Once there is a hint from the prince, you can imagine how these people will state the truth...
Even if there is no written evidence, the complaints from Shuojin and the Lu family alone are enough to convict him of a capital crime.
When everyone puts the blame on one person, it will be his end. Emperor Chongzhen did this before, so Yang Sichang had already thought about his possible tragic end, and he couldn't help but be extremely scared and anxious.
"What are you waiting for?"
The Han general was very unhappy when he was scolded by the prince, so he walked up to the target, stretched out his thick arms, picked up the fat bachelor, and dragged him out of the hall.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..."
Although Yang Sichang wanted to defend himself, the prince was too lazy to listen, and the two Han generals were extremely diligent.
In the fiasco in the winter, this meat ball was responsible for at least half of the responsibility. He divided his troops and stationed them in various places. As a result, they were defeated by the Qing army one by one. They conquered cities and territories along the way. They were invincible and almost wiped out the entire North China.
Instead of being so miserable, it would be better to concentrate our forces and let Lu Xiangsheng take full command and fight the enemy in a fight. Even if he can't win, he can still cut off one of his fingers and save some face.
Victory or defeat is a common thing for soldiers, but letting the dead take the blame is too much. If I don't punish you, what will happen to you in the future?
No one in the cabinet interceded for Yang Sichang, and the ministers in the six ministries were even more indifferent, fearing that this unlucky man would implicate themselves.
After being around for so many years, his popularity is really bad. If he is killed, it is his own fault.
When the first assistant, Xue Guoguan, saw this, instead of sighing, he felt a little gloating.
Yang Sichang's imprisonment means that there is another vacant position in the cabinet. If the prince continues to recommend candidates to the cabinet, he can make a lot of money again. Why not?
Yaoji pretended to be worried and asked his chief minister: "Xue Aiqing, there is a vacancy in the cabinet. The same is true for the Minister of War. I wonder who can take on this important task?"
You can only plant one radish in a hole. If you want to harvest more radishes, you have to dig more holes...
Xue Guoguan was overjoyed in his heart, waiting for the prince's words, but he looked very solemn and said casually: "To report to your highness the prince, I think that Chen Yan, the president of the Hanlin Academy, is knowledgeable and has profound insights, and may be able to join the cabinet." Ministry of War Chen Xinjia, the right minister and censor of Youqiandu, is well versed in strategy and good at border affairs, so he is the perfect candidate to take charge of the Ministry of War."
At the beginning, those who joined the cabinet must have the title of bachelor. Later, the admission conditions were relaxed. It is also possible to join the cabinet first and then be awarded the title of bachelor.
Xue Guoguan's recommendation of "Er Chen" is not without some reason. The Hanlin Academy is the gathering place for young scholar-officials, including Donglin's disciples in Beijing. The top three candidates in the Imperial Examination, including the No. 1 Scholar, the No. 2 Scholar, and the No. 3 Scholar, can all enter the Hanlin Academy as officials. Being named on the Golden List is a reward for studying hard while studying hard, and entering the Hanlin Academy is the beginning of a successful career.
As the head of the Hanlin Academy, Chen Yan naturally represents part of the rights of the scholar-bureaucrats in his words and deeds. Although his power is not as good as that of the cabinet ministers and the Seven Ministers, he can still be regarded as a person who can speak to the saints and express his opinions, and he can be regarded as a very popular minister. Once you reach this position, as long as you work harder secretly, the position of Minister of the Sixth Department will be almost within your reach.
As for Chen Yan himself, haha...
And Chen Xinjia is by no means an idle person. Xue Guoguan's summary of his abilities is indeed the actual situation. Chen Xinjia is well aware of the affairs of the Ministry of War and the current shortcomings of the army, and he values Fu Zonglong, Sun Chuanting and others. After these two coaches were imprisoned, they also relied on He argued hard and was released.
It is right for him to take over the post of Minister of War. His professional ability is very strong, at least not inferior to that of Yang Sichang, but the shortcomings of both of them are obvious. Yang Sichang's shortcoming is that he is narrow-minded and intolerant of others. Chen Xinjia's shortcomings are different, but more deadly, enough to make him...
"To report to His Highness the Crown Prince, I think it is extremely inappropriate for Chen Yan to join the cabinet!"
One Zhang Sizhi was enough, but now that Chen Yan was about to join the cabinet again, Cheng Guoxiang couldn't bear it anymore.
The prince is still young and cannot understand people. It is reasonable. As a veteran of this dynasty, he should step forward at this time.
If Chen Yan is allowed to come in, three people will become a tiger. Xue Guoguan will definitely control the government and become the second Wen Tiren, or maybe Wei Zhongxian.
The Chief Assistant glanced at Cheng Guoxiang's figure with his peripheral vision, a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes, but he was still willing to hear the good news or take a preemptive strike.
Yao Ji thought there was no objection, so he asked with great interest: "Oh? Cheng Aiqing, what's the reason for this?"
It's a good thing that someone is willing to fight with Xue Guoguan at this time. It's always more interesting than him performing a one-man show by himself.
Although there were constant feuds and corrupt officials in the late Ming Dynasty, there were also people who were self-denial and devoted to public service in the court.
Originally, Cheng Guoxiang was unwilling to confront Xue Guoguan like this when Chongzhen was in power, but now that the prince is supervising the country, the situation is very different. The prince vigorously suppressed the once arrogant noble forces, giving them a glimmer of hope for the revival of the Ming Dynasty.
Even after being sternly reprimanded by the prince, Cheng Guoxiang never felt any regret in his heart. If the ministers only stay in the camp and act against the will, they will be betraying the divine grace. Officials all behave in this way, why is the great Ming Dynasty like this?
"To report to Your Highness the Crown Prince, I believe that although Chen Yan is the head of the Hanlin Academy, he has no qualifications as a minister of the Six Ministries and no experience in handling government affairs. If he rashly joins the cabinet, he may get twice the result with half the effort, and the consequences are unpredictable. I hope the prince Your Highness, please think twice.”
Cheng Guoxiang believed that before Zhang Sizhi entered the cabinet, he was working in the Ministry of Rites and had the title of Minister. What kind of virtue and ability does Chen Yan have that he can directly join the cabinet?
If this was not a court meeting, but in the prince's residence, Cheng Guoxiang would have said that this guy was mediocre in talent and mean, and it would be difficult to convince everyone with just one word of recommendation from Xue Guoguan.
"Well, I wonder what Cai Aiqing thinks?"
No matter what Xue Guoguan or Cheng Guoxiang said, they are all one-sided words. We need to brainstorm and listen to everyone's opinions.
Cai Guoyong didn't want to get involved in this matter, but when his name was called, he had no choice but to go out and answer: "Wei Chen has replied to what Mr. Zhenggege said, and I hope His Highness the Crown Prince will judge!"
Seeing someone helping Cheng Guoxiang, Zhang Sizhi, who had just joined the cabinet, understood that it was time for him to play his role: "To report to His Highness the Crown Prince, Wei Chen thinks that what Xue Shoufu said is true. In Wei Chen's opinion, Chen Yancai knows people well and acts steadily. , Mr. Cheng Ge must have blinded his eyesight."
Zhang Sizhi also had a target in mind, and if he kept blowing it until he reached the end, there would inevitably be flaws, and it would be very bad if the prince noticed it. As long as he makes a speech, he is reciprocating the favor and helping Xue Guoguan.
Yao Ji sat on his little chair and thought about it seriously, and then made a decision: "In that case, then Chen Yan will be like Zhang Aiqing and join the cabinet for a trial period of half a year!"
Real gold is not afraid of fire. If it is refined by then, you can go directly to the earth.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..."
Cheng Guoxiang was not willing to give in, and wanted to argue with reason, and was unwilling to watch Xue Guoguan get what he wanted.
Yao Ji waved his hand impatiently and said loudly: "This matter has been decided by this palace, so there is no need for you to say more. Cheng Aiqing and Cai Aiqing can learn from their loyalty when they join the cabinet. However, they are already old, so why not just become an official? The benefits are Same as Fan Aiqing!"
Of the original five pavilion elders, one was imprisoned and three were promoted to official positions. This is an anecdote from the Ming Dynasty.
After hearing this, Cheng Guoxiang was stunned for five seconds, suddenly realized, and felt extremely disappointed in his heart. He replied sluggishly in an old and sad voice: "... I am a humble minister... thank you... for your holy grace!"
I originally thought that although the Holy Emperor was traveling around on a crane, the Crown Prince hated evil as much as he hated it, and he could distinguish between good and evil, and finally he was able to create a wise king. Unexpectedly, on the day he imprisoned the country, he re-employed Xue Guoguan and others. God is really going to destroy our Ming Dynasty!
No matter, from now on, I have nothing to do with the government anymore, so I might as well go home and raise geese and farm the land, just like the Southern Song Dynasty poet Lu You, who was full of passion but had no way to serve the country, so he had to spend his time drinking and reciting poems.
Cai Guoyong was unlucky, and his eyes were full of sorrow for Cheng Guoxiang, but he could not say it out loud in the main hall. The prince had already made a verbal decree that the king could not do anything, so he could only return to his hometown to take care of himself.
On the contrary, the chief minister was already relieved. Within one day, four cabinet vacancies were found. Today is an auspicious day for him. The prince will definitely continue to ask for his reliable candidates.
One person can pocket 20,000 taels of silver if he enters the cabinet, and four people can pocket 80,000 taels of silver. As long as the little prince obeys his words, even if they don't pay in advance, they are not afraid of going back on their word later.
One of the other two recommended places can be given to Chen Xinjia, but for two seats, he will have to pay twice. He may not agree, so it is safer not to use this method.
Xue Guoguan originally considered introducing Yang Shicong to the cabinet. This man was a lecturer in the East Palace and was the prince's teacher. His admission into the cabinet would satisfy the prince. But then I thought about it and realized that Yang Shicong was the disciple of Donglin Tangkui Zhou Tingru.
Although the Lord Chief Assistant is uneducated and has no skills, he is self-aware. He regards Dong Lin Suan as a bloodthirsty beast and will definitely not do anything that would cause him to be burned. Once Yang Shicong enters the cabinet, Zhou Tingru's reinstatement may not be far away.
But this 80,000 taels of silver was the money that Xue Guoguan thought he had to take. It was just that the object had been changed. There were many donors among the courtiers who wanted to join the cabinet, and they were not afraid of not receiving the money afterwards.
"Xue Aiqing, there are two more vacancies in the cabinet now. Who will replace them?"
The chief assistant's psychological activities are all revealed in his eyes. Yao Ji naturally wants to do what he likes. Today's best actor award will definitely belong to this chief assistant.
"Weak ministers are not talented. I thought that Wei Zhaocheng, the left minister of the Ministry of War, and Yao Minggong, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, who are familiar with military books and have excellent strategies, might be able to join the cabinet!"
If the recommended person's position is too low, it may attract criticism from others. Chen Yan is a lesson learned from the past. Xue Guoguan learned the lessons in time. Those who opposed in the cabinet were all appointed by the prince, so this recommendation should be foolproof.
