Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 209 Power and Money Transaction
The next morning, the news that Zhang Yunxiu's memorial had not been approved spread to various government offices.

At the same time, He Zheng was also questioned by officials from the Ministry of Justice for fighting with Huang Cheng and was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice prison.

These officials have nothing to do, so they sit in their offices, drinking tea all day long and working from one hour to the next. Because they have nothing to do, they can only find something else to do.

Therefore, trying to figure out what the superiors and the emperor were saying became the top priority.

As soon as the emperor issued the decree, the officials in the capital who were interested in gossip took the memorial and read it from top to bottom, trying to read some truth from it.

After three days, someone managed to figure out the meaning.

Zhang Yunxiu fell out of favor, and the emperor did not always obey him.

For a time, all the officials who had trembled and lost their dignity under Zhang Juzheng's majesty became excited and agitated.

Those who fanned the flames of evil and those who openly impeached the emperor seemed to be ready to bring him down.

As the victim, Zhang Yunxiu paid no attention to the rumors outside.

No matter which direction the wind blows, I remain unmoved.

Early that morning, Li Youzi walked into Zhang Yunxiu's residence with a big belly.

Zhang Fu took him and led him to Zhang Yunxiu's study. As soon as they sat down, Zhang Fu made a pot of tea and hurried out.

Because the two were acquaintances, Zhang Yunxiu was too lazy to exchange pleasantries. He simply congratulated Li Youzi and went straight to the point: "Uncle, there are rumors out there right now, and my nephew is walking on thin ice."

"Don't give me that." Li Youzi tightened her stomach and replied unhappily, "Everyone knows that you and the emperor are so close that you wear the same crotch pants. How can he let you be bullied?"

"Who said that? The academy has been built, but now they are not allowed to recruit people. What should we do?"

"The emperor didn't say that you can't recruit."

Li Youzi said, taking a sip of tea, then took out the memorial from his bosom, pointed at it and explained, "The emperor wrote it in person, with only six words. 'Got it, respect the ancestral system'"

"What does the ancestral system mean? Isn't the emperor's intention to say that you can do whatever you want? But if you want the government to come forward and support you in running a school, that is definitely impossible."

Li Youzi spoke his thoughts in a very eloquent manner.

How could Zhang Yunxiu, who was standing by, not know what the emperor was thinking?
But then again, most of the people in this academy will be employed by the imperial court in the future, if they are not recognized by the court.

What's this?
As he was muttering, Zhang Yunxiu recalled his meeting with Emperor Wanli yesterday.

However, when he learned that Emperor Wanli remained silent, he immediately went to the Qianqing Palace to meet the emperor and try to persuade him to change his mind.

The two met in the East Warm Pavilion, and the first thing Emperor Wanli said was: "If you want me to agree to this, let the cabinet write a draft."

Zhang Yunxiu was stunned.

Zhang Siwei, the chief minister of the cabinet, would definitely not agree to this.

Pan Shengcheng was quite dissatisfied with this useless academy that did not teach the words of sages but instead taught all kinds of skills.

The last one is Shen Shixing. This man is timid, indecisive, and as slippery as a loach.

Don't even think about it.

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu's silence, Emperor Wanli on the dragon throne grinned and acted helpless: "If that's the case, then I can't do anything about it. Just recruit disciples and don't think about the rest."

Zhang Yunxiu became anxious instantly, as he suddenly remembered that the cabinet would soon add three grand secretaries.

So he asked tentatively: "Your Majesty, there are only three grand secretaries in the cabinet now, and they are all old."

"They have already been brought out to the court." Wanli waved his hand, interrupting him, and turned sideways to ask Wei Qing, "Who are they in total?"

Wei Qing leaned forward and replied respectfully, "The four are Shen Li, Wang Xijue, Yu Shenxing, and Wei Xuezeng."

In the Ming Dynasty, one needed three identities to enter the cabinet. The first one was also an unwritten rule, that one had to be a graduate of the Hanlin Academy. Without this degree, one could forget about entering the cabinet.

Second, one must have a certain good reputation both within the government and the public.

Be able to withstand the questioning of colleagues.

After the election, the list was sent to the emperor, who would circle a few candidates and that would be the end of it.

Zhang Yunxiu looked at these four people. Two of them were upright officials, and two of them had been demoted by Zhang Juzheng.

The one who comes is not good.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead, determined to risk his reputation and send another person into the cabinet.

Wang Guoguang is old and in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, so there is no real improvement in his position if he joins the cabinet. But if Li Youzi can join the cabinet, it would be perfect.

After much deliberation, Zhang Yunxiu gritted his teeth and recommended Li Youzi. He also promised that the Ministry of Revenue would pay an extra 200,000 silver taels this year to make jewelry for the concubines in the inner palace.

This move can not only please the emperor, but also satisfy the concubines in the palace.

Emperor Wanli weighed the pros and cons and finally agreed.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yunxiu came back to his senses, looked at the sweaty Li Youzi and said with a smile: "Uncle, there is still hope for this matter. If you can draft it quickly, this matter will definitely be accomplished."

"What am I here to draft?!" Li Youzi felt excited inside, but pretended to be surprised on the surface.

"You will know then."

Zhang Yunxiu stopped there and refused to say more.

Li Youzi, who was sitting on the recliner, guessed something.

This time when the cabinet was promoted, he knew he had no chance.

But what if?
Which scholar doesn't want to become a prime minister?

Zhang Yunxiu called him here today probably because of this matter.

The two of them spoke tacitly, and Zhang Yunxiu brought the topic to money: "Uncle, the emperor got another prince this spring. How can we not celebrate such a happy event with the country? You, the Ministry of Revenue, need to come up with the rules."

Li Youzi had already made plans, and immediately said, "Everything has been prepared. 50,000 taels will be used to host a banquet for the prince, 50,000 taels will be used as a reward for Concubine Zheng and her family, and 30,000 taels will be donated to famous Buddhist and Taoist temples throughout the country to pray for the prince."

"What about Queen Mother Li?"

"Ten thousand taels."

"Stingy, too stingy!" Zhang Yunxiu stood up suddenly, frowning and muttering, "This money is earned, not saved. Think about it, if we want to hold a banquet for the prince, do we have to purchase it from the public?"

"If you invest this money in the private sector, will private businesses have more money and then dare to spend it?"

"Then how much did you say?" Li Youzi stood up and asked.

"At least this number." Zhang Yunxiu said, holding up five fingers.

"Five hundred thousand taels?!" Li Youzi swallowed hard.

It was obvious that he was horrified by the number.

The Ministry of Revenue has a good surplus now, but this is not the way to spend money. If we spend it this way, no matter how much we have, it will never be enough.

If Zhang Juzheng knew about this, he would fly from Jiangling to the capital and whip his son.

"Five hundred thousand silver dollars, in fact, was only fifty thousand taels of silver before." Zhang Yunxiu smiled and reminded him.

(End of this chapter)