At the beginning of the new emperor's accession to the throne, most of them would provide free money and food, general amnesty, and large-scale rewards.
This is a matter of face that wins people's hearts.
Emperor Zhengde did not care about face and ignored the actual financial situation of the court.
He put forward a compromise proposal for the cabinet's reference.
That's right, Emperor Yongle set up a cabinet whose duty was to "prepare the emperor's advisors." Now it's the other way around. The emperor makes suggestions to the cabinet and the cabinet makes decisions.
This compromise suggestion is that only the three provinces of Huguang, Zhejiang, and Yunnan, which had a good harvest last year, will be exempted from all money and grain. The rest of the provinces will be exempted from 20% of the food supply.
The three assistant ministers in the cabinet were very happy: Oh, our student is very proud of the cabinet! We also know that major national affairs should be decided by the assistant minister. Sensible and sensible.
And the advice makes sense. Liu, Li, and Xie were very satisfied: Look, our students are so smart, all because of us as teachers.
The cabinet readily agreed.
In terms of amnesty for the world, Emperor Zhengde also made suggestions: only minor crimes should be pardoned, but serious crimes should not be pardoned.
Misdemeanor crimes such as petty theft can be released. Felons who commit murder, arson, and rob homes will continue to be detained.
This is another suggestion that suits the Cabinet well. Mr. Sange agreed again happily.
Next is the Daxing Award.
Emperor Zhengde's first decree was to confer honorary titles on three auxiliary ministers.
Liu Jian was granted the title of Zuozhuguo; Li Dongyang and Xie Qian were granted the title of Zhuguo.
The other ministers of the ministry have all received the honorary titles of Political Shangqing, Political Qingqing, Zizhi Yin, Zizhi Shaoyin and so on.
Sanfuzheng was very happy. Hey, our students are really conscientious. As soon as we ascend the throne, we will be given honorary titles. Sensible, sensible.
As everyone knows, Emperor Zhengde regarded them as three gesticulating old dogs. Before beating a dog, always give it a few meat buns to stabilize the old dog.
Emperor Zhengde's meat buns were filled with seven steps of death!
The first day of June. Emperor Zhengde has been on the throne for twelve days. The situation in Gyeonggi Province has stabilized.
Chang Feng came to Qianqing Palace and asked to see Emperor Zhengde. He came to the palace on his own initiative to return the military power in the capital.
The throne has been decided. Although Emperor Zhengde did not authorize Chang Feng to hand over military power, he was a minister who was aware of it.
The ministers have been holding the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses in the entire capital. It would be strange for the emperor not to be suspicious. Chang Feng has been a court veteran for twenty years, how could he not figure this out.
Chang Feng stood at the door of the Qianqing Palace. Waiting for Liu Jin to enter the palace to pass the news.
When Emperor Hongzhi came to the throne nineteen years ago, he was extremely cold towards Chang Feng. Chang Feng didn't even see Emperor Hongzhi for several months.
When he knelt in front of the palace and waited to see me, he was still thinking: Would the current emperor be like the previous emperor, and treat me with a cold face for a few months before using him? As an emperor and a courtier, I have to be more open-minded.
At this moment, Emperor Zhengde walked out of the palace gate.
Chang Feng quickly laid his forehead on the bluestone and shouted, "Long live the emperor, long live the emperor."
He was upset in his heart: It seems that the emperor has something to go to elsewhere. The military power cannot be handed over today.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Zhengde came out of the palace to meet Chang Feng in person!
Emperor Zhengde walked directly in front of Chang Feng and held Chang Feng up with both hands: "Uncle, please get up quickly! I can succeed to the throne smoothly without any mistakes. It all depends on my uncle's control of the troops and horses in the capital!"
Emperor Zhengde called Chang Feng "uncle". He was not as enthusiastic as an emperor meeting his ministers, but more like a nephew meeting his uncle.
Then Emperor Zhengde scolded Liu Jin: "Liu Jin, why are you becoming more and more confused as you get older? My uncle wants to enter the Qianqing Palace, but he still uses Tongzhen and Hou Jian?"
"Publish my decree. From now on, Chang Qing can enter the palace or the palace without any decree. No one can stop him."
The weight of this imperial edict is not small. Let's put it this way, during the Hongwu Dynasty, only one person was granted the privilege of entering the palace without intention - Tang He.
Even Xu Da, the king of Zhongshan, did not have this privilege.
Liu Jin is fifty-seven years old this year, and most of his hair has turned white, giving him an old look.
Liu Jin lightly slapped his cheek: "This old slave is confused."
Chang Feng hurriedly shied away: "Long live, how could I be so virtuous and capable, how dare I accept this favor?"
Emperor Zhengde smiled and said: "I have protected the crown prince for two generations. Isn't this a small contribution? Come into the palace quickly, let us talk in the palace."
After saying that, Emperor Zhengde actually took Chang Feng's hand, and the emperor and his ministers entered the palace hand in hand.
Chang Feng was confused by Emperor Zhengde's enthusiasm and preferential treatment.
He originally thought that the current Emperor Zhengde was no longer the young prince a dozen days ago, but the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. I will definitely show the majesty of the emperor in front of him.
Who would have thought that Emperor Zhengde treated him more affectionately than before he ascended the throne.
After entering the main hall, Emperor Zhengde said again: "Give me a seat! Remember from now on, whenever Chang Qing sees me, he will give me a seat!"
Chang Feng hurriedly shied away: "Your Majesty, according to the rules of the palace, the honor of conferring a seat is for meritorious ministers who are over sixty years old. I am forty years old this year and in my prime. How dare you?"
Emperor Zhengde waved his hand quickly: "Uncle, please don't shirk. If we continue like this, we will no longer be relatives with broken bones and connected tendons!"
Liu Jin brought a chair to Chang Feng.
Chang Feng didn't dare to "sit down", he only dared to "sit respectfully" with his butt next to the edge of the chair, looking cautious.
Emperor Zhengde asked: "Why did my uncle come to the palace this time?"
Chang Feng replied: "Your Majesty. Now the capital is peaceful and peaceful. It is no longer appropriate for the military power of the capital to be in the hands of one person. I request that the military power be handed over."
Emperor Zhengde seemed to be deliberately testing Chang Feng: "According to my wishes, the imperial court should re-establish the Metropolitan Governor's Office. My uncle will be the Grand Governor, and he will not only be in charge of the capital's troops and horses, but also the border troops and local garrison troops for me!" "
As soon as he said this, Chang Feng stood up from the chair very smoothly, knelt down and kowtowed: "I can't bear such an important task! If this is true, I would rather die than miss the imperial military affairs."
Emperor Zhengde smiled slightly: "Oh, I'm just saying that. Look at you, why are you kneeling down again? Sit down quickly."
Chang Feng said: "If the emperor does not take back the military power, I will have no choice but to kneel down."
Emperor Zhengde sighed: "My uncle is not greedy for power, nor is he arrogant. He is truly a model minister. I promise you to take back the military power."
Chang Feng then stood up and sat back on the throne.
Chang Feng was actually very confused. He is now "temporarily acting as the commander of Jinyiwei".
Based on Emperor Zhengde's affection for him, there is a high probability that he would give him the word "temporary generation".
Starting from the Hongwu Dynasty, eight out of ten commanders of the Imperial Guard did not end well.
The commander's chair is a typical three evil position.
If there are tigers in Mingzhi Mountain, it is best not to go to Mingzhi Mountain.
However, he has held real power in Jinyiwei for so many years, and he is not a commander, and he always feels that his name is not justified, which is a bit lacking.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Zhengde didn't mention this issue at all. He changed the topic to Chang Ponu's future.
Emperor Zhengde asked: "Ponu has been a candidate for the Ministry of Personnel for two months, right? Hasn't the Ministry of Personnel actually awarded him an official position?"
Chang Feng replied: "It has not been taught yet."
Emperor Zhengde said: "That's just right! I have issued a special decree to grant him the post of editor and editor of the Hanlin Academy, and he will follow me around."
It was an unprecedented blessing to be awarded the rank of editor of the Hanlin Academy as the last one in the top three.
This is nothing. The key point is "walk with me". The people around the emperor, not even the ministers, would dare to look down upon him.
Chang Feng left his seat again and kowtowed: "On behalf of the dog, I would like to thank the emperor for his grace."
Emperor Zhengde's words were astonishing: "In the future, when there are no outsiders, don't kowtow to me all the time. The kings, kings, ministers, fathers, sons, and this and that ceremony are all the means devised by Master Kong to control people!"
If Li Dongyang and Xie Qian heard this, I'm afraid they would overturn the table with the emperor's students.
Chang Feng thanked him again and returned to his seat. I thought to myself: The emperor should be able to chat with Wang Shouren.
Emperor Zhengde said again: "Let Po Nu stay with me for two or three years first. I will send him out of the capital to be a prefect, and he will be trained for another three years. After he is transferred back to the capital, I will put him to great use."
Chang Feng has long seen the long-term harm of the monolithic civil service group to the country.
Wang Shouren once said that the best way to defeat an entrenched network is to join it.
It might be a good thing if his son Po Nu can become a minister in the future and break into the civil service group.
Thinking of this, Chang Feng said: "The Emperor's kindness to the Chang family is really great! The Chang family will tie a grass ring and it will be difficult to repay it even if they die."
Emperor Zhengde smiled and said: "Don't keep talking about immortality. I will be fifteen years old after this month. Eighty years is considered a long life, and I can be emperor for sixty-five years. My uncle and Po Nu will assist me for another six years." Fifteen years!”
Liu Jin interjected from the side: "Long live the Human Emperor. The Human Emperor has a golden mouth and jade teeth, and has given Master Chang a life span of 105 years!"
Emperor Zhengde sang to Liu Jin: "When my uncle lives to be a hundred years old, I will give him a centenary banquet in Fengtian Hall."
At this point, Emperor Zhengde suddenly thought: "Why did you forget about my aunt? The aunt blocked a knife for my mother twenty years ago."
"Now that I have ascended the throne, I will rule the world with filial piety. How can I not reward my mother's savior?"
"Liu Jin, say hello to the Ministry of Rites. Give the imperial aunt a first-grade imperial edict."
The Ming Dynasty's married woman system has always been that women follow their husband's rank.
Even if Chang Feng takes over as the commander of Jinyiwei, he will only be of the third rank, and Liu Xiaoyan will be awarded the imperial title of first rank, which is against the system.
Furthermore, by conferring a first rank on a woman who was involved in a murder case, the emperor was tantamount to stating that the murder case was false. Don't bring this case up again from now on.
Chang Feng entered the palace today. Except that he was not officially appointed as the commander of the Jinyi Guards, he got all the favors and honors he deserved, and he also got the favors and honors he didn't deserve.
Emperor Zhengde and Chang Feng chatted for half an hour. Don't talk about government affairs, just talk about home affairs. The more this happened, the more the conversation made Chang Feng feel warm all over.
After Chang Feng left, Liu Jin tentatively asked Emperor Zhengde: "Your Majesty, please look at the factory guard."
Emperor Zhengde replied without hesitation: "Factory guard? The eight of you will take care of it from now on. Oh, by the way, there have only been two of them since the Hongzhi Dynasty, the Chief of Ceremonies. Bingbi. Add one more and you can make up for it."
Today, the chief ceremonial officer's palm print is Xiao Jing's, and his pen is Qian Neng and Zhang Yong. Liu Jin has not yet entered the supreme authority of the eunuchs.
With this decree, Liu Jin directly became one of the highest-ranking eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty.
In the afternoon of the same day, Emperor Zhengde went to the cabinet room in person to discuss state affairs with three auxiliary ministers.
A new rule has been added to the cabinet housekeeping: eunuchs are not allowed to enter unless they are passing orders.
Liu Jin got free time and immediately summoned the other seven tigers to discuss the matter.
Qihu first congratulated Liu Jinrong on his promotion to Secretary of Rites and Supervisor Bingbi.
Liu Jin smiled and said: "What Bingbi? They are just false names, just like floating clouds. Without real power, no matter how high the position is, it is just a castle in the air."
His confidant Gu Dayong asked tentatively: "With the new dynasty and the new atmosphere, is it time for some changes in the factory guard's personnel?"
The factory guards were always controlled by Qian Neng during the Hongzhi Dynasty. One emperor and one courtier. Although Emperor Zhengde was kind to Qian Neng, he had no intention of continuing to hand over the power of factory guard to him.
The power of factory guards is the fat that all eunuchs covet.
Liu Jin said: "This is natural. Eunuch Qian is getting old. He is exhausted from supervising the clerk's stall and the factory guard's stall."
"The emperor has just ascended the throne, so he can't just use it to death."
Gu Dayong echoed: "Yes!"
Everyone thought that Liu Jin would say that he planned to take over as the Governor of Dongchang.
Unexpectedly, Liu Jin actually said: "Everyone, in my opinion, let Gu Dayong take over as the governor of the East Factory!"
Everyone looked at each other.
It is true that Gu Dayong is Liu Jin's confidant, but he is not the governor and throws the title of governor to his confidant? It's hard for everyone to understand.
Gu Dayong was flattered: "Eunuch Liu, how can this be done? I, I can't do it!"
Gu Dayong is a typical "greedy" person.
Liu Jin said: "I have made up my mind. I recommend you to be the governor of the East Factory. What do you think?"
Liu Jin is the leader of the Eight Tigers. He has said so, and it is difficult for anyone else to stand up and object.
When Liu Jin saw no one said anything, he said, "Okay, then I will recommend Gu Dayong to the emperor tonight."
Gu Dayong looked like a dog that had eaten shit, and his mouth was split to the base of his ears: "Thank you so much, Eunuch Liu."
In fact, Gu Dayong and others did not know that Liu Jin planned to reopen the West Factory. He will become the governor of the West Factory and supervise the East Factory and Jinyiwei. Be a governor above the governor.
Zhang Yongdao: "The position of Governor has been decided. Next is the position of Commander of the Jinyi Guards. The Emperor does not like Mou Bin, a good old man. Mou Bin is also sensible and has already handed over the memorial."
"The position of commander should be taken over by Mr. Chang. He has been in control of Jin Yiwei for more than ten years. He and Eunuch Liu are the best."
Liu Jin was about to speak, but Gu Dayong spoke first.
Gu Dayong's words made everyone think deeply: "If Chang Feng is allowed to be the commander, with his qualifications, will the East Factory be in charge of Jinyiwei or Jinyiwei be in charge of Dongchang from now on?"
Gu Dayong hit the point.
For the Eight Tigers, they want a guard who will obey their orders. Let Jin Yiwei become the thug, lackey, and eagle dog of the eunuch.
Chang Feng's seniority is too deep to be controlled by eunuchs. Don't forget, Liu Jin still calls "little uncle" when she sees Chang Feng.
If Chang Feng was the commander, wouldn't there be an extra lion on top of the Eight Tigers?
Liu Jin thought for a moment and then said: "Let's do this. Eunuch Qian has lost Dongchang, so we should give him some compensation. Let his adopted son Qian Ning be the commander."
Beating a stick and giving a sweet date is a classic political tactic.
Zhang Yong felt aggrieved for Chang Feng: "What about Mr. Chang? When the new dynasty was first established, everyone got rewards. But he didn't have a share? And let him be treated as a useless Tongzhi?"
"People must have some conscience, right? Mr. Chang has made both merit and hard work in the past twenty years."
Liu Jin pondered for a moment: "Let's do this. We suggest that the emperor grant Mr. Chang the official title of Right Governor of the Governor's Mansion. Let him take the position of Right Governor and be responsible for the affairs of Beizhen Fusi."
The right governor is the first-grade military attache, the nominal highest military attaché of the Ming Dynasty.
The Ming Dynasty's "dudu", "dudu Tongzhi" and "dudu Qianshi" have now become empty titles. Similar to the "honorary general" of some countries in later generations.
Zhang Yongdao: "That's fine. I had a drink with Mr. Chang a few days ago. Listening to his voice, he seems to be really unwilling to be a commander."
Personnel is politics.
Although Liu Jin's political skills are not perfect, he is still quite clever.
(End of chapter)
