I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

The third day of July.

Yu Youding, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and a newly promoted Grand Secretary, submitted a memorial stating: "Grand Tutor Zhang was entrusted by the late Emperor to assist in governing for ten years. Now Your Majesty has the ability to make decisions independently and should personally take charge of all affairs in accordance with the Mandate of Heaven."

To put it bluntly, they were earnestly requesting that the young Wanli Emperor assume personal rule.

This memorial was issued.

Immediately, hundreds of memorials agreeing to the proposal flooded the Office of Transmission.

The officials were very perceptive.

With Zhang Juzheng's death, the young Wanli Emperor had come of age and could no longer appoint a regent; he should rule in his own right.

Shen Shixing, Shen Nian, and Wang Xijue also submitted memorials, earnestly requesting that the young Wanli Emperor assume personal rule.

This is an unstoppable trend.

After the young Wanli Emperor modestly agreed twice and officials jointly submitted a memorial three times to earnestly request that he assume personal rule, the matter was finally settled.

However, the young Wanli Emperor still issued an edict to the cabinet, stating: "I am young, and all matters of state and military affairs should be discussed and decided upon by the cabinet ministers."

……

On the sixth day of the seventh lunar month, there will always be a court meeting.

After delivering a speech in remembrance of the late emperor and gratitude to the regents, the young Wanli Emperor formally issued an edict: to personally take charge of state affairs and work with all officials to achieve a peaceful and prosperous reign.

After assuming personal rule.

The number of lectures given by the young Wanli Emperor will be reduced, while the time spent governing will be increased. These changes will require the cabinet to re-plan and rearrange the schedule.

at the same time.

Shen Shixing was automatically promoted to Grand Secretary, Shen Nian was appointed Second Grand Secretary based on his political achievements, Wang Xijue was no longer in charge of the Hanlin Academy, but instead became Minister of Revenue, and Shen Li, a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy, took charge of the Hanlin Academy and was in charge of the seals.

The four-member cabinet—Shen Shih-hsing, Shen Nian, Wang Xi-jue, and Yu You-ding—has been officially finalized.

……

A few days ago, Wang Xijue repeatedly tried to persuade Yin Zhengmao to stay in the cabinet, but Shen Nian did not try to persuade him much because he understood Yin Zhengmao.

Yin Zhengmao is a man with a temper.

He knew he could not become the Grand Secretary, and he was only willing to serve as the Second Grand Secretary under Zhang Juzheng. He had some disdain for Shen Shixing, who was good-natured and liked to compromise.

Furthermore, Zhang Juzheng's death completely disheartened Yin Zhengmao, and he was eager to retire and return to his hometown.

In the following days, there were no major changes in the outer court, but there were significant changes in the inner court.

First, Zhang Hong, the second most powerful figure in the inner court, resigned from his position as Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial. Then, the young Wanli Emperor promoted Zhang Cheng to Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, promoted Zhang Jing to Grand Eunuch of the Eastern Depot and concurrently to Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Treasury, and promoted Fang Ping to Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Palace Attendants and concurrently to Supervise the Inner Study.

Zhang Cheng, Zhang Jing, and Fang Ping were all trained by the young Wanli Emperor, and the first two of them were at odds with Feng Bao.

This move by the young Wanli Emperor was clearly intended to gradually diminish Feng Bao's power among his inner court officials.

He had called Feng Bao "Da Ban" for many years, seemingly having a good relationship with him. However, in his eyes, Feng Bao had always been someone sent by Empress Dowager Li to monitor him.

After Emperor Wanli assumed personal rule, he naturally did not want Empress Dowager Li to continue using imperial edicts to control him. Therefore, he already intended to expel Feng Bao, and was only waiting for a pretext.

When Feng Bao learned that Zhang Cheng and Zhang Jing, the two eunuchs he disliked the most, had been promoted, he was furious.

But he did not want to resign and retire from the palace to live out his retirement.

Once eunuchs leave the palace and lose the emperor's power as their backing, they are nothing more than stray dogs.

He was ready to show off his skills again.

This was to show the young Wanli Emperor that he still had great potential, and that Zhang Cheng and Zhang Jing were not up to the task.

……

July 29th, early morning.

Under the personal escort of several eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial and numerous Imperial Guards, Zhang Juzheng's coffin and his family traveled by waterway to Jingzhou. The procession consisted of more than seventy ships, stretching for over ten miles.

Yin Zhengmao accompanied Zhang's mother, preparing to bury Zhang Juzheng before returning to his hometown, Huizhou Prefecture in Southern Zhili.

Currently, the treatment that Emperor Wanli is giving to Zhang Juzheng is impeccable and can be described as extremely high.

He was granted the title of Grand Tutor during his lifetime and the posthumous title of Wenzhong, along with the additional title of Pillar of State. No other official in the court had ever enjoyed such treatment.

If this is the final conclusion, then Zhang Juzheng's hard work for the court over half a lifetime will not have been in vain.

……

August arrived in the blink of an eye.

The discussions about Zhang Juzheng's death among officials and the public gradually faded with time, and the various government offices in the capital returned to their former order.

When officials arrived at and left the government office, they looked relaxed, chatting and laughing, seemingly having forgotten Zhang Juzheng, the meritorious official who had once carried the weight of the two capitals and thirteen provinces forward.

This also confirms the saying: The vast Ming Dynasty could continue to function even without anyone.

The young Wanli Emperor has been very diligent lately, and he is very respectful to the four Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, rewarding them generously every two or three days.

This is something that emperors of all dynasties would do; at the beginning of their personal rule, they must treat important ministers of the court well.

……

August 11th, near noon.

From the Wanli Emperor down to the officials and clerks in the capital, no one had any interest in handling official business.

Because Consort Gong is about to give birth!

As the saying goes: "The flowers you plant with care may not bloom, while the willows you plant without intention may thrive."

Consort Gong was the same Consort Wang from Cining Palace who was favored by the young Emperor Wanli at the end of last year. She became pregnant with the emperor's child after only two visits.

Although the young Wanli Emperor did not like her very much.

But if she could give birth to a prince for the royal family, her merit would be greater than the heavens.

The two empress dowagers are going crazy with longing for a grandson!

If the young Wanli Emperor could obtain a prince, his throne would be more secure, his imperial power would expand rapidly, and no matter what mistakes he made, Empress Dowager Li would never again say something like "I want to hand over the throne to Prince Lu".

at the same time.

Many people in the capital were very excited when they learned that Consort Gong was about to give birth.

Some people even waited directly at the foot of the imperial city wall so that they could get the news as soon as possible.

The people were so eager not because they were happy for the young Wanli Emperor, but because once the prince was born, the court would issue many favors, such as tax reductions, the release of prisoners convicted of minor crimes, and the abolition of some harsh decrees.

This can bring tangible benefits to many ordinary people at the bottom of society.

At noon, in the Cabinet Office.

Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, and Yu Youding were all very excited. They didn't even have time for lunch and had already drafted a congratulatory letter to the royal family for the birth of a son (or daughter). Once the gender was confirmed, they would quickly write the letter and submit it to the palace.

Shen Nian remained calm.

After lunch, he lay down on the soft couch in the duty room for a short rest.

He knew the outcome; in his view, a problem was about to arise.

However, it is a good thing for the present moment. Perhaps the birth of the eldest son will make the young Wanli Emperor more mature.

……

Weichu (13:00).

Just as the young Wanli Emperor and the two empress dowagers were pacing anxiously back and forth in the side hall of Consort Gong's bedroom.

Suddenly, a clear and loud baby cry came from inside the house.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress Dowagers, it is a prince, it is a prince! Mother and child are both safe and sound!" the midwife rushed out excitedly.

The two empress dowagers and the young Wanli Emperor were overjoyed. "Reward them! Reward them handsomely!" said Empress Dowager Li.

The young Wanli Emperor raised his head, looked up at the sky, and murmured, "I have a son! I have a son!"

After saying this, the two empress dowagers and the young Wanli Emperor entered Consort Gong's bedroom.

……

Half an hour later.

The news that Consort Gong had given birth to a prince spread from the inner court to the Cabinet Office, and then from the Cabinet Office to various government offices in the capital south of Chengtian Gate, and finally to the common people.

Those who knew about it were all excited.

……

The following day, the young Wanli Emperor issued an edict to the cabinet.

He declared: "My prince is born. In celebration of this joyous occasion, the imperial treasury is short of funds. Therefore, I shall take 200,000 taels of silver from the Imperial Granary and 100,000 taels from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices."

Although the court was currently wealthy, Wang Xijue, a cabinet minister and Minister of Revenue, felt that the young Wanli Emperor was asking for too much. However, since this was a joyous occasion, after Shen Shixing's persuasion, Wang Xijue no longer had any objections.

That afternoon, the young Wanli Emperor generously rewarded the four Grand Secretaries to celebrate the birth of his son.

……

On August 13th, Emperor Wanli ordered Duke Cheng, Zhu Yingzhen, and other meritorious officials to offer sacrifices to the suburbs, the court, and the altars of the land and grain to celebrate the birth of the emperor's eldest son.

On August 15th, Chang Chao held a meeting.

Emperor Wanli ordered the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to select an auspicious day to announce the birth of his prince to the world. He also ordered the cabinet ministers to draft an edict of general amnesty and bestowed additional honorific titles upon the two empress dowagers.

The entire court was filled with jubilation.

……

The sixth day of the ninth lunar month is considered an auspicious day.

The young Wanli Emperor arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, announced the birth of his son to the world, and then issued an edict granting a general amnesty.

This pardon was particularly solemn.

"From dawn on the sixth day of the ninth month of the tenth year of Wanli, all those who have committed serious crimes such as treason, murder of grandparents or parents by descendants, wives or concubines killing their husbands, robbery, or dereliction of duty in battle shall be pardoned."

"The imperial family members who were originally imprisoned within the high walls of Fengyang have passed away. Their descendants, wives, and concubines were investigated by the governor and the provincial inspector and then petitioned for their release."

"Civil officials of the third rank or above in both the northern and southern capitals are granted the privilege of having their sons adopted as hereditary privileges, and those who have completed their three-year probationary period are allowed to have one son admitted to the Imperial Academy."

"All civil and military officials in the two capitals, whether acting, on probation, or on probation as censors, shall be granted substantive positions."

……

"For the gold and silver owed by various provinces before the sixth year of the Longqing reign, if it is found that the debt was owed by the people and was difficult to pay due to the long period of time, half of the debt shall be exempted."

"Before the ninth year of the Wanli reign, if the grain and straw bundles used by officials and merchants in the granaries along the border and coast were found to be damp and damaged beyond normal consumption after more than five years of verification, a list of criminals was compiled, and those sentenced to imprisonment or less were exempted from prosecution and released."

……

This amnesty included more than forty items, covering all aspects of the Ming Dynasty. After the proclamation was sent to the people, they all shouted "Long live the Emperor!" (some are shown in the picture).

……

On the tenth day of the ninth lunar month, the weather was slightly cool.

Near dusk.

Just as Shen Nian was traveling home in the carriage, Aji suddenly knocked on the window and whispered, "Young Master, Eunuch Feng just sent someone to deliver a message, saying it's extremely urgent. He's waiting for you at the teahouse not far ahead."

Shen Nian frowned slightly.

He did not want to meet Feng Bao in private.

But recently, Zhang Cheng and Zhang Jing have been serving around the young Wanli Emperor, causing some chaos in the inner court. Perhaps Feng Bao will tell him something.

“Okay, let’s go to the teahouse!” Shen Nian said.

……

After a while.

Shen Nian met Feng Bao, who was dressed in all black, in a private room on the second floor of the teahouse.

In the past, Feng Bao would not have been afraid of being seen outside the palace, but after Zhang Juzheng's death, the young Wanli Emperor's attitude towards him suddenly turned cold, forcing him to be cautious.

"Grand Secretary Shen, please sit down! Please sit down!" Feng Bao forced a smile from the wall.

Shen Nian sat opposite him and said, "Eunuch Feng, what urgent matter requires us to meet here?"

"Alas! Ziheng, you may be the only one who can save me right now!" Feng Bao sighed.

Feng Bao continued, "After His Majesty assumed power, he probably felt that I was loyal to the Empress Dowager rather than to him. In addition, I had revealed some of His Majesty's secrets to the Empress Dowager and Grand Tutor Zhang. Recently, he has been very cold to me. He promoted Zhang Cheng and Zhang Jing, two bastards who have a grudge against me, which is obviously to get rid of me!"

"I'm old and don't want to fight anymore. I just want to enjoy my old age in peace. But I've made countless enemies over the years because of royal affairs. If I'm expelled, there will definitely be people who will kick me when I'm down and list all my crimes!"

“Over the years, I… I have done my part for His Majesty, even if I haven’t made any great contributions! I… I have also contributed to the new policies of the court. If I end up with a miserable end… then…” Feng Bao choked up as he spoke.

"If I am in trouble, I would like to ask Grand Secretary Shen to put in a good word for me before His Majesty, considering that I have served in the palace quite well over the years, so that I can preserve my reputation in my later years!" After saying this, Feng Bao stood up and bowed deeply to Shen Nian.

He performed such a grand gesture because he was truly afraid.

Shen Nian's impression of Feng Bao wasn't too bad. Although the latter was greedy for money and power, he wasn't a bad person and was capable of getting things done.

Although he did some things that harmed the common people, as a eunuch, he could only consider the interests of the royal family and not other things, which Shen Nian could understand.

Shen Nian slowed down.

"Eunuch Feng, please have a seat. We have no grudges against each other, and I know that you are loyal to His Majesty and support the new policies."

Hearing this, Feng Bao felt a little more at ease and immediately sat down.

Shen Nian continued, "If you are in trouble, I will put in a good word for you. But if you have made a serious mistake, I'm afraid my words will be of no use!"

“A big mistake? All these years, I have been acting on the orders of the Empress Dowager and His Majesty. What big mistake could I have made?” Feng Bao asked, puzzled.

"Your trusted confidants haven't committed any crimes? Your adopted sons haven't committed any crimes?"

Feng Bao immediately tensed up.

If he loses power, those censors who hate him will surely blame him for all these crimes.

"Then how should we solve this?" Feng Bao asked Shen Nian.

Shen Nian bowed slightly and asked, "Eunuch Feng, what is your current financial situation?"

"Net worth? Over the years, I have... accumulated some net worth. Why do you ask that?"

Shen Nian said, "If you want to have a peaceful old age and avoid being disgraced, I have two suggestions for you. First, give away all your wealth as soon as possible without His Majesty's knowledge; second, voluntarily hand over your wealth to His Majesty to confess your sins and ask for forgiveness."

"This this……"

Feng Bao was taken aback for a moment, then he understood what Shen Nian meant.

If he loses power and is impeached.

No matter how many crimes are exposed, the young Wanli Emperor will not kill him out of consideration for his years of service. He might even allow him to retire gracefully in Nanjing to guard the imperial tombs.

However, if he were impeached for having a large fortune and embezzling a lot of gold and silver, given the young Wanli Emperor's personality, his property would definitely be confiscated, and the more property confiscated, the heavier his guilt would be.

Feng Bao knew the young Wanli Emperor very well, but he was also somewhat reluctant to part with him.

He has been busy all these years to accumulate this wealth so that he could enjoy his old age in peace. Giving away his fortune almost cost him his life.

"Eunuch Feng, how much money is too much? Enough for food and drink is enough. As for your antiques and paintings, they could very well become things that harm you!"

After saying this, Shen Nian got up and left.

He has made himself very clear; now it remains to be seen what Feng Bao will choose next. (End of Chapter)