Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 255: The Old Minister Never Dies

On both sides of the Mingtang in the Huangji Hall, there are still two warm rooms, and the layout is similar to that of the Qianqing Palace.

Behind the throne on the northernmost side is a row of private spaces belonging to the emperor, with two floors.

There is no need for so many bedrooms for the emperor here. The first floor is used as a place for changing clothes, going to the toilet, and temporarily resting, while the second floor is very large.

The central hall has a lofted floor, and other areas are accessible.

There is also a door that leads to the platform above the original Huagai Hall.

Of course there is no Huagai Palace now, but instead there is a pavilion on the platform.

Today, this second-floor platform is where Zhu Changluo likes to stay, especially this pavilion.

After all, there is a rare circle of green plants around the platform, arranged along the stone wall supporting the beams on the lower level. It is a bright spot in the monotonous and extremely solemn outer court of the Forbidden City.

He liked staying here, but Wang Xijue and Zhu Geng suffered a lot.

Both of them are old, and at this moment Meng Xuanzhao had to climb the stairs, and then he walked over tremblingly under the guidance of Liu Ruoyu and Zou Yi.

"sit."

The pavilion is of course not small, and there are tables and chairs inside.

Wang Xijue and Zhu Geng thanked him and sat down to look at the book the emperor had just put down.

"Your Majesty is always reading, and you must be more and more impressed by the gains and losses of Taiyuegong's new policies in the past."

Wang Xijue was already seventy-four years old. After three years of hard work, he looked much older and was much thinner than Shin Sixing, who was still compiling the Veritable Records of King Cheoljong.

However, with the resources provided by the emperor, "Taiyue Gongji" was compiled very quickly, and one volume was printed as it was completed.

Zhu Changluo looked at the two of them and said first: "The feelings are naturally getting deeper and deeper. Wang Duzheng, Zhu Zhongshu, can't you stay for another two years? Can't we come up to this floor?"

Except for the Privy Councilor, the other four ministers were given official titles. Jinxianyuan eventually merged with the new name of Taichangzai to raise the standard, and the other three were respectively called the Minister of the Central Secretariat, the Minister of the State Affairs, and the Minister of the Imperial Censorate.

Wang Xijue and Zhu Geng looked at each other, then smiled bitterly together.

"Your Majesty, I was able to make it to this level, but that was also thanks to the help of Eunuch Liu."

"I am really old."

After both of them said this, Zhu Changluo sighed.

Wang Xijue bowed and said, "I beg your Majesty to grant me your permission. I have not been lazy for three years, and now I have made some achievements. Your Majesty has been on the throne for more than six years, and you have defeated the Burmese invaders in the southwest. Since your Majesty has rewarded the loyal and brave baron and promoted him to marquis, I think it is time for you to make great plans. How can I, an old minister, stay here? Even if I want to supervise the government, I will be powerless to change the policies when the war breaks out. It is better for me to return home and make way for others. I am happy to see a good minister meet a wise ruler in my hometown. The monarch and his ministers have made great achievements, and the Ming Dynasty will be renewed."

Zhu Changluo remained silent for a long time before he said, "In the blink of an eye, the Grand Tutor has been working hard for me for more than six years."

After the imperial inspection in the fourth year of Taichang, all five ministers were given titles of honor.

Since then, the title of Grand Tutor was bestowed on the Minister of Rites, the title of Grand Tutor was bestowed on the Governor-General, the title of Grand Protector was bestowed on the Privy Councilor, and the title of Grand Protector was bestowed on the Chief Imperial Secretary and Chief Secretary, depending on their age and qualifications. At least for now, these two are also the Three Dukes in Action. Those who come later may only be granted the title of the Three Orphans first.

Now that the emperor has changed the name for Wang Xijue, he is naturally prepared to allow it. Wang Xijue's words make sense, and Zhu Changluo is not prepared to continue to develop.

The Toungoo Dynasty had a new king, who was both capable and ambitious.

Last year, they again raised a large army and planned to invade Mubang.

The Three Xuans and Six Weis of Outer Yunnan are still nominally vassals of the Ming Dynasty, at least for now. After Liu Jing defeated Toungoo in Yunnan, they changed three kings. Now Liu Jing finally has another chance.

Following the order of the Privy Council, he was just defending there. But this defense caused great losses to the invading Toungoo, and the emperor even promoted Liu Jing to the title of Marquis, which was a signal.

After all, the positions of the five prime ministers have been decided, the atmosphere in the court has been renewed, and these three years have been very fruitful.

Internally, the strict preferential treatment was consolidated, and the Inspection Office kept an eye on the implementation of the local officials year after year. In addition, the Imperial Censor of Education conducted another year of inspection in the fifth year of Taichang, and the gentry seemed to have accepted the fate that the good days were gone forever.

Fortunately, there have been no other actions against them in the past three years, and even the worrying demotion has not occurred.

In fact, it was not until the beginning of last year that all the kings were settled in the imperial city area renamed Nanjing Zongwang Palace. However, before that, they had the "freedom" to leave their fiefdoms under the protection of the chief royal guards arranged by the Zongren Palace.

Changming and Zongming began to become active. The Caojun's investigation and salary changes had been going on for four years. Those who were interested were paying attention to the movements of Huangming Maritime Trade, a joint venture between the Caojun and Changming and Zongming.

The study of Taiyue Gongji, supervised by the Tongzheng Academy and the Ministry of Personnel, has never been put on hold. After the ceremony of enshrining the spirit tablet of Emperor Zhezong in the Taimiao and the spirit tablet of Zhang Juzheng in the temple of Emperor Zhezong was completed last year, it was obvious that a new round of formal new policies of the Ming Dynasty was about to be prepared and launched.

The first batch of graduates from Baijiayuan entered the officialdom, the changes in the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue, and the birth of Wang Zheng, the new top scholar, all indicate that the direction the emperor wants to change seems not just to cut the flesh of the gentry, but to enrich the country and strengthen the military through industry and commerce.

Therefore, with the new policy imminent, public opinion is not as turbulent as it was in the early years of Taichang.

After all, Changminghao and Zongminghao have quietly attracted many families, and the efforts of a group of Zhejiang officials who were replaced during the fourth year of Taichang were also indispensable.

Shen Yikuan was secretly very close to Changminghao and Zongminghao, and his son Shen Taihong even went to Guangzhou Maritime Customs to serve as a supervisor.

So now Wang Xijue said: Let those who want to make achievements take over, I am really old.

The emperor has not yet revealed his cards, but as long as there is real change, there will certainly still be tremendous resistance.

Wang Xijue had the will but lacked the strength.

The newly-appointed Jinshi looked south from the top of Wansui Mountain, but they could not see the pavilion blocked by the Huangji Palace. They did not know that the Ming Dynasty would immediately vacate two prime ministerial positions so that those who were determined to make achievements and fight for a future worthy of being enshrined in the Taimiao would have a good reputation after their death.

But the Ming court had long known that the two of them intended to leave, it was only because of the special first joint and palace examinations this year that they had been delayed until now.

Even before they left, countless people were already making preparations in private.

The grace of heaven is truly great. These old ministers who have been active in the court since the early years of the Wanli period are truly favored by the emperor!

Now that the Taichang Dynasty has entered its seventh year, your Majesty's throne is no longer in jeopardy. Is it time for the old ministers to step aside and the new ministers to take over?

Except for Ye Xianggao, who is only 49 this year, and Tian Le, who is 67 but still strong, who is not in his 70s and very old but still occupying a position?

And Shen Li is already 77 years old, how could you not submit your resignation together with him?

(End of this chapter)