The capital.
The candidate for the new Minister of Civil Affairs is still undecided.
Zhou Jing became an official.
He and Ni Yue are on the same foot, because it previously involved the dispatch of military supplies in the northwest and Liaodong, the storage of autumn grains, etc., and the war has not yet ended, so Zhou Jing's position as Minister of Household Affairs has been hanging. After the war in the northwest subsided, Zhou Jing had no reason to stay in court.
After Zhou Jing left, the position of Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was taken over by Youdu Yushi Zhongzhong according to the previous decision.
Because Xu Jin and Li Mengyang, the left and right ministers of the Ministry of Household Affairs, did not get promotions, it stands to reason that they would still assist Zhong Zhong in running the household department as the left and right ministers. However, the emperor found another way and decided to let Xu Jin. Jin Yidu, the censor of Youdu, was appointed as the governor of Pianguan.
This shocked the ministers of the DPRK and China.
Xu went to Piantouguan, that is, Shanxi Town, to be the governor. The original governor Wang Qiong must have been appointed by another person. Even if the emperor did not directly say it at the court, Wang Qiong would return to the court to serve as the minister. Looking at his position, it seemed logical that he would return to the imperial court and become the right minister of household affairs.
After the court meeting was dissolved.
Xu Jin was a little annoyed. This was the second time he was tortured by the emperor after Zhang Zhou gained power. After being tortured the first time, he managed to sneak back into the position of left minister of household affairs, while Governor Jing No one wants to do such an errand as the governor of Cangcang or Yizhou Shanchang. Going to Pianguan to be the governor is considered a "serious job". After all, everyone knows that Pianguan is now the border town that the emperor pays most attention to among the nine towns.
"Mr. Liu Ge, what do you think your Majesty means?" Xu Guan, Minister of Industry, went over to ask Liu Jian what he meant.
After Zhou Jing retired, the imperial court made the fifth change in the position of Shangshu within a year, following Tu Yu, Bai Ang, Xu Qiong, and Ni Yue. So far, there are only six Shangshu. Ma Wensheng and Xu Guan remained in their original positions.
Xu Guan also knew very well that Ma Wensheng was likely to be promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, but Xu Guan did not have that kind of luck.
Liu Jian did not reply.
Xie Qian on the side said, "When Wang Dehua returns to the court, Your Majesty does not know if he wants him to be the Minister of War, the Minister of Household Affairs, the Right Minister, or the Left Minister."
Only Xie If you move, it will be so sharp at this time.
Wang Qiong had made extraordinary achievements in the battle of Ningyuan, Liaodong, but he was not awarded a title after the incident. This was different from Wang Shouren, but in fact the ministers of the court also understood that compared with the victory of Ningyuan, Weininghai In the two battles with Guanshan, Wang Shouren's achievements were far greater than Wang Qiong's.
So although Wang Shouren has only been in the court for a short time and has little qualifications, he is still qualified to be promoted to a title.
As for Wang Qiong
No matter how diligent he is, he still follows the path of a traditional civil servant. After his meritorious service in Bianzhen, he has been promoted in his civil service, but he still has little hope for the rank of Lord Wu.
If in the past, if you led troops to kill hundreds or thousands of Tatars, you could come back as a count, but it is different now. Zhang Zhou and Wang Shouren have raised the qualifications for obtaining titles in court a lot, so that Wang Qiong's ability allowed him to stay on the sidelinesAt the end of the day, if he was given another ten years, he would not be able to achieve the meritorious service required to obtain a title, so it would be reasonable for the emperor to simply ask him to return to the court as a minister to assist Zhang Zhou who was about to return to the court.
Li Dongyang said, "As usual, the left minister of the household department should be promoted by the right minister. If Wang Dehua returns to the court and becomes the right minister of the household department, it will not break the rules."
This reflects The cabinet's attitude towards this matter is revealed.
Wang Qiong returned to the court from the governorship of Piantou Pass, which was regarded as a "disintegration" of Zhang Zhou's power in the northwest. Wang Qiong was made the right minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs. The Ministry of Household Affairs itself was still in the hands of the traditional faction. It seems that if Zhang Zhou wants to obtain sufficient financial support, it is not enough for Wang Qiong to be the right minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
Xie Qian smiled and said, "Binzhi, how did you know that His Majesty did not ask Wang Dehua to come back and be the left minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs?"
Li Dongyang was also silent this time.
Looking at Xu Guan next to him who was talking, he was also silent at this time. He seemed to see that the cabinet had no plan for the emperor’s sudden transfer to the northwest, and it seemed that he didn’t know about Wang Qiong. What official position will be assigned by the emperor next?
He originally wanted to ask who would succeed him as Minister of Industry, but looking at this posture, it seemed that the cabinet had now lost the authority of officials at the central court level to make comments to the emperor.
To put it bluntly, the emperor is now more willing to make some self-assertions after adopting Zhang Zhou's opinions. The authority of the cabinet as an advisory minister has been completely reduced.
In the Qianqing Palace.
Li Rong came over on behalf of the Supervisor of Ceremonies to deliver some memorials to Zhu Youtang for review, but Zhu Youtang had been coughing.
Even though Zhang Zhou suggested that Zhu Youtang eat more protein-rich foods, Zhu Youtang's health was too poor. Now that it is the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, Zhu Youtang has contracted the disease again. Wind chill.
"Your Majesty, Xinuan Pavilion is almost finished. I estimate that you will be able to move in in half a month." Li Rong said with concern.
Zhang Zhou had been taking care of the matter of repairing the Nuan Pavilion before he left. However, the emperor wanted to fight in the northwest and also wanted to build a new palace. It was better to build it next to the Qianqing Palace. Naturally, the ministers would have opinions. As for the money needed to repair the Nuang Pavilion, it was Zhang Zhou who raised the money through mining.
Zhu Youtang also held his breath.
Since the ministers of the DPRK and the Central Government do not support me in anything, then I will prepare some money, food and supplies on my own. Whatever I want, I don’t need you to intervene, nor the imperial court. In name, it is all used by the inner government. You guys won’t be looking for trouble, right?
In fact, the amount of money Zhang Zhou obtained after starting the mine was as much as Zhang Zhou’s opening of the Xishan coal mine before he passed the Jinshi examination in the spring of the twelfth year of Hongzhi. In the first two years, the private assistance provided to Zhu Youtang amounted to nearly 200,000 taels.
Most of it was used in border affairs, and the excess could be used to build a thermal pavilion.
The huge palace of Qingning Palace only cost more than 60,000 taels of silver, and the building of the Nuan Pavilion only cost 20,000 to 30,000 taels of silver, and it could be built more exquisitely.
Zhu Youtang sighed, "Bingkuan hasn't come back yet, but the heating effect he mentioned is really good. Now that I have nothing to do, I like to go to Qingning Palace to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager, and sit down for a while. I feel so bright and clean that I can’t bear to leave.”
Li Rong smiled and said, “Yes, Your Majesty, if Xinuang Pavilion is built, it will be brighter than Qingning Palace, and it will be like spring all year round.”
"Haha."
When Zhang Zhou was mentioned, Zhu Youtang's face turned a little red, and then his eyes fell back on the pile of memorials in front of him.
It seems that this is his daily errand, which makes him feel tired.
"Do you have any objections to the transfer of Xu Jin, the left servant of the Ministry of Revenue, to Piangguan?" Zhu Youtang asked.
Li Rongdao said, "No."
This means that there is no criticism of Xu Jin's foreign transfer in the memorial, which shows that Xu Jin's foreign transfer is in the interests of civil servants.
Zhang Zhou has too much power in the border affairs system. Xu Jin's replacement of Wang Qiong will return the most important military fortress in the northwest, Piantou Pass, to the control of traditional civil servants. It is also worthwhile for traditional civil servants to exchange for the minister of the left.
Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "In the next step, I am going to let Wang Qiong return to the court and serve as the left minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs. You will see if there will be some resistance."
Li Rong said Then I realized that the emperor had just made a replacement, or it was called a swap.
When Xu Jin replaced Wang Qiong, there was no such thing as Li Mengyang being promoted to the left minister and Wang Qiong being the right minister of the household department. It can be said to be simple and straightforward.
Li Rongdao "As a rule, when governors from the northwest return to the court, most of them serve as right ministers, but this is not without precedent. It is also common for left chief envoys to transfer to Beijing to serve as right ministers."
Zhu Youtang said, "Have I not already decided to let Li Shishi, the chief envoy to the left of Shandong, transfer the capital to the right minister of the Ministry of punishment? What else do they want?"
The implication is that there is already an opposition between him and the civil servants.
Knowing what I have decided, you civil servants always like to make irresponsible remarks, so I will not discuss it with you. I will transfer Xu Jin out first, and then announce Wang Qiong to replace Xu Jin as the left minister of the household department. , I would like to ask if you are convinced.
Li Rong asked, "Wang Qiong transferred to the capital as the left minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs to coordinate with Lai Guogong in handling money and food arrangements."
"Yes, that's right." No." Zhu Youtang's answer was ambiguous. It seemed that he would only tell the truth frankly in front of Li Rong. If it were Xiao Jing, Zhu Youtang would not answer such a question head-on.
In other words, with Xiao Jing's caution, he would not rush to ask about such a major matter related to policy.
This also reflects Li Rong's high moral standing and his courage to share the emperor's worries, even if sometimes his concerns seem to be out of bounds.
Zhu Youtang said, "No matter what the nine sides do, they cannot be coordinated by one person. Even Bingkuan and I have no ability to convince the officials in the court."
Li Rong felt somewhat sympathetic after hearing this.
During the Hongzhi period, itsThe actual imperial power has begun to be suppressed by the power of ministers. The civil servants have far greater control over the government affairs than the emperor. All major and minor affairs in the court basically have to be approved by the civil servants, regardless of how many times the emperor takes the lead in personnel scheduling. But for the traditional stronghold of civil servants, the iron triangle of the cabinet, the emperor could not replace or transfer them.
"I just want to arrange a few more people who can speak in the court." Zhu Youtang seemed a little aggrieved when he said this.
Look at me as an emperor.
No one in the court supports my decision. Bingkuan always needs to come forward to support me. Even Bingkuan was pushed out of the capital by them. Now it is difficult to bring him back, but the court can There are very few people who cooperate with him sincerely.
It’s difficult for me too.
As for Lin Han, even if he gets closer to Zhang Zhou, can we say that Lin Han stands by Zhang Zhou's side in all major matters?
Even Lin Han can't do that, I The new Minister of Justice Wang Shi can still count on Ma Wensheng and Zhong Zhong.
"Maochun, you are an old man in the palace and have watched me grow up. Now the court is different from the time of the previous emperor. I want to use a few people who can take advantage of me, but I don't know where to find them." Zhu Youtang said earnestly, "Although Yang Peng can do something, he is too good at exploiting the camp. Neither I nor Bingkuan like it, but he is. At least I can do something."
Li Rong lowered his head and made a respectful listening gesture.
What the emperor said before him was something involving his vital interests, Li Rong.
"When he returns to the court with Bingkuan, I will not let him enter the Bureau of Ceremonies. The errand of admiral Dongchang will still be left to you. As for Yang Peng, let him assist the admiral Shenji Camp , let him stay in the Royal Horse Prison. Recently, you have taken over and are responsible for investigating the private discussions of various officials in the capital about my use of Bingkuan."
Yang Peng is not in the capital, and the emperor wants to know the minister. Regarding his opinions on Zhang Zhou's affairs, he secretly sent Li Rong to investigate.
Admiral Li Rong's governorship of Dongchang can be traced back to the Chenghua period, and he was one of the leaders.
"Old slave, take your orders." Li Rong quickly handed over his hand.
Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "After Bingkuan returns to Beijing, I will work with him to clean up the court and strive to completely pacify the Tatars within three years. If you think there is anything Ministers, if you can recommend it to me, you may as well tell me, and I will consider it as appropriate."
Li Rongdao said, "I don't dare to discuss the appointment of people in the court."
Zhu Youtang said with admiration, "I asked you to recommend it. You don't have to be shy. This is also for the long-term stability of the country. I also want to find some helpers for Bingkuan."
The implication is that you If you have any good ministers, especially those who have a close personal relationship with you, but don't seem to have any contact with Zhang Zhou, please recommend them to me privately. I want you to return to the court as the chief eunuch, because I take a fancy to your connections in the court. widely.
Even if others want to defect to Bingkuan, they have to hold back and be embarrassed to shamelessly surrender directly. The more civil servants of the fourth rank and above of Zhongzheng, the more they care about their own face.
But it would be much more convenient for you, Li Rong, to contact the people.
And it is not easy to attract criticism. I will gradually find these people in the court and support Zhang Zhou in important matters. In this way, I will be more comfortable in employing people
To put it bluntly , the emperor just wanted to cultivate "his own people" in the court. Even if these own people seemed to be promoted through some unconventional channels, the emperor did not seem to think that this was a broken rule or anything.
“The old slave has had contacts with some ministers before, but they have not established personal relationships. If His Majesty asked the old slave to contact them secretly, of course the old slave would test their tone in the name of Dongchang. The old slave is willing to come forward and does not mention that this is an order from His Majesty."
Li Rong is very sensible.
Communications between ministers and ministers were taboo. Of course, Li Rong could not admit that he had a close personal relationship with the ministers.
Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "The best thing is that the chief ministers and young ministers in the court, as well as the ministers, ministers, and even people from the Nanjing officialdom, and then the local governors and vassal and government officials." "Tai, you can recommend me, but Maochun, I don't want you to develop connections among the internal officials."
"Yes, yes." Li Rong immediately understood what the emperor meant.
You can contact foreign ministers according to the order, test their tone, and let them enter the court to serve Bingkuan.
Why I am looking for you, firstly, because you are highly respected, and secondly, because you are old and frail.
If you want to "pass on" this resource, that is, hand over these resources to the successors of the internal officials, it is equivalent to saying that you have formed a force yourself, which I don't want to see. Arrived.
So my expectation for you is that
You can have contact with foreign ministers, but not with internal ministers. Even if it is Xiao Jing, Wei Bin and Chen Kuan, you must maintain your integrity. distance.
I just want to use you to shine for me alone before you are buried.
In Nanjing City.
Zhang Zhou has not yet left, and the pursuit of accountability for King Zhongling is still ongoing.
Zhang Zhou also asked Zhu Houzhao to participate in this matter.
"Sir, are you saying that King Ning has ulterior motives, and Ning Fan and the others are thinking of rebelling against the imperial court, are they so bold?" Zhu Houzhao looked incredulous.
Everything in the world is not the king's land, and the shores of the land are not the king's ministers.
As the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, I actually know that someone wants to usurp the throne
Zhang Zhou said, "Do you think that I casually criticize Ning Fan and deliberately stir up trouble?"
p>
Zhu Houzhao shook his head and said, "That's not what I meant. Sir, you are very benevolent and righteous, and you have nothing to do with Prince Ning. How can there be any grudge? Or sir, you have already calculated that they will be detrimental to the court in the future."
Zhang Zhou did not shy away from this this time, and nodded directly, "There is indeed such a tendency."
"Hiss." Zhu Houzhao clenched his fist and said, "Then destroy them."
p>
Zhang Zhoudao"Prince, you are going to punish the vassal by catching wind and shadow. If you do this, the opposition of the vassal vassal of the Ming Dynasty will be great. The prince should also know that the vassal vassal of the Ming Dynasty has great influence in various places. If they unite "Are you afraid, sir?" Zhu Houzhao asked with a narrow smile.
"Prince, you must rely on evidence when doing things. Beyond evidence, it is the inner defense of people. Just like Ning Fan, these generations have always had a disobedient heart. From the previous emperor to the current majesty, In fact, they all knew it, otherwise they would not have taken away their guards and would not have taken more precautions against them."
"But there is no evidence, everything is just speculation, and Prince Ning has never rebelled. In such a situation, the court also needs to set an example for the vassals in various places by stabilizing Ning Fan to show the court's tolerance for the vassals."
After hearing these words, Zhu Houzhao raised his head and said. "It's so complicated. I know he has different intentions, but I just don't have any evidence, so I just let him go."
"Yes." Zhang Zhou nodded.
"Sir, what are you going to do now? Why do you want to go to Jiangxi with people from Dongchang?" Zhu Houzhao looked puzzled.
"What we want to capture this time is King Zhongling who secretly makes weapons secretly. He is the uncle of the current King Ning. He claims that he will devote himself to the Ming Dynasty, but in fact, his heart is too dark, and he even secretly Killing people in the mansion privately can be said to be an indiscriminate killing of innocent people and evil people with ulterior motives."
In front of Zhu Houzhao, Zhang Zhou almost made a conclusion on Zhu Jinzhui's crime.
From historical records to Dongchang’s investigation, everything is in line with Zhang Zhou’s expectations.
Zhu Houzhao said, "Is that to kill one person as a warning to others?"
"Kill" Zhang Zhou shook his head, "For the vassal, we must be on guard and be lenient. If there is no If there is an actual act of rebellion, if you just make some rebellion, according to the rules, you will only be demoted to a commoner, guarding the imperial mausoleum to think about your mistakes, or being transferred to another place to guard the border, but it is not impossible to knock on the mountain and shake the tiger."
< p>The two were talking.Yang Peng appeared at the door.
"Is something wrong?" Zhu Houzhao asked with a straight face.
Yang Peng said, "Your Highness, Master Zhang, I just heard the news that Prince Ning has learned that Dongchang is secretly investigating Prince Zhongling, and has reported to the court to impeach you for interfering in the affairs of the clan. Along with Beizhi and Dongchang, they are also among those to be impeached."
Zhang Zhou said with a smile, "We will take action, and they will not wait for death." Please remember to bookmark the latest and fastest website. Free reading without anti-theft