After leaving the palace, Yan Keng rushed to the location of the cabinet without stopping.
At this time, San Yang was all in the cabinet, and what they were discussing was Emperor Xuande's condition. Although they were not summoned by the emperor, it was impossible for such a big matter to be hidden from their ears, so at this time it was also Already arrived.
Seeing Yan Keng's arrival, the three of them stopped talking in unison.
"Meet Chen Guogong." They saluted, and Yan Keng returned the salute to show respect, and then sat down each.
"How is your Majesty?" Yang Shiqi was the first to speak. Although they knew that Xuande was probably hopeless, they still had to ask.
"His Majesty passed away a few hours ago." Yan Keng replied, his tone choked with sobs.
Upon hearing this, Sanyang immediately rolled from his chair to the ground, blinked his eyes, which were already filled with tears, howled loudly, and kowtowed in the direction of Zhu Zhanji's palace.
Yan Keng also followed them and began to cry bitterly. This was a necessary process, otherwise he would not be gossiped about.
After this action was completed, the few of them started talking about business.
"Before his death, His Majesty ordered Queen Mother Zhang to assist me in governing the country."
Sanyang looked at each other, this was what they expected.
The emperor's control over Ouchi was no longer as strict as that of the previous dynasty, and some news could be spread to some extent. They knew that Chen Guogong was summoned to the palace, so they naturally guessed what happened.
"We will do our best to assist." Yang Shiqi is the chief assistant of the cabinet, and the other two are group assistants. Of course, he should speak on behalf of everyone.
Of course, that's not what they think in their hearts.
This Chen Guogong has no actual administrative power, and the emperor is young. What will happen when the time comes is not up to the cabinet.
You know, the Sixth Section has the power to refute the matter!
Yan Keng nodded after hearing this, and then looked sad again:
"It's just that I am the governor of the Houjun Governor's Mansion, and my own responsibility is to command the troops and horses of Beizhi and other places to assist the government, but it is a bit strange."
"That's true." Yang Shiqi agreed casually before he understood what he meant.
"So, I figured out a way."
"Chen Guo Gong, please speak." Sanyang secretly said, "Here we come!" They had long expected that Chen Guo Gong would not come to the Three Treasures Hall for anything.
"But I want to aggrieve Yang Ge and give up the position of chief minister of the cabinet. In this way, it is justifiable for me to assist in the government." A smile appeared on Yan Keng's face. He turned his head and stared directly at Yang Shiqi:
"Of course, I will not let Mr. Yang Ge feel wronged. I plan to set up another assistant in the cabinet to handle government affairs together with the chief assistant..."
"This is impossible!" Yang Rong immediately objected before Yan Keng finished speaking. Familiarity is a matter of principle, and it is absolutely unacceptable.
"I have obtained the support of the Queen Mother and the Empress." Yan Keng knew that this would elicit such a reaction from them, so he replied calmly.
Yang Rong's eyes widened, obviously he didn't expect the other party to move so quickly, but he immediately shot back: "So what! Cabinet ministers have always been civilians, but no military minister has ever been in the cabinet!"
"Is there a rule that no noble military official can join the cabinet?" Yan Keng asked immediately.
Sanyang suddenly lost his temper.
This is indeed not stipulated. It is just that the general cabinet, as the emperor's secretary, only selects civil servants. As for the black and white "Only civil servants can join the cabinet", there is indeed no regulation.
After all, Wu Chen entered the cabinet to handle government affairs...
"However, this has never happened before. Is it a bit unreasonable for Chen Guogong to want to set a precedent?"
Yang Pu replied, nominally it means that this matter has never happened, but what it actually means is that you want to climb on top of us, you are overthinking!
"Think about it, three Masters Yang."
A slight sneer appeared on Yan Keng's face. He had long expected that these people would not easily give up their position as chief assistant, so he simply stopped pretending at this time:
"Three of them have been in the cabinet for many years. If they insist on opposing it, there is nothing I can do."
"It's just that the Queen Mother and the Empress are on my side... and the power of criticizing the red is in the hands of the Supervisor of Ceremonies!"
"You..." Yang Shiqi opened his eyes wide, and the faces of Yang Rong and Yang Pu suddenly darkened. The other party was a naked threat!
The meaning is very clear. If you don't agree, then I won't agree with your future memorials either.
However, the most uncomfortable thing is that Yan Keng is still telling the truth, which makes them feel helpless the most.
In the past, whether it was Emperor Yongle or Emperor Hongxi, when they chose to take care of their lives, they were always four people together. This meant that the emperor trusted them and was also a symbol of power distribution.
However, this time, Emperor Xuande only called Yan Keng and left his last words, asking him to assist the government together with the Queen Mother, without the names of the three of them.
This means that if two people join forces, as long as they are not willing, most things in the court will not go through.
The appointment and dismissal of officials, admission to the imperial examination, and even their salary slips, etc., all need to be submitted to the emperor, and they have no power to approve independently.
If Yan Keng asks the Queen Mother to put this aside, the officials will suffer.
Will these suffering officials hate Yan Keng? No, they will only hate the three old guys in the cabinet and point their fingers at the three heads of the civil service group.
After all, as the late emperor's trusted minister, Yan Keng was understandable in joining the cabinet. As he said, although there was no precedent, there was no rule that no noble noble could join the cabinet!
Unless it offends the interests of the entire civil servant group like the voyage to the West, there is no way to expect much unity among them. The party struggle in the Ming Dynasty was also quite fierce.
"Wouldn't it be better for us to work together to train this orthodox emperor to become the Holy Lord and Mingjun? Or do the three of you have to go against me?"
There was a slight threat in Yan Keng's tone.
Sanyang was silent.
Yan Keng was not in a hurry. He made a cup of tea and enjoyed it slowly.
After a long time, Yang Shiqi finally said:
"That's okay."
Yang Rong and Yang Pu looked at him immediately, with eagerness in their eyes, and were about to speak, but were stopped by Yang Shiqi's wave.
"But I have a condition."
"Although the ministers in the cabinet have the power to manage the government, their rank is too low, which is not conducive to handling government affairs. I want you to report to Your Majesty to improve the rank of the ministers in the cabinet."
He stared into Yan Keng's eyes.
"Otherwise, we would rather bear the infamy than fight with you!"
Upgrading the rank of cabinet ministers is undoubtedly a comprehensive strengthening of the cabinet, and the power of the cabinet will be completely strengthened. And Yan Keng is already old, how many years can he sit in the position of chief minister?
Yan Keng thought for a moment.
"Isn't it inappropriate to raise the rank of a cabinet minister to become another prime minister? I'm afraid some people will refute it based on the ancestral system."
After all, Emperor Hongwu said at the beginning that anyone who wanted to restore the prime minister's system could be beheaded directly.
Yang Shiqi's eyes widened and he was about to speak, but was stopped by Yan Keng:
"However, the rank of the cabinet ministers is really too low. I think Your Majesty should be happy to let the cabinet ministers hold the post of six ministers. Of course, it is just a false title."
As soon as these words came out, Sanyang's expression became soothed.
The usual methods used by courtiers do not violate the rules, but circumvent them.
"What do you three think?"
"Can."
"Then the three pavilion elders are going to prepare a final edict."
Two days later, the imperial edict was issued.
In the posthumous edict, Crown Prince Zhu Qizhen was made emperor, and Chen Guogong Yan Keng was given the title of Chief Assistant of the Cabinet. Empress Dowager Zhang and Yan Keng jointly assisted in the administration.
Prince Zhu Qizhen officially ascended the throne and designated next year as the first year of orthodoxy.
The posthumous title of Emperor Xuande was Emperor Xiantian, Chongdao, Yingming, Shengqinwen, Zhaowu, Kuanren, Chunxiaozhang. His temple name was Xuanzong and he was buried in Jingling.
(End of chapter)
