Yu Chaosheng lamented that his family, generations three and four, had been unable to hold their heads high in Yuexi County, while a significant portion of the Great Ming's territory was built on his family's contributions. The main force of the Chaohu Navy, in essence, was gifted to the Grand Ancestor, yet their prosperity and honor lasted only a single generation, fading like a mirage. How could he not sigh?
As for the Jianwen Emperor, in the eyes of their families for generations, he was entirely innocent. At least his intentions were not wrong. Could it be that as the Imperial Grandson, he also wished to dismantle the Great Ming? As for Huang Zicheng and his ilk, though hasty and shallow, they were pure Confucians, acting according to the ancient teachings of self-cultivation, governance, and bringing peace to the world. Were they truly unforgivable?
And did the rebel Yan have no fault? He secretly colluded with foreign enemies and maintained private troops in his princely residence. Was this not premeditated? Furthermore, Yao Guangxiao was a demon monk, fearing only chaos. Did he not instigate the rebel Yan? Yongle only spoke of how good Yao Guangxiao was, but he was, after all, a Buddhist monk! Where was the Way of the Sages? Where had it gone?
These thoughts had been fermenting within the families for years. At this moment, Yu Chaosheng's probing question naturally touched upon their shared grievances.
Mu Chaobi sighed and said,
"Old Yu, why speak so much of past events? Two hundred years have passed, four or five generations have gone by. Even if we cannot understand, what can be done? That King Yan, after all, pacified the north. Has the Great Ming been hindered? In my opinion, thinking about these things is useless! Instead, we should think about Prince Yu. When he ascends the throne, he will grant this esteemed personage a proper title, and all of us will have our noble titles restored..."
Wang Cai, upon hearing this, immediately felt something was amiss—
How could Mu Chaobi miss the main point? The Junior Grand Secretary had explicitly stated the desire to elevate the memorial ceremony, which meant confronting the reforms. If Zhu Mo could be dealt with during this occasion, the Emperor would inevitably be forced to a decision, and then, it would be a case of going all the way. A direct abdication, Prince Yu ascends the throne, and then everything would be resolved!
He immediately said,
"Your Grace, you should also think of those meritorious officials... Since the Grand Ancestor designated the Imperial Grandson to succeed, everyone must assist him. Is this not the duty of a subject? How is it that those who were loyal suffered misfortune for their descendants, while those who rebelled enjoyed wealth and honor? Where is the heavenly principle in this? Moreover, why did the Grand Ancestor allow the Imperial Grandson to succeed? It was to allow the Imperial Grandson to return to the right path... The Grand Ancestor himself said that future generations should not govern with heavy penalties, and the Great Proclamation should not be used again. Is this not obvious? But that rebel Yan, for his own ambition, whipped the officials relentlessly, with scouts spread across the land, and eunuchs cruelly targeting officials. That is what truly violated the Grand Ancestor's遗训 (legacy)!
Your Grace, it is not that I wish to be a lobbyist, but since coming to Yunnan and Guizhou, I have received your immense care, so I will speak from the bottom of my heart—
Your Grace, Zhu Mo cannot be allowed to remain! It is either him or you, and either you or him! Think about it, his reforms will inevitably target you sooner or later! Last time, regarding the漕运 (grain transport), he pointed his spear at the Marquis of Wuding. Furthermore, why did he come to Yunnan and Guizhou this time? Do you all know? Your Grace, I have come to your place, I have eaten well and enjoyed myself, and I cannot harm you, can I? This time, Zhu Mo has come to Yunnan and Guizhou specifically to deal with all of us..."
Hiss!
Several people felt a sudden chill, as if an icy wind had blown past them. Each person, recalling Zhu Mo's ruthlessness, was truly a little afraid.
Mu Chaobi naturally guessed that Zhu Mo's visit to Yunnan and Guizhou was likely to investigate something. Seeing Wang Cai's words, he asked,
"Zinan, what does the Junior Grand Secretary say?"
Wang Cai said,
"Originally, I should not say, but given this situation, how can I not? Everyone, Zhu Mo's arrival in Yunnan and Guizhou, according to people in the palace, is because the Hangzhou Imperial Textile Bureau has discovered some irregularities. It is said there is a list that implicates Lord Liu Boyue's procurement duties and also involves several eunuchs like Du Tai... Zhu Mo is spending money in Hangzhou and inquiring everywhere at sea, so he must be planning to target those eunuchs...
This was told to me by the Junior Grand Secretary himself, but I myself do not see it that way... I always feel that he is coming for you... I don't know if I'm right? In any case, these are heartfelt words!"
Hmm, hmm,
Mu Chaobi patted his shoulder and said,
"Zinan, we are all grateful for your kindness... What you say is not without reason... Since you have spoken so openly, I will not hide it. Zinan, I have heard that Zhu Mo is also inquiring everywhere in Anshun and Wusa, but he is mainly inquiring about tribute items... Looking at it together, he should be investigating tribute smuggling..."
Yes, yes,
As everyone nodded, Wang Cai said,
"It should be! This tribute smuggling is not simple, it can implicate quite a few people. To mention just the dark sandalwood, it implicates Marquis Yu's family. Furthermore, this is procurement, which is related to Lord Liu Boyue, and related to Lord Liu means related to the Junior Grand Secretary. And in the end, the thread leads to the Imperial Textile Bureau... Everyone, this is the problem..."
He finished speaking and gave a cold laugh, making everyone's hearts pound.
Mu Chaobi nodded, finding this person truly talented, and couldn't help but look at him with new admiration. No wonder the Junior Grand Secretary sent him to persuade them? This line of thought was very unique and truly interesting...
He poured Wang Cai a drink and asked again,
"Zinan, in your opinion, what will Zhu Mo do next?"
Wang Cai snorted lightly and said,
"Your Grace, forgive my bluntness, Zhu Mo's next step may not necessarily target the eunuchs, but rather you meritorious officials, and among the meritorious officials, he will not target the founders of the Jingnan period first, but rather all of you present here!"
Yu Chaosheng, hearing his provocative words, retorted sarcastically,
"Why target us first? Are we easy targets?"
Mu Chaobi, Liao Yue, and Fu Yingfang also smiled at him.
Wang Cai then said,
"Everyone, think about it. The current supervisor of the Imperial Textile Bureau, Yang Jin, was sent by Lü Fang and has been in the Imperial Textile Bureau for over ten years. To touch Yang Jin means implicating Lü Fang. Can Zhu Mo do this? In front of Your Grace, I will not conceal anything. If we talk about tribute smuggling, who doesn't do it? As far as I know, Li Tingzhu, Liu Shiyan, Guo Cong, Zhu Xizhong, which of them is not involved?
But they are founders of the Jingnan period! Which year does Zhu Xizhong not perform sacrifices with the Emperor? How can he investigate? If they were to investigate, then when Zhu Mo was assassinated by the漕运 (grain transport) account holders last time, they should have investigated Guo Cong, but they did not, did they? Grand Secretary Yan pacified the situation, brought out Hu Zhi to block it...
Furthermore, investigating Liu Boyue does not have much significance, does it? Anyway, Zhu Mo is staring at the Yan family, and it is a matter of life and death sooner or later. The Grand Secretary and the Junior Grand Secretary are not afraid of him. Then who is left? To put it bluntly, those who are not loved by their father or mother will naturally be sacrificed by Zhu Mo as a warning... Everyone, my words are crude but not unreasonable. If I have offended you, please forgive me!"
The few people rolled their eyes at him, naturally displeased, but upon reflection, their words were indeed not wrong.
Zhu Mo, no matter what, would not dare to touch Lü Fang. If he did, the Emperor would surely become suspicious, and the reform agenda would be compromised. Targeting the Yan family was naturally not a problem, but so many people had already been targeted, and it was indeed not very interesting. Then only the meritorious officials from the Jianwen faction were truly left.
Moreover, if others were unaware, they themselves knew best that over the past two hundred years, most of these people had concentrated in the Yunnan-Guizhou and Hunan regions. Why did Zhu Mo not go elsewhere, but specifically come here, investigating this and that, if not to deal with them?
Mu Chaobi, who had already suppressed his ill feelings towards Zhu Mo, became angry again. He snorted and said,
"Then it depends on who is the soft target?!"
Right!
Yu Chaosheng also said, "Zhu Mo sent someone to Anshun, who has been investigating me in secret for months! Humph! If I didn't want to ask Your Grace a question, I would have thrown that vulgar scholar into the Dadu River long ago!"
Mu Chaobi felt annoyed and said,
"What exactly does he want? Why is he against us? To put it bluntly, we haven't provoked him! He is in the East, we are in the West. No one has offended anyone. This Zhu Mo is simply going too far!"
Among the few people,
Fu Yingfang, who was usually quiet, was very calm. Seeing how fiercely Wang Cai was provoking them, she knew they could not be tricked by him. She immediately reminded them,
"Your Grace, in my opinion, Zhu Mo may investigate, but he may not necessarily act... After all, we haven't obstructed him in any way! He reforms in Jiangnan, and we guard the borders in Yunnan and Guizhou. It is simply a case of rivers not interfering with wells... Your Grace, don't you think this is the case?"
Hmm, hmm,
Upon her reminder, the few people instantly calmed down a bit.
Mu Chaobi said,
"Zinan, we know your good intentions... We also understand the Junior Grand Secretary's intentions... You have seen the hearts of us few people... Zinan, don't return to the capital yet, stay in Yunnan and Guizhou for a while. We few will do our best to entertain you!"