It is hard for ordinary people to believe this. Wasn't Zou Yuanbiao opposed to Zhang Juzheng? Why did he support him?
In fact, Zou Yuanbiao did support Zhang Juzheng's reforms. What he opposed was Zhang Juzheng's disrespect for rites and his refusal to go back to mourn for his father, which was "greedy for power and forgetful of his relatives."
But it was Zou Yuanbiao who later submitted a memorial to vindicate Zhang Juzheng: "Jiang Ling's merits were to the country, but his faults were to his family. The country's opinions will not end until his death. He is called a minister of the country. Why should he be ashamed?"
The meaning of this statement is simple: Zhang Juzheng was a man of merit and service to the nation. The country is in this state because the reforms he made were overturned. Zhang Juzheng should be rehabilitated and set an example for those who aspire to serve their country.
Zhu Youxiao likely had a side of Zou Yuanbiao in mind: he was a true Neo-Confucian scholar who upheld rites and rituals, believing them to be inalienable. He was eager to serve his country, willing to sacrifice himself for it. He also despised powerful eunuchs, believing them to be punished. Such a minister had both strengths and weaknesses.
Zhu Youxiao gently opened his eyes and felt that Zou Yuanbiao was an interesting person.
In fact, although he had not been here for long, Zhu Youxiao had lived two lives as a human being, and he knew very well that people were not tools, but were multifaceted.
No one is perfect, and as an emperor, employing people means putting the right people in the right places. Zhu Youxiao was very clear about this, so he decided to see what Zou Yuanbiao was capable of.
He turned and glanced at Chen Hong: "Go and get Zou Yuanbiao's copy of the petition to Zhang Juzheng to rehabilitate him and restore his posthumous title."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong quickly agreed, turned around and ran to get the question book.
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