Ministry of Rites.
Xie Qian, on behalf of the cabinet and the Hanlin Academy, came to the Ministry of Rites to discuss sending people to coordinate the revision of the "Da Ming Huidian". Although it was said to be collaboration, it was actually secretly weakening Zhang Zhou's dominance and voice in the process of fine schooling.
In this way, Xie Qian is not here for discussion, he is almost using it for igniting others.
The one the cabinet favors is Fu Han, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites.
Fu Han, like Guozi Jijiu Lin Han, both came from academia, and were highly respected in the academic world. Zhang Zhou had Cheng Minzheng and Lin Han to endorse him, and the civil servants could not just let Liang Chu and others cooperate. Everything must be equal.
"...Yu Qiao, I don't understand. Since we want to guard against Zhang Bingkuan, why should we let him coordinate the compilation?" Xu Qiong did not make any sound after the court meeting ended.
It was Xu Qiong who felt that people from the cabinet faction might not take him seriously.
But now that Xie Qian is here, he will ask directly.
You can't let us in the Etiquette Department cooperate with you in doing things, and even the reasons are still half-hidden with a pipa, right?
Xie Qian sighed: "Xu Butang, don't ask about some things. In fact, don't you know if you don't tell me? This book was submitted by Zhang Bingkuan alone... As for whether Keqin and others were helping him behind the scenes, it's It can’t be done accurately either!”
"one person?"
Xu Qiong also thought this was a bit bizarre and nonsense.
"Ahem!"
Perhaps Xu Qiong was so shaken by this incident that she even coughed.
"Xu Butang, take care of yourself." Xie Qian stood up and consoled him.
Although Xu Qiong is not a traditional civil servant, Xu Qiong is old and prudent after all. He is already seventy-five years old, while Xie Qian is only fifty. Recently, Xu Qiong has repeatedly requested to return to his hometown to take care of himself due to health reasons.
On small matters, there is still great disharmony within the civil service, but when encountering some major issues that require unanimous communication to the outside world, Xu Qiong is not ambiguous.
Xu Qiong asked: "So, are you trying to hold Zhang Bingkuan hostage now? Or are you talking about Cheng Keqin?"
Xu Qiong also didn't believe that Zhang Zhou alone could fiddle with the "Da Ming Huidian". It could only be explained that Cheng Minzheng had been bullied too much before. In grief and anger, in the past two months, Cheng Minzheng He studied in seclusion at home, and after he finished writing, he presented the book to Zhang Zhou.
Even Xie Qian's words just now seemed to imply this.
Xie Qian shook his head: "We have said that the work is not accurate, but who knows the reason behind it? Now that the book has been sent to Hanyuan, Zhang Bingkuan asked Keqin and Hengda to go to Hanyuan with him to participate in the correction. What else can be done? Otherwise Will you always go together?"
"Don't!"
Xu Qiong will not wade into this muddy water.
At first, I thought it was a unanimous opposition to Zhang Zhou, the "foreign", but now I think about it, it turns out that this is an internal struggle among the civil servants. On one side are Zhang Zhou, Cheng Minzheng and Lin Han, who represent the emperor, and on the other are the traditional civil servants headed by Liu Jian.
Then I, Xu Qiong, am not a traditional civil servant, so why should I join in the fun?
When it comes to picking sides at critical moments, maybe I still want to side with Zhang Zhou.
"His Majesty also asked the Supervisor of Ceremonies to deliver a message, saying that on the day the book is completed, Keqin will be transferred to Nanjing to take charge of the affairs of the Southern Hanlin Academy... Alas! Speaking of which, Keqin did suffer injustice before, so this can be regarded as a reward. Give him a chance to return to court."
Xie Qian almost wanted to shape himself into a "saint".
Look at how generous and kind our traditional civil servants are. Do we want to help Zhang Zhou? wrong! We are helping those lost sheep get back on track!
Xu Qiong asked: "In hindsight, what about Zhang Bingkuan..."
Xu Qiong didn't care what Cheng Minzheng was doing. Cheng Minzheng was originally a Hanlin bachelor. He was not dead. He was only charged with "not avoiding suspicion" and he might come back sometime in the future.
He also wanted to know how the emperor planned to discuss Zhang Zhou's contribution to writing books.
Xie Qian didn't want to say it at first, but in order to show the common ideal of civil servants, he sighed and said: "Your Majesty wants to promote him to the rank of Bachelor of the Hanlin Academy."
"Ah."
Xu Qiong's heart was quite inclined to Zhang Zhou's side, but she was a little annoyed when she heard this, "Then it's really better to keep him in the Governor's Mansion with military merit."
How come Zhang Zhou was able to compile and write from the History Museum of the Hanlin Academy and be directly promoted to a bachelor's degree in less than half a year after entering the imperial court? They are all ministers from the Hanlin Academy. Why is there such a big difference in treatment?
Xie Qian said with emotion: "Who says it's not the case? Back then, when I was in the Hanlin Academy, I was promoted very quickly. It took me fifteen years to get promoted to bachelor's degree. But he... alas!"
Xie Qian was also a top scholar, and he had been struggling in the Hanlin system.
He said this because he heard that Xu Qiong was jealous and resentful of Zhang Zhou's promotion too quickly, and wanted to use this as a breakthrough to find more resonance with Xu Qiong, so as to form an alliance to check and balance Zhang Zhou.
Xu Qiong sighed: "I am old and frail, and I don't have many days left in the court. From now on, you will work with him more often! As for the revision of the "Huidian", the entire Ministry of Rites will fully cooperate, but I can only do it myself." Period of non-participation.”
Jealousy is jealousy, and Xu Qiong is not so stupid that she doesn't know how to take sides.
What's the benefit of standing with your traditional civil servants?
I was promoted to the position of Minister of Rites, and you still have a lot of opinions. Even now, the scholars outside are still saying that I came to the position because of nepotism. I believe you Yu Qiao's mouth, it is better to believe a ghost.
Let me be the vanguard? There are no doors!
Xie Qian smiled and said: "Xu Budang should take care of himself. How can we say that we should not only think about ourselves, but also be considerate for the younger generations in the court, and don't worry too much."
Probably wanting to remind Xu Qiong.
Don't just think about your own interests, think about your disciples' old friends and so on. You may not plan to stay in the court for a few more years, so don't think about your comrades. Do they want to work hard in the court in the future?
None of your sons, grandsons, or nephews from the same clan want to be protected by the people in the court when they are officials? Are the officials and businessmen behind you not planning to find a way out?
Mr. Xu, don’t look down on these three people in our cabinet too much. Our daily work is not just to fight with the emperor and Zhang Bingkuan, but more to govern the country, or... to govern people. Even if Zhang Bingkuan can write a book now, With so many big and small matters in the DPRK, can it be his turn to make decisions?
"Yeah." Xu Qiong was also quite sensible.
You Xie and Yu Qiao have already mentioned the issue of "younger generations", so we should be more consistent in our stance.
"In the Ministry of Etiquette, Yu Qiao, who do you think you can transfer? Just speak up. As for this matter, I must keep it a secret and not publicize it to the outside world! Yu Qiao, if the power of Bing Kuan really rises in the court in the future, you will also You have to prepare early, I’m afraid I won’t be able to wait until that day!”
…
…
"Xu Shiyong is just an old fox."
When Xie Qian returned to the cabinet for duty and explained the details of his meeting with Xu Qiong, Li Dongyang couldn't help but comment.
Liu Jian shook his head and said: "It's understandable that he wants to stay out of the matter. Recently, he has been submitting petitions to resign one after another, which is not an act. Previously, an imperial doctor went to treat him, but his body... really can't bear it anymore."
Xie Qian smiled and said: "It would be better if Xu Shiyong gave up the position of the Ministry of Rites earlier."
Suppressing Zhang Zhou is one aspect.
After all, Zhang Zhou was still barely a middle-level civil servant, and the emperor would only listen to Zhang Zhou's opinions on some matters.
When it comes to the operation of the court, Xu Qiong's influence will be greater.
For traditional civil servants, they prefer to keep Xu Qiong down and leave some empty positions to people they admire... They do not regard this as a party member, but just think that this follows certain "rules" and is It is the civil servant's own rules.
Li Dongyang said: "In the past two years, the positions of the six ministers of the Central Government have been very stable. They have not been changed for many years. Maybe the next round will start from the Ministry of Rites. But I don't know what your Majesty thinks about the Ministry of Cabinet."
Li Dongyang is quite crisis aware.
In the ninth year of Hongzhi, Tu Yu replaced Geng Yu as the Minister of the Ministry of Official Affairs, Zhou Jing replaced Ye Qi as the Minister of the Ministry of Hubu, Xu Qiong replaced Ni Yue as the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Xu Guan replaced Liu Zhang as the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and Min Gui replaced Tu Yu as the Yushi of Zuodu. The six ministers of the Ming Dynasty The censor of Jia Zuodu has not made any changes for three years.
Ma Wensheng, the Minister of War, took office in the second year of Hongzhi, and Bai Ang, the Minister of Punishment, took office in the sixth year of Hongzhi, and has been in office longer.
On the contrary, Xu Pu, the former chief assistant of the cabinet, took office in the eleventh year of Hongzhi, which became the biggest personnel change in the court.
According to Li Dongyang's intention, the emperor will either not move, or he may make a big move, and many people may be replaced at one time.
In the past, they did not think that there would be some figures who could influence the order of the court. Even if personnel changes, everything would be within the control of traditional civil servants. However, with the rise of Zhang Zhou in the past two years, the emperor's reliance on civil servants has changed. There have been many changes, so it’s hard to say how much control traditional civil servants will have over the next big personnel change.
Xie Qian said: "I think Xu Shiyong is right. Maybe before, it was better to let Zhang Bingkuan get a title and be transferred to the Governor's Mansion. From now on, he would be out of sight."
In the past, if Xie Qian said such words, Liu Jian and Li Dongyang might have refuted it, but now they said nothing.
In the past, it was for the convenience of controlling Zhang Zhou, so I kept Zhang Zhou in the Hanlin Academy. I thought that I could keep Zhang Zhou in the position of "Hanlin Minister" for at least four to five years. Only after the prince became an adult and succeeded in his studies, Zhang Zhou could welcome him. He was ready for the next promotion, but he was afraid that something unexpected might happen... Now Zhang Zhou is directly going to be promoted to a bachelor's degree in Imperial College.
Is it possible to join the cabinet next?
"Binzhi, what do you think?" Liu Jian asked.
Li Dongyang shook his head: "I think it doesn't matter whether Zhang Bingkuan is in the Governor's Mansion or the Imperial Academy, whether he is civilized or military, or in which public house he is in. His Majesty's reliance on him may be deepened. Now I am afraid that others will see it. If this tendency tilts and moves towards him, it will have a greater impact on the court."
"Yeah." Liu Jian nodded in agreement.
No matter where Zhang Zhou was, the emperor would trust him wherever he should, and he would not change if he asked Zhang Zhou for advice.
But the question is who will be around Zhang Zhou.
If there were only people like Wang Yue, Zhu Feng, and Xiao Jing, traditional civil servants would not have to pay attention at all, and they would not be able to influence the order of the court.
But if Cheng Minzheng, Lin Han, or even Xu Qiong, Wang Hao and others start to surround Zhang Zhou, Zhang Zhou's influence in the government will expand instantly. These people do not necessarily need to "take refuge" in Zhang Zhou, or even just have them. If there is any contact, it is equivalent to a potential political ally, which is enough to make traditional civil servants drink a pot.
What do traditional civil servants rely on to survive today?
Mainly relying on the emperor's trust, and then their indispensable power in governing the country, that is, their connections.
Zhang Zhouguang had trust in him before and there was no one around him. No matter how awesome Zhang Zhou was, the emperor would not be able to replace the entire court with Zhang Zhou.
But if there is a group of capable people around Zhang Zhou, this group of people can even vaguely replace Liu Jian and others. At that time, even if Liu Jian and others are still in their positions, their influence in the court will be greatly reduced.
A new force will rise, and many traditional civil servants will also change jobs...
By then, who is the "orthodox civil official" will be a different matter.
Xie Qian asked with a smile: "Then do you think it was Bingkuan himself who asked Keqin to go to Nanjing, or His Majesty?"
"Um?"
Liu Jian and Li Dongyang also thought about this issue.
It seems like a trivial matter, Cheng Minzheng returned to the court and went to Nanjing to become a bachelor of the Academy... But whether the transfer of Cheng Minzheng to Nanjing came from the emperor or Zhang Zhou's proposal is a very critical "clue".
Li Dongyang frowned and said: "Yu Qiao, what you said is absolutely correct. If Zhang Bingkuan really took the initiative to bring this matter up, then he might have taken the initiative to express his goodwill to me and others, indicating that he had no intention of forming a party. If it was brought up by His Majesty, it was for His Majesty's sake. It is necessary to restrict Zhang Bingkuan’s tendency to form a party...it is beneficial and harmless to oppose us."
"Yeah." Liu Jian nodded.
this analysis.
If Zhang Zhou wants to play a big game and form his own faction in the court, dragging the troubled Cheng Minzheng into his gang will be even more powerful.
There were too many people in the DPRK who sympathized with Cheng Minzheng. The influence that Cheng Minzheng could bring to Zhang Zhou was not comparable to that of Lin Hanneng.
But Cheng Minzheng had to be transferred to Nanjing.
What does this mean?
Zhang Zhou still regarded himself as a traditional civil servant and did not escape this category.
Xie Qian smiled again and said: "Is it possible that he just lowered his body deliberately to wait for the future..."
Li Dongyang glanced at him and said: "Yu Qiao, it's no wonder that others always say that you don't know what to say. It's you who keeps talking over and over again. At least until now, Zhang Bingkuan is still in the Hanlin Academy. The benefits of revising books outweigh the disadvantages. Then That’s enough! As for what will happen in the future, can you tell me accurately?”
"Yes." Xie Qian was still laughing.
Li Dongyang said: "But I still feel that if he went to the Governor's Mansion, maybe we wouldn't have to worry so much. At that time... it would be more straightforward!"
Regardless of whether Zhang Zhou was more awesome at that time.
But at least the "Jingwei" was "distinct". Zhang Zhou became a martial artist and became the opposite of the civil officials.
From now on, there is no need to think about whether to attract or exclude, just do it!
It's better now.
Keeping Zhang Zhou in the Hanlin Academy, no matter whether Zhang Zhou is good or bad, they need to worry too much about his advancement and retreat.
Even Li Dongyang felt that it was more difficult to control Zhang Zhou than to let Zhang Zhou go to the Governor's Mansion!
…
…
Duanjing Hall.
"Mr. Zhang, you are so awesome. You have compiled a book by yourself, right? How many words? Are there as many as four books and five classics? Tell me about it!"
Zhang Zhou was still giving lectures to Zhu Houzhao.
Zhu Houzhao heard that Zhang Zhou was so awesome that he wrote a book... Mainly because Liu Jin and others helped brag about his awesomeness, and then Zhu Houzhao admired Zhang Zhou to the point of admiration.
Zhang Zhou said: "The important thing is not the number of words, but the establishment of rules. Do you think it is so easy to do research?"
"What do you mean?"
Zhu Houzhao found that his brain was not enough.
Liu Jin said with a smile: "Master Zhang probably means that there must be more words than the Four Books and Five Classics. Think about it, Master Zhang can write a lot of martial arts scripts in one night. It took several months to complete the book." , can there be fewer words?”
"Yes, yes, Lao Liu, I didn't expect you to be quite smart. I am impressed by this."
"Your Highness is so complimentary."
Zhang Zhou frowned at the side, watching the master and servant talking to each other in business, and their heads were quite big.
This kid didn't learn anything else, but he learned the tricks of perfunctory compliments very quickly. He seemed to learn whatever he liked from the people he followed. Before he grew up, he learned the tricks and perfunctory tricks of adults first.
"Prince, class is on! Take out your books!"
Zhang Zhou didn't want to talk nonsense, but wanted to act like a strict teacher. He even held the ruler in his hand and was ready to give a good lesson.
Zhu Houzhao said: "You haven't talked about the book repair yet. How did you write so many words? And where did you hear those martial arts scripts in the past? Why haven't I heard them from others before? Hey...what are you doing? Don't scare me with this thing!"
"I can know the future. Can't I bring the books from the future and use them in the present?"
Zhang Zhou walked up to Zhu Houzhao with a ruler and pointed at the contents of the book with the ruler, "I'll give you half an hour to memorize these two pages. I'll go out and go back to check. If you can't memorize it... "
"What do you mean? You run away by yourself and let me carry you here?"
"Hmph! If you don't carry it, you will suffer when you come back! You can weigh it yourself!"
Zhang Zhou was just here to give Zhu Houzhao homework, and he would go to see Queen Mother Zhou later.
He also found that whenever he entered a palace, he would be very busy, as if everyone wanted to let him go, and there would always be something he had to do.
…
…
Inside Qingning Palace.
When Zhang Zhou came, Queen Mother Zhou did not even stay with Jiang Lu. Everyone retreated, leaving only Zhang Zhou to talk.
"Dream Interpretation..." Queen Mother Zhou had just started, but she suddenly thought that Zhang Zhou was different from ordinary people, so she changed the topic and asked, "If I marry His Majesty now, are you sure of the inheritance?"
"Twenty percent."
Zhang Zhou said.
Empress Dowager Zhou sighed: "It's still a little less. Bingkuan, you have to step up. If you don't wait until the day when the Ai family still opens their eyes, you will probably lose the 20% chance."
"hehe."
Zhang Zhou smiled.
The old lady just had to tell him directly, besides the Ai family, who else would care about this matter? Once the Ai family dies, you will have no allies if you want to help the emperor get a concubine! I can only fight alone.
Empress Dowager Zhou said: "You have always said that the emperor should leave the palace and see more of the local customs and beauty outside. When will you do it?"
Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Forgive me, the Empress Dowager. I have no excuses recently. Your Majesty will not leave the palace easily. If the so-called worldly beauty is sent to the palace... it will be too annoying."
"Then let's find an opportunity and ask the emperor to go to Changning Bo's Mansion or Qingyun Marquis' Mansion. You can just say that there is auspiciousness there and let the emperor go and have a look, can't you?"
Queen Mother Zhou seemed very anxious and took the initiative to give Zhang Zhou advice.
Zhang Zhou shook his head: "In this matter, it is better not to deceive Your Majesty. If you act too deliberately, Your Majesty may be repulsed. Everything will be settled naturally."
Empress Dowager Zhou glanced at Zhang Zhou and said, "I'm afraid that in the end you are perfunctory with the Ai family. The two boys from the Zhang family have benefited a lot from you recently. I heard that they are also very complimentary to you. Don't forget that you are here for The blessing of the Ming Dynasty! The emperor of the Ming Dynasty spreads his branches and leaves, is that for the Ai family alone? "
"Don't worry, Empress Dowager, I will step up." Zhang Zhou said.
(End of chapter)
