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After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang abolished the prime minister system and concentrated all power on the emperor. The ministerial power was greatly weakened and the imperial power was greatly enhanced.
During that period, the imperial power reached its peak, and the ministerial power also fell to the bottom. The ministerial power was completely unable to compete with the imperial power. The emperor had the power of life and death over the court ministers, even the senior and respected first-class officials. Zhu Yuanzhang also said Just kill him, the officials have no power to resist!
However, as the saying goes, "a hundred officials represent the emperor's herdsmen". Although the ministers will compete with the emperor for power and interests, they will also share the pressure and work for the emperor. It is an interdependent relationship. The result of Zhu Yuanzhang's severe suppression of ministerial power is , the ministers completely lost their right to autonomy, and everything needed to be decided by the emperor. Therefore, the pressure and workload faced by the emperor suddenly increased dozens of times!
It's a pity that the Ming Dynasty has a vast territory and so many government affairs? If every government affairs needed to be handled personally by the emperor, I am afraid that all the emperors of the Ming Dynasty would have died of exhaustion. Not every emperor was as diligent, loving and energetic as Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang or Emperor Chongzhen.
In fact, even Zhu Yuanzhang could not bear such pressure and workload at all. He once wrote a poem and complained: "I got up before all the officials got up, and I did not sleep until all the officials had gone to bed. It is not as good as the rich man in the south of the Yangtze River, who is as high as the sun at noon." Still wearing a quilt."
Therefore, one of the consequences of the substantial increase in imperial power is that the emperor has become the most grueling and tiring job in the world.
Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, was born in the grassroots. He was smart, wise, decisive and energetic. He couldn't bear such misfortune, let alone those later emperors who were well-dressed, pampered and couldn't bear the misfortune at all?
Therefore, after Zhu Di, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, succeeded to the throne, he could no longer bear it soon, so he established the Wenyuan Pavilion and established a cabinet system. He asked the cabinet ministers to help the emperor study the memorials and approve their own opinions, that is, The so-called "vote draft" makes the emperor's job much easier. He no longer has to study and investigate carefully. He only needs to take a look at the opinions of the cabinet ministers and then decide whether to agree or not. This is the so-called "red approval". ".
At that time, the cabinet still had little authority. It only assisted the emperor in handling government affairs. All matters of the cabinet also needed to be discussed with the emperor, and it was only equivalent to the emperor's personal secretary.
But as the emperors of the Ming Dynasty relied more and more on the votes of the cabinet, the cabinet naturally became an indispensable institution, and its authority became more and more important. By the middle of Ming Dynasty, the status of the cabinet became more and more important. High, it can already suppress six parts.
The cabinet can become the real core of the court because of a decree of Ming Yingzong, to the effect that "from now on, the emperor will no longer go to Wenyuan Pavilion to discuss matters with the cabinet elders, and all government affairs will be independently studied and drafted by the cabinet." Just give it to the emperor, and the cabinet cannot interfere with how the emperor approves it."
Ming Yingzong was a very legendary emperor. He first changed from an emperor to a prisoner, then from a prisoner to the Supreme Emperor, and finally from the Supreme Emperor to the Emperor. Such an emperor was naturally well versed in political power, and his attainments in imperial skills were probably even greater than those of today's Emperor Deqing.
However, Ming Yingzong, like Emperor Deqing, trusted too much in his own imperial power. This time he did a stupid thing. His original intention was to distance himself from the cabinet and monopolize decision-making power, once again expand imperial power and suppress The cabinet gradually became bigger, but after he made this decree, although the cabinet could not interfere with the emperor's approval, the emperor could not interfere with the cabinet's vote.
At this point, the emperor and the cabinet were completely separated from each other, and this was also a turning point in the Ming Dynasty's imperial power from prosperity to decline.
But as mentioned before, by this period, the Ming emperor was very dependent on the cabinet's votes. If he left the cabinet's votes, the emperor would die of exhaustion sooner or later. Facing the cabinet's votes, the Ming emperor would never Most of the time, it is just a reply of "agree", so the cabinet is equivalent to the decision-making core of the Ming Dynasty, and this decree of Ming Yingzong is equivalent to excluding the imperial power from the decision-making core, and the cabinet has become The emperor could no longer interfere in the private territory of powerful ministers.
As a result, the power of the cabinet has naturally become more and more important. The elders of the cabinet are already equivalent to the de facto prime ministers, and the emperor's decision-making power of approving the red has become an insignificant procedure, and the imperial power can no longer control it. Suppress the power of ministers.
Even during the Ming Xianzong period, cabinet voting had become an indispensable element when the court implemented administrative decrees. Its importance far exceeded the emperor's approval. If officials received an imperial edict, It contains only the emperor's approval but no cabinet vote, so it can only be regarded as the emperor's personal letter, also known as the "central edict". If the "central edict" violates the current imperial edict, officials can reject it. After accepting it, the cabinet naturally supported him, and the emperor was helpless.
It can be said that at this point, if the factor of military power is put aside, the power of ministers actually overwhelms the power of the emperor.
Today, the cabinet has become the recognized core of the court's decision-making. Although the emperors of the Ming Dynasty repeatedly wanted to intervene in the cabinet again or suppress the power of the cabinet, most of their actions were unsuccessful.
Even though Emperor Chongzhen of this world is a clever "Zhongxing Holy King", he only promoted the two decrees "Cabinet ministers are not allowed to hold the six actual positions concurrently" and "Expanded the number of bachelors" to slightly restrict it. After adjusting the momentum of the cabinet, the imperial power and the ministerial power were once again in balance, but the ministerial power could still compete with the imperial power.
Now, Emperor Deqing is an emperor who is greedy for power. Like his predecessors of the Ming Dynasty, he also has the ambition to suppress the cabinet and interfere in cabinet affairs.
Now, there is a vacancy in the cabinet seats, which is a great opportunity for Emperor Deqing to realize his ambitions.
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At this time, recalling the power changes in the cabinet, Zhao Junchen secretly thought: "These 'imperial party' officials' vocal support for Liang Fuchen's entry into the cabinet to assist the government is probably a secret signal from Emperor Deqing! And Deqing It is foreseeable that the emperor wants to insert Liang Fuchen into the cabinet. After all, the cabinet is at its most empty now. Zhou Shangjing has lost his position as chief minister, and his appeal has been greatly reduced. Although Shen Changmao is the chief minister, his ability is not good. The means are slightly insufficient; as for the other cabinet minister Cheng Yuandao, he is even more mediocre and incompetent! When Liang Fuchen was the governor of the three sides, he made outstanding achievements and had a high reputation. If Emperor Deqing fully supported him into the cabinet, Even Li He, a bachelor, would find it difficult to compete... In this way, Emperor Deqing could intervene in cabinet affairs through Liang Fuchen, and the imperial power would also be greatly increased..."
Thinking of this, Zhao Junchen frowned and thought again: "It's just that Emperor Deqing's idea made it much more difficult for Zuo Lanshan to enter the cabinet... Could it be that I have laid out so many foreshadowings, but... Still unable to impress Emperor Deqing, did Emperor Deqing have the idea of using Zuo Lanshan to split the 'Zhao Party'? Or is Emperor Deqing planning to support both Zuo Lanshan and Liang Fuchen and let them enter the cabinet together?"
While secretly guessing, Zhao Junchen finally raised his head and secretly observed Emperor Deqing, hoping to deduce Emperor Deqing's specific thoughts through the changes in Emperor Deqing's expression.
However, Emperor Deqing looked expressionless at this time, just quietly observing the disputes among the officials, without revealing any emotions or expressing any tendencies, which was quite unpredictable.
Cabinet seats are related to the formulation of core policies of the imperial court. The most important thing is that each faction in the DPRK has its own opinions, and no one is willing to give in. Naturally, there will be disputes in a short period of time, whether it is the "Zhou Party" or the "Shen Party" ", "Zhao Party", or "Emperor Party" and "Prince Party". As long as a party proposes its own candidate, it will be boycotted by other parties. In this way, even "Zhou Party" Even if the party has great power, it cannot easily achieve its goals.
Therefore, at this time, there was still a lot of debate in the Huangji Palace, and the various factions were completely unable to reach a consensus.
At this time, Emperor Deqing's attitude became very important, but Emperor Deqing did not make any statement, as if he had other plans.
"It seems that Emperor Deqing has been planning for today's changes in the situation for a long time. Perhaps his silence now is just to accumulate strength and wait for the opportunity. When he finally expresses his attitude, I am afraid that the situation in the temple will change drastically... "
Thinking of this, Zhao Junchen has regarded exploring Emperor Deqing's plan as his top priority next.
After all, Emperor Deqing's attitude had a great impact on Zhao Junchen's plan.
However, since it was impossible to guess Emperor Deqing's mind, Zhao Junchen did not force it. He just turned his attention to Prince Zhu Heyu on the other side and secretly considered the thoughts of the "Prince Party".
At this time, Prince Zhu Heyu also stood there quietly without expressing his attitude.
However, the successive speeches of the "Prince Party" people have already stated the position of the "Prince Party", which is to move closer to Emperor Deqing and support Emperor Deqing's plan.
Although, the "Prince Party" may not know what Emperor Deqing's specific plan is now.
However, the performance of the "Prince.Party" seems blind, but in fact it is a clever move! After all, the biggest crisis for Prince Zhu Heyu now is that he has gradually lost the trust and support of Emperor Deqing, and the "Prince Party" now fully supports Emperor Deqing's actions, which can restore Emperor Deqing's support for Prince Zhu Heyu. The trust of Emperor Deqing can also enhance the power of Emperor Deqing, so that Emperor Deqing can better protect the crown prince Zhu Heyu. He can also take the opportunity to revive the momentum of the "Prince. Party" and let the factions in the DPRK see the "Prince. Party". ” influence.
"Based on the nature of the people in the 'Prince Party', I'm afraid they wouldn't have thought of such a plan. They were deeply influenced by Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, and they had always enjoyed selling money, so they moved closer to Emperor Deqing without reservation. The plan should have been the work of Zhao Shancai." Zhao Junchen thought with a frown.
After the "Prince Party" had Zhao Shancai's assistance, it became more difficult to deal with than before.
While Zhao Junchen was sizing up Prince Zhu Heyu, Zhu Heyu was also secretly thinking about Zhao Shancai's advice to him the night before.
"Your Highness, when we come to court tomorrow morning, we must follow two principles! One is to fully support His Majesty's position, and the other is to do our best to further confuse the situation in the temple!"
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…(To be continued.)
