The rise of the poor

In fact, Zhang Jing should have submitted a report to the court long ago. If he had done so earlier, he wouldn't be in this predicament today.

In fact, Xu Jie had already reminded Zhang Jing before he took office, instructing him: "You must submit memorials to the Emperor frequently to report on your duties. This is one of your few opportunities to speak before the Emperor."

His Majesty has now appointed you as governor, which shows his trust in you. However, once you leave the capital and go south, you will be far from the central government and will lose your voice before His Majesty, unlike when you were in the capital, where you could meet with His Majesty and be summoned by him.

If someone speaks ill of you to the Emperor, one or two people might not sway him, but rumors can spread like wildfire. If many people speak ill of you to the Emperor, he will inevitably become suspicious.

You'll be in danger then.

Unfortunately, Zhang Jing did not heed his advice. Zhang Jing had recently written him a letter, stating, "If the ruler is not discreet, he will lose his ministers; if a minister is not discreet, he will lose his life; if matters are not kept secret, they will lead to disaster. Currently, there are people in the court secretly colluding with Japanese pirates. If I were to report a strategy for destroying the pirates, the news would reach their ears within a few days, and the grand plan to destroy the pirates in Jiangnan would be stillborn. Therefore, it is not that I do not want to report it, but that I cannot. Please wait patiently for news of victory; I will certainly not disappoint His Majesty."

Ugh.
Xu Jie couldn't help but sigh, not only because Zhang Jing didn't listen to his advice, but also because of Zhang Jing's delay in destroying the Japanese pirates.

Zhang Jing has been serving as governor for nearly a year, but he has yet to make any progress. Even if he hasn't fought a single battle as Zhao Wenhua impeached him for, it's not much better. He hasn't organized a single large-scale battle, nor has he achieved anything noteworthy.

Xu Jie was actually disappointed in Zhang Jing.

Xu Jie hoped to resolve the Japanese pirate problem in Jiangnan swiftly and decisively, just like cutting through a tangled mess with a knife, and to quickly pacify Jiangnan.

Jiangnan was a major source of tax revenue for the imperial court. As the second-in-command of the cabinet, Xu Jie was all too aware of Jiangnan's importance and how crucial it was as a major source of tax revenue. The imperial court relied heavily on Jiangnan for most of its tax revenue, making it practically the foundation of the nation.

The grain supply relied heavily on the Jiangnan region, with Suzhou alone contributing one-tenth of the nation's grain tax!

Now, with the escalating threat of Japanese pirates in Jiangnan, the tax revenue transported from Jiangnan to the capital has been drastically reduced! This has further exacerbated the already strained finances of the imperial court. Insufficient funds and taxes have hampered the effective implementation of many major policies, hindering their efficient execution. The border regions are also teetering on the brink of collapse due to the same lack of revenue.
Besides being a crucial source of tax revenue and provisions for the imperial court, Jiangnan was also Xu Jie's hometown.

Xu Jie's hometown was Huating in Songjiang Prefecture.

Right now, the Japanese pirates are most serious in Songjiang Prefecture. Xu Haihuo's pirate stronghold is in Tuolin and Chuansha in Songjiang!
Both for public and private reasons, Xu Jie wanted to resolve the Japanese pirate problem in Jiangnan as soon as possible. He had told Zhang Jing many times to do the same, but Zhang Jing insisted that suppressing the pirates was no small matter and required thorough preparation and comprehensive planning. Only when he was confident could he launch an attack to wipe out the pirates in one fell swoop and pacify Jiangnan.

How could Xu Jie not sigh?

"Huating, why the sigh?"

Yan Song was urging Xu Jie to speak with his eyes when he heard Xu Jie's sigh, and asked expressionlessly.

"Is Grand Secretary Xu lamenting for Zhang Jing? Is Grand Secretary Xu dissatisfied with Lord Zhao's memorial impeaching Zhang Jing?"

"I am Gao Yao, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, said in a somewhat sarcastic tone."

The relationship between Yan Song's faction and Xu Jie was somewhat delicate. Although Xu Jie actively gravitated towards Yan Song's faction, bowing to him and obeying him in everything, and showing goodwill to Yan Shifan while tolerating his grievances, veteran members of Yan Song's faction could not forget the days when Xu Jie and his teacher Xia Yan fought against Yan Song's faction. Back then, Xia Yan had forced Yan Song to kneel down and slap himself in the face.
Xia Yan died at the hands of Grand Secretary Yan. As Xia Yan's protégé, is Xu Jie truly convinced of his superiority? Will he really not bring up past grievances? Is it possible that Xu Jie might be emulating King Goujian of Yue, enduring hardship and biding his time?
If the situation changes and Xu Jie becomes the Grand Secretary, and he brings up old grievances, not a single member of Yan's faction will escape unscathed!

Therefore, most senior members of Yan's faction have this sense of crisis and have been targeting Xu Jie, intentionally or unintentionally.

They hoped to nip the danger in the bud and find an opportunity to bring down Xu Jie while Grand Secretary Yan was still second only to the emperor.

That's why they repeatedly tried to trip up Xu Jie.

Xu Jie reacted quickly, immediately explaining after Gao Yao's sarcastic question, "No, no, I'm not lamenting for Zhang Jing, I'm lamenting for the people of Jiangnan. Every day the Japanese pirates are not quelled in Jiangnan, the people of Jiangnan will suffer another day. The Japanese pirates burn, kill, and plunder, the people are suffering."

"Huating's hometown is in Jiangnan, so he deeply sympathizes with the people of Jiangnan who suffered from the Japanese pirates."

Yan Song nodded slightly, indicating his understanding.

"How can Grand Secretary Xu bear to see his fellow countrymen suffer the burning, killing, and looting of Japanese pirates? What good will sighing do? For the sake of his people, Grand Secretary Xu should impeach Zhang Jing. What is he doing as governor? He has allowed the Japanese pirates to run rampant in Jiangnan, plunging the people of Jiangnan into misery. Zhang Jing has been governor for nearly a year and has done nothing, yet the Japanese pirate problem worsens day by day! Grand Secretary Xu, are you going to stand by and watch your fellow countrymen continue to suffer the burning, killing, and looting of Japanese pirates?! Grand Secretary, how can you bear it?!"

Gao Yao, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, challenged Xu Jie.

“Now that Wen Hua has submitted his memorial, there is no need for me to submit another one,” Xu Jie said with certainty.

"What does Grand Secretary Xu mean by that?" Gao Yao pressed.

"With Wen Hua's memorial, Zhang Jing is doomed," Xu Jie said calmly.

"So, Huating, you agree with Wenhua's impeachment?" Yan Song waved his hand, gesturing for Gao Yao to sit down, and asked Xu Jie.

"Zhang Jing has served as governor for nearly a year, yet he has failed to quell the Japanese pirate raids in Jiangnan. He has neither fought nor sent troops, and there is no reasonable explanation for this." Xu Jie did not directly express his agreement or disagreement with Zhao Wenhua's impeachment of Zhang Jing, but instead changed his perspective, simply stating that it was unreasonable for Zhang Jing to lack a reasonable explanation.

"Huating, why hasn't Zhang Jing sent troops to suppress the Japanese pirates for nearly a year?" Yan Song asked Xu Jie once again.

Xu Jie pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't know."

"Wenhua says Zhang Jing is nurturing the Japanese pirates without engaging in battle. What's your opinion?" Yan Song stared intently at Xu Jie, awaiting his reply.

Xu Jie knew what answer Yan Song wanted, and Yan Song also knew that Xu Jie knew what answer he wanted, but the answer only had value when it came from Xu Jie's mouth.

"That possibility cannot be ruled out."

Under Yan Song's piercing gaze, Xu Jie could only give such an ambiguous answer, neither admitting nor denying. (End of Chapter)