Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 446: Rewarding Officials Based on Merit (Happy New Year!)
Qingning Palace.

Zhu Youtang came to pay his respects to Queen Mother Zhou. Contrary to her usual behavior, Queen Mother Zhou invited her grandson to stay for lunch and also discussed state affairs with him.

Queen Mother Zhou only said that she would not interfere in state affairs, but in fact, she wanted to control the court more than anyone else. It cannot be said that she was very ambitious, but she felt that at the time when the old court was replaced by the new one, she was needed as a pillar to support it so that her grandson would not mess things up and cause the collapse of the ancestral foundation.

"My dear grandson, how do you feel after becoming the emperor?" asked Queen Mother Zhou.

Zhu Youtang said: "My grandson feels a lot of pressure on his shoulders. He finally understands the hard work of his father. He also knows that he must work harder to live up to his expectations."

Queen Mother Zhou rolled her eyes at her grandson and thought to herself, "You speak so much nonsense that you're almost like a corrupt old bureaucrat."

"It's no use just talking, you have to do things, do real things."

Queen Mother Zhou said, "Although your father worked hard, there are still some hidden dangers during his reign. For example, Wan'an and Li Yu have been repeatedly criticized by the ministers in the court. Why did you stop impeaching them? In my opinion, we should let people keep submitting petitions to impeach them, so that they will be ashamed and leave the court on their own."

Zhu Youtang lowered his head and said, "My grandson thinks that kindness and gentleness are the most important things."

"You can't be too soft-hearted towards treacherous officials."

Queen Mother Zhou frowned and asked, "Who taught you this? The lecturer of the Eastern Palace?"

"No, it is a truth that my grandson has figured out on his own... I even asked my father-in-law for his opinion at the time, and he agreed with it."

Zhu Youtang answered seriously.

Queen Mother Zhou was intrigued by her grandson's words and immediately asked curiously, "When did you ask your father-in-law?"

Zhu Youtang said, "A few days ago, my father-in-law came to the palace, and I accompanied him to a family dinner in the Duanjing Palace. Not only did my father-in-law come, but he also brought his son Yanling... My father-in-law mentioned that the court is still unstable, so it's best to be conservative and do things slowly."

"Did he mean that?"

Queen Mother Zhou couldn't help but frown when she heard this.

She was wondering, is it possible that Zhang Laizhan deliberately said that everything had to be done slowly just to shirk responsibility and be perfunctory, and this silly grandson actually listened to him?
Queen Mother Zhou thought to herself that Lai Zhan had a lukewarm personality. He would procrastinate when asked to do something, but would argue twice as much as she could.

However, when it comes to accomplishing great things, he has the courage that no one else in the court possesses. For example, when he fought against Liang Fang... he was steady, accurate and ruthless, and accomplished things that no one else could accomplish.

Zhu Youtang shook his head and said, "My grandson doesn't know what's so good about hiding from my father-in-law. Take your time, unravel the mystery, and solve the problems one by one. Isn't that just in line with the current situation in the court?"

"Oh."

Queen Mother Zhou wanted to question him, but when she heard that it was her nephew who was leading the slow reform, she did not get angry and asked, "I heard that you have promoted him to the right minister of the Ministry of Rites?"

"Yes."

Zhu Youtang replied.

"He encountered some resistance, right? After all, he didn't come from a very high family background. He was promoted to the high position of Minister all of a sudden, so it was inevitable that he would be criticized." said the Queen Mother Zhou.

Zhu Youtang shook his head and said, "So far, apart from Ni Yue, with whom he had a dispute, I have not heard of any court officials criticizing him."

"is it?"

Queen Mother Zhou was very surprised.

What's wrong?

Just because Zhang Laizhan is my eldest nephew and he once treated the late emperor, these so-called upright people in the court will let him go?

This is not like their style!

Zhu Youtang said: "My grandson asked Huai En, and he said that the most concerned issue in the court right now is to completely eliminate some of the treacherous officials left by the emperor, so they can't take care of targeting my father-in-law for the time being."

"Wai En is really... He never pretends to be confused when he knows the truth. He really says what he thinks... He is a very upright person."

Queen Mother Zhou couldn't help but roll her eyes when she heard this.

Zhu Youtang asked, "Isn't this good? Just speak frankly. Is there anything wrong with being pregnant with a big companion?"

Queen Mother Zhou smiled and said, "That's good... Tan Ji and the others are used to being perfunctory with you, and suddenly you meet an open-minded person... You will think he is very capable, right?
"That's true! I don't mean to flatter him. In fact, Huai En's ability is obvious to all, but he is too stubborn sometimes. Your father exiled him from the capital in the first place, largely because of Huai En's stubborn character."

"Yes."

Zhu Youtang just responded mechanically.

"Then... who are you going to promote in the cabinet?" Queen Mother Zhou asked curiously, "It's not that I want to interfere in state affairs, but now... I feel that Wan An and Liu Ji in the cabinet are really a bit outrageous. I have to send someone from my own side to supervise them and make them behave themselves. Do you plan to promote your father-in-law?"

Zhu Youtang said: "My father-in-law took the initiative to submit a petition, saying that he had no intention of ascending to the throne, nor did he want to compete for the position of cabinet minister as rumored. He also recommended Xu Pu."

"Xu Pu?"

Queen Mother Zhou frowned when she heard this.

Obviously this person had never been in her sight.

It is said that Queen Mother Zhou wanted to interfere in state affairs, but in fact she knew nothing about them. It was already quite good enough for her to include several ministers and heads of temples in her observation range.

If you ask her to do something, she really can't do it.

So now she really wants to cultivate an agent, and in her opinion, this person must be her eldest nephew Zhang Luan.

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "Mr. Xu once taught my grandson in the Eastern Palace. He is very knowledgeable and has a rich resume. He has served in the Hanlin Academy, the Zhanshi Mansion, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Personnel. Many people admire his virtues. My grandson believes that he is qualified for the position of a cabinet minister."

“It doesn’t matter whether you have the ability or not.”

Queen Mother Zhou asked solemnly, "I just want to ask you one question, has Xu Pu made any contribution to your preservation of the crown prince's position and your ascension to the throne?" "This..."

Zhu Youtang shook his head and said, "He is a man of integrity and uprightness, and would not do such things..."

Queen Mother Zhou smiled coldly and said sarcastically, "There are so many people who uphold the truth. If you don't care about protecting your position as the crown prince of the Eastern Palace, and never fight against the evil in power, and are used to going with the flow, can you really be considered a loyal minister?

"On the other hand, your father-in-law, Lai Zhan, seems humble and polite, and never argues with others. But who brought down Liang Fang and Wei Xing? Who suppressed the criticisms against your position as crown prince that repeatedly appeared in the court?"

"Ah."

Zhu Youtang nodded and continued, "Tongzhengshi Li Zisheng also reported that the prophecies about the earthquakes in Ningxia and Mount Tai last year and the heavy fog in the capital later all came from my father-in-law."

"is it?"

Queen Mother Zhou's eyes became brighter and she sneered, "This Lai Zhan, when we asked him before, he refused to say a word... Humph, he is going to be the father-in-law of the emperor, doesn't he know how to fight for this kind of credit? Does Li Zisheng have to personally submit a memorial to defend him?

"Oh, I was wondering, Li Zisheng was obviously mediocre before, why did he suddenly become Zhuge Liang, as if he suddenly opened his eyes and could plan everything out? It turns out that it was your father-in-law's plan!"

Zhu Youtang said: "But I asked the Crown Princess, and she said it would be best not to publicize this matter to the public, as it would have a very bad impact."

"Correct."

Queen Mother Zhou nodded approvingly and said, "If others knew that your father-in-law is good at fortune-telling, they would definitely be wary of him. I finally understand why he is so slow to act. It turns out that he is a Taoist practitioner. He has the Taoist spirit of tranquility and inaction. It is really rare."

Zhu Youtang asked, "Grandmother, what is so rare?"

Queen Mother Zhou smiled and said, "I have always been worried that you value your father-in-law. If he monopolizes power and becomes too powerful to be controlled, it will bring disaster to your future rule. It will be like when your father was in power, Li Zisheng, Liang Fang and others controlled the government and harmed the people.

"But...if your father-in-law doesn't like to argue, that's great."

"Oh."

Zhu Youtang seemed to understand but not quite.

Don’t Taoists like power?
Li Zisheng was born a Taoist priest, but isn't he still regarded as the number one treacherous minister in the Ming Dynasty?

Queen Mother Zhou said: "As the first choice for the cabinet, I still recommend your father-in-law. You have to build a team that belongs to you completely. Your father-in-law has been a lecturer in the East Palace and helped you stabilize the position of crown prince. It can be said that he has made great contributions...

"Aren't you and the Crown Princess very much in love? There shouldn't be anything wrong with favoring her family members, right?"

"Ah."

Zhu Youtang nodded sincerely, but still had some doubts, "Grandson is just afraid..."

"Are you afraid that people in the court will oppose you and cause you trouble?"

Queen Mother Zhou consoled her, "Don't worry. Even if it is a matter of debate and recommendation by the court, I believe that your father-in-law will definitely be the most popular candidate... Do you know why?"

"Why?"

Zhu Youtang asked seriously.

"hehe."

Queen Mother Zhou seemed to understand everything and smiled as she said, "Because your father-in-law is the bridge and link between the two sides. Li Zisheng, Wan'an and Liu Ji, who feel that their days are numbered and are about to leave the court, are full of suspicion towards others, but they trust your father-in-law.

"Although the East Palace lecturers have some grudges against your father-in-law, they will not be too disgusted by the fact that the father-in-law, who is also a scholar, has entered the cabinet."

Zhu Youtang nodded again, not quite understanding what he meant.

Queen Mother Zhou said, "Just let them nominate their own candidates. If your father-in-law is popular, then you should help him. If not... then you must remember to say that we can discuss it later. Give all parties a chance to consider and shirk responsibility, so that they can find a way out and then wait for an opportunity to push your father-in-law up."

……

……

Zhu Youtang’s greatest characteristic is that he is obedient.

In the past, he listened to his old father and even had no resentment towards Concubine Wan. Now that his old father is dead, he feels that his grandmother is a wise person and what she says sounds quite reasonable.

Then he returned to the Qianqing Palace.

At this time, Kunning Palace had been cleaned up, and Queen Wang officially became Queen Mother Wang and had moved to Renshou Palace, where the Queen Mother should live.

Renshou Palace was originally where the Empress Dowager of the Ming Dynasty should have lived. However, when Emperor Chenghua ascended the throne, his biological mother, Empress Dowager Qian, was still alive, so Empress Dowager Qian has always lived in Renshou Palace, while Empress Dowager Zhou has lived in Qingning Palace for a long time. Since she was used to it, she never changed her residence.

"His Majesty."

Huai En appeared in front of Zhu Youtang and bowed respectfully, saying, "Some repairs have been done in the palace. It will be completed in the next two days. Then you... can move in."

Although Zhu Youtang had ascended the throne as emperor at this time, he had not yet officially appointed the queen, so Huai'en didn't know how to address Zhang Yu.

Zhu Youtang asked, "Huai Daban, I want to enthrone the Crown Princess as Queen right now, is that ok?"

"It's better to wait a few more days."

Huai En said, "In addition to conferring the title of Queen, there are also relatives by marriage, the Zhang family, who should also be rewarded. Regarding the drafting of imperial edicts, etc.... Now it has come to a standstill, and I don't know what official position should be conferred on the Zhang family?"

Zhu Youtang frowned and said, "But the Empress Dowager said that we should push my father-in-law into the cabinet in the future... Now he is the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. I think the position of the Five Military Commander's Office can be conferred or not... It doesn't matter, right?"

(New Year, New Atmosphere! I wish you all a happy new year, good health and all the best!)
(End of this chapter)