Chapter 1098 1189 Zhang Siwei

When Wei Guangde pointed out the smuggling of Shanxi merchants, Zhang Ju was a little worried.

In fact, regarding smuggling, it was not just in the north. The imperial court had long known that maritime smuggling along the southeast coast eventually developed into Japanese pirates. Tea and horse merchants in the southwest and northwest were also involved in smuggling to some extent.

In particular, officials are often involved behind these smuggling activities.

For the tea and horse trade in the west, officials would often report a very low price to the court to suppress the trading prices of those tribes.

The merchants exchanged them for better horses at a slightly higher price.

And because the price given by the court was too low, they traded the inferior horses to the Ming Dynasty, and these horses were eventually transported to the border.

This is a collusion between officials and businessmen to squeeze the surrounding tribes, and in the end the oppression will be extreme, but they will turn against each other.

They would not just blame those businessmen and officials, but also hate Ming Dynasty.

When Wei Guangde said this, he actually revealed the truth to the end, that is, he did not support the restoration of the horse market. It was purely a matter of military considerations.

"What about stricter controls?"

Thinking of the people who came to his home in the past two days, Zhang Juzheng was helpless.

Who said that the chief minister of the Ming Empire only wanted to invade the government and the opposition? There were times when they had to help others.

These, or favors, or other exchanges of interests, forced him to agree to help them deal with things.

Wei Guangde shook his head at this time and said with a smile: "What does this mean to the businessmen who have tasted the sweetness.

Besides, even if the imperial court strictly restricted their transactions with the Mongols, what they were doing was private business that was not allowed to appear on the public stage, which itself violated the rules. "

"Why do you see that the horse market is not even open?"

Zhang Juzheng said hurriedly.

"Brother Uncle, you can ask Jin Yiwei to see how many iron weapons those merchants secretly hid when they were trading with the Mongols."

Wei Guangde said bluntly.

Wei Guangde didn't believe that Zhang Juzheng didn't know anything about it and was just helping those people to make excuses out of love.

The biggest opponent of the Mongols they traded was the Ming Dynasty.

In fact, the Ming Dynasty's restrictions on iron tools not only targeted the Mongols, but also prohibited trade with the Japanese.

Wei Guangde's fleet was secretly running this route, which was actually a serious crime.

Of course, Wei Guangde just built a few layers of firewalls, that is, by taking shares in the Chamber of Commerce. He said that he would not interfere in the business of the Chamber of Commerce.

However, precisely because he knew it, he was even more worried about Shanxi merchants.

Not to mention that history has proven the integrity of Shanxi merchants. Even if it has not, they will start to do it after tasting the sweetness of business.

Well, Wei Guangde actually only allowed state officials to set fires, and Shanxi merchants were not allowed to light lamps.

He can do it, but he doesn't allow others to do it, or do it without his control.

In business with the Japanese country, the main commodities were silk and porcelain. What did it matter? Even if there were some ironware, Wei Guangde didn't care.

It is a fact that Japan has a shortage of iron materials, but don’t forget, people are still playing in the Warring States Period, and even if iron is melted, it is for the purpose of fighting in villages and towns. There is nothing wrong with that.

However, selling these things to Mongolia is not clear.

Zhang Juzheng didn't speak for a long time this time, and he couldn't tell some lies.

They are all sensible people, and telling lies with open eyes is only useful to those who don’t know.

"Okay, let's put the horse market matter on hold for the time being. We will discuss it after the regulations are finalized. Everything must be prudent."

Zhang Juzheng said that he had given up on this matter for the time being, and he did not intend to continue talking.

Just when Wei Guangde thought that today's events were about the same, Zhang Juzheng unexpectedly mentioned another matter, which was Liu Tai's handling.

Liu Tai, the censor of Liaodong and a student of Zhang Juzheng, was previously convicted by the young emperor Wanli for launching an impeachment against Zhang Juzheng. He was brought back to the capital from Liaodong by the Jin Yiwei and sent to prison, awaiting final sentencing and punishment.

Regarding Liu Tai's punishment, there was considerable controversy between the court and the central government. Most people believed that Liu Tai was not guilty. After all, he was the censor and was bitten by nature.

Moreover, Liu Tai's impeachment of Zhang Juzheng was not considered a rumor, but mostly a matter of fact.

Sure enough, I have my own personal opinion on whether Zhang Juzheng is a master of power, so what is Liu Tai's crime?

The ones who reacted most violently were undoubtedly the censors from the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

After all, if Liu Tai is convicted, it will definitely not be a good thing for them, which means that they cannot impeach the chief minister.

The lessons are right before our eyes.

But their duty is to impeach officials. What could be more eye-catching than impeaching cabinet ministers and ministers.

Not being punished for what they said has always been their biggest trump card. Now that Zhang Juzheng has ruined his reputation, they are still being asked to continue playing the game.

"Uncle, I heard that His Majesty has already sent word that one hundred imperial staffs will be sent to the border guards. It should be announced at the next court meeting."

Wei Guangde was a little confused. He didn't know what Zhang Juzheng meant when he said Liu Tai, or whether he wanted to kill him.

If this is true, then Zhang Juzheng may not be able to explain clearly, because he will become the public enemy of civil servants all over the world.

At the very least, because those who initiated the impeachment are here, they will not directly fight people to death.

Being sent to the border guard is already the most severe punishment.

As for sentencing officials to death, that would only happen if Liu Tai committed a heinous crime.

Does Liu Tai have it?

I don’t know, at least the Jinyiwei didn’t find out and didn’t report it.

The biggest crime Liu Tai is carrying now is that he impeached Zhang Juzheng, his teacher, and made him lose face, and Zhang Juzheng’s student, the young Emperor Wanli, wants to vent his anger on his teacher.

The emperor wants to help his teacher, and punish an official to guard the border, and everyone will accept it.

Thunder and rain are all grace from the emperor, not to mention the face of the prime minister.

So although many people in the court have opinions, few people dare to report to the emperor and talk about this matter.

"In fact, I was too ashamed to see anyone at the time, so I planned to resign, but I didn’t expect His Majesty to be so angry about it.

Now I think it’s because I handled things improperly that His Majesty took his anger out on others, so I plan to report to His Majesty and ask His Majesty to let Liu Tai go.

Although he misunderstood me, there is no need to make such a fuss."

Zhang Juzheng said to Wei Guangde.

Well, Wei Guangde understood Zhang Juzheng's intention. He wanted him to be the loud speaker for this matter and help him regain some reputation among the court officials.

"So how do you plan to deal with Liu Tai? After all, he was brought back to the capital by the Jinyi Tiqi. If you let him go, your Majesty's face will be lost."

Wei Guangde asked tentatively, wanting to see how Zhang Juzheng would deal with Liu Tai, the student.

The current situation is a bit troublesome. At the beginning, Zhang Juzheng made a big fuss because of his face, and the emperor helped him to vent his anger and captured Liu Tai.

Now if he is released, does the emperor's face have to be lost?

There are only two ways to deal with Liu Tai. If he is not guilty, he will be released. If he is reinstated, this is absolutely a slap in the face, and it is still the face of the current emperor and the prime minister of the current dynasty. It is basically impossible.

If he is guilty, he will be directly punished for spreading rumors, demoted, or dismissed. Even more serious is what the emperor is doing now, exiling him to the border.

Wei Guangde still doesn't know what he thinks in the end. He doesn't want to interfere in the affairs between them.

No matter which side he stands on or what he says, he will offend people.

Even if he helps Zhang Juzheng, people may think he is laughing at him afterwards.

Let him say it himself and cooperate with his performance to complete the task.

Wei Guangde believes that this is the only thing he can do as a bystander.

"I have already said that he will be beaten in court and sent to the border."

Zhang Juzheng is a little embarrassed at this time. After all, everyone knows the matter. He can only continue to act now, hoping to win back some people's hearts.

"Shan Dai, how about punishing Liu Tai and removing him from office as a commoner?"

Zhang Juzheng said, obviously he still can't let go of the fact that Liu Tai impeached him and made him lose face in front of the world.

There are two types of dismissal from office. One is resignation, which means losing the official position, but still having the status of a Jinshi. If there is no clear order, he cannot be an official again. After a few years, especially after Zhang Juzheng loses power, there is still a chance to be reinstated.

The most serious is what Zhang Juzheng said, removal from office, that is, no official status, that is, from a Jinshi to an ordinary citizen, and ordinary citizens of course cannot be officials.

For scholars, losing their reputation is a big deal. It can be said that Liu Tai lost all his face because of this.

Although Zhang Juzheng let Liu Tai go, the punishment of expelling him from the government was harsh enough for Liu Tai.

"Okay, I understand."

Wei Guangde nodded and agreed, not wanting to say more.

Seeing Wei Guangde agreed, Zhang Juzheng took out a memorial from his sleeve and handed it to Wei Guangde.

Wei Guangde still took it, but before he could read what Zhang Juzheng wrote, someone outside reported that Zhang Siwei, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, wanted to see the prime minister.

"Brother Shu is busy with official duties, so Shandai will not disturb you. Go back first.

If Brother Shu has something to do, just send someone to let him know."

Wei Guangde immediately stood up and said goodbye.

"Okay, today I will mainly discuss the southwest war and Datong with Shandai, and there is nothing else."

Wei Guangde said goodbye and Zhang Juzheng also sent him to the door.

"Hello, Lord Wei."

Wei Guangde said goodbye to Zhang Juzheng and ran into Zhang Siwei from the Ministry of Rites who was waiting at the door.

"Brother Ziwei, you are too polite. The Prime Minister is in the room. You can go."

Seeing Zhang Siwei bowing respectfully, Wei Guangde did not dare to be arrogant and immediately bowed with his fists, which was considered to be a complete etiquette.

"Then I'll take my leave, Lord Wei. I will definitely visit you when I have time."

Zhang Siwei still spoke politely, walked past Wei Guangde and entered Zhang Juzheng's duty room.

Wei Guangde smiled and shook his head, and walked towards his duty room, but he stopped after a few steps.

Thinking of the Datong matter that Zhang Juzheng had discussed with him before, and the sudden words of pleading for Liu Tai, he was ready to let Liu Tai go.

Inadvertently, Wei Guangde suddenly felt that Zhang Siwei was probably deeply involved in this matter.

Yes, whether it was the lawsuit of Datong or Liu Tai, Zhang Siwei was actually involved.

The senior colleagues did not say much, but Liu Tai mentioned Zhang Siwei by name in his impeachment memorial.

Liu Tai said in his impeachment memorial that Zhang Juzheng violated the "ancestral system" and wanted to push Zhang Siwei into the cabinet, which was actually a very strange thing.

He wanted to tell the emperor and the people of the world about this strange thing, because when Zhang Siwei was in the Hanlin Academy, he was attacked by the public for his improper behavior.

Zhang Juzheng was not unaware of these things, but he still recommended him to the cabinet as a university scholar, which was strange.

The reason was that although Zhang Siwei had a bad character, he was good at changing his mind, had some ability, and was particularly good at flattering, which made Zhang Juzheng turn around.

Zhang Juzheng's father was old, and he might die one day, and Zhang Juzheng would have to return to his hometown to "observe the mourning period".

At that time, Zhang Siwei was in the cabinet, and it would be much more convenient for him to arrange for Zhang Juzheng to "reinstate" and return to the court earlier.

So Liu Tai thought that he had the responsibility to remind the emperor to be vigilant against Zhang Juzheng, because Zhang Juzheng was too terrible. He was far-sighted in everything, but his far-sightedness was not for the country, but for his own interests and power.

Zhang Han was also named together with Zhang Siwei, saying that he was corrupt and messy when he was the governor of Shaanxi.

Wei Guangde looked back at the empty door of the prime minister's duty room and shook his head again.

Zhang Siwei was capable of doing things, but he was first-class at spending money.

Zhang Siwei's father was a famous salt merchant in Puzhou, his grandfather made bamboo and wood lacquerware and also transported military rations, his uncle ran a huge commercial market, and his father-in-law also traded in various places.

His brothers gave up their studies early and learned to manage the family business from a young age.

Zhang Siwei entered the officialdom. Wang Chonggu, the governor of Xuanda in the Ming Dynasty, was his uncle, and Yang Bo, the then Minister of Personnel, was his fellow townsman and his son's in-law.

It can be said that such wealth and network of relationships were extremely rare in the Ming Dynasty.

He was attacked in Hanlin because he was generous and broke many unspoken rules.

For example, when a colleague's family had something going on, everyone had a customary share of money, but Zhang Siwei didn't, and gave more than anyone else.

In addition, Zhang Siwei seemed to have no intention of pursuing a career in the officialdom, and often took leave to travel.

Wei Guangde actually didn't know how he would respond if Zhang Juzheng recommended Zhang Siwei to join the cabinet.

Zhang Siwei had said that he wanted to visit him before, and he almost said that he would give him money.

Back in the duty room, Wei Guangde glanced at the memorial, took out a note and drafted it directly.

Zhang Juzheng himself submitted a memorial, so of course he could not draft it himself.

The matter ended there.

One day later, the palace finally had a clear decree on Liu Tai's punishment. Liu Tai was dismissed from his post and was not allowed to be employed again for life.

The decree was a royal decree, which was directly passed to the Jinyiwei, and only the cabinet was informed.

Of course, before this, the court had already heard that the Prime Minister Zhang Juzheng had put aside past grudges and submitted a memorial to ask for forgiveness for Liu Tai.

These rumors were naturally said by Wei Guangde inadvertently during the banquet, and they spread almost all over the capital in just one day.

Liu Tai was released from the Tianlao, but he had nothing.

The Ministry of Personnel had already removed his official position, and the Ministry of Rites had also removed his reputation.

No one would speak for him as a fallen official, let alone the Prime Minister of the Cabinet.

Although, maybe after he was beaten in the court and sent to the border, people would still shed a few tears behind his back and make a few more remarks about his dissatisfaction with Zhang Juzheng's administration.

But that was all, no one would stand up publicly to continue to impeach Zhang Juzheng, no one dared to do so.