"The Emperor has a decree."
Upon hearing this, the ministers hurriedly put their hands on the ground and lowered their bodies to listen to the imperial edict.
The eunuch on duty cleared his throat and said:
"Wan'an is only a slanderer and flatterer, and he doesn't really have the talent or virtue of a great scholar. He should return to his hometown immediately to retire without delay. I appreciate this!"
As soon as this statement came out, everyone was stunned.
Wan An was even more paralyzed on the ground, with a sluggish expression on his face, a mixture of panic and unwillingness, but more of a puzzlement.
Why?
This is obviously a good thing. How can a man not like women? What's more, the emperor is not yet old enough to be weak. How could this happen? How could it be possible?
He couldn't figure it out, but he didn't have a chance to figure it out either.
"Master Wan, are you still not going to obey the order?"
"My lord, my lord," Wan An pressed his lips together, and after a while, he said unwillingly, "I want to see the emperor, I want to see the emperor..."
"The emperor doesn't want to see you!" The eunuch snorted and said, "The emperor's instructions are clear and clear. There should be no delay. Is Mr. Wan going to resist the order?"
"I... don't dare." Wan An said anxiously, "There must be a misunderstanding. Please be accommodating, sir, and let me..."
"You can't be accommodating at all." The eunuch interrupted unceremoniously, without giving the great scholar any face, "Master Wan, please go back quickly to pack up your belongings and return home as soon as possible, otherwise... our family will have to deal with official business. .”
"Your Majesty, I am so sincere...!" Wan An shouted to the sky, his face filled with grief and indignation.
He had thought that he would be 'liquidated' by the new emperor, but he never thought that he would leave the political stage in this way.
Ironically, he started his career by flattering others, but in the end, he also ended up by flattering others.
The ups and downs of life were so fast that Wan An couldn't bear it. Even before the eunuch spoke, he thought he was going to be promoted.
How could he bear the current situation?
Immediately his vision went dark and he fainted on the spot.
Perhaps it was because Wan'an was not very popular, or perhaps because he had incurred the wrath of the Holy Spirit, that with so many people present, no one helped him. In the end, the eunuch on duty stepped forward and pinched the others, and then he Wan An wakes up.
"Eunuch, father-in-law, please tell the emperor a message. Wan An is willing to comply with the decree, but I want to see him before leaving. I'm in trouble." Wan An covered up his sleeves and handed over a banknote without leaving any trace.
How dare the eunuch accept this money? There are so many people present, and so many people are watching eagerly. If the money is lost, then his career as a eunuch will be over.
He is only thirty years old and he still has a long life to live.
As if he had been electrocuted, the eunuch jumped back and took a big step back. The banknote with a denomination of one thousand taels was just exposed to the air.
Wan An was unable to hold it up and looked at it with a look of deathly ashen.
After a long while, he finally took it back in despair.
The colleagues around him all showed contempt and didn't even bother to hide it.
Wan An laughed miserably and laughed at himself: "It's time and destiny. I, Wan An, am today all because of myself. I can't blame others..."
When the conversation changed, his smile turned cold: "But how are you any more noble than me? You are just the same person. The difference is that you are both a bitch and a memorial. I am a real villain, and you are hypocrites..."
"Presumptuous!" Someone became angry and yelled back: "You are unbearable, are we the same as you?"
Then, someone else echoed, Yin Yang said: "If you are dirty, naturally you will not see anything as clean."
"Father, since the Emperor's decree is 'no delay', why waste time by listening to him?"
The eunuch was still in shock over the bribe just now. Hearing these words, he calmed down and immediately put on a business-like face:
"Master Wan, the emperor's decree is clear. If you continue to push the envelope, our family will really be rude."
Wan An was silent for a moment and said respectfully: "I accept the order and thank you for your kindness."
After kowtowing, he stood up lonely and left in despair...
After Wan An left, the officials kneeling at the palace gate found an excuse and went back to the Yamen.
It was obvious that this time the flattery fell on the horse's leg, and it would be annoying to kneel down again, so they would not be stubborn anymore.
Zhu Youtang was quite interesting. As usual, he gave Wan An the benefits he deserved and did not treat him harshly out of personal anger.
After this incident, the ministers also calmed down. During the court meeting, the hostility was no longer so strong, and the tone of Chen's memorial was also much more respectful.
Zhu Youtang also realized that his previous worries were unnecessary and strengthened his confidence.
At the same time, he came up with the idea of promoting talents.
Li Dongyang is the first to bear the brunt. Whether it is in terms of personal feelings or talents, Li Dongyang is too talented to be a lecturer...
~
"Mr. Li, I heard that you have been in the cabinet before. Is this true?"
"Uh... yes." Li Dongyang said humbly, "Actually, it can't be said that I joined the job. I just served as the assistant to Marquis Yongqing, and I didn't work for long."
"Marquis Yongqing..." Zhu Youtang pondered for a moment and said with a smile: "Marquis Yongqing is an important minister of the three dynasties. Sir, I will be his assistant. I think you will gain a lot, right?"
"Yongqing Marquis has outstanding political talents and has the talents of prime minister and assistant. The ministers have indeed benefited a lot." Li Dongyang said respectfully, his heart pounding.
The emperor's words were so obvious that he couldn't help but be excited.
Sure enough, Zhu Youtang did not disappoint him and said:
"I have only been on the throne for less than a year, and I am still a bit unfamiliar with government affairs. I need someone to help me solve my problems. The cabinet is in trouble, so naturally I have to add someone to complement it. Otherwise, if the cabinet ministers are working hard, I will be working hard too."
After a pause, "Sir, you have the talents and virtues of a great scholar. Are you willing to join the cabinet?"
"My lord..." Li Dongyang's face turned red and he immediately prostrated, "My lord is willing, but..."
He added in a low voice: "I'm afraid some people may think it's unfair!"
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "Then sir, you might as well speak with your strength and shut their mouths with actions!"
"Yes, I obey the order." Li Dongyang said respectfully, "I must do my best to live up to the emperor's grace."
"Get up, get up quickly," Zhu Youtang helped him up with a smile and said, "Sir, he often goes to and from the Hanlin Academy. Is there anyone who can recommend him?"
After a conversation with his mother, he vaguely understood that there was a high probability that he would never be a prince again. If that was the case, there was no need to restrain himself.
When a new emperor succeeds to the throne, it is natural and necessary to promote talented people.
An emperor and a minister are not just words, otherwise, these words would not be passed down.
Li Dongyang cupped his hands and said: "I am not good at socializing, and I am not familiar with most of my colleagues in the Hanlin Academy. If I really want to recommend..."
He observed the emperor's expression and saw that he listened carefully. He understood that it was not a temptation, so he said:
"As far as I know, Xie Qian, the number one scholar in the eleventh year of Chenghua, and Wang Hua, the number one scholar in the seventeenth year of Chenghua, both have real talents and rare talents. I think... the emperor can focus on cultivating them."
Zhu Youtang nodded slightly and asked, "What do you know about them?"
"The friendship between gentlemen is as light as water. I usually only talk about knowledge with them and don't know much about them." Li Dongyang said.
The emperor has a kind heart and respects and loves him even more, but this is not his capital for overstepping the rules.
How to train, what positions to arrange, this is not what he should say. The emperor wants him to recommend, he just recommends, and it is not appropriate for him to make irresponsible remarks.
Zhu Youtang chuckled and shook his head: "I and Aiqing are heart to heart. Why is Aiqing so cautious?"
"Your Majesty, forgive me." Li Dongyang saluted, and then said: "It's not that I'm hiding my secrets, it's actually... In terms of how I see people, how can a humble minister compare with the emperor? The emperor only needs to come to the Hanlin Academy, and he will definitely be able to see better than a humble minister. Many times more thorough.”
After a pause, "The Hanlin Academy is the place where Ming Dynasty cultivates talents. There are many capable people, but the ministers are not good at interacting with each other, and not many are familiar with them. Since the emperor wants to promote talents for the country, it is necessary to visit the Hanlin Academy in person."
"Well... Aiqing's words make sense." Zhu Youtang nodded slowly, and then said with a smile: "Aiqing's words are really like a spring breeze. It is comfortable to listen to, but it is not empty talk."
"The emperor was so complimentary that the ministers were frightened." Li Dongyang quickly humbled himself.
Zhu Youtang smiled and waved, "Okay, okay, it's not beautiful if you are too modest."
After pondering for a while, he said: "Tomorrow, I will go to the Hanlin Academy. As for you, sir... report to the cabinet tomorrow. I will inform the cabinet later and give you an edict."
"I thank the Emperor for your kindness."
Goodbye Li Dongyang.
"Okay, okay," Zhu Youtang said with a smile, "Let's go home first and celebrate the happy event with our family. The decree will come in the afternoon."
"Why."
The emperor was so considerate, Li Dongyang was inexplicably moved, "I resign."
"Um…."
~
The next day, Li Dongyang successfully entered the cabinet.
This time, no one from the officials objected.
First, what happened last time angered the new emperor, and they did not dare and did not want to get into trouble again; second, Li Dongyang was the new emperor’s teacher when he was the crown prince, and it was human nature and in line with him to promote his teacher after he ascended the throne. Reasonableness is also a reflection of human touch.
There is no need for them to object.
At the end of the morning court, Zhu Youtang drove to the Hanlin Academy.
All the Hanlin officials were scrambling to be the first, which made Zhu Youtang unhappy.
These people were too utilitarian, but the place for talent cultivation was no different from the market place. It was noisy and full of philistines, which really made him dislike it. After just a few rounds, he lost interest.
Simply take Xie Qian and Wang Hua directly back to Qianqing Palace to 'examine' alone.
Zhu Youtang received education a little later, but unlike Zhu Qiyu, after he was established as the prince, he received the education of the prince, and Zhu Jianshen taught him step by step, and Li Qing also taught him for a period of time.
He can't be called smart, but he is definitely not stupid. He is not ignorant of the art of recognizing people and has no emperor's mind.
After chatting with the two alone for half an hour, Zhu Youtang figured out their strengths.
Xie Qian was extremely knowledgeable, eloquent, eloquent, and eloquent; Wang Hua had the air of a great Confucian, a humble gentleman, meticulous, and gentle.
Zhu Youtang allowed the former to enter the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the latter to enter the Ministry of Rites.
The position is not high, but it is not low either. He starts at the sixth rank and still works in Beijing. This starting point is really good.
Even with qualifications, it would be no problem to reach the third level in the future.
There is a high probability that the throne will not be returned. Zhu Youtang also looked away, figured it out, and no longer had the idea of relying on his father. He finally took the first step bravely...
