Young Master Zhu is not Zhu Wan! The tactics you used against Zhu Wan will not work on young Master Zhu!
Huang Jin stood to the side with his eyes downcast, observing nothing. Regarding the current situation and politics, perhaps he was not as knowledgeable as the officials in the outer court, but when it came to understanding Emperor Jiajing, no official in the outer court could compare to him.
Young Master Zhu was close to the emperor’s heart. His Majesty trusted and appreciated young Master Zhu greatly. Young Master Zhu himself was ambitious, repaying His Majesty’s trust and appreciation with one victory report after another in suppressing the Japanese pirates, which made His Majesty trust and appreciate young Master Zhu even more.
It could be said that now, the relationship between young Master Zhu and His Majesty as sovereign and subject was unbreakable, indestructible.
Not to mention that young Master Zhu was honest and capable, even if young Zhu really committed a crime, His Majesty would protect young Master Zhu.
“If people like young Zhu, who have merits in suppressing the Japanese pirates, are to be accused based on rumours and shadows, then who will pacify the Japanese scourge for me in the future?!”
Emperor Jiajing threw the last memorial impeaching Zhu Ping’an to the floor, chuckled coldly, and said impatiently.
“In the future, any more memorials impeaching young Zhu, do not send them to me at all. Retain them all without issuing.”
“These memorials at my feet impeaching young Zhu, investigate them all thoroughly for me. Why are they collectively impeaching a minister who has repeatedly achieved merits in suppressing the Japanese pirates? Is it because they dislike young Zhu suppressing the Japanese pirates too much and too quickly?! Or because they resent that my appetite has improved these past two days?! What are their intentions?! Investigate for me if there is any instigation behind them!”
Emperor Jiajing ordered Huang Jin.
“As per the True Lord’s decree.”
Huang Jin accepted the order, bowed and retreated. In his heart, he could not help but feel slightly surprised. His Majesty ordering him to investigate these officials impeaching Zhu Ping’an was within his expectations, after all, just now with that memorial impeaching Zhu Ping’an, His Majesty had already ordered him to investigate. But the last sentence, to investigate if there was any instigation behind these people impeaching Zhu Ping’an, that was beyond Huang Jin’s expectations.
The people behind these officials, actually, without investigating, Huang Jin could guess. Was it not the Yan party gang?
Back during the Yang Jisheng case, Yan Shifan had already threatened to deal with Zhu Ping’an.
The intertwined relationships of those officials in the outer court, Huang Jin was well aware of them. These past few days, those officials impeaching Zhu Ping’an all had indirect connections to the Yan party, and even two were members of the Yan party.
Investigate the instigation behind?
Now, Elder Yan is still the super favourite by His Majesty’s side. In the inner and outer courts, no one can compare to Elder Yan.
In terms of being close to the sacred heart, ten young Master Zhus tied together could not compare to Elder Yan.
How to investigate this instigation behind?
Say there is no instigation behind them?!
No, absolutely not. His Majesty is wise and martial, his eyes tolerate no sand, he is not someone who can be fooled.
For a moment, Huang Jin could not help but feel troubled.
After exiting the grand hall, Huang Jin’s eyes scanned discreetly, suddenly spotting a little yellow gate, and his eyes lit up.
This little yellow gate was close to the Yan party. He could use him to pass the message about investigating the instigation behind the impeachments of Zhu Ping’an to the Yan party side, to give a warning, to shake the tiger by striking the mountain. His Majesty’s intention here, you should understand, right? No more instigating people to impeach Zhu Ping’an. Let Zhu Ping’an focus on exterminating the Japanese pirates, no more hindrances!
Additionally, His Majesty wants to investigate the behind-the-scenes instigator. You must cooperate and push out a significant instigator.
This is also His Majesty’s warning to you.
With a plan, Huang Jin regained his composure, beckoned, and called over three young eunuchs, among them was that little yellow gate.
Huang Jin called them over, whispered the task assignments, and then returned to the grand hall to continue serving Emperor Jiajing.
At this time, Emperor Jiajing began to peruse another stack of memorials. These were all impeaching Zhang Jing. This stack was much thicker than the one for Zhu Ping’an.
“This is Zhao Wenhua’s submission, impeaching Zhang Jing for fearing the Japanese pirates and not fighting, wasting provisions and harming the people, colluding with thieves and missing opportunities, passively avoiding battle, waiting for the Japanese pirates to plunder enough and flee, then suppressing the remaining Japanese pirates to claim merit. His intentions are punishable.” Emperor Jiajing reviewed the memorial once, slightly narrowed his eyes, looked at Huang Jin, and asked softly, “Huang companion, what do you think of this?”
Upon hearing Emperor Jiajing’s inquiry, Huang Jin could not help but show a bitter smile on his face, “True Lord, this old servant thinks that Zhang Jing is the governor stationed in Jiangnan, with great responsibilities. Whether it is as Zhao Wenhua states, we still need to investigate a bit, then we can judge properly.”
Huang Jin’s words, having said them, were equivalent to not saying anything. To judge the truth or falsehood of a matter, one must investigate, right.
Actually, it was not Huang Jin’s fault. On such matters involving the overall court politics, he indeed could not speak easily. Offending people aside, if afraid of offending people then just don’t do anything and go retire. But if he judged right or wrong incorrectly, his status in Emperor Jiajing’s heart would not be preserved.
This right and wrong, is it so easy to determine? Sometimes right now, but wrong in the future. Sometimes right now and right in the future, but in terms of consequences and benefits, being right is not as good as being wrong. This right and wrong is hard to judge.
Additionally, the Great Ancestor had set up a plaque back then: eunuchs must not interfere in politics.
For this, he had to play tai chi.
“You ah, how long has Zhang Jing been in office?” Emperor Jiajing asked again.
“From Zhang Jing taking office until now, it has been eleven months.” Huang Jin immediately gave a specific number. This was his skill. Personnel changes in the outer court, major events in the court and the world, Huang Jin knew them by heart, precisely so that when Emperor Jiajing inquired, he could answer accurately. This was also the reason he had status by Emperor Jiajing’s side.
“Almost a year ah.” Emperor Jiajing nodded slightly.
Hearing Emperor Jiajing’s words, Huang Jin understood His Majesty’s meaning. It’s been a year, and Zhang Jing still has no achievements.
Emperor Jiajing had high hopes for Zhang Jing, appointing him as governor, supervising almost the entire Jiangnan, granting him the authority to conveniently collect provisions and military pay, retain court taxes, military appointments, commands, and so on. This was an unprecedented great power in this dynasty.
Granting such great power, His Majesty wanted to quickly exterminate the Japanese scourge in Jiangnan, but nearly a year has passed, and Zhang Jing’s side still has no achievements.
His Majesty is anxious.
“How long has young Zhu been the Zhejiang governor?” Emperor Jiajing asked again.
“Less than three months.” Huang Jin replied.
“Zhao Wenhua says that after he sacrificed to the sea, he urged Zhang Jing no less than ten times, urging Zhang Jing to send troops to suppress the Japanese pirates, but Zhang Jing delayed and kept the troops immobile. Zhao Wenhua only urged Zhu Ping’an twice, and Zhu Ping’an sent troops to southern Zhejiang, achieving successive victories, with abundant captures.” Emperor Jiajing said slowly while looking at the memorial.
In the memorial, Zhao Wenhua used Zhu Ping’an for comparison, and with this comparison, it became too stark.
“Who is on duty today?” Emperor Jiajing asked again.
“Replying to the True Lord, today’s lead duty is Strict Elder Yan Song.” Huang Jin replied.
“Hmm, Weizhong ah, later, hand the memorial to Weizhong, let them discuss it.” Emperor Jiajing handed the memorial to Huang Jin, instructed.
“As per the decree.” Huang Jin said.
