Shen Yishi, the richest man in Zhejiang, disappeared his shocking wealth after his family property was seized, leaving only a few boxes of account books, which detailed the behavior of Zhejiang in the past two decades. Although these accounts are of little significance, they reveal many historical details. When the account books were sent to the capital, Emperor Jiajing was furious and urgently summoned Hu Zongxian, the "governor of Zhejiang" at the time, and asked him to enter Beijing for questioning.
Hu Zongxian waited anxiously for a long time in the court room, and did not even eat, but when he arrived in front of the imperial court, Emperor Jiajing gave him a special favor:
Please come in!”
When you walk into the fine house built by Emperor Jiajing himself, except for a few eunuchs who serve in front of the emperor, only Yan Song, the "head of the cabinet", has such qualifications. Because in his opinion, the Ming Dynasty is already the most powerful in the world. It is surprising that Emperor Jiajing actually allowed a region to enter the feudal territory, such a privilege is really rare.
Because Hu Zongxian has received such a favor, he will naturally put it on hold for the time being:
I respectfully played to the emperor, the holy immortal cultivation place is the fine house, and the ministers dare not enter without permission. ”
Correctly positioning himself and clarifying his role in society, Hu Zongxian is indeed Yan Song's protégé, and this cautious attitude has always benefited him a lot.
At this moment, Lu Fang stepped out of the room:
You really understand the big picture. Long live the emperor once said that usually only Yan Song is allowed to enter here, which is also because Yan Song used people like you to maintain the Ming Dynasty. So, as long as he can enter, you can also enter. Come in as you will. ”
From this sentence alone, we can feel the superb imperial skills of Emperor Jiajing:
Emperor Jiajing had long had a plan to "reverse strictness", but why did he delay taking action because he was worried that "falling strict" might affect Hu Zongxian, and Hu Zongxian was the only choice to stabilize the southeast region!In contrast to the corrupt practices of the "strict party", the Jiajing Emperor was really concerned about the stability of the southeastern region.
In other words, as long as Hu Zongxian was separated from the "strict party", Emperor Jiajing would not hesitate to "overthrow Hu Zongxian"!
Please pay attention to the divine message conveyed by Lu Fang - "He is qualified to enter, and you are also qualified to enter", which is very fascinating and can be interpreted as "Yan Song is qualified to enter the ashram, and you are also qualified to enter";This sentence can also be interpreted as "Yan Song is eligible to join the cabinet, and you are also eligible to join". For a ** like Hu Zongxian, his greatest wish is to be able to join the cabinet, and his ultimate goal is to become the head of the cabinet. This strategy adopted by Emperor Jiajing is undoubtedly a clever means of provocation!
Now that things have come to this point, Hu Zongxian can't delay any longer, so he can only slowly walk into the house. He spent three full months there, the largest exam in the history of the Ming Dynasty. Then Emperor Jiajing began his reign:
The battle is really tiring. ”
When Emperor Jiajing asked questions, Xi used to mention other topics first to build the atmosphere of dialogue, and more importantly, to eliminate the defensive mentality of the other party. When he asks "what do you think" or "why do you say that", etc., it will arouse a strong sense of curiosity and fear in the other person. For Hu Zongxian, who had just returned from the front line against the Japanese invaders, Emperor Jiajing's words could both calm his emotions and numb him.
Please refer to Hu Zongxian's reply:
Loyalty to the state is our basic duty as courtiers. ”
The response to this sentence is very direct, and unless the true intentions of the leader are clear, a humble, cautious, and careful response can never go wrong, nor will it be labeled as contrived.
Emperor Jiajing continued his reign:
I heard that Qi Jiguang led thousands of soldiers against the Japanese thieves, and he has won four battles in a row, and his performance is quite good. ”
The first sentence is comfort, Hu Zongxian should face it humbly;Hu Zongxian cleverly avoided this phrase because it was a compliment to him.
The emperor received a trust from Hongfu, and the soldiers relied on his orders. The people of Zhejiang also sympathized with the imperial court, and many righteous people participated in the rebellion against the Japanese invaders. ”
Whether it is the emperor, the soldiers or the people of Zhejiang, their support is not a big contribution to me!
In the long course of history, the emperor's outstanding contributions, especially the commendation of military achievements, have always been a challenge that courtiers could not face directly. If the emperor himself did not accept the credit, the ministers would naturally not bow down to him. To simply postpone it is tantamount to despising the monarch, which is simply self-defeating;Reluctantly receiving it is "repaying grievances with virtue", which is also a living sin. Not only does it accept it directly, but there is also a suspicion of arrogance because of merit, and it is even more self-defeating;As for "if it is late, it cannot be received, and if it is received, it is easy to do it", which is what the ancients called "no fault".So, how should we understand this historical phenomenon?Finding a balance between the concepts of "postponement" and "receiving" is indeed a complex issue, but it is often decided according to the personal character of the emperor.
For an emperor like Emperor Jiajing who only pursues fame and does not take the blame, Hu Zongxian's reply is flawless!
After saying this, Emperor Jiajing did not hesitate to point out the core content of this dialogue:
It's really because of officialdom's greed for ink that leads to a lack of backup, right?”
Hu Zongxian fell silent, because Shen Yishi's family wealth could not meet the military needs of the front, Emperor Jiajing urgently summoned him to Beijing at this critical moment, and he had already gained insight into the real intention behind this conversation!In his view, this is a political issue. Hu Zongxian, as the chief of Zhejiang, has a clear understanding of the degree of corruption in Zhejiang officialdom. Therefore, when faced with the question posed by Emperor Jiajing, he chose to remain silent and wait for a suitable solution!
Being loyal to the country and making decisions realistically are all your strengths. You are too tactful, you don't want to offend anyone, and you allow your subordinates to collude with the people in the court, and turn a blind eye to them!Now that you have lost your salary in the war, how do you deal with it as a governor?”
Some hold the view that Emperor Jiajing was an emperor by nature, and that even in his spare time when he was cultivating the Immortal Dao, he was able to firmly grasp the imperial power of the Ming Dynasty and achieve the best balance in the political situation of the imperial court. From the above sentences, we can clearly feel that such an evaluation will definitely not have any suspicion of exaggeration.
First of all, it is necessary to affirm Hu Zongxian's merits, which will lay a solid foundation for criticizing Hu Zongxian-the reason why I criticize you is out of concern and love for you;Once again, I pointed out Hu Zongxian's shortcomings, and blamed him for all the corruption in Zhejiang officialdom - observing how much harm you have caused by these shortcomings, I want to stand up and defend you, but I can't find a suitable reason;Immediately afterwards, from Hu Zongxian's point of view, he described in detail the serious impact of corruption in Zhejiang's officialdom on the southeastern region - your inadequacy has put you in a difficult situation, how do you think you should deal with it!
Not only did he criticize you, but he also put all the blame on you and made you feel that it was all out of your considerations;Not only criticize the court, but also make the court feel that it is for your sake. More importantly, Hu Zongxian will no longer have the courage to ask the imperial court for future anti-Japanese military supplies;What's even more terrifying is that he can still use this way of "substituting words for law" to deal with himself. Emperor Jiajing, in terms of language arts, it is not advisable not to accept!
Hu Zongxian is facing criticism, he can't continue to remain silent, let alone escape, he can only accept it calmly
I don't have the talent to seal the frontier myself, so when I met the emperor in March, I had already offered my resignation. ”
After Emperor Jiajing heard this, he became very angry:
Please don't use resignation as an excuse!'The water is clear and the water is turbid' is not applicable in my Ming Dynasty, and I am not the faint king in the turbid world!”
The water is clear and the water is turbid, and the water is full of turbidity", this sentence emphasizes that "people should have self-esteem, families should be harmonious, and the country should also be self-reliant". This is a vivid description of the current situation of official corruption in the late Qing Dynasty. There is a problem with Zhejiang's bureaucratic system, which suggests that Zhejiang has provided a corrupt environment for these **;Hu Zongxian intends to offer his resignation on his own initiative to clarify why the court and the emperor would make Hu Zongxian feel disappointed, even hopeless.
Although Emperor Jiajing always adhered to the principle of "ruling by inaction", he never allowed the ministers of the court and the central government to "rule by inaction", let alone allow them to act in the way of "a gentleman moves with the situation". Hu Zongxian's words obviously touched the moral bottom line of Emperor Jiajing, which is why he was so angry.
Ah, what you want to express in this sentence is that it is precisely because of an emperor like me that there will be such corruption in ZhejiangThat's unfair, isn't it?You've understood this before and therefore want to quit your job, but now something goes wrong and you can use this reason to evade responsibility?
Hu Zongxian immediately admitted his mistake:
I, an insignificant courtier, would never dare to think like this. ”
Emperor Jiajing still refused to give up:
What's going on?The place you manage has become so addictive, isn't it clear to you?”
Facing the core of the problem, Hu Zongxian had no choice but to reply like this:
I've already heard that officialdom's greed for ink isn't just a matter of one day. ”
After hearing this, Emperor Jiajing followed up and said another sentence:
Why don't you play to me?Is it because he is afraid of angering Yan Song, or is he afraid of angering Yan Shifan!”
In these conversations, Emperor Jiajing showed a very clear rhetorical logic: he first labeled Hu Zongxian as "disappointed in the imperial court and disappointed in the emperor", but Hu Zongxian is likely to deny this;Then he had to defend his mistakes. Hu Zongxian firmly denied that only Emperor Jiajing would ask about the actual situation in Zhejiang, if you have no such intentions, then why did the place you manage deteriorate to such a point?To answer clearly, we must also find evidence from history. Hu Zongxian, as the supreme person in charge of Zhejiang, must have the courage to answer questions that he did not know, so that the charge of dereliction of duty can be confirmedYou must have the courage to answer clearly, and the crime of deceiving the monarch will be proven;You must be able to answer clearly, and the sin of deceitful kings is real. Therefore, Hu Zongxian could only respond briefly, saying that he had heard something.
Okay, as long as Hu Zongxian heard about it, Emperor Jiajing had the opportunity to ask: Since this is the case, why don't you report it to me?If so, then you're a "big **"!As a ** in Zhejiang, you, the main person in charge, will never be afraid;If you're afraid, you'll have to make it clear. There is only one possibility in such a situation, and that is that you are afraid of angering Yan Song or Yan Shifan.
Okay, Hu Zongxian fell silent again after being forced into a corner by Emperor Jiajing;Faced with Emperor Jiajing's stern questioning, Hu Zongxian had no choice but to reluctantly find a reasonable explanation
Indeed it is. Although I am the governor of Zhejiang, my responsibilities are clear, and there are many matters that I do not fully understand. ”
In general, Hu Zongxian has always wanted to emphasize that the corruption in Zhejiang officialdom is "not completely clear", that is, he wants to find a reluctant reason to avoid reporting, and even more so to find a reluctant reason for himself to favor the "strict party".
Emperor Jiajing obviously had a goal, that is, he hoped that Hu Zongxian would take the initiative to stand up and become Emperor Jiajing's right-hand man to launch an attack on the "Yan Party". This is the last thing he wants to see. The worst-case scenario is that I also hope that Hu Zongxian will have a clear position - that is, "reverse strictness", and I have no objection to this.
Hu Zongxian's "incomplete clarity" was precisely the excuse for Emperor Jiajing's long wait, because he had the account books in his hands, so the least thing he worried about was that Hu Zongxian used "incomplete understanding" to deal with it. So, what exactly is he trying to say?If you're not sure, let you understand and see how you express your opinion!
After reading the account book, Hu Zongxian immediately apologized:
Shockingly, as a courtier, it is difficult to escape the sin of negligence. ”
That sentence still only highlighted his own duties, and the "strict party" position that Emperor Jiajing expected to hear, did not mention any details!
In the face of Hu Zongxian's apology, Emperor Jiajing did not get the response he expected, so he was dissatisfied:
The offices of the five governors, the three governors, and the envoys of the government, among them, you are the only one who does not have **. At most, of course, it was caused by negligence. ”
This view is actually highly consistent with Emperor Jiajing's previous assessment of Hu Zongxian, which was "too tactful and unwilling to anger anyone". In fact, this sentence is more of a sarcasm, and it is not easy for you to perfunctory the past with the "sin of negligence"!
Let's observe how Hu Zongxian responded:
Negligence of the state is also considered a serious crime. ”
This mistake I have made is quite serious and almost acceptable!
Emperor Jiajing noticed that Hu Zongxian seemed to have been going around the bend, so he did not touch on the core issue and directly carried out the roll call:
You are neither a member of the cabinet nor a chief adjutantant, so it is not your responsibility to make mistakes to the country. ”
What do I want you to do, haven't you calculated in your heart?
Hu Zongxian was very shocked, the emperor's decision on "reversing strictness" seemed to have been finalized, and he didn't know how to respond and express his views, which was really a difficult thing!
In Hu Zongxian's silence, Emperor Jiajing's steps were more firm:
Zhejiang's weaving bureau has spent as long as 20 years on millions of silk, plus the twelve provinces of the two capitals, as well as salt tea, copper, iron, porcelain and cotton yarn, what is the total amount?If it's an emperor, I'm afraid it's even more!Yan Song's poem is really worth it. His ** behavior is so extensive that even the emperor doesn't dare to face him squarely, and even the emperor doesn't know if he is really greedy for money”
Yan Dang's greed has reached such a high level, you still want to protect Yan Song, this is really confusing!
Hu Zongxian remained silent, while Emperor Jiajing took further action:
It's hard to be a man, it's hard to be an official, it's not difficult. It's difficult not to be a villain and be a good official. Yan Song has the grace of knowing you, you don't want to be grateful, this is unwilling to be a villain, I understand you. But remember, what you are doing is my Ming official, not his Yan Song's official!I ask you again, what happened to the Chun'an Jiande Flood in May this year?”
From Tan Lun to Li Shizhen, many people have advised Hu Zongxian to keep his distance from Yan Song. Hu Zongxian himself is also a person who considers the interests of the whole and is loyal to the country, but why is he always unwilling to betray Yan Song?
The reason given by Emperor Jiajing is very clear - he cherishes the favor he has received, is unwilling to betray, and always adheres to the word "righteousness" first!
This also answers a crucial question - why Hu Zongxian has never been able to join the cabinet?
Xu Jie is not only a person with a party affiliation, but also the leader of the "Qingliu Party", but he knows how to cherish his feathers, understands that only by giving can he be rewarded, and he understands that he must do his best at a critical moment. In officialdom, can he not be confused by the powerful?If you aspire to be an outstanding courtier, you must not only have enough determination and courage, but also be prepared to face the criticism and stigma of society.
Hu Zongxian is not a smooth person, he just wants to take into account the last bit of morality, which is the biggest obstacle to entering the cabinet, without affecting the overall situation. This is the common characteristic of the so-called "powerful ministers" in history - sleek and trivial. Who is qualified to be appointed as a feud, who can join the cabinet, who is not so tactful, who is willing to offend people, but as long as Emperor Jiajing has a need, he can join the cabinet if he can change, and those who cannot be changed can only stay in the position of the feud, or will eventually suffer a tragic end.
Hu Zongxian was still unwilling to make a compromise, and Emperor Jiajing had to raise the issue of "destroying the embankment and flooding the fields" again, and Hu Zongxian used Ma Ningyuan's confession to prevaricate, but Emperor Jiajing did not agree;Hu Zongxian currently has only two options:
1. Answering questions truthfully is equivalent to making it clear that you have gotten rid of the "strict party" position;Those who are called the "Yan Party" will soon lose power.
2. Deliberately covering up the facts is equivalent to the crime of deceiving the monarch, which is obviously biased in favor of the "strict party". Emperor Jiajing's attitude towards Hu Zongxian can be imagined.
In the face of various difficulties, Hu Zongxian gave a detailed answer:
During the Ming Dynasty, the two capitals and thirteen provinces I ruled had vast territories, the people lived a stable life, and the emperor shouldered the heavy responsibility of the country”
Your Majesty, your challenge is great, and as such a large country, you need to always think about the interests of the whole, always maintain balance, and master the most appropriate standard of governance.
In the current political environment, how to properly handle the issue of "strict party" has become the most clear criterion for Emperor Jiajing!
In the first month of this year, the Tatars crossed the glacier west of the river and invaded Shanxi, causing millions of soldiers and civilians in Shuntianfu to face food shortagesIn February, there was a famine in Jinan, ShandongIn March, Jingshi suffered another famine;In April, Shanxi suffered another famine;In May, civil strife broke out in Dongchuan Tusi;In leap May, an uprising of displaced people in Jiangxi hit the Tai River, and a Miao uprising in Sichuan invaded the Huguang boundary. This month, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, again occurred, causing a large number of **and military and civilian**. What's more, the war against the Japanese on the southeast coast has reached a decisive moment!”
In short, the Ming Dynasty at this moment is in an eventful period, facing multiple pressures both internal and external!
The affairs of the country are so difficult, if there really is a big prison, involving the cabinet and six ministries and nine divisions, then the whole country will be in chaos!”
Judging from the current situation, the main contradictions are not concentrated within the imperial court, but at the local, frontier and grassroots levels. The ways and means to resolve these contradictions are manifold. Only by accurately grasping the main contradictions and problems can we ensure the stability of the imperial court and the stability of the imperial power.
When the emperor asked about the breach of the Xin'an River embankment, I could not respond, nor could I say what was right. I implore the Imperial Court to conduct an in-depth investigation at the right time. The effort I put in is not just out of gratitude to Yan Gelao. Yan Song has been in power for 20 years, but whether he is really ** or not**, whether someone is doing ** in his name, or whether he has ** himself, the emperor knows him far better than me. ”
Generally speaking, it is not the right time to implement the policy of "reversing strictness", nor is it because I am reluctant to make it clear out of gratitude to my benefactor, but because neither the court nor the situation allows me to do so!
After this remark, Emperor Jiajing chose to remain silent, because what Hu Zongxian said was the truth, and it was also the dilemma that the imperial court was currently facing.
Observe the strategy of Emperor Jiajing - he turned his focus to Lü Fang and made a statement:
Do you understand what it means to be loyal to the country?This is the so-called public loyalty system. ”
Although it was ostensibly a compliment to Hu Zongxian, why did Emperor Jiajing tell these words to Lü Fang?
This method of complimenting others has a twofold effect:
1. Emperor Jiajing's attitude quickly changed from the initial oppression and antagonism to praise and appreciation, and he needed a new stage of development, otherwise it might seem too abrupt. Talking to Lü Fang instead of directly to Hu Zongxian would have allowed Emperor Jiajing to naturally move to a lower position.
2. In front of you, compliment you to others, which not only shows your sincerity, but also highlights your uniqueness, which is really rare.
However, as we mentioned earlier, these strengths displayed by Hu Zongxian are indeed commendable, but Emperor Jiajing does not really need them at the moment. Because in the history of the Ming Dynasty before him, there were many emperors who also had shortcomings of one kind or another. Therefore, Emperor Jiajing decided to move on:
Okay, in view of your previous negligence, I have decided not to ask any more about the Xin'an River bursting. When it comes to Yan Song, I don't know him well. You want to defend him, and I want to defend him. But the only one who can really defend you is himself. Please go to the meeting with Yan Song immediately with these outstanding accounts. Don't claim that I sent you, or that you've seen me, but just tell him that you're following my secret order to report to the southeastern anti-Japanese war, and give him the accounts you found in Zhejiang.
Emperor Jiajing, why did Hu Zongxian show the bill to Yan Song?
There are two goals: one is to detect Yan Song's true intentions;Further inflamed tensions between Yan Song and Hu Zongxian.
On this issue, we have already mentioned in previous articles that Hu Zongxian did not want to break his promise and did not want to make changes for the sake of Emperor Jiajing, but Yan Song's attitude was the opposite. He was going to take advantage of him, not someone else. If you can't arouse Hu Zongxian's interest, then go and instigate Yan Song, Emperor Jiajing's imperial heart has reached its peak!
Hu Zongxian knew the true intentions of Emperor Jiajing, but he could only choose to pretend not to know
Your Majesty, if you don't keep it secret, you will lose your courtiers;If you don't keep it secret, you will lose yourself. Weichen is more willing to face his father calmly and face the cabinet. The purpose of the emperor's order to do this was made clear by the courtiers. ”
Emperor Jiajing was very satisfied with this and responded directly:
I've asked you to do this to stay loyal!I asked you to do this just to make sure I and you were both mistaken by the person. ”
Please don't get me wrong, I'm giving Yan Song a chance, you just need to follow my advice!
Emperor Jiajing wanted to find out Yan Song's true intentions, but he was more inclined to incite the contradictions between the two, as long as Hu Zongxian stayed away from the "Yan Party", Emperor Jiajing could do whatever he wanted!
Hu Zongxian once again found an excuse for himself:
I went back to the emperor, and in March this year I went to the capital to meet with Yan Ge Lao, but I was denied entry. Although I asked to meet late at this time, he did not intend to meet with me. ”
He decided not to meet with me, your exploratory approach is ineffective!
Emperor Jiajing seems to have foreseen the reason for Hu Zongxian's refusal, and quickly gave an explanation:
I know he didn't see you last time. It's not because he didn't see you, but Yan Shifan didn't allow you to see him. Now, I have asked Yan Song to let Yan Shifan move out, and you can go and see him this time. ”
At this moment, what excuse do you have to refuse?
Although there was no clear reason for refusal, Hu Zongxian did not respond until Lu Fang expressed his opinion:
Dear Lord Hu, don't you still understand the emperor's deep heart?”
Emperor Jiajing's tremendous efforts are in the **??
Yan Shifan became an obstacle between Hu Zongxian and Yan Song, which could also lead to Yan Song's misunderstanding of Hu Zongxian. The reason why Emperor Jiajing let Yan Shifan leave was to ensure that Hu Zongxian would not be misunderstood, and also to maintain Hu Zongxian's positive image in Yan Song's mind.
Of course, in that particular historical period, Emperor Jiajing did not intend to implement a policy of "reversing strictness";Now, this decision made by Emperor Jiajing is actually inciting contradictions between the two and laying a solid foundation for their relationship.
If you are not willing to break the moral code, I will be on your side, and what reason do you have to refuse me?What else do you have to question?Do you have anything else to doubt?
When Emperor Jiajing talked about this responsibility, since he had already assumed this responsibility, Hu Zongxian might fall into such a predicament!
Hu Zongxian visited Yan Song at night, and at the same time, the death knell of the "Yan Party" also sounded!