nycdaug Chapter 287
Chapter 287
Ultimately, the reinstatement of Zhou Chu was temporarily shelved due to the excuses of Jiajing and Yang Shen.
Both Jiajing and Yang Shen understood one thing: people or things that are easily obtained are not cherished. Zhou Hengqi was not so easily dismissed. You can praise him to death or impeach him as you please. Now, Zhou Hengqi is needed to clean up the mess. He can be reinstated with just one word.
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
Yang Yiqing and Xia Yan understood this principle and did not expect the emperor to agree immediately. However, the emperor did not pay attention to the impeaching officials at today's court meeting, which was a good sign.
However, Yang Yiqing and the others also knew that this situation was merely a temporary fix. The emperor wouldn't care once or twice, but it would become useless if it happened too often. To completely resolve the issue of Chen Wanyan, they still needed Zhou Chu to step in.
During the two days that Yang Yiqing and Xia Yan did not attend court, officials on their side submitted memorials one after another, requesting the reinstatement of Zhou Chu.
After the cabinet drafted the memorials, it presented the dozen or so most representative ones to Jiajing. Jiajing looked at these memorials in his study and laughed heartily.
"Yang Yiqing and his ilk have finally met their match. Look at what they're saying. They claim that weighing instruments are for the country and the people, but they want to praise them too much. They've almost suffocated themselves."
Jiajing was well aware of the thoughts of these officials. These memorials had been screened by Yang Yiqing, Yang Shen and others before they reached him. The words in the memorials were just right, which could reflect Zhou Chu's important role in the Ming Dynasty, but would not make Jiajing wary.
They were afraid that the praise would go too far and have the opposite effect.
"With just a little trickery, His Majesty has completely outmaneuvered Yang Yiqing and his men."
Lu Bing flattered.
"You don't understand. The reason why a scheme is open is because the person who executes it has absolute power and authority. If I had used such a scheme when I first ascended the throne, Chen Wanyan would probably have been killed by those civil officials long ago."
Emperor Jiajing did not become complacent because of Lu Bing's flattery.
"The reason I am in this situation today is because Yang Tinghe is no longer in the court, and Yang Yiqing is being checked and balanced by Yang Yongxiu and Xia Yan. This is all thanks to Hengqi's efforts a year ago. Moreover, the entire Jiangnan region is now under the control of the court, which is very different from before. A large part of the military power has also been taken back."
“Without this situation, if you rashly implement such a scheme, those civil officials will not follow your steps at all. They will directly pin countless charges on Chen Wanyan, and Chen Wanyan will die if he doesn’t.”
As Jiajing spoke, he looked at the memorials with delight.
"By the way, Huang Jin, take some of the agarwood that Annam sent this year to Heng Qi. Also, pick out the good agate and blood coral and send some to Heng Qi. And Yun Jin, Wen Fu, take some back to your sister as well. I haven't properly rewarded her yet."
Jiajing looked at Lu Bing and Huang Jin and said.
"Slave, let's do it now."
Upon hearing this, Huang Jin dared not delay and turned to leave the imperial study.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."
Lu Bing said respectfully.
"What kind of favor is this? You took credit for Yun Jin's work in recovering Annam, but she was the one who wiped out the Japanese pirates at sea. It's just that we can't openly discuss it with her for now. We'll reward her together when it's open in the future."
Jiajing sighed.
In the past six months of suppressing the Japanese pirates, Zhou Chu led the Tiger Army to wipe out the pirates on land, while Yun Jin led the Xuanwu Army to complete the task at sea. Not to mention the recovery of Annam, Yun Jin made great contributions in the suppression of the Japanese pirates alone.
However, the Tiger Legion and the Black Tortoise Legion are not suitable for public display at present, and may not be suitable for facing the public for a long time to come.
Zhou Chu had discussed this matter with Jiajing before, and Jiajing understood that both of these troops were the best of the best, each worth tens of thousands of soldiers.
The existence of such an army would make those civil officials uneasy, and they would want to get rid of it as soon as possible.
Hiding them was a way to protect the Tiger Legion and the Black Tortoise Army soldiers.
However, he was granted all the official positions he was entitled to in secret. For example, in the Xuanwu Army, there were two commanders of thousands and nearly twenty centurions. As the commander of the Xuanwu Army, Yun Jin was also secretly appointed by Jiajing as the General of Zhenhai. The title of General of Zhenhai was created by Jiajing specifically for Yun Jin.
"His Majesty's rewards and honors are already more than enough. Any more would be too much for my humble sister to bear."
Lu Bing hurriedly said.
These were words that Yun Jin had specifically instructed him to say. Whenever the emperor wanted to reward Yun Jin, Lu Bing should find a way to decline. Currently, Lu Bing of the Lu family has been enfeoffed as a marquis, Lu Song is a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Lu Wei will pursue an official career in the future. Yun Jin is in charge of the Xuanwu Army in the field.
This family, when combined, wielded immense power and seemed to be at the height of their influence. However, both Yun Jin and Zhou Chu were well aware that the greater the power, the greater the danger.
Knowing when to advance and when to retreat is very important. Just like Zhou Chu, who truly wielded immense power. The power that Zhou Chu alone controlled was far greater than that of the entire Lu family combined.
Zhou Chu had made tremendous contributions to the Ming Dynasty, the emperor, and the people. Even so, the officials in the court praised him excessively, and even if the emperor trusted Zhou Chu, he would still have some doubts in his heart.
If Jiajing truly trusted Zhou Chu completely, he wouldn't have summoned Zhou Chu back to the capital from Jiangnan. The reason for summoning him back was to test Zhou Chu's attitude.
Fortunately, Zhou Chu handled everything very well, dispelling Jiajing's concerns.
It was also thanks to Emperor Jiajing; if it had been any other emperor, at that age, they would never have tolerated Zhou Chu.
The younger one is, the less capable one is of grasping the situation. The less capable one is, the more wary one is of capable people. For example, Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty insisted on making a rash decision to capture Oboi, and he did so using such underhanded methods.
At most, Ao Bai could only be considered a powerful minister. He had no intention of disloyalty. Under the Eight Banners system, there was no possibility that Ao Bai could successfully rebel. Whether it was capturing Ao Bai or suppressing the Three Feudatories, Kangxi almost ruined the fate of the Qing Dynasty. He made a series of foolish moves.
Upon hearing this, Jiajing sighed and did not insist further. He knew what Lu Bing was afraid of: that the Lu family's excessive favor would arouse jealousy, which was only human nature.
On the other hand, Yang Yiqing felt that he couldn't just sit and wait for his fate. He had to take the initiative and first persuade Zhou Chu to prepare. Once Zhou Chu was willing, things would be much easier.
So Yang Yiqing sent someone to the Zhou residence to deliver a visiting card.
"Young master, this is a visiting card from Grand Secretary Yang."
After receiving the visiting card, Chunlan dared not delay and presented it directly to Zhou Chu.
At this moment, Zhou Chu was still drinking and making merry. Liu Sisi, who was standing next to him, was even more shocked when she heard that the Grand Secretary had actually presented a visiting card. What she had seen and heard at Zhou's residence these past few days made it difficult for Liu Sisi to associate Zhou Chu with a disgraced commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Lu Wanshan, the garrison commander of the Northern Garrison, was extremely respectful to Zhou Chu. The Jinyiwei guards could be seen everywhere in Zhou's residence. Now, what's even more outrageous is that Yang Yiqing, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, actually sent a visiting card.
Has this meant they've lost power? Or were they still in control of the entire court?
Liu Sisi dared not think too deeply and quickly lowered her head, respectfully pouring wine for Zhou Chu.
"Not urgent."
Zhou Chu took the invitation card, didn't even look at it, and casually tossed it aside. Then he tapped his right hand on his knee and watched the women below dance.