This is somewhat unexpected. Although I knew that Zhu Yijun now attaches great importance to victory in foreign wars and regards it as an effective means to consolidate his authority, he did not expect that his importance has reached such an extent.
In addition, what Zhang Siwei said just now is also worth pondering: "The emperor is very optimistic about your ability in foreign wars."
It seems that this is a good thing, but Gao Pragmatic feels that it is not entirely a good thing.
There is no doubt that Gao Pragmatic's long-term plan is to join the cabinet, become the chief minister, and then rule the world. Because only by becoming the first assistant can he implement his will to reform. However, most of the key points in his reforms are difficult to deal with the ancestral system. If he cannot become the iron-fisted first assistant, there is no hope at all.
For example, the matter of banning and opening the sea is both an ancestral system and not an ancestral system, because the "ancestors" have both banned the sea and opened it, some have banned it and opened it, and some have opened it and banned it. When Gao Gong insisted on opening up the sea, he started from this aspect - I am on the side of opening up the sea, and I also "respect the heaven and the ancestors".
But some of the things Gao Pragmatic will do in the future are different. For example, one of his priorities is to reform the entire financial system and strengthen the central government's financial control capabilities.
This matter fundamentally violated the "ancestral system" established by Zhu Yuanzhang back then - Zhu Yuanzhang felt that it would be superfluous to allocate a lot of tax revenue to local governments, so he directly let the local governments arrange it themselves. This system has been in operation from the Hongwu Dynasty to today, and even Zhu Di has never thought of changing it. It is a veritable ancestral system.
But this ancestral system is simply stupid in the eyes of Gao Pragmatic: Not only did your imperial court give up such a large financial power, but you even gave up the power of supervision. You don't know what happened at the local level!
So if local governments levy exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes, increase stipends and taxes, or even impose excessive taxes in the name of the imperial court, wouldn’t your central government not know about it? You still think that the local government is obediently following the imperial edicts! At this time, it is obvious that the decision made by the court cannot be in line with the local reality. No matter what the court does, it is actually a slap on the head. How can the world not be in chaos?
Therefore, even if you take into account the traffic conditions, administrative losses and other facts at this time, some wealth does not have to be transported from the local area to the capital for storage, then allocated by the capital, and then transported back to the local area, but at least you have to settle the account. Someone needs to be sent to check and find out! How can we allow localities to talk and act on their own?
However, reforms at this level cannot be implemented by Gao Pragmatic through his personal connections and influence on the emperor. He must take the lead personally, and as the chief assistant, take the initiative to stand in front of the stage and give orders, with the emperor's firm support behind him. , only then can it be done.
Because of this, even when Gao Gong was in power, Gao Pragmatic did not consider promoting it, because the emperor was still young at that time and could not give real support. Instead, Gao Gong's opponents would slander him, saying that he was holding the emperor hostage. In order to order the princes to usurp power and disrupt the government.
Even with Gao Gong's character, he may not be afraid of being criticized, but Gao Pragmatic doesn't want to give the Gao family such a "good reputation", because once this reputation is spread by everyone, it will not only be an irreversible problem for the Gao family, but also the biggest problem. The most likely possibility is that once Gao Gong passes away, he will immediately cease to exist and all reform efforts will be in vain.
Fiscal reform is only a microcosm of the real "big reform" in Gao Pragmatic's mind. There are several other major events that are similar in difficulty. Therefore, his goal can only be to sit in the position of chief minister himself, without any room for compromise.
But the system of the Ming Dynasty is very strange. What you need to become the first assistant is not the grassroots work experience, local work experience, or even the "main cadre position work experience" popular in later generations, but the work experience of the central government, especially the work experience of the Hanlin Academy. ——In other words, the work experience of "Emperor's Secretary".
In fact, the highly pragmatic "Emperor's Secretary" has very rich work experience, but unfortunately his part does not count. The counting part starts from his appointment as the Japanese Lecturer.
As for Annan and Dingbei, governor of Liaodong, etc., these resumes can at best be regarded as bonus points to prove personal ability, but they are never decisive.
Just as Gao Pingshi considered before he was appointed as the minister of Yuan Masi in Liaodong, Zhu Yijun would not have sent him as a foreign minister if it were not for the purpose of raising his rank as soon as possible - he would have stayed in the Hanlin Academy for six or nine years, and his qualifications would be in place. Immediately afterwards, he can serve as a minister of a certain ministry.
Even, based on his six top picks, he could directly fill in the title of Minister of Rites and find an opportunity to join the cabinet.
This is the noble choice for the elders of the Ming Dynasty to ascend to the throne. The former chief assistants Li Chunfang, Gao Gong, and Guo Pu, the current chief assistant Zhang Siwei, and even the possible chief assistant Shen Shixing in the future, who has not followed this path?
Gao Pragmatic is still busy with "foreign wars", so this may be a good thing or a bad thing.
The good thing is that he can prove his abilities through foreign wars, and can also "unite" a large group of border ministers and generals.
The bad thing is that he didn't spend enough time in the center, and his "noble" reputation was seriously dragged down - in the Ming Dynasty, there is no need to emphasize again how important a person's reputation is.
The only fortunate thing among misfortunes is that he was born in the Gao family of the practical learning sect. It can be said that he did these things in order to practice the essence of practical learning. In addition, it can be considered as a remedy, which is the status of the number one scholar in the Sixth Song Dynasty. Otherwise, according to the general situation, it is difficult to come back after serving for a long time. Even if you come back, you will usually be dismissed with just a Minister of the Ministry of War.
When Zhang Siwei saw Gao Pragmatic, he suddenly fell silent and was lost in thought for a while. He couldn't help but ask: "What are you thinking about, so lost in thought?"
"Ah?" Gao Jingshi was woken up by Zhang Siwei, scratched his head and said: "My nephew is thinking, will the emperor leave it to me whenever he has foreign affairs? Is this... a good thing or a bad thing? "
Zhang Siwei was stunned for a moment, then laughed dumbly and said: "Are you afraid that you will not be able to return to Beijing if you continue to work abroad in the future?"
Gao pragmatic coughed dryly: "It doesn't mean that I will never come back, it's just that at this time..."
Zhang Siwei shook his head and said: "You are worrying too much. If it is really what you think, the emperor will not let you secretly preside over this war in Yunnan through such means."
"Why?" Gao Pingshi was a little confused as to why Zhang Siwei was so sure. He asked: "I always feel that if the actual status of the governor of Yunnan was not as good as that of the governor of Liaodong, the war in Yunnan this time, especially when the emperor fought When I make up my mind to fight this battle resolutely, I might be sent to Yunnan instead."
Zhang Siwei laughed, shook his head and said: "No, no."
"Why are you so sure?" Gao Pragmatic couldn't help but wonder.
"There are two points." Zhang Siwei stretched out two fingers, then took back one, and said: "First, you, Liao Fu, took office not long ago. As soon as the war started in Yunnan, you were transferred to Dian Fu. This will make you People all over the world wonder, does the emperor feel that you are the only one available for seeking truth? The world is so big, if two or three places mobilize troops, what should the emperor do? Without you and seeking truth, I Will the Ming Dynasty have no choice but to sit in the city of sleepiness?
Secondly, you said that the status of the governor of Dian is not as good as that of the governor of Liao. This is generally true, but if the emperor really wants you to preside over the war in Yunnan, he does not have to ask you to be the governor of Dian. I’ll give you a strategy for the three provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan. Even more exaggerated, what if I include Guangdong and Guangxi and give you a strategy for the five provinces of Southwest China? You are now the right minister of the Ministry of War, and you can also take charge of the military affairs of several provinces. This 'management' is just a temporary assignment. You will be withdrawn as soon as the work is done. You are asked to control the five southwestern provinces. Are you afraid that you will not be able to conquer Burma? "
Gao Pangshi suddenly realized, and thought to himself: It turns out that the Minister of War can manage a few provinces... Oh, that's right. In history, when Yang Hao's servant was in charge of Liaodong and North Korea, he only had the title of Right Minister of the Ministry of War. It seems that Minister of War After all, this official title is one of the high officials of the imperial court, which is quite impressive.
Seeing that Gao Pragmatic accepted his statement, Zhang Siwei smiled again and said, "So don't think too much. The reason why the emperor did this is actually not that complicated. First of all, he knows your ability best and will tell the story of the war in Yunnan." He will feel more at ease if he is secretly controlled by you. Secondly, his original intention is to worry that no one will be able to use you in the future. Have you thought about this carefully? "
"Have you thought about it carefully?" Gao Pingshi didn't understand why Zhang Siwei's tone was obviously serious when he said this.
Zhang Siwei said: "I just suddenly thought of this after talking to you about recommending candidates for the cabinet: Have you noticed that my school of practical learning may be in a state of decline?"
Gao Pragmatic's eyes narrowed and he said thoughtfully: "What my uncle means is that, apart from you, most of the second generation's main force in the current Shixue lineage are from the Jiajing 44th batch of gold medals. If we assume that my nephew is the first The third generation, judging from the gold list, has reached the eighth year of Wanli..."
Zhang Siwei interrupted: "You can count it according to the eight years of Wanli, but your 'generation' cannot count it according to the eight years of Wanli - the simplest point is, besides you, who else in Wanli A disciple of the Practical School who has been on the Gengchen Branch Gold List for eight years can be promoted to the title of Minister of the Ministry of War in just three years? I won’t mention the others, what is Tai Zheng’s current rank?”
Zhang Taizheng, the second son of Zhang Siwei, Gao Pragmatic's cousin and the same year who won the gold medal in Gengchenke. In the eighth year of Wanli, he was born as a Jinshi, ranked fourth in the Gengchen Kejin Ranking. He was selected as a shujishi for eight months. After leaving the academy, he became the director of the Zhengliupin Rituals Department. At the beginning of this year, because of his excellent evaluation, he was promoted to the Ministry of Etiquette Temple to offer sacrifices to the Qing officials. Zhong, a fifth-grade official position.
The son of a dignified chief assistant, he was born as a top student ranked fourth in the second class. In three years, he could only reach the sixth grade, and he was still hanging around on "idle jobs" such as worshiping the officials of the Qing Dynasty in the ancestral hall of the Ministry of Rites. This shows that he has the aura of a new scholar. Retirement and promotion are not easy.
Even with Zhang Taizheng's background, can anyone else be better than him?
Even Xiao Liangyou and Wang Tingzhuan, who were ranked as "celestial beings" in the same class as Gao Jingshi, are still in the Hanlin Academy, and their positions have not changed. They were editors when they entered, and they are still editors now. , it’s just that the prose officials were promoted two levels, from Chengshilang to Xuanyilang.
This is what Zhang Siwei means: Your high-pragmatic promotion speed is too fast. It is a special case. It is impossible for normal people to catch up. So you yourself have no problem according to the Wanli eight years, but your "generation" as a whole is based on the Wanli eight years. Eight years is unreasonable.
Or to put it another way, if your "generation" is calculated based on the eight years of Wanli, then you can't do this yourself. You have to push forward at least two subjects, or even three subjects.
But precisely because of this, if you join the cabinet in the future and start to take up the leadership of my practical school, your group of people of the same age may not be able to play their due role and serve as your wings and wings.
Judging from Gao Wuchen's current situation, Zhang Siwei estimates that he will join the cabinet in his thirties. At that time, what position will his group of the same year reach?
There are two types of people who stay in the capital: one is those who stay in the Hanlin Academy. At this time, they can probably work as attendants and lecturers. The best ones may be bachelors as attendants and lecturers, and are in the state of "quasi-servant".
The second is those who stay in Liubu and other Beijing government offices. It is basically impossible for them to become a minister, but below the rank of minister, they are still just doctors. It is hard to say whether they can be promoted to a minister. On the other hand, those who stay in the Metropolitan Procuratorate may have the opportunity to be posted as patrol inspectors, and those with better luck may be posted as deputy inspectors of a certain province, that is, soldiers and soldiers. However, generally speaking, it is unlikely that they will be promoted to governor in ten years.
As for those who were directly transferred to the outside world, it's hard to say. Maybe they always had good evaluations when they were appointed outside, maybe they met the opportunity and made great achievements outside, and then they were promoted from county magistrate to prefecture, from prefecture to administration, or even transferred back to the capital as minister. Wait, but generally speaking it is difficult. It is a blessing to be able to be appointed as the chief envoy. In fact, it would be good to be able to participate in politics.
These official positions are not low in terms of level and status. After all, Jinshis in the Ming Dynasty are still very popular, but if compared to Gao Pragmatic, who may have joined the cabinet at this time... How much can they help him? No way! At most it can play a "public opinion role" at some point.
At this time, most of the students who had been on the Golden List for the 44th year of Jiajing period when Gao Gong was the examiner were already in their sixties, and the younger ones were in their fifties. How many more years would it take to get around?
This is how insecurity arises.
But Gao Pragmatic didn't understand, and asked: "But uncle, if the gold medal in the second year of Wanli was examined by my mentor Guo Gong, and the gold medal in the fifth year of Wanli was examined by you, can't the Jinshi in these two subjects be used?"
Zhang Siwei shook his head and said: "You don't know what kind of temper your mentor Guo Gong is? He never makes exceptions for his disciples. Not many of the Jinshi in the subject in the second year of Wanli are decent. The only name I often see at the moment is probably Ma Zhen and Fan Shouji, but Ma Zhen did it because I took care of him, and Fan Shouji did it because he was from Kaifeng Prefecture, and I also took care of him.
In addition, there are really no figures in this department. For example, Li Sancai, Zhao Nanxing and others all have the opportunity to climb up, but unfortunately they are all from 'over there'. Oh, by the way, there is also Xu Yuanchun in this department, the eldest grandson of Xu Huating..."
Gao Pragmatic couldn't help but be silent and thought to himself: This is great. The teacher is an upright person, but the disciple will suffer because of it. Fortunately, my uncle is not pedantic, otherwise Ma Zhen would have no chance... It seems that Ma Zhen didn't do much in the original history. Is it because his uncle's time in power was too short?
At this time, Zhang Siwei continued: "As for the fifth year of Wanli, although this subject is my main examination, it is only one subject ahead of you. What's the use of three years? In ten years, one or two ministers will be produced. , governor and so on, I will burn high incense."
He sighed and smiled bitterly: "To tell you the truth, I plan to let you take care of them in the future."
Uh, is it so embarrassing...
Gao pragmatic couldn't help scratching his head.
"So, the emperor's move has deep meaning, but not as deep as you think." Zhang Siwei came to the conclusion: "He is just afraid that no one will be able to use you in the future, so he remembered Chen Yubi for some reason. Well, maybe it's Because Chen Yubi has been a lecturer for a long time... In short, if you don't believe it, our uncle and nephew will make a bet today: within a year, the emperor will definitely promote him, either to become a bachelor and take charge of the Hanlin Academy, or to let him He sent a certain minister to the outside."
Gao Pingshi smiled bitterly and said: "It seems that after my nephew enters the Ministry of Etiquette in two days, he will have to communicate with Chen Yuanzhong."
Zhang Siwei stood up with a smile, patted him on the shoulder and said, "You shouldn't need me to teach you about this kind of thing."
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