I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 114 This matter is too hot to handle. The Ministry of Rites cannot handle it.
A group of people dressed in northern barbarian style rode on horses and slowly walked into Anding Gate.

In front of them were dozens of cavalrymen from the new army camp leading the way.

The soldiers of the Fourth Guard Battalion guarding the gate were very nervous. The captain, the leader, held the hilt of his sword tightly in his right hand and stared at the northern Tartars riding on horses.

These people wore tight short robes, fur hats on their heads, and red beads hung around their necks and waists. They looked down at the Ming army guarding the city gate with contempt.

One of the riders rode forward and rushed straight towards the Ming army near the city gate. When he was about to reach them, he pulled the reins to stop his horse. The nose of the horse was almost touching the Ming army sergeant, and he was so scared that his legs went weak and he almost collapsed to the ground.

The Northern Tartar cavalry behind him laughed.

"Habre, stop messing around!" a distinguished old man scolded.

"Yes!" Habulie bowed and saluted on his horse, glanced at the Ming army, smiled contemptuously, and rode back to the team.

Suddenly a war horse rushed over and ran straight into Habre.

Habre cried out inwardly that something was wrong and pulled the reins to turn the horse's head. He heard a neigh and the charging warhorse suddenly turned its head, ran parallel to him, and then stopped.

Habuli took a closer look and found that it was the Ming army officer who had just greeted them at the post station. He was said to be the captain of the new military camp, named Xue Yi.

"Good riding!" Habre said admiringly.

Xue Yi glanced at him, bowed on his horse, pulled the reins, and spurred his mount back to the front team.

When this line of cavalry was led by the soldiers of the new military camp and disappeared into the street, the officers and soldiers guarding Anding Gate couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Where did these Tartars come from?"

"I don't know. I heard it was taken over from Datong."

"Damn, these Tartars are really vicious."

"Yes, you dare to be so arrogant in our Ming capital!"

"He looks so fierce. Luckily, he is led by a cadet from the new military camp, otherwise I would have thought..."

"What do you think?" The captain guarding the city gate shouted, "Stop talking nonsense, or the Jinyiwei and the Dongchang guards will hear you."

After a moment of silence, someone said, "The riding skills of the military officer in the new military camp were superb. He even intimidated the northern Tartars."

"It is said that he is the instructor of the new military camp. He is the elite among the elite, carefully selected from the nine frontier troops."

"Tsk tsk, I never thought that there would be such a person in my Ming border army."

"It's useless to have such a person. The food and wages are not enough. It's a useless battle. He can only use 50% of his strength."

The captain guarding the city gate raised his whip angrily and was about to whip the complaining old soldier a few times.

The old soldier was a seasoned man. He chuckled and turned away.

"I heard that the new military camp provides high food and wages, and they are paid in full every month."

"Bullshit! How dare you believe such a thing? Paying food and wages in full has never happened in the Ming Dynasty. Unless the sun rises in the west."

"But this news was spread by my cousin. His second son was recruited into the new military camp and is returning home with food and wages every month."

The city gate was silent for more than ten breaths, and the captain said, "Everyone should go about their business. What are you doing here? If the inspector sees us and impeaches us, will you bear the responsibility or me?"

"Let's go, let's go our separate ways."

"Does the new military camp really provide sufficient food and wages?"

"It should be possible. It is said that the new military camp will not be managed by those grandsons in the Ministry of War, and the food and wages will not be paid by the Ministry of Revenue or the Shuntian Governor, but directly by the General Coordination Bureau."

"The Coordination Bureau? That's a bit more reliable. It's said that this government office has a treasure pot hidden inside and three money trees planted on it."

"Bullshit, you're a donkey"

The sound dissipated with the wind. General Qian looked at the towering Andingmen Tower and sighed softly.

New barracks!
The Cabinet Meeting Hall behind the Meridian Gate.

I don't know when this new rule was formed, but every morning, before going to work, all the ministers would sit in front of the "Harmony" and listen to what Chief Minister Xu Jie had to say, and then discuss a few important matters.

After that, they returned to their own duty rooms, read the memorials from various ministries and regions copied by the Imperial Household Department, and drafted them one by one.

"Altan Khan's envoy has arrived in Beijing." Xu Jie said, stroking his beard.

Yan Ne and Guo Pu looked at each other.

so fast.

Xu Jie continued, "The letter from the emperor said that the envoy was Altan Khan's younger brother, the chieftain of the Yongliexie tribe, Bosihaer. Well, the northern barbarians respect him as Kunduleng Khan." He glanced at the faces of the three elders, "Bosihaer has arrived. How should we talk about it next? If the emperor summons us later, we will directly ask for his permission. If he does not summon us, we will submit a petition to the West Garden.

But the question now is, who will take the lead and go to talk to Boshar?"

Yan Ne hesitated for a while and said, "In theory, the matter of the foreign vassal entering the court should be handled by the Honglu Temple and the Ministry of Rites. But this time, Bosihaer's visit to the court is not only about the establishment of friendly relations, but also involves military affairs.

Should Xin Ai be kept or released? How should she be released? What is the explanation for the Battle of Liuhe? If Altan Khan is bluffing and wants to bring an army to punish him, how should we respond?

These matters cannot be arranged by the Ministry of Rites, but by the Ministry of War."

"The Ministry of War!" Xu Jie snorted coldly, "The Ministry of War doesn't know more than the Ministry of Rites."

Guo Pu frowned. "The Supervisory Office hasn't moved the files over yet? If they don't, how can we report our achievements and rewards?"

Xu Jie stared at the rooftop. "The Supervisory Office directly handed over a list of promotions. Xiyuan approved it. The Ministry of War can only follow the order and issue the document."

"This is not in accordance with our ancestors." Guo Pu stopped talking in time.

Xu Jie, Yan Ne and Li Chunfang all looked at him at the same time.

Guo Pu wanted to slap himself in the face.

Fortunately, I stopped talking quickly, otherwise I would have caused trouble again.

I was moved today, but I have to stick to the past rules and ignore anything that is not related to the Ministry of Personnel.

Last time in the Wanshou Palace, Yan Ne mentioned the ancestral rules, but was refuted by the Crown Prince.
According to the imperial edict of Emperor Taizu, the command of troops and the reward of merits were all decided by the Five Military Commandery and reported to the Ministry of War for selection.

If you mention the ancestral system again, the emperor will really follow it.

There was silence in the meeting hall.

Yan Ne and Xu Jie's attitudes were very clear. The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War were determined not to take up the issue of the talks with Bosihaer.

After receiving Xu Jie's gaze, Guo Pu, who had just reminded himself not to be tempted, was in trouble.

There was really no other way, so he had to speak up: "How about asking the Supervisory Office to send someone to talk to Bosihaer?"

Li Chunfang spoke up, "It's inappropriate. The Supervisory Office is the Military Affairs Supervisory Office of the Beijing Camp. It has nothing to do with the negotiations with the foreign vassal states. It's beyond the rules."

Xu Jie narrowed his eyes, stared at Li Chunfang, and said slowly: "The Lifanyuan is responsible for all matters concerning the outer vassal states. Isn't Altan Khan's Tumed tribe an outer vassal state?

The Tumed tribe has come to the court to discuss important details. It is a good opportunity, Zishi, for the Lifanyuan, which you are in charge of, to take over. "

Li Chunfang smiled faintly, "I'm quite free now. The Lifanyuan was established not long ago, so there's not much to do. Right now, the only thing I have to deal with is the East Japan sending envoys to the court. I can take care of it. But..."

He glanced towards Yan Ne.

If we really take over the negotiation with Boshaer, it would be stealing the authority of the Ministry of Rites.

We have to say something to Yan Ne, the minister in charge of the Ministry of Rites, otherwise it will break the rules and hurt the harmony, which is not good.

Yan Ne was a little embarrassed.

He now also knows how powerful the Taisun Party is.

These people are the ones who can really get things done. Once they take over the power, they will get things done beautifully in no time. Don't even think about getting this power again in the future.

Managing the affairs of foreign vassals entering the court is a very important responsibility of the Ministry of Rites. Although it is a simple task and no one is willing to do it, Yan Ne is worried that this will be the beginning.

From this incident on, the Lifanyuan gradually eroded the power of the Ministry of Rites.

The most core and important power of the Ministry of Rites is the imperial examination, and the Lifanyuan just happens to have one of the powers to arrange the admission of people from foreign vassal states and their participation in imperial examinations.

Don't bother trying to force your way through this matter. If they can, the Ministry of Rites can live a quiet life together with the Ministry of Works.

Yan Ne didn't say anything, and Li Chunfang wasn't in a hurry either.

Anyway, this is not an easy job. The Ministry of Rites is willing to take it over, and the Lifanyuan is eager to do so.

If the talks go badly and the emperor reprimands us, the Ministry of Rites will take the blame.

Yan Ne also thought of this.

Then he remembered that this matter was entirely planned by the emperor at the instigation of the crown prince. The crown prince's party knew best what the result was. If the Ministry of Rites really took over, it would most likely be in trouble.

A clerk said at the door: "Someone from Xiyuan has come to tell the four old gentlemen that the envoy of Altan Khan has arrived. The cabinet should quickly decide on the person in charge of the talks."

Yan Ne sighed inwardly and said, "Then let the Lifanyuan take charge. This matter is too hot to handle. Our Ministry of Rites dare not take it, nor can it take it!"

(End of this chapter)