Chapter 4, what is mine is mine, what is yours is still mine

As the first empress in history, Wu Zetian was particularly adept at this game. When she deposed the king and established herself, she heavily relied on figures like Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu. Whether they had good character or not was unimportant; what mattered was their ability to be ruthless, and this was crucial.

During the Ming Dynasty, there were many powerful eunuchs, from Wang Zhi and Liu Jin to Wei Zhongxian, each of whom was renowned for their influence. What ultimately became of them?

Gao Gong's expression was slightly awkward, and he quickly bowed, saying: "We take our leave, Your Majesty!"

It can be said that the legacy left by Qianlong undoubtedly reflects the thoughts of an emperor

Although he was unaware of the truth of the matter, Zhu Yijun did not perceive anything unusual. Sitting in the seat of honor, Zhu Yijun listened to Gao Gong's lengthy discourse, feeling somewhat drowsy, and he struggled to keep himself awake.

At this moment, Zhu Yijun felt a sense of attending a class in a later era. He was not tired and did not want to sleep, but as soon as the teacher began the lecture, he could immediately fall asleep.

Indeed, Gao Gonglu babbled on for quite a while, while Li merely said, "Approved, everything shall proceed according to what Gao Ge Lao has proposed!" After saying this, without giving Gao Gong an opportunity to respond, he directly asked, "Is there anything else?"

Mother, rest assured, I will certainly become a wise ruler

When the emperor turns against someone, they are immediately doomed, which is sufficient to prove one thing: the power of the eunuchs derives from the emperor

Watching Gao Gong and others leave, Zhu Yijun almost couldn't help but laugh. When he saw his mother looking over, Zhu Yijun still sat up straight and composed. Zhu Yijun did not want to be scolded; pretending to be a good child was the right approach, as unruly children had no future

Through these matters, Zhu Yijun clearly understood that there must be a buffer between the emperor and the ministers, and it was not appropriate for the emperor to take the lead personally. Reform is indeed a matter that offends people, and Zhang Juzheng is just the right person for the task.

The Eastern Depot and the Jinyiwei of the Ming Dynasty served such a purpose, acting as the emperor's henchmen, engaging in the work of tyrannical officials, and ultimately being executed to quell the anger.

To take advantage of the situation and seize opportunities, this is the best strategy. Zhu Yijun continuously adjusted his tactics while also reflecting on himself

Gao Gong and the others spoke animatedly, while Zhu Yijun listened very attentively, his facial expressions quite serious. This further piqued Gao Gong's interest, as he spoke eloquently, with saliva flying everywhere. In reality, Zhu Yijun was not really listening; instead, he was contemplating how to change his stance.

Compared to eliminating Feng Bao, making his own mother unhappy seemed to Zhu Yijun a much better option; the former approach was simply foolish. What difference does it make if Feng Bao embezzles more money? With a single stroke, it all becomes his own.

Shang Yang of the Qin Dynasty was executed by being torn apart by five horses, which was done to appease the sentiments of those affected by the reforms; however, the new laws were not abolished

Zhu Yijun was contemplating how to play tricks later, while on the other side, Gao Gong had finally finished speaking, his face slightly flushed and breathing a bit heavy, clearly excited by his own words. Zhu Yijun glanced at his mother, who had long since grown impatient, no wonder Gao Gong was not favored.

"Feng Daban, what has happened?" Li looked at Feng Bao, her expression changing suddenly as she hurriedly inquired

Who is my maternal grandfather, Li Wei, also known as Wu Qingbo? He was a bricklayer! Because he could not make a living in his hometown, he moved to the capital. However, he still could not get by in the capital, so he sold his own daughter

The daughter of a mason, do you expect her to keep up with the rhythm of the high arch? Please stop joking around

There was truly no other way; Zhu Yijun had no choice but to shift his attention. His focus quickly turned to Zhang Juzheng. Among the people present here, the only one who piqued Zhu Yijun's interest was Zhang Juzheng

As an elder of the Yu Wangfu, Li Shi had trust and affection for Feng Bao. After all, among so many eunuchs, it was only Feng Bao who did not procure medicine for his own husband to find women. Upon seeing Feng Bao in this state, Li Shi naturally felt quite worried

Reformers have often been subjected to slander throughout history, even the ruthless Emperor Yongzheng was not spared from a deluge of disparagement.

It may be somewhat inappropriate to say she was sold; rather, she should be said to have been sent to the residence of the Prince of Yu to serve as a palace maid. Of course, her mother is very beautiful; otherwise, she would not have been able to enter the residence of the Prince of Yu

Without mentioning the slander cast upon the Qing Dynasty, it is enough to say that those literati would pay with their lives. These individuals have no bottom line and dare to slander without restraint, certainly comparable to the tabloids of later generations, if not surpassing them.

One must now think like an emperor, adopting the mindset of "what is mine is mine, and what is yours is still mine"; otherwise, one cannot be considered a qualified emperor

At the age of fifteen, I entered the residence of the Duke of Yu, where I was directly favored by my father. This was not the key point; the key was that my mother was fortunate enough to give birth to a son in one go, thus providing my father, who had no sons at the time, with an heir and solidifying my own position.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yijun turned to glance at Feng Bao, it seemed that this fellow did not need to be dealt with after all

After Wu Zetian ascended to the position of Empress, in order to quell the anger, she directly abandoned Li Yifu and Xu Jingzong

Emperor Qianlong, such a formidable ruler, still kept He Shen by his side, and even utilized him to the fullest extent. While alive, He Shen served him, and after his death, he was killed by Qianlong's own son to establish authority and win the people's hearts. The vast fortune He Shen amassed also filled his son's treasury.

The attitude is quite clear, this matter is settled as it is, no need to discuss it further, there is nothing else, you may leave!

The scene of maternal kindness and filial piety unfolded smoothly, but unexpectedly, someone came to disrupt it, and that person was Feng Bao. This fellow, with a mournful expression, suddenly knelt down on the ground with a thud, displaying a heartbroken demeanor, making one wonder if he had just lost his father.

When Wu Zetian sought to seize power for herself, she employed Zhou Xinghe and Lai Junchen, staging a dramatic play of inviting the guests into the urn. The fate of Zhou Xinghe and Lai Junchen was as tragic as that of their predecessors, ending in a gruesome death

Although there are many unfavorable remarks about him, Zhu Yijun believes that most of them are merely slanderous accusations

At such times, it is essential to demonstrate ambition and determination, which will surely make my mother very happy

You have said so much, citing classics and presenting a well-structured argument, yet Zhu Yijun feels that his mother has not absorbed any of it

Feng Bao is well-known for his love of money, and he also has a fondness for cultural relics and antiques, including the Qingming Shanghe Tu in his possession. It would be ideal to support Feng Bao as one would support He Shen. Moreover, Feng Bao's status is not even comparable to that of He Shen; the position of a eunuch cannot match that of a minister

The Emperor has even killed his own dog, what more do you want? It can only end without resolution.

Who is one's own mother? She is the daughter of a mason, unable to recognize a single character, completely ignorant of the sayings of the sages and the principles of benevolence and righteousness, truly does not understand at all

Li sighed in relief as he saw them leave, and reached out to touch Zhu Yijun's head: "My son, you will soon be the emperor; you must govern this world well"

Regarding Zhang Juzheng's reforms, Zhu Yijun held a supportive attitude, which conveniently laid the foundation for his future reforms, as he could not afford to offend others. The emperor seeks to employ individuals for tasks and then discards them once their usefulness has ended; that is the true way of utilizing people