prosperous age

Chapter 584 Chapter 583 First assistant?richest man?
After the short-term shock caused by the impact of the huge family property of the Yan family, the Ming court regained its calm.

At this time, the cabinet had Xu Jie as the head and assistant, and with the assistance of Yan Na and Li Chunfang, the government affairs were also managed in an orderly manner, and all the officials were convinced. It seemed that the Ming court suddenly became calm.

A few days after Wei Guangde sent someone to deliver the letter to Nanjing, Duan Mengxian came to the door again and told him that he had found a few people who had a good relationship with Cen Yongbin in the same year to write a letter for Zhang Keguan.

"When Jinqing returns to the capital, ask him to treat you to thank you, and I won't overwhelm the guests and thank you for him."

Wei Guangde joked with a smile.

Now that I have done everything I can, I just hope that this Cen Yongbin will not be the kind of unkind person Duan Mengxian said, so that after the Ming Dynasty has a Hai Qingtian, there will be a Cen Qingtian, which is very important to the officials of the Ming Dynasty For us, I'm afraid it will cause a headache, maybe it's just a storm.

In the following time, Wei Guangde devoted himself to the school record ceremony.

Although it is impossible for Emperor Jiajing to be promoted in the short term because of his dedication to school records, it is still very important to leave a good impression on the emperor.

However, less than a month has passed since such an imperial court, and it seemed to be a brief calm before the storm, but it suddenly became different.

First, a decree was issued by the palace to change Zhu Heng, Shangshu of the Ministry of Criminal Justice of Nanjing, to Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry and the right deputy capital censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the prime minister for river channels and water transport affairs.

Two days later, several decrees were issued, and Qian Bang, Minister of the Ministry of Punishments, was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, Pan Sheng, the right servant of the Nanjing Ministry of Officials, was appointed the right servant of the Ministry of Rites, and Xu Weizheng, Minister of Nanjing Guanglu Temple, was appointed the right servant of the Nanjing Ministry of Household Affairs.

The Nanjing officialdom suddenly began to undergo a major shake-up. Sensitive Beijing officials have already sensed that behind the turmoil in the Nanjing officialdom, there seems to be another big boss starting to wrestle.

It's just that so far, everyone still doesn't know who ended up and why.

However, after two days of astonishment, all the officials impeached Huang Tingpin, the censor of Zhejiang Province, in Zuodu Censor Zhang Yongming. He returned from Zhejiang Censor and passed by Hengshan to insult Chen An, the magistrate of Hengshan. , The gold and silver goods brought by the court will be returned to the emperor for fear of inferiority and thanks.

As the head of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Zhang Yongming impeached Huang Ting to hire a lawful and arrogant person, which greatly damaged the constitution.

Who was Zhang Yongming? He was the successor to Pan En. As for who he was, the Beijing officials still knew more or less.

Zhang Yongming suddenly killed his relatives righteously, and publicly impeached the patrol history outside the court, which in itself reveals a very unusual taste.

However, some people have already seen that the one party in this battle surrounding Nanjing's officialdom should be Xu Ge, the chief assistant of the dynasty, who is old, and who is the other party?
How many people are qualified to be Xu Ge's old opponent?
Bearing the brunt, the targets of suspicion by the officials were naturally the other two cabinet ministers, Yan Na and Li Chunfang.

Li Chunfang has a kind personality, and has no ambition or ability to fight for power and profit at all. As the number one scholar handpicked by Emperor Jiajing back then, he doesn't need to fight for the emperor's favor.

In addition to the rumors circulating in the cabinet earlier that Yan Na had a disagreement with the chief assistant Xu Jie, and the two sides had a very unpleasant dispute, the officials quickly confirmed who the big boss of this DPRK-China struggle was.

Due to Li Chunfang's personality, he has almost always been a small and transparent existence among the three members of the cabinet.

However, Yan Na had previously served as the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, and he involuntarily developed the habit of bossing around all the officials. After entering the cabinet, he naturally couldn't adapt to being humble everywhere.

It is understandable that the two of them were unhappy because of this.

The news spread in the official circles of the capital at an extremely fast speed, and even Wei Guangde, who was too busy to care about the affairs of the court, heard about it.

"I've found out, the previous transfer of officials in Nanjing was the result of Xu Ge and Yan Ge's mutual impeachment?"

Sitting in the study at this time, Wei Guangde asked after listening to Zhang Ji's inquiries.

"Yes, it is said that Zhu Heng, the former Minister of Criminal Affairs in Nanjing, caught Mr. Xu Ge for some reason, and Mr. Xu Ge transferred him away from Nanjing to build the canal.

Master, you also know that although building the canal is a bit tiring, there is plenty of oil and water, but Zhu Heng seems to be from Yan Na's side, so he confronted Yan Ge's side. "

"Huang Tingpin is also an old man of Yan Ge?"

Wei Guangde asked again.

"should be."

Zhang Ji replied, "Otherwise, Master Zhang would impeach him and want to put him in jail."

"The ones who moved seem to be people from Yan Na's side."

Wei Guangde felt wrong after thinking about it. It seemed that Xu Jie was taking the initiative this time, as if he was demonstrating to Yan Na and showing his strength in the court.

On Yan Na's side, his subordinates were replaced one after another, but they didn't fight back at all.

Could it be that you are holding back your big move?

Wei Guangde was suspicious, "Is there any other news?"

"No, sir."

Zhang Ji replied.

"In the past few days, you pay attention to this matter, keep an eye on the movements of Xu Ge and Yan Ge's residence, and report to me immediately."

Wei Guangde ordered.

The next day, Wei Guangde didn't go directly to the Imperial Academy's recording office early in the morning, but went to Prince Yu's mansion to find Li Fang.

Li Fang is in charge of the information collection of the palace. If you have any doubts, you can go to Li Fang. If you can't get the information from him, it means that the matter is very hidden and it is not easy to find out.

"Master Wei, why are you free to come to the palace today? The prince hasn't woken up yet."

Li Fang was very happy to see Wei Guangde coming, and made a little joke.

"I'm not here today as a prince, I'm here to find you."

Wei Guangde laughed.

"Look for me, let me copy the books for you? Not to mention, there are a few servants in my palace. They were also first-class scholars in the inner study back then, and their handwriting is also good."

Li Fang said cheerfully.

"Can we not talk about the school record ceremony? These days, I read books every day, and my head is getting bigger."

Wei Guangde smiled wryly.

In the past two months, the number of Wei Guangde's visits to Prince Yu's Mansion has indeed decreased greatly, because Emperor Jiajing urged him to record books.

"I'm here to ask about Elder Xu Ge."

Wei Guangde put away his wry smile and said to Li Fang seriously.

"Old Xu Ge?"

Li Fang was taken aback when he heard the words, and then asked differently: "Did Yan Na ask you to come?"

"What's the relationship between me and Yan Na? I'm just curious. What kind of handle does he hold on Mr. Xu Ge to scare Mr. Xu Ge like that?"

Wei Guangde replied angrily.

"How do you know that Mr. Yan Ge has something to do with Mr. Xu Ge?"

Li Fang was very cautious, did not answer Wei Guangde's words, but asked Wei Guangde back and forth.

"Elder Yan Ge is planning to deploy in Nanjing, and he still needs to get the censor Huang Tingpin from Zhejiang. If I still can't guess where the problem is, this official is not suitable."

Wei Guangde replied, "Before I asked you to keep an eye on the Xu family, I think you must have the answer I want to know."

"Why do you ask this?"

Li Fang frowned at this time and said.

"Curiosity, but it's also for the consideration of the court situation. What is needed now is a relatively stable court, and we will wait until that day."

Wei Guangde replied, "If the two cabinet ministers attack each other, it will inevitably cause turmoil in the government and the opposition, which is not good for King Yu."

Hearing this, Li Fang nodded silently, then waved to Wei Guangde first, signaling him not to speak, walked to the door by herself, drove the little eunuchs and servants around the room away, and then went back to the room.

"Shan Loan, I only told His Highness about this before, and His Highness means that we should not interfere."

Li Fang first reminded Wei Guangde that it was inconvenient for Prince Yu's House to intervene in the struggle between the two elders.

Of course Wei Guangde understood this truth, so he nodded naturally.

"The cause of the incident is this. Huang Tingpin, the censor of Zhejiang Province, collected evidence that Xu Yao, a son of the Xu family, took advantage of the power of the shadow officials to run amok in the countryside and seized more than 20 mu of land in Susong.

Xu Ge was worried, so he hurriedly changed people inside and outside Nanjing, trying to suppress the matter before it happened.

As for who Huang Tingpin belongs to, I don't need to introduce it. "

Li Fang said in a low voice.

"The Xu family has more than 20 mu of land?"

Wei Guangde asked a little dumbfounded.

Li Fang nodded, "If I hadn't followed Shandai's words and arranged eyeliner over there, I would never have thought that Xu Ge's hometown is so rich."

Wei Guangde thought for a while, then shook his head and said: "If so, Elder Xu Ge should also talk to Elder Yan Ge about how to suppress this matter.

And if this matter hadn't come from you, I would have no way of knowing it, so the news is still very secret. "

"Who said it wasn't? Back then Yan Na was recommended by Mr. Xu Ge, so he had the opportunity to stand out from the Imperial Academy, and was called by the emperor to write Qing Ci in Xiyuan. Why can't he sit down and talk about it."

Li Fang also said, "Maybe last time, there was a rift between Mr. Xu Ge and Mr. Yan Ge. Mr. Yan Ge coveted the position of chief assistant, and Mr. Xu Ge naturally wanted to guard against it."

"Holding the handle in the old hands of Yan Ge, I am afraid that he is also waiting for an opportunity to impeach this matter in front of His Majesty."

After thinking about it, Wei Guangde understood why he didn't attack with such a sharp weapon in his hand.

Speaking of the Xu family's land, it is really scary, but if it is a normal business, even the emperor has nothing to say, is it just possible?
No matter how rich Xu Jie is, tens of thousands of mu is as low as the sky, and 10,000+ mu, at Su Song's land price, it will cost millions of taels of silver.

Wei Guangde didn't even need to ask, he knew that a considerable part of it was donated, and the other fields might not be very glorious, otherwise there would be no reason to be caught by Huang Tingpin.

Wei Guangde even doubted whether there was Yan's land in these fields.

However, if it was just a perfunctory inspection, it would have no effect on the Xu family at all.

If the Xu family dared to accept these fields, they must have done all the covering up, even if they knew it, it would not be so easy to check.

Yan Na should have waited for a Jiajing emperor to play this matter when he was in a bad mood, so as to amplify the impact of this matter.

It is conceivable that the news that the Xu family has more than [-] mu of land will definitely blow up the entire government and the opposition.

If this number came out from a certain prince's mansion or county prince's mansion in the Ming Dynasty, the courtiers might be able to accept it calmly, but it can be the place of the chief assistant's family.

Don't worry about scarcity but inequality, everyone has thousands of acres of land, and suddenly realize that you, as the chief assistant, have so much land.

"Your Highness is right, it's really not easy to get involved in this matter."

After a long time, Wei Guangde nodded and said.

"At that time, when I told His Highness the news, His Highness was so surprised that he couldn't sit still for a long time, and asked me to send someone to investigate the matter in detail. Tsk tsk, in the Ming Dynasty, only the Prince's Mansion may have so many fields."

Wei Guangde knew what Li Fang meant. Many Prince's Mansions own more land, but the fertile land in Susong Mansion is not comparable to those hills and ponds bestowed by the Prince's Mansion.

But in terms of the quality and quantity of the Xu family's fields, ordinary palaces may not be able to compare.

"Yesterday, Mr. Xu Ge published a copy, please change the admiral Cao Jiang to Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate Youqian Capital Censor Wang Bengu is Zuoqian Capital Censor, in charge of Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate affairs.

He was also promoted to be the censor of Youqian capital in Nanzhili, Fuzhi, as the censor of the right deputy capital, and governor of Guizhou. "

Li Fang whispered to Wei Guangde again.

"Is Kang Lang an old man from Yan Ge?"

Wei Guangde asked in a low voice.

Li Fang nodded, "He meant to control all the officials in Nanjing, but they are all promoted locally, and most of these officials have reached the time to move. When you ask the official department, they don't know what to do." How do you refute Elder Xu Ge's proposal?"

"Xu Ge has been in the cabinet for more than ten years, and his roots are deep."

Wei Guangde sighed, and glanced at Li Fang at this point.

Li Fang just nodded slightly, but said nothing.

In fact, just from Li Fang's look, Wei Guangde knew that regardless of how Xu Jie treated Yu Wang's mansion before, after Yu Wang ascended the throne, once the throne was stabilized, Xu Jie's appointment as an official would be put on the agenda immediately.

King Yu would not tolerate Xu Jie continuing to stay in the position of chief assistant, because his influence was too great.

"It's getting late, and I'm going to the school record hall too."

Knowing the answer, Wei Guangde didn't intend to stay in Prince Yu's Mansion any longer, but he quickly turned back and said to Li Fang, "It's not appropriate for the Palace to intervene in this matter, but it seems that some benefits can be gained by deploying officials."

"How to layout?"

Li Fang asked after hearing the words.

"Yifu is the right servant of the Ministry of Rites, so we can consider letting him join the Ministry of Officials for training.

Look at how many people Xu Ge has in his old pocket. After a few adjustments, the Nanjing Criminal Department and the Household Department are in his hands. These are all rushing to check the land.

If His Majesty approves Wang Bengu's promotion and wins the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, even if Yan Na presents the matter, all the imperial envoys sent by the imperial court should be arranged by Elder Xu Ge. "

Wei Guangde said with a sigh.

"Let Chen Yiqin go to the Ministry of Officials, and I will talk to him about this matter when His Highness gets up, but if this is the case, everything will be settled by Gao Shangshu."

Li Fang said in a low voice.

Gao Gong probably never dreamed that the people in Prince Yu's Mansion, except Chen Yiqin whose attitude was not clear, others such as Wei Guangde, Zhang Juzheng, Li Fang, and Yin Shizhen, all had complaints against him.

But Gao Gong is just conceited, he thinks he has everything under control, and he doesn't take other people seriously.

After Wei Guangde returned to the school record hall, Zhang Ji stopped his carriage outside the school record hall before the news about Xu Jie's memorabilia came from the palace.

"My lord, I just got the news that Liu Ji, the governor of Zhejiang, said that in 39, after Tang Shunzuo, the governor of Fengyang, asked to restore the three city ships, the tax on the ships was low, and there were treacherous people in the coastal waters who invaded and started troubles, so please discuss the decision." revolution."

"Liu Ji is going to close the Shipping Department of Ningbo City? Just because the shipping tax is low?"

Wei Guangde was surprised when he heard this.

A few years ago, Tang Shun asked to restore Shibo to facilitate exchanges between the imperial court and the vassal state. Unexpectedly, only five years later, someone proposed to abolish the reform.

"The governor of Tang said in his memorial that there are many ports along the coast of Zhejiang and few military ships, and it is the most difficult to defend, so he asked for abolishment."

Zhang Ji said.

"understood."

Wei Guangde just shook his head, lamenting that the Ming Dynasty had too much resistance to maritime trade.

(End of this chapter)