I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 148 The Ultimate Twist! The Benevolent Emperor Wanli, His Mouth a Substitute for Shen Ziheng
Regular meetings.

The duration should ideally be one hour.

However, an hour and a half has passed, and the Huangji Hall remains closed, though the interior is as noisy as a marketplace.

At this moment, the quarreling people inside the hall...

It appears that there are only two groups of people: one group supports Hai Rui's request in his memorial, and the other group opposes it.

In fact, those who opposed Hai Rui's memorial were not of the same kind.

Some fawned over Zhang Wang, some purely opposed Yin Zhengmao, some opportunistically echoed him, and others prioritized the overall situation to save Shanxi from suffering.

Among them, those who prioritize the overall situation are the most numerous.

Among those who did not participate in the debate, some listened attentively, some pondered with their heads down, and some felt the urge to urinate due to prolonged mornings, but could only hold it in by clenching their legs, otherwise they would lose a month's salary.

this moment.

Zhang Siwei and Wang Chonggu both felt that victory was in sight.

With the support of so many officials.

This is enough to show that Hai Rui's impeachment was too harsh and did not reflect the facts. Officials did not want chaos to break out in Shanxi or on the border.

In this way, the young Wanli Emperor and Zhang Juzheng could not go against the wishes of the officials and act in the opposite direction.

at the same time.

The young Wanli Emperor sat on his throne, his gaze sweeping across the crowd below as he categorized the officials.

Who acted for the public good, who acted for personal gain, who were Zhang and Wang's close associates, who were followers, and who were those who kicked someone when they were down...

He saw it all clearly.

This is one of the main reasons why he observed the officials arguing without calling a halt.

As an emperor, recognizing talent is very important, and today is a rare and excellent opportunity.

Zhang Juzheng and Lü Diaoyang stood at the very front, their eyes slightly narrowed.

As a cabinet minister.

The two of them naturally had to speak last, based on the opinions of all the officials.

Another quarter of an hour passed.

The young Wanli Emperor sat up straight and said to those below, "Everyone, please be quiet!"

The young Wanli Emperor's voice wasn't loud, but it was extremely useful.

Within moments, the Hall of Supreme Harmony fell silent, and the officials returned to their original positions.

Little Wanli looked at Zhang Juzheng.

He then uttered that phrase he often used in court: "Prime Minister, what do you think?"

At that moment, all the officials looked at Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Juzheng's opinion was very important.

As long as he speaks up for Zhang Wang, the matter can basically be resolved smoothly and minimized.

Zhang Juzheng strode out.

First, straighten his long beard, then bow to the young Wanli Emperor.

"Your Majesty, I believe that immediately banning the Zhang and Wang families from engaging in commerce will cause great chaos in the northern border trade. It would be better to have Grand Secretary Zhang and Minister Wang personally handle the matter, banning their families from commerce themselves, and setting a deadline for completion. In this way, Grand Secretary Zhang and Minister Wang can be lightly punished for their oversight of their families!"

Following the wishes of the young Wanli Emperor, Zhang Juzheng was still trying to find a way out for Zhang Siwei and Wang Chonggu.

If the two agree to do so, at least their official positions can be kept.

Although Wang Chonggu will certainly never be able to return to Shanxi to take up his post again, and Zhang Siwei may be suppressed for a period of time, the court will not strip him of his position as a cabinet minister for the time being.

This approach can be considered extremely benevolent and righteous, and it does justice to their achievements over the years.

pity.

Zhang Siwei and Wang Chonggu frowned, completely ungrateful.

In their eyes, if the Zhang and Wang families were prohibited from engaging in commerce, their families would decline rapidly, the young people within the families would be suppressed, and their careers would be tainted.

The two men disliked Zhang Juzheng's approach of "allowing one to choose between officialdom and business."

They felt that Zhang Juzheng was worried that their power was growing too great and that they would usurp his position as Grand Secretary.

Zhang Siwei, kneeling at the very front, straightened his chest.

"Your Majesty, banning commerce by the Zhang and Wang clans means that the court believes they are guilty of treason and embezzlement. I would rather die than bear this charge!"

aside.

Wang Chonggu immediately replied, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for being unable to comply. I would rather die than bear this crime!"

The two dared to seek death without admitting their guilt.

On the one hand, it relied on the power of Shanxi, and on the other hand, it relied on the support of many officials in the imperial court.

Another aspect is that the young Wanli Emperor on the throne has not yet expressed his opinion.

His silence suggests that he is finding it difficult to make a decision.

At this point, he must consider the opinions of the majority of officials.

Hear this.

Zhang Juzheng shook his head slightly, then cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the young Wanli Emperor.

"Your Majesty, I have already ordered the Ministry of Personnel to select officials to take up their posts in Shanxi. They are ready to go at any time. I have also informed Qi Jiguang and Li Chengliang in the north that if anything happens in Shanxi, they can quickly arrive there and wipe out any internal traitors or enemy invasions!"

Hear this.

A group of people, including Ma Ziqiang, Minister of Rites; Chen Zan, Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate; Shen Shixing, Academician of the Imperial Academy; and Wang Xijue, Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, stepped forward.

Zhang Juzheng's words clearly indicated his intention to exterminate the Zhang and Wang clans and confiscate their property.

This completely escalated the situation!
Ma Ziqiang took a step forward.

"Your Majesty, for the sake of the people of Shanxi and for the peace of the border, we must not resort to war, lest... lest Shanxi descend into chaos!"

Ma Ziqiang knew this very well.

What will Shanxi look like after the Zhang and Wang families are severely punished?

“Your Majesty, even if the Zhang and Wang families are guilty, they should be investigated and punished one by one. If commerce is forcibly banned, the Ming Dynasty will be in chaos. We should…we should consider the overall situation!” Shen Shixing, the Imperial Reader, also spoke up.

"Consider the big picture? If you only consider the big picture in everything you do, you will achieve nothing!" Yin Zhengmao couldn't help but say.

The word he hates most is: "consider the big picture".

Just as the officials were about to start arguing again.

Chen Zan, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, bowed deeply to the young Wanli Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, since this matter is a matter for court discussion, we should follow the opinion of the majority of officials, or discuss it on another day!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

……

A host of officials who opposed Hai Rui's memorial stood up, and the atmosphere in the Hall of Supreme Harmony was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

The minority obeys the majority.

It is a decision-making method that officials agree with or have no choice but to accept when the court deliberations are difficult to reach a decision.

The young Wanli Emperor straightened his chest and looked around.

"Those who demand lenient punishment for the Zhang and Wang clans claim it is for the sake of the people of Shanxi and for peace on the border; those who demand a ban on the Zhang and Wang clans engaging in commerce also claim it is for the sake of the people of Shanxi and for peace on the border. Whom should I listen to?"

"In my heart, I already knew the answer. Some officials have disappointed me greatly!"

The young Wanli Emperor asked and answered his own questions.

Just as the officials were wondering what the young Wanli Emperor meant by these words.

The young Wanli Emperor looked at Shen Nian and said, "Shen Nian, please tell the assembled officials my thoughts after reading the 'Memorial on the Corruption of Officials and Merchants' in the Maritime Court!"

"Your subject obeys!" Shen Nian stepped out from the ranks.

And this moment.

Zhang Juzheng and Lü Diaoyang, standing at the forefront, stroked their beards, looking confident and composed.

It is clear that we already know what Shen Nian will say next.

Shen Nian stood in the center of the main hall, beside Zhang Siwei and Wang Chonggu.

"Colleagues, after His Majesty saw the 'Memorial on the Corruption of Officials and Merchants' from the Imperial Maritime Court, His Majesty's first thought was not to eliminate the Zhang and Wang families, nor to severely punish Grand Secretary Zhang and Minister Wang, but rather to think about how to minimize the damage this matter would cause to Shanxi, because Shanxi is of paramount importance to the Ming Dynasty; and how to protect Grand Secretary Zhang and Minister Wang without charge, because the Ming Dynasty needs these two pillars of the state."

"Subsequently, Grand Secretary Zhang proposed the idea of ​​either resigning from office to remain a merchant or resigning from business to remain an official. On the first day that Minister Wang returned to the capital, he had an in-depth conversation with him, hoping that the matter could be resolved privately. The best outcome would be if Grand Secretary Zhang and Minister Wang ordered the Zhang and Wang families to stop engaging in business. His Majesty would then suppress the memorial and promise not to severely punish them and their relatives. This move can be described as a great act of imperial grace!"

"However, to Your Majesty's surprise, the two completely disregarded Your Majesty's wishes. Relying on their connections with your former protégés in the court, the support of many officials who considered the overall situation, and the fear many officials had of the Haiqian Academy, Your Majesty ended the matter with the statement that 'the Haiqian Academy used its reputation to sell its integrity, and the Zhang and Wang clans were made scapegoats to confess their crimes!'"

"Grand Secretary Zhang, Minister Wang, do you really think His Majesty knows nothing? Do you really think His Majesty wouldn't dare to eradicate the Zhang and Wang families completely?"

"Smuggling grain and iron to the Mongols and Jurchens has brought the Ming Dynasty to the brink of collapse; this crime deserves death!" "The Zhang and Wang families, through their mutual support and cooperation between officials and merchants, have become powerful clans that blatantly disregard the laws of the Ming Dynasty. If such families are not eliminated soon, it is feared that future high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants will all originate from Shanxi. At that point, even the court will likely find it difficult to shake off this enormous cancer!"

"As you all should know, the stability of the Ming Dynasty is paramount, and no official has the right to threaten the court!"

Shen Nian suddenly raised her voice.

Upon hearing these words, Ma Ziqiang, Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, and the others all looked at Shen Nian.

He opened his mouth as if to speak.

They knew that the Zhang and Wang families had become a cancer, but they supported the Zhang and Wang families for the sake of the overall situation.

It is said that strong medicine is needed for serious illnesses, and severe punishments are required in chaotic times.

But the times are not yet chaotic, and the Zhang and Wang clans have not yet grown too powerful to be controlled.

Shen Nian's words are correct.

However, if the Zhang and Wang families are forcibly dealt with, Shanxi will inevitably face serious problems.

They felt sorry for the people of Shanxi, so they advocated putting the overall situation first.

Shen Nian looked at Ma Ziqiang and the others, and continued, "Your Majesty knows that some officials are not unaware of the harm that the Zhang and Wang clans have caused to Shanxi, but they are considering the overall situation for the sake of the people of Shanxi. Next, I will tell you a short story, and you will understand what Your Majesty considers the overall situation!"

Just like in the previous day's lecture, Shen Nian drew the image of a large fish in the air with both hands.

"As you all know, in the deep sea to the east, there is a giant fish about ten zhang long called a whale. With one swallow, it can devour thousands of kilograms of fish and shrimp. All the fish and shrimp in the surrounding area are eaten by the giant whale. The giant whale also makes other large fish in the area afraid to hunt prey in its territory. The fish and shrimp that are not eaten by the whale regard this whale as a guardian deity, while the fish and shrimp that are eaten by the whale regard it as a demon!"

"One day, the giant whale devoured almost all the fish and shrimp in the surrounding area and died on the seabed. The remaining fish and shrimp ate the whale's flesh and multiplied rapidly. In less than three months, it became a fish and shrimp community that was even more prosperous and larger than it had ever been."

"This story is called: One whale falls, and all things come to life!"

"But His Majesty's grand vision is this: when a whale falls, all things flourish; when King Zhang falls, the people of Jin are satiated!"

……

After Shen Nian finished telling the story, the Hall of Supreme Harmony quickly fell silent.

Who is the whale and who is the shrimp? The answer is crystal clear.

The death of the giant whale.

It won't necessarily cause chaos among fish and shrimp; on the contrary, it will make them thrive even more.

The Zhang and Wang clans wielded too much power, exceeding the control of the imperial court. The court's tolerance for the sake of the people of Shanxi was a poor strategy, while the best strategy would have been to eliminate them for the sake of the people of Shanxi.

This was the big picture in the mind of the young Wanli Emperor.

Even if there is war on the border or internal strife in Shanxi, the imperial court can deal with it by confiscating the property of the Zhang and Wang families, and there will even be a surplus.

No one can threaten the imperial court!
After Shen Nian finished speaking, she immediately returned to the queue.

After he and Zhang Juzheng determined that many officials would support the Zhang and Wang families for the sake of the overall situation, they came up with this countermeasure.

In the end, it all boils down to this: Zhang and Wang fall, and the people of Jin are well-fed.

At the same time, the fact that the young Wanli Emperor repeatedly gave Zhang Siwei and Wang Chonggu opportunities to privately discuss peace demonstrates his benevolence.

It can be said that it kills two birds with one stone.

Minister of Rites Ma Ziqiang rolled his eyes.

After hearing the story of "one whale falls, all things come to life," his sense of prioritizing the greater good suddenly turned into aiding and abetting evil.

Ma Ziqiang strode forward and said loudly, "Your Majesty, it was my narrow-mindedness that led me to support the court's ban on the Zhang and Wang clans engaging in commerce!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

……

Immediately, officials such as Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, Shen Yiguan, and Wang Zudi all stood up to second the motion.

Almost in the blink of an eye.

Nearly 80% of the officials who supported Zhang and Wang lost their support.

These people have the court in their hearts, and they choose their stance only based on the court's interests.

now.

If we continue to use "majority rule" as the selection criterion, then we should prioritize Hai Rui's request in his memorial.

……

"When a whale falls, all things come to life; when King Zhang falls, the people of Jin are satiated."

The officials silently recited these twelve characters, finding them increasingly profound.

The Zhang and Wang clans were nothing; if they pushed the court too far, they could be wiped out.

this moment.

Zhang Siwei and Wang Chonggu exchanged a glance and immediately became anxious.

They lost their greatest support, and many officials began to look forward to confiscating the property of the Zhang and Wang families.

Wang Chonggu spoke first: "Your Majesty, I am guilty. I am willing to compromise and order my clansmen to immediately ban commerce!"

“Your Majesty, I am guilty, but I am willing to compromise and order my clansmen to immediately ban commerce!” Zhang Siwei also spoke up.

The two chickened out very quickly.

Otherwise, once the order to confiscate their property is issued, they will be powerless to reverse the situation.

The young Wanli Emperor said calmly, "Grand Secretary Zhang, Minister Wang, the compromise you make now is different from the compromise you made at the beginning of the reign!"

Upon hearing this, both Wang Chonggu and Zhang Siwei understood the young Wanli's intentions.

The two immediately clasped their hands in a deep bow and said, "Your subject is willing to accept the punishment!"

The two men confessed, not necessarily because they felt guilty, but because they were afraid that the imperial court would confiscate the property of the Zhang and Wang families and then use the proceeds to benefit the people of Shanxi.

……

Little Wanli nodded with satisfaction.

He looked around and said loudly, "My ministers, since today's court meeting is held behind closed doors, I still hope that this 'Memorial on the Corruption of Officials and Merchants' by the Ministry of Justice will remain in the history books and for posterity, rather than being disseminated outside the palace. Do you all understand?"

"Your Majesty, I understand!" The officials bowed.

If this memorial were made public, Shanxi would surely be stained with blood, and the people would be filled with boundless rage—something the young Wanli Emperor would not want to see.

Swish!
With a wave of his hand, the young Wanli Emperor immediately understood and shouted, "Open the door!"

Click! Click! Click!

The gates of the Huangji Gate slowly opened, and the sunlight outside was dazzling. The morning court session officially ended as the sunlight shone in.

Many officials walked out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony with trembling legs.

This day made them understand once again what the imperial court really wanted to do and what the consequences of collusion between officials and merchants would be.

this moment.

Wang Jiaping, who was in charge of recording the daily life records, pondered the meaning of "one whale falls, all things come to life" and murmured, "Today's daily life records should be as detailed as possible."

……

Early the next morning, Wang Chonggu submitted a memorial requesting to resign.

After he requested to resign twice, the young Wanli Emperor granted his request and allowed him to stay in the capital to live out his retirement.

Next, we'll see how he performs in the family's ban on commerce. If he performs well, he might be able to enjoy his retirement with the title of "Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent".

at the same time.

After Zhang Siwei resigned twice, the young Wanli Emperor dismissed him from his position as Grand Secretary and ordered him to go to Nanjing to serve as Minister of Rites.

At this moment, Zhang Siwei's career was not yet over.

Whether he can return to the capital and rejoin the cabinet depends entirely on his future performance.

This matter can be considered to have come to a satisfactory conclusion.

And at this time.

Some officials sensed that a new iron triangle had emerged in the Ming court: the young Wanli Emperor, Zhang Juzheng, and Shen Nian.

This day.

Shen Nian, acting on the orders of the young Wanli Emperor, began writing a letter to Hai Rui to explain the matter.

After Zhang Siwei and Wang Chonggu both banned their families from engaging in commerce, the imperial court will impose lenient punishments on their families.

This action clearly violated the laws of the Ming Dynasty, but it was in line with the current political situation in the court.

Shen Nian believed that Hai Rui would understand, and that this was the best way to achieve a win-win situation.

Next, the cabinet will elect new cabinet ministers.

(End of this chapter)