Zhang Juzheng looked at Zhou Hua for a long time, then suddenly sighed and said, "That's all, let's follow the imperial guidelines and national laws."
Zhang Jing nodded.
But then, he took out the imperial edict and shouted loudly:
"The imperial edict is to add Grand Master Zhang to Zuozhuguo, specially join Dr. Ronglu, and be granted the title of Jiangling Bo for his achievements in opening up frontiers. He will make it hereditary and order the eight-legged archway of 'Fu Bi Maoji' to be built in Jingzhou!"
"I will give Grand Master Zhang five thousand taels of silver for his return home, four sets of python robes of red ramie silk, and forty taels of gold, blessings and longevity as a gift to the high hall!"
"In addition, Ma Shilong, the commander-in-chief of the Jinwu Guard, will lead a thousand troops to escort him, and he will be ready to return home."
After Zhang Jing read this, he bowed and smiled at Zhang Juzheng and said, "Your Majesty ordered that the courtesy of thanks be waived. In addition, President Ma Qian has led his troops and is waiting ten miles away."
】
"The Lord Ming is very kind, but I accept it without any merit or virtue, but I dare not resist the decree, so I have to accept it shamefully."
Zhang Juzheng couldn't help being startled, and then he started to speak with a slight trembling in his mouth.
Zhang Jing said goodbye and left with the royal guards.
As soon as he left, the civil and military ministers who had been blocked outside by the imperial guards also came in to bid farewell to Zhang Juzheng.
Zhang Juzheng only nodded in agreement, and soon pretended to be asleep and ignored him, and only opened his eyes after boarding the ship.
Zhang Siwei and others only watched Zhang Juzheng and his family leave by boat.
Many civil and military officials came to see Zhang Juzheng off.
Censor Jiang Dongzhi also came here at this time, and he couldn't help but whisper to Li Zhi who was also here: "He died a good death and retired as a Taishi!"
"It's just begun!"
"If the powerful traitors are not punished, the way of heaven will not be clear!"
Li Zhi sneered and whispered.
…
"knew."
After Zhang Jing came back and conveyed Zhang Juzheng's words to Zhu Yijun, Zhu Yijun said this first.
Then, Zhu Yijun asked again: "How is the factory guard going?"
Zhang Jing said: "We have sent people to Nanzhi!"
Zhu Yijun nodded after hearing this: "Very good! If Mr.'s grievances are not redressed, the way of heaven will not be made clear, and nothing can go wrong in this matter!"
"Old slave understands!"
Zhang Jing replied.
Then, Zhu Yijun took out the secret message that Zhang Juzheng had sent to him before he left this morning, handed it to Zhang Jing and said: "Take it to the Minister of Imperial Affairs and ask him to draft a decree for the person recommended by Mr. to enter the cabinet and enter the political affairs hall to govern." .”
Zhang Jing raised his hands and said yes.
It turned out that before Zhang Juzheng left, he made a secret announcement. The content of the secret was to recommend Pan Cheng and Yu Youding, who resigned and returned to their hometown due to illness last year, to join the cabinet.
Although Zhang Juzheng said that the emperor must ultimately rely on himself, in action, he still recommended two cabinet ministers to Zhu Yijun who he considered reliable.
Zhu Yijun naturally did not refuse, but approved it, allowing Pan Cheng to serve as a former official and a bachelor of Wuyingdian; Yu Youding, who was in charge of Zhan's affairs and the left minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was promoted to be a minister of the Ministry of Personnel and a bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion. He works in the cabinet and participates in the political affairs hall to discuss major affairs.
Needless to say, Pan Cheng was a reformist minister whom Zhang Juzheng had long trusted.
And Yu Youding was born in Tanhua, and was historically Gui Youguang's advisor. His greatest political achievement was to advise Zhang Jiayin, the Minister of War, to solve the Hangzhou mutiny, thus avoiding a rebellion.
In short, people who are about to die can also speak kindly. The people Zhang Juzheng recommended before leaving were naturally recommended out of public conscience.
It is impossible for Zhu Yijun to be inaccurate.
As for the next chief assistant, Zhang Juzheng did not mention it.
But Zhu Yijun knew very well that Zhang Juzheng had obviously chosen someone for a long time.
It's just that Zhang Juzheng didn't say anything, and he didn't intend to reveal it prematurely.
The end of June in the tenth year of Wanli.
Under the blue sky and white clouds, on the clear water of the river.
Zhang Juzheng actually had the strength to stand up, and stood between the sky and water, overlooking the Chu River and the land.
The plot of returning to hometown seems to have been engraved in the genes of the Han people, so Zhang Juzheng is no exception.
Being able to return to his hometown safely, his illness seemed to be much better, and his complexion was restored a lot as if he had taken a miraculous medicine.
"Father, we are finally back."
Zhang Jingxiu also said something to Zhang Juzheng when he was about to return to Jiangling.
Zhang Juzheng put his hands behind his back, raised his long beard slightly, looked at the blue sky and said with a smile: "Yes, it is a blessing to have never died in a foreign country in this life!"
Soon, Zhang Juzheng boarded the shore with the support of Zhang Jingxiu, and entered Jiangling City, the capital of Jingzhou, accompanied by Ma Shilong and other officers and soldiers.
Naturally, Huguang officials and gentry had been waiting outside the city to greet him.
After Zhang Juzheng chatted with these officials and gentry for a while, he returned home without saying much to these officials and gentry on the grounds that he was still ill.
Just on the way back home, Zhang Juzheng discovered a lot of bad words about him because many posters and slogans in the lane had not been cleaned up. He suddenly gasped and fell down like a mountain.
Zhang Jingxiu hurriedly supported him: "Father! Don't worry, they may have left this on purpose, just to make you angry. They don't dare to be disrespectful to you, but secretly they just want to disgust you."
"All I know is that there are very few people in the world who know that I am upright! Especially the people from my hometown don't understand me."
Zhang Juzheng burst into tears as he spoke, but then he added: "As for those scholars who hate me, they will regret hating me, Zhang Juzheng. My departure may not be a good thing for them. I may even be the last one who can protect them." Live them decent people.”
After Zhang Juzheng said this, he regained his strength, and with the help of Zhang Jingxiu, he entered his mansion.
Just that night, when Zhang Juzheng came to the front yard to look at the place where he was enlightened as a boy, he heard the banging sound of the door knocker coming from outside.
"Father, who do you think it could be?"
"We are closed and we still need to visit."
"It can't be an official or imperial mission, right?"
Zhang Jingxiu asked.
Zhang Juzheng said: "You'll know just after opening the door and taking a look."
Not long after, people from Zhang's mansion opened the door, and suddenly, Zhang Jingxiu saw many scholars crowding outside the door.
"A gift to the Grand Master!"
At this time, a young scholar shouted, and then all the scholars bowed to Zhang Juzheng.
"Yuan Zongdao was born late."
"Late-born Geng Tingli."
"Late-born Xiong Tingbi."
…
"This is what you are doing?"
Zhang Juzheng was a little surprised.
"Yuan Zongdao, a late student, and his brothers and classmates came to Jingzhou to see the Grand Master. At the same time, he also wanted to let the Grand Master know that not all the locals regard the Grand Master as a traitor."
"Since ancient times, justice has been in the hearts of the people. However, today's scholarly etiquette is very bad. There are many bureaucrats and gentry who value profits and few who uphold integrity. For this reason, even the officials in Huguang and the Jin gentry in Chu often secretly hate the Taishi. They respect the Taishi openly but not secretly. We villagers are allowed to say good things about the Grand Master, and the tabloids that praise the Grand Master are strictly investigated by subordinate officials. The bureaucrats will also look for opportunities to deal with us. On the contrary, those who say bad things about the Grand Master are arrested on the surface, but in fact they are arrested. He was released again and again, even if he was taken into prison, he would still be provided with good food and drink."
"Besides that, they don't allow us to see the Grand Master."
"But we can't help but let the Grand Master see that they can't cover up the world with one hand."
"So, although we didn't dare to greet the Grand Master outside the city during the day, we must come to see the Grand Master now to let the Grand Master know that people's hearts are not completely unaware of the Grand Master's contribution to the country. As for the common people in this hometown, I think the Grand Master must I also understand that as long as they remain silent, it means they do not hate the Grand Master."
Yuan Zongdao raised his hands and started talking.
Seeing this, Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but laugh: "Thank you for your concern. If our Chu land can have all the outstanding people, then the outstanding people in our Chu land will surely prosper. Sit inside."
"The grand master is so complimentary."
"It's just that the Grand Master is seriously ill, so the younger students won't disturb the Grand Master."
Yuan Zongdao said something, and then he cupped his hands to Zhang Juzheng and said, "Farewell."
Seeing this, Zhang Juzheng had no choice but to nod.
The next day, Zhang Juzheng got up early and had people carry him to Taihui Mountain to worship his ancestors. After seeing that his ancestral tomb was intact again, he sighed and said: "Ancestors, unfilial descendants, Zhang Juzheng is back!" "
Then, with Zhang Jingxiu's support, Zhang Juzheng forcibly kowtowed.
Immediately, Zhang Juzheng was carried back home.
After returning home, Zhang Juzheng's condition suddenly worsened and he could no longer get out of bed. Within a few days, he began to breathe less and out more.
Zhang Jingxiu, Zhang Maoxiu, Zhang Yunxiu and others were naturally crying.
Zhang Juzheng also comforted his sons: "If you can return to your roots after falling leaves, you will have no regrets in this life. My son does not need to be sad!"
Then, Zhang Juzheng said nothing more and passed away suddenly, surrounded by only the sound of crying and the chirping of cicadas.
Fifty-eight years ago, in the hot summer, a baby boy was born in the Zhang family of the Liao King's Guard in Jiangling County, Jingzhou Prefecture, Huguang, and came to the world.
Also fifty-eight years later, in the hot summer, an old man passed away in the Zhang Mansion of Jiangling County, Jingzhou Prefecture, Huguang.
When Zhu Yijun received the urgent report reporting Zhang Juzheng's death, it was already the time of July's fire.
Zhu Yijun was silent about this for a long time, but did not say much. He only ordered to stay out of court for ten days and sent eunuch Wu Zhong and Hanlin Sun Ji to go to Jingzhou to pay homage on his behalf.
