The ancients entered the court as officials, either to serve the country or to achieve success. But no matter what, officials must hope that they will be reused, preferably by several generations of emperors, and finally return to their hometown with honor, die a good death, and have their descendants enjoy the afterlife.
There was a minister in the Ming Dynasty. His purpose in becoming an official was to help the country. After becoming an official, he was also highly valued by the emperor. However, at the peak of his career, he chose to resign, and he resigned twenty times in a row. Why was he so persistent and had to resign?
One day in the 12th year of Zhengtong, the wife of Li Chun, a calligrapher in the Ming Dynasty, gave birth. At this time, Li Chun was already thirty-one years old and finally welcomed her first child. Li Chun was extremely excited and nervous. . Later, the wife gave birth to a boy successfully. Li Chun was relieved and named his eldest son Li Dongyang.
When Li Dongyang was four years old, he was called a "child prodigy" because he could do calligraphy with larger diameters. After Ming Dynasty heard about it, he personally tested him. Li Dongyang was appreciated by the Ming Dynasty clan and got the opportunity to study in Shuntian Mansion.
In the eighth year of Tianshun, Li Dongyang ranked first in the second class of the palace examination and was selected as a shujishi, thus becoming an official. After Ming Xianzong came to the throne, he asked Li Dongyang to participate in the compilation of "Records of Ming Yingzong". After the compilation was completed, Ming Xianzong rewarded Li Dongyang with platinum articles and promoted him to an official position.
In the Chenghua dynasty, Li Dongyang was not very highly regarded, and he basically moved after nine years of office. After Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty came to the throne, he asked Li Dongyang to be responsible for compiling "Records of Xianzong". Gradually, Ming Xiaozong discovered Li Dongyang's talent and decided to reuse him.
In the eighth year of Hongzhi, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian entered the cabinet together and participated in machine maintenance. When the prince Zhu Houzhao left the court to study, Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty also granted Li Dongyang the titles of Prince Shaobao, Minister of Rites, and Bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion. Li Dongyang often advised the prince to be close to virtuous ministers, stay away from traitors, be diligent in learning, and avoid ease.
In the fourteenth year of Hongzhi, Li Dongyang suffered from dizziness and used this as an excuse to resign. This was also his first resignation, but Ming Xiaozong did not allow it. Within a year, Li Dongyang resigned twice more. Ming Xiaozong still refused, but rewarded him with many precious medicinal materials.
In the 17th year of Hongzhi, Li Dongyang resigned four times within one year, but all of them were rejected by Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty. Regardless of whether he cited natural disasters, astrology, or even illness, Ming Xiaozong refused to let him go.
In the eighteenth year of Hongzhi, Li Dongyang resigned again, but Ming Xiaozong still refused because he hoped that Li Dongyang could continue to assist the prince. Also in this year, Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty passed away. After Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty came to the throne, he promoted Li Dongyang to the position of Young Master and concurrently Prince Taifu. Li Dongyang resigned, but the emperor refused.
Then Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty ordered Li Dongyang to be responsible for compiling "Records of Xiaozong". He had no choice but to stay again. However, after that, Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty began to favor the eunuchs, obey the eunuch Liu Jinyan, and even allowed him to interfere in the government affairs. When Li Dongyang saw this, he went to court with Liu Jian, Xie Qian and others, hoping to persuade Ming Wuzong to be more responsible for government affairs and stay away from villains.
But Ming Wuzong couldn't listen to anything he said. Li Dongyang and others were unable to save it and decided to resign together, but the emperor still refused. After that, they proposed to resign several times, but Ming Wuzong always disagreed and asked Li Dongyang to arrange the wedding for him. In order to appease them, Ming Wuzong agreed to handle political affairs.
But even so, Ming Wuzong still doted on the eunuchs and allowed them to do evil. Li Dongyang was in poor health, and seeing that he could not rectify Ming Wuzong, he resigned many times. Finally, Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty approved the resignation of Liu Jian and Xie Qian, leaving only Li Dongyang.
In order to appease Li Dongyang, Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty also granted him the title of Young Master and Grand Master of the Crown Prince, Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Bachelor of Huagaidian. However, since Liu Jian and Xie Qian left, Li Dongyang was unable to support himself in the court, and Ming Wuzong refused to listen, so he was still determined to resign.
In the seventh year of Zhengde, Li Dongyang had resigned twenty times. If the emperor continued to disagree, he might die in office. Finally, after the twentieth resignation, Ming Wuzong approved it. After learning the news, Li Dongyang immediately went to the hospital to express his gratitude, and then prepared to return to his hometown.
In the eleventh year of Zhengde, Li Dongyang died of illness.
Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty posthumously awarded him the title of Grand Master, with the posthumous title of "Wenzheng". Li Dongyang became famous at a young age, but unfortunately his first official career was not smooth. Later, he gradually gained the emperor's respect, but the emperor was unwilling to let him go. After resigning twenty times, he finally got what he wanted and was able to return to his hometown to spend his remaining years. Unfortunately, he died of illness within a few years of his good fortune. It can be said that he dedicated his life to the Ming Dynasty.
Why did Li Dongyang insist on resigning twenty times? The main reason was that he was suffering from illness. The emperor valued him and entrusted him with important responsibilities, but this was also stressful. Under the strong pressure, his condition became more serious. In addition, his relatives died one after another during this period. Li Dongyang was hit hard both physically and mentally. He had no choice but to go back and recuperate.
As for the Zhengde Dynasty, Li Dongyang, who was suffering from illness himself, had to worry about the ignorant Ming Wuzong, which made him even more exhausted. After many attempts to persuade Wuzong failed, Li Dongyang, like Liu Jian and Xie Qian, was determined not to do it anymore, but Ming Wuzong refused to let him go. After he resigned and was dismissed again, Li Dongyang was kept in Zhengde for seven years.