Xu Jie obviously did not expect that Yan Song would unabashedly use the word "worm" to evaluate these people. After being stunned for a moment, he responded with words.
"What Mr. Yan Ge said makes sense. These people are just complete insects. They usually receive the salary from the imperial court and don't think about how to share the worries of His Majesty. Instead, they go against the imperial court at every turn!"
When Yan Song heard this, he couldn't help but have a look of surprise on his face, and secretly complained.
"What you just said, no matter how you look at it, you are talking about yourself. You, Xu Jie, are the biggest insect in the Ming Dynasty!"
"Hmph, compared to you, Xu Jie, I, Yan Song, can be considered loyal to the country!"
Then, perhaps because Yan Song's patience had been exhausted by Xu Jie, he turned his eyes to Xu Jie and said.
"Mr. Xu Ge, we have been officials in the same court for so many years. If you have anything to say, just say it directly!"
After hearing this, Xu Jie chose to tell his purpose after hesitating for a long time: "I wonder if Mr. Yan Ge has received the news. In order to oppose the imperial court's new examination subjects in the next year's imperial examination, those guys even started to go everywhere. Connect in series and prepare to submit a letter to His Majesty through those officials!"
After Yan Song listened to Xu Jie's narration, the expression on his face did not change much. He just nodded and responded.
"Well, I have already received relevant news before this!"
After Yan Song finished speaking, he looked away from Xu Jie, sneered, and continued to add.
"Hmph, they have learned their lesson this time and plan to use those officials to force His Majesty to submit!"
When Yan Song said this, he seemed to suddenly remember something, and immediately brought the topic back to Xu Jie.
"By the way, Mr. Xu Ge, why did you tell me this specifically?"
Seeing the confused expression on Yan Song's face, Xu Jie seemed to have made up his mind and said in a deep voice.
"Old Yan Ge, I hope you can let me deal with these officials later!"
When Yan Song heard Xu Jie's words, his face was full of surprise that could not be concealed, and he subconsciously asked: "Mr. Xu Ge, is what you said true?"
Xu Jie met Yan Song's gaze, nodded solemnly, and responded: "Of course it's true!"
Yan Song couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this. Although he didn't know what Xu Jie was planning, it was great that Xu Jie was willing to stand up and deal with those officials.
Yan Song clearly remembered that among those officials, there were many ruthless characters, such as Hu Yingjia or Ouyang Yijing.
The most powerful among them is Ouyang Yijing, who is currently serving as a criminal officer. From the seventh rank to the third rank and above, more than 20 civil and military officials fell into his hands.
Not only that, this Ouyang Yijing also impeached the British Duke Zhang Rong. This was one of the few noble empresses in the Ming Dynasty who still retained military power!
Generally speaking, after being a noble like Zhang Rong, the civil and military officials of the dynasty, no matter how high your rank is, you have to be careful to build a good relationship with others, because one day, you may have a problem with others. .
But this Ouyang Yijing was a good man. Not only did he not give anyone face, but he said nothing and used the reason of being incompetent in military and political affairs. All nine people were impeached, except Zhang Rong who was exempted from punishment because he was a meritorious queen. All of them were demoted to varying degrees.
Since then, Ouyang Yijing has become famous in the court, and countless high-ranking officials have changed their minds after hearing about him. Even if Yan Song has power in the court and has many followers, they are not willing to antagonize him.
I don't know how much time passed, but Yan Song came back to his senses and looked at Xu Jie with a hint of respect in his eyes.
"Well, Mr. Xu Ge, that's it. It's up to you to deal with those officials later!"
"Well, it's settled!"
Seeing that the matter had been finalized, the two immediately stopped talking and headed towards the cabinet together.
After the two entered the cabinet, they sat in their respective seats and dealt with relevant memorials.
Not long after, Zhang Juzheng, Yan Shifan, Gao Gong and others also came to the cabinet one after another. At this moment, their faces were full of solemn expressions, and they had no intention of dealing with the memorial in front of them.
The reason is very simple. Before this, they all got the news more or less.
I know that today, those officials plan to write to His Majesty about the new arithmetic subject that the imperial court will add to the imperial examination in the coming year, hoping that it will be withdrawn.
But soon, they discovered that Yan Song and Xu Jie looked as usual, with no trace of panic on their faces, and were still processing the memorials in their hands.
Seeing this, Gao Gong thought about his words, mustered up the courage, looked in the direction of Yan Song and Xu Jie, and asked.
"Mr. Yan Ge, Mr. Xu Ge, do you know that those officials are planning to gather together today to submit a letter to His Majesty?"
Before Xu Jie had time to speak, he was overtaken by Yan Song on the side. An inexplicable smile appeared on Yan Song's face and he explained to Gao Gong: "You don't have to worry about this matter. Mr. Xu Ge came with me just now." As I said, he is responsible for this matter!"
When Yan Song said this, he paused for a moment, then looked in the direction of Xu Jie and asked.
"Mr. Xu Ge, am I right?"
Yan Song's words naturally aroused the other people in the cabinet to be surprised, and all their eyes fell on Xu Jie.
Facing everyone's gaze, Xu Jie had no choice but to answer bravely.
"Well, yes, I will be responsible for dealing with those officials later, so as not to let them disturb His Majesty's Qingxiu!"
After Xu Jie finished speaking, everyone present except Yan Song cast admiring glances at him.
Because they know very well how difficult those officials are!
But now, Xu Jie, as the second minister of the cabinet, is actually willing to take the initiative to take on this arduous task. As the saying goes, a gentleman should judge his deeds regardless of his heart. No matter what Xu Jie's ultimate goal is, since he is willing to step forward to deal with those officials, this In any case, it is something worthy of recognition.
After Xu Jie looked around, he couldn't help but secretly cried out: "Xu Jie, Xu Jie, you brought all this on yourself!"
"You said why you sent people to investigate that matter in the first place. It's better now to put yourself in such a dangerous situation!"
Xu Jie knew very well that he was currently in a dilemma. The previous incident of sending people to investigate the transportation of grain to Zhejiang had aroused His Majesty's suspicion. This could be seen from the sudden increase in the number of Jinyi guards near his home. .
And now, in order to make up for the crime, I will have to stand up and deal with those officials for His Majesty, because only in this way can I obtain His Majesty's forgiveness and turn the crisis into peace.
Between the emperor and those officials, Xu Jie resolutely decided to stand in the emperor's camp. Today, if those officials want to meet the emperor, they must step over his own body!
"I hope things won't be too embarrassing by then, otherwise, those officials will make a fuss again!"
"Xu Jie, you have to bear it next!"
Xu Jie warned himself in his heart, and the look on his face gradually became determined.
…
On the other side, there is the Forbidden City and the Qianqing Palace.
Jiajing looked at Lu Fang who was kneeling in front of him with an indifferent expression and asked.
"What did you say just now that those officials wanted to write a letter to persuade me to withdraw my order?"
When Lu Fang heard this, a look of embarrassment appeared on her face at the right time. After considering her tone, she answered carefully.
"Yes, Your Majesty, it is said that the official who took the lead this time is Hu Yingjia!"
After hearing Lu Fang's answer, Jiajing's eyes flashed with disgust and he immediately spoke.
"These officials spend all day thinking about how to trouble me. They are not allowed to do this or that!"
"Every day I keep saying that the laws of our ancestors are immutable. To describe them with the word rotten Confucianism is to praise them. They are just like insects. Sooner or later I will deal with them!"
Seeing this situation, Lu Fang quickly calmed down and comforted her: "Your Majesty, please calm down!"
After Lu Fang finished speaking, he paused for a moment, and then suggested to Jiajing: "Your Majesty, do you need a slave sect for this matter..."
Before Lu Fang could finish her words, she was coldly interrupted by Jiajing: "No, just let the wind go and say that I am ill and no one will see you!"
Hearing this, Lu Fang's face was full of hesitation, and she turned around and said: "But Your Majesty, wouldn't this give those officials a chance to gain fame and reputation? If they hit the wall in anger, wouldn't it make them successful?" reputation, when the time comes..."
When Jiajing heard this, he did not show any surprise on his face. Instead, he turned his gaze to Lu Fang and said to himself.
"Don't worry, someone will come forward to solve this problem for me!"
Hearing this, Lu Fang couldn't help but have a look of surprise on her face, and subconsciously asked: "Your Majesty, the person you are referring to, is it Xu..."
However, before Lu Fang finished speaking, he met Jiajing's meaningful gaze and immediately closed his mouth and said no more words.
Jiajing took in the expression on Lu Fang's face, turned his eyes away from Lu Fang, and asked.
"If I don't want to pursue the previous incident, Xu Jie must do something. Are you right, Lu Fang?"
When Lu Fang heard this, a look of admiration suddenly appeared on his face, and he began to flatter Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, this way, you don't have to face those officials!"
In fact, Lu Fang still had one sentence in her heart that she hadn't finished yet: "If you keep complaining bitterly about the official, Xu Jie will be the one to take the blame!"
…
In the cabinet, everyone seemed to be quietly dealing with the memorials in their hands, but in fact, their hearts were not at peace, because in a short while, a storm was coming.
Not long after, I saw a subordinate official walking into the cabinet tremblingly with a stack of memorials in his arms.
Seeing this situation, everyone suddenly understood. They stopped correcting the memorials in their hands and turned their attention to the subordinate official.
Suddenly being stared at by so many eyes, the subordinate official immediately panicked. He trembled, looked in the direction of Yan Song and Xu Jie, and reported respectfully.
"Ge...Mr. Ge, this...here is the document handed over by Hu Yingjia and other officials. He, they want to..."
Before the subordinate finished speaking, he was coldly interrupted by Xu Jie: "Okay, I know this, bring it over!"
After Xu Jie's words fell, the subordinate immediately breathed a sigh of relief and quickly placed the large pile of folders handed over by Yan Guan in front of Xu Jie.
Xu Jie didn't even look at the pile of papers, and immediately gave instructions to the subordinate official.
"Okay, you have nothing to do here, go down!"
After Xu Jie finished speaking, the subordinate glanced at Xu Jie gratefully, and then responded in a deep voice.
"As you command, Mr. Ge!"
After the subordinate official left, Xu Jie put the finished memorials aside, and then took out one from the pile next to him handed over by Yan Guan, and began to taste it carefully. .
"Well, this is a good letter, with sharp words and gorgeous writing, but the last paragraph lacks some fire!"
As Xu Jie spoke, he handed the envelope in his hand to Yan Song who was standing aside: "Mr. Yan Ge, take a look!"
Upon hearing this, Yan Song immediately took the folded book from Xu Jie's hand, slightly adjusted the reading glasses he was wearing, and immediately began to browse the contents.
After a long time, Yan Song put down the zhezi in his hand and said with emotion.
"Well, the whole article is indeed good. It's such a pity. Why do you have to mix it with Yan Guan?"
Although Yan Song and Xu Jie often have a lot of quarrels with each other, and they have almost come to the point of life-and-death quarrels, they have highly consistent views on officials. Among those officials, except for a few who truly serve the country and the people, Except for those who speak out for justice, the vast majority of people are out-and-out bugs!
Since the Song Dynasty, there has been a tradition not to kill Yanguan, at least on the surface. For the emperor, those Yanguan were just mascots used to decorate his appearance, to shape his image. An image of being open-minded and accepting advice.
Because of this, those officials who spoke out would not be punished for their words. Even if they offended the emperor, they would only be dismissed from their posts and returned to their hometowns!
And this is precisely the best reward for those officials, because only in this way can they establish an image for themselves as someone who serves the country and the people, speaks uprightly and suffers persecution, and it is best to be able to secretly scold someone. scold the emperor.
With such an operation, you will gain fame and fortune. If you are lucky enough, you may even be able to leave your name in the history books.
It was precisely because of this that when the emperor saw Yan Guan, he was a mute eating coptis and could not express his sufferings.
You said you didn't want to deal with him, but he slapped his nose in his face again, and was so arrogant that he almost dragged out eighteen generations of your ancestors and scolded him.
But if you really make up your mind to deal with him, he cited the reason that no official has ever been convicted for his words, and then listed several famous emperors in history who were willing to accept advice humbly to advise you, Your Majesty, can you Think twice!
Because of this, the emperor must not face Yan Guan directly!
(End of chapter)
