I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 245 Perhaps This Is the Last Meal

After the food came, everyone ate and chatted, and the topic turned to the court meeting.

"Lord Xinzheng, Lord Nanyu, it stands to reason that the governor of Shuntian Prefecture will be replaced. Has the court held a meeting to decide on this?"

Wang Lin asked while eating his food and smacking his lips.

"Why, Ji Jin wants to be the governor of Shuntian Prefecture and become the official in charge of you?" Gao Yi asked jokingly.

Wang Lin laughed loudly: "Lord Nanyu is joking. I really can't handle the complicated and turbid position of Shuntian Prefecture. Everyone knows my ability. I am good at mental work, not physical work."

Everyone laughed, and Gao Yi sneered in his heart.

Although you have no self-awareness, at least you know that you are not fit to be the governor of Shuntian Prefecture.

It is said that you have self-knowledge, but you can actually say that you are good at mental work but not physical work, such shameless words.

"Who has been decided as the governor of Shuntian Prefecture? He is our father and mother official, and everyone is waiting for him to take office." Zhang Siwei joked.

"It's decided. It's Liu Yingjie and Liu Zihe."

"Liu Zihe? When Hai Gangfeng led Wang Zijian and Xu Mengquan to investigate the Lianghuai salt administration, he was the right assistant minister of the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue. He secretly investigated all the messes between the Ministry of Revenue and the Lianghuai salt merchants in Nanjing. Later, Hai Gangfeng used this evidence to investigate and prosecute hundreds of people from the six ministries and the Censorate in Nanjing.

I have several fellow townsmen and fellow students from the Nanjing Hanlin Academy who were called back to Beijing this time. When we got together, we talked about Liu Zihe, saying that he was upright, honest, smart and capable. His appointment as the governor of Shuntian Prefecture is a good thing for the people of the capital."

There was also some approval and admiration in Cheng Wenyi's words.

Wang Lin's heart skipped a beat, and he said hesitantly, "I heard that Liu Zihe and Zhang Shuda are quite close?"

Gao Yi replied: "I have some old officials in the six ministries in Nanjing. This time they were summoned to Beijing to take up their posts. They invited me a few days ago and we had a chat.

I heard from them that when Uncle Zhang was ordered to pay respect to the Xiaoling Mausoleum last time, he happened to encounter the Zhenwu Camp mutiny, and Liu Zihe helped him a lot. I heard that Lord Lingbi Marquis Tang was the one who helped Liu Zihe to mediate, and came forward to help Uncle Zhang, and arrested the masterminds behind the Zhenwu Camp mutiny. "

It’s Zhang Juzheng again!
Gao Gong felt as uncomfortable as if he had eaten a fly.

Zhang Siwei, who was sitting next to him, saw his expression and guessed that he was unhappy.

Everyone would feel unhappy when seeing old colleagues and juniors who used to be far inferior to you suddenly surpass you.

"Let Liu Zihe do a good job as the governor of Shuntian Prefecture. Other things for the governor of Shuntian Prefecture are easy to deal with, and the political affairs of the prefectures and counties in the capital are easy to handle. The most troublesome thing is the mess in the five cities. No matter how well he does, he will not be praised, and will be blamed."

Zhang Siwei's words were agreed by everyone.

As everyone knows, according to the rules set by Emperor Chengzu during the Yongle period, the east of the capital was under the jurisdiction of Daxing County, and the west was under the jurisdiction of Wanping County, with the central axis of the imperial city as the boundary.

In the 32nd year of Jiajing's reign, the population of the capital increased dramatically and the old city area could no longer bear the burden, so an outer city was built to form a five-city scale. However, it was still divided into two parts by east and west and was under the jurisdiction of Daxing and Wanping counties.

But the capital also had a Five Cities Military Division under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War, which was responsible for patrolling the capital, arresting thieves, clearing streets and drains, and dealing with prisoners and fire bans.

It was fine before, but later on, many problems arose.

If there is anything beneficial, the Wucheng Bingmasi will take it first.

When something went wrong and there was responsibility to be taken, the Wucheng Bingmasi would push the blame onto Daxing and Wanping counties of Shuntian Prefecture, making Shuntian Prefecture suffer terribly.

In the 41st year of the Jiajing reign, the post of city inspector was added under the Censorate. With five more lords giving orders, the people of Shuntian Prefecture suffered even more.

The ones who do the hardest and most tiring work and bear the darkest and heaviest blame are Shuntian Prefecture and its subordinate counties, Daxing and Wanping.

Although the Shuntian Prefecture Governor was of the third rank, on par with the six ministries' vice ministers and the left and right deputy censors of the Censorate, it was the position that court officials were most reluctant to hold.

Thinking of this, the jealousy in Wang Lin and Cheng Wenyi's hearts suddenly disappeared by more than half.

Gao Gong and Gao Yi looked at each other.

If you think so, you will underestimate the Crown Prince's thoughts.

He decided to appoint Liu Yingjie, a stalwart of the prince's party, to take over as the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture. How could he not have a backup plan?

"Today's court meeting decided to abolish the Five Cities Military Command and the City Patrol Censor."

Gao Gong's words stunned Zhang Siwei, Wang Lin and Cheng Wenyi. Wang Lin's chopsticks, which were stretched out to pick up food, were fixed in the air. He retracted them after more than ten breaths and asked awkwardly.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince has decided to transfer the authority of the Five Cities Military Department to Shuntian Prefecture?" He was smart and figured out the whole thing immediately.

Gao Yi glanced at Gao Gong, who was busy eating, and answered, "Yes. Shuntian Prefecture has set up a police patrol office, with the Tongpan concurrently serving as the chief of the police patrol office. There are five police patrol bureaus in the southeast, northwest, and central cities, each led by a police patrol envoy from each city. They are responsible for the inspection of public security in the capital, arresting thieves, and prohibiting fire.

A city hall will be set up, with the deputy governor in charge of the city hall affairs, responsible for the repair and maintenance of the capital's streets, bridges, and ditches, as well as the construction and maintenance of other daily public facilities for the military and civilians in the city. "

Cheng Wenyi said word by word: "Municipal Affairs? I think it comes from the "Zhou Li. Official of the Land. Official of the Market" in which 'In every meeting, the official of the market leads the merchant and follows him to manage the municipal affairs.' But this municipal affairs is said to be in charge of the affairs of merchants in the market."

Gao Yi put down his chopsticks, grabbed a towel and wiped his mouth back and forth: "Shuntianfu City Hall does not take care of the affairs of merchants in the market, there are other government offices that take care of it.

However, the court has only decided on the positions of Shuntianfu Patrol Office and City Hall. His Royal Highness said that the Patrol Office is to maintain social order in the capital, and the City Hall is to improve the living environment in the capital. The purpose of both is to allow the people of the capital to live and work in peace and contentment. "

Wang Lin picked up a hand towel with three fingers and wiped his mouth gently. "Social security and living environment. I've heard that His Royal Highness likes to create new words. Sure enough, he has come up with a new word. You are worthy of being the good grandson of the late emperor."

The late Emperor Jiajing had always liked to change and create ancestral systems. Wang Lin’s words were clear and ironic.

Gao Gong glanced at him and said calmly, "Isn't it common to create new words and ideas? Shangshu was originally the chief bookkeeper, and was one of the six Shangs in the Qin and Han dynasties. During the Cao Wei and Jin dynasties, the Shangshutai was renamed Shangshu Province, and the six Caos were renamed departments. The Shangshus of the various Caos became noble officials, and this continues to this day.

If we stick to old principles and old rituals, how can we help the king, solve the country's problems, and bring peace to the people?"

Zhang Siwei and Wang Lin looked at each other.

The two knew that the root of Gao Gong’s philosophy of doing things lies in “If it is done for righteousness, then all benefits are righteousness; if it is done for profit, then all righteousness is profit.”

As long as the goal is ambitious and the ideal is lofty, how to achieve it, the process and details are not important.

Gao Yi took in everyone's expressions and laughed, "This way, Liu Zihe's job as Shuntian prefect will be much easier."

Zhang Siwei also smiled and said: "Lord Nanyu, after hearing what you said, the post of Shuntian Prefecture Governor is not only easy to do, but it will probably be a top-notch official position in the future.

Under the emperor's feet, any achievement will be noticed by the higher-ups."

Wang Lin's eyes flickered, and there was some disdain in the corners of his mouth, "They are indeed the backbone of the prince's party. Help them get on the horse and send them on their way. This group is too biased."

How to answer this?
Zhang Siwei blinked his eyes, and suddenly said with a smile: "Brother Jijin, for the sake of official career, why don't we also go to Xiyuan to find a way?"

Wang Lin's eyes flashed, and he replied with a smile: "Okay, Brother Ziwei, you are the prince's guest and the leader of the prince's lecturers. You are my contact in Xiyuan."

The laughter on Zhang Siwei's face turned into a bitter smile: "Brother Ji Jin is making fun of me again. I am the guest of the crown prince. Alas, it is hard to describe it in words."

The atmosphere became relaxed again and everyone started chatting about all sorts of things.

Wang Lin suddenly asked, "Lord Xinzheng, I heard that Wei Yinbao and Huang Chaomeng from the Gutian Zhuang tribe in Guangxi have gathered troops to rebel, and the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi Yin Yangshi (Yin Zhengmao) is mobilizing troops and training new troops to prepare for the rebellion. He is desperately petitioning the Ministry of Revenue to ask for money?"

Before Gao Gong could answer, Cheng Wenyi said curiously, "I heard that Yin Yangshi is from the same hometown as Hu Bingbu and a fellow student of Zhang Taiyue. He is now a key member of the prince's party and is known as the Southern Pillar of the Sky."

Wang Lin looked at Gao Gong and said softly, "The national treasury is in a tight spot right now. Money is needed everywhere. The nine frontiers, the royal family, river engineering, and grain transport. The money in the Ministry of Revenue is simply not enough, right, Lord Xinzheng?"

Gao Gong understood the meaning of his words.

You are the Minister of Revenue, why not use your power?

Yin Zhengmao wanted to suppress the rebellion and gain military merit, so he was not given money. He was asked to go to the Coordination Bureau instead of the Ministry of Revenue.
It would be easy for the Ministry of Revenue to find an excuse to withhold the payment of silver.

Gao Gong shook his head: "Yin Zhengmao wants the silver to quell the rebellion in Guangxi, which is of great importance. Although Gao has a grudge against them, he dare not abandon the public because of personal grudges."

Wang Lin's expression changed slightly, and then he said solemnly: "Xin Zhenggong is dedicated to the public, which makes us admire him very much."

After coming out of Huiqing Building, the five people said goodbye to each other.

Watching Gao Gong and Gao Yi's sedan chair going away, Zhang Siwei looked at Wang Lin standing next to him with a gloomy face, and deliberately sighed: "Xinzheng Gong, it seems that we are drifting away from each other."

Wang Lin glanced at Zhang Siwei and just bowed and said, "Ziwei, I have something else to do, so I'll leave first."

Gao Gong and Gao Yi's sedan chairs were heading west, while Wang Lin's sedan chair was heading south. Seeing this scene, Zhang Siwei suddenly laughed.

He knew that this might be the last happy dinner they would have together.

(End of this chapter)