Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 14: First Meeting with the Little Emperor

The Forbidden City is divided into three sections. The first section is from the Meridian Gate to the Huangji Gate, where the Cabinet and the six censors are located.

Further in, from Huangji Gate to Qianqing Gate, there are Huangji Hall, Zhongji Hall and Jianji Hall respectively.

Further in are the Qianqing Palace and other imperial palaces.

This morning, the spring sunshine was warm and the breeze was gentle.

Emperor Wanli sat in the west warm pavilion, watching the birds chirping and turning back and forth outside the window, and feeling sad.

He stood up, walked to the window and looked at the scenery outside.

He sighed, "I am the Son of Heaven. Logically, the whole world should belong to me. However, the only thing I can really manage is this palm-sized Forbidden City. No, this Forbidden City does not belong to me either."

"Wei Qing, tell me, what's the point of me being the emperor?"

The middle-aged eunuch at the side was so frightened that his knees weakened, and he replied in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty is the ruler of all people, how can he not be the ruler of the Forbidden City?"

Emperor Wanli stared at him and said sarcastically, "Why did the cabinet not allow me to have some money when I wanted it? Why did my husband and mother not allow me to leave the palace and see my vast country?"

"Wei Qing."

"Chen is here!"

"Are you a loyal subject?"

Wei Qing was stunned. He did not expect why the emperor would ask him this question, so he hurriedly said, "I am a loyal minister. I am only loyal to you, Your Majesty, and I will never dare to have second thoughts."

"Well, go ask Mr. Zhang to bring me two hundred thousand taels of silver."

"what?!"

Emperor Wanli looked at the shocked Wei Qing, smiled and shook his head, then walked back to the table and sat down.

He picked up the memorial he had not finished reading, looked at the draft again, and wrote four big words.

"As requested!"

This is his daily work as an emperor.

He did not change any of the drafts sent by Mr. Zhang, but ordered the eunuchs to copy them directly. However, the cabinet of the Ming Dynasty and the Silijian were supposed to be the secretaries of the emperor.

One inside and one outside.

Memorials from all over the country first went to the Ministry of Public Security and then to the Ministry of Ceremonies before being submitted to the emperor for review. If the emperor could not make up his mind, he would send a draft to the cabinet.

The chief minister of the cabinet picked up his pen and wrote down his suggestions in the emperor's tone.

This is called "vote draft".

After the draft is completed, it will be sent back to the emperor. After the emperor reads it, he will write down his comments, which is called "red comment".

In other words, the Prime Minister's proposal was only a suggestion, and Zhu's approval was the final decision.

However, Emperor Wanli was only ten years old when he came to power. The draft was completed by Zhang Juzheng, and the comments were completed by Feng Bao.

The two were allies, and there was also Empress Dowager Li.

One outside and two inside form an iron triangle.

Empress Dowager Li even told her son directly: "Don't even think about ruling before you turn 30. Let him ask Mr. Zhang about everything."

If Zhang Juzheng wanted to do something, he would first ask his subordinates to write a memorial according to his own ideas, and then he would imitate the emperor's tone and write a draft according to his own ideas.

After entering the Imperial Household Department, Feng Bao copied it again, and the emperor stamped it with the imperial seal and the job was done.

"Every time the cabinet has a discussion, the emperor will issue an edict."

At first the young emperor was happy with this, but as he grew older, he became well-versed in both ancient and modern knowledge.

There were many emperors who were deposed in ancient times, especially Mr. Zhang, who was told the Biography of Huo Guang when he was a child.

Who is Huo Guang?

Aren’t you Huo Guang?

Just as he was thinking about it, a shrill voice suddenly sounded outside the pavilion: "Your Majesty, Zhang Sicheng is here."

"Who?"

"Mr. Zhang's fifth son will be your tutor."

"Oh, it's him." Emperor Wanli remembered him and waved his hand, "Let him in." "Yes." The little eunuch responded respectfully, turned and left. After a while, he brought Zhang Yunxiu to the west warm pavilion.

"Hey, eunuch, are we sure we can enter this place?" Zhang Yunxiu stopped and pointed upwards.

This is where the emperor works, and no one is allowed to enter without an imperial decree. If he crosses the line, it will be no joke.

The young eunuch was obviously stunned, and thought to himself: I am a great hero, but my son is so cautious. Alas, it would be great if Lord Zhang could be like this kid.

"Father-in-law?"

"Ah!" The young eunuch came back to his senses and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Zhang Sicheng, since His Majesty has issued an order to summon us, we can go anywhere."

As they spoke, the two of them walked into the pavilion together.

Zhang Yunxiu was very cautious, staring at his feet and moving forward slowly.

Sitting on the dragon throne, Wanli saw Zhang Yunxiu wearing a green Taoist robe, with his head drooped like a quail, and he burst out laughing.

Then, he felt that he had lost his composure again, and quickly covered his lips and asked with a straight face: "Are you Zhang Yunxiu?"

"Your Majesty, your servant Zhang Yunxiu greets you!" Zhang Yunxiu raised his head and bowed to Emperor Wanli.

At a quick glance, I saw that he was about twenty years old, fair and plump, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, which was pleasing to the eye.

Emperor Wanli also turned his eyes to look at Zhang Yunxiu, and seeing that he was about seventeen or eighteen years old, he became interested.

But when he thought of his father, he immediately felt heavy-hearted.

After the two of them simply performed the ritual of monarch and subject, Emperor Wanli said nothing more.

Zhang Yunxiu was so anxious that he felt like he was being scratched by a cat. He stood up and respectfully stepped aside.

It was not until the eunuchs came in to deliver the food that Emperor Wanli waved his hand, signaling Zhang Yunxiu to eat. Zhang Yunxiu was given a bowl of lotus seed soup, but he became hungry very quickly due to his tense state.

Therefore, the bowl of lotus seed soup was quickly finished.

Emperor Wanli glanced at Zhang Yunxiu and asked, as if he was being led by a spirit: "At this time of year, is there anything delicious or fun to do outside?"

"There are so many fun things to do, such as flying kites, walking on stilts, lion dancing, listening to storytelling, and visiting temple fairs. As for food, I can't even name some of them, but there are quite a few," Zhang Yunxiu replied.

Speaking of eating, drinking and having fun, Emperor Wanli's eyes lit up, then dimmed again: "Alas, you are still the best. I can only be trapped in this iron cage. Sometimes, I really want to switch with you."

"Ahem." Zhang Yunxiu was so frightened that he fell to his knees. "Your Majesty, I acknowledge my guilt."

"What crime do you know you have committed?" Emperor Wanli asked curiously.

"When the emperor is worried, the minister is humiliated; when the emperor is humiliated, the minister dies. The emperor is very worried, but I cannot help him solve his problems. That is why I am guilty." Zhang Yunxiu said, forcing out two tears.

"I have no worries." Emperor Wanli waved his hand, stood up and said, "The country is peaceful and the people live and work in peace. Mr. Zhang and I have created such a great cause. Future generations will remember my achievements."

"Tell me, what do I worry about?"

Pretend, pretend, and keep pretending!
Zhang Yunxiu secretly complained in his heart, and then said, "The country is peaceful and prosperous, but your Majesty's treasury is still empty. Ordinary concubines and eunuchs have to be searched for."

"Not even as generous as some merchants."

"You... you are talking nonsense. When have I ever been stingy?" Emperor Wanli's cheeks flushed. He pointed at Wei Qing beside him and asked, "Wei Qing, tell me, was I stingy when I rewarded you?"

"No, not stingy." Wei Qing replied.

"Since your majesty's treasury is well-stocked, then I am worrying too much."

Zhang Yunxiu looked relaxed, but Emperor Wanli became anxious and asked hurriedly, "Do you have any way to get money for me?"

"Yes, His Majesty directly ordered that the silver from Taicang be transferred to the inner treasury."

nonsense!

I can issue an order, why should I ask you?

If it weren't for your father, would we have to endure so much?

Emperor Wanli glared at Zhang Yunxiu and said earnestly: "Taicang silver belongs to the national treasury, and my treasure banknote treasury is a private treasury. Public and private cannot be mixed up."

"Your Majesty, are you worried that the Ministry of Revenue will not execute it?"

"Yes." Emperor Wanli blurted out.

"This is easy to handle. Your Majesty can directly give an imperial decree to Li Youzi, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, to transfer another 100,000 taicang silver coins into the treasury." As Zhang Yunxiu spoke, he became bolder.

(End of this chapter)