Chapter 44: A friendship as strong as gold and stone, parting ways

Zhang Juzheng returned from visiting the mausoleum.

He was the only one who came back early; the others were still on the way.

Because, Grand Secretary Zhang had heatstroke—real heatstroke.

At this time, he was lying at home, being served medicine by his son Zhang Jingxiu.

Zhang Jingxiu pushed the door open with a medicine bowl in his hand, walked to the bed and whispered, "Dad, it's time to take the medicine."

Zhang Juzheng slowly sat up, took the medicine bowl, and poured it into his mouth.

After serving the medicine, Zhang Jingxiu tidied up while complaining, "Why did you have to come back in such a hurry?"

Tianshou Mountain is indeed a very hot place.

However, when court officials traveled to select a tomb for the previous emperor, they always provided shade and ice packs, so it was not easy for them to get heatstroke.

It was obvious that he was deliberately suffering from the heat so that he would have an excuse to rush back as soon as possible.

Zhang Juzheng lay down quietly again, in no mood to deal with his son.

Even he was caught off guard by Gao Gong's move.

I had to rush back in this way to clean up the mess.

On the way, he heard a series of shocking things.

Soon Feng Baodong's factory was abolished and Li Jin was appointed as his replacement.

Then Gao Gong wanted to abolish the Imperial Household Department.

Then, when he heard Gao Gong reveal his trump card and wanted to give Empress Dowager Chen a title of honor, his heart was in turmoil.

This was his closest friend, and his talent and skills did not disappoint him.

Just as he was thinking this, his second son Zhang Sixiu suddenly ran in and pointed in the direction of the gate: "Dad! There is..."

Zhang Juzheng interrupted him and said unhappily, "Didn't you say that you won't see any guests today, no matter who comes?"

Zhang Sixiu gasped for air: "Yes... it's Yuanfu!"

Zhang Juzheng pulled back the quilt.

He grabbed his clothes randomly and put them on.

He rushed out of the room, and only the remaining voice came from outside the room: "Go, please come to the study to see me!"

……

Gao Gong was invited to the study by Zhang Sixiu, where he saw Zhang Juzheng sitting upright at his desk.

In one hand he held the summary of the cabinet's proposals of the past few days, and in the other he held a bowl of medicine.

He took a sip like drinking tea and continued reading.

"Your Excellency, the Prime Minister is here to visit you."

Zhang Sixiu informed Gao Gong and offered him a seat before leaving.

Gao Gong sat down and shook his head: "This kid, he doesn't even know how to make me a cup of tea."

Zhang Juzheng then looked at Gao Gong and said, protecting his son without leaving any trace, "There is no tea at home."

This excuse is so fake and insincere.

Gao Gong just said this casually, and he didn't insist on drinking it.

He stared at Zhang Juzheng for a while, then suddenly laughed: "Did you really get a heat stroke? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Zhang Juzheng felt embarrassed at being ridiculed.

Putting down the medicine bowl in his hand, he said unhappily, "It's impossible for the imperial physician to come and see me alive and well, right? That would make me Sima Yi."

Gao Gong knew that this was a veiled sarcasm towards him.

It implies that his current actions are quite similar to Sima Yi.

He didn't care, instead he said with concern: "Then take good care of yourself. It just so happens that you won't be needed to handle official business for a while."

Gao Gong is a man who has a bad temper when the wind goes against him and speaks harshly when the wind goes in his favor.

Zhang Juzheng was helpless: "Let's talk business."

Gao Gong nodded: "Okay, let's talk in the yard?"

People in high positions all have this habit.

It was either an empty hall or an empty courtyard.

In short, let's get down to business. We cannot accept that walls have ears.

Zhang Juzheng asked, "Give me a hand?"

Gao Gong ignored him, walked out the door, and shouted, "Zhang boy, come and help your father!"

Zhang Juzheng secretly thought it was a pity, as there were not many opportunities for Gao Gong to serve him.

Gao Gong's shout called both of Zhang Juzheng's sons over.

One of them was supporting his old father, while the other followed behind him and served him carefully.

I followed Gao Gong to the pavilion in the center of the courtyard.

Zhang Juzheng turned away from his son and said, "Okay, go down. I have something to discuss with Yuan Fu."

Knowing too much can easily lead to disaster.

But after sitting down on the stone bench, he looked back and saw that his two sons were motionless.

Zhang Juzheng glared at him and drove him away with his eyes.

Gao Gong stepped forward to smooth things over: "You are afraid that I will bully you."

"Then let them listen. I won't say anything to hurt anyone."

Zhang Juzheng was helpless.

I had to wave my hand and ask my two sons to stand further away.

The two sons respectfully retreated outside the pavilion, just far enough away to be able to hear but not too far away to be offensive.

When there were only two of them left, Gao Gong looked around and said with emotion, "Your mansion is really big, much better than my shabby place."

Zhang Juzheng didn't respond: "You don't even have a pavilion at home, how can we talk about things?"

Gao Gong smiled and said, "It's not easy to have your house confiscated this way."

After saying this, he stopped smiling.

He looked at Zhang Juzheng and said solemnly, "Bai Gui, retire now."

Zhang Juzheng remained silent.

He did not give a direct answer, but said: "I heard that you tolerated Yang Bo and Zhang Siwei, but when it comes to me, why do you advise me to retire?"

Zhang Juzheng naturally didn't know that Gao Gong went to find Lu Diaoyang.

But Yang Bo and Zhang Siwei came to his house in person last night, so he had heard something about it.

The results are also obvious.

Since Yang Bo appeared at the court meeting, it meant that Gao Gong had let it go.

Otherwise, more than one Minister of Justice would have claimed illness today.

Gao Gong did not play tricks on Zhang Juzheng and said directly: "Yang Bo and Zhang Siwei are ultimately despicable people."

"I kept them here to appease Xuan Da, and I'm not afraid that they will plot against me again."

"To make an analogy, it's probably like what's said in Journey to the West: They can't escape my Five Finger Mountain."

"Not only them, I can also tolerate Lu Diaoyang."

"As long as I can control it and it is beneficial to the country, I can tolerate it."

"But you are different..."

"Bai Gui, please retire."

He didn't explain what was different, he just repeated his request.

Zhang Juzheng asked curiously, "If I retire, what are you going to do? Are you really going to be Sima Yi?"

Gao Gong stood up and patted Zhang Juzheng on the shoulder: "No need to test him."

"I can tell you straight away, I want the power of truth!"

"Taking control of the power of the Imperial Household Department is only the first step. When the reign is changed next year, I will ask the emperor and the two palaces to make the Cabinet Office independent and increase its rank to be above the six ministries."

“Not only Wang Chonggu and Lu Diaoyang, I will also expand the number of cabinet seats, restore the East and West Palaces, and absorb generals.”

"Then perhaps you may be allowed to return to the Cabinet."

Zhang Juzheng listened silently.

When Gao Gong finished speaking, he finally sighed and said, "Gao Suqing, what you are doing is almost the same as treason."

Gao Gong suddenly burst into laughter.

He laughed very wildly.

He seemed to be suddenly in a good mood, or perhaps he was planning to take a step forward and needed someone to talk to.

He sat down opposite Zhang Juzheng and said, "Well, you and I, since the late emperor ascended the throne, we can never go back to the Prince Yu's Mansion."

"I haven't discussed Taoism for over six years. Today I'm going to discuss it with you!"

Zhang Juzheng sat up straight and made a gesture of invitation.

Gao Gong took the lead and spoke first: "The Wenxian Tongkao says, 'The Yellow Emperor had six prime ministers. Yao had sixteen prime ministers. Yin Tang had left and right prime ministers. Zhou Chengwang had left and right prime ministers.'"

“I thought it was a fake.”

"If we look at the Spring and Autumn Annals, in the 25th year of Duke Xiang, 'she gave birth to Duke Jing. On Dingchou, Cui Zhu was appointed as prime minister, and Qingfeng was appointed as the left prime minister.'"

"But even if we take the Qin Benji as an example, there is also the statement that 'In the second year of King Wu of Qin, the position of prime minister was first established, with Chu Liji and Gan Mao as left and right prime ministers'."

"If we just keep the calculation, it's already been two thousand years."

"It has been promoted step by step and respected by all generations. Why did Taizu abolish it?"

"What does two thousand years compare to two hundred years?"

Both of them are erudite men, not to mention they have reached such high positions in government, how could they not have any political ideas?
Zhang Juzheng was not to be outdone: "Our ancestors are not worthy of following our example!"

"The so-called law is only for the stability of the government and the unity of all parties. It is not the eternal truth."

"Taizu dismissed the prime minister, which was the general trend. It kept pace with the times and improved day by day."

“Let alone two thousand years, even twenty thousand years, it is nothing but dry bones in a tomb!”

The two brothers who were eavesdropping on the side, Zhang Sixiu was the younger and didn't understand what was going on.

He couldn't help but rubbed his brother beside him: "Brother, what are you talking about?" Zhang Jingxiu listened attentively, and was pulled aside and replied absentmindedly: "The prime minister said that the prime minister system has historical origins. After two thousand years of improvement, it is already very complete."

"Father said that the prime minister system was only for the stability of the government and a transition. It has lasted for two thousand years, and the times have changed."

Zhang Sixiu nodded, seeming to understand.

In the pavilion.

Gao Gong sneered: "What a great evolution. Bai Gui, let me tell you what the great evolution is."

"The ancient sage kings abdicated, and Confucian scholars have boasted about it for nearly a thousand years. No matter what they say, it was eventually replaced by a family dynasty. Why? It's the evolution of the general trend!"

"The Three Emperors paved the way with great difficulty, and the tribe had very few people."

"Abdication means that anyone has the right to succeed."

"There is not only internal scramble for succession rights, but also a poor handover between predecessors and successors. Those in the lower position are at a loss when it comes to succession, and they are being liquidated one after another!"

"This means turbulence and upheaval! This means a turbulent situation!"

"There is even a saying that 'Shun was imprisoned and Yao died in the wild.'"

"And if the country is a family empire, most people's right to succession can be eliminated. And since there is a connection with the biological father, power can be passed on and the handover can be smooth."

"This is the inevitable choice of the government. This is the evolution of the general trend! Everything is done only for the stability of the government! It is not because of the bloodline inheritance or the son of heaven mentioned by the Confucian scholars!"

"The political situation is the general trend! The political situation is the consensus of the world!"

"Where do you think the prime minister system came from?"

"For the stability of the court!"

"The First Emperor annihilated the six kingdoms and annexed their territories. As the affairs of the hundreds of counties increased day by day, he had to appoint left and right prime ministers to assist the emperor in all affairs."

"Why? The government is complicated and needs to be entrusted with other people's help! This is a measure to stabilize the government!"

"What is the general trend? The emperor is in power, and the prime minister is appointed to share power. This is the general trend of development!"

"In every dynasty, they have been weakened and then strengthened again. This is true for the three provinces, and the two prefectures in the east and west as well!"

"If this is not the case, why did Taizu abolish the prime minister system and then reinstate the cabinet in later generations?"

Zhang Sixiu looked at Zhang Jingxiu in a daze again.

As the elder brother, although he didn't want to be distracted, he had to explain: "Father said that the government is stable, and the prime minister system is just a transition."

"The Prime Minister agreed with the former and denied the latter."

"They say the system of prime ministers evolved because the emperor couldn't manage everything, and they even use the example of Qin Shi Huang and our dynasty's cabinet."

"What I mean is that as long as the imperial system exists, the prime minister system is necessary. Even if it is abolished, it will be reinstated when the emperor can no longer manage it, such as the cabinet. This is the general trend of development."

Zhang Sixiu nodded, finally understanding.

inside the hall.

Zhang Juzheng was not willing to be outdone.

He simply ignored his illness and stood up suddenly.

He said in a rebuke, "You are totally wrong!"

"When the Zhou emperor lost his deer, the whole world chased him."

"But the system of enfeoffment of princes has disappeared without a trace, and has been replaced by the system of prefectures and counties."

"Emperor Gaozu of Han eliminated the unjust and inherited the Qin system."

"The Han Dynasty established the government system to control the local areas."

"During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the government was divided into three provinces, which controlled the power of the prime minister."

"Why? To bring power back to the center!"

"The purpose of controlling the prime minister is nothing more than a transition to the central government."

"Our dynasty has abolished the prime minister system and only honors the Holy Emperor!"

"The Cabinet is nothing more than the emperor's private office. Isn't that clear evidence?"

Without his brother asking, Zhang Jingxiu explained directly: "The so-called evolution of the general trend is a struggle for destiny."

"To follow the will of heaven is to obey the will of heaven, to go against the will of heaven is to go against the tide."

"The Prime Minister and my father were arguing about this. The Prime Minister said that the Prime Minister's control represented the way the general trend would develop. The Emperor Taizu was going back on his ways and would be reinstated sooner or later."

"My father said that the way forward is to concentrate power in the center."

"From the pre-Qin period to the present, it has been a process of central government taking back power. The prime minister is only a temporary necessity and should be taken back."

"As for the emperor being unable to handle government affairs, the current cabinet system is effective and does not necessarily require a prime minister to control it."

Gao Gong also stood up.

He was sweating profusely and looked very excited.

He slapped the stone table and said, "If it was effective, why did the Cabinet rank after the six ministries? Why is it ranked first now? You are just trying to find a sword by carving a mark on a boat!"

"Isn't the cabinet now developing into the Prime Minister's Mansion? What this cabinet does is part of the evolution of the general trend!"

Zhang Juzheng in the pavilion had his hands behind his back, not looking weak at all.

He stared at Gao Gong: "Unfounded speculation! How could the Prime Minister know that the Cabinet and the Imperial Household Department would not be able to be sincere and dedicated in the end?"

"You are the one who is going backwards!"

Gao Gong snorted coldly: "Do you think that your emperor's power and prestige are the trend of the times?"

"The world's misfortunes and blessings are in the hands of one person?"

"Have you forgotten the likes of Jie and Zhou?"

Zhang Juzheng shook his head: "We are here for this purpose as assistant ministers."

"If the emperor is not virtuous, we can help him maintain the status quo. If the emperor is virtuous, we can unite the forces of the world!"

"Just like Emperor Wu of Han wiped out the Xiongnu, Emperor Taizu restored the country!"

“This is the general trend of development!”

Zhang Jingxiu listened attentively.

It wasn't until his brother scratched his back that he realized what was going on and explained, "That's what my father meant."

"The emperor is always respected by the whole world. Only he can unify the world and establish unprecedented achievements. If power is divided, the central government will definitely be weak and will not be able to accomplish major events that require the efforts of the whole country."

"As for the emperor, if he is not virtuous, he can still maintain his status quo with the help of others."

"But if we decentralize power, the lower limit may be higher, but we will no longer be able to integrate the power of the world to accomplish great things."

Gao Gong waved his sleeves.

Turning his back to Zhang Juzheng, he retorted: "The center is the center, and the emperor and the prime minister are the emperor and the prime minister."

"During the Han Dynasty, the world's heroes were recruited and the three public governments were established."

"During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the imperial examinations were reopened and divided into three provinces. Men of insight were selected to serve as prime ministers to discuss state affairs."

"The general trend of the world is the result of the efforts of the people of the world. Only in this way can we unite the strength of the world!"

"What I want is to gather the power of the world to the center, and to divide the power of the center between the emperor and the prime minister."

"By then, if everyone is united, we may be able to achieve the merits of Emperor Taizu Gao."

Zhang Juzheng felt a little tired and sat down slowly.

However, he felt sad in his heart that the differences between him and Gao Gong could no longer be reconciled.

He understood what Gao Gong meant.

The central government may hold power, but it does not mean that the emperor should hold all the power.

The prime minister is selected through fair selection through the imperial examination system. Only then can he represent the interests of the people of the world and speak for them.

Having said this, he finally lost the desire to advise Gao Gong.

With a complete attitude, he said with a slightly tired look: "People all over the world..."

"Gao Suqing, what are the people of the world?"

"During the Spring and Autumn Period, the nobles were the common people of the world."

"During the Han Dynasty, the aristocratic families and powerful people were the common people of the world."

"During the Jin Dynasty, the aristocratic families were the people of the world."

“During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the noble families were the common people of the world.”

"During the pre-Song Dynasty, the scholars and officials were the common people of the world."

"Gao Suqing, you really have never seen the 'common people of the world' who monopolize power and authority in history books?"

"What's the difference between your Prime Minister's Mansion and yours? Will these people form cliques and cliques again?"

The words haven't been said yet.

Gao Gong was furious: "The imperial examination will also develop in a big way. It will surely select all people without distinction, and recruit all the knowledgeable people in the world. We can get gentlemen who gather together but not form factions!"

Zhang Juzheng was also furious: "You are a group of people who have formed cliques and committed crimes. How can you be in charge of the imperial examinations and select people without distinction?"

The two men stared at each other sternly, neither giving in!
Seeing that the situation was not good, the two Xiao Zhangs hurried forward to persuade them.

Zhang Juzheng turned his face away: "We have different ideas!"

Gao Gong spat: "You are not worthy of being my advisor!"

Zhang Jingxiu quickly stood in front of his old father and said, "Prime Minister, how can you scold your father in front of your son?"

Zhang Juzheng pulled his son back.

He said in a firm tone: "Prime Minister, there is no need to say more. I will not retire and will attend the court meeting tomorrow!"

After saying this, he stretched out his hand, obviously intending to see the guest off.

Gao Gong turned away.

He turned his back to everyone and said, "If I win, I will confiscate your family and make you suffer for a few years to calm down before returning to the cabinet."

Zhang Juzheng also turned his body to face his back and said sarcastically, "If I win, I can't guarantee it to Yuan Fu. Yuan Fu should just hope that Feng Bao won't kill us all."

Gao Gong took a step forward and walked away angrily: "If you can't even control Feng Bao, don't blame me for writing a book to insult you."

Zhang Juzheng watched Gao Gong leave.

he knows.

After this meeting, they went their separate ways and became enemies and friends.

He inexplicably found a similar scene in his memory.

Zhang Juzheng was so moved that he suddenly stopped Gao Gong who was walking to the door and said in a loud voice: "The success or failure of the court and the rise and fall of the world, the Prime Minister, look to me for my actions!"

(End of this chapter)