I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 78 Diving Shangshu Yin Zhengmao, Rebellious Emperor Zhu Yijun
On May 20th, the weather was getting hotter.

The Jinshui River in front of Chengtian Gate flows slowly, emitting a faint golden glow.

Ever since the young Wanli had his hair tied up, the inner court began to prepare for the young Wanli's wedding.

On this day, Cui Minhuan, the eunuch of Chengyunku, cited a precedent.

With the consent of the young Wanli, the Ministry of Revenue was notified to purchase all kinds of gold, pearls and precious stones needed for the wedding.

Specifically, there are: 80,000 taels of pearls of various colors, 2,800 taels of pure gold, 100 taels of 90% gold, and 100 taels of 80% gold.

Minister of Revenue Yin Zhengmao has not spoken yet.

Guangmao, the Minister of Revenue, submitted a memorial of opposition, first saying that the Ministry of Revenue was in charge of the national finances and the matter should be handled by the inner court, and then saying that the emperor's wedding was too extravagant.

When the young Wanli saw this memorial, he was very angry.

Just keep the memorial.

Then he ordered Feng Bao to seek out the Minister of Revenue Yin Zhengmao and the Minister of Works Guo Chaobin to discuss the strategy of joint assistance between the inner and outer courts.

……

In the afternoon, the sun is shining brightly.

Shen Nian left the Hanlin Academy from the north gate and went to the six-department duty room inside the Duanmen Gate to hand over some memorials.

He walked to the southeast corner of the imperial wall, stood on the north bridge of Yuhe River (i.e. Jinshui River), looked at the towering city wall in the distance, and was in a good mood.

at this time.

He suddenly saw three people standing by the Jinshui River not far away, arguing fiercely.

When he looked closely, he found that they were the eunuch Feng Bao, the seal-holder of the Imperial Household Department, Yin Zhengmao, the Minister of Revenue, and Guo Chaobin, the Minister of Works.

The three of them were drooling and were extremely excited.

Among them, Feng Bao kept pulling Yin Zhengmao, while Yin Zhengmao was anxious to leave.

The three of them were arguing as they walked.

Shen Nian had also heard about the little emperor's purchase of gold, pearls and precious stones.

The three of them were arguing, it must have been about money.

Shen Nian stopped in an instant. It was difficult to find someone to help the three of them when they were arguing.

He was unwilling to get involved in such a complicated and entangled matter, so he turned around and was about to leave.

at this time.

A scene that surprised him greatly appeared!

The Minister of Revenue, Yin Zhengmao, suddenly took off his official robes, hat, and boots, then stood by the river and shouted, "The national treasury is in deficit, and taxes are difficult to collect. Your Majesty's wedding should be frugal and not extravagant. I, Yin Zhengmao, am willing to die in order to advise you!"

Yin Zhengmao looked around and found that the patrolling soldiers were not far away from him. He immediately took a running start and ran towards the Jinshui River.

"Pfft!"

Yin Zhengmao, the Minister of Revenue who was over sixty years old and of the second rank of the current dynasty, jumped into the Jinshui River, which was not very cold.

For a moment, Feng Bao and Guo Chaobin were stunned!
Guo Chaobin was stunned for a moment, then quickly shouted to the soldiers not far away: "Help! Help!"

At this time.

Feng Bao suddenly frowned and narrowed his eyes into thin needles.

He glanced at Yin Zhengmao, who was floating in the middle of the river, sometimes showing his head and sometimes not, and sneered.

When several soldiers came to the river to rescue people, Feng Bao glared at them.

The latter immediately understood and began to slowly take off their armor, but no one jumped into the river.

Guo Chaobin on the side suddenly became anxious.

"Eunuch Feng, are you... are you... are you trying to kill Minister Yin?"

"Don't worry, I just want him to drink a few more sips of water. Otherwise, how can we talk to him next?"

"Do you think he's being a rogue? Is he risking his life?" Guo Chaobin said anxiously, "At this moment, you... you... why are you still thinking about money? Saving people is more important, saving people is more important!"

Feng Bao remained unmoved.

It’s not that he didn’t intend to save Yin Zhengmao, he just wanted him to drink a few more sips of water.

At this time.

Guo Chaobin saw Shen Nian on the bridge not far away and couldn't help but shout, "Editor Shen, quickly save Yin Butang, quickly save Yin Butang!"

At this moment, Shen Nian tightened his lips to prevent himself from laughing out loud.

He was born in Qiantang and has been good at swimming since he was a child.

He could see at a glance that although Yin Zhengmao was moving in and out of the water, he was floating very slowly, as if his feet were moving.

He must be a person who is good at swimming.

He thought about what Yin Zhengmao had just said, and immediately understood that Yin Zhengmao jumped into the river in order to save money for the Ministry of Revenue.

He jumped like this.

If the Imperial Household Department still dared to force him to pay, it would mean that the emperor was extravagant and did not know how to be frugal.

When the time comes, the censors will speak for him.

Shen Nian couldn't help but admire this sixty-year-old man. He had so many tricks up his sleeve and he wasn't afraid of drowning in the water.

In the Jinshui River.

Yin Zhengmao was floating in the water and was already exhausted. He didn't expect that the soldiers around him had not yet jumped into the water to rescue him.

It must have been Feng Bao's arrangement.

But now he can only float like this.

If he climbed up now, his plan would fail and it would be very embarrassing.

Shen Nian thought about it and decided to help Yin Zhengmao complete this plan.

He quickly took off his official clothes, hat, and boots, then took a few steps and jumped into the Jinshui River when he was only a few meters away from Yin Zhengmao.

soon.

Shen Nian swam to Yin Zhengmao's side.

When Yin Zhengmao saw Shen Nian, his limbs immediately began to move wildly. He drank water while shouting, "Don't save me, I'm dying to protest, I'm dying to protest!"

When Shen Nian pulled him in front of him, he struggled symbolically and then looked weak.

at the same time.

Several soldiers also jumped into the water to help Shen Nian carry Yin Zhengmao to the shore.

puff!puff!
Yin Zhengmao lay on the ground, spitting out a few mouthfuls of river water before muttering, "This old minister wishes to die for his remonstrance! This old minister wishes to die for his remonstrance!"

At this moment, Feng Bao and Guo Chaobin both realized that Yin Zhengmao was acting.

Most people who have been in the water for such a long time would have been drowned by the water and would not have the strength to speak.

It is obvious that Yin Zhengmao is familiar with water.

But even so, Yin Zhengmao's temper of jumping into the river at the slightest disagreement scared the two of them.

This kind of person is pushed into a corner.

It's hard to predict what crazy things he will do.

The two were still terrified. If Yin Zhengmao had dragged them into the river, they would have been finished.

Minister of Works Guo Chaobin looked at Yin Zhengmao with a look of admiration, thinking to himself, "If I were so bold, I might have joined the cabinet long ago!"

now.

Shen Nian, who had saved someone, bowed and greeted the two of them, then left quickly.

He must change into clean clothes, otherwise he will easily get sick.

at the same time.

Yin Zhengmao was also sent to the Imperial Hospital by two soldiers.

The moment Yin Zhengmao jumped into the water, whether it was true or false, he had already won.

Call him a fake actor.

Yin Zhengmao only needed to say one sentence: If you have the ability, you can jump into the river and try it yourself, and he could silence all the literati who were sharp-tongued, timid, and afraid of death.

Feng Bao forced him to take the money again.

The infamy of "allowing the emperor to be extravagant and forcing the Minister of Revenue to commit suicide by jumping into the water" would be pinned on his head.

On the river bank.

Only Feng Bao and Guo Chaobin were left.

"This old bastard is so despicable!" Feng Bao couldn't help but curse.

Yin Zhengmao's tactics were completely different from those used in the court, and even Feng Bao, who was always shrewd and scheming, could not cope with them.

Guo Chaobin nodded in approval.

At this time.

Feng Bao looked at Guo Chaobin and said, "Minister Guo, the Ministry of Revenue is a scoundrel and obviously unwilling to pay more. The Ministry of Works will have to pay 20%!"

"Twenty percent? The Ministry of Works can only contribute ten percent at most, and it can't be taken out within three months. Eunuch Feng, please don't force me. Do you believe me... I... I..."

The sixty-three-year-old Guo Chaobin glanced at Jin Shuihe, swallowed his saliva, and glared at him, saying, "This old man...this old man...I...I will go to the cabinet to reason with him!"

This move of Yin Zhengmao is really not something that ordinary people can pull off.

What's more, Shen Nian had already left. After Guo Chaobin jumped into the water, if Feng Bao had not ordered his soldiers to rescue him, he might have really died in office.

……

An hour later, it was almost dusk.

Feng Bao with a dark face, the somewhat depressed Minister of Works Guo Chaobin, the Minister of Revenue Yin Zhengmao who kept sneezing, and Shen Nian who came to save people all appeared in front of Zhang Juzheng.

Shen Nian appeared not because he saved Yin Zhengmao, but because Yin Zhengmao asked Shen Nian to say his last words before jumping into the river.

"The national treasury is in deficit, and taxes are difficult to collect. Your Majesty's wedding should be frugally planned and not wasteful. I, Yin Zhengmao, am willing to die in order to advise you!"

After these words came out of the mouth of the witness Shen Nian, Yin Zhengmao's image immediately became majestic, and no one dared to refute them.

immediately.

Yin Zhengmao also claimed that it was Feng Bao who forced him into the Jinshui River and did not allow the soldiers to rescue him.

If Shen Nian hadn't saved him, he would have died for his country.

Yin Zhengmao was crying and was really a master at playing the victim.

After hearing the situation, Zhang Juzheng said directly, "The cost of gold, pearls, and precious stones for your Majesty's wedding is excessively extravagant. Reduce it by half. The Imperial Court will then contribute 50%, the Ministry of Revenue 40%, and the Ministry of Works 10%."

"When your majesty gets married, the expenses required will be 50% from the Ministry of Revenue, 40% from the Imperial Court, and 10% from the Ministry of Works. Do you have any objections?"

"Lord Zhang, this...this..." Feng Bao frowned, obviously very dissatisfied.

"I will report this matter tomorrow and will not put Eunuch Feng in a difficult position!" Zhang Juzheng said in a deep voice.

Feng Bao had no choice but to nod.

……

Early the next morning.

Zhang Juzheng submitted a memorial stating that the amount of gold, pearls, and precious stones prepared for the emperor's wedding was too great and excessive, and that he hoped the amount could be reduced by half.

at the same time.

A group of censors seized on the Minister of Revenue Yin Zhengmao's jump yesterday and also submitted a memorial saying that the royal wedding should not be too extravagant.

Young Wanli had no choice but to compromise and said, "The Prime Minister is right," and praised the Minister of Revenue Yin Zhengmao highly.

Shen Nian admired the Minister of Revenue very much.

Some things require unconventional means to accomplish.

For example: shameless, but also having certain skills.

Empress Dowager Li and Feng Bao had nothing to say.

We can't let this incident allow young Wanli's marriage to become a laughing stock among the people of the Ming Dynasty.

……

On May 22nd, I was on duty again.

Five watch.

A group of daily lecturers came to Wenhua Hall to wait.

At this moment, news suddenly came from the palace: Emperor Wanli was missing.

The ministers were shocked.

At this moment, Empress Dowager Li was crying in the Qianqing Palace, and Feng Baozheng mobilized all the eunuchs and palace maids to search for her.

After Zhang Juzheng learned the news, he realized that the young Wanli might have left his bedroom in the second half of the night and would most likely not leave the palace.

He immediately ordered the palace to be sealed off.

He ordered the factory guards to search for the little Wanli everywhere, not letting go of any corner.

The entire forbidden area was in chaos.

Shen Nian was shocked and thought of the reason why little Wanli disappeared.

It is highly likely that it was not a traitor who plundered, but that he was hiding somewhere.

In the past few days, his dream of living alone disappeared. He had to read more than 200 memorials. A minister jumped into the river to protest against his extravagant wedding, and he was also taught a lesson by Zhang Juzheng and the censors.

How could a fourteen-year-old boy not behave violently after experiencing such a series of setbacks?

Shen Nian was very angry.

If he throws it like this, all the guards and palace maids in the palace will lose their heads.

now.

A terrible thought suddenly came to Shen Nian’s mind: He...he...he wouldn’t be too depressed, right?

History has changed because of Shen Nian, and anything can happen.

If the young Wanli died young, the Ming Dynasty would have become even more chaotic.

At this moment, the Embroidered Uniform Guards had already protected the eight-year-old Prince of Lu, Zhu Yiliu, the younger brother of the young Wanli from the same mother.

Next, anything can happen and we must be fully prepared.

(End of this chapter)