Emperor Zhengde

Chapter 354: The Qingliu Being Squeezed Out and Hai Rui Being Promoted
Although Zhu Houzhao had summoned Hai Rui alone, based on his understanding of history, he knew that an idealist like Hai Rui would often not be tolerated by the entire civil service group.

Although Hai Rui in this life did not become a teacher in Nanping County after failing to pass the imperial examination many times like in his previous life, it is obvious that his character has not changed, otherwise he would not have been dismissed for exposing the fraud in the imperial examination.

But Zhu Houzhao was not Jiajing. Knowing Hai Rui well, he would not let such an idealist leave the center of power in the empire, nor would he promote him in public but demote him in secret and use him as a signboard of an honest official.

Chen Dian, the deputy director of the Information Department, sipped his tea while asking his trusted clerk, "Has the order from the Ministry of Personnel come down? Has Hai Rui been dismissed?"

"There is no news from the Ministry of Personnel yet. Don't worry, sir. Hai Rui will definitely be dismissed from his post. If people like him can continue to survive in the officialdom, then the Zhengde Dynasty will be really different from the previous one!"

Chen Dian couldn't help but laugh after he said this: "What future does this Hai Rui have, a man who studies too much!"

At this time, an official came to report: "Sir, Lord Yang from the Ministry of Personnel's Selection Department is here! He said he is looking for you!"

The officials from the Ministry of Personnel came to discuss promotions and demotions. Chen Dian had no choice but to stand up and straighten his official uniform. But he asked in confusion, "Lord Yang from the Ministry of Literature? Where is Doctor Ai? What's going on?"

"Perhaps Doctor Ai has been promoted. In any case, the people from the Ministry of Personnel came to the News Department, and since they said they were specifically looking for you, maybe you will also be promoted. I am here to congratulate you first!"

As the trusted clerk spoke, he bowed to Chen Dian.

Chen Dian thought about it and felt that what his trusted clerk said was right. He had always been an official who understood the rules and had given many gifts to Lord Xu and Ai Langzhong. Now he had to move up in position no matter what.

So, Chen Dian came forward with excitement, ready to receive the emperor's order and express his gratitude.

Yang Jisheng, a Langzhong of the Ministry of Personnel's Selection Department, did not even exchange greetings when he saw Chen Dian, and prepared to start reading the imperial edict.

Chen Dian was not surprised to see that Yang Jisheng was the new Langzhong of the Ministry of Personnel's Selection Office. After all, he knew that Yang Jisheng had gained a lot of political resources because of his impeachment of Ni Song, the Left Censor-in-Chief, so it was not surprising that he was promoted to Langzhong of the Ministry of Personnel's Selection Office.

But what Chen Dian was dissatisfied with was that Yang Jisheng was only half a grade higher than him, but he showed no sign of looking down on him and didn't even bother to say a few words of greeting. He felt a little unhappy and secretly mocked himself:
"Hmph, a man who seeks fame and reputation by impeaching his superiors! Don't think you can be proud now that you have been promoted. How can Ni Song's students and old friends let you go easily? Just wait and see. Sooner or later, one day, I will be promoted to a high position in the cabinet, and you will be reduced to a prisoner. It is never too late for a gentleman to take revenge!"

Yang Jisheng had no idea of ​​Chen Dian's mental activity, and he had already begun to read out the imperial decree: "...According to the imperial decree, Chen Dian, the deputy director of the News Department of the Ming Dynasty News Copyright Administration, is dismissed from his post as a civilian and will never be employed again!"

Yang Jisheng then began to recite the imperial edict and said to Chen Dian, "Chen Dian, hand over your crown and belt."

"This, this, how is this possible! No, this is impossible!"

Chen Dian's mind was blank at this moment. He never thought that he would be dismissed from his post! And never employed again! For a moment, Chen Dian felt that everything he thought was right had collapsed!
Chen Dian could not help but yell at Yang Jisheng hysterically: "Why, why is this happening? Where is Hai Rui? Has Hai Rui been dismissed from his post?"

Chen Dian still remembers clearly that Hai Rui had contradicted his superior in person. Therefore, even now, Chen Dian is still concerned about whether Hai Rui has been dismissed from his post.

"This is an imperial decree. There is no reason for it. You should know when you have disobeyed the imperial will."

Yang Jisheng answered Chen Dian’s first question.

However, what Yang Jisheng said was correct. This was indeed the intention of Emperor Zhu Houzhao. If you want to ask why you were dismissed, there is naturally no reason. If His Majesty wants to dismiss you, then he will dismiss you. As for the reason, you naturally have to analyze it yourself.

Of course, Zhu Houzhao did have his own reasons for doing so. The reason was simply that Chen Dian's behavior was telling Zhu Houzhao that this civil servant named Chen Dian was no longer an official loyal to the emperor, but an official who put his superiors first.

The same went for Ai Li, a doctor in the Ministry of Personnel's Wenxuan Division. Zhu Houzhao would simply abandon any official who forgot who the master of the Ming Dynasty was.

Of course, as the emperor, Zhu Houzhao naturally did not need to explain the reasons to these officials.

Therefore, it is up to these officials to figure it out on their own.

Chen Dian was obviously an official who had forgotten the idea of ​​loyalty to the emperor. He thought he was smart and had seen through the rules of officialdom, and felt that he should be able to rise quickly. However, he never expected that he had forgotten that the Ming Dynasty was still ruled by Emperor Zhu Houzhao.

"As for Hai Rui, he has now taken over your position, and is still in charge of the Huang Ming Daily and also serves as the Censor. I don't want to say more."

As he spoke, Yang Jisheng instructed the other officials, "Take away Chen Dian's things and make room for your new Lord Hai."

The clerks of the News Department had already started to follow Yang Jisheng's instructions, but Chen Dian was the only one who was still standing there in a daze. He had never thought that when had he, a mere fifth-rank official, offended the Emperor, and was even dismissed from his post and would never be employed again?!

Chen Dian did not leave the capital immediately after being dismissed from his post. In his opinion, he was dismissed from his post as a fifth-rank official not because the emperor disliked him, but because the high-ranking officials in the court disliked him and slandered him in front of the emperor, which led to his dismissal.

"Someone must be disliking my teacher and is trying to trip him up, so they are slandering and framing the student in front of His Majesty!"

Chen Dian came to Xu Jin and reported to him that he had been dismissed from his post.

Not long after, Ai Li also came to Xu Jin in a daze and reported to him, "Lord! I don't understand either. I just submitted the results of the inspection of officials in the capital to Lord Wen, but in the blink of an eye, I was dismissed from my position as a doctor in the Ministry of Literature, and it was His Majesty who personally ordered the dismissal."

"When has His Majesty ever had the time to pay attention to you? He even personally issued an edict to dismiss you from your posts. Someone must have done this on purpose. It must be Wen Yuan, Xia Yan, or Gao Zhong!"

Xu Jin also said this angrily. When he thought about how he was excluded from the cabinet by Xia Yan and Yan Song, and his own party members were slandered and removed by Xia Yan and Wen Yuan in front of the emperor, he felt very frustrated!

……

Although the clean-style civil servants represented by Xu Jin suffered a blow and their power was greatly reduced, the pragmatic officials of the reform faction were in high spirits. Even a tough and upright person like Hai Rui could be promoted, and was directly reused to hold important power in the empire!
Hai Rui had heard from his relatives and friends that he might be dismissed. Although he insisted on his principles and ideals, he was not ignorant of the ways of the world and the rules of the officialdom. So, he did not seem to know nothing, but he still acted as if nothing had happened. He just disdained to do so. He was so-called worldly-wise but not worldly-wise. Hai Rui had been waiting for the day when he would be dismissed.

Therefore, he has begun to hand over his work, organizing his experience in the media industry such as editing, printing technology, public opinion promotion, and editing and compiling when he was managing the Huang Ming Daily.

When Yang Jisheng came to Hai Rui with the imperial edict, Hai Rui had already prepared himself for being dismissed from his post, so he acted calmly. Seeing that Yang Jisheng was appointed as the Director of the Ministry of Literature, he felt as if he had been promoted:
"Congratulations to Yang Fengxian for his promotion to the Ministry of Literature. It is a blessing for the country that Yang Fengxian is in charge of the Ministry of Literature. It also proves that the administration of officials in this dynasty is still clean and honest."

Yang Jisheng also had a favorable impression of Hai Rui: "Master Hai congratulated me, and I will also congratulate Master Hai later."

Yang Jisheng then unfolded the imperial edict: "...In compliance with the imperial edict, Hai Rui is promoted to the position of Deputy Director of the Information Department, and he is still in charge of the Huangming Daily and concurrently serves as the Supervisory Censor."

Yang Jisheng couldn't help but smile as he spoke: "The Hai official will be in charge of both public opinion and the judiciary, which shows that Your Majesty thinks highly of him!"

Hai Rui was a little stunned. He really didn't expect that he would be valued. After all, he did offend the entire civil service group, otherwise, Chen Dian would not threaten him like this. Even his relatives and friends thought that he would be dismissed. Even he himself thought so. Even his biggest fantasy was to be demoted to a minor official.

"That's great! Lord Hai has been given an important position. This shows that His Majesty is still wise!"

The officials of Huang Ming Bao were all happy about this. As newspaper practitioners in the Ming Dynasty, they were willing to work in this industry and most of them were upright. Now Zhu Houzhao's behavior of employing Hai Rui also indirectly inspired them.

Hai Rui even looked up at the sky and shed tears. Although he appeared tough on the outside, he was still extremely fragile on the inside. Now that he suddenly received a little favor from Emperor Zhu Houzhao, he couldn't help but feel the softest part of his heart was touched. He knelt down and kowtowed towards the direction of the Royal West Garden.

"Is it worth it? Is this servility or gratitude?"

At this time, Zhu Houzhao, who was standing outside the yard and watching all this, saw this scene and couldn't help but say a few words.

But because of this, Zhu Houzhao did not decide to summon Hai Rui in advance. He wanted to observe and see how Hai Rui would develop in this era.

Xia Yan, Yan Song, Wen Yuan and others controlled the government, and upright officials such as Yang Jisheng and Hai Rui were also given important positions, which once again brought about a pragmatic and fair atmosphere in the Zhengde Dynasty of the Ming Dynasty.

Many officials still gave up empty talk and intrigue, which prevented the Ming Dynasty court from becoming corrupt during the later years of Emperor Zhu Houzhao.

……

But the civil servants who represented the interests of the merchant class would naturally not accept this. Xu Jin was indeed unwilling to accept this. He hated these idealists who put national justice first, such as Yang Jisheng, Hai Rui and others, from the bottom of his heart. He didn't understand why these people had no selfish desires. Don't they like to be rich and powerful?

Xu Jin even thought that Yang Jisheng, Hai Rui and others were really pedantic people who read too many books. After all, it was right for Xia Yan and others who represented the interests of the big families to safeguard the interests of the empire in this way. Who made them and the emperor occupy most of the interests of this country? Yang Jisheng, Hai Rui and others were obviously from humble families with little officialdom, but they were so loyal to the court. What else could they be but pedantic?

"Sir, General Zhu Biaocao of Fengguo has established the Yunheng Literary Society, and would like to invite you to give a speech when you have time. This literary society was set up in imitation of the Zhongjun Society. Those who advocate tax cuts and equality for all beings among the bureaucratic families and the children of royal nobles are in it. We have also established such a society charter."

Xu Jin's eldest son Xu Yuancheng couldn't help but say to Xu Jin that night.

Xu Jin was shocked when he heard this: "How daring! How could you set up such a literary society! Aren't you afraid that the Western Factory will find out?!"

"Father, this was not established by my son. It was established by General Zhu Biaocao according to the Second Prince's wishes. He wanted to win the hearts of the people for the Second Prince just like the Loyal Emperor Society did. Even if the Western Factory found out, would he dare to report this to His Majesty? Even if His Majesty knew, would he execute his own son?"

Xu Yuancheng said.

Xu Jin nodded after hearing this, and after thinking for a long time, he said: "I will not participate in this matter, and neither can you! But you can let them rest assured that I will not expose them!"

Gao Zhong, the governor of the Western Factory, had indeed learned about this matter, but when he learned that this literary society was instructed by the Second Prince, and thought of the rumors spread by the civil servants that Yu Dayou and he were conspiring to usurp the throne, he couldn't help but think that less trouble is worse than more, so he said: "Continue to monitor it, and report back when things change."

Although Xu Jin and other upright civil servants were unwilling to accept this, for Xia Yan, Yan Song and others, it was not acceptable to allow someone like Xu Jin to continue to serve in the court.

"As long as Xu Jin is in the court, those villains who only care about their own interests and not the country will not give up! So, all this is not over yet!"

Xia Yan couldn't help but say to Yan Song.

Yan Song nodded. He was willing to help Xia Yan defeat Xu Jin. He was willing to see Xia Yan and Xu Jin become incompatible. After all, as long as Xu Jin was overthrown, he could become the second assistant. Besides, Yan Song was already quite old.

Therefore, in fact, he was more eager to bring down Xu Jin than Xia Yan.

Therefore, after listening to Xia Yan, Yan Song could not help but suggest: "In my opinion, Xu Jin is not far from death now. Since he spread rumors in an attempt to threaten Gao Gong of the Western Factory, I think Your Majesty should understand what these people are thinking, and Your Majesty should have the intention to execute Xu Jin, but you just haven't found an excuse yet."

"You are right. Your Majesty has always been very clear about the court situation. It's just that Xu Jin is too cunning. Even when the eldest prince impeached him, he was able to get away with it!"

Xia Yan couldn't help but say.

"So, this time, we should be extremely cautious. From my perspective, it is impossible for Yu Dayou to lead the expeditionary force to establish a country overseas. Because when Yu Dayou returns from the expedition to Spain, as long as he presents the king of Spain to Your Majesty, he will be able to get a title. Then, he can legitimately establish a fiefdom overseas."

Yan Song then added: "Therefore, in my opinion, Yu Dayou will definitely come back. When he returns triumphantly, it will be the best time for us to get rid of Xu Jin!"

Thanks to my book friend Shan Shangke for the 100 Qidian coins reward



(End of this chapter)