Jinyi Town Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 583 The storm finally came
Before the storm comes, the sky is always calm.

Zhang Juzheng died of illness in June, and half a year passed in a blink of an eye.In the past six months, Emperor Wanli has been diligent in government affairs on the one hand.On the one hand, all localities are strictly ordered to build ancestral halls for Zhang Juzheng to praise his life's contributions.

The winter of Wanli ten years came quietly.

Inside and outside the capital, there was an auspicious snowfall.

In the He residence, He Liu and his son sat around the stove, eating stewed mutton and drinking wine.

He Shizhong said: "This winter is colder than usual. The capital is like this, let alone Liaodong, where dripping water turns into ice. Father, I will send someone to bring Yue'er, Zezhen, sister, and Hanjiao back to Beijing. Chinese New Year is coming soon. , our He family will always have a reunion."

He Liu shook his head: "Stupid! At this moment, Liaodong is [-] times safer than the capital!"

He Shizhong was somewhat disapproving: "Father, Mr. Zhang has been dead for half a year. I haven't seen any bloody storm in the court like you always said."

He Liu smiled wryly: "You are still very young. What should happen will always happen. Let's see, maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after tomorrow, the sky of the court will change."

The main hall of Yongshou Palace.

Emperor Wanli reviewed the memorial.Zhang Jing was on the side, refilling him with tea.

Emperor Wanli suddenly raised his head and said to himself, "The fire is almost here!"

Zhang Jing asked: "Your Majesty, do you mean that it's time for dinner? A pot of eight-flavored chicken soup was stewed in the imperial dining room at noon today, and it is indeed almost ready by now."

Emperor Wanli glanced at Zhang Jing: "Do you think what chicken soup I'm talking about?"

Zhang Jing's reaction was quick: "The emperor said that it's time to liquidate Zhang Juzheng?"

Emperor Wanli smiled meaningfully: "I didn't say anything."

Emperor Wanli took a sip of tea and took out a memorial: "This is the memorial submitted by Minister of Rites Pan Sheng yesterday. This Pan Sheng was recommended by Zhang Juzheng, right?"

Hearing this, Zhang Jing knelt down and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, this servant knows what to do!"

Pan Sheng, 63 years old, ranked second in the Jiajing Palace Examination for 20 years.In terms of qualifications as an official, he is even deeper than the late Zhang Juzheng.However, he was not allowed to be reused in the Jiajing and Longqing dynasties.It wasn't until Zhang Juzheng became the first assistant in the first year of Wanli that he was greatly promoted, all the way to the Minister of Rites.

Zhang Juzheng died, and Zhang Siwei succeeded him as the chief assistant.Due to the busy cabinet affairs, he had no time to take care of the affairs of the Ministry of Rites, so he resigned from the post of Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites.Pan Sheng was promoted to Shangshu.

It can be said that Pan Sheng was single-handedly selected by Zhang Juzheng, and he belongs to the hardcore Zhang Party.

Emperor Wanli first said that "the fire is almost here." This fire naturally refers to the fire to liquidate Zhang Juzheng.Then he said the name of the hardcore Zhang Dang.This was obviously implying that Zhang Jing used the rectification of Pan Sheng as a breakthrough to express his attitude to the courtiers: the emperor moved to liquidate Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Jing is a smart man, of course he understands Emperor Wanli's intentions.In the evening, he left Yongshou Palace and came to Zhang Siwei's residence.

Zhang Jing said to Zhang Siwei excitedly: "The day to liquidate Zhang Juzheng is finally here!"

Zhang Siwei tentatively asked: "Has the emperor spoken yet? Now I'm summoning the group of speech officers under my command to participate in Zhang Juzheng?"

Zhang Jing smiled and shook his head: "No. Now the officials in the court don't know that the emperor is going to liquidate Zhang Juzheng. The officials under your command havetily made up their minds to refer to Wen Zhonggong, who has been promoted to the altar, and other officials will look left and right, wandering Don't move forward!"

Zhang Siwei felt worried: "Ah? What do you mean by Mr. Zhang?"

Zhang Jingdao: "Let's look for Zhang Dang, the hardcore ginseng, and Pan Sheng, the Minister of Rites! The emperor will approve this memorial and punish Pan Sheng and send him to prison! This is tantamount to showing his attitude to the officials! An attitude of liquidating Zhang Juzheng !"

Zhang Siwei clapped his hands: "Wonderful! Eunuch Zhang, don't worry, this matter is on me!"

Three days later, Jinyiwei's stall.

He Liu was holding a broom, sweeping the dust off the file rack.He Shizhong walked in in a hurry.

He Liu looked back at his son: "What happened?"

He Shizhong took a sip of tea and wiped his mouth: "Yesterday Lei Shijiao and other seven censors jointly played the emperor. The Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Pan Sheng, committed three crimes of dereliction of duty, two crimes of corruption and bribery, and five crimes of violating etiquette! Just now, Eunuch Zhang came to Fusi of Beizhen to issue an order for our Jin Yiwei to imprison Pan Sheng."

The broom in He Liu's hand fell to the ground with a "clack", and he was dumbfounded.

He Shizhong asked: "Father, what's wrong with you?"

He Liudao: "It's time to come, it's finally here! Son, the emperor is going to attack Mr. Zhang! Who is Pan Sheng? He was one of Mr. Zhang's right-hand men!"

He Shizhong asked: "Father, what should our Fusi of Beizhen do now?"

He Liudao: "What should I do? Follow the rites and laws to handle the errands assigned by the emperor. You immediately lead someone to take Pan Shengsuo into the Imperial Prison. I'll go to the Supervisor of Rituals now to find you, Uncle Feng Bao."

Half an hour later, Si Li supervised the room.

Feng Bao is leisurely drinking a cup of fragrant tea.

He Liu walked in and said anxiously: "What time is it, you still have the mind to drink tea."

Feng Bao was puzzled: "Sixth Brother, what did you say? The world is peaceful and the government is stable. The emperor is now wise and wise, and can manage the government alone. I am the supervisor of ceremonies, so I am naturally free. .”

He Liu asked: "Do you know that the emperor just issued an order to punish Pan Sheng, Minister of the Ministry of Rites? Take away his official position?"

Feng Bao nodded: "I've heard about it before. It's not a big deal. It's nothing more than the fact that those speech officials had a personal grievance with Pan Sheng and avenged their private revenge. Pan Sheng is usually not a good official. It is reasonable for the emperor to punish him. .”

He Liu was in a hurry: "Feng Bao, are you really stupid or fake? Mr. Zhang single-handedly promoted Pan Sheng. By doing this, the emperor is sending a signal! A signal to liquidate Zhang Juzheng!"

Feng Bao disapproved: "Liquidize Zhang Juzheng? Impossible! Don't forget, I, Feng Bao, is still the eunuch with the palm seal of the ceremonial supervisor, and the assistant minister of the imperial court! Who doesn't know that I am an ally of Zhang Juzheng before his death. To liquidate Zhang Juzheng is equivalent to It's attacking my inner face! The emperor is the one I have looked up to since I was a child, and he will not give me face as a big companion."

He Liu was about to cry: "Feng Bao, my foster brother. To put it bluntly, you are taking yourself too seriously! Don't forget, the seal of the Supervisor of Ceremonies is just the emperor's servant! The emperor gives you power, and you have great power. If the emperor takes away your power, you are nothing!"

After Pan Sheng was convicted and sent to prison, there was indeed a gust of wind among the court officials.Rumors spread that the emperor wanted to liquidate Zhang Juzheng.Many fools among the officials fell to Zhang Siwei's side one after another, accumulating strength and preparing to launch a fatal blow to the dead Zhang Juzheng.

The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month in the tenth year of Wanli.

People in the capital are celebrating the Laba Festival.He Liu was not in the mood for any festival.He was sitting in the bedroom, holding a wooden box in his hand.Inside the wooden box is Zhang Juzheng's memorial to him at the beginning, "Minister, Commander Zuo Tongzhi of Jin Yiwei, Zhenshan Bohe Liushen Power Rape Zhang Juzheng's Ten Crimes".

Bai Xiaoyan came to He Liu's side: "It's time for dinner."

He Liu replied blankly: "You guys eat first."

Bai Xiaoyan sighed "ah", then she turned and left the bedroom.

He Liu sat on the chair until midnight.Finally, he made his own decision.

For the sake of the New Deal, for the well-being of the people of the world, and against my own conscience, I submit this memorial to the emperor!

(End of this chapter)