I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 209 Shen Nian Gives a Gift! The Fierce Yet Timid General of Liaodong, Li Chengliang

Around noon, at the Hanlin Academy.

Compilation Hall.

Shen Shixing and Shen Nian appeared before the newly appointed trade envoy, Shen Maoxue.

Shen Maoxue just turned forty this year. After taking up the post of Hanlin Compiler last year, he began to work in the History Bureau to compile history.

About fifteen minutes ago.

He had just heard the news that he would be appointed as a trade envoy and sent to the northern border, but since the written transfer order had not yet been delivered to him, he did not know the specific details.

He was completely bewildered.

Upon seeing Shen Shixing and Shen Nian arrive, he quickly stood up and clasped his hands in greeting.

“Scholar Shen, Lecturer Shen, I obey the court’s arrangements, but… but I know nothing about business and am worried that I might jeopardize important court matters.”

Shen Shixing smiled and said, "No! The business will be handled by the businessmen below. The Ministry of Revenue will explain the details to you then. The reason for sending you is twofold: firstly, we believe you will not be corrupted by money, power, or lust; secondly, you are talented enough to quell the Tartars!"

"The mission of this trade mission to the border is to control the various Tatar tribes through trade, and to bring back the goods we need from the grasslands. To put it bluntly, we want both peace and to make money off them!"

It was a consensus among all Ming people that the Ming Dynasty and the Tatars could not be friends.

So-called trade alliances are actually just a matter of each party getting what they need.

Shen Nian added, "Shen Xiuzhuan, your task is to make them feel that we are going to give alms, to make friends, and to lead them to prosperity!"

“Your humble servant understands! What appears to be charity is actually a means to make money; what appears to be friendship is actually a means to control division. It will both demonstrate the majesty of a great nation and promote trade in the northern border. Your humble servant will certainly not fail in his mission!” Shen Maoxue bowed and solemnly cupped his hands.

"Yes, yes, that's exactly it!"

Shen Shixing was so happy that his face was full of wrinkles. He liked subordinates who understood things very quickly.

Shen Nian also had a smile on her face.

Shen Maoxue was able to become the top scholar in the imperial examination, and he was already famous throughout the country before the examination. In addition, he was already over forty years old. It was impossible for him to be just a pedantic scholar with only bookish ideals.

These are the types of people who are most likely to achieve great things.

……

While the Ministry of Revenue was preparing for the departure of the trade mission, the young Wanli Emperor dispatched censors from the Censorate to conduct a comprehensive investigation into Li Chengliang, the General Commander of Liaodong, emphasizing that no favoritism would be shown and that the results should be made public.

at the same time.

Emperor Wanli unexpectedly received a memorial from Zhang Juzheng pleading guilty. Zhang Juzheng stated that the Zhang family had seized land, which was an even greater crime, and he was willing to take the blame on behalf of his father.

have to say.

Zhang Juzheng's sincere attitude earned him a wave of goodwill in the imperial court.

Without shirking responsibility or offering explanations, they directly accepted the punishment—something many officials cannot do.

Emperor Wanli immediately issued a handwritten edict to comfort Zhang Juzheng, stating that according to the current regulations, the Zhang family had already paid the taxes in advance and had not committed any wrongdoing.

There was nothing wrong with what the young Wanli Emperor did.

This matter could not be used to convict Zhang Juzheng; at most, it would only worsen his reputation among the people, making him a target for many annexers to use as an excuse to criticize him.

……

These two days.

Shen Nian, relying on his special status as the official in charge of recording daily life, organized the memorials submitted recently.

He suddenly found out.

The officials who recommended Zhang Siwei to return to the capital were almost all his protégés and old friends.

In addition, some rumors circulating in the capital that were unfavorable to Zhang Juzheng seemed to be deliberately spread.

He became increasingly certain that Zhang Siwei had orchestrated this series of events.

The latter has both the intention and the ability.

However, it is very difficult to prove from these events that Zhang Siwei was the mastermind behind them.

This matter concerns border defense and military affairs.

It was impossible for Zhang Siwei to leave any evidence that would allow the court to discover that he was spreading rumors.

However, Shen Nian was not prepared to let him go.

After thinking for a long time, Shen Nian decided to give Zhang Siwei a gift to scare him.

……

June 18th, afternoon.

Hot weather.

In the back hall of the Ministry of Rites in Nanjing, four ice chests were placed in the four corners.

The hall was quite cool.

Tear!

Tear!

Tear!

Zhang Siwei tore the memorial requesting to be ordered to pacify the northern border to shreds.

He waited for several days.

Not only did he not receive the imperial decree summoning him to pacify the northern border, but he also learned that the imperial court would send Shen Maoxue, last year's top scholar, to lead a trade delegation to the northern border.

In the eyes of the people in the capital, he was not even as good as a top scholar who had been in office for a year.

For him, it was extremely insulting.

This also means that his meticulously planned "three strategies to return to the cabinet" plan has completely failed.

It was clearly impossible to devise another plan to return to the palace in a short period of time and spend a large amount of money to implement it.

Zhang Siwei felt that the possibility of him returning to the cabinet was extremely slim.

boom! boom! boom!
After tearing up the memorial, Zhang Siwei was still furious and smashed all the porcelain bottles and plates on the display shelf to the ground.

at this time.

A clerk hurried to the door, and when he saw Zhang Siwei smashing the bottle, he stood aside without daring to move, while holding a small mahogany box in his hands.

"What is it?" Zhang Siwei asked irritably.

The clerk held up the mahogany box and said, "Your Excellency, a merchant caravan returning to Nanjing from the capital just delivered an item to the yamen. They said they were entrusted by Shen Nianzhi, a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy, to deliver a gift to you. The gift certificate should be in the box."

"Who? Shen Nian? Giving this old man a gift?" Zhang Siwei asked, puzzled.

The Zhang and Wang families' business ventures collapsed, and the culprit was Shen Nian.

If Zhang Siwei were to rejoin the cabinet, the first person he would deal with would be Shen Nian. He had no personal relationship with Shen Nian, so the latter's sudden gift to him was quite unexpected.

"Bring it in and put it on the table!" Zhang Siwei said.

The clerk immediately placed it on the table and was about to leave when Zhang Siwei said, "Open it and see what's inside."

After saying that, Zhang Siwei suddenly took two steps back.

This action made the clerk suddenly tense.

He often listened to storytelling on the street, and he was especially afraid that there were hidden weapons inside, because once they were opened, he would lose his life.

The clerk trembled all over, placed one hand on the box, and then quickly opened it.

Nothing popped up.

He peeked inside and found a gift card and a book.

"Minister Zhang, inside... inside is a gift card and a book." "Open the gift card and see what's written inside, then pick up the book and see if there's anything strange about it!" Zhang Siwei instructed.

The clerk picked up the gift card and read aloud: "Lord Fengpan, the summer heat is unbearable. Ziheng specially sends you a book to help you cool off. Please keep it by your pillow and read it from time to time. Signed Shen Nian."

immediately.

The clerk took out the book inside, flipped through it, and said, "This...this...is an old book, the name is 'Collected Works of Mr. Five Willows'. Oh? It's not an old book, it's an ancient book. It says it was printed by Chongwen Academy in the third year of the Qingli reign of the Song Dynasty."

"Also, there's a folded page inside, and the content is 'The Return'!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Siwei's face gradually darkened.

"You go out!"

The clerk sensed something was wrong with Zhang Siwei's expression and quickly ran out.

Zhang Siwei walked to the box, glanced at the gift card, then picked up "The Collected Works of Mr. Wuliu," turned to the folded page of the article "Returning Home," read it for a moment, grabbed the wooden box in front of him, and smashed it on the ground.

He already knew Shen Nian's meaning.

"Returning Home" is a famous poem written by Tao Yuanming shortly after he resigned from his official post, mainly expressing his relaxed and carefree feeling when he returned to his hometown.

The fact that Shen Nian sent him such a book, also known as Zhang Siwei's Summer Relief Book, clearly indicates that he knew about the events in the northern border and Zhang Juzheng's father and that he had instructed the dissemination of the information. His intention was to help Zhang Siwei return to the cabinet, but he had no evidence. Therefore, he used this as a warning to Zhang Siwei, hoping that Zhang Siwei would retire and retire.

After his anger subsided, a sense of fear welled up in Zhang Siwei's heart.

Shen Nian was about to tell Xiao Wanli that she suspected Zhang Siwei of instigating the spread of news about the chaos in the northern border. Regardless of whether there was evidence, this would greatly increase the difficulty for Zhang Siwei to return to the capital.

"How...how did he guess it was me?" Zhang Siwei sighed and muttered, "From now on, there's nothing I can do!"

If no evidence can be found, then so be it.

Once it gets to him, it won't be as simple as just being dismissed.

Next.

Shen Nian's gift will make it difficult for Zhang Siwei to sleep well for at least three months.

This will also make Zhang Siwei increasingly resentful of Shen Nian.

In fact, Shen Nian had already shown mercy.

He originally planned to buy a copy of "The Collected Works of Mr. Wuliu" from a street bookstall and send it over, but he felt that the book was of poor quality and would be too insulting to Zhang Siwei.

When giving gifts, it's important to be presentable.

So Shen Nian sent over the official edition of the Chongwen Academy from the third year of the Qingli reign of the Northern Song Dynasty that he had collected.

This Song Dynasty woodblock print is worth at least five taels of silver. It's not exactly a bribe, but it's certainly a respectable gift.

……

On June 20th, the Liaodong Regional Military Commission established Liaozhongwei (i.e., Liaoyang Prefecture).

Inside the residence of Li Chengliang, the General of Liaodong.

Upon receiving news that the imperial court would dispatch censors to conduct a full investigation into him and that the results would be made public, Li Chengliang was furious.

"Last year, when Qi Jiguang returned to the capital, the court treated him with great courtesy and instructed him to convey a message to the generals of the nine border regions that the court would treat each of them well. Is this how they treat them well? Are they preparing to make an example of me and remove me from office?"

"I'm quitting! I'm resigning now. I want to see who in Liaodong is capable of taking on the responsibility of dealing with the Tuman and Jurchen tribes without me, Li Chengliang!"

Just as Li Chengliang was about to go to his study to write his resignation, a soldier walked over quickly.

"General, Governor Zhang has arrived!"

Li Chengliang, looking displeased, said, "Please come in!"

After a while.

Zhang Xueyan, the governor of Liaodong, walked in with a smile on his face.

He looked at Li Chengliang, whose face was dark, and said, "Ruqi (Li Chengliang, courtesy name Ruqi), do you feel that the court has wronged you? Are you already preparing to write your resignation?"

Li Chengliang pursed his lips.

“Brother Ziyu, I’m wronged! In Liaodong, there are Tatars and Jurchens. We need to strengthen our army, recruit migrants, reclaim wasteland, and develop commerce. How can we possibly do everything according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty? If we strictly abide by the law, nothing can be accomplished!”

"With the court investigating me so thoroughly, how could they not find anything wrong? If I were dismissed because of this, I would feel ashamed and would rather resign directly!"

Zhang Xueyan sat in a chair.

“Recently, some people have been spreading rumors of war in the northern border. His Majesty is disturbed by them and is worried about the unrest in the nine border regions. And you have just been impeached. How could His Majesty not deal with you? But don’t worry, Liaodong can’t do without you. As long as you don’t make any big mistakes, you will only be given a minor punishment at most.”

"A small punishment? Why punish me? I can't bear the humiliation, I want to resign!" Li Chengliang said indignantly.

Zhang Xueyan, who is usually good-tempered, couldn't help but frown.

“Ruqi, that’s enough! You really should reflect on your actions and learn from General Qi. He leads his troops through a system of clear rewards and punishments, while you rely entirely on your personal prestige. In this way, it’s inevitable that officials will impeach you for turning the imperial army into your private army. If one day, a censor impeaches you for having rebellious intentions, it will be too late to regret it. Do you still intend to go against the imperial court?”

Li Chengliang was surprised that Zhang Xueyan would reprimand him like that, and he couldn't help but stand up.

"Zhang Xueyan, do you also want to drive me out of Liaodong? Without you, everything in Liaodong will continue as usual, but without me, there will definitely be problems within seven days."

"Think about it, who repeatedly defeated the Tatars and barbarians, who wiped out the Jurchen Wang Gao and other tribes, and who made Liaodong as impregnable as a rock? Right now, I, Li Chengliang, am the sky over Liaodong, and the imperial court really can't do without me!"

Zhang Xueyan snorted coldly, took out a letter from his pocket, and said, "Take a look at this letter first!"

Li Chengliang looked suspicious as he picked up the envelope. After seeing the handwriting on the envelope, he immediately began to read it carefully.

Not long after.

The murderous aura on Li Chengliang's face vanished completely.

After reading the letter, a smile appeared on his face. He then cupped his hands towards Zhang Xueyan and said, "Brother Ziyu, I was wrong. I was a fool! I was talking nonsense without thinking. Please forgive me!"

"Next, I will fully cooperate with your investigation and that of the imperial censor sent by the court, and I will warn all the generals in Liaodong that they must all act in accordance with the laws of the Ming Dynasty!"

"Have some tea! Have some tea!" With that, Li Chengliang picked up the teapot and personally poured tea for Zhang Xueyan.

The reason his attitude changed so drastically in an instant was because the person who wrote the letter was named Zhang Juzheng.

This letter was written by Zhang Juzheng to both Zhang Xueyan and Li Chengliang.

Zhang Juzheng stated: The court's strict investigation of border general Li Chengliang is for the sake of border stability, but in reality it is for the new policy, to make Li Chengliang admit his mistakes. Even if he is dismissed, he will still have the opportunity to be reinstated in the future. If Li Chengliang dares to cause trouble in the northern border and create chaos, he will not let him off lightly!
Zhang Juzheng also stated that he had written a memorial of confession to his father's land annexation, and that if Li Chengliang resisted for the sake of face, it would be an opposition to the new policies and a rebellion against the court.

Zhang Juzheng knew that Li Chengliang would have a temper.

Therefore, he asked Zhang Xueyan to reprimand Li Chengliang on his behalf in the letter, which is why Zhang Xueyan dared to scold Li Chengliang like that just now.

The reason why Li Chengliang was so timid in the face of Zhang Juzheng's letter.

This was because it was Zhang Ju who promoted him beyond his rank, making him the General Commander of Liaodong.

They have shown me great kindness and support.

Afterwards, Li Chengliang was impeached by officials multiple times for "claiming credit for others' work, engaging in reckless battles, and causing excessive casualties." Zhang Juzheng always defended him, showing no less leniency than he showed towards Qi Jiguang.

Li Chengliang deeply respected Zhang Juzheng, but at the same time, he was somewhat afraid of him.

In the past two years, Zhang Juzheng had repeatedly reminded him that there were certain crimes he should not commit.

The worst that could happen to him is dismissal. If Zhang Juzheng promises to reinstate him, he can be reinstated.

On the contrary, if he disobeyed Zhang Juzheng's orders, Zhang Juzheng could still strip him of his title even during his mourning period.

This is Zhang Juzheng's unique personal charm.

……

June 25th.

After a month of recuperation, Lü Diaoyang finally recovered and began working in the cabinet.

However, Shen Nian clearly sensed that the current cabinet was not capable enough, and the Drafting Office could only offer suggestions but not control the officials. It was time to find an appropriate opportunity to let Zhang Juzheng return to court ahead of schedule.

(End of this chapter)