"The son asks the queen mother to say goodbye. The pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info "Etiquette cannot be abolished, even if there is something important in my heart that needs to be told to my mother, Wanli still followed the rules after seeing the Empress Dowager Li, and first kowtowed respectfully to say hello."

Empress Dowager Li asked someone to help the emperor up, and said with a smile: "The emperor doesn't need to be polite, you came here so late to mourn the family, it should be for the affairs of the previous dynasty, right?" "There is nothing to tempt the mother and son, just say it directly.

Wan Li saw that his mother already knew about this, so he nodded and said, "Exactly." Master Zhang suddenly came to see Erchen and said that he was going to resign and return to Li, and it was difficult for Erchen to change his mind after trying to keep him, so he ...... I hope that the queen mother will teach me and see what can be done. ”

As the so-called Zhizi touches his mother, although the emperor said this, Empress Dowager Li still saw a trace of uncertainty and hesitation in his expression, so she first glanced at the eunuchs and palace maids who were accompanying him. Those people naturally understood what the queen mother meant, and after bowing to them, they silently withdrew from the palace, and closed the palace door by the way.

Seeing that the queen mother suddenly made this arrangement, even Wanli was a little confused, and could only look at each other a little blankly. It wasn't until there were only the two of them, mother and son, that Empress Dowager Li said in a flat voice: "Before I say what I think, I need to listen to the true thoughts of your heart, the emperor." What kind of thoughts do you have about Master Zhang's resignation this time? As she spoke, she fixed her eyes on her son's face, not giving him any chance to dodge.

Wanli was slightly stunned, and then understood something, and a wry smile appeared on his face: "The queen mother really saw it?" Yes, I am also very conflicted about Master Zhang's resignation this time, and I hope that he can leave just now......"

Seeing that he was telling the truth, Empress Dowager Li sighed unconsciously. She naturally knows the relationship between the emperor and Zhang Juzheng, and even she knows that some of the contradictions between the two are still because of herself. But now is not the time to say this, and the Empress Dowager Li does not mean to blame the emperor, which son of heaven likes to be controlled by a courtier all the time, and even the imperial power cannot be asserted?

Empress Dowager Li nodded: "It is reasonable for the emperor to have this idea. But when you have this idea, you still put national affairs first, trying to keep Master Zhang, and you have gradually become what a human monarch should be. If you really came to ask me, the queen mother, what she thinks about this, then I can tell you right now that you can't leave Master Zhang now, and I can't leave Master Zhang at this time. ”

If these words had been said a few years ago, they would have aroused the dissatisfaction and even backlash of the little emperor. But now, he knows it. Especially after experiencing the performance of those courtiers just now, he has a better understanding of Zhang Juzheng's actions over the years.

Empress Dowager Li was still a little worried that her son would be unhappy because of this, so she continued: "I said this not to defend Master Zhang, but from your point of view. Now you are still young, and your control over state affairs is far from the level of the previous emperors. And from the point of view of the mourning family, none of the Manchu officials can compare to Master Zhang, if he goes, there will be endless fighting in the court, and it will be difficult to manage state affairs. ”

The queen mother considered that in fact, her sons also had concerns in this regard. But ......" Wanli paused with some embarrassment as he spoke, and then continued: "But Master Zhang's current situation is extremely special, even if I am the Son of Heaven, it is difficult to interfere, so that he will not return to his hometown Ding worry. After all, Master Zhang is the first assistant, the chief of my Ming officials, and the example of the ministers, if even he is not filial after the death of his biological father, what will others think of the court? ”

This is the most difficult place for Wanli now, filial piety occupies an absolute high point in this era, and it cannot be offset by a few words. Even if it is the emperor's royal decree of Chrysostom, it is really not as good as filial piety.

The mourning family is naturally clear about this, and the saying that filial piety is a loyal minister has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Are you worried that if Master Zhang is not worried, the officials and people below will be dissatisfied with him, which will affect his reputation in the future? ”

"Exactly. And this affects not only his reputation alone, but also the reputation of the entire court. Wanli continued: "And Erchen saw that Master Zhang's attitude today was also very resolute, and it seemed that he had made up his mind to leave. ”

Empress Dowager Li was silent for a moment, and then said: "This kind of human matter, according to reason, even the emperor should not be strong." However, there are always exceptions. When you mentioned Ding Wei, did you think that in fact, we can win the favor and let Master Zhang continue to stay? ”

"Love?" Wanli was obviously stunned when he heard this.

Of course he knew what it was all about. The Chinese nation has always paid great attention to filial piety, and as long as their parents die, ordinary people will return to their hometowns to keep filial piety for their parents for 27 months.

But there are always exceptions to things, it's okay to say that civil officials or something, but military generals are fighting outside, if something happens to the parents at home in the rear, it will be difficult to do. They can't use this as an excuse for the enemy to withdraw their troops for the time being, and wait for two or three years before resuming the war, right?

As a result, the flexible imperial court has a saying that it is love-grabbing. The so-called seizure of affection is to take away people's normal feelings, so that the generals will not go back to fulfill their filial piety for the time being and be loyal to the country first. Until the end of the war, he returned to his hometown to fulfill his filial piety to his parents. And this initiative has gradually been inherited by the civil officials, and even they have the possibility of staying in office after the death of their parents.

Of course, this practice is very criticized by people all over the world. In the eyes of people who rule the world with filial piety, this kind of guy who refuses to mourn even the death of his parents is definitely not a good person, let alone a bad official. This point has been vividly reflected in Liu Ji, a cabinet scholar of the Ming Dynasty.

There is nothing wrong with this Lord Liu himself, but it is because of his love for the power of the stack, he is still in power after his father's death, and he accepts the emperor's edict to seize love and is criticized and even discredited.

But when it comes to it, it's not like it's impossible. Until there was a Yang Tinghe in the Zhengde Dynasty, he actually resigned from all official positions as soon as he heard of his father's death in the first auxiliary position of the cabinet, and went straight back to his hometown Sichuan despite the emperor's every means to keep him. It was not until he served 27 months of mourning that he re-entered the court as an official.

Yang Tinghe was a famous figure all over the world both then and later, and with his example standing in front of him, those officials in the DPRK and China naturally did not dare to fight for the idea of taking love. Even the emperor, in the face of this situation, did not dare to make an edict to win affection, because it would not have any effect, no one dared to say that he was more important to the court than Yang Tinghe at that time, and no one was so thick-skinned.

Because of this, at the present of the Wanli Dynasty, whether it is a courtier or an emperor, they don't think too much about seizing love, and they don't think that Zhang Juzheng will accept it.

When Wanli expressed his concerns, even the Queen Mother felt a little embarrassed. has an example in front, whether it is for them or for Zhang Juzheng, the pressure is not small.

But Empress Dowager Li still insisted on her own opinion, at least in the past few years, the emperor was still indispensable to Zhang Juzheng's support, so she frowned and said: "What the emperor is considering is not unreasonable. However, today's court situation should be quite inferior to that of Wuzong, when there were still Yang Yiqing and other famous ministers in the court, and Yang Tinghe was nothing to return to his hometown for the time being. But now, the imperial court really can't help but have Master Zhang in charge. ”

Even if he was unwilling in his heart, Wanli had to accept the fact that he couldn't bear such a heavy burden, and Zhang Juzheng's assistance was indispensable. But the current problem is still in front of him, and he doesn't know what to do for a while: "Queen Mother, even so, what can we do?" ”

"There is always a way, it depends on whether you are willing to do it." Empress Dowager Li said, but she was stunned, and glanced at her son with some concern.

"The Queen Mother, please speak. Erchen is no longer the child who was only angry at the beginning, and he knows the seriousness of the matter. ”

"That is to help Master Zhang bear some criticism and infamy. As the Son of Heaven, you will make a clear decree to ask Master Zhang to win his affection, so that the world will know that our heavenly family cannot do without Master Zhang, not that he does not want to be filial to his father. Empress Dowager Li quickly said what she meant.

Wanli was obviously stunned for a moment, and then asked not too convinced: "Queen Mother, is this just possible?" ”

"Once or twice, it doesn't work. But as long as Master Zhang pushes once, you will make another will, until everyone in the world knows that Master Zhang was forced by you to make such a decision, and he will have no worries. Empress Dowager Li said, and glanced at her son with some concern, afraid that he would refuse.

But this time, Wanli didn't disappoint her, although he frowned slightly, he still nodded and said, "It's nothing." I can order someone to give an order, and I hope Master Zhang will obey my intentions. ”

"As long as your intentions are sincere enough, Master Zhang will definitely stay for you." Empress Dowager Li was very confident.

Then the two of them talked for a while, and Wanli said goodbye and left. However, after walking out of Cining Palace, the emperor's face was covered with a gloomy color. Although he can't leave Zhang Juzheng now, he also knows that once things are really done as his mother said, Zhang Juzheng's prestige in the officialdom will reach its peak, and at that time, it will be even more difficult for him to get the power he wants.

"What should I do? Should I simply let him go, or should I do what my mother wants? There is no one who really thinks about me? It is said that the Son of Heaven is a lonely man, can't I escape this status quo? The emperor's expression became more and more ugly, but suddenly, a figure appeared in his mind: "No, there is another person he will think about me, I should ask his opinion......"