My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 118 Raising the Banner to Appeal for Justice
cabinet.

The officials of the Ministry of Public Administration delivered a new batch of memorials to the cabinet and hurriedly left the cabinet. The political atmosphere in the capital has been tense recently, and the officials of the Ministry of Public Administration were unwilling to stay in the cabinet for long.

But to everyone's surprise, the atmosphere in the cabinet at this time was very relaxed.

Prime Minister Li Chunfang ended his sick leave and returned to the cabinet, but he was still like a clay Buddha statue, not caring about the affairs of the cabinet. He just sat high in the position of Prime Minister and wrote and drew something.

The protagonist of this cabinet dispute was Zhang Juzheng, but Zhang Juzheng's expression was very relaxed. He was dealing with the memorial from the Ministry of Revenue regarding the opening of the Denglai port.

Another cabinet minister who was affected was Gao Gong, who was always domineering.

However, this time the attack from the outer court was mainly directed at Zhang Juzheng, and Gao Gong himself was the Minister of Personnel and had a deep control over the Ministry of Personnel, so the officials of the Ministry of Personnel did not follow the crowd and join the court struggle. On the contrary, Gao Gong suffered less impact than in previous times.

Gao Gong looked very relaxed, but Guo Zhun, the secretary beside him, looked nervous as he registered today's memorials.

Zhao Zhenji's attitude was even more relaxed. His relationship with Zhang Juzheng was average to begin with. He was only concentrating on dealing with memorials from the Ministry of Rites, and spent the rest of his time preparing for the wedding of his niece's granddaughter.

"Lord, this is Su Zilin's memorial."

Gao Gong took the memorial from Guo Zhun. Sure enough, Su Ze's attitude was to support the abolition of the Liao vassal state, but this time there was nothing new in Su Ze's memorial.

After Gao Gong took a quick look at it, he did not make any comments, but asked Guo Zhun to hand it over to Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Juzheng took Su Ze's memorial, removed the peeling paper, and asked Guo Zhun:

"Recently, the only memorial clearly supporting the abolition of the Liao vassal state is Su Zilin, right?"

Guo Zhun nodded quickly, and Zhang Juzheng said:

"Su Zilin dares to do what others dare not do. He has the qualities of a great minister."

Zhang Juzheng simply wrote down his support, stating his position, and then handed the memorial to Guo Zhun.

Guo Zhun took Su Ze's memorial, then took out a booklet and copied the names of the three people, including Su Ze, into the booklet.

The cover of this booklet is red, and there are not many names registered, and some names have been crossed out.

Gao Gong brought another memorial and said:
"Another memorial in support of the Ministry of Justice."

Guo Zhun quickly took the memorial and then took out a blue booklet.

There are many more names in this booklet than in the red booklet. Guo Zhun registered the person who submitted the memorial in the blue booklet, wrote down the person's position, and then closed the blue booklet.

The other ministers in the cabinet all saw Gao Gong's actions.

Gao Gong had just finished dealing with the memorials he had submitted that morning and asked Guo Zhun:

"How many people are on the blue list, and how many are on the red list?"

Guo Zhun, the secretary of the Central Secretariat, was very professional. He immediately said:

"Reporting to Lord Gao, there are a total of twenty-two people in the Red Book, seventy in the Blue Book, and fifteen in the Other Book."

Gao Gong nodded with satisfaction, and said to Li Chunfang, who was in the position of Prime Minister:
"Li Shoufu, for next year's imperial examination, we will first deal with the names on the separate and blue registers."

Li Chunfang put down the pen in his hand, nodded and said:

"I understand. The government has just stabilized. It's best not to implicate too many people."

Gao Gong said:

"Don't worry, Prime Minister. This time the Ministry of Personnel will definitely be fair and impartial, and those censors won't find any fault."

Gao Gong's two obviously contradictory statements were met with nods from the cabinet ministers present.

Guo Zhun closed the booklet, his fingers trembling slightly. These ministers in the outer court were making a big fuss, but they didn't know that everything was under the control of the cabinet.

Beijing inspection!

These foreign officials seem to have forgotten that next year will be the year of the imperial examination.

The Jingcha is an assessment of Beijing officials held every six years.

The Beijing inspection is mainly carried out by the Ministry of Personnel, with six departments and thirteen supervision departments. All officials in Beijing are evaluated and assessed according to the four grids and eight methods, that is, the four major directions and eight disciplinary red lines.

The court will then take appropriate measures against unqualified officials based on the results of the imperial examination.

Officials with poor assessment results may even be ordered to retire early or simply dismissed from office.

The red book recorded by Guo Zhun is the list of ministers who stood on the cabinet's side during this cabinet dispute.

The names on the blue book are the ministers who attacked the cabinet during the cabinet dispute.

In addition, there is another volume which contains the ministers who first submitted memorials in support of the cabinet and then changed their stance and stood on the side of the six ministries.

These people who are two-faced are the political opportunists that Gao Ge Lao hates the most. Those on the separate list may even receive more severe punishment than those on the blue list.

The Imperial Examination was led by the Cabinet and implemented by the Ministry of Personnel. The Cabinet had reached a consensus on national affairs, and the Ministry of Personnel was firmly controlled by Gao Gong.

Therefore, the more trouble these outer court ministers make now, the worse it will be when the imperial examination comes.

Of course, most ministers remained neutral during this political turmoil and did not dare to easily get involved in the struggle between the cabinet and the six ministries.

This is also the reason why it is as warm as spring inside the cabinet despite the violent storm outside.

Guo Zhun looked at Zhang Juzheng again, and felt even more impressed that this Lord Zhang was able to endure.

Zhang Juzheng was not without influence in Huguang, but he would rather swallow his anger and lure these officials from the six ministries to jump out, just to completely sweep away these powerful ministers.

Many of them were the only remaining confidants of his teacher Xu Jie in the court.

For example, Hong Chaoxuan, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice who defied the cabinet this time, was a disciple of Xu Jie, just like Zhang Juzheng.

Of course, Hong Chaoxuan and Zhang Juzheng had a personal grudge.

Among the ministers who attacked the cabinet this time, many had a good relationship with Zhang Juzheng, and even after Xu Jie's downfall, they had begun to side with Zhang Juzheng.

But Zhang Juzheng didn't care at all, and instead cooperated with Gao Gong in this drama.

The Beijing inspection in March next year will be a real bloody storm!
Guo Zhun's thighs trembled. All the ministers in the current cabinet were capable and strong. Even the Prime Minister Li Chunfang was an old fox. He really didn't know what kind of courage these ministers from the ministries and agencies had to dare to jump out and challenge the cabinet.

But Guo Zhun thought about it carefully again. In the past few months, it seemed that Su Ze was fighting with the outer court, while the cabinet was downplaying its influence. Could it be that this was a plan to lure the snake out of its hole?

If that's the case, it's too scary!

Guo Zhun finally understood why his father, former cabinet minister Guo Pu, said that he was not cut out to be an official.

The officialdom is truly a life of great fear. Just this Liao Fan case alone has ruined the futures of countless people.

Those recorded in the red book will definitely perform well in this imperial examination and will soon be able to rise to high positions.

As for those who are listed in another book, they are indecisive and will never be able to recover from this fate.

Political struggles were so brutal that a single wrong choice could ruin one's future. Guo Zhun was certain he didn't have the talent to be an official. Only by looking at the names on the red list and being able to discern the direction of the wind in the chaotic court could one hope to enter the cabinet.

Guo Zhun thought about how Su Ze had always been on the right side of the political struggles over the past six months, and couldn't help but sigh that there really was a genius for being an official!
Jingzhou.

Shen Shixing woke up from the patrol office. He pushed open the door, put on his clothes and went out to wash.

The Liao inspection delegation was an imperial envoy, so they lived in the patrol office.

In the Ming Dynasty, senior officials often inspected local areas, and the inspection yamen was a place specifically used for these inspectors to live and work.

Positions like governor and inspector were not permanent positions in the Ming Dynasty, so the inspector's office was empty most of the time and was built in relatively remote places in the city.

Jingzhou's patrol office is not far from the city wall, and farmland can be seen all around it.

Even in such a remote place, the surrounding land basically belongs to the Liao Palace. The saying that the Liao King controls half of Jingzhou is by no means groundless.

After washing up, Shen Shixing changed into his official robe and walked into the public housing, where he saw Deputy Envoy Shi Duchen arguing with Chief Envoy Hong Chaoxuan again.

The discord between the two was already known to everyone in the delegation, and the entire Liao expedition delegation was divided into two parts.

The larger group of people were officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Rites, headed by Hong Chaoxuan.

Shen Shixing and others were a minority who were stuffed into the delegation by Zhang Juzheng.

Shi Duchen had been serving in local positions for a long time and was no match for Hong Chaoxuan, the Minister of Justice, and was quickly defeated.

Shen Shixing shook his head. Even if they had quarreled, what would it matter? Hong Chaoxuan was the chief envoy of the Liao investigation mission. As long as he was there, Shi Duchen would have no way to interrogate the King of Liao, let alone convict him.

Shen Shixing felt that this trip to Jingzhou was meaningless, so he finished his official duties early and returned to his room.

As soon as he returned to the room, Shen Shixing saw a pigeon pecking at his manuscript.

Shen Shixing hurried forward to protect his manuscript, but found that the pigeon looked familiar.

When he saw the letter cage on the pigeon's leg, Shen Shixing remembered that this was the pigeon that flew into his study a few days ago and brought a letter from Su Ze.

Shen Shixing hurried forward and approached the desk. The pigeon was not afraid of people at all and jumped directly into his hand.

Shen Shixing opened the envelope and took out a rolled-up letter.

This is Su Ze’s reply!
Shen Shixing also didn't understand how the carrier pigeon found him. Could it be that Su Zilin really had the special ability to train pigeons?
This is amazing!

Shen Shixing shook his head. Now was not the time to delve into this matter. He quickly opened the note and read Su Ze's reply.

In his reply, Su Ze said that he had already submitted a petition in the capital requesting the abolition of the Liao vassal state, and asked Shen Shixing to pay close attention to the developments of the Liao Palace.

This pigeon stayed with Shen Shixing. As long as there was any new movement in the Liao Palace, Shen Shixing would put the news into the envelope and the pigeon would fly back to the capital by itself.

Shen Shixing looked at the pigeon, and the pigeon's eyes were also fixed on Shen Shixing. The man and the pigeon just looked at each other like this.

Shen Shixing really couldn't hold it in any longer, so he gave up looking at the pigeon. He felt that he had been really stupid these days, actually fighting with the pigeon.

In this way, a big pigeon settled down in Shen Shixing's room.
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November 10th, Liao Palace.

King Zhu Xianwei of Liao held another night banquet in the palace.

The reason why "又" is used is because since the Liao expedition delegation arrived in Jingzhou, the Liao King Zhu Xianwei has been guarding night banquets with guests in the palace every day.

King Zhu Xianwei of Liao was bad, but not stupid.

He also felt Hong Chaoxuan's attitude. Although Zhu Xianwei couldn't understand why Hong Chaoxuan wanted to help him, he also understood that he had passed the test this time. As long as a few major charges could not convict him, then according to the Ming Dynasty's tradition of treating vassal states, the punishment would probably be a fine and reflection on one's mistakes.

This was of no concern to the King of Liao. As a prince, he did not rely on that little salary to make a living.

So after being frightened for a while, the King of Liao returned to his old ways and began to live a life of drunkenness and debauchery in the palace again.

Tang Zuo, a guest at the Liao Palace, lowered his head and secretly looked at the Liao King, with hatred flashing in his eyes.

Tang Zuo was a guest at the Liao Palace, but he was different from those guests who flattered and accompanied the Liao King in horse riding and dog fighting. He really had some talent and was quite famous in Jingchu.

Because of repeated failures in the imperial examinations, Tang Zuo accepted the invitation of the King of Liao and served as a guest in the King of Liao's palace.

There were some guests like Tang Zuo, most of whom were hired by the King of Liao to show off.

Tang Zuo had a close relationship with Li Shirong, a guest of the palace. However, a few days ago, Li Shirong reported the crimes of the King of Liao to the Liao investigation mission, but the envoy did not accept the case. Li Shirong died at home that day.

Tang Zuo certainly understood that this was the work of the assassins sent by the King of Liao. He hated the King of Liao with gnashing teeth. He touched the dagger in his sleeve, and when he saw the guards around the King of Liao, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.

I am just a weak scholar, how could I assassinate the King of Liao?

Tang Zuo also knew that the assassination attempt was hopeless, and he found this banquet disgusting. Just as he was about to leave, he heard Liao Wang Zhu Xianwei say:

"I don't know when the imperial delegation will leave. It's really boring for me to be stuck in this palace!"

Since inheriting the title of king, Zhu Xianwei, the King of Liao, has been lawless and no one in Jingzhou City dares to stop him.

If Dai Fan had not been abolished and Zhang Juzheng had not threatened him, the King of Liao would never have been able to imprison himself in his palace for such a long time.

Less than a month later, the King of Liao was thinking of leaving the palace to enjoy himself again.

Tang Zuo suddenly had an idea and found an opportunity to speak to the King of Liao:
"Your Majesty, Tang has a plan that can help you escape from this predicament!"

Zhu Xianwei squinted his eyes and looked at Tang Zuo. Like Jiajing, he loved alchemy. He drank a lot of wine today and his head was dizzy.

Zhu Xianwei vaguely remembered that Tang Zuo was a famous scholar in Jingzhou, and he had always been low-key and taciturn after entering the mansion.

However, the King of Liao had a very bad reputation. All he had around him were flatterers and sycophants. When the time came, there was no one to give him advice.

Tang Zuo touched the dagger in his sleeve and gave up the plan to assassinate the King of Liao. Although he was close to the King of Liao, he was not a death warrior. If he failed to hit the vital point, he would die in vain.

Tang Zuo put away the dagger and decided to take revenge using literary methods.

Tang Zuo continued, "The prince has been wronged. Minister Hong is well aware of this, but Deputy Minister Shi Duchen has been pressuring him, delaying the case."

The King of Liao nodded repeatedly. He also had his own information channels and knew that there was a discord between the chief envoy and the deputy envoy of the delegation.

Tang Zuo said:

"Your Highness, the night is long and dreams are many. If we continue investigating like this, what if we really find something?"

The King of Liao had a worried look on his face. This was what he was worried about. He had committed too many crimes, and all of them were exposed in Jingzhou.

Tang Zuo continued:

"If Your Majesty wants the imperial court to withdraw the Liao expedition, you need to put more pressure on the imperial court."

"With the abolition of the feudal system, all the princes in the world are in a state of panic. Now, Your Highness has been wrongly accused. In fact, the royal family, including upright officials like Minister Hong, are all on your side."

"A righteous man has many supporters, while an unrighteous man has few. You can raise a banner in the palace to protest your grievances, and the people of the world will respond to you, Your Highness. The court will naturally withdraw the Liao expedition!"

(End of this chapter)