Chapter 30 Section 4 A generation of famous ministers goes down in history

Since he became the chief assistant of the cabinet, Zhang Juzheng's power status has been increasing day by day.In August of the third year of Wanli (1575 A.D.), he recommended Zhang Siwei, the left servant of the Ministry of official affairs, as Minister of rites and a scholar of Dongge University.According to the usual practice, cabinet ministers are generally appointed, and the imperial edict only talks about "doing affairs with a certain person (referring to the first assistant). "In this imperial edict, Shenzong personally wrote "Accompanying Yuanfu (Zhang Juzheng) to join the cabinet to handle affairs."In fact, it is to distinguish Zhang Juzheng from his former colleagues and cabinet ministers, and the status of master and slave is different.Even when Zhang Juzheng went back to his hometown for the funeral, Shenzong warned the cabinet ministers such as Lu Tiaoyang, the second assistant, not to be arbitrary in important matters, but to report to Jiangling as soon as possible, and "listen to Mr. Zhang's punishment".He also gave Zhang Juzheng a silver seal with the words "Emperor Lai [Lai Lai] Zhongliang" engraved on it, which can seal the notice.It shows how much Shenzong and Empress Dowager Li trusted him.Zhang Juzheng was in charge of the court with the double identity of "Mr. Yuan Fu Shaoshi". The various edicts and decrees issued at that time were actually his thoughts and ideas.This is also an important prerequisite for the smooth implementation of Zhang Juzheng's reform measures.

It should be said that at the beginning of Zhang Juzheng's reform, he was opposed by some corrupt bureaucrats.He rectified the administration of officials, dismissed redundant officials, reduced the number of vacancies in various yamen offices, and could not fully use the students waiting to fill the vacancies. Many people resented him.Clearing up the land, adjusting the tax and service system, and increasing state taxes, the interests of powerful landlords were damaged to a certain extent. Therefore, he hated Zhang Juzheng very much and secretly attacked him for authoritarian indulgence.Most of them are conservatives who have a negative attitude towards Zhang Juzheng's reform.However, Zhang Juzheng did not ignore it.

In the third year of Wanli (1575 A.D.), Yu Mao [mao Mao], a member of the Nanjing household division, pointed out that the assessment of officials was too strict, so please be lenient.Zhang Juzheng dismissed him as a civilian.Then, Fu Yingzhen, the censor, published "Emphasis on the Emperor's Virtue, Su Min's Difficulty, and Opening up the Way of Speech", in which he raised objections to "Yu Mao learned from Chen Shizheng and was imprisoned for life", and asked to open up the way of speaking.The article reveals dissatisfaction with Zhang Juzheng's country.Zhang Juzheng ordered him to be arrested and imprisoned, and sent to Dinghai, Zhejiang.In the first month of the following year, his disciple Liu Taiyue, the censor, reported the Liaodong War, which was reprimanded by him.Liu Tai was dissatisfied, and Shang Shu impeached Zhang Juzheng for "specializing in prestige and blessing" and "being indiscriminate in publicity and arrogance."Zhang Juzheng was furious after reading it.Shenzong decreed that Liu Tai be imprisoned, with a hundred court rods, and dispatched to guard the border.From then on, Zhuge Shizhong and Yushi were even more afraid of Zhang Juzheng, and felt aggrieved.

In September of the fifth year of Wanli (1577 A.D.), Zhang Juzheng's father, Zhang Wenming, died in his hometown.According to the feudal etiquette system, officials who suffered the death of their parents had to leave their posts and go home to guard the system. They had to mourn for 27 months, and they were reinstated after the period expired.However, the imperial court can also order ministers and important officials not to leave their posts, wear plain clothes to work, and not participate in auspicious ceremonies;Revolving around Zhang Juzheng's return to Jiangling to observe the uniform and mourning, or staying in the court to take office, it caused a disturbance in the court.Zhang Juzheng insisted on sparsely inviting him to return to his hometown to observe the system, while the 14-year-old Shenzong insisted on keeping him in the official system, but he did not come to court and did not receive salary.However, many courtiers jointly opposed this practice, saying that he "forgot his relatives and greedy for his position".Zhang Juzheng was very annoyed.Because of this incident, Wu Zhongxing, the editor of the Imperial Academy, Zhao Yongxian, the reviewer, Aimu, the member of the Criminal Ministry, and Shen Sixiao, the principal, were dismissed from their posts and expelled from the capital.Then, Xu Wenmu, a Japanese lecturer who complained of grievances including Wu Zhongxing, and Zou Yuanbiao, a new scholar from the Ministry of Guanzheng and Punishment, will be convicted.At that time, the scholars in the capital were very angry at the handling of officials in this way.Some people even posted slanderous articles on Chang'an Gate, saying that Zhang Juzheng was planning to rebel.After Shenzong heard about it, when the court issued an edict, whoever said anything about seizing love would be convicted and not forgiven, and the turmoil subsided.

Zhang Juzheng was ordered by Gu to serve as the first assistant and the teacher of the young master Shenzong.In order to cultivate Shenzong into a sage and wise king, Zhang Juzheng worked hard and worked hard.In addition to lectures on "The Explanation of the Four Books" and Xiuming sages, he also explained the "Monument of the Imperial Mausoleum" dictated by Zhu Yuanzhang, and drew 81 things worth imitating and 36 things that should be taken as a warning by ancient emperors selected by himself. Completed "Di Jian Tu Shuo", pointing to Chen Dayi page by page, inspiring the Sacred Heart.Shenzong respected him very much. In the edict, he called "Yuanfu", "Taishi" and "Sir", all of which were the etiquette of ancient teachers and ministers.In March of the eighth year of Wanli (AD 1580), 56-year-old Zhang Juzheng believed that after the Hongdian was completed, Shenzong had grown up and could take charge of the government.Therefore, I published "Returning to the Government and Begging for Rest", and sincerely invite you to return to the old Jiangling.Shenzong sincerely expressed his condolences, and finally handed down an oral order to the Empress Dowager, and Zhang Juzheng was reinstated.

Since Zhang Juzheng became the chief assistant, Guanjue has successively served as a young teacher and a grand teacher of the prince, a minister of the official department and a bachelor of Jianjidian, a scholar of Zhongjidian, doctor of Guanglu, Zuozhuguo, and grand teacher of the Taifu.In March of the tenth year of Wanli (1582 A.D.), Zhang Juzheng was already suffering from illness, and asked to rest again, but Shenzong still did not agree.On June 20, Zhang Juzheng died of illness at the age of 58.Presented to Shangzhu State as a noble, posthumously named Wenzhong, and buried in his hometown Jiangling.

Zhang Juzheng is deep and alert, resourceful and decisive.After growing in power, he gradually became self-willed and could not listen to contrary opinions.During the reform, the vital interests of bureaucrats and powerful landlords were often violated.Especially the Prime Minister Shenzong has strict requirements on him in all aspects.For example, in a daily lecture, Shenzong pronounced "Bo" in the sentence "Se Bo Ru Ye" as "back".Zhang Juzheng said sharply at the side: "It should be the word Bo!" From then on, Shenzong feared him more.As time went on, Shenzong felt that Zhang Juzheng was restricting him too tightly.After Zhang Juzheng's death, some officials impeached him one after another.Soon, Wu Zhongxing, Zhao Yongxian and others also returned to their original posts.In March of the eleventh year of Wanli (1583 A.D.), Shenzong issued an edict to remove Zhang Juzheng's grand master and the title of Shangzhu Kingdom, and took away the posthumous title of "Wen Zhong", and did not confiscate his family.

There were more than 170 cabinet scholars (Zaifu) who were in power in the Ming Dynasty. Zhang Juzheng had the most outstanding political achievements, and his reforms had a great influence on the society at that time.At that time, people praised him for "working hard for the country with all his energy and wisdom", and "working hard for the country, but clumsy for his own life".In the second year of Xi Zong Tianqi (1622 A.D.), at the request of the courtier Zou Yuanbiao and others, the imperial court rehabilitated Zhang Juzheng and restored all the fame that had been cut off by Shenzong.