Chapter 497 Zhang Juzheng Must Be Protected
In the Hanlin Academy, when the news came that Fan Zhongda had impeached Zhang Juzheng, several scholars smiled at each other.
"Uncle Zhang is very arrogant and looks down on people like me. Today is just a lucky turn of events."
"He has angered His Majesty, so he can no longer stay in the capital. He will most likely go down to serve as an official. A scholar-official is not employed in the six ministries, but has gone to the local areas. Anyone with a discerning eye knows that this is close to being demoted. When the wall falls, everyone pushes it down. After a few years, they will definitely be sad..."
Historically, Zhang Juzheng was a frustrated person. Later he took a long vacation and traveled around for three years.
"Last time he implied that my writing was crap. Today I want to see what Uncle Zhang, who is well versed in writing and poetry, has to say."
Under the eaves, Gao Gong stood silently.
"Editor Gao." A clerk came over and said, "Lord Xu wants you to come over."
"Go here."
Gao Gong went to the Ministry of Rites and when he met Xu Jie, the frustrated cabinet minister was still as gentle as before.
"I just learned that someone has impeached Uncle Da. Do you know the details?"
Gao Gong smiled bitterly, "When Uncle Da first entered the Imperial Academy, young people were full of pride and inevitably said some excessive words. Those words seemed to be just impulsive at first, but Fan Zhongda deliberately exposed them... At that time, Confucianism and Mohism were fighting..."
The words were disjointed, but Gao Gong knew that Xu Jie could understand their meaning.
"Mo Family."
"Yes. Yesterday, Uncle Da was outside the city to give enlightenment to children on behalf of Jiang Qingzhi. And those children were regarded as the disciples of the Mohist School."
"No wonder." Xu Jie was silent for a moment, "What is Uncle's intention?"
This question seemed to be asking Zhang Juzheng how to deal with this, but Gao Gong knew that Xu Jie wanted to know Zhang Juzheng's position.
When Zhou Xia switched to Jiang Qingzhi's school, Xu Jie was embarrassed. If Zhang Juzheng moved closer to the Mohist school, many people would question his ability to win people's hearts.
If you don’t have the ability to win over the people’s hearts, how can you win over the ministers?
If you can't win over the ministers, how can you hold on to power?
Gao Gong had already thought of the answer when he came, but when he thought of Zhang Juzheng, he hesitated.
"Just tell me." Xu Jie smiled gently, "Uncle has great talent. If you are frustrated because of this, I can't bear to sit and watch."
——Zhang Juzheng is in danger!
Gao Gong sighed in his heart, "Uncle doesn't have any opinion on the Mohist school, but... Chang Wei Bo..."
"I understand." Xu Jie nodded gently.
——Zhang Juzheng had a good impression of Jiang Qingzhi.
Gao Gong walked out of the duty room, looked at the gloomy sky, and said self-deprecatingly: "I didn't expect that I, Gao Gong, would also compromise."
If he argued for Zhang Juzheng, Xu Jie would have no choice but to take action.
But he hinted that Zhang Juzheng and Jiang Qingzhi were very close.
Xu Jie seemed gentle as jade, but Gao Gong knew that the more such people were, the more vindictive they would be. Before Zhou Xia's betrayal to Jiang Qingzhi was avenged, Jiang Qingzhi began to flirt with Zhang Juzheng, another disciple of Xu Jie.
Do you really think that I, Xu Jie, am a clay figure?
At this moment, the great war between Confucianism and Mohism had begun. Xu Jie would naturally not rush in rashly, but dealing with Zhang Juzheng could indirectly strike a blow to Jiang Qingzhi.
A eunuch has arrived.
"Lord Xu, Your Majesty asked Zhang Juzheng how he felt?"
As the former helmsman of the Hanlin Academy, Xu Jie's answer is crucial.
Xu Jie frowned, "May I ask what's the matter?"
This gesture clearly shows that the teacher is worried about his students, but as a prime minister, such worries should be hidden in his heart.
Xu Ge Lao and Zhang Juzheng are indeed a master and disciple with a deep affection... The eunuch said with a straight face, "We don't know either."
Xu Jie smiled apologetically and hesitated for a moment, "Uncle is very smart... He has great talent and is determined to make progress..."
The eunuch nodded, "In that case, we'll take our leave."
Jiang Qingzhi was bored and was flipping through Taoist books. Previously, the Taoist priest had asked someone to ask Xu Jie about Zhang Juzheng's situation. Jiang Qingzhi knew that it was done for all the officials to see.
——Anyone who dares to criticize or slander me should first look at what happened to Zhang Juzheng.
Old Zhang... no, Little Zhang stayed in the Imperial Academy for a few years, but suddenly took leave to return to his hometown Jiangling on the pretext of recuperation. He was gone for three years.
For a young man full of vigor and vitality, three years of dormancy must be a torment.
Jiang Qingzhi suddenly shuddered.
He suddenly thought of a question. Was the reason why Zhang Juzheng took leave in history because he offended Emperor Jiajing?
Yes!
Even though Zhang Juzheng returned to the Hanlin Academy three years later, he never submitted memorials to the court again, and his official career was a mess.
But those three years of dormancy were not without reward. After returning to the Imperial Academy, Zhang Juzheng followed the example of his teacher Xu Jie and kept a low profile. Sure enough, his career improved greatly and he was later promoted to the position of Dean of the Imperial Academy.
Then came the honeymoon period with Xu Jie, who introduced him to Prince Yu's mansion as a lecturer. While he was expanding his network in the Hanlin Academy, he was waiting in Prince Yu's mansion.
After Emperor Jiajing passed away, Xu Jie found Zhang Juzheng, and the two of them worked together to draft the imperial edict, becoming great contributors to Prince Yu's ascension to the throne.
Although I, the butterfly, have changed a lot of things, Zhang Juzheng still went back to his old ways and offended the Taoist priest!
The inertia of history was so strong that Jiang Qingzhi could not help but feel powerless. He felt the big tripod in his mind. The tripod was still turning slowly, and the purple in the deep copper green would occasionally dissipate and then dissipate.
Zhang Juzheng was still standing outside.
The sun was so hot that he felt dizzy. He put his hands in front of his eyes and looked up at the blue sky.
Then he smiled bitterly, "Talent is rare, and great people do not like it."
The eunuch came back, glanced at Zhang Juzheng, and then went in.
There was a hint of regret in that look, and Zhang Juzheng's heart skipped a beat.
At this moment, he had not yet submitted that memorial...the memorial that he thought could be compared with Wang Anshi's famous memorial.
He still has countless brilliant blueprints in his heart waiting to be realized, and he still has extraordinary enthusiasm and sense of responsibility for changing the Ming Dynasty.
But if his career fails, all this will be just a dream.
The eunuch entered the hall and relayed Xu Jie's reply.
"Xu Jie is really good at protecting his son!" said the Taoist priest calmly.
But Jiang Qingzhi felt that Xu Jie was forcing the Taoist priest to deal with Zhang Juzheng.
What does it mean to have great talent and be determined to make progress?
Zhang Juzheng, who criticized the Taoist priest, was a man of great talent and ambition, so the Taoist priest he criticized must be a fool and conservative.
Unless Xu Jie didn't know that Zhang Juzheng was standing on the edge of a cliff at this moment, in danger, he shouldn't have said such words.
Old Xu, you are so sinister!
Jiang Qingzhi thought of Zhou Xia. Ever since the incident with Zhou Xia, he and Xu Jie had been at odds. If there was a chance to trick Jiang Qingzhi, Old Xu would not hesitate at all.
But what was Zhang Juzheng's fault?
He just talked to Jiang Qingzhi for a while and taught a lesson to those poor children on his behalf, but he was regarded as an accomplice and was even called upon to be killed.
In his previous life, Jiang Qing heard his mother say something, which roughly meant that it is better to be an enemy with a villain than to be friends with such a tolerant person.
There are two possibilities for being able to endure what ordinary people cannot endure. One is having lofty ambitions and choosing to endure when one's ambitions have not been realized, such as Su Wu and Gou Jian.
Another possibility is a strong desire for revenge. Such people regard their opponents as mortal enemies and take revenge as their first goal in life. In order to take revenge, they can endure hardships and endure humiliation...
Xu Jie is obviously a combination of the first and second types. But Jiang Qingzhi thinks he is more of the second type.
Not allowed to be friends!
At this time Yan Song came and brought several memorials.
After the discussion between the emperor and his ministers, the Taoist priest said calmly, "That Zhang Juzheng... ask the Ministry of Personnel if there are any vacancies there."
"Yes." Yan Song lowered his head and looked pleasing, which reminded Jiang Qingzhi of a pug.
After walking out of the hall, Yan Song didn't even look at Zhang Juzheng and strode down the stairs.
Jiang Qingzhi was about to speak but stopped. The Taoist said, "I have discussed with the imperial doctors. The reason you don't have any children is firstly because of the woman's problem, and secondly because you are born weak and lack of energy. Here is a prescription... What do you think? I know you don't want to take medicine, this is a food supplement!"
Huang Jin chuckled on the side, thinking that he hadn't seen the Taoist's attitude of coaxing a child in many years.
Jiang Qingzhi took the prescription and asked, "Your Majesty, I feel that my energy is quite good!"
"You are young, and your blood and energy are vigorous. But after all, you are born with a deficiency. The more vigorous your blood and energy are, the more you lose. This prescription can help to astringe it."
The Taoist picked up a memorial and said, "When it is time to lie dormant, you must lie dormant."
Why does this sound like it's hinting at me not to speak up for Zhang Juzheng?
Jiang Qingzhi glanced at the Taoist priest, who said calmly, "It's rare that you've been sitting with me for such a long time. I know you're a busy man. Go ahead!"
Jiang Qingzhi was busy with nothing and stood up to leave.
After going out, he winked at Zhang Juzheng, suggesting that he should not act on impulse.
Don’t follow the history example and leave due to illness and be gone for three years.
Zhang Juzheng responded indifferently.
This guy is too proud!
Proud people always think that the sky is the boss, and they are the boss...
……
"At the beginning, I looked down upon all the ministers and held supreme authority. Gradually, I looked at Your Majesty and felt that... it was nothing special."
In the study, Xia Yan talked about his mental journey back then, and Jiang Qingzhi listened with great interest.
"After two ups and downs, I realized that the so-called supreme authority could become a disaster at any time. The emperor is the real god. A glance or a piece of paper can decide my life or death."
Xia Yan took a sip of tea and raised his eyebrows at Duoduo in Jiang Qingzhi's arms. Duoduo lazily wagged his tail. Xia Yan said, "Zhang Juzheng suffered this unprovoked disaster because of you and the Mohist School. If he leaves the place sadly because of this, Qingzhi, it will be a blow to you and the Mohist School."
"I know." Jiang Qingzhi narrowed his eyes. "Those people are really calculating. Dealing with Zhang Juzheng can not only make an example of him, but also let those people see... following me or the Mohist school will lead to bad consequences."
"I have said that since we started the construction of that area outside the city, Confucianism and Mohism have not been opponents, but enemies."
Xia Yan said quietly, "When dealing with enemies, I will never show mercy. And you, don't expect them to be merciful. Zhang Juzheng must be saved!"
Jiang Qingzhi closed his eyes and said, "I know."
(End of this chapter)
