I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

The eighth day of the first lunar month.

Just when Shen Nian thought she could have a peaceful New Year holiday, news of Liu Tai's death reached the capital.

He died without clothes or a coffin, and no one mourned him. It is said that he was simply wrapped in a straw mat and hastily buried in a pit.

Seven years ago, Liu Tai, the imperial inspector of Liaodong, impeached his mentor Zhang Juzheng, causing a stir in the court.

Shen Nianling ordered him to remonstrate with his own body but he dared not. The young Wanli Emperor wanted to execute him, but later, at Zhang Juzheng's urging, he was dismissed from his post and banished from the capital.

Liu Tai returned to his hometown of Anfu County, Jiangxi Province, not long after.

He was exiled to Xunzhou, Guangxi, after being reported for bullying his own clansmen and having a long history of misconduct, and for accepting bribes while serving as an inspector in Liaodong.

His father and brother were also sentenced to imprisonment and caning, respectively.

Jiang Dong, the supervising censor of Shandong Province, submitted a memorial stating that Liu Tai's exile was entirely a frame-up, orchestrated by Wang Zongzai, the then governor of Jiangxi Province, and Chen Shibao, the supervising censor, in an attempt to curry favor with Zhang Juzheng.

In addition, he also claimed that when Liu Tai was inspecting Liaodong, he discovered that Zhang Xueyan, the governor of Liaodong, and Li Chengliang, the general of Liaodong, had falsely reported their military achievements. However, Liu Tai was afraid of Zhang Juzheng's power and dared not report it, but he was still targeted.

This impeachment memorial, seemingly intended to exonerate Liu Tai, was in reality an attack on Zhang Juzheng.

Upon receiving the impeachment memorial, Emperor Wanli immediately ordered the Ministry of Justice to reinvestigate Liu Tai's exile, stating that if the impeachment was true, the officials involved would be severely punished.

However, regarding the matter of Zhang Xueyan and Li Chengliang falsely reporting their military achievements, the young Wanli Emperor directly stated: "The authenticity of the military achievements has long been determined, so there is no need for slander or involvement."

The current Wanli Emperor.

Although he wanted to eliminate the remaining forces left by Zhang Juzheng and establish imperial authority, he remained very clear-headed.

He knew that Zhang Xueyan and Li Chengliang were completely obedient to Zhang Juzheng, but at present, the Jianzhou Jurchens and Mongols in Liaodong were constantly causing trouble, and the two of them were needed to suppress them.

In addition, the battle reports and achievements in Liaodong were submitted not only by the governor, the general, and the imperial inspector, but also by the eunuch in charge of the garrison, and were reviewed and commended by the Ministry of War.

If punishments are to be imposed, then too many officials would be involved.

After learning the contents of this memorial, many officials speculated that Zhang Juzheng was two-faced, that he had outwardly spoken up for Liu Tai to gain a good reputation, but secretly ordered someone to kill Liu Tai.

Even if such old matters are reviewed, it is difficult to find out whether Zhang Juzheng secretly instructed them.

When the young Wanli Emperor heard these rumors, he ignored them but chose another way to attack Zhang Juzheng's reputation.

……

The twelfth day of the first lunar month, in the afternoon.

The capital city, the Shen residence.

Shen Nian sat in the study, flipping through the tabloids from the past few days.

The more I flipped through it, the angrier I got.

Some people spread the news that officials had impeached Zhang Juzheng at the end of last year and the beginning of this year to the public.

If the truth is a cat, it could easily be transformed into a tiger through the spread of rumors and gossip among the public.

The common people were discussing it extensively.

Some people called him autocratic, corrupt, and disloyal to the country.

Some people say he suppressed officials who dared to speak out and attacked dissidents.

Some people called him a violation of mourning regulations, disloyal and unfilial.

Some people say he was corrupt and accepted bribes, and lived a life of extravagance.

Some accused him of colluding with eunuchs and humiliating the emperor.

Some accused him of abusing his power and committing fraud in the imperial examinations.

Some say he handles official business via private messages and manipulates the generals and commanders of the nine border regions.

……

Basins of dirty water were poured over Zhang Juzheng's head.

Many people don't care whether it's true or false; they believe any rumor they hear to be true, and that it's only the tip of the iceberg.

For a while.

Zhang Juzheng, who had only been dead for half a year, was condemned by the people as a treacherous minister, a sinner, and a lecherous and extravagant person before he could be punished by the young Wanli Emperor.

Shen Nian was angry.

It wasn't because of the common people's insults towards Zhang Juzheng, but because these messages, which were neither true nor false and were obviously fabricated, were spread by some secret police officers at the behest of the young Wanli Emperor.

Shen Nian once taught the young Wanli Emperor about the importance of public opinion.

The young Wanli Emperor has truly put this knowledge to practical use.

The young Wanli Emperor wanted to ruin Zhang Juzheng's reputation through public opinion, thereby targeting those who were close to Zhang Juzheng and promoting officials he found convenient.

After public opinion fermented, some officials began to attack Zhang Juzheng.

……

The 21st day of the first lunar month is the first day of court after the New Year.

At the fourth watch of the night, the regular court assembly was held at the Huangji Gate.

As is customary, this morning meeting is an important one that sets the tone for all major events this year.

The young Wanli Emperor sat on his throne and ordered the official on duty at the Office of Transmission to read out the key official matters of the Ming Dynasty for the year.

First and foremost, it's about people's livelihood.

The document mentions the need to protect the achievements of land surveying across the country, to implement the Single Whip Law to the end, and also mentions the ultimate goal of ensuring that all people in the country have enough to eat.

Secondly, there is commerce and trade.

The document states that this year is a particularly crucial year for the development of commerce and trade in the Ming Dynasty, and requires local governments to support the development of commerce and trade, especially maritime trade in coastal areas.

Then, there's the military.

The document states that due to the growing relationship between the Tumet tribe in the northern border and the Ming Dynasty, and the severe blow dealt to foreign bandits who invaded the border in Liaodong last year, the military budget will be reduced to develop border commerce.

……

Finally, there is governance.

The document states that the performance evaluation system has been implemented for several years with remarkable results, and the administration of officials throughout the country has gradually become cleaner. Going forward, the court will conduct its evaluations of officials more leniently and gradually, prioritizing stability.

Upon hearing this document, Shen Nian's expression darkened.

This document must have been written by Grand Secretary Shin Si-hang.

He had two complaints.

Firstly, there is dissatisfaction with the reduction of military spending in the northern border.

Even without war, military spending cannot be reduced, otherwise peace in the North cannot be guaranteed.

Secondly, he was dissatisfied with the document's statement that "the assessment of official conduct will be lenient and delayed."

When the imperial court made this statement, local officials knew that the performance evaluation system was about to be loosened, and some even felt that the court might gradually abolish the system, which would inevitably lead to the collapse of the bureaucracy.

Shen Nian wanted to stand up and object, but felt that it was not appropriate to offend the young Wanli Emperor at this time.

He immediately decided to try to persuade Shen Shixing privately first.

Then, the young Wanli Emperor summarized his remarks in a few sentences. Just as the regular court session was about to end, Chen Kai, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, suddenly stood up.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report!" Chen Kai said loudly.

In the past two months, memorials impeaching Zhang Juzheng have been flying everywhere, but Chen Kai, the head of the censors, has remained silent.

"General Chen, please speak!"

Chen Kai said loudly, "Your Majesty, from the end of last year to the beginning of this year, officials have been constantly digging up old grievances, spreading rumors and gossip, and attacking the late Grand Tutor Zhang Juzheng, causing unrest in the court and spreading rumors among the people."

“Officials who speak out should take it upon themselves to uphold the nation’s interests. If someone’s remonstrances are merely to curry favor with certain individuals, then I believe that such a person is unworthy of the position. I request Your Majesty to severely punish those officials who, without evidence, dredge up old grievances to slander Grand Tutor Zhang, and restore order to the court!”

Upon hearing this, the entire Huangji Sect fell silent.

The "certain people" mentioned by Chen Kai should include not only Shen Shixing and Yu Youding, but also the young Wanli Emperor sitting on the throne.

"This is a true censor!" Shen Nian looked at Chen Kai with a satisfied expression. Before the young Wanli Emperor could speak, several censors stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I believe that Chief Censor Chen's words are wrong. As an official responsible for remonstrating with the emperor, I have the duty to do so. My purpose in remonstrating with the emperor is to clean up the court and maintain order. How did it become disrupting the court in Chief Censor Chen's mouth!"

"Your Majesty, whether my advice is true or false, will be verified by the Three Judicial Offices and the Embroidered Uniform Guard. If it is false, I am willing to bear the crime of false accusation. Does Chief Censor Chen's suggestion to silence people mean that all the thirteen censors and officials of the six ministries should become mute?"

"Your Majesty, if we had not spoken up, Your Majesty would not know that Feng Bao embezzled a huge amount of royal gold and silver, nor would you know how many officials have been punished for their words in the past few years, or even died tragically like Liu Tai. We are remonstrating for the sake of justice and to expose the ugliness, so that the court can be clean in the future!"

……

The most powerful thing about censors is their mouths.

The officials in charge of the censors were not afraid of the Left Censor-in-Chief, and although the censors were subordinates of the Left Censor-in-Chief, they had the power to directly remonstrate with the emperor and were also not afraid of the Left Censor-in-Chief.

After listening to them finish speaking, Chen Kai bowed to the young Wanli Emperor and continued, "Your Majesty, these people dared not offend Grand Tutor Zhang in his lifetime, and their memorials and remonstrances were all full of praise. But now they have changed their tune and are utterly despicable. If this continues, the court will probably be full of officials forming cliques, and no one will speak about politics anymore. This old minister feels saddened!"

When the officials heard this, they were about to refute it when the young Wanli Emperor waved his hand dismissively.

"Stop arguing! As officials, you can offer advice on everything, but you cannot fabricate accusations or maliciously slander others. If I see any unsubstantiated impeachment memorials in the future, I will punish them severely. Also, everyone should look to the future!" After saying this, the young Wanli Emperor looked at the eunuch beside him.

The young eunuch immediately understood and loudly announced, "Court adjourned!"

All the civil and military officials bowed in unison.

Chen Kai's face was gloomy, and he was not satisfied with the young Wanli's answer. After the young Wanli left, he flicked his long sleeves, turned around and strode forward.

……

Half an hour later, Shen Nian arrived at Shen Shixing's duty room.

He first waved the clerk out of the room and told him to close the door. Then he sat down opposite Shen Shixing and said bluntly, "I do not agree to reduce the military expenditure of the nine border regions in the north, nor do I agree to the lenient and slow approach to evaluating officials in the future!"

Shen Nian became acquainted with Shen Shixing when he served as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, and there was no formality between them.

Shen Shixing smiled helplessly.

"Ziheng, this is not my decision, it is His Majesty's decision."

"You should know that although the national treasury revenue has increased in the past two years, the military expenditure of the nine border regions has remained high. His Majesty wants to increase the national treasury reserves, and given that there is almost no possibility of a major war in the northern border at present, I really have no reason to refuse."

"As for the need to be lenient and slow in assessing official conduct, it is because the court has been too harsh on local officials in recent years, and the officials have been complaining endlessly. Now that the new policies have achieved some results, they should be given a break. His Majesty has just assumed personal rule, and he should make all the officials in the country feel grateful so that they will be more motivated to serve the Ming Dynasty!"

"You don't need to go to His Majesty. What His Majesty announced in the regular court session is non-negotiable."

Seeing Shen Nian's displeasure, Shen Shixing continued, "Don't worry, if there's any situation on the border, the court will immediately allocate silver and grain. Also, His Majesty has already approved the mass production of the lightning muskets that you applied for on behalf of the Ministry of War, which will be sent to the soldiers of the nine border regions!"

"As for the administration of officials, now that I am concurrently serving as the Minister of Personnel, I will certainly ensure that the administration of officials will be slightly lenient and lenient, and the performance evaluation system will remain unchanged."

Hearing these words, Shen Nian's expression softened somewhat.

Shen Shixing has this style of doing things: completing tasks in a calm and unhurried manner.

It won't be done very well, but it won't make any major mistakes either.

Shen Nian also needs to adapt to Shen Shixing's way of doing things; not every chief minister can be as decisive and efficient as Zhang Juzheng.

……

On the 24th day of the first month, Chen Kai, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, suddenly submitted three memorials in succession requesting to resign.

His first point was that he criticized the current officials in charge of censorship for being opportunistic and lacking integrity, and he requested to resign.

Secondly, he argued that the stricter the governance of officials, the more consolidated the achievements of the new policies would be, and that leniency or strictness would undermine the new policies, so he resigned.

Thirdly, he stated that the eunuchs Zhang Cheng and Zhang Jing who served Emperor Wanli were not virtuous individuals, and earnestly requested that they be expelled, and then resigned.

The content of these three memorials is not a request to resign, but clearly an expression of doubt and dissatisfaction.

When officials resign, they usually use phrases like "I am old," "I am ill," or "I am unable to perform my duties." However, Chen Zi's three memorials were clearly intended to anger the young Wanli Emperor and force him to be dismissed.

As expected, the young Wanli Emperor was furious upon receiving the memorial.

He believed that Chen Kai was speaking on behalf of Zhang Juzheng and challenging imperial power. The Censorate's mission was to act as the emperor's eyes and ears, and Chen Kai was clearly no longer competent in his role.

Emperor Wanli issued an edict directly, dismissing Chen Kai from his post and ordering him to leave the capital within three days, never to return.

The current Wanli Emperor makes many decisions without going through the cabinet at all; not only Shen Nian, but even the Grand Secretary Shen Shixing is unaware of them.

But Shen Shixing felt there was no problem.

……

In the cabinet duty room.

Upon hearing the news that Chen Qi had been dismissed from his post and reduced to commoner status, Shen Nian got up and rushed towards the Forbidden City.

He must protect such a censor.

Otherwise, the officials who speak out will only make things worse in the future.

As soon as Shen Nian stepped out of the duty room, she ran into Shen Shixing, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, who was walking towards her.

"Ziheng, are you planning to plead with Chief Justice Chen?"

"Okay!" Shen Nian nodded.

"Don't go! It was General Chen's memorial that went too far; His Majesty will not spare him!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Nian snorted coldly and continued walking forward.

Shen Shixing stretched out his hands to stop him.

"Are you coming or not? If not, don't stop me!" Shen Nian said expressionlessly.

“Ziheng, don’t be impulsive! After that court session, Chief Censor Chen has fallen out with more than twenty censors, and the officials of the Six Ministries also dislike him. He is no longer suitable to serve as the Left Censor-in-Chief. The three memorials he submitted were not resignations, but clearly venting his complaints. His Majesty will not back down!”

"If you act impulsively and start arguing with His Majesty, even if His Majesty wants to forgive you, those censors will not let you off the hook. Those officials who are jealous of Grand Tutor Zhang will also be jealous of you. For the sake of the new policies, you must not act impulsively!"

Shen Shixing knows everything.

In his eyes, everything the young Wanli Emperor had done recently was for the purpose of seizing power, and as long as the new policies were not implemented, Shen Shixing would have no objections.

"So you expect me to just watch as a forthright and outspoken official like Chief Censor Chen is expelled from the capital?" Shen Nian said with dissatisfaction.

Shen Shixing walked up to Shen Nian and said in a low voice, "Chen Zuoxian has already decided to retire and can't stay. I have a new candidate. If he is appointed as the Left Censor-in-Chief, he might be able to end the current farce of the censors."

"Who is it?" Shen Nian asked.

At that moment, the image of Hai Rui suddenly flashed through Shen Nian's mind, but she immediately dismissed it.

It was impossible for Hai Rui to return to the court; he was physically unable to do so, and there would be many officials who opposed him.

Shen Shixing said, "Zhao Jin, Minister of Personnel in Nanjing."

Zhao Jin, one of the four remonstrators from Yuezhong who once impeached Yan Song, was at odds with Zhang Juzheng and disliked some of Zhang Juzheng's ideas, but he was always known for his integrity and outspokenness.

When Shen Nian went to Nanjing to implement the policy of abolishing redundant officials and positions, Zhao Jin was the main executor.

To be fair, Zhao Jin was more suitable than Chen Kai to serve as the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

Shen Nian's expression immediately softened.

Shen Shixing continued, "Ziheng, you are a smart man, you should understand why His Majesty has been taking these actions recently."

“You are Zhang Taishi’s closest confidant. Many officials are waiting for you to make a mistake, waiting to get rid of you and abolish the new policies! You can’t let them succeed. You must have the big picture in mind. As for His Majesty’s minor mistakes, we can correct them slowly. We have plenty of time. We must also look forward!”

"I understand!" Shen Nian said, bowed slightly to Shen Shixing, and then returned to her duty room.

……

The next morning, at the crack of dawn, Chen Zi left the capital with his family without telling anyone.

He was unwilling to be pardoned by the young Wanli Emperor and was determined to leave his post and the capital.

Two days later.

The imperial court appointed Zhao Jin, the Minister of Personnel in Nanjing, as the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, and ordered him to go to the capital immediately to take up his post.

The officials were delighted with the announcement of this transfer order.

Because they knew that Zhao Jin and Zhang Juzheng were at odds.

Shen Nian believed that Zhao Jin was a fair and principled person, and he would definitely put the Censorate on the right track and let the censors know what they should do. (End of this chapter)