I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 56: Deep conversation between teacher and student! Zhang Juzheng: The one who shares the same opinion with me is Ziheng.

Afternoon, Cabinet.

The Zhongshu Sheren on duty led Shen Nian into Zhang Juzheng's duty room.

According to Shen Nian's current rank, he was not qualified to meet Zhang Juzheng without reporting in advance.

But he had the identity of a daily lecturer, and he was also on the list of officials specifically assigned by Zhang Juzheng.

He just said that he had something important to report and then came before Zhang Juzheng.

"I am Shen Nian, the Hanlin reviewer, and I pay my respects to the elder!" Shen Nian bowed and said.

Zhang Juzheng put down the pen in his hand and looked up. Shen Nian addressed him by his official title, obviously for official business.

"Ziheng, what's the matter?"

Shen Nian bowed and said, "Your Excellency, I would like to plead for the Imperial Household Department Secretary Xu Zhenming, Guangdong Provincial Censor Li Zhen, Shaanxi Provincial Censor Qiao Yan, and Imperial Academy Reviewer Zhao Yongxian. I beg the court to spare their punishment!"

Hearing this, Zhang Juzheng frowned and slowly stood up.

"What? Are you related to them? Why are you getting involved in this mess? Whether they will be punished depends on the confessions in the imperial prison and the judgment of Your Majesty. It's New Year's Day, don't make things difficult for yourself, and return home immediately!"

Zhang Juzheng thought that Shen Nian was seeking a private relationship because he had old ties with the four people, so he angrily scolded Shen Nian.

Shen Nian's expression remained unchanged as he took a step forward.

"Lord, I have no history with these four people, and I'm not seeking personal favors. I'm pleading for them so that the new policies can be implemented smoothly!"

Zhang Juzheng looked at Shen Nian.

"If you're talking about 'no crime for speaking out, it's the censors' responsibility,' forget it! Those ignorant fools are threatening the court, disrupting state affairs, and disregarding the country's success or failure. If they're not severely punished, they will become even more rampant in the future!"

Zhang Juzheng's face turned pale, and he was obviously very angry about this matter.

Shen Nian slowed down and said, "Throughout the dynasties, those who implemented new policies were always criticized while carrying out reforms."

"I understand your hardship and burden, but severely punishing censors is not a good idea."

"What is the good plan?" Zhang Juzheng asked in return.

"Show weakness, impose light punishment, cultivate virtuous officials who support the new policies, place them in important positions, and share the pressure on the cabinet ministers."

"Showing weakness? If I show weakness, I will be eaten by those censors!" Zhang Juzheng was very clear about the hatred that group of pedantic censors had for him and his country.

He can feel it.

If he stepped down, his ending might be as miserable as Yan Song's in his later years.

Shen Nian asked, "Lord, do you know what you are like in the eyes of the officials?"

"What does it look like?"

"The regent is anxious, he considers himself the prime minister, he is stubborn and resolute, he is upright, he is arbitrary and has absolute power..."

Zhang Juzheng listened carefully, but did not find a single positive word.

He was so angry that his lips trembled and his long beard curled up, but when he thought about it carefully, he realized that this might be the image that all the officials had of him.

The performance evaluation system offended almost 90% of the officials.

No one dared to say such words in front of him.

"You think so too?"

Zhang Juzheng stroked his beard lightly, his face as calm as a lake, but he was very nervous in his heart.

He felt that Shen Nian didn't dare to nod.

But he also thought that Shen Nian's shaking of his head was most likely not from the heart.

After thinking for a few breaths, Shen Nian nodded very seriously, and then added an affirmative answer: Yes.

"boom!"

When Zhang Juzheng heard this, he staggered and hit his waist on the table, and his head felt buzzing.

He asked himself how much he valued Shen Nian. He never expected that Shen Nian had such an image of him.

Shen Nian quickly said, "Lord, everyone thinks so. It's not our fault. You created this illusion!"

"I know you've worked tirelessly for the Ming Dynasty, hoping to prosper it with your new policies. You barely care about your own reputation. The burden on you is immense, yet you've never complained!"

"I think you're sometimes trying too hard, and it's exhausting to pretend you're invincible. You can be strong in implementing new policies, but you should be weak in other areas."

"I wonder if you've noticed that when you were attacked by the censors, no official came to your defense. You have plenty of supporters in the court, but no one spoke up for you. This is because everyone believes you're omnipotent and that His Majesty will back you up. You're above the law..."

"This perception is why many people think you are arbitrary and dictatorial."

"In fact, you simply felt that the policy you had established was effective and beneficial to the Ming Dynasty. You wanted to carry out reforms more efficiently, so you made the decision without discussing it with anyone. The other two ministers simply said, 'I second the motion.'"

"If I'm not mistaken, you should be planning to implement the "One Whip Law" nationwide, which has been piloted in some states for several years. This new law will offend even more people, and you will surely be attacked by countless opponents!"

"If you fall, all the new policies will fall!"

"Lord, one person can go fast, but a group of people can go far. You alone cannot prosper the Ming Dynasty."

"I hope you show weakness because I hope that when you are abused by the censors, someone will stand up and speak for you."

"I hope you will impose a lighter punishment because I believe those officials who don't understand you will understand your difficulties and praise your achievements after seeing the results of the new policy. This will give you a greater sense of accomplishment!"

"Even if they never understand, a hundred years from now, a thousand years from now, there will definitely be people who will understand your contribution to the Ming Dynasty. It is you who carried the Ming Dynasty forward!"

"Showing weakness is for your own protection; the lenient punishment is to give more officials the opportunity to understand your efforts and see the achievements of the new policy."

"As for the current abuse and confusion, just let it go!"

"As expected, after Fu Yingzhen was exiled, there were bound to be people praising him and people cursing you, but so what? They won't hurt you. Perhaps in a few years, they will blame themselves for their actions!"

……

At this moment, Zhang Juzheng's eyes were a little red.

He didn't expect that Shen Nian understood him so well, and he didn't expect that Shen Nian could accurately point out his shortcomings.

His loneliness at the top, his hard work for the public, his sacrifices to revive the Ming Dynasty, his plans for the Single Whip Law, and the problems he faced...

Given the current relationship between the two, Shen Nian was taking a huge risk by saying this.

Because none of Zhang Juzheng's sons dared to tell the truth.

Shen Nian was brave enough not to be afraid of offending him, and he believed that he was impartial and would definitely listen to his advice.

At this moment, the relationship between the two suddenly became much closer.

Shen Nian is not only his student, but also his partner, a like-minded partner.

The Ming Dynasty was so huge, with so many complicated political affairs, that it really needed someone to share the burden with it.

The old Lu Diaoyang is not good enough, and Zhang Siwei who obeys him blindly is not good enough, but Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, Wang Jiaping, Shen Yikuan, Shen Nian, etc. can all be trained as key personnel.

Especially Shen Nian.

Zhang Juzheng originally thought that he was just clever, but he didn't expect that he had great wisdom in his heart.

What Shen Nian said and did was not to follow him, but to insist on doing the right thing.

this moment.

He suddenly felt enlightened and felt that the pressure on him was much reduced.

Zhang Juzheng looked at Shen Nian and asked, "Ziheng, what is the reason for you saying this today? To be promoted to a high position and receive a generous salary, and to be remembered for eternity?"

Shen Nian's words today were obviously not meant to curry favor with Zhang Juzheng.

Shen Nian smiled slightly.

"High positions and generous salaries are but fleeting clouds. Whether one leaves a name or an infamy for eternity, I simply feel that the current Ming Dynasty is too bad, and the lives of the common people at the bottom are too miserable. If I have the ability, I should help more people and make their lives happier. Then my life will not be in vain!"

Zhang Juzheng stroked his beard lightly and murmured in his heart: The one who is the same as me is Ziheng!
(End of this chapter)