On the fourteenth of the sixth month.
In front of Chongwen Gate, a large crowd had gathered, preparing to set out for Mount Tianshou to survey a site for the late emperor's mausoleum.
Officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works arrived one after another.
At that moment, however, Zhang Juzheng was inside a quiet room nearby, meeting secretly with Zhang Siwei.
"I have conferred with Feng Bao. Once the Senior Grand Secretary retires, Lü Diaoyang will be assigned elsewhere. When the time comes, you will first take charge of the Ministry of Rites and serve as chief compiler of the Veritable Records of Emperor Shizong."
Zhang Juzheng spoke with his back turned to Zhang Siwei, looking out through the window toward Chongwen Gate not far away.
Zhang Siwei was only one step away from the seniority required to enter the Grand Secretariat. As Minister of Rites presiding over the compilation of Emperor Shizong's Veritable Records, he would fulfill the final qualification needed to join the cabinet.
After serving through the evaluation until next year when the reign era changed, he would be able to enter the Grand Secretariat.
All this had been agreed upon beforehand; now it was merely confirmed with Feng Bao to set Zhang Siwei's mind at ease.
Standing behind Zhang Juzheng, Zhang Siwei hesitated before asking, "Grand Secretary, are you truly going to Mount Tianshou?"
Fulfilling those promises was entirely contingent upon Gao Gong stepping down.
Sending Zhang Juzheng away had been Zhang Siwei's own suggestion to Gao Gong, but now that the situation had shifted, the move had become like lifting a rock only to drop it on his own feet.
With Zhang Juzheng shoved all the way to Mount Tianshou, the Grand Secretariat would lack someone to control the situation. If Gao Gong managed to turn the tables...
Knowing Gao Gong's temperament, those of them who had defected would never meet a good end.
Zhang Juzheng turned around and reassured him, "It does not matter. The overall situation is already decided.
"The Senior Grand Secretary is deeply loathed by Empress Dowager Li. So long as he cannot unite with the court officials, he will have no choice but to retire."
The meaning was abundantly clear.
Just like Yang Tinghe during the Great Rites Controversy, as long as imperial power had the backing of court officials, even if it were temporarily in a weaker position, the Senior Grand Secretary would still be forced into retirement.
Gao Gong merely assumed all the court officials were of one mind with him; that was the sole reason he dared to act so aggressively now.
Zhang Siwei was still somewhat uneasy. "These past few days, I have not seen the Senior Grand Secretary submit any memorial."
When it came to tacit understandings, the greatest fear was that the other party would renege.
Zhang Juzheng shook his head. "Gao Yi's and my memorials requesting retirement were submitted yesterday. Even if the Senior Grand Secretary stalls, he can delay for only a few more days.
"If he refuses to retire... that would be clinging stubbornly to power."
Gao Gong would not be so foolish.
If the stigma of clinging to power were pinned on him, the storm of public criticism would be no less severe than what Feng Bao was currently enduring.
Even though Empress Dowager Li had somehow changed her mind, taking court stability into account and wishing to let Gao Gong retire with dignity, this was the leniency of the victor, not deliberate appeasement.
If Gao Gong failed to appreciate the gesture and clung to power, no dignity would be spared for him.
Such were the advantages of colluding with the inner court: divining the imperial intent, anticipating the adversary's moves, and thus possessing boundless confidence.
Zhang Siwei discerned the unspoken implication and the underlying confidence in his words, and his mind was finally put at ease.
At last, he gave his pledge: "My maternal uncle will come to the capital next year."
This was his insurance policy—only once he had entered the cabinet would he allow Wang Chonggu to enter the capital.
If Zhang Juzheng later turned his back and broke his word, the Shanxi Faction would unleash their hounds.
Zhang Juzheng nodded, accepting the terms.
He looked up and saw that the time was about right.
The officials bound for Mount Tianshou before Chongwen Gate had almost all assembled, so he prepared to push open the door and step out.
Reaching the doorway, he suddenly recalled something and instructed, "Gao Yi will also be taking leave for the next few days.
"At that time, when you head the daily lectures, keep a closer watch on His Majesty. You might as well assign him some extra coursework."
Zhang Siwei looked at Zhang Juzheng in confusion.
Zhang Juzheng offered no explanation, merely adding, "Since the lectures on the Classic of History and the Great Learning are finished, then lecture on history and the Analects. Speak more of stories concerning benevolent and sagacious monarchs."
With that, he pushed open the door and departed the quiet room.
In Zhang Juzheng's view, the current sovereign was overly clever and insufficiently benevolent.
That was by no means a good thing.
Recently, he had been preparing to write the Illustrated Guide for the Emperor, compiling examples of sage rulers and benighted tyrants, precisely so that once the Classics Colloquium commenced, he could guide this young emperor onto the proper path.
Otherwise, if the emperor relied merely on talent and intellect to emulate Emperor Shizong's conduct, that would be Zhang Juzheng's own dereliction of duty.
He could still shoulder the current new governance himself, but after his time, everything would depend on what this sovereign chose to do.
Compared to attending court and listening to governance, expounding moral philosophy was the paramount matter.
Was Emperor Shizong not brilliant? Did he not understand state affairs?
It was precisely because he understood too well, yet lacked the restraint of moral principles in his heart, that the pernicious consequences persisted to this day.
When he previously urged the Two Palaces to increase the sovereign's curriculum, he had explicitly declared, "Attending court is far less pragmatic than diligent study."
The Great Ming did not lack emperors versed in political maneuvering; what it lacked were benevolent rulers whose hearts embraced all under heaven.
As for using the daily lectures to keep His Majesty busy and lessen his interference in the political situation, that was merely an incidental benefit.
With these thoughts in mind, he arrived before Chongwen Gate.
"Grand Secretary."
"Grand Secretary Zhang."
Seeing Zhang Juzheng arrive, the crowd bowed in salutation one after another.
"Minister Zhang, gentlemen," Zhang Juzheng returned the courtesy and counted heads. "Is everyone here? If so, let us depart."
The weather was growing hot; setting off a bit earlier would allow them to catch the cooler morning air.
Zhang Shouzhi, the Minister of Revenue, spoke up in reply: "Grand Secretary, the officials from the Directorate of Ceremonial have not yet arrived. Let us wait a little longer."
Zhang Juzheng looked around and indeed saw no sign of anyone from the Directorate of Ceremonial.
He could only nod, tucking his hands into his sleeves as he waited.
After a good while, figures finally emerged from within Chongwen Gate.
Zhang Juzheng focused his gaze and saw that they were actually Eunuch Scribe Cao Xianyu and Superintendent Eunuch Zhang Hong of the Directorate of Ceremonial.
Just as he was wondering why, before he could ask, Zhang Shouzhi inquired first, "Are both of you going?"
Zhang Hong gave a fawning smile. "Only Eunuch Cao will accompany you all to Mount Tianshou. This servant has come by order of the Lord of Ten Thousand Years."
With that, he gave a summons.
A junior eunuch behind him stepped forward, holding a wooden tray covered with yellow silk.
Zhang Hong lifted the yellow silk and cupped his hands toward the direction of Qianqing Palace. "The Lord of Ten Thousand Years says that the weather has been growing intensely hot of late, and Mount Tianshou is plagued by midsummer heat and mosquitoes.
"His Majesty cannot bear to see you pillars of state suffer physical hardship.
"He specially ordered me to fetch some cooling, heat-dispelling medicinal herbs and mosquito-repellent sachets from the Imperial Academy of Medicine."
As he spoke, he distributed them one by one to the officials before Chongwen Gate.
Zhang Juzheng shook his head inwardly. This emperor of theirs was truly adept at winning hearts.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, Zhang Hong walked up, handed him a sachet, and whispered, "Grand Secretary Zhang, His Majesty personally pounded the herbs for this sachet.
"The Lord of Ten Thousand Years says that you are a pillar of the state and the new governance still relies on you, so you must by all means take good care of your health."
Zhang Juzheng took the sachet almost reflexively.
Only after Zhang Hong walked away did he recover his senses.
Staring blankly at the sachet containing herbs pounded by the emperor's own hands, he was momentarily at a loss for words.
With a strange expression, he was about to tuck it into his sleeve.
After a second thought, he quietly hung the sachet at his waist.
Once it was fastened, he looked down at it several times.
Still feeling somewhat ill at ease, he simply took it off and slipped it into his bosom to keep it close against him.
Looking up to meet Zhang Shouzhi's inquiring gaze, Zhang Juzheng finally nodded. "Let us go. The sooner we go, the sooner we return."
With that, he was the first to board the carriage, casually pressing his hand against the sachet in his bosom lest too rough a motion accidentally damage it.
...
Wenhua Hall, court deliberation.
Gao Gong stared at the silhouette behind the screen atop the imperial dais, puzzled for a good while.
In the end, he could not resist speaking: "Your Majesty, today is the fourteenth of the sixth month. It does not fall on a three, six, or nine; there is no need to hold court."
Zhu Yijun's voice sounded from behind the screen: "Senior Grand Secretary, in Our daily lectures We have finished the Classic of History. The lecturers said that biting off more than one can chew hinders digestion, and bade Us consolidate what We have learned and rest for a few days.
"So Imperial Mother had Us attend court to observe governance in the morning and review Our studies in the afternoon."
According to the original schedule, completing the Great Learning and the Classic of History would have taken at least seven months, spanning from the second month to the ninth.
Yet now it was only mid-sixth month—an astonishing speed.
Taking a couple of days to rest was naturally justifiable in principle.
With the lecturers' consent and Empress Dowager Li's sanction, he was naturally seated here with full legitimacy.
The screen blocked the view so the civil and military officials could not see his expression. Only Feng Bao, standing to the side, watched the young emperor clutching the Analects, his eyes edged with wariness.
The voice drifted out from behind the screen once more: "Gentlemen, proceed with the court deliberation. We shall merely listen."
After saying this, he spoke no further.
Harboring their own thoughts, the court officials pressed the matter no further.
Gao Gong cast a profound look toward the imperial dais, turned around, and gave a light cough. "Let us begin the discussion."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Ge Shouli was about to speak.
Suddenly, the Right Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Revenue stepped out, beating him to it.
Taking the lead, Li Zaiting declared, "Colleagues, I have a matter here that requires our deliberation."
Since Minister of Revenue Zhang Shouzhi had gone to survey the imperial mausoleum, one vice minister and one supervising secretary were present for today's court deliberation.
Li Zaiting had passed the metropolitan examination in the second year of Longqing; his seniority was extremely shallow.
His abrupt speaking out caused everyone to look toward him in surprise.
Li Zaiting drew a memorial from his sleeve. "Recently, while examining the account books for the Xuan-Da military provisions, I uncovered an unresolved discrepancy.
"In the fourth year of Longqing, grain disbursements exceeded ten thousand shi, and in the fifth year of Longqing, expenditures reached roughly fifteen thousand shi. However, verification revealed that in the fifth year of Longqing, only eleven thousand shi were written off the accounts. Where did the remaining four thousand shi go?
"If that were all, so be it, but this year the Ministry of War actually requisitioned more than seventy-one thousand three hundred shi from our Ministry of Revenue—several times the usual amount!"
He turned around and fixed his gaze squarely on Yang Bo. "Minister Yang, might I ask where Xuan-Da intends to use all of this?"
The court officials had not anticipated that the court deliberations would become more splendid day by day—to say nothing of the habitual clashes between Feng Bao and Gao Gong these past few days.
Now someone was causing trouble for the Shanxi Faction; who knew who was fishing in troubled waters?
Caught off guard by this trouble, Yang Bo could only reply prudently: "This is an expense requested by Xuan-Da for repairing the border fortifications of Xuanfu Garrison.
"It was passed to the Ministry of Revenue only after the Ministry of War deliberated and found no issue; this was not Yang's personal initiative.
"As for those four thousand shi, perhaps they were also used for border repairs."
These words deflected responsibility completely, handled with practiced skill.
Customarily, whenever border defense was involved, the surveillance officials should have held their tongues. After all, nobody could gallop off to Xuan-Da right now to verify it, could they?
Even if some stubborn mule truly went to Xuan-Da, by the time they returned, all tracks would have long been covered.
Unfortunately, Li Zaiting was picking a quarrel by imperial decree.
The material in his hands was all from the Duke of Chengguo's stockpile—exceedingly thorough.
Hearing this, far from letting him off, he pressed harder with every step: "How fortuitous, then. While auditing the accounts, I happened to consult the Regional Inspector of Xuan-Da, who just returned last month.
"When the two records were cross-checked, not even half of the previously proposed defensive works had actually been carried out!
"Our inquiry revealed that past construction expenditures were entirely rife with false reporting and embezzlement!"
Many officials were already whispering among themselves.
Being prepared so thoroughly, this hardly seemed like a coincidence.
Li Zaiting looked straight at Yang Bo. "Minister Yang, it was your Ministry of War that requisitioned the funds on Governor-General Wang's behalf, and it was your Ministry of War that oversaw their use. Now that something has gone wrong, is Minister Yang truly unaware?
"As for this year's seventy-one thousand three hundred-odd shi, should our Ministry of Revenue disburse it or not?"
Behind the screen, Zhu Yijun watched his vanguard charge with keen interest.
This Li Zaiting proved remarkably handy to use.
Not only was he loyal and patriotic, but he acted with vigor and speed, silencing Yang Bo in a single stroke.
This case had been painstakingly selected by Zhu Yijun.
Blow it up, and it was dereliction of border defense, corruption, and malfeasance.
Scale it down, and it was merely lax oversight.
At the very least, it would keep Yang Bo busy for quite some time.
Li Zaiting continued his assault: "Minister Yang, will your Ministry of War conduct an internal audit and provide an explanation, or shall I submit a memorial to the Two Palaces?"
Yang Bo felt utterly exhausted by having to clean up messes.
He cupped his hands. "As soon as court dismisses, I will return to the Ministry of War to verify the records."
Li Zaiting shook his head. "Since Minister Yang is related by marriage to Governor-General Wang, I suggest you recuse yourself to avoid suspicion."
This was becoming somewhat overbearing.
Gao Gong also tasted something amiss. He cast an inquiring glance at Ge Shouli: Was this an upright hothead, or was there something sinister behind it?
Ge Shouli was equally at a loss and frowned. "Li Zaiting, speak to the matter at hand. Do not cast wild aspersions."
No sooner had the words landed than Zhang Chucheng, Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Justice, suddenly chimed in: "Censor-in-Chief, I believe Supervising Secretary Li speaks with good reason."
Ge Shouli looked at Zhang Chucheng in confusion.
Zhang Chucheng also stepped forward and turned toward Yang Bo: "I, too, have a matter regarding Vice Minister of Personnel Zhang Siwei.
"It concerns Vice Minister Zhang accepting bribes to place fellow provincials into our Ministry of Justice. And as fortune would have it, the person placed happened to be a relative of Minister Yang.
"In my humble opinion, when it comes to kin and friends, it is best to recuse oneself to avoid suspicion."
The civil court was unlike the inner court.
Once impeached, an official had to submit their own memorial to explain themselves—either defending themselves vigorously or begging to retire.
Now targeted by two supervising secretaries, Yang Bo immediately felt as if thorns were lodged in his back.
He did not even know who was targeting him!
At this point, Gao Gong had to make a stand. He could not allow this to develop into an accusation of factionalism; otherwise, what if Wang Chonggu was cornered like a desperate dog leaping over a wall and unleashed his fury?
Currently, he was the sole grand secretary present in the Grand Secretariat, holding virtually undivided authority.
He looked at Li Zaiting and Zhang Chucheng. "How can you speak on mere hearsay? Submit your evidence after the session.
"Minister Yang will first return to the Ministry of War to look into the matter. We will discuss it thoroughly before doing anything else; do not rush to memorialize at the drop of a hat."
These words effectively shielded Yang Bo and Zhang Siwei.
Whatever problems existed, they could go back and clean up their own mess rather than getting soiled in public.
Yang Bo stated immediately, "I shall return to the Ministry of War at once to organize the dossiers and reply to the Office of Scrutiny for Revenue."
He said nothing about Zhang Siwei placing his relative; what if it conformed to procedure? And if it did not, he could simply return and patch up the paperwork.
Gao Gong nodded, gesturing that Yang Bo could leave early.
Li Zaiting and Zhang Chucheng exchanged a glance, quitting while they were ahead, and stepped back.
Having pushed this far, Zhang Siwei and Yang Bo would at least have to submit memorials begging for dismissal; that was already sufficient.
With this matter concluded, Ge Shouli was about to step forward to raise another topic.
Feng Bao had sharp eyes. Seeing the Left Censor-in-Chief looking so impatient, he knew in an instant that surveillance officials were about to impeach him once again.
Naturally, he wanted to seize the initiative.
Feng Bao did not hesitate either, speaking up ahead of him: "What the supervising secretary said just now is quite true. The nepotism involving kin and cronies in the court has truly gone too far.
"As for Yang Bo and Zhang Siwei, this servant is unfamiliar with the details and will say no more.
"However, while executing imperial orders yesterday, this servant actually dug up something extraordinary from the mouth of a certain censor.
"Never did this servant imagine that ministers in the court would actually form factions with one another!"
Having been cut off twice, Ge Shouli could not help feeling secretly annoyed.
Seeing Feng Bao holding forth grandly on the imperial dais only made him feel more exasperated.
Since censors were mentioned, he had to take up the gauntlet: "Mind your words, Grand Eunuch Feng. My Censorate speaks on rumor and hearsay; do not slander likeminded camaraderie as factional collusion."
Feng Bao did not even glance at Ge Shouli.
He merely addressed Gao Gong: "Yesterday, Censor Zhang Shouyue confessed that someone instructed his disciples and former associates to attack this servant.
"Senior Grand Secretary, the Empress Dowager bade this servant ask you: do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Gao Gong remained expressionless. "Grand Eunuch Feng may as well speak plainly. Do not beat about the bush to drag this grand secretary into it."
Naturally, he would not take Feng Bao's bait.
Factionalism was a charge that could not bear the scales.
Feng Bao gave a slight smile and cupped his hands toward Cining Palace. "The Two Palaces and the Emperor have decreed:
"'Supervising Secretary Song Zhihan roared in the imperial court and violated protocol before the throne; remit him to the Grand Secretariat for deliberation of penalties.
"'Censor Zhang Shouyue courted fame through feigned uprightness and criticized the imperial chariot; he ought by right to be demoted to Vice Magistrate of Daozhou; remit him to the Grand Secretariat for deliberation.
"'Furthermore, based on the confessions of Zhang Xiao, Song Zhihan, and Zhang Shouyue, there is indeed a trend of factionalism in the court; let the Grand Secretariat swiftly submit an itemized explanation.'"
With that, he pointed outside Wenhua Hall toward Gao Gong.
He said, "I have had Zhang Shouyue brought to the Grand Secretariat for the Senior Grand Secretary. Once the Grand Secretariat finishes interrogating him, you may send him along with Song Zhihan to the Censorate to await sentencing."
Gao Gong looked coldly at Feng Bao.
His tone was sharp and icy: "The Grand Secretariat acknowledges this edict. This grand secretary will naturally submit an itemized memorial explaining the matter to both Empresses Dowager and His Majesty.
"And as it happens, Grand Eunuch Feng mentioned factionalism.
"I, too, have a momentous matter here of wide and profound ramifications. It likewise concerns the surveillance officials—namely, our dynasty's censors and supervising secretaries impeaching the very same person, their memorials identical in substance.
"Why do we not all judge together whether this is factionalism, or driven by righteousness and the laws of the realm?"
He turned his head and nodded to an attending official.
An official stepped forward, cradling dozens of memorials in his arms.
Gao Gong gestured with his chin and said, "The Grand Secretariat has received memorials from forty-nine censors and twenty-seven supervising secretaries, who have coincidentally and unanimously impeached Grand Eunuch Feng.
"Gentlemen, deliberate."
Impeachment by more than seventy surveillance officials!
Even several technocrats from the Ministry of Works who had been kept in the dark could not help looking at one another in horror.
The court officials buzzed with whispers.
Having spoken, Gao Gong returned to the head of the ranks and kept silent.
This was how the intensity escalated step by step.
It was precisely through this relentless, inch-by-inch advance that he bound the court officials tightly to his side.
Today, the surveillance officials could withstand Consort Li's pressure to impeach Feng Bao.
Once successful, the momentum would shake the very gates of heaven.
When that time came, if he submitted the Memorial on the Five Urgent Matters of the New Administration petitioning to abolish the Directorate of Ceremonial, even more people would rally to his banner and shout in support.
This was the very essence of gathering momentum.
Forty-nine censors and twenty-seven supervising secretaries—in recent years, such a scale was second only to the Left Shun Gate Incident during Emperor Shizong's reign.
Back then, to suppress the outcry, Emperor Shizong had no choice but to deploy the Embroidered Uniform Guard to beat officials to death with clubs. What could Consort Li and Feng Bao do now?
He wanted to see if Consort Li and the Eastern Depot had the foundation and ruthless methods of Emperor Shizong.
At this thought, Gao Gong surveyed the assembled ministers once more.
Then he looked up to meet Feng Bao's gaze, glaring back without yielding an inch.
Their eyes locked like clashing blades, practically striking sparks in the court.
Just then, beyond everyone's expectations:
The screen atop the imperial dais was suddenly pulled aside.
Chapter 32