Chapter 74: Sharing Honor and Disgrace, Putting the Overall Situation First
The twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, almost noon.

Today the wind is still howling and the snow is falling heavily.

Although there was a charcoal fire burning in the Wenhua Hall for heating, the emperor specifically instructed that the doors and windows be slightly opened to give the cold air a chance to enter.

The cold air slid through the gaps in the doors and windows, occasionally squeezing into the Wenhua Hall in wisps.

Fortunately, the officials in the imperial lectures wrapped themselves tightly in the cloaks given by the emperor, so they were not too cold.

Today is the last imperial lecture of the year, after which the emperor will have a holiday.

The spring classes will not resume until after the Lantern Festival, depending on the weather conditions.

After the imperial lecture ended, the lecturers left one after another.

Zhang Juzheng asked to stay alone: ​​"Your Majesty, I have studied the affairs of the past dynasties and wrote a book."

"I have selected eighty-one good things that can be used as examples, which follow the yang number; and thirty-six bad things that can be used as warnings, which follow the yin number."

"Each event is a picture, followed by the biography, and the title is "Illustrated Explanation of the Emperor's Mirror", which is presented to Your Majesty."

The Illustrated Dijian is an enlightenment reading for emperors, giving examples of what makes a wise ruler and what makes a foolish ruler.

Although Zhang Juzheng realized that the emperor didn't really need the book when he had written halfway through, he still finished the book.

Of course, presenting the book today was just an excuse. Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Juzheng and knew that he was deliberately stopping him in the Wenhua Hall and asking for his opinion.

Zhu Yijun nodded and said, "Your compilation of the book shows your loyalty and love. I follow the ancient ways to govern the country and I am very grateful to you..."

"Follow me to the warm room, and read the atlas to me."

After saying that, he got up and went to the warm room in the side hall of Wenhua Palace.

Zhang Juzheng followed closely behind.

The other officials in the imperial lecture hall did not think there was anything wrong and left one after another.

However, the newly promoted imperial lecturer Xu Guo couldn't help but look back twice.

The emperor has been rather absent-minded during his lectures these past two days.

Although he was still able to handle the situation with ease, he was not as proactive and spiritual as before. He seemed to be just going through the motions, as if he had something on his mind.

The two assistant ministers often closed their eyes and thought.

Now that the Prime Minister is left alone, he must be discussing something.

Although Xu Guo was still gaining experience in the Hanlin Academy and his official rank was not high, he could still hear some news from the cabinet's meetings.

In the past two days, there have been a series of unexpected events in Nanzhili. I am afraid that the emperor and the cabinet are a little uneasy.

It's not surprising to have such a response.

Xu Guo shook his head, turned and walked out of Wenhua Hall.

……

After entering the warm room, Zhu Yijun casually took the Emperor's Mirror and Illustrations presented by Zhang Juzheng and put it aside.

He looked at Zhang Juzheng and said: "This book will be handed over to the History Museum to show the meaning of the friendship between our monarch and his subjects."

After a pause, Zhu Yijun asked, "What does Yuan Fu want to see me for?"

If it was just to present the book, it would have been presented at the beginning of the lecture, instead of leaving it alone at the end.

This action is obviously a request for correctness.

Zhang Juzheng did not try to hide it, and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, today the cabinet received a memorial from Wang Zongmu, saying that a ship carrying autumn grain to the capital capsized."

“When the shipyard was repairing it, signs of human damage were discovered.”

Zhu Yijun was silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "It's going to rain."

"If we don't want to tear each other apart, we can only do this much. Only one of the fourteen was sunk, which is considered restraint."

After hearing this, Zhang Juzheng's expression became even more complicated.

It's not that I disagree with what the emperor said.

Rather, he felt that the emperor's mood was very wrong.

The day before yesterday, Hai Rui sent news that the salt merchants were making a fuss and causing trouble in front of the Huai'an government office. Some even set fire to the government office, and the Jinyiwei were dispatched.

The cabinet was momentarily horrified.

As a result, when the news reached Wanshou Palace, it was like a drop in the ocean.

The emperor didn't react at all.

Yesterday, Zhu Gang from Yingtian Prefecture submitted a memorial saying that recently there has been a wave of public opinion among the scholars in Nanzhili, saying that the central government intends to suppress southerners and will deliberately exclude southerners from the next imperial examination, and many students believe it to be true.

Wan Hao, the chief academic officer of the Imperial College, tried to appease the students, but the students became so angry that they ganged up on him and beat him up, leaving him unable to get out of bed.

In the end, it was former cabinet minister Li Chunfang who stepped in to appease the scholars.

The cabinet sent the news to the Wanshou Palace, but the emperor remained indifferent.

Even when He Yongqing followed the cabinet's instructions and asked the emperor for permission to use the new newspaper, he was still turned away and returned empty-handed.

This was so out of character that anyone would notice something was wrong.

The cabinet requested to make comments several times, but the emperor always found excuses to delay it.

In desperation, the cabinet discussed and decided to let Zhang Juzheng block the emperor after the imperial lecture by offering a book as an excuse.

Now that Zhang Juzheng had obtained the opportunity to make a memorial to the emperor, he immediately brought up the matter of the grain transport shipwreck to gauge the emperor's attitude.

It stands to reason that this emperor should feel angry and annoyed no matter what.

But just now he just sighed that it was going to rain, and didn't say anything else.

The emperor's reaction further confirmed Zhang Juzheng's suspicion.

I felt increasingly uneasy. What on earth was the emperor thinking?
Zhang Juzheng knew that the emperor was not unreasonable, so he simply asked directly: "Your Majesty."

"I don't know why your Majesty is speaking insincerely. I am terrified!"

"Your Majesty, please make it clear!"

Zhu Yijun didn't respond for a moment.

After a long while, he said, "Don't worry, Prime Minister. Since the affairs of Liang Huainan and Zhili have been entrusted to the cabinet, I will let the cabinet handle it with confidence."

"The salt merchants are gathering to cause trouble. I believe Hai Rui can stabilize the situation. The elite troops brought by Jiao Ze and the tens of thousands of soldiers from the Canal Transport Office are here to deal with this kind of situation."

"The indignation of the scholars is rootless and will disperse after learning the truth. Since former Grand Secretary Li Chunfang has come forward, there is no reason to escalate the situation further."

"As for the capsizing of the grain ship, it was a show of strength on the outside but a weakness on the inside. If more than ten ships had capsized, I might have really stopped, but since it was only one, it means they also have bottles and jars that they care about."

"Since there is nothing to fear, why should I disturb your thoughts?"

The speech is clear and meaningful.

Zhang Juzheng couldn't find any fault with it.

But he was not so easily fooled.

Zhang Juzheng asked, "Forgive me for speaking frankly. It is not because Your Majesty is silent that I come to ask for your advice."

"But, Your Majesty has been a little depressed recently..."

Zhu Yijun took over the conversation: "Does it seem like there is something difficult?"

Zhang Juzheng was stunned, then nodded.

This is exactly what the cabinet is worried about.

Everyone had some guesses, but no one knew the real solution.

Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but guess, "But is there something wrong with Master Xu?"

Now memorials from Southern Zhili were floating into the cabinet like snowflakes, and everyone had a general understanding of the situation.

But there was no news about Xu Jie.

It is hard not to wonder whether the Jinyiwei and the Tongzhengsi had a single-point connection and sent it directly to the Wanshou Palace without going through the cabinet or leaving a file for the six departments.

Zhu Yijun suddenly smiled: "The Prime Minister is indeed a very thoughtful person."

Zhang Juzheng's expression changed, and he hurriedly asked, "What happened to make Your Majesty so embarrassed?"

He was suddenly startled and guessed, "Did he incite the villagers and soldiers to rebel?!"

Zhu Yijun waved his hand.

He knew that Zhang Juzheng was using outrageous speculations to induce him to make corrections.

He was used to using this trick on his leaders in his previous life.

Zhu Yijun was too lazy to bother with these psychological tactics, and said with a complicated expression: "The teacher of Yuanfu is so wise, how could he do such an unwise thing as rebellion."

"on the contrary……"

"He has already knelt down and begged me for mercy." As he said this, Zhu Yijun took out a red-marked report from his arms.

He gently placed the report on the table, pressed it with two fingers, and pushed it outward: "Prime Minister, read it yourself."

Zhang Juzheng looked solemn and walked forward with a bow.

Is this the reason why the emperor was in such a dilemma that he couldn't hide his emotions?
He carefully picked up the report and slowly opened it.

He glanced over the ceremony, skipping the opening remarks, and then silently read the rest of the speech word by word: "…I am a mediocre and immoral official, I am a civil servant, wearing red shoes and lamb's white silk."

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

If it was just bowing his head and tying his neck, how could it make the emperor so emotional?
He continued to look down.

Later, he heard that the central government had the intention of measuring the field and was willing to cooperate.

He was also willing to lend a helping hand to Hai Rui in cleaning up the salt administration in Lianghuai.

Further down...

Suddenly, Zhang Juzheng's expression changed drastically!
He suddenly closed the memorial and dared not read it again.

He looked towards the emperor: "Your Majesty!"

Zhang Juzheng opened his eyes wide, and asked in doubt: "Xu Jie, where is he now?"

Zhu Yijun's eyes were empty, his fingers interlaced and rubbing back and forth: "The Prime Minister guessed correctly, Xu Jie has already surrendered."

Zhang Juzheng's expression was shocked again, and he opened his mouth but could not speak.

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

He looked up at the bewildered emperor and could not help but console him: "Your Majesty, the overall situation is more important."

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

"I was in a dilemma, so I kept it a secret from the cabinet and pondered on my own for several days."

"There is no conflict with the Prime Minister or the Cabinet."

"Yuan Fu, your teacher is truly an outstanding person! Your method of survival is so far-sighted that I can't help but applaud you."

"I am now in a dilemma."

Zhang Juzheng remained silent. One word of advice was already the limit, and he could not say anything more about the matter.

Zhu Yijun did not force Zhang Juzheng to reply.

He picked up the report again.

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

Zhu Yijun looked at the memorial and said, "Now you know why I didn't make any comment on the memorial sent by the cabinet?"

"The salt merchants are stirring up trouble. It is the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, Zhu Gang, and the Minister of Revenue, Cao Bangfu, who are trying to manipulate public opinion."

"The scholars were shaken. It was the former Grand Secretary Li Chunfang and the Minister of Rites Qin Minglei who were teaching Wan Hao a lesson."

"The sinking of the grain transport ship was the result of collusion between Wei Guoben, the Duke of Xuancheng, and Lu Mingzhang, the inspector of the grain transport."

"The various guards in Nanjing are ready to make a move. The Ministry of War and the Duke of Wei's Mansion are also involved. Xu Bangrui returned to Nanjing too late and couldn't even control his family. Is this ridiculous, Yuan Fu?"

"Anyway, Master Xu told me all this in advance."

"So when the cabinet came to report, I was naturally not surprised."

"Prince, do you think Master Xu is too loyal to the emperor and the country?"

Zhang Juzheng hesitated to speak.

In the end, no words were spoken.

The emperor looked at the next page and continued, "There's more to it than that."

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

"Be ten times, a hundred times more anxious about what I am anxious about, and think about what I am thinking about."

"Oh, by the way, Yuanfu didn't look back, I'll read it to you."

"I won't talk about the ones in Nanzhili. There are too many to read. Let's talk about the ones in the capital."

"The Ning'an Grand Princess's Mansion accepted bribes of 143,600 taels over three years. Attached is the evidence account book."

"The Prime Minister Zhang Juzheng's office accepted bribes of 62,100 taels in three years. Attached is the account book of evidence."

Zhang Juzheng turned his head away.

Zhu Yijun continued: "The father-in-law, Li Weifu, accepted bribes of 127,800 taels in three years. Attached are the physical evidence account books, and the portion that was given to the Empress Dowager Li."

"The son of the Minister of Justice Wang Zhigao, who took human life lightly, protected the perpetrators and attached witnesses and evidence."

"The cabinet assistant Yang Bo and the Minister of Rites Zhang Siwei accepted bribes of more than 480,000 yuan in three years, and bribed officials in the Ministry of Personnel to select officials. Attached are witnesses and evidence."

"Duke Yingguo, Duke Chengguo, Marquis Taining, etc., accepted bribes of more than 370,000 yuan in three years. Attached is the physical evidence."

"Wang Daokun, the governor of Huguang, and Yang Yigui, the inspector of Guangdong, and others, misappropriated grain and tea permits. Attached is the physical evidence."

"In addition, there are Tongzhengshi He Yongqing, Taifusiqing Fang Hongjing, the Minister of Rites Zhu Dashou, and Ma Ziqiang..."

Zhu Yijun's mouth was dry, so he simply stopped and said, "Too much, I can't read it all."

"From the inner palace, the cabinet, the six ministries, the various departments and temples, the censors, the nobles, the provincial governors..."

"Hey……"

"Prince, this is the overall situation. I dare not go against it."

"Master Xu has tied the overall situation to himself. I can do nothing about him now!"

"Do you think I released them all at once, or did I do it all at once?"

Zhang Juzheng didn't speak for a long time.

He waited until the emperor stopped before speaking: "If your majesty is still angry, then of course you should kill the chicken to scare the monkey."

Zhu Yijun nodded, he understood what Zhang Juzheng meant.

The charges against Xu Jie were not necessarily true.

At worst, we can selectively deal with one or two.

Unfortunately, Xu Jie also thought of it.

Zhu Yijun suddenly raised his head and looked at Zhang Juzheng: "Prime Minister, do you know who Master Xu surrendered to?!"

Zhang Juzheng seemed to have thought of something and his face changed!
Zhu Yijun stood up slowly and said word by word: "Xu Jie, and his eighteen large boxes of evidence are all in the Huai'an government office!"

Zhang Juzheng finally realized something was wrong!

Didn't Xu Jie bow directly to the emperor and let Zhu Xixiao report?
Instead, he surrendered to Hai Rui!

Zhu Yijun lowered his head, his expression mixed with gloom, anger, and other expressions.

He looked directly at Zhang Juzheng and said through gritted teeth, "So, I have only revived Hai Rui for two months, and I am going to dismiss him and throw him back to Hainan!?"

For the sake of the overall situation, we must resolve this case.

Then Hai Rui became a victim again.

How could he do this?

He was dismissed from his post in just two months! ?

Then what is the difference between him and the previous emperor!
Zhang Juzheng relaxed his expression and said softly, "Your Majesty, you are too serious. We just need to change someone to handle this case. Censor Hai can return to Beijing..."

Zhu Yijun suddenly became angry: "Prime Minister!"

He could no longer hold back and growled, "Will Hai Rui stay in office?"

"Is Hai Rui the kind of person who turns a blind eye to crimes?"

"Should I also send a secret letter to the Royal Guards to burn those 18 boxes and make Hai Rui feel hopeless?"

"What will he think of me!?"

"What do you think of me!?"

"What will the people of the world think of me!?"

"Not to mention that the unofficial history is full of this bullshit, and it is smeared on my posthumous title..."

"How can I clear the sky and pacify the world in the future?"

Zhu Yijun vented his anger while Zhang Juzheng remained silent.

The two looked at each other for a long time.

Zhu Yijun took a deep breath and said softly, "Prime Minister, I will not let Xu Jie pass so easily."

(End of this chapter)