Zhu Yijun nodded and said, "Then let Zhang Wei serve in the cabinet as a bachelor of Dongge University."
"According to the order!"
As a result, Zhang Wei became the new cabinet minister.
Zhu Yijun was not very clear about Zhang Wei, but what he knew was that historically Zhang Wei belonged to the main militant faction in the matter of whether to aid Korea in declaring war against Japan. The most famous one should be that he advocated the annexation of North Korea and suggested that Wanli should lead the Eighth Route Army in North Korea. Set up officials and garrison troops in the fields.
As a result, Shen Shixing was officially approved by Zhu Yijun to return to his hometown as an official.
The new first assistant has not yet been determined.
In other words, for Shen Shixing, being able to be the first assistant for ten years, make great achievements, and retire unscathed is the most ideal career outcome for scholar-bureaucrats.
This can be considered a prosperous age. In addition, the emperor's interest growth mainly comes from external expansion rather than from the benefits of wealth growth through the confiscation of the homes of internal powerful bureaucrats.
Therefore, as long as the ministers are wise, they can return to their hometowns safely and securely.
The monarch and his ministers are also more humane and less wary of each other.
The next day.
Shen Shixing went to Ben and asked for an interview.
Zhu Yijun therefore allowed him to meet his Majesty in the Wenhua Hall, and the time was set at three o'clock in the Yin hour.
After Shen Shixing received the decree, he entered the palace on the second day.
In the thirty years since he became the number one scholar in the 41st year of Jiajing, Shen Shixing spent most of his time in the capital as an official. He also entered the palace countless times and was extremely familiar with the imperial city.
But now, when he thought about leaving here, Shen Shixing, who was nearly sixty years old, felt a little sad and couldn't help but look up at the sky.
The sky above the red eaves is as blue as washing, and the clouds and snow are as white as newly embroidered flowers.
Shen Shixing raised the corner of his mouth slightly. It seemed that this was the first time he had taken a leisurely look at the sky of the Forbidden City.
However, after approaching the Wenhua Hall and seeing Zhu Yijun's imperial appearance on the jade platform, Shen Shixing calmed down his expression again, and his heart seemed to be trapped again.
After all, in Shen Shixing's impression, the emperor in front of him was the most diligent in his political work among the kings he was loyal to. As long as he was in Beijing, he would meet the emperor almost every day, which was more opportunities than the previous two generations of emperors when they were in power. Much more.
Of course, Shen Shixing obviously didn't know how reluctant Wanli was in history to meet with ministers. In this life, Shen Shixing really felt that Wanli was a very diligent king.
Therefore, for Shen Shixing, Zhu Yijun's transformation from a childlike appearance to a razor-sharp face and a thickening beard was a gradual change as he watched him grow up day by day.
Now at the first thought of separation, Shen Shixing felt a little reluctant. He didn't know if there would be a chance to see the emperor again in the future.
Having been an emperor for three generations, he knows better than anyone else that the most respectful person to a close minister like him is the Wanli Emperor in front of him. It is not just that he does not have to kneel down and sit down and give hand-burners. The key point is From his usual conversation, he could tell that the current emperor did not have the kind of self-respecting attitude of a king in front of his ministers, which made him feel like he could not let go of his confidant.
Zhu Yijun is indeed very accustomed to using Shen Shixing as his first assistant, even more so than Zhang Juzheng.
What's more, strictly speaking, Zhang Juzheng was not the first assistant he chose. Because of his status as a minister and teacher, Zhang Juzheng didn't care too much about the emperor's emotions.
Shen Shixing was different. He really treated Zhu Yijun as a venerable person and would take the initiative to take care of Zhu Yijun's emotions, which made Zhu Yijun feel like a spring breeze.
Among the ministers of the Ming Dynasty, there are not many people who really care about the emperor's personal feelings like Shen Shixing. Affected by the entire cultural atmosphere, the more loyal ministers are, the less aware they are of taking care of the emperor's personal feelings, while Shen Shixing is both loyal and loyal. Those who take care of the emperor's personal feelings are actually very rare.
This is related to Shen Shixing’s personal growth experience.
He was born to a nun and was an illegitimate son of his father. He was not tolerated by his family, so he was adopted by his father's friend Xu Shangzhen. He had been living under the influence of others since he was a child, and he had always followed people's looks. Therefore, he had developed the ability to observe people's emotions since he was a child, and he also particularly cared about how others treated him. Is it respected.
Therefore, he could feel in subtle ways how lazy and precious an emperor like Zhu Yijun was, and only he would habitually care about the emperor's personal feelings and cooperate with the emperor in doing things to please him.
But just as a country cannot stay in its comfort zone for a long time, a person cannot stay in its comfort zone for a long time. Zhu Yijun cannot keep using Shen Shixing just because he brings him a sense of comfort.
"His Majesty!"
Shen Shixing bowed to Zhu Yijun first.
Zhu Yijun smiled and said: "Jiangnan is a gentle and prosperous place. Master Shen will definitely live a life like a fairy when he returns."
"Thanks to Your Majesty's great blessing, I can live the rest of my life in this prosperous dynasty."
Shen Shixing cupped his hands and replied.
Zhu Yijun nodded, and then said: "The country is as prosperous as it is now, and it is also due to Master Shen's own hard work, so after leaving the capital, you can take a good look and see if your many years of officialdom are worth it."
Shen Shixing bowed his hands and said yes, and said: "My only regret is that I cannot go to the south of the Yangtze River with your majesty. First, I will accompany you to worship Taizu at Xiaoling, and then go to Gusu to introduce to your majesty the prosperity of our dynasty's industry. Now I can only go first and do it for you." Your Majesty will first explore the folk customs and look for ingenious things and local tastes, and then wait for Your Majesty to come to Jiangnan to inspect the implementation of state affairs!"
"That's very good."
"If I go south, I will summon Master Shen to come."
Zhu Yijun replied with a smile.
Shen Shixing also smiled at this time and replied: "I accept the decree! Please rest assured, your majesty. After I return to my hometown, I will do more good deeds, advocate new etiquette, set up industries without losing land, and encourage my children to go abroad and see the world." He is broad and knows that the future of the country is far-reaching, so he will not be allowed to stay in his hometown and be content in his hometown, but he will only read books, watch the scenery, and keep fit, just to wait for His Majesty's southern tour."
Zhu Yijun nodded: "You know what I want to hear, and what's rare is that you are willing to say it; I also know what you want to hear from me, and I am willing to help you."
With that said, Zhu Yijun ordered the eunuch Huang Xun: "Give him the decree I ordered Jiao Hong to draft!"
After hearing this, Shen Shixing hurriedly raised his eyes and looked at Huang Xun.
Huang Xun raised his hand and said yes, then took the imperial edict from the hands of the clerk Cheng Qing to Shen Shixing and said with a smile: "Yuanfu, accept the edict."
"No need to read it."
"Master Shen, just watch it yourself."
Zhu Yijun ordered at this time.
Shen Shixing took it and looked at it carefully. For a moment, his eyes turned red and tears welled up. Then he bowed to Zhu Yijun and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Since the country respects new rites, it is in line with etiquette for the imperial court to receive the imperial edict for meritorious service. The righteous person who raised the minister, Xu Shangzhen, can also be regarded as a meritorious service to the country. Therefore, the gift of an official title and the plaque of "Scholar-bureaucrat title" can also be regarded as promoting righteousness. If you change your status to the military and hang it in the Wenyuan Pavilion, you will be able to fulfill your long-cherished wish."
Zhu Yijun smiled and said, "Master Shen, please get up and sit down."
"yes!"
Shen Shixing replied, and then sat in front of Zhu Yijun.
Immediately, Zhu Yijun ordered: "Send the painter!"
After a while, a painter came with the order.
Shen Shixing sat up more upright.
Zhu Yijun said: "Let's draw it! By the way, draw a portrait of me and Master Shen sitting together in the Wenhua Hall, and hang it in the palace for me and future generations to admire."
The court painter agreed.
Shen Shixing, on the other hand, started to stare at the painter. He just couldn't help but want to cry, but he had to hold it back, thinking that he should smile at this time, otherwise he would be seen hanging behind Wenyuan Pavilion. I thought that Shen Shixing was not willing to reform, so he could only forcefully grin, which was quite unnatural for the moment.
"Master Shen, it's better to be more natural."
Seeing this, Zhu Yijun couldn't help but say something.
Shen Shixing just said "yes" and tried to act as naturally as possible.
Before I knew it, the sun was shining brightly, and the skilled painter had painted two images, a single portrait of Shen Shixing, and a portrait of Zhu Yijun and Shen Shixing sitting together in the Wenhua Hall.
"Send the prince a message!"
At this time, Zhu Yijun issued a new decree.
Not long after, Prince Zhu Changxun came here.
"I have met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
Shen Shixing quickly bowed.
Zhu Yijun told the prince: "Send your husband out of the palace later."
The prince raised his hand and said yes, and handed a piece of writing to Shen Shixing: "This is for sir."
"Thank you, Your Highness, for the words."
Shen Shixing took over the words and said something.
Zhu Yijun asked Shen Shixing: "Is there any progress?"
"Already has some of His Majesty's charm and a hidden edge."
Shen Shixing replied.
After hearing this, Zhu Yijun only looked at the portrait.
"Master Shen will go with me to Wenyuan Pavilion and watch them die. The prince will also go."
After Zhu Yijun looked at the portrait, he nodded with satisfaction and walked to Wenyuan Pavilion first.
Shen Shixing bowed his hands and said yes, raised his chest and raised his head, with a look of excitement on his face, as if he had returned to the scene in the past when the newly-ministered Jinshi would roll their names in the palace.
After Zhu Yijun personally brought the prince and Shen Shixing to Wenyuan Pavilion, the cabinet ministers Wang Xijue, Zheng Luo, Shen Li, and Yu Shenxing all came out of the pavilion to greet him. Then they, Zhu Yijun, Shen Shixing, and others looked at the portrait of Shen Shixing with their own eyes. It was hung on the right side of Zhang Juzheng's statue by the scribes and eunuchs.
Zhu Yijun looked at Shen Shixing at this moment: "Master Shen can now return home with peace of mind."
"Your Majesty, please take care of yourself!"
Shen Shixing choked for a while, and in the end he only said this brief sentence. Then, after reluctantly glancing at his portrait on Zhu Bi, he left Wenyuan Pavilion and left the palace gate accompanied by the prince.
Zhu Yijun looked at Shen Shixing's back and was silent for a long time. Then he looked at Zhang Wei and said, "According to you, you want to inspect North Korea and Japan?"
When Zhu Yijun said this, Wang Xijue, Zheng Luo, Shen Li and other cabinet ministers all looked towards Zhang Wei in astonishment.
Zhang Wei himself raised his head in astonishment, then thought about it for a moment, and returned with a cupped hand: "Your Majesty, yes, I would like to request an order to inspect North Korea and Japan."
"I'm sure!"
Zhu Yijun said with a smile, thinking that the person recommended by Shen Shixing was indeed reliable. He chose to admit all the things he made up out of thin air instead of denying them. He was obviously honest and available.
(End of chapter)
