Outside the Wenhua Palace, Wu Dui watched as Xu Wenchang walked in. He felt a little lost, but he still turned and walked out. The Emperor obviously didn't want him here, so he couldn't just stay here and not leave.
Zhu Yijun saw Zhang Jing walk in with an old man and knew that this was Xu Wenchang.
Zhu Yijun sat on the Dragon Throne and couldn't help but look at Xu Wenchang. It was because Xu Wenchang's reputation was too great.
He knew too many things and had too many titles. Anyone who paid attention to the history of the Ming Dynasty would pay attention to Xu Wenchang.
Xu Wenchang was multi-talented. He was unique in poetry, drama, painting, and other aspects. Together with Xie Jin and Yang Shen, he was known as the "Three Talents of the Ming Dynasty."
He was the founder of the "Splash-Ink Freehand Painting School" and the "Ivy School of Painting."
He could play the zither, was proficient in music, and loved opera. His "Southern Ci Narration" was the first theoretical monograph on Southern Opera in China. He also wrote the scripts of the Four Tones Ape, Song Dai Xiao, and other plays. He was an all-rounder.
The key was that his talent was not only reflected in his literary attainments, but also in military affairs.
Xu Wenchang was Hu Zongxian's advisor. He helped him capture Xu Hai and lure Wang Zhi. It could be said that he had made great contributions in the Southeast against the Japanese.
Zhu Yijun couldn't help but sigh when such a person ended up as a madman in the end!
Although Xu Wei looked like an old man in his fifties, his bearing was extraordinary.
Seeing him kowtow to him on the ground, Zhu Yijun accepted his bow. Then, he personally walked down from the Dragon Throne and walked to Xu Wenchang's side. He personally helped him up and carefully looked at Xu Wenchang. Seeing that his eyes were clear, he was relieved.
"Xu Wei, Xu Wenchang, your name is really well-known." Zhu Yijun said with a smile.
"Your Majesty's ears have been polluted by the bad name!" Xu Wei said indifferently.
Zhu Yijun nodded and ignored Xu Wenchang's words. Instead, he said, "You know what?
A few days ago, We promoted Hai Rui. In fact, even though We don't know much about the matters of Emperor Shizong's era, We really like some of the ministers at that time. "
"Xu Jie, Gao Gong, my teacher Zhang Juzheng, Hu Zongxian, Tan Lun, and so on. All of them are excellent candidates."
"When I saw these people, I also knew you, Xu Wei, Xu Wenchang!"
At this point, Zhu Yijun turned to look at Xu Wei and said with a smile, "You admire Hu Zongxian a lot?"
After saying this, Zhu Yijun stared at Xu Wenchang. His gaze didn't waver as he was afraid that Xu Wei would go crazy.
In Xu Wenchang's heart, Hu Zongxian's suicide had always been a source of pain.
What Zhu Yijun was worried about didn't happen. Xu Wei didn't go crazy. He just stood there quietly with a clear gaze. However, he didn't seem to have any intention of saying anything.
"Tell Us about Hu Zongxian!"
Zhu Yijun looked at Xu Wei and said with a smile, "We know that you've been depressed all these years. You have a lot of dissatisfaction and also a lot of grief and indignation. Tell us, We are willing to listen."
After hearing Zhu Yijun's words, Xu Wei raised his head and looked at Zhu Yijun. His eyes instantly turned red. "Your Majesty, what do you think of Hu Ruzhen?"
With a sigh, Zhu Yijun said in a deep voice, "He made a great contribution to the country!"
"But he died unjustly!"
At this point, Xu Wei's body trembled, and his voice gradually became louder. "Hu Ruzhen shouldn't have ended up like that. It shouldn't have!"
Looking at Xu Wenchang who was crying bitterly, Zhu Yijun stood there for a long time without saying anything.
This was because he was the Emperor. Otherwise, Xu Wenchang would never have said this. After so many years, Hu Zongxian had been rehabilitated. However, Xu Wenchang couldn't vent his anger. He felt that Hu Zongxian wasn't worth it.
"The southeast was corrupt. The imperial court was short of money and food. The officials regarded the southeast as a place to fight for power. Hu Ruzhen had no choice. He had no choice!"
"If he hadn't relied on Yan Song and given gifts to Yan Shifan, he wouldn't have been the governor of the southeast. He wouldn't have been able to enjoy the peace of the southeast today.
But what happened in the end?
What happened in the end? Hu Zongxian committed suicide in prison. He died unjustly! "
"The Japanese pirates couldn't kill him, but he died in his own hands!"
Zhu Yijun listened to Xu Wenchang's words and was speechless for a long time. No matter what the later generations thought of Emperor Jiajing, Zhu Yijun never thought that he was a good emperor.
He made elixirs to seek longevity, but he caused the people of the Daming to suffer.
Perhaps he used Yan Song to regain power, but he tricked the entire Daming.
Corrupt officials ran amok, giving gifts became the norm, and giving and receiving gifts in private. These were all left by him to the Daming. Even Qi Jiguang was no exception. At this time, he still needed to give gifts to Zhang Juzheng, not to mention Hu Zongxian in that era.
It was not easy for people to do things, but it was very easy for people to do bad things.
If you wanted to do something, you had to submit to the environment and reality.
Looking at Xu Wenchang, who was crying on the ground, Zhu Yijun didn't try to persuade him. Instead, he lifted his imperial robe and sat beside him, quietly looking at Xu Wei.
This was Xu Wei's sorrowful voice, but it was also a sad song of the Daming.
After a long time, Xu Wei wiped his snot and tears. He stopped kneeling and sat directly on the ground.
Zhu Yijun looked at Xu Wei and smiled. In reality, it was just as he thought. Xu Wei wasn't a qualified official. His mind was filled with the idealism of a scholar, or the romantic feelings of a scholar.
All of these determined that he wouldn't become a politician, and also determined his tragedy today.
However, was Xu Wenchang's tragedy his tragedy alone?
Zhu Yijun didn't think so. This was the tragedy of the entire era, it was the tragedy of the Daming.
"Feeling better?" Zhu Yijun patted Xu Wei and said with a smile, "Then let's have a chat."
Xu Wei raised his head to look at Zhu Yijun. After a while, he said, "His Majesty is different."
Zhu Yijun was stunned. He asked in confusion, "What's different?"
"His Majesty is different from the Shizong Emperor!" Xu Wei said directly.
Zhu Yijun smiled. Of course, he was different from the Jiajing Emperor. The Jiajing Emperor faced Yang Ting and the others, while he faced Zhang Juzheng. In comparison, Zhang Juzheng's power was much greater than theirs.
"What's different?" Zhu Yijun smiled at Xu Wei and said, "Tell me."
"This commoner has been in the capital for so long, I know what's going on in the court. This commoner thought that Zhang Juzheng wouldn't have a good ending." Xu Wei didn't have any scruples. He was a lonely old man, there was nothing he didn't dare to say.
"Zhang Juzheng wielded too much power. No matter which dynasty or generation, wielding too much power wouldn't have a good ending."
"What this commoner didn't expect was His Majesty. His Majesty tolerated Zhang Juzheng until his death. Even after his death, he was extremely honored. The Marquis of Loyalty. This is a title that has never been given before.
Throughout the dynasties, there were only two Marquis of Loyalty. One was Marquis Zhuge Wu and the other was Wang Meng. "
"Others are talking about Zhang Juzheng's posthumous title," Wen ", but this commoner is concerned about this posthumous title."
"His Majesty conferred the title of Marquis of Loyalty to Zhang Juzheng. It can be seen that Zhang Juzheng is in His Majesty's heart. Zhang Juzheng's contributions are greater than Marquis Zhuge Wu."
Zhu Yijun smiled at Xu Wei. He nodded and said, "You're right. You're the first person who guessed my thoughts. I should say that you're Xu Wenchang indeed. You live up to your reputation!"
"It's just an undeserved reputation!" Xu Wenchang said without a care.
"Does His Majesty think that the Emperor will make mistakes?" Xu Wei raised his head and suddenly stared at Zhu Yijun and asked.
Zhu Yijun nodded his head, "Of course, why not? No one is perfect. Although His Majesty is called the Son of Heaven, he is still a human. Humans will make mistakes. Otherwise, there wouldn't be a self-condemnation edict."
"Does His Majesty also think of Zhang Juzheng like this?" Xu Wei asked.
Zhu Yijun nodded his head again, "I feel that you have to look at people separately. His contributions and mistakes have to be separated. No one is perfect. You can't just focus on his contributions or his mistakes.
For those who have made great contributions to the country, you don't have to care too much about these small details. "
"Hu Zongxian is the same. He has made great contributions to the country. Maybe there are some things that he didn't do well. But no one is perfect. You can't be too harsh on those who have made great contributions."
"I feel that no matter if it's Zhang Juzheng or Hu Zongxian, they both had their own reasons."
Xu Wenchang sighed and was silent for a while. Finally, he said, "Perhaps this is the bearing that a wise ruler should have. Although His Majesty is still young, his breadth of mind and bearing have already surpassed countless kings."
"Tell me about Hu Zongxian. I am willing to listen. Although it wasn't long ago, I also want to use this as a warning. There shouldn't be a second Hu Zongxian in the future."
"Alright, then this commoner will tell His Majesty!" Xu Wei nodded his head and began to talk.
From the time he met Hu Zongxian, his face was filled with nostalgia.
During the process of Xu Wenchang's narration, Zhu Yijun listened carefully. From time to time, he would ask a question. Zhang Jing waited at the side. Several pots of tea had been served. In the middle, Xu Wenchang even went out to the toilet. He only finished at noon.
Looking at Xu Wenchang, who was silently weeping, Zhu Yijun sighed and said, "Do you know why I used Hai Rui?"
Xu Wenchang didn't know why Zhu Yijun changed the topic to Hai Rui. He shook his head and said, "This commoner doesn't know."
"We have read Hai Rui's' Notes on Public Security '. Although it didn't say anything about strategy, there are some things that We agree with."
At this point, Zhu Yijun stopped and didn't continue. He looked straight at Xu Wei.
After all, Emperor Jiajing was Zhu Yijun's grandfather. There were some things that couldn't be said too clearly.
Xu Wei understood and smiled. After a while, he knelt on the ground and laughed as he kowtowed to Zhu Yijun, "Daming this wise ruler, the heavens have pity on him!" He laughed and laughed, then cried, "Hu Ruzhen, you were born at the wrong time!"