The next day,
Hu Zongxian personally wrote a memorial, which he submitted along with the Minister of War, Zhang Juzheng, and the official seal of the Zhoushan Public Office. This document was sent to the capital via an urgent express delivery.
Inside the Governor-General's mansion,
Zhang Juzheng, Zhu Mo, Hu Zongxian, Tan Lun, Liu Yingjie, Zhang Han, and other prominent figures from Jiangnan were gathered. The purpose was, naturally, to bring some good fortune to Hu Zongxian, who had been experiencing a streak of bad luck.
However, as Yan Song had already pleaded illness, a perilous storm had passed, and the pirates who had plagued them for a century were about to be eradicated. The Grand Secretariat had acknowledged the Zhoushan Public Office and recognized the merit in suppressing the pirates. Therefore, Hu Zongxian was certain to be safe, and the Emperor would soon approve his petition for retirement.
It was at this moment that everyone remembered to offer him words of comfort. Hu Zongxian, naturally, was extremely grateful, brewed tea himself, and the hosts and guests engaged in lively conversation.
Later,
Two uninvited guests arrived: Li Shizhen and Xu Wei. Upon first sight, everyone found them to be extraordinary talents. Li Shizhen was already widely renowned, and they had all heard of him. As for Xu Wei, he had an ancient appearance, and Tan Lun introduced him as a strategist who had served Hu Zongxian for several years.
Zhu Mo was well aware of these two individuals.
Li Shizhen was the author of *Compendium of Materia Medica*, while Xu Wei was even more remarkable, a painter of a new era, skilled in military strategy, and rumored to have connections with the remnants of the Prince of Ning's faction.
He took a liking to Xu Wei, and the two sat together, exchanging pleasantries for a while.
At this time,
The others were engrossed in conversation, speaking of Hu Zongxian's posthumous reputation with a sense of nostalgia.
Zhang Juzheng jokingly remarked,
"Ruzhen, you have been the most hardworking in Jiangnan these past few years... It is a pity, however, that such great talent cannot be properly recognized by the court. If we speak of ancient times, I believe you bear some resemblance to Pei Du? Pei Du quelled the Huai Xi rebellion, served three dynasties, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Jin; Ruzhen, after pacifying the southeast, must now retire to his homeland..."
Hahaha,
Everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter, though their laughter was tinged with sadness.
Hu Zongxian said with self-deprecation, "Those who pacified the southeast were Zhu Mo and Taiyue. As for me, I only contributed thirty percent merit and seventy percent hard labor, would you not agree?"
Mm-hmm,
Everyone felt he possessed great humility.
At this moment,
Xu Wei suddenly said, "Esteemed sirs, I have followed the Governor-General for many years, and I believe the Governor-General is more akin to Yue Wumu..."
Oh?
Everyone had heard various interpretations, but never this one, and they all looked at him.
Xu Wei said,
"The reason I say Yue Wumu is because there is a Qin Hui in the court."
Precisely!
Precisely!
Everyone clapped their hands in agreement, assuming he was referring to Yan Song.
But Zhu Mo suddenly remembered—
He recalled a great scholar on a certain platform saying that the person who truly wished to harm Hu Zongxian was actually Xu Jie. It seemed these two had an unknown grievance. Apparently, Hu Zongxian had once said that Xu Jie served Yan Song with the "ways of a concubine." This remark had spread, causing Xu Jie immense humiliation, and he had finally avenged himself twenty years later.
Indeed,
Xu Wei continued,
"Your Excellencies, the Qin Hui I speak of is not Yan Fenshi, but someone else entirely..."
Hiss!
Everyone suddenly became solemn.
Xu Wei let out a long sigh and recited a poem, saying,
"The general is already gone, his men are few;
The times change in a single morning, who will remember his lonely achievements?
"Governor-General, you are about to return to your homeland to farm and study. I, your student, have a word of advice for you—Do not say the mountain passes are treacherous, for the hearts of the Wu people are more treacherous than the mountains..."
Everyone fell silent.
Hu Zongxian breathed a long sigh and smiled, "Wenchang, thank you for your wise words."
Everyone, being scholars who had passed the imperial examinations, understood perfectly.
The first poem, borrowed from Bao Zhao, suggested that Hu Zongxian, allied with the Yan family, would be forgotten when times changed, as he was merely their subordinate. The latter line directly pointed to the individual, namely—
Xu Jie.
In the entire court, there was no one else among the Wu people who could pose a danger to Hu Zongxian except Xu Jie.
This Xu Wei was indeed exceptionally talented, and the chosen verses were extremely fitting, carrying a sense of tragic heroism that perfectly matched Hu Zongxian's character.
While some were bewildered, Zhu Mo was now entirely convinced that the one who had called Xu Jie a "concubine" was Hu Zongxian.
"This Xu Wei truly understands the situation. Hu Zongxian ultimately died because of this remark..."
Of course,
Zhu Mo thought to himself, "With me here in the future, how could Xu Jie harm him? However, this grievance needs to be resolved..."
So, he joined in to remind him,
"Governor-General, I believe that as long as a person is alive, grudges will inevitably arise... Since you are returning to your hometown, perhaps you should resolve any grudges you can recall? As the saying goes, one comes into the world naked and leaves naked, with nothing to tie them down, in pure clarity."
Mm-hmm,
Everyone felt the wisdom in these words and nodded in agreement.
Hu Zongxian, who already trusted Xu Wei deeply and admired Zhu Mo even more, hadn't immediately recalled any offense against Xu Jie. However, upon Zhu Mo's reminder, he remembered a casual remark from years ago, and a chill ran down his spine. He sighed inwardly, "Indeed, Xu Jie is a secretive person, always appearing considerate, but in reality, he most detests being called effeminate... Could my joke from all those years ago truly have become a root of trouble?"
After a moment of contemplation,
He decided to heed their advice, smiling, "Very well! Thank you both for your golden words! I have had few enemies in my life, and thinking it over, there is indeed one matter that should be settled..."
Zhu Mo nodded, thinking: Your life might be saved by this. You have a personal feud with him, and even if I gain power in the future, it would be inconvenient for me to interfere...
...
After the gathering dispersed,
Xu Wei was to return to the post station, but Zhu Mo called out to him, smiling, "Brother Wenchang, we hit it off immediately. Why not chat a bit longer?"
Xu Wei was amiable and readily agreed.
The two walked westward towards West Lake, and as they chatted, they found themselves increasingly in agreement. They ended up chartering a boat, had fish grilled, and continued their deep conversation on the moonlit lake.
Zhu Mo knew that although Xu Wei was a painter, he was more adept at military matters. Thus, they discussed the standoff at Deshengbao and Altan Khan. Xu Wei listened with keen interest and asked about the Battle of Zhoushan. Zhu Mo answered each question meticulously, without any exaggeration, even detailing the firearms used.
Xu Wei sighed, "So that's how it is. I never imagined our Great Ming's Armory Bureau had such ingenious craftsmen... When I first saw the Portuguese ships and firearms, I thought them invincible in this age, but I didn't realize there's always something to counter something else..."
Seeing that Xu Wei trusted him, Zhu Mo directly asked,
"Brother Wenchang, there is something I wish to ask you, though you are not obliged to answer..."
Xu Wei paused for a moment, then nodded, "Please, Zixuan."
Excellent!
Zhu Mo said in a low voice, "I heard you know the young son of the Prince of Ning?"
Xu Wei immediately became alert and glanced around. Seeing that the boatman was at the prow and could not hear them, he leaned closer to Zhu Mo's ear and said,
"That person's young son is named Zhu Xue. He is now in his thirties and studied under me more than ten years ago... I also introduced him to some literary friends. He is quite adept at poetry and painting..."