I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 16: Rescuing a Deadlock! Prime Minister Zhang asks for a reward, and the young emperor accepts the favor
It was eerily quiet inside the Huangji Palace.

The officials all looked at Shen Nian.

I want to hear how he will record what happened today.

Ma Ziqiang, Wang Xijue and other officials who served as literary attendants all looked at Shen Nian with sympathy.

Change to them.

It is also difficult to figure out how to take proper notes.

originally.

The problem can be solved by simply saying "On May 6, the emperor held court" and attaching a regular court briefing report.

But now, it's much more complicated.

The young Emperor Wanli spoke rashly and then changed his words, which was a big taboo for a monarch.

For the king.

If you speak inconsistently today, you may change your mind tomorrow.

Furthermore.

The little emperor has been being willful and talkative lately.

Zhang Juzheng wanted to teach the young emperor a lesson, so he chose to punish him during the regular court session.

Shen Nian at this moment.

Either he would offend Zhang Juzheng or be hated by the young emperor. It was difficult to please both.

The young Emperor Wanli lowered his head, looking very depressed.

This was not the first or second time that he was angrily rebuked by Zhang Juzheng, but most of the incidents occurred during the daily lectures on the imperial court.

But this time, it was Chang Chao.

It is to record his mistakes in history.

At his age, he is very concerned about his reputation and feels that he can become a wise ruler.

Being punished like this naturally makes one feel uncomfortable.

At this time.

Shen Nian slowed down, took two steps forward, and said loudly, "What is the 'Daily Records'? It is the emperor's true record and a warning to the future."

"Since ancient times, monarchs have had no right to read the 'Daily Records,' let alone know their contents! If I speak frankly, I would be implying that Your Majesty is unrighteous, that the elders are disloyal, and that I myself am disrespectful, unwise, and disloyal, bringing shame upon the historians. Please forgive me for not speaking frankly before the Emperor!"

Swish!Swish!Swish!
The moment Shen Nian finished speaking, all the officials turned to look at Shen Nian like sunflowers facing the sun.

His eyes were full of admiration.

It has been an iron rule since ancient times that the king has no right to read the daily records.

Otherwise, which emperor would allow his subjects to write bad things about him, and which emperor would not want to write about himself in a more wise way!
However, rules are rules.

There were many emperors who broke this rule.

Back then, Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty once secretly read the daily records and it is said that he even modified the content of the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

Emperor Taizong of Song read the daily notes many times, wishing he could read them every day. There were many passages in it that praised the emperor's merits and concealed his faults, and tried to defend him.

This greatly reduces the authenticity of the daily records.

but--

The current dynasty's daily records were restarted under the order of Zhang Juzheng.

He repeatedly stressed the requirement that when compiling the daily records, one must not exaggerate the good and conceal the bad.

If he violated this iron rule, it would defeat the purpose of restarting the daily records.

This is a bad idea, we can’t start it.

At least in ordinary court sessions, if a minister advocates that the king read the daily records, he would be a treacherous minister.

Zhang Juzheng obviously overlooked this point when educating the young Wanli.

At this moment, Ma Ziqiang held his chest high.

Shen Nian was too proud of the Hanlin Dean.

If anyone says that the Hanlin Academy is the Cabinet’s darling again, Ma Ziqiang can use what happened to Shen Nian today to retaliate. This is why the Hanlin Academy is so powerful.

Since Zhang Juzheng became the Prime Minister, Shen Nian was the first one to make him suffer a setback, and his reasoning was well-founded, polite and legal.

The latter is simply impossible to refute.

On the throne.

Little Wanli let out a long breath, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

This was the first time he had the upper hand in front of Zhang Juzheng. Although Shen Nian would most likely speak the truth and write that the young Wanli had made rash remarks, at least he did not embarrass him in front of the regular court.

He is already very satisfied.

At this moment, he admired Shen Nian very much.

At the same time, he thought to himself: In the future, when I do things and speak, I must avoid these historians who compile the daily records.

Zhang Juzheng was stunned for a moment, then took two steps forward and knelt down. "Your Majesty, I made a mistake and nearly put you in an unjust position. Please punish me!"

Little Wanli felt a little happy.

The situation suddenly reversed, and it was Zhang Juzheng who admitted his mistake instead of him.

"Cough cough..."

The sound of Empress Dowager Li coughing was heard from behind the curtain.

Little Wanli shuddered and immediately stood up, tugged at his long sleeves, and raised his hands in the air, saying, "Prince, please get up quickly. You are only trying to teach me not to change my mind from one day to the next and forget this rule. You are not wrong, it was I who was too rash just now. I will remember your teachings and think twice before speaking in the future!"

"Yuan Fu, get up quickly! Get up quickly!"

Immediately, Zhang Juzheng stood up.

In Shen Nian's eyes, Empress Dowager Li, Zhang Juzheng, and young Wanli were like a family of three, and Feng Bao was a loyal servant of the family.

This description does not mean that Empress Dowager Li and Zhang Juzheng had an affair.

But no matter what conflicts these four people have, they are all family members, while all the civil and military officials in the court are outsiders.

Not only Shen Nian, many officials felt this way.

At this time.

Zhang Juzheng looked at Shen Nian again, and then bowed to the young Wanli again.

"Your Majesty, Shen Jianchao has diligently followed his duties as a historian, preventing me from making a grave mistake. I request a reward for Shen Jianchao!"

As soon as these words were spoken, all the officials in the court showed envy on their faces.

Everyone knows what kind of person Zhang Juzheng is.

The man is as upright as his name suggests.

Never say what you mean in a sarcastic way.

Although he was the dictator of the country and had the final say in the cabinet, and his private life was rather extravagant, all he had in mind was state affairs, without the slightest selfish motive.

This is also the main reason why he can hold the position of Prime Minister.

He asked for a reward for Shen Nian, which means he thought Shen Nian did the right thing and should be rewarded.

"He deserves a reward! He deserves a reward! Yuan Fu has made great contributions in teaching me, and he also deserves a reward. Zhou Siye also deserves a reward for speaking frankly and making suggestions!"

Little Wanli slowed down and raised his voice.

"A reward to the Prime Minister is fifty taels of silver and three linings of silk. A reward to the Imperial Academy Reviewer Shen Nian is twenty taels of silver and two linings of silk. A reward to the Imperial Academy Director Zhou Ziyi is twenty taels of silver and two linings of silk!"

Spinach is a kind of silk fabric that is dyed before being woven. It is a high-quality fabric, with one piece of cloth consisting of the outer and inner fabrics.

Young Wanli had his own way of bestowing rewards.

Officials were often rewarded, but most of them were imperial food, desserts, etc.

Now the reward of silver ingots and cloth is already a generous reward.

You should know that Shen Nian, who was a seventh-rank official, had an annual salary of 84 dan, which was only more than taels of silver.

"I thank Your Majesty for the generous reward!"

Zhang Juzheng, Zhou Ziyi, and Shen Nian knelt on the ground and shouted at the same time.

Zhou Ziyi was a little confused and flattered. If it weren't for Shen Nian, he would never have received the reward.

The little emperor knew how to win people's hearts.

Immediately, all officials withdrew from the court.

Ma Ziqiang asked Shen Nian to accompany him back to the Hanlin Academy, and praised Shen Nian all the way.

soon.

Shen Nian's words in the court will spread to all government offices.

He can turn a dead end around, make Prime Minister Zhang ask for a reward, and make the young emperor appreciate his kindness.

Such performance.

This can be said to be a textbook case of how officials deal with their superiors.

It is the dream of every official to be able to confront the Prime Minister Zhang Juzheng and make him convinced.

……

Half an hour later, Shen Nian returned to the review room.

Liu Chu had already brewed the tea, and Liu Kezhen pulled out a chair for Shen Nian. When Wang Zudi and Zhao Yongxian saw Shen Nian, they bowed and saluted.

"To be a historian, one should be like Shen Ziheng!" the four said in unison.

"Everyone, I'm sorry to bother you. I'll treat you all to a drink tonight!" Shen Nian said with a smile.

Colleagues can still get together privately.

As long as you don't discuss political affairs recklessly, no one will care.

Shen Nian lived and worked with these four people, and they were also of the same age, so they would naturally take care of each other more.

(End of this chapter)