Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 41 Killing the chicken to scare the monkey

Others can withdraw, but Zhou Jiachun, the director of the literary selection department, cannot. Seeing that the emperor was about to start discussing matters, it seemed that the fact that the literary selection department was personally controlled by the minister had been accepted by others. Zhou Jiachun mustered up his courage and stepped forward and said:

"Your Majesty, I would like to ask your Majesty to take back the order from Zhou Jiachun, the doctor selected by the minister."

"The Department of Literary and Selection has a doctor, an outsider, and a chief. They all perform their duties, and there is no need for the assistant to take charge."

Seeing this scene, Zhu Youjian looked at Yang Jingchen in surprise. It means that the matter has been handed over to you. Could it be that you, the noble minister, still can't suppress the doctor of the literary selection department? You can't let yourself, the emperor, have to deal with such a trivial matter personally.

Although Yang Jingchen could not see the meaning in the emperor's eyes, he knew that as long as he dissatisfied the emperor, he would probably leave in the future.

Seeing that the emperor had left this matter to him, Yang Jingchen met the eyes of all the ministers and said to Zhou Jiachun:

"Mr. Zhou, I would like to ask you, what is the role of the Literary and Selection Department?"

Zhou Jiachun held his head high and said happily and without fear:

"The Department of Wenxuan is in charge of the rank and order of the officials in the world. Fanquan comprehensively selects and teaches the canons, notes and drafts the methods for deposing Zhi, and everyone joins the army to organize them."

"This is a rule set by Taizu, does Yang Shilang want to violate it?"

Yang Jingchen said slowly:
"Then what rule is there that stipulates that the head of the Literature and Selection Department will be given a higher title?"

"What other rule stipulates that the Department of Literature and Selection is in charge of promotion?"

"Tell me, Doctor Zhou, are these two rules set by Taizu? Is there any provision in the "Da Ming Hui Dian"?"

Zhou Jiachun hesitated when he heard this, thinking that adding titles and promotions all appeared later. How could Taizu stipulate these?

As for the "Da Ming Huidian", although it stipulates promotion, it does not say that it is to be managed by the literary anthology department. However, it is an established rule among civil servants to be in charge of promoting the Department of Literature and Selection. Yang Jingchen's question seemed to Zhou Jiachun to be nonsense.

However, Yang Jingchen did not give him a chance to defend himself. He only heard his tone suddenly change and said urgently:
"Your Majesty asked me to personally take charge of the Literature and Selection Department in order to facilitate the promotion and promotion. This is the same as the Minister of Household Affairs, Qian Fa Shilang, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, the Minister of Rongzheng in Jingying, and the Prime Minister of the Ministry of Industry, He Dao."

"As a doctor in the Literary Selection Department, not only do you not understand His Majesty's profound intentions, but you are also obsessed with your own power and position, trying to take these powers as your own. What are your intentions?"

Zhou Jiachun's face turned red after hearing this. He wanted to defend but couldn't find the words for a moment, so he said angrily:

"If Your Majesty feels that I am incompetent as the director of the literary selection department, please remove me!"

"It makes no sense to reduce power without any reason."

Zhu Youjian frowned when he heard this, and Yang Jingchen even yelled angrily:
"Mr. Zhou, according to your opinion, should the imperial court have a superintendent, Qian Fa Shilang, and a prime minister, He Dao Shilang?"

“Shouldn’t there be official positions such as Governor of Cangchang and Governor of Water Transport?”

The map cannon was fired a little too loudly, and it spread to the local governor. Zhou Jiachun even said he didn't dare, but he was a little unconvinced in his heart. After all, in his opinion, the Literary and Selection Department was responsible for adding titles and promotions and could do it very well, without the need for the assistant minister to take care of it.

Seeing him like this, Zhu Youjian felt that he was not able to cooperate well. He didn't bother to get involved with a fifth-grade doctor and said directly:
"Zhou Jiachun lost his manners in front of the emperor and spent a month behind closed doors. The position of doctor is temporarily taken over by Yuanwailang."

"Yang Jingchen is designated as the Special Superintendent of the Ministry of Personnel and promoted to Assistant Minister, and will also be in charge of the Literature and Selection Department."

Yang Jingchen obeyed the order, and Zhou Jiachun's face turned pale. He knew that he had suffered a huge defeat this time. Not only did he lose his position in the Literary Selection Department, he also lost his position as doctor. After a month of closed-door thinking, it is impossible for him to still have his position in the Literature and Selection Department, and his future future is completely unknown. Thinking that he would be deposed by the Department of Literature and Selection in the future, and might even be retaliated by Yang Jingchen, Zhou Jiachun felt cruel and said angrily:
"Since Your Majesty feels that Wei Chen has made a mistake, then remove Wei Chen!"

Zhu Youjian frowned when he heard this, feeling that this person was really ungrateful. Yang Jingchen even commented:
"Your Majesty, Zhou Jiachun has behaved badly before the emperor and has refused to change despite repeated admonitions. Please remove him immediately!"

Lu Tunan also felt that Zhou Jiachun's behavior was outrageous, so he also stepped forward to impeach him. The other ministers originally thought that Zhou Jiachun had done nothing wrong, but when they saw him making such a fuss about resigning, they couldn't help but frown, thinking that it was really inappropriate.

Seeing that many ministers were about to participate in the impeachment, Zhu Youjian did not want to make the matter too big, so he waved his hand and said:

"It was just a disobedience. I think he did it unintentionally. There is no need to dismiss him from office."

"I will fine him another month's salary and let him reflect on it."

"I think his temper is suitable for the Three Laws Department, so he shouldn't be in the Staff Department."

Yang Jingchen hurriedly joked:
"Your Majesty, he has served as an official for two terms before and has developed such a bad temper."

Zhu Youjian nodded and said to Zhou Jiachun:

"Praise to Jidian for recommending officials to handle punishments. You can be promoted from local officials to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. It seems you are capable."

"Yuan Keli also worked as a promotion official, and now he has become an important minister. Go back and write down his experience as a promotion official, and submit it to me in a month."

As soon as these words came out, all the ministers knew that Zhu Youjian had no intention of actually dealing with Zhou Jiachun, but wanted to use him elsewhere.

Even Zhou Jiachun was a little moved, and expressed his gratitude to the emperor for forgiving him. He bowed and said:

"Your Majesty is not rude to me, but I am really ashamed of myself."

"I will definitely write down my experience as a promotion official and submit it to His Majesty for his inspection."

Everyone was happy now, and Zhu Youjian was relieved. He didn't want to make a fuss and dismiss his ministers on the spot for the first time he attended a regular meeting, and it would become a joke if word spread.

Moreover, with Zhou Jiachun's qualifications, he is already qualified to serve as the Prime Minister of the Dali Temple of the fifth rank and the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple of the fourth rank. If this person is not deeply involved with the eunuch, you can consider appointing him as a Dali Temple official in one month to be responsible for trying the eunuch.

"I want to run away after you offend me, so work hard for me!" 』

Thinking viciously in his heart, Zhu Youjian watched Zhou Jiachun leave the Wenhua Hall with a smile and continue the meeting.

The ministers looked at Zhou Jiachun's figure and took warning in their hearts. Although the current emperor is young, he is very skillful in his methods. A simple "disobedience" caused Zhou Jiachun to lose his authority and determine the ownership of the Literature and Selection Department. Even Zhou Jiachun couldn't say bad things about the emperor, he had to be grateful for the emperor's tolerance. How could all the ministers not take this as a warning——

Be careful in the future and don’t have to thank someone for being beaten.

The emperor was generous this time, but he might be petty in the future.

Not daring to place their hopes on the emperor's generosity, the attitudes of the courtiers in the Wenhua Palace became much more correct. Those petty officials did not dare to say anything casually, lest the emperor "disobey" and lose their power.

In this way, Zhou Jiachun unintentionally became the chicken that the emperor killed to scare the monkeys, which made Chang Shen's discipline in the meeting more serious.

(End of this chapter)