“Is this the only memorial that needs to be discussed in the duty room?” The Vice Minister of Personnel Gao Yao cupped his hands towards Huang Jin, politely inquiring.
This memorial is impeaching Governor Zhang Jing. Besides impeaching Zhang Jing, shouldn’t there be many impeaching Zhu Ping’an? Shouldn’t they be discussed together? Can’t we just discuss Zhang Jing’s?!
What about Zhu Ping’an’s?!
“Hehe, Lord Gao, His Majesty only asked this humble one to bring this memorial to the Grand Secretary for everyone to discuss. As for the others, His Majesty did not instruct.” Huang Jin forced a smile without sincerity, tugging at the corner of his mouth, replying softly.
“I see, thank you, Supervisor Huang.” The Vice Minister of Personnel Gao Yao quickly cupped his hands in thanks.
“Lord Gao is too polite. This humble one still needs to attend to His Majesty, so I won’t disturb the lords in their discussion.”
Huang Jin smiled faintly.
“We respectfully see off Supervisor Huang.” The Vice Minister of Personnel Gao Yao hurriedly cupped his hands to send him off.
Soon, the ten officials on duty at Wuyi Hall were summoned to Yan Song’s duty room. Under Yan Song’s instructions, Gao Yao passed Zhao Wenhua’s memorial impeaching Zhang Jing to everyone to read, and they perused it one by one.
“Everyone has finished reading. His Majesty asked everyone to discuss it. What are your views, what insights do you have? With the doors closed, everyone can speak freely.” Yan Song took a sip of tea, set down the cup, and said slowly.
“Grand Secretary, what is there to discuss about this? Zhang Jing has been Governor for nearly a year, consuming over a hundred thousand taels in money, grain, and taxes combined, yet he hasn’t suppressed a single Japanese pirate. No matter how you look at it, he is incompetent as Governor! In my view, Zhang Jing is just as the memorial impeaches: fearing the Japanese pirates and avoiding battle, wasting provisions and harming the people, colluding with thieves and missing opportunities, passively evading war, waiting for the Japanese pirates to plunder enough and flee before suppressing the remnants to claim merit! It’s been a year, and he hasn’t even deployed troops once. If this isn’t fear of the enemy, what is?!”
“Indeed, what Lord Gao said is absolutely right. Zhang Jing has been Governor for nearly a year, not suppressing a single pirate, not fighting a single battle. He has failed His Majesty’s trust above and disappointed the common people’s expectations below, allowing the Japanese pirates to ravage Jiangnan, trampling the people of Jiangnan, leaving the populace in dire straits. His heart deserves punishment!”
“It’s been a year, and he doesn’t dare to fight a single Japanese pirate. If this isn’t fear, what is? Could it be that Zhang Jing is too merciful, unwilling to take the lives of the Japanese pirates?! If that’s the case, he should resign early and not continue!”
As soon as Yan Song spoke, several officials below rushed to express their opinions, unanimously supporting Zhao Wenhua’s impeachment.
These officials were either members of the Yan faction or leaning towards it, waiting to join. Zhao Wenhua’s impeachment, how could they not support it?
Zhao Wenhua was Yan Song’s adopted son, a high-level member of the Yan faction. Zhao Wenhua’s impeachment was equivalent to the Yan faction’s impeachment.
They naturally gave full support.
Regarding the subordinates’ eager support for Zhao Wenhua’s impeachment, Yan Song showed no expression on his face, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. “Are there any other views?”
“I believe Zhang Jing’s passive avoidance of battle, besides the fear of the Japanese pirates impeached by Lord Zhao, has other reasons.”
One official stood up and said.
“Oh, what reasons? Speak slowly.” Yan Song glanced at him, nodded slowly, and said softly.
“Zhang Jing assumed the role of Governor, wielding great military and political power in Jiangnan, unprecedented in scale. As the ancients said, it is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard from luxury to frugality. Enjoying such great power, Zhang Jing does not want to lose it. To preserve his authority, he nurtures the Japanese pirates to bolster himself, hoards troops to bolster himself. Therefore, since assuming the governorship for nearly a year, he has not deployed a single soldier, not fought a single battle.”
This official said slowly.
“Nurturing pirates to bolster himself, hoarding troops to bolster himself, this possibility cannot be ruled out.” Yan Song nodded, waved his hand, indicating for him to sit down.
Then, Yan Song turned his gaze to the crowd again, using his eyes to encourage everyone to speak freely and actively.
“Zhang Jing transferred Shandong riflemen, transferred Guangxi wolf soldiers, not only exhausting the people and wasting wealth, but the guest troops have poor discipline, with incidents of harassing and harming the people repeatedly occurring despite prohibitions, becoming a local scourge. The people cry and curse, saying the guest troops are even worse than the Japanese pirates. Moreover, Zhang Jing has been Governor for nearly a year, and the Japanese pirate troubles in Jiangnan have increased rather than decreased, becoming more rampant. The people’s sufferings from burning, killing, and plundering grow more severe daily. In the folk, there are many complaints against Zhang Jing, with public resentment boiling. Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. Zhang Jing has lost the people’s hearts, unfit to continue as Governor, even less fit to lead the overall anti-pirate efforts in Jiangnan. He should be arrested and returned, handed over to the authorities for sentencing and punishment, to serve as a warning, and to reinvigorate the anti-pirate efforts.”
Another official stood up and said. He was a censor, more attentive to folk voices than others.
Indeed, now in Jiangnan folk, there are many voices dissatisfied with Zhang Jing, but not to the extent of boiling resentment as he said.
It was just that relatives and friends killed by Japanese pirates, aunts and uncles would complain about Zhang Jing, who presided over the pirate suppression.
After all, Zhang Jing had been Governor for nearly a year, transferred so many unruly guest troops, yet hadn’t fought a single battle, hadn’t killed a single pirate. Instead, the pirates became more rampant, with relatives and friends victimised. Naturally, they were dissatisfied with Zhang Jing, the highest leader sent by the court for Jiangnan anti-pirate efforts.
“Water can carry a boat, but can also overturn it.” Yan Song nodded slightly, waved his hand slightly, indicating for him to sit down. Then, he turned his gaze to the crowd again, his eyes falling on the Cabinet’s second assistant, Xu Jie, sitting to the side.
Xu Jie noticed Yan Song’s gaze, but at this moment, he did not want to speak.
Zhao Wenhua’s memorial was a deadly move!
Others might not see it, but Xu Jie saw the vicious killing move hidden behind the memorial.
Zhao Wenhua was truly insidious. This opening move was too ruthless. Zhang Jing would be on the defensive afterwards!
This memorial impeaches Zhang Jing for fearing the pirates and avoiding battle, passively evading war, ineffective in suppressing pirates.
Later, if Zhang Jing continues not to deploy troops and not fight the pirates, it confirms Zhang Jing’s fear of pirates, passive evasion, ineffective suppression. But if Zhang Jing deploys troops to strike the pirates later, failure means Zhang Jing’s incompetence, unfavourable to him. But if Zhang Jing wins, then Zhao Wenhua would say this victory was due to his impeachment urging Zhang Jing to fight, stealing the fruits of victory for himself.
Moreover, Zhao Wenhua would use this to confirm that Zhang Jing was indeed fearing the pirates and passively evading before.
Otherwise, why did Zhang Jing fight and win right after I impeached him?! Doesn’t this exactly show that Zhang Jing was passively evading before?!
Xu Jie understood Emperor Jiajing too well. For Jiajing to let Wuyi Hall discuss Zhao Wenhua’s memorial, it already showed that Jiajing had suspicions and dissatisfaction with Zhang Jing. Otherwise, in recent days, Zihou has also been impeached, no less than Zhang Jing. Why didn’t Jiajing have people discuss Zihou?
Now, the best for Zhang Jing is to submit a memorial immediately to defend himself, explaining clearly why, after nearly a year as Governor, he hasn’t deployed a single soldier, hasn’t fought a single battle, eliminating His Majesty’s suspicions and dissatisfaction. Only then can he break Zhao Wenhua’s opening move.
Otherwise, he would fall into Zhao Wenhua’s trap.
