Wei Zaode is in a good mood these days, but he also has some worries.
He was only the number one scholar in the 13th year of Chongzhen. He had only been an official for a few years. He did not have much practical work experience. He had never even served as the parent of a local citizen, so he was living in the capital. I don’t know what Emperor Chongzhen saw in him. In four years, he was promoted from the top scholar in the new department to the high position of chief minister of the cabinet. Faced with such a messy situation, what can he, a scholar who has only been a Beijing official for four years, do? Isn’t it just a day’s work? And it was really not easy to be the first assistant of Emperor Chongzhen. When the emperor liked someone, beauty was in the eye of the beholder, and he was promoted as fast as he could. But if I look down on you, then you are the most treacherous minister in the world! Beheading is a lenient sentence...
Therefore, Wei Zaode, who was inexplicably seated on the throne of chief minister, was really living like a year. When he went to court, he did not dare to say much for fear of offending Chongzhen and being reduced from the dignified chief minister to a prisoner of the subordinates.
And just when his position as chief minister and the city of Beijing were in danger, the prince Chitose, who had always been secretive, suddenly went crazy! The whole person is Emperor Taizu Gao, no, it should be the reincarnation of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty - he is very capable, and he also takes good care of his heroes.
Therefore, Wei Zaode, the first assistant, finally had a few days where he was not so worried.
But just when Zhu Cihong suppressed the Nanjing Xungui Rebellion, made a lot of money and land, and seemed to be able to maintain a stable situation, a reform trend that he was a little bit unexpected started again... ..
Well, let’s reform. As long as I can let my chief assistant live a leisurely life and be a "three-purpose minister", that's all.
But the prince didn't know what he was thinking. During yesterday's one-on-one meeting, the prince suddenly praised Zhang Juzheng and said: It would be great to have a chief assistant like Zhang Juzheng...
What does it mean? After Wei Zaode returned home, he spent the night thinking about whether the prince wanted to replace his first assistant with someone as responsible as Zhang Juzheng. Or do you want to be Zhang Juzheng?
This Zhang Juzheng is not an easy person to be! How many years have you been an official? How can you do Zhang Juzheng's job? Moreover, Zhang Juzheng’s house was ransacked after his death!
"Chief Assistant, Chief Assistant Wei, what are you thinking about?" Zhu Cixiang's face that always had a bright smile came over and asked with concern. Only then did Wei Zaode realize that he was distracted, the wine glass he was holding tilted, and the wine spilled onto the table without him noticing. The little eunuchs serving in Yongchun Pavilion were all holding back their laughter at his silly appearance!
It turned out that after the afternoon meeting today, Prince Zhu left Wei Zaode for lunch... and during the meal, Zhu Cixiang asked who in the court was most like Zhang Juzheng. Only then did Wei Zaode fall into deep thought.
Who is most like Zhang Juzheng? Wei Zaode thought to himself: It's definitely not me!
"Thousand-year-old master," Wei Zaode said, "I am a dull man. I don't know who in the court is like Zhang Juzheng."
Zhu Cixiang nodded lightly, "Chief Minister Wei, you are not stupid, but there is no such capable minister as Zhang Juzheng in the court now."
Wei Zaode breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhu Cixi then said again: "How about you become Zhang Juzheng!"
With a snap, Wei Zaode dropped the wine glass on the table without even holding it in his hand.
"I've lost my temper..." Wei Zaode quickly stood up and was about to kneel down.
Zhu Cixiang waved his hands and said: "Sit down and do big things without sticking to trivial details. The first assistant is a person who does big things, and his name will be remembered in history in the future. There is no need to stick to these trivial etiquette..."
"How can I deserve to have a name that will go down in history..."
Zhu Cixiang smiled: "It's worthy, it's worthy... As long as you do a good job as Zhang Juzheng, we will write the history of Qing Dynasty ourselves in the future. We will write your biography according to "The Biography of Zhuge Liang", how about it? How about... It’s okay to write it after Xiao He.”
"This, this, this..." Wei Zaode was at a loss and couldn't even speak properly, "How can I compare with Zhuge Kongming and Xiao He? I, I really can't be Zhang Juzheng!"
"You can do it," Zhu Cixiang smiled and asked him to sit down. "I am the best at recognizing people. At first glance, you are a famous reform minister like Zhang Juzheng. It is up to you to preside over the new policy of this dynasty!"
"I, I don't know how to preside over..."
Zhu Cihong stretched out his hand, and Huang Xiaobao, who was waiting next to him, had already handed over a thread-bound book. Prince Zhu took it and handed it to Wei Zaode.
"Wei Chief Fu, look at this," Zhu Cixiang said with a smile, "This is what I have planned. If you follow it, you can become Zhang Juzheng."
After Wei Zaode heard this, he really didn't know whether to laugh or cry - who is Zhang Juzheng?
However, he had to look carefully at the thread-bound book Zhu Cihong handed over. As soon as he looked at it, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
The intensity of the New Deal proposed by Zhu Cixiang was much greater than the intensity of Zhang Juzheng's reforms!
Moreover, Wei Zaode also sensed from the terms of the Ministry of Household Reform that Zhu Cihong wanted to greatly infringe on the interests of the southeastern scholar-bureaucrats in commercial taxes and land taxes. If he didn't do this, where would he get the money to increase the officials' salaries so much?
This is something that even Zhang Juzheng dare not do in a big way!
"Chief Minister Wei, what do you think of these reforms proposed by me?" Zhu Cixiang asked with a smile while looking at the cold sweat on Wei Zaode's forehead.
"This, this, this..." Wei Zaode stammered, "I'm afraid it will be criticized a lot, which will be very detrimental to Qiantui Master's reputation. Qiantui Master will still reach the top..."
Zhu Cixiang smiled and said: "There is no rush to get to the top. I am still young and can afford to wait! We have to get the big things done first, otherwise we won't be able to sit still even after we get to the top."
As for the person who is being criticized the most, it should be you, the chief assistant, right? "
This is to take the blame yourself! Wei Zaode was crying and didn't know what to do.
Zhu Cixiang added: "Don't worry, First Assistant, I am different from my father. I will not be fooled by slander and will support you no matter what!"
Can you survive it? Wei Zaode was terrified just thinking about it! How could it be so easy to be the public enemy of Southeast Shilin!
Zhu Cixiang saw the panic on his face, and then comforted him: "Besides, I do things in a measured manner. I will not act too hastily, and I will not wipe out all the interests of Southeast Shilin... What I do is All we want is for our Ming Dynasty to survive in the southeastern half.
If there is no reform, when the money I borrowed from Yanghuai salt merchants and Nanjing nobles is spent, the southeastern half of the city will not be able to survive! "
"I also know the painstaking efforts of Master Qiantose, but I am weak and weak..."
Zhu Cixiang laughed, "Is Chief Wei Wei trying to form a party?"
"No, no, no, I don't dare to form a party for personal gain..."
"What are you afraid of?" Zhu Cixi tapped the table with his fingers. "We have to form a party. Without a party... we cannot control the Qingliu Wuyi. Without the support of the Qingliu Wuyi, the court's new policy will encounter huge difficulties. resistance."
"Then, how can I form a party?" Wei Zaode asked.
Zhu Cixiang looked at Wei Zaode and said, "You want to join the Donglin Party! You should be one of the Three Kings of Donglin this term!"
"But, the Three Lords of Donglin were not appointed by the imperial court..."
Zhu Cixiang smiled and said: "It is true that he was not appointed by the imperial court, and I have no intention of appointing him. I just want the Donglin Party to recommend the three monarchs that I want to belong to! Now I just ask you, are you willing to be the three monarchs?" ? Are you willing to be my own Zhang Juzheng?"
"My lord, my lord is willing!"
How dare Wei Zaode say he doesn't want to! Come to think of it, maybe Zuo Ban Yushi will come to investigate corruption and bribery! Although he is an upright official, it is best not to investigate.
