Chapter 153: Fang Xiaoru, Chief Assistant of the Cabinet
Because Zhu Yuanzhang is not very important in the cabinet, most cabinets nowadays are selected from the Hanlin Academy. What kind of people are the Hanlin Academy like? They are all poets. In Zhu Yuanzhang's view, these people are simply incapable of truly handling government affairs.
Therefore, a major overhaul of the cabinet is needed.
Fang Xiaoru said: "What does your Majesty mean?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Go to the cabinet and take charge of the cabinet."
Zhu Yuanzhang mobilized Fang Xiaoru in this way. It seemed that he wanted to reuse Fang Xiaoru, but in fact he was also reusing Fang Xiaoru. But in fact, Fang Xiaoru was transferred from the most important position, that is, secretary supervisor. m.
When He Xi founded the Secretary Supervisor, he modeled it on the Secretary Li Supervisor. It seems to be a small department, but in fact the agency that really represents the imperial power is not the cabinet, but the secretary and supervisor.
If the secretary supervisor and the cabinet work together, then the two represent the highest power of the Ming Dynasty. But when it comes to the discord between the Supervisor Secretary and the Cabinet, the Supervisor Secretary has too many ways to suppress the Cabinet. At the same time, the power of secretaries and supervisors is limited, and the cabinet truly has the foundation of the prime minister.
This is also the art of internal and external checks and balances.
It's not that Fang Xiaoru didn't understand Zhu Yuanzhang's approach, but Fang Xiaoru still felt a roar in his heart and felt dizzy. It was hard to control myself for a while. He said: "I have little talent and little knowledge. I may delay the important affairs of the court. Please take back your order."
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and said: "Sooner or later, this position will be yours. I thought that you could only have this position when the prince ascended the throne, but now -" Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and said: "You are the person the prince values most. , you should treat me as a prince and respect this old man."
Fang Xiaoru said: "Your Majesty, please rest assured that I will do my best for the court and repay your Majesty's kindness and the prince's virtue."
How could Fang Xiaoru not be excited?
Since Hu Weiyong was captured in the thirteenth year of Hongwu, Ming Dynasty has been without a prime minister for more than ten years. Although the power of the chief minister of the cabinet has been suppressed and dispersed. The Prime Minister at that time is simply not the same as Hu Weiyong.
But the Prime Minister is still the Prime Minister?
In addition, the cabinet used to be almost a sinecure, but it is no longer the case. Today's chief minister of the cabinet is the first of all officials of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said: "I don't have any confidence in the people in the cabinet now. Let's do this. Tang Duo and Wang Dun will also join the cabinet."
Tang Duo and Wang Pu were both veterans, about the same age as Zhu Yuanzhang, and they had already been in Zhu Yuanzhang's rebel army before crossing the river. Of course, they were all minor officials at that time, and Zhu Yuanzhang might not know him or know about him.
But today, thirty years later, this qualification is very impressive.
He was regarded as one of his own by Zhu Yuanzhang.
And they are both from the north, one is from Lianghuai and the other is from Shaanxi.
But even though they have strong seniority and similar age, they are completely different political spectrums.
Tang Duo truly followed Zhu Yuanzhang from the grassroots, starting from county magistrate and prefect. In the sixth year of Hongwu, he had already been a minister. After that, he held many positions both internally and externally. It was also because he had no backing and was stubborn. He served as minister several times in the imperial court and was soon released.
However, he is definitely someone Zhu Yuanzhang can trust.
Wang Dun is different. Wang Dun was a real Jinshi of the Yuan Dynasty. The former Yuan officials mentioned include Wang Du. Of course, there are very few of those former Yuan Jinshi left over the years. If the old ministers of the former Yuan Dynasty were still a problem when He Xi first arrived, that is, the fourteenth year of Hongwu, time had already sent away too many of these people.
But now, the old officials of the former Yuan Dynasty are much weaker.
Many new ministers feel that the old ministers of the former Yuan Dynasty are second ministers.
It doesn't matter whether I am a good person or not.
The important thing is that Wang Dun's official career in the Ming Dynasty was not smooth. He was a prisoner of the Ming army at the beginning, and the Ming army did not make things difficult for him. Of course, the Ming Army at that time was not called the Ming Army, or even the King of Wu's Army. He just opened a library to teach and was unwilling to work for Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang didn't care about him. But after more than ten years, Ming Dynasty had established a firm foothold, and he became an official.
After that, he worked in many places, going back and forth from the local to the center. However, Wang Dun has never been a minister. He has served several terms as chief envoy in various places, and his official reputation is very good.
Both of these people are the kind of ministers who need fame, ability, and qualifications. The only problem is that they are old. Maybe it won't last a few more years.
This is also Zhu Yuanzhang's intention.
Fang Xiaoru is from Zhejiang. So Zhu Yuanzhang paired him with two northerners. Fang Xiaoru was a great Confucian, and both of them had experienced troubled times. I have seen the tragedy of people being inferior to dogs in troubled times. I dare not say that he is uneducated, but he is definitely not a corrupt scholar, but a pragmatist similar to Liu Bowen. It is not that easy for Fang Xiaoru to do negative reforms.
Fang Xiaoru thought about these two people and didn't think there was any problem. He thought of another question and said, "Secretary Superintendent, who should I hand this minister over to?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly: "Let He Xi take care of it first."
This answer surprised Fang Xiaoru. Just looking at Zhu Yuanzhang's extremely calm eyes, he swallowed all his thoughts and opinions and said, "Yes."
The reason why Zhu Yuanzhang asked He Xilai to serve as secretary supervisor.
On the one hand, he couldn't find a suitable person to serve as secretary and supervisor.
Without him, the secretary supervisor is too critical. Only those who have absolute trust can serve. If Zhu Yuanzhang establishes the crown prince, then the new crown prince must be the secretary-supervisor. But now, the new crown prince is having difficulty giving birth.
It would be inappropriate to put anyone here.
After all, He Xi is Zhu Yuanzhang's son-in-law and a trustworthy person. And He Xi's ability is enough for the job.
However, He Xi is just a transitional figure. Zhu Yuanzhang could not let He Xi stay in this position for a long time.
Secondly, Zhu Yuanzhang had not found a way to break the situation in his heart. Regarding the reform, Zhu Yuanzhang had many things to discuss with He Xi. Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang was not prepared to let He Xi return to Beijing before the Nanjing turmoil settled.
He Xi is just idle in Beijing, so he might as well come and help Zhu Yuanzhang. At the same time, we also learn more about what the world is like tomorrow. After all, in Zhu Yuanzhang's view, He Xi is not mature in many aspects.
However, no matter how exquisite Zhu Yuanzhang's adjustments and arrangements were. It cannot hide the fact that the sun of the Ming Dynasty has already set its setting sun. The Hongwu period gradually came to an end.
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When Fang Xiaoru came to He Xi to hand over the secretary's supervision affairs. He Xi felt a little dizzy.
The secretary supervisor can be said to be the internal minister of the Ming Dynasty, how important he is. He Xi naturally knew. It's not like he never thought that he would be able to sit in that position one day, but not now, but he didn't want this position to fall to He Xi so easily.
He Xi couldn't react.
However, He Xi soon adjusted her mentality.
Speaking of which, He Xi is also one of the founders of the Secretary's Office. Although the Secretary's Office has expanded many times compared to when He Xi was there and has become a powerful organization. But the basic framework is still there, not to mention that many personnel in the secretarial department have not been adjusted. The handover is very simple.
However, after the handover, Fang Xiaoru did not leave directly. Instead, he introduced He Xi into the room, and Fang Xiaoru said, "Brother He, long time no see. Can you and I talk?"
He Xi's heart moved. Although he knew that Fang Xiaoru and he were not in the same pot, even if they talked, they would not achieve anything. But raise your hand and don’t hit the smiling person. Now that Fang Xiaoru has said it. Why should He Xi refuse people thousands of miles away?
He Xi said: "Okay. I haven't listened to Brother Fang's talk for a long time. I'm just about to listen."
After the two of them sat down, Fang Xiaoru said without any nonsense, "I heard that Brother He is the eldest prince's teacher?"
He Xi said: "I just taught the eldest prince a few things. I can't talk about it as a teacher."
Fang Xiaoru said: "Brother He, why should you be too modest? The eldest prince, you must be brother He, your admiration is beyond words. How can you not be happy to be a teacher if you have a disciple like this? I think Brother He also agrees that he should pass it on to his grandson instead of A successor, right?"
He Xi originally thought that Fang Xiaoru would talk about academic matters, but he never expected that Fang Xiaoru would directly bring the topic to the most sensitive issue of inheriting the throne.
Some people died, but not completely...
