Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 316 If a cow has a problem, it must be slaughtered! Why, sir, do you collude with the enemy?

Zhang Cheng dared not hide anything and quickly recounted the situation inside the theater in detail.

Although Emperor Wanli said he didn't care, he was still very concerned about the lecture, especially when he heard Zhang Yunxiu scolding Xu Jie. He immediately slammed his hand on the table and said something.

"Well done!"

Emperor Wanli's chubby face immediately turned rosy.

"These Jiangnan gentry disregard the laws and regulations of the court. They are sanctimonious and talk about grand principles all day long, as if they have explained all the principles of the world to them."

Only Shi Yuan could refute them until they were speechless.

Zhang Cheng immediately shut up, not daring to continue.

The Wanli Emperor sensed something was wrong. He narrowed his eyes and said, "What's wrong? Isn't this a good thing? Why do you look so flustered?"

"His Majesty!"

Zhang Cheng was so frightened that he knelt down and cried.

"It wasn't the servants who accused me, but rather it happened in that theater."

He then recounted the scene that had unfolded in the theater in detail, focusing on the overwhelming support the people had for Zhang Yunxiu and the unparalleled popularity he enjoyed.

Emperor Wanli paused for a moment, then smiled and said...

"What should I be? Shi Yuan is respected by thousands of people, which is only right and proper. He helped thousands of people with his medical clinic and made coal briquettes convenient for the people. Xishan has also helped tens of thousands of refugees and solved a major problem for me. He deserves this reputation."

As he spoke, a hint of dryness crept into his voice.

"Your Majesty," Zhang Cheng said, forcing a smile. "It is not that I am being nosy, but while Zhang Shiyuan's achievements in command of the Imperial Guard are indeed unparalleled, I fear the world only knows Zhang Shiyuan, not Your Majesty. This matter must be investigated."

Zhang Cheng was a clever man, clever enough to discern the thoughts of the Wanli Emperor and, by observing some of the emperor's changes, to appropriately say things that the emperor could not or could not say aloud.

But he was just too knowledgeable, so knowledgeable that even Emperor Wanli was annoyed.

"Insolence!" The fat emperor pointed at Zhang Cheng and cursed angrily, "You dog slave! How many times have I told you not to gossip in front of me? Are you trying to make me doubt Shi Yuan by twisting the truth like this?"

Zhang Cheng immediately kowtowed and knelt, begging for mercy: "This servant wouldn't dare! This servant would never dare! What this servant said is the truth! This servant's pure heart is clear to all, Your Majesty!"

"Somebody come!"

The Wanli Emperor's face was as cold as frost.

"Drag this man away and slap him a hundred times!"

Zhao Shizhen looked somewhat surprised, stood aside as if he wanted to say something but hesitated, and finally lowered his head and remained silent.

"An emperor is still an emperor."

The carriage clattered along the winding cement road of Xishan Mountain. Amidst the bumps and jolting, Zhang Juzheng slowly began to speak.

"Since ancient times, the wrath of Heaven has been unpredictable. Dragons have scales that cannot be touched, for touching them will lead to death. Shi Yuan is a capable person, but how many capable people have there been throughout history? Often, they are those who do not understand people's hearts and are not good at politics, and thus lose their lives and ruin their achievements."

Shen Shixing sat to the side with a somewhat complicated expression.

These two men are practically of the same ilk. Zhang Juzheng himself promoted the Wanli New Deal and firmly grasped the power of the court, even showing a tendency to surpass the imperial power. Did he ever think about his reputation before and after his death?

Today, Zhang Yunxiu is quite the same. If you want to argue, then argue. But he insists on bringing up Mencius's "the people are more important than the ruler" principle, and even goes further than that.

Everyone used to know that Zhang Yunxiu was a man of great skill, but his reputation was infamous.

After today's commotion at the Xishan Theater, everyone already understands the situation.

Zhang Yunxiu's infamy existed only among the gentry and scholars; for the common people of Xishan and the capital, the name Zhang Yunxiu was always a highly respected figure.

It even had a hint of advocating for the people.

This inevitably brings to mind the story of Wang Mang's usurpation of the Han dynasty. Isn't Zhang Yunxiu today more influential and capable than Wang Mang?
A father with immense power, serving as the emperor's tutor and prime minister.

A group of exceptionally talented apprentices.

There is also the support of countless nobles who are tied to Xishan.

Coupled with the people's reverence, even the most absurd emperor would become wary.

Throughout history, emperors have placed the consolidation of their power above all else.

Shen Shixing sighed and said, "The matter of the guards was a bit rash. I think His Majesty is aware of his temperament. Besides, Xishan is a royal property, and all kinds of Xishan's output are inseparable from the royal family. I think the matter is not too serious."

He began to understand why the Wanli Xinbao newspaper published such nauseatingly sycophantic words every day, such as "Your Majesty the Great and Wise Emperor" and "Your Majesty the Forever Loyal, Wise, and Powerful Emperor".

For scholars, this is an extremely nauseating, low-class, and despicable act of flattery.

However, for the Wanli Xinbao, this was a necessary statement.

In retrospect, it's fortunate that the Wanli Xinbao newspaper constantly refers to His Majesty the Emperor; otherwise, it would have portrayed Zhang Yunxiu as a saint.

Even if the emperor didn't suspect anything, he would have to.

Throughout history, distrust between rulers and their subjects has been a common occurrence. When it comes to imperial power, even fathers and sons can turn against each other.

Zhang Juzheng looked at the scenery outside and slowly began to speak.

"parking."

The carriage suddenly stopped.

Zhang Juzheng slowly got out of the carriage and said to Shen Shixing beside him, "Ru Mo, His Majesty is probably ahead. You don't need to accompany me on this journey. I have watched His Majesty grow up and have made many mistakes in the past. I must speak with His Majesty in person."

"Your Excellency." Shen Shixing cupped his hands in greeting, somewhat helpless, but he couldn't really say anything when he went there, so he finally sighed.

"Then the student waited outside, ready to act if anything happened."

"Ah."

Zhang Juzheng nodded slightly, then tidied his appearance and slowly strolled toward the workshop on the hilltop.

It was past noon, and the long-awaited dark clouds in the sky had finally dissipated, allowing the warm sunlight to shine into the workshop, creating a stark contrast with the billowing black smoke.

The Wanli Emperor stood in front of the workshop. He stood on the edge of the earthen slope, looking down at the rows of buildings on the western hills, some houses, some workshops, and some schools. The emperor's shoulders were a little slumped.

Zhao Shizhen stood far behind, looking uneasy, and despite the biting cold wind, he was covered in sweat.

The air was filled with the occasional sound of whipping and a man's hoarse pleas for mercy.

Zhang Juzheng walked lightly and slowly toward the distance.

Upon seeing Zhang Juzheng, Zhao Shizhen rubbed his eyes and hurriedly called out to pay his respects.

"This humble official greets Zhang Yuanfu!"

The Wanli Emperor, standing not far away, shrugged slightly but still did not turn around.

"You may leave now."

Zhang Juzheng's words were like a pardon to Zhao Shizhen, who nodded repeatedly like a chicken pecking at rice.

"I have some urgent matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."

As he spoke, he fled the place as if his pants were on fire.

Zhang Juzheng slowly turned around, took two steps forward, and respectfully knelt down to greet the Wanli Emperor.

"Your subject Zhang Juzheng greets Your Majesty!"

In the past few months, everyone has remembered that the Ming Dynasty had a greedy and lustful monarch, but no one remembers that he was also an emperor whose divine authority was unpredictable and whose word was law.

The Wanli Emperor slowly turned around, his gaze towards Zhang Juzheng carrying a hint of indifference, but then he smiled and spoke.

"Why must you do this, Grand Secretary? I have already said that you are old and unwell, so you can be exempted from these formalities."

"The etiquette between ruler and subject should not be taken lightly."

Zhang Juzheng bowed and clasped his hands in greeting.

"What a fine example of the proper etiquette between ruler and subject."

Emperor Wanli's eyes finally softened, and he let out a long breath before gazing at the scenery of the Western Hills.

"I wonder if the Prime Minister has felt it, standing here looking towards the Western Hills, the changes he sees are earth-shattering compared to half a year ago."

But as I watched row after row of buildings rise from the ground, I felt somewhat lost and disoriented.

Have I really done the right thing in the past six months?

Zhang Juzheng was a seasoned veteran of the court, especially adept at dealing with the young emperor. He slowly said, "Why does Your Majesty have this idea? On my journey here, I have seen that Xishan is full of vitality, the people live in peace and contentment, and the construction is in good order. The achievements of Xishan in the past six months are unprecedented and should be recorded in the annals of history."

Emperor Wanli couldn't help but feel a little proud when he thought of the happy smiles on the faces of the people, but then he shook his head and said something else.

"This is Zhang Shiyuan's achievement, not mine. I am always engrossed in vernacular novels, and my days are spent either painting and calligraphy or studying miscellaneous arts and unorthodox subjects. How could I possibly accomplish anything? In truth, I am far inferior to Shiyuan."

Zhang Juzheng was at a loss for words after hearing this.

He suddenly realized that the Wanli Emperor's problem was not simply the emperor's suspicion as in the past, but also mixed with some feelings of inferiority.

By now, influenced by the Xishan Academy, Zhang Juzheng had also come to know some educational theories.

Emperor Wanli's situation seems to be called "learned helplessness" at Xishan Peiwen Academy, because he experienced too many setbacks and suppressions in his childhood.

At this point, Zhang Juzheng felt a pang of regret. His rebellious son, Zhang Yunxiu, had clearly demonstrated that his father, the Grand Secretary, had indeed made a serious mistake in his parenting methods.

Otherwise, how could the emperor and his sons all be so eccentric, to the point that even the emperor developed a rebellious mentality?

Only Zhang Yunxiu, that rebellious son, seemed to possess a certain intelligence.

Zhang Juzheng was inwardly flustered, but outwardly remained calm and composed. He slightly cupped his hands and said...

"Has Your Majesty forgotten that most of the achievements of the Western Mountain group were minor ones?"

As expected of Zhang Juzheng, one sentence from him instantly made Emperor Wanli realize the truth.

That's right! Damn it, those damned intellectuals are always criticizing me with their words and writings. I almost forgot that the reason Xishan has achieved such success is because he studied miscellaneous and unorthodox subjects.

Zhang Juzheng pressed his advantage, saying...

“Xishan is not Zhang Shiyuan’s private land. Xishan has no city walls and is not a city. The people of Xishan are not servants of the Zhang family, but His Majesty’s people.”

Xishan also carries the title of royalty when he is outside.

The most crucial thing is…

Zhang Juzheng paused for a moment and then said, "The contract for Xishan clearly states in black and white that the royal family is the largest shareholder of Xishan and holds all decision-making power in Xishan."

His meaning was clear: What are you thinking, Your Majesty? The entire Western Hills has always been part of the royal family. No matter how much the common people admire Zhang Yunxiu, they cannot bypass the emperor.

“The Western Hills belong to Your Majesty. Without Your Majesty’s promise, the Western Hills are like water without a source, and they will collapse in an instant.”

"Today Zhang Shiyuan has won by chance against Xu Zisheng, but can the millions of scholars in the world truly agree with Zhang Shiyuan's reasoning?"

"I believe there will be some disputes during this period that will not be resolved."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wanli's face lit up with joy, but he spoke with a vicious tone.

"These pedantic scholars are always opposing this and that; they are truly despicable."

"Your subject dares to offer this advice!" Zhang Juzheng said solemnly.

"As the Zizhi Tongjian says, 'Listen to both sides and you will be enlightened; believe only one side and you will be misled.' Even though Zhang Shiyuan is my son, I still have to speak frankly."

In governing the court, one must not be too biased. While the principles of new learning are certainly novel, they also have their drawbacks. Confucianism and its rites may be rigid and traditional, but they have their merits after being tested by the world.

The way to govern a country is to draw on the strengths of all schools of thought, understand the realities of the world, and adjust according to the times and circumstances; this is the foundation for long-term stability and security.

The Wanli Emperor narrowed his eyes, scrutinized Zhang Juzheng, and finally nodded and spoke.

“These are the words of the Prime Minister, spoken from the bottom of his heart.”

"Hi~ha~"

Zhang Jianxiu hadn't even taken off his luggage yet, and his clothes were still covered in snow water, but he didn't care. He grabbed a large bowl of rice and started frantically eating the bright red dishes in front of him.

Zhang Jianxiu picked up another slice of beef smeared with red oil, blew on it twice, and put it straight into his mouth. With a mouthful of rice, he felt as if his soul was leaving his body.

After finishing half a bowl of rice, Zhang Jianxiu, his mouth greasy, put down his bowl and chopsticks, leaned back in his chair, stretched out his legs, and said with great emotion.

"Having tasted food from all corners of the world, nothing beats the cuisine of Xishan! Shiyuan, where did you get all these ideas? This boiled beef is simply divine! Even the emperor wouldn't trade it!"

"The emperor really is in our Western Hills." Zhang Yunxiu picked up a plate of bright red bean sprouts from the bowl. Compared to the beef, the vegetables here were the real delicacy.

Zhang Jianxiu nearly fell off the table and quickly said...

"His Majesty is here? Wouldn't it be disrespectful for us to eat this boiled beef alone here? Should we go and inform him?"

He pointed outside, clearly in a good mood.

"This achievement is no less than killing the enemy and making meritorious contributions!"

Zhang Yunxiu said indifferently, "Father will handle it. The emperor is the emperor after all. He is very different from us ordinary people. How can such vulgar things of the world sulli us, who are worth a fortune?"

Zhang Jianxiu couldn't help but chuckle: "Shiyuan, what you're saying sounds a bit sour."

Zhang Yunxiu pointed to the large plate of boiled beef with his chopsticks and said.

"Governing a country is like cooking beef. You must not use brute force, but rather use skillful knife work to slice it into thin slices, marinate it with sauce, and then add ginger, garlic, Sichuan peppercorns, scallions and other ingredients."

The chili oil is the soul of this dish, and it must not be taken lightly.

The aroma of chili oil and the savory flavor of bone broth, all enhanced by the drizzle of chili oil, bring out this delicious taste.

The way he shook his head.

"This dish looks simple, but the most crucial elements are the freshness of the ingredients and the preparation and handling in the early stages. Patience and meticulousness are the most important things."

Zhang Jianxiu shrank back and said, "Shiyuan, brother, I don't quite understand, but I feel a little scared."

Looking at the glistening, oily beef, he hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to take a bite.

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and said, "This ox was incredibly brave in life and often injured people. But farmers can't live without oxen, so it's natural to ensure their temporary safety."

He looked so relaxed.

"But if one day farmers no longer need to plow the fields, or if they have new oxen, this ox that hurts people everywhere will naturally become a meal."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jianxiu, who was sitting to the side, was stunned and broke out in a cold sweat.

He gulped down a mouthful of rice and said with considerable fear.

"Shiyuan, let's stop eating beef from now on."

Zhou Yingbin led a group of students from the Imperial Academy to search around Xishan Village.

At first, they still had some of the arrogance of the Imperial Academy and looked down on the people of Xishan.

But later the people of Xishan taught them a lesson. If any student caused trouble, local militia would immediately come to question them.

The tens of thousands of people in Xishan still follow the old arrangements they had in the Anping Army, with the organization of five, ten, and team, and they participate in production in accordance with this organization.

If anything happens, these people will gather together instantly.

Several students who intended to cause trouble were all captured by seemingly easy-to-bully commoners and handed over to the Imperial Guards who had come after hearing the news.

Once they reach the Embroidered Uniform Guard, their fate is unlikely to be good.

"Zhang Shiyuan is really going too far! We were starving and a few of us wanted to buy some food, but these unruly people from Xishan refused to sell to us. When a slight conflict broke out, they took advantage of their numbers to distort the truth!"

Zhou Yingbin looked like he was gritting his teeth.

"I'm going to take this to the imperial court and impeach him properly. Does this Western Hills have no regard for the law?!"

A fellow student standing nearby couldn't help but advise, "Brother Jiafu, please say less. These are all Imperial Guards here. What happened earlier was indeed the fault of your classmates."

Another student said with a bitter face, "Zhou Jiafu, it was you who instigated us to wander around. There were people in Xishan who could guide us, but you just wouldn't listen to them. Now look what's happened. Xishan is freezing cold, and we're starving. We're afraid we're going to die here."

The students became increasingly depressed.

On the one hand, what they saw and heard in the Western Hills did not reveal the kind of miserable human tragedy they had been looking for; on the contrary, all the people there were wealthy.

On the other hand, this damned Xishan Village doesn't even have any restaurants or taverns, so they can't even buy food with money.

Zhou Yingbin smirked and said, "I brought all my classmates here because I was prepared."

He pointed in one direction.

"As far as I know, there is a canteen in Xishan. I suppose the people of Xishan either cook at home or eat at the canteen."

The students couldn't help but get angry: "You know perfectly well that it's almost noon, are you trying to starve us to death?"

Zhou Yingbin argued vehemently, "How can we easily bow down to Zhang Shiyuan and accept his favors?"

He shook his head.

"The situation is completely different now. We are starving, and Zhang Shiyuan is morally bankrupt for standing by and watching us die! We're going to the canteen to investigate and see if Zhang Shiyuan is shortchanging us!"

The students were too exhausted to argue any further; they were both physically and mentally drained, and some even began to doubt the purpose of their trip.

I asked around and ran towards the canteen.

Upon seeing the rather tall canteen building, Zhou Yingbin couldn't help but curse.

"Overstepping authority! This is blatant overstepping of authority!"

But no one paid any attention to his words; they were all looking for their own way and finally found the food window.

The person leading the way at the window was a burly cook, who stood with her hands on her hips, showing no sign of disrespect towards the students.

“Our Xishan Canteen naturally provides food, but the Xishan Canteen is a privilege enjoyed by all the people of Xishan. All the food is discounted. You can’t just pay with silver; you must exchange it for work points.”

What are work points?

The cook clearly knew their situation and glanced at the students: "I told you scholars to behave yourselves, but you wouldn't listen and insisted on asking around. The head of the guards had already made arrangements to send you to Xishan to experience labor, not to let you act like masters."

She picked up a small yellow receipt and waved it around.

"Today, all those who enter Xishan will be assigned to work and help our Xishan people. If you do a good job, our Xishan people are hospitable and will naturally invite you to stay for a meal."

It's okay if you're almost there. As long as you do some work, you'll get a work point ticket, which you can use to exchange for meals in the canteen.

The cook looked her up and down with disdain.

"Judging from your appearance, you've probably just been wandering around aimlessly, doing nothing but hoping to freeload?"

These words immediately enraged the students present, who all looked indignant.

"Everyone in the world uses money, but why do you, Xishan, need work points?"

"This is truly an insult to our scholarly pursuits. We are students of the Imperial Academy; how can we be expected to do farm work?"

"Is this how you Xishan treat your guests?"

This cook was a woman who had seen the world, and she was not afraid at all in the face of the students' verbal attacks.

She bowed respectfully in one direction and spoke.

“When His Majesty the Emperor comes to our Xishan, he goes to work at the military farm. How do you compare to His Majesty the Emperor?”
"Below, even dukes and high-ranking officials earn their living based on work points. Are you different?"

Upon hearing this, the students immediately fell silent.

The cook looked disdainful: "Our Chief of the Western Hills also worked alongside the common people. How do you compare to him?"

It wouldn't have mattered if she hadn't mentioned Zhang Yunxiu, but once she did, it hit the students' sore spots.

Zhou Yingbin dared not mention the emperor, so he pointed at the cook and cursed.

"You shrew, you're being unreasonable! I think you're deliberately making things difficult for us, and I'm going to insist!"

Just as the students were about to cause another disturbance in the West Hill Dining Hall, an old voice came from not far away.

"Enough! You are students of the Imperial Academy! You represent the dignity of the court. What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket! Where have you learned your Confucian classics?"

The voice carried an air of authority, and the students, thinking it was a high-ranking official from the imperial court, immediately fell silent and bowed respectfully.

"Sir~"

But when Zhou Yingbin turned his head, he saw a white-haired old man dressed in plain clothes, and he was immediately furious.

"You old geezer, why are you spouting such nonsense here!"

The old man looked up at the cook: "Sister Lin, I still have quite a few work points left, so put them on my tab and let these scholars have a meal."

He glanced at Zhou Yingbin.

“This man is arrogant, and I dislike him greatly. I will not pay his work points.”

Zhou Yingbin was furious and was about to utter a eloquent remark when he heard the cook sigh and say something.

"Mr. Ziwei has a kind heart, but I wonder if these people will appreciate it~"

The old man shook his head and said, "They don't need to be grateful. I've seen too many cases of repaying kindness with enmity and betraying trust in the past."

After saying that, he got up and left on his own.

The students of the Imperial Academy present froze instantly.

One of the students exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be Zhang Ziwei, the Grand Secretary?!"

"I've heard that Grand Secretary Zhang has been placed under house arrest in the Western Hills by this scoundrel Zhang Shiyuan!"

"This must be Grand Secretary Zhang. How did he fall to such a state?"

Especially Zhou Yingbin, he could hardly believe his eyes. Judging from the other party's demeanor and manner, it must be Zhang Siwei without a doubt.

But the other party is Zhang Siwei!
Zhang Siwei, who used to lead the upright officials and fight against Zhang Juzheng and his son Zhang Yunxiu!
If Zhang Juzheng falls, this gentleman will become the Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty!
Before coming to Xishan, Zhou Yingbin was mentally prepared to see Zhang Siwei in a sorry state, and Zhang Siwei's appearance was exactly as he expected.

But there is one difference.

Judging from the familiarity with the cook and the meaning behind their conversation, Zhang Siwei seemed to be praising Xishan to the extreme.

Some even feel completely integrated into life in Xishan.

He's Zhang Siwei!
Have you forgotten the deep-seated hatred you have for Zhang Yunxiu?!
(End of this chapter)