My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 24 Xu Jie Thinks of Retreating
In fact, private communication between court officials was a taboo.

If it was during the time of Zhu Yuanzhang, the crime of "secretly conspiring with ministers" alone would be enough to play a game of Nine Clans Elimination Chamber.

But by this time in the Ming Dynasty, interactions between ministers had become normal.

When Xu Jie led Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng to overthrow Yan Song, the three of them often met secretly at Xu Jie's home to discuss ways to deal with Yan Song's party.

Shen Shixing was a disciple of Zhang Juzheng, and Zhang Juzheng was also very optimistic about Shen Shixing.

Less than half an hour later, Shen Shixing, dressed in Confucian robes, appeared in Zhang Juzheng's study.

"Greetings, Master."

Shen Shixing was still as polite and courteous as ever. Whether in public or private, he always performed etiquette in a very strict and proper manner.

Zhang Juzheng himself was a very upright person. After accepting Shen Shixing's greetings, he first talked about the affairs of the Zhanshi Mansion.

"In recent days, some censors have submitted petitions requesting Your Majesty to establish a crown prince to determine the foundation of the nation. Once the foundation of the nation is determined, the Chancellery will naturally be established."

Zhang Juzheng looked at this proud student and continued:

"Once the Zhanshi Mansion is established, it's natural to transfer a group of people from the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Rites. I want you to go to the Jing Bureau of the Zhanshi Mansion and be responsible for selecting and editing books for the Crown Prince."

This is the difference between having a backer and not having one.

The top position in the Sijing Bureau is called Xima, which is of the fifth rank, and is the same as Shen Shixing’s current position as Yuanwailang of the Ministry of Rites.

However, as an important institution for educating the crown prince, the Zhanshi Mansion has many positions. Compared with waiting for a vacancy in the Ministry of Rites, there is no need to worry about waiting for a position in an institution like the Zhanshi Mansion. As long as you make a little achievement, you can be promoted directly.

Many of the Jinshi scholars who passed the imperial examination in the same year as Shen Shixing were still wandering around the prefectures and counties, waiting for the annual assessment.

Shen Shixing didn't even have to say anything, Zhang Juzheng took the initiative to transfer him to the Zhanshi Mansion. Comparing yourself with others is really infuriating.

Shen Shixing looked normal and showed no surprise at Zhang Juzheng transferring him to the Zhanshi Mansion. He just expressed his gratitude politely.

After Zhang Juzheng finished talking about Shen Shixing, he said:
"During the cabinet meeting today, Lord Xu mentioned Li Chunfang and Zhao Zhenji."

Zhang Juzheng called them by their names, which showed that he was not friendly towards Li Chunfang and Zhao Zhenji. Shen Shixing asked sharply:
"Master, is Lord Xu thinking of retiring?"

Zhang Juzheng nodded slightly, looked at Shen Shixing with admiration and said:
"Yes, Lord Xu wants to bring Li Chunfang and Zhao Zhenji into the cabinet to restrain Gao Suqing."

He called Gao Gong by his courtesy name, but called Li Chunfang and Zhao Zhenji by their names. Shen Shixing felt the subtle change in Zhang Juzheng's attitude towards Gao Gong and kept this change in mind.

"Li Chunfang imitates Xu Ge Lao in every way. Hai Gangfeng calls Xu Ge Lao 'Licorice Prime Minister', and some ministers also call Li Chunfang 'Licorice Prime Minister'. With Li Chunfang in the cabinet, government affairs are once again stagnant."

Licorice is a traditional Chinese medicine with a sweet and mild nature. It is an herb that can be used to blend many medicinal soups.

Hai Rui said that Xu Jie was a good prime minister, which meant that he was good at reconciling the relationship between the monarch and his subjects, which was a compliment.

However, when Zhang Juzheng mentioned licorice, he meant that people like Li Chunfang only knew how to build interpersonal relationships, act as a good person and a busybody, and could only follow the rules and do nothing when presiding over the government.

In front of his beloved disciple, Zhang Juzheng began to attack Li Chunfang bluntly, and even indirectly cursed Xu Ge Lao.

Shen Shixing quickly understood Zhang Juzheng's intentions. He was unwilling to allow Li Chunfang and Zhao Zhenji to join the cabinet. Xu Jie was preparing to retire, and bringing Li Chunfang and Zhao Zhenji into the cabinet was to check Gao Gong, but wasn't it also to check Zhang Juzheng?
But Shen Shixing also had some doubts.

If the Prime Minister wanted to fight back and disrupt Lord Xu's arrangement, he should not summon me, an official from the Ministry of Rites, but should find his former students and officials from the Ministry of Examination and find a way to impeach Li Chunfang and Zhao Zhenji and prevent them from joining the cabinet.

Why was he summoned to meet me?
Zhang Juzheng's next words resolved Shen Shixing's doubts.

"You and Su Zilin are from the same hometown and have always been close friends. You can tell him about this and get his opinion."

I understand. Now I understand everything.

Su Ze has always been regarded as Gao Gong's follower. Although the ministers also wondered how Gao Gong and Su Ze knew each other, everyone could see the cooperation between the two in several of Su Ze's memorials.

Zhang Juzheng made his attitude clear and asked him to meet Su Ze in order to establish a communication channel with Gao Gong.

That's how it is in politics: there are no eternal enemies, nor eternal friends.

When Yan was overthrown, Gao Gong and Xu Jie were close comrades-in-arms.

After Yan Song's downfall, Xu Jie allowed his disciples to impeach Gao Gong, and the struggle between the two had reached a fever pitch.

In fact, Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong did not have much difference in political views, and they also had common interests in opposing Li Chunfang and Zhao Zhenji from entering the cabinet.

Zhang Juzheng did not expect to form an unbreakable political alliance with Gao Gong. As long as the two sides could have some tacit understanding and work together on some issues, that would be enough.

Shen Shixing also understood the reason why he was transferred to the Zhanshi Mansion. In addition to his personal career, Su Ze, the initiator of establishing a crown prince, must also enter the Zhanshi Mansion. In the future, the two will serve in the same office. He, the favorite disciple of Zhang Ge Lao, and Su Ze, the "trusted and beloved general" of Gao Ge Lao, are the channels of communication between Zhang and Gao.

After understanding his mission, Shen Shixing retreated respectfully, while Zhang Juzheng looked to the south and sighed slightly.
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At the same time, at Gao Gong's house.

As a cabinet minister of the current dynasty, Gao Gong's residence was quite low-key.

This house is located not far from the Eastern Palace. It was given to Gao Gong by the Emperor Jiajing when he was a lecturer at Prince Yu's Mansion during the Jiajing Dynasty. Seeing that Gao Gong was from a poor family and always had to travel across half of the capital to give lectures at Prince Yu's Mansion, Emperor Jiajing granted him this house.

Gao Gong experienced several ups and downs later, but he always kept this house. This year, he returned to the capital to join the cabinet and moved into this ordinary house with only two courtyards.

Just for this reason, Su Ze had a much better impression of Gao Gong.

Before this, Cabinet Assistant Minister Su Ze had also met most of them.

Xu Jie came to speak at the opening of the National History Museum, and Zhang Juzheng and Chen Yiqin both had face-to-face conversations with Su Ze.

Talking face to face with people of this level was something Su Ze had never dared to imagine in his previous life.

It's funny to say that the officials in the capital all thought that Su Ze was Gao Gong's confidant, but Su Ze had never seen Gao Gong up close until now. He only saw him from afar at the court meeting when he just traveled through time.

Today, a man who claimed to be Gao Gong's servant suddenly knocked on Su Ze's door and said that Gao Gong wanted to see him. This was the first time that Su Ze stepped into the residence of Gao Gong.

Today I have achieved the "Complete Collection of the Ming Dynasty Cabinet" achievement, but it's a pity that my system does not have the achievement function.

Su Ze's thoughts began to wander. When he was led into Gao Gong's study by a servant, he finally met this famous minister of Longqing.

(End of this chapter)