Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 54 My Father's Reputation Guaranteed
It's clear that the emperor is very much looking forward to this.

In fact, Zhang Yunxiu's suggestion of this "casual talk" was merely a spur-of-the-moment idea, but he never expected it to coincide with the emperor's wishes.

Upon careful consideration, and by recounting the emperor's past experiences, it becomes clear that he was a student who desperately lacked recognition and praise.

On the surface, he wore a crown with tassels and a set of imperial robes.

Deep down, Emperor Wanli was nothing more than a child who had been raised in the palace for a long time, never experienced hardship, and had not yet grown up.

The courtiers kept saying "We humbly submit to the Holy Ruler," but they were only praising his status.

Emperor Wanli was inherently weak, greedy, and lazy.

But he is also a human being, and he also hopes that his efforts will be truly recognized.

In his youthful exuberance, didn't he also dream of becoming a wise and benevolent ruler for all time?
Now that he understood the emperor's thoughts, Zhang Yunxiu nodded slightly and said, "Of course it can be resolved. Just as I said before, the plague is caused by strange energies from heaven and earth, and it enters through the mouth and nose. If we can cut off its transmission route at the source, we will surely be able to curb the spread of the plague!"

"Really?" Emperor Wanli said excitedly, eager to try. "I can still draw. Quickly write out the Three Character Classic for Eliminating Plague, and I will draw some more."

“Your Majesty,” Zhang Yunxiu shook his head helplessly again, “but if we want to solve the plague, simply relying on ‘talking’ is not enough to eradicate it.”

He could only tell the truth about this kind of thing.

The Wanli Emperor's initial enthusiasm waned, and he said helplessly, "Therefore, this casual conversation is not as magical as I imagined?"

Zhang Yunxiu said frankly, "Your Majesty, if I were to tell you directly that this mere 'casual conversation' could resolve the plague, would you believe me?"

"This"

The emperor hesitated for a moment. Zhang Yunxiu's words made a lot of sense. It was naive to think that the plague could be solved with mere "casual conversation".

Changing the subject, Zhang Yunxiu continued.

"However, we can use casual conversation as a supplement to implement various measures to prevent and control the epidemic, which will surely be more effective."

Overwhelmed by sudden joy and sorrow, Emperor Wanli felt a surge of energy rising and then subsiding, and he said somewhat frantically.

Why can't you just say it all at once!

Zhang Yunxiu, on the other hand, looked completely innocent.

"Your Majesty, please wait until I finish speaking!"

The Wanli Emperor, feeling somewhat weary, sat down as if he had punched cotton.

"Tell me about your measures for preventing and controlling the epidemic."

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Yunxiu said.

"If we want to truly prevent and control the epidemic, it is not difficult; it just depends on whether Your Majesty is determined."

The Wanli Emperor frowned and asked, "Determination?"

“Exactly,” Zhang Yunxiu said sharply. “I have a plan that can resolve the current crisis. I request Your Majesty to issue an edict immediately, that from today onwards, the nine gates of the capital be placed under martial law, and checkpoints be set up in the streets and alleys to prohibit movement. The entire capital should be mobilized to isolate the sick, and all forces should be mobilized. Even the capital garrison can be conscripted to conduct door-to-door screening for the sick. Does Your Majesty have the courage to implement this?”

"Of course." The Wanli Emperor was about to answer, but suddenly stopped.

He wanted to say, "How could I, an emperor, not be able to make such a decision?" But before he could speak, a sense of helplessness welled up in his heart, and he realized that he might not actually be able to do it.

Upon closer examination, Zhang Yunxiu's plan resembled a martial law decree issued in the face of a formidable enemy.

If this decree is implemented, the cabinet ministers and officials of the six ministries will be the first to oppose it.

The imperial court has its own laws and regulations. Rashly implementing martial law would, in a sense, cause panic among the people. This is of great importance. How many businesses owned by princes and nobles would be damaged by martial law in the city?
Most importantly, the officials in the court keep saying they are "for the sake of the people," but all they really want is "stability." Is it really that strange for a few people to die these days?
Unless the Wanli Emperor could defy the opposition of his ministers and insist on going his own way, but if he really dared to do that, he wouldn't be the Wanli Emperor.

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Yunxiu launched into several more plans.

“Convert empty rooms in temples and government offices into temporary isolation zones.”

"The Huimin Pharmacy dispenses more than 3,000 medicines daily, and those who recover from illness are given 500 coins to help them recuperate."

"Incorporate epidemic prevention and control into the performance evaluation system for officials."

"Disaster."

Emperor Wanli shook his head repeatedly, even showing some annoyance. He found it difficult to decide on almost every single one of these matters, and each required immense courage.

Especially the last point, including plague prevention and control in the assessment?

Zhang Juzheng's implementation of the performance evaluation system had already angered both heaven and man. If this were to happen again, wouldn't the officials rebel against heaven?

In his dilemma, the emperor began to have doubts.

Is this really necessary? Isn't it a bit too radical?
The Wanli Emperor then asked again, "Is there really no other good way to resolve this predicament?"

There's another layer to this: I can't do what you've said above. Is there a less difficult way that can perfectly solve the problem?

Zhang Yunxiu had long anticipated this outcome. The young emperor before him was, in fact, a prime example of a useless youth who was "incompetent, loved to play, and unwilling to work hard."

"Your Majesty," Zhang Yunxiu said, looking somewhat hesitant.

Seeing this, the Wanli Emperor couldn't help but sigh: "Is it really too much of a dilemma?"

The emperor knew in his heart that Zhang Yunxiu was indeed exceptionally intelligent.

But which of the officials in the court isn't a shrewd and astute person? How easy is it to come up with a more effective solution than Zhang Juzheng and others?
The combined age of Zhu Yijun and Zhang Yunxiu was still less than the average age of the officials in the court.

Emperor Wanli sighed and said, "It seems that I was still a bit naive. However, the gossip in the newspapers is not entirely useless. It's better than nothing. Shiyuan, you have done a good job. I can say that I have done my part for the people through this."

He said this, but in reality, he longed to fulfill the duties of an emperor through his own power.

We must earnestly address the hardships faced by the people and rescue those under our rule from suffering.

At least for now, Zhu Yijun still has such ambitions.

Especially after hearing about the influence of "comics" among the public, he increasingly hoped that he could realize his ambitions.

Instead of the puppet emperor of the past, who was constantly constrained, disciplined, and instructed by others!
But he simply couldn't be a "wise ruler" who followed the rules, worked diligently like an ox, and was as pure and abstinent as a saint.

Just as Emperor Wanli was feeling disheartened, Zhang Yunxiu suddenly asked a question.

"I've heard that His Majesty suffers from gingivitis?"

The Wanli Emperor asked with some surprise, "What does my tooth ailment have to do with the epidemic?"

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and said, "If His Majesty's tooth ailment is cured, this plague can also be contained."

"Huh?" Emperor Wanli said with a skeptical look. "Leaving aside the plague, if you can help me cure my toothache, that would be a great achievement."

The so-called "toothy tooth disease" is actually somewhat similar to periodontitis in modern medicine.

Emperor Wanli had a fondness for sweets, and given the weak hygiene practices of ancient times, it's not surprising that he developed periodontitis that was difficult to cure over time.

Zhang Yunxiu cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I have gained some insights from reading ancient books. Please describe the illness in detail so that I can take precise measures!"

The Wanli Emperor looked at Zhang Yunxiu with suspicion, feeling that he was unreliable.

But when his illness was mentioned, his face fell, and he sighed.

"Shiyuan, you have no idea how much I suffer!"

His eyebrows were furrowed on his chubby face, and it seemed that his cheek was starting to hurt again.

"Lately, I don't even dare to eat dried persimmons anymore. Every time I pick up my chopsticks, it feels like I'm facing execution. Even the soft, sticky soups I drink every day taste bland and tasteless. I can't even speak when I'm in court every day."

As he spoke, the little emperor was almost in tears, feeling wronged.

Zhang Yunxiu narrowed his eyes and said, "This medicine of mine can not only cure Your Majesty's toothache, but also curb the plague!"

"This is not something to be joked about."

The Wanli Emperor was somewhat annoyed, feeling that Zhang Yunxiu was making fun of his toothache.

But Zhang Yunxiu firmly said, "I am absolutely not joking. I guarantee with my father's reputation that if I dare to deceive Your Majesty, Your Majesty will have my father, Juzheng, beheaded as a warning to others!"

(End of this chapter)