I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 309 Arrival in Nanjing! The Schemes of Nanjing's Three Top Officials

On the tenth day of the eighth lunar month, at night, in Nanjing, at the garrison headquarters.

Ling Yunyi, the Minister of War, Advisor on Military Affairs, and Governor of Huaiyang in Nanjing; Li Yangong, the Garrison Commander of Nanjing and Marquis of Linhuai; and Guo Xiao, the Garrison Commander of Nanjing and Eunuch, the three most powerful figures in Southern Zhili, gathered together.

Marquis Li Yangong of Linhuai spoke first: "Gentlemen, I have just calculated the itinerary. Grand Secretary Shen should arrive in Nanjing on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival. On such a festive occasion, a banquet will surely be prepared. I will arrange this matter!"

"But...but...would he be like Hai Gangfeng, refusing to attend the banquet or refusing to eat or drink at the banquet?"

"No! This Grand Secretary Shen knows how to adapt to local customs. If he doesn't even give us this much face, then don't blame us for not cooperating with his duties!" said Guo Xiao, the garrison eunuch, with a smile.

"Will the banquet feature song and dance performances or an opera troupe?"

"I suggest a song and dance performance. Minister Shen is only just over thirty; he's not yet of age to watch plays!"

……

"Cough cough... cough cough... cough cough!"

Ling Yunyi coughed heavily several times, interrupting Li Yangong and Guo Xiao's conversation.

"Gentlemen, I have invited you here not to discuss whether to prepare a banquet or to arrange singing and dancing, but to think about how to deal with this young Grand Secretary!"

"Deal with?"

Li Yangong and Guo Xiao both questioned the meaning of these two characters.

“Brother Ling, what are you trying to do? The policy of eliminating redundant officials and positions is a national policy. If you want to go against the court, don’t drag me into it. I have no intention of climbing the ranks!” Li Yangong said, puffing out his chest.

Marquis Li Yangong of Linhuai was the eighth-generation descendant of Li Wenzhong, a founding meritorious official of the Ming Dynasty.

He had no great ambitions, loved to play and appreciate elegance, especially writing and reciting poetry and attending poetry gatherings. Relying on his family's wealth, he had no worries about food and drink and never thought about working hard to advance his career or seek promotion.

Guo Xiao continued, "Three days ago, I received His Majesty's decree to abolish the eunuchs. It was imperative, and I was ordered to fully cooperate. There aren't many eunuchs in Nanjing. I can just follow the example of the inner court in the capital. There's no need to go against Grand Secretary Shen!"

Guo Xiao, the newly appointed eunuch in charge of Nanjing, was extremely greedy, but he knew which kinds of wealth he could and could not have.

His greatest advantage was that he would do whatever the emperor asked him to do, and while being greedy for money, he could also complete his duties for the court.

Ling Yunyi glanced at the two of them with disdain.

"What I mean by 'dealing with' is not opposing national policies, nor is it going against Grand Secretary Shen, but rather that we must be able to protect ourselves."

"You think our positions are secure?"

“The reduction of redundant officials and positions won’t affect us, but… but if the reduction of redundant officials and positions does remove all the people under our command, how long can we stay in this position? If the court thinks that without Shen Nian’s arrival in Nanjing, the policy of reducing redundant officials and positions in Nanjing would have been a complete mess, would His Majesty still keep the three of us in this position?”

“My lord, you do not seek promotion. You cherish freedom and spend your days listening to operas and music, writing poems and appreciating scenery. You live a carefree life because you are the Marquis of Linhuai. Once you lose this title, will you still have money to indulge in your refined pursuits? And who will support your family?”

Marquis Li Yangong of Linhuai was somewhat stunned by what he was said, and couldn't help but say, "Wasn't Zhao Jin, the Minister of Personnel, the main person in charge of the Nanjing's reduction of redundant officials and positions? I... even if I lose my position, it's impossible for me to be stripped of my title as well!"

"Hmph! Is it possible that the imperial court needs to make an example of someone to scare others?"

"The entire Southern Zhili region, and even the entire Jiangnan region, is watching Nanjing. The three of us are the military and political leaders of Southern Zhili. If anyone is guilty, it will naturally fall on our heads first. That Minister Zhao received the imperial edict to abolish redundant officials and positions half a month ago. Has he made any move yet? He doesn't like the new policies, but he will implicate us!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yangong's expression turned serious.

Judging from the current style of the imperial court, it is quite possible that they will be used as a scapegoat to warn others.

Then, Ling Yunyi looked at Guo Xiao.

"Eunuch Guo, would you rather be the eunuch in charge of Nanjing's defense or guard the tomb of Emperor Taizu?"

Guo Xiao's expression also turned serious, and he said, "So, what should we do next?"

Ling Yunyi stood up from the mahogany chair.

"First of all, we can't let Shen Nian think that the three of us are incompetent and deliberately delayed the policy of eliminating redundant officials and positions after arriving in Nanjing. We must put all the blame on Zhao Jin and spread some of the things Zhao Jin said that opposed the new policy and secretly slandered Grand Secretary Zhang. We must make sure that Shen Nian hears them."

"Hmph, this is Zhao Jin's fault. He's so slow and indecisive, he's never prepared to do this job properly!" Li Yangong said.

"Secondly, although Shen Nian is young, he is very imposing and decisive. I am worried that after Zhao Jin is criticized by him, he will suddenly become serious. You know Zhao Jin. If he really implements the policy of eliminating redundant officials and positions, he will be ruthless and may even dismiss our students and old friends. Therefore, we must make Shen Nian and Zhao Jin have an irreconcilable conflict."

"Our ultimate goal is to make Shen Nian fight Zhao Jin, and we will help Shen Nian. Once Shen Nian defeats Zhao Jin and petitions the court to remove him from his position as Minister of Personnel, then whoever becomes Minister of Personnel in Nanjing will be our ally. We can then ensure that our people are not dismissed. In this way, Shen Nian can complete his mission, and we can also protect our people!"

"How to get those two to fight depends on the combined efforts of the three of us!"

"Great idea!" Guo Xiao couldn't help but exclaim.

Ling Yunyi continued, "My lord, next, you need to maintain relations with the other officials in Nanjing and have them write a list of people to be retained. If we want to unite with them, we must also retain their 'own people' who don't want to be dismissed!"

"no problem!"

“Eunuch Guo, I suggest you have a chat with Minister Zhao when you have time, and convey the message from ‘the higher-ups’ to him.”

"Understood!" Guo Xiao smiled.

……

The following day, around noon, at the Ministry of Personnel in Nanjing.

Side hall.

Guo Xiaowang, the eunuch in charge of Nanjing, looked at Zhao Jin, the Minister of Personnel, who was sitting in the large chair in front of him.

"Minister Zhao, Minister Shen, who is in charge of inspecting the implementation of the policy to reduce redundant officials and positions in Nanjing, will be arriving in Nanjing soon. Is the progress of this policy too slow? Should we speed up the process in the next few days, or perhaps dismiss a few officials and positions in some government departments?"

"Reducing the number of officials and their positions is no trivial matter! The Ministry of Personnel in Nanjing is already reviewing the performance evaluation documents of officials and making a selection process. The current progress is normal. Even if Grand Secretary Zhang came, let alone Grand Secretary Shen, he could not speed things up!"

Zhao Jin's tone clearly carried a hint of reluctance.

He was dissatisfied with Zhang Juzheng and the new policies, mainly because he felt that the new policies were disastrous for the country.

In his eyes, the stability of officials was more important than that of the common people. As the 21st generation descendant of Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, he advocated that the emperor and the scholar-officials should govern the country together.

In his view, maintaining stability among the scholar-official class was very important, while Zhang Juzheng was doing the opposite, and Shen Nian's proposals were even more radical than Zhang Juzheng's.

He wanted to debate with Shen Nian and reduce the number of redundant officials and positions.

Upon hearing this, Guo Xiao knew that Zhao Jin was dissatisfied with this plan.

With a smile, he continued, "Grand Secretary Shen is expected to arrive in Nanjing on the afternoon of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Nanjing Garrison Command will host a banquet for Grand Secretary Shen, and Minister Zhao will certainly attend!"

"The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions. Although he is an imperial envoy, the Nanjing Garrison Command can entertain him. I will not participate in such occasions. Eunuch Guo, you don't need to send me an invitation, lest it be awkward!"

"Fine! Fine! I'll say Minister Zhao is ill!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jin frowned and said, "I'm not sick. I just don't want to participate in these kinds of occasions. I'll attend when there's official business!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

Guo Xiao was waiting for Zhao Jin's words.

In his youth, Zhao Jin was a remonstrating official who dared to impeach Yan Song. He was tortured forty times in prison and then demoted to commoner status, living in seclusion at home for fifteen years.

Such a person has a temper like a stone in a latrine; once they've made up their mind, they're set on it without any ulterior motives, but this also means their career path is destined to be bumpy.

Meanwhile, Marquis Li Yangong of Linhuai visited all the ministers he was close to, asking them to leave a list of "his own people" who might be dismissed. The Nanjing Garrison Office then acted as intermediary to protect their interests.

……

August 15th, afternoon.

Shen Nian's official boat sailed into the Qinhuai River dock.

Ling Yunyi, Li Yangong, and Guo Xiao, representing the Nanjing Garrison Command, personally came to the dock to welcome them.

at the same time.

Upon learning of Shen Nian's arrival at the Qinhuai River wharf, scholars and gentlemen in Nanjing gathered to welcome him. Some even held up their "works" and shouted from the shore: "Grand Secretary Shen, your students have a strategy for revitalizing the nation and enriching the people; please take a look!"

Shen Nian usually ignores such sounds.

Because most of the scholars who claim to have strategies for revitalizing the country and enriching the people are just spouting pedantic ideas about building roads, bridges, and river embankments. Any scholar in the capital could come up with such ideas.

Just as Shen Nian disembarked, a scholar on the riverbank suddenly shouted, "Grand Secretary Shen, I support your statement that it is better for officials to suffer than for the common people to suffer!"

Upon hearing this, a group of scholars in Nanjing suddenly shouted in unison.

"It's better to make the officials suffer than the common people suffer!"

"It's better to make the officials suffer than the common people suffer!"

"It's better to make the officials suffer than the common people suffer!"

……

As soon as the scholars shouted, the surrounding people also joined in.

These words have now become Shen Nian's trademark.

Shen Nian smiled slightly, waved to the shouting crowd, and then pressed his hands down to indicate that it was okay.

The shouts subsided, and Shen Nian went ashore and saw Ling Yunyi and the other two.

Shen Nian had met Ling Yunyi when she came to Nanjing earlier, and she had also met Li Yangong and Guo Xiao once in the capital. Upon meeting them, she recognized them all because of their official robes.

“Grand Secretary Shen, you must be tired from your journey. We have arranged accommodations. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, so please rest for a while and then come to the Nanjing Garrison Hall for a simple meal tonight,” Ling Yunyi said.

Li Yangong continued, "Tonight, officials from several government departments have come, partly to welcome Grand Secretary Shen and partly to introduce him to them so that he can be spared any further duties."

“Grand Secretary Shen, if you refuse, you will be disrespecting all the officials in Nanjing!” Guo Xiaoye said.

Shen Nian smiled slightly and said, "Then...then I'll accept it without hesitation!"

……

Immediately, Shen Nian boarded the carriage and headed directly towards the Nanjing Meeting Hall.

When traveling for work, it's almost unavoidable to be entertained with banquets.

Shen Nian's attitude was: whenever a banquet was held in the government office, regardless of whether the banquet was inappropriate or not, he would sit from beginning to end, not get drunk, and not change venues after drinking.

When the young master hosts a banquet, the officials are very restrained.

Shen Nian would never attend a banquet held on a pleasure boat on the Qinhuai River or in a private residence, because he knew exactly what kind of special programs would be offered at such a banquet.

In addition, he had instructed Wang Jia, the secretary of the Imperial Secretariat who accompanied him, to make sure to record everything he ate and watched at the banquets he attended after arriving in Jiangnan.

It wasn't easy for Shen Nian to sit in this position; too many officials wanted him to step down.

He had to defend.

……

Night falls, Nanjing Garrison Command.

When Shen Nian led Wang Jia, the Imperial Secretary, into the courtyard.

Ling Yunyi, Li Yangong, Guo Xiao, Wang Haowen (Minister of Revenue in Nanjing), Pei Yu (Minister of Rites), He Kuan (Minister of Justice), Pan Jixun (Acting Minister of Works), and Yang Cheng (Left Vice Minister of Works in Nanjing), all came out of the front hall to greet them.

After the introductions, Guo Xiao, the eunuch in charge of the Nanjing garrison, looked at Shen Nian with a helpless expression.

"Minister Shen, I am truly sorry! Minister Zhao Jin of Nanjing is unable to come and welcome you tonight."

"Why? Is Minister Zhao busy or ill?" Shen Nian asked. He needed to rely on Zhao Jin, the Minister of Personnel in Nanjing, to complete this mission successfully.

Guo Xiao gave an awkward smile.

"Minister Zhao has always disliked attending such banquets. He said that he would definitely attend if he was summoned for official business."

At this moment, Li Yangong handed over a sentence.

"He was on good terms with Fengpan Bus Company, but he was never enthusiastic about the new policies. Maybe he felt he couldn't connect with Grand Secretary Shen!"

Li Yangong lowered his voice, but still managed to get his words to Shen Nian's ears accurately, clearly intending for Shen Nian to hear them.

These words were tantamount to stabbing Zhao Jin in the back.

"Let's not talk about anything else! Let's take our seats! Take our seats!" Ling Yunyi said with a smile.

Immediately, Shen Nian walked forward surrounded by the crowd.

In the capital, Shen Nian was constantly battling old foxes.

He immediately realized that Ling Yunyi, Li Yangong, and Guo Xiao were intentionally trying to pit him against Zhao Jin, or even cause a conflict between them.

It is true that Zhao Jin was on good terms with Zhang Siwei, the Duke of Fengpan, and it is also true that he was not enthusiastic about the new policies, and even criticized Zhang Juzheng's private morality on several occasions.

But Shen Nian was aware of the latter's abilities and character.

Wang Guoguang, the Minister of Personnel in the capital, once told Shen Nian: "No one knows better than Minister Zhao how the officials in Southern Zhili are doing in terms of performance evaluation and character."

To implement the policy of reducing redundant officials and positions in Nanjing, Shen Nian must rely on Zhao Jin. Other officials are too self-serving and may easily distort this policy into a way to eliminate dissidents.

After Shen Nian sat in the main seat.

Various dishes were served one after another, quickly exceeding the standards for official receptions.

There were also musicians playing the zither nearby.

Shen Nian raised his wine glass and chatted and laughed with the officials, without finding fault.

That's how the Ming Dynasty is now; the entire system of rites and etiquette has collapsed.

While it is admirable to be concerned only with one's own well-being, it can also make it difficult to accomplish many things.

Shen Nian's goal is to establish a more comprehensive system. Once the system is in place, such unethical eating and drinking habits will naturally disappear.

(End of this chapter)