Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 447 People with power are the same everywhere

Xu Qiong launched a full-scale lobbying and public relations campaign in the court with the goal of being promoted to the cabinet and becoming a minister of the Ming Dynasty.

Everyone in the court knew that whoever entered the cabinet first would be able to become the prime minister within a few years. The reason was that Wan'an and Liu Ji had too bad a reputation and would have to step down sooner or later. And if everything went well, they might not have to wait a year to become the prime minister, and could achieve their goal by the end of the year.

Wan An knew that his position was about to be lost, so he began to move around in the court and build connections.

But there are few people who can really help him.

In desperation, he could only go to Li Zisheng.

"Lord Wan, why do you come to see me?"

Li Zisheng received Wan An in the main hall of his home and spoke very simply and directly, "Look at how many memorials attacking me there are in the court? I can hardly protect myself...

"It's really sad to say that I'm just a silver table, but the officials in the court said that I'm the number one person who harmed the Ming Dynasty. I feel so wronged... Isn't this just finding a pretext to accuse someone?"

Wan An couldn't help but roll his eyes when he heard that.

I was thinking, how powerful you were before, how arrogant you were in the court, and how you covered the sky with one hand, don’t you have any idea at all?

It is true that your actual position before was only the Minister of Public Security, but the problem is that with the emperor's approval, you remotely controlled the Ministry of Personnel and controlled the appointment and promotion of officials throughout the world. That was the greatest power, and everyone was constrained by you. Even those ministers who had opinions about you did not dare to do anything to you when the late emperor was alive.

Otherwise, why are there so many people impeaching you now?

It’s because the world has suffered from you for a long time!

Wan An comforted him, "Master Li, don't you have Zhang Guozhang running errands for you? Besides, the Crown Prince is grateful for your contribution to the throne, so he will naturally not do anything to you, and I think he will also listen to your opinions."

Li Zisheng frowned and asked, "You are already the Prime Minister, what else do you want to fight for?"

"I... just want to... continue to stay in this position."

Wan'an hesitated and shook his head and sighed at the end, "Alas... Speaking of which, most of the government affairs have been controlled by that old man Huai En recently, and the presence of the cabinet has become increasingly weak... Should we do something to unite against the outside world?"

Wan'an seemed to realize that if he wanted Li Zisheng to stand on his side, he must have a goal or thing to share the same goal with Li Zisheng, or a common enemy. Huai'en, who had just returned to the court, just met the requirements.

Li Zisheng said, "He is the internal minister and has the power to review memorials. You didn't go to Wei Tai and Qin Chang to instigate internal strife between them, but came to me instead. Do you think I am qualified to interfere in the decision-making of state affairs? It might have been okay when the late emperor was alive, but now... you think too highly of me."

"Then...what should we do?"

Wan An asked with eyes wide open.

"This is something I should ask Elder Wan..."

Li Zisheng said unhappily, "You are now a cabinet minister, and the Prime Minister, you have the qualifications to check and balance the internal minister... You asked a Tongzhengshi to cause trouble for the internal minister, I'm afraid you entrusted it to the wrong person, right?

"Under the current situation, let alone the Ministry of Personnel, even if I leave the Yintai Department, no one will take my words seriously... Lord Wan, you really have the wrong person!"

……

……

After meeting Li Zisheng, Wan'an felt annoyed.

He is clearly the Prime Minister and his position seems to be very stable, but why does it feel like his time is running out?

The affairs of the court also seemed to be out of control!

"It's so weird!"

Wan An thought, "When the previous emperor was alive, no one took care of the affairs of the court, but I was like a fish in water. I believed in ruling by doing nothing, and others regarded me as a role model. But now the new emperor summons me every day and listens to my opinions from time to time, but why do I feel that my good days are coming to an end?"

Then Wan'an shamelessly ran to meet Zhang Luan.

The two met in the Hanlin Academy.

When the officials of the Hanlin Academy heard that Wan'an was coming, they all stayed away from him, as if they regarded Wan'an as a plague god.

Wan'an used the excuse of asking Zhang Luan about tomorrow's morning court session to invite Zhang Luan to the Bachelor's Room... The room was not big, with only a few tables and not even a bookshelf. It looked like it had been empty for a long time, but fortunately, the servants cleaned it every day, so it was not covered in dust.

"Sit, sit, sit."

Wan An pointed at the chair opposite as if he was the master here.

Zhang Luan thought, I am now the president of the Hanlin Academy. Strictly speaking, I am the master. Why do you come here as if you are here to direct my work?
Is this the case of the guest following the host's wishes?
Zhang Luan did not sit down as he was told. He just stood at the door and asked, "Master Wan, what's the matter?"

Wan An said, "Isn't there an important matter to be discussed in the morning court tomorrow, but the issue is still pending in the cabinet? So I came to discuss it with Zhang Hanlin."

"No."

Zhang Luan was very determined and shook his head, saying, "Lord Wan, you have found the wrong person. I am not very knowledgeable. If you really want to consult someone, I will invite Xie Hanlin to come to you. I mean... Xie Qian and Xie Yuqiao. They are very talented and knowledgeable."

"No, I just came to see you, Zhang Hanlin."

Wan'an came up personally and pulled Zhang Luan to sit down on the chair.

As if afraid that the person would run away, he hugged Zhang Luan's shoulders tightly, and seemed to want to show in front of his colleagues in the Hanlin Academy that he and Zhang Luan were of the same mind, and they looked particularly affectionate.

Zhang Luan sat down helplessly.

Wan An said: "Since the crown prince ascended the throne, he has been very busy... I heard that these days, he has spent a lot of time reviewing memorials personally every day."

"Oh."

Zhang Luan asked, "Wasn't it like this during the time of the previous emperor?"

Wan An was embarrassed when he heard this.

He thought to himself, the late emperor was not so hardworking. He would avoid state affairs whenever possible. If not, he would throw them to Huai'an or Li Zisheng... Don't you know?
If I say "no", you will probably accuse me of slandering the late emperor.

If I say "yes", that would not be a realistic attitude.

"It's a great thing that the new emperor is diligent in his work, right?"

Zhang Luan saw that Wan'an looked a little strange, so he said to himself, "Especially for the court officials, everyone hopes that the new emperor can be diligent and self-disciplined, so that we as ministers can have a lot less to worry about. What do you think?"

Wan An did not express his opinion, but just said: "It is not good for your Majesty to be overworked. We should also share your worries when appropriate."

"How do you share your worries?"

Zhang Luan asked curiously.

"It's like things that belong to the cabinet, and no one can interfere... Cabinet ministers are responsible for drafting the bills, and the new emperor reviews the memorials based on the bills. If they are good, they will be adopted directly. If they are not good, part of them will be adopted, or people will be sent to solicit opinions, or the Imperial Household Department will draft their own opinions..." Wan'an said slowly.

Zhang Luan frowned and interrupted Wan An: "Lord Wan, why are you telling me these procedures? I am not a member of the cabinet, let alone a eunuch from the Imperial Household Department."

Wan An smiled and said, "But... Lai Zhan, you are about to enter the cabinet."

"what!?"

Zhang Luan was very surprised and asked, "Who said that? I am not qualified... Besides, even if someone wants to recommend me, I will sternly refuse. This is a matter of principle and cannot be discussed."

Wan An was in doubt and stared at Zhang Luan for a long time before asking, "Don't you plan to be a prime minister? The Empress Dowager has always been optimistic about you. She also said that there are very few people in this world who understand the great way, and you happen to be one of the best. The lecturers in the Eastern Palace also have a good impression of you. You can handle all kinds of people. Why don't you go straight to the top and become an official in the cabinet?"

Zhang Luan smiled bitterly and said, "I am just a student after all."

"What are you afraid of? As long as you are from the Imperial Academy, it's fine... There are so many people in the Imperial Academy, and not all of them are Jinshi." Wan An said with disdain, "Of course, they are not as accomplished as you. Your admission to the Imperial Academy was arranged by the late emperor himself, which shows that the late emperor recognized your talent very much, especially the current emperor also recognizes this point."

Zhang Luan frowned and said, "So... Lord Wan wants me to join the cabinet?"

"It's not what I want, it's what everyone wants."

Wan An smiled and said, "Only if you join the cabinet will the cabinet be stable. No one else can do it. If you don't join the cabinet, and let Xu Pu join the cabinet, are you willing? What has he done for the new emperor to ascend the throne? After he joins the cabinet, do you dare to adopt his opinions? Does he understand what the new emperor thinks? If there are any unresolved issues, does he have a channel to seek the new emperor's opinion?"

"I have?"

Zhang Luan was a little confused at this moment.

Isn't it said that I, a court official who was born as a student, have no qualifications to aspire for the position of cabinet minister?
Why do you still praise me so highly?

A prime minister speaks as if I am the only one who can join the cabinet? !

Wan An said: "As long as you want to join the cabinet, I can guarantee that the person who joins the cabinet will be none other than you... Come and see, just tell me, do you want to join?"

Zhang Luan swallowed his saliva.

When it comes to joining the cabinet, although he really has no confidence at all, his son has always told him not to consider joining the cabinet. Even if he wants to join the cabinet, he has to wait until one or two new people enter first, and then he can line up behind and enter quietly.

The main reason was that he was afraid that Wan'an and Liu Ji would step down, so he would directly become the prime minister.

Because the cabinet is most particular about the order of entry, whoever comes first will be at the top.

Zhang Luan is at most qualified to be ranked in the middle or lower rank in the cabinet, and he cannot be the prime minister at all, otherwise his shortcomings of being ignorant will be exposed. This is also the path that Zhang Yanling has always planned for him...

Rather than being a second-rate cabinet minister, waiting for orders from others, it is better to stay in the six ministries and become a vice minister or a minister.

After all, there were precedents in the Ming Dynasty of people who were either juren or Taoist priests becoming assistant ministers or ministers, so Zhang Luan's official position would not seem too abrupt.

Zhang Yanling believed that trying hard to get into the cabinet was not a good thing, as it would bring endless troubles to the Zhang family and himself.

"this matter……"

Zhang Luan held his forehead and said, "Let me think about it again."

"well."

When Wan'an heard this, he thought, how could anyone not have the ambition to join the cabinet?

What I want is that you have ambition, so that you can help me stay as the Prime Minister of the Cabinet.

"Just say the word and I will do my best to help you."

Wan An said, "Don't easily listen to what others say, saying that no one in the court supports you! Think about it, now two ministers in the cabinet are on your side, at least two or three of the six ministers support you, plus the Empress Dowager and His Majesty are optimistic about you, how much support do you want to get after all this?"

"Uh……"

Zhang Luan looked confused and thought, am I so popular and respected?

"Those who oppose you are either just censors, or just officials of the six ministries, or just ordinary Hanlin... They have no chance of shaking your qualifications..."

Wan An said, "With our full support, as long as you are willing to join the cabinet, this position of cabinet minister is prepared for you."

……

……

Zhang Luan was moved.

Especially after enjoying the excitement brought by power recently, he feels that promotion to a high position is something worth looking forward to.

I can even wake up laughing in my dreams.

After returning home, he quickly told Zhang Yanling about this matter.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yanling poured cold water on him right away: "As long as you have the emperor's trust, it doesn't matter whether you are a cabinet minister or not. Look at the Prime Minister Wan'an, is he living a happy life now?"

"he……"

Zhang Luan was immediately discouraged when he heard this.

Wan'an was the Prime Minister, but now he behaved like a grandson in front of him, the Right Vice Minister of Rites.

Where is the trace of the prime minister's airs left?

Zhang Yanling continued, "Look at the most powerful official at the end of Chenghua period. What was his official position?"

"Shang Shu of the Ministry of Rites?"

Zhang Luan asked.

"That's just a part-time job... Li Zisheng himself is just an official of the Ministry of Public Security, but it does not affect his control over the government." Zhang Yanling said.

Zhang Luan was relieved: "Father understands. The so-called powerful officials want real power, not high official positions. I have to do more work so that your brother-in-law will appreciate and respect me, instead of thinking about how to climb up all day long. Is that what you mean?"

Zhang Yanling asked, "Now that you know this, do you still want to join the cabinet?"

"No, no, no, if you say we can't join, then we won't join... I can just be the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, that's good too."

Zhang Luan laughed heartily.

(Everything is new, please give me a guaranteed monthly ticket, thank you!)
(End of this chapter)