The distress of silence is also the distress of the hundred officials, because after the phase is stabilized. Xu Jie finally freed his hand and began to refresh the turbid rule of the Jiajing Dynasty.

The first thing he did was naturally the Metropolitan Procuratorate. The Imperial Historian of the Imperial Procuratorate corrected the impeachment of hundreds of officials, identified wrongs, and was the supervisor of the bureaucratic system of the Ming Dynasty from the day it was established. It is the only magic weapon for the imperial court to confront the first and improve administrative efficiency.

However, the Yan Party has been in power for many years, and has carried out several purges of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, replacing the upright people who dare to speak out with their own minions. The Metropolitan Procuratorate has become a watchdog to crack down on dissidents and protect oneself, and its role in supervising and picketing has been wiped out. Many capable ministers and clean officials who refused to adhere to the strict party were impeached and removed from power by the Metropolitan Procuratorate, while many mediocre officials who were immoral, incompetent, and greedy were unharmed and even promoted.

Therefore, Xu Jie's first step is to move the place to Hu Zhi, the imperial history of the left capital, and he is not ashamed, he. directly reassigned to the fattest errand of the Ming Dynasty, and it is also the position that Yan Shifan has always entrenched. Yan Dang was naturally unwilling to defeat and tried his best to oppose it when he pushed the court, but Xu Jie was already the first assistant. Say hello to the six Jiuqing in advance, especially with the support of the Shanxi Gang, and get a full seventy percent of the support votes. kicked Hu Zhi out of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and straightened the right capital Yushi Li Cook smoothly.

Xu Jie used the right person this time, although Li Zhuo entered the army, he relied on leading soldiers to fight and ascended to the position with military exploits, he was jealous and hateful by nature, and he was resolute in doing things, and he was definitely not afraid of offending people. As soon as he took office, he began to rectify the imperial history team under his command, and immediately said: "The imperial court has set up a constitution, so it is important to send the ears and eyes, and the responsibility of strict discipline and discipline." In recent years, he has not won people, vainly recklessly recklessly wielded his blessings, put right and wrong in place, and his discipline has been lax. The ministers asked to open all the imperial histories of the Imperial Palace; Order all ministries and departments and all undertakings to announce that the political envoys are re-promoted, and the officials must issue and implement them, transfer them to the Ministry of Counselors, and examine them before they can be appointed. Afterwards, there are stolen goods and incompetence, and those who cite them are guilty of the same crime! In other words, all the more than 100 imperial historians of the Metropolitan Procuratorate will be dismissed, and then the central and local officials will be re-promoted, and after the appointment, if there is a crime or incompetence, the person who recommended him will be punished for the same crime.

Such a radical method, not to mention Jiajing, even Xu Jie couldn't agree, so he directly returned the book, ordered him to redraft the plan, and asked to "slow down" and "lighten" Li Zhuo after revision. Beaten back again. Revised and revised, and then returned. After repeated times, he finally couldn't bear it anymore, and directly found Xu Jie: "This is the final plan, if you don't agree, I won't do it."

Xu Jie knew that he did what he said, and he didn't want to dampen his enthusiasm, so he finally agreed to his latest plan to set up a one-year evaluation period, comprehensively considering the number of impeachments verified and the weight of the officials involved, and ranking all the imperial histories. At the same time, he ordered all ministries and academies and political envoys to propose suitable candidates. And its performance will be included in the evaluation of the recommender.

With the efforts of Xu Gelao, this still tough measure finally won Zhu's approval, and Liu Zhuo, who was already suffocated, could finally act. He gathered a group of imperial historians in front of the hall, read out the holy oracle loudly, and said to his subordinates with a black face: "I know that this will definitely attract hatred, and I also know that you will hate me, but since you are the imperial history, you can't think about the left and right, and it is right to attract people to be afraid and hateful!" Saying that, he slapped his chest heavily and said: "The civil official makes up for the birds, and the military attaches make up for the beast, but the divine beast Xie Heng on our chest is, what is Xie Xiu?" Reach out to those who are not upright, who are not righteous, who are lawless! It is the patron saint of righteousness in the world, and it is the "ghost sorrow" of the treacherous villain.! Emperor Taizu gave us the power to picket hundreds of officials, hear about things and ignore crimes, just in the hope that we can be like Xie Xiu, and be inseparable from those who bend the law for bribes, so as to ensure that the Ming Dynasty is politically clear! ”

"Countless predecessors did not live up to the expectations of Taizu, they were not afraid of power, righteous death, impeached countless huge greedy and stupid people, and at the same time eliminated harm for the country, they also fulfilled their own centuries-old beauty, so that when people mention the imperial history, they will be in awe, thinking that they are loyal ministers and clean officials!" Speaking of this, he sighed heavily and said: "But in the past 20 years, we have been with the light and dust, we have been in the same stream, and even aided and abused and acted for the tiger, we have defiled our own sacredness, we have lost our dignity and traditions, you ask yourself, the Ming Dynasty has been established for 200 years, has there been a royal history." Worse than us?.

Speaking loudly, all the imperial historians lowered their heads in shame, and Liu Zhuo slowed down his tone. Said: "I also know that the original strict party was in power, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate was also in their hands, and everyone had the intention to kill the thief and had no power to return to the sky," the talented people were under the roof and had to bow their heads, this is the result of the current situation, and it is not entirely to blame that everyone said a few words that made people feel relieved, and he changed his words again: "But now that the people who suppressed the way of speech are gone, no one has recorded and seized the power of our speech. Then please leave now, and the official will let you transfer to another place with dignity; If you choose to stay, you must abide by the duty of the imperial history, otherwise you will blame the official for being ruthless. Here is the official, only like-minded iron-boned men are left."

No matter what they thought in their hearts, all the imperial histories responded in unison: "I am willing to restore the good name of my imperial history with my adult comrades!" "Okay" Liu Cook waved his hand and said: "All the imperial historians listen to the order!" ”

"In!"

"From today onwards, the Metropolitan Procuratorate will make every effort to picket hundreds of officials, and all ministers and treacherous villains will form the party as a rebel! Impeach. Anyone who is obscene, greedy, and corrupt will be impeached! Those who are not academically correct, and the words in the book become chaotic and become constitutional, and those who hope to use it will be impeached! ”

"Yes!" The imperial history was made boiling by Liu Boil. At that time, many people impulsively felt a sense of sacredness that was becoming more and more rare in the Ming Dynasty, and they were reborn.

As soon as Yushi was impulsive, the hundred officials were unlucky. Think about it, more than a hundred guys who are holding back their energy, comparing to the race to find fault and find trouble, staring at you day and night, even eggs have to pick out the bones for you. What a chill.

With the full cooperation of the officials, this storm of clean government has finally really blown, and countless officials have been dismissed, including many high-ranking officials who have been prominent for a while."

In June of the forty-first year of Jiajing, Zheng Luo, the imperial history of Guangdong Province, participated in the Dali Temple, and was greedy; Jiangxi Provincial Imperial History Lin Run impeached the governor of Cangchang, Xi Xiangqing, for embezzlement; Henan Provincial Imperial Historian Chen Kejian impeached Henan Governor Wan Yuyou for corruption, the evidence is conclusive and indisputable, Xu Jie and Yuan Sister jointly voted to "dismiss and live idle" and obtained the approval of Emperor Jiajing.

The following month, more than a dozen central and local ministers, including He Ao, a waiter of the Ministry of War, Tu Li, a waiter of the Criminal Department, and Liu Boyue, a waiter of the Ministry of Works, were impeached again. Approved by Emperor Jiajing again.

Another month. There are Yu Shi Ma Anquan, Hu Yingkun and others, impeaching the Yan family father and son for 20 articles of lawlessness. asked to escort his father and son back to the capital to ask for beheading" The excerpt was beaten back by the cabinet, and sent it back through the relationship of the celebrant and the supervisor, and finally came to Emperor Jiajing.

Jiajing finally didn't approve this time, he summoned Xu Jie, and said dissatisfiedly: "Old Yan Song has already given his way." Yan Shifan was also assigned to Leizhou, what else do those people want? Do you have to cut the grass and eradicate the roots? Why is it so intolerable? ”

Xu Jie said unhurriedly: "Emperor Mingjian, you have already affirmed the holy will, and you are not allowed to impeach the Yan family father and son again, and the lower officials have repeatedly emphasized that it is impossible for anyone not to know, but they still dare to go to the book to disobey the holy will, and eighty percent have other plans." ”

"Isn't there someone trying to curry favor with you, the prime minister?" Jiajing snorted coldly.

"Yan Ge is always the old boss of the lower officials. The lower official respects his old man from the bottom of his heart, and when Yan Ge is old, the lower official will greet him every day; Yan Ge is old, and students often guide him. Greetings to the old man and wishing him good health. Shoubi Nanshan, this is all from the heart" Xu Jie hurriedly explained: "If someone wants to please the old minister, they should help Yan Ge Lao say good things to anyone If you think that falling into the well can make the old man grateful, it is really a big mistake." ”

Hearing Xu Jie's words, the chill on Jiajing's face decreased slightly, he knew such a thing. After Xu Jie's ascension to the throne, his son Xu Bo once said to him, "Father, you have suffered so many grievances, and you have made many people in the world misunderstood, you should take revenge on the Yan family father and son, so as to correct your name." Xu Jie was furious when he heard this, and scolded: "Don't you know that you rebel? If there is no Yan Ge Lao to support. I can get today's status, if I dare to say that it is not good for Yan Ge Lao, I will break your legs! ”

This attitude towards his son in private, and in the face of others, these Jiajing all know. That's why he felt that Xu Jie didn't want to rectify Yan Song, but just to rejuvenate the imperial court. After thinking about it, Jiajing no longer held Xu Jie's responsibility accountable, and ordered: "Those two, the imperial history who committed the crime against the wind." Severe punishment must be imposed. If there is an instigator behind it, it will be punished equally severely and must not be tolerated. Said with a desolate sigh: "There is a way that clothes are not as good as newcomers." Yan Weizhong has served the United for 30 years. It's going to end well."

"Yes, Lao Chen understands...... Seeing that Lao Yan Song's status in the sacred heart is still so high, Xu Jie's heart is awe-inspiring, and he can only respond respectfully.

After Xu Jie retreated, Jiajing sat indifferently on the futon, looking at the empty hall, and his heart was full of loneliness. He actually misses Lao Yan Song very much, and his decades of friendship have even surpassed the scope of monarchs and ministers, with a bit of a friend. Jiajing has been accustomed to having Yan Song accompany and serve him, and now that the familiar old dog is gone, the emperor is inexplicably stunned.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Hong came in lightly and said softly: "Master, it's time for evening class." ”

Jiajing nodded when he heard this, Chen Hong took out the small copper kettle from the incense burner, and waited for the emperor to enter the Dan, he wanted to retire, but he didn't see Jiajing settle down, so he asked softly: "Does the master have anything on his mind?" ”

After a while, Jiajing asked slowly, "How is Yan Song doing lately?" ”

Chen Hong said sadly when he heard this: "It's not good to go back to the master." Yan Ge Lao left Beijing and returned to his hometown, and the people along the way knew about it, and they came to see the jokes one after another, pointing fingers everywhere, which made his old man very embarrassed. was scolded all the way, so desolate, in desperation, I had to order my family to escort the vehicle in front of me first. He only took the housekeeper Yan Nian and a small servant to serve by his side, and the three of them hired a donkey to ride, and they hurried behind, but the journey of a month and a half and lasted for nearly three months, Yan Ge Lao couldn't support it, and he fell ill when he walked to Nanchang, and he was still recuperating there and couldn't return to his hometown. ”

Jiajing frowned when he heard this: "Yan Song is a Zhishi, not a dismissal, those people dare to treat him like this?" ”

"Alas, Ping, what does this fool know? Isn't it that as soon as others instigate, they will follow their eyes? Chen Hong said with an angry face: "The slave has the courage to say, you should help Yan Ge get old, otherwise he will really be bullied to death." ”

"Do you want to invite him back to be the first assistant?" Jiajing shook his head slowly and said: "Forget it, it should be better when he arrives in Nanchang, even if he is sorry for the people of the two capitals and twelve provinces over the years, he has also done a lot of good things for Jiangxi, and the people there will no longer hurt his heart, right?" ”

"But there are still many people in the court who don't give up," Chen Hong whispered: "Master, the servants are not speaking for the Yan family, but they feel that they are too disagreeable, and the cabinet has the final say in everything, and they don't take the master in their eyes."

Jiajing was poked in the sore spot, and was silent again, for the current situation, he really felt uncomfortable, because Xu Jie's performance before and after becoming the first assistant made him surprised When Yan Song was there, Xu Jie, as the second assistant, was blindly submissive and flattering to Jiajing, rushing to make alchemy for him, digging out his heart to write green words, even more considerate than Yan Song, and rebuilding the palace for the emperor under extremely difficult economic conditions, so that the emperor felt that with this Songjiang person, it would be the same without Yan Song.

But when Jiajing really drove away Yan Song and helped Xu Jie to the front and auxiliary positions, he found that this little man had changed, although he was still wearing a supple coat, he was scheming, very assertive, and could skillfully use the power of the big teeth in the DPRK and China. Twist all kinds of forces together to achieve your own strength. This kind of strength is something that Emperor Jiajing has nothing to do.

Because the political system of the Ming Dynasty was like this, Emperor Taizu abolished the succession of the government of the hundred officials and the prime minister, in order to strengthen the imperial power and give the emperor all the authority of the world; So at the same time as abolishing the prime minister. It also divided the central and local power organs into checks and balances, so that they did not have the power to make independent decisions and had to rely on the emperor's ruling. But it turns out. A government without a prime minister will never work, because it is good to be free of mind and dictatorship, but it can bring the intensity of work. It is also extremely terrifying, enough to turn the emperor, who is envied by everyone, into the world's most important drudgery. Even his blood-soaked son, Zhu Lin, couldn't bear it, let alone the pampered juniors.

So starting from Zhu Lin, the emperors of all dynasties have been doing one thing secretly in order not to die of exhaustion. Empower the Cabinet to be the prime minister in substance. And because Zhu Yuanzhuan's descendants, in the ability generation is not as good as the generation, can only continue to increase the power of the cabinet, to the Zhengde period, the cabinet university scholar remuneration in the Hongwu years, at best can only be regarded as the emperor's secretary, staff, clerk role, has jumped to the essence of the prime minister, to the Jiajing years, the prime minister has been recognized as a respected title for college students, and even the emperor does not shy away from calling his cabinet ministers "prime minister, deputy prime minister".

Its influence on the politics of the Ming Dynasty is by no means as simple as the loss of power and the regain, because when the emperor reshaped the power of the minister, the evil consequences of Emperor Taizu's decentralization of various ministries and courts showed that the power of the imperial historians of a scholar could not compete with the scholars at all, and as a result, Zhu Yuanji's hard-working centralized authority became the strength of the scholars, and its authority surpassed that of the Song Dynasty and chased the Han and Tang dynasties. Their protégés and former officials were all over the court, and their prestige was extremely high, and if the emperor had not removed them for a valid reason, he might have really become a loner. It was attacked by a group of officials.

The emperor who broke the ancestral system. I have endured the hardships of the scholars. had to break another ancestral system to make up for it, that is, to give the eunuchs power and let them help them fight against each other; However, Emperor Jiajing had strong self-confidence and did not like eunuchs to interfere in politics, and he firmly believed that his power was enough to maintain his authority; In fact, he did a good job in the first forty years. used Zhang Soul, Fang Xianfu, Gui Beast and others to fight down Yang Tinghe, who regarded himself as an old minister who cared for his life and always wanted to control the emperor; and used Xia Yan to fight down Zhang Daughter-in-law and others, who could not tolerate dissidents and would repay them; and then used Yan Songdou to pour down Xia Yan, who was slow to use the net and disrespected the emperor; and used Xu Jiedou to defeat Yan Song, who formed a party for personal gain.

In the final analysis, the core of his imperial technique is checks and balances, and the specific method is to help the weak not help the strong, and when a certain leader is too strong, it is when he helps the weak to eliminate it. In fact. For more than 150 years, the ministers have been able to go into the wilderness with dignity and enjoy their old age in peace, and only the powerful ministers of the Jiajing Dynasty have never died well. The root of this is the emperor's way of power.

When he helped Xu Jiedou defeat Yan Song. Jiajing also prepared an opponent for him. Second assistant Yuan sister.

But this time the emperor looked away, because Yuan Fei's article was well written, and his political skills were not bad, he was indeed a rare talent, but when he met Xu Jie, a super master who had accompanied Yan Song for more than ten years, he was not an opponent at all, and he was suppressed by Xu Jie.

As a result, the emperor helplessly found that there was no one who could balance Xu Jie, just like Yan Song once called for wind and rain and dominated national affairs, Xu Jie also had the same power. The current Xu Jie, although he still maintains his responsiveness to the emperor's needs. But if he had any decrees to promulgate and who to appoint, Jiajing had to give in.

Solemnly declare that the accumulation of the butterfly effect has allowed history to slowly embark on another path here."