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

Chapter 46 Let the Common People Suffer

Xu Mansion.

The charcoal fire in the study is exceptionally bright tonight.

Xu Xuemo, Minister of Rites; Yang Keli, Supervising Censor of Yunnan Circuit; and Yang Sizhi, Supervising Censor of Shaanxi Circuit—these three court officials, who rarely interacted before, gathered here today.

It was late spring, but the nights were still unbearably cold. Even with her fur coat wrapped tightly around her, Yang Keli still felt the biting chill.

He reached out and picked up the warm yellow wine on the square incense table. After taking a sip, he felt his body come back to normal.

Yang Keli placed the wine cup on the incense table, making a sound, and looked at Xu Xuemo in front of him.

"Minister Xu, you must not hesitate any longer! If Zhang Jiangling continues to act so recklessly, the court may become his personal domain. If the new policies fail, it will be fine, but if he succeeds, his prestige will reach its peak! In the long run, no one in the court will be able to check him! The current situation is just like when Wang Mang first rose to power, and Zhang Jiangling's power grew day by day. You must not hesitate any longer."

Yang Sizhi chimed in, saying, "Since Zhang Juzheng took away his mourning leave, His Majesty has repeatedly bestowed favors upon him. He was previously Grand Tutor and Grand Preceptor of the Crown Prince, and now he has been promoted to Grand Tutor. Is the next step to bestow upon Zhang Jiangling the title of Grand Preceptor?"

Never before in this dynasty has a living person been granted the title of Grand Tutor!

Yang Sizhi couldn't help but care. Although the titles of "Three Dukes," "Three Orphans," and "Three Young Masters" were honorary, those who could be ranked among the Three Dukes all had extraordinary status.
Being ranked among the Three Dukes, Grand Tutor, Grand Preceptor, and Grand Protector—these are the highest-ranking officials of the first rank, and have been the lifelong ideal for scholars to enter officialdom throughout history.

Zhang Juzheng could actually get it so easily?

Especially after the previous court turmoil, the emperor had no reason to reward Zhang Yunxiu, so he found a pretext to bring up the matter of bestowing a title upon Zhang Juzheng again, which made the officials even more wary!

Especially those who opposed Zhang, unable to discern the emperor's intentions, were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, desperately seeking more support.

Seeing the two men's agitated emotions, Xu Xuemo, who had been silent until now, also sighed and said, "Zhang Jiangling has deep roots. If we want to touch him, we should be extremely cautious."

He was holding a copy of the latest edition of the Wanli Xinbao newspaper.

"Hasn't Wei Maozhong's previous experience served as a warning to everyone? He is an impatient and inflexible man who dared to contradict His Majesty in court. This is a disgrace."

Upon hearing this, Yang Sizhi subconsciously glanced at Yang Keli.

Clearly, Wei Yunzhen's reckless attack last time was partly due to Yang Keli's "advice".

However, only the three of them knew about this matter, and Yang Si wouldn't be foolish enough to bring it up.

Thinking of matters of the court, Xu Xuemo became somewhat annoyed and slammed his wine cup down as he spoke.

“Zhang Jiangling is truly despicable. Not only does he hold power, but on that day in the court, His Majesty was young and impetuous, and in the heat of the moment, he, as the Imperial Tutor and Chief Minister, did not even think of stopping him.”

I think he's determined to take Wei Maozhong's life!

Xu Xuemo had always harbored resentment over the failure to protect Wei Maozhong in the court. On the other hand, since Zhang Juzheng came to power, almost all the power of the Six Ministries had been taken over by the Grand Secretariat, which was also an important reason for his dissatisfaction.

Yang Keli tapped the incense table and said, "The enemy's forces are too great to be defeated by brute force alone. If we want to bring down Zhang Jiangling, we need to use our brains."

Xu Xuemo lowered his voice: "Does Imperial Censor Yang have a brilliant plan?"

“That’s natural,” Yang Keli said, pointing to the newspaper. “Zhang Shiyuan is cunning and uses newspapers to deceive the common people. Although the people are weak, if they gather together, they will surely become a powerful force.”

Now, the plague is rampant in the capital, and the people in the city are like frightened birds.

If we don't act now, when will we?

"No!" Xu Xuemo exclaimed in alarm. "Eliminating treacherous officials for the court is our duty, but we shouldn't involve the common people. The plague is a matter of great importance; if we rashly incite unrest, it will only bring more disaster."

“Minister Xu is muddle-headed!” Yang Keli said, stroking his beard. “A man who undertakes great things cannot be timid and hesitant. Zhang Shiyuan’s methods are all conspiracies and tricks. If we don’t use them, how can we bring down Zhang Juzheng?”

Seeing that Xu Xuemo was still frowning, Yang Keli immediately spoke again.

"Minister Xu, do you know what's published in the Wanli New Daily? You haven't finished reading it yet, have you? I read every single issue clearly."

He pointed to a page in the newspaper with his long fingernails and said.

"Look here, what is this?"

Xu Xuemo followed his finger to the text and frowned as he spoke.

"This is Zhang Jiangling's 'Memorial on Current Affairs' written in the 28th year of the Jiajing reign!"

“Exactly!” Yang Keli said through gritted teeth. “Zhang Shiyuan started the newspaper ostensibly to provide cheap services to the common people, but in reality, he was just helping Zhang Jiangling promote his new policies!”

I suspect that Zhang Jiangling was behind the founding of this newspaper!

Xu Xuemo's expression gradually turned serious as he thought of many things.

This newspaper is already selling well in Northern Zhili, and will soon be sold in Southern Zhili and even throughout the country! If this continues, Zhang Juzheng will be able to manipulate public opinion, and his new policies will be twice as effective with half the effort.
If the new policies are implemented, will there still be places for these people in the imperial court?

Hasn't everything fallen under Zhang Juzheng's control? Who would dare disobey?

For a moment, Xu Xuemo became conflicted.

Yang Keli said anxiously, "Lord Xu, you must not hesitate any longer! We are already in a precarious situation, how can we afford to be indecisive?"

Let me think about it some more.

Xu Xuemo harbored resentment towards Zhang Juzheng, but he had kept it well hidden. Now, wanting to openly confront Zhang Juzheng, he naturally had reservations.

Seeing that the other party was still hesitating, Yang Keli narrowed his eyes and said, "Minister Xu, do you know that Zhang Jiangling has already aroused the wrath of the masses? Not only us, but also the Prince of Yonghe and the Prince of Qingcheng in Shanxi, and the Duke of Wei in Nanjing. Which of them has not been harmed by Zhang Juzheng's land survey? Overthrowing Zhang is the inevitable trend!"

Yang Sizhi added from the side, "If Minister Xu has that gentleman's support, our plans will be much more secure."

Xu Xuemo's eyes flickered, clearly indicating that he was tempted.

In particular, the nobles they mentioned, and the support of that gentleman.

Xu Xuemo sighed, threw the newspaper in his hand into the stove, and watched it burn to ashes.

A fire gradually rose in his eyes.

"Alright, I'll go find the master, and then we'll make a decision!"

Ruijin Silk Shop.

The abacus beads in front of the hall clicked and clattered.

Zhou slammed the abacus onto the table.

"Zhao Rui!"

She pointed at the abacus, suddenly stood up, and stared at her husband with wide eyes.

"So, when I asked you to curry favor with the Grand Secretary's son, you not only gave him the originally planned two thousand taels of silver, but you also invested an extra thousand taels, and even took on a deal that was clearly a loss? All the shrewdness you've accumulated over the years of business, has it all gone to waste?"

Zhou was of average appearance, but had a sharp and shrewd personality. She might not have been considered a good wife in terms of being a good wife and mother.

But for Zhao Rui, she was a perfect match.

At this moment, Zhao Rui was huddled on the stool, looking aggrieved.

He quickly explained, "My lady, don't worry. Whether it's a thousand taels or this transaction, there's a reason for it. That Lord Zhang isn't as absurd as people say; he's a very good person."

"You!" Zhou was so angry that her hair stood on end. "The thousand taels is fine, at least it's a good thing to make connections with the Grand Secretary's family, but what's with this deal of yours?"

One hundred thousand masks, but each one can only sell for five coins? How are we supposed to make a profit? Isn't this a losing proposition?!
If we do well, all will be well; but if we don't, not only will we lose three thousand taels, but we'll also offend the Grand Secretary's son!

Zhao Rui shrank back and said, "This is for the benefit of the people in the city. Lord Zhang said that this mask can prevent and control the epidemic. What's a little money to do good deeds?"

Zhou was furious: "So, you're thinking of making the entire Zhao family starve?"

Zhao Rui's eyes flickered as he stared at his furious wife. Feeling a little guilty, he lowered his voice and said...

"Should I go talk to an adult again and try to get this matter dropped?"

Zhou slapped him on the head.

"Don't even mention it! You've already accepted it, there's no reason for you to come back. I knew it was unreliable to send you."

During the Ming Dynasty, cotton was a very precious commodity, and it could even be used as currency. The idea of ​​using cotton to reduce costs to five coins was simply a pipe dream.

“My wife is right,” Zhao Rui nodded and said.

After thinking for a moment, he mentioned it again.

"It's not that it can't be done. Lord Zhang said that if all else fails, we can use straw paper, hemp cloth, and some cotton gauze, and that will do."

We'll hire two hundred workers, fifty skilled workers a day, and the job can be completed in just ten days.

Lord Zhang also drew some blueprints for me; they were incredibly imaginative. If you ask me, he'll definitely become a prominent figure in the court in the future.

As he spoke, Zhao Rui pushed a blueprint in front of his wife.

(End of this chapter)