Chapter 3 Chapter II Shoufu Shenshihang
Whenever the senior scholar Shen Shi walked near the Wenhua Hall, he would naturally feel a heavy burden.This is a moral burden.
The Wenhua Hall is located in the east of the Forbidden City, where the emperor studied. In 1574, when Wanli Tiaoling was 10 years old, he was able to write large characters with a brush.He wrote down the words "reproach Chen Shan" and gave it to Mr. Shen on the spot, which meant that he hoped his teacher could advise him of his mistakes and offer useful suggestions.The meaning of these four characters is so profound, and the calligraphy is also very powerful. Shen Shixing cannot but feel extremely honored to accept such a reward. Thirteen years later, what Shen Shixing was deeply disturbed was that his efforts did not achieve the expected results.The brilliant ideal of a "Government of Wanli" may have come to naught so far.
Shen Shixing was not one of the emperor's five mentors, but he did the most homework and taught for the longest time.Now as the chief assistant, he still bears the responsibility of planning the emperor's study and sutra banquet.Because of this, the emperor always called him "Sir" instead of "Qing", and rarely forgot to give Mr. Shen a gift in a single month.Sometimes these gifts have no economic value, but are purely caring, such as two carp tails, a basket of loquats, a folding fan, and a few calamus branches; Several pieces of colored satin.No matter which category it belongs to, this is enough to be regarded as the highest honor, and the historian must also solemnly record it in the annals of history.
It is a rare chance to be appointed as the emperor's teacher, and it is also an important step for "extreme ministers".Although it is not true that being a teacher can obtain the highest position, the highest position is often chosen among teachers.Speaking at the Emperor's Sutra Banquet must be due to outstanding performance in politics, academics, and morality.If the speaker is not an accomplished practitioner, at least he is a thinker who is admired by everyone and has a thorough understanding of state affairs.
According to traditional habits, the emperor should study when he is the crown prince, and he should be taught by the scholars of the Imperial Academy, which is called Donggong Chuge to give lectures.After ascending to the throne, in addition to continuing to study, he will also attend another form of lectures, the so-called Jingyan.The Jingyan is held three times a month in spring and autumn when the climate is mild.Every sutra banquet, all the six ministers, the left and right censors, cabinet scholars and courtiers and relatives with titles must participate together, and during the event, many censors also appeared in the ranks of listening.
The Jingyan is usually held after the early dynasty, and the emperor arrives first under the protection of 20 generals of the Han Dynasty.In this elegant occasion, the big Han general also puts on robes instead of armor, but still carries gourds and other indispensable weapons.The emperor sat down in the south of the Wenhua Hall, ordered all the officials to enter, and saluted like a ritual.At this point, the officials of Honglu Temple placed one book table in front of the throne for the sacred mirror; the other book case was placed a few steps away for the lecturers.The officials who attended the lecture filed in one after another, and arranged books on the left and right.
Sutra banquets, like all other ceremonies, must have their visual and auditory symmetry and balance.The lecture notes written in regular script the day before have been displayed on the case table.Under the chanting of the praise officer, two lecturers in red robes and two book exhibitors in blue robes came out.They are all outstanding personnel in the Hanlin Academy.The lecturer faced the emperor, and the exhibitor stood opposite to each other on both sides of the case.Then the lecturer kowtowed, and after the kowtow, the curator on the left approached the book case with his knees, opened the handouts of the imperial book, and flattened it with a copper ruler.At this time, the lecturer on the left has also stepped forward, stood in the center, and began to give a speech.After the lecture, the books were covered as before, and the lecturer and book exhibitor returned to their original positions so that the colleagues on the right could perform their tasks.The lecturers on the left teach the "Four Books", while the lecturers on the right teach history.This kind of program, which lasted for most of the day, only the lecturer can speak and give instructions, and all other personnel must listen attentively, even the emperor is no exception.If today's emperor accidentally loses his solemn demeanor and puts one leg on top of the other, the lecturer will stop teaching and read aloud: "Is it disrespectful to be a king?" , until the ruler suddenly found out that he was wrong and corrected it, and returned to the state of sitting upright.
This kind of red tape was an important institution in the country at that time.The focus of Jingyan is to develop the essence of the scriptures and point out the lessons of history, but it is still often attributed to reality, so that the past can be used for the present.Competent lecturers must complete this task. It is undoubtedly dereliction of duty if they only follow the rules and sentences or flatter and flatter them. Several lecturers have been dismissed for this in the past.
When expounding the way of sages positively, the lecturer can use extremely euphemistic words to give necessary advice to the emperor without hindering his dignity.The emperor could ask questions and even explain his different views at the sutra banquet, but it was impolite to question or criticize officials.That is to say, the officials were not prepared enough, the preface of the speech was wrong, and the emperor felt unhappy, and he could not reveal it on the spot, but could only raise it indirectly afterwards.The superior courtesy given to officials when performing tasks is the product of a long history; even under Emperor Zhengde, a man who seemed to be deviant, he did not abolish this preferential courtesy.This unusual emperor, he insinuated and criticized himself one after another to the lecturers, and he had another magic method of revenge, that is, "kicked upstairs"-these loyal lecturers were often promoted; Nineteen is in a remote province in the border area.
Shi Shixing is not a lecturer now, but the person in charge of Jingyan, who is in charge of the overall plan.His office is Wenyuan Pavilion, which is located within the Meridian Gate.During office hours, the emperor and his prime minister could not travel more than 1,000 meters.But this 1000 meters is also the longest distance of 1000 meters in the world.This distance does not lie in the overlapping door walls and up and down steps between the official dormitory and Wenyuan Pavilion, but in the fact that the emperor seldom received academicians except for early court and lectures.Almost all communication between them is on paper.Occasionally, the emperor also sent eunuchs to deliver imperial edicts orally; directly summoned the great scholars to discuss state affairs, but during Shen Shixing's tenure as chief assistant, this was rare, and the average was only once a year.As for the emperor's visit to Wenyuan Pavilion in person, it was already 160 years ago in the history of this dynasty.
The main hall of Wenyuan Pavilion is dedicated to the statue of Confucius.There are four official buildings on both sides, and another attic, which is the place where books and archives are kept.Not far from the front of the pavilion, there are two rows of bungalows in east and west, which are offices for copying documents for clerks.It seems too simple to use these houses as the nerve center of our huge empire; but compared with the beginning of the country, it has developed by leaps and bounds.At the beginning of its initial creation, Wenyuan Pavilion was really a pavilion, where the emperor was in charge of the imperial court, and the officials of literature and calligraphy rested when they were waiting to be summoned.In the future, the official buildings will be expanded, pictures and books will be added, and officials will be supplemented to prepare for a large scale, but its nature cannot be summarized in a few words.It is not only like the liaison office between the emperor and the civil official group, but also like the office above the ministries; sometimes it is like the emperor's advisory room, or a super agency for mediating disputes.All in all, what it does is to apply abstract principles to practical problems, or to abstract practical problems.For example, with the approval of the emperor, when personnel are appointed or dismissed, Wenyuan Pavilion announces the reasons, always using the name of morality to cover up the actual interests.Because the decrees of this dynasty lack criteria for judging right and wrong on specific issues, even if disputes are sometimes adjudicated, they can only use abstract moral terms in the classics as a basis.
Deep in the heart of the chief assistant Shen Shixing who works in Wenyuan Pavilion, it is impossible to have a special interest in Jingyan.The lectures were long and the ceremony too rigid.To participate in this kind of ceremony, he has to get up before the sky is dark, and go through a long and boring period of time. After the scriptures and history are finished, the desks are removed one by one, and the participants file down to the hall and kowtow to the throne on the altar. Looking forward to the "feast" of this sutra feast.This is the wine and food set up in the Zuoshunmen greenhouse.The wine and food are prepared by Guanglu Temple, and the officials are seated according to their ranks; among them, the lecturers, book exhibitors, and those who copy the handouts are seated above the officials of the same rank.
As the chief academician and the supervisor of Jingyan, Shen Shihang has the responsibility to make the whole program perform harmoniously.If the emperor appeared tired, or if the official made a slip of the tongue or other officials were rude, he would blame himself.Sometimes he himself can't understand why he insists on continuing to hold the sutra feast all by himself?Doesn't he hate this gut-wrenching show as much as everyone else?It stands to reason that his aversion to the sutra banquet cannot be lower than that of others.Because before he took up the post of today's lecturer, he had long served as the lecturer of the late emperor Longqing.On the granite in front of the Wenhua Hall, he crawled so many times that he became familiar with the characteristics of each stone.He has more experience than anyone else of the boredom of sutra feasts.However, Mr. Shoufushen is loyal to his duty and is still working hard to maintain this traditional program.On the issue of the early dynasty, he also held the same attitude, insisting that there should be no interruption.Going to court in the morning is a chore, especially in the cold and windy winter.In the winter of the previous year, Shen Shixing had heard officials laughing at each other in the early court, saying that one person's white face had turned red from freezing, and another's red face had turned black again.Mr. Shen Ge knew that under such circumstances, if he insisted on continuing the early court, he would definitely make himself an unpopular figure in the court.
In 1587 in the Gregorian calendar, which was the fifteenth year of Wanli, Shen Shixing was 52 years old, and he felt prematurely aging.A few years ago, he already had gray hair on his temples. Now that he is the chief assistant, a very personable minister, and he has learned from Zhang Juzheng, why does he take everything so seriously and not let things take their course?
This is a long story again.
In governing the world in this dynasty, etiquette played a huge role, as mentioned above.The emperor ruled the world with one person and possessed the highest authority, but it was because of no intention of returning.Providence must be manifested through the faith of billions of subjects.The emperor and his ministers, often performing various ceremonies in a solemn and beautiful form, were indispensable to the consolidation of this belief.Countless kowtows strengthened the meaning of the emperor's inviolability; and he personally presided over various ceremonies, which showed that he was also restrained by heaven, that is, by traditional morality.The simpler and plainer the dogma of the Confucian classics, the more we need to strengthen our study and listen to it one after another, so as to strengthen our rational mastery.The colder it is, the hotter the heat, the more effective our morning rituals will be for physical and mental exercise.It is the emperor's personal plowing, which seems to have obvious symbolic elements, but a symbol does not necessarily mean hypocrisy.What a powerful force it would be if all those who participated in the ceremony believed in this symbol and resolved to act to make it a reality!The purpose of the three sutra feasts in January is more straightforward. It shows that the emperor and ministers are determined to find the most effective method in classics and historical records to achieve the rule of great harmony.
It is precisely because of a deep understanding of the above-mentioned meanings that Shen Shixing cannot be worthy of its reputation.Because his efforts did not achieve the expected results, as evidenced by the fact that in the new autumn of 1586, the 23-year-old emperor issued a decree saying that he suddenly felt dizzy and bloated after getting up in the morning, and he needed to stop the morning court and attend the sutra feast, Daily talk; and the so-called stop, there is no time limit. Twelve months later, the dizziness recurred miraculously.What is even more disturbing is that the emperor was out of energy just after speaking, but the eunuch spread the news that the Lord Long Live was riding a horse in the Forbidden City;When the news spread, an official of the Ministry of Rites played a book, exhorting the emperor to take care of his jade body and pay attention to his duties as the emperor.Not wanting a wave of rest, the emperor ordered another set of decrees that he could not come to the court. According to himself, the reason was that the anger in his heart was too high, and he took cold medicine. Scratch broken skin, walking inconvenience.However, at the same time, there were rumors in the palace that the emperor drank too much alcohol, played too much at night, had too much contact with his concubines, and so on.
This will naturally make SHIH feel sad.He once wrote to friends complaining that he was in a helpless situation.He also wrote a poem to blame himself for his incompetence: "The king's teacher has not played Kang Jujie, who is the farmer who has a long life? The job is ashamed and has no compensation, but it should be returned to the old man!" It means that the army did not win the battle, and the farmers Not enjoying the good fortune of a good year, it can be seen that he is a high-ranking official and has made no contribution to state affairs. He should retire and return to his hometown.But Shi Shihang is not really a person who is easily discouraged.After complaining, he still cheered up and continued to perform his duties as the first assistant. He spread out the notebook and wrote it in regular script, asking His Majesty to put the country as the most important thing and take care of the jade body, but the banquet must not last for a long time. Stop, Taizu Hongwu Emperor, Jing Yan said that he still persisted until he was 70 years old.At the same time, he corresponded with his friends, pointing out that the situation was difficult, "When it was decided, China and foreign countries cooperated together. Since ancient times, there has never been a country that has been able to maintain long-term stability like this."
Shen Shixing is a person with a sense of reality, he knows how to be a minister.If the emperor said that his problem was itchy feet, the chief scholar must believe that the problem was itchy feet.What should be more gratifying is that His Majesty the Emperor used so many sentences to describe his difficulties in detail, which is a gratifying phenomenon.Therefore, it seems that the source of the emperor's illness is not deep, and the early court and Jingyan will not be delayed for too long.Fortunately, new lecturers and book exhibitors have been appointed. As long as the emperor can attend, the sutra banquet can continue immediately.And he also considered that if the emperor found it difficult to get up early, he might as well postpone the time of the early court and the sutra banquet a little bit.These issues are all within the scope of accommodation.
Shen Shixing's appointment as chief assistant seems to have been facilitated by a series of unexpected opportunities.
After Zhang Juzheng's death in 1582, his successor was Zhang Siwei.But within a year, the father of the second Zhang Gelao also passed away unfortunately.At that time, of course, there was no way to "take love" again, so Zhang Siwei had to leave Ding You.During this period of resignation, Shenshihang acted as the agent of Shoufu.But Zhang Siwei himself suddenly fell ill when the funeral was about to be full, and he couldn't afford it.Ma Ziqiang and Lu Tiaoyang, who were more senior and respected scholars than Shen Shixing in the past, also died of illness. In this way, fate pushed Shen Shixing, the least qualified scholar, to the front.
In 1587, Shenshi Xingguan had been the chief assistant for 4 years.He claims to be prematurely aging, but in fact he is full of energy.His parents died many years ago, so Ding You didn't have any worries.He is gentle and humble, without the arrogant posture of his predecessors.Wang Shizhen's "Biography of the First Assistant of the Cabinet" said that he "remains rich but does not stand out from the cliff", which means that he has a lot of savings in his chest, but he is not close to the cliff and does not make a difference.There is a contempt in the compliment.However, Shen Shixing's gentleness and humility still failed to keep him out of the political turmoil.Afterwards, he was involved in disputes and was caught in a dilemma. He was not allowed to retire until he submitted as many as 11 submissions.
Shen Shixing joined the cabinet on the recommendation of Zhang Juzheng. On the surface, this did not affect him deeply, because around 1582, almost all the important positions in the central government were Zhang Juzheng's personal.Shen Shixing is different from Zhang Siwei, he won Zhang Juzheng's trust through his ability, not flattery.After Zhang Juzheng's death, he admitted Zhang Juzheng's fault, but he did not use this to exaggerate his predecessor's fault as his capital for ruling.The differences were well known to colleagues as well as to the emperor.
Like the vast majority of other bachelors, Shen Shixing was born in a government department in charge of education, literature and ink. In 1562, he ranked first among the 299 Jinshi who passed the palace examination, that is, he won the number one scholar, and was granted the Imperial Academy to edit and write according to the rules.Since then, he has served in the Imperial Academy for 15 years, from official to minister, and was promoted to minister of the Ministry of War and Ministry of Rites. After only 7 months in office, he was appointed a bachelor.Like Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong, he never held an official position outside Beijing.
Is it possible that a person who is familiar with classics and history and has a beautiful writing style has the conditions to be an advisor to the emperor in front of the emperor?Is it possible to become a great politician with profound academic attainments? Twenty-five years ago, Xu Shixing, who was compiled by the Imperial Academy (at that time, his surname was not yet Shen, but still took the surname of his grandfather Xu), also had doubts about these issues.But today's great scholar Shen Shixing has long since understood this, and understands the subtlety of it.For our empire is institutionally centralized, its spiritual pillar is morality, and its method of administration is bureaucratic.
Years of life in the Imperial Academy further deepened Shen Shixing's understanding of these issues.The officials of the Imperial Academy wrote imperial edicts for the emperor, and the recipients of the imperial edicts were always filial sons and grandchildren, as well as far-sighted parents or honest gentlemen who could help their neighbors and lead the local area.The officials in charge of literature, ink and education also repeatedly explained to the emperor that the duty of a ruler is to ensure that the people have enough food and clothing in good years and not to fill the ditch in bad years.They also want to clarify that the kingly principles of three generations are still applicable today, that is, a good government must select the best and appoint the best, and at the same time promote integrity and harmony in society.All in all, morality is supreme, and it can not only guide administration, but also replace administration.As for the specific technical issues, such as the pros and cons of a barbarian chieftain's support and suppression, the pros and cons of moving the Yellow River channel southward or northward, the adjustment of the exchange rate of the tea-horse trade in the border area, etc., are of course also very important, but this belongs to the The scope of the governors and governors of various places, they should make suggestions.According to the tradition of this dynasty, all suggestions should still be submitted to the emperor for approval.However, if the right people are employed, the governors and governors of all places are expected, and their suggestions must be the best policy, and all petitions will definitely be approved.So in the final analysis, technical issues are still inseparable from ethical issues.
During the performance of their duties, Hanlin bachelors have already received the influence of morality and ethics, and the ability to study various archives is a shortcut to improve their technical capabilities.Before being appointed as a bachelor in 1578, Shen Shixing participated in the compilation of the Records of the Jiajing and Longqing Dynasties and the "Daming Huidian".This kind of compilation work must sort out and review all the documents of the cause of revolution over the years, month by month, and review. It is the best way to train cabinet scholars.The current Shoufu Shen Shixing is unanimously praised as "very mature" by his colleagues.This concept has nothing to do with actual age.He is 52 years old, 8 years younger than the second assistant Xu Guo, and one year younger than the third assistant Wang Xijue.His old age comes from long-term experience in dealing with various personnel; this experience has made him deeply aware of a characteristic of our empire: whether a policy can be implemented, whether it succeeds or fails after implementation, depends entirely on its relationship with all civil officials. Whether the common habits are in peace or not, otherwise the theoretical perfection is still nothing but a castle in the air.This empire has neither the tendency to advocate martial arts, nor the ambition to transform society and improve living standards. Low standards to maintain long-term peace and order.How is this purpose implemented?It was impossible to work directly with the peasants, who were the ruled, unread, unreasonable, and lacked a common language.Cooperating with gentlemen from all over the world will not achieve great results, because their distribution is too wide and their local interests are different. Even if they use words as a tool of communication, their contact is extremely limited.The only thing left to do is to cooperate with all civil servants, without their consent, nothing can be done.For example, in 1587, 3,000 farmers in Shandong Province took risks due to the famine and gathered together as robbers; the number of followers of the White Lotus Sect in various places also increased greatly.The situation is appalling.But mere horror does not help. The key to solving the problem lies in the mutual cooperation and mutual trust of all civil servants, so that they can unite sincerely and unite as one.If this is not the case, how can the more than 1,100 counties in the country, among which there are thousands of differences, be ordered by the imperial court to make each of the more than 1,100 county magistrates do things in an appropriate manner?So after all, the key to governance is still to focus on abstract policies and morality as the foundation of all undertakings.The biggest task of the imperial court is to promote mutual trust and harmony among civil officials.This is to boost morale and exert spiritual strength.
In Shoufu Shenshixing's view, even if the country is in a difficult situation, whether the government's work can be effective can still be judged by common sense.If the civil servants of the various temples and monasteries did not see the emperor for several months, it would be difficult for them to maintain confidence that his majesty was still in full control of various matters.As soon as this thought is opened, they will suspect that he may have ignored right and wrong, good and evil.Faith is lost, doubts are born, and it is difficult for them to do their best.This means that the "sincerity" mentioned at the beginning of the "Four Books" can no longer be maintained.This kind of situation is the so-called "up and down disagreement, and China and foreign countries cooperate together." If it continues, the number of desperate farmers will never stop at 3,000, and there will be more and more White Lotus followers.
To influence all civil servants, Shi Shihang must first show its sincerity.He would rather be branded as a peacemaker, and even criticized as a politician who sacrificed his principles, but he insisted on his principles of mediation and compromise.He really saw through the establishment of civil servants in the country to solve problems, but the biggest problem of the country is civil servants.What's strange is that with Zhang Juzheng's shrewdness, he ignored such a basic and simple fact.
In the history of this dynasty, except for the two dynasties of Hongwu and Yongle in the founding period, it has become an absolute trend that civil officials are superior to military officials.Most of the military officers are illiterate and lack political awareness. They are purely technical personnel.Even senior military officers lack the ability to express their opinions when making policy decisions, and they will never be valued by civil officials if they make some contributions occasionally.
In the era when Shen Shixing served as the first assistant, the total number of civil servants in the country was about 20,000, of which Beijing officials accounted for about 1/10.When they assembled in the court meeting, there was a dizzying phenomenon.Their court clothes are made of ramie silk and silk, red for the fourth rank and above, and blue for the fifth rank and below.The facing crown is made of yarn, with two wings on the side; the facing boots are black, and the soles of the boots are painted with white glue paint.The belt is not tightly bound but hangs easily around the waist. It is inlaid with jade, rhino horn, gold and silver cubes, so it is shining in the sun.
The grades of officials are represented by "civilian tricks".This is what Westerners call Mandarin Square.There are always two birds embroidered in the pattern of civil officials, and the character and posture of the birds vary according to the level of rank.For example, the pattern of the first-rank officials is a crane flying in the clouds; the third-rank officials are peacocks, one on the ground and the other soaring to the sky; the ninth-rank officials are two partridges, both foraging in the grass.The robes of military officers are similar to those of civil servants, but their grades are represented by beasts instead of birds, which are lions, tigers and leopards, bears and so on.Supervisory officials are also called "Fengxian officials". Although they are also civil officials, their tricks are not marked with grades and they are lured as "Xiezhi".This is a legendary beast that can distinguish good from evil.It is completely harmless to the good guys, but when the bad ones get close, it leaps forward and tears them to pieces.There are also a very small number of civil and military officials, including eunuchs, who can be specially bestowed by the emperor with robes embroidered with images of pythons, flying fish, and bullfighting.In 1585, Shen Shixing was bestowed with boa robes by Wanli.
The vast majority of civil servants came from imperial examinations.Those who pass the lowest level of the examination are called students.Students should take the triennial provincial examination, and those who pass are called Juren; those who pass the imperial examination in Beijing are called Jinshi.Juren can be awarded nine-rank official positions; Jinshi can be awarded seventh-rank official positions.There are still names such as Jiansheng and Gongsheng here, and they can also get official positions through certain channels.In short, the imperial examination system used various examination methods to select talents. Examinations were repeated. Scholars across the country were recruited and the total number of candidates for the examination was more than one million.
The importance of the imperial examination system was reflected in the social atmosphere.If a scholar does not enter an official career, he will rarely have the opportunity to show his strengths and give full play to his creative ability; he will also rarely have the opportunity to bring honor to his family.Therefore, a person's success in school may appear to be the result of his own intelligence and hard work on the surface, but in fact, the frugality of his father and grandparents, the self-sacrifice of his widowed mother, and the hard work of a good wife are often the background of these successes.Numerous sacrificial rites and tombstones are examples.Most of these articles were written by sons or husbands, in which they praised the sponsorship and support given to them by their mothers or wives, with touching sentences and realistic plots.The imperial orders given by the emperor to his ministers also aimed at this emotional need, and most of them included wives and three generations of ancestors.In addition, there are regulations: I can resign the imperial order and transfer the title to their wives and three generations of ancestors.Even if the ancestors who received the imperial order passed away early, it will not hinder the granting.The old tombstone can be removed and replaced by a new one engraved with honor; the painter can draw the face of the dead according to the dictation of the living, and the robes on the painting may look like the master may have never seen it in his life.This kind of praise to the ancestors is also an encouragement to the descendants.These borrowing orders can be passed on for hundreds of generations as a model for future generations.Therefore, resigning one's own life and transferring the title to the ancestors is really killing two birds with one stone.The first assistant, Shen Shixing, knew his inside story deeply. Not long ago, he had resigned from the promotion he deserved on behalf of the second assistant, Xu Guodai, and praised his deceased wife and parents with equal honor.
Based on these social backgrounds, civil servants should form a group with common ideas.It goes without saying that Beijing officials are outstanding members of civil officials.Without exception, they have been familiar with the "Four Books" since childhood.Since Zhu Xi's annotations, a great Confucian in the Song Dynasty, were officially confirmed and regarded as authentic, they also accepted them in their entirety early on, so their views on everything were more consistent.They all know that governance comes from the heart of benevolence, people and things, that is, sympathy and compassion.An educated person knows that he has needs in life, and he has feelings for his family, father and son, and he can't help but think that other people have these needs and feelings, so he has to try his best to make others meet their needs and feelings. Play out their emotions too.
All principles in the world can be measured by common sense.Even the strictest dogma admits exceptions due to reason.For example, a person should respect and love his sister-in-law and always keep a distance, but when the sister-in-law falls into the water, it is no time to keep distance, but to hold her by hand.This kind of principle and exception is what the ancients called scripture and right.Civil servants are undoubtedly well aware of these relationships.
Because they are all well-read people, and they also have a sense of humor that does not deviate from the way of sages.This kind of humorous taste is especially manifested when they talk about teasing the ritual officials of Honglu Temple.Their so-called "Yuan Crying and King Singing, Ginger and Li Ku" accurately described the strange voices of these ceremony officials.Although they are all serious when saluting, there are always many hilarious stories circulating among them after the shift, for example, the ceremony official forgot to turn himself, and he sang without turning, and the military minister did not wait for the salute officer to sing. But first kneel down and so on.
Can these two thousand Beijing officials all have the above-mentioned qualities and thus form a solid group?If this is the case, then they, as outstanding civil servants, should influence other civil servants, and the latter should have the ability to change customs, so that the folk customs of more than 1,100 counties across the country will be more honest and honest; All appalling punishments such as delayed execution should have been abolished long ago.If this was the case, there would be no need for so many civil servants wearing Xiezhi costumes to monitor the other officials, and the emperor would not need to be outraged, and the court staff would be all over the officials.It can be seen that ideals and facts often do not match.Otherwise, Shishi Bank will feel very relaxed when performing its duties, and the following things will not happen.
Although Shoufu Shen Shixing advocates sincerity, he has a deep understanding of the disconnection between ideals and facts.He called people's verbally recognized ideals "Yang", and people's selfish desires that people can't tell others "Yin".Reconciling yin and yang is a complicated task, so he publicly stated that what he expects is nothing more than "the unworthy will still be afraid, and the sage will have something to rely on."Reaching this low standard already requires a lot of struggle. If the goal is set higher, then it is not seeking truth from facts.
It is impossible to eliminate selfish desires among civil servants who are unwilling to disclose them.Because the whole society believes that being an official is an opportunity to make a fortune. Many novels and notes have written that when a person becomes a Jinshi, someone immediately comes to give advice on how to buy land and lend money, how to influence litigation, and how to use power to make extra money. income capital.Some moneylenders in Beijing often lend money to impoverished Beijing officials. Once the latter is appointed as a magistrate, these creditors will accompany them. In addition to getting back the loan, they can also add interest to the capital.Local officials are in charge of civil affairs and finance, and have the most opportunities to get rich.As for the officials themselves, the degree of surrender to this social ethos varies.Most people feel that obtaining a part of extra income between legal and illegal, subsidizes the shortage of official salaries, so as to maintain their living standards of the scholar-bureaucrat class, without compromising their sentiments.There are also a considerable number of officials who are notorious, and their misdeeds of self-enrichment are outrageous.There are also some extreme characters who are lofty and conceited, and they are strict with others. This absolute moral concept can be represented by the eccentric Nanjing Capital Censor Hai Rui.The difference between these three is also a major reason for the incompatibility among civil servants.
The management of the center is hampered by bureaucratic habits, which is the unavoidable result of centralized authority.The central government cannot directly know the actual situation in many remote counties, and can only rely on reports from local officials.It often takes a month for this kind of document to reach the center from the local area.The writers lay out their stories and often use the most gorgeous rhetoric since ancient times, but they stay at home, and the statistics quoted may not have been revised for a hundred years.The central edifice rests on a myriad of ambiguous foundations, and must find its own administration.
This method is to use the word "responsibility" as an explanation.When a problem occurs in a region, the county magistrate is naturally duty bound.For example, if three thousand desperadoes gather together as robbers, the local magistrate will be prosecuted.He can be accused of being slow, lacking in courage, and getting out of hand; sometimes he can be accused of crimes, which are quite the opposite, and can be accused of impetuousness, which drives the desperado to take risks.In this way, whenever an accident occurs, it is irrelevant whether the center can conduct in-depth investigation and research, and the superior can always blame the lower-level magistrate.A thorough investigation takes a lot of time, and if the punished person presents evidence to defend himself, if the incident occurred before he took office, or the error was in a neighboring county, or because the superior instructed wrongly, the court will not be able to close the case. .If the case is pending and the responsibility is unclear, it will definitely destroy the laws of all civil institutions and lose the standard of rewards and punishments in the future.
Because of our political affairs, we pay attention to the stability of the system, and do not care about the absolute fairness of one person and one thing.Sacrificing a few people is the way to maintain the overall situation.The regulations on personnel inspection also start from here.According to the regulations, local officials below the fourth rank should go to Beijing to report on their duties after three years of service, and the emperor and relevant departments will verify the merits of their political achievements.But there are more than 1,100 counties in the country, and any smart and capable personnel officials can't know their specific achievements in detail, but can only weigh one or two in big programs.If the area under the jurisdiction of a magistrate is quiet and peaceful, and there is not much tax owed, the folk customs in this area are "honest" rather than "stubborn", and this magistrate must be a good official rather than "impetuous" or "talented". less than".Beijing officials are evaluated every six years, called "Jing Cha". The evaluation is also difficult to base on actual ability and achievements, but mostly depends on whether the personnel can handle it properly and has its own level.Beijing officials are always cautious about this kind of assessment, because once they get one or two bad comments, their careers may be wiped out immediately.The most stringent inspections in the history of this dynasty have caused more than 2,000 civil servants to be suspended and demoted.For those in power, there is no such way, and the court will not be able to welcome the new; for the civil servants who have been assessed, such a large number of repulsions is indeed chilling, so they have to take care of each other as a necessary means to protect safety .
Various social relationships also make them form cliques.Born in one province and one county, it is "Xiangyi".Juren or Jinshi in the same year is a "year friendship"; Juren or Jinshi in the same year are like classmates in school, in principle, they have the obligation to take care of each other, and their examiners needless to say are lifelong mentors.A marriage relationship, including distant relatives and close relatives of a man and a woman, is called "matrimonial friendship".This variety of "friendship" is one of the main reasons for the formation of civil servant factions.The main figures of each faction, that is, the backstage boss, have the obligation to promote new recruits; they can help solve personal difficulties, and cover up mistakes.Of course, those who are promoted and helped will be loyal to the backstage boss and will never change for life.
Since Shen Shixing is the chief assistant, he cannot but feel the danger of this situation.Civil officials nominally work in various temples and temples, each with its own official organization, but there are also their private factions behind them.He once mentioned this issue in a letter to a friend, deeply lamenting the difference between public and private "yin and yang".But what can he do?Didn't he rely on Zhang Juzheng's cultivation to achieve his current status?Shi Shixing is not an idealist, he knows that the weakness of human beings cannot be completely avoided.The case of Zhang Juzheng is over, and his task now is to wholeheartedly help the young emperor manage state affairs, and the most urgent task is to increase mutual trust among civil servants.与其暴露各人的阴，毋宁提倡他们的阳。正因为如此，他被很多人目为放弃理想以妥协为前提的政客。然而还有人比他更为务实，认为所有伦理道德全是空中楼阁，最多也不过是一种理想和一种装饰。对这种看法，申时行也不能同意。理想与装饰究竟不同于虚伪，一个人仍能以此作为起点去推行他的诚意。
即算本朝推行伦理道德以作为治国的标准，收效不如理想，可是也别无更好的办法。假如没有这些观念和原则，我们政府靠什么而存在？如果放弃“四书”上说的正心诚意，仁民爱物，嫂溺则手援，如何能使2000名京官对事情有一致的看法？又如何能使18000名地方官和衷共济，或者无端受罚而仍然歌颂“皇恩浩荡”？我们还有什么更好的标准去教育全国约100万的读书人，还有什么更好的标准去表彰他们的祖先、寡母、贤妻？个人的私心会随时随地变迁，只有伦理道德永恒不变。古代的圣贤写作“四书”的时候如此，朱熹注解“四书”的时候如此，今日仍然如此。正因为如此，它才可以在经筵上被讲解者发挥，也可以在墓志上被镌刻，以为后人的典范。
这种伦理教育所收到的效果，可以用前面提到的邹元标为例。邹元标在1577年得中进士，时年26岁。当时他还没有任何官职，然而根据圣贤的教导，他竟上书指出张居正的不肯丁忧的可耻可恶。这一封奏章使他在午门外受到廷杖，进士的头衔革去，降为士兵，流放于贵州的穷乡僻壤。一去5年，直到1583年冤案昭雪，他才被召回北京，任命为给事中，职司监察，穿上了绣有獬豸的袍服。到任不久，他又上书直接批评万历不能清心寡欲。皇帝用朱笔在奏章上批“知道了”三个字，给他面子，免予追究文句的唐突。然而邹元标不识抬举，过不多久，他二次上书，奏章上的用语更无忌讳，竟说万历扯谎，有过不改，而且引用“欲人勿闻，莫若勿为”的谚语，揭穿皇帝的装腔作势，说他没有人君风度。这就不能不使万历勃然震怒，准备把这个不知感恩的谏官再次廷杖。
一个从七品的下级文官，过去对朝廷的惟一贡献只是检举了张居正，今天居然具有这种道德上的权威，敢于直接指斥皇帝，其凭借者安在？万历的看法是，邹元标和其他诤谏者并非对他尽忠，而是出于自私自利，即所谓“讪君卖直”。这些人把正直当作商品，甚至不惜用诽谤讪议人君的方法作本钱，然后招摇贩卖他正直的声望。
这种看法不无事实上的根据。有些文官熟读诗书，深知百世流芳之说。他们可以找到一个题目，宁可在御前犯不敬之罪，今日受刑，明日名扬史册。这样的做法，说明了忠臣烈士的名誉，确乎是一种高贵的商品。否则，何以有许多人愿意付出这样昂贵的代价，放弃经过千辛万苦挣来的进士出身，继之以血肉甚至生命去追求？
既有这种人物具有这样看法，则内阁首辅虽然承认现实，却又不能放弃理想。
申时行决心做和事佬，他的诚意得到了某些文官的尊重，但并不能为全部人士所谅解。他有时被批评为张居正的循吏，有时则被指责为“首尾两端”，即遇事左顾右盼，缺乏决心。但是申时行却并不因这些批评而改变作风。旁人处在他地位上，可能采取比较直截了当的硬性办法。申时行之“蕴藉”，半由天赋，另一半则因为在前任和后台那里得到的教训。张居正死后被参，家产籍没，子弟流放，如果他仍然按照张的作风办事，至少也是没有头脑。今日他端坐在文渊阁中张居正留下的公案后边，当然不能忘怀张居正当年的神情气概。这位烜赫一时的首辅，确乎把他申时行当作门生和属吏。但也正因他申时行能够虚心下气，才有进步成长的机会，而终于成为张居正的继任人。
他的前任和后台是一个聪明绝顶的人物，能够记忆千头万绪的详情末节，同时又极能了解各种人事的机微。在隆庆皇帝去世的时候，几乎所有的廷臣都厌恶高拱，而对张居正却表示好感。甚至他为了获取首辅的地位，不惜与大伴冯保周旋，并以此得到慈圣太后的垂青种种情节，也得到同僚的谅解。1572年他开始为文渊阁主人，确实是一帆风顺。然而在10年之后竟身败名裂，成为历史上一大悲剧的主角。申时行对这一悲剧的内容十分了然，张居正的根本错误在自信过度，不能谦虚谨慎，不肯对事实作必要的让步。申时行生平不愿宣扬别人的缺点，对于提拔自己的人，更不会妄加批判。他只是从这悲剧的内幕中得到了教益。
张居正的10年新政，其重点在改变文官机构的作风。这一文官制度受各种环境之累，做事缺乏条理。张居正力图振作，要求过于严厉，以至抗拒横生。在他有生之日，他犹可利用权势压制他的批评者，可是一旦身故，他的心血事业也随之付诸流水。
加强行政效率乃是一种手段，张居正的目的，在于国富兵强。理财本来也是他的专长，但就是在此专长之中，伏下了失败的种子。这其中有很多复杂情况，是为外人所未能深悉的。
这种复杂性首先见于税收。本朝1100多个县，表面上看来都是相等的行政单位，但实际每县税粮总数不仅不同，而且相去极远。在多种情形下，总数一经规定，就因袭而不加修改。一个富裕的县份，其税粮总数可以是一个穷僻县的300倍到500倍之间。
当一个县官详细察看他的辖区时，他更可以发现很多难于置信的事实。这足以证明我们所称为制度，往往只是一个理想。比如说，官方所用度量衡和民间所用的就有大小的不同。又比如，很多县份的耕地几个世纪都没有作过系统的丈量，其间有的增加，有的减少，甚至该地区的地形都有了改变，过去所定税粮数额，可能已与现在实际情形大相径庭。至于土地的所有权，经过几易其手的典押，有时也难以认清谁是真正的地主。
有些县份的税额很低，粗粗一看，似乎必须提高税额，至少这样的县份再也不应该有税粮的积欠。但实际情形是，由于原来税额低，不少农民已升为地主，而这些小地主，多系自耕农或半自耕农，仍去饥饿线不远，他们的生活与农村富裕的地主和居住在城市的地主当然不可同日而语。这也就是说，低税的实惠，早已为当地人视作当然，成为生活中不可缺少的因素，欠税欠粮的事情，不能因全县税低而遏止。
有些县份的税粮比较高，这就更不可能如数进入仓库。在一般情况下，收税达到一定的税额，例如某县已征收了税额的60％，则再催征其余的40％极端困难。即使富裕的地主也会仿效贫穷的自耕农拒不纳粮。他们根据多年经验，知道一个县官无法长期和成百成千以拖拉方式拒不纳粮的户主抗衡。旧税未清常常是新税之累，所以官方只好用种种名义把未收的部分减免，其后果就等于鼓励拖欠而拒不纳税。县官对欠税的户主没有别的办法，只能拘押一些人在官衙前拷打，以为其他欠税者戒。然而这些欠税人也另有对付的办法，他们可以贿赂衙役，雇佣一批乞丐代他们挨打，称为“倩人代杖”。南直隶苏州府向称鱼米之乡，就是这样一个典型的地区。申时行生长于苏州吴县，对这些情况已司空见惯。张居正自然也深知此中积弊，所以他给别人的一封信说苏州以赖粮著名，“其乡人最无赖”，此地可称“鬼国”。
百姓缴纳税粮，在规定数字外尚有所谓“常例”，即各地方官按照习惯收入私囊的附加，县官如此，以下村长里长甲长也无不如此。地方官向上缴纳税金税粮，总是先扣常例，至于税额是否如数，则是另一回事。
张居正担任首辅的时候，他用皇帝的名义责令各府各县把税收按照规定全部缴足，这一空前巨大的压力为全部文官所终身不忘。批评张居正的人说，他对京城和各地库房中积存的大批现银视而不见，而还要用这样的方式去敛财，必然会通致地方官敲扑小民，甚至鞭挞致死。这种批评也许过于夸大，但是张居正的做法和政府一贯所标榜的仁厚精神相背，却也是事实，同时也和平素利用乡村替老缙绅所行“间接管制”的形式不符。这种间接管制虽然行政效率极低，实际上却为事势所需，它在成万成千农民之间解决了官方鞭长莫及的难题。
张居正还有一个错误，则是他忽视了文官集团的双重性格。固然有很多官僚凭借特权，引用私人，扶植地主和高利贷者的利益。但是“四书”所揭橥的、为文官集团所标榜的宗旨，也并不全是口头禅。如导之以诚意，一些有责任感的年轻人如邹元标辈，又真能不顾一己安危荣辱，为仁民爱物的宗旨拼命。这种自我牺牲的精神，能在存亡于肤发之间击退北方游牧民族的内犯，也能在万苦千辛中修复黄河的决堤。他们经常批评万历皇帝，其用心也未必真是“沽名卖直”，而是他们深知自我牺牲，必须得到皇帝的肯定和合作，才能使亿万百姓沾惠受益。他们之所以攻击张居正，也正因为在他们心目中，张居正的措施放弃了古圣先贤的宗旨，而是急功好利，企图以世俗的行政效率来代替这种伟大的精神，最终必然窒碍难行，落一个引用私人的下场。
从客观条件来看，张居正之引用私人，是无法避免的。以我国幅员之大，交通通信又极落后，任何有能力的内阁，也不能对各种地方官有周密的了解和实际的控制。张居正一心改弦更张，10年“专政”之后，各地税额并没有调整；地方政府仍然无法管理农村，官吏薪给之低，依然如故。总之，这种维新不过是局部的整顿，而非体制上的变革。张居正本人认真办事，一丝不苟，他亲自审核政府的账目，查究边防人马的数额，下令逮捕犯法的官吏，甚至设计各种报表的格式，规定报告的限期。他所派遣的总督和任命的尚书个个精明能干，然而他们的诚信仍有问题。因为撇开他们本身不说，他们属下的低级机构，依然处于各种各样不合理条件之下，离开了权术，这些高级官员也无精明能干之可言，而权术又总是和诚信背道而驰的。
在名义上张居正是皇帝的顾问，并无决策和任免的权力。为了贯彻自己的意图，他经常以私人函件的形式，授意于他亲信的总督巡抚，要他们如此如此地呈奏皇帝，然后他以内阁大学士的身份票拟批准他自己的建议。为了鼓舞亲信，他有时还在函件上对他们的升迁作出暗示。这种做法，实际上是以他自己作中心，另外形成一个特殊的行政机构，以补助正常行政机构之不及。这在旁人看来，就是上下其手；以气节自负的人，自更不愿向他低头，以免于趋附权势的讥讪。
张居正的全套措施，彻底暴露了这一大帝国中央集权过度的不良后果。在下层行政单位间许多实际问题尚未解决以前，行政效率的增进，必然是缓慢的、有限度的。强求效率增高，超过这种限度，只会造成行政系统的内部不安，整个文官集团会因压力过高而分裂；而纠纷一起，实际问题又会升级成为道德问题。
张居正既不能撇开文官集团而自起炉灶，他的所作所为也就无法避免矛盾。举一个例子说，他个人物质生活的奢华惹人议论至多。数年之前，小皇帝万历听说张先生要改建住宅，增修一座阁楼以便悬挂御笔，于是就亲自下令由内库拨发白银一千两以为资助。因为在小皇帝的心目中，他的老师官俸并不丰厚。但是张居正去世之后，万历皇帝才听说北京张宅的增修费用，竟为白银一万两。更令人惊讶的是北京张宅刚刚修造完毕，湖广的江陵立即出现了一座规模相同的张宅，主其事者是锦衣卫的一个庞姓军官，建造的费用不消说来自官库。张居正获悉此事，自称于心不安，但并没有毅然拒绝这些小人的阿谀奉献。接踵而来的就是湖广的地方官动用公款先后建造三座石坊以颂扬张居正的功业。次之则张居正以整理驿传作为他自己的一大政绩：当时政府设立的各个驿站，照例对来往官员供应车马食宿，他花费了很大的心血，务使真正有公事的人，才受驿站接待。几家属旅行，或以私藉公，需索驿站者，查出后立加严惩。但是张家的仆人甚至亲友的仆人却可以任意向地方官需索车马船只，并及于扛抬行李的夫役。张居正要求其他官员励行节俭，但是他却不能以身作则，这当然不能不贻人以口实。上述情形，也许可以推说为下人蒙蔽；然而他在私人函件中屡次提到他亲信的文官曾向他赠送贵重的“礼物”，包括现金和田地，这就不仅使他无法自解，也使对他同情的人不能置辩。也许在他看来，他自己的奢华和别人的节俭不过是因地位不同因而各有本分。但是在他的政敌的心目中，这就是言行不一的一大证据；即在一般人看来，这至少也是道德上的疵瑕。这些地方也使万历丧失对元辅老师的一番尊敬，因为事实具在，不像“谋逆篡位”一套罪状，虽然严重，却令人难于置信。
张居正的最后几年里，对他的批评者非常敏感，而对有名的文士尤甚。这些名士生平只知用华美的文章大言欺人，决不会对他崇实的作风起好感；因之他也就视此种人为寇仇。如果申时行有机会对他前任和后台老板发牢骚，他一定会指出张居正对待这般人的态度未免过分，而且由此而牵累了自己。因为在这些人眼中，他总是张居正的私人。平心而论，张居正对待一般文人，确乎过于偏激而有失宽厚。这些撰写文章的专家根据“学而优则仕”的原则，认为他们的诗词歌赋是赢得厚禄高官的资本。张居正纵使因为他们没有济世之才而加以拔斥，也不妨采用比较温和的方法敬而远之，不去触怒他们。例如王世贞，是本朝数一数二的散文大家，又和张居正同年得中进士，按理说应该情谊深厚，然而情形却不是这样。王世贞一心想做尚书，多次主动向张居正表示亲近，替他的父母作寿序，又赠送了许多礼物，包括一件极为名贵的古人法书。但是张居正却无动于衷，反而写信给王世贞，说什么“才人见忌，自古已然。吴干越钩，轻用必折；匣而藏之，其精乃全”。前两句恭维，其后则把王比作脆弱而不堪使用的武器看待，只能摆在盒子里让人赞赏他雕铸之美，却不能用以斩将夺旗。王世贞当然不曾忘记这段羞辱，他日后为他的同年作《张公居正传》时，也就以牙还牙，行间字里，酸辣兼备；其中提及申时行，也多轻蔑之语。
还有一个文坛健将汪道昆，凑巧也是张居正的同年，他官至兵部侍郎，有一笔由他经手的边防公款，经监察官查核认为账目中有不实之处；而汪提供的报销，却用华丽动人的散文写成。张居正对此事极感不满，他铁面无私地在一封信上指出“芝兰当路，不得不锄”。汪待郎虽有芝兰之美，然而却开放在众人行经的道路上，管理公路的员工张居正也不得不把这名花异卉一锄斫去。这封信刚刚写完，汪道昆就被迫退休。
张居正开罪于文人有如上述二例。这也表现他虽为首辅，却没有认清文官集团还有另一种双重性格。在他执政的时代，在名义上说，文官还是人民的公仆，实际上则已包罗了本朝的出色人物，成为权力的源泉，也是这一大帝国的实际主人。张居正按照过去的眼光仍然把文官集团当作行政工具，对其中最孚众望的人物不加尊敬，就使自己陷于孤立的地位。直到危机四伏之际，他才发现了这一点，并且引用佛家经义，作为自己精神上的解脱，说是：“如入火聚，得清凉门。”既能在狂燎烈焰之中有冰凝水静的感觉，则他虽尚在人间身居首辅，却已经把自己当作烈士看待了。
申时行没有做烈士的决心。他坐在前任的书案之后，认为张居正当年如能避免各种错误，他就没有自我牺牲的必要。申时行记得清楚：在万历初年大家对张居正还心存钦慕，他们没有责成这个首辅舍弃旧章，创造一个新的行政系统。他们心目中的大政治家，应当以个人的声望来调和各种极端。在一般情形之下，他需要用明确而坚定的态度处理公务；但这标准只能维持到一定的限度。事态的发展逾于限度之外，则就要用恕道来原谅各人的过失。首辅的最大贡献，则在于使各种人才都能在政府中发挥长处。大才小才，庸才劣才，全部如是。对他们起感化和领导的作用，即为申时行所称的“诚意”。
除非把全部文官罢免，而代之以不同的组织和不同的原则，身为首辅的人只能和文官合作，按照他们的共同意志办事。申时行没有忽略文官的双重性格：即虽称公仆，实系主人；有阳刚有阴。他必须恰如其分地处理此中矛盾。时势要求申时行充当和事佬，他就担任这样角色，至于别人的评论如“首尾两端”之类，就只能付诸一笑。
申时行下决心当和事佬，固有以上的理论及经验作背景，但也与个人利害有关。
他在初任首辅的两年内，曾一再感到风雨飘摇。当日凡被目为张居正的私人，都要费一番心力，为自己洗刷。申时行固然有忠厚长者的声名，但是他与张的密切关系，也早为人所共知。纵是他是当今皇上老师，亦于事无补。这时候万历皇帝年已19岁左右，嘴唇上和颔下已长出了稀疏的短须，俨然一个成年人了。他声称过去被人愚弄，今后当彻底地独立自主。皇上要振作，当然是好事；然则他的动机却出于疑忌。这又增加了左右大臣职务上的危险性。申时行也很清楚地看到，在他前任8个首辅中，只有李春芳和张四维可谓能全始终，其他翟銮、夏言、严嵩、徐阶、高拱和张居正6人，或遭软禁，或受刑事处分，或死后仍被追究。表面看来，所有处分出自皇帝的旨意，其实所有案件，无一不产生于文官集团中的矛盾。首辅或是在政策上遭到多数人的反对，或是个性太强而引起嫉妒和仇视。技术上的争端，一经发展，就可以升级扩大而成道德问题，胜利者及失败者也就相应地被认为至善或极恶。
在1583年的夏天到1585的夏天，申时行似乎感觉到有一个政治上的黑箍套在自己脑袋上，而且一天比一天加紧。反对他的以年轻的京官居多，只是因为他们还没有完全摸清皇帝对申先生的真实态度，一时不敢造次，但是攻击已经逐渐展开。他们首先质问：张居正的四个儿子，三个得中进士，其中两个入翰林院，申时行当日为会试时主试官之一，难道和他没有关系？这一质问没有动摇申时行的地位，他们接着又建议，今后大学士的儿子一律不得参加会试，这矛头显然是针对申时行的长子申用懋。再接着他们又弹劾吏部尚书杨巍，说他用人办事都逢迎内阁旨意，言外之意乃是首辅专权跋扈。这两次攻击依然无效，但是他们参劾礼部尚书徐学谟却取得成功，徐被迫去职。参劾者表面上的理由是他在选择皇帝陵墓的地址时，没有广泛地听取堪舆专家的意见，以致没有选到一个真正的吉穴，但真正原因乃是徐学谟已被视为张居正的私人，而他在最近又把女儿嫁给了申时行的次子申用嘉。
这种攻击是经过深思熟虑，按照预定步骤进行的。整个方式可以称为“去皮见骨”。攻击者常常从一些小事开始，诸如一句经书的解释，一种谐音的讽刺，一张不署名传单的内容，一个考题的不当等等，有时也可以在奏章上提出一个冤案，参劾一个不知名小官的家庭琐事，或者以论水利和研究马尾巴发难引出本题。利用这些小事可以促使公众注意，引起文官参加，假以时日，使小事积累而成大事，细微末节的局部问题转化而成为整个道德问题。在程序上讲，发展中的步伐则须前后衔接，第一步没有收到效果之前决不轻率采取第二步。而且出场交锋的人物