The Prosperous Era of Longwan

"What, His Majesty approved it."

Wei Guangde sat opposite Chen Yiqin and said in disbelief.

"Didn't you already know that this day would come?"

Seeing that Wei Guangde didn't look like he was faking it, Chen Yiqin asked in surprise.

"He only submitted a few memorials and His Majesty approved it."

Wei Guangde frowned slightly and recalled it, feeling a little fast.

"Five volumes have been connected. Including the previous ones, in more than a month, there have been eleven or two memorials."

Chen Yiqin replied.

"So much."

Wei Guangde was silent for a while.

"Do you still want to use his career to do something?"

Chen Yiqin looked into Wei Guangde's eyes and asked.

"The matter of opening up the sea was discussed at the last court meeting, but the cabinet has never come up with a charter."

Wei Guangde smiled bitterly.

"After he leaves, Mr. Xu and Mr. Li will go back to the cabinet to run errands. The regulations should be out soon, so there won't be any delay."

When Chen Yiqin heard this, he just smiled.

"I'm just afraid that Uncle Gao and Huang Sikou will come out to stop us."

Wei Guangde was still a little worried.

Most of the officials who opposed the opening of the sea were in the middle and lower levels, and the top leaders were led by Gaoyi and Huang Guangsheng. These two companies also seemed to be involved in maritime business, so they did not stop during this period. They invited colleagues to the house from time to time. The purpose was self-evident.

"It's not a big problem. We can learn from Zhang Juzheng that day that Duke Xu is not opposed to opening the sea. I will pay more attention to the progress of this matter after he returns to the cabinet. I think His Majesty will also issue an order to urge it."

Chen Yiqin was not as worried as Wei Guangde, and said confidently, "But Gao Suqing is leaving Beijing, should we go and see her off?"

"This matter"

Wei Guangde was also in a dilemma. In the current situation, going to see Gao Gong off could easily lead to trouble.

When Chen Yiqin asked this question, Wei Guangde knew that he had the same intention, so he asked for his opinion.

"I'll just send someone to send him some Chengyi in the past two days."

Wei Guangde is not worried about anyone saying behind his back that he has a cold nature. It is the norm in the world for people to drink cold tea when they leave.

Although Chen Yiqin was asked to send a message to Emperor Longqing before, and he could invite Gao Gong back to the court after a few years, it was just an excuse.

In fact, officials who were dismissed due to impeachment would not have a chance to come back unless they had a great opportunity.

"Um."

Chen Yiqin heard Wei Guangde's plan and made up his mind to do it.

When Gao Gong left the capital, he didn't count as seeing him off, otherwise he wouldn't have asked. However, thinking of how he had worked together in Prince Yu's Mansion for many years, it seemed not good if he didn't do anything at all.

After sending some things over in advance, Chen Yiqin felt that his heart seemed to have settled down.

"Zhengfu's side."

Chen Yiqin thought of Yin Shizhen again, and as soon as he opened his mouth, Wei Guangde answered: "If he asks, we will just say this."

"That's fine."

Chen Yiqin nodded, agreeing with Wei Guangde's intention.

When he returned to his mansion that night, Wei Guangde called Zhang Ji and asked him to prepare gifts and silver coins and send them to Gao Ge's mansion tomorrow. At the same time, he also wrote a letter and asked Zhang Ji to take them with him.

After the court meeting that day, Gao Gong also said that he would entertain them at a banquet in his mansion in the future, but now it seems that they will not be able to drink this banquet.

After Wei Guangde finished instructing Zhang Ji, he couldn't help but think about it after he went down.

The news of Gao Gong's resignation spread among the top circles in the capital that night. The nobles and high-ranking officials in the DPRK were informed of the matter one after another, and everyone expressed silence in a tacit understanding.

However, for some initiators, such as Xu Jie, he quickly sent his men out and notified some officials, asking them to keep all the memorials they had prepared and not to deliver them higher up.

If you continue to deliver the impeachment memorial to Gao Gong to the palace at this time, I am afraid that it will arouse the indignation of Emperor Longqing. He really wants to shave off this man. Maybe it is not unreasonable to kill a few with a stick. Possible thing.

Zhang Juzheng did not go to Xu Jie's house today, but sat quietly in the study alone.

In fact, when it comes to Gao Gong's career, Zhang Juzheng was most affected.

Although he helped his teacher Xu Jie find a way to deal with Gao Gong, after all, he had worked with him for many years in the Imperial College and then entered Prince Yu's Palace. For a period of time, he and Gao Gong were very close.

The two people's governance concepts are also very close, that is, they must first rectify the government. There are only slight differences in the selection methods, but in Zhang Juzheng's view, it is not a big deal.

To rectify the administration of officials, Gao Gong aims to impose strict penalties and remove all corrupt officials from the official community.

Zhang Juzheng knew that this method was not advisable.

There is no shortage of corrupt officials in the world to catch. The annual examinations and palace examinations every three years select a group of corrupt officials. Only a handful of them can stick to their true intentions until they die, while the vast majority will gradually sink in their career.

Rather than saying that the imperial examination is the country's talent show, it is better to say that it is just to select a group of corrupt officials.

Because, in the current Ming Dynasty officialdom, corruption has gradually turned from secretive to open in the past. Many rules have been formed. If they are not implemented, it will be difficult to integrate into the officialdom, and they will be ostracized by their colleagues.

Therefore, Zhang Juzheng does not object to officials being a little greedy, but the premise is that you should do your job well so that the people under your rule can live and work in peace and contentment.

It's okay to be greedy, but don't push the people too hard. You have to have a certain temper. If the official affairs are done well, then if you are worthy of heaven and worthy of the people, you will be considered a good official.

At this time, Zhang Juzheng was actually thinking about the examination method and planned to implement it as a system for evaluating officials.

In fact, there were many officials around Xu Jie. They were either Xu Jie's friends, disciples or students. During this period, they were trying their best to find Gao Gong's faults, and then Xu Jie made the final decision.

These mistakes will eventually be written down in memorials and used to impeach Gao Gong.

However, Zhang Juzheng was with Xu Jie. Although he helped Xu Jie with advice, he never said anything bad about Gao Gong from beginning to end, because he knew very well that no one was perfect, and Gao Gong had his faults, but he could not rise. Not to the extent of national law.

Xu Jie also asked him about Gao Gong's crime, but he refused to answer against his will. Instead, he said sincerely: "I really can't talk nonsense. If I say one more thing today, it may be used as material to slander others tomorrow." .”

Xu Jie was not very happy when he saw that he was disobedient, but he did not force him, and he still treated him as before.

Perhaps Zhang Juzheng didn't realize that this incident might actually have pierced a thorn in Xu Jie's heart, and this thorn was not pulled out until the end.

The reason why Xu Jie tolerated Zhang Juzheng's behavior was that if Zhang Juzheng had the opportunity to tell Wei Guangde the matter, Wei Guangde might have advised him to be careful of Xu Jie, but Zhang Juzheng did not.

Zhang Juzheng never thought that Xu Jie would be detrimental to him. In fact, Xu Jie really did not harm him. He even left all his political legacy to Zhang Juzheng.

The purpose is just for Zhang Juzheng to protect the Xu family in the future.

Xu Jie has always been an old politician. He thinks longer than Zhang Juzheng and Wei Guangde.

Gao Gong is gone now, but he is only fifty after all, and he still has a lot of time to survive.

Emperor Longqing is still young. As long as the time comes and Emperor Longqing remembers his master, a decree can recall him.

The grudge between him and Gao Gong was already difficult to resolve, and it was impossible to protect himself without preparing means for himself.

Zhang Juzheng was the person he chose.

As for what his thorn caused him to do?

People who are familiar with history will naturally notice that during the years when Zhang Juzheng was at the height of his power, did Xu Jie ever give any warning?

When he bullied the young emperor Wanli, did he ever give a warning?

Xu Jie was on the side, silently watching all this happen.

Xu Jie really lived a long life. He even outlived Zhang Juzheng. He survived until Zhang Juzheng died, and he saw the outcome of the Zhang family.

Gao Gong left Beijing sadly and was in a state of desolation. Almost all his disciples did not dare to see him off because they were afraid.

Only one disciple named Wu Dui took him to the boat on the Lu River and said goodbye in tears.

When this incident reached Xu Jie's ears, he hated Wu Dui deeply and ordered people to freeze him in his original position for a long time without promotion.

Gao Gong passed through a certain government on his way back to his hometown. The prefect knew that he had only left office because he had offended the then prime minister Xu Jie, so he deliberately made light of him. Not only did he not pay him a visit like other high-ranking officials, he also deliberately found excuses to make things difficult for him and stayed for two days.

Someone asked why, and the prefect replied: "This prince has offended the court. Do I have any reason to be polite to him?"

Gao Gong has experienced all kinds of hot and cold tastes of the world along the way.

What Wei Guangde didn't expect was that because of this, Gao Gong also hated them all after returning home.

Gao Gong couldn't hold back the anger in his heart every time he thought about what he had experienced along the way.

Yes, even with the decree of Emperor Longqing and the care of mules and horses along the way, the contempt of local officials still troubled Gao Gong, who had a strong self-esteem.

Thinking about how Yu Zhuan and the others should be drinking and chatting in the capital at this time, Gao Gong was filled with hatred.

Just as he thought, Wei Guangde and Yin Shizhen really gathered in Chen Yiqin's house to have a drink.

After Gao Gong left Beijing, Xu Jie and Li Chunfang came back one after another and returned to the cabinet as directors. The first thing they did was to convene the six ministries and nine ministers and other important ministers to discuss the opening of the sea.

In this month, many people have been replaced in the six departments. Gao Yao has been replaced by Ge Shouli, and Zhao Bingran has also been replaced by Guo Qian, the former Minister of Household Affairs in Nanjing. This man once served as the right minister of the Ministry of War and the governor of Shaanxi's military affairs on three sides. Zhao Bingran was unable to do so. He was pushed out when he was a director, and he was temporarily in charge.

However, Wei Guangde and others knew that Yang Bo actually did not like Guo Qian in his heart. He originally wanted to promote his fellow countryman Huo Ji, but in the final selection, Emperor Longqing singled out Guo Qian, who was least favored.

Yes, when the cabinet recommended the selection of Minister of War, Huo Ji was naturally the first choice, followed by Guo Qian, but Emperor Longqing chose Guo Qian as Minister of War.

Chen Yiqin, Wei Guangde and other old people in Yuzhuan all knew that this was intentional.

Gao Gong was expelled, and Yang Bo's role in it was not light. Naturally, Yang Bo would not be allowed to get his wish.

Senior officials such as the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers were summoned to discuss the charter drafted by Zhang Juzheng. As expected by Wei Guangde, they were met with fierce opposition from Gao Yi and Huang Guangsheng. Even though they knew it would be difficult to achieve results, they still insisted on opposing the opening of the sea, even if it was only for Fujian. Not even one port will do.

However, these are actually just tricks, just to increase the bargaining capital in cabinet discussions.

As the cabinet debate continues, Grohe raised the issue of limiting the number of trading ships.

"Next, I'm afraid it will be Xu Jie."

In private, Wei Guangde, Chen Yiqin, and Yin Shizhen were also talking about this matter.

The terms of opening the sea had been sent to the palace, and today it was Chen Yiqin who informed them of the terms of the terms. Now that the overall situation had been decided, Wei Guangde had no objection to these changes.

In his opinion, as long as the boat people along the coast are opened and given a glimmer of hope to make money to support their families, the honest people will never become thieves or Japanese pirates again.

With ships coming and going, there would naturally be a lot of tax and money. Anyway, the matter was not left to him, and would eventually fall into Tu Zemin's hands.

Tu Zemin is smart, just let him discuss the details with the cabinet, and he only needs to control the overall situation.

The terms proposed by the cabinet are actually just general directions. The final implementation still requires details, and that is to discuss with the Fujian local government.

Kaihai was rarely recorded in the history of the Ming Dynasty and was almost completely ignored. However, the process from being brought to the court to the actual implementation was very difficult and involved fierce struggles among the cabinet.

But after the notes are sent, there won't be much change.

"His Majesty is probably still angry. He hasn't summoned me in the past two days. He only summoned me once as a courtesy when Duke Xu and Duke Li returned to the cabinet that day, and expressed his gentle words of relief."

Chen Yiqin was a little moody at this time and said casually.

"It's okay. His Majesty is angry. After a while, I will hand him a knife to calm down the anger."

Wei Guangde smiled.

"what are you up to?"

Chen Yiqin asked hesitantly.

"Let me impeach a few happy-go-lucky pedants and let your Majesty punish them."

Wei Guangde said casually.

The people being impeached must be from Xu Jie's side, which meant that the emperor lacked a reason to punish these people.

"Haha. You."

Yin Shizhen smiled and shook his head without saying much.

"In the past two days, I heard news in the cabinet that there was a secret conspiracy to point the finger at Mr. Guo Ge.

Shandai, have you heard about this? "

Chen Yiqin suddenly asked.

"Is this happening?"

Wei Guangde was a little surprised. He really hadn't received any news about this.

These days, a large number of documents have been delivered to the Nanjing Ministry of Civil Affairs, all of which are adjustments made by officials in Jiangnan.

Although these documents have been issued and can be said to be a done deal, the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Beijing still needs to understand and record them in detail, lest the Ministry of Civil Affairs in the North and South Beijing issue different appointment documents, which would be a joke.

After explaining his situation in the past two days, Wei Guangde heard Yin Shizhen say: "I heard what Yifu said before today."

"Mr. Guo Ge is quite upright and generous, fair in dealing with things, and has the demeanor of an elder. Unlike Gao Gong, who is a little impatient and mean, he has always been very popular."

Wei Guangde frowned and said, "Although I was promoted by the late emperor through Qing Ci, after joining the cabinet, apart from taking one side when the 'two people' were arguing, there was nothing wrong with anything else. How do they want to impeach?"

"I guess they just want to say that he is attached to Gao Suqing, colluding, and lacks the qualities to be an assistant minister. This is what I heard."

Yin Shizhen whispered to Wei Guangde.

"Well, they probably won't mention his name, but they will use this as an excuse."

Chen Yiqin said.

"Brother Yifu, how is your relationship with Mr. Guo Ge in the cabinet?"

Wei Guangde lowered his head and thought for a moment before asking.

"generally."

Chen Yiqin knew what Wei Guangde meant and shook his head when he looked over.

"If Xu Jie wants to die, it's up to him."

Wei Guangde spoke calmly. (End of chapter)