Although reformist civil and military officials such as Zhang Juzheng, Fang Fengshi, and Qi Jiguang, the so-called core members of the Zhang Party, had experienced the Gengxu Incident and the large-scale Japanese rebellion in Jiajing, they recognized that the empire should indeed have a strong military force, not just a mere army. On the surface, I only saw the number of leaders on the roster, but not the army with actual soldiers in training. Therefore, everyone was willing to let the emperor have a truly powerful army.
As for why the emperor had a powerful army?
This is because the reformists took into account the lessons of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. If the strongest soldiers and horses exist, but are not controlled by the emperor, but are controlled by others, the consequences will be disastrous.
Therefore, although the reformist civil servants who hoped that the Ming Dynasty would have a truly powerful army supported a strong army, they could only accept that the emperor was the supreme commander of the strongest army.
Back to the topic.
Although reformist officials supported the emperor's military strength, many scholar-bureaucrats in the entire civilian government were still unwilling.
Especially the younger generation of officials.
Especially young officials in the prosperous Jiangnan area!
They were deeply influenced by the mercantile thinking of the virtual monarch brought about by the development of the commodity economy, and because they were young, they had not experienced the tragedy of Anda's plundering of the capital during the Jiajing period, or the terrible situation of the Japanese pirates' plundering of the southeastern coast, and they did not know about the empire. The importance of strong weapons.
But only knowing that in order to strengthen the army, the imperial court would impose heavy taxes, which would increase the burden on the merchants and people, so they would strengthen the monarch's power, which would further give the emperor the capital to compete with the people.
At the same time, scholar-bureaucrats like me will be even less free.
So there was a situation where Xie Jiefeng refuted the imperial edict.
Officials in the Sixth Section have always been young officials who have just entered the official service.
This is a rule set by the Taizu Dynasty.
The six subjects have the right to refute, which was also determined by the Taizu Dynasty.
That is to say, small officials hold great power, thereby checking and balancing the six ministries, avoiding the emergence of powerful ministers, and preventing the emperor from issuing edicts indiscriminately.
However, no matter how good the system is, it has timeliness and imperfections.
Therefore, although this system could restrict the emperor from issuing edicts and powerful ministers from disorderly orders, it also hindered the reformist monarchs and ministers such as Zhu Yijun, Zhang Juzheng, and Qi Jiguang at this time, who wanted to strengthen the emperor's military power and facilitate the continued reform process.
"The refutation of the memorial will be sent to the Privy Council!"
Zhu Yijun calmly handed the memorial to Zhang Hong.
Zhu Yijun knew that it was not convenient for him to express his attitude directly now. As Zhang Juzheng said, if the emperor expresses his attitude in advance, he would be controlled by others.
Because the people of these empires are not afraid that your emperor will be ruthless, but they are afraid that they will not be able to figure out your emperor.
No matter how ferocious a tiger is, some people will dare to touch its butt, as long as they master its habits.
Therefore, Zhu Yijun did not directly issue handling opinions, but asked the Privy Council in charge of military air tickets to handle the matter.
Privy Councilor Fang Fengshi was silent for a long time after receiving the original letter refuting the emperor's reorganization of the Six Guards.
There was only the sound of ordinary businessmen walking back and forth in the outer lobby.
"Get back, everyone!"
Fang Fengshi suddenly came out of the duty room and shouted in the lobby.
As a result, the principals retreated one after another.
And for a moment, the entire Privy Council Hall could hear the drop of a needle.
Then, Deputy Privy Envoy and Assistant to the Beijing Camp, Yang Zhao, Minister of the Ministry of War, and Nanchang Bo Liu Xian, Deputy Privy Envoy who was promoted to Beijing because of his old age and to strengthen the Privy Council's ability to plan military strategies, heard the news and started from their respective posts. He walked out of the room and asked, "What happened?"
Fang Fengshi said: "Uncle Nanchang, it is indeed not easy for you military ministers to straighten their backs. Even if Yuan Fu and this court are willing, it will not be smooth sailing!"
With that said, Fang Fengshi informed the two of them about the ban on the Sixth Guards of the Reorganized Emperor.
boom!
Liu Xian slammed his fist on the table, touched the gray beard under his chin, and said in a loud voice: "Do we have to wait until the country's fate is in danger to strengthen the army?!"
Then, Liu Xian said again: "No one knows Qi Hou better than me. If he transfers his subordinates to the pro-military guard, he will cause trouble. Either he is stupid, or he should have led the invaders when he cleared his land. Enter the customs! Why wait until now!"
"This is naturally the case. Even if the five thousand Southern soldiers want to cause chaos, they will not be able to cause trouble. What's more, the personal military guards only have five thousand Southern soldiers. There are also official schools transferred from various towns, as well as the emperor's own Jin Yiwei and Siwei. camp."
Yang Zhao took over the sentence at this time and looked at Fang Fengshi: "But Prime Minister, this Xie Jie is probably thinking about Yuan Fu's future. Although no one believes that Qi Hou dares to rebel with five thousand southern troops, there are some who dare to I believe that Yuan Fu will use these five thousand southern soldiers to become a powerful regent and become Huo Guangye!"
"Yuan Fu himself said that I am not a prime minister, but a photographer!"
"So, why should he, Xie Jie, worry about Yuan Fu anymore?"
"In my opinion, he is not worried about Yuan Fu's future safety. He clearly doesn't want the restructuring to proceed further, he doesn't want the New Deal in which officials and gentry all receive food and duties to be carried out, or he doesn't want the emperor to be a strong soldier!"
As Fang Fengshi spoke, he slapped Xie Jie's memorial on the case with a loud bang.
"Listening to what the prime minister said, do you really want to ignore Yuan Fu and insist on the fact that Yuan Fu is the regent?"
Yang Zhao asked back at the right time.
Fang Fengshi also asked: "What does the Lord mean by this? Is it to drive a wedge between our court and Yuan Fu, or does he not want the Emperor to have a strong army in his heart?"
"I didn't mean that!"
Yang Zhao hurriedly denied it, clasped his hands behind his back, and then cupped his hands and said: "I just think about Yuan Fu. Unlike some people, who don't care about the benefactor's feelings and just want to bring the benefactor to the world." Push in the fire pit!”
Fang Fengshi sneered, and then only said one sentence: "I know what you mean!"
With that said, Fang Fengshi picked up Xie Jie's sealed first copy and left the Privy Council.
Liu Xian saw this and hurriedly chased him out: "Prime Minister! Where are you going?"
"Uncle Nanchang, please rest assured. Even if I end up like Duke Hu Xiangmao in the future, I will keep the emperor's military equipment strong!"
Fang Fengshi replied loudly and walked away quickly.
Duke Hu Xiangmao was Hu Zongxian, who had been rehabilitated by Zhu Yijun and given the posthumous title of Xiangfan.
After Liu Xian heard this, he couldn't help but bow to Fang Fengshi's back with his hands in hand.
After Fang Fengshi glanced sideways, he stopped, turned around and bowed in return across the main hall of the Privy Council and the walkway.
Only Yang Zhao stood behind Liu Xian with cold eyes, watching this scene.
Fang Fengshi, after getting on the sedan, ordered his servant: "Go back to the official residence!"
But on the way, Gu Xiancheng, the head of the Ministry of Personnel, Wei Yunzhong, the head of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and Li Sancai, the head of the Household Department, blocked Fang Fengshi's way.
Fang Feng was forced to see these three people and asked, "What's the matter with you?"
Gu Xiancheng first raised his hands and asked, "Is the Prime Minister going back to his official residence?"
Fang nodded every time.
After Fang Fengshi answered, Wei Yunzhong raised his hand and said, "Please save me and thank you for your advice!"
"What does this mean?"
Fang Fengshi asked.
Li Sancai then raised his hands and smiled and said: "Why should the Privy Council ask questions knowingly? Thank you for giving the admonishment and refuting the imperial edict. I guess the chapter has arrived at the Privy Council now. Could it be that the Privy Council has not received it yet? Or is it that he, the Superintendent of Ceremonies, directly handed over the imperial edict?" The decree was given to the cabinet, but they didn’t even follow the rules established after the Privy Council was reorganized and established before, regarding matters involving military aircraft being voted on by the Privy Council?”
"The Privy Council should understand that the reason why the imperial court can successfully establish the Privy Council is not because the people of the world are really willing to let the military dictatorship, but because the power of the cabinet can be divided!"
"That's why we didn't let the Six Sections stop us, nor did we stop him from becoming the first Prime Minister of the Privy Council, nor did we stop him from letting old commanders like Yu and Liu become deputy privy council envoys, because these veteran generals couldn't be promoted to deputy privy council envoys. It is to consult the military affairs, not to be in charge of Privy Council affairs, but to reduce its military power through overt promotion and covert demotion, and to prevent the Privy Council's military discussions from being just talks on paper."
"Because there were such cases in the Song Dynasty, it is indeed possible for the veteran general Lao Shuai to be promoted to deputy privy envoy. Even Qin Hui was able to kill Duke Mu of Yue Wu and promoted him to deputy privy envoy first."
At this time, Gu Xiancheng also raised his hand and said, "But that's enough! Why do you need to ask the emperor to reorganize the six guards of the personal army? I don't worry, the emperor will be so happy about this in the future that the old incident of Tumubao will happen again?" "
"Listen to what you mean, the Privy Council is able to carry out military duties on our behalf, and it is able to take charge of military aircraft. Furthermore, this Council is able to obtain the vote to control military aircraft. Is this your credit?"
Fang Fengshi asked.
Li Sancai nodded and asked, "Isn't it?"
Then, Li Sancai asked: "Does the Prime Minister really think that without the support of the six subjects, the public petition can really be issued, or does he think that we are really afraid of Jiangling and dare not refute it, so we gather together and go to Shuxu to remonstrate?"
Immediately, Li Sancai asked: "The prime minister is a veteran of three dynasties, so he doesn't know how to refute his advice, right?"
(End of chapter)
