My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

Chapter 216 Zhang Wenda is leaving Beijing

Late that night, people were drinking and drinking at Zhang Wenda's residence in the main square.

Tomorrow, Zhang Wenda will leave Beijing, and everyone in Donglin came to bid him farewell.

Originally, after a minister retired from office, even if he was free, he still had nearly a month to prepare before returning home, saying goodbye to friends and so on.

After all, given the traffic environment these days, it is very likely that the farewell after retiring from office will be a farewell forever.

But Zhang Wenda was different. He submitted a letter begging for bones suddenly, and the emperor approved it suddenly.

Throughout the dynasties, officials would be given official gifts when they were appointed to the imperial court.

When the eunuchs in the palace came to convey the order to Zhang Wenda to present him with an official, he also informed him that three days later, the Jinyi Guards came to escort Zhang Wenda back home.

The banquet in the front hall had already begun. After placing his son in charge of entertaining friends, Zhang Wenda, Han Xu and others entered the back hall.

At noon, Zhang Wenda's memorial to beg the remains arrived at the cabinet, and someone from the Supervisor of Ceremonies came to urge it.

Han Xu had no choice but to approve the stay and make a last-ditch effort.

But who would have thought that the emperor would directly expedite this matter and approve it on the same day.

Han Xu didn't know the cause of the incident at all. He could only come to find out the reason after hearing that Zhang Wenda was going to entertain old friends.

As soon as Fang entered the back hall, Han Xu couldn't wait to ask.

"What's going on? Why do you suddenly become an official?"

"The Emperor specially annotated this thing and sent it to me. Do I dare not to become an official?"

Hearing this, Zhang Wenda took out a book from his sleeve expressionlessly, placed it on the table in the inner hall, and motioned to Han Xu to take a look.

This is the "Constitutional Affairs" approved by the emperor.

"Since His Majesty came to the throne, I have long been dissatisfied with the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Department of Education. Because of those people, I have been reprimanded by Your Majesty many times."

"The incident that happened a few days ago when the former ministers of Xiyuan were admonished, even if Bi Ziyan and others tried to smooth things over, the emperor would not be able to let it pass so easily."

"How many times have I told you to take care of the people below, otherwise something will happen sooner or later."

Hearing this, Han Xu angrily picked up the teapot and poured himself tea, then drank it all in one gulp and said unhappily.

"What's going on? Something happened."

"Control, how to care?"

Zhang Wenda was quite angry when he heard that Han Xu was making an afterthought here.

"Those people are all stupid young people, and they are not all from Donglin. They think they can plead for the people just by reading some sage books."

"Every time I was reprimanded by the emperor, I would call those people together for a meeting at the Metropolitan Procuratorate. During the meeting, everyone would agree happily."

"But in fact, I'm so full of tricks that I won't listen to me at all."

"Then there's no need for you to become an official."

After hearing Zhang Wenda's words, Zhou Jiamo hated the fact that iron cannot become steel.

"You were not present that day. Even if the emperor wanted to punish you severely, with us advising you from the side, there would still be room for change."

"Your Majesty is already murdering me. If I leave now, I can still save my life."

Hearing this, Zhang Wenda sighed.

"This thing is placed on my desk. If I don't leave, the emperor will really hang my head on the Daming Gate."

"You're impulsive."

Hearing Zhang Wenda's reasons for becoming an official, Han Xu also sighed.

"Those people don't listen to advice. Just write to His Majesty and tell His Majesty that those people are causing trouble. Why do you have to come here?"

"How do you explain it?"

"Tell your Majesty, are those people forming a clique for selfish purposes and trying to force the palace?"

Hearing Han Xu's words, Zhang Wenda became even more angry.

"Is it better to tell the emperor clearly that I, Zhang Wenda, am a loser and can't control my officials?"

"No matter what I say in the letter, my old face will be completely disgraced by then."

In the position of Zuo Du Yushi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, he was like a rat in the bellows, suffering from both sides.

The emperor saw that he was unhappy, so his men gave him some work.

If you directly tell the emperor that you can't control people, then I'm afraid it's not an official appointment, but an edict from the emperor to remove him.

Telling the emperor that these people are forming a clique for personal gain would be a direct act of betrayal.

Let’s not talk about how the emperor will deal with it.

It was these people and the forces behind them who would have killed him five times without any regard.

Only the emperor can determine the nature of forming parties for personal gain.

"I regret taking over the position of Zuodu Yushi from Guangmiao in August last year."

Zhang Wenda shook his head in pain and looked at the two of them, his face full of bitterness.

When has it been easier to sit in the position of Chief Constitution Officer of the Ming Dynasty?

Starting from the time of Zhu Yuanzhang, the Ming Dynasty changed Zuodu Yushi with frightening frequency.

Those who step down after working for a few months are called common, those who work for a full year are called rare, those who work for two years are called rare, and those who work for three years are called legends.

"A fire broke out at the city gate, which affected the pool area."

After listening to Zhang Wenda's words, Zhou Jiamo sighed helplessly and opened the book that Zhang Wenda took out.

"The sound of wind, rain, and reading are all in my ears."

"Care about family affairs, national affairs, and world affairs."

"A gentleman is a friend but not a partisan; a villain is a partisan but is not a friend; that is what a true gentleman is."

When Zhou Jiamo read out the emperor's final comments in a low voice, the room suddenly fell silent.

The party struggle that began at the end of Jiajing has long been on the table.

But as time goes by, this party and that party, you sing and I take the stage.

During this period, everyone maintained a tacit understanding.

Party strife is okay, but you can't put it in the open, especially you can't let the emperor define party formation for you.

Once the emperor opens his mouth, it's time to uproot him.

There was only one person who was raped by the emperor, and that was Yan Song during the Jiajing period.

"Previously, Your Majesty said, don't you believe in forming cliques for personal gain?"

After being silent for a while, Han Xu asked.

After hearing his words, Zhou Jiamo did not speak, but nodded silently.

"I'm afraid it's not that I don't believe it, but that I can't believe it."

He tapped his finger on the book, and Han Xu's expression changed.

"The Emperor does not want to cause turmoil in the court due to clique matters."

"You and I have already seen how smart the emperor is."

After hearing Han Xu's words, Zhang Wenda shook his head and said.

"The question we have to face now is, how did the couplet written by Gu Shushi (Gu Xiancheng) on ​​Donglin Academy reach His Majesty's ears?"

"do not know."

Handing the book to Zhang Wenda, Han Xu slowly sat down on the chair and shook his head.

Donglin often speaks out, and this couplet can be said to be the general outline of their actions in Donglin.

To put it simply, I want to take care of everything.

But the problem is that the meaning of this couplet runs counter to the emperor's current policy of ensuring power.

The emperor forbids overstepping his authority, so Dong Lin wants to control everything.

The conflict between the two sides is almost irreconcilable.

As Han Xu sat down, the room fell into strange silence again.

"Write to the South and ask for this couplet to be exchanged."

In the end, it was Donglin veteran Zhou Jiamo who broke the silence in the room.

"At this time, we can no longer let the emperor have a bad impression of our Donglin."

"If Donglin Academy disappears, then..."

Hitting the snake seven inches, the emperor came up and seized their weakest point - Donglin Academy.

The reason why the Donglin Party became powerful was because Gu Xiancheng rebuilt Donglin Academy and held the Donglin Conference, which brought together the world's great scholars.

Just like the West cannot lose Jerusalem, the Donglin Party cannot lose Donglin Academy.

If the emperor attacks Donglin Academy and simply seals it off, then the petty officials and officials gathered under their banner will leave them and join others.

When the time comes, Qi, Chu, Zhejiang, Xuankun and other parties will definitely add insult to injury and send them on their way.

Then the Donglin Party is really finished. "I'll go and tell Mr. Ye Ge to write the book and let me sign it."

Han Xu nodded and said to Zhou Jiamo.

"That's all."

As Zhang Wenda nodded, the three people in the room reached a consensus.

At the same time, in the outer hall.

Huang Zunsu murmured to himself while flipping the Beijing News in his hand while drinking wine.

"Three more to kill."

"Don't look at that, look at this."

Just as he was looking at it, someone suddenly thrust a newspaper in front of his eyes.

"Dibao?"

Seeing the words on the masthead, Huang Zunsu shook his head and pushed the thing aside.

"I've read this a long time ago."

Shaking his head, Huang Zunsu handed the Beijing Report to the other party and said.

"These three people are finished."

"Hmph, you've been greedy for so much money that you can't even wipe your butt clean. You deserve to be killed."

Hearing this, Zhou Shunchang, who was already a little drunk, threw the newspaper aside with disdain.

"What they say are all false and empty words. There are a few things that can be implemented to punish corrupt thieves."

Seeing Zhou Shunchang's actions, Huang Zunsu shook his head and stood up from the chair.

"I advise you to read the Beijing News carefully. What's on it is very important."

With that said, Huang Zunsu walked outside.

The master is in the back hall and won't come out, so there is no need to continue with the banquet.

Moreover, drunk people tend to talk nonsense, which may cause trouble.

It would be better for him to leave early.

After walking out of the room and looking up at the moon in the sky, Huang Zunsu shook his head helplessly, Zhou Shunchang, this idiot.

The emperor began to catch the wind, but the man couldn't tell.

After Wang Wenyan was arrested, the burden of advising Dong Lin fell on him alone.

But now Donglin has no one who can help him stand up.

Liu Yishen returned to his hometown, Han Xu was timid, Ye Xianggao studied history, and Zhang Wenda became an official.

As the emperor likes to use hard-working ministers, there is really no one among the many giants in Donglin who can take action.

If people's hearts are lost, it will be difficult to lead the team.

Sighing and walking out of the Zhang family courtyard, Huang Zunsu walked on the streets of Beijing with his hands behind his back.

Although the emperor is young, he has many tricks and is very playful.

Jinyiwei, a government office that had been suppressed by the civil servants to the point where even the commander-in-chief began to show favor to the civil servants, took on a new glory in the hands of the emperor.

Recalling the news in the newspaper about the discovery of corrupt officials by the Jin Yiwei in the Du Branch, Huang Zunsu shook his head depressedly.

Jinyiwei's yamen is always scolded, but when someone comes to the door, you have to be cowardly.

"Another Shizong came out, and the civil servants suffered."

Stepping on the cobblestone road, Huang Zunsu sighed secretly.

Power was too centralized. Once the emperor had an idea, officials had no way to restrict it.

"It's so long, come with me for a walk."

Just when Huang Zunsu was secretly feeling sad, a voice suddenly stopped him.

"Mr. Zhao."

Looking back, Huang Zunsu found that it was Zhao Nanxing, the Donglin boss who had already entered Beijing but had never been used by the emperor.

Without an official position, no matter how famous you are, not many people will take the initiative to join you.

After all, it is easy to add icing on the cake, but difficult to provide help when the time is right.

"I wonder if Mr. Zhao has anything to give me?"

After bowing to the other party, Huang Zunsu looked at the other party cautiously.

The internal forces in Donglin are divided into moderates and radicals.

The moderate faction is vaguely headed by Ye Xianggao, while the radical faction is headed by Zhao Nanxing in front of them.

Based on the emperor's employment habits - he likes to hire hard-working ministers, he still has a chance to make up for the censor.

Last year in Taichang, he was called to the capital, but he was promoted to an official position in Ningguo.

He didn't want to be caught and exposed at a critical moment because he was too close to Zhao Nanxing.

"I heard that Huang Zhen is good at planning things. I don't know what to think about this matter in the Beijing News?"

Zhao Nanxing asked softly without showing any sign of the other party's subconscious alienation.

"Your Majesty wants to stop Youyou Shilin's mouth."

Hearing this, Huang Zunsu's expression changed slightly, and then he said calmly.

"After the large-scale publication of Beijing News, some things are no longer as easy to do as before."

"Ah."

After listening to Huang Zunsu's words, Zhao Nanxing nodded and then arrived.

"These days, people from various places have come to Beijing to buy Beijing newspapers and transport them back for sale."

The two of them were watching the night. Zhao Nanxing raised his head and glanced at the moon, and then said.

"The late emperor neglected his administration and made the people in the world miserable. After your majesty ascended the throne, he stopped the dynasty, and it was difficult for him to speak kind words. If all the trends in various places fall into the hands of the Xuanzheng Secretary, the Ming Dynasty will really be hopeless. "

As he spoke, Zhao Nanxing sighed, as if he was truly a man who cared about the country and the people.

"There are businessmen from all over the country coming to Beijing to buy newspapers?"

Huang Zunsu's heart skipped a beat when he heard Zhao Nanxing's words.

"Is this serious?"

When the Beijing News was supplemented by the Di Bao, the emperor directly approached Wang Shunding, the general envoy, and then transferred Hong Chengchou from outside the capital to the capital to do the work. After getting on the bus, he did not make up for the ticket.

Even if the courtiers wanted to intervene, there was no way.

Submit the book directly?

Thank you, like a mud cow entering the sea.

Nowadays, the Beijing News published by the Xuanzheng Secretary is cheap and high-yield, and there are still Xuanzheng Secretary officials reading the newspapers in bustling places in the market.

If this policy is extended to the lower levels, and those ordinary people have such a source of information that can be obtained from the official channels of the imperial court, who will still think about listening to those scholars giving lectures and commenting on affairs?

If the people below them say something different from what is reported in the Beijing News, and people are paying attention, then something big will happen.

Because the contents of the Beijing report were reviewed by the emperor after the initial review by the Xuanzheng Secretary.

What you said is different from what was reported in the newspaper, then you must be wrong.

It is impossible that the emperor who made the final judgment was wrong.

"really."

Nodding to Huang Zunsu, Zhao Nanxing continued.

"The emperor transferred some craftsmen from the Three Classics Factory to work in the Information Office of the Xuanzheng Department, specifically responsible for publishing the Beijing News. Now some of the scribes in the newspaper offices in Beijing have lost their livelihoods."

"If this continues, our voices will become even smaller."

With that said, Zhao Nanxing looked at Huang Zunsu and asked.

"I want to start a civil servant newspaper. I wonder if you would be willing to help me?"

Only then did Zhao Nanxing express his purpose.

Let's see if we can get Huang Zunsu, Donglin's wise man, into his pocket.

"File a report?"

After hearing this, Huang Zunsu thought for a while, shook his head and said.

"My servant is soft-spoken and not good at words, so I dare not take on such an important responsibility."

"It's already quite late at night, so my family may be worried, so I'll take my leave first."

With that said, Huang Zunsu bowed to Zhao Nanxing and left in a hurry.

Zhao Nanxing is crazy.

This is what Huang Zunsu is thinking in his heart at this moment.

ps: When I was sorting out the outline, I found that I was in a bad state during this period. The things I wrote had a strong sense of disconnect and jump. I had a lot of content in my mind, but I couldn't write it out. Some of the plots will be greatly expanded. I will let you know after the changes are completed and everyone will refresh and watch it again.

(End of this chapter)