Chapter 660 659 Public Opinion

Sure enough, the next day, Emperor Longqing saw Chen Yiqin and Lei Li's petitions for retirement in the Qianqing Palace, both of which were due to illness.

"Chen Ju, go to the cabinet and summon Chen Yiqin to see me."

"Yes."

Chen Ju, who was standing at the door, bowed and responded, and then ran quickly to the Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Longqing put the two petitions on the imperial desk, and now he disapproved Lei Li's petition and sent the imperial physician to the palace to treat him.

Such a petition had been approved yesterday.

When the imperial physician returned to the palace to report, he also said that Lei Li's illness was indeed difficult to treat. Although he could still work now, it would not last too long.

Therefore, Emperor Longqing made up his mind at that time to agree to Lei Li's third petition, and complete the etiquette between the monarch and his subjects.

As for Chen Yiqin, Emperor Longqing's attitude was exactly the same as Wei Guangde guessed, and of course he would not let him go at this time.

However, he had not mentioned this matter when he met Chen Yiqin before, so Emperor Longqing thought it necessary to ask about the situation in person.

He had no time to think about it. Xu Jie had already mobilized the power of the court to force Gao Gong away. He was worried that Xu Jie was behind this. This time, he would not play by the rules. He could even directly issue an order to order Xu Jie to retire.

Of course, this order could not be issued casually.

Before issuing an order, there must be some arrangements to avoid mistakes.

Emperor Longqing was anxiously waiting for Chen Yiqin's arrival in the palace, and at this time, all the major government offices in Beijing were in an uproar.

Everyone knew what was going on when Lei Li asked to retire.

Minister Lei was indeed ill. He could drag it on until now. In fact, the scheming people also guessed that he was waiting for Zhu Heng to return to the court.

However, what made them go crazy was Chen Yiqin's memorial.

When they saw Chen Yiqin before, he didn't seem to be ill at all. Why did he suddenly ask for leave due to illness?

Could it be that the faction of Xu Ge Lao and the faction of Yu Ju in the cabinet have completely broken up?

At this time, rumors were flying all over the capital, and the news naturally reached Xu Jie's ears.

At this moment, he was sitting alone in the duty room thinking.

Chen Yiqin's sudden move made him stunned and a little frightened, because he didn't know what was going on. Could it be that someone in the palace was going to take action against him?

According to the news just now, if the emperor issued an order to dismiss him from office or even put him in prison, those officials in the capital would not come out to protect him just because he was the prime minister. Except for those officials who shared the same glory and loss with him, most people would only gloat over his misfortune.

As for the reason, it was just as the outside world speculated.

At that time, they would only think that it was Xu Jie who forced Chen Yiqin to retire in the cabinet, just like Guo Pu last year.

The officials hated Gao Gong, but although they had some resentment towards Guo Pu, they were actually more jealous.

He became a cabinet minister by opportunism and was favored by the Emperor Jiajing because he wrote Qingci. As for Guo Pu's own talent, they selectively ignored it.

However, after Guo Pu was forced to retire, the reversal of public opinion caught him, the Prime Minister, by surprise.

In fact, if he had expected this, he would never kill him. At least he would have waited for a year or two before looking for an opportunity to deal with Guo Pu.

With this inherent impression, Xu Jie could imagine how the officials in Beijing would view him.

He forced Gao Gong and Guo Pu away, and now he is taking action against Chen Yiqin. Is this a rebellion?

After a long time, after hearing Zhang Juzheng's voice outside asking for an audience, Xu Jie came back to his senses and shouted, "Please let him in."

Of course, the cabinet ministers were also puzzled by him. Not only was Zhang Juzheng suspicious, so he took the initiative to come to Xu Jie's duty room to ask, even Li Chunfang, who was still in his duty room, had put down his official duties at this time and was a little uneasy.

I wanted to go to Chen Yiqin's house, but it was not appropriate to go out at this time because the timing was not right.

After Chen Ju came to the cabinet and did not see Chen Yiqin, he naturally could not go back to the palace directly.

He knew that Emperor Longqing must see Chen Yiqin today, so he simply went to the palace gate again, intending to go directly to his home to summon him.

Wei Guangde also learned from Lu Bu the news circulating in the yamen in the Ministry of Rites, and was somewhat dumbfounded.

If Xu Jie knew about this yesterday, he would definitely have anticipated today's difficulties.

But whether it was Wei Guangde or Yin Shizhan, they still lacked experience in the court. Many times they were hindsighted and used to thinking of ways to beat their children.

After Lu Bu left, Wei Guangde was still sighing in his heart. He did not expect that Chen Yiqin's resignation method would have such a wonderful effect.

He and Yin Shizhan knew the reason why Chen Yiqin asked for leave, so they naturally understood that this matter was not as weird as the rumors outside.

However, Wei Guangde had a premonition that this unintentional move would turn out to be a brilliant move.

Official ambitions sometimes influence the political situation.

Recalling the expression on Chen Yiqin's face when he said that yesterday, Wei Guangde was not sure whether he had expected this, but this retreat-to-advance method was indeed very effective, and it seemed that Lord Xu must have felt the pressure.

Just as Wei Guangde thought, Huo Yi, who had planned to submit a petition for retirement to the cabinet later, was now a little hesitant.

Lei Li and Chen Yiqin's petitions for retirement had already caused a stir in the city. What would be the consequences if he also asked for retirement at this time?

He could only hold back for now and wait for news from Yang Bo.

If Yang Bo also asked him to submit a petition, he would have to do it even if he was reluctant.

So, just as the officials in Beijing were discussing and rumors were spreading, in the afternoon, an even more shocking news came out. The Minister of War Huo Yi also submitted a memorial to the court asking for his resignation.

He did not say that he was asking for retirement due to health reasons, but because Zhang Qi, the secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, had previously suggested that "the autumn defense is important, and the emperor should summon the nine ministers to present their strategies to resist the invaders. If they are mediocre and hesitant in their words, they are not sincere in serving the country, and they should be asked to retire on their own."

Huo Yi used Zhang Qi's words to say that his talents were not enough to correct the times, his reputation was not enough to convince the people, and his position was not right and his measures were not right. Moreover, the autumn defense was unpredictable, and the emperor was repeatedly worried about the nine heavy things. However, I was stupid and could not do anything. I was mediocre and did not need to be summoned to know. I also asked for his dismissal as soon as possible and for other talented people to replace him.

Despite this, suspicions aroused in the court and the public continued.

There have been a series of important officials in the court who have resigned. It would be strange if there was no discussion.

Not many officials knew that Xu Jie and Yang Bo were secretly in collusion, but many knew that Huo Yi and Yang Bo had a close relationship.

As a result, all officials were even more confused, not knowing whether Xu Jie had offended Yang Bo, or for some other reason.

However, the news in the palace was still very fast. It was unknown whether Emperor Longqing had read Huo Yi's memorial, but Lei Li and Chen Yiqin's memorials were sent back to the cabinet, and both were not approved.

Today's matter was actually still being carried out according to the previous plan of Xu Jie and others, but the variable of Chen Yiqin made the wind direction of the court and the public today extremely unfavorable to Xu Jie.

At this time, Xu's family members had been dispersed to various restaurants and teahouses in the capital to inquire about the news, mainly to see what the officials and the people thought of the matter.

Yes, although there was no effective theory of public opinion warfare, Xu Jie had already mastered the manipulation of public opinion with his many years of experience, and used it as a weapon to attack political enemies.

When dealing with Gao Gong and Guo Pu, the goal was achieved in this way.

At this time, in the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Longqing also read Huo Yi's memorial, but there was only a hint of amusement in his eyes.

It is true that he is a little slow, but he is not stupid. He has already seen that this is actually a test by Xu Jie, Yang Bo and other old men.

Chen Yiqin has also explained clearly that it is indeed a personal reason. He wants to rest for a while to adjust his body. There is no external factor involved.

In this way, Emperor Longqing is relieved.

Before, he wanted to take the initiative and issue an order to expel Xu Jie.

The court should do things decently. If it is not really that step, he does not want to lose that person.

He just has a little bad feeling towards Xu Jie, and the reason is still because of Gao Gong, but he has no other thoughts about other important ministers.

He still remembers the words of Emperor Jiajing at the last moment, "You are not a monarch with achievements, so you need wise ministers to assist you."

He can use Chen Yiqin, Wei Guangde and others with confidence, but it does not mean that all his subordinates have to be replaced by those recommended by them.

Even if his ability was really inferior, Emperor Longqing still needed the power of the court officials to be evenly distributed.

The ministers came from all corners of the country and represented their own interests.

The emperor had to mediate and balance the interests of all parties, so that they would listen to him.

Balance was the weapon to consolidate the imperial power.

Therefore, at this time, Emperor Longqing did not intend to act on impulse, and wrote on Huo Yi's memorial, "The minister's stay or departure will be dealt with by me when I summon him. There is no need to declare yourself in advance, and serve with all your heart to serve as a deputy commissioner."

"Chen Hong, stamp this memorial and send it to the cabinet tomorrow morning."

Emperor Longqing did not put Huo Yi's memorial into other memorials, but took it out separately and gave it to Chen Hong, asking him to handle it personally.

"Yes, the eunuch knows."

Chen Hong agreed, stepped forward to take the memorial and put it in his sleeve.

This memorial will not be sent out today according to the normal process.

However, if someone handles it separately, although the memorial cannot be sent to the cabinet, the news will spread first.

Because of the discussion in the court today, Wei Guangde and Yin Shizhan did not go to Chen Yiqin's house after the court was dismissed, which was really a bit eye-catching.

That afternoon, many of Chen Yiqin's students and old friends had already visited him one after another to see how he was doing.

If they went there at this time, it would easily give people the impression that they were manipulating conspiracy and intrigue, and several people gathered together to think of ways to do something tricky.

Chen Yiqin would not continue to petition for leave, because today in the palace, Emperor Longqing had promised to reduce his work pressure as appropriate, but the cabinet could not do without him.

In fact, there was such a cabinet minister in the Jiajing Dynasty who was in the name of cabinet minister, recuperated at home all year round, and occasionally came out to do things, and that was Lü Ben.

In the last few years of his cabinet minister career, he spent most of his time recuperating.

Even if Emperor Jiajing gave him the opportunity to participate in the imperial examination in the 35th year of Jiajing and let him expand his wings, he was unwilling to break with Yan Song, but directly became a hands-off manager after the imperial examination, and would not return to the cabinet to do business unless there was something important in the court.

From time to time, he submitted petitions for retirement, but they were all rejected by Yan Song and Emperor Jiajing, who only told him to recuperate.

The reasons were very complicated. One reason was that Emperor Jiajing was satisfied with the operation of the cabinet, and the other was that Lü Ben's illness was not serious and could be cured.

In fact, Chen Yiqin's current physical condition was similar to Lü Ben's. He could continue to work after being cured, but he had to pay attention to rest.

Emperor Longqing said so, so Chen Yiqin naturally couldn't say anything more.

Besides, he had heard some rumors about the court and the public today.

The court was in turmoil, which was not what he wanted. Although the wind direction was unfavorable to Xu Jie, he didn't want that either.

Therefore, as the visiting guests left, Chen Yiqin's condition quickly spread in the capital.

I am really sick, and Qiu Xiu really wants to rest for a while and recuperate my body. There is nothing like what the rumors say.

Therefore, Xu Jie was temporarily relieved after receiving the news.

If it were someone else, he might think it was okay and his position as chief assistant was still secure, but Xu Jie didn't think so.

You know, even though the three important ministers begged for leave or retired from official duties in one day, Emperor Longqing did not summon him to ask him for advice. This actually showed that the emperor no longer regarded him as his chief minister in his heart.

What do cabinet ministers do?

What does a Grand Master of Diange do?

That is the person who provides reference and consultation to the emperor. If the emperor doesn't come to him when he encounters problems, what's the point of continuing to stay in this position?

Just for the right to vote in the cabinet?

Inadvertently, Xu Jie's determination to retreat became even more determined after this incident.

Wei Guangde went out after dinner and went to Lei Li's home.

Today in the court, everyone's attention was attracted by Chen Yiqin and Huo Yi, looking at the cabinet, but Wei Guangde and a few others knew that something else happened in the afternoon.

That is, the eunuch Teng Xiang had a big quarrel with Lei Li, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, who came over and said that he would go back to the palace to sue him.

Wei Guangde went to Lei Li's home, firstly to visit, and secondly to find out the details of what was going on.

"Tengxiang came to the Ministry of Works to ask for materials to rebuild the imperial utensils. He said that the materials for the utensils for His Majesty should not be included in the annual regulations. I said that the imperial regulations should be used to update the imperial utensils. It is said that there is no quota for money and food, and there should be no extravagance and waste. What's the point? wrong?"

Lei Li sighed and said, "At the beginning of the emperor's ascension to the throne, the service and royalties have been updated since then. It has not yet passed the new year, so there is no need to change the dragon bed, brine book, etc. Other miscellaneous utensils should only be included in the annual records.

It’s not like I don’t know what Tengxiang’s idea was. It was said that he spent huge sums of money on purchasing utensils and repairing musical instruments for altars and temples, and he cut off the large logs left in the factory at will.

How could the Ministry of Industry have so many materials for him to take as he requested? "

Lei Li said angrily.

Wei Guangde understood that Tengxiang was trying to make money under the guise of the emperor.

Most of Emperor Longqing's current imperial utensils have only been used for more than a year, and some of them need to be replaced.

What's more, for daily maintenance and repair, the Ministry of Industry will provide materials, money and food, which is annual.

Wei Guangde sighed and said: "What Gu Hegong said is true, but this offends the villain."

"If I don't offend him, it will be Zhu Shinan's turn to be in trouble."

Lei Li, however, didn't take it seriously and laughed to himself: "I took the blame, so Tengxiang would only do it to me. I have to go back to Jiangxi anyway, how can he tolerate me?"

When Wei Guangde nodded slightly, Lei Li continued: "Tomorrow I will beg for leave, and Your Majesty will approve it. After I leave, the capital will be entirely dependent on you and Shinan."

"I know."

Wei Guangde nodded and said. (End of chapter)