Heard Empress Dowager Li say this. Zhang Juzheng stopped his mouth that had been going on just now.

"These are the things you and the mourners have said. Although the mourning family does not ask about the government on weekdays. But there are some things that the mourners also know. Empress Dowager Li saw that Zhang Juzheng stopped. That's what it means to speak. "Those things. The mourners dare not say that they know everything. But most of them have heard of it. Aren't these things already settled? The court was cut off. These corrupt officials have also been punished. But now. You bring it up again. What the hell is it for. ”

"Queen Mother." Zhang Juzheng said. "Those things that Wechen said just now. Although it is said that the conclusion has been reached. But there's a lot at stake. I really can't help but ask.

"The Queen Mother has ever imagined. Although this gratifying person is just some officials with the official position of county and prefect. The largest is only one from the fourth grade. Said that this official position is not big. But what is at stake is not small. Imagine. A county of seven products. Although the official position is low. But there are hundreds of families under its jurisdiction. and the people they ruled over were thousands. Once this magistrate has any selfish intentions. All of these 1,000 people will be implicated. If this county is dedicated to the people. That's good, too; But if this person is only interested in himself. That's a big problem. Many people will suffer injustice as a result. Not to mention the prefect of a state capital or an official such as a fellow governor. If it's evil. The damage to the people is unimaginable. ”

"These things are also understood by the mourning family." Empress Dowager Li nodded. agreed with what Zhang Juzheng said. "So no matter when the emperor was in power. Or now. The imperial court will never allow those corrupt officials to harm the people of the court. endangering my country. Besides. Those things that the Qing family just said. The imperial court has not already found out. The jury is out. And they were punished? Now why do you want to bring up the old things again. ”

"Queen Mother. Wechen has a saying. I don't know if to talk about it or not. Zhang Juzheng did not answer. Rather, it said.

Zhang Juzheng said so. Empress Dowager Li is indeed interested. plus her trust in Zhang Juzheng now. And there was no intention of stopping her: "Just say anything." ”

"Not to mention that these have been found out by the imperial court. Just those who didn't find out. But I still don't know how many. Zhang Juzheng said. My Ming Dynasty has a vast territory. and the people under his rule are also multiplied. Therefore, there are many officials needed. But the Queen Mother, please look. Wechen did say a lot just now. But there weren't a few. As a matter of fact. Last year was the same year as the imperial court's 'Jingcha' held every six years and the 'Great Plan' once every three years. However, there are only about 50 officials who have really found out that there are problems. And no one above the third grade has a problem. And the one who really did it. But more than 20 people. Not even half of it. ”

"These mourners know it, too." Empress Dowager Li heard Zhang Juzheng say this. Said a little helplessly. "Although I found it, I didn't do it. Perhaps those officials just offended the officials who were photographed by the imperial court for a thorough investigation. Or maybe what they did wasn't really too important. Besides. Fewer people have been detected. Doesn't it mean that the officials of my Ming Dynasty are all loyal to the monarch and the country? Although the words of the Empress Dowager Li are so. But everyone present could see and hear it. She said to the end. It was also the tone that fell. Obviously. Even she couldn't believe it.

Faced with Empress Dowager Li's words. Zhang Juzheng could only sigh. In a very helpless tone, he said to the Empress Dowager Li: "The Empress Dowager." Please also forgive Weichen for his courage. Thinking about what the Queen Mother just said in the Queen Mother's heart. ”

Zhang Juzheng's words are indeed very bold. He said this as if he pointed at Empress Dowager Li and said that she had lied.

Even Empress Dowager Li trusts Zhang Juzheng very much. But Zhang Juzheng's words did anger her. Come to think of it. No matter how good the relationship between the two is. Empress Dowager Li is the concubine of the former emperor after all. The biological mother of the current emperor. is the dignified queen mother; And Zhang Juzheng said it anyway. No matter how high his position is. How much power is in the hands. Even if he is the overlord of the officials. At the end of the day, he is still an official. No matter what. Zhang Juzheng's words definitely angered Empress Dowager Li.

With an angry face. Empress Dowager Li looked at Zhang Juzheng. For the first time, he said to him in an unkind tone: "Zhang Aiqing." It's not that you don't believe the words of the mourners. ”

"How dare Weichen not believe the words of the Queen Mother." Zhang Juzheng hurriedly bowed down. Said. "Weichen is just afraid that the Queen Mother will be deceived by traitors. I can't see the facts. ”

Zhang Juzheng's thoughts. He understands a little. For this group of sub-royals. You can't face it with any confrontational appearance. In that case. It will only put yourself in a disadvantageous position. So Zhang Juzheng never intended to accuse the above people of anything. Not to mention the Longqing of the year. Even for the current emperor Zhu Yijun. Zhang Juzheng in addition to the majesty of the scripture feast. can make Zhu Yijun form an emotion of obeying him. There was absolutely no disrespect for him.

The reason why Zhang Juzheng wants to say this. In addition to appeasing the anger in Empress Dowager Li's heart at the moment. The most important thing is to let Empress Dowager Li think about the issue from a different perspective.

Truly. It's not just Zhang Juzheng. Those present included Zhang Fan and Feng Bao. may be except for Zhu Yijun. They all understood that what Zhang Juzheng said just now was true. The court of the Ming Dynasty. Since the moment of the founding of the country. It's been filthy all along. Corrupt and bent the law, forming parties for personal gain, deception, and so on. These things have never stopped. It's impossible to stop. In the middle of the court. Either official or royal. They all understand this truth.

The reason why Empress Dowager Li said that just now. That's because she is the current queen mother of the Ming Dynasty. The one in power today. There is no way she could have spoken out to disparage herself. Say it under its own rule. Corrupt officials and corrupt officials are everywhere. So Zhang Juzheng's words just now made her feel angry. It also shows that those words are to the point.

But this does not mean that Empress Dowager Li does not want to change this situation. After all, the people in power. There is no one who does not want his subordinates to be clear and loyal. So. Zhang Juzheng has now given her a step. It made her feel like she would say this because she was deceived by someone below. And so it goes. There was a stair. And for Zhang Juzheng. Empress Dowager Li also needs him to do things for herself.

"You mean. The mourners were deceived by the people below. Empress Dowager Li looked surprised. At least the people next to her knew she did it on purpose. But I still didn't see any flaws. "These good thieves. Dare to deceive the mourning family. If you let the mourners find out who it is. We must punish them severely. ”

Now that the steps are all found. Empress Dowager Li naturally wanted to take advantage of the trend. Of course. None of those present took her last words seriously. But since it's down the stairs. It's easy to talk.

"But even so......" "calmed" his mood. Empress Dowager Li continued. "Even if the people below have something to hide from the mourning family. But nothing was found. The imperial court did not have a way to draw any conclusions. Besides. The stakes are high. You can't just make assumptions. ”

"The Queen Mother is thoughtful. That's true. Zhang Juzheng continued. Because of this. Wechen still has a book to play here. "Talking. Zhang Juzheng took out a fold from his arms again. Feng Bao, who was on the side, personally stepped forward and called the hands of the Empress Dowager Li.

Empress Dowager Li took the fold. It's just that there are doubts. But as she flipped through it. His face also became extremely bad.

I haven't finished reading the recital yet. Empress Dowager Li raised her head. Staring at Zhang Juzheng. asked, "Zhang Aiqing." This is not a nonsense. You're a twist. Six provinces were impeached at once. Twenty state capitals. More than 50 prefectures and counties of hundreds of prefects and counties. Although these people are not in a big position. But that's just a lot. Not to mention the countless people under their rule. This kind of thing is empty talk. Aiqing must have real evidence. ”

"Back to the Queen Mother's words." Zhang Juzheng said immediately. These things are just as the Queen Mother just said. It's not just about hundreds of court officials. It is also about countless people. If Weichen doesn't have real evidence. How can you say this to the Queen Mother? "Talking. Zhang Juzheng took out a thick stack of documents that had been prepared a long time ago. It was presented to the Empress Dowager Li again.

Empress Dowager Li did not read them one by one. I just took out a few copies and looked at them. The doubts on his face that had been there just now are completely gone. Only anger remains. But. She still has some things to ask Zhang Juzheng.

"Where did Aiqing get this?" Empress Dowager Li asked. "Don't blame the mourners for asking about these things. The stakes are really high. If that's not true. Zhang Aiqing was also deceived by others. That's not going to be easy. ”

"Back to the Queen Mother's words." This time. Zhang Fan stepped forward. "These are what Lord Zhang asked Weichen to investigate."

Zhang Fan stood up at this time. Naturally, he helped Zhang Juzheng explain. After all, he was the commander of the brocade guard, and he came forward to testify, and these things were provided by him. Then this authenticity has risen a lot.

But this time. Zhang Fan rushed to stand up. But it wasn't to steal Feng Bao's limelight. Although half of the things in it were found by Feng Bao. But. All three understood. It was obviously inappropriate for Feng Bao to stand out. After all, Feng Bao was a eunuch. Now Feng Baochu is staying outside Zhu Yijun's side. The longest is by the side of Empress Dowager Li. If Empress Dowager Li asked him why he didn't tell him earlier. That's going to be a bit of a problem.

Anyway. Now it's a good start. Most importantly. Empress Dowager Li finally believed it. There was indeed a problem in the imperial court. And it's to the point where I have to change it.