Daming Yuanfu

Chapter 2349: Fortunately in Nanjing (XVI)

Gao Youshi had no intention of accepting Xu Hongji's invitation for the time being. After all, the task assigned by the emperor had not been completed yet. If he accepted the invitation now, wouldn't that give him an advantage? However, he was not afraid of not being able to enjoy the scenery of Mochou Lake. He thought there would be another chance before returning to the capital.

There was no rush to keep the appointment, but the next things had to be done step by step. After Gao Youshi met with the two local bosses who had the greatest influence on the nobles in Nanjing, he waited for another day, but still no Xinxue School officials came to "turn themselves in". Gao Youshi knew that this time the Xinxue School must have reached a consensus and would not give in at all.

"If that's the case, it's not bad." Gao Fusi waved to Gao Qi, asking him to come closer, and then ordered: "Send someone to inform Cheng Shanbo and tell him... this and that."

Gao Qi listened silently and nodded, "Don't worry, uncle. I will do it myself right away."

"Don't go. Send someone to go. Be careful." Gao Youshi waved his hand, half explaining and half directing, "Don't underestimate the foundation of the Xinxue School in the south just because Jinghua has the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Jinghua can monitor them, so they may also send people to spy on our actions. In matters like this, it's better to be safe than sorry. Otherwise... there will be no regrets."

"Yes, nephew, I'm grateful for your advice." Gao Qi quickly agreed, and then said, "Then I'll arrange it right away."

"Go ahead. I'm tired too. Go and have a good rest tonight. You don't need to wait for orders."

"Yes, thank you for your concern, uncle. I will take my leave now."

Gao Fusi nodded and turned to walk towards the bedroom. The two young eunuchs at the door saw Gao Fusi passing through the central hall from the study and heading towards the bedroom, so they hurried in to help him change clothes. Gao Fusi waved his hand and said, "You two eunuchs, don't worry about it. Just take a rest."

The two young eunuchs timidly said, "We dare not disobey the Duke, but... we are afraid that Master Chen and the inner guards will blame us."

Gao Fusi smiled and said, "It's okay. I know them both well. Next time I see you, I will say a few good words for you two."

The two eunuchs were relieved, bowed their heads happily, and went back outside to wait for orders. Gao Youshi went back to his bedroom and went to sleep.

The next morning, Gao Youshi arrived at Wenyuan Pavilion early. Just as he was about to ask the cabinet pen washers where the memorials were today, he saw Shen Yikuan suddenly come out of the duty room with a cold face, holding a memorial in his hand and waving it, and asked in a cold voice: "Duke, you came so early, are you here to read this memorial?"

Gao Fusi didn't even look at the memorial in his hand, but just smiled and asked, "Mr. Shen came earlier, but I wonder which memorial he wants to read?"

Shen Yi Guan obviously did not expect Gao Youshi to react so quickly. He could not help but choke, then took a deep breath, calmed down, and sneered: "Shen is over 70 years old, and I am not energetic during the day. I don't sleep for a long time, so I have to come to the cabinet in the morning to handle affairs. The Duke is not even forty, is he the same as Shen?"

  Hey, if you hadn't told me, I would have forgotten that you were born in the tenth year of Jiajing, and are about the same age as Shen Li. Shen Li has retired and returned to his hometown for a long time, but you are still shining in the cabinet... You should be seventy-two this year! [72 in lunar age, 71 in actual age.]

As mentioned before, ministers in the Ming Dynasty generally retired at the age of seventy. Ministers who reached the age of seventy would submit petitions to the emperor almost every year requesting to retire, but the emperor might not necessarily agree.

Of course, Shen Yiguan also begged for his own death, but Gao Youshi didn't really care. After all, it was difficult for the Xinxue School to find someone to replace Shen Yiguan, so the emperor would definitely try to keep him, and Gao also needed Shen Yiguan to continue to sit in the cabinet to pretend to the world that there was someone to check and balance him.

Therefore, Gao Youshi just smiled faintly and replied: "Since I started to learn, I have never been late for a single day."

This sentence was a bit harsh. Shen Yi Guan was speechless for a moment. He could only snort and turn the topic back to the memorial in his hand. He raised it again, but without saying anything harsh. He handed it to Gao Youshi and said with a double meaning: "The Duke is really amazing."

Before the memorial came to the cabinet, it had to be filed by the Tongzhengsi, so Gao Youshi was not worried at all that Shen Yikuan would do something. He took the memorial with a smile and glanced at the title. He saw that it was clearly written on the title: "Memorial of the Minister, Duke of Wei, Xu Hongji, defending himself and exposing the facts." Gao Youshi looked surprised, as if he was talking to himself, or to Shen Yikuan: "Hey, Duke of Wei defended himself? How come Duke of Wei was impeached?"

Shen Yi Guan sneered, "No one has impeached the Duke of Wei. I'm afraid he was threatened. Don't you agree, Duke Jing?"

Gao Youshi laughed and replied, "Although the Duke of Wei is no longer a garrison commander, his status is special. Who can threaten him in Nanjing? Since it is a memorial, this is not the place to review it. If Lord Shen has nothing else to do, please allow me to go back to the duty room to learn more details and then discuss the rest."

Shen Yi Guan's eyebrows moved, and finally he held back the words that were about to come out of his mouth. He exhaled a breath, and said calmly: "I am only an assistant. Now that the Prime Minister is here, I, an old man, will go and have a rest. Goodbye." After that, Shen Yi Guan turned around and left.

Gao Fusi smiled and said politely to Shen Yiquan's back, "Goodbye, Elder Shen."

After Shen Yikuan walked out of the door, he slowly returned to his duty room and sat down, opening the "Memorial of Self-Defense and Exposure by Your Servant, Xu Hongji, Duke of Wei".

"Your Highness, Duke of Wei, Xu Hongji, is deeply terrified and bows his head in respect, risking his life to make this statement:

I have heard that a monarch should treat his subjects with courtesy, and a subject should serve the monarch with loyalty. Loyalty is the foundation of a country; courtesy is the discipline of a subject. Now, I, Hongji, have been ordered to repair the imperial palace. I wanted to do my best to repay the emperor's grace, but things went against my wishes. I was misled by treacherous people, which led to many illegal things in the project. I was unable to detect them, which was indeed dereliction of duty and deserves death.

Since I was appointed, I have performed my duties conscientiously. However, Wang Lingyu and others, the head of the Nanjing Ministry of Works, abused their power for personal gain and were extremely corrupt. I was not careful at the time and was deceived by them. Now I have been blessed by the grace of the Holy Lord and have been able to reform myself. I dare not but speak out my heart and soul to tell you everything.

Wang Lingyu and others, under the pretext of repairing the imperial palace, committed corruption and abuse of power. They falsely reported the price of materials and embezzled public funds. Their behavior is so despicable that I, as an official, despise them. I wanted to argue with them, but their power was so overwhelming that I was unable to stop them, and thus I was guilty of negligence.

I am deeply grateful to the Yuanfu Jingguogong Gao Shiwu for enforcing the law impartially and finding out the truth. I am willing to use my merits to atone for my crime and report the illegal acts of the relevant officials to show my intentions.

I have heard that the mistakes of a gentleman are like the eclipse of the sun and the moon: when he makes a mistake, everyone sees it; when he corrects it, everyone admires him. Although I am not smart, I would like to put myself at the end of the gentleman. I would like to use this opportunity to defend myself, reflect deeply, and correct my past mistakes, so as not to disappoint the emperor and not to bring disgrace to the name of my ancestors.

I ask the emperor to look carefully and discern the truth. If what I said is false, I am willing to be severely punished by the law without complaint. If the emperor forgives me, I will work harder to serve you, even if it means sacrificing my life.

I am extremely terrified and am writing this letter to report this to you.

  April, 1904

Xu Hongji, the Right Commander of the Central Military Commandery, Duke of Wei

I am deeply terrified and bow my head in humility. "

"Haha... The craftsmanship of the master hired by Duke Wei's mansion is quite good." Gao Youshi nodded slightly and laughed to himself, "It's just that you are so timid. You really bring shame to your ancestor, the King of Zhongshan."

Gao Youshi snorted, "If you want to make an accusation, why not just use Wang Lingyu as an excuse? But it doesn't matter. The emperor is knowledgeable and knows that a mere official of the Nanjing Ministry of Works can't handle such a big case, let alone "being so powerful that you, the Duke of Wei, can't handle it"... Even if he is from the Taicang Wang family, it won't work. After all, Wang Xijue has been retired for many years and his prestige is gone."

  Gao Youshi pondered for a moment, took a draft, picked up a paper, and wrote: "I am already aware of what Mr. Xu has reported, but the renovation case involves so many people that I don't think I can handle it myself. Please wait for me to be summoned, and I will ask you myself." After writing, he gently pasted the paper on the memorial.
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Thanks to the book friends "Lao Xi from Altay", "Ming Shijian", "Yun Fu Yue Yu", "Shuang Zhishang" for their monthly ticket support, thank you!

PS: I seem to have a cold and feel a little dizzy, so I will update less today.