Zhu Jianshen sat firmly on the Diaoyutai, watching the situation develop, and occasionally adding fuel to the fire to make the show more enjoyable...
The six ministries engage in cliques and win people over, while the cabinet engages in propaganda and builds momentum... Both parties show their magic and try to increase their voice and influence as much as possible.
In this battle, the two sides took completely different routes. Relatively speaking, the Six Parts were more traditional, while the cabinet took a somewhat eccentric approach.
There is nothing that can be done about it. The strength of the cabinet is not as good as that of the six departments. If we don't find another way, we will never be able to defeat the opponent.
However, their style of play is really effective.
The cabinet abandoned the traditional 'investment promotion' and focused on 'advertise widely', focusing on improving the brand image.
Image spokesperson: Li Qing!
Fund owner’s father: Zhu Jianshen!
The playing of these two explosive cards has greatly boosted the confidence of the 'market'.
The investor took a look and said, "Hey, this is good!" The development potential is huge. This project has been managed, invested, invested...
Ever since, everyone bought shares...
The Hanlin Academy and the Imperial College were the first to take shares, and they began to build momentum, making the cabinet brand effect stronger. Soon, the Metropolitan Procuratorate also wavered.
Although the little brother is rebellious, he is also very aware of current affairs. When he saw that the cabinet stall was spread out and there was a lot of progress, he naturally wanted to get a share of the pie.
The Metropolitan Procuratorate, the Hanlin Academy, and the Imperial College, these three institutions have one thing in common - they are all good at using pens to create public opinion!
The areas they were good at fit perfectly with the cabinet's style of play, and soon a huge bubble was blown.
Under the encouragement of these people, the cabinet seemed to be equated with the prime minister, completely superior to the six ministries.
Li Qing looked at it and exclaimed: "What a guy!"
However, he didn't think it was anything. Although the bubble was beautiful, it was vulnerable. It only needed a needle to pierce it. No matter how powerful the fake things were, they were just paper tigers after all.
Small courtyard,
Li Qing continued to perfect the labor laws, while Li Hong finished picking vegetables and stood there bored in a daze...
"Godfather, it's been several days. When did the emperor give the order to kill Jianzhou Jurchens?" Li Hong asked.
"We will wait until the six ministries and the cabinet are sorted out." Li Qing put down his pen and said with a smile, "Don't worry, it won't be long, at most half a month."
"Okay." Li Hong nodded sadly, suddenly becoming interested in the temple struggle, "Godfather, can you tell me about the cabinet?"
"What do you want to know about?"
"How can three fifth-grade bachelors be able to fight with many officials of the Sixth Department?" Li Hong didn't understand. "Why are they so arrogant?"
Li Qing was amused, but it was necessary to understand this because his godson was going to pursue an official career.
"The cabinet bachelors are only of fifth rank, but they usually also hold other official positions... Of course, this is not the root of their arrogance." Li Qing said: "What really makes the cabinet arrogant is institutional issues."
"Annotations and memorials?"
"Yes, that's it." Li Qing nodded: "Don't underestimate this power. In layman's terms, they are the emperor's staff."
Li Hong scratched his head: "Godfather, our Ming Dynasty's cabinet seems to be different from the prime minister, right?"
"That's right," Li Qing nodded and explained: "Taizu abolished the prime minister system and took back the power of the prime minister. While consolidating the imperial power, it also allowed the six ministries to rise;
After Taizong ascended the throne, he devoted himself to solving the disaster in Mobei and developing the Ming Dynasty in all aspects. However, his energy was limited after all, so he had no choice but to delegate power.
The power of the six ministries was already huge, so Taizong re-established the cabinet as an institution. Its purpose was to decentralize power to a certain extent while decentralizing power. "
After explaining the origin of the cabinet, Li Qing also talked about the system of the cabinet:
“In the entire Ming Dynasty, almost all memorials had to go through the hands of the cabinet. It is true that they had no decision-making power or administrative power, but only the power of suggestion;
However, the influence of the proposers on the decision-makers is huge. Do you know what the approval rate of the annotated suggestions they draft is? "
Li Hong shook his head.
"Seventy to eighty percent!" Li Qing said.
Li Hong was shocked, "Then, doesn't that mean that the cabinet has 70 to 80% of the power of the prime minister?"
"Huh? That's not the case." Li Qing shook his head, "The major and minor memorials of the Ming Dynasty will first be sent to the General Affairs Department for summary, and then the Secretary of Rites will submit them to the emperor. After the emperor reads them, they will be sent to the cabinet, and the cabinet will draft comments and comments. Return it to the emperor to make decisions and issue six orders..."
"The decision-making power is in the hands of the emperor, and the administrative power is in the hands of the six ministries. On the surface, the cabinet's suggestion power is the least valuable. However, they can influence the emperor's decision-making to a great extent..." Li Qing broke it into pieces and explained. .
The final and pertinent evaluation: “The cabinet can probably hold up one-third of the power of the prime minister, but due to the small number of cabinet members, it cannot defeat six ministries;
However, everything has two sides, and there are advantages to having a small number of people. For example, as long as a few people temporarily put down their prejudices, they can work together, and another example: having fewer people means that their power is more concentrated..."
"So that's it." Li Hong suddenly realized it and said with emotion: "However, this is really complicated. Thinking about it makes my head hurt."
"The human heart is far more complicated than the system!" Li Qing said: "What my godfather said is just scratching the surface. Well... it's not too late for you to quit now."
Li Hong shook his head and said in an arrogant tone: "How can a man back down when he encounters a setback? Besides, this is not a setback!"
After a pause, he said with a smile: "Children today are still far away from the temple. They have plenty of time to grow up."
Li Qing sneered: "Young people are quite confident."
"That's right, the kid is not bad, okay?" Li Hong puffed out his chest, "Maybe I can still be better than my predecessor."
"Haha... Then you have to work hard." Li Qing put away the relevant laws he had drafted, stood up and said, "Just wait patiently. In this power struggle, the cabinet will open up and spend everything they have, so it is destined to It won’t last long.”
"Hey, okay." Li Hong chuckled and said, "Anyway, sister Wanqing hasn't left yet."
Li Qing curled his lips and said, "I live in the palace and enjoy the good life, how can I be like you?"
"That's right," Li Hong sighed, imitating his godfather's tone: "It's not like me, I'm just like a cook...ah ho, let's go cook."
"Baby..." Li Qing shook his head in amusement, his eyes showing the joy of an old father...
…
As Li Qing expected, the fight did not last long and came to an end after only five days.
The Cabinet wins!
The reason for the defeat of the six tribes is also a bit funny-someone surrendered to the cabinet.
There's no way, that group of people is too damn capable, not all of them have extraordinary foresight.
It’s funny to say that what most civil servants end up supporting is a cabinet that harms the overall interests of the civil servants. However, this is also a manifestation of the complexity of human nature.
——Although you have hurt me, as long as you can bring me benefits in the future, I can still support you.
There is a general explanation for such a big event.
Zhu Jianshen seemed to have just come to his senses and began to strictly investigate the clique-making behavior of officials these days...
Two days later, Yao Kui, the Minister of Civil Affairs, resigned!
At the same time, Zhu Jianshen issued an order to go to Liaodong to quell the rebellion and severely punish the Jianzhou Jurchens. Using this excuse, he began to station troops in Liaodong...
~
Small courtyard.
Today, Zhu Wanqing took charge and cooked a table of dishes as a farewell meal for her eldest brother.
"It's autumn. The temperature in Liaodong is much lower than that in the capital. Wear more clothes." Zhu Wanqing lowered her head and plucked rice and muttered, "You are not Uncle Li. Don't think you are invincible. Be careful when fighting... …”
Li Hong nodded crazily, and while eating happily, he praised: "Sister Wanqing's craftsmanship is good." ΟиЪ.ōΓＧ
Pretending not to see the red eyes of my sweetheart...
Li Qing looked at this scene and couldn't help but recall the past. A touch of sadness appeared on his face. Parting is always sad, and what's even more sad is... a separation that will not reunite.
Li Qing did not see his godson off, but said some words of encouragement and went back to the house.
Zhu Wanqing wanted to give it away, but her daughter's family was not suitable for public appearances, not to mention her identity was relatively sensitive, so she just said a lot of parting words...
The army left, and Li Qing continued to do his own business.
Regarding the Jianzhou Jurchen attack this time, Li Qing had no worries at all. The strength gap between the two sides was too big and there was no chance of any accidents happening.
After Li Hong left, Zhu Wanqing returned to the palace to stay for a few days, and then moved back to the small courtyard to cook for Uncle Li.
Time flows...
Half a month later, people came from Jinling, and Zhu Wanqing also went back, leaving Li Qing alone in the small courtyard.
Ripe persimmons are like red lanterns, hanging on the branches, but they cannot render warm colors...
After so many years, Li Qing has learned to get used to it, at least, he thinks so.
…
~
On this day, Qianqing Palace.
The monarch and his ministers sat opposite each other.
Zhu Jianshen smiled and said: "Sir, you came uninvited, but are there any rules regarding business tax matters?"
"Well, the labor laws have basically been completed." Li Qing took out a stack of papers, "It's all here, take a look."
Zhu Jianshen took it and reviewed it carefully...
After a long time, he put down the paper and frowned and said: "Give workers a holiday during the busy farming season, and give workers a paid day off on the first and fifteenth day of every month... These suggestions of yours are indeed very beneficial to the people, but will the wealthy households strictly abide by them? "
"There are always things you have to stick to," Li Qing said.
Zhu Jianshen smacked his lips, and then said: "The commercial tax has dropped to 30% of the commodity price, and there is no longer a limit on the amount of overseas exports. Everyone competes based on their abilities... It is a threat to the Weaving Bureau!"
Li Qing smiled: "The Weaving Bureau is too comfortable, so there is nothing wrong with putting some pressure on it. The market is ultimately a system of survival of the fittest, and overseas countries are not fools. They will naturally give priority to purchasing good quality goods. Improving the competitiveness of goods is the only serious thing."
"...Okay." Zhu Jian sighed deeply and said, "However, the commercial tax has dropped to 30%, isn't it too low?
Also, you have said before that it is better for a hundred flowers to bloom than for one family to be the only one, but if you let it go as you do... it will only backfire in the end. "
Li Qing said happily: "The emperor looks at the problem very thoroughly, and this is indeed the case, but..."
He smiled bitterly and said: "We can benefit together but not alone, and if we are alone, we will lose!"
Whether the national policy can be implemented ultimately depends on the powerful officials and gentry. This is the best choice for implementing a set of national policies. "
After a pause, "Actually, this is not all bad. It can help integrate resources, improve production efficiency, and improve industrial processes... Letting them fly for a while first will be very beneficial to the development of Ming Dynasty."
Zhu Jianshen said in deep thought: "Sir, what you mean is...to fatten up and then kill?"
