Zhu Zaijing definitely wanted to reform and reorganize the cabinet.
Just take your time and take control of the military first.
Moreover, like Zhu Houzhao, who also wanted to control the military, his every move could be seen by the civilian officials, and the cliques within the civilian officials could not stop.
Let the reformists led by Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng rush to the front, and secretly develop in the rear.
“That’s how the cabinet members are decided!”
Several ministers whose names were called came out and knelt down.
"I thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Don't thank me in a hurry!" Zhu Zaijing said, "There is something that needs your cabinet to take the lead."
Zhu Zaijing took out a long piece of paper.
Everyone looked at it curiously. What is this?
"Since it is a new dynasty and a new atmosphere, the court's atmosphere will also change in the future. Let's agree on three chapters in advance to solemnly correct our atmosphere."
"This is a letter of guarantee between our monarch and his ministers. What is written here is that those who serve as officials and ministers must be honest, loyal to the emperor, patriotic, and caring for the people."
"If you cannot do this and violate the laws of the imperial court, you are willing to be punished, dismissed from office, or even beheaded!"
"You all have to sign this and write your names. If you can't do this in the future, don't blame me for being unjust to you!"
The ministers were all stunned.
I didn’t expect the emperor to come up with such a thing!
"If you think you can't do it and don't want to sign, stand up now and I will let you go home and retire immediately. I won't hold you accountable for those shameful things you did in the past!"
"Is there anyone who doesn't want to sign?"
Zhu Zaijing looked around. Except for some agitation and whispers among the officials, no one stood up.
This guarantee is signed, and you must never let me take you to break the law in the future!
The partisanship in the late Ming Dynasty had a very bad atmosphere, which meant that people were not doing things the right thing.
If you are of the same group as me, no matter whether you are wrong or whether you have broken the law, I will firmly support you.
If you are not, regardless of whether you are right or wrong, I will object.
Even in order to protect their own people, officials collectively rebelled against the emperor and forced the emperor to compromise and make concessions.
Now that you have all signed this guarantee, if anyone dares to do this in the future, trying to protect or favor one of your own despite breaking the law, labor and management will label you as a crony.
"Okay! Since there is no one, it means that you all agree to this guarantee!"
“The cabinet should take the lead in signing!”
Xu Jie, who was standing first in the row of civil servants, took the letter of guarantee, took the pen and ink sent by the eunuch without looking at it, started to sign, and after finishing it, handed it to Li Chunfang behind.
"You write slowly one by one. Now I will announce the personnel appointments of the six departments."
"The first is the official department."
The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of the evaluation, promotion and decentralization of officials, and has great power. Even the chief minister of the cabinet dare not easily offend people in this position.
The Minister of Civil Affairs was once called the Heavenly Official.
"Yang Shangshu, please stop taking charge of the civil service department and let Mr. Gao take charge of it!"
Standing tall, he said, "Thank you for your majesty's grace!"
When he just announced that he was joining the cabinet, he complained about why he was not the second assistant, but he didn't expect that the emperor actually kept such a big surprise for him!
Xu Jie wanted to speak out to object, but when he thought that Gao Gong's qualifications and prestige were no problem in this position, and if he objected again, he would be suspected of suppressing him, he simply kept silent.
He also didn't want the conflict to become public right from the start.
"Mr. Yang, please transfer to the position of Minister of the Ministry of War."
Yang Bo thought that he was just returning to his old business, so he came out and said yes.
This man had considerable achievements in the military. He once managed the military affairs of Jizhou and Baoding, and repelled the attacks of the Mongolian leaders Batu'er and Da Laisun twice. He was also responsible for border military affairs for a long time, and was promoted to the Minister of War and the Crown Prince. Save.
Even Jiajing, who regarded all officials as domestic slaves, respected him.
"Next is Tobe."
The Ministry of Revenue is the second most important department and is in charge of national finances.
"Zhang Juzheng, appointed as the Minister of Household Affairs! Also serves as the Left Minister of the Ministry of War!"
"Mr. Xu Ge, do you think it's okay?"
Zhang Juzheng took control of the Ministry of Household Affairs early to pave the way for the future measurement of land across the country.
There must be many people below who want to object to this appointment. After all, Zhang Juzheng's qualifications are somewhat junior, so before they could, Zhu Zaijing asked Xu Jie directly. The latter would of course agree to his student taking on this important responsibility.
The chief minister and assistant ministers of the cabinet all agreed, so what else could others object to? If you dare to object in public, see if Xu Jie can deal with you later.
"I think Taiyue is in charge of this important task." Xu Jie said happily.
"good!"
"The Minister of the Ministry of Industry is... to call Pan Jixun back. The position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry belongs to him!"
At this time, Pan Jixun was in his hometown.
In the 29th year of Jiajing's reign, 29-year-old Pan Jixun took part in the imperial examination and was ranked among the top three Jinshi in the Gengwu Division and became an official.
This man is a great talent in water control! The first person to control floods in the Ming Dynasty!
In history, he was ordered to regulate the Yellow River four times, lasting 27 years. Greatly improved the overflow and flood problems of the Yellow River.
In the early Qing Dynasty, famous river management officials such as Yang Fangxing, Zhu Zhixi, and Jin Fu all inherited Pan Jixun's method of controlling the Yellow River. In the late Qing Dynasty, some German experts made suggestions to the Qing government to adopt a "double embankment system, build slowing embankments along the river embankments, and divert mud from the Yellow River." The Yellow River is treated with the "high embankment and sand siltation" plan.
Later, they discovered that Pan Jixun had already used this method 300 years ago, and they all felt ashamed.
"For the position of Minister of Rites, Mr. Guo, please come!"
Guo Pu was selfless and upright. Over the years, he had brought many young people with him, but he did not engage in any party struggle. Zhu Zaijing believed that if he came to preside over the imperial examination, he would be able to select a few good talents.
Imperial examinations are generally presided over by the Minister of Rites, and students in this subject regard themselves as students of the examiner and their masters.
Zhu Zaijing hopes that the new young people who come up will be as selfless, upright, serious and down-to-earth as Guo Pu.
After all, there are many people fishing in troubled waters in this court who only know how to read and not do anything.
"I accept the decree!"
"Mao Kai is still the Minister of Punishment."
This man was a Jinshi in the 14th year of Jiajing's reign. He was also a person who strictly enforced the law and enforced the law impartially. He had served as an official for decades without any stains.
"After Hai Rui comes out, he will be the right minister of the Ministry of Justice."
Suddenly, Hong Chaoxuan, the left minister of the Ministry of Punishments, stood up and said, "Your Majesty, Hai Rui was previously a sixth-rank head of the Household Department, and he was suddenly promoted to the right minister of the Ministry of Punishments. There may be something wrong!"
Zhu Zaijing took a look and said, Damn, isn't this Xu Jie's bastard?
Like Xu Jie, he was a famous and powerful family in the south of the Yangtze River.
This person is an opportunist.
When Yan Song was here, he knelt down and licked Yan Song, and after he fell, he knelt down and licked Xu Jie.
"What Mr. Hong said makes sense! Then let Hai Rui be the magistrate of a local county like before, let's go to Tong'an County. How about that?"
Hong Chaoxuan heard it and thought, Damn it, Tong'an County is my hometown!
Send Hai Rui there. With his temperament, he must not cause my family to panic. Won't those corruption and perversion of the law also be exposed?
"Your Majesty, Hai Rui is the head of the Household Department after all. If he is devolved like this, I'm afraid..."
“It doesn’t work this way, it doesn’t work that way either, what are you going to do!”
Zhu Zaijing yelled.
"How about I give you the jade seal and you come and write an appointment that satisfies Hai Rui?"
"Your Majesty, calm down!"
"Today is the imperial meeting. Don't waste everyone's time like this. If you have any dissatisfaction, I'll report it to you tomorrow!"
"Yes Yes Yes…"
Hey! The labor and management didn’t even read your opposition memorandum!
If you don't accept it, bite me!
"Mr. Zhao."
Zhao Zhenji came out with a determined look.
"I'm here!"
"Censor Zuodu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, you come to serve!"
"I accept the decree!"
"The Metropolitan Procuratorate is headed by Hai Ruilai, the Imperial Censor."
There were jealous looks on the faces of many people below.
Hai Rui was directly upgraded from the sixth grade to the second grade.
What a favor!
Zhao Zhenji and Hai Rui were appointed as the top leaders of the Metropolitan Procuratorate (the left and right censors were both top leaders of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the left censor was nominally the bigger one), and they were asked to straighten out the atmosphere in the court.
At the same time, let Hai Rui go to the Criminal Department to check whether there are any wrongful, false or unjust cases.
After all, during the Jiajing Dynasty, there were many unjust and wrongful convictions, which deeply hurt the hearts of officials.
