This day,
With most of the tasks completed, Zhu Mo was about to gather everyone to discuss their next course of action.
Unexpectedly, Wu Ming from Hangzhou arrived in haste. He rushed into the mountain gate shouting that something had happened. Upon seeing Zhu Mo, he took out several documents from his embrace and said,
"Grand Scholar Zhu, please take a look…"
Liu Yingjie, Yu Dayou, and Zheng Qin, knowing he was from the Eastern Depot, immediately stepped aside to give them space.
Zhu Mo carefully read through the documents. One was a cabinet gazette, a declaration of war from twelve nations against the Great Ming. Another was an imperial decree for the capital to be under martial law, mentioning the need to prevent the spread of rumors. There was also an internal document from the Embroidered Uniform Guard detailing the situation with the赊刀人 (she dao ren - knife sellers). Another was a memorial from the censor Ge Shouli, along with various versions of rumors collected by the Eastern Depot. These were bound together in a volume.
Wu Ming leaned close to his ear and whispered,
"The superiors believe that Yan Song and his son are most likely behind this. The Emperor has not issued any orders, saying to wait and see…"
"Mm-hmm,"
Zhu Mo nodded, pondering the situation, a chill running down his spine—
How ruthless could Yan Song be!
He had orchestrated such a scheme!
Even using the 赊刀人, and then saying "we'll collect the money when the eight oxen die together," wasn't that clearly sedition?
Wu Ming, not fully understanding how things had escalated to this point, lowered his voice and asked, "Young Master Zhu, is Yan Song really plotting rebellion? Where does he get the audacity? Why doesn't the Emperor deal with him? Is he truly all-powerful?"
Zhu Mo lowered his head in thought and calmly replied,
"Wu Ming, you don't understand… their move is directly pressuring the Emperor… Before, it was aimed at me. This time, it's directly at the Emperor. You dare not imagine it, and that's why you're so confused."
"Targeting the Emperor? Do they have the guts?"
How could Wu Ming believe this?
Zhu Mo thought for a moment and slowly said,
"Old Wu, their cleverness this time lies in not mentioning me again, but sacrificing Hu Zongxian… Think about it, Hu Zongxian was Yan Song's own disciple, a figure like a biological son. But this time, Old Yan Song put him out as a sacrificial banner…
What would the officials and gentry of the realm think? To use a familiar saying, it's an ultimatum… Yan Song portrays himself as a sage, and the Emperor as an heretic who cultivates Taoism and practices sorcery. Although the common people don't believe it, what about the gentry and scholars?
This isn't the most potent move. The most potent are those 赊刀人, saying 'eight oxen die together.' The people aren't fools; how could they not know this is a declaration of intent? But who would dare get involved in such matters? So, even though the common people understand in their hearts, they dare not speak of it anymore. This is equivalent to all the people in the realm becoming mute…"
At this point, he couldn't help but shiver, feeling that Yan Song was a genius for being able to turn a losing game into a winning one, and so perilously at that…
Wu Ming was immediately struck with awe. After a moment's thought, he felt a chill spread through him, and he blurted out,
"That damned father and son!"
"They've truly rebelled!"
Zhu Mo chuckled,
"Of course, this is indeed rebellion…"
Wu Ming felt his brain hurting, confused, and asked,
"But does Yan Song have troops? Does he dare surround the Forbidden City?"
Zhu Mo initially thought the same, but then realized it was incorrect. Yan Song's objective was likely to force Jiajing to compromise. While the scapegoats were Hu Zongxian and Yu Dayou, the real target was the reforms. He had two goals: first, that Hu Zongxian and Yu Dayou be severely punished, and second, that the ports be fully opened, recognizing Lifeng as a legal trading port.
It was likely that Yan Song's consideration was: once Jiajing issued a decree punishing Hu Zongxian and simultaneously recognized Lifeng, Yuegang, and other places as legal trading ports, Yan Song would resign, or even accept nominal punishment to quell this bizarre situation, while still allowing his son and faction to maintain control of the court.
In this way, he would turn defeat into victory. And subsequently, Hu Zongxian and Yu Dayou would be punished for attacking Lifeng, meaning the next target would be Zhu Mo himself.
This move was truly a desperate fight and a decisive battle. Yan Song's ability to hold power for twenty years proved he was a top-tier figure.
Zhu Mo couldn't help but murmur, "What will Jiajing do…"
He knew that Jiajing's caliber was no less than Yan Song's, and he must have thought of a solution, but what was it?
Thinking of this,
He couldn't help but ask, "Old Wu, have you heard of any other movements in the palace?"
Wu Ming, having received the Eastern Depot's gazette, was extremely concerned about this matter and was closely watching for any clues. After thinking for a while, he said,
"There's one thing I don't know if it counts as a movement. I heard that Xu Jiu and his men have gone to Qufu, saying they are preparing to offer sacrifices to Confucius, and that Prince Yu will be there…"
"Oh!"
"Then it makes sense!"
Zhu Mo immediately understood—
Jiajing intended to offer sacrifices to Confucius!
This would silence the officials and gentry of the realm, preventing them from saying that the Zhu family no longer respected the ways of the sages. In this way, the neutral officials and gentry who were observing could step forward and speak words of reason. Thus, Yan's faction's offensive would crumble.
"Indeed, there's always someone stronger…"
Thinking of this, Zhu Mo blurted out, filled with admiration for Jiajing. This fellow was truly a cultivator; his moves were always a step above Yan Song's.
At this point,
He felt that there should be no major issues. He should first finalize the case and then consider if it was possible to create a set of war laws to force the various countries to accept them. Then, he could establish an international court in Zhoushan, specifically to adjudicate cross-border maritime trade disputes and conflicts. To be bolder, it could be called "Zhoushan Public Office," the first international court in history.
Thinking of this,
He eagerly wanted to pull Liu Yingjie and some legal advisors to sit down and discuss it.
But at this moment,
Wu Ming knew that he often spouted some inexplicable terms and wasn't surprised, but he was curious if the ritual of sacrificing to Confucius was really that formidable.
He couldn't help but ask, "Young Master Zhu, do you really think sacrificing to Confucius is useful? Isn't it just a group of people making a fuss for a few days? Why is it so extraordinary? Does it relate to the rise and fall of the realm? I don't understand, but even if it is! But, if, I say if the Yan family also performs sacrifices to Confucius, what then? Wouldn't they win back the hearts of the people?"
The Yan family also sacrifices to Confucius?
Win back hearts?
This…
Perhaps?
It's interesting…
A flash of insight struck Zhu Mo, and he immediately realized, muttering "Oh no!"
Although Wu Ming said it unintentionally, he had pointed out the most dangerous oversight—
If the Yan family offered sacrifices to Confucius first, they could deliver a fatal blow to Jiajing! Everyone in the realm, whether gentry or commoners, would see this act as a judgment on Jiajing, a clear announcement to the world: the survival of Confucianism and its teachings is at its most critical juncture, and all believers in Confucius and Mencius must follow me, Yan…
At this thought,
Zhu Mo suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, a single idea churning in his mind—
He must get ahead of them!
Jiajing had always been able to endure, but this time there was no room for a delayed response. The more he endured, the more likely he was to perish. If Yan Song took the lead, for instance, by offering sacrifices at the Imperial Confucian Temple in the capital, and officials, gentry, scholars, and many commoners "spontaneously" followed, it would be a heart-striking blow to the Zhu Ming imperial family!
It could be said that perhaps overnight, Jiajing would fall into a completely passive position…