The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 442 Chong Wu Suppresses Wen
The Imperial Palace, next to the Wenhua Hall.

A new "Shangting Office" yamen was established here, not next to the main yamen in Beijing around the Daming Gate outside the palace, but directly in the palace, which is comparable to the cabinet, and even closer to the Qianqing Palace than the cabinet.

The listing ceremony of the Shangting Office was presided over by Li Rong. He is a member of the Shangting Office. At the same time, the emperor called the shots. He invited the cabinet ministers Li Dongyang and Xie Qian. Liu Jian was also invited, but what did Liu Jian want? For the face, I didn't go there on the excuse of feeling unwell.

In addition, Zhang Mao, another member of the hearing department, did not come.

As a result of this listing, apart from Li Rong, Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian, who were in charge of court affairs, the rest were only eunuchs and Jin Yiwei who were doing odd jobs in the palace.

"This place..."

Xie Qian stood at the door of the auditorium, looked in the door, and couldn't help frowning to look at Li Dongyang who was beside him.

Li Rong said with a smile: "In the future, whenever there are important military affairs, maybe the two elders will move here."

"No." Xie Qian said, "It's nothing to do with me."

The implication is that I am not a member of the Supervisory Office. Li Binzhi is obviously the member of the Supervisory Office in our cabinet. If you have anything to do, don't ask him instead of me.

Li Dongyang asked: "Is this a preparation for Cai Guogong's return to Beijing?"

Li Rongdao: "It was arranged by His Majesty. We don't know the specific reason for it. There are several sets of tables prepared inside, and the place is not spacious. Your Majesty said that after the spring of next year, we will build a few houses next to it..."

Li Dongyang glanced at the Wenhua Palace not far away and said, "Why did you choose this place? Doesn't it affect the prince's usual lectures?"

"Hehe." Li Rong laughed, "Actually, His Majesty also wants the prince to get in touch with political affairs as soon as possible. If it is set here, can't it be that the prince has more time to come and study? It's a good idea. They are all hoping for success.”

Xie Qian smiled.

He wants to say.

As a prince, he was a dragon, at most a young dragon.

"Yes." Li Dongyang nodded.

In fact, he also understood that the emperor wanted Zhang Zhou to participate in the important affairs of the court, give lessons to the prince at the same time, and be able to go to the Qianqing Palace as a consultant at any time. Otherwise, why would he set up Zhang Zhou's "office" in such a "wonderful work" s position?

Li Rong then personally uncovered the sign, but saw that it was the three words "Shang Ting Chu" hanging vertically, or it might be that there was no place to hang a plaque in the hall. Looking at the font, he knew that it was Zhu Youtang's handwriting.

"Two elders, please come inside."

Li Rong warmly invited the two of them inside.

Originally, Xie Qian didn't want to go in, but seeing this strange layout, he still couldn't help his curiosity and wanted to go in and have a look.

After entering the house, I found that it was actually a separate house, with no distinction between the inside and the outside. The place was not as big as the cabinet house, but because it was set up temporarily, it was closer to the inner garden of the imperial palace, so it looked The place is more refined and expensive, which means it is a bit small and powerful.

"Where is it?" Xie Qian pointed to something wrapped in yellow cloth that looked like a chair near the front seat.

Li Rongdao: "It's the imperial seat. Your Majesty occasionally comes to the auditorium, and there is always a place to rest."

"Tsk tsk, well prepared." Xie Qian did not change his poisonous tongue.

Li Dongyang asked: "Will you be here in the next few days?"

Li Rong said with a smile: "This is not known to our family, but it is expected that the people who are in the ranks must have their own errands. It is said that His Majesty will discuss new candidates for the rank in the past two days. Haven't the two elders heard the news?"

There are a lot of rumors, and what is heard is originally used to oppose the cabinet. It is strange that the three members of the cabinet would care about such rumors.

Seeing that the two of them didn't answer, Li Rong was also quite embarrassed, and said: "In the future, there will always be five or six people in the listening office. If our family is not talented, we will become one of them, and we hope to be taken care of by the two elders." .”

"Don't dare." Li Dongyang cupped his hands, "I also hope that Eunuch Li will support you more."

……

……

The location of the listening office has been selected, and it is in the palace.

Probably directly responsible to the emperor alone.

The candidates for the Upper Listening Office must also be re-selected. The members who have been in the Upper Listening Office before, except for Zhang Zhou who will inevitably be retained, whether others can enter is anyone's guess.

On the second day after the official establishment of the Shang Hearing Office, Zhu Youtang mentioned this matter to all the ministers in the court.

Fengtian Temple.

"...Your gentlemen, the upper hearing office is the yamen I set up. Although it can be established permanently, the people inside are not always there. The people selected must be capable and able to assist me. In the case of dealing with the north A person who provides assistance in military and political affairs."

"In the past, I used Bingkuan, Yinggong, Gelao and others as temporary positions. Now it's time to officially select personnel. Because of their errands or their own errands, what I mean is that the selected People in the upper listening office do not need to have a lot of official rank as a support, even if they are a new scholar, they can also be in the upper listening office."

Zhu Youtang's meaning was very clear.

In the past, all the elders, eunuchs, ministers, and state officials served as the ministers of the upper hearing department, which seemed too formal.

It is contrary to the original intention of this group of people to serve as my advisers.

So what I mean is that it is my original intention to choose some people who don't have much official positions in the court, but can specialize in their work.

The emperor said this...

On the contrary, Liu Jian and others felt a little more at ease in their hearts. If all the ministers and state officials were selected as before, it would be obvious to challenge the cabinet. No matter how great the influence is, at best it is only the emperor's adviser, and it will not form a positive confrontation with the cabinet.

But when they thought about it again, wasn't that how the cabinet was formed back then?
Although the members who joined the cabinet were basically from Hanlin background, before entering the cabinet, they might just be ministers and lecturers. Those who can enter the cabinet with a bachelor's degree are rare. The qualification requirements are higher.

Zhu Youtang said: "In this way, the six ministries will nominate two people each these two days, generally those who are below the ministerial minister, and those who have the ability to manage the army among the foreign ministers can also be nominated. There is no need to choose in the governor's mansion!"

Zhang Mao came out and said, "Your Majesty, the veterans also want to contribute to the imperial court."

For Zhang Mao, he finally got the opportunity to participate in decision-making as a martial artist, so he canceled the power of our governor's government to intervene in politics?

Zhu Youtang said coldly: "Mr. Yingying, haven't you been in poor health recently? Even the court council is beyond your power, so it is too embarrassing for you to be on duty in the hearing office every day. The five temples also recommend One person will be selected from Shaoqing and below, and then those from Yanwutang and those who have military experience in the Northwest can also be selected. The preliminary candidates will be determined within two days, so let’s do this first.”

……

……

The emperor opened the topic, but didn't talk too much about it.

There is probably a kind of meaning that I am just starting an article. As for how things will develop, I have to take a step at a time.

After the court meeting was over, when he was walking out, Xie Qian said bluntly: "I'm afraid that not everyone who was elected is just a cover. Your Majesty already has a candidate in mind."

Pretend to listen to opinions extensively, but in fact the internal decision has been completed long ago.

This is somewhat disrespectful.

Li Dongyang corrected: "How can your majesty not have a preliminary candidate in mind?"

All he had to say was Zhang Zhou's name, or the person recommended by Zhang Zhou.

Ma Wensheng, the newly appointed Minister of the Ministry of Officials, smiled and said: "It seems that whoever can enter the auditorium in the future must have His Majesty's appreciation and a higher level of insight in military affairs, but I don't know if he has the authority to vote? "

These words are a bit like putting bricks on the cabinet's face.

Xie Qian glared over and said, "Ma Butang, you don't mean to say that in the future, drafts related to the military and government will go to the hearing department, and those related to people's livelihood will go to our cabinet, right?"

Ma Wensheng smiled without saying a word.

Liu Jian saw that Xie Qian and Ma Wensheng were fighting first, while others were watching the fun like a melon-eating crowd, so he couldn't help but coldly said: "The specific responsibilities of the listening office have not been clarified until now, so what's the point of talking about this?" ?Since the original intention of the establishment of the Auditorium is for military and political matters, then first fill it with people who understand military and political affairs, do you have any opinions?"

Saying it means not saying it.

But Liu Jian's final decision is still effective, at least others don't talk about it casually.

……

……

In less than two days, each yamen submitted the members of the hearing office to be recommended by their own yamen, and handed them over to Zhu Youtang.

This time, Xiao Jing personally submitted the memorial.

"Your Majesty, two people from each of the six divisions, one from each of the five monasteries, plus one person recommended by the Metropolitan Procuratorate, there are 18 people in total. I wonder if we need to add candidates from the six divisions?" Xiao Jing asked cautiously.

Zhu Youtang opened it, looked at it casually, and couldn't help but frown and said: "I said that it can be filled by Xinke Jinshi, but what does it mean to be recommended by Guanzheng Jinshi? Could it be said that the two Jinshi Guanzheng , and have the ability to participate in important court affairs?"

Xiao Jing wondered: "Probably... most of the officials in the six ministries have to perform their duties and have no time to be distracted."

In fact, Xiao Jing is also very clear.

When the Sixth Department recommends members of the Audit Office, anyone who has an opinion on the matter will recommend some unremarkable people. The lower the status of the recommended person, the more it means that the Audit Office has no right to speak in Daming.

The emperor can still understand this little thought.

Seeing that the emperor was still looking at the list, Xiao Jing couldn't help asking: "How many people will your Majesty choose from?"

"No." Zhu Youtang said, "Since it is a superior office, at least one must have the qualifications of a servant or above before I will consider it, or someone who was born in the Yanwu Hall and has made achievements in local military and political affairs, such as the current Lu Wan, governor of Liaodong."

"what?"

Xiao Jing was somewhat taken aback.

It turned out that what the emperor said to the ministers to choose a servant below Shaoqing was just a cover.

Deliberately testing the attitude of those ministers?

Xiao Jing inevitably thought, is this necessary?Anyway, those ministers all know that His Majesty set up the Audit Office to fight against the main civil servants in the court, so what are you doing with these mysterious things?
As for Lu Wan...

Xiao Jing is also thinking, there are even specific candidates, and choosing and choosing is just joining in the fun.

Zhu Youtang said: "Actually, I don't have any more final decisions on the selection of the Supreme Court. This time, I mentioned it to see the reaction of the ministers. It seems that they don't have much opinion on the Supreme Court. Confidence, you think I'm just a whim?"

Xiao Jingdao: "Your Majesty has misunderstood, all the officials in the court want to share His Majesty's worries."

"Really?" Zhu Youtang said, "I think only Bingkuan is more dedicated. Let's preliminarily decide on Lu Wan and Wang Qiong. Bingkuan needn't mention it, and the remaining three will think about it as appropriate." .”

Xiao Jing took a look, the emperor had a good plan for the total number of members of the hearing office.

six people.

The three of them have even been settled. They are Zhang Zhou, who will soon be appointed Minister of the Ministry of War, and Wang Qiong, the left servant of the household department. The only one, Lu Wan, is withdrawn from the governor of Liaodong. It's hard to say.

Half of the seats have already been reserved, so it's still called undecided?

Xiao Jing said: "Your Majesty, do you want Governor Lu who came to Liaodong to come back? If so, I'm afraid it will be as soon as possible. Since last year, Liaodong has been bothering about the peace and construction of slaves. Previously, Uncle Xinjian had been transferred to Xuanda. Now if Lu If the governor returns, I'm afraid there will be no one in Liaodong who can take charge of the overall situation."

Zhu Youtang was not worried at all and said, "Isn't there still Tang Yin?"

"what?"

Xiao Jing didn't react for a while, he reminded, "Your Majesty, Tang Yin is now the governor of Bohai Sea, and he is in Jiangnan."

Zhu Youtang said: "Someone needs to be in charge of going to sea, but the financing of shipbuilding and other matters is already in the works. It doesn't make much difference whether Tang Yin is in charge. I heard that Xu Jing is very diligent in working beside Bingkuan. It is absolutely possible to keep Xu Jing and give Wei Guogong a hand. Do you want to release two important ministers of the country at once for the sake of a shipyard that has not yet become a climate?"

Xiao Jing was startled again.

Two "Important Ministers of the Country"?
The ones who won't be talking about are Xu Chu and Tang Yin, right?
Xu Yu is one of them at least, Tang Yin is just... Thinking about Tang Yin's overthrow of the kingship of Joseon in the past, saying that he is an important minister of the country, barely counts.

"But Tang Yin, it's hard to say whether he can fight a war. In the case of Hanyang City in North Korea, although he personally led the troops in the charge, he was going to be cornered, but Liaodong is now in a stable situation. I still have to wait for Bingkuan After you come back, discuss with Bingkuan carefully. The position of Lu Wan... will be reserved for now."

Zhu Youtang didn't seem to be reluctant to let Tang Yin take the lead.

Xiao Jingdao: "Wang Xian, governor of Jizhou, seems to have made some achievements in military and political affairs."

"Yes." Zhu Youtang nodded, "He was also recommended by Bingkuan, but I am not satisfied with his attitude."

In a word, Xiao Jing understood that no matter how many people are put in the so-called upper-listening office, they will all belong to Zhang Zhou's people, and even if there are one or two people who are not from Zhang Zhou's faction, they will only be that kind of neutral faction Yes, or put it in to make soy sauce, or to deceive people.

That listening place will actually be Zhang Zhouzhou's stage in the future.

Xiao Jing said: "Then your majesty, except for these few, the rest are looking for ministers above, I'm afraid that there will be slack in the errands of the sixth department."

Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "Being on the duty of the listening department is not an errand that needs to be done every day. It does not conflict with its responsibilities. It seems that the members of the listening department have their own division of labor. If it is Wang Qiong, it is responsible Dispatch of military supplies, food and grass; Lu Wan is responsible for the selection of generals in the Yanwu Hall and the Governor's Mansion; needless to say, Bingkuan takes care of everything... I actually want the prince to come over occasionally to pay for it."

"His Majesty……"

"I didn't let him in often, but let him in to participate in the discussion of military affairs occasionally when he was resting. Even if he was just an observer, it would be helpful for him to govern the country in the future."

Xiao Jing nodded hurriedly, "Yes."

"Okay, I still need to decide who to choose for the upper listening department. Recently, many people have told me that they want to enter the martial arts hall... In the future, the martial arts hall will also be a channel to enter the upper listening department. "Zhu Youtang said.

Xiao Jing reminded: "Your Majesty, after all, the Martial Arts Hall is mostly a military position in the Dudu's Mansion."

"Who said that?" Zhu Youtang said, "In the future, civil servants will lead troops to the northwest. If they don't know how to use magic guns and flint guns, how can they win battles? In the future, in addition to martial arts classes, there will also be Confucian classes in the Yanwu Hall. This is all set up for the sake of leveling the grassland, even if it is not for the grassland, it will be necessary for the stability of the world and the conquest of the barbarians in the future."

Xiao Jing felt even more nervous when he heard it.

This roughly means that those who are born in the imperial court in the future must come from the Yanwu Hall if they want to get a high position.

The Yanwu Hall is equivalent to another "Hanlin Academy". If anyone does not have the qualifications of the Yanwu Hall, even if they gain a foothold in the court in the future, they will still have no confidence.

And Zhang Zhou is likely to be the head coach of the Yanwu Hall, equivalent to the founder of the Hanlin Academy.

……

……

The positioning of the Yanwutang, in the eyes of the court ministers, is still very ordinary.

Except for some people from the Martial Arts Hall used by the Nine Borders military and government, over the past year or so, due to reasons such as Zhang Zhou's absence from the capital, the second phase of the Martial Arts Hall was only half opened, and the people were transferred to various parts of the Nine Borders to use them. The period is even more distant.

Originally, what the minister was worried about was the rising power of the Yanwutang, but now what he worried about became the upper hearing office.

But things are afraid of developing in a "bad direction".

With Zhang Zhou about to return to the court, the matter of "registration for the exam" in the Yanwu Hall has become a trend among the nobles of the capital, led by Zhang Heling, a member of the first-term gold graduation class, and Cui Yuan, Zhou Tang, Zhang Lun, etc. , Anyuanhou Liujing and others, there are as many as 60 applicants for martial arts in Beijing.

If you add generals without titles in various places, the number of applicants will approach the scale of 300 people.

This is just a military post in the Dudu's Mansion, not a literary class that may be opened.

Those who sign up must first report their names to the Ministry of War. This is because Zhang Zhou will serve as the Minister of the Ministry of War when he returned to the court, and the emperor means that he will first serve as the Minister of the Ministry of War as the admiral of the Martial Arts Hall. Of course, if Zhang Zhou becomes the Minister of the Ministry of Officials later, The admiral who supervised the Yanwu Hall became the Minister of the Ministry of Officials.

It all depends on what Zhang Zhou does.

When the list appeared, Xiong Chong, the left servant of the Ministry of War, felt that the matter was a bit serious... It seemed that the entire governor's mansion was moving closer to Zhang Zhouzhou alone. What kind of martial arts hall was about to become the power to influence the court, so he hurriedly informed the matter secretly I went to Ma Wensheng, the former Shangshu of the Ministry of War.

Then Ma Wensheng informed Xie Qian.

After reading the list, Xie Qian said indifferently: "Follow the crowd, what is the purpose of the Martial Arts Hall? After learning how to fire a cannon? Or do you want to learn the art of war? Can the various bureaus of the Ministry of War not be set up in the future?"

Ma Wensheng said: "Yu Qiao, I really don't want to be alarmist. I think the Yanwu Hall has been developed according to the intention of His Majesty and Zhang Bingkuan. From then on, it really doesn't matter whether there is a military department in the court. From the Song Dynasty onwards, military and political affairs have to rely on literati I'm afraid that the past will be changed."

(End of this chapter)