Zhu Yijun naturally knew what the Donglin clique was like and whose interests they represented.
In the past, Zhu Yijun had been very vague about it, but now Zhu Yijun could see it clearly. The Donglin clique had already begun to take shape during the time of the Anti-Zhang Zhang Juzheng reforms.
One had to understand that the Donglin clique wasn't a political party, but a clique.
Political parties had their own political views and ideals, but a clique was different. A clique was an interest group that banded together for some common interests, ostracizing dissidents and fighting for power. The relationship between clique members was best described as collusion.
From the current situation, it was clear that these people had banded together during the process of the Anti-Zhang Zhang Juzheng reforms.
These people had quickly turned from an anti-reform group into a huge clique, and they had also experienced the benefits of such actions.
The failure of Zhang Juzheng's reforms and the rise of the Donglin clique also represented the failure of an era.
Clearly, compared to Zhang Juzheng, the Donglin clique was better at packaging and beautifying themselves. They called themselves clean, criticized the ills of the times, and used the power of public opinion in their hands to fight for power.
Why were they still fighting when Daming was about to be destroyed in the Southern Ming Dynasty?
It was actually very simple. Cliques defended their own interests, not the interests of the country.
If one were to say that the representative ideology of capitalism in the late Ming Dynasty was the Jiangzuo School of Mind. They advocated limiting the power of the monarchs, advocating that "the power of the world be given to the people of the world." They had already sprouted the ideas of democracy in later generations.
However, in this era, they were considered heretics. They didn't have any specific methods or actions, just a thought.
Casually tossing Wu Zhonghang and Zhao Yongxian's memorials to the side, Zhu Yijun saw their faces clearly, and he wouldn't listen to their nonsense.
Now, Zhu Yijun had a thorough understanding of the entire matter. The Zhang Juzheng affair was, to put it bluntly, a power struggle between the reformists and the anti-reformists.
It had nothing to do with justice, nothing to do with ethics, and everything to do with profit.
However, Zhang Juzheng represented the interests of the Reformist Party. To a certain extent, they also represented Daming's interests and their own interests.
Although the opposition spoke of justice and raised the flag high, to put it bluntly, these people were people who had vested interests in defending their own interests.
As someone from the later generation, Zhu Yijun naturally understood the conflict between the Reformist Party and those with vested interests. This was an irreconcilable conflict that wouldn't end until one of them died.
Picking up the two memorials, Zhu Yijun threw them to Zhang Jing and said, "Take some men and bring these two to Dongchang. I'd like to see how many people are willing to sacrifice themselves to defend their slogan."
"If they want to dedicate themselves, then let them do it. This can be considered as asking for benevolence and getting benevolence."
Zhu Yijun's tone was very light, but there was a sneer at the corner of his mouth. Seeing this, Zhang Jing shuddered and quickly said, "Old Slave will do it now!" After that, he turned around and ran out.
The news that Wu Zhonghang and Zhao Yongxian were arrested by Dongchang once again shocked Daming's officialdom. The officialdom became quiet.
Qinghe Building in the capital city had a nice name and a great reputation. In the house behind Qinghe Building, Mr. Shao and Tian Sheng sat opposite each other.
There were a few dishes on the table in front of them, and they had been drinking.
"Wu Zhonghang and Zhao Yongxian were sent to Zhao Prison. Should we do something?"
Tian Sheng looked at Mr. Shao and asked hesitantly.
Mr. Shao looked up at Tian Sheng, playing with the wine glass in his hand, and said with a chuckle, "You'd better give up on this idea. If we do this, we will not be far from death, and we will be implicated by them."
"The purpose of our coming to the capital city this time is to overthrow Zhang Juzheng and overthrow Zhang Juzheng, not to make trouble."
Tian Sheng nodded. He just mentioned this matter casually. Seeing that Mr. Shao didn't agree, Tian Sheng changed the topic and said, "Then should we start the second step?
I'm afraid the effect will not be good if we do it later. "
After thinking for a moment, Mr. Shao nodded and said, "Yes, but not the second step. The second step and the third step should be done together."
"I'll arrange it in the capital city. You go to keep an eye on Shen Maoxue. That's the key. If we can do it there, we will succeed."
Mr. Shao said with a sneer, "At that time, I'll see how Zhang Juzheng still has the face to be the Cabinet Secretary."
Speaking of this, Mr. Shao sneered and put the wine glass in his hand on the table fiercely.
"Don't worry. I've already arranged everything. I'm sure that Zhang Juzheng will suffer a lot."
Tian Sheng said with a smile, "Look, this is the poem I asked someone to write. I'll send someone to spread it everywhere tomorrow."
Mr. Shao took the paper and smiled after taking a look. He nodded with satisfaction and said, "Well written."
There was a poem written on the paper, and the words were very straightforward, which could be understood at first glance. The more Mr. Shao read it, the more excited he became. He couldn't help but read it out, "An old cow licks a calf. Who doesn't love their son?
A wild bird acts as a luan, bullying the monarch too much! "
"With this poem and Shen Maoxue, the effect will be very good."
Hearing Shen Maoxue's name, Tian Sheng couldn't help but ask, "Will there be any problem with Shen Maoxue?"
Mr. Shao snorted disdainfully, "Him?
He's very timid. Up to now, he hasn't dared to write an impeachment letter against Zhang Juzheng for stealing his love. Would he dare to turn against us?
Besides, what I asked him to do was not to write an impeachment letter, but to write a letter. "
"I know very well how Shen Maoxue became the top scorer. He doesn't have the guts to oppose Zhang Juzheng." Speaking of this, Mr. Shao's words were full of disdain.
"At the beginning, Zhang Juzheng wanted his son to take the imperial examination, but he was worried that he would be criticized, so he wanted to find a few talented people to accompany him to take the examination.
At that time, Shen Maoxue and Tang Xianzu were the most popular. Shen Maoxue became the top scorer, while Tang Xianzu failed. Is it difficult to guess what happened? "
"Shen Maoxue is also in the Hanlin Academy now. Does he dare to go to the Cabinet to congratulate Lv Diaoyang?
Does he dare to submit a memorial? "
Tian Sheng nodded. It turned out to be like this. Knowing the reason, he didn't mention this matter again. The two of them discussed some details in detail. After the fun was over, Tian Sheng left.
The next day, a pair of couplets circulated in the capital. As soon as this pair of couplets came out, it immediately caused a lot of trouble.
Many people knew this pair of couplets, but not many people cared about it. But now that it was turned out, it instantly became the focus.
In Wanli's five-year imperial examination, Zhang Juzheng's second son, Zhang Sixiu, also took part, and he got the top scorer.
At the celebration banquet, someone gave a pair of couplets to Zhang Juzheng. The first couplet was: The sun and the moon are bright, and all countries look up to the Son of Heaven. The second couplet was: Qiu Shan is a Yue, and the four sides praise Taiyue.
This pair of couplets was quite neat. It was a combined couplet: "Sun" and "Moon" were combined into "Ming", "Qiu" and "Shan" were combined into "Yue". It was also an embedded couplet, in which Zhang Juzheng's title, "Taiyue" was embedded.
From the meaning, the first couplet was to praise the Emperor, and the second couplet was to flatter Zhang Juzheng. "Yue" was a high mountain, saying that Zhang Juzheng was as great as a mountain.
But there was a problem in this couplet. The second couplet was the most important.
In this pair of couplets, the Emperor was placed in the first couplet, and Zhang Juzheng was placed in the second couplet.
Now, this pair of couplets was hung in Zhang Juzheng's house. When this news came out, it instantly shocked the whole Daming officialdom, and immediately caused a new wave of impeachment.
This time, the main attack was not Zhang Juzheng's Love Stealing, but Zhang Juzheng's deceiving the Emperor and despising the Sage.
Of course, he didn't forget to mention that not being affectionate was to seize power.
It was impossible for Zhu Yijun not to know about this wave. When he heard Zhang Jing's report, Zhu Yijun understood that this was to provoke the relationship between him and Zhang Juzheng.
He couldn't help but sigh in his heart. This kind of method was really endless!
Wave after wave came rushing over, with an attitude that swore not to stop until Zhang Juzheng was dead.
Presumably, this was how the Wanli Emperor in history provoked the fire, right?
A fifteen or sixteen-year-old child was disciplined all day, and there was even someone rubbing the fire at the side. It would be strange if he didn't hate Zhang Juzheng to death.
"Imperial Majesty, Xu De is here!" Just when Zhu Yijun was thinking about what to do, Zhang Jing suddenly sent such a message.
Zhu Yijun was stunned. Xu De had entered the palace?
Zhu Yijun directly ordered, "Let him in!"
Not long after, Xu De walked in from outside. After bowing to Zhu Yijun with a serious expression, Xu De said, "Imperial Majesty, I found that some thieves and rascals in the capital are plotting against the law."
Zhu Yijun was stunned. "Tell me more."
"These people should be from Jiangnan. When the inner factory went to Jiangnan, they had a collision with them. We arrested some of them, but we couldn't find any deeper information.
This time, after they came to the capital, the inner factory people kept an eye on them. "
"A few days ago, they were the ones who put up notices everywhere in the capital, and this time about Grand Secretary Zhang's couplet."
This time, not only was Zhu Yijun stunned, but he was also shocked. Someone was stirring up trouble behind the scenes?
Glancing at Xu De, Zhu Yijun directly asked, "Have you found out who is behind it?"
"Imperial Majesty, not yet!" Xu De bowed.
"Then continue to investigate!"
Zhu Yijun said with a dark face, "Investigate thoroughly. You must dig out these people for me. They dare to stir up trouble in private. These people are really audacious."
Xu De quickly said, "This servant has already arranged for people to catch all of them in one fell swoop."
"Very good. You have done a good job. When you catch them, I will reward you handsomely." Zhu Yijun nodded with satisfaction and praised loudly.
As for the ugly expression on Zhang Jing's face, Zhu Yijun automatically ignored it.
This kind of competition was necessary. Zhu Yijun didn't mind provoking Zhang Jing through Xu De.