not an era of free marriage.

The marriages of relatives by marriage were mostly to nobles. For example, Empress Dowager Li's sister married Chen Wangmo, the Earl of Pingjiang.

The most Zhu Yijun could do was to keep watch. It was enough as long as the person on the other side was not a bad person and the forces behind him were not suicidal.

But if you want to find someone who is extremely talented and handsome like Pan An, then forget it.

Zhu Xizhong did not expect the new emperor to be so generous.

He had just done something and immediately received such a generous reward. He quickly thanked him and said, "Your Majesty..."

Zhu Yijun interrupted these unnecessary links: "Okay, let's get down to business."

Zhu Xizhong quickly shut up, thinking to himself, as expected, there must be an order after the sweet date.

Zhu Yijun looked at Zhu Xizhong and got straight to the point: "Last year, the late emperor wanted to reinstate Gu Huan as the governor of the Beijing camp, but he was impeached and retired. Did you know about this?"

The Beijing Camp is the garrison camp stationed in the capital, and the Governor is the chief officer of the Beijing Camp.

Last year, the late emperor strongly supported Gu Huan to take charge of the Beijing camp, but the censors impeached Gu Huan one after another for being too old.

Wang Zongzai, the imperial censor of Guangxi, even said that Gu Huan was greedy for power and position, alienating the emperor and his ministers, and wanted to deprive him of his title.

Gu Huan was so frightened that he suddenly became demented overnight and did not recover until the late emperor agreed to let him retire.

As for whether he was impeached because of old age and dementia?
He only knew that according to history, Gu Huan would be revived next year and take charge of the Left Army Governor's Office - at least in Zhang Juzheng's opinion, Gu Huan was not too old.

Zhu Xizhong naturally knew about this, and he did not try to hide it.

To speak frankly: "Zhenyuan Hou Gu Huan, since the 12th year of Jiajing, has served in the Left Army Governor's Office, Nanjing Central Army Governor's Office, Canal Transport Governor, Right Army Governor's Office, and when he was the general of Guangdong and Guangxi, he also had the experience of killing people in battle."

"Especially in the 33rd year of Jiajing's reign, after the Gengxu Incident, he was specially ordered to enter the capital to prepare the Beijing camp."

"His martial arts achievements are well-known, his prestige is great, and he is one of the three orphans... He cannot be controlled by the Ministry of War."

Now that I have said this, if you still don’t understand, you are stupid.

The Five Military Commanderies was the foundation of the Privy Council; the Governor-General of the Grain Transport System had the ability to govern; the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi had the strength to kill in battle.

Not to mention the powerful figure who was entrusted with the task of reforming the Beijing camp during the Jiajing period.

The Ministry of War could only watch as such a nobleman, who was outstanding in both civil and military affairs, tried to take control of the Beijing camp.

Perhaps some people are unwilling to sit back and watch this happen, so there are impeachments one after another.

After hearing this, Zhu Yijun did not directly explain why he asked about this.

Instead, he continued to ask, "What about the successor, Zhangwu Earl Yang Bing?"

This person took over without causing any trouble.

Zhu Xizhong sighed, "After Yang Bing, the Earl of Zhangwu, became the commander of the Beijing camp, the first thing he did was to change the memorials that went directly to the emperor to be discussed by the Ministry of War, and then submitted to the emperor after the Ministry of War made a review."

A change in process means a change in power.

The report to the emperor now had to go through the Ministry of War. This was a change from the transcendent status of Gu Huan's period, and the country had to bow down to the Ministry of War and be humble.

After Emperor Yingzong, this appearance of nobles became the norm.

What he didn't say was that Emperor Shizong suspected that there was something fishy about Emperor Yingzong, so he took advantage of the Gengxu Incident to strongly support Gu Huan and bypass the Ministry of War to prepare the Beijing camp. Zhu Xizhong was not sure whether Emperor Shizong was extremely perceptive or just naturally suspicious.

Anyway, it's all in the past, and he doesn't care whether it's true or not.

For the nobles, the position given by Sejong was real.

Unfortunately, as soon as Sejong left, he was immediately returned by the previous emperor.

Zhu Yijun frowned: "Has the Marquis of Zhangwu always been so cautious in his words and deeds?"

Did he take advantage of the civil servants, or was he just a waste?
Zhu Xizhong shook his head and said, "At that time, the son of the Zhangwu Earl was questioned by the Censorate and the Ministry of Justice for committing crimes. He was acquitted and released after a few months."

Zhu Yijun was silent. What a great series of moves.

This is also the reason why he has never asked for help from the Beijing camp.

When it comes to military power, the situation becomes too complicated.

In the beginning, the Five Military Governors' Office was almost the same as the Privy Council, but after several reforms, it fell under the Ministry of War and was controlled by others.

The Beijing camp is the focus of contention among all parties, so we can only take it step by step.

It was only now that Zhu Xizhong was standing behind him that he dared to have such an idea.

Force is always the greatest confidence to overturn the table.

The reason why he first contacted the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard after he traveled through time, and why he insisted on removing Feng Bao from his position in the Eastern Depot, was all due to this consideration.

Zhu Yijun looked at Zhu Xizhong and said, "Duke, I am young and will take the throne. In addition to granting amnesty to the whole nation, I will also extend my grace to many people."

"I heard that Zhenyuan Marquis Gu Huan has no biological children. What do you think of me giving his nephew, Gu Chengguang, a deputy commander of the Jinyiwei?"

A son is a brother's son.

He is now designated as the person to be adopted by Gu Huan and inherit the title.

Now he has an extra favor, and after he inherits the title, he can transfer this favor to his relatives.

Zhu Xizhong was silent for a moment and understood what the emperor meant.

He nodded slowly: "Your Majesty, I will go and inquire about Gu Chengguang's talents and character immediately."

Zhu Yijun said with relief: "I feel relieved when the Duke is doing things."

What is examined is naturally not talent and morality, but the degree of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism.

If Gu Chengguang is willing to be like Jiang Keqian and stay by his side.

That means Gu Huan agreed to this.

This also shows that Gu Huan is still willing to fight for the Beijing Camp for the new emperor.

Of course, if he was unwilling, he would probably have to lie dormant for a while and then let Qi Jiguang come to Beijing.

In short, this Beijing Camp must be obtained.

Whether it was promising Li Wei sea transportation, or the mining tax case in Huguang, or Du Tian's action against Xu Jie, or even suppressing Xuan Da's unrest, all actions could only be taken after taking over the Beijing Camp.

Zhu Xizhong bowed and was about to leave.

Zhu Yijun nodded and watched Zhu Xizhong leave.

He stood in front of the door for a while before turning around and going to the front hall.

……

June fifteenth.

The emperor bestowed silver coins on the ministers and officials of the six ministries, the Censorate, the five government offices, the military minister, the Shangbaosi, and the Zhigaofang.

And, in compliance with the Imperial Decree, the Decree of Empress Dowager Chen Yi, and the Decree of Empress Dowager Li Yi, the seventy-six censors impeached Feng Bao, and the Imperial Decree reads:

The laws established by our ancestors are extremely precise and complete, and should be followed by all generations.

In recent years, some officials have failed to examine the constitution, which has led to confusion and worry among the military and civilians. How can this be achieved?

In order to seek the will of our ancestors and to clearly examine the laws, the inner court should set an example.

Feng Bao, who holds the seal of the Imperial Household Department, is the commander of the Eastern Depot and is also in charge of the affairs of the Imperial Horse Administration, has stated that he has taken on many important posts as a temporary measure and requests that his position in the Eastern Depot be abolished.

The emperor and the empress both agreed.

From the day the edict was issued, Feng Bao was dismissed from his post in the Eastern Depot, and Li Jin, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Stables, was transferred to the position of eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department to supervise the Eastern Depot.

Please let all departments know this.

The decree was issued in the name of the two palaces and the emperor, and its legitimacy is beyond doubt.

The content was simple and clear, which was to transfer the East Factory from Feng Bao to Li Jin.

As to whether he was impeached or acted on his own initiative, it is not important and no one will delve into it.

If you want to fight without breaking, you should always give people the face they deserve.

As soon as this imperial edict was issued, the six departments showed their rare work efficiency.

After a while, it was copied to various departments and passed on to all officials.

In the Censorate, the imperial censors were greatly encouraged, as if they had won a battle.

After all, it forced the Queen Mother Regent to give in.

This is both qualification and reputation.

But things are not that simple.

The censors had not been happy for long before they received two more imperial edicts that followed.

One was an order from the Empress Dowager Li, asking the Ministry of Public Administration why the palace had not received the memorial from the Prime Minister explaining his gains and losses during his tenure. Was it lost? Please explain as soon as possible.

The second one was the emperor's edict, stating that officials who had not yet submitted their memorials should do so as soon as possible.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that these two intentions are just two sentences spoken by one person.

The target was naturally Gao Gong, the prime minister of the dynasty who had not yet petitioned for dismissal.

On that day, the Ministry of Public Administration replied to the palace that the memorial submitted by Prime Minister Gao Gong had been accidentally damaged and needed to be re-copied, which caused the delay.

On the same day, the Minister of War Yang Bo was preparing a reply to the impeachment memorial from the Ministry of Revenue and had no time to attend the court meeting.

But for some unknown reason, the Household Department said that it had already investigated the matter and quietly withdrew the impeachment, allowing Minister Yang to go to the court to discuss the matter himself.

As soon as Yang Bo came to the court for discussion, he received an imperial decree to demote Feng Bao from his post.

Later, feeling that Feng Bao had been impeached by the ancestral law, the court openly asked whether it was in compliance with the ancestral system for the Prime Minister Gao Gong to also serve as the Minister of Personnel.

Minister of Rites Lu Diaoyang immediately agreed.

He also questioned the Chief Censor Ge Shouli, saying that the laws established by our ancestors were not meant to be used to discriminate against different people.

Ge Shouli argued vigorously.

The Minister of Justice Liu Ziqiang accused Yang Bo and Lu Diaoyang of being involved in the scandal, but in fact they were harboring evil intentions and bringing chaos to the government.

At the same time, the granary governor Wang Guoguang read out the contents of the imperial edict in court, saying that it was "seeking the will of our ancestors and clarifying the laws."

Since the imperial edict has been issued, how can we turn a blind eye to it? We should clarify who is not respecting the laws established by our ancestors.

The eunuch Feng Bao took every opportunity to step on Gao Gong.

They said that even the Imperial Household Department could set an example, so why was Gao Gong not even as good as a eunuch?

After being scolded by the Correction Officer, he said that Ge Shouli had used the censors to impeach him but ignored Gao Gong. Isn't this clear evidence of forming a faction?
High-ranking officials including the six ministries, the nine ministers, and the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department immediately started their battle.

In this situation, all the assistant ministers, chief censors, and chief academicians did not even have the qualifications to interrupt.

All they could do was watch and tremble.

Unexpectedly, Gao Gong, who was at the center of the discussion, was only slightly stunned at first, and then he stood at the head of the class as if nothing had happened.

Not only did he not say anything in defense, he didn't even say a word, as if everything had nothing to do with him and he could just be a spectator and watch from the sidelines.

The emperor has a pure heart and will ask directly if he has any doubts.

The queen asked Yuan Fu why he did not defend himself.

Gao Gong only said that he would submit a memorial to retire as soon as possible.

It seemed that he was truly discouraged and was considering retiring.

Within a day, the public was in an uproar.

(End of this chapter)