Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 18 Donglin Party Summary Meeting (Part )

Liu Mansion in Nanxunfang, Beijing

"Where did this Xu Guangqi come from?" Zhao Nanxing, the leader of the Donglin Party and the Shaoqing of Taichang, got angry for once.

"Qiehe (Zhao Nanxing's nickname), Xu Guangqi is a member of our Donglin Party." Han Yu, the Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of Dongke, didn't know where Zhao Nanxing got so angry.

"Of course he is a member of the Donglin Party. But the problem is that no one recommended him, and he is not on the list of appointments we planned." Liu Yirong, the Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Dongke, rubbed his temples. "Everyone knows that the next Minister of Rites of the Donglin Party should have been Minister Sun." Liu Yirong looked at Sun Ruyou with dissatisfaction.

Han Yu and Liu Yirong were both given the honorary title of Minister of Rites.

After the Hu Weiyong case, Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang abolished the Secretariat and the prime minister system, hoping that the emperor would shoulder the highest power and the highest administrative body, that is, he would have both decision-making power and administrative power.

Zhu Yuanzhang was a tough guy who was able and willing to work from morning till night, but this does not mean that his descendants would be the same.

Although Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty was as talented and wise as his father, his repeated personal military campaigns prevented him from truly taking charge of state affairs. As a result, a cabinet came into being to help the emperor "assist in government affairs."

During the reign of Emperor Chengzu, the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet were nominally advisors to the government and considered inner court officials, with a rank no higher than the fifth rank. However, China has always had a tendency for inner court officials to become outer court officials.

During the reign of Ming Xuanzong Zhu Zhanji, with the assistance of the Three Yang Cabinet, a complete set of government procedures was established: the Ministry of Public Security compiled memorials from all over the country, the Cabinet was responsible for drafting opinions on how to deal with them (piao ni), and then the Silijian submitted the opinions to the emperor for approval (pi hong), and after the decision was made, it was handed over to the officials for execution.

Therefore, in order to allow the fifth-rank cabinet ministers to relieve more of the emperor's worries, it became a tradition in the Ming Dynasty from Chengzu to Xuanzong for the ministers to hold a high-level honorary title. For example, the cabinet ministers could also hold the titles of the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince (Three Dukes or Three Orphans) or the Minister of a certain ministry.

The Donglin Party originally planned to promote Sun Ruyou, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, to the position of the official. This would have completely secured control of the Ministry of Rites. The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel would then collaborate to promote the "virtuous and capable" in the imperial examinations. Even if the emperor rejected Zhou Jiamo's "recommendation," the Donglin Party would still be able to control the prefectures and counties throughout the country.

Now, Xu Guangqi suddenly appeared and took the position of Minister of Rites, which made the Donglin Party very uneasy.

Although Xu Guangqi was also a member of the Donglin Party, he was far too uncontrollable. For example, today, the Liu family held a meeting. The Donglin Party invited the newly appointed Minister of Rites, Xu Guangqi, but Xu Guangqi declined the invitation, citing the handover of military affairs in Tongzhou.

"Sun Jingwen! (Sun Ruyou's pen name) The emperor obviously intended to let you sit in this position, why did you insist on rejecting the emperor's proposal. If you had agreed at that time, and then we would have made some arrangements, wouldn't you have been promoted?" Minister of Personnel Zhou Jiamo couldn't help but question.

The "Recommendation Memorial" was completely dead, and the uncertainty of Xu Guangqi emerged in next year's special examination. Zhou Jiamo was really extremely popular.

"How can the imperial examination system be tainted by gimmicks and tricks? The correct path is to select officials according to the teachings of Confucius, Mencius, Cheng Yi, and Zhu Xi!" Sun Ruyou remained undeterred, a staunch defender of Confucianism. "Didn't the emperor say that mathematics wouldn't affect the selection process? Why are you so stubborn?" Although Zou Yuanbiao, the Grand Court Justice, only spoke a single sentence throughout, he still listened to the entire cabinet meeting.

"Hmph! Just because it won't affect me next year doesn't mean it won't affect me forever. The Emperor is trying to subtly introduce foreign sorcery into the imperial examinations! Once this loophole is opened, it can't be closed." Sun Ruyou sarcastically said, "Zou Nangao (Zou Yuanbiao's nickname), you weren't like this when you attacked Zhang Jiangling for stealing my love. You were much more stubborn back then, weren't you?"

"Zhang Juzheng's contributions were to the country, but his faults were to his family. Let's put one thing before another! Okay, I, Zou Yuanbiao, will speak frankly! I am different from you. I was once exiled to Guizhou, and I have seen the deformed appearance of the "big officials and small officials" in the county government offices of my dynasty. I think what the emperor said makes sense." Zou Yuanbiao was so stimulated that he no longer hid anything.

"Okay! Jingwen, Nangao, stop talking. If you continue like this, we will collapse before Fang Congzhe and the Zhejiang Party attack us." Zhao Nanxing stepped forward to mediate.

At this time, the Donglin Party had two core or spiritual leaders: Zhao Nanxing and Zou Yuanbiao. Their common characteristic was that they held low positions but had great influence. If Zou Yuanbiao had publicly criticized Sun Ruyou, the Donglin Party would have been on the verge of a split.

"Alright, Qiehe, I apologize." Zou Yuanbiao quickly composed himself. "Now, let's talk business. Who pushed the obscure Xu Guangqi to this position? From fourth rank to second rank, the only person who's been promoted faster recently is Yang Lian, right?"

"Yang Lian's title of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War was just an honorary one; his real job was the Censor of Liaodong Province. Xu Guangqi, the Minister of Rites, was a legitimate official in the capital. How could Yang Lian compare to him when it came to sitting on the court?" Zhou Jiamo sighed softly and shook his head, "Why are all the recent Donglin Party members promoted to positions of power such as disobedient traitors?"

"The emperor may have changed and has his own ideas." Liu Yirong put down the teacup and said suddenly.

"Not necessarily. You forgot someone." Han Yu thought of another possibility.

"Who? You don't mean Xu Guangqi himself, do you? The only thing he has submitted to Beijing recently is a petition requesting money. It was written in a very formal manner, with nothing special about it." Sun Ruyou was puzzled.

Han Yu thought for a moment, then shook his head and replied, "Think carefully, who benefited and who suffered in the Zheng family's affairs?"

"I feel like I'm the most unlucky one." Zhou Jiamo was very sad and sighed again. "But if we talk about the one who benefits, it must be Cui Wensheng first. He colluded with others."

Zhou Jiamo caught a glimpse of Liu Yirong's embarrassed expression and swallowed his words. "Cui Wensheng was originally a eunuch serving under the Zheng family. After the palace relocation case, not only was he not dismissed, but he was promoted. Wang An's promotion to the position of Chief of Ceremonial Affairs was perfectly normal. But after Wang An vacated the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Depot (the Chief of Ceremonial Affairs did not concurrently hold the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Depot), Cui Wensheng took the position. That's the Eastern Depot, so who else would benefit the most?"

"But Cui Wensheng is just a servant. How could a servant possibly influence his master? The emperor isn't a child, and Cui Wensheng isn't Feng Bao. He's just a bitch who wags his tail." Liu Yirong got angry whenever he thought of Cui Wensheng. This bastard had actually sold the same thing twice. This made it difficult for him to argue with the Donglin Party.

If the emperor had not taken a liking to this dog Cui Wensheng, and if the Donglin Party still had the emperor's favor, then Liu Yirong would have been in big trouble this time.

(End of this chapter)