Yan Shifan said this deliberately, actually for Yuan Wei and Guo Pu to hear.
Gao Hanwen and Zhao Wenhua naturally understood this, so they looked at each other and smiled. Zhao Wenhua said with shame:
"Little Senior Secretary, we are all minor officials of little importance, how can we understand these major affairs? Let's listen to the two Grand Secretaries!"
Haha,
Yuan Wei smiled and said, "Wenhua, Moqing, you are both talented and learned gentlemen. We two old men are long past our prime..."
Yan Shifan continued, "You are both pillars of the nation, surely more esteemed than us! If the two Grand Secretaries don't teach me, I'll truly be at a loss... Haha..."
Mm-hmm,
Yuan Wei nodded, then pondered for a while and said:
"Little Senior Secretary, actually, even if these small countries attack together, the Great Ming will not fear them! However, this old man believes that these small countries will mostly just close their doors and withdraw their envoys... But even if diplomatic relations are severed, it will be enough trouble... As for us, we can just watch the show and see what clever plans Xu Jie and Li Chunfang have!"
Pa pa!
Pa!
Yan Song clapped his hands and said:
"Yuan Feng, as expected, is seasoned in governing the country... Well said. We are all idle now. As the sage said, if you are not in office, you should not concern yourself with its affairs. Let us all stay out of it! It's only natural for friendly nations like Joseon, Japan, Ryukyu, and France to have something to say, especially since their merchant ships and envoys were attacked. As for Mang Yinglong and Zheng Jian, they are different; they have offended our Great Ming!"
Exactly!
Mm!
Everyone nodded in unison.
Guo Pu pondered for a moment, then said solemnly:
"Senior Secretary, Little Senior Secretary, this old man believes that those who offend our Great Ming shall be punished, no matter how far away they are! Mang Yinglong and Zheng Jian have openly affronted the suzerain state, and they must be taught a lesson! In my opinion, those censors and imperial envoys will soon submit memorials to the Grand Secretariat, demanding that Xu Jie and Li Chunfang dispatch troops and generals to vanquish them in one fell swoop!"
His words were righteous and awe-inspiring, and everyone present praised him—
They are truly skilled actors!
As expected of someone who has served as a Grand Secretary!
Yuan Wei even entered the Grand Secretariat; indeed, he was a master of acting!
Yan Shifan laughed heartily and said, "The opinions of the two esteemed gentlemen are insightful... Moqing, Wenhua, you should learn more from them..."
Hahahaha,
The study was filled with laughter.
Having personally experienced so many events during this period, Gao Hanwen was no longer the scholar he once was. Seeing the seniors in high spirits, he suddenly feigned doubt and asked, "Then what about us? What should people like us do?"
Yuan Wei greatly appreciated this, nodded, and said slowly:
"Moqing, this old man will teach you one thing. For people like us, there are only four words. What four words? Eat, and Drink, heartily..."
Pa pa pa!
Hahahahaha!
A round of conspiracy reached its climax in a cheerful atmosphere.
...
Three days later, in the morning.
The Grand Secretariat.
Li Chunfang had just come in from the outer room and happened to hear Xu Jie slap the table with a "pa" and angrily exclaim:
"What nonsense! Joseon and Ryukyu are tributary states; how can they conduct diplomatic correspondence as equals? That is called submitting memorials! Send them back and tell the envoys of both countries to rewrite them!"
The junior clerk from the Office of Transmission immediately shivered and repeatedly said "oh, oh."
Li Chunfang was greatly surprised and rushed in, saying, "Grand Secretary Xu?"
Xu Jie threw the two state letters at him, still seething with anger, and said indignantly, "What barbarians are these? They are uncultured! How can a subordinate state speak to the suzerain state in such a tone?"
But before he finished speaking, he saw that the junior clerk from the Office of Transmission was still standing there motionless, and angrily asked, "Why haven't you gone yet?"
The clerk stammered, "Reporting to Grand Secretary Xu, the envoys from Joseon and Ryukyu closed their gates immediately after submitting their state letters, saying they would return home tomorrow..."
What?
With a "hua" sound,
Xu Jie stood up, and his head buzzed. The sudden surge of anger caused blood to rise in his throat. He swayed, grabbed the desk for a while, and only then managed to catch his breath, saying, "Then let it be..."
Li Chunfang quickly helped him to the inner hall and rubbed his back, saying, "Shaohu, you are already old; why get so angry? They are just two small countries; let them be..."
Xu Jie had already regained his composure, and a sense of venom rose in his heart—
This matter is by no means accidental!
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Yan Song is playing him for a fool!
Relying on the military might of the Wokou, he is resorting to all sorts of coercion, with the aim of making the Grand Secretariat a laughingstock of the world. And the Emperor, even more so, cannot be seen at all. Yu Wang knelt for an hour, and he didn't utter a single word!
This has pushed the Grand Secretariat to the forefront. First, Bianluo and Moxiao sought aid, followed by Joseon and Ryukyu breaking the rules of the tributary system. If they do not express their stance now, it will be impossible. And once they express their stance, how will the Wokou and Yan Song's faction listen? Will the Grand Secretariat not become an even greater joke?
Li Chunfang naturally understood this principle and said gently, "Shaohu, who cares! We are only the Grand Secretariat, not the Emperor. We just need to draft the memorials as required! Who can force whom?" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Xu Jie, who had always been a master of prudence, also caught his breath and sneered, "Yes, Shi Lu is right! Even if the Directorate of Ceremonial withholds them, we will draft ours, and they will withhold them, who cares! Are we going to let urine suffocate the living?"
He immediately picked up paper and brush, ready to draft a memorial.
And at this moment, the junior clerk from the Office of Transmission ran in again, holding a stack of memorials, and sighed, "Grand Secretary Xu, Grand Secretary Li, seven or eight censors are all urging the Grand Secretariat to immediately dispatch troops to the southwest and severely punish Mang Yinglong!"
Hiss!
Hiss!
At this moment,
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Even Li Chunfang could no longer remain composed. His anger flared up, and he cursed, "Troublemakers! Coming to cause trouble at this moment! Who is leading them?"
He snatched the memorials and opened the first one. He saw that it was signed by Wu Shi, and immediately understood everything: Wu Shi was a disciple of Yuan Wei. So, Yuan Wei was taking personal revenge? He resented Xu Jie's performance in the Gao Gong case and wanted to repay the favor.
According to the conventions of the Great Ming, censors had the responsibility to advise the Emperor. If the Grand Secretariat failed to uphold the statutes, they could also impeach the Grand Secretariat. Although it had no substantial effect, it could easily create solidarity and stir up a political trend. This time, the intention was clearly not to advise the Emperor but to push the Grand Secretariat forward, even to the point of directly pushing him, Li Chunfang, and Xu Jie to the front...
Hoo...
He sighed deeply, but seeing Xu Jie also wearing a dejected look, he could only comfort him, "Shaohu, we can't do anything about it. Let's just tell them to send them to the Directorate of Ceremonial...?"
Xu Jie nodded, thinking: You, Li Chunfang, don't understand. Sending them over is useless. If the Emperor doesn't make a decision, how can the Grand Secretariat decide on such a major issue? If it remains withheld for a long time, the world will still be watching you and me... Last time, Yuan Wei and Guo Pu were dismissed, and Yuan Wei was even beaten with a court staff, so he naturally harbored resentment. This time, it is aimed at you and me...
He was more profound than Li Chunfang and had already guessed Yan Song's intention—
To make the Grand Secretariat a mere decoration, unable to decide anything, and becoming a colossal joke, thereby quietly transferring the central power of the empire to the Yan family residence...
This is preparation for the Yan family's dominance.
In this way, the position of acting Senior Grand Secretary would be unbearable for anyone, and it would be considered fortunate if they weren't forced to death!
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With this thought,
Xu Jie had made up his mind: no matter what, as long as he doesn't stumble or lose his life, this hurdle will be passed. Don't think too much about it...