As soon as this question came up, everyone present felt the pressure.
In fact, on this topic, we need to take into account not only the current practical needs, but also the example of how cabinet ministers will be in office in the future due to illness and age. It also involves a dispute over place of residence, so it is difficult to satisfy everyone.
For example, the next step is to take the place of residence of the cabinet ministers. There are five Jiangnan scholars and two Northern scholars. This is far beyond imagination. Even if Tang Mi and two people joined temporarily for special reasons, the comparison is still five to two. , coupled with the absence of scholars from Huguang, Southwest, and Lingnan, this "abnormality" is definitely unsatisfactory.
"Is it enough for one of Tang and Mu to join the cabinet? Why do they have to both join the cabinet at the same time? I think Dongxian is fully qualified to join the cabinet." Chai Ke knew that nothing could be changed, but his attitude had to be clear. Huguang could not be ignored. As a scholar, it is difficult for Guan Yingzhen to come forward, but he must stand up.
Li Sancai glanced at Ye Xianggao and said thoughtfully: "Brother Jin Qing and Dong Xian have already explained this matter. Nanjing may have concerns, so they are very insistent..."
"Nanjing insists, do we have to give in?" Guo Zhengyu protested: "Then where is the prestige of the court? If someone takes this as an example in the future and follows suit in everything, how will we govern?"
"Good fate, Brother Jin has also told me about this matter. The court situation is difficult, and you at the Ministry of Revenue know better. We all need to take the overall situation into consideration and overcome the difficulties together." Guan Yingzhen had to step forward. If this continues, There will be strife in this palace.
Guo Zhengyu snorted and stopped talking.
Guo Zhengyu is the right minister of the Ministry of Revenue and a backbone figure among the Huguang scholars in the DPRK.
After Zheng Jizhi became an official, Guan Yingzhen, Chai Ke, Guo Zhengyu, Yang He, plus Bi Ziyan who was still persisting in Nanjing, and Xiong Tingbi who had not returned from Huguang, this is the confidence of Huguang scholars at present.
"In addition, Brother Daofu, this is a special situation right now, so in the future, does it also require clearer standards for the selection of cabinet ministers? How to nominate, how to recommend, how to reflect the public's expectations, these may all need to have relatively clear guidance, right? "Qiao Yingjia also stood up and expressed his opinion.
When Qiao Yingjia stepped forward, he immediately attracted the support of the northern scholars. Even Ye Xianggao and Fang Congzhe found it difficult.
Obviously, the scholars in the North were not satisfied with the fact that Jiangnan scholars occupied five of the seven cabinet ministers. This seriously backlogged the voice of the scholars in the North.
If this argument continues, I'm afraid we won't be able to finish it all morning.
It was Qi Yongtai who came forward to smooth things over, "There is much room for discussion in this article, but for now, our negotiations with Nanjing can only achieve this result. I hope you will also understand the current difficulties of the court. As for how to adjust and modify it in the future, I I suggest we discuss it again. Don’t worry about it today. Brother Jinqing, what do you think? "
Ye Xianggao and Qi Yongtai cooperated tacitly and nodded in agreement. Although Qiao Yingjia was a little dissatisfied, he also knew that if he insisted on this issue now, there would be no result. Besides, Qi Yongtai had already spoken, so he could only feel resentful. sit down.
This one is passed.
Li Sancai then started to tell the second point.
"The Yichu system is what Nanjing attaches most importance to. They have always insisted that Prince Yi Zhong has four sons. Even if something happens to the crown prince, he can be succeeded by the other three sons. They resolutely exclude the current emperor's children..." Li Sancai There was a pause at this point, "The cabinet believes that we must also insist on this. The current emperor cannot take care of the affairs because of the assassination, and the government cannot be without a leader for a day. For the sake of the country, we can consider a compromise and balance strategy, righteousness and loyalty. The prince can succeed to the great unification, but this is to succeed the Yuanxi great unification, not the Yonglong great unification. We cannot deprive the Yonglong line of succession rights just because of temporary expediency, so we think that in the future, the Yonglong lineage and the Wanyi lineage will Anyone can proceed, it must be decided based on the situation at that time.”
This is a huge problem, and living is a powder keg that can explode everything.
Prince Yitada fought hard to win the throne, but he is already in his fifties. How many years can he be emperor? Isn’t it just for the sake of future generations?
Now he is asked to pass on the throne to the descendants of Emperor Yonglong after his death for a few years. How can this be done?
But for the princes in the court, it is unprecedented for you, Prince Yi Zhong, to succeed to the throne due to financial and other reasons that are not humane to outsiders.
Now you have to go even further and ensure that your heirs will succeed the throne for generations to come, depriving the descendants of Emperor Yonglong of their right to succeed. This will undoubtedly make the scholars of the world question the moral integrity of today's princes. pass.
This should be the most divisive issue and one that is difficult for both sides to give in to.
"So the final result we came to is that Prince Yizhong ascended the throne as emperor, and his eldest son became the prince. However, the princes of the current emperor also retain the right to succeed, which means that once Emperor Wan Tong dies in the future, if there are no other accidents, the prince will Of course he will succeed to the throne, but if something unexpected happens, the current emperor and his disciples are also qualified to succeed to the throne. How to determine the specifics should be decided by the court."
Li Sancai's words caused everyone in the palace to whisper. It was obvious that the agreed strategy was too vague.
For example, what does this so-called accident mean?
Of course, death is an accident, and being too ill to see things is also an accident. So, if his words and actions are erratic and inconsistent with his identity, is it considered an accident?
Furthermore, if the prince's performance cannot win the approval of the majority of the cabinet and they think that he is unqualified for the position of emperor, is it a surprise?
If the dispute persists on this point, I am afraid that in the end it will have to be a showdown of strength between the two sides. This strength can be composed of many aspects, and military strength bears the brunt. This is why the imperial court must mobilize all the armies in the capital before this. The reason why the imperial power of the Imperial Palace is firmly in the hands of the cabinet and the Ministry of War.
If it counts, then the Yonglong lineage is also qualified to succeed the unification. Then how to determine whether the decision should be made by the cabinet ministers or the important ministers in the court? In what way?
This series of issues are in urgent need of explanation, but it is obvious that on this issue, there is not only a dispute between the imperial court and Nanjing, but also differences within the imperial court.
"Brother Daofu, that's it? Isn't there some more detailed explanation?" Gao Panlong was also a little dissatisfied. "How to determine the accident? If the crown prince is re-determined, how will the court confirm it? In what way? Since Nanjing also agrees, I think did we give them some promises, or was it some misunderstanding?"
Li Sancai also knows that this issue may be the most difficult. During the negotiation, the two sides were at odds for the longest time. Even now, to be precise, they have not reached a rule that both sides fully agree with, or it is more about their own understanding and expression.
"This is how we look at it. If there is no special accident, the prince will definitely have the priority to succeed. This is not a child's play, but whether the prince is suitable or not, the court has its own opinion. This court refers to cabinet ministers and important ministers. If there are more than five cabinet ministers, If the ministers all believe that the prince is no longer suitable, and 80% of the important ministers also agree with the cabinet minister's opinion, then the court has the right to remove him... "
Eighty percent? Everyone silently calculated that there were twenty-nine important ministers. Seven achievements meant that twenty-three important ministers and five cabinet ministers must all agree.
If it is no longer suitable for the prince, it can be easily stored.
Regardless of Tang and Mu, if Emperor Wan Tong can win over one of his cabinet ministers to oppose him in the future, then the position of the crown prince will be safe. Similarly, even if he cannot win the support of his cabinet ministers, if he can get the support of seven of the important ministers, he will be able to do so. Reject easy storage.
If it is difficult to win over cabinet ministers, then it is relatively easy for the seven important ministers.
Among the more than 20 existing cabinet ministers, they belong to the north and south and the south and south of Hunan, Guangxi and Lingnan. However, not all of them agree that it must be easy to store. Many people are not too concerned about whether it is easy to store, as long as they can ensure the leadership of Shilin Wenchen Right, so whether it is easy to store or not has little impact, and I even feel there is no need to dwell on this issue.
In the eyes of some people, as long as we have this attitude and recognize that the Yonglong line also has the right to succeed, then we have fulfilled our responsibilities and obligations. However, this is different from the ideas of the cabinet members who actually make the decision. After all, it is They were the ones who made this decision, and scholars all over the world would place the blame on them. They were even more worried that their reputation would be damaged, or even recorded in the annals of history.
Therefore, in their hearts, they still hope that after Prince Yi Zhong, that is, Emperor Wantong, the throne will return to the lineage of Emperor Yonglong, so that they can have an explanation to the world's scholars, and do not have to worry about what they will do in the history books in the future. Several people made a note.
Prince Yi Zhong was also aware of this, so he refused to make concessions on this.
But now it's here, forcing both sides to reach a conclusion
In order to reach an agreement, both parties must give in and compromise, which is why they came up with such a vague statement. As for the true meaning, it can only be expressed by both sides, and in the end each will speak based on their strength.
If Prince Yi Zhong can bribe and win over a cabinet minister or enough important ministers by then to thwart the intentions of Ye Fang, Qi, Li and others, then he can rest in peace, which means that the reputation of Ye Fang and others will be damaged. Similarly, if Ye Fang and others can take measures to successfully save money, they will not only boost the prestige of the cabinet, but also successfully resolve their own reputation crisis, killing two birds with one stone and getting the best of both worlds.
From now on, it seems that the cabinet has an advantage in this game, but this is only temporary, or superficial.
The concept of exclusive imperial power has great influence and supporters in both the government and the public. Before Prince Yi Zhong succeeded to the throne, he was able to win the support of Tang Binyin, Miao Changqi, Zhu Guozhen, Gu Tianjun, Jia Jing, and Zhen Yingjia. After he really succeeds as emperor, he should have more resources and means to divide and disintegrate the cabinet camp.
Both Ye Xianggao, Fang Congzhe and Feng Ziying have a clear understanding of this point.
The imperial power that has existed for thousands of years has been deeply ingrained in the minds of the people. The phrase "Qing the emperor, slaying the evil spirits" has been shouted countless times for thousands of years, and it can be used at any time to point to Ye Fang and others.
