For several days in a row, the weather around the capital was gloomy.
Bi Ziyan looked at the memorial in his hand and couldn't help but sigh.
"The tax revenue in Jiangnan this year is not bad, so the Ministry of Revenue can finally breathe a sigh of relief."
Upon hearing this, the two vice ministers beside him both gave wry smiles.
"Your Excellency, things are not that simple."
"The taxes that were escorted to the capital this year were all collected last autumn, when the Donglin Party still held sway in the court."
"The gentry of Jiangnan all felt that the Ming Dynasty was a prosperous and just government, and that their good days were about to begin. So they gave face and paid more taxes. It was a way of saving face for themselves."
"But now... sigh, the tax revenue from Jiangnan this year is probably not much, and next year will be even more difficult!"
After hearing this, Bi Ziyan also sighed.
"That's for next year. Who knows who will be the Minister of Revenue then!"
The two vice ministers were somewhat surprised upon hearing this.
"Why do you say that, sir?"
Bi Ziyan put down the account book in his hand, walked to the door with his hands behind his back, looked at the dark clouds in the sky, and after a long while said:
"Can't you guess? Recently, court officials have been saying in private that the government troops suffered a major defeat outside the Great Wall, and even the capital garrison collapsed."
"At this point, why does His Majesty still hold a victory celebration ceremony? How can the Ming Dynasty last long?"
"In any case, I have already made up my mind that I will request to retire in a few months!"
Upon hearing this, the vice ministers quickly waved their hands and said:
"Your Excellency, this is just a rumor. Please don't believe it."
"Besides, even if the imperial court suffers a minor defeat outside the Great Wall, it's not a big deal."
Bi Ziyan snorted coldly and pointed at the dark clouds in the sky.
"Look, even the heavens have given a sign, how can this be a rumor?"
"If the officers and soldiers had truly won the battle, how could the sky be so dark!"
Meanwhile, inside the palace.
Zhu Youjian also frequently looked up at the sky.
"What's wrong with these past few days? Didn't the Imperial Astronomical Bureau tell me that the sky would be clear and blue on the day of the victory presentation ceremony?"
"But it's this late, why are there still so many dark clouds in the sky?"
Zhu Youjian was in a bad mood.
However, Wang Chengen quickly said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I just asked Master Gao, and he said that tomorrow will definitely be a sunny day."
"Your Majesty, please don't worry."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian finally smiled.
"Since Master Gao says so, then there must be no problem."
Seeing the emperor smile, Wang Chengen breathed a sigh of relief.
He thought to himself, "Luckily, I was careful enough to ask Master Gao about the weather beforehand, otherwise His Majesty would probably still be worried."
"It seems that His Majesty's trust in Master Gao is growing deeper and deeper; even in such a small matter, he only trusts Master Gao."
"It's a pity I don't have a suitable child at home, otherwise I could send him to Master Gao's school and let him become Master Gao's student, then my family would..."
Just as he was making his own plans, he suddenly heard Zhu Youjian calling him.
"Wang Chengen, what are you daydreaming about?"
Zhu Youjian was somewhat displeased.
Wang Chengen instantly came to his senses: "This servant is guilty."
However, Zhu Youjian did not delve into the matter. He asked Wang Chengen, "Have the court officials been discussing something in private these past few days?"
Wang Chengen quickly shook his head: "Your Majesty, you should ask Lord Luo about these matters. This servant knows nothing about them."
Zhu Youjian looked at him carefully for a few moments before saying, "In that case, go and summon Luo Yangxing to me."
After Wang Chengen left, Zhu Youjian nodded slightly.
"It seems that Wang Chengen, that lackey, did not take advantage of his position in charge of the Eastern Depot to re-monitor the officials."
"In that case, I can rest assured."
Not long after, Luo Yangxing entered the hall. Wang Chengen had already given him instructions on the way.
So as soon as he entered the main hall, he said to Zhu Youjian:
"Your Majesty, it is true that court officials have been secretly slandering General Li recently."
"They all say that the imperial court did not achieve any great victory outside the Great Wall, but instead suffered a defeat."
"Even the scholars in the capital are speaking ill of General Li."
"Especially that guy named Shi Kefa, he jumped the most enthusiastically."
Zhu Youjian frowned slightly:
"Do they really distrust the government's officials and soldiers so much?"
Luo Yangxing actually knew the whole story.
He knew that the courtiers had come to this conclusion out of misunderstanding.
But he was too lazy to explain for the court officials, and instead whispered:
"This... Your humble servant does not know."
Zhu Youjian snorted coldly, then asked:
"And what about the scholars in the capital?"
"I remember that guy named Shi Kefa, hasn't he quieted down a lot already, and even met with Li Ruolian?"
"The two were having a pleasant conversation back then, so why is he now criticizing Li Ruolian?"
Luo Yangxing said with a wry smile, "Your Majesty is unaware of the fact that Shi Kefa did indeed have a good relationship with General Li at the beginning."
"When the army set out, he even thought about going out of the pass with them, but General Li thought that he still needed to prepare for this year's imperial examination, so he didn't let him go."
"Who knew that Shi Kefa had stayed in the capital all along and actually believed the rumors, which is why he stood up to slander the officers and soldiers."
If any other scholar had dared to do this, Zhu Youjian would have immediately issued an order to arrest him.
But as for Shi Kefa...
Zhu Youjian recalled that Gao Qingyun had told him that Shi Kefa was also a loyal minister who ultimately died for his country.
As a result, his anger subsided considerably.
"Hmph, this kid is too young and naive. He can be easily fooled and believes everything he hears!"
"Fine, send someone to find that kid Shi Kefa. Tomorrow's victory presentation ceremony will have him represent the scholars and stay by my side."
"I want him to see with his own eyes whether our Great Ming Dynasty has won or lost the battle."
Upon hearing this, Luo Yangxing secretly regretted his actions.
"Shi Kefa courted death several times, but he didn't die in the end. Wasn't that because he was historically reliable?"
"If there are no slaves in the future, I can have the same treatment!"
"Why did I get so confused?"
But on the surface, he quickly nodded and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will go and deliver the decree immediately."
Luo Yangxing left the palace, asked his Jinyiwei subordinates where Shi Kefa was, and then immediately led his men there.
Inside the restaurant, Shi Kefa was writing an article with his head down.
He hadn't stopped talking.
For a scholar like him who could pass the imperial examination, being able to multitask was nothing.
Shi Kefa said, "We must jointly submit a memorial to His Majesty, urging him to befriend virtuous ministers and distance himself from treacherous officials."
"Only by appointing honest and upright officials can the Ming Dynasty reverse its decline and avoid being defeated by the Jurchens one after another!"
Upon hearing his words, the scholars in the room all nodded in agreement.
"Shi Kefa is right, let's sign this petition!"
These scholars had already distanced themselves from Shi Kefa, but because of the recent turmoil, they have come back to Shi Kefa, wanting to push him out to lead the way.
However, this time, even Shi Kefa dared not provoke Gao Qingyun again.
He only said "far from petty people" and stopped cursing "high-ranking demons".
"Only by appointing loyal and capable ministers can the Ming Dynasty be revived!"
Just as they were talking, there was a sudden noise outside the door.
Luo Yangxing walked in with a cold smile.
"What you say is quite right."
"I just don't know who you consider a villain and who you consider a wise minister?"
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