The development trend of many things can be clearly seen from the perspective of hindsight, but it is difficult for the parties involved in the situation to detect it. This has nothing to do with whether they are smart or not.
For example, at this time, Shen Shoufu believed that he was the most suitable person to be the first assistant in the Ming Dynasty, and no one could do a better job than him.
As long as he has the ability to coordinate up and down, left and right, and maintain the overall stability of the court, the emperor will not fail to realize this.
All of Shen Shoufu's behavioral ideas are based on this foundation. This is also his experience in successfully working as the first assistant for eight years.
But no one, including Shen Shoufu, had realized that after several years of pulling and pulling with foreign ministers, the emperor's patience had reached a critical point.
At this time, Emperor Wanli was extremely dissatisfied with the cabinet's harmonious style, which would not solve the problem at all.
He already wants to strengthen the cabinet and force the cabinet to stand firmly on his side, or at least help him fight back against foreign pressure.
The emperor's mentality of "forcing good girls into prostitution" and Shen Shoufu's mentality of continuing to confuse both sides are obviously completely mismatched.
He didn't realize the change in the emperor's mentality, so Shen Shoufu had doubts about the contents of Lin Tailai's tips.
However, in view of the high accuracy of Lin Tailai's predictions in the past, Shen Shoufu had to pay attention to it, so he asked the good boy:
"If Lin Jiuyuan believes that the emperor will use this method to leak secrets, has Lin Tailai left any methods to deal with it or crack it?"
Shen Yongmao shook his head, "No, that's all the content of Lin Jiuyuan's tips bag."
"That's all, what's next is gone?" Shen Shoufu said in disbelief, "Lin Jiuyuan has always been thoughtful and always has a way to deal with problems, but not this time?"
Shen Yongmao replied with certainty: "There really isn't any more down there."
Shen Shoufu then made the final judgment, "It seems that Lin Jiuyuan's real purpose is just to prevent me from submitting a detailed explanation through scaremongering, rather than the real serious consequences."
Shen Yongmao felt a little uneasy and urged: "Father! Just listen to Lin Jiuyuan!"
Seeing the elder's blind obedience to Lin Tailai, Shen Shoufu became a little rebellious again and said in a serious tone: "As the chief assistant, I must maintain effective communication with the emperor and not cause the emperor to misunderstand. This
It’s the most basic principle!”
Shen Yongmao saw that his father was displeased, so he did not dare to persuade him any more.
Because the Imperial College was on holiday at the end of the year, Wang Cifu's eldest son Wang Heng, who was studying in the Imperial College, also returned home.
While he was talking with Ci Fu's father, Wang Xijue, news suddenly came from the Shen Mansion that Shen Fu was still bedridden, so he declined Wang Ci Mansion's request to meet him.
Wang Xijue smiled bitterly, got up and went to the study. At the same time, he said to Wang Heng: "Go down and rest first, and write a memorial for your father."
Wang Heng asked curiously: "It's dark at night, what urgent memorial should I write?"
Wang Xijue explained a few words: "Today, due to the pressure of public opinion, the cabinet had to jointly submit a memorial to oppose the emperor's dismissal of Luo Wanhua. When I drafted the memorial, I wrote the name of the chief minister.
Now that Shoukui refuses to see me, it shows that he is completely planning to pretend not to know, so I, the second assistant, have become the main person responsible.
Therefore, I have to write a detailed explanation to the emperor, express my unavoidable difficulties, and make it clear that it is not my original intention, lest the emperor misunderstand me."
He, Wang Xijue, is not the kind of confused person who knows that there may be misunderstandings but refuses to explain clearly.
Wang Heng said: "It's a very important matter, so I won't disturb my father anymore."
Wang Xijue thought of something again and gave instructions: "Go to Fang Congzhe, the Imperial Academy scholar, and ask Fang Congzhe to work harder and persuade his fellow countryman Luo Wanhua, the Minister of Rites, to resign!"
This is good for all parties, otherwise it will become an endless deadlock."
Wang Heng flattered him by the way: "Seeing my father harmonize the cauldron, he really looks like a first assistant!"
Wang Xijue urged: "It's not convenient to leave this matter to outsiders, go and do it quickly!"
How could it be so easy to be the chief assistant? Unless Shen Shixing was so stupid this time that he pretended to be stupid, and Wang Xijue's understanding and understanding could be recognized by the emperor.
But with Shen Shixing's sophistication and tact, how could he possibly make a mistake in such a sensitive period?
The cabinet jointly opposed the emperor's decree. This was a very eye-catching special event. It was particularly eye-catching at a time when national issues were extremely intense.
After this incident spread, I don't know how much discussion it aroused in the court.
Lu Guangzu, the censor of Zuodu, took the risk of "forming a party" and secretly visited Wang Jiaping, the third assistant.
The current situation is too sensitive, and the Qingliu Party members are at the forefront of the storm again. He must obtain first-hand information to avoid any misjudgment.
Wang Jiaping analyzed: "The emperor probably wants to see the attitude of the cabinet. Now that the cabinet has jointly opposed the removal of Luo Wanhua, it should be able to attract the emperor's anger."
Lu Guangzu asked with concern: "Will it affect you?"
Wang Jiaping replied easily: "The first assistant is Shen Wumen, and the person who presides over and writes the book is Wang Taicang.
With the two of them in front, if the board can't hit me, what can happen to me?"
Lu Guangzu was also very happy and said: "If you can be as stable as Mount Tai, that would be great!
At this juncture of the winter solstice, if the emperor's attention is focused on the cabinet, our foreign ministers and ministers will be safe for the time being.
You also know that our fellow officials cannot afford to lose more people."
Now the Qingliu Party members, especially Yanguan, are in a very embarrassing situation. In the struggle between the country and the country, they can't do it, but after they do, they are afraid of losing manpower.
After years of raids by Lin Tailai, the Qingliu forces, which originally had abundant human resources, were also stretched thin.
At its peak in the past few years, with the six subjects and thirteen subjects added up, the Qingliu forces could muster a lineup of about forty people.
After being hit by a series of events such as the "Seven Gentlemen" in "The Golden Vase", the Xizhimen illegal travel incident, the false accusations of the heroes of the Seven Wars and Seven Victories, etc., the number of Qingliu Party members and officials is now less than half of what it was at its peak.
Wang Jiaping could only say helplessly: "While Lin Tailai is not in the capital, seize the time to recuperate and select a group of censors."
Lu Guangzu nodded. Now that he has figured out the situation, he can leave.
The pressure below is all on the cabinet, and their foreign ministers can take a breather for the time being.
No matter how they discuss it, everyone thinks that Zhao Zhigao, the elder of the Fourth Cabinet, should be the one with the least pressure in the cabinet.
But the opposite was true. Zhao Si couldn't sleep tonight.
The situation report that Lin Tailai gave within the update agency two or three months ago echoed repeatedly in his mind.
"History must have its inevitability! At the point when the struggle between the country and the country intensifies, the emperor will definitely be tired of the cabinet and the mud, and will definitely force the cabinet to end!"
"History has a certain degree of contingency! Maybe at some opportunity, it will lead to inevitable results!"
Many people may have heard Lin Tailai's almost metaphysical views, but only Zhao Zhigao listened to them with conviction and remembered them.
The key is that before Lin Tailai left, he said something in private: "Zhao Zhigao! In the opportunity period within one year, whether you want to be the first assistant or the second assistant, you can choose for yourself!"
Old Zhao, who was tossing and turning, couldn't help but keep wondering, could this be the "opportunity" that Lin Tailai said? The so-called historical inevitability is about to happen?
Why was Lin Tailai not in the capital at such a critical time?
Without Lin Tailai's step-by-step guidance, I would feel really uneasy.