Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 202 The most important thing is of course military power
Regarding the configuration of government offices and the division of powers from the central government to local governments, Zhu Changluo had a much clearer and more profound plan in mind than they did.

However, considering the current speed of information exchange and the level of various aspects, there must be adjustments, trade-offs, and a gradual approach.

But in this first step, when the heads of various departments in the Qianqing Palace heard about this great earthquake in the officialdom, the first thing they felt was that the emperor was confident.

He was able to answer so many detailed questions one by one, which even surprised Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, Tian Le and others.

This is not something that can be accomplished overnight, nor is it something that a young emperor who grew up in the deep palace could possibly imagine in terms of depth and detail.

For example, the official certificate system was originally just a document of an official's origin, but now it is combined with various imperial edicts and inspection results. Jinxianyuan will set up a special official archive. Every reward, punishment and demotion of every official since he was appointed will have a frequently updated file.

This will naturally become a basis for selection.

For example, why do Beijing officials above the fifth rank and local officials above the fourth rank in principle have to first go to the Tongzheng Academy under the Hanlin Academy for further study?

On the one hand, the Imperial Study will begin to build a huge library of local chronicles. On the other hand, it will also invite many retired officials from government offices in Beijing and local areas to serve as lecturers. During their training, these new officials will be able to familiarize themselves with the details of the places or government offices where they will be employed.

However, whether they can pass the examination depends mainly on whether they can understand and agree with the major policies of the court. If they can still go astray in the details of their duties after taking office, then the problem will be even greater.

Naturally, this negotiation cannot be completed in one day.

In order to redivide the center's interest structure, the first step is to determine the candidates for the "five ministers" so that someone can take the lead in starting discussions.

There is no need to finalize the specific divisions and not change them. The emperor made it clear that there will be an adjustment process in the future.

Everyone thought that the five ministers should be nominated, but Zhu Changluo said directly: "Call Zhu Geng and Zhu Shaoqin from Shanyin, Shaoxing Prefecture, Zhejiang Province, as the Imperial Study, Shen Li and Shen Zhonghua from Yucheng, Guide Prefecture, Henan Province, as the Inspection Institute, Tian Le and Tian Xizhi, the Ministers of War, as the Privy Council, and Jian Da and Jian Ru from Ba County, Chongqing Prefecture, Sichuan Province, as the Ministers of War."

At this moment, Zhu Guozuo and many others felt a chill in their hearts.

But then they thought about the qualifications and ages of these people, and they realized something.

They are all old ministers, and it is obvious that this is to give them an opportunity to serve as heroes in establishing a new order during the transition period, and also to tell the world that the emperor is not opposed to selecting talented people from those who are currently in the opposition.

They are all old, and the second echelon currently in the court still has time. Their chance will be left behind, so they must first adapt to the new order and make achievements recognized by the emperor, so that they can have the hope of directly becoming one of the five prime ministers with real titles in the future.

After the agreement was reached, Zhu Changluo proposed the next plan.

"The area around the three palaces will eventually have to be rebuilt in the future." Zhu Changluo looked at He Shengrui, "The platform is still there, but outside the three palaces, the surrounding rooms of the Huangji Palace, the civil and military towers, and the layout of the outer court can all be reconsidered. My purpose is clear. Inside the Meridian Gate, south of the Wuying Palace and Wenhua Palace, and south of the Jianji Palace, are all designated as the outer court. From Xihua Gate, through the Wuying Palace, past the Wu Tower, to the Longzong Gate, Qianqing Gate, Jingyun Gate, the Wen Tower, past the Wenhua Palace, to the Zhengyin Gate and Donghua Gate, how to make the palace wall clearly divided inside and outside again, the Ministry of Works should come up with a strategy."

He Shengrui was astonished. How big a project was this?

To be frank, the emperor's safety was also very important. This was equivalent to building another palace wall between the outer court and the harem, and the outer court was equivalent to a large "urn city".

Of course, there is already a thick palace wall, but this wall does not need to be particularly exaggerated. It only needs to be slightly wider to facilitate patrolling and guarding the harem.

Do we need to worry too much about what might happen to the civil officials who enter the outer court? If the Meridian Gate, Donghua Gate, and Xihua Gate are closed, we will be able to catch the turtle in the jar.

Everyone thought that the emperor now had a private army of the Yongweiying.

"In this way, within the imperial city, inside and outside the Meridian Gate, the monarch and his subjects will complement each other. The Forbidden City will have a real outer court, with all five courts going into the Meridian Gate to do business." Zhu Changluo looked at them, "To see that scene, we must prepare the finances first. What do you think?"

Everyone understood: the focus is still the new policy to be implemented now.

The emperor has made it clear that he is giving everyone a future with a higher ceiling, but if they want to truly reach this future, all officials in the world need to work together for this future.

Working hard to collect taxes not only ensured his own treatment after being promoted to a higher position and salary, but also ensured that the emperor could actually carve out a small piece of his Forbidden City, thus ruling the world together with his ministers both in symbolic significance and in actual status.

Zhu Changluo listened to their words of agreement and knew that the court's attention would truly shift to the future.

The current dispute between the new and old parties is insignificant in the face of such a big change in the court structure.

The emperor certainly did not give in. His will could be determined in advance through the five ministers who restrained each other, and could also be extended to specific individuals in the central and local areas.

Therefore, this is actually to concentrate the wealth of the Ming Dynasty more efficiently and to separate officials and gentry more clearly.

If you don't serve as an official in the court, you are just a commoner who enjoys preferential treatment but also has to bear responsibilities.

Entering the imperial court as an official meant entering a more sophisticated system. There were more paths to move up, with firm protection from the imperial power below and secret reports and opportunities to study and contact the emperor every time, and the ceiling broke through the ancestral system of two hundred years.

The ministers didn't care what Taizu was thinking. They only knew that the emperor was willing to give up such symbols and titles, which showed that he was very determined.

Everyone can imagine what the situation will be like after these five ministers have become famous and powerful over the years: if the emperor is not talented enough, he may not be able to control this situation steadily.

Then began the internal meetings of the Jinxianyuan, Shizhengyuan, and Privy Council.

The Jinxianyuan and Shizhiyuan are relatively simple, and there have been few changes so far.

But the Privy Council is different.

Zhu Changluo moved to the Wuying Palace, where, in addition to Tian Le and Li Chengliang, the assistant minister of the Ministry of War, the governor of the five ministries and some meritorious officials also arrived by imperial decree.

Tian Le only then expressed some of his hidden concerns. "Your Majesty, how about this Wuying Grand Secretary, every successor after me..."

Li Chengliang and Zhang Weixian both looked at Zhu Changluo.

A military minister must be a civil official. Although there are meritorious officials and military generals in the Privy Council, there are also a large number of civil officials.

Tian Le was apparently asking about his own future, but in fact he was asking about the emperor's future.

In this way, if the military power is allowed to go further into the hands of civil officials, will there be concerns for the country in the future?
Of course there will be.

Zhu Changluo only said: "From now on, military affairs will be independent. Wuying Grand Secretary will be a lone minister, and the officials of the Ministry of War will only be promoted and not dismissed."

The two assistant ministers of the Ministry of War were shocked: He is trapped just like that?

"I might as well say it frankly. From now on, the Privy Council will not be involved in other state affairs except for Wuying Grand Secretary, and will only be responsible for military affairs." Zhu Changluo looked at the two assistant ministers of the Ministry of War. "Military affairs require specialization. Even if it is just talking about military affairs on paper, you must know about military affairs. Not just any civil official can come and give orders on military affairs. Similarly, military affairs cannot override state affairs. In normal times, we must comply with the needs of the overall situation, and act upon orders when an emergency occurs."

He held up three fingers. "First, I have set up subsidies for the Privy Council from my own treasury. Second, I have ordered that military expenses be earmarked every year, and then only the Privy Council will be responsible for monitoring and auditing. Third, I have made up my mind to make major changes to the central government this time, mostly for the Privy Council."

When he came in front of them, Zhu Changluo no longer hid anything.

The most important thing is of course the military power. The establishment of the other four ministers is essentially to completely obtain the complete military power from top to bottom.

What we need to show the military system is more space.

From border troops to local garrisons, from the Beijing camp to the Yangtze River navy, from military settlements to military preparations, from the selection and promotion of military generals to the future national military system, Li Chengliang did not expect that the emperor had such in-depth thoughts.

Even the direction of reform of the offices within the Privy Council is very clear. It can truly be described as a system that is not constrained by other systems from the outside, but is constrained by each other from the inside.

"Train troops, improve weapons, cultivate generals, understand intelligence, and enforce strict military discipline." Zhu Changluo looked at Tian Le, then at Li Chengliang and other military officials, "Let me make it clearer. Surveying land, investigating gentry, and enforcing preferential treatment are all temporary measures to enrich the country and strengthen the army. I can open up more wealth for the Ming Dynasty, so that there will be no danger of competition and gradual alienation."

There was a gleam in Li Chengliang's eyes, but he also felt a little regretful because he was getting old.

Which sturdy military commander would not like such an enterprising emperor? To expand wealth is to expand territory.

"To reach that point, we need to get out of the vicious circle of expanding territory and losing more than gain. We need a bigger picture and a better way." Zhu Changluo said without a doubt, "I have it! Three marquises and five earls are just the beginning. I am only twenty years old. I am determined to surpass the Han and Tang dynasties!"

The emperor clearly stated his ambition, and the most excited person present was the military official.

To go from the current situation to one that far surpasses the Han and Tang dynasties, how many more lords and brave generals will the Ming Dynasty need?

"But the first step is to stabilize the internal affairs, enrich the country and strengthen the army!" Zhu Changluo looked at Tian Le and the two assistant ministers of the Ministry of War again, "Even if there are five ministers to govern together, increase the salaries of officials, and select talented people, in order to be able to collect taxes and taxes, and to collect more and more in the future without harming the common people, the Privy Council must still be prepared to suppress rebellions at any time."

Hearing these chilling words, the military officials became even more excited, and the two assistant ministers of the Ministry of War became even more frightened.

"Before the troops move, the food and fodder must go first." Zhu Changluo waved his hand. "This year is just a beginning. I will allocate two million taels of silver from the treasury for allowances and various expenses. From now on, every year, in addition to the military expenses from the national treasury, I will allocate half of the gold and silver, 600,000 taels, to the Privy Council. The Privy Council and the armies of the Ming Dynasty, prepare for the war!"

Tian Le now understood that although there were a large number of civil officials in the Privy Council system, they would be transformed into civil servants among the military officers, with their own independent interest system, and would be completely tied to the honor and disgrace of the military generals.

Everything depends on the emperor's full support for military spending.

This of course requires the emperor to have sufficient financial resources and willingness. Whether other emperors after him can handle this matter is not something the Privy Council should consider.

As long as the emperor has the ability to reward and maintain the army, then all military power will be in his hands and the imperial power will be safe and secure.

Everyone was quite shocked by the huge amount of money of two million taels.

...From the surplus "plundered" by the former retired emperor to the various confiscations up to now, especially from the major case in Jiangnan last year, and the officials' return of stolen money as wedding gifts, how much silver is left in the emperor's treasury?

This is probably the emperor's greatest confidence now.

Zhu Changluo does still have money at present, even if he invested the money in Changminghao, and even if he received various loans and rewards last year.

Originally, the treasury had a surplus of more than 4 million taels. Later, the treasury was nearly doubled with the money confiscated from the recalled mining supervisors and the Shanhaiguan uprising. And last year, the Cheng family became a world-famous Jiangyou merchant due to the Jiangnan case. How rich was it? How much money was there from the hundreds of Jiangnan gentry who were questioned and the large amount of stolen money returned as wedding gifts?

Money is useless if it just sits in the library.

Except for the silver needed to build the Privy Council system, Zhu Changluo was richer after spending all this money than when he first took power.

If he wanted, he could even allocate money now to build a new outer court area in the Forbidden City. After all, He Shengrui can save money.

But it would be better to use this money to let He Shengrui develop the military industrial park in Zunhua.

Of course, the outer court under the new structure requires court officials to feel involved.

This sense of participation means promoting strict preferential treatment and exemption and collecting the money through collective efforts.

If things go well, the whole country will return the stolen money and get pardoned this year. I don’t know how much money it will be, an astronomical amount of money!
(End of this chapter)