Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 13: Prime Minister in the Mountains
There is a small four-cornered pavilion behind the residence of Grand Secretary Zhang, which is only two walls away from Zhang Juzheng's study.

In the past, if the weather was fine, Zhang Juzheng would come here to bask in the sun.

Just after noon that day, Zhang Juzheng and Li Youzi slowly walked into the pavilion and sat down.

It was already March. The green willows were sprouting new buds, the elm seeds were turning green, and the melted snow gathered into the pond, turning into rolling spring waves, making the spring scenery in the north even more charming and moving.

As the breeze blew on his face, Zhang Juzheng's beard swayed in the wind, making him look like an immortal.

Li Youzi, who was standing by, saw it clearly and couldn't help but joked, "Uncle, you look much better recently than before. It seems that the doctor's medicine and what Yunxiu said are really good."

Zhang Juzheng's complexion used to be dark, but now it has become somewhat pale.

Firstly, it was Doctor Wang's medicine, plus the "Five Animal Exercises" that complemented each other. Secondly, it was the quota set by Zhang Yunxiu for Zhang Juzheng that he was only allowed to have sex once every ten days.

The rest of the time, Zhang Yunxiu was guarding the door.

Although Zhang Juzheng was angry, he had to suppress his anger as he thought the new policy still had to be implemented.

After more than a month, he did feel much better.

"Let's not talk about this for now," Zhang Juzheng waved his hand, took out a memorial and handed it to Li Youzi, "Help us take a look at this. If there is no problem, we will have someone submit the memorial."

Li Youzi took it and took a quick look at it, and found that it was a reform method about the "single whip" policy.

There is a passage in it: "Silver is scarce in the north, so the court should take local conditions into consideration and the Ministry of Revenue should take the lead in approving prices to prevent the powerful and wealthy from taking advantage of the opportunity to manipulate prices and exploit the people."

"Uncle," Li Youzi said after reading the memorial, threw it on the table, looked at Zhang Juzheng and said, "Your idea is good, but how do we approve the prices?"

"We can't let the imperial court force farmers to buy grain."

"Why not?" Zhang Juzheng stood up and said, "For example, the grain in Shaanxi is purchased by the court and the local government, and then directly transported to Yulin and Ningxia. In this way, the people benefit, the border troops also have military rations, and the court saves on transportation costs."

"Isn't that killing three birds with one stone?"

"Different."

"Why is it different?"

"The grain in that place is expensive. If we really buy it at the normal market price, it will not be cost-effective." Li Youzi looked at Zhang Juzheng and said, "It would be better to let the merchants do it themselves, and we can buy the grain from them."

Zhang Juzheng stabbed his friend and raised his voice, saying, "Those businessmen are evil people who dig holes and breed maggots. If we really let them do what they want, it will be bad for the country."

"Uncle, listen to me. If you want to implement the 'One Whip' policy smoothly, you have to give them some benefits."

Zhang Juzheng said nothing when he heard the voice.

Li Youzi glanced at his old friend and felt a chill down his spine when he thought of what Zhang Yunxiu had said to him.

He licked his lips and continued to persuade: "Uncle, you can actually stay behind the scenes and take charge of the overall situation."

"What do you mean?"

"Didn't the Tang Dynasty have a prime minister in the mountains named Li Mi? What I mean is that you can also step down."

"You want us to go back to Jiangling?" Zhang Juzheng raised his eyes, emitting a cold light.

Li Youzi knew his friend was angry, but for the sake of the future, he had to continue to persuade him: "Duke Zhou was afraid of rumors, and Wang Mang was humble before he usurped the throne. Uncle, the emperor is already twenty-one, and you will soon be sixty years old."

"As the ancients said, at fifty one knows destiny. It's time for you to plan for the future."

"A new emperor appoints new ministers. If we make preparations early, everyone can live a decent life."

"The emperor is only twenty years old, how can he govern the world?" Zhang Juzheng stamped his feet and turned away suddenly.

"The emperor ascended the throne at the age of ten, and it has been ten years now. In the past ten years, he has worked diligently, getting up at dawn every day and not going to bed until midnight. The knowledge and strategies he possesses are not much worse than those of the ancient sages." Li Youzi spoke until his mouth was dry. He picked up the teacup on the table, gulped it down his throat, and continued, "Besides, you, Zhang Juzheng, went home to observe mourning for your father, not that he is dead."

"As long as you are still here, how dare some villains cause trouble?"

Zhang Juzheng narrowed his eyes and stared at the fish swimming in the pond, but the past events of the sixth year of Wanli emerged in his mind. At that time, his father had just passed away and the reform was at a critical moment.

In order not to step down from his position of power, he insisted on taking away the love.

The Ming Dynasty ruled the country with filial piety. When an official's parents passed away, he had to resign from his post, go home to observe mourning for three years, and then come back.

The prime minister of the country and a role model for the literati was greedy for power and refused to abide by the rules.

Wang Zhigao couldn't even understand his own good friend and relative.

At that time, he really felt that the whole world was his enemy.

Seeing the silence, Li Youzi continued, "Uncle, the country is now peaceful and prosperous, and the emperor is old enough to rule the country, so you should step down first.

First, returning to my hometown to fulfill my filial duties shows that I am not greedy for power and position, and shuts up the censors. Second, it also shows the emperor that this world is not so easy to govern. "

"Do you also think that I am a person who is greedy for power?" Zhang Juzheng turned his head and asked him with a smile.

Li Youzi shook his head, walked up to Zhang Juzheng, and advised earnestly: "I know you want to be like Duke Zhou, Yi Yin, and Lu Wang. If you really want to have a good reputation, you should step back."

"When Zhou Gong spit out food to feed the people, the whole world was at peace. Today, the whole world is at peace. Yet you are still unwilling to abide by the rules. How will the people of the world see you?"

Zhang Juzheng waved his hand, signaling him to stop talking, and brought the topic back again: "I must have someone submit this memorial, and this matter must be implemented. You should prepare silver in the Ministry of Revenue and start implementing it this autumn."

Ugh.
Li Youzi was unable to persuade his friend, so he shook his head and became a defeated rooster.

Suddenly he seemed to think of something and said, "Oh, by the way, Uncle, the emperor is going to confer titles on nine concubines next month, and he wants the Taicang Bank to give out 200,000 taels of silver to reward his officials."

"I already know this."

"Should we do it or not?" Li Youzi asked anxiously.

"Yes, of course." Zhang Juzheng smiled. Li Youzi thought that Zhang Juzheng had come to his senses and was delighted. Unexpectedly, Zhang Juzheng said, "But 200,000 taels is indeed too much. In my opinion, 20,000 taels is about right."

"Uncle!" Li Youzi jumped in surprise.

"30,000 taels, no more." Zhang Juzheng waved his hand, not allowing any refusal. "Although the country has some money in reserve now, there is no guarantee that it will not encounter a major disaster. As an emperor, you should be frugal and set an example for the world."

Before Li Youzi could answer, a figure walked in.

It was Zhang Jingxiu.

"Father, uncle." He bowed immediately when he saw the two of them.

Li Youzi nodded and smiled.

Zhang Juzheng looked at his eldest son and asked, "Has that brat made any progress in his studies recently?"

"You have made a lot of progress. I think you have become more sensible." Zhang Jingxiu replied respectfully.

Zhang Juzheng nodded, pointed at Zhang Jingxiu and ordered: "Tell that rebellious son to prepare himself. Five days later, he will go to the palace to study with the emperor and gain more knowledge."

"Ah?" The two screamed.

"What? That rebellious son is the Secretary of the Shangbao Department. He idles around all day long. What kind of person is he?"

(End of this chapter)