Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 1017 Singing
Zhu Mou's voice was flat, but there was always a faint meaning in it.

At this time, another person arrived.

He has a dignified appearance, dark skin and a square face, and he looks righteous. Although it is just an ordinary cloth robe, he feels righteous when he wears it.

This person is the current Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, Yan Yingyuan.

At the beginning, this person served as the governor of Shuntian Prefecture. Later, the governor of Shuntian Prefecture was promoted from the third rank to the second rank, and he was smoothly promoted to the Minister of the Organization Department.

Later, the emperor carried out reforms and merged the Organization Department into the Ministry of Officials, so that the Ministry of Officials was in charge of the subordinate officials again, and Qicai served as the left servant of the Ministry of Officials.

After a few years, his qualifications are enough. He was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Justice last year, which can be regarded as a prosperous official career, and he will join the cabinet in a few years.

"Yan Butang is here, sit down quickly."

To Yan Yingyuan, Zhu Mou was very polite, and the arrogance on his face subconsciously subsided.

On the side, Zhang Tongchang, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, looked worried, but he didn't explode.

Zhao Langxing, the right servant of the Ministry of Officials, did not change his face.

"Your Majesty, this is a forced party struggle."

Yan Yingyuan has been an official for many years and has always been known for his courage to serve. He was born as a local official and has a deep understanding of the folk situation, so he is deeply trusted by the emperor.

"Partisanship?" Zhu Mou said softly, "There are some things that cannot be disputed. If you don't want to fight, the people behind will push you to fight."

Yan Yingyuan shook his head, quite embarrassed by Zhu Mou's refusal to listen to dissuasion.

He knew that the reason why Zhu Mou was able to compete with the chief assistant in the cabinet as a clan was because of the emperor's grace.

Therefore, among the many cabinet ministers, Zhu Mou has always been aloof. He has never paid much attention to fame, fortune, sex and wealth.

After all, it is enough to have the emperor's favor.

It is precisely because of this that there is an air of arrogance living alone in his heart, which is quite frank.

If you make friends with people, it is definitely a top best friend.

But this is the officialdom, it is normal to try and compromise each other, and it is normal for a lonely person to be kind even if he is outstanding, but it will not last long.

Yan Yingyuan heard that the Chief Assistant Yan Chongxin will retire at the end of the year to take care of his life.

In this way, Zhu Mou, who is the second assistant, will naturally progress to the first assistant, which will further boost his arrogance.

Therefore, among the four members of the cabinet, the first assistant Yan Chongxin was the most polite to Zhu Moufan, and the other group assistants Feng Xianzong and Du Yinzhen were all honest with him.

According to legend, when Yan Chongxin married his daughter, all the members of the cabinet came back in a hurry.

Although the time was short, since we still met and were chatting, suddenly the elder Zhu Ge seemed to meet a good friend, and left without saying hello.

It was embarrassing for the two elders to be placed there.

Since then, the contradictions in the cabinet have suddenly arisen, and there is no harmony in the past.

Moreover, there are still rumors in the official circles that this time the cabinet will be expanded from four to five people. In other words, even if Zhu Mou is the chief assistant, two more people will be added to the cabinet.

If the two people who promoted did not wait to see him, even if Zhu Mou took the position of chief assistant, it would be difficult for him to last.

"Zhongtang, His Majesty now seems to think that the faction is serious and wants to put an end to it. You can't be stubborn at this time."

Yan Yingyuan tried to persuade him.

Zhu Mou said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty will not wait to see Old Man Yan this time."

"Mr. Yan is going to retire, and the cabinet needs to add two people. If we don't fight at this time, can I still be the chief assistant?"

As soon as these words came out, the three of them instantly became happy.

It turned out that he wanted to plan ahead!

From this point of view, the rumors are true, and it is a done deal for Yan Chongxin to become an official.

In this way, a few people are right.

Who doesn't want to sit in the cabinet position?
Although theoretically speaking, the Minister of the Ministry of Officials is the first replacement candidate, but the unspoken rule of whoever makes the imperial power is nothing at all.

Eight ministers, local governors, as long as they are high-ranking officials above the third rank, there is a slight possibility, even if the possibility is not great.

Zhang Tongchang immediately put on a sincere and enthusiastic smile. As the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, he has a great opportunity.

Zhao Langxing on the side was also inexplicably excited.

In this big move in the officialdom, as the right servant of the Ministry of Officials, he has a good chance to move up a step and go to the Eight Departments to serve as the left servant, or become the governor of a province, and become a big official in the frontier.

Only Yan Yingyuan remained silent in thought.

He has a holy family and has a good relationship with Zhu Mou, so he has a great chance of entering the cabinet.

Besides, he thinks that after he joins the cabinet, he can do no more than the current Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment.

He understood that at this time Zhu Mou was in a situation of no solution.

The emperor has always been suspicious, even Zhu Mou is no exception.

Therefore, the chief minister of the cabinet does not have an absolute say in the candidates for the cabinet, and there can only be one of the two candidates.

But how qualified is the new Qunfu who joined the cabinet?

Feng Xianzong followed the emperor from Luoyang, Henan, and Du Yinzhen was a civil servant who surrendered during the Huguang shogunate. In addition, he has been in the cabinet for many years, not only has senior qualifications, but also has a wide network of contacts.

The ministers who join the cabinet can only be used as decorations for a short time.

This also means that Zhu Mou will fall into restraint for quite a long time.

This is absolutely unacceptable to him who is full of arrogance.

So he wanted to control the cabinet from the very beginning, not just by saying what he said, but also by being stronger than Yan Chongxin.

And once planning candidates for the cabinet, it will inevitably fall into party struggle.

The position in the officialdom is a radish and a pit.

Becoming the first assistant does not mean that there is no need to arrange manpower in the eight departments and localities.

"The holy family in the middle hall is very prosperous, and now it is better to be still than to move."

Yan Chongyuan persuaded again: "The emperor has always known about the cabinet, and there must be proper arrangements..."

Zhu Mou blushed with anger, but he quickly covered it up, and said in a deep voice: "The situation is pressing, we have to do something."

Zhang Tongchang said: "That's right, this matter must be contested. If we take one step back, others will take two or three steps forward."

"Feng Zhongtang and Du Zhongtang will not sit idly by."

As a servant, Zhao Langxing wanted to say a few words, but when he saw Yan Yingyuan frowned and remained silent, he immediately shut up.

When Zhu Mou heard the words, he praised: "As expected of Zhang Taishi, he really knows the way of power."

Zhang Tongchang smiled, feeling very annoyed.

Although his grandfather Zhang Juzheng was rehabilitated in the Shaowu Dynasty, his reputation in the court and the opposition was not good.

It is undeniable that everyone agrees that a whip is powerful, but Zhang Juzheng is deeply criticized for monopolizing power and becoming the only powerful minister in Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, when he praises Zhang Juzheng's reforms, the New Deal, etc., he will look happy, but once he speaks about power, it is tantamount to scratching his sore spot.

Yan Yingyuan shook his head.

It would be fine if he was an ordinary person, but Zhu Mou has recruited Zhang Tongchang for many years and has known him for many years, so how could he make such a small mistake?
Although Zhu Mou was a little arrogant before, he was straightforward, informal and generous, and won a lot of good reputations, but he has changed a lot in the past two years.

Zhao Langxing also sighed in his heart, how did this Zhu Zhongtang become so fast?
Afterwards, Zhu Mou didn't say much, he just said that the fight is not broken, and the secret fight is the main one, and it's gone.

No specific measures were mentioned.

This made several people sigh secretly.

"Among the three of us, Yan Yingyuan is probably the one Zhu Mou can push to the top."

Sitting in the carriage, Zhang Tongchang frowned tightly: "I'm afraid that I, a Shangshu family, don't pay attention to it, and it's impossible for him to occupy both places."

"So, if you can't get into the cabinet, then go to a good place."

In the imperial court, the cabinet commanded the eight ministries high above.

But the eight parts are not equal in name.Each has its own order.

Among them, the Ministry of Officials is the number one, and is honored as a heavenly official. Even ordinary cabinet ministers have to treat him well, and dare not have the slightest false words.

Therefore, starting from the Song Dynasty, the Minister of the Ministry of Officials has always been the first candidate for the prime minister.

Even Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Officials is the first replacement candidate for ministers of all ministries.

The Zuo Shilang of the headquarters is less likely to advance than the Zuo Shilang of the official department.

The second place is naturally the Ministry of Households.

Now the Ministry of Households has changed from one to three, the Ministry of Finance collects taxes, the Ministry of Civil Affairs is in charge of household registration and land, and the Ministry of Households can only be reduced to storage.

But the household department still jumped to the second place, just because it has money bags in its hands, and the budget power is in its hands.

The top priority of the ministers every year is to compete for the budget, otherwise, the next whole year will be difficult.

The Ministry of Rites is the imperial examination and culture and education, ranking third.

Then there are the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Punishment, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Naturally, what determines their status is the size of the power in their hands.

As the sixth-ranked minister, once he climbed to the rank of official minister, it would be no less than joining the cabinet.

The Minister of Rites is the second choice.

Finally, there is the household department.

"Zhu Mou is unreliable, His Majesty has knocked the mountains and shook the tiger, and he is still obsessed. Even if he becomes the chief assistant, life will be difficult after that..."

Zhang Tongchang thought carefully.

In the end, he still did not decide to leave the team.

After all, with the support of the first assistant, it will be of great help whether it is fighting for the budget or the executive department.

A few days later, the grandson was full moon, and Yuquan Villa began to sing a big show.

"Visiting Relatives and Scolding", "Empty City Plan", the emperor rewarded them all.

As for Water Margin's "The Robber of Time", the actors tossed and fell, and the silent martial arts made the queen who didn't like drama very much, but knew it very well, almost couldn't sit still on the throne. .

When the big axis entered the stage, it was getting dark, and countless red candles as thick as a child's arm and palace lanterns with bright corners were lit brightly.

Although Lu Su and Kong Ming were good at each game, it was Zhou Yu who was rewarded by the emperor.

Looking at him in disguise, not only is he handsome and handsome, but he can see that he is very romantic when he raises his hand and throws his feet. .

"What is a Confucian general? This is it!"

Zhu Yixi sighed deeply.

At this time, the moon and stars were scarce, and the grandson couldn't hold on anymore, and went back to nurse and sleep, leaving only the emperor and a group of concubines.

Of course, the princes are no exception, enjoying the drama one by one.

The younger princes and princesses watched puppet shows and shadow puppet shows, which performed fairy tales such as Journey to the West.

Especially seeing the shadow puppet of Monkey King coming out, it was cut in a heroic and majestic manner, which made the children shout non-stop.

The emperor moved his ears, turned his head to look, and smiled unconsciously.

This Monkey King was dictated by him himself, without the ugliness of the old version, and has a bit more the spirit of the Monkey King.

"Fourth."

"My son is here."

King Liao was taken aback, patted his buttocks and trotted over.

"This Journey to the West may be staged in your theater?"

"Father, although some props are needed, drama has been around for hundreds of years, and ghosts and gods can perform it, but isn't this a forbidden book?"

King Liao said cautiously.

"Are you still afraid of these?" Zhu Yixi squinted at him: "What's the use of banning these? The more banned, the more popular."

"Just start and put this Journey to the West on stage."

"Didn't you see the Outlaws of the Marsh before my eyes?"

"Yes, father is wise."

"For Journey to the West, you can't copy it mechanically. It's too dark. You need to change it so that the common people love it."

Zhu Yixi said casually, and suddenly laughed again: "You are an expert, and I have become a master!"

"What kind of expert is my son, it's just because of interest, not as good as my father."

"Okay, let's do it!"

After talking about this, seeing that the emperor was in a good mood, the atmosphere in the palace became more and more harmonious.

The next day, the emperor was reading the memorials and bills submitted by the cabinet, ten lines at a glance.

As long as there is something in his mind, he will draw a circle to approve it, and if it doesn't, he will send it back and re-draft.

Tian Ren on the side only felt that his palm print eunuch was like a fake.

But there is no way, when encountering a strong emperor, the inner court can only fight.

Of course, when encountering some things that the emperor didn't understand, he could still explain one or two things, and instead became a real secretary.

He rubbed his temples and stood up.

"What did the elders do last night?"

"If you come back to the master, the first assistant will thank the guests behind closed doors when he returns home. It seems that he is practicing calligraphy. Zhu Cifu will have a banquet when he returns home. Yan Yingyuan, Minister of the Ministry of punishment, Zhang Tongchang, minister of the Ministry of Industry, and Zhao Langxing, the right servant of the Ministry of officials, are here..."

Wei Cheng, the admiral of the East Factory, said softly.

"Old Duge met a few outsiders, so he rested early."

"The same is true of Feng Ge, who fell asleep after seeing a few relatives and friends..."

"Sesuke is quite interested."

He didn't take it seriously when he heard the names and official positions of several people.

Partisanship is the norm, an extension of empowerment.

After the end of the aristocratic family, the blood can't work in the officialdom, so they can only seek progress by forming cliques.

But the key to it all is power.

Once power is lost, so-called parties cease to exist.

And the emperor is precisely the one who wields power.

"kindness!"

"Go on, continue to inquire, don't disturb them."

Zhu Yixi got up, thinking about the court in his heart.

The cabinet is the brain, and trust is important, but competence and fit are also important.

In his mind, Zhu Mou was 53 years old, and he happened to be the first assistant in order, and Feng Xianzong served as the second assistant.

Due to changes in the position of power, the cabinet management will naturally change, resulting in minor turmoil in the central government.

Someone goes up and someone goes down.

In a center that has been stable for six or seven years, many newcomers will inevitably emerge.

However, the candidate to fill the cabinet is a headache.

Yan Yingyuan must join the cabinet, whether it is ability or loyalty, he is the best choice.

And he still follows Zhu Mou, which is conducive to taking charge of the cabinet.

But the other person thought about it carefully.

(End of this chapter)