Nightfall
Ye Xianggao's courtyard was full of feasting and entertainment, with more than 20 court officials including Zuo Yu De Miao Changqi, Liu Mao from the Engineering Department, Zuo Qiandu Censor Cheng Zhengwei, Guanglu Temple Shaoqing Shi Jishi, Hanlin Academy Shuji Shi Zheng Yan and so on. Officials drank wine and chanted poems in the inner hall.
Although Ye Xianggao is sixty-four years old this year, as the saying goes, a man's heart never grows old, and he is still full of energy while having fun with his old friends. He feels that he is very healthy, otherwise he would not have reached this age. He also looked at the position of Yuan Fu in the cabinet.
As Ye Xianggao's friend and student, Miao Changqi also stood up first and said:
"Masters, please drink this cup to the full, and we will congratulate Taishan on returning to the capital!"
Everyone also showed their dignity and raised their glasses to congratulate him.
Miao Changqi filled his glass again with wine and said:
"Taishan is very resourceful and has a great position. This time he comes out to wipe out the decline of Donglin!"
"Why do I let you do this? Thank you very much!"
Ye Xianggao also quickly returned the greeting.
After the three glasses of wine were toasted, everyone sat down. Cheng Zheng, the censor of Zuo Qiandu, took the lead in speaking:
"What do you think of Song Yingxing's promotion to Minister of the Ministry of Industry?"
As soon as Cheng Zheng finished speaking, everyone fell silent instantly. Shi Jishi put down his wine glass and said:
"Hmph, a Juren suddenly became the Minister of the Ministry of Industry just because of an imperial edict from His Majesty. Is it possible that all the princes in the dynasty and all the scholars in the world are not as good as a Juren?"
"Not to mention that this person was just an idle scholar before and has no experience as an official. Even if he is talented, can he be compared to Jinshi like me and others who have been officials for many years?"
Liu Mao also said angrily:
"What kind of talent can a candidate have? I heard that Song Yingxing failed the examination in the 47th year of Wanli, and then went to Jiangxi. In my opinion, this person is probably a flatterer!"
When Liu Mao found out that a Juren had become his immediate boss, he almost jumped up. After all, he was also a Jinshi in the 41st year of Wanli, but now a mere Juren had climbed onto his head. It was really a shame and a great humiliation.
This was unacceptable to me no matter what, and I felt extremely unbalanced.
"Your Majesty, with this move, you really treat us as nothing. There are so many Jinshi in the Ming Dynasty, but Your Majesty wants one person to serve as the Minister of the Six Ministries. It chills the hearts of the world!"
Every time Miao Changqi thought about this, he would beat his chest with hatred. Why is the country like this? Why does His Majesty hate them so much, loyal ministers and good men?
And most of them are still envious and jealous. They cannot accept this ruthless reality. Why can't this person be me?
"His Majesty has long regarded us as nothing. What he has done since he ascended the throne is simply shameful. He favored the castrated dog factory guards and regarded us as enemies. Since the Chenghua period, we and other scholar-bureaucrats have been punished by being punished and cut in half. This kind of torture?"
"Since ancient times, punishments have not been given to scholar-officials, but how did your majesty treat us? If the factory guards are still here, it will be impossible for our Ming Dynasty to revive. Sir, the disasters caused by the factory guards are beyond ancient and modern times!"
"If we don't speak up for justice today, countless people will die under the butcher's knife of the factory guards tomorrow, and it is very likely that all the gentlemen here will be among them."
Zheng Yan could not be said to be unexcited. He was worthy of being a scholar of the Hanlin Academy. He spoke eloquently and quickly aroused everyone's emotions.
None of the people present had any relatives or friends who had suffered inhuman torture during this period. They deeply hated the factory guards.
Seeing this, Ye Xianggao quickly adjusted their emotions and reminded them not to lose the big for the small.
"Everyone, please listen to me!"
"In my opinion, we can test His Majesty's bottom line first!"
Miao Changqi cupped his hands and said:
"What's Taishan's plan?"
Ye Xianggao smiled slightly, touched his beard and said:
"Next time you go to court, you can use Song Yingxing's incident as an excuse to ask your Majesty to remove this person. If your Majesty does not remove him, we can do our part and publicize it widely among the people. It is best for everyone to know it, so forget it. Even His Majesty cannot withstand the pressure of the people in the world!"
"If Your Majesty removes Song Yingxing, then we will stop it when we see that it is better. We will ignore the factory guard for the time being. We must proceed step by step and not act too hastily. When the time is right, we can impeach him again and ask Your Majesty to remove the factory guard!"
"Let those workers and scholars take action first. Let them go to busy markets, temple fairs and other places to publicize the disaster of factory guards and win over people's hearts to prepare for emergencies!"
"In addition, we can send a letter to Yingtian Mansion to win over the gentry in Jiangnan first. If we fail, we can ask them to unite to resist the atrocities of the factory guards. Don't forget, 70% of the court's grain tax comes from Jiangnan provinces. !”
As soon as Ye Xianggao came up with this plan, everyone shouted that he was brilliant, and the joy on their faces could not be concealed at all.
Liu Mao even flattered him directly:
"Taishan deserves to be Yuan Fu. This plan is very clever, comparable to Liu Wencheng!" (Liu Bowen)
Ye Xianggao laughed again and again when he was flattered by this, and even said he didn't dare, but looking at him like this, there was nothing he didn't dare to do.
Only Zheng Yan asked:
"But since the last Zhang Gong case, Mu Zhai and the others have also been deeply implicated. Dozens of key members died tragically. Na Tian Ergeng was stationed in Nanzhen Fusi and was given an official position because of this. Yingtian Mansion now has no leader who can make connections. Ah!" (Qian Qianyi)
Ye Xianggao disagreed and said easily:
"What's so difficult about this? I'll write a letter to Xiong Mingyu, the censor of the capital of Youqian, and Xu Xianqing, the minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing, asking them to implement the matter. Don't forget, the officials of the Five Censors of Nanjing are still I’m from Donglin!”
"Okay, let's do it like this. When Japan and North Korea meet later, we will do it according to Taishan's plan. When the time comes, I will come to report first!"
Seeing that Ye Xianggao had arranged everything so clearly, Cheng Zheng already felt that he would have the confidence to criticize the emperor as he did during the Wanli period.
In their eyes, a censor should not be afraid of power and not avoid axes.
"Don't worry, Mr. Cheng, we will not hold you back. The success or failure of our Donglin will depend on this time!"
Victory or defeat depends on this one move, and they can be considered as risking their lives. As long as the factory guards are defeated this time, it may not be impossible to recreate the prosperous era of Zhongzhengying Dynasty.
"Okay, then I'll go back first. Please inform your friends in the court tomorrow and ask them to jointly submit the memorial together!"
Ye Xianggao was of course motivated by his own selfish interests, but he was not so noble. If he wanted to return to the cabinet and take power, he had to defeat the factory guards, otherwise his position would not be secure.
If you want to return to the court, you need the support of these people. Although sometimes Ye Xianggao doesn't want to join them, it is very useful when he needs it.
Ye Xianggao saw off the guests personally. When he arrived at the door, he grabbed Miao Changqi and said:
"Youyuan, I'm just waiting for the good news at home. I hope the horse will be successful!"
Miao Changqi said confidently:
"Don't worry Taishan, we will fulfill our mission!"
