This was the third time that Zhang Juzheng had submitted a memorial to beg for favors. This had shaken the entire Great Ming Dynasty's bureaucracy. This had caused countless people to follow suit and submit memorials. However, before they could submit their memorials, the situation had taken a turn, causing countless people's jaws to drop to the ground.
On the sixth day of the seventh month, the Emperor sent Eunuch Zhang Hong of the Bureau of Rites to deliver a decree.
The meaning of the decree was simple. Zhang Juzheng was loyal to the Emperor and was the model of a Daming civil official. The new policy was good and Zhang Juzheng's love for the people and diligence could not be slandered.
The wording of the decree was very harsh. It was obvious that the Emperor was furious.
On the same day, the Emperor ordered the Bureau of Rites to order the Imperial Bodyguard of the Supreme Court of Justice to investigate the case of Liu Tai and Fu Yingzhen forming a clique.
On the eighth day of the seventh month, Liu Tai was imprisoned. The Emperor personally issued a decree to remove Liu Tai from his position, to be flogged a hundred times and to be sent to the border.
In just two days, the Emperor had taken down Liu Tai with the force of a thunderbolt. Twelve of his accomplices were imprisoned and all the officials were silenced.
Zhang Juzheng was in the limelight. Carriages flowed in and out of the Zhang Residence. Every day, people came to visit him.
On the tenth day of the seventh month, the Emperor issued a decree to commend Zhang Juzheng. The Emperor personally granted Zhang Juzheng the 'Defender of the State'.
On the twelfth day of the seventh month, Queen Dowager Li of the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful rewarded Zhang Juzheng with a hundred taels of gold, a thousand taels of silver and ten bolts of brocade.
On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, Zhang Juzheng submitted a petition for leniency for Liu Tai. The Daming did not punish him because of his words. Moreover, Liu Tai was Zhang Juzheng's student. Zhang Juzheng requested for Liu Tai's dismissal.
The Emperor did not allow it. Liu Tai and Fu Yingzhen formed a clique and were dismissed. They were flogged a hundred times and sent to the border.
The anti-Zhangs who had just started to make a ruckus were suppressed as soon as they appeared. It could be said that they acted swiftly and decisively.
Countless people praised the wise Emperor and Liu Tai for betraying his teacher and not being a son.
On the first day of August, Zhang Juzheng returned to the Cabinet. The land clearing and the reform of the whip law were quickly implemented. Fujian was the first place to implement it.
Zhang Juzheng's reforms had officially begun.
Forbidden City, Wenhua Palace.
Zhu Yijun yawned. He had been a little tired these past few days, but the results seemed pretty good. He had done what he wanted to do.
After Yu Dayou joined the Warrior Battalion and the Four Guards Battalion, the old and the weak were eliminated and the training was carried out in full swing.
Zhu Yijun had also sent those nobles who were studying in the academy to be polished under Yu Dayou's tutelage.
The reforms had officially begun. The people from Zhu Yijun's internal factory had gone to Fujian a long time ago. At the beginning of the year, they had arranged for a large number of people. Their mission was to gather intelligence.
Those who hid their land and were rich but heartless were all put on the inner factory's list.
Those who harmed the villagers, killed people, and bribed the officials were all put on the inner factory's list for severe punishment.
The person in charge of this matter was Xu De's younger brother. He personally went to Fujian to take charge. At the same time, he cooperated with the people from Dongchang in Haojing to investigate the smuggling situation along the southeast coast. In order to cooperate with Zhang Juzheng's reforms, Zhu Yijun's hands were also extended.
Using this time's Zhang Juzheng's reforms, Zhu Yijun wanted to get information and intelligence.
The inner factory started to divide the areas more carefully. Each province had a supervisor, two deputy supervisors, and one supervisor.
The supervisor was in charge of the affairs of the province. One of the two deputy supervisors was in charge of the money, and the other was in charge of the personnel. They had no jurisdiction over the supervision, but they had the right to supervise.
With the North and the South as the center, a dense intelligence department was quickly established.
This was the change that Zhu Yijun made for the future reform of Dongchang and the Imperial Bodyguard. In the future, the inner factory also had to be reformed.
Zhu Yijun wanted to completely separate the judiciary and the administration. It was not possible to look at the administration and the judiciary as there would be problems.
Only direct administration could work. The current local administration was too loose, and it was impossible to form an effective management system.
Since the Liu Tai incident, the Daming officialdom finally stopped. For the time being, there were only voices of reform. No one came out to cause trouble. Everyone could see that Zhang Juzheng was now deeply trusted by the Emperor and Empress Dowager. His position was unshakable.
"Get something to eat!" Zhu Yijun looked at the sky outside and ordered the eunuch beside him, "I'm hungry!"
After this incident, Zhu Yijun knew that the biggest storm in Wanli Dynasty was coming, and that was Zhang Juzheng's Love Stealing.
This incident caused a big storm and had a deep impact. It was considered a big event in history.
In the blink of an eye, it was September. At night, Zhang Juzheng's palanquin stopped at the entrance of the Zhang Mansion.
Since the beginning of the reform, Zhang Juzheng was very busy. He often worked day and night. It was already early for him to come back today.
After entering the mansion, Zhang Juzheng yawned tiredly.
He was getting old, and his body couldn't stand being so busy. Zhang Juzheng really couldn't take it anymore.
"Master!"
You Qi placed a bowl of medicine on the table and stood respectfully to the side. These days, Zhang Juzheng's tonics had increased by quite a bit, as well as the amount of medicine.
You Chi would ask people to prepare it in advance and drink a bowl after entering the door.
Nodding his head, Zhang Juzheng picked up the bowl of medicine and drank it. Then, he picked up the water and drank a mouthful. Only then did he heave a sigh of relief.
"Is there anything today?" Zhang Juzheng looked at You Chi and asked.
"Master, there's nothing. Everything is fine!"
You Chi answered and said, "There are a lot of people in the mansion who come to visit, but it's not a big deal. Most of them are here to use their connections."
Zhang Juzheng nodded. This kind of thing was inevitable, so he didn't care much.
On the last day of September, it rained. Zhu Yijun stood on the steps outside the Palace of Heavenly Purity, looking at the rain outside and listening to the sound of the rain. He was expressionless.
He stretched out his hand and let the raindrops hit his hand. It was cold to the touch.
Soon, Zhu Yijun saw a figure running in the rain. This made Zhu Yijun stunned. At the same time, his heart tightened. Is he finally here?
It was Xu De. After seeing Zhu Yijun, Xu De hurriedly said, "Imperial Majesty, something happened!"
"What's the matter?" Zhu Yijun suppressed the excitement in his heart and said in a steady voice.
"Imperial Majesty, I just got the news that Minister Zhang's father has passed away!"
Xu De didn't dare to neglect. He hurriedly said, "The person who reported the funeral in Jiangling should have arrived in the capital. He should have arrived at the Zhang Mansion by now."
With a sigh of relief, Zhang Juzheng said, "I see. Send people out. The capital can't be in chaos."
"Yes, I understand!" After saying this, Xu De turned around and ran outside.
In the Zhang Mansion, Zhang Juzheng looked at the obituary in his hand. His face was pale, and the paper in his hand trembled. How could this be? How could this be? His father was dead. How could he die at this time?
The rims of Zhang Juzheng's eyes were a little red. After a long while, he let out a sigh of relief. He glanced at You Qi and said with a trembling voice, "Start the funeral!"