In the palace of Zhongdu, Fang Yizhi, Zhang Huangyan, Zhu Daxian, Qian Lei, Zhou Peigong and Li Yindu were all standing in the imperial study, waiting for His Majesty's imperial approval.

"It was necessary to give honorary rewards to the people who were zealous for public deeds, so that they could be encouraged to be philanthropic in charity."

As the first assistant, Fang Yizhi didn't speak loudly, but his tone was very firm, and he didn't have the slightest scruples because of the previous quarrel in the cabinet.

"The minister thinks that if this is the case, it will inevitably set a precedent for the court to reward indiscriminately, once the title is indiscriminately rewarded, it will inevitably make the lords of the world chill, besides, the minister thinks that if he donates ten thousand taels of silver or ten thousand stones, he can be rewarded with a knighthood, so what is the difference between buying an official mantle?"

Zhang Huangyan's position is also extremely firm, as the only nobleman in the cabinet, his fundamental position is that the dignity of the title must be maintained, once the title is overflowing, even if it is the flood of low-level titles, it will also lead to the underground decline of the entire lord system, which he absolutely does not want to see. It is true that he is a civil official, but he is also a loyal and righteous official of the Ming Dynasty. Then he emphasized.

"Besides, my Daming title has its own reward customization, and non-military merits cannot be sealed, based on this proposal alone, the minister can ask for the thief!"

Non-military merits are not knighted!

This is the rule formulated by Zhu Mingzhong in order to avoid the abuse of titles, and in order to maintain this rule, the emperor who violates this system can be abolished, and the minister who speaks can be punished. So Zhang Huangyan's words are more than just threats.

"Zhang Gefu said with a smile, the reward to the scholar Qu Dajun said by the Ministry of Rites is of course not the title of the Ming Dynasty's duke and man, but the title of a similar duke."

As soon as Li Yindu's words fell, Zhu Daxian over there said unhurriedly.

"Then let's reward the public directly, anyway, it's nothing more than reputation."

"The public is a person who has made outstanding contributions to the society, how can he be easily allowed?"

Zhou Peigong just finished speaking, and Qian Lei said with a smile over there.

"Aren't the people who are enthusiastic about philanthropy a social elite?"

Looking at the argument between the six of them, Zhu Mingzhong, as the emperor, remained silent, and today's scene was completely unexpected. This is also what he deliberately placed when he re-established the cabinet.

The cabinet system is the biggest feature of the Ming Dynasty's power organs. After Xuanzong ascended the throne, he gave the cabinet the right to draft votes and the right to approve the red of the celebrant supervisor, so as to ensure that the cabinet and the celebrant were dual-track auxiliary and constrained each other. The right to draft votes refers to the drafting and approval of various ministries and local commissions, and the cabinet scholars will write down the handling opinions on a piece of paper, paste them on the fold and submit them to the emperor for decision-making. Approval is to agree or oppose the Cabinet's draft opinions. Of course, the final decision-making power is still in the hands of the emperor. This was done only to reduce the burden on the emperor and maintain the efficient operation of the imperial government.

The emperor seldom consulted with other ministers on state affairs except in the previous court, and often the cabinet scholars put forward their opinions, and the emperor's consent was a legally binding document, which should be followed and implemented by all ministries and localities. In the following 100 years, the cabinet in the period of Mujong, Sejong, Shenzong, etc., has long proved that it can independently undertake all the affairs of the state, the cabinet scholars manage the country, and the emperor controls the cabinet scholars, which is equivalent to the emperor indirectly controlling the country.

If the Confucian principle of "gentlemen, ease, ministers, and labor" wants to find an ideal model, then the cabinet vote is this model. The Xingqian Dynasty abolished the eunuchs, and naturally there were no celebrants. It's just that the power to approve the red is changed to the emperor himself.

However, in view of the fierce party struggle during the time of the Divine Sect, there was still a party dispute even in the time of Hongguang and Yongji, which eventually led to the collapse of the government. In the appointment of the ministers, Zhu Mingzhong restored the emperor's special purpose at the time of Yongle, not the court push, let alone the court push because of the fierce party dispute, but only through the list of candidates recommended by the ministry, and then decided by the emperor by drawing lots.

However, even if it is a special purpose, it is often the cabinet that recommends the list of candidates, and then Zhu Mingzhong makes a special order, and this requires the cabinet to vote first to decide on the recommended candidates, which is also the principle of the cabinet operation during the Xingqian period -- voting, and the minority obeys the majority. Because there are only six cabinet ministers, sometimes, the cabinet vote will not pass because it is three to three, and then the imperial approval of the inner emperor is required, in other words, the emperor is the seventh vote.

This kind of collective leadership system is the inheritance of the cabinet system of the Ming Dynasty, and it is also the collective leadership system that Zhu Mingzhong learned from later generations. Over the past decade or so, despite the occasional disputes in the cabinet, the obedience of the minority to the majority has been well run.

In Zhu Mingzhong's view, as long as the cabinet ministers are well chosen, under this mechanism, there will never be a situation in which party disputes lead to the collapse of the government and government. The key is in the selection of cabinet ministers, among the six of them, Fang Yizhi, Zhou Peigong and Li Yindu, the three of them are real civil officials, and Zhang Huangyan, Zhu Daxian and Qian Lei, the former is loyal and righteous, as for the latter two, they have already married Xungui, and they can be regarded as half of the people in the system.

Whether it is the vote of the cabinet ministers or the selection, after careful setting, the cabinet has been running as Zhu Mingzhong expected, most of the time, it is running smoothly, and only a few times will his "vote" be needed. Like now.

The reason for the disagreement is precisely because it involves the conflict of interest between the civilian and the ministers.

"Your Majesty, now the people are becoming extravagant, but the people are only pursuing private interests, and there is no public interest at all, and in the long run, it is bound to reappear the indifference of the old people, so the minister thinks that only through the honorary recognition of the people who are enthusiastic about charity, can the people of the world form the idea that "those who are good must help the world, and the poor cannot be left alone", and then prevent the people from pursuing profits under the extravagance, so that they can pursue public interests, not simply private interests......"

After listening to Zhou Peigong say a lot of reasons there, how could Zhu Mingzhong, as the emperor, not understand the views of both of them, in a word-they are pushing each other, and they are both trying to push the group of people who "buy officials and lords" into the other camp.

Although those people have obtained honorary titles through charitable donations, they are still equivalent to "buying officials and lords" to a certain extent, so that whether they are lords or civil officials, they do not want the other party to enter their own sequence, especially the latter, the reason why the latter is extremely harsh in the selection of "public officials" is actually to make "nobles", that is, to let as few people as possible get that number through that kind of harshness, so as to ensure the gold content of "public officials", after all, this is the only time that the vast majority of civil officials become "national scholars" Opportunity - to be promoted from a first-rank official to be rewarded by the emperor to obtain the title of "Gongshi", and officials of the fourth rank or above or who have been officials for 30 years can also be gifted with "Gongshi".

"I don't want to be a marquis......"

Reading this sentence in his heart, looking at the six ministers who did not give an inch and resolutely defended the interests of themselves or the group, Zhu Mingzhong suddenly found that this sentence was just nonsense, the so-called Gao Feng Liang Festival, I am afraid it is more of a desire for the title.

But it's just to tell the world through the high wind and bright festival...... I should have been a marquis!

So much for!

"I'm afraid finding the Marquis of Wanhu is what you want!"

Thinking so secretly in his heart, knowing that the interests of the two sides could not be reconciled, Zhu Mingzhong had already made up his mind and mud, and sometimes, even as an emperor, he could only do so.

"In that case, then give it to those who are enthusiastic about public welfare."

Zhu Mingzhong, who decided to make a mud, said with a smile.

"A few years ago, the imperial court gave a lot of loyalty and righteousness, and also gave a good righteousness archway, I think you can use the memorial arch, the royal gift, or honor, or holy decree, because of the matter and appropriate!"

In Zhu Mingzhong's opinion, this should be satisfied, after all, the memorial arch has no connection with the title and the prince, so you should be satisfied. But as soon as he thought that his words fell, Fang Yizhi said loudly.

"Your Majesty, the minister does not dare to obey the order!"

Holding the wat board, Fang Zhixing said.

"Not to mention the others, even if this watch archway is cheap, it also needs no less than two or three hundred taels of silver, and the high one is even not less than thousands of taels, although the fee is commendable, it is inevitable that it will be wasted! Moreover, the archway is just a dead thing, far less than the title, such as the title, can be called in the name of a certain duke, a certain uncle, a certain marquis. For example, a knight or a public servant can also be called a "scholar", how can anyone ever write "anxious for justice and righteousness" on the name post? ”

"The minister seconded the proposal!"

Even as an opponent, Zhu Daxian still agreed.

"The reason why the title is enjoyed by the people is that it is "called", only the "name" that can be taken out, can be "called", so that there is a sense of honor, as for the archway, although it seems to be noble, but it is just a useless dead thing......"

Seeing that they had become fire and water before, and they would have the same position again, Zhu Mingzhong was angry for a while.

All right!

Count you guys going to find a reason.

Although he muttered so much in his heart, Zhu Mingzhong also knew that they were telling the truth, no one would print a "** archway" on the business card of the archway, if they went to the field, no one was holding it, I am afraid no one would know.

But in contrast, the European knight is nothing more than a fame, but it can be printed on the back of a business card and regarded as a status symbol. Even in a colony like Hong Kong, there are justices of the peace......

Chu Ming-chung's eyes lit up when he thought of Justice of the Peace in Hong Kong, and a person appointed as a Justice of the Peace in Hong Kong could add the word "JP" to his or her name as part of his official title. Becoming a Justice of the Peace is generally regarded as a status symbol in Hong Kong, and many members of the community have made donations or held public offices in order to be appointed as a Justice of the Peace.

They argued for a long time, isn't that the name?

The archway is not rare, so just create a title directly!

Thinking of this, the corners of Zhu Mingzhong's lips raised, looked at everyone and said.

"Zhuqing is worried about state affairs, how can I not know, this enthusiastic public welfare person must be commended, otherwise it can not show its dedication, can not inspire the people to follow suit, even if the archway is not suitable, this title is not awarded military merits, this is also a principle, as for the public ...... Well, it is not appropriate to expand the scope of the award, and those who are keen on local public welfare are often local gentry, so give them the title of "Justice of the Peace"! ”

"Justice of the Peace?"

When the six of them heard this, they were all slightly surprised.

Zhu Mingzhong, who was too lazy to bother with any more brains on this matter, and did not want this matter to affect the cabinet's "stability and unity", said.

"Yes, it is the "Justice of the Peace", that is, the enthusiastic gentry in the peaceful and prosperous era of my Ming Dynasty, this Justice of the Peace is not only a decent honorary title. It can also be used to maintain community tranquility, prevent illegal punishments, and inspect designated institutions. Well, as for what rights and responsibilities a Justice of the Peace should have, it can be coordinated, and you can learn from the rights and responsibilities of a year of honors and officials......"

Zhu Mingzhong, who was in the mud, slapped the board directly and made the final decision.

The two sides who were still arguing, after thinking for a while, found that there was no damage to their side, and Fang Yizhi was the first to compliment.

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

For a while, the sound of sycophants rang out, but Zhu Mingzhong knew that this so-called "wise" or "sage" was reconciled, but the interests were reconciled, if not......

"Your Majesty, as soon as this Justice of the Peace comes out, the gentry of the world will definitely become keen on public welfare, in order to obtain the title of court reward."

After the cabinet ministers left, Li Yurui whispered compliments on the side.

"It's just a title, not much different from a public servant."

"Your Majesty, the difference is great."

"Oh?"

Raising his eyes to look at Li Yurui, Zhu Mingzhong motioned for her to continue.

"Your Majesty, do you know that officials throughout the ages are often reluctant to give speeches, but today's officials do not reject Zhishi, and when they reach the age of sixty, they often ask for Zhishi?"

Li Yurui's question made Zhu Mingzhong think for a moment.

"Pension?"

In fact, throughout the ages, the imperial court generally did not give pensions, like only meritorious people will have it, or if the family is particularly difficult, you can also apply to provide a certain amount of food every month for life. This is one of the reasons for official corruption.

And now the officials of the Ming Dynasty have pensions, and they are very generous - although the salary is meager, the pension is paid at 50% of the time when they were in office. In addition, there is also a 30% of the incorruptible silver deducted when he is in office, which is also a one-time payment after the official office, of course, if corruption occurs, this silver will be confiscated.

"Your Majesty, what the officials care about is not the pension, but how the local officials treat him when he returns home. Although the imperial court often promotes the title, so as not to be despised by the locality, but even so, it is inevitable that some people will be despised by the locality, and there is even no lack of things that are bullied by the old people because they offend the old people when they are appointed to the locality, but there is the title of "public scholar", but the official can exercise the "inspection of the locality", so that the local government naturally has all its scruples, and its status is transcendent after returning to the hometown, and it is naturally willing to return to the hometown. ”

The inspection of the localities by the nobles and the officials is just to supervise the administration of the local officials by the imperial court and put a cage on the power of the magistrates.

"Yurui, this is what you saw before you entered the palace?"

Zhu Mingzhong looked at Li Yurui and asked, she entered the palace six years ago, so she naturally saw the "public officials" in those places.

"Your Majesty, the minister is from Wuchang, and there are many public scholars in Wuchang, whose identity is transcendent, and he saw it with his own eyes when the concubine was young. In the past, ordinary people wanted to be a public servant but could not, but today His Majesty specially gave him a "Justice of the Peace", how could the gentry not rush to it? ”

"Hmmm......"

Nodding, Zhu Mingzhong said.

"There are gains and losses, if they want to become justices of the peace, they can't spare money, even if they are enthusiastic about public welfare, then I won't be stingy with a piece of paper!"

Perhaps, for ordinary people, "Justice of the Peace" symbolizes honor, status and status, and they are willing to exchange this title for various activities, but for Zhu Mingzhong, this is just a piece of paper.

Moreover, this piece of paper, for the imperial court, is beneficial and harmless, because behind this piece of paper is the supervision of officials and a constraint on power.

"Your Majesty does not spare a piece of paper, but you must let them know that this piece of paper is expensive, if anyone casually takes out tens of thousands of taels of silver to do a good deed, they can become a Justice of the Peace, and when the time comes, not only will the paper of the court be worthless, but even Your Majesty's will will be lightened!"

Li Yurui reminded softly on the side, her reminder made Zhu Mingzhong stunned at first, he may not be stingy with a piece of paper, but he must not reduce the royal value because of this kind of unsparing. Regarding Li Yurui's reminder, Zhu Mingzhong felt that the reminder was very timely, otherwise, this "Justice of the Peace" might become a bargaining chip for officials to befriend local gentry, and then arbitrarily write to the court to ask for a gift.

Make it expensive!

After thinking about this, Zhu Mingzhong then nodded in response.

"That's true, this Justice of the Peace can't be flooded, no matter what it is, as soon as it floods, it will become a disaster, and it will become a disaster, and naturally it will not be expensive, Yurui, when the red is approved for a while, tell the cabinet to let them control the quota, well, it can be ...... per 100,000"

Zhu Mingzhong, who originally wanted to say 100,000 people, thought of the current traffic conditions and the population of various prefectures and counties, so he temporarily changed his mind. Although Zhu Mingzhong abolished the celebrant eunuch, the female official has always assisted him in handling various affairs, and in a certain procedure, the female official of Bingbi next to him now is equivalent to the eunuch of Bingbi in the old days.

"For every 10,000 people, one Justice of the Peace, first determine the total amount, and then divide the total number of places each year by a period of fifteen or twenty years, so that there are two or three hundred people per year, and when the total number is full, then count the newly added population, and then set the total amount, and the principle of general leave is that after the quota is full, no ...... will be given unless the special purpose is given."

Suddenly, Zhu Mingzhong seemed to have figured out something, he thought of the separation of the local gentry from the royal family after the abolition of the imperial examination, and separated the gentry from the traditional bureaucracy.

Perhaps, this bond could be re-established by rewarding the local gentry as "justices of the peace." ”

Thinking so in his heart, Zhu Mingzhong nodded silently, indeed, the connection between the local gentry and the royal family should be established in some form, the connection between the two should be re-established, and the gentry management system should be rebuilt. For the rulers, it is undoubtedly advantageous.

"Looks like we really need to mend the rift......"