The Queen Mother also issued an order to persuade him to stay, saying that there were many ministers in their seventies and eighties in the previous dynasty, and you are only in your early fifties, still mighty and strong, how can you say that you are old? Don't say that, I will definitely not let you go back.

However, Zhang Xianggong was determined to leave, and the emperor tried to persuade him to stay, but he still refused to return to work. In order to let the emperor let him go back to his hometown, he took a step back and said that I am not going to stay forever. I just want to take a few years off to take care of my mother and take the opportunity to recuperate. If there is a major event in the country and the emperor needs me, I will come back to serve.

But Wanli still insisted on not allowing it, and replied depressedly: I haven't seen you out for a few days, and I feel lost. Why is there such a request? You want to leave? There is absolutely no way, you know? !

In addition, the emperor also wrote a handwritten imperial edict on dragon paper and ordered the eunuch Feng Bao in charge of ceremonies to take it to Zhang Juzheng's private residence to convey the order.

Feng Bao and Zhang Juzheng had been close friends for half their lives, so he probably understood his thoughts and was worried that Zhang Juzheng would still refuse to accept the order and things would get out of hand. So he lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and asked his nephew Feng Bangning, who was waiting outside, "Where is the young cabinet minister now?"

"Uncle, it should be in Dashamao Hutong, right?" Feng Bangning said uncertainly, "It seems that he has never left since Old Lady Zhao fell ill."

"It seems so." Feng Bao snorted unhappily and said, "Go, no matter where he is, quickly ask him to wait for me at the gate of the Prime Minister's Mansion."

"Yes." Feng Bangning hurried over, while Feng Baoming slowed down the sedan chair and waited for Zhao Hao to come.

After a cup of tea, Feng Bangning came back panting and reported that the young minister was indeed at Prime Minister Zhang's house.

Eunuch Feng then ordered the sedan chair to speed up, and soon they arrived at Dashamao Hutong.

As instructions had been received in advance, the main gate of the prime minister's residence remained closed, the Embroidered Uniform Guards blocked off Dashamao Hutong, and Eunuch Feng's sedan chair landed in front of the gate.

Zhao Hao had been waiting outside Guangliang Gate for a long time. When he saw Eunuch Feng, he hurriedly bowed and saluted.

Feng Bao waved his hand, pointed to the doorman and said, "Let's go in and talk."

"Please." Zhao Hao nodded and led Eunuch Feng into the gatehouse.

~~

Fruits and snacks had already been placed in the gatehouse. After the guards served tea, Zhao Hao dismissed his attendants and left only You Qi to serve. Then he asked Feng Bao, "What do you want, sir?"

"What else could it be? What on earth is your father-in-law going to do?" Eunuch Feng pointed at You Qi angrily and said, "I asked Xu Jue to ask him, but he didn't know anything."

"I really don't know." You Qi spread his hands in frustration and said, "The master has been staying in the old lady's room to take care of her illness these days and has not left the house."

After a pause, he whispered again, "And I'm in a bad mood. The young minister and the young masters didn't dare to ask me about my life, let alone me."

"Waste!" Feng Bao was also very angry. He cursed and turned to look at Zhao Hao and said, "You know Mr. Zhang's mind best. Tell me!"

"To be honest, I've been away from Beijing for two years. When I met my father-in-law again, I felt like he was a stranger." Zhao Hao smiled bitterly and spread his hands.

"How should I put it? We are no longer as close as before..."

In fact, a more accurate statement is that the power of heaven is unpredictable. Of course, this phrase should not be used indiscriminately.

"Alas, I feel the same way." Eunuch Feng nodded in agreement, "Since the love affair, I feel that my uncle's personality has changed drastically. He has shut himself off completely, and is unwilling to open up even to those of us who trust him the most."

"Then we can only speculate." Zhao Hao sighed and said, "Your Excellency is in the Imperial Household Department. Do you know if anything has happened recently that has irritated my father-in-law?"

"We have already had someone investigate these days." Feng Bao frowned slightly, took out a memorial from his sleeve and said, "The emperor has personally ploughed the fields and visited the mausoleum, and the two sons have also passed the imperial examinations. The country is enjoying good weather, good governance, and even the Yellow River has been repaired. It is a scene of prosperity! There is only a little noise..."

Zhao Hao took it and took a look. It was a memorial titled "A Memorial on Five Essentials to Correct the Current Situation" submitted by Zhao Shiqing, the head of the Nanjing Ministry of War in March. It stated that one, the number of recruits should be increased; two, the ban on postal services should be relaxed; three, the number of executions should be reduced; four, the time for imperial examinations should be slowed down; and five, channels for people to express their opinions should be opened.

Reducing the number of school places, cutting down on post stations, enforcing strict laws and punishments, urging tax collection, and reducing discussion, these five items were all part of Zhang Juzheng's reforms. Now Zhao Shiqing wanted to overturn all of them, which was naturally against Prime Minister Zhang's new policies.

The most outrageous part is one of the passages. He said why are the censors now so soft and flattering, but silent on military and national affairs? They are just a bunch of decorations who have failed the grace of the emperor. This is because Fu Yingzhen, Ai Mu, and Liu Tai were all offended for their advice and are still with the garrison soldiers. That is why the censors are so silent. Please release those officials who were offended for their advice, so that the people of the world know that your majesty is not incapable of accepting advice, and then the scholars and officials will speak again.

Fu, Ai, and Liu were all exiled for impeaching Prime Minister Zhang. Zhao Shiqing would know what pardoning them meant. If he said such a thing but was not punished, the whole court would think that Prime Minister Zhang was going to fall the next day.

"This Zhao Shiqing is really something, what is he doing for no reason?" Zhao Hao said with a frown after reading it.

"Who said no? Does he think he can stir up waves?" Feng Bao said sinisterly, "I have already reported to the emperor and ordered the Minister of Personnel Wang Guoguang to change him to the right chief of the Chu Palace. The King of Chu knows how to deal with him."

In the Ming Dynasty, it was not easy to be promoted to a royal official. Once you entered the royal palace, you would actually be imprisoned, which was already a severe punishment. Moreover, the fief of the King of Chu was in Huguang, so he naturally knew how to please his fellow villager Zhang Xianggong.

After a pause, Feng Bao continued, "Then Zhao Shiqing is He Xinyin's disciple."

"Yeah." Zhao Hao nodded and changed the subject, "But just this little guy's insinuating memorial is not enough to make my father-in-law want to leave."

"So we have to ask you."

"In my humble opinion, the answer may be in my father-in-law's "Petition for Retirement from Government." Zhao Hao pondered and said:

"Your Majesty has been married for several years, and has performed the rites of plowing and visiting the mausoleum, which is enough to fulfill the responsibilities of a monarch. Then, as an assistant minister, if your father-in-law does not return the government when the country is at peace and the people are in harmony, people will suspect his intentions."

"Can't one steal a high position for long, and can't one hold great power for long?" Feng Bao said slowly.

"That's right." Zhao Hao nodded heavily and lowered his voice, "It's clearly stated in the memorial that my father-in-law has been in charge of the government for nine years. Now, all the officials in the cabinet, the six ministries, the Censorate, and the governors and governors of various provinces are recommended by my father-in-law. There are almost no officials who dare not disobey his orders. On the other hand, the emperor is already eighteen years old, and he has exceeded the age to rule the country for two years."

"Hmm." Feng Bao couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine. This was indeed a place that he had overlooked intentionally or unintentionally.

"It can be said that if my father-in-law is in power, it means that Your Majesty will lose the throne. If my father-in-law refuses to leave, Your Majesty will continue to lose the throne. Wouldn't that make him a reckless person? My father-in-law prides himself on his loyalty and filial piety, so he will naturally do his best to avoid this." Zhao Hao's voice became even lower. "Think about the attacks he has suffered over the years? This worry must have always been in his heart."

"But his reforms have not been completed yet. Not to mention the land survey and the Single Whip Law, isn't he going to destroy academies and ban teaching this year..." At this point, Feng Bao revealed a look of realization and said:

"I see. From Zhao Shiqing's case, he thought of the infamy that would inevitably come after banning the academy?!"

"Yes, my father-in-law knows everything." Zhao Hao nodded and said, "After the reform has reached this stage, nothing can be done easily. Every step will bring the risk of being struck by lightning! If you make a mistake, you will be ruined and your whole family will be in trouble!"

As he said this, he sighed and said, "Besides, if we insist on going on, it will cause Your Majesty to lose his position, which is not the way for a minister! You can imagine how conflicted my father-in-law is. So when he was stimulated by something, such as the death of the third master and the serious illness of the old lady, it is understandable that he would suddenly decide to retire from politics."

"Hmm." Feng Bao pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded and said, "That makes sense. I think what you said is at least 80% correct."

"It's just a wild guess." Zhao Hao smiled and said, "I just can't think of any other explanation."

"Since you said that, I also think that this is what Mr. Zhang meant. The position of Prime Minister is a dangerous one. Few people have had a good ending in the past few decades. If you can retreat safely at the peak of your career and live in seclusion in the forest, it will be a blessing." Feng Bao nodded, but sighed and smiled bitterly:

"But the Queen Mother and His Majesty are determined to keep him. What can we do?"

As he said this, he carefully handed the dragon-lettered imperial edict to Zhao Hao.

Young Master Zhao took it with both hands and saw the words written by Emperor Wanli:

"To Mr. Zhang, the Junior Tutor of the Yuanfu: I have received the kind instructions from the Holy Mother, 'Tell Mr. Zhang that although the major ceremonies have been completed, you have not yet made decisions on all the internal and external affairs. Mr. Zhang has received the imperial order, how can you bear to leave! Wait until you are 30 years old, and then we can discuss it. Mr. Zhang, you don't have to think about it anymore.' I respectfully wrote it down for you, please understand the Holy Mother and my sincere wishes, and you should accept it. Therefore, I have ordered. '

Zhao Hao couldn't close his mouth for a long time after reading it. Wow, this is the Queen Mother's decree ordering Prime Minister Zhang to be regent for another twelve years!

That is to say, at least in these twelve years, the Ming Dynasty will continue the political system of a figurehead and form a legitimate system that even the emperor cannot break.

This is completely different from the cabinet obtaining the seemingly powerful prime minister through the power of drafting bills. Isn't it?

Being the regent for another twelve years! What a great opportunity! No one can resist it! Even if there are mountains of swords and seas of fire in twelve years, so what?!

"Li Cai'e really doesn't treat her father-in-law as an outsider." Young Master Zhao couldn't help but sigh secretly, isn't this forcing Wanli to learn from Qin Shihuang?

"Now Mr. Zhang can rest assured, right?" Feng Bao said with a smug smile, "Twelve years should be enough for him to complete his reforms and retire calmly, right?"

"Of course it's enough." Zhao Hao nodded with a smile.

But the question is, can my father-in-law live that long?

If nothing unexpected happened, he would only survive for a short time.

But I helped him avoid lead poisoning and cured his hemorrhoids, so he should be able to live a few more years... right?

ps. No more tonight.