The next day, just after Mao Shi.
Yan Song, Yan Shifan, Zhang Jing, Zhao Wenhua, and others had already ascended to the imperial court. Xu Jie, Gao Gong, Li Chunfang, and others stood opposite them.
The reason Yan Song personally intervened was his deep understanding that the situation in Datong depended entirely on the inch-by-inch confrontation between the two sides. To gain an inch was to gain an inch; otherwise, it was yielding.
And before this,
He had ordered Yan Shifan to personally question Zhang Er. Zhang Er had truthfully replied that he had already written to Yu Zhen and did not understand why Yu Zhen had helped Zhu Mo kill people.
In Yan Song's view, this was a handle!
Since Yu Zhen did not listen to Zhang Er, he must have listened to the Directorate of Ceremonial. From this, it was evident that Zhu Mo's various unprincipled actions were supported by the Directorate of Ceremonial! The Imperial Guards sent by the Directorate of Ceremonial, in league with Zhu Mo recommended by Xu Jie, had escalated conflicts as soon as they arrived at their posts. Moreover, at a time when the Tatars were likely to invade again, was this not a conspiracy of a small clique?
It should be known that
The collusion between cabinet ministers and court eunuchs had been a great taboo since ancient times! What's more, this was a major military and political affair. When the army of Altan Khan arrived, how could Lü Fang and Xu Jie explain themselves clearly? And if Lü Fang did not admit to having directed the Imperial Guards without authorization, it would mean the Emperor had directed it. And if the Emperor used such cunning means to deal with the officials, he would naturally be severely lacking in virtue. In such a state of fear, with officials clamoring, and the gentry and scholars of the entire empire adding fuel to the fire, the Emperor would be like Zhengde, a foolish ruler!
Yan Song was certain that today they would only win, not lose, and at worst, they could regain some of the lost ground. After thinking for a moment, he was the first to speak, saying:
"There are many matters to discuss in today's court session. Let's start with the difficult ones... Let's first discuss the case in Datong Prefecture. This matter is not small. The Grand Coordinator of Xuanda, the Provincial Governor, and the Commander-in-Chief have all submitted memorials asking the Grand Secretariat for an explanation. Why were soldiers from the Capital Battalions the ones who killed that Ba Zhong? Does the Ministry of War know about this? Does the Grand Secretariat not trust the officials in Datong? Let's discuss it first. Everyone speak, everyone speak..."
Hiss!
Upon hearing Yan Song set the tone, everyone felt that today's court session would likely be another fierce battle. These words were like a large net, catching almost everyone who could be ensnared.
Seeing everyone lowering their heads in silence, Yan Shifan smiled at the corner of his mouth and got straight to the point:
"Elder Grand Secretary Xu, Lord Gao, I simply don't understand. Why was Li Lai, a Ba Zhong of the Datong Auxiliary Army, sentenced to death? Was it a capital offense to investigate a veteran guard soldier who resisted Altan Khan in the twenty-ninth year of Jiajing? He was executed by the Imperial Guards in league with Zhu Mo, whom you recommended. Who were they trying to show this to?"
He deliberately pronounced the words "the twenty-ninth year of Jiajing" very clearly, and then emphasized the Imperial Guards and "Zhu Mo whom you recommended." This was to drag the Emperor into the matter, to make everyone else irrelevant, and to focus this transaction solely on Xu Jie and Gao Gong.
Xu Jie's heart skipped a beat: It has indeed come back to the Gengxu Incident, how venomous! In this way, who would dare to speak? Even the Emperor himself could not say anything...
Gao Gong also sighed inwardly: By doing this, they are touching upon the Emperor's deepest concern. How can this matter be discussed? A slight misstep could anger the Emperor, and then what would happen...?
Li Chunfang had rarely attended court in the past two years. Although he was still a member of the Grand Secretariat, he had been on sick leave. Today, because Zhang Juzheng was absent, Xu Jie had called him to make up the numbers. Hearing this, his heart was filled with mixed emotions – this Yan Shifan was simply too arrogant, too venomous! This was forcing the Emperor into a position where he could not speak...
Lü Fang snorted in his nose and thought to himself: You are indeed targeting my Directorate of Ceremonial, and using the Emperor's hidden worries as a shield? Yan Song, Yan Song, are you so sure of yourself this time?
He looked towards the inner hall and saw that the Jiajing Emperor was sitting with his eyes closed on the Bagua platform, like an immobile clay bodhisattva, not moving an inch.
...
Yet, after a long while, no one spoke in the hall.
Yan Shifan let out a哼 and stared intently at Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and then at Lü Fang, finally saying, "Eunuch Lü, who requested the imperial decree to send that Imperial Guard Yu Zhen? Or did your Directorate of Ceremonial act on its own initiative?"
Lü Fang coughed and said, "Isn't it very clear? Zhu Mo was worried that the relief funds would be embezzled by the local officials and requested it from Elder Grand Secretary Xu. Elder Grand Secretary Xu, along with Elder Grand Secretary Yan, drafted a memorial. What? Wasn't the Junior Grand Secretary present at the time?"
Hmph!
Yan Shifan continued, "Then it was Elder Grand Secretary Xu who requested the imperial decree... So, how did your Directorate of Ceremonial send this Yu Zhen? As soon as he arrived, he killed the Auxiliary Army Ba Zhong and executed him in the street. Heh heh, now, Ge Jin, the Grand Coordinator of Xuanda, Yang Xuan, the Provincial Governor of Datong, and Wu Ying, the Commander-in-Chief, have jointly reported to the Ministry of War, saying that the auxiliary and garrison troops in Datong are now at loggerheads!
It has only been less than three months since Altan Khan's invasion, and the situation is so critical, yet it has been divided... Heh, what is this Yu Zhen trying to do? Why did he and Zhu Mo collude to turn Datong into this? Why? I believe your Directorate of Ceremonial owes an explanation to all the officials in the empire?"
Hiss!
To everyone's surprise, Yan Shifan had so quickly cut to the chase, and with such deadly precision, they all gasped in disbelief.
Everyone had seen the official gazettes regarding this matter, and it was not a particularly big issue, just a slight flaw in the procedures. According to past practice, Zhu Mo and the others could have simply completed the paperwork. After all, that Li Lai had indeed almost forced the veteran soldiers to their deaths, and what's more, Li Lai had many other misdeeds, and there was evidence of them!
But Yan Shifan's words were different. They clearly used the incident as an excuse, indicating that the Yan family had come prepared today and were determined to brand Lü Fang and Xu Jie as a conspiratorial clique engaged in secret collusion and malicious intent! And what was the current situation in Datong? All the officials present had a clear understanding of it.
This showed that the Yan family had truly gone all out this time... Whoever dared to stop them would be met with divine retribution or the wrath of the Buddha.
Lü Fang couldn't help but laugh with anger, thinking: You father and son are using Altan Khan's influence to create a fuss, openly distorting the truth, and are now trying to defecate on the Directorate of Ceremonial. Even the most overbearing powerful ministers in history did not have this much audacity! You are certain that the Emperor cannot deal with Altan Khan...
Thinking of this,
He couldn't help but feel awe for the Emperor Jiajing's extremely high level of foresight—
The Emperor had indeed anticipated the enemy's moves. This sword really couldn't be blocked... and the Directorate of Ceremonial couldn't block it, and neither could Xu Jie, and Prince Yu was also involved further down the line.
But what was this if not a siege?
He couldn't help but shake his head and sigh:
"Elder Grand Secretary Yan, Junior Grand Secretary Yan, Yu Zhen, Zhu Mo, and the others are, after all, young, and their actions were a bit hasty... but that Li Lai, along with other evidence of his crimes, has been successively reported. This person indeed has human lives on his hands, and the local people have given him a nickname, 'Li the Tiger'. This tiger eats people...
Elder Grand Secretary Yan, let's speak frankly... I will give you one statement: Yu Zhen was not sent by me. If your Grand Secretariat does not believe me, this old servant will resign to the Emperor. What do you think, is this proper?"
Lü Fang said this because he had already guessed that the Emperor was holding the trump card this time and intended to test Yan Song. If Yan Song openly revealed his intention to target the Directorate of Ceremonial, he would retaliate with a slap, thereby suppressing the Yan family's arrogance.
Yan Song's heart tightened when he heard him say "speak frankly." As soon as he finished speaking, he was about to retort, but the words caught in his throat, and he suddenly paused—
"This is not right. Lü Fang would not just throw in the towel and admit defeat like this..."
"Could it be that the Emperor already has the upper hand...?"