I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

In September, the capital city was shrouded in continuous autumn rain.

It's so annoying.

After much deliberation, Feng Bao did not accept Shen Nian's suggestion. He simply could not bring himself to quietly give away his family fortune or confess to the young Wanli Emperor that he had confiscated his private property.

He still harbored illusions and coveted power.

He fantasized about forming a relationship with the current Grand Secretary Shen Shixing, similar to the one he had with Zhang Juzheng.

He was plotting and planning to give Shen Shixing a big gift.

……

October 13th, near noon.

A memorial from Yang Yinqiu, the censor of Yunnan Circuit, appeared on the desk of the young Wanli Emperor.

Memorials submitted by officials of the Censorate and the Imperial Secretariat could be sent directly to the emperor without going through the Office of Transmission and the Grand Secretariat.

He impeached Wang Guoguang, the Minister of Personnel, for abusing his power, accepting bribes, selling official positions, and deceiving the emperor. He also listed several officials who had been promoted by Wang Guoguang through back channels in recent years.

The examples listed are particularly detailed, but the officials involved are mostly minor officials of the sixth or seventh rank.

For a Minister of Personnel, such impeachments are almost always successful.

Because when the Ministry of Personnel selects officials, it is inevitable that the cabinet may give private instructions or local officials may exaggerate their achievements. In addition, it is necessary to take into account factors such as the official's place of origin, hometown, and mentors. It is impossible to be completely free of personal relationships.

This kind of thing can be big or small.

At that time, Wang Guoguang, who had previously retired, was able to return to the court and serve as Minister of Personnel only through the joint recommendation of Zhang Juzheng and Shen Nian.

At this time, Wang Guoguang was impeached, which clearly indicated an intention to eliminate the remaining forces of Zhang Juzheng.

Upon seeing the impeachment memorial, the young Wanli Emperor was furious. He immediately dismissed Wang Guoguang from his post and ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to conduct a thorough investigation.

After learning about this, Shen Nian thought for a moment and realized that it was very likely that Feng Bao had instructed the censor to impeach him.

If Wang Guoguang is dismissed from his post.

On the one hand, it could eliminate the remaining power of Zhang Juzheng and strengthen imperial authority; on the other hand, the vacant position of Minister of Personnel could be filled by Grand Secretary Shen Shixing.

The Minister of Personnel is a high-ranking official, and is generally not concurrently held by the Grand Secretary. Even if he does hold the position, it is usually a dual Minister of Personnel system.

However, the young Wanli Emperor would certainly prefer to appoint Shen Shixing as the head of the Ministry of Personnel.

Because Shen Shixing is easy to control, and once he takes control of the Ministry of Personnel, he can suppress the power in Shen Nian's hands, preventing Shen Nian from having too much power due to his strong abilities.

Like Gao Gong, the second-ranking minister during the Longqing reign, who, despite being a second-ranking minister, wielded even greater power than the first-ranking minister, Li Chunfang.

Wang Guoguang had been a prominent official for over a decade. When he learned that the young Wanli Emperor had dismissed him without even listening to his memorial or explanation, he knew it was time for him to retire.

On that day, Wang Guoguang submitted a memorial stating that the charges of abusing his power, accepting bribes, selling official positions, and deceiving the emperor were all fabricated. However, he admitted that he had made mistakes in judging people and in selecting officials based on subjective judgment. He then requested to retire on the grounds of old age.

He wanted to plead guilty to a minor offense in order to save his life.

After this memorial was handed to the young Wanli Emperor, he did not reply.

At the same time, several officials who had been promoted by Wang Guoguang were arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and imprisoned.

After being tortured by the Imperial Guards in the imperial prison, these officials all admitted to using back channels and bribing people around Wang Guoguang.

……

October 18th, near noon.

Wenhua Hall.

Emperor Wanli summoned the four Grand Secretaries Shen Shixing, Shen Nian, Wang Xijue, and Yu Youding to the main hall, and then presented the results of the interrogation by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"That old scoundrel deceived me! The Ministry of Personnel is of utmost importance, yet he used it for personal favors. I intend to dismiss Wang Guoguang and reduce him to commoner status. Furthermore, I intend to appoint Grand Secretary Shen to head the Ministry of Personnel and reorganize it. What do you all think?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Shixing immediately bowed and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Your Majesty's high regard for me makes me feel deeply uneasy. I am already a cabinet minister, and to also serve as the Minister of Personnel would be difficult for me to accomplish. I humbly request Your Majesty to select another capable minister!"

"Grand Secretary Shen, stop being modest. If you cannot lead the Ministry of Personnel, who can? I have already made my decision on this matter, and there is no need to discuss it further!"

After saying that, the young Wanli looked at the four people.

"I have dismissed Wang Guoguang and reduced him to commoner status. I believe the four of you have no objection. Based on his crimes, it would not be excessive for me to exile him!" the young Wanli Emperor said angrily.

Just then, Shen Nian stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I believe the punishment is too severe! When Minister Wang served as Minister of Revenue, he was the chief editor of the 'Wanli Accounting Records,' and when he served as Minister of Personnel, he appointed officials based on merit, ensuring the implementation of the performance evaluation system. He made great contributions to the new policies. Furthermore, the crimes he is currently accused of were mostly orchestrated by his associates. It is truly inappropriate to punish Minister Wang so severely!"

The young Wanli Emperor raised an eyebrow.

He is no longer the little emperor who could only nod.

“Minister Shen, isn’t what I’m doing in accordance with the law? Isn’t this exactly what you taught me?” the young Wanli retorted.

Shen Nian cupped her hands in greeting once more.

“Your Majesty, if we follow the law to the letter, this matter should be reviewed by the Three Judicial Offices, rather than being determined directly by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Furthermore, it was I who recommended Minister Wang for the position of Minister of Personnel back then. If he has committed a serious crime, I should also bear the responsibility of being implicated!”

Shen Nian directly retorted to the young Wanli Emperor.

The young Wanli Emperor was speechless. Just as he was thinking of how to refute, Shen Shixing stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Shen is right. Such a meritorious old minister should be given more respect by Your Majesty!"

"I second that!" Wang Xijue and Yu Youding stood up almost simultaneously.

If the three of them don't step forward, Shen Nian and Xiao Wanli are very likely to start arguing, and given Shen Nian's abilities, she might even make Xiao Wanli cry.

Emperor Wanli paused for a moment, then said, "Alright, I will follow the advice of the four Grand Secretaries and let him retire with his original post!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" The four Grand Secretaries bowed in unison.

……

A moment later, outside the Wenhua Hall.

The four cabinet ministers walked almost side by side.

Shen Shixing stopped and looked at Shen Nian, saying, "Ziheng, His Majesty has assumed personal rule. You must speak more gently in the future. You cannot force His Majesty into silence as soon as you open your mouth. This is not something to be discussed in daily life!"

"Understood, Chief Minister Shen!" Shen Nian solemnly cupped his hands towards Shen Shixing.

Shen Shixing glared at Shen Nian.

"Ziheng, don't go too far! Although I am the Grand Secretary, you should know that matters of state should be discussed by the four of us. I, Shen Shixing, will never allow myself to rule alone!"

At this moment, Yu Youding, standing behind the two, said, "The three of us must not fight amongst ourselves!"

Wang Xijue, who was standing to the side, curled his lips, walked up to Shen Shixing, and said, "I think Ziheng did a good job today. Everyone knows why Minister Wang was impeached and why he retired. If we have worked hard for the country for half our lives and ended up with a bad reputation in our later years, then what motivation do we have to continue? We might as well all go home!"

Wang Xijue was a man of the truth, and he was not afraid of Shen Shixing.

Upon hearing this, Shen Nian and Shen Shixing exchanged a smile, then strode forward.

Some things are better left unsaid, but everyone understands them.

……

Night falls in the Qianqing Palace.

Zhang Cheng approached the young Wanli Emperor.

"Your Majesty, the Yunnan Circuit Censor Yang Yinqiu impeached the Minister of Personnel Wang Guoguang, which was secretly instigated by Eunuch Feng. He probably wanted to do Grand Secretary Shen a favor!"

"Is it the Grand Chamberlain?" the young Wanli asked, feigning surprise.

Two days earlier, the young Wanli Emperor had learned of this matter through Shi Qing, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

However, Feng Bao's arrangement was advantageous to the young Wanli Emperor.

The young Wanli Emperor was thinking of cultivating his own power and eliminating all of Zhang Juzheng's remaining forces, so he followed Feng Bao's wishes and appointed Shen Shixing as Minister of Personnel.

However, he disliked Feng Bao's use of this method to collude with foreign officials.

"The Grand Chancellor is seeking out censors, and you're all seeking out censors too. The Grand Chancellor should retire!" said the young Wanli Emperor. Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng was overjoyed. Once Feng Bao was defeated, he would have complete control over the twelve directorates, four departments, and eight bureaus of the inner court.

……

October 21st, noon.

Emperor Wanli issued an edict ordering Wang Guoguang, the Minister of Personnel, to retire from his original post due to his misconduct in selecting officials, and simultaneously appointed Shen Shixing, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, as the concurrent Minister of Personnel.

Shen Shixing concurrently served as Minister of Personnel, and his power in the court was almost comparable to that of the former Zhang Juzheng, but his deterrent effect was far less.

……

The next day, at dawn, just as the sky was beginning to lighten.

Wang Guoguang's carriage, which was returning to his hometown, stopped in front of Chongwen Gate, while Wang Xijue and Shen Nian stood outside to see him off.

As an official in the Ministry of Personnel, he was usually flattered by many officials, but today, as he retires and returns to his hometown, only Shen Nian and Wang Xijue come to see him off.

Seventy-one-year-old Wang Guoguang is well aware of everything that has happened recently, and he has few regrets at the moment.

Landing safely is already a remarkable achievement.

"Yuan Yu, Zi Heng, if it weren't for you speaking up for me, I might still be in prison right now. Thank you both!" With that, Wang Guoguang bowed to the two of them.

"Your Excellency, this is unacceptable! This is unacceptable!" Wang Xijue and Shen Nian quickly helped up Wang Guoguang, whose hair and beard were almost completely white.

Wang Guoguang looked at the two of them.

"Now that my mission is accomplished, I am quite satisfied that I have preserved my integrity in my later years. What I could and thought of, you should also be able to see and think of. I will not go into details. I just want to remind you of one thing!"

"Yuan Yu and Zi Heng, you two both have fiery tempers. In the future, when handling state affairs, try to control your tempers. Also, think about your future. Don't be too outspoken. Take care of your health!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xijue and Shen Nian bowed to Wang Guoguang.

After a while.

Wang Guoguang's carriage headed towards Chongwenmen Street, while Wang Xijue and Shen Nian boarded the carriage to return to the cabinet.

Inside the carriage, Wang Xijue looked at Shen Nian.

"Ziheng, I didn't quite understand why you didn't try to persuade Grand Secretary Yin to stay some time ago, but now I understand. If Grand Secretary Yin had stayed in court, his fate might have been far worse than that of a prince!"

Yin Zhengmao had even more scandals on his record, and his control of the Ministry of Revenue had offended many officials.

If he doesn't leave the court, he might be the first to be impeached.

Shen Nian sighed and said, "Hopefully, there won't be so much infighting among officials in the future. Everyone's attention should be focused on the new policies!"

"I hope so!" Wang Xijue nodded.

……

On the second day of the eleventh month, in the early morning, during the daily lecture in which Shen Nian did not participate.

When the young Wanli Emperor finished his lecture at the Hanlin Academy, Shen Li, he said: "I miss Shen Yiguan's lectures."

After the daily lecture.

Emperor Wanli immediately issued an edict to the Ministry of Personnel, ordering Shen Yiguan to return to the capital and serve as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy and concurrently as the Left Vice Minister of the Left Spring Palace (a sixth-rank official), while also serving as a lecturer.

Although Shen Nian was not pleased, she knew that the young Wanli Emperor was trying to consolidate his power, so she did not question him.

……

The court remained quiet for about a month.

On the seventh day of the twelfth month, Jiang Dongzhi, the censor of Shandong Circuit, suddenly submitted a memorial impeaching Xu Jue, a close confidant of Feng Bao and the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Xu Jue was a fugitive convicted of a crime and exiled to the army. After joining Feng Bao, he rose to become a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, known as the "Emperor of Jiangdong." With Xu Jue entering the palace, all members of the royal family were in danger.

Emperor Wanli immediately ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate.

The following day, Li Zhi, the censor of Jiangxi Circuit, directly impeached Feng Bao, listing twelve major crimes committed by Feng Bao.

When Princess Yongning was choosing a husband, Feng Bao accepted bribes to select the consort; he embezzled and extorted the estates and silver bestowed by the emperor upon his wet nurse, Lady Daisheng; he misappropriated jewels and precious objects purchased by the Imperial Household Department; Feng Bao's mansions and shops were scattered throughout the capital; Feng Bao overstepped his authority by using the imperial yellow tent…

When the young Wanli Emperor saw this memorial, he was completely stunned.

His original intention was simply to fabricate charges against Feng Bao and exile him from the capital, but he never expected that Feng Bao would possess so much wealth.

Li Zhi's statement, "The private collection of Feng Bao is worth a year's worth of tribute to the imperial court," immediately captivated the young Wanli Emperor.

That's over a million taels of silver!

He never imagined that Feng Bao had embezzled so much money.

at the same time.

Wang Guo, the supervising censor of Zhejiang Province, also listed ten crimes committed by Feng Bao for deceiving the emperor and harming the country, saying that many officials in the court bribed him with amounts ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 taels of silver to hundreds of thousands of taels of silver.

He implored the young Wanli Emperor to execute Feng Bao and the group of wicked eunuchs around him in the same way that Emperor Wuzong of Ming had executed Liu Jin.

After the two censors submitted their impeachment memorials, a host of officials from the censorate, the imperial censors, and the six ministries submitted their own memorials, detailing all of Feng Bao's crimes.

The charges written by each person were not quite the same, but most of them accused Feng Bao of embezzlement, bribery, and accumulating wealth.

Shen Nian held these opportunistic officials in utter contempt.

soon.

Feng Bao was imprisoned in the imperial prison by the young Wanli Emperor.

Then, Zhang Dashou, the eunuch who served Feng Bao, Xu Jue, the Imperial Guard, and more than ten of his adopted sons were also arrested.

Two days later, on the advice of Zhang Cheng and Zhang Jing, the young Wanli Emperor ordered Zhang Cheng and Zhang Jing to oversee the confiscation of Feng Bao's property, with Liu Shouyou, the Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, in charge of the execution.

At this moment, Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue jointly submitted their memorials.

It was claimed that Feng Bao wielded great power in the inner court, and that someone might be transferring his wealth. It was suggested that the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works jointly investigate and confiscate Feng Bao's property.

The main reason for their actions was not that they were worried about someone transferring their valuables.

However, if this matter were to be handled by the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the final reported figures would likely be false.

This money will definitely go to the inner court.

However, both Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue hoped to know how much money had been confiscated, so that they could prevent the young Wanli Emperor from excessively demanding money from the national treasury.

Emperor Wanli knew the intentions of the two men and understood that this matter could not be kept secret from the previous dynasty. He immediately agreed to their request, but still involved Shi Qing, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and demanded that he bring every penny of the confiscated property into the inner court.

……

In the imperial prison.

When 62-year-old Feng Bao learned that his home had been ransacked, he was devastated.

He regretted not heeding Shen Nian's advice.

At this moment, his only hope was that Empress Dowager Li and Shen Nian could put in a good word for him and persuade the young Wanli Emperor to spare his life.

……

Inside Cining Palace.

When Empress Dowager Li learned that Feng Bao had been imprisoned and that his embezzlement and misappropriation of royal property might amount to a million taels of silver, she couldn't help but curse him.

"That damned servant! He's two-faced, using my and His Majesty's influence to embezzle so much wealth. I really misjudged him... Fortunately, His Majesty has confiscated his property. Now, we won't have to worry about money for Prince Lu's wedding!" After scolding Feng Bao, Empress Dowager Li couldn't help but smile brightly as she thought about the large amount of gold and silver she would get from confiscating his property.

If Feng Bao heard these words, his heart would probably be broken.

In his eyes, Empress Dowager Li was his last support, the master he had served since he was in the Prince Yu's residence. Even if no one else spoke up for him, Empress Dowager Li would.

If he had known this, he would never have exercised such strict control over the young Wanli Emperor in order to be loyal to Empress Dowager Li, thus causing today's tragedy.

News of Feng Bao's home being ransacked quickly spread among the people.

The people were filled with anticipation, eager to see just how much wealth they could confiscate from this "Minister of the Interior." (End of Chapter)