Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 322 Haiyue's younger brother looks quite easy to bully.
In late spring, willow catkins fluttered like snow along the official road outside Beijing.

Haiyue waited early at Shili Pavilion, and saw the carriage slowly approaching, its wheels grinding against the yellow earth of the official road.

When the carriage curtain was lifted, two chubby-faced boys jumped out first—

"Thirteenth Uncle!"

The older of the group, Hai Zhongdi, was eight years old. He wore an indigo cotton robe and had a wooden sword at his waist. He liked to practice with knives and spears.

Five-year-old Hai Zhongliang had a round face covered in cake crumbs. He held a copy of the "Three Character Classic" in his arms and grinned at everyone he met, revealing a gap in his missing front tooth.

"So good!"

Haiyue looked at her two nephews and smiled sincerely. Her eldest son, Hai Zhongcheng, was even more excited and quickly took his two younger brothers aside to chat with them.

Immediately afterwards, Xie was helped off the carriage by Hai Rui's wife, Wu.

"Auntie!"

Haiyue stepped forward to greet him.

Madam Xie looked at her nephew with a rather complicated expression.

It feels like just yesterday that this person frequently visited me back in Qiongshan.

Who would have thought that more than ten years later, the two companies would have grown to their current size?

Haiyue was relieved to see that her daughter-in-law got along well with her.

Actually, this is somewhat of a stereotype.

The biggest stain on Hai Rui's mother, Xie, is nothing in the grand scheme of things in this era; it's that she was obsessed with having a son for Hai Rui to carry on the family line.

Therefore, when Hai Rui's first wife gave birth to three daughters, she forced Hai Rui to divorce her and later urged him to take a concubine, all because she wanted to see a grandson.

As for the scene in the TV series where the son and daughter-in-law are not allowed to consummate their marriage, that's really going too far; it's like stitching in Hai Rui's filial piety.

Now Hai Rui has both a son and a daughter, and his mother and daughter-in-law get along very well.

Finally, the younger brother got out of the car carrying his little daughter.

The two brothers looked at each other.

Haiyue smiled and said, "You've definitely lost weight, but you still look so energetic!"

Hai Rui said, "My brother hasn't changed at all."

"I'm enjoying a comfortable life in the capital, so of course nothing much has changed~"

Haiyue said solemnly, "As for you, Fourteenth Brother, the situation you face upon returning to the capital this time is extremely difficult. If you insist on submitting a memorial to advise against it!"

Last year, a memorial entitled "Request to Restore Maritime Trade" completely erased the achievements of the officials in the southeast in suppressing Japanese pirates.

Xu Jie was inevitably disappointed, and his words revealed some frustration, wondering if he had acted too hastily.

Hai Rui, however, had no regrets and continued to submit memorials.

As a result, he was transferred back to the capital.

He returned to the Hanlin Academy, but only received the position of Lecturer.

You could say he was demoted.

From a highly respected official in Zhejiang to a prestigious but sinecure at the Hanlin Academy, something most people would find extremely difficult to adjust to, Hai Rui remained remarkably calm.

Because this position was previously held by Haiyue, there might be a chance to meet the emperor who is now hidden deep in the palace.

He believed that a wise and diligent ruler of the past should never become complacent and indulge in comfort.

Especially during times like these when the court officials remain silent.

We must continue to submit memorials and offer advice!

Haiyue understands Hai Rui better than anyone else, and she knows what kind of person he will make.

Moreover, he was not worried that his younger brother Hai Rui would suffer the same fate as Xue Kan.

Compared to Xue Kan, who was selfless and disregarded methods, Hai Rui's most commendable quality was his skill in struggle.

With a straightforward and honest character, yet possessing a tactful and diplomatic approach, this is the true Hai Gangfeng.

After chatting for a while, the group boarded the carriage and traveled home.

Zhu Yuying made preparations well in advance to welcome her cousin's family.

After settling in, Haiyue and Hairui went into the study to discuss important matters.

"How is Shuangyu Island doing?"

"If the Maritime Trade Office were to reopen, it would be an excellent transit point. However, His Majesty has refused, so the buildings have been burned down and the port has been completely closed."

"What about the undercover agent who made a contribution?"

"Brother, are you referring to Wang Zeng? This man is courageous and resourceful, and has already joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard, working for Commander Sun."

Wang Zhi, or rather, he is still called Wang Zeng, has fulfilled a historical wish and has been included in the Ming Dynasty's official staff.

This person is a genius at going global. He has not only accumulated a wealth of experience in dealing with foreigners, but also possesses a pioneering and adventurous spirit that deserves attention.

Haiyue was well aware of the harm of closing the country off from the world.

The era of the East's dominance is over; it is now the sixteenth century.

This year, Copernicus proposed the heliocentric theory, overturning the medieval geocentric worldview and marking the birth of modern science.

Next came Galileo's improved telescope for observing celestial bodies, and Bruno's development of the theory of an infinite universe, laying the foundation for Newtonian mechanics.

China is not lacking in this kind of knowledge. As early as the Northern Song Dynasty five hundred years ago, the Chinese had already reached a fairly sophisticated level of observation of celestial bodies and had also explored the universe.

Unfortunately, the key scientific methodological innovation was not mastered, namely, combining experimental observation with mathematics to break free from the constraints of theology.

For the East, it meant breaking free from the shackles of Confucianism.

This is absolutely not something that can be solved by time travelers making inventions. Those in power don't listen and focus on power struggles. Even the most powerful creations cannot strengthen the country; on the contrary, they will cause trouble.

This same period also saw the great geographical discoveries and global colonial expansion.

Forty years ago, Columbus discovered America;

Twenty years ago, Magellan embarked on a circumnavigation of the globe, establishing a transcontinental colonial empire;

Colonial plunder brought enormous wealth, which accelerated the primitive accumulation of capitalism in Europe, led to the formation of trade networks between Europe and the Americas and Asia, and initiated the process of globalization.

It can be said that in the 16th century, the West, through the Scientific Revolution, geographical discoveries, cultural revival, and religious reformation, completely broke the shackles of the Middle Ages and laid the foundation for modernization.

The East needs to catch up.

Wang Zeng is very important for the sea expedition. Of course, at this stage, the most important thing is to deal with the threat that the person in the court poses to the country and the constraints he places on the nation.

After learning about the situation in the capital in detail, Hai Rui turned back to Jiajing: "Your Majesty has not attended court for a long time, and now you haven't even seen your elder brother?"

"Gone."

Haiyue shook her head: "The lectures have been suspended for more than three months..."

Previously, Haiyue, a Hanlin scholar, served as a bridge connecting the inner and outer courts.

He also reported on many government affairs during his lectures.

In fact, Zhu Houcong was never lacking in understanding of affairs of the outer court, which he did through the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Directorate of Ceremonial, and the Secret Guard.

The reason for having Haiyue tell the story was simply to verify the information.

Zhu Houcong was very satisfied to find that Haiyue had not hidden anything.

Upon discovering that Haiyue's understanding was very limited and far less detailed than his own, Zhu Houcong couldn't help but feel a surge of self-satisfaction.

now.

Even this step has been omitted.

Zhu Houcong became increasingly decadent, neglecting the daily lectures and focusing solely on cultivating immortality and practicing Zen in the palace.

Yes, the Jiajing Emperor now practices both Buddhism and Taoism.

This was due to the childhood education provided by Prince Xingxian and Empress Dowager Jiang, and also somewhat influenced by "Journey to the West".

Of course, these religious beliefs are not as fanatical as they were in history; they are essentially hobbies and interests that come after one has neglected important matters.

For specific examples, one can refer to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's music and cuisine, and Emperor Huizong of Song's gardening and rare stones.

Hai Rui was quite dissatisfied with this, and said in a deep voice, "A ruler of a country should never do this. Is there no one else who can submit a memorial to the emperor?"

"Have!"

Haiyue said, "Even though Lord Xue was murdered, it still cannot extinguish the passion in the hearts of upright people. However, the memorials are like mud flowing into the sea, and there is no response at all. The officials are also helpless!"

"Keep it in the middle, don't send it out..."

Hai Rui was not surprised, but he felt a little sad: "How did His Majesty, who was once so diligent in governing the country, become like this?"

Haiyue asked, "What do you intend to do?"

"First, I must convince His Majesty to see me!"

Hai Rui said in a deep voice, "Brother, is this your intention in arranging me as a lecturer?"

"It was indeed an attempt!"

Haiyue said, "His Majesty has seen too much of me and is tired of me. If you take over the duties, perhaps you can use the matter of the Southeast to regain His Majesty's attention..."

At this stage, Haiyue has not told her younger brother about the fact that the government has been sidelined.

It's not that I think this person is blindly loyal and wouldn't agree.

In fact, Hai Rui was a Confucian scholar of the Mencius school, who agreed with the idea that the people are more important than the ruler.

However, having spent all these years in the provinces, he never witnessed Jiajing's changes and true colors firsthand, and inevitably still harbored the unrealistic hope of a harmonious relationship between the emperor and his minister.

It's time for him to see for himself what the true nature of the emperor is.

……

Zhu Houcong sat cross-legged on a futon with his eyes closed.

The incense burner in front of me emitted wisps of smoke.

The Bodhi prayer beads in his hands were polished to a shine, and a copy of the Diamond Sutra was spread out in front of him as he chanted mantras.

Suddenly a gust of wind blew through the hall, and the ever-burning lamp in front of the Buddha went out abruptly.

"Ok?"

Zhu Houcong suddenly opened his eyes, his eye twitching slightly, and asked abruptly, "Are the memorials submitted by the Ministry of Justice today still here?"

The young eunuch serving nearby whispered, "Master, the memorials are in the cabinet office..."

"Ok?"

Zhu Houcong's face darkened.

"I'll go get it! I'll go get it!"

The young eunuch was terrified. He immediately knelt down, kowtowed, and hurriedly retreated to the cabinet office to retrieve a memorial.

Ever since being angered by the "Memorial Requesting the Resumption of Maritime Trade," Zhu Houcong has read memorials far less frequently than before, only reading the important ones.

Which items were considered important was decided by the Grand Secretary Yan Song.

However, after several months, Zhu Houcong immediately felt uneasy and strictly ordered the cabinet to send the memorials to the Qianqing Palace.

After a period of diligent governance, Zhu Houcong found that most of the matters were still trivial, and that Yan Song did not dare to monopolize the truly important ones. Therefore, Zhu Houcong delegated the power to submit memorials to the emperor.

But now, on a whim, he became wary again.

I still feel that delegating power in this way is not appropriate.

The same is true.

Not seeing foreign officials for several months can easily give them the opportunity to mislead the emperor.

Several people came to mind.

The three in the lead are naturally Yan Song, Xia Yan, and Hai Yue.

However, with the top two firmly in their positions as Grand Secretaries, their advantages will become increasingly prominent no matter who they meet, making it difficult to guarantee that they won't form a situation of dominance.

Haiyue, on the other hand, had seen many familiar faces and was indeed getting a bit tired of them.

When the memorial was brought to him by the eunuch, Zhu Houcong read it and pondered it.

A familiar yet unfamiliar name came into view.

The familiarity lies in the fact that this person is closely related to Haiyue, and has served as a local official for many years, achieving outstanding political achievements and demonstrating exceptional talent.

What was unfamiliar was that, compared to his ever-shining elder brother, this person was rather unknown and seemed much easier to control.

"Hai Rui, a lecturer at the Hanlin Academy..."

"Just him!"

(End of this chapter)