The officials of the Ming Dynasty all grew up in a Confucian environment, and what they paid attention to was reservation.
There are very few people who are willing to speak out their thoughts or even recommend themselves.
Not to mention self-recommendation, it was just a recruitment by the emperor. Even if he wanted to take office again, he would decline it symbolically, saying that he was not so greedy for fame and fortune.
Even if someone really covets a certain official position, he would rather use shady power and conspiracy to get it, and rarely express openly that he just wants to be this official.
But Zhu Yijun just wanted to see if anyone would take the initiative to ask for the position of chief assistant.
Because the position of chief minister requires politicians with clear goals and initiative, not politicians who are just for profit.
Therefore, Zhu Yijun just wanted to see if any minister dared to recommend himself without resorting to other means, so that the cruel conspiracy would grow.
For example, in the early days of his accession to the throne, Zhang Juzheng almost had Gao Gong falsely accused of treason when he was the chief minister.
This is also a negative side for the country. Although it is inevitable for ministers to compete for power, they cannot become more and more bottomless, leading to serious internal friction.
in addition.
Zhu Yijun had people write down the requirements for politicians to quantify and characterize the future results in "Notes on Foreign Affairs". He also used Zhang Juzheng's words to elaborate on the idea that governing the country should not be conservative but should continue to develop and progress. Xu Jie and Zhang Siwei, who wanted to be good people and good politicians but did not want to be politicians, were severely punished.
Zhu Yijun believed that ministers who were truly attentive and willing to do this would guess his purpose and know how to do it. He even prepared several planned edicts on white linen paper.
Although the ministers often do not pay attention to the ministers, the chief minister needs to be appointed by the minister. After all, the imperial recommendation is just to promote the cabinet ministers and other ministers. If the cabinet minister is promoted to the chief minister, the emperor needs to order the promotion.
In addition, if the emperor enforces the imperial edict, it is not impossible.
For example, in the late Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, the result of the court push was that Dong Yiyuan was the main leader to lead the troops to aid the dynasty. However, Zhu Yijun made an arbitrary decision and did not use the leader of the court push to accompany the push. Instead, he asked Li Rusong to lead the troops. Aid Korea.
In the end, the minister had no choice but to accept it.
Turning back to this, Zhu Yijun didn't believe that the Manchu ministers didn't even have this understanding, so he prepared the decree in advance.
Shen Shixing did not disappoint Zhu Yijun, and the emperor and the chief minister finally handed over the new banner of restructuring and continued to rush in both directions.
It's just that the ruling ministers were caught off guard by all this.
They have always been accustomed to believe that the emperor will take advantage of the situation and let Shen Shixing be the first assistant. After all, it is time for Shen Shixing to be ranked in terms of seniority. They have already acquiesced and accepted Shen Shixing as the first assistant, and they have not thought about stumbling upon Shen Shixing. , such as instructing who to impeach Shen Shixing at this time.
However, they did not expect that to become the head of a hundred officials, they would have to actively recommend themselves to the emperor and put forward their own goals.
In the astonished eyes of the officials, Shen Shixing thanked him and sat on the left side of Zhu Yijun, with his hands folded in front of his abdomen.
At this time, Zhu Yijun also sat on the throne and looked at Shen Shixing: "I will give the master five years. If the country and the people can be better than what they are now, I will not treat the master lightly."
"There are also ministers."
Zhu Yijun looked at Pan Cheng and other ruling ministers again.
Shen Shixing, Pan Cheng and others also stood up and bowed their hands: "I dare not disappoint His Majesty's high expectations!"
Zhu Yijun nodded and smiled.
Then, Zhu Yijun hung his hands on his knees, leaned forward slightly, and said, "I have been on the throne for more than ten years, but since your husband passed away, there has been no major progress in the old evils that need to be eradicated. I have been cutting off traitors. Correct the mission!"
"But I and you, after all, are not bandits who only kill people and confiscate homes, but monarchs and ministers who work together to build the country. Therefore, we should carry on the past and open up the future, and make everything happen!"
"Now, Yuan Fu has set his eyes after I have raised the outline. It can be said that the outline has been raised and the eyes have followed."
"Then next."
Zhu Yijun looked at Shen Shixing: "How does Yuan Fu plan to achieve these goals? The other ministers also have their opinions on this, but let's talk about it for my benefit."
At this time, Shen Shixing stood up and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that the current ministers are being replaced. The Seventh Department of the Cabinet and the Privy Council of the Fifth Military Governor's Office are still short of senior officials. As a result, the central government affairs cannot be dealt with in a timely manner, and there is insufficient power. Let’s prepare for other big things next time.”
"That makes sense!"
"The imperial minister first issued an edict, and the Ministry of Personnel presided over the recommendation of nine cabinet ministers. The seven ministers, the censor of the capital, the six subjects, the general secretary, the chief minister of Dali Temple, and the censor in charge all recommended each other. , and it is planned to select three for me to recommend, one will be the main recommendation, and two will be the companions."
"In addition, the Privy Council officers and Military Officers of the Military Governor's Office who need to be supplemented shall be appointed by the military ministers above the governor in Kyoto and the Privy Council, Sixth Section, Ministry of War, Chief Censor, and Jinyiweitang officers from the qualified Governor-General and Admiral of the Central Court. Recommendation is also presided over by the Ministry of Personnel."
After Zhu Yijun nodded, he made relevant arrangements for the next personnel recommendation.
Ming system.
Whenever there is a vacancy in the country's political affairs or civil and military ministers, the emperor will issue an edict and order the courtiers to discuss the matter, and then report to the emperor for a decision.
A meeting to discuss national affairs is called a court meeting.
The recommendation of important ministers, such as academicians, ministers, governors, governors, etc. from civil servants, and general soldiers from military ministers, is called court recommendation.
However, the content and participants of court discussions and court recommendations were all decided by the emperor's decree.
Zhu Yijun's court discussions were basically limited to discussions with the ruling ministers in the Zhengshitang.
Only in the court recommendation, Zhu Yijun still involved officials such as the Seven Ministers, the Censor of the Capital, the Sixth Section, and the Censor in charge of the Duchayuan. This time he even asked military ministers to participate in the court recommendation of the military chief.
There is no other reason.
Since the personnel arrangements are to be published in the "Di Bao" and announced to the world, the bureaucrats will know it in order to facilitate the transmission of government orders. Therefore, there is no need to keep it secret. Instead, the more people the better, this can reduce the number of unknown personnel as much as possible. or inappropriate circumstances.
Therefore, Zhu Yijun is still letting many important ministers participate in the court promotion.
Since court discussions require a certain degree of confidentiality, the fewer people involved, the better.
Both require efficiency. Too many people involved in Tingtui will undoubtedly affect efficiency.
Therefore, Zhu Yijun said at this moment: "However, the court recommendation can only be completed within one day. If it cannot be completed, the list of those who cannot be debated will be submitted and I will decide it!"
Shen Shixing and others stood up and said yes.
Then, Shen Shixing took the initiative and said: "Your Majesty, now the traitor Zhang Siwei has been found to have secretly manipulated the villain to murder the grand master. In the past, the so-called cabinet ministers, princes, and princes formed cliques to talk to officials for personal gain. They were obviously framed. From my perspective, , he can be released from the imperial edict, and the prince is good at managing finances, I would like to ask him to be re-appointed to the cabinet."
Zhu Yijun said: "Now that the truth has been revealed, I should be pardoned, but there is no need to keep him in the cabinet and let him go to the cabinet as a young master!"
"In addition, we have issued a decree that the Ming Dynasty's ruling school will have a Department of Finance and a Department of Confucian Studies, and let him concurrently serve as the secretary of the school and be in charge of the Department of Finance!"
"In the former Si Ye Shen Li Zhang Confucianism Department, the selected students must not only pass the Confucian classics exam, but also pass the financial exam before they can be selected as officials."
Shen Shixing handed over his hands and said yes, and said: "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister Fang Gong was sent to prison due to his seal at the right time. Please show his loyalty and integrity and reinstate his position. What's more, Fang Gong was also burdened by treachery and sycophants. In order to preserve the integrity of the monarch and his ministers, he had no choice but to violate his appearance. I heard that if there are ministers in the country who dare to remonstrate, there must be a holy master, so I ask your majesty to show mercy and forgive their sins."
"Fang Qing is a loyal and capable minister."
"But there are many faults, but since I am a loyal minister, how can I just sin?"
When Zhu Yijun said this, he said: "But you can't use it rashly. As a king and father, you should save him."
Zhu Yijun looked at Shen Shixing again: "Only after he changes his mind can he continue to work for the welfare of the people of the country, continue to be loyal to the country, and assist me in creating peace for all generations!"
"How about this."
"First of all, I sent an order to Fang Fengshi, asking him to reflect on his problems in prison. After he has reflected, he will write a self-examination note to me, letting me know how he reflected during his time in prison and whether he recognized himself. If the problem is recognized, he can be reinstated and only be fined half a year's salary."
Zhu Yijun made arrangements at this time.
"According to the order!"
Shen Shixing replied.
