Zhang Siwei was shocked after hearing Wang Chonggu's judgment, and his short beard trembled continuously. Then he asked: "Uncle is so pessimistic?"
Wang Chonggu sneered and said, "I'm talking about people like Wu Shang Yang and Guan Zhong."
"Today in the world, the tyranny of land annexation has reached far beyond the end of the Tang and Song Dynasties. One-fifth of the people's power is used to support the court, the army, the royal family and the clan, and is exploited by corrupt officials. The rich have fields and roads, and the poor have There is no place to stand, and what farmers can harvest in one year is only enough to feed them for half a year - I have looked at the historical events of the past dynasties, and the world will be in chaos within fifty years!"
Zhang Siwei nodded sadly after hearing this and said: "What my uncle said is true. However, my uncle said that 'Shang Yang, Guan Zhong' and the like, in today's world, who can be worthy of them?" After speaking, his eyes were burning, and he stared at Wang Chonggu.
Wang Chonggu chuckled and said: "You think you are our generation? Ziwei, you grew up in fine clothes and fine food, without any training, so your heart is still as hot as charcoal - unless someone looks down on you, you can't afford this world." !”
"The only person who can dominate this world is Zhang Juzheng!"
These words were resounding. After hearing this, Zhang Siwei felt unconvinced, but he had no intention of arguing with Wang Chonggu.
Wang Chonggu changed his subject and said: "In my opinion, the only word Zhang Juzheng relied on in his life was 'perseverance'. He was born early in his youth, at the age when he was a leader, but he did not say a word for seven years after entering the Hanlin Academy. Later, because he could not develop his ambition, he went home to study for six years to support his ambition. Can you and I do this?" Zhang Siwei was silent.
Wang Chonggu looked at his expression and knew what he was thinking, but his nephew was already the chosen one for the temple, so he stopped talking.
Zhang Siwei pondered for a while and finally asked: "I think the emperor is willing to take charge of the government as soon as possible, and Zhang Juzheng wants to monopolize power. Can we take advantage of this?"
Wang Chonggu narrowed his eyes slightly when he heard this and looked solemn. After pondering for a while, he said: "Previously, Feng Bao was exposed, and his death was so fast that it was dizzying to watch. It is difficult to understand what happened during this period - I guess Feng Bao didn't know it himself."
"It is expected that there are no two reasons for Feng Bao's defeat. One of them may be that Feng Bao restrained the emperor from expressing his ambitions, which was disgusted by the emperor. But how could the emperor be so smart at such a young age? And how to break the holy favor that Feng Bao had accumulated for many years? , I can’t think of it.”
"Maybe - Zhang Juzheng has another channel to communicate with Cisheng, so Feng Bao has to go! But this theory is even more incredible. From my point of view, when it comes to the methods of summoning, recording and examination on the platform, the first one is more important. Bigger - but the emperor wants to display his great ambitions, and Feng Bao can only flatter him, so how can he be defeated?" After saying this, he was pondering, and his doubts were difficult to explain.
Zhang Siwei's heart skipped a beat and he subconsciously looked around. If the topic discussed by the nephew and uncle at this time is leaked, the Yi people will inevitably be exposed.
Wang Chonggu saw his frightened state and knew that his nephew was used to being cautious, so he did not laugh at him. Nai then said: "What Ziwei said is something to be taken from-" Seeing that his uncle had reached the key point, Zhang Siwei cheered up and waited with his ears pricked up.
Wang Chonggu continued: "I don't want to take anything." Seeing Zhang Siwei's face change slightly, he patiently explained: "We, high-ranking officials, not only need to see opportunities, but also see trends!"
He raised one hand and pointed upward: "Zhang Juzheng is persevering and standing tall. At this time, the power of the country is gradually gaining momentum. Its power is like the beginning of a great tide, which cannot be resisted. If you have the heart to reach the top, you may as well give in and follow the trend. , what Xu Jie is to Yan Song."
"As the Emperor grows up, you can spread your wings lightly and show your independence again - in this way, the Emperor will definitely notice you, and when Zhang Juzheng is in a place of suspicion, this is your chance! Or! In five or six years, or more than ten years, Zhang Juzheng will be defeated!"
After hearing this, Zhang Siwei felt nothing but the word "submit" in his heart.
Wang Chonggu felt very proud when he saw that his nephew was convinced. Although he didn't show it on his face, he was very happy in conversation. After taking a sip of tea, he continued: "Your in-laws are old and dim and are no longer useful. You can make a good marriage with a generous sum of money and let him become an official. With Zhang Juzheng, he will exchange you for the chancellery of the Ministry of Personnel on the condition that you join the cabinet. Zhang Juzheng has been jealous of the Ministry of Personnel for a long time. Yes, this is a matter of benefit to the three families, and they may be managed carefully."
Zhang Siwei heard this and said: "I have not yet served as minister, how can I enter the cabinet at this time?"
Wang Chonggu said: "Shizong has been in power for a long time, and his documents are voluminous, and the records are still unfinished. Let Zhang Juzheng get back to you first, and compile the "Records of the World Temple" first. After completing the "Records", you will be promoted to one level, and you can directly enter the cabinet at that time."
Zhang Siwei remembered it in his heart and sighed: "I hope that Zhang Jiangling will keep his word."
Wang Chonggu glanced at him and sighed: "Zhang Juzheng disdains being a small talker. As long as Yang Bo keeps his promise, he will not lie to you."
The two chatted for a while, and Zhang Siwei asked Wang Chonggu what he thought of Jin Shang.
Wang Chonggu sighed and commented: "Seeing the emperor's reply to my memorial, what he said and thought, he is far-sighted. It can be said that he has worked hard at an early age, and he is capable of many things. But his ambition is empty and he has not yet implemented it. If this continues, he may be the emperor. It is unknown whether the incident will happen again in our dynasty."
Seeing that Zhang Siwei was ignorant, Wang Chonggu laughed and said: "Is Ziwei stupid in reading? How could Emperor Yang be just a tyrant and a single husband? He established the capital in Luoyang and built the canal, which was a matter of great benefit to the world. But he did it with all his heart, and the world was in a state of uproar. , only then did Li and Tang take advantage of the situation. Otherwise, Taizong, the great ancestor of the Tang Dynasty, would still be an obedient minister of the Sui Dynasty!"
Zhang Siwei nodded and asked, "If it goes as expected, what can we do?"
Wang Chonggu laughed loudly, stroking his beard and said: "No matter which family in the world, they need money and scholars! As long as we accumulate wealth and cultivate more seeds of study, no matter who comes, my big family in Shanxi can still occupy the court and dress in purple!" "
...
On August 5, the first year of Wanli, during the Shuntian Prefecture Township Examination, the emperor personally selected You Chunfang, You Yude and Wang Xijue, a Hanlin scholar, as the chief examiner, and Zhang Juzheng selected Zuo Chunfang, Zuo Zhongyun, and Chen Jingbang, an editor of the Hanlin Academy, as deputy examiners. Zhu Yijun also proposed a major topic for the main examination, excerpting a sentence from "Book of Rites. University": "To achieve knowledge is to examine things, and then to know."
On the 17th of the same month, I went to the Royal Palace. Zhang Juzheng led hundreds of officials to congratulate the emperor on his birthday. Emperor Yuyin replied: "I haven't passed Daxiang in the imperial examination, so I don't need to congratulate you." Zhang Juzheng and others invited him to go up to the Huangji Gate, and all the civil and military officials performed the five bows and kowtowed. The emperor gave officials such as Rituo, Jinduo, Jingyan, etc. various amounts of silver and robes.
On August 18, Zhang Juzheng wrote a memorial: "The emperor has been reading the memorial recently to learn about the great political affairs, and the sage is getting better and better day by day. Moreover, the sage learning is prosperous, and the heroes are shining brightly, which is a blessing to the ancestors. However, the lectures continue to progress. The verses of the scriptures are increasing day by day, and the sacred bow seems to be too tiring."
"I think that the emperor's learning is not the same as his career, but it lies in the integration and understanding, and it is not between chapters and sentences. You can try to reduce the homework of daily lectures and advanced lectures, and pray for the Holy Discipline."
Zhu Yijun was overjoyed to read the performance and hurriedly asked Empress Dowager Li to read it. Empress Dowager Li was not concerned about herself. Although she asked the emperor not to neglect his studies, she saw that his chin was sharp during the bitter summer and she did not dare to overwork him, so she nodded in agreement.
...
In September of that year, because Zhang Juzheng renovated the capital's residence to enhance his reputation, the emperor gave Zhang Juzheng two sets of imperial pens with large characters, one was called the Minister of the State and the other was called the Assistant of the Gugong. He also sent the middle official to Zhang Juzheng's residence, and Zhang Juzheng presented a memorial to express his gratitude. .
In October of that year, the autumn wind was chilling, and Yang Bo was begging for his body due to illness. The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was an important minister. Ge Shouli and Zhu Heng were both interested in the promotion, but Zhang Han, who was in the prime minister Zhang Juzheng, took the lead. Zhu Yijun could not and did not want to intervene at this time. He could only draw a circle on the results of the recommendation.
At the winter solstice that year, ten "Rishenglong" stores were quietly opened in ten cities including Beijing, Nanjing, Jining, Linqing, Chengdu, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Yangzhou, Guangzhou and Chang'an.
Although they opened quietly, these ten shops were as dazzling as fireflies in the dark night. They are all built in the best locations facing the street. They are magnificent and do not need to be detailed, but all the shops have a single glass window, which attracts tens of thousands of people to see.
...
