Although the news of the award of "Justice of the Peace" to those who are enthusiastic about public charity has not yet been fully reported. Even in the so-called "no secret" newspaper, at most there is a little bit of news about "commendation", in the eyes of many people, it is nothing more than what is the establishment of the archway and other commendations, what is urgent and righteous, what is the ancient way of warm-hearted, in short, it is probably the same.

But just when the outside world was not alarmed, an invisible competition had already begun in the cabinet.

There is nothing new under the sun, and where there is capital and interests, there are conflicts.

Even if it is only 17 years of Xingqian, but the parties within the Ming Dynasty are also intertwined, the civil officials are probably like this, and the honors are also the same, and in the past ten years, under the surface of the civil and military forces, the dark tide is also surging, after all, the purpose of the civil ministers is to exchange compromise for dominance, just as in history, they have adapted to change again and again, and finally still dominate everything. And the military merit marquis is naturally unwilling to become the lackeys of civilian officials, and under the seemingly integrated surface, in fact, the open and secret battles have never stopped.

Almost from the beginning of the Cabinet to formulate the rules for the granting of "Justice of the Peace" and its powers and responsibilities, when the news slowly spread over time, telegrams from all sides gathered in the Cabinet, and official letters and private correspondence continued.

Whenever Fang Yizhi, who was the first assistant, walked near the Wenhua Palace, he naturally felt a heavy burden. It's a burden, it's more of a responsibility.

As the first assistant to the cabinet, he first hoped to redeem the selfish desires of the people by commending enthusiastic people. But the current situation made him feel a little tired.

I just entered the Wenyuan Pavilion where the cabinet office is located. Fang Yizhi saw that a guard led Zhang Huangyan to the palace, and when he saw this scene, his brows furrowed slightly, and he only felt that the pressure on his shoulders was heavier.

"Shoufu, Your Majesty has ordered Zhang Gefu to enter the palace!"

As soon as he saw Shoufu, Zhou Peigong reminded softly, and then took out another letter and said.

"This is a private message from the Governor of the Northeast......"

All right!

Without even looking at it, Fang Yizhi knew what the content of the letter was - it was nothing more than a question, how the Justice of the Peace granted.

Different from the conferral of knighthoods for military merit and the conferral of civil officials and gentry, the Justice of the Peace is a completely new system, which seems to be inferior to titles and public servants on the surface, but in fact the powers and responsibilities enjoyed are not much different from the two, and even in the future, it will become a prerequisite for entering the Provincial Council - you must be a Lord, a public officer or a Justice of the Peace to enter the Provincial Council.

In other words, the Justices of the Peace will become the premise for the local gentry to participate in local affairs, which is directly related to the gentry's influence in the local area. Although it is not clear to the people, the governors and governors of the provinces have obtained a secret copy of the draft, and almost everyone has no objection to the adoption of the honorary title of "Justice of the Peace" on the local gentry who are enthusiastic about public service, but everyone has his own plans.

"Shousuke is going to see His Majesty?"

Zhou Peigong reminded again.

In Zhou Peigong's view, the reason why His Majesty met Zhang Huangyan must be his invitation, and he must have gone to win His Majesty's support.

"You still don't understand our majesty!"

Glancing at the palace, Fang Yizhi became calm, for him, who was shouldering the heavy responsibility of the country, the only thing he could do was to work seriously to "repay the king's kindness".

Under the guidance of the guards, Zhang Huangyan entered the imperial garden, but this imperial garden is not in the harem, according to the palace ban of the palace, the guards can not enter the harem, the harem is the residence of the imperial concubine, which has its own female officials, maids and female soldiers. And the court officials cannot enter the palace unless they will, and this imperial garden is located in the palace.

When he came to the Imperial Garden with the guards, he saw that His Majesty was fishing there, and there were thirteen and fourteen princes sitting beside him, and they were all fishing there.

"Your Majesty, the thirteenth and fourteenth princes!"

"Excuse me, give me a seat."

Zhu Mingzhong, who was fishing for fish, didn't speak loudly, after Zhang Huangyan sat down.

Zhu Mingzhong looked at Yufu and said softly.

"Zhongyigong, do you have something to report?"

From Zhongyi Bo to Zhongyi Gong, Zhang Huangyan is the most honorable duke among the nobles of the Ming Dynasty, except for the King of Min and the King of Jin. Unlike in the past, the duke of the Xingqian Dynasty was a super product, but only the name of the United States was added, and the name of the country and the city were not added.

"Your Majesty, actually, this matter did not intend to disturb Your Majesty, but it was just ......"

With a wry smile, Zhang Huangyan said helplessly.

"Recently, after learning that His Majesty intends to confer the honorary title of "Justice of the Peace" on the people, the local people's hearts have fluctuated, but all the gentry have tried to obtain this title, and the local officials have written to the cabinet one after another......"

When Zhang Huangyan mentioned the local reaction, Zhu Mingzhong only nodded slightly, although he rarely cares about cabinet affairs now, it does not mean that he is blind, the Military Department and the Investigation Bureau are his eyes, and as an emperor, he must see the six roads.

“…… Now the ministers of the government and the opposition probably also value this matter, and they think that it is unfair for His Majesty to confer the title of "Justice of the Peace" alone. ”

"Oh? Why? ”

Turning his gaze to Zhang Huangyan, Zhu Mingzhong asked rhetorically.

"Your Majesty, this "Justice of the Peace" is not a person who is enthusiastic about public welfare and has made special contributions, so does it not exclude ordinary soldiers in the countryside? After all, their capital is only well-off, far from being compared with the traditional local gentry, if it is only compared with the contribution of enthusiastic public welfare, I am afraid that in the end it depends on how much money has been donated and how much has been done, so in the end, I am afraid that this justice of the peace will only fall into the hands of the local gentry. ”

When Zhang Huangyan mentioned these words, his expression was somewhat helpless, after all, he was also born in the local gentry, and the Zhang family itself was a big family in Yinxian County, Zhejiang, but as he became one of the few civil officials in the Xingqian Dynasty who received the title, he naturally became a member of the ministers, not just a civil official, he was first a minister, and then a civil official.

"Isn't there a medal in the army system, they think too much!"

Zhu Mingzhong shook his head.

"It's been seventeen years, and until now, they still can't see their position clearly!"

This voice sighed not so much as a sigh of disappointment, and what disappointed him was that not only did the ordinary lords not figure out their position, but even Zhang Huangyan didn't figure it out either.

"But civil officials also have public officials, and now there are more justices of the peace. And they think about the future, the number of medals awarded in wartime is itself limited in proportion, and the proportion in peacetime is even smaller, and only a few dozen people are awarded every year. If this justice of the peace is monopolized by the local gentry, I am afraid that it will continue for a long time, and the situation of heavy and light honors will be inevitable. ”

Although Zhang Huangyan's words seemed to carry concerns about the future, Zhu Mingzhong did not answer him, but asked rhetorically.

"Loyalty, righteousness, then do they think that doing one good deed in the township soldier is equivalent to ten good deeds for ordinary gentry?"

"Of course not, Your Majesty, they hope for at least a certain percentage......"

"Isn't it still the same?"

Shaking his head, Zhu Mingzhong said.

"If you give them proportional care, it is different from the vast majority of people, whether it is the army or the people, they are all my people, and I treat them equally, and this "Justice of the Peace" itself is to commend the gentry and ordinary people who are enthusiastic about public welfare, how can they be treated differently because of their different statuses? ”

Seeing his son's fish floating, Zhu Mingzhong said to his son with a smile.

"Heqi, your fish has taken the bait."

While watching Zhu Heqi pull the fish ashore and put it in the net, Zhu Mingzhong said to Zhang Huangyan again.

"Besides, Cangshui, you tell me, who are these people who are often keen on public welfare and good deeds? Are they ordinary people? Or is it a well-off home? ”

"Your Majesty, it is probably also the home of the local gentry, and even if ordinary people have the heart, they are often insufficient."

While answering His Majesty in this way, he added.

"But the sage also said not to take the good as a small thing, and this ordinary person often accumulates small goodness and does great good."

"It's true, but in the final analysis, when an ordinary well-off family goes to the temple every weekend, donating a few pennies is enough, and the people who are pictured are at ease, and the gentry are building bridges, paving roads, and helping students in the countryside. In the final analysis, the so-called "Justice of the Peace" is a name, a title, which is cherished and valued by people, not in terms of rights and responsibilities, but in the fact that it is not easy to obtain, and the more difficult it is to get, the more people will cherish it. However, there is another factor, which is fairness, and if it is not fair, it will inevitably arouse people's disgust, and in the end the so-called "title" will become useless waste, and when the time comes, it will not only damage the enthusiasm of the gentry...... Moreover, this "Justice of the Peace" was also a link to rebuild and establish the connection between the gentry and the royal family! ”

What the?

Looking at His Majesty in confusion, Zhang Huangyan obviously didn't expect this.

"After I abolished the imperial examination, the connection between the gentry and the royal family was also severed to a certain extent, the gentry, as a local elite, has always been the help of the government to manage the locality, and now although the advisory bureau has been established to formalize this help, but the advisory bureau may lead to local forces, leading to local centrifugation, this is possible, how to strengthen the gentry and the imperial court, and the royal tie?"

His Majesty's rhetorical question, let Zhang Huangyan fall silent, after the abolition of the imperial examination, not only to cut off the connection between the gentry and the imperial court, but also to make many people deviate from morality, especially after the abolition of the imperial examination, many gentry who do not know what will happen in the future are even more confused, although now many of them have transferred to shopping malls, and with the establishment of schools, many of them have transferred to education, but the kind of cut is blunt.

"And the Justice of the Peace provides a link, because its canonization is in the name of me, although it is not like the past imperial examinations, but after all, it is a title, an honor, I think this should satisfy some people, and in any case, the imperial court can sit back and enjoy its benefits, after all, whether they help students, build bridges, build roads, or support orphans and widows, the government can sit back and enjoy its benefits, and it also helps the people to be good, which is a good thing!"

"Your Majesty worked hard, and the minister only learned that he was really stupid."

Just when Zhang Huangyan pleaded guilty, the fish was hooked, and when the line was closed, Zhu Mingzhong continued to talk to Zhang Huangyan about some other things, and finally said seriously.

"Loyal and righteous princes, you are my lord of the Ming Dynasty, you are hereditary, and the country is the same, our military merit marquis of the Xingqian Dynasty is probably only a little bit of literature and ink, many things they can't see clearly, you have to tell them, don't keep your eyes on these things, they are the nobles of the Ming Dynasty, their every move is an example for the officials and people of the world, the nobles ......"

After a moment of silence, Zhu Mingzhong looked at the lake and said.

"They're just Xun now, but they're not expensive, what's expensive...... It's not just about being rich! Well, by the time of this year's Honorable Meeting, I will have something to say to them! ”

After Zhang Huangyan said goodbye, Zhu Mingzhong looked at the lake, and then looked at Heqi beside him, he was already twelve years old, and he would be in the country in four years.

"Heqi, you tell your father, who is the Friend of the Royal?"

Zhu Heqi, who was fishing for a fish, thought for a moment, and then replied.

"The royal herdsmen are the herdsmen of the sky, and the people are subject to the royal family, so the people are not friends of the royal family, and the ministers are just the king's lu, sharing worries with the king, but driven by fame and fortune, so they are not royal friends."

His son's answer made Zhu Mingzhong nod slightly, although no one had ever told him what "imperial art" was, but living in the era of the information explosion in the 21st century had taught him a lot of things.

If you say, what is the biggest difference between European and Chinese royalty? It is the former who knows very well who his friends are, and the latter, but he always lingers on this issue.

Each group has its own basic plate, the emperor's basic plate is never ordinary people, for ordinary people, they only need to know that the emperor is the son of heaven, the emperor is the herdsman for the sky, this is the essence of the ruler.

As for the ministers, whether it is "eating the king's fortune and sharing worries with the king" or "learning to become a literary and martial artist, goods and the emperor's family", it all shows the essence of the minister - there is better treatment, and most ministers will immediately change jobs, so there is a saying that "scholars and doctors are scrambling to be the first to join the enemy".

It's not about loyalty, it's about the essence, just like the talents of later generations move from company to company, the company is just a place for them to get paid.

Let those who are paid live and die with the company? Is it realistic?

If Zhu Mingzhong, who came from the 21st century, learned anything in the future, in addition to the scientific knowledge ahead of the times, the most important thing is probably to understand that requiring all ministers in the world to be "loyal to the king" and "to be a king" is actually just an extravagant hope.

All men are mortal?

The vast majority of the so-called "loyal" ministers, in fact, like many company employees in later generations, can resist temptation in the face of temptation, and when the company faces a crisis, they do not fall to the enemy camp and sell the company's interests, which is already considered "loyal", as for demanding their coexistence with the company......

"Thousands of miles to be an official, just to eat, drink, and wear ......"

Looking back at his son, with a slight hint of sarcasm in his words, Zhu Mingzhong asked again.

"And who are the Friends of Royal?"