"Then what are you going to do, brother?"
Zhang Sijiao then asked.
Zhang Siwei said confidently without thinking: "Nowadays, Lu Huo and a large number of so-called key criminals who are plotting rebellion in Nanchang need to be dealt with urgently. I believe that since Jiangling wants to arrest these people, he will naturally deal with them strictly to pave the way for the New Deal. In this case, the Minister of Punishment, who is responsible for judging and determining punishment, is very important!"
After saying that, Zhang Siwei said: "We can guarantee that Hai Rui will be promoted to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Justice! Jiang Ling will naturally like this;"
"Besides, it is not appropriate to let Hai Rui take up his idle position now. Jiang Ling could easily find out the clues. After all, Jiang Ling intends to use Hai Rui as a god and Buddha to kill everyone!"
"Compared to letting him stay in the other six ministries and the Metropolitan Procuratorate, letting him stay in the Ministry of Justice will have a much smaller impact. At most, it will make the world's bureaucrats more strict in their relationships."
"What my brother is saying is that I will find a way to impeach Yan Gongzhi (Yan Qing), the current chief minister!"
Zhang Sijiao laughed as he said this: "Yan Qing is not Jiang Ling's crony, so he can be impeached. Besides, it is much easier to find fault with Yan Qing than with Hai Rui."
Zhang Siwei also nodded and smiled.
Then, Zhang Sijiao said: "But, brother, in my humble opinion, in the future when you are in charge of the country, you can no longer allow people like Hai Rui who rebel against the king and father to not be executed! Living gods are not as useful as dead gods. "Those who admonish the king will die regardless of whether they are right or wrong!"
"This is not about the emperor's face, but about the ethics and education of the world! We don't need the power of ministers to be greater than the power of kings. We only need the principle of kings, ministers, fathers, sons, and sons in the world to continue forever!"
"Even if the monarch is immoral, he should not deal with him openly, he can just plot in secret. Besides, plotting against a single man is much easier than plotting against a group of scholar-bureaucrats with a reputation as scholars!"
Zhang Siwei nodded and glanced at Zhang Sijiao: "You are right. Xu Huating was bewitched by Wang Xue, so he thought of pretending to be a king and to be a minister. In the end, he cultivated a Zhang Taiyue by himself and kept him. A Haigangfeng, and these two people should make him and even the whole Shilin extremely uncomfortable now!"
"But in fact, it is better to admit that the king's way is the way of heaven, and that the king's virtue is heaven's virtue, and to let the king and father govern alone, than to let the scholar-bureaucrats have the ambition to correct the king's gains and losses and to benefit the common people of the country!"
"So, I am your Majesty's true loyal minister, but Jiang Ling is not! The so-called loyalty to the emperor and the fullest plan for the emperor are just Jiang Ling's cover-up for violating the principles."
Zhang Siwei straightened his chest and really felt that he was more upright than Zhang Juzheng.
Zhang Sijiao also nodded in agreement: "Your Majesty will reuse my brother. No emperor will like a powerful minister. When the time comes, my brother will use your Majesty's hand to abolish the Jiangling New Deal! If your Majesty refuses, he will plot in secret!"
Because Zhang Sijiao was having a private conversation with his brother in the courtyard of the official residence, and even the serving maid was standing fifty steps away, he spoke more directly to Zhang Siwei in a low voice, and made a knife-clash gesture with his palm. .
Zhang Siwei didn't say anything.
The next day.
The winter rain is slightly cold, and the inside and outside of the Forbidden City are misty like a fairyland.
And in the political hall.
Zhu Yijun appeared here and formally began to discuss with the ruling ministers the affairs of the Nanzhi democracy movement that Hai Rui was organizing.
The imperial meeting system was originally a large collegial system with as few as thirty people and as many as hundreds of people. It was mainly used to discuss matters of great concern.
However, because Zhu Yijun did not want too many people to participate in the resolution, which would affect the progress and confidentiality, so after the establishment of the Political Affairs Hall, he limited the number of people who could participate in the resolution. Now only the ruling ministers of the Political Affairs Hall and those specially summoned can come together. Participate in resolutions.
The court meeting did not require the presence of the emperor. The ministers only needed to report the results of the deliberations to the emperor for his knowledge and decision.
However, Zhu Yijun was diligent and wanted to see the performance of these ministers in person. At the same time, because Zhang Juzheng wanted him, the emperor, to be present, he came to the political hall in person.
Cabinet Chief Assistant Zhang Juzheng, Privy Councilor Fang Fengshi, bachelors Zhang Siwei, Ma Ziqiang, Shen Shixing, as well as the Minister of Personnel Liu Yingjie, the Minister of Rites Pan Cheng, the Minister of Hubu Zhang Xueyan, the Minister of War and Assistant Minister of Rongzheng Yang Zhao, the Minister of War Liang Menglong, Yan Qing, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, and Gu Xiancheng, the head of the Ministry of Personnel, both bowed after Zhu Yijun appeared.
Then, Zhu Yijun first noticed Gu Xiancheng, who was standing at the bottom.
He already knew that Gu Xiancheng was a representative elected by Nanzhi officials, and following his order, he specially attended the meeting of the political hall today.
But Zhu Yijun took a second look at him because he knew that Gu Xiancheng had caused a storm of party struggle with Li Sancai, Zhao Nanxing and others in history.
It was not difficult for Zhu Yijun to recognize Gu Xiancheng at this time, because among all the ministers attending the court meeting, only Gu Xiancheng did not have a seat and had to stand, and his official robe was not scarlet or a royal python robe.
"Tell me, how do you think the troubles in Nanzhi and Zhejiang should be handled?"
Zhu Yijun soon asked.
Fang Fengshi stood up first and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that the current incident cannot be regarded as a civil uprising, but should be regarded as a democratic movement. Because so far, it is reported that no large-scale riots have occurred, so in my opinion , it is not appropriate to label the people who are still making trouble in Nanzhi as anti-people, because they are different from the thieves and bandits who made trouble before. Therefore, there is no need for the court to spend a lot of money and mobilize troops to quell the rebellion, which will cause greater damage to the local area. The disturbance caused instability in the southeast, which in turn affected the subsequent war against the Japanese."
"Your Majesty, I agree with what Prime Minister Fang said. It should not be treated as counterinsurgency."
Pan Cheng also stood up and said: "In addition, I would like to request an order to go to Nanzhi and eastern Zhejiang to mediate the dispute between the scholars and the people, which can be regarded as restoring peace to the hometown as soon as possible! Today's matters need to be generous and favorable. People, and since I am a native of Jiangnan, I should take the initiative to take charge of this matter."
"Your Majesty! I don't think it's appropriate to ask the great uncle to mediate!"
At this time, Gu Xiancheng suddenly raised his hand and replied.
Zhu Yijun glanced at the future founder of Donglin Academy and asked, "Why?"
Gu Xiancheng said: "Your Majesty, it is clear to you that Uncle Da Zong has always been called the Living Bodhisattva in the countryside. He is often made things difficult for the poor people and dare not complain. If Uncle Da Zong goes to mediate, he will only subjugate the rich and make things difficult for the people, making all the gentry resentful." , and may turn his hatred towards the imperial court!"
Pan Cheng looked at Gu Xiancheng.
At this time, Liu Yingjie, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, stood up and also said: "Your Majesty, I also think that Da Zongbo is not suitable for mediation. In addition to the reasons mentioned by Chief Gu, Da Zongbo was Feng Bao's teacher and had a relationship with Quan Yu. Too close, even though Hanlin professors and eunuchs are in the old Xuanmiao system, the eldest uncle never scolded Feng Bao when he was in power, which shows that this person is cowardly and unable to do anything, so it may be difficult to achieve anything."
Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but glance at Liu Yingjie when he heard what Liu Yingjie said.
"Your Majesty, my lord!"
Pan Cheng wanted to explain.
But Gu Xiancheng took the initiative at this time and suggested: "Your Majesty, I recommend Mr. Shen Ge to go to Jiangnan to mediate the disputes between scholars and people. Mr. Shen Ge has always been calm and knowledgeable. He is also a prominent family in Wu and has many contacts with Jiangnan officials. Naturally, it is more suitable for the imperial court to be in charge than the great uncle Zong."
After hearing this, Zhu Yijun looked at Shen Shixing: "Shen Qing, what do you think?"
Shen Shixing glanced at Gu Xiancheng, then stood up and said: "Your Majesty, because I am from Wu and originally from a prominent family in Wu, I ask your Majesty to allow me to keep silent, so as not to be suspected of shielding the squire and subjugating the common people."
Zhu Yijun nodded after hearing this, and then looked at the others: "What do you think of this?"
At this time, Zhang Juzheng stood up and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that Duke Shen is an upright person and can go south to mediate the disputes between scholars and people on behalf of the emperor."
Zhang Siwei also followed at this time and said: "Your Majesty, I also think that it is feasible to apply for the Duke."
Seeing this, Gu Xiancheng raised his lips slightly, but then frowned again.
At this moment, Wang Guoguang stood up and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that Duke Shen should not be responsible for this matter. His departure will bring out the arrogance of the eunuchs in the south of the Yangtze River. In my opinion, I should choose a northerner to go south."
"How do the people in the north know the reason, and how can they convince the gentry?"
At this time, Zhang Juzheng asked Wang Guoguang.
Ma Ziqiang was worried that Zhang Juzheng might be deliberately cultivating Shen Shixing and was ready to kick him out to make way for Shen Shixing at any time, so he hurriedly said:
"Your Majesty, I agree with Yuan Fu's words. This is not to send floating officials to stay in the local area, but to send high officials to mediate. Therefore, it is not appropriate to use northerners."
Because Zhang Juzheng agreed, and Zhang Siwei, Ma Ziqiang, Liu Yingjie all agreed, and other ministers also agreed, Zhu Yijun finally decided to let Shen Shixing go to Nanzhi as an imperial envoy of the emperor, citing Hai Rui's failure to appease the people. , and was responsible for mediating the disputes between scholars and people in Nanzhi.
