Volume 3: Dragon and Snake Movement Chapter 285: Admitting Mistakes and Correcting Them, Minister Lu
Because Yang Yiming, the doctor of the Imperial College who often stirs up trouble, was not there, the Imperial College was peaceful, but the court was in an uproar from the morning of this day. The focus was not on Zhang Shou's plan to split up Banshan Hall, or even on Zhang Shou's suggestion to swap Banshan Hall with Ruxing Hall, but on one thing.
Xie Wanquan, the former head of Ruexing Hall, actually wanted to quit Ruexing Hall because of a momentary indignation!
If Xie Wanquan was once famous for being the youngest head of the Imperial College, then with Lu Sanlang, Zhang Chen, and later Zhu Er, three representatives of the dandy class, becoming heads of the college, he was no longer as glorious as before. Moreover, he had a big setback with Zhang Shou, and he probably offended Grand Tutor Ge, so his former backers also stopped supporting him.
Therefore, when Prime Minister Jiang Ge Lao accused Xie Wanquan of betraying his teacher and ancestors at the morning court, demanding that his honors be revoked, his status as a student be revoked, and his expulsion from the Imperial College, he did not expect any opposition. In his opinion, Zhang Shou and Xie Wanquan were probably not in the same group, but Yang Yiming was stupid enough to misinterpret the student's good intentions, which led to such an end.
But from his perspective, he would never indulge Xie Wanquan's behavior - otherwise, if everyone in the Imperial College followed suit, what would happen? Moreover, as the Prime Minister, he had so many students, what if Xie Wanquan, who was a traitor to his teacher, showed up?
"The teacher is the leader. Even if Yang Yiming really made a mistake, he is still the leader. Let alone scolding Xie Wanquan, even if he is beaten, he should bow his head and accept it! How can such a rebellious person not be severely punished? Can he enter and leave the Imperial College as he pleases?"
However, Jiang Ge Lao's righteous words not only failed to gain the approval of the majority of people, but instead attracted attacks from everyone.
Scholar Kong, who always had a problem with Lord Jiang, was the first to stand up. He sneered and said, "Students should respect their teachers, but they must be strict with themselves. A guy like Yang Yiming who is lenient with himself but strict with others is not fit to be a teacher! Xie Wanquan has been insulted in public to this extent. If he can still endure it, he is not a saint..."
"That's useless trash!" Scholar Kong suddenly raised his voice, not even looking at Jiang Gelao's angry expression, and then said word by word, "So, Xie Wanquan is a man who knows his mistakes and can correct them. He is quite brave. Even if he went too far this time, he should not be blamed too much."
At this time, the always nice old man Wu smiled and said, "Yes, yes, it was obviously Yang Yiming who caused the trouble. Xie Wanquan just wanted to be a peacemaker and settle the matter. Who knew that Yang Yiming would misunderstand him? His words were very insightful, but he was just caught in the crossfire. If we follow the old man Jiang's way of handling it, it would really hurt a talented person!"
The second and third ranked Grand Secretaries in the Cabinet came out to challenge him, and Jiang Ge Lao was naturally shocked and angry. But what he didn't expect was that after these two Grand Secretaries, Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing, who actually attended the court again today, was even more straightforward;
"Yang Yiming is not fit to be a role model for a teacher. He is simply mean, narrow-minded, and selfish! How can a person who only knows how to fight for fame and fortune teach good students in the Imperial College? Zhou Dasicheng was too lenient just now. He even said that he should be demoted to a prefecture-level county school official? Forget it. You are misleading the students!"
After scolding Yang Yiming, Zhu Jing looked at Lord Jiang again and laughed, but the laugh was obviously a little cold: "I remember when Xie Wanquan was entrusted by someone to go to Rongshui Village to cause trouble for my future son-in-law Zhang Shou, there seemed to be some old masters in the court behind him, right? Now that they have found that Xie Wanquan is useless, they plan to kick him away and not leave any trouble for the future?"
Lu Wan's mind was full of what Lu Sanlang said last night, and he was absent-minded throughout the court session. When he found that Lord Jiang was first scolded in the face by Grand Scholar Kong, and then he had a fight with Zhu Jing, and that it was all because of Xie Wanquan, he couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart and realized the biggest point.
It was he who instigated Tang Ming and Xie Wanquan to go to Rongshui Village to cause trouble! This matter might have been concealed in the past, but once Xie Wanquan was really punished for leaving Ruxingtang, this extremely smart guy would probably risk it all!
He wasn't the kind of fool who would kill people to silence them. In that case, he had to consider what Lu Sanlang said...
Jiang Ge Lao was so angry at Zhu Jing's accusation that his face turned blue. He immediately shouted angrily: "Zhu Jing, you are just making groundless accusations!"
"When some imperial censors attacked my father and me, did they see the progress of the war with their own eyes? They spoke with such certainty, as if they had seen it with their own eyes. They were so heartbroken that I almost thought they had escaped death in the army. Who would have thought that they were the eloquent people who pointed out the country's affairs in a place of peace and prosperity! Aren't they just making up stories?"
After scolding the censor, Zhu Jing said coldly, "I heard that Xie Wanquan had gone to trouble Zhang Shou before, and I thought that this kid had lost his mind because of studying too much. But after hearing about what happened yesterday, I think that this kid is quite responsible. He was just used as a pawn before . It's a pity for him to stay in the Imperial College and continue to be abused by villains like Yang Yiming."
Zhu Jing glanced around at the others, his eyes narrowed slightly, like a beast preparing to hunt, and many people dared not look him in the eye. And until then, he said calmly: "Since Lord Jiang can't tolerate Xie Wanquan, I would like to ask the emperor for a favor and send him to Xuanda Governor Wang Jie for some experience, how about that?"
At this moment, I don't know how many people had the same thought in their minds. When Wang Datou was in the capital, he was a hero who took on troubles and never shirked his responsibilities. Now he was sent to Xuanda as the governor to face such a difficult mess. He had to continue to be a nanny and accept the troubles from the capital... Wang Datou was simply the most pitiful person in the world!
Seeing that Lord Jiang's face was filled with rage, and thinking of what Lu Sanlang said, Zhu Jing would never let go of him, who had once fought in the front line, just because he, Lu Sanlang, was Zhang Shou's student. Now seeing that Zhu Jing seemed to be putting all his efforts into confronting Lord Jiang, Lu Wan couldn't help but feel something in his heart. He looked at the others, thinking that it was impossible for this Duke of Zhao to go into battle alone.
Sure enough, in response to Zhu Jing's suggestion, the Minister of Revenue Chen Shang coughed, and then said seriously: "Although Mr. Xie has made mistakes before, since he admitted his mistakes to Dr. Zhang in public, it is a great virtue to know that he is wrong and can correct it. Now he has been forced out of the Ruxing Hall by Yang Yiming. Although he can continue to take the imperial examinations, there is no guarantee that there will not be people as harsh as Jiang Gelao."
"Therefore, I agree to let Xie Sheng go to Wang Zongxian's side for a few years to see if he can put his knowledge into practice."
Hearing that Jiang Ge Lao was actually accused of such a harsh hat by Chen Shang without any expression, Lu Wan was furious for a moment. He took a deep breath and took the initiative to say, "Your Majesty, Duke Zhao just said that Tang Ming and Xie Wanquan, the champions of the Northern Zhili County Examination, went to Rongshui Village together. Someone was behind it. I don't want to whitewash it. That thing was actually instructed by me."
Jiang Ge Lao's face froze instantly. Is Lu Wan crazy?
Who do you think Zhu Jing is? Would he be so magnanimous as to forgive you just because you confess?
However, Lu Wan didn't seem to notice the eyes around him that seemed to treat him as a madman. He lowered his head slightly, and his voice was slightly sincere and sincere... and dejected. For him who had been in the officialdom for decades, such a performance was easy to do. It was not difficult at all.
But the words he said at this moment seemed to have exhausted all his strength, because he knew very well that it would be extremely difficult to go back after taking this step.
But just now, seeing Zhu Jing's momentum to confront Jiang Ge Lao, he knew very well that Jiang Ge Lao, who had become less and less favored by the emperor recently, might not stay in the cabinet for long. And when Jiang Ge Lao could no longer hold on, he, the Minister of War, might be the next target of his ferocious fangs. After all, although he was not the most determined Prime Minister, the words "favorite student" were engraved on his forehead!
"Your Majesty, I have always been ashamed to admit it because my son Lu Zhu suddenly became Dr. Zhang's student, and he turned over a new leaf. Compared to the past when I beat him with sticks, he always stayed away from me. As a father, I really have no face. To be honest, even when my son got engaged, I didn't want to invite Dr. Zhang if it wasn't rude not to invite him."
At this point, Lu Wan paused, and then continued in a very low voice: "Before, I heard from others that Lu Zhu was studying under a master in a small village outside the capital, and that the so-called old master was praised by a lot of people. I didn't believe it in my heart, and then because someone in the Duke of Zhao's mansion was gossiping, I asked Tang Ming and Xie Wanquan to investigate. In the end, I was really narrow-minded."
"Not only do I have some prejudices against Duke Zhao, but I am also dissatisfied with his leadership of the army because of the so-called unfavorable war rumors in Datong." He never mentioned that he had discussed the marriage of his children with the Zhu family in a serious manner - of course, it was with Zhu Er, not Zhu Jing. And he had only had private contact with Zhu Er once, which was not enough for anyone to bring up.
Therefore, Lu Wan, who felt more and more guilty the more he spoke, finally bowed deeply and said the most important words after all the preparations.
"During my tenure as Minister of War, there was a traitor in the Ministry of War who colluded with the rebels in the Linhai Camp and plotted something evil. Although the emperor has been lenient and only allowed me to stay in office with a salary deduction, over the past few months, I have thought about how I not only failed to manage my own affairs, but also almost missed the military and national affairs. I allowed the censors to slander the generals, and I feel uneasy. If I continue to stay, it would be too shameless."
"Therefore, I resign as the Minister of War and ask for your approval, Your Majesty."
What is the saying that a stone stirs up a thousand waves? Lu Wan's resignation letter can be said to be completely true. Even Jiang Ge Lao, who was once shocked when he heard Lu Wan frankly admit that he sent Tang Ming and Xie Wanquan to expose Zhang Shou's "true face", was now dumbfounded! As for other court officials who were familiar or unfamiliar with Lu Wan, they couldn't help but whisper.
Although Duke Zhao Zhu Jing was not extremely shocked, he could not help but wonder if Lu Wan, who had visited his home at night and chatted and laughed with him, and who was obviously trying to shamelessly clear up the past, had been replaced by someone else.
You know, even though he knew that Lu Sanlang was not the good-for-nothing fat boy that he thought he was when he first received the letter from his mother, and that he was now Zhang Shou's favorite disciple, he had no real intention of letting Lu Wan, the Minister of War, go.
He was fighting in the front, but Lu Wan, as the Minister of War, was dragging his feet behind him, and even plotted against his daughter and future son-in-law. Such a person must not remain in the position of Minister of War. This was his bottom line! Moreover, he had already been stepped on by others and was bullying others. If he didn't fight back at all, wouldn't he, the Duke of Zhao, be too weak?
He stared at Lu Wan with a strange expression, and actually forgot to express his opinion. However, he forgot, but others could not pretend to be confused. Jiang Ge Lao's face was extremely ugly, but he just scolded that it was ridiculous, and he saw that Chen Shang, the Minister of Revenue who had just agreed with Zhu Jing, coughed and spoke again.
"Minister Lu has been the Minister of War for many years. He has been reprimanded and fined for the previous case of the internal spy in the Ministry of War. How can I ask you to take responsibility again? As for the little disagreement between you, Duke Zhao and Dr. Zhang, it is not impossible to explain it. If you resign for this, it will not sound good to you, Duke Zhao and his son-in-law."
Chen Shang had never expected that Lu Wan would resign, so he couldn't help but come out to persuade them to make peace. But after he said this, he saw Lu Wan glance at him with a strange expression, and he couldn't help but feel puzzled.
It's not possible. Lu Wan, who is so keen on promotion, is so determined to do it this time? Didn't the Minister of War say this to retreat and advance, hoping that someone would help him turn things around?
Not to mention Chen Shang's confusion, the emperor on the throne was also very confused. He was not the child emperor who had just ascended the throne. He had been the emperor for 27 years, and because the empress dowager had always instilled the ancestral teachings of Taizu, he paid great attention to understanding his ministers, so he was not unaware of what kind of person Lu Wan was.
This Minister of War has always been a man obsessed with fame, wealth and power. How could he dare to resign this time?
He thought about it and finally decided to try it out: "Admitting one's mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue. Even Zhang Shou could forgive Xie Wanquan, so why do you, Lu Qing, blame yourself so much?"
If the emperor tried to persuade him to stay, Lu Wan might have held out some hope, but the emperor just told him lightly not to blame himself. How could he not know that the emperor had long been inclined to let him move his butt? He knew very well that once people of his position were demoted, most of them would never be able to come back, and might even be trampled on by their enemies, so he immediately bowed to the ground.
"Your Majesty, Dr. Zhang forgave Xie Wanquan because he was young and hot-tempered and could not tolerate any injustice, but I am different. Even if Your Majesty forgives me and Duke Zhao lets bygones be bygones, I have no face to stay in the position of Minister of War any longer."
He paused as he spoke, then straightened up without panic, facing the strange looks around him calmly and confidently, and said in a tone so steady that even he was surprised, "It's just that I'm not even fifty years old this year, and I've been an official for many years, so I have some experience. If I were to resign and become idle, it would be a waste of what I've learned throughout my life."
"I hope the emperor will allow me to use my remaining energy to build a public school in the capital. You know, since the reign of Emperor Taizu, official schools have been promoted in all prefectures and counties, and the people have established community schools and various private schools, and the trend of seeking education has been booming. However, most poor children still cannot read a word and are often controlled by cunning officials. I hope that the public school will enroll students regardless of not charge a penny. Classes will be held every seven days, and students will take turns!"
