"Oh... is it really that serious?"
Yang Jisheng pulled the corners of his lips downwards and said "oh", as if he was not satisfied with Zhang Juzheng's answer. He stared at Zhang Juzheng with his eyes that seemed to see through people's hearts. He leaned forward and asked again.
"Not even that."
Zhang Juzheng said this calmly, his handsome face expressionless, as if he had expected Yang Jisheng's questioning.
"Oh, I'd like to hear more about it." Yang Jisheng nodded, leaned back and sat up straight.
"Ju Zheng heard this morning that Gao Botai has an aunt who entered the Yan Mansion as a maidservant of Master Yan Shifan a few years ago. A month ago, she was found to be pregnant, and was promoted to a concubine because of her status as a mother. I heard that it was through his aunt and Yan Shifan's relationship that Gao Botai was able to be transferred back to the capital from the Datong border and succeeded as the commander of the Western City Army..."
Zhang Juzheng picked up the teacup in his right hand and took another sip of tea. After finishing it, he slowly spoke while holding the teacup.
"In my opinion, Zihou's impeachment of Gao Botai was a bit reckless?" Yang Jisheng pulled the corner of his mouth and sneered.
"No." Zhang Juzheng shook his head and said slowly, "Gao Botai has been so bold and reckless since he took office, and he has been bending the law for personal gain. He deserves to be impeached. Although Gao Botai is implicated in the Yan family, Zihou's impeachment of him will not be a crime for the Yan family. If Gao Botai is allowed to act so recklessly, it will probably cause a huge mess, and then the Yan family will be implicated. Zihou's impeachment may make the Yan family unhappy for a while, but I believe that after the Yan family thinks about it, they will thank Zihou for helping them clean up the mess."
Yang Jisheng had been staring at Zhang Juzheng. At first, there was expectation in his eyes, but as Zhang Juzheng analyzed, the expectation in Yang Jisheng's eyes disappeared. At the same time, the curve of his mouth corners became more and more obvious. After Zhang Juzheng finished his analysis, Yang Jisheng made a "huh" sound with the corners of his mouth pulled down.
"I've long heard that my uncle is very cunning. After seeing him today, I find it's true." Yang Jisheng shook his head in disappointment.
"Why do you say that, Brother Nian?" Zhang Juzheng looked up in surprise and asked with a look of shock.
"Sheng, I have heard Master Xu speak of Uncle Da many times, praising him highly. He said Uncle Da is proficient in practical politics, has the talent to save the world, and is calm and measured. He can face a huge situation without changing his expression. He has the demeanor of a great general. In addition, Sheng has also heard the Hanlin Academy and other officials praising Uncle Da. Is this true?"
Yang Jisheng did not answer Zhang Juzheng's words, but asked Zhang Juzheng the same question in return. While asking the question, Yang Jisheng once again stared into Zhang Juzheng's eyes, trying to capture the subtle changes in his eyes.
"Haha, Brother Nian, you are also my student. You should know that my teacher is a kind elder who always likes to support the younger generation. Moreover, Juzheng often goes to my teacher's house to bother him and ask for meals. My teacher is afraid that his criticism of me will reach my ears, so he is just being polite out of good intentions. As for the Hanlin Academy, it's just a rumor. Don't take it seriously." Upon hearing this, Zhang Juzheng waved his hands repeatedly, then laughed at himself and shook his head vigorously.
"There is smoke without fire, and rumors are based on the truth. Uncle is too modest. Besides, Sheng knows Master Xu better because he is from the same school as Uncle. It is true that Master Xu is a kind elder who likes to help the younger generation, but it is Master Xu who has a unique vision and can see the big picture from the details. He can see the talents of the younger generation, so he has become a mentor to help the younger generation."
Yang Jisheng said with emotion.
Zhang Juzheng was silent for a moment after hearing this, then he smiled bitterly, "Thank you for your praise, brother Nian, but I know myself better and I am really ashamed."
Hearing Zhang Juzheng say this, Yang Jisheng shook his head, sneered, picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of tea to moisten his throat.
The study became quiet.
There was silence.
It was already dusk outside the window, the sun had already set in the west, leaving only a little dim afterglow.
One second
Two seconds
Zhang Juzheng seemed to be feeling somewhat uncomfortable sitting there. He moved his buttocks back and adjusted his sitting position.
"hehe."
Just as Zhang Juzheng adjusted his sitting position, Yang Jisheng's sneer broke the silence in the study.
"The biggest ones are the arrogance of the royal family, the lack of officials, the laxity of the government, the lack of border defense, and the great loss of financial resources. Other things that are a burden to the emperor's wisdom are too numerous to mention, but these five are the most prominent. I have heard that the royal family today and the princes and kings of the past all have their likes and dislikes that are viewed by the people and are affected by the changes in customs..."
After sneering, Yang Jisheng put down the cup of tea that was soothing his throat, and began to recite silently, word by word, in a deep voice.
Hearing Yang Jisheng's silent recitation, Zhang Juzheng's face suddenly changed, his eyes suddenly widened, and his breathing became rapid.
Zhang Juzheng was extremely familiar with the article that Yang Jisheng recited silently. He was familiar with every word and sentence. It is not an exaggeration to say that Zhang Juzheng was so familiar with it that he could recite it by heart easily.
Zhang Juzheng clearly remembered the process of the creation of each word.
Because this is his article.
"On Current Affairs".
Zhang Juzheng closed his eyes. Two years had passed, but the scenes from two years ago seemed like just yesterday.
I carefully considered and revised every word and sentence, and revised it several times... ... This short 1,000-word essay on current affairs took me a full six months to write... ...
So many sleepless nights...
It can be said that every word is soaked with my own hard work.
Zhang Juzheng closed his eyes, took a deep breath, suppressed the churning memories in his heart, then slowly opened his eyes and laughed at himself, "Brother Nian, why did you bring up this old stuff? This is Juzheng's immature work. Juzheng has read too much and is confused. He is not good at government affairs and does not understand the facts. He does not know the immensity of heaven and earth. He imitated the Western Han Dynasty's Jia Yi's "Chen Zhengshi Shu". Listening to it now, I feel ashamed."
"Immature? Incompetent in government affairs?"
Hearing this, Yang Jisheng couldn't help but shook his head, "If you say that Uncle Da is not good at government affairs, then looking around the world, is there anyone who is proficient in government affairs?"
"Brother Nian, please be careful with your words. I am truly ashamed." Zhang Juzheng smiled bitterly.
"wrong!"
Yang Jisheng said with emotion, "Sheng said this in front of Uncle Da, and he also said it in front of anyone else."
"Brother Nian praised Ju Zheng so highly. Ju Zheng is really ashamed and has failed you." Zhang Ju Zheng was stunned for a moment, shook his head, and smiled bitterly, "Ju Zheng's letter was so childish. After submitting it, it fell into the sea and there was no response."
Two years ago, after submitting this memorial, Zhang Juzheng was full of hope and was as excited as if he had been injected with chicken blood. At that time, Zhang Juzheng deeply believed that this memorial of his would surely create a huge sensation and make Emperor Jiajing's eyes light up and be astonished... After submitting the memorial and returning home, Zhang Juzheng kept practicing over and over in his mind how to behave after being summoned by Emperor Jiajing... However, every day that passed was a day of disappointment, and every month that passed was a month of disappointment... After a long time, Zhang Juzheng accepted the fact that his memorial fell into the sea and failed to make a single ripple.
"Uncle, you deserve it."
Yang Jisheng slammed the table and stood up, "This unprecedented report fell on deaf ears, not because of my uncle's inappropriate words, but because my uncle's position is too low and his words are not taken seriously. Two years ago, my uncle had seen through the current crisis of the government. He had pointed out the five major problems of royal family, talents, bureaucracy, armaments and finance. With such a keen insight and such a strategy for governing the country, do you still say that you are not good at government affairs?!"