The cabinet can be said to be a deformed product after the abolition of the prime minister in the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty initially followed the old system of the Yuan Dynasty, there were Zhongshu Province, there were left and right prime ministers, but after the Hu Weiyong case, Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly abolished the Zhongshu Province and the left and right prime ministers, nominally the power of the Zhongshu Province in the six departments, but in fact he was a single person with great power, and became the emperor and the prime minister!

Why did Zhu Yuanzhang, Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, abolish Zhongshu Province and the prime ministers of the left and right?

The explanation of the Ming court is that the Huaixi Peng Party group headed by Li Shanchang, the Korean Gong, and Hu Weiyong, the left prime minister, is too inflated, intending to rebel and want to usurp the throne!

In fact, there is no direct evidence of the so-called Huaixi Peng Party group rebellion, Hu Weiyong's biggest original sin is because he is too superstitious about the power of the prime minister, and many things are handled without consulting Zhu Yuanzhang with the power of the prime minister!

He did this, which made Zhu Yuanzhang, who had a strong desire for power, extremely unhappy.

Zhu Yuanzhang believes that everyone has to listen to him, the emperor, and everything must be decided by him, the emperor, but the prime minister has the decision-making power and can handle some affairs without authorization, which is definitely not good, so he directly abolished the Zhongshu Province and the left and right prime ministers!

After all, a person's energy is limited, such a huge empire as the Ming Dynasty, there are so many affairs, it is unimaginable, after the abolition of Zhongshu Province and the left and right prime ministers, not a few months later, Zhu Yuanzhang found that he really can't manage so many things alone, so he imitated the old system of the Song Dynasty to set up the Huagai Palace, Wuying Palace, Wenyuan Pavilion, Wenhua Palace, and East Pavilion scholars to assist in its governance, which is the prototype of the cabinet system.

At first, the cabinet did not have any power, because the cabinet scholars themselves only had the right five grades, and their main function was to assist the emperor in dealing with the folds, that is, to carefully read the folds submitted by the officials below, and arrange them in order according to the size and urgency of the matter, so as to facilitate the emperor's instructions, and to find out the doubts or difficulties on the folds, so as to facilitate the emperor's inquiry, just like the secretaries of later generations.

In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, the power of the cabinet gradually became larger, and the cabinet scholars were not only the secretaries of the five products, but most of them were also six scholars, and had a certain degree of participation in the government, and their functions were slowly transformed from secretaries to prime ministers.

At this time, the Ming court also slowly formed a perfect government affairs process.

The large and small chapters of the whole country are summarized by the general political envoys, and the celebrant submits them to the emperor for review, and then submits them to the cabinet, which is responsible for drafting the handling opinions, and then the celebrant submits the opinions to the emperor for approval, and finally the six departments proofread and distribute them to the imperial court yamen for implementation.

The handling opinions drafted by the cabinet are generally written out on paper and pasted on the corresponding fold, which is called the vote, and the emperor will use red letters to make instructions, which is called approval red.

The emperors of the Ming Dynasty except for the beginning of the Taizu and Chengzu, it can be said that they are getting lazier and lazier, they generally do not personally review all the folds, but approve a few important books, meaning, and then the eunuch of the ceremonial supervisor Bingbi will write on behalf of them, and give instructions on the remaining folds according to their intentions.

In this way, the power of the eunuchs of the ceremonial eunuch was often above the cabinet, so that the Ming Dynasty became the dynasty where the eunuchs were the most troubled.

However, it is not so easy for the eunuchs to cause trouble here in Chongzhen, because Chongzhen's diligence pursues his ancestor Zhu Yuanzhang, and he will personally give instructions for all the twists and turns, and the eunuch has basically become an ornament!

Therefore, the eunuchs of the Chongzhen Dynasty are not very famous, like Cao Huachun and Wang Chengen, who have been in charge of the ceremonial eunuchs, basically have no sense of existence, let alone the power of Wei Zhongxian.

At this time, Wang Chengen didn't know that he would be in charge of the celebrant eunuch, he only knew that the emperor must have a deep meaning when he asked him to pass Wen Tiren to the audience, but he thought about it for a long time, and his intestines were knotted, and he still didn't understand what the emperor meant.

Chongzhen often does some things that seem to be very wise, but people are confused, he asked Wang Chengen to summon Wen Tiren is actually to scare and scare Wen Tiren, let Wen Tiren be honest, don't think he doesn't know anything, so foolish!

Wen Tiren was really startled when he saw Wang Chengen, if you want to talk about governing the country and the country, he is a pile of shit, but when it comes to fooling the emperor and fighting for power and profit, he is an expert, from the moment he saw Wang Chengen, he already understood that something must have happened to Fuguang.

Chongzhen wanted to scare him through Wang Chengen and let him not play any moths, but after he saw Wang Chengen, he was full of moths!

Wang Chengen actually came back, what happened to Fuguang?

Wen Yuan Pavilion to Qianqing Palace was only about three hundred steps in total, but Wen Tiren's mind turned more than three thousand thoughts, and that moth simply filled his entire mind.

Chongzhen wants him to be honest, is it possible?

His mind is full of all kinds of ways to fool Chongzhen at this moment, no matter what hurtful things Zhang Jie and Shi Fan do in Fuguang, he has corresponding countermeasures, and he can fool the past!

This is how a contest between kings and ministers begins, it is a struggle between fooling and anti-fooling, who will win?

Wen Tiren seemed quite normal when he walked into the imperial study, as soon as he came in, he knelt on the ground to pay homage according to the courtesy of the monarch and ministers, at this time, it stands to reason that Chongzhen should let him get up and speak, but Chongzhen did not do this, because Chongzhen wanted him to understand who was the emperor and who was in power.

Wen Tiren knelt on the ground for about a stick of incense, and before he heard Chongzhen's words, he already knew in his heart that this time he was afraid that it would be a big trouble, Zhang Jie and Shi Fan would definitely poke the big basket!

He didn't have to look up to know that Chongzhen must be angry at this moment.

Chongzhen was indeed angry, and the more he thought about it, the more angry he became, he actually believed this guy's nonsense, and promoted two eunuch remnants to be governors and governors to Fuguang to "scrape the ground"!

Zhang Jie and Shi Fan, the two dog things, ate tens of thousands of taels of silver from the imperial court before they arrived in Fuguang, and after arriving in Fuguang, they lost the taxes of Yuegang and Zhuhai, which is a tax of three or four million taels, such a big deficit, how to make up for it, these two dog things!

He really wanted to smash the pile of paper on the table in Wen Tiren's face, but, after thinking for a while, he still didn't do it.

After about a tea time, he drank coldly: "Wang Chengen." ”

Wang Chengen, who was outside the door, heard this, this entanglement, why does the emperor always use him as a prop today, he really can't understand what the emperor wants to do, but after he and Cao Huachun glanced at each other, he still walked in quickly.

Chongzhen directly raised the official document in his hand and said coldly: "Take it and show it to him." ”

When Wang Chengen heard this, he hurriedly bowed forward, took the official document with both hands, and then turned around and handed the official document to Wen Tiren.

Although Wen Tiren is calm on the surface, he has already set off a monstrous wave in his heart, and the emperor obviously hates him, what did Zhang Jie and Shi Fan do!

He took the official document and just lay on the ground and looked seriously.

In the first two photos, he urged the household department to distribute food and salary to the Fujian Navy Division and Qi Jiajun, and he really didn't see any problems, which should be normal.

The third, the official document sent back by the officials sent to Fujian by the Ministry of Households, he understood at a glance that this must be Zhang Bin's ghost, otherwise how could a nine-rank official dare to play with a governor of more than three grades behind his back.

As for the above-mentioned thirty percent tax, he was not very worried, because he had already figured out how to fool the emperor.

In the Apocalypse Dynasty, when Wei Zhongxian sent people to levy and extort money everywhere, there were also ministers who risked their lives to run to the first emperor to complain, and Wei Zhongxian fooled the Apocalypse with a word.

What Wei Zhongxian said to Tianqi is that these people who are rich and unkind, Liaodong Jiannu is a disaster, the southwest Tusi is in rebellion, and the imperial court has to spend money everywhere, what's wrong with charging them a little more money, they are selfish, only care about their own pleasure, and don't care about the safety of the country!

The apocalypse is naturally fooled and nods hard, receives, receives!

Wen Tiren's level is not comparable to Wei Zhongxian's street gangsters, he can tell this thing about a flower, and it will definitely not be a problem to fool Chongzhen.

However, when he saw the back, his face slowly changed, and this Zhang Jie and Shi Fan were too arrogant, and they even blatantly ate and took cards!

These two idiots, will they die if they eat a few good meals less?

As long as you arrive in Fuguang, millions of taels of silver will be collected a year, and you can't eat whatever you want, it's really two pigs!

At this time, he has already set a countermeasure, such a pig teammate must not stay!

Chongzhen saw that his face was cloudy and read the official document, and then he said coldly: "Wen Aiqing, the two good candidates you recommended, eat and take cards, and levy 30% of the tax, the practice is no different from the eunuch party, what do you think of these two people?" ”

Wen Tiren immediately pretended to regret it, and cried bitterly: "Your Majesty, Weichen is guilty of death!" Weichen really didn't expect that these two people were the remnants of the eunuch party! They are really hidden too deep, in recent years, they have been conscientious, diligent, Weichen mistakenly thought that they were honest and diligent good officials, but I didn't expect that they were the remnants of the eunuch party, Weichen really didn't expect it, Weichen is a capital crime! ”

This acting is too realistic, the tears flowed when they were said, and the snot flowed when they were said, and Chongzhen was frightened at once.

Chongzhen began to think about it again, this appearance really didn't look like a fake, he couldn't help but wonder: "You really don't know that they are the remnants of the eunuch party?" ”

Wen Tiren snorted and cried: "Wechen is a capital crime, Wechen really doesn't know that they are the remnants of the eunuch party, you must know that they are the remnants of the eunuch party, and Wechen has already brought them to justice." ”

Really?

Chongzhen couldn't judge the authenticity anymore, so he could only continue to ask: "Then why did you recommend them?" ”

Wen Tiren repented: "It's all to blame Weichen for being confused, these two people often echo Weichen in the court, and slowly Weichen has a good impression of them, just right, the governor of Fuguang is vacant, Weichen thought of Zhang Jie, and later, Zhang Jie recommended Shi Fan to Weichen, and Weichen didn't think so much, so he recommended it to the emperor." ”

Is that the case?

Chongzhen thought about it, it seems that this Zhang Jie and Shi Fan really often echo Wen Tiren in the court, if people always say good things to themselves, everyone will have a good impression, it seems that Wen Tiren was really deceived by these two guys!

This Wen Tiren is also very powerful, these two people are his henchmen, and they are all secretly discussed with him in the court, but when he said this, these two people took the initiative to slap him, so he had a good impression of these two people, and it was really called a turning hand for the clouds and covering the hand for the rain!

The look of doubt on Chongzhen's face had slowly faded, but there was still a question that he couldn't understand, so he asked again: "Then why do you say that Zhang Bin is angry and resentful in Fuguang, and the people are not happy?" ”

Wen Tiren directly shirked and said: "Weichen also listened to Zhang Jie and Shi Fan, who knew that they had already planned it and wanted to go to Fuguang to scrape the ground, so they used this to deceive Weichen, Weichen has never been to Fuguang, how do you know the situation over there, if you don't check, you will be deceived by them!" ”

Chongzhen believed this again, because Zhang Jie and Shi Fan always had to be arrested and interrogated, if Wen Tiren deceived him, it would not be clear that he was deceiving the king!

At this point, he had all his doubts, he looked at Wen Tiren's face full of tears and snot, and couldn't help but feel relieved: "Okay, okay, Changqing, get up, I didn't expect that this Zhang Jie and Shi Fan turned out to be the remnants of the eunuch party, and in the future, when taking this as a warning, we must investigate it carefully when employing people." ”

Finally fooled over, Wen Tiren breathed a sigh of relief, and kowtowed again: "Thank you for the emperor's grace, Weichen must remember the emperor's teachings." ”

Chongzhen nodded and said, "Okay, get up, hurry up and wash your face." ”

Wen Tiren thanked him again and again, then got up and bowed to leave.

Chongzhen watched Wen Tiren's back disappear at the door, and then said tiredly: "Pass the decree, remove Zhang Jie and Shi Fan from their posts and investigate them, and immediately escort them back to the capital for trial." ”

Wang Chengen secretly looked at Chongzhen, his eyes were full of puzzlement, why was the emperor fooled by Wen Tiren in a few words?

However, he didn't say anything, because he knew the emperor's temper very well, once the emperor decided something, it was best not to talk too much, too much is to find death!

He hurriedly said yes, and then he quickly picked up the official document on the ground, respectfully put it in front of Chongzhen, and then retreated with a bow.

Is that the end of it?

Of course, it's not over yet, Wen Tiren was really startled this time, he was so scared that he was ruthless, and directly sold Zhang Jie and Shi Fan, the two cronies who had followed him for many years, he naturally didn't want these two people to return to the capital, otherwise, he was very likely to show his stuffing!

A few days later, in the middle of the night, Fujian Chengxuan political envoy Si Gutianyi, in the courtyard of the post station, in the middle of a pile of carriages, two guards on duty were napping by the wheels, and the other two guards suddenly came quietly.

They seemed to have come to change shifts, but after waking up the two napping guards, they did not sit down on duty, but took the two guards to the inn inn.

These people are the relatives sent by Wen Tiren to help Zhang Jie and Shi Fan hold money, if nothing happens, they will honestly act as guards, help Zhang Jie and Shi Fan desperately hold money, if something happens, they will take Zhang Jie and Shi Fan's lives.

Zhang Jie and Shi Fan are also self-inflicted, they have to be low-key, be careful, maybe they won't be pulled off the horse so soon by Zhang Bin's design, but they are used to enjoying it, they don't know how to converge at all, just arrived in Fujian, and before the butt was hot, Zhang Bin grabbed a bunch of handles, and they were overturned.

At this time, they were already on the way back to Beijing, escorting them was a patrol royal history and a team of errand officers transferred from the Nanzhili Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Criminal Department, the old oilers in the pension yamen in Nanzhili were not so serious and responsible, at this time these people had already slept like dead pigs, Zhang Jie and Shi Fan were also in a bad mood, each pulled a favorite concubine, vented, and fell asleep.

The four guards divided into two groups, came to the door of Zhang Jie and Shi Fan's bedroom, skillfully took out the incense, carefully lit it with a fire breaker, and carefully inhaled it with a thin tube, and then inserted the tube through the tattered window paper, and blew it hard.

After a while, they carefully opened the window again, silently climbed in, and by the faint moonlight, they opened Zhang Jie and Shi Fan's mouths, stuffed a tooth-like poison into their mouths, and then carefully pinched their chins to bite the tooth-like poison, until black blood flowed from the corners of Zhang Jie and Shi Fan's mouths, and they retreated from the window silently.

"Ahh

Early the next morning, as soon as the sky was bright, there were terrible screams in Zhang Jie and Shi Fan's room, which was sent by their concubine after being frightened, Zhang Jie and Shi Fan actually committed suicide in fear of crime!