I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 25: Picking on the weak! Shen Nian's first impeachment memorial

July 17th, early in the morning.

Duke Yansheng Kong Shangxian submitted a letter of thanks of more than 600 words to the Ministry of Public Administration.

After being reviewed by the Ministry of Public Administration, it was immediately sent to the cabinet.

After reading it, Cabinet Deputy Minister Lu Diaoyang couldn't help but frown.

Put it in the past.

This is an official article that quotes Confucius extensively, expressing gratitude for the royal grace and praising the court for its fairness to officials and the people.

According to convention.

Such articles were naturally required to be copied by all government offices and then made public to the world in order to demonstrate the emperor's great grace and the harmony of the country's politics and people.

after all.

Duke Yansheng was nominally the ritual and moral leader of the world's scholars.

His written words are often regarded as a guiding principle by many scholars.

At least on the surface it is regarded as a guiding principle.

Anyone who refutes him will be at odds with Confucius.

But now.

When the "Regulations on Postal Provision" caused officials to cry out "The court is too weak."

This is a letter of thanks.

It is undoubtedly a sharp weapon to promote the abolition of the "Regulations on Post Offices" and will cause more officials to submit memorials requesting the abolition of the "Regulations on Post Offices".

How could Lu Diaoyang not know Kong Shangxian’s private thoughts!

But he thought about it again.

This memorial helped the court to abolish the "Regulations on Postal Services".

According to the current situation -

Empress Dowager Li, the young Emperor Wanli, Feng Bao, and most of the officials in the six ministries were inclined to abolish the "Regulations on Postal Posts".

After entering the cabinet, Lu Diaoyang has always adhered to the official philosophy of "putting the overall situation first".

New policies have always caused unrest in the world, and he was also afraid that the Ming Dynasty would be in chaos.

Now, the matter of Hou Donglai's son using the post station for personal purposes has been discussed in court, and the young Wanli has also issued an edict, and the regulations have been relaxed.

If it is withdrawn again, it will greatly undermine the dignity of the imperial power.

It is better to just give in and follow the wishes of the majority.

This morning, a servant from the Prime Minister's Office came to report that Zhang Juzheng's condition had worsened and he was still unable to attend court, so he asked for another day off.

However, the resignation letter that Zhang Juzheng mentioned yesterday did not appear.

Lu Diaoyang had worked with Zhang Juzheng for many years and had a certain understanding of him.

Zhang Juzheng has always been cautious and prudent in his work.

When he said he had submitted his resignation last night, it was naturally just an angry remark. There was no way he would just quit in such a fit of anger.

Lu Diaoyang thought about it.

In the end, it was decided to seek the opinions of Empress Dowager Li and the young emperor.

……

Half an hour later, in the side hall of Wenhua Palace.

Empress Dowager Li sat on the couch behind the curtain, while young Wanli was holding a brush and doing his homework.

Feng Bao was waiting on the side.

Sometimes he spreads paper, sometimes he grinds, sometimes he pours tea, and sometimes he serves snacks.

Lu Diaoyang presented the "Letter of Thanks" from Kong Shangxian, Duke of Yansheng.

After a while.

Empress Dowager Li, young Emperor Wanli, and Feng Bao all read it through.

"Mr. Lu, what do you think?" asked the young Wanli.

Lü Diaoyang replied, "I believe the 'Regulations on Post Offices' have caused too much resentment among officials. It would be better to copy this 'Memorial of Thanks' and publicly display it, and at the same time weaken the penalties in the regulations, and then proceed with the process."

"Daban, what about you?" Little Wanli asked again.

Feng Bao thought for a moment and said, "I also think it's time to relax. There's been too much resentment in the officialdom lately!"

This regulation caused Feng Bao's income to plummet and his eunuch descendants to complain bitterly, so he naturally supported its abolition.

Then, young Wanli looked at Empress Dowager Li.

When Zhang Juzheng was away, he naturally had to ask Empress Dowager Li for her opinion.

Empress Dowager Li nodded slightly and said, "It cannot be abolished, but it can be weakened. Give a generous reward to the Duke of Yansheng to show your attitude!"

"Also, Feng Bao, please visit Elder Zhang on behalf of His Majesty this afternoon and explain to him why His Majesty gave Governor Hou a light punishment!"

"I obey your command!" Feng Bao replied.

Little Wanli added: "I will give you a Yanshenggong inkstone and five pieces of rice paper."

"Yes." Feng Bao bowed and nodded. At this moment.

He suddenly felt that the emperor of the Ming Dynasty might not be Zhang Juzheng, but the young emperor Zhu Yijun.

……

About an hour later.

The "Memorial of Thanks" was copied by clerks from the Ministry of Public Administration and appeared in various government offices.

Officials are all smart people.

Naturally, one understands the significance of this memorial being made public at this time and the Duke of Yansheng being rewarded.

Some officials quickly submitted memorials requesting the abolition of the "Regulations on Post Offices" or the reduction of the penalties under the regulations.

Since this is the emperor's wish.

They naturally have to actively support it. If they support it too late, they will easily be accused of following the trend and currying favor with their superiors.

Some officials remained silent.

The officials who supported Zhang Juzheng were also silent.

Because they didn't know what Zhang Juzheng was thinking at the moment.

It would be disastrous if Prime Minister Zhang also chose to compromise and they rashly made suggestions.

In the eyes of many officials, any new policy is neither good nor bad, and whatever the person with the most say says is good is good, and whatever he says is right is right, and they can just follow him with their eyes closed.

Standing in the right line and following the right people are the keys to a smooth career.

It has been like this since ancient times.

……

Hanlin Academy, Review Hall.

After reading this "Letter of Thanks", Shen Nian became more and more angry.

He murmured in his heart: All he talks about is morality, but all he thinks about is business. He only cares about personal gain and no public interest. How can he be called a descendant of a saint!
Swish!
Shen Nian picked up his pen and dipped it in ink, ready to support Zhang Juzheng and write his first impeachment memorial since he entered the officialdom.

Faced with the almost unanimous voice of abolishing the "Regulations on Post Offices", and with the nod of the little emperor, the decision was made at the court meeting.

Shen Nian naturally couldn't say that the public opinion of the regular court was wrong, or that the little emperor was wrong.

If he wrote the memorial like this, the bullet would sweep across a large area and he would be the one who got hurt.

Right now, there is a soft persimmon to be squeezed.

That is Kong Shangxian, Duke of Yansheng.

The other party uses public power for personal gain, is hypocritical, two-faced, and hypocritical.

Shen Nian's impeachment against him was well-founded and he could make the matter a big deal and let his voice be heard in the court.

Then, Shen Nian put down the brush again.

He planned to first recite Hai Qingtian's "Memorial on Public Security" criticizing Long Lin, in order to add some murderous aura to his article.

……

While Shen Nian was writing furiously, Zhang Juzheng woke up.

last night.

He angrily wrote his resignation letter in his study, but halfway through, he felt that he was too rash and stopped writing.

For the sake of the Ming Dynasty and the people of the world, it doesn't matter if I suffer a little injustice!
Zhang Juzheng was a very rigorous person who always thought before acting.

He is rarely impulsive and rarely acts emotionally.

He always knew what he was doing and whether it was worth it.

For example, Zhang Juzheng had drafted the "Regulations on Post Stations" in his mind several years ago.

He decided to go to the palace early tomorrow morning to discuss the pros and cons with the young Wanli.

Never thought about it.

He had a high fever again in the second half of the night, his condition worsened, and he slept until the afternoon.

After he wakes up.

Soon, news came that the "Memorial of Thanks" was copied and publicly displayed, that Duke Yansheng was rewarded, and that many officials had submitted memorials requesting the abolition of the "Regulations on Post Offices."

Zhang Juzheng was so smart that he immediately understood the little emperor's thoughts.

Zhang Juzheng, who usually kept his emotions to himself, suddenly became angry.

The little emperor was clearly going against him.

If this regulation cannot be implemented.

Then the new policies and strategies that are still brewing in his mind and will make countless powerful people furious will be even more difficult to implement.

He must not compromise.

Immediately, Zhang Juzheng dragged his sick body and ran to the study without even bothering to comb his beard.

He has finalized this resignation letter.

(End of this chapter)