I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 167: A Day as a Crown Prince, Questioning Government
Zhu Yijun walked into the inner room, sat down at the top, read the urgent report slowly, and then put it aside.

"Let's wait for the cabinet's vote first."

"Yes."

"Mr. Huang, please take a seat. Let's talk about something private."

Zhu Yijun pointed to the stool next to him and put his hands in his sleeves.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Huang Jin sat down on the stool.

"Mr. Huang, you have served the Emperor for your entire life and are now old. It is reasonable for you to retire. Your mansion and house were also granted by the Emperor. But the Emperor's temper..."

Zhu Yijun paused for a moment and continued, "The heavy responsibility has been entrusted to me. However, I am young and have not considered many things thoroughly. I need the help of an experienced person like Mr. Huang."

Huang Jin lowered his head and listened quietly.

"Besides, some people in the inner court and the outer court do not take a thirteen-year-old boy like me seriously. I need Mr. Huang to help me suppress the situation."

Huang Jin raised his head and said, "Your Highness, I am sorry to see you say that."

Zhu Yijun glanced at him.

He was as quiet as water, with long eyebrows drooping like an old man. His deep eyes were a little cloudy, and his face had many more wrinkles.

After Grandpa Huang passed away, Huang Jin aged a lot.

It is indeed time to let you leave the palace to retire, but now is not the right time, and I still need your help. You are by Grandpa Emperor's side, you are experienced, and there are many things that need your help.

"Mr. Huang, has the imperial edict summoning Gao Gong back to the capital been issued?"

"Your Highness, it has been sent out." Huang Jin was a little confused, "Your Highness, recall Gao Gong, this matter can be put on hold for a while."

Zhu Yijun shook his head, "We can't delay. Xu Jie's faction is the only one in power in the court. There is no emperor above to suppress him. I don't know what the shrewd Xu Jie will think."

Huang Jin nodded in understanding: "Your Highness, Gao Gong is extremely anxious, and I'm afraid there will be trouble once he returns to the capital."

"Let it be more troublesome. It would be bad if the court was stagnant. Gao Gong is a man with great ambitions and talents. If he wants to do something, let him do it."

Huang Jin was a little confused about what Zhu Yijun was thinking. After thinking for a while, he reminded him, "If Gao Gong wants to do something, he has to take power."

"Then let him take it. If you don't delegate power and want people below you to do things, what can you accomplish? I can delegate power, and I can also take it back."

Huang Jin was still a little worried. "I am worried that Gao Gong is a man who cannot tolerate others. If His Highness asks him to take one or two steps, he will push his limits."

Zhu Yijun answered without hesitation: "Then let him not even have an inch!"

Huang Jin was speechless for a moment. Your Highness the Crown Prince is indeed much more resolute and courageous than the late emperor.

Zhu Yijun slowed down his tone, "Mr. Huang, you need to help look around the Forbidden City. Wanfu is an honest man. He has to look after the Forbidden City for his father and mother, and serve his father, so he is a little overwhelmed.

I am worried that if he is careless and someone takes advantage of him, it will be troublesome. You are the ancestor in the mouth of the eunuchs, you have to help him. "

Huang Jin understood what Zhu Yijun said and said respectfully, "Your Highness, I will go find Wanfu later and discuss with him and teach him some tricks."

"That's good." Zhu Yijun changed the subject and turned to the Imperial Household Department. "The Imperial Household Department should also be rectified. It is the most important place in the inner court. Your father has approved it. Your father trusts me and has entrusted me with the care of the Imperial Household Department. Naturally, I have to take responsibility and keep it in good care."

Huang Jin knew that there would be arrangements to be made, so he waited in silence.

"Teng Xiang and Chen Hong have become wild. They have neglected the affairs of the Imperial Household Department and only wanted to go to the Forbidden City and hang around the Emperor. That won't do. It will delay things.

State affairs are important, and they cannot afford to be so lazy! Mr. Huang, please tell Teng Xiang and Chen Hong to either be transferred to the Forbidden City and serve the emperor like Meng Chong, or stay in the Imperial Household Department and take care of things. " "Yes. I will go and tell them right away. "

Zhu Yijun glanced at Huang Jin and said in a serious tone, "In fact, the person I trust the most is Yang Jinshui. If he were in the Imperial Household Department, I wouldn't have to worry so much.

It's just that he's too capable, and Southeast really can't do without him! Wait a few years, when Southeast is completely stable, I will transfer him back, and then Mr. Huang will be able to relax."

Huang Jin quickly bowed and replied: "Your Highness really loves Jinshui."

Of course he knew that this was Zhu Yijun's promise to him that Yang Jinshui would take over his mantle and take care of him in his old age and till the end of his life, so he had nothing to worry about.

However, Huang Jin couldn't help but feel a little nervous when he heard the words "Wait a few years, the southeast will be completely stable". His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is very scheming, and I'm afraid he is even more scheming than the late Emperor.

What exactly does he mean by completely stabilizing the situation? I really have no idea.

But Huang Jin felt vaguely that according to the prince's methods, there was no way the southeast could be stabilized without the deaths of a large number of people.

For example, in Shanxi, it was only after killing so many officials, gentry, soldiers and civilians that the country was considered "stabilized".

In the cabinet meeting hall, Xu Jie sat at the top, with Li Chunfang and Zhang Juzheng sitting on both sides.

Yan Ne retired and returned home last year, and Guo Pu also resigned and returned home after the national mourning period. Now the only people left in the cabinet are Prime Minister Xu Jie, Li Chunfang and Zhang Juzheng who joined the cabinet just last year.

"Prince, the cabinet is missing two people all of a sudden. Uncle and I are really too busy to handle it. You have to talk to the emperor and ask him to bring in a few more cabinet ministers."

Xu Jie glanced at Li Chunfang and asked, "Will it be useful to tell the emperor?"

The emperor clearly doesn't want to be in charge of things, he just wants to collect honey from the flowers. This important matter must be discussed with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

You know him better than I do!

"Yes, with the arrival of Lord Yangzhai and Lord Jinglu, we have to share more cabinet affairs. Zishi, the emperor said that in addition to the Lifanyuan, you should take care of the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel.

Uncle, the emperor also said that you should take care of the Ministry of War. Now Zhao Dazhou has gone to the Censorate. He is mature and capable, and everyone can rest assured that he is in charge of the Censorate. Now the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Revenue are all short of people to manage them. "

Zhang Juzheng bowed and said, "Why doesn't the Prime Minister take care of all these things?"

Xu Jie waved his hand and said, "I am old and lack energy. I can't take care of so many things. I will just take charge of the Ministry of Rites. The rest can be dealt with after Gao Xinzheng comes back.

By the way, some court officials have submitted memorials recommending Chen Yifu (Chen Yiqin) and Yin Zhengfu (Yin Shidan) to join the cabinet, and I fully agree with them. Yin Zhengfu is fair and honest, so he would be best suited to manage the Ministry of Justice. Chen Yifu is courageous and willing to take on responsibilities, so he would be most suitable to manage the Ministry of Works. "

Li Chunfang and Zhang Juzheng smiled inwardly.

The two of them also vaguely guessed Xu Jie's thoughts.

"But my words don't count in this matter. It will only count if it is approved by the authorities. Okay, enough of the idle talk. Ladies and gentlemen, is there anything important that you need to discuss?"

"Prime Minister!" Zhang Juzheng said first, "The Ministry of War received an urgent report from Liaodong that Wang Gao, the commander of the Right Guard of Jianzhou, refused to obey the king's will during the period of national mourning and provoked others wantonly. He plundered several cities in Liaodong, burned hundreds of houses, and killed thousands of soldiers and civilians. His crimes are too numerous to list!

What's even more abominable is that this fellow actually publicly posted a manifesto to slander the late emperor, and even held a public banquet to celebrate. He has no respect for his emperor or his father, and is extremely arrogant!"

Xu Jie was shocked. “When the late emperor passed away, all the vassal states observed the etiquette of a vassal. Altan Khan sent an envoy to offer condolences. Even Tumen Khan stopped fighting temporarily and sent people to offer condolences.

How could there be such a person who does not know the power of heaven and does not understand the moral code? They are so arrogant, don't they know that the Ming Dynasty is mighty and powerful, and its weapons are sharp?

Quick, show me the urgent report and tell me how mad and cruel Wang Gao is!"

(End of this chapter)