Ming Jiajing: Starting from Immortality

Chapter 255: Betrayal of class, tit for tat!
Hai Rui walked into the Cabinet Office carrying the four lotus leaf bags of pickled vegetables.

An hour ago.

The ministers of state and the chief and deputy chief officials of the six ministries and nine government departments were waiting here. Four of them, Zhang Juzheng, Gao Gong, Hu Zongxian and Li Chunfang, were sitting in front of the large desk in the middle.

Minister of Punishments Pan En, Minister of Works Zhu Heng, Minister of Public Administration Gao Yi, Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate Yan Jing, and Chief Justice Huang Qing sat at the large desk on the left, while the deputy court official sat at the large desk on the right.

Everyone looked at Hai Rui who was walking slowly towards them, their eyes filled with scrutiny and anger.

This doesn't seem like welcoming a new colleague, but more like a scene of trying a criminal.

In the minds of these court officials, Hai Rui betrayed his class and was an unforgivable enemy.

His crime is incomparable to any other crime committed by previous officials.

Hai Rui was not affected, and walked into the government hall calmly. As a minister, he did not need to kneel down to anyone except Heaven, Earth, the Emperor, his parents, and his teachers.

Hai Rui first bowed to the ministers. Except for Hu Zongxian, an old acquaintance in Zhejiang who stood up to return the greeting, the other three ministers remained indifferent.

Hai Rui then bowed to the two ministers and three officials. Except for Huang Qing, a disciple of Yuanfu and the Minister of Dali Temple, who sat there in silence with his eyes looking at his nose, the other four stood up and bowed in return.

After the two ceremonies, without waiting for Hai Rui to salute again, the deputy officials of various government offices stood up and saluted Hai Rui.

Although there is only one step between the chief and deputy chief officials, this one step is no less important than all the steps one takes after entering the official career.

Regardless of their political views or status, the deputy officials had to pay their respects to Hai Rui first.

This is the true meaning of a higher-ranking official being able to crush people to death.

Hai Rui did not fail to be polite and bowed in return to the deputy officials.

All ceremonies are completed.

The huge government hall was filled with so many people, but there was no chair prepared for Hai Rui.

As a fellow cabinet minister, Hu Zongxian did not have so many concerns, so he asked Fu Yingzhen, the secretary of the cabinet, to bring a chair.

Fu Yingzhen was not in a hurry to do it. He looked into the eyes of his teacher Zhang Juzheng, waiting for his teacher's opinion.

Hu Zongxian looked at Fu Yingzhen and then at Zhang Juzheng with cold eyes, not hiding his dissatisfaction at all.

He couldn't say anything about Yuan Fu, but Fu Yingzhen, a small secretary in the cabinet, actually ignored the orders from the elders. He was truly a good dog in the Zhang family.

Gao Gong also looked at Zhang Juzheng, with the same undisguised mockery in his eyes.

He also didn't want Hai Rui to have a chair to sit on, but he preferred Zhang Juzheng to be in trouble.

It was obvious that Zhang Juzheng's disciple, Fu Yingzhen, the Cabinet Secretary, had angered Hu Zongxian. If he could not satisfy Hu Zongxian today, Fu Yingzhen would probably not be able to keep his position as the Cabinet Secretary.

It is true that the Secretary of the Cabinet is the private domain of the Prime Minister, but there are four people in the Cabinet. If one can make more than two cabinet ministers dissatisfied, there is no need for him to exist.

Zhang Juzheng frowned slightly, thinking that it was troublesome, but he was also satisfied with his student's loyalty and gave Fu Yingzhen a look.

Understanding what his teacher meant, Fu Yingzhen went to fetch a stool that could accommodate a person, but when he sat on it, he was shorter than the ministers of the six ministries and nine departments of the cabinet who were sitting on the armchairs.

Deliberate humiliation.

This time.

Hu Zongxian was completely enraged, and his eyes gradually turned cold as he looked at Fu Yingzhen, who was asking for his own life.

Yan Jing, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, invited Hai Rui to sit in his seat while he sat on the small stool.

Hai Rui had heard about Yan Jing's story. He knew that Yan Jing was a good official who was as "as clear as the sky and as bright as the sky" and, more importantly, was willing to sacrifice himself for the people. Together with the Ministry of Justice, the Dali Temple and the three judicial departments, he reviewed the prison cases of the Ming Dynasty over the past ten years.

He is truly a great ruler on earth.

Moreover, the two men were of similar age, Hai Rui was born in the ninth year of Zhengde, and Yan Jing was born in the tenth year of Zhengde. Hai Rui politely declined Yan Jing's wish to change seats, and then addressed Yan Jing as brother.

Yan Jing was also a straightforward person. He directly addressed Hai Rui as brother. Since his brother was unwilling to change seats, he also stood up. This scene of brotherly love made many people twitch their lips.

Zhang Juzheng's face darkened.

Gao Gong's smile could hardly be suppressed. After several major earthquakes in the officialdom, those who could sit here were basically clean and capable.

If you are willing to give face to the Prime Minister, then give it. If you don’t want to, then you can also not give it.

The two ministers stood in the government hall. Some of the chief and deputy officials were unable to stand any longer and were hesitating whether to stand up as well.

Zhang Juzheng was waiting for everyone to take their stand, and slowly realized that something was not right. When the chief and deputy officials were whispering to each other and wanted to stand up, he finally couldn't bear it anymore. He couldn't stand against all the officials as the chief minister of the cabinet, so he said, "Hai Rui, I have something to ask you!"

As soon as the Prime Minister spoke, the restlessness in the government hall was immediately suppressed. Hai Rui said calmly, "Excuse me."

Zhang Juzheng stood up and said, "You used the excuse of reporting to hide evil intentions. When you heard the emperor's words, you said something as treasonous as a mad dog barking at the sun and making false accusations. Everyone from the cabinet to the six ministries and nine officials were filled with righteous indignation and could not be persuaded!

I want to ask you now, are you doing this out of sheer madness or to gain a good reputation?"

Civil and military officials were all happy to see the petition for salary increase.

But unexpectedly, Hai Rui submitted a memorial to increase the salaries of middle and lower-level officials, but to reduce the salaries of higher-level officials.

To sacrifice oneself for the benefit of others is simply incomprehensible.

As the saying goes, "One becomes an official for money, but one becomes a man for power."

After ten years of hard study and decades of ups and downs in officialdom, he was able to refrain from corruption and serve the people. In the eyes of many people, he was worthy of the court, the emperor, and the people.

Who would push away the money that they deserve?

Zhang Juzheng claimed to be a good official, but he did not want to be a poor official. When living in the world, there is no need to live a hard life to prove one's integrity.

If this is implemented, middle and lower-level officials will be grateful to Hai Rui, while higher-level officials will complain that he, as the chief minister of the cabinet, is not doing his job.

Being the prime minister of a dynasty is a position that allows one to take all the credit, but with this move, he will have to bear the blame.

What was even more unexpected was that Hai Rui asked for a reduction in salary in front of the emperor, which was equivalent to forcing all the court officials of the third rank, or even the fifth rank and above, into a dead end.

His Majesty is definitely waiting for everyone here to take the initiative to petition for a reduction in salary. If you do, you will be letting yourself down, but if you don't, you may offend His Majesty.

These words immediately resonated with some of the ministers. They only had a few large houses to live in, dozens of slaves and maids to serve them, delicacies on standby at all times, and a cellar full of fine wine. Their lives were already so hard, and if their salaries were reduced, their homes would be even more shabby, and the people in the mansion would have to wear old clothes and go out to beg for food.

Hai Rui slowly replied, "Submitting such a memorial and making such suggestions is my duty as a minister. It is my duty and responsibility.

Yuan Fu and all the other gentlemen are people who have read the books of sages and are assisting His Majesty in governing the country. Since you have listened to my memorial, why do you think that my words are insane and are meant to gain a reputation for being upright?

Could it be that you all don’t have a heart for the heaven and earth, don’t have a destiny for the people, don’t carry on the lost knowledge for the afterlife, and don’t do things according to your duties and responsibilities? "

Heart-piercing words.

Tit for tat.

You scolded me for trying to buy a good reputation, and I replied that I was unworthy of being a minister.

Although Zhang Juzheng had long heard that Hai Rui was an unreasonable person in the officialdom, he had never imagined that he could be so unreasonable.

He doesn't seem to be here to be an official, but rather to cause trouble.

Zhang Juzheng was understandably embarrassed, but he was, after all, a "Grand Secretary of the current dynasty" who had spent half his life "applying his knowledge". Meeting such an opponent aroused his desire to win the debate. He simply put aside his status as a cabinet minister, stared at Hai Rui, and said, "Do you know how many government affairs the high officials of the Ming Dynasty have to deal with every day in the two capitals and thirteen provinces, and how many people have been saved?

Do you know how hard the officials of the Ming Dynasty studied before entering officialdom? How they accumulated huge debts?
"Hai Rui, you are a juren, but you have never passed the imperial examination, so you don't know how difficult it is to pass the imperial examination. You have just become a high-ranking official, so you don't know the hardship of dealing with all kinds of affairs every day."

This is a series of words.

Not only was Hai Rui horrified, but some people in the Government Affairs Hall were also angry.

This is not just about using power to oppress people. Although the emperor has suspended the imperial examination, what officials value most is still academic achievement and family background. If there is any benevolence and forgiveness in their hearts, those who come from a legitimate family background will often avoid the word "kejia" when talking to those who do not.

Although it is meant to illustrate the hardships of becoming an official through imperial examinations, the expenses are so high that poor people often cannot afford it, so they end up having to pay off debts for years after becoming an official.

But Zhang Juzheng, as the chief minister of the cabinet, actually said such harsh words, which shows how much he hated Hai Rui.

However, Zhang Juzheng did not stop attacking Hai Rui and continued, "Hai Rui, I know you have few friends in your life, so you don't need to socialize. Your salary should be enough for yourself, your mother, your wife, and your two children. But do you know that the scholars in our dynasty have always been close to each other and have frequent social interactions?
Hai Rui, I know that you have a mansion granted by the emperor. In this capital city where every inch of land is worth a lot of money, it is ten acres in size. You don't have to worry about housing, and you don't have to worry about food and clothing because the prince is staying in your house. As for transportation, you, as a second-rank official, ride in a sedan chair and a carriage to show your integrity. But do you know that the officials of my dynasty work hard for the country all their lives, but they can't buy half of your imperial mansion?
"People like you are standing on the shore watching the boat capsize in order to gain a reputation for being honest, Hai Rui, don't you feel that your loyalty is fake?"

sinister.

People ridiculed Hai Rui for having no relatives or friends except his mother, wife and children. Although he was not alone in the world, he did not even have anyone with whom he could talk honestly.

The saying that the literati and scholars of the Ming Dynasty have always been close to each other is pure nonsense, and it just adds to the sarcasm.

He also scolded Hai Rui for living in the mansion bestowed by the emperor, eating and wearing the things bestowed by the emperor, and pretending to be honest when traveling, just to appear honest in front of the world.

But these people often work hard all their lives for the country, the monarch and the people, but they can't even meet half of Hai Rui's conditions.

At this time in the government hall, a sour smell lingered in the air.

That's right.

Zhang Juzheng felt jealous.

The ministers of the six ministries and nine departments of the cabinet were also jealous.

Although many of them, including Zhang Juzheng, had palaces granted by the emperor, the palace that the emperor bestowed on the Hai family was carefully selected by the Imperial Household Department. You can't tell much from the surface, but you will realize its beauty once you walk in.

Among all of you present here, apart from the Yan Mansion that was bestowed upon Hu Zongxian by the emperor and was owned by his former mentor Yan Song, which is rarely comparable in the world, the Hai family lives in the best place.

The Zhang Mansion, the Gao Mansion, and the Li Mansion, all put together, are no match for the Hai Mansion.

Seeing that Zhang Juzheng was still so generous and eloquent in defending his faults, Hai Rui knew that Yuan Fu was a person who "had great power but seemed loyal" even though it was his first meeting.

After Zhang Juzheng finished speaking, he stared at him and then calmly replied, "Since the Prime Minister is so concerned about his subordinates, then everything is easy to say. Speaking of the imperial gift of food, clothing, shelter and transportation, would you allow me to say a few words as well?"

Zhang Juzheng was already excited by his own grand speech: "You go ahead."

Hai Rui stared out the window with empty eyes and said calmly, "I do not desire high positions and generous salaries, nor do I desire gifts from the emperor.

The Prime Minister thinks that I do not deserve the imperial gift, and I also think that I do not deserve the imperial gift.

Therefore, please, Prime Minister, please, my colleagues, give me three days, and I will return the Imperial Palace to His Majesty, and seal all the things that the Emperor has given me back into the treasury. Except for the food that my mother and my daughter ate, I cannot return them, and I will not leave any more."

Zhang Juzheng was stunned.

The whole hall was shocked.

Hai Rui wanted to return the palace bestowed by the emperor and all the things bestowed by the emperor in the past.

You said I didn't deserve it, and you said my contributions to the country were not enough to justify so many imperial gifts. Well, I will move out of the palace and return all the imperial gifts. Is that okay?

how about you?
My virtue and my merits are not enough to bear so many rewards from the emperor. Are your virtues so good? Are your merits so great?
Yu Mansion, I can’t live here, but can you?

I can't use the gift from the emperor, but can you just look at it?
Can everyone here do it?
Now, I have returned the imperial palace and the things bestowed by the emperor. Everyone here should consider what you should do.
Hai Rui's tactic of retreating in order to advance left Zhang Juzheng and others speechless. They stood there as if they were nailed to the ground, and the light in their eyes slowly dimmed. In their eyes, Hai Rui seemed so unreal and yet so real, so far away and yet so close!

Such a person is very different from previous rumors and the judgment of others. He should never be judged by ordinary people or by strange people.

Inferring from the Confucian theory, such people are closer to the "simple people" advocated by Zhou Gong and Confucius!
But in today's world, "simple people" mean "savages"!
When such a savage broke into the officialdom, everything started from within and manifested itself externally, so that all the seemingly right rules that had existed for thousands of years were completely broken!

A mansion worth millions is just given up like that. What kind of courage does it take?

Zhang Juzheng's face turned red. His years of observation of human nature were of no use at this moment.

The government hall is so big that you can hear a pin drop.

As a cabinet minister, Hu Zongxian accepted Hai Rui's report. Whether others could afford the "imperial gift" or not did not affect him. His Yan Mansion was truly earned through fighting against Japanese pirates, and no one could interfere.

After finishing his report, Hai Rui turned and left.

Yan Jing and Zhu Heng were waiting to leave. Hu Zongxian glanced at the sky and left as well.

The chief officials and deputy officials left one after another, and Gao Gong and Li Chunfang also left.

I thought the Prime Minister could do so much, but I didn't expect that not only the salary problem could not be solved, but now he has to consider whether to vacate the Imperial Palace and return the imperial gift.

Damn it, I just watched a show and lost a lot of money.

In the hall, only Zhang Juzheng and his apprentice Huang Qing were left...

(End of this chapter)