Ming Jiajing: Starting from Immortality

Chapter 282 Ju Zheng returns to his hometown and Gao Gong’s cabinet!
Zhang Juzheng submitted a memorial requesting to observe the mourning period.

The whole government and the public immediately fell into a carnival, and the scene of the downfall of Yan Song and Xu Jie was recreated. All officials of the Censorate and various government offices petitioned the prime minister to return to his hometown to complete the three-year rule, without a single day less.

Thanks to Gao Gong's "blessing", hundreds of officials under the Zhang family came to their senses and fought back, claiming that Yuan Fu had not been held accountable after leaving the court.

The evil of human nature is vividly demonstrated at this moment!

But what is strange is that although basket after basket of memorials were carried into Yuxi Palace, the emperor did not respond to any of them.

What is even more strange is that Hai Rui, the Minister of Rites who always believed that loyalty and filial piety were more important than anything else, did not express any opinion from beginning to end about Yuan Fu's attempt to seize the throne and then having to end the order.

Influenced by Hai Rui, his sworn brother Yan Jing, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, Pan En, the Minister of Punishments, and Zhu Heng, the Minister of Works, all loyal and upright ministers known for their loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, did not express any opinions on this.

Even when the Deputy Prime Minister Gao Gong asked his followers to visit Hai Rui in person, his thoughts and attitude did not change at all.

Gao Gong nearly fainted from anger. At that moment, he finally understood the discomfort of his uncontrollable subordinates in the court.

On the third day after Old Master Zhang passed away, Zhang Juzheng woke up faintly. He sat in front of the sickbed and listened to Huang Qing's account of everything that had happened in the court. He was silent for a long time.

After getting out of bed and paying homage to his old father, he ordered people to put on the bright red crane robe over his mourning clothes, and took a sedan chair to the West Garden. When he arrived at the West Garden, he changed to a sedan chair carried by two people and went to Yuxi Palace.

Huang Qing always stayed by the master's side, walking beside the sedan chair and the palanquin.

From himself and Huang Qing, Zhang Juzheng seemed to see the shadow of Yan Song and his son Yan Shifan. In their infinite desire for power, they unknowingly made countless mistakes.

Although they did not commit such heinous crimes as the Yan father and son who destroyed dikes and flooded fields, they also used many shady means to expand their power as prime ministers and suppress dissidents.

Ambition and power were constantly expanding, which eventually led to the siege of the whole court and the disaster of the master turning against him.

Hate?

Zhang Juzheng, who was about to lose power, couldn't remember who he hated.

Was it his disciple Yu Shenxing who had pointed the knife at his heart? Or was it Gao Gong who had taken advantage of his misfortune? Or was it anyone else?

The sun shines in the lake, and the waves sparkle.

Next to the forbidden gate of the Western Garden, there is the only road. The sun shines on the water, the willows are weeping in the wind, and the cicadas are chirping in the ears.

Just like last year, the enemies met here. Gao Gong, who was acting as the prime minister, had just finished reporting to the emperor in Yuxi Palace and was walking back to the cabinet when he met Zhang Juzheng, who was coming from his home and heading to Yuxi Palace.

It was a wide avenue, but no one was giving way to anyone else. People walking stopped, and the two eunuchs carrying the sedan chair also stopped, not knowing what to do.

Huang Qing wanted to vent his anger for his mentor and yelled at Gao Gong to get out of the way, but the authority of the current cabinet minister was far from something that a mere minister could offend, so he subconsciously lowered his head.

Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong were both competing with each other, neither of them tried to hide or avoid each other, and they stared at each other from a distance of less than a few feet.

The sun was scorching overhead, and they were standing face to face there. However, this place was right at a bend, and Gao Gong's position was the same as Yan Shifan's that year, with his face facing the sunlight, which was a great disadvantage.

He tilted his head back with his eyes wide open, feeling uncomfortable from the sunlight. After a while, he could not stand it anymore, so he lowered his head, closed his eyes, made way, and bowed to greet the man.

The two eunuchs carrying the sedan looked at each other, quickened their pace, and hurriedly passed by the second prime minister, fearing that the confrontation would continue.

At a short distance, Zhang Juzheng looked down at Gao Gong and could clearly see his trembling figure and heavy breathing. Having served in the same court and cabinet for many years, how could Zhang Juzheng not know that Gao Gong's anger was almost raging at this moment.

But so what?

As long as he is still the prime minister for a moment, Gao Gong will always be the second prime minister and will never be able to turn things around.

A sick tiger can also control a wolf.

Gao Gong, who was not a narrow-minded person to begin with, was already out of breath after suffering such a great humiliation in front of his former younger brother, current superior, and future "people under his rule".

As the sedan chair went away, Gao Gong did not look back but continued to walk towards the forbidden gate of the Western Garden.

No matter what, he is the only final winner in the entire Yan Song cabinet!

Zhang Juzheng also did not look back. He sat on the sedan chair without moving, gazing at the sunlight-lit surface of the lake with a worried look until he arrived at the gate of Yuxi Palace.

Huang Jin, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, had apparently received the news and was waiting in front of the palace gate early.

Looking at Zhang Juzheng's pale face and tired look, Huang Jin's resentment towards Zhang Juzheng for leading the outer court officials to attack the inner court, which led to his godfather Lu Fang being expelled from the palace, suddenly eased a little.

Huang Jin came forward and helped Zhang Juzheng down from the sedan chair. Zhang Juzheng did not hide the apology in his eyes and greeted him, "Eunuch Huang."

"Sir, the emperor is waiting, please go in quickly." Huang Jin didn't think about anything else and just did his job in a businesslike manner.

"That'll be quick."

……

Ok Hee Palace.

The smoke of ambergris, which calms the mind and spirit, rises faintly.

Zhang Juzheng personally submitted a petition begging to return to his hometown to observe the mourning period. Zhu Houcong took it but did not open it. Instead, he looked at him and said, "Thank you for your hard work!"

Zhang Juzheng was not a perfect man, nor was he a perfect minister, he was just a real person.

He was born into an ordinary military family. His grandfather was a guard in the Palace of the Prince of Liao. However, he was killed by the Prince of Liao and died of drunkenness.

My father was a poor scholar with no connections.

But despite such a family background, Zhang Juzheng relied on his ability and wisdom to become a student at the age of twelve, a juren at the age of sixteen, a jinshi at the age of twenty-three, graduated from the Hanlin Academy at the age of twenty-six, became a disciple of Xu Jie, the Second Minister of the Cabinet, became the teacher of Prince Yu at the age of twenty-nine, participated in the cabinet at the age of thirty-one, became the Second Minister of the Cabinet at the age of thirty-six, and became the First Minister of the Cabinet in the same year.

During the more than one year of turmoil in the court, Zhang Juzheng performed outstandingly and made great contributions to the stability of the court and the local area.

However, it is rare to find him a vulgar person. Zhang Juzheng would always gladly accept any gifts, such as power, money, and beauties.

The painting of an eagle by Emperor Huizong of Song that Li Chengliang asked Zhang Juzheng to authenticate is still kept in Zhang's mansion.

It’s well deserved!

Zhang Juzheng's eyes suddenly turned red, and he knelt on the ground, crying inconsolably.

"According to convention, when a minister returns to his hometown to observe mourning, the emperor must repeatedly try to persuade him to stay. But for us as monarch and minister, this is not necessary, right?" Zhu Houcong asked.

When the ministers left the court, whether they returned to their hometowns to observe the mourning period or to beg for their bones, the emperor and his ministers had to act out the act of a wise ruler and wise ministers, and Zhu Houcong felt tired of it.

Zhang Juzheng agreed and said, "It is hot and humid, I will hurry to the funeral and return home. Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty."

Now, the mourning hall in Zhang's mansion is using a large amount of stored ice to dissipate the heat, otherwise it would have been smelly and unbearable. Naturally, the less friction between the monarch and his subjects, the better.

"Go!"

"Thank you, Lord, for your grace!"

……

The pavilion of ten miles.

Hai Rui, Yan Jing, Pan En, Zhu Heng and a group of upright officials in the court escorted Zhang Juzheng back to his hometown. After Zhang Juzheng thanked them one by one, Yan Jing and others left first, leaving Hai Rui alone.

Seeing Zhang Juzheng's pale face, as if he was seriously ill, Hai Rui knew that it was not due to the hot weather. He wanted to comfort him, but when the words came to his lips, he didn't know where to start.

It really is like the mouth wants to speak but stammers, and the feet want to walk but stumbles.

Zhang Juzheng pretended to smile in relief and spoke first: "Ruxian, you don't have to comfort me, I... can take it easy."

Death of my father.

He became a laughing stock in the court and was attacked countless times.

But Hai Rui surprised everyone and himself by not speaking out or submitting a petition, which resulted in him not enjoying the full treatment given to him by Yan Song and Xu Jie.

The two have many different political views and many conflicts, but people can only see the true heart of others when they are in trouble.

Zhang Juzheng was grateful to Hai Rui, but he absolutely could not regard him as a confidant or close friend.

They are not the same kind of people.

"What does Yuan Fu plan to do in the future?" Hai Rui asked.

This name is actually not appropriate.

When Zhang Juzheng lost his position, the second prime minister Gao Gong naturally ascended to the throne and got what he wanted, becoming the chief minister of the cabinet he had always dreamed of.

But Gao Gong was not so happy either. The vacant position of Second Minister of the Cabinet was filled by Hu Zongxian.

But what made Gao Gong uncomfortable was that the position of Minister of Personnel, which was supposed to be controlled by Yuan Fu, was taken away by Hu Zongxian.

Gao Gong still concurrently held the position of the Ministry of Revenue, which was responsible for the financial affairs. Thus, apart from his position being further promoted, Gao Gong's power did not increase much.

People never like to look for reasons within themselves. Gao Gong couldn't help but wonder if Zhang Juzheng had said something to the emperor when he entered the palace for an audience.

However, without verifying the source of the idea, the emperor did not dare to ask, and Zhang Juzheng did not want to ask. Once suspicion was formed, it could not be dispelled.

As a result, Gao Gong launched a frenzied revenge against the "Zhang Clan". Those officials who had not previously impeached Zhang Juzheng were transferred to new positions and were about to be transferred out of the capital.

The "high-ranking" officials who had been transferred away by Zhang Juzheng in the past will be promoted from the local areas to the capital.

Easy to attack and defend.

But what many people did not expect, including Zhang Juzheng, was that Gao Gong abided by the agreement not to carry out a large-scale purge of the "Zhang family" in the court and did not conduct a thorough liquidation of the entire "Zhang family".

This was the real reason why Hu Zongxian, who concurrently held the position of Minister of Personnel, agreed to Gao Gong's transfers.

A new emperor has new ministers, and a new cabinet has new officials.

Although Gao Gong's compliance with the agreement seemed a bit naive in the eyes of many officials who made political struggle their top priority, it did help avoid turmoil in the court.

The "Zhang Family" was ruined, the "Gao Family" was reborn, and the court smoothly entered the era of "Gao Gong Cabinet".

It can be predicted that three years later, after Zhang Juzheng finished his mourning period, Gao Gong would never let Zhang Juzheng return to the court and the cabinet easily.

The more Zhang Juzheng desires power in the countryside, the harder it will be for him to return. Now it is easy for Gao Gong to lay a hand on an "ordinary citizen".

"Retire to the mountains and forests, wander around the world, sail on the water, and dance with cranes in a peaceful world." Zhang Juzheng answered expressionlessly.

Only Zhang Juzheng knew whether he was willing or not.

Hai Rui took it seriously and said, "Yuan Fu, you have read a lot of books. I'm afraid there is nothing in the world that you don't understand.

Since ancient times, how many people have assisted the emperor to the end? "

Zhang Juzheng thought about it and shook his head.

From ancient times to the present, in any era of peace and prosperity, there has never been a minister or prime minister who could remain loyal to his post.

Emperor Wu of Han reigned for fifty-four years and appointed thirteen prime ministers, but only two of them died safely.

Emperor Taizong of Tang reigned for 23 years and appointed 22 prime ministers. Although this was due to the system of three provinces and six ministries and the fact that there were many prime ministers in the court, it also proved that it was difficult for the monarch and his ministers to stay together forever.

During the 32-year reign of Emperor Taizu Gao of our dynasty, he only had four prime ministers. However, that was because the prime minister system was directly abolished, and none of the four meritorious ministers had a good end.

No one can die with the emperor.

Hai Rui said sincerely: "Prince, some talented people only know how to advance but not how to retreat, which eventually puts the emperor in an unjust position. Now that you have stepped down, it is not important whether you are willing or not. What is important is that you can keep your body, reputation, and integrity intact. You should be content."

The chief minister of the Jiajing dynasty.

Yang Tinghe, Xia Yan, and Yan Song all left the stage in a very undignified manner. Looking back over the 200 years of the Ming Dynasty, the only time the struggle between the emperor and his subjects was almost openly manifest was during the Jiajing reign.

Zhang Juzheng served as the chief minister of the cabinet for a short time, but as the initiator of the prosperous and peaceful era, he is an unavoidable figure and is destined to go down in history and be remembered for generations.

It might not be a bad thing to be able to leave in this way and never return to the court or the cabinet.

Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but clench his hands under his sleeves when he heard the word "contentment". He smiled and nodded, saying, "Nowadays, to promote the holy way, I don't need to lead the court. I can wander around the rivers and lakes and sing the praises of the holy dynasty. It's not about the court that matters. Yes, I should be content."

The following words seemed to be spoken by Zhang Juzheng to Hai Rui, but also to himself.

From then on he sailed across the five lakes and traveled around the world, without losing his heroic character.

To end one's life as a hero is something that countless people in the world wish for, but he is Zhang Juzheng, and he is only in his thirties!

Having said that, I have come to the end of my words.

Zhang Juzheng and Hai Rui bowed to each other and said goodbye.

……

As one of the most loyal disciples of the former Prime Minister, Huang Qing, the Chief Justice of the Dali Temple, was inevitably impeached and "promoted" from the Chief Justice of the Dali Temple of the imperial court to the Minister of Personnel of Nanjing.

During the Ming Dynasty, the Shuntian and Yingtian courts had the same official ranks, but it was self-evident who were the real Ming court officials and who were fake.

Almost at the same time, Zhang Juzheng left the capital, and Huang Qing also left the capital.

The newly appointed Minister of Dali Temple was Wang Cai, a classmate and friend of Gao Gong, who was promoted from the Minister of Taichang Temple in Nanjing.

As Gao Gong reached the pinnacle, the friendship among the fellow Jinshi of the 20th year of Jiajing gradually changed, and more than a dozen officials including Qin Zhu, Song Yi, Fu Rudeng, Wu Sanle, Pei Yu, Yang Zongqi, Chao Cao, Chen Yuye, and Lin Shusheng entered the court.

Gao Gong also did not forget his good friends Meng Huai and others, as well as his disciples Lu Huang, Wu Dui and others, a total of dozens of people, who quickly filled the vacancies in some important positions in the six ministries left by the "Zhangmen" officials who left Beijing.

The number of officials transferred away from the capital was far more than this, but Gao Gong had to eat meat and let other cabinet ministers have soup. Even Hu Zongxian, Li Chunfang, Wang Chonggu and Chen Yiqin who were implementing national policies in Shaanxi, all recommended some upright officials to come to Beijing for posts under the emperor's suggestion, completely filling the shortage of officials in the capital.

The Ming Dynasty officially entered the Gaogong Cabinet period...

(End of this chapter)