The person standing in front of them was Wang Xijue, the Minister of War and the Assistant Scholar of the Hanlin Academy. He was in charge of the Hanlin Academy.
Wang Xijue was the person with the highest position present. His status was also extraordinary.
With the status of the Hanlin Academy and Wang Xijue's official position, his next step should be to be the Minister of the Six Ministries or directly enter the Cabinet.
Although the possibility of entering the Cabinet directly was not high, it was not impossible. At least he could be an assistant minister of the Ministry of Appointments or the Ministry of Rites.
Wang Xijue was one of the backup forces of the Daming officialdom. His status was naturally incomparable.
Zhang Jing also turned to look at Wang Xijue with a faint smile on his face, waiting for Wang Xijue to make a decision.
"Since the Emperor has decreed, we will naturally act according to the decree!" Wang Xijue nodded and turned to the others. "Alright, everyone can go back!"
After saying this, Wang Xijue turned to look at Zhang Jing again. "I want to go in and burn incense for Elder Zhang's father. This should be okay, right?"
Glancing at Wang Xijue, Zhang Jing sighed. "Of course, it just so happens that I want to go in as well."
Wang Xijue glanced at Zhang Jing. He didn't say anything. He couldn't control Zhang Jing. Letting him in at this time was already giving face to Zhang Jing.
This time, Zhang Juzheng did not refuse. Wang Xijue and Zhang Jing entered the Zhang Mansion together.
Soon, the two of them saw Zhang Juzheng in the mourning hall. At this time, Zhang Juzheng was kneeling on the ground in mourning clothes. Not far away was the memorial tablet of Zhang Juzheng's father, Zhang Wenming. Zhang Juzheng burned a piece of paper money in the brazier in front of him from time to time.
The altar lamp next to him was also burning. The air was filled with a choking smell of oil.
Zhang Jing and Wang Xijue lit incense together and burned a few pieces of paper. Zhang Jing originally thought that Wang Xijue wouldn't speak again after seeing this scene. He didn't expect Wang Xijue to speak even though he was embarrassed.
"Grand Secretary, Yuanyu came here today to plead for mercy on behalf of those people. I hope that Grand Secretary can be magnanimous and forgive those people!
Exempt them from the Ting Rod! "Wang Xijue said and bowed to Zhang Juzheng.
Zhang Juzheng knelt on the ground and raised his head to look at Wang Xijue. He said expressionlessly, "It's His Majesty's problem to deal with. As for Ting Zhang and the others, they angered His Majesty, so it's His Majesty's problem. It has nothing to do with me.
Right now, Ju Zheng only wishes to observe mourning for his father. Everything else has nothing to do with Ju Zheng. Lord Wang, please return! "
"His Majesty's anger is also because of you, Zhang Juzheng!" Wang Xijue suddenly became angry and pointed at Zhang Juzheng and said loudly.
At this time, Zhang Juzheng raised his head. His eyes were red as he stared at Wang Xijue. After a while, he suddenly stood up and walked straight to the guard's office at the door. He pulled out the knife hanging on the guard's waist.
He walked straight back to his original position and knelt down in front of Wang Xijue. He handed the knife in his hand to Wang Xijue and said loudly, "Kill me!" After saying this, Zhang Juzheng didn't say another word.
Wang Xijue looked at the knife in his hand and then looked at Zhang Juzheng who was kneeling in front of him. He threw the knife away and turned to leave.
Zhang Jing, who had been watching this scene, didn't stay any longer. He bowed to Zhang Juzheng and then quickly left to return to the palace.
Forbidden City, Wenhua Hall.
Zhang Jing reported what happened in Zhang Mansion to Zhu Yijun as soon as he returned. The autumn rain was still falling outside and didn't stop.
When Zhu Yijun heard this, his expression didn't change. He just stared at the rain outside.
After a while, Zhu Yijun returned to the dragon desk and put aside the paper with the word "endure" written on it.
Picking up the brush, Zhu Yijun wrote a sentence on the paper, "Using one's body as a chess piece and winning half a chess piece against the heavens!"
How desperate and helpless Zhang Juzheng was when he knelt down? He took out the knife and gave it to Wang Xijue. Wasn't that what he was thinking? His meaning was obvious. Are you going to kill me?
Look at what you've done. Now you want me to plead for mercy.
If you want me to plead for mercy, you might as well kill me directly. It looks like I'm acting shamelessly.
However, what was Zhang Juzheng's identity? He was the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, the Grand Preceptor of the imperial court, and the teacher of the emperor. He didn't even need to kneel when he saw the emperor. How important was this kneel?
These people actually forced Zhang Juzheng to act shamelessly.
Picking up the piece of paper, Zhu Yijun's lips curled into a smile. This sentence was most likely very suitable for Zhang Juzheng, who had undergone Love Stealing!
Zhang Juzheng must be fantasizing that his student emperor would take over his mantle. He was trying his best to carry out reforms and cultivate Zhu Yijun as his successor.
Although he had enemies all over the world, he had a successor to his career and his name would go down in history.
With the power in his hands, with his own life as a chess piece, he was playing chess with the heavens, vowing to win by half a chess piece.
This was the resistance after being forced to the extreme. Qi Tongwei knelt on the ground, Zhang Juzheng also knelt on the ground. However, when the two people stood up, Qi Tongwei was not the Qi Tongwei of the past. Zhang Juzheng was not the Zhang Juzheng of the past.
Zhu Yijun found out how similar the two people were at this time. However, Zhang Juzheng was obviously higher than Qi Tongwei.
Zhang Juzheng's dream and Zhang Juzheng's ambition were not something that ordinary people could have. If Zhang Juzheng's dream was like Qi Tongwei's, he would have been able to realize it long ago.
Zhu Yijun believed that Zhang Juzheng would inevitably become a person who surpassed Yan Song. He would definitely become the most powerful minister in the future.
Whether it was Jiuqiansui, Liu Jin, or Yan Song, no one could compare to him.
However, Zhang Juzheng's thoughts were not on power. After seizing the love, Zhang Juzheng held on to power even tighter for his own reform plan.
Zhu Yijun sighed. He was afraid that he could not pry into Zhang Juzheng's heart.
After experiencing this incident, Zhang Juzheng's heart would definitely become incomparably tenacious and even cold and ruthless.
However, Zhu Yijun knew that Zhang Juzheng wanted to break the shackles of the era. Breaking the shackles of the era was very difficult. However, Zhu Yijun's gaze became more and more determined. If you can't do it, I will do it. When the day comes that I can do it, I will personally write a memorial to tell you.
At this moment, although Zhang Juzheng had many shortcomings, Zhu Yijun's heart was filled with admiration for him.
Many people became officials for power and for money. As the saying went, thousands of miles to become an official only for money.
Xu Jie and Yan Song were the best of the best. What did they do when they were Cabinet Grand Secretaries? What did Zhang Juzheng do when he was Cabinet Grand Secretary?
A person's contribution to the country was not based on how others evaluated him, but on what he did for the country.
Perhaps Zhang Juzheng's reform had many shortcomings, but he was willing to do it for the country. He was even willing to sacrifice himself for the country. Zhu Yijun felt that he should support him.
Picking up the brush again, Zhu Yijun wrote four big words this time.
Dedicate oneself to the country!
Picking up the paper, Zhu Yijun handed it to Zhang Jing. "Get someone to make a plaque and send it to Zhang Mansion. When Mr. Zhang returns to Jiangling to bury his father, get the Imperial Bodyguards to carry this plaque and walk in front. I want to let the world know of Mr. Zhang's contributions."
Although he said this, Zhu Yijun knew that this plaque had two purposes.
One was to comfort Zhang Juzheng's heart, and the other was to build momentum for Zhang Juzheng.
After the love stealing incident, Zhang Juzheng's prestige plummeted. Especially after Zhang Juzheng's hometown party and students all impeached him, it had a great impact on his reputation.
Zhu Yijun wanted to salvage this situation for Zhang Juzheng. Otherwise, it would be more troublesome in the future.
In history, Zhang Juzheng's return to his hometown to bury his father was very extravagant and wasteful. Especially with Qi Jiguang's flintlock soldiers opening the way and the large sedan chair carried by 32 people, it became the most criticized part of Zhang Juzheng.
But Zhu Yijun now understood that Zhang Juzheng's return to his hometown to bury his father was definitely not just a return to his hometown to bury his father.
This was a trip to show off his power, a trip to awe others. After the love stealing incident, Zhang Juzheng's reputation was in tatters. The only thing he could take out was power, and the only thing he could use to awe the world was power.
Zhu Yijun wanted to create a grand show of power for Zhang Juzheng. He wanted Zhang Juzheng to completely destroy those people's thoughts.
The Donglin Gang was rampant. What did his grandson, the Emperor of the Apocalypse Dynasty, do? He endlessly praised Wei Zhongxian and even called him 9,000 years old. How could the Emperor of the Apocalypse Dynasty not know?
Zhu Yijun didn't believe it.
This was the indulgence of the Carpenter Emperor. When he was on the throne, Daming wasn't a big problem.
Shandong quelled Xu Hongru's rebellion, Liaodong was stable, and the country's finances were good. But what happened after Emperor Chongzhen killed Wei Zhongxian and appointed the Donglin Gang?
No matter how he looked at it, Zhang Juzheng was better than Wei Zhongxian, wasn't he?
In name, he was the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and the Emperor's teacher. What was wrong with showing off?
"Get someone to prepare. Before Mr. Zhang returns to his hometown to bury his father, I will go to the Zhang Mansion and personally see him off."
When Zhang Jing took the piece of paper, Zhu Yijun added another sentence. Since he had already done it, he might as well do it to the end.
Zhu Yijun believed that his way of doing things would make Zhang Juzheng feel a lot better. Although he suspected that he was buying people's hearts, Zhu Yijun actually wanted to give Zhang Juzheng some compensation. After all, what he was going to do next was very difficult and dangerous.
As an Emperor, buying people's hearts was a basic skill. In history, the Wanli Emperor killed Zhang Juzheng, which was actually a big taboo.
Although Zhang Juzheng had many faults and many people impeached him, the Emperor's verdict on Zhang Juzheng and his crazy revenge on the Zhang family was also frightening.
You treated Zhang Juzheng like that. Who would dare to work for you?
The Emperor had to protect his subordinates, just like Jiajing protected Yan Song, Tianqi protected Wei Zhongxian, and Qianlong protected He Shen.
His subordinates did things for him. Even if there were some mistakes, he had to protect them. Otherwise, what would others think of him?
Who would work for him?
The more he gave Zhang Juzheng, the more others would be envious.
If he worked hard for the Emperor, he could get more benefits. Rewards and punishments were clear, and rewards came first.