I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 18: The New Year’s Day Meeting VS the Three Days of the Lunar New Year (Big Chapter)

In May, the capital city is mostly sunny with little rain, and is very prosperous and bustling.

The streets are lined with shops and bustling with traffic.

Merchants, craftsmen, wandering scholars, wizards, monks, Taoist priests, brothel hangers-on, and scoundrels can be seen everywhere.

Since the Jiajing period.

The court's laws and regulations were relaxed, officials were corrupt, commerce flourished, land was seriously annexed, the lower classes abandoned their land and migrated, and the moral principles and social norms were gradually broken down.

From the literati to the common people, heretical speech was rampant.

The rich and powerful are arrogant, extravagant and wasteful; the poor and humble ignore the law and are mercenary and cunning.

Listening to music, having fun, visiting prostitutes, and collecting rare treasures gradually became new social trends.

"Jin Ping Mei" was written during this period, precisely because of this decadent and hedonistic social atmosphere.

Today's capital has a population of nearly one million.

However, there is a serious class divide.

Although we live in the same place, our lives are so different.

The royal relatives, nobles, Beijing officials and wealthy businessmen are the masters here, and other classes are like slaves.

In short.

The rich and powerful were plundering crazily, while the poor and humble were lying down and playing dirty. The Ming Dynasty was showing signs of decline.

All officials know this.

A few officials had the ambition to govern the country, such as Zhang Juzheng.

Most officials just want to take advantage of their power to make the people suffer and make more money.

……

Hanlin Academy, Review Hall.

Shen Nian drank tea and calmly sorted out his daily records.

Him at the moment.

Although the frequency of recording daily records has increased a lot, it is not as busy as before.

This is because, in addition to serving the emperor at his side, the compilers of the daily records also had to compile and record the imperial edicts, imperial decrees, imperial edicts, cabinet drafts, memorials to the emperor, and memorials to the six ministries.

This kind of official business is more important than compiling historical records, but it is a slow and meticulous process.

Ma Ziqiang reduced Shen Nian's official duties of compiling historical records and shifted his focus to compiling daily records.

Shen Nian had less physical work to copy and write, and more valuable mental work to do.

At this time, he was reviewing from the seventh rank.

But what he did seemed to be all the work done by a sixth-rank editor, or even a sixth-rank reader or lecturer.

This was Zhang Juzheng's consistent approach in governing the country: he entrusted important tasks to capable people.

If Shen Nian could do this for a year.

His understanding of the political, military, civil and other affairs of the entire Ming Dynasty would be far ahead of officials of the same level.

Like Yan Song, Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng.

Almost all of them had no experience in local governance. They all came from the Hanlin Academy and then quickly entered the cabinet.

And yet he did a good job.

This is because they read a large number of court documents and memorials, understood the operating mechanism of the entire Ming Dynasty, and had a better overall perspective.

If this continues, Shen Nian will definitely have a bright future.

……

On May 16th, it was the day for the emperor to attend court, and Shen Nian was on duty to record the daily routine.

It was almost four o'clock in the morning.

Shen Nian climbed out of bed and hurried to the palace.

early morning.

On the third, sixth and ninth day of the month, three times in ten days, nine times in a month, it is very tiring.

Officials who lived far away from the imperial palace had to cross most of the capital to attend court and had to get up before three o'clock in the morning.

But this is much better than the early Ming Dynasty.

Back then, the model worker Lao Zhu was responsible for two jobs in one day.

In addition to the morning court sessions held every day, which were attended by everyone from the six ministers to the ninth-rank minor officials, court sessions would also be held in the evening if there were any major events.

There are thousands of people every time.

On the first and fifteenth day of each month, the scale of the ceremonies is even more grand.

but.

At that time, the court meetings were where the emperor worked on the spot and actually solved problems.

And now it has become a ritual.

What really solved the problem was the cabinet's draft and the approval of the Imperial Household Department.

During court sessions every day, the emperor and his ministers would just read from the script and go through the motions.

Like the last time when Zhou Ziyi, the director of the Imperial College, suddenly made a report in the court, this might not happen once a year.

soon.

All the officials were in place, nearly a thousand in number.

Half of them were standing in the open space outside the Huangji Gate. The court meeting in the hall had nothing to do with them, and they couldn't even hear it.

They're just making up the numbers.

Shen Nian stood southeast of the throne with his chest straight.

At present, only those above the fifth rank and those summoned to the court are eligible to participate in court meetings, totaling nearly a thousand people.

Shen Nian was not considered a court official, but only a record-keeping official.

He was also sleepy, but had to stand straight.

Because the ritual officials of the Honglu Temple and the censors of the Metropolitan Censorate were standing by to supervise, if they found anyone being rude, they would record it and include it in the performance evaluation.

Shen Nian stood there and looked at it from his perspective.

The officials were all bored.

Getting up early ruins the day, and this is constantly happening to these officials.

Soon, the ceremony was over and the regular court session officially began.

Some memorials were read aloud by the Shangshu and Shilang of the six ministries, while others were read by the ritual officials of the Honglu Temple.

Afterwards, the little emperor had to reply one by one or the cabinet had to reply on his behalf. Most of them had regulations that could be read out.

There are very few things that actually need to be handled on site.

……

In the blink of an eye, more than an hour passed.

The regular session is coming to an end.

Shen Nian's mood immediately relaxed. After he wrote "attended court" on the daily record book, today's daily record task was completed.

Since the young Wanli had never been in power, he spent his time reading and writing, painting, and archery.

Shen Nian will not follow anymore.

Just when Shen Nian was thinking about whether to take a nap soon or at noon, an imperial censor suddenly stepped out.

He held a notebook in his hand and said loudly, "Your Majesty, many officials were absent from court today. After investigation, the number reached 283!"

To miss the court means not to attend the court.

Because court rituals are often followed, nothing can be solved.

Many officials would claim to be sick or have official business to ask for leave from court.

This was a common occurrence in the Ming Dynasty.

When the number of people is small, the emperor and cabinet ministers will turn a blind eye.

Of course, it's not okay to go too far.

For example, on one day in May of the ninth year of the Chenghua reign, 1169 people missed court. On July of the twenty-third year of the Chenghua reign, on the anniversary of the death of Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di, 1118 people missed court.

If dozens of people ask for leave, it can be considered normal, but if more than a hundred people ask for leave, it is a lazy dynasty.

The court's punishments were also very interesting. Officials were ordered to move ash to the ash factory and move bricks to the brick factory. The higher the official rank, the heavier the punishment.

The reason why the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty did not attend court was actually because he learned it from these officials.

After Emperor Jiajing stopped attending court, officials often failed to attend court with the arrogant attitude that "the law does not hold everyone responsible."

It is normal for hundreds of people to be absent from every court meeting, but this time the number of people is indeed a bit too much.

Zhang Juzheng frowned slightly and strode out.

"Your Majesty, attending court is the duty of every minister. Anyone who fails to attend, regardless of the reason for requesting leave, will be severely punished. This ancestral rule must not be violated!"

Zhang Juzheng's voice was very loud.

He likes to attend court.

Every time he attended court, he stood straight and never even yawned.

At this moment, young Wanli actually didn't want to go to court.

He sat on the throne, like listening to a monk chanting, which was meaningless.

But Zhang Juzheng had already expressed his opinion, so how could he not agree?

Young Wanli straightened up and said loudly, "What the Prime Minister said is absolutely right. Pass on my decree: anyone who fails to attend court today will be fined one month's salary!"

at this time.

Ge Shouli, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate who was about to retire, walked out slowly.

"Your Majesty, I believe that officials who miss court should be punished. However, the regular court sessions are all just formalities. The Grand Herald introduces the emperor and reads from a script, while all the civil and military officials kneel and stand, but nothing substantial happens."

"All matters of our dynasty, big or small, are decided by Your Majesty and the Cabinet. The court is just a decoration."

"I earnestly request that the number of regular court sessions be further reduced, and that the system of new moon and full moon court sessions be restored, with two court sessions per month. This will reduce the burden on Your Majesty and all officials, and make it easier for all government offices to handle their business!"

Ge Shouli is about to retire, and his courage has grown.

He implied that the cabinet monopolized power and that court meetings were just formalities.

But this is the truth.

Thousands of officials got up at three in the morning, regardless of the cold or heat.

Just kneeling and standing inside and outside the Huangji Gate and shouting "Long live the emperor" is indeed a bit empty talk.

Swish!
At this time, another official came out.

"I second the proposal. According to the actual situation of the court, the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month will be sufficient."

"I second the motion!" "I second the motion!"

……

At one moment, several officials stood up and expressed their secondment. They were also tired of the regular court meetings that were full of rituals.

Zhang Juzheng stared straight ahead, motionless.

He always likes to strike back.

At this time, Minister of Rites Zhang Siwei stood up.

"I believe that Lord Zhang has already changed the daily court session to thirteen times every ten days. Any reduction would violate our ancestral system. Back then, Emperor Taizu didn't find it tiring to hold court multiple times a day, but now you find it tiring when it's only thirteen times every ten days? Court sessions are not only a manifestation of the etiquette between the monarch and his subjects, but also an important way to demonstrate the emperor's majesty. I oppose regular court sessions on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month!"

After Zhang Siwei finished speaking, he quickly glanced at Zhang Juzheng, and seeing that he had no expression, he returned to the queue.

He was trying to figure out what Zhang Juzheng was thinking.

The idea of ​​"three meetings in ten days" was proposed by Zhang Juzheng, with the aim of getting rid of empty talk and focusing on practical matters. Now some officials obviously want to be more pragmatic.

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

……

Immediately, more than ten officials stood up and seconded the proposal of Minister of Rites Zhang Siwei.

These officials obviously do not love the court.

Most of them felt that the Left Censor-in-Chief Ge Shouli was implying that Zhang Juzheng was monopolizing power, so they wanted to take sides and sing a different tune from Ge Shouli.

Lean slightly.

Minister of Personnel Zhang Han stood up.

"I think that holding court three times a day is redundant and useless. It would be better to hold court meetings on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. If there is a major event, we can hold court meetings there."

"I second the proposal!"

As soon as Zhang Han finished speaking, Minister of Revenue Wang Guoguang and Minister of Works Guo Chaobin stepped forward to second the motion.

In the court hall.

The people with the most say, apart from the two elders of the cabinet, are the six ministers and the Left Censor-in-Chief.

The three ministers of the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Works all supported the proposal of the Left Censor-in-Chief Ge Shouli.

Minister of Rites Zhang Siwei opposed it, while the other two ministers, Minister of War Tan Lun was not in Beijing, and Minister of Punishments Wang Zhigao did not express his opinion.

Seeing that the three ministers were all contradicting him, Zhang Siwei could not help but shout again: "Everyone, the laws of our ancestors cannot be violated. Think about how Taizu and Chengzu attended court. Such state etiquette must not be abolished!"

"The laws of our ancestors? Do you still remember what Emperor Shizong said back then?" Ge Chengli asked loudly.

Ge Chengli is about to retire and it is obvious that he wants to let himself go.

Shen Nian almost laughed out loud.

Emperor Shizong is the Jiajing Emperor Zhu Houzhao.

In the 29th year of the Jiajing reign, his ministers impeached him for not attending court. He said, "I haven't been busy with military affairs for a moment, so what good is it to sit in court?"

To put it bluntly: My not attending court did not delay any military or national affairs, so what's the point of attending court!
Taking Emperor Jiajing as an example, it is obviously not a model, but it can refute the claim that it is against the ancestral etiquette.

Once one emperor had done something, subsequent emperors could not be accused of violating ancestral rules if they did it again.

Even though Emperor Jiajing was absurd.

In this ordinary court, in front of his grandson, Little Wanli, and his daughter-in-law, Empress Dowager Li, who dares to criticize Emperor Jiajing!
Immediately, a young official stood up.

"I believe that if the New Moon and Full Moon Court Meetings are not implemented, more public affairs should be decided at court meetings, with Your Majesty, the elders, and the ministers jointly deciding on them, rather than having them submitted to the cabinet for a vote!"

Hear this.

Lu Diaoyang, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly strode out and turned around to scold, "Nonsense! If everything had to be resolved on the spot, even ten cabinet ministers wouldn't be enough. If everyone could participate in the decision-making, nothing would be settled!"

The official's eyes turned red and he immediately stepped back.

At this time, another official came out.

"I believe that the first and fifteenth day court meetings are not a sign of laziness, but rather a way to better handle government affairs. Since the implementation of the examination system, all government offices have been working day and night, and are extremely busy. If court meetings are just a formality, they should be reduced."

"I object! A court meeting is a great ceremony for the state. If a minister sees Your Majesty twice a month, in the long run, the king will not know the ministers, and the ministers will not know the king. Some ministers will inevitably develop disrespect!"

"I object!" Another official stood up.

……

Suddenly.

The Huangji Hall became lively, and people outside were standing on tiptoe and listening to the debate in the hall with their ears perked up.

Shen Nian is very energetic at this moment.

His position is the best place to watch the show. If such a good show is performed in the court every day, he will not feel sleepy.

As the saying goes: Mind your own business.

Shen Nian was not a minister participating in the court meeting and did not need to speak or express his opinion, so he was in a very relaxed mood.

And this moment.

Just as young Wanli was listening to the debate below, his thoughts were wavering.

A light cough was heard from behind the curtain.

"Cough cough..."

Little Wanli immediately stood up, then pressed his hands together and shouted, "Quiet!"

This cough means: If you have any questions, ask the prime minister.

Feng Bao's sharp voice came from the side.

"Quiet!"

Feng Bao's voice was so penetrating that the court fell silent in an instant.

The young Wanli looked at Zhang Juzheng, who had remained silent, and asked, "Prime Minister, what do you think?"

Zhang Juzheng raised his head and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I feel that since this matter has already been discussed publicly, it is not appropriate for me to make a decision. It is better for us to stand together and vote!"

This kind of thing is best suited to a team vote.

Zhang Juzheng sometimes also had to take into account the opinions of the majority of officials.

He is a model worker in the officialdom, but not all officials want to be model workers.

He is still willing to accommodate most of the rules.

Young Wanli nodded and said, "My Lords, those who agree with the regular morning and fifteenth court sessions should stand on the right, and those who agree with the thirteenth court session every ten days should stand on the left. Once you have taken your place, you are not allowed to change your position!"

After the young Wanli finished speaking, he added: "Officials of the second rank and above, stand in the middle and express their opinions last!"

"Officials on duty at the Honglu Temple, once you've lined up, immediately count the number of people."

Little Wanli is very smart.

Once these ministers and assistant ministers have finished expressing their opinions, other officials will most likely choose to take sides rather than express their inner thoughts.

Immediately, the inside and outside of Huangji Gate became like a vegetable market.

The fifth-rank official, wearing a green robe, a three-beamed court crown, and a silver-grade flower belt, moved first.

Then, officials wearing red robes and wearing cloud goose patches, peacock patches, pheasant patches, and crane patches moved in one after another.

At last.

The two cabinet ministers, Zhang Juzheng and Lu Diaoyang, stood on the left at the same time, maintaining the old custom of holding three court sessions in ten days.

After a while.

Shen Nian, who was standing in the southeast corner of the throne, looked up and found that the number of people on both sides was about the same, both were crowded.

About a cup of tea later.

A ceremonial officer from the Honglu Temple stepped forward and announced loudly, "Your Majesty, including me, there are 483 people on the left and 483 on the right, equal!"

"Ah?" Little Wanli was very surprised.

At this time, the officials all looked up at the young Wanli.

It's his turn to make the decision!

Little Wanli frowned. He naturally agreed with the new moon and fifteenth day court meetings.

But doing so was against the Prime Minister's wishes, and he would certainly be punished by Empress Dowager Li to kneel after the court meeting.

However, he was unwilling to go against his will and continued to do it for thirteen days in ten days.

If he agreed to the New Moon and Full Moon Court Meetings, he had to come up with a reason that would convince everyone.

Little Wanli couldn't figure it out.

At this moment, little Wanli suddenly noticed Shen Nian not far away.

He couldn't help but be overjoyed.

Shen Nian is also a civil official and is qualified to attend court, so he can also take sides.

Little Wanli decided to let Shen Nian make this difficult decision.

Just as Shen Nian was looking down at the play, the young Wanli coughed and said, "Just now, the Prime Minister said that the ministers should express their opinions on this matter. It is not appropriate for me to make a decision. I wonder if you have noticed that there is still an official who has not made a decision!"

Swish!
All the ministers looked at Feng Bao not far away, but immediately shook their heads.

As a eunuch, Feng Bao participated in court meetings, but he was on duty, not attending court.

Swish!
At this time, the ministers noticed Shen Nian in the southeast corner of the throne.

Shen Nian was looking around for someone.

He was dumbfounded when he found that the officials' eyes were all focused on him.

At this moment, he wanted to curse!
He felt that his career was full of obstacles.

First, he almost took the blame for the little emperor because of his lectures in the inner study hall, and then because the little emperor spoke rashly, he almost offended the little emperor because of his daily records.

If he wasn't smart.

He might have been exiled to a remote area during the imperial examination.

But today, if he takes sides, he will definitely offend a large number of people.

If he agreed to hold court three times every ten days, many officials would have to get up in the middle of the night to attend court, and they would definitely be cursing Shen Nian.

If he agreed to hold court on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, some defenders of ancestral rituals would be displeased, and he might even offend Zhang Juzheng, Lu Diaoyang and Zhang Siwei.

Some officials looked at Shen Nian and couldn't help laughing, thinking in their hearts: This Shen Nian is such an unlucky guy.

They didn't believe that Shen Nian could come up with a solution that would satisfy both parties again.

……

Note 1: "Wanli Diary Notes" records: "On May th, the emperor attended court. His expression was unclear, and a torch was still burning in the courtyard. Many of the emperor's ministers were absent from court. The Imperial Censor impeached him, and the emperor ordered the Jinyiwei and the Honglu Temple to investigate and dismiss officials who had failed to attend, each with a one-month salary fine."

Note 2: In July of the 1118rd year of Chenghua, 5000 people were absent from court. Emperor Xianzong Zhu Jianshen ordered officials above the third rank to move 3000 kilograms of mud and mortar, officials below the fourth rank to move 1500 kilograms, and officials below the ninth rank to move 620 kilograms; in February of the 500th year of Hongzhi, 300 people were absent from court. Emperor Xiaozong Zhu Youtang ordered officials above the third rank to move 200 bricks, officials below the fourth rank to move bricks, and officials below the ninth rank to move bricks.

　PS: After midnight, I will be testing the waters for promotion. I beg all readers to read it in the next few days. This is a matter of life and death for this book. Thank you very much!!!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)