Now that he had made up his mind, Zhang Juzheng, a faction of action, immediately made arrangements. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

Of course, the news in the capital is strictly locked, but this is not the most important, and what he is even more worried about is the county seat of Jiangling. Although he still has some confidence in his eldest son Zhang Jingxiu, there are many relatives in his hometown who are out of tune, and this kind of thing can't be joked about at all, and there can't be the slightest mistake, so he naturally has to send someone over to preside over the overall situation and minimize the possibility of things leaking.

And this candidate can only pick Zhang Shoujing. Although he is called the chief housekeeper of the Zhang Mansion, he actually has the identity of Zhang Juzheng's staff and cronies, and his status in the Zhang family is far above Zhang Shouli.

So on the second day after the bad news came, Zhang Shoujing hurriedly left Beijing and went straight to Jiangling. And Zhang Juzheng, under the grief of forbearance, rejoined the complicated political affairs of the imperial court. Although he hurt his body because of excessive sadness, in order not to let outsiders see any clues, Zhang Juzheng could only grit his teeth and endure it, but this spirit obviously cannot be compared with the past.

This point, the little emperor Wanli, who had the most contact with him, felt it more and more obviously, and asked with some concern during a recital: "Master Zhang, is he unwell?" ”

In this regard, Zhang Juzheng's answer was very simple: "Thank you Your Majesty for your concern, the minister is just a little tired in the past few days, and he will be fine when he goes back to rest for one night." ”

"Then Master Zhang, you have to take good care of your body, I and Daming Jiangshan are indispensable to you." Wanli couldn't help but persuade. Although he may not think so, there are still things to say.

Zhang Juzheng naturally thanked him again, and then focused his attention on the political affairs in front of him. But after all, he was not feeling well, so he still showed some expression when he played the right game, which fell into Wanli's eyes, and also made him pay attention.

But the change of things was once again unexpected by Zhang Juzheng, on the third day, when he was dealing with political affairs in the cabinet, the following attendants came in to report: "Elder Ge, there are people from your family waiting outside the palace, saying that there is something important to tell you." ”

After all, the palace is not an ordinary place, even if it is a person of Zhang Juzheng's status, it is impossible to ask his own people to enter and leave the palace gate at will, and if there is an emergency, he can only ask the guards at the palace gate to pass the news in.

Zhang Juzheng, who already had some worries, heard this, and he was stunned. Originally, with his past style, even if there was a fire in his home, he would have to wait until he had dealt with the matter at hand. But today, he put down the official document and pen in his hand at that time, and immediately got up and walked out.

When he eagerly went out of the palace gate, he saw Zhang Shoulian, another senior steward of the mansion who also looked panicked and uneasy, waiting there. Seeing that his master had finally come, the eagerness on his face was slightly restrained, and then he stepped forward to greet him: "Master......"

"What's wrong? You're here to see me at this time? Zhang Juzheng didn't talk nonsense, and asked directly.

"Yes...... News came back from Gangneung. After Zhang Shoulian hesitated for a while, he still told the truth: "They sent someone to report urgently, saying that the matter of the old lady had been penetrated, and there was no way to cover it up in his hometown, so he could only mourn ......."

"What?" The impact of this news on Zhang Juzheng was no less than when he learned that his father had died of illness, and he was stunned in place for a long time without reacting.

I thought that everything could be covered up, but I didn't expect things to take a turn again, so hasn't everything I have done in the past few days become useless? Also, when this matter can no longer be covered up, how do you take the next step?

For a while, all kinds of emotions and thoughts came one after another, and Zhang Juzheng's heart instantly became a mess, and his eyes were a little straight.

As the first assistant of the current dynasty, Zhang Juzheng has always given the impression of being extremely majestic, and nothing can always be difficult for him. And now, he showed confusion and helplessness in front of the palace, which surprised the surrounding forbidden troops and some officials who came in and out, and everyone's eyes fell on him completely.

Zhang Juzheng, who was full of entanglement, was not aware of all this, but Zhang Shoulian obviously discovered this inappropriate situation, and hurriedly reminded in a low voice: "Master, this is the palace, and there are still many people watching?" ”

Fortunately, in front of him was Zhang Ge Lao, who had experienced too much turmoil, and he had changed to someone else, under such ups and downs, even if he didn't go crazy at this moment, he would definitely not be able to collect his mind and do something surprising. And he, although he was also in constant mood swings, but after hearing the reminder, he quickly recovered his mind and understood that he had become the focus of many people's attention.

What to do? If you lose your temper today, the matter will definitely be spread by these people, and when the time comes, it will not necessarily be what others think. This is extremely bad for yourself...... Now there's only one way!

In the blink of an eye, Zhang Juzheng had already made up his mind, and immediately his knees weakened, so he knelt down towards the south, and then fell to the ground suddenly, shouting desolate and self-reproachful: "Father...... My son is not filial, and I haven't even been able to see you for the last time! ”

Everyone was once again stunned by his move. No one could have imagined that after being stunned for a long time, the dignified Lord Shousuke of the current dynasty would suddenly fall to his knees. Especially those officials who were standing south of him and happened to be kneeling down in front of him, they were even more frightened and hurriedly avoided the side, they couldn't afford to be so courteous as the elder of the pavilion.

Among all of them, the fastest reaction was naturally Zhang Shoulian. After seeing his master kneeling, he quickly knelt down and bowed down, and at the same time understood in his heart that this was a decision made by the master after knowing that the matter could no longer be concealed - he simply made the matter public by himself!

After accompanying Zhang Juzheng to bow down to the south for a while, Zhang Shoulian walked to the former on his knees, and while holding his own master who still wanted to bow, he said with a sad voice and tears: "Master, something has happened, no matter how much you blame yourself, it will only make the old lady's spirit in the sky feel uneasy." Sir, you can't be filial in front of the old lady, it's all because you want to be loyal to the court, and the old lady knows this, and he definitely won't blame you. Sir, please mourn ......"

When he said this, he said it loudly, which made everyone around him who had already guessed understand what was going on. For a while, everyone's expressions changed, and they could understand why Zhang Ge Lao's expression suddenly changed just now. Whoever can be calm and comfortable receiving such news is no different from an animal.

Subsequently, those officials surrounded one after another, and together with Zhang Shoulian, they comforted Zhang Juzheng for a while. With the efforts of everyone, Zhang Juzheng's sad expression was slightly restrained, but his speech was still a little upside down: "Everyone, I'm afraid I won't be able to entertain you today...... I...... I'll go to the palace to meet the Son of Heaven, I'll ......" When he said this, he only bowed his hand to them, and then turned around and stumbled towards the palace.

Although many officials still wanted to show their concern for Zhang Gelao, the palace gate was a chasm, making it impossible for them to follow behind him, and finally they could only watch his slightly gaunt figure disappear into the depths of the palace gate.

As he walked forward with messy steps, Zhang Juzheng's heart was unprecedentedly calm, and his mind was also rapidly spinning his thoughts, thinking about what he should do.

Judging from the current situation, I can't avoid worrying about it, so I simply hand over the matter directly to the emperor and see what he means.

Zhang Juzheng dared to bet on this because he knew how important a role he had played in the DPRK and China in the past few years. Once he is really worried and leaves, leaving everything behind, with the emperor's current experience and qualifications, I am afraid that he will not be able to take such complicated state affairs at all, and he will not be able to suppress the officials of the Manchu Dynasty, he will inevitably keep himself. And in this way, I may not really need to worry about returning to my hometown, and everything will naturally go according to the original plan.

Of course, he is just imagining this matter now, and what the result will be, even Zhang Juzheng can't really grasp it.

Knowing that Zhang Ju was asking to see him outside, Wanli naturally would not refuse, so he nodded in agreement, and at the same time took a copy of the note at hand and looked at it.

When Zhang Juzheng entered the hall, Wanli took the lead and said: "Master Zhang, I happen to have something I want to ask you about." This year's harvest across the country is not very good, I wonder if it is possible to reduce the tax revenue a little to reduce the burden on the people? ”

But to his surprise, Master Zhang, who would have gotten up after meeting him, actually lay on the ground today and didn't get up, and he was still shaking there, not even answering his own questions.

"It's ...... Master Zhang, what's wrong with you? Wanli asked in surprise. And Sun Hai, who was beside him, stepped forward very familiarly, and called out to the elder of the pavilion with concern, and reached out to help him up from the ground.

And after Zhang Juzheng took advantage of the situation, Wanli was even more shocked. Because he saw that his Master Zhang was full of tears at this time, and his body was still trembling: "Master Zhang, what's wrong with you?" ”

"Your Majesty, the minister came today to ask you to remove the minister from all official positions and let the minister return to his hometown of Jiangling." Zhang Juzheng said such a sentence after controlling his emotions a little.

And as soon as these words came out, Wanli was caught off guard. He looked at the other party blankly: "Why did Master Zhang say this?" How did you come up with such an idea? I and the court, and the world are indispensable to you, Master Zhang. Who made you angry, you told me that I would not spare him! ”