Shen Shixing returned to the cabinet with all the ministers. When he heard that Xu Xuemo was coming, he couldn't help but frown slightly and secretly wondered what was going on with Xu Ziyan. How could a veteran minister who was over sixty years old be so helpless?
It's not that he didn't know that Xu Xuemo would definitely be a little passive today. After all, the entire Xinxue School was very passive today due to Gao Pragmatism, and Xu Xuemo happened to be the eldest uncle, so he was definitely the most passive one.
But, so what? You can be more passive as long as you are passive. At this time, the cabinet has just come up with an idea and is urgently meeting with the emperor to express its attitude. No matter how passive you are, it is still better than acting blindly!
Are you coming to see me in such a hurry, are you afraid that others won't know that you, the eldest uncle, have no independent opinions? Moreover, you are still my hometown party member, Shen Rumo. What do others think when they see you doing this?
However, dissatisfaction was dissatisfaction, and he had to see everyone even when they were here. Shen Shixing had no choice but to exchange a few casual words with the cabinet ministers, and then went to check in with Xu Xuemo.
There was not much to say in the scene. Xu Xuemo directly explained his intention to Shen Shixing as soon as they met, and then said worriedly: "Now the science is boiling, and people have been sent to the palace to present the joint signature to the emperor. I am afraid that what this person has done will be high-profile." Seek truth and use it..."
"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Shen Shixing was a little surprised and asked, "You said Gao Qiuzhen used science and technology? What is he going to do?"
Xu Xuemo expressed his previous worries and said that Gao Pragmatic might have fallen in love with the Ministry of Rites.
Unexpectedly, Shen Shixing shook his head and said: "This is not the case. I think it is unlikely that Gao Qiuzhen will covet the Ministry of Rites - at least not now. It is most suitable for him to stay in the Ministry of War."
Xu Xuemo was a little hesitant and asked: "Yuan Fu, can you tell me the reason?"
"How dare you give me advice?" Shen Shixing has always done a good job in saving face, and he said politely at this moment: "Brother Ziyan, what do you think is the best thing to do to pursue the truth?"
Xu Xuemo was slightly startled, pondered for a moment, and said: "Gao Qiuzhen's literary reputation has moved the world, but based on what he has done in recent years, I think his best is actually military and wealth."
"Yes, Brother Ziyan has seen it thoroughly." Shen Shixing said with a slight smile: "Actually, Gao Qiu is a very interesting person. It stands to reason that with his status and reputation as the number one scholar in the Sixth Sect, and the queen of the Shixue Sect, if he just wants If you want to advance, you can just sit idle in the Hanlin Academy and get six or nine years of experience. By virtue of being a classmate of the emperor, you might be able to be promoted to a young minister (a minister of the Ministry of Personnel). Shen Shixing is special here. Refers to Zuo Shilang) and entered the cabinet, but he refused to do so.
Needless to say, Anna and the North were determined. He also refused to be idle when he went to Liaodong. He first fought a battle in southern Liaoning, and then introduced that... well, that corn, and also developed tussah. At the same time, he also brought about the salt industry. Sorted it out. You see, he has only been in Liaodong for so long, and he is actually busy with so many things. Brother Ziyan thinks, why is he like this? "
Xu Xuemo frowned and said: "I think it's just to prove that what they learned in practice can be used in the country."
"Yes, Shi Xing thinks so too." Shen Shixing nodded: "Gao Qiuzhen would rather leave the road open, but chooses to prove what he has learned. This is worth noting - it means that when he acts, He will definitely consider how to demonstrate the effectiveness of practical learning first, rather than how to get promoted. In fact, I even think that Gao Qiuzhen doesn't care much about official rank. Perhaps in his eyes, official rank is just something that is easily accessible and does not require too much effort. .”
Xu Xuemo was not happy to hear this, so he objected at that time and reminded: "Yuan Fu must not forget that Gao Qiuzhen did not go to Guangxi for his own reasons. He was demoted."
Shen Shixing waved his hand and said: "There is an inside story about that matter, but the information I have here is not very complete. I only know that he may have suffered it on behalf of the king that time... I'd better not mention it."
When Xu Xuemo heard what he said, he also knew that this matter was not easy to discuss in depth, so he said: "You don't need to mention this matter, but after he returned to Beijing - I mean after the Monan War - he was appointed to Liaodong. This matter Could it be that he also took the initiative?"
Shen Shixing said calmly: "So."
Then there is nothing you can do.
Xu Xuemo sighed, shook his head, and changed the topic: "Even if Gao Qiuzhen doesn't think much about the Ministry of Rites, wouldn't there be others in their Shi School who covet this great uncle?"
"Is this..." Shen Shixing frowned slightly: "This possibility cannot be ruled out."
He thought for a while and then added: "They still have several people in important positions in the Hanlin Academy, such as Han Ji, Zhang Yigui, etc., who can be transferred to the Ministry of Rites at any time."
Xu Xuemo immediately said: "It's not just these two people? Cheng Wen, Song Zhihan, Gao Yongchun and even Tu Menggui, etc., if recommended by the cabinet, who can't take over as the eldest uncle?"
This is true, but Shen Shixing pondered for a moment and shook his head hesitantly: "But they have never been very interested in the Ministry of Rites... In the past few years, when the cabinet was in their hands, they would rather keep it in their hands." Many high-ranking officials have been appointed as governors, but no one has ever been sent to the Ministry of Rites."
"Otherwise, it's just one moment and the other." Xu Xuemo said seriously: "It is precisely because in the past ten years or so, Gao Xinzheng, Guo Anyang, and Zhang Puzhou have successively ruled the world. In order to control the power, they did not make up their minds. It comes to the head of the Ministry of Rites, but the situation is different now."
Shen Shixing's heart moved, as if he had some realization, but he still asked: "What's the difference if you dare to ask Brother Ziyan?"
"Yuan Fu is too polite." Xu Xuemo replied: "The biggest difference now is that the court has replaced Yuan Fu."
But Shen Shixing shook his head and said: "It seems different, but in fact... Hey, Brother Ziyan, you don't know what Shi Xing's situation is in the cabinet, so why bother saying that?"
"Otherwise." Xu Xuemo said solemnly: "No matter what Yuanfu thinks he is in, it can't change the fact that it is easier to be in charge. At least now, no matter what they want to do, you will have Yuanfu to check it in the end. If it comes to a critical moment, Yuanfu The assistant can veto it."
In theory, this is true, but Shen Shixing knows that it is only theoretical. In fact, just like the situation during today's cabinet discussion, once the other four cabinet ministers have unified their attitude, even he, the chief minister, cannot really ignore it. , what kind of "exclusion from the crowd" is there?
Since Yan Song resigned as prime minister, only Gao Gong has occasionally done this kind of behavior. The others, including Xu Jie, Li Chunfang, Guo Pu, and Zhang Siwei, have never done this kind of thing. .
After all, "standing alone against the crowd" is really a test of courage and the Holy Family. As long as one of these two is missing, no one will dare to choose. Even the first assistant will not dare to do this - you really don't plan to Do you want a posthumous name?
As for the high arch, he is a special case. The Duke has always had strong opinions, and he had Gao Pragmatism by his side to plan carefully. He believed that everything he did was right, so he was naturally not afraid of his reputation being slandered after his death, and the Holy Family was his strength, so then What else is there to say?
At present, Shen Shixing's family knows his own affairs, and he himself is not of Gao Gong's temperament. Although the Holy Family is okay, there is Gao Pragmatic in front of him. He does not dare to compete with Gao Pragmatic, so he "stands alone against all opinions." "This kind of thing is certainly unacceptable in his opinion.
However, it was difficult to say this clearly, so Shen Shixing chose to remain silent.
Seeing that he had no objection, Xu Xuemo continued: "There is another difference, that is, from today on, the Ministry of Rites will no longer be a Qingshui Yamen."
In fact, the Ministry of Rites could not talk about the Qingshui Yamen before. After all, in addition to various major ceremonies, the imperial examinations were also under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites. How could this be considered an idle job in the Ming Dynasty? It's just that compared to the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Households, and the Ministry of War, which are the most important things of the Practical School, the errands of the Ministry of Rites are not that important.
However, Xu Xuemo's words awakened Shen Shixing. His eyes narrowed and he asked: "Brother Ziyan means that after Gao Qiuzhen published the "Please Open the Ban of Fans" today, the Ministry of Rites will probably be responsible for the clan. The vassal restructuring is about to happen, and this matter is not only very involved, but also very important. In the future, the power of the Ministry of Rites will definitely be far greater than before?"
Xu Xuemo immediately expressed his affirmation: "Yuan Fu Ruijian, that's exactly what happened."
Shen Shixing hesitated, but as he thought about it, some other worries came to mind, and his face changed slightly: "It's broken."
Xu Xuemo was a little stunned and asked, "What?"
Shen Shixing said anxiously: "The cabinet has just agreed to Gao Qiuzhen's statement, and they went to see the emperor together..."
Xu Xuemo interrupted and asked: "The emperor agrees?"
"Not yet, but I'm afraid that's just a show." Shen Shixing said anxiously: "The emperor said that the matter was of great importance, and he wanted to think about it for more time. He also said that he wanted to understand the attitude of the sects and vassals in various places towards the matter through the clan government, and then Only then can we 'make careful decisions'."
Xu Xuemo said in astonishment: "Isn't it a good thing for the emperor to be more cautious about such a big matter?"
"That's not the problem!" Shen Shixing said nervously: "I think this matter may be the emperor's hint that Gao Qiuzhen will come forward to do it, which means that the emperor will agree sooner or later. But right now I am worried about another matter Things—Brother Ziyan, you, the eldest uncle, are probably going to be roasted on the fire."
Xu Xuemo was startled for a moment at first, but after all, he was also a man who had been in the officialdom for a long time. He quickly reacted and said in surprise: "In order to seek truth, I wanted to loosen the vassal ban, but in the end it was me, Xu Xuemo, who did it! "
Xu Butang's face turned pale suddenly, and he broke into cold sweat in an instant: "Such a big thing, if one person doesn't handle it well, something will happen..."
Well, then you are the scapegoat.
Shen Shixing couldn't sit still anymore and asked, "What are the discussions outside now?"
Xu Xuemo told what he knew about the situation of the Liubu, Kedao and other yamen, and then said worriedly: "Now the general public is excited, and the cabinet has agreed. I think the emperor...according to Yuan Fu I'm afraid I'm just going to let him go just to show off. In this way, I'm afraid the issue of lifting the vassal ban is a foregone conclusion, it's just a matter of time."
Shen Shixing put his hand on his forehead, frowned and thought for a while, and suddenly said: "Since the matter cannot be stopped, and the Ministry of Rites is a place that we must not give up easily, there are only two ways to turn passivity into initiative. "
Xu Xuemo asked hurriedly: "Which two roads are there?"
Shen Shixing said: "The first step is to clear away the relationship and try every means to let the sects and vassals in various places know that this matter is not led by the Ministry of Rites. It is actually a trick caused by high pursuit of truth. The Ministry of Rites is just hindered by the court's decision and has to do it. As long as the matter is This point has been clearly hinted to the sects everywhere. Even if they feel resentment, their resentment should be aimed at seeking truth, not against your brother Ziyan."
The truth seemed to be this, but Xu Xuemo knew that this was not enough, so he asked in a deep voice: "But as soon as the court resolution comes out, the executor can only be the Ministry of Rites. By then, even if the sects and vassals know who is behind it, But I’m afraid you won’t look good when facing the Ministry of Rites, right?”
This is a simple truth that is actually easy to understand. Just like the urban management officials of later generations, they were notorious, but where did their professional pressure come from? Didn't the local government ask them to improve the appearance of the city, so they did it?
Even the harsh law enforcement methods, if you really want to count, it is because there were no strict rules on this issue in various places at the beginning. Later, it was sprayed more and the rules became stricter. These phenomena are obviously gradually getting better. However, the urban management signboard is still broken, and it is still the main target of criticism from many people.
Although the executor is not necessarily the only one who is unlucky when doing this kind of thing, the executor will always be hated and criticized. The current situation in the Ministry of Rites is similar to this. Although Gao Pragmatic proposed this matter, and then the officials were so excited that they "forced" the emperor to agree, in the final analysis it was up to the Ministry of Rites to handle it.
The result is probably that Gao Pragmatic just left it alone, and the emperor was "forced". As for the ministers...the law does not punish everyone, and in the end only the Ministry of Rites is the unlucky one.
This is truly a miracle!
Xu Xuemo thought about the bad situation he might face in the future. He was worried just now whether Gao Pragmatic was trying to get rid of him as a big uncle, but now he wanted to give up his job quickly.
This is really the consistent style of the Heart School. If something good happens, I will definitely join in the fun. If something bad happens, I will never get involved - especially if I can't ruin my own reputation.
As I said before, the study of the mind is a category of practical moral studies, and the most direct link to morality is reputation.
It doesn't matter if things go wrong, what matters is that your reputation cannot be ruined! Now that Xu Xuemo saw that his reputation was on the edge of the cliff, he was naturally very nervous.
He was a little sick and rushed to the doctor: "Can you find a way to replace someone else? Now the left minister is Song Zhihan..."
Shen Shixing was furious, suppressing his dissatisfaction, his tone became darker, and he said solemnly: "Brother Ziyan, do you want to resign?"
Of course not, Xu Xuemo just wanted to change his yamen.
However, Shen Shixing's face had already shown his mood. Xu Xuemo did not dare to say it clearly for a while, so he could only say awkwardly: "Of course it's not... Well, I mean Wang Taicang has not returned to the court yet. For the sake of the overall situation, I'm afraid it's not Xuemo's." It’s time to quit.”
Shen Shixing couldn't help but snorted, but his tone finally softened a lot, and he nodded and said: "Brother Ziyan, it would be best if you can think like this. The current situation is difficult, and we really need to share our opinions, how can we Are you able to retreat easily but refuse to stand firm?"
Xu Xuemo wanted to smile along with him, but in the end he only managed an ugly, bitter smile.
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