Ye Xianggao's courtyard was full of feasting and entertainment, with Zuo Yu De Miao Changqi, Liu Mao from the engineering department, Cheng Zhengji, the censor of Zuo Qiandu, Shi Jishi from the Shaoqing of Guanglu Temple, Zheng Yan, a common scholar from the Hanlin Academy, and more than 20 court officials.
Officials drank wine and chanted poems in the inner hall.
Although Ye Xianggao is sixty-four years old this year, as the saying goes, a man's heart never grows old, and he is still full of energy while having fun with his old friends. He feels that he is very healthy, otherwise he would not have reached this age.
He also stared at the position of Yuan Fu in the cabinet.
As Ye Xianggao's friend and student, Miao Changqi also stood up first and said:
"Masters, please drink this cup to the full, and we will congratulate Taishan on returning to the capital!"
Everyone also showed their dignity and raised their glasses to congratulate him.
Miao Changqi filled up the wine again and raised his glass and said:
"Taishan is very resourceful and has a great position. This time he comes out of the mountain to wipe out the decline of Donglin!"
"Why do I let you do this? Thank you very much!"
Ye Xianggao also quickly returned the greeting.
After the three glasses of wine were toasted and everyone sat down, Cheng Zheng, the censor of Zuoqiandu, took the lead and spoke:
"What do you think of Song Yingxing's promotion to Minister of the Ministry of Industry?"
As soon as Cheng Zheng finished speaking, everyone fell silent instantly. Shi Jishi put down his wine glass and said:
"Hmph, a Juren turned out to be the Minister of the Ministry of Industry just because he was summoned by His Majesty once and issued an imperial edict. Is it possible that all the princes in the dynasty and all the scholars in the world are not as good as a Juren?"
"Not to mention that this person was just an idle scholar before and has no experience as an official. Even if he is talented, can he be compared to Jinshi like me and others who have been officials for many years?"
Liu Mao also said angrily:
"What talent can a candidate have? I heard that Song Yingxing failed the examination in the 47th year of Wanli, and then went to Jiangxi. In my opinion, this person is probably a flatterer!"
When Liu Mao found out that a Juren had become his immediate boss, he almost jumped up. After all, he was also a Jinshi in the 41st year of Wanli, but now a mere Juren had climbed onto his head. It was really a shame and a great humiliation.
This was unacceptable to me no matter what, and I felt extremely unbalanced.
"Your Majesty, with this move, you really treat us as nothing. There are so many Jinshi in the Ming Dynasty, but Your Majesty wants only one person to serve as Minister of the Six Ministries, which chills the hearts of the world!"
Every time Miao Changqi thought about this, he would beat his chest and feel bitter. Why is the country like this? Why does Your Majesty hate these loyal ministers and good men so much?
And most of them are still envious and jealous. They cannot accept this ruthless reality. Why can't this person be me?
"His Majesty has long regarded us as nothing. What he has done since he ascended the throne is simply shameful. He favored the castrate factory guards and regarded us as enemies. Since the Chenghua period, we and other scholar-officials have been punished by being punished and cut in half.
This kind of torture?”
"Since ancient times, the punishment of scholar-bureaucrats has not been good, but how did your majesty treat us? If the factory guards are still there, our Ming Dynasty will not be able to revive. Sir, the disasters caused by the factory guards are beyond ancient and modern times!"
"If we don't speak up for justice today, countless people will die under the butcher's knife of the factory guards tomorrow, and it is very likely that all the gentlemen here will be among them."
Zheng Yan could not be said to be unexcited. He was worthy of being a concubine of the Hanlin Academy. He spoke eloquently and quickly aroused everyone's emotions.
None of these people present had any relatives or friends who suffered inhuman torture during this period. They deeply hated the factory guards.
Seeing this, Ye Xianggao quickly adjusted their emotions and reminded them not to lose the big for the small.
"Everyone, please listen to me!"
"In my opinion, we can test His Majesty's bottom line first!"
Miao Changqi cupped his hands and said:
"What's Taishan's plan?"
Ye Xianggao smiled slightly, touched his beard and said:
"Next time you go to court, you can use the incident involving Song Yingxing as an excuse to ask Your Majesty to remove this person. If Your Majesty does not remove him, we can do our part and publicize it widely among the people. It is best for everyone to know about it, so forget it.
Even His Majesty cannot withstand the pressure of the people in the world!"
"If Your Majesty removes Song Yingxing, then we will stop when we see that it is better. We will ignore the factory guard for the time being. We must proceed step by step and not act too hastily. When the time is right, we can impeach him again and ask Your Majesty to remove the factory guard!"
"Let those workers and scholars take action first. Let them go to busy markets, temple fairs and other places to publicize the disaster of factory guards and win over people's hearts to prepare for emergencies!"
"In addition, we can send a letter to Yingtian Mansion to win over the gentry in Jiangnan first. If we and others fail, we can ask them to unite to boycott the atrocities of the factory guards. Don't forget, 70% of the imperial court's grain tax comes from Jiangnan provinces.
!”
As soon as Ye Xianggao came up with this plan, everyone shouted for wisdom, and the joy on their faces could not be concealed at all.
Liu Mao even flattered him directly:
"Taishan deserves to be Yuan Fu. This plan is very clever, comparable to Liu Wencheng!" (Liu Bowen)
Ye Xianggao laughed again and again when he was flattered by this, and even said he didn't dare, but looking at him like this, there was nothing he didn't dare to do.
Only Zheng Yan asked:
"But since the last Zhang Gong case, Mu Zhai and the others have also been deeply implicated. Dozens of key members died tragically. Na Tian Ergeng was stationed in Nanzhen Fusi and was given an official position because of this. Yingtian Mansion now has no leader to make connections.
Ah!" (Qian Qianyi)
Ye Xianggao disagreed and said easily:
"What's so difficult about this? I will write a letter to Xiong Mingyu, the Censor of Youqian Capital, and Xu Xianqing, the Minister of the Ministry of War of Nanjing, asking them to implement the matter. Don't forget, the officials of the Five Censors of Nanjing are still
I am from Donglin!"
"Okay, let's do it like this. When Japan and North Korea meet later, we will follow the plan mentioned by Taishan. When the time comes, I will report it first!"
Seeing that Ye Xianggao had made arrangements so clearly, Cheng Zheng already felt that he would have the confidence to criticize the emperor as he did during the Wanli period.
In their eyes, a censor should not be afraid of power and should not shy away from axes.
"Don't worry, Mr. Cheng, we will definitely not hold you back. The success or failure of our Donglin will depend on this time!"
Victory or failure depends on this one move, and they can be regarded as risking their lives. As long as the factory guards are defeated this time, it may not be impossible to return to the prosperous times of the Zhongzheng Dynasty.
"Okay, then I will go back first. You will inform your friends in the court tomorrow and ask them to jointly submit the memorial together!"
Of course, Ye Xianggao was motivated by his own selfish interests, but he was not so noble. If he wanted to return to the cabinet and take power, he had to defeat the factory guards, otherwise his position would not be secure.
If you want to return to the court, you need the support of these people. Although sometimes Ye Xianggao doesn't want to join them, it is very useful when he needs it.
Ye Xianggao saw off the guests personally. When he arrived at the door, he grabbed Miao Changqi and said:
"Youyuan, I'm just waiting for the good news at home. I hope the horse will be successful!"
Miao Changqi said confidently:
"Don't worry Taishan, we will fulfill our mission!"