Daming talker

Chapter 656: A bunch of bastards! (Please give me a monthly ticket!)
Under normal circumstances, the emperor and his subjects should have met each other by this time.

But Emperor Wanli didn't want to come out of the inner palace, so everyone could only rely on guessing, just like groping in the fog.

Only Lord Zhao thought he was an exception. Others were in the fog, but he had already opened the entire map. How could he lose?
However, Huang Zhengbin, who has been in the limelight recently and is known as a righteous man, never dreamed that he would enter the Northern Pacification Division of the Jinyiwei.

It was just a criticism of the Prime Minister, and it didn't involve the Emperor, so why would the Imperial Guard be bothered?
I heard that Yang Jisheng, a famous official during the Jiajing period, was imprisoned for impeaching Yan Song. Does that mean I will become the second Yang Jisheng?

But Yang Jisheng was at least a Jinshi who passed the imperial examinations twice, while I was nothing. How could I gain such a reputation?
In the Criminal Justice Hall, the commander in charge of the case slammed the table hard, waking up Huang Zhengbin who was still in a daze.

"Who instructed you to impeach the Prime Minister? Tell the truth!" Luo Sigong shouted.

Huang Zhengbin habitually gave the standard answer: "I exposed the Prime Minister's crimes out of passion, without anyone's instigation."

The meticulous Luo Sigong immediately rebuked: "How dare you speak nonsense! Many of the contents of your memorial are confidential matters between the ministers!

You are just a small secretary. Although you are in the cabinet, you are not a trusted attendant of the elder. You just do odd jobs every day. How can you know so many inside stories?"

Huang Zhengbin was at a loss for words and could only remain speechless.

Luo Sigong pressed on, "So someone must be supporting you. If you continue to fool me, I will make you taste the torture instruments of the Northern Pacification Division!"

Huang Zhengbin used up his last bit of pride and said, "People in the world can discuss world affairs without being told what to do!"

Luo Sigong didn't continue talking nonsense. He waved his hand and ordered the left and right flag officers to carry the torture instruments.

After being hit by the clamps several times, Huang Zhengbin was in so much pain that he was scared to death. He didn't care about imitating Yang Jisheng and shouted repeatedly: "I confess! I confess everything!"

Seeing that the Jinyiwei are getting serious, anyone who wants to learn from Yang Jisheng can go and learn!
Besides, I don’t even have any real achievements, so it’s hard to cash in on my reputation!

It's worth it to be able to remove the Prime Minister from office! There's really no need to continue to pretend to be cool in the Jinyiwei!

Luo Sigong took the confession and immediately went to the inner court.

He was very happy. Coming up with the result so quickly was simply a piece of cake. The bigwigs above him would definitely praise him for his efficiency.

Because Gongsun Xian, the factory director, avoided suspicion, the project was under the full charge of Chen Ju, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, so Luo Sigong went directly to the Huiji porch room.

Eunuch Chen, who was sitting by the brazier, took Huang Zhengbin's confession, glanced at it, and asked in confusion, "Fourth Assistant Zhao Zhigao?"

Luo Sigong replied: "Huang Zhengbin did confess. It was Zhao Ge Lao who instructed him to expose and impeach Prime Minister Shen."

Eunuch Chen asked again: "Was the confession forced?"

Luo Sigong answered truthfully: "He refused to confess at first, so he was put in the irons, and then he confessed."

Eunuch Chen casually put down the confession and said, "If the torture continues, Huang Zhengbin may confess that he was instructed by Sanfu Wang Jiaping when he can no longer bear it.

So which one is true and which one is false?"

Luo Sigong: "."

Suddenly I felt that my work was meaningless.

Eunuch Chen then left for Yude Palace, and when he arrived, he found that Zhang Cheng, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, was also there.

"The First Minister Shen Shixing and the Second Minister Wang Xijue have both submitted their resignations. How should we respond?" Zhang Cheng asked Emperor Wanli.

Whether to retain or approve can only be decided by the emperor.

Emperor Wanli had a gloomy face and asked, "Did they say anything else? Did they make any public statement about the secret memorial?"

Zhang Cheng replied: "No."

Emperor Wanli, who was sitting on the couch, suddenly sat up straight and said angrily, "I allowed Shen Shixing to enter the cabinet before he was fifty, and he became the Prime Minister in his early fifties!
Such deep kindness and generosity are rare in the history! But is this how Shen Shixing treats me? Is he still unwilling to stand by my side wholeheartedly?
The secret documents have already been leaked, so why not just give up? "

Eunuch Chen secretly sighed that the emperor was really wishful thinking.

Perhaps the pressure brought by the promise of appointing a crown prince on the winter solstice this year was too great, and the emperor was desperate and tried every possible means.

After a fit of tantrum, Emperor Wanli felt tired and waved his hand, saying, "Since they asked to leave, just grant them all!"

The two eunuchs Zhang Cheng and Chen Ju looked at each other and sighed in unison that the third era of the Wanli Dynasty was coming.

The ten years or so when Zhang Juzheng was in power were the first era of the Wanli Dynasty, the eight years when Shen Shixing was the prime minister were the second era, and the period after that was the third era.

Now that the shoe has dropped, it's time to start cleaning up the mess.

Zhang Cheng asked again, "How should the cabinet be arranged in the future?"

Emperor Wanli perked up and asked Chen Ju, "How is your investigation going? Any progress?"

Chen Ju reported: "After interrogation by the Jinyiwei, the former Zhongshu Sheren Huang Zhengbin revealed that the impeachment of the first assistant Shen Shixing was instigated by the fourth assistant Zhao Zhigao."

"Zhao Si?" Emperor Wanli was very surprised. How could that honest man who usually had no sense of existence do such a thing?

Zhang Cheng, the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department, could not help laughing and commented, "I didn't expect that the loyal and honest elders would also learn bad things. Does this mean that people in the cabinet are corrupted by the company of bad people?

It was just that the technique was so clumsy and unfamiliar that it left such a big flaw, but it was discovered so easily."

Then he asked Eunuch Chen: "What is Zhao Zhigao's motive? He has been following Shen Shixing most of the time. What good would it do to instruct others to expose and impeach Shen Shixing now?"

Eunuch Chen replied: "After thinking it over, the only explanation is that Zhao Zhigao tried his best to prove that the Third Assistant Wang Jiaping framed the First Assistant and tried his best to create public opinion in this regard to relieve the pressure on Shen Shixing.

It’s just that Zhao Zhigao’s ability is limited, and perhaps he is not good at fighting, so in the end he made a mess of things, and every day he could only curse Wang Jiaping in the cabinet. "

Eunuch Chen's summary is quite consistent with Zhao Zhigao's daily personality.

Emperor Wanli suddenly looked at Zhang Cheng and asked, "Tell me! Who could have posted the slanderous post?"

I mainly want to hear the opinions of Zhang Cheng, an "outsider". Perhaps a bystander can see things more clearly.

Zhang Cheng said: "If we only talk about possibilities, there are too many people in and outside the palace who have motives.

For example, if the post had not been exposed, Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue might have had a slight chance of returning to the cabinet.

But once the revelation is out, Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue will definitely not return to the cabinet, and the position of Sanfu Wang Jiaping will be completely secure."

This statement is not difficult to understand. If it was just a secret leak, as long as the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister were thick-skinned enough, they might be able to stay and not leave.

But if one knows that he is being framed by the emperor and still refuses to leave, how big of a heart does that have to be?
Then Zhang Cheng said, "Even in the palace, there are people who benefit from it. If the letter is accepted, then Sun Yong, the junior supervisor of the secretariat, will be innocent? His godfather, Sun Xian, the head of the Dongchang, will definitely be very happy."

The eunuch Chen who was listening nearby was speechless. He was indeed a senior eunuch in charge of the seal. He really dared to say anything.

Emperor Wanli could not help but point at Zhang Cheng and curse, "You are such a bunch of bastards! No wonder even Zhao Zhigao learned to frame others after entering the inner court!"

Zhang Cheng smiled awkwardly, "Don't be upset, Your Majesty. I just don't dare to hide anything from you, so I'm telling you everything I think. Even if we mention Zhao Zhigao, he is not without suspicion, and he may still post a notice."

Originally, the matter of the secret letter being leaked could be covered up, and it didn't matter if the truth couldn't be found out.

But after the exposure was published, the emperor had to find out the result in order to prove his innocence. This situation was very favorable for Old Man Zhao.

The guilty Wanli Emperor interrupted Zhang Cheng impatiently, "Stop talking! There really are no good people in Hongdong County!"

Then he put pressure on Eunuch Chen, saying, "The rumors are increasing day by day. We can't delay any longer! You must settle the incident as soon as possible!"

I only want results! If you can't do it well, you can quit your job as a eunuch!"

Eunuch Chen was helpless and could only say: "The leak of the secret memorial may be related to Sanfu Wang Jiaping, but he needs some respectability."

Letting others take the blame is the only solution so far.

There are only two people left in the cabinet now. If we let old man Zhao take the blame, no one will believe it!

Could it be that Old Man Zhao framed the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister just to make Wang Jiaping the Prime Minister?

Emperor Wanli said without hesitation: "Then give him some respect!"

Eunuch Chen added: "Wang Jiaping has a very good reputation, and there will probably be a lot of petitions to save him."

Emperor Wanli said tactfully: "If all the ministers petition to save him, then there will be no time to argue about the foundation of the country. This can be said to kill two birds with one stone. When the time comes, I will act according to the situation."

Eunuch Chen: “.”

The affairs of the court are treated as child's play, there is nothing we can do about it!
People five hundred years later will surely sigh that Emperor Wanli treated the court as a stand-alone simulation management game!
After coming out of the inner palace, Eunuch Chen returned to the Huiji Gate porch room, where Jinyiwei officer Luo Sigong was still on standby.

Throwing Huang Zhengbin's confession back, Eunuch Chen ordered, "The confession is untrue! Severe punishment and retrial!
We must find out who really ordered him to do this! And then keep an eye on him and don't let him commit suicide!"

Luo Sigong: "."

Compared with the palace politics, the Jinyiwei can really be called white lotus.
The next day, Eunuch Chen walked with heavy steps to Wenyuan Pavilion inside Huiji Gate. The results must be out today.

It was just as Zhang Cheng, the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department, said, after the notice was issued, the matter had to have a result.

Generally, when eunuchs came to the cabinet, they came with the emperor's orders.

Facing Wang Jiaping and Zhao Zhigao, Eunuch Chen said, "Huang Zhengbin has confessed. The emperor was furious and issued an order to reprimand the cabinet."

The two ministers could only listen to the instructions.

Eunuch Chen relayed, "The Imperial Edict: You are high-ranking officials, but you have no intention of serving the country, and you are always fighting against each other. What is the reason?"

Zhao Zhigao apologized and said, "I was foolish! I shouldn't have instigated Huang Zhengbin to make a rash petition!"

Eunuch Chen looked at Zhao Zhigao in surprise. He had seen many grand secretaries, but he had never seen such an honest grand secretary.

Fortunately, there are no outsiders here, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to continue making up this story.

Then Eunuch Chen pretended not to hear Zhao Zhigao's speech, coughed and said, "Huang Zhengbin confessed that he was instructed by Wang Sange Lao."

Wang Jiaping: “.”

Before I knew it, it was as if a large net was becoming denser and denser, trapping me tightly.

What’s even more terrifying is that I have no idea when this big net starts to open towards me.

What? Old man Zhao didn't expect this result. This was really beyond his expectations.

Some people are even more shameless than I thought. Was I too honest just now?
Since being questioned by Zhao Zhigao yesterday, Wang Jiaping has been mentally prepared.

If the emperor really wanted to find someone to take the blame, the most suitable person would be himself, the "biggest beneficiary"!
But looking at the eunuch Chen who had bad intentions, he still felt unwilling.

Eunuch Chen took the initiative to say, "There are no outsiders here, Lord Wang, you can speak freely."

Wang Jiaping said angrily, "It seems that the great eunuch is going to judge me according to the emperor's order?"

Eunuch Chen said with a smile: "Your Excellency is of high status, and as the saying goes, a doctor should not be punished, so how can we possibly put him on trial?

The emperor said that the old man must be allowed to remain respectable. Therefore, old man Wang might as well take the initiative to resign.

Otherwise, the emperor could have dismissed you directly, but that would have been too embarrassing."

Against the backdrop of the first and second prime ministers being forced to resign due to their inappropriate remarks being inexplicably exposed, it is significant that the third prime minister, Wang Jiaping, who was a political enemy, did not take over as the first prime minister but instead resigned as well.

With a little manipulation, it would be easy to direct public opinion on the secret memorial leak incident toward Wang Jiaping, the political enemy of the first and second ministers.

Moreover, compared with the emperor leaking secret memorials on his own initiative, a minister leaking secret memorials from his political enemies is not a scandal of the same magnitude, and the impact is certainly smaller.

Wang Jiaping, who usually takes good care of his reputation, is in great torment. Should he die in glory or live in disgrace?
You're going to leave anyway, so if it doesn't work out, just be cruel and hold on for the sake of your reputation, then follow the rules and be promoted to Prime Minister for a few days to satisfy your desire!

At this moment, Zhao Zhigao suddenly interrupted and said to Eunuch Chen: "If Wang Shanyin is not convenient to stay in the cabinet, can you let him recommend a candidate to join the cabinet to preserve the loyalty between the monarch and his subjects?"

Eunuch Chen was quite surprised. At this time, you, Lord Zhao, are actually speaking for Wang Jiaping and planning for his own interests? Can an honest person really be so honest?
However, after a moment's thought, Eunuch Chen said, "I will ask the Emperor for help. It shouldn't be a big problem."

Wang Jiaping's mind could not be shaken anymore. Having said that, he had no other choice.

If we cooperate now, we can even nominate one of our own to join the cabinet, but if we don’t cooperate, I’m afraid we may lose even that.

Let’s not talk about the big principles of “ruler and subject, father and son” and “sharing the worries of the monarch” for the time being. If he insisted on not cooperating, he would definitely anger the emperor who was in urgent need of whitewashing himself.

Even if he became the Prime Minister, how long could he stay in office? I was afraid he would be driven out of office soon, and then he would gain nothing.

"I will write a letter to the emperor to apologize today!" Wang Jiaping finally said through gritted teeth.

After that, Wang Jiaping wrote a letter of apology and resignation and handed it directly to Eunuch Chen, and then left Wenyuan Pavilion sadly.

Eunuch Chen turned to Zhao Zhigao and said, "Congratulations, Prime Minister Zhao!"

Zhao Zhigao sighed and said, "I am the only old man left in the cabinet. I am too weak to bear the heavy burden. What should I do?"

Eunuch Chen couldn't help but think that in the past two years, five people have been in the cabinet.

As a result, the accomplished Shen Shixing, the strong-willed Xu Guo, the cunning Wang Xijue, and the upright Wang Jiaping have all left, leaving only the frail old man Zhao. Is he really an honest man?

Although it is said that Old Man Zhao is a puppet supported by Lin Tailai, being swept up in the arms of a wild character like Lin Tailai who acts recklessly and makes enemies everywhere, and making rapid progress all the way, and being able to maintain his position for many years without capsizing, this in itself is a skill, right?

(End of this chapter)