I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 331 Annual Leave! Shen Nian: I do not aspire to be a saint, but only to create a prosperous era.

On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, the wind was biting cold and water froze instantly.

The festive atmosphere in the capital is growing stronger.

All government offices closed and sealed their doors one after another. The New Year holiday ended on the 20th day of the first lunar month. Unless on duty or summoned by the emperor, no one was required to go to the government office.

At the end of the year, court affairs are mostly related to etiquette.

Apart from the Ministry of Rites and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, which were in charge of ancestral temple rituals and were quite busy, the officials of the other departments were relaxed and only had the task of participating in the New Year's Day court assembly.

According to regulations, the cabinet cannot be without members, and the five cabinet ministers are required to take turns serving during the annual leave period.

Wang Xijue and Shen Shixing volunteered to take on the shifts from the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month to the 6th day of the first lunar month, while Shen Nian only had duties on the 10th and 16th days of the first lunar month.

The reason why the two took such initiative.

This was because Zhang Juzheng and Yin Zhengmao were highly senior and had contributed the most to the cabinet, so they needed to rest during the holidays.

Shen Nian is far busier than the others because he teaches the emperor both literature and martial arts and is also the deputy head instructor of the Jingwu Academy. It would be unreasonable to make Shen Nian take on too many duties.

……

Starting from the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, Shen Nian stopped going to the yamen and began to accompany his family to prepare for the New Year.

This year is very special for Shen Nian.

This was his first year in the cabinet, and it was also a year when all his close relatives were at the Shen residence and had a very leisurely time.

Since Mr. and Mrs. Shen and Gu Dongxing will return to Qiantang after the New Year, this year's New Year celebrations are especially precious.

These past few days, Shen Nian has been sleeping until she naturally wakes up, and then spends most of her time with her child and chatting with her three elders.

……

New Year's Eve.

Shen Nian's family finished their reunion dinner just as dusk was falling.

Afterwards, the family strolled along the brightly lit streets for most of the day.

After going home.

Shen's mother and Gu Yue'er set off firecrackers in the front yard with Shen Yanche and Shen Zhiyi, while Shen Nian accompanied his father and father-in-law for a drink.

After a few drinks, Shen's father and Shen Nian's father-in-law started talking more.

“My son! I have recently heard many slanderous and insulting words directed at you. Since ancient times, new policies and reforms have always offended people. I know you are not afraid of these voices and have great ambitions, but you still need to be cautious. The higher you are, the easier it is to fall into the abyss. In today's Ming Dynasty, it is still His Majesty and the officials who have the final say, not the people. You must proceed slowly and carefully, and not be too hasty or impetuous…”

Gu Dongxing added, "My dear son-in-law, you have done enough for this world. If you suffer injustice in the court or are framed by villains in the future, there is no need to argue. If all else fails, just retire and go home. Always remember, life is the most important thing. If you lose your life, you lose everything. Never act impulsively!"

The two of them had to muster up their courage to say those words.

Recently, the slander and insults directed at Shen Nian have surpassed those during Zhang Juzheng's period of mourning for his parents.

Shen Nian, for the sake of the people and the new policies, has offended all the social classes that have a high degree of influence in the court and among the people, including the imperial family, scholar-officials, nobles, and wealthy merchants!
Many people who have suffered losses because of him are hoping he will make a mistake so they can kick him while he's down!

Shen Nian picked up the wine pot and poured wine for his father and father-in-law. Then, with a smile, he said, "Father and father-in-law, rest assured. Currently, His Majesty, Grand Secretary Zhang, and Grand Secretary Yin are all protecting me! I hold justice in my hands. No one can wrong me, and no one can frame me!"

"If one day I am unhappy in the court and my ideas are difficult to implement, I will return to Qiantang! I value my life very much and will not do anything like jumping into a river or hitting a pillar to die for the sake of new policies!"

Shen Yaoshan and Gu Dongxing were waiting for Shen Nian's words.

Since entering officialdom, Shen Nian has had exceptional talent, the support of influential people, and accumulated numerous achievements, leading a very smooth life. However, he has also offended too many people.

The two feared that one day Shen Nian would be unable to fulfill his ambition of "making sure all the people in the world have enough to eat," and would clash with the court officials, thus incurring the emperor's severe punishment.

Having lived most of their lives, the two men were well aware that there was no right or wrong in the imperial court, only winning or losing, and winning or losing depended entirely on the size of one's power.

Shen Nian currently seems to wield considerable power and is highly likely to rise further in rank.

However, once the young Wanli Emperor took power, even the Grand Secretary could fall from grace overnight if he was disliked by the emperor.

Xia Yan, Yan Song, and Gao Gong were all precedents; they held the highest positions in the court, yet their later years were tragic.

The heart of an emperor is unfathomable.

They didn't want Shen Nian to work so hard only to have her sincere efforts wasted.

"Father, Father-in-law, I toast you both!" Shen Nian picked up his wine glass, and after the former raised his glass and drank it all, he immediately drank his as well.

Shen Nian was unwilling to talk too much about court affairs with her father and father-in-law.

He understood his situation better than anyone else.

He understood that once the young Wanli Emperor assumed power and Zhang Juzheng and Yin Zhengmao retired, he would inevitably become a lone minister if he still wanted to rise in the ranks.

If you want to remain untainted by the mud, and if you want to avoid forming cliques and seizing power, you can only become a lone minister.

Moreover, Shen Nian had many other strategies in mind, all aimed at dealing with those who had already benefited from the system.

He had no choice but to do this for the sake of the new order.

He was also helpless.

But history told him that in order for the new policies to be fully implemented and to avoid the situation of the government collapsing and the people dying out, the emperor himself had to preside over the reforms, and then there had to be generations of officials willing to safeguard the achievements of the reforms.

This is also the main reason why Shen Nian always wanted the young Wanli Emperor to rule in his own right, taking on the responsibility of the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty.

Some scholars among the common people say that Shen Nian wants to become a great sage, but Shen Nian only wants to create a prosperous era.

His next goal was not to become the next Zhang Juzheng, but to become the most powerful arm of the young Wanli Emperor, supporting him to become the most accomplished and wise monarch.

He was betting that the young Wanli Emperor would develop in the direction he expected.

If one day, the young Wanli Emperor remains as selfish and self-serving as his grandfathers, the Jiajing Emperor and the Longqing Emperor, with no regard for the country or its people, then Shen Nian will have no choice but to adapt to the situation and find another way to realize his political ambitions.

Next, Shen Nian stopped talking about politics and instead chatted with Shen Yaoshan and Gu Dongxing about what they would do after returning to their hometown.

After the three of them chatted and laughed for about half an hour, Shen Nian went back to her room to sleep after being reminded by Gu Yue'er.

Shen Nian must get up at midnight tomorrow to attend the New Year's Day court assembly; this matter absolutely cannot be delayed.

at the same time.

Shen Yaoshan, Gu Dongxing, and Shen Yanche stayed up all night in the front hall.

Staying up all night on New Year's Eve is a way to bring good fortune.

The three of them were praying for Shen Nian and decided to stay up until Shen Nian woke up before going to sleep.

……

At midnight, Shen Nian was awakened by Gu Yue'er.

Hot water, towels, and other toiletries were all prepared on the side.

As Gu Yue'er handed the towel to Shen Nian, she said, "I've prepared two sachets. This year, you can give Che'er and Zhiyi lucky money. Zhiyi is still fast asleep in her bedroom, so just put the sachet near her ear. When she wakes up, I'll tell her it was you, and she'll be very happy. As for Che'er, he's still praying for you in the front hall. Just give him the sachet, and then have breakfast!"

“Okay!” Shen Nian said with a smile.

New Year's money, also known as money to ward off evil spirits, had become very common and well-established in the Ming Dynasty.

After washing her face, Shen Nian opened her purse, which contained more than ten small gold and silver ingots.

Each one is about the size of a melon seed and is very delicate.

Poor families without gold or silver would string together several copper coins, put them in a purse, and give them to their children to bless them with a healthy and trouble-free new year.

A moment later, Shen Nian arrived at her daughter's bedroom, where her younger daughter was still fast asleep.

Shen Nian kissed her fair face, placed the purse beside the pillow, and murmured, "May the new year bless my good daughter with good health and freedom from illness!"

Afterwards, Shen Nian went to the front hall.

In the front hall, Shen Yaoshan, Gu Dongxing, and Shen Yanche sat cross-legged together, looking very sleepy, but still with their eyes open.

Shen Nian stepped forward, cupped her hands, and said, "Father, Father-in-law, Happy New Year!"

After saying that, Shen Nian held up the purse in front of Shen Yanche and said with a smile, "Yanche, here's your New Year's money!"

Shen Yanche excitedly took the purse and bowed to Shen Nian, saying, "Father, Happy New Year!"

Just as Shen Nian was about to go back to her room for breakfast, her mother and Gu Yue'er suddenly came out from behind.

Shen's mother walked up to Shen Nian, suddenly took out a purse, and said, "Son, this is your New Year's money!"

At this time.

Shen Yaoshan and Gu Dongxing, their old faces slightly flushed, each took out a purse from their pockets and said with a smile, "Son, this is New Year's money!"

Shen Nian was immediately happy.

I never expected to receive New Year's money after turning 30.

He was immediately moved to tears. The three elders' actions were clearly because they would be returning to Qiantang after the New Year, and they hoped that Shen Nian would remain healthy and free from illness.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and accept it! It's for Yue'er, we've already given it to her!" Mother Shen said with a smile.

Shen Nian was certain that this idea must have come from her mother; Shen Yaoshan and Gu Dongxing would never have come up with such a pretentious idea.

"Thank you, Mother! Thank you, Father! Thank you, Father-in-law!" Shen Nian put away her purse and said with a smile, so happy that she was almost in tears.

A few moments.

After eating the breakfast that Gu Yue'er had prepared for him, Shen Nian put on his official robes and hat, got into the carriage, and headed towards the Forbidden City.

In the carriage.

Shen Nian opened the three "lucky money" pouches she had placed in her bosom, and couldn't help but smile after opening them.

The gold ingots in his purse were at least twice the size of those in Shen Yanche and Shen Zhiyi's purse, and they were engraved with auspicious words such as "smooth career," "all things go well," "smooth sailing," and "unbeatable success."

……

On the first day of the first month of the ninth year of the Wanli reign, at the fourth watch of the night.

The entire Forbidden City was brightly lit.

All the civil and military officials of the capital, special envoys from thirteen provinces, delegations from several overseas countries, and tribal delegations gathered at the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

At the entrance of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Last year's top three scholars stood behind the officials in their robes.

These successful candidates are currently observing government affairs in various government offices and are expected to receive their official positions by the middle of this year.

Behind the group of top-ranking scholars, there was a large group of people.

This group of people were dressed in armor and carried bright silver spears. They were imposing and extraordinary.

They are the students of Yingwu Academy.

There were initially 900 people, but after being eliminated for various reasons, there are now 825 people left.

The young Wanli Emperor placed them after the group of top-ranking scholars, with only about a foot between them, clearly regarding them as his disciples.

The students of Jingwu Academy were very excited.

They were soldiers, not officers, and had neither official titles nor military merits, yet they were able to stand here, which was enough to show how much the young Wanli Emperor valued them.

This move was approved by the Ministry of Rites, which means that the status of military officers and generals in the Ming Dynasty will continue to rise this year.

A moment later, the court assembly officially began.

In previous years, Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng would speak on behalf of the young Wanli Emperor, or the young Wanli Emperor would give a brief introduction followed by a detailed account of the events of the previous year.

This year, none of the five cabinet ministers spoke, leaving the entire responsibility to the young Wanli Emperor.

This move signifies that Zhang Juzheng is getting closer to retiring, and the young Wanli Emperor is also getting closer to taking power.

At this moment, the soon-to-be nineteen-year-old Wanli Emperor had shed his childishness.

He sat on his throne, head held high, and spoke eloquently.

From the Single Whip Law and the order to open up the sea and attract silver at the beginning of last year, to the order to eliminate redundant officials and positions and the order to limit high-interest lending, etc.

Because the young Wanli Emperor had become increasingly involved in court affairs over the past year, he could speak eloquently about every single matter.

After the young Wanli Emperor finished speaking, amidst the sounds of ceremonial music, the officials and foreign envoys began to pay homage and offer their New Year greetings.

……

Around noon, the New Year's Day court assembly ended, followed by a luncheon.

The New Year's Day lunch banquet was the most relaxed and pleasant imperial feast that civil and military officials had attended throughout the year. Although the food was of average quality, it provided an opportunity for officials to speak frankly with each other.

At lunch, colleagues can freely raise any grievances they may have, and some issues can be resolved in the time it takes to drink two or three glasses of wine.

Last year, Shen Nian was sitting at a table in the Ministry of Revenue; this year, he is sitting at the main table of the officials closest to the young Wanli Emperor.

The other tables were occupied by six to eight people, but Shen Nian, one of the five Grand Secretaries, sat at a separate table.

Even Wang Guoguang, the Minister of Personnel who was revered as the Minister of Heaven, could only sit with ministers such as Li Youzi and Liang Menglong.

Shen Nian still felt very awkward sitting at the cabinet minister's desk.

Because this place was too conspicuous, he couldn't carry a wine jug and chat and laugh with his old friends from the Hanlin Academy.

After a while.

After the young Wanli Emperor left, the five Grand Secretaries and several ministers exchanged a few pleasantries and also departed.

With five cabinet ministers present, the officials were all too restrained to relax.

Immediately afterwards, the five cabinet ministers returned to the second floor of the cabinet office and chatted over tea.

Cabinet ministers have their own circles.

Zhang Juzheng briefly summarized the cabinet's achievements over the past year to the four men, and then assigned them tasks for the new year.

Subsequently, Zhang Juzheng highlighted the slander against Shen Nian by some people whose interests had been harmed by the new policies.

He promised Shen Nian that he would take action against these people and hoped that Shen Nian would not be affected.

In addition, after Shen Yaoshan, Shen's mother, and Gu Dongxing return to Qiantang, in addition to local soldiers protecting them, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will also secretly protect Shen Nian's family.

In short: Zhang Juzheng hoped that everyone would continue to devote all their efforts to reform this year, and that he would bear all the negative impacts and solve all the problems that arose.

Zhang Juzheng, now resigned to his post, fears nothing in order to preserve the achievements of his new policies.

He would use all his power to deal with anyone who dared to oppose the new policies.

About an hour later, the five of them left the Forbidden City together and began to enjoy their rare annual leave.

(End of this chapter)