prosperous age

Chapter 429 Chapter 428
The news brought by Chen Ju is naturally very bad for Wei Guangde.

The Heavenly Official of the Ministry of Officials has been taken by Yan Song first, and Ouyang must enter. With his relative relationship with Yan Song, although sometimes it seems that he and Yan Song are not in harmony, but they are relatives after all, and they will definitely face their own family at critical moments .

As for the other vacant post of Minister of Rites and the opportunity for the cabinet to replace him, Wei Guangde was still very curious if he, Brother Chen, had any definite news.

Although Yuan Wei's recent promotion had almost assigned him the position of Minister of Rites, Wei Guangde still wanted to ask.

"Brother Chen, I still want to ask a question, that is, the position of Minister of Rites, has Your Majesty already favored Yuan Wei?"

Chen Ju blinked, thought for a while and said, "It's hard to say, His Majesty will only keep this kind of thing in his heart." '

But looking at Wei Guangde's slightly disappointed expression, he smiled and said, "Actually, according to my observation, Yuan Wei may not be the Minister of Rites."

"How to say?"

Wei Guangde asked in surprise.

"Yuan Wei's promotion path is not so much about preparing to be promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Rites, but rather about rushing to enter the cabinet."

Chen Ju talked eloquently: "If Yuan Wei is really put into the cabinet by the emperor, the position of minister of the Ministry of Rites will not be vacant. You must know that although the ministers of the cabinet are all holding the title of minister, they don't hold the ministry."

"Brother, what do you mean, Yuan Wei may join the cabinet this year?"

Wei Guangde grasped the meaning in Chen Ju's words sensitively, and asked.

"Lv Ge is an old official, and now Yan and Xu are the two in the cabinet. It must not work."

Chen Ju said with a smile: "Yuan Wei is very loyal to the emperor, and the emperor is relieved to put him in the cabinet."

The meaning in Chen Ju's words was a bit deep, and Wei Guangde was silent for a moment before he slowly figured out a little flavor.

Now the two ministers in the cabinet have their own strengths in the court. Although they are still attached to the emperor, there are still small groups of interests after all. It is hard to say whether they will have disputes with the imperial power.

At that time, even if Emperor Jiajing could forcibly advance his will, the situation would definitely be very bad.

If an obedient person is put in the cabinet and mixed with sand, the situation may be better.

As for the obedient people, the officials and ministers who actually made contributions to Qing Ci should be the ones that Emperor Jiajing can rest assured that they can make great use of them.

Because these people are considered by the outside world to flatter the emperor with green words, they have a bad reputation in the officialdom and scholars, so they can only attach themselves to the emperor with all their strength.

They have only been out of the Qingshui yamen like the Imperial Academy for a short time, and they have little connection with the court. They have not yet formed their own interest groups, so they can naturally use them with confidence.

"If Yuan Wei enters the cabinet, who will the Minister of Rites be? Yan Na?"

Now Yan Na is the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Officials, the person closest to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

"Yan Na, Guo Pu, Li Chunfang, Gao Gong are all possible, but Gao Gong is most likely to be the left servant of a certain department."

Chen Ju said calmly, "I heard from my godfather that the emperor seems to have a bad impression of him recently, and I don't know if the factory guard has reported anything recently.

By the way, Li Chunfang's situation is similar to Gao Gong's, and he may also hold the position of Zuo Shilang. It's hard to say which one, but his situation is different from Gao Gong's. He has a slightly lower starting point now. The Ministry is in charge of the Hanlin Academy. "

Hearing this, Wei Guangde was terrified.

Of course, what surprised him wasn't that Gao Gong and Li Chunfang might stay in the department to serve as the left servants, but what Chen Ju said earlier about the factory guard's surveillance.

I've heard before that the emperor will definitely not decide to use someone with a slap on the head, but will send factory guards to monitor and observe for a period of time before considering whether to use it.

"Brother Chen, you have a lot of contacts in the palace, I don't know if my younger brother has been secretly tricked."

Wei Guangde didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning and self-feeling were still expressed.

"The capital officials are all under the supervision of the factory guards, but there are priorities."

Chen Ju just answered ambiguously.

Saying it means not saying it.

Wei Guangde thought about it in his heart, but it was not good to continue to ask.

"Yan Na is the left servant of the Ministry of Rites, and Guo Pu is the right servant of the Ministry of Officials. They can't be the candidates for Shangshu in His Majesty's heart."

Wei Guangde's heart suddenly moved, and he said in a low voice.

"Maybe, I remember last year, my godfather told me that the Ministry of Rites might have to change people. At that time, Wu Shan was still busy with King Jing's resignation. I didn't know until later."

Speaking of this, Chen Ju suddenly stopped, as if he realized that he had slipped his words, looked at Wei Guangde who was opposite, and said with a smile: "Is there anything else you want to know? For you, brother, I am still at ease, just ask me if you have anything Well, I'm sure I know everything."

In the past, in front of Wei Guangde, Chen Ju would not be so sweeping and say what he knew.

After all, this time is now and then, and now that King Yu's status has been stabilized, Chen Ju, as a servant, will have to consider the issue of the new emperor sooner or later.

Try to befriend King Yu as much as possible now, and King Yu will naturally feel at ease when he ascends the throne in the future.

For the people in the inner court, the emperor's trust is the most important thing.

After separating from Chen Ju, Wei Guangde directly asked Zhang San to drive the carriage back to Prince Yu's Mansion.

It was already four or five o'clock in the afternoon in the later generations, and the major yamen of the imperial court had already dispersed. In the past, the subordinate officials in Prince Yu's mansion, except Yin Shizhen, Wei Guangde and Zhang Juzheng usually left without incident.

But today when Wei Guangde returned to the palace, not only Yin Shizhen and Zhang Juzheng were still at the academy, but even Gao Gong was here.

Thinking about it, when Wei Guangde left the palace to meet Chen Ju, King Yu sent someone to call Gao Gong.

When Wei Guangde went outside, he heard people talking and laughing in the house, he thought he was invited to the palace for a banquet as usual.

Now King Yu is in a really happy and relaxed mood, and more and more frequent banquets are held.

After all, not only Wei Guangde, but also the people in the palace did not expect to get any useful news from Chen Ju today.

From King Yu's point of view, only old eunuchs like Huang Jin and Gao Zhong might be able to guess something.

After Wei Guangde entered the house to meet King Yu and the others, he didn't hold back, and directly told everyone what he had heard from Chen Ju.

Hearing that at noon today, Yan Song had taken down the position of Minister of the Ministry of Officials, the expression on Gao Gong's face changed from nervous, angry to finally lost.

Although Gao Gong had already realized that something was wrong from the matter of Yuan Wei's relocation to the Ministry of Officials, and his status in the eyes of Emperor Jiajing was not that high, but he couldn't hide his disappointment after all.

"Su Qing, even though there is no chance this time, it is not possible to win the official position of the left servant, it is just waiting for the next opportunity."

Of course Yin Shizhen noticed Gao Gong's expression and hurriedly tried to persuade him.

Gao Gong showed a wry smile, but didn't say anything.

What Wei Guangde said before was naturally only related to the possible arrangements for official positions in the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Officials. After all, the emperor had not consulted anyone, and Chen Ju only told Wei Guangde what he heard from Gao Zhong and what he guessed.

In addition, Wei Guangde brought up the matter of the Metropolitan Procuratorate again, which was what Xu Jie said at the beginning, but it is not known whether Gao Gong knew about it.

At this time, Yin Shixuan continued to speak: "We still have to learn from Mr. Xu Ge. We have already set our sights on the seat of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, but we have never shown ourselves."

Hearing what Yin Shizhen said, Wei Guangde rolled his eyes at Zhang Juzheng.

To say that Xu Jie is really old-fashioned, he has been eyeing the Metropolitan Procuratorate for a long time, and even arranged people, but he didn't let the outside world find out.

"No wonder."

At this time, King Yu suddenly smiled and said: "At the beginning, Pan Shilang succeeded Zheng Shangshu as the left servant of the Ministry of Punishments, and asked for leave to recuperate after only a few months of work. , it turned out to be waiting here."

At that time, there should not be many people who knew about Pan En. Wei Guangde noticed that except for Gao Gong, everyone else in the room seemed to be surprised, including Zhang Juzheng.

Now Pan En has already recovered from his illness and returned to the court, but the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment has been appointed, and when he returned from his illness, it happened that the right capital censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate was vacant, so he entered the Metropolitan Procuratorate directly.

Thinking about it now, Xu Ge's method of finding a job is considered clever.

However, these are not comparable to those in Prince Yu's mansion. With an old man in charge, he can naturally accomplish many things that others cannot.

"Yes, Mr. Xu Ge's reputation with His Majesty is still not as good as that of Yan Shoufu. He can't directly ask Mr. Pan for an official like Mr. Shoufu, so he can only find a way to wait for the vacancy of the official position and wait for his qualifications."

Yin Shizhen said.

By saying this, I was actually expressing a meaning to Gao Gong. You have only been in the Ministry of Rites for a short time, so don’t try to make it to the top when you don’t have a holy family. You are incomparable to Yuan Wei and the others. as well.

Wei Guangde pondered, if he has time these few days to study Xu Jie's way of employing people, and learn some experience from him, he will be able to promote and appoint his own people in the future, such as Lao Kan.

Wei Guangde also realized the importance of the Metropolitan Procuratorate because of the impeachment memorial, so he had the idea of ​​pushing Lao Kan to take charge of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Looking at Pan En's promotion, as well as the careers of those Zuodu censors in the past, it's time to start working properly and prepare a team for yourself.

Everyone in the room had their own thoughts, and soon dispersed.

Today, King Yu saw that Gao Gong was in a bad mood, so naturally he didn't arrange a banquet, probably no one would like to drink this cup.

The next day, sure enough, the cabinet received Xiyuan's order.

two.

People in Prince Yu's Mansion had already heard the news yesterday, so they were not surprised, but the news made the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty very surprised.

When Wu Peng became an official and Wu Shan stayed idle, two ministers were vacated at once. Many people thought it would be a fight between dragons and tigers. When it was pushed, the competition would be very fierce. But they didn't expect Emperor Jiajing to directly appoint him. .

"Promoted Yuan Wei, the left servant of the Ministry of Officials, to be the Minister of the Ministry of Rites and the Prince Shaobao."

"Changed Ouyang Bijin, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, the Shaobao and Prince Taibao, to Minister of the Ministry of Officials."

After all, Wei Guangde got the news first, and Wei Guangde was still very calm when confirming the news. He had no chance in the first place, and it was thousands of miles away.

Only a few days later, Prince Yu's Mansion did not wait for the good news that Gao Gong moved to the Ministry of Officials Zuo Shilang, but got another news from Xiyuan.

On the fifth day after Yuan Wei was promoted from the position of Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Officials to Minister of the Ministry of Rites, a decree came out from Yongshou Palace in Xiyuan: "Design Yuan Wei, Minister of the Ministry of Rites and a scholar of the Imperial Academy, to enter Zhixiyuan for writing Xuanxiu."

Seeing his immediate boss Yuan Wei receive the order, with this order, Yuan Wei officially entered Zhixiyuan with a justifiable name, Gao Gong couldn't hide his envy in his heart.

At the beginning, like Yuan Wei, whether he would be called to Zhilu by the servants sent by Xiyuan, but not to consult government affairs, but to help Emperor Jiajing choose Qingci, that would be enviable.

After all, after choosing Qingci, there is a chance to meet the emperor and say a few words.

If I didn't see those ministers, I might not be able to get the emperor's summons in one or two months.

Now the decree received by Yuan Wei can be regarded as the basis for him to enter Zhixiyuan justifiably, and he has truly become a close minister of the emperor.

Having a position in Zhixiyuan is even better than getting an official position as a minister, it represents the emperor's favor for you.

For a while, more officials came to visit the already lively Yuan Mansion, and even Yan Shifan went to Yuan Wei's house to sit.

The Yan family is an old minister of the current emperor, while Yuan Wei is a rising star.

Yan Shifan's actions caused quite a stir in the circle of Beijing officials. At several banquets attended by Wei Guangde, everyone was full of envy, while disdainfully reprimanding Yuan Wei for being lucky enough to rely on his youthful words. villain.

Of course, this is what Yuan Wei said when he was not present. If Yuan Wei was in person, everyone would have another story.

Since that day when it was determined that Ouyang must enter the Ministry of Officials, and that the Minister of Rites would most likely give it to Yuan Wei, Gao Gong's goal has shifted to Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Officials.

Yuan Wei was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and the newly promoted position of Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Officials was naturally vacant, so Gao Gong naturally wanted to fight for it.

When Wei Guangde brought the words back, he didn't include the second half of what Chen Ju said.

Emperor Jiajing was slightly dissatisfied with Gao Gong. Although he didn't know the reason, Wei Guangde could probably guess some of it.

Gao Gong didn't know that this promotion had nothing to do with him at all.

But no matter what, for him, he should first be promoted from the right servant to the left servant, so as to gain some qualifications, so that next time there is a vacancy for the position of minister, he will be more competitive.

For this purpose, Gao Gong is busy enough these days. He not only meets Xu Jie secretly, but also visits Yan Shoufu at Yan's house. As for the newly appointed Minister of Rites and Minister of Officials, there will be no shortage of them.

In the past, Gao Gong and Yuan Wei had more contacts not in the Imperial Academy, but in the Wuyi Hall of Xiyuan. Everyone discussed and selected Qing Ci together. Now it is different. They meet every day in the Ministry of Rites, but Gao Gong still chooses to visit Yuan Wei.

The purpose is naturally very clear, as long as he is able to speak to the emperor, Gao Gong doesn't care about other people, and must maintain a good relationship.

But when it came to Ouyang Bijin, in the eyes of Gao Gong and other people in the court, Ouyang Bijin could go from the place to the center, all thanks to Yan Song behind the push.

Since he is a member of the Yan Party and a relative of Yan Song, he will naturally stand on the side of the Yan Party. What's more, Mr. Xiao Ge has been selling officials and nobles in the capital these years, not only because of his control over the officials.

When Wu Peng became an official, he sent Ouyang Bijin to the Ministry of Officials in a hurry, and his heart was clearly revealed.

To be honest, getting in touch with Ouyang Bijin is far less enjoyable than dealing with Wu Peng. Gao Gong and Wu Peng have always had a good relationship, but he never expected him to be dismissed at a critical moment.

It's just that Gao Gong's deeds have nothing to do with Wei Guangde, and his lectures in Prince Yu's Mansion have already talked about the Zhengde Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)