Zhang Siwei quickly took a few steps, leaning close to Zhang Juzheng's ear, and lowered his voice, "Your Excellency, this is not good! Those wealthy households who previously subscribed to the anti-Wokou bonds have now crowded the协理衙门 to demand repayment!"
What?
With a *pat*,
The brush in Zhang Juzheng's hand dropped. He blurted out,
"How many people?"
Zhang Siwei replied, "The wealthy households demanding repayment number over a thousand in various prefectures and counties, but they say many more will be coming. Even these thousand households alone represent a total of two million taels of silver!"
Zhang Juzheng's astonishment had not yet subsided.
Ma Ziqiang added, "I manage the weaving workshops. It's the same situation here. Those common folk, incited by someone, have also brought their silver back, saying they want their money returned and don't want to participate anymore! The households coming to return silver across all prefectures and counties total over eight hundred. The silver is less than twenty thousand taels. Alas..."
Oh...
Zhang Juzheng picked up the brush again, placed it steadily on the brush rest, and said,
"Although I had anticipated some redemption requests, I never expected so many..."
It should be known that
Zhang Juzheng was a man of unparalleled talent, and his composure in times of crisis was not to be underestimated. His mind was clear, and he had already identified the cause for suspicion. He asked,
"Ziwei, do those wealthy households demanding repayment come in person, or do they send their stewards with the vouchers?"
Zhang Siwei pondered for a moment, then thoughtfully replied, "Your Excellency's insight is accurate. I have indeed seen many stewards. Does this mean the majority are gentry households?"
Zhang Juzheng stroked his beard and said, "That's right! It's likely the Yan faction instigating this behind the scenes, attempting to undermine us by pulling the rug out from under us..."
The two sighed, pondering for a while, but could not come up with a solution.
Zhang Juzheng paced a few steps, having already devised a good plan. He calmly stated,
"They will use momentum to pressure us, and we can also use momentum to delay... Ziwei, you shall write this. We will draft a notice stating that the situation of the slave revolt in Jiangnan is unclear, and the anti-Wokou situation is severe. The matter of the Yangming official schools has caused an uproar throughout the land and fundamentally shaken its foundations. The imperial court and the provincial government are temporarily unable to attend to matters concerning the government-operated money houses. Those who wish to withdraw may register their names, and their funds will be returned with interest upon the clarification of the slave revolt case, regardless of breach of contract."
Mmm-hmm,
The two nodded continuously, feeling that Grand Tutor Zhang was truly formidable.
This notice directly addressed the Yangming official schools and the slave revolt, almost explicitly stating, "You people are deliberately causing trouble."
Ma Ziqiang, also possessing considerable talent, added, "Yes! Your Excellency is right. Since the majority are gentry, we can reprimand them and be unapologetic! As for ordinary wealthy households, their money can indeed be returned, but they will need to deduct the so-called penalty for breach of contract as agreed..."
They naturally did not understand these concepts. The documents had been drafted in a haphazard manner with red and black ink. Terms like "penalty for breach of contract" were naturally awkward for them.
Zhang Siwei also smiled at the thought and quickly wrote the notice. The three reviewed it again, felt there were no issues, and immediately ordered it to be posted in all prefectures and counties.
Late at night,
Zhang Juzheng tried to pick up his brush to write a letter again, but could not write another word. He felt the situation was bizarre and ominous, inexplicably stirring up the entire realm. Despite his extraordinary intellect, he felt helpless.
Thinking of Zhu Mo's daring and selfless actions, how all his plans and strategies were truly for the welfare of the people and the Great Ming, he felt that advising him to go to the frontier was truly a case of saving oneself at the expense of others. He found himself truly unable to write the letter.
...
The capital,
Amidst the clamorous and bizarre atmosphere, several more days passed.
During these days,
The fifteen academies, including Wendao, Han Xiang, and Shoushan, along with the Baitan Academy which initiated the Yangming official schools, jointly launched a "Joint Lecture" event. Famous scholars and masters from various regions arrived, and scholars from far and wide also flocked to the capital.
The common people were greatly moved to see so many scholars at once. Some elders even said that since Emperor Yongle moved the capital, Beijing had not been so lively.
However, what worried the people was that these scholars spoke of nothing but the Yangming official schools, completely contrary to the court's policies. Thus, amidst the liveliness, an eerie atmosphere permeated.
These past few days,
Zhu Mo had been staying at home. Even his old servant had taken leave to go home, saying his wife was ill and he needed to attend to her. Zhu Mo had given him silver, but he dared not take it.
At that moment,
He felt that although the world was vast, there was no place for him, Zhu Mo, to reside...
He had merely wanted to find a way out for the common people to prevent the total collapse of the Great Ming. Although he had offended the Yan family and sometimes acted ruthlessly, it was out of necessity. If the Yan family had not been so aggressive, why would he have gone to such lengths?
Although Lu Kun had visited once, he only dared to come after dark, offer some comfort, and then leave.
Zhu Mo felt as if he were dead, his spirit completely drained. She naturally also thought about what would happen after her death—
What legacy would her actions leave in history?
Perhaps posterity would compare her to Wang Shuzhen of the Tang Dynasty? Having implemented numerous reforms in just a few months, which could be said to have opened a path to extend the life of the late Tang, yet she herself perished...
Or, perhaps, she would be seen as someone who accelerated the fall of the Ming Dynasty? After all, it was precisely because of her actions that the power of the feudal bureaucracy had only grown stronger. This would be akin to the saying "a drop in the ocean," where adding a little water to a raging fire would only intensify the flames...
To avoid misinterpretation by future generations, he had spent these days writing an article and a few poems. The article was titled "Biographical Account of Prime Minister Zhu Zixuan," which he intended to entrust to Lu Kun for safekeeping. Years later, when his case was overturned, a monument would be erected, and this short text would be inscribed on it, so that future generations would know of Zhu Mo's struggles. If the common people remained common people, then they could learn from his lessons...
As for being called "Prime Minister," Zhu Mo felt he truly deserved it, as he had planned comprehensively and initiated a positive trajectory, achieving good results both internally and externally. In fact, even if he were to die, if Zhang Juzheng were to rise, he would still inherit and continue the specific policies. He was very aware of this.
After several attempts to write, he finally penned a very short biographical account, to serve as an epitaph—
"The Prime Minister of the Great Ming, Zhu Mo, courtesy name Zixuan, was initially a Daoist priest of the Qingxu Temple, with a detached nature and a fondness for clever schemes. He once roamed the capital and, upon a whim, became a scholar-official in the Hanlin Academy. The Duke was particularly adept at composing Qing Ci, which the late Emperor often favored. In the thirty-ninth year, the Duke, pitying the common people, advised the late Emperor to implement severe punishments and revitalize the declining era. His words are all contained within the 'Yun Chao Shu,' whose purpose is to understand the reasons for governance and chaos, and the ways of revolution, aiming to bring back the Great Way of Yao and Shun to the world. The late Emperor deeply agreed, considering him a commoner serving as Prime Minister, tasked with reforming Jiangnan.
The Duke was adept at adapting to all major policies, bringing great benefit to the people. He also forced peace upon Anda in the grasslands and established a tributary state, ensuring peace in the border regions. At the time, people often praised him, comparing him to Guan Zhong and Wei Yang. However, the Duke's reforms always centered on the common people, leading the gentry to despise him, proclaiming Zhu Mo as 'Qin Mo,' one who disrupted the sage's system and deserved to be torn apart by chariots as a warning to future generations. At the end of the thirty-ninth year of Jiajing, the Duke was unjustly imprisoned. When some advised him to flee the country, the Duke always said, 'I live and die with the people.' He also wrote his own biographical account, stating, 'Five hundred years later, there will be those who understand me.' In the early part of the fortieth year, the Duke passed away, mourned by the people of that time."
He had read this countless times these past few days,
Zhu Mo felt this was all he could do. Speaking more would not be understood. Regardless, his grievances would surely be redressed in five hundred years.
On this day,
While half-asleep, Lu Kun visited again. Zhu Mo handed him the biographical account and said, "Old Lu, I hope you will take care of matters after my death. Whether there is a body or not, choose a green mountain somewhere in the future and engrave this account as a memorial, so that future generations may know that there was once a person like me in the Great Ming..."
Lu Kun had also been terrified by the unprecedented wave of public opinion these past few days, and consequently, he was ostracized by all his colleagues. Rumors were indeed circulating that Zhu Mo would be torn apart by chariots...
He recalled the incident in Datong, and tears began to stream down his face. He said, "Brother Zixuan, I will definitely record everything you have done and publish it to the world when the times are slightly clearer... Wuwuwu..."