Chapter 62 Li Dongyang refuses to leave
Ma Wensheng originally thought that Emperor Zhu Houzhao would restrict the power of the cabinet after taking control of the inner court and expelling the three cabinet ministers. However, he did not expect that Emperor Zhu Houzhao would increase the power of the cabinet, let cabinet ministers take charge of the ministry, and have special personnel Own government office, this will undoubtedly better establish the central position of the cabinet in the outer court!
Once he enters the cabinet, he will naturally be the first assistant due to his seniority, and he will naturally have greater power to implement reforms.
Therefore, Ma Wensheng is very excited now.
Now, because Zhu Houzhao mentioned that he would re-recommend candidates such as the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Minister of the Ministry of War, and the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ma Wensheng no longer thought about promoting his own people, but said without hesitation:
"Your Majesty, I believe that if we really want to reform the civil service and make all officials work diligently, we should restore the king, forgive the prince, and let him return to the cabinet!"
Wang Shu's prestige is no less than that of Ma Wensheng or even higher than that of Ma Wensheng. Once Wang Shu returns to the court, it will undoubtedly affect Ma Wensheng's status in the court. However, if Ma Wensheng can suggest Wang Shu be resurrected, Zhu Houzhao can also see that he is not doing it out of selfish motives. I really want to change the government.
Xu Jin, who was on the side, immediately echoed: "As Otsuka Zai said, the strict assessment of officials must be strictly assessed by the princes! Moreover, the princes have high prestige and are not pedantic and stubborn people. The late emperor once relied on the princes and Otsuka Zai He was in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Military Affairs and established the empire. Unfortunately, the prince was not accepted by the ministers and officials and he was already in office because of his old age! ”
Jiao Fang even slapped his knee. He had always been prejudiced against southern officials and said with a smile: "If the prince is in charge of the official department, it will undoubtedly be a blessing for our Ming Dynasty and a misfortune for all officials. When the time comes, those people in the south will only be known as Jiangnan." How should officials who ask for tax reductions handle themselves? ”
Zhu Houzhao also knew Wang Shu quite well. He knew that he was a veteran of the Chenghua period, and that he had already become famous throughout the world as early as the Chenghua period. At that time, he had the reputation of "Twelve departments in two capitals, but only one Wang Shu" , but it is undeniable that Wang Shu is estimated to be almost ninety now. I don’t know if he is still sharp and clear, and whether he can still serve the court.
Lian Po is old, can he still make a living?
But as Ma Wensheng and others said, it will undoubtedly be more helpful to the New Deal if a famous minister who has disciples and former officials all over the world and is determined to innovate is used for reform. Therefore, Zhu Houzhao did not hesitate and said: "Then prepare to appoint Wang Shu as the official department." Minister! Where is Minister of War?”
"I recommend Yang Yiqing. He knows a lot about military affairs! He is still young. The six cabinet departments cannot all be made up of veterans like me!"
Xu Jin, the Minister of War, laughed as he spoke.
Jiao Fang nodded: "I think it's very good. Yang Yiqing's official inspections are all excellent. It's a pity that he is not from the Imperial Academy, otherwise he would have directly entered the cabinet that year!"
Ma Wensheng didn't say a word. Yang Yiqing was his disciple and he had to avoid suspicion.
"In the future, the rule that non-Hanlin officials will not join the cabinet must be changed. Ci ministers do not know how to govern the people if they do not know how to care for the people." Zhu Houzhao said, then nodded:
"The Minister of the Ministry of War is temporarily proposed to be Yang Yiqing, and the left minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs will wait until Wang Shu comes to Beijing;
The three beloved ministers will go back to rest for the time being. In the meantime, Otsuka Zai must immediately draft a memorial for the implementation of the examination method. He will write down clearly how the performance of the officials will be assessed, rewarded, and punished. When the time comes, you will be waiting for the resignation of the three cabinet ministers and you will join the cabinet immediately. Submit to start reform!
Jiao Aiqing’s cabinet system is also written down and submitted in accordance with my wishes;
Grand Sima is responsible for writing the assessment methods for military attachés. Let’s do it without further delay! Now I just hope those three will resign as soon as possible! That way each other's faces will look better! ”
"I'll leave!"
With excitement on their faces, Ma Wensheng and others were also waiting for the three cabinet ministers to resign, and they were looking forward to the day when they would join the cabinet. It seems that from this moment on, the resignation of the three cabinet ministers Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian is not only related to whether Ma Wensheng and others can join the cabinet, but also related to whether the new policy of the Ming Zhengde Dynasty can be started immediately.
After Ma Wensheng and others left, Zhu Houzhao did not go to bed immediately, but was thinking about how to increase the court's income.
Zhu Houzhao's first thought was to confiscate his home, and at present, Wang Yue and other rebellious eunuchs in the inner court must have their own properties outside the palace, and they should be able to confiscate a lot of property. In addition, in the future, Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, etc. People's mistakes will definitely make them gain a lot of wealth.
……
According to Zhu Houzhao's order, the Director of Ceremonies also officially moved to the Longzong Gate on this day. In this way, Zhu Houzhao would be able to reach the Director of Ceremonies by walking a few steps, and the Director of Ceremonies could only be in front of Zhu Houzhao's eyes. The following exercise the right to criticize people.
Zhu Houzhao also came to the Supervisor of Ceremonies that afternoon. As soon as he came, the Supervisor of Ceremonies asked Liu Jin: "Have you received the memorials for the resignation of the three cabinet ministers?"
"Going back to your Majesty, there are no resignation notices from the three cabinet ministers yet," Liu Jin replied with some disappointment. He has been waiting at the Clerk of Ceremonies since yesterday, waiting for the resignation notices from the three cabinet ministers. He expelled the three cabinet ministers who he deeply hated from the court with just a few strokes of his own pen. However, he did not expect that the three cabinet ministers seemed to be unwilling to leave and refused to submit the memorial.
Zhu Houzhao also fell into doubts after hearing what Liu Jin said. He couldn't help but wonder whether Liu Jian and others still wanted to occupy positions in the cabinet. Did they really want to wait until he sent out officers and soldiers to confiscate his house and exterminate his family before he would give up?
However, at this moment, Chu Ke, the eunuch of the Supervisor of Ceremonies, came over holding a memorial: "Your Majesty, two memorials have just been delivered. They are the resignations of Liu Jian, the chief assistant of the cabinet, and Xie Qian, the scholar of Dongge University. "Sparse!"
"There are only two awards, why not three. Liu Jian and Xie Qian resigned, why didn't Li Dongyang?"
Liu Jin, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, looked at Zhu Houzhao with great surprise and disappointment.
Zhu Houzhao himself was not that surprised, he just couldn't help but laugh. He couldn't help but think to himself that Li Dongyang did not resign from his official position. This was different from the history he knew.
But in any case, what Zhu Houzhao can be sure of is that the Ming Dynasty in this time and space still follows the same historical trend, that is, Li Dongyang did not leave the court at this time.
However, Li Dongyang did not resign, and Zhu Houzhao was still very disappointed and a little angry. He had no intention of retaining Li Dongyang at all, and there was no doubt that if Li Dongyang was still in the cabinet, the significance of increasing the power of the cabinet to allow the cabinet to reform the government was no longer Not big, even Li Dongyang will restrict his new policy because he has increased the power of the cabinet. After all, according to convention, once Liu Jian leaves, Li Dongyang will be the chief assistant!
"Immediately inform Ma Wensheng, the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Xu Jin, the Minister of the Ministry of War, and Jiao Fang, the left minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, to enter the palace!"
Li Dongyang refused to resign, so Zhu Houzhao had to change his arrangements for the future court. Therefore, he had to summon the three most trusted civil servants again.
(End of chapter)