Zhu Mo arrived quietly at Guanyin Temple in the latter half of the night, which naturally terrified Wu Ming and Wu Liang.
They had not seen him for a long time, and with the current chaotic situation, they had not received any instructions from the capital for a long time. Everything seemed to have stopped. They had been constantly hearing all sorts of rumors, and their hearts were filled with anxiety.
Seeing Zhu Mo now, Wu Ming said excitedly:
"Young Master Zhu, why are you only appearing now? What is happening? Something big is about to happen… my lord…"
Wu Liang also said:
"Zhang Juzheng has left Hangzhou! Do you know? Those wicked people are already stirring, saying they will deal with all the troublesome commoners who advocate for reform…"
Although Zhu Mo had anticipated a backlash, he did not expect Zhang Juzheng to withdraw his support. Fortunately, these two were still enthusiastic, and they had previously stated that they would help to the best of their ability. However, this matter was no trivial thing, and they would only venture to help if a good plan was presented.
He thought for a moment and said thoughtfully:
"Old Ming, Old Liang, I will tell you the truth, the Emperor is playing a grand game now…"
He took a sip of tea, stood up, and walked to the window, gazing at the dark temple forest. He thought: If I don't use the Emperor's prestige, they will surely be afraid. This time, the Yan family has gambled everything, and they might even have to risk their lives…
"Do you know why the Emperor has retired to the Daoist palace?"
He turned his head and looked at the two calmly.
Wu Ming was quick-witted, and they had already guessed many possibilities. Hearing him say this, Wu Ming asked, "Young Master Zhu, please stop playing coy. What time is it? Although my brother and I are hereditary锦衣卫 (Imperial Guard) officers, I said before that you, Zhu Mo, are for the people, and we will help you to the last moment! Please rest assured!"
Zhu Mo was immediately touched—
Great figures change with the times, fickle and inconsistent, while these military households still uphold some of the founding emperor's teachings…
He could not help but be moved and said:
"Good! With those words from you two, I will definitely find a way to overcome this difficulty! Unless it is absolutely necessary, I will never let you two get involved in the vortex. Please rest assured!"
Mm-hmm,
The two nodded heavily.
Zhu Mo immediately stated his judgment and said slowly:
"I saw Mu Chaobi, Yu Chaosheng, and others in Yun Gui mourning the Crown Prince, and the scene was truly vivid, and their resentment was truly deep…
I went on a southern expedition with Mu Chaobi. I saw that although this person had many flaws, he was clear-headed on major issues. So, in the mourning hall, I reasoned with him and appealed to his emotions… Mu Chaobi did come to his senses and said he was willing to take the lead in clearing up the land-grabbing in Yun Gui and supporting the reform. However, he then requested Zhang Juzheng to send people to oversee it.
I think he still doesn't trust me. Considering that this reform has already involved the Directorate of Ceremonial and the influential families, and even more frighteningly, it has also touched upon the Jingnan Campaign! Think about it, this is digging up all the old accounts of the Great Ming Dynasty… Others may not be clear, but you are hereditary锦衣卫 (Imperial Guard) officers, so you naturally understand…
For forty years, the Emperor has revised many rites and rituals. In the final analysis, it is still this problem! The foundation of the Great Ming Dynasty, as established by the founding emperor, has been lost. The Emperor was also muddled in his early years and wanted to mediate between the two sides, but what were the results! It has only gotten worse! Now, the Emperor has awakened and wants to make one last effort in his twilight years to return the Great Ming to the path of the founding emperor! Do you understand?"
The two listened, stunned and lost in thought—
These issues were not unfamiliar to them, but no one dared to utter a single word! The Crown Prince was openly supported by those old influential families in Yun Gui. The common people might not know, but would they, the锦衣卫 (Imperial Guard), not know? It was just that since the Yongle era, the Emperor had been unwilling to settle this account.
Now that Zhu Mo had spoken it, the two immediately felt a chill down their spines, knowing that the reform had indeed touched upon the fundamental issues of the Great Ming. If pushed too hard, a second Jingnan could not be ruled out, which would then lead to widespread chaos. At that time, the country was at peace, and it could withstand it. But now, let alone a civil war, even if a major incident occurred in one or two provinces, the country would be difficult to manage…
Wu Ming let out a long sigh and said:
"Young Master Zhu, have you reported these matters to the Emperor?"
Zhu Mo told the truth:
"The Emperor has a Daoist named Wang Daren, who is also present as a巡方御史 (Circuit Inspector). He is from the Yan family and tried to harm me in Yun Gui. I caught him with evidence, and finally made him report to the Emperor about the Emperor and the Crown Prince…"
He hesitated for a moment and then said frankly:
"I also found evidence of Mu Chaobi and Yu Chaosheng smuggling tribute goods and other matters. These are confessions from others, and I have also asked Wang Daren to take them back to Duke Lu…"
Oh…
Wu Ming and Wu Liang exchanged glances, and their hearts immediately understood—
By doing this, he was essentially letting the Emperor make the decision. The matter involved imperial secrets and the cracks in the empire, so Zhu Mo, as a reform minister, could not make decisions on his own. Moreover, how could they, in Hangzhou, not know that Lu Kun had people investigating the Directorate of Weaving?
Looking at the several matters together, the cause and effect became clear. Zhu Mo was not unwilling to continue the reform, but because it involved the Directorate of Weaving, the Directorate of Ceremonial, and the Crown Prince, and also the cracks within the Great Ming Dynasty, he naturally could not act on his own. Otherwise, the Emperor would also be suspicious of his motives…
In this way, Zhu Mo's absence was not without reason. He still wanted to wait for a clear attitude from the Emperor… And when the Emperor announced his retirement to the Daoist palace and the Crown Prince’s regency, Zhu Mo suddenly appeared…
Wu Ming thought for a long while and said again:
"Young Master Zhu, we are very grateful that you tell us the truth… But, you say, is this a grand game played by the Emperor? What does this mean?"
Wu Liang also looked expectantly.
Zhu Mo was not lying to them, but he had a strong intuition—
Jiajing, this person, never admitted defeat. Many times, he would rather make mistakes than admit defeat. This was a rooted problem from his fourteen years of being forced to abdicate. For example, in the Chou Luan incident, he would rather wrong so many guards than admit his own oversight…
Such a person, how could he admit defeat? Therefore, although he did not say it, he was certain in his heart that Jiajing would likely let Prince Yu, Yan Song, and the Crown Prince’s faction all reveal themselves.
However, Jiajing was too ruthless! He wanted to create a countercurrent in the reform, to let the people of the world see right from wrong, and then he could suppress it… This was like Guan Zhong's pot-mending method, the so-called virtue of survival is greater than the favor of rescue. At that time, the Great Ming would be more stable.
But he, Zhu Mo, would not do this!
If, according to Jiajing's plan, he should also hide himself, and even spread rumors that he was assassinated in Anlu and his whereabouts were unknown… In this way, when he reappeared, he would not have any stains.
How could he not know this way of playing?
But the consequence of doing so was—
The people of the world would think this was still the way of emperors!
The sufferers would still be the common people!
And his, Zhu Mo's, reform was open and aboveboard, completely different!
With this thought,
Zhu Mo said:
"Think about it, how could the Emperor be afraid of them? I think the Emperor wants to give Prince Yu an opportunity to understand what it is like to be an emperor in the Great Ming Dynasty, and where his position truly lies. The Emperor wants this!
At the same time, the reform is indeed difficult to push forward, and if it is pushed further, internal strife is unavoidable! The Emperor letting them take one or two steps is both a helpless measure and a deep consideration…"
Mm-hmm,
The two then understood—
The Emperor was indeed playing a grand game, and he was indeed testing Prince Yu’s heart. If Prince Yu sat upright, the common people of the Great Ming would be spared a round of suffering. And if Prince Yu did not sit upright, then the common people would certainly suffer this tribulation…
But who could be blamed for this? Has it not always been like this since ancient times? When gods fight, mortals suffer, it has always been like this, and no one can do anything about it. It is rare that he, Zhu Mo, is trying to save them with his own efforts…
Wu Ming said leisurely:
"Yes, do not talk about enfeoffment, for one general’s glory is built upon the suffering of ten thousand men… It has always been like this. It is Zhu Gongzi who is a benevolent person…"
Wu Liang also admired:
"Yes! Young Master Zhu, as I said, whatever you want to do, as long as we can do it, we will do it without any objection!"
Good!
Zhu Mo said gratefully:
"You two are the truly benevolent! I am ashamed to say… Think about it, if I alone did not exist in this world, how could there be so many karmic connections? If I did not reform, the people of the world would follow their own destinies, wouldn't it be much better than me stirring up trouble?"
Wu Ming was stunned for a moment, thinking how profound these words were.
If he did not exist, indeed there would be no reform, but would there be nothing else? The Yan family was too powerful to control, and the Portuguese were pressing closer. It was not impossible for the world to fall into chaos, and then more people would die.