The rise of the poor

"Is this the only memorial that needs to be discussed by the duty office?" Gao Yao, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Huang Jin and asked politely.

This memorial is impeaching Governor-General Zhang Jing. Besides impeaching Zhang Jing, shouldn't there be many other impeachments against Zhu Ping'an? Shouldn't they be discussed together? We can't just discuss Zhang Jing's case!

What about Zhu Ping'an's?!

"Hehe, Lord Gao, His Majesty only instructed me to deliver this memorial to the Grand Secretaries for discussion. He gave no further instructions." Huang Jin gave a forced smile and replied softly.

"I see, thank you very much, Governor Huang." Gao Yao, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, quickly bowed and thanked him.

"You're too kind, Lord Gao. I have to go serve His Majesty, so I won't disturb your meeting any longer."

Huang Jin smiled slightly.

"Respectfully seeing off Governor Huang." Gao Yao, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, hurriedly bowed and saw him off.

Soon, the ten officials in charge of the Wuyi Hall were summoned to Yan Song's office. Under Yan Song's instructions, Gao Yao handed over Zhao Wenhua's memorial impeaching Zhang Jing to everyone for review.

"We've all read it. His Majesty wants everyone to discuss it. What are your thoughts and insights? Let's close the door and have everyone share their opinions," Yan Song said slowly, taking a sip of tea and setting down his cup.

"Your Excellency, what is there to discuss? Zhang Jing has been governor-general for almost a year, and the total amount of money and taxes he has spent is over 100,000 taels, yet he hasn't even wiped out a single Japanese pirate. No matter what, he is an incompetent governor-general! In my opinion, Zhang Jing is exactly as the impeachment memorials say: he is cowardly and unwilling to fight the Japanese, wasting funds and harming the people, letting the pirates miss their opportunity, passively avoiding battle, and waiting for the Japanese pirates to escape before wiping out the remaining pirates to claim credit! It's been a year, and he hasn't even sent out a single army. What is this if not cowardice towards the Japanese?!"

"Indeed, Lord Gao is absolutely right. Zhang Jing has been the governor for almost a year now, yet he has neither suppressed the Japanese pirates nor fought a single battle. He has failed the Emperor's trust and disappointed the people's expectations, allowing the Japanese pirates to ravage Jiangnan and oppress the people, leaving them living in misery. His heart is truly despicable!"

"It's been a year, and he hasn't dared to fight a single Japanese pirate. What is this if not fear? Is it because Zhang Jing is too merciful and unwilling to kill the Japanese pirates?! If that's the case, he should resign as soon as possible!"

As soon as Yan Song spoke, several officials below rushed to express their opinions, overwhelmingly supporting Zhao Wenhua's impeachment.

These officials are either members of Yan's faction or are eager to join it. How could they not support Zhao Wenhua's impeachment?

Zhao Wenhua was Yan Song's godson and a high-ranking member of Yan's faction. Impeaching Zhao Wenhua was equivalent to impeaching Yan's faction.

They naturally offered their full support.

Yan Song remained expressionless as his subordinates vied to support Zhao Wenhua's impeachment. He glanced at the crowd and asked, "Any other opinions?"

"I believe that Zhang Jing's passive avoidance of war, besides the fear of Japanese pirates impeached by Lord Zhao, has other reasons as well."

An official stood up and said.

"Oh, what is the reason? Tell me slowly." Yan Song glanced at him, nodded slowly, and said softly.

"When Zhang Jing took office as governor, he held immense military and political power in Jiangnan. His power was unprecedented. As the ancients said, it is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. Zhang Jing enjoyed such great power and did not want to lose it. In order to maintain his power, he supported Japanese pirates and built up an army to enhance his prestige. Therefore, in the years since he took office as governor, he has not sent out a single soldier or fought a single battle."

The official said slowly.

"It's not impossible that they might be supporting Japanese pirates to enhance their own power, or even using their military might to enhance their own power." Yan Song nodded and waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit down.

Then, Yan Song looked at everyone and gestured for them to speak freely and actively.

"Zhang Jing's deployment of Shandong spearmen and Guangxi wolf soldiers not only burdened the people and wasted resources, but also resulted in the troops' poor discipline and repeated harassment and harm to the local population, becoming a scourge to the area. The people cried out in protest, saying that the troops were even worse than the Japanese pirates. Moreover, in the nearly one year since Zhang Jing became governor, the Japanese pirate problem in Jiangnan has only increased and become more rampant. The people have suffered increasingly severe burning, killing, and looting, and there is much resentment among the people towards Zhang Jing. Public discontent is boiling over. People can support a boat, but they can also capsize it. Zhang Jing has lost the hearts of the people and is no longer suitable to serve as governor, let alone lead the overall anti-Japanese pirate campaign in Jiangnan. He should be arrested and brought to justice, handed over to the authorities for conviction and punishment, to serve as a warning to others and to revitalize the anti-Japanese pirate campaign."

Another official stood up and said that he was a censor and paid more attention to the voices of the people than others.

Indeed, there are many voices of dissatisfaction with Zhang Jing among the people of Jiangnan, but it is not as dire as he claims, with public resentment boiling over.

However, since some relatives and friends had died at the hands of the Japanese pirates, his extended family would complain about Zhang Jing, who was in charge of suppressing the pirates.

After all, Zhang Jing had been the governor for nearly a year and had brought in so many unruly foreign soldiers, but they hadn't fought a single battle or killed a single Japanese pirate. Instead, the Japanese pirates were becoming more and more rampant, and their relatives and friends were suffering. Naturally, they were dissatisfied with Zhang Jing, the highest leader sent by the imperial court to fight against the Japanese pirates in Jiangnan.

"Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it." Yan Song nodded slightly, waved his hand to signal him to sit down, and then looked at everyone, his gaze landing on Xu Jie, the second Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, who was sitting to the side.

Xu Jie noticed Yan Song's gaze, but he didn't want to speak at the moment.

Zhao Wenhua's memorial was a deadly move!
Others might not have noticed, but Xu Jie saw through the sinister plot hidden behind the memorial.

Zhao Wenhua is really ruthless. His first move was so vicious that Zhang Jing was put on the defensive afterwards!

This memorial impeached Zhang Jing for being afraid of Japanese pirates, passively avoiding battle, and failing to effectively suppress them.
If Zhang Jing continues not to send troops to fight the Japanese pirates, it will confirm that Zhang Jing is afraid of the Japanese pirates and avoids war, and is ineffective in suppressing the Japanese pirates; but if Zhang Jing sends troops to fight the Japanese pirates and fails, it will be seen as Zhang Jing's incompetence, which is detrimental to Zhang Jing; but if Zhang Jing wins, Zhao Wenhua will say that it is the result of his impeachment of Zhang Jing and his urging of Zhang Jing to fight, and that he will steal the fruits of victory for himself.

Moreover, Zhao Wenhua would use this to confirm that Zhang Jing had indeed been afraid of the Japanese and avoided battle.

Otherwise, why did Zhang Jing immediately go into battle and even win as soon as I impeached him? Doesn't this just prove that Zhang Jing had been passively avoiding battle before?
Xu Jie knew the Jiajing Emperor all too well. The fact that the Jiajing Emperor could have Zhao Wenhua's memorial discussed in the Wuyi Hall already showed that the Jiajing Emperor had some doubts and dissatisfaction with Zhang Jing. Otherwise, why wouldn't the Jiajing Emperor have had Zihou, who was also being impeached recently, and whose impeachment was not much less than Zhang Jing's, let Zihou be discussed?

Now, Zhang Jing should submit a memorial to defend himself as soon as possible, explaining why he has not sent out a single soldier or fought a single battle in nearly a year as governor, thus dispelling the emperor's suspicions and dissatisfaction. Only in this way can he break Zhao Wenhua's initiative.

Otherwise, they would fall into Zhao Wenhua's trap. (End of Chapter)