Capital.
The candidate for the new Minister of Civil Affairs has not yet been decided.
Zhou Jing became an official.
He and Ni Yue were on the same foot, because it had previously involved the dispatch of military supplies in the northwest and Liaodong, the storage of autumn grains, etc., and the war was not over yet, so Zhou Jing's position as Minister of Household Affairs was still hanging. After the war in the northwest subsided, Zhou Jing There is no reason to stay in court.
Zhou Jing left, and the position of the Minister of the Ministry of Finance was taken over by Youdu Yushi Zhongzhong as previously determined.
Because Xu Jin and Li Mengyang, the left and right ministers of the Ministry of Revenue, were not promoted, it stands to reason that they would still assist Zhong Zhong in running the household department as the left and right ministers. However, the emperor took a different approach and immediately decided to appoint Xu Jin as the censor of the right capital. The governor of Pianguan.
This shocked the ministers of the DPRK and China.
Xu Jin went to Piantou Pass, that is, Shanxi Town, to be the governor. The original governor Wang Qiong must have been appointed by another person. Even if the emperor did not directly say it at the court, Wang Qiong would return to the court to serve as the minister... But look at this posture , it seemed logical for him to return to the court and serve as the right minister of household affairs.
After the court meeting was dissolved.
Xu Jin was a little annoyed. This was the second time that he was tortured by the emperor after Zhang Zhou gained power. After being tortured for the first time, he managed to get back to the position of left minister of the Ministry of Revenue, while Governor Jingcang and Admiral Yizhou Shanchang No one wants to do this kind of job. Going to Pianguan to be the governor is considered a "serious job". After all, everyone knows that Pianguan is now the border town that the emperor pays most attention to among the nine towns.
"Mr. Liu Ge, what do you think your Majesty means?" Xu Guan, Minister of Industry, went over to ask Liu Jian what he meant.
After Zhou Jing retired, the imperial court made the fifth change in the position of minister within a year, following Tu Yu, Bai Ang, Xu Qiong, and Ni Yue. So far, only Ma Wensheng and Xu Guan among the six ministers have retained their original positions. Bit.
Xu Guan also knew very well that Ma Wensheng was likely to be promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, but Xu Guan did not have that kind of luck.
Liu Jian didn't reply.
Xie Qian on the side said: "When Wang Dehua returns to the court, Your Majesty wants him to be the Minister of War? Or the Minister of Household Affairs? Or the Right Minister or the Left Minister?"
Only Xie Qian would be so sharp at this time.
Wang Qiong had made extraordinary achievements in the battle of Ningyuan, Liaodong, but he was not knighted after the incident. This was different from Wang Shouren, but in fact the ministers of the court also understood that compared to the victory of Ningyuan, the battles of Weininghai and Guanshan, Wang Shouren The achievements he achieved were far greater than those of Wang Qiong.
Therefore, although Wang Shouren has been in the court for a short time and has little qualifications, he is still qualified to be promoted to a title.
As for Wang Qiong...
No matter how diligent he is, he still follows the path of a traditional civil servant. After his meritorious service in Bianzhen, he has been promoted in his civil service, but he still has little interest in the rank of Lord Wu.
In the past, if you led troops to kill hundreds or thousands of Tatars, you could get back as a count, but it is different now. Zhang Zhou and Wang Shouren have raised the qualifications for obtaining titles from the court a lot. With Wang Qiong's ability, he can If he were to guard Piantou Pass and give him another ten years, he would not be able to obtain the meritorious service of obtaining a title. It would be reasonable for the emperor to directly ask him to return to the court as a minister to assist Zhang Zhou who was about to return to the court.
Li Dongyang said: "As usual, the left minister of the household department should be promoted from the right minister. If Wang Dehua returns to the court and becomes the right minister of the household department, it will not break the rules."
This reflects the cabinet's attitude towards this matter.
Wang Qiong returned to the court from the governorship of Piantou Pass, which could be regarded as a "disintegration" of Zhang Zhou's power in the northwest. Wang Qiong was made the right minister of the Ministry of Revenue. The Ministry of Revenue itself was still in the hands of the traditional faction. How do you think Zhang Zhou wanted to obtain finance? With enough support from the government, it is not enough for Wang Qiong to be the right minister of the household department.
Xie Qian smiled and said: "Binzhi, how do you know that His Majesty did not ask Wang Dehua to come back and be the left minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs?"
Li Dongyang also fell silent this time.
Looking at Xu Guan who was talking next to him, he was silent at this time. He seemed to see that the cabinet had no plan for the emperor's sudden transfer to the northwest, and it seemed that he didn't know that Wang Qiong would be appointed by the emperor next. What kind of official position.
He originally wanted to ask who would succeed him as Minister of Industry, but looking at this posture, it seemed that the cabinet had now lost the authority of officials at the Central Hall level to make comments to the emperor.
To put it bluntly, the emperor is now more willing to make some self-assertions after adopting Zhang Zhou's opinions. The authority of the cabinet as an advisory minister has been completely reduced.
…
…
In the Qianqing Palace.
Li Rong came over on behalf of the Supervisor of Ceremonies to deliver some memorials to Zhu Youtang for review, but Zhu Youtang had been coughing.
Even though Zhang Zhou suggested that Zhu Youtang eat more protein-rich foods, Zhu Youtang's health was too poor. Now that it was the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, Zhu Youtang caught the wind and cold again.
"Your Majesty, Xinuan Pavilion is almost completed. I estimate that you will be able to move in in half a month." Li Rong said with concern.
Zhang Zhou had been taking care of the matter of repairing the Nuan Pavilion before he left. However, the emperor wanted to fight in the northwest and at the same time wanted to build a new palace. It was better to build it next to the Qianqing Palace. The ministers would naturally have opinions, so that the money to repair the Nuan Pavilion was still too much. Zhang Zhou raised money through mining.
Zhu Youtang also held his breath.
Since the ministers of the DPRK and the Central Government do not support me, I will prepare some money, food and materials on my own. Whatever I want, I don’t need you to intervene or the court. All I will use is the money of the inner government in name. You will never Are you looking for trouble?
In fact, the amount of money Zhang Zhou obtained after opening the mine began when Zhang Zhou opened the coal mine in Xishan before he passed the Jinshi examination in the spring of the twelfth year of Hongzhi. Over the past two years, the private assistance he provided to Zhu Youtang had already There are nearly two hundred thousand taels.
Most of it was used in border affairs, and the excess could be used to build a thermal pavilion.
The huge palace of Qingning Palace only cost more than 60,000 taels of silver, and the building of the Nuan Pavilion only cost 20,000 to 30,000 taels of silver, and it could be built more exquisitely.
Zhu Youtang sighed: "Bingkuan hasn't come back yet, but the heating effect he mentioned is really good. Now that I have nothing to do, I like to go to Qingning Palace to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. After sitting down for a while, I feel that the window is bright and clean. , I can’t bear to leave.”
Li Rong smiled and said: "Yes, Your Majesty, if the Xinuang Pavilion is repaired, it will be brighter than the Qingning Palace, and it will be like spring all year round."
"hehe."
When Zhang Zhou was mentioned, Zhu Youtang's face turned a little red, and then his eyes fell back on the pile of memorials in front of him.
It seemed like this was his daily errand, which made him feel tired.
"Does anyone have any objections to the transfer of Xu Jin, the left minister of the Ministry of Revenue, to Piangguan?" Zhu Youtang asked.
Li Rong said: "Not yet."
The meaning is that there is no criticism of Xu Jin's foreign transfer in the memorial, which shows that Xu Jin's foreign transfer is in the interests of civil servants.
Zhang Zhou has too much power in the border system. Xu Jin's replacement of Wang Qiong will return the most important military fortress in the northwest, Piantou Pass, to the control of traditional civil servants. In exchange for a left minister from the Ministry of Revenue, he will It is also worthwhile for traditional civil servants.
Zhu Youtang nodded and said: "Then next, I am going to let Wang Qiong return to the court and serve as the left minister of the household department. Do you think there will be some resistance?"
Only then did Li Rong realize that the emperor had made a replacement, or a swap.
When Xu Jin replaced Wang Qiong, there was no such thing as Li Mengyang being promoted to the left minister and Wang Qiong being the right minister of the household department. It can be said to be simple and straightforward.
Li Rongdao: "As a rule, when a governor from the northwest returns to the court, he usually serves as the right minister, but it is not without precedent. It is also common for the left chief envoy to be transferred to Beijing to serve as the right minister."
Zhu Youtang said: "Have I not already decided to let Li Shishi, the governor of Shandong Province, transfer the capital to the right minister of the Ministry of Punishment? What else do they want?"
The implication is that there is already an opposition between him and the civil servants.
Knowing what I have decided, you civil servants always like to make irresponsible remarks, so I will not discuss it with you. I will transfer Xu Jin out first, and then announce Wang Qiong to replace Xu Jin as the left minister of the household department, and ask you whether you accept it?
Li Rong asked: "Wang Qiong transferred to the capital as the left minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs to coordinate with Lai Guogong in handling money and food arrangements?"
"Yes and no." Zhu Youtang's answer was ambiguous. It seemed that he would only tell the truth frankly in front of Li Rong. If it were Xiao Jing, Zhu Youtang would not answer such a question head-on.
In other words, with Xiao Jing's caution, he would not rush to ask about such a major matter related to policy.
This also reflects Li Rong's high moral character and his courage to share the emperor's worries, even if sometimes his concerns seem to be out of bounds.
Zhu Youtang said: "No matter what the nine sides do, they cannot be coordinated by one person. Even I and Bingkuan have no ability to convince the ministers of Qingliu in the court."
Li Rong felt somewhat sympathetic after hearing this.
During the Hongzhi period, the imperial power had actually begun to be suppressed by the power of ministers. Civil servants had far greater control over the government than the emperor. All major and minor matters in the court basically had to be approved by civil servants... Regardless of the emperor's role in personnel He took the lead several times in scheduling, but the emperor could not replace or transfer the iron triangle of the cabinet, the traditional base of civil servants.
"I just want to arrange a few more people who can speak in the court." Zhu Youtang seemed a little aggrieved when he said this.
Look at me as an emperor.
No one in the court supports my decision. Bingkuan always needs to come forward to support me. Even Bingkuan was pushed out of the capital by them. Now it is difficult to bring him back, but there are few people in the court who can cooperate with him sincerely. Very few.
It’s difficult for me too.
As for Lin Han... Even if he is closer to Zhang Zhou, can it be said that Lin Han stands by Zhang Zhou's side in all major matters?
Even Lin Han can't do it, how can I count on the newly appointed Minister of Justice, Wang Shi? Or should we count on Ma Wensheng and Zhong Zhong?
"Maochun, you are an old man in the palace and have watched me grow up. Now the court is different from the time of the late emperor. I want to use a few people who can take advantage of me, but I don't know where to find them." Zhu Youtang said seriously. He said, "Although Yang Peng can do something, he is too good at sneaking into the camp. Neither I nor Bingkuan like it, but at least he can do something."
Li Rong lowered his head and listened respectfully.
What the emperor said before him was something that related to Li Rong's vital interests.
"When he returns to the court with Bingkuan, I won't let him enter the Bureau of Ceremonies. The errand of admiral Dongchang will still be left to you. As for Yang Peng, let him assist the admiral Shenji camp, or let him stay in the Imperial Palace. Supervisor Ma, you have recently taken over and are responsible for investigating the private discussions of various officials in the capital regarding my use of Bingkuan."
Yang Peng was not in the capital, and the emperor wanted to know the ministers' opinions on his use of Zhang Zhou, so he secretly sent Li Rong to investigate.
Speaking of Admiral Li Rong's governorship of Dongchang, it can all be traced back to the Chenghua period, and he was one of the best.
"Old slave, take your orders." Li Rong quickly handed over his hand.
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "After Bingkuan returns to Beijing, I will work with him to clean up the court and strive to completely pacify the Tatars within three years. If you think you have any ministers, you can recommend them to me. Yes, you might as well tell me and I will consider it as appropriate."
Li Rongdao: "I don't dare to discuss the employment of people in the court."
Zhu Youtang said with admiration: "I asked you to recommend him. You don't have to be shy. This is also for the long-term stability of the country. I also want to find some helpers for Bingkuan."
The implication is, if you have any good ministers, especially those who have a close personal relationship, and you don't seem to have any contact with Zhang Zhou, you can recommend them to me privately. I will use you to return to the court as the chief eunuch, just because you are here. He has a wide network of contacts in the court.
Even if others want to defect to Bingkuan, they have to hold back and be embarrassed to shamelessly surrender directly. The more civil servants of the fourth rank and above of Zhongzheng, the more they care about their own face.
But it will be much more convenient for you, Li Rong, to contact the people.
Moreover, it is not easy to attract criticism. I will gradually find these people in the court and support Zhang Zhou in important matters. In this way, I will be more comfortable in employing people...
To put it bluntly, the emperor just wanted to cultivate "his own people" in the court. Even if these own people seemed to be promoted through some unconventional channels, the emperor did not seem to think that this was a broken rule or anything.
"I have had contacts with some ministers in the past, but I have not established personal relationships with them. If His Majesty asks me to contact them secretly... Of course, I am testing their voices in the name of Dongchang. I am willing to come forward. And there is no mention that this was ordered by His Majesty.”
Li Rong is very knowledgeable.
It was taboo for the ministers to communicate with the ministers of the DPRK and the Central Government. Of course, Li Rong could not admit that he had a close personal relationship with the ministers of the DPRK and the Central Government.
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "It's best. You can recommend the chief ministers, young ministers, ministers, ministers, and even people from Nanjing's officialdom, as well as local governors, feudal lords, and lords. But Maochun, I don’t want you to develop connections among internal officials, do you understand?”
"Yes, yes." Li Rong immediately understood what the emperor meant.
You can contact foreign ministers according to the order, test their tone, and let them enter the court to serve Bingkuan.
Why I am looking for you is, firstly, because you are highly respected, and secondly, because you are old and frail.
If you want to "pass on" this kind of resources, that is, handing over these resources to the successors of the internal officials, it is equivalent to forming a force yourself... This is what I don't want to see.
So what I expect from you is...
You can contact foreign ministers, but you cannot contact internal ministers. Even if it is Xiao Jing, Wei Bin and Chen Kuan, you must keep a distance.
I just want to use you to shine for me alone before you are buried.
…
…
Inside Nanjing.
Zhang Zhou has not yet left, and the pursuit of accountability for King Zhongling is still going on.
Zhang Zhou also asked Zhu Houzhao to participate in this matter.
"...Sir, are you saying that Prince Ning has ulterior motives, and Ning Fan and others are thinking of rebelling against the court? Are they so bold?" Zhu Houzhao looked incredible.
Everything in the world is not the king's land, and the shores of the land are not the king's ministers.
As the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, I actually know that someone wants to usurp the throne?
Zhang Zhou said: "Do you think that I casually criticize Ning Fan and deliberately stir up trouble?"
Zhu Houzhao shook his head and said: "That's not what I meant. Sir, you are very benevolent and righteous, and you have nothing to do with Prince Ning. How can there be any hatred? Or have you calculated, sir, that they will be detrimental to the court in the future?"
Zhang Zhou didn't shy away from this this time and nodded directly: "There is indeed such a tendency."
"Hiss." Zhu Houzhao clenched his fist and said, "Then destroy them!"
Zhang Zhou said: "Prince, are you going to punish the vassal vassal by catching wind and shadow? In this case, the opposition of the vassal vassal of the Ming Dynasty will be greater. The prince should also know that the vassal vassal of the Ming Dynasty has great influence in various places. If they unite to target the imperial court or even Yu Chen, the pressure on Yu Chen will still be great."
"Are you afraid, sir?" Zhu Houzhao asked with a narrow smile.
"Prince, you must pay attention to evidence when doing things. Apart from evidence, it is the inner defense of people. Just like Ning Fan, these generations have always had a disobedient heart. From the previous emperor to the current majesty, they all know it. Otherwise, I won’t take away their guards, and I won’t put more precautions against them.”
"But there is just no evidence, everything is just speculation, and when Prince Ning's rebellion has not been revealed, the court also needs to stabilize Ning Fan to set an example for the vassals everywhere to reflect the court's respect for the vassals. tolerant."
After hearing these words, Zhu Houzhao raised his head and said, "It's so complicated. You know he has different intentions, but you just don't have any evidence, so you just let it go?"
"Yeah." Zhang Zhou nodded.
"Sir, what do you want to do now? Have you found evidence? Why do you want to take people from Dongchang to Jiangxi?" Zhu Houzhao looked puzzled.
"The person we want to capture this time is King Zhongling who secretly makes weapons. He is the uncle of the current King Ning. He claims to be dedicated to the Ming Dynasty, but in fact, his heart is too dark. He even secretly massacres people in the mansion. But He said he was an evil person who killed innocent people indiscriminately... and had other evil intentions!"
In front of Zhu Houzhao, Zhang Zhou almost made a conclusion on Zhu Jinzhui's crime.
From historical records to Dongchang's investigation, everything was in line with Zhang Zhou's expectations.
Zhu Houzhao said: "Are you going to kill him as a warning to others?"
"Kill?" Zhang Zhou shook his head, "Beware of the vassal, but also be lenient. If there is no actual rebellion, but just some rebellion, according to the rules, you will only be demoted to a commoner. People can guard the imperial mausoleum and think about their mistakes, or they can be transferred from other places to guard the borders. But it’s not impossible to knock on the mountain and shock the tiger!"
The two were talking.
Yang Peng appeared at the door.
"Is something wrong?" Zhu Houzhao asked with a straight face.
Yang Peng said: "Your Highness, Master Zhang, I just heard the news that King Ning has learned that Dongchang is secretly investigating Prince Zhongling's affairs, and has reported to the court to impeach you for interfering in the affairs of the clan, together with Beizhi, Dongchang and others. ...are also among those being impeached."
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "If we take action, they will not sit still and wait for death. The confrontation has just begun."
(End of chapter)
