At the same time that Gao Pragmatic and Liu Xin were discussing world events, guests also came to the residence of Shen Shixing.
This guest is none other than Zhang Cheng, one of the eunuchs Bingbi, the Superintendent of Ceremonies.
Shen Shixing and Zhang Cheng sat separately as guest and host. There was high-quality tea on the coffee table beside them. The tea was obviously fragrant, but it did not arouse the least interest of the two.
"There are no heroes at that time, so Zhuzi became famous." I don't know how long it took before Zhang Cheng broke the silence: "Yuanfu, our family told us a long time ago not to let Gao Pragmatic win another battle, why didn't you listen? What? It's good now that he has made such a big contribution, and some people even spread rumors from the palace, saying that the emperor wants to knight him... Yuan Fu, aren't you anxious? "
Shen Shixing was silent for a moment and said in a deep voice: "Gao Qiuzhen won the battle because of his own ability, and it was not because of my help. How can you say whether I will listen or not?"
Zhang Cheng sighed: "At this time, Yuan Fu is still such an old spirit, which really makes our family admire him. It's just that our family can't understand what Yuan Fu said - it's not Yuan Fu's recommendation that makes him pragmatic. How could Fan get the order to lead the troops to the west?"
Shen Shixing suppressed his dissatisfaction and said calmly: "Gao Pragmatic led the Western Expedition with less than 40,000 troops, but what kind of opponents did he face? Kuai worship 60,000, Huo Luochi 50,000, Bo Shuo Ketu Although they did not use all their strength, there were still 40,000 to 50,000 elite troops. The total of these three parties was at least more than 150,000 troops.
I also said openly and secretly before setting out for the expedition that this battle must be decided quickly. If we delay it for one more day, Tumen may take the opportunity to invade the west. What does Bingbi think the role of these foreshadowings on my part is? But once Gao Qiuzhen fails to quickly conquer the northwest, each of these will turn into a noose around his neck, and the myth of his invincibility will be shattered. So, why should Bingbi blame today's incident on my previous recommendation? "
Zhang Cheng thought for a moment and said: "Since Yuan Fu did not intend to connive, why didn't he do something after Gao Pragmatic sent troops to ensure that he could not complete these tasks?"
"Do something?" Shen Shixing's tone was slightly colder: "I am the chief assistant of the imperial court. In order to restrict a certain person, I have no regard for the success or failure of tens of thousands of troops. In order to restrict a certain faction, I have no regard for the safety of three provinces and four towns. What should I do as the chief assistant? Yeah? This is what the culprit deserves!"
"Huh?" Zhang Cheng also sneered: "The success or failure of tens of thousands of troops, the safety of three provinces and four towns, can we only place our hope on Gao Pragmatic? Yuanfu, you should know that this is exactly what we want A situation that must be avoided - the emperor must not be allowed to think that the prosperity and decline of the world depends on this one person! Otherwise... what is the use of the cabinet? "
Shen Shixing's eyelids twitched and he took a deep breath: "The cabinet appoints talents and strategizes, so what does it mean to keep it useless?"
Zhang Cheng waved his hand and said: "If only Gao Pragmatic can be used, wouldn't it be a joke to promote talents? As for strategizing, we don't know which suggestion or order Gao Pragmatic won this battle because he listened to the cabinet?"
Shen Shixing was speechless for a moment, and then said after a while: "In any case, the chaos in the northwest is a big deal. Even if Shi Xing can't take the initiative to help, at least he can't add insult to injury and set up obstacles for high pragmatism."
"Haha, what a selfless person with a big heart, Yuan Fu's mind is really admirable, but..." Zhang Cheng obviously didn't really want to praise Shen Shixing, and said with a sarcastic face: "It's just that now Gao Pragmatism has made great achievements, and even let people There is an intention to ennoble him in the palace. If this comes to pass, it will be a hundred times more difficult for Yuan Fu to touch him in the future than it is now."
Zhang Cheng's words are not without purpose. As we all know, rulers of all dynasties have used official titles and titles as an important political means to win people's hearts during their rule. There is a big difference between a title and an official title. An official title represents the actual power in the hands of an official, while a title represents status and treatment. According to regulations, titles often transcend the official system, that is, they are higher than ordinary official positions. The same is true for the noble system adopted by the Ming Dynasty.
The title system of the Ming Dynasty has been relatively programmed, institutionalized, and legalized. The title system of the Ming Dynasty not only has the same characteristics as the past dynasties, but also has many of its own characteristics. The reasons for the formation of these characteristics are unique to the Ming Dynasty. social conditions are closely related.
For example, during the Ming Dynasty, the feudal system adopted two systems: the clan feudal system and the meritorious relative system. The separation of the king and the five peerage systems of duke, marquis, uncle, son and male was a major feature of the Ming Dynasty's peerage system that distinguished it from the past.
Moreover, the lord only has a title and salary, and no longer has the fiefdoms of other dynasties. However, the emperor will give him an "iron certificate of alchemy" to show his merits and show his favor. In addition to being a symbol, the "Alchemy Iron Coupon" also enjoys the privilege of immunity.
Among the two systems, the clan title system was formulated in the early Hongwu period. The main titles established in the system were eight-level titles such as prince, county king, general of the country, and general of the auxiliary country. These titles were entrusted to the royal family and nobles.
Different titles come with different salaries. For example, the prince's annual salary was 50,000 dan, which was later reduced to 10,000 dan. However, the salaries of these royal relatives and nobles are still much higher than those of officials who were ennobled under the system of meritorious officials and relatives.
In addition, there is the system of meritorious relatives. In order to win over the relatives of meritorious officials and to prevent the emergence of kings with different surnames who would dominate and threaten their rule, the Ming Dynasty royal family established the five-waiting system outside of the Zong family feudal system. In June of the third year of Hongwu's reign, an edict was issued, stipulating the main titles and salaries of the five marquises.
According to the regulations: the first rank is the Duke of the country or the Duke of the county, and the first rank is the Marquis of the county. The first and second grades are county princes, etc. - these titles do not have fiefs, and no matter how the merit is calculated, one thing is certain: those without military merit will not be enfeoffed.
In terms of salary, the Duke's salary ranges from 2,500 to 5,000 dan, and the main salary of a marquis ranges from 1,000 to 1,500 dan.
These titles are divided into two types, one is lifelong, that is, it cannot be passed down, and the title will be cut off when the person dies. This type is called a floating title; the other is hereditary, with endless descendants. And do not engage in "extension of favor" and maintain it forever. This is Spyker, which is commonly known as "living with the country." As for which type of seal to be given, there is no doubt that it is also based on the size of the military merit.
I mentioned just now that the Ming Dynasty's "alchemy book and iron coupon" system had its particularities. This is no lie. Compared with previous dynasties, this system is indeed different.
In the third year of Hongwu's reign, Zhu Yuanzhang rewarded 10 dukes and 20 marquises based on their merits. It is stipulated in the system that "those who have not done military service and are not allowed to be knighted". However, some heroes gradually appeared, holding "iron coupons" as an excuse to undermine social order. In addition, Zhu Yuanzhang was suspicious in his later years and massacred heroes, so the nobility system was destroyed.
During the Yongle and Jiajing years, the two emperors revised this system, but the general pattern remained unchanged. After Zhu Di, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, seized power, he rewarded people based on their merits based on the "Jingnan Incident". But at this time, there were also very few people who were granted titles without military merit, such as Xu Cheng, the Yongxin Bo who dealt with the death of the consort and resolved the feud between Ming Chengzu and Princess Ningguo. Of course, this is an exception and does not qualify. universality.
Time advanced to the Jiajing period. At that time, due to the willful behavior of the former Emperor Zhengde, the court began to experience a situation where titles were overflowing and military attaches were difficult to grant. In order to solve this problem, Emperor Jiajing made strict restrictions on the standards for enfeoffment. On the one hand, he reiterated that "those who have not made military contributions to the community cannot be ennobled", and on the other hand, he once again emphasized the privilege of "alchemy and iron coupons".
At this point, the title system of the Ming Dynasty was basically finalized. Just go and listen to books
Although Emperor Jiajing became a "Daojun Emperor" in the later period, it is undeniable that he was relatively wise in the early stages of his rule. To a certain extent, he was somewhat similar to Tang Xuanzong Li Longji. If we have to talk about differences, it is probably that in the late Tang Dynasty, Xuanzong was more famous for his unlimited doting on Concubine Yang, while Shizong Jiajing was obsessed with Taoism.
So why did Jiajing once again reiterate in his early years that "those who do not serve the country without military merit are not allowed to be ennobled" and once again emphasized the privileges of "alchemy and iron coupons"?
Emperor Jiajing was most recognized by later generations for his Machiavellian tactics. In fact, the above two things were also Machiavellian tactics.
"Those who do not serve in the military and civil society shall not be ennobled." This seems to be just a reaffirmation of the ancestral system. There is nothing special about it. What is great is that it wipes the butt of the Zhengde Dynasty and "rectifies chaos."
actually not.
"No one can be ennobled for non-military meritorious service", fundamentally speaking, it is to suppress and put shackles on the civil servant group that has gained absolute advantage in the court. This is a seemingly fair and just reason that basically shackles the civil servant group outside the Lord system, preventing them from continuing to expand their "sphere of influence" and completely overwhelming the Lord system.
Why do you say that? If other achievements besides military merit can also be knighted, then the civil servant group in charge of the imperial court will have all kinds of reasons to find civil servants who can be knighted and let these civil servants become lords. Over time, the number of lords will surely be overrun. , and most of the lords will be awarded the title by civil servants.
You must know that no matter how the military officials decline, the imperial court's system also stipulates that the world's guards need them to be on their names. In other words: the loyalty of the military ministers and nobles means that the military power of the world is always in the hands of the emperor, and he is always a strong supporter of the imperial power.
So once the nobility has become one of the headquarters of the civil service group, how much imperial power will the emperor have left?
Emperor Jiajing saw through this essence very keenly, so he once again reiterated the ancestral system that "those who do not serve in the military community cannot be ennobled". This is actually one of the concrete manifestations of his imperial power.
As for the reasons for granting titles and certificates, there are two main reasons.
The first is to compensate the heroes. In the feudal dynasty, the granting of titles and coupons was the highest treatment. The main reason why the emperor did this was to compensate the heroes and consolidate his need for rule. As long as officials regard knighthood as an unusually noble incentive, then this measure will definitely greatly promote their political enthusiasm.
The second is to calm people's hearts. For the officials in the court, the "Alchemy and Iron Coupon" was equivalent to a "heart-protecting pill", because obtaining it would exempt them from sin. In order to maintain his rule, the emperor needed to use this method to win over important officials.
However, overall, the Lord's privileges have been slowly decreasing.
For example, in the Hongwu Dynasty, although the clan nobles and meritorious officials at that time enjoyed many privileges, they were often swayed by the emperor's will when they conflicted with the imperial rule. At this time, the law lost its original efficacy in the past. Even if the lords enjoyed The "iron certificate of alchemy" was a privilege to avoid death, but in fact their personal safety was not guaranteed. Otherwise, how could Zhu Yuanzhang kill the heroes indiscriminately?
Later, especially before Emperor Jiajing reiterated that "those who have not done military service may not be ennobled," the ennoblement system no longer followed the previous standards, but was often directly determined by the emperor's will, and was even influenced by powerful ministers and eunuchs. ——For example, during the Zhengde period, Liu Jin controlled the government. Although the governor Shenying did not have any credit for opening up the territory, he was directly named a martial arts uncle because he had bribed Liu Jin and had a good relationship with Liu Jin.
In addition, the privileges of immunity from death have also been reduced. Especially after Jiajing, when the emperor issued "iron certificates of alchemy", the number of immunity from death was greatly reduced compared with the early period of the country. Although he was exempted from crime, he was inevitably punished. Punishment - Sparing death is sometimes really just sparing death.
But no matter what, the "Alchemy Iron Coupon" is still the "Alchemy Iron Coupon", and its effectiveness is still huge.
It doesn't matter if the military general holds this thing in his hand. At most, he can use it when he is defeated, or he can take it out after corruption, plunder, or other incidents to ensure that his head will not move. It is of no other use.
But if a civil servant had this thing in his hands, it would be a big difference. Some privileges are usually written directly on the iron certificate of the alchemy book, such as "Except for treason, you will not be forgiven for committing other crimes, but you will be spared once as a reward for your merits."
Most of the crimes committed by military generals are due to defeat, and usually have nothing to do with the change of power in the court. But what serious crimes can civil servants commit that require an iron certificate to absolve them of their crimes? That is almost nothing more than a change of power caused by political strife.
In other words, if Gao Pragmatic gets an iron coupon for the alchemy book, it means that even if Shen Shixing finds an opportunity to kill him directly, the opportunity will be almost in vain - just hand over the iron coupon for the alchemy book and that's it.
It's already difficult to find Gao Pingjing with just one chance. Shen Shixing hasn't seen his shadow until now. How do you expect to find him two chances to kill him? So Zhang Cheng said, "If Yuan Fu wants to touch him in the future, it will be a hundred times harder than it is now." This is by no means alarmist.
In the final analysis, the military generals are not in power, and the iron certificate of the alchemy book is just that in their hands; while the civil servants are in power, and holding the iron book of the alchemy book is basically equivalent to an extra life, which is too difficult to deal with. (The above refers specifically to the period after the Jiajing Dynasty reaffirmed the privileges of iron coupons in the Alchemy Book.)
It was precisely because of Jiajing's reaffirmation that during the Tianqi Dynasty, the 9,000-year-old Wei Zhongxian, who covered the sky with one hand, could only stare at the lack of cooperation from people such as the British Duke. This is a clear proof of the power of the iron certificate of the alchemy book after Jiajing.
Because its function is not only to avoid death, but also to become a unique symbol of power, making "living with the country" truly become an idea that everyone agrees with, forming a routine and having inertia, not only Just a slogan.
Faced with Zhang Cheng's straightforward words, Shen Shixing was silent for a moment, and finally made up his mind, saying: "The rebellion in the northwest has been suppressed by him and has become a fact that cannot be undone. For the current plan, we can only do our best to prevent it from going smoothly. I am a knight. I wonder if Bingbi has any clever tips to teach me?"
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