Inside the Imperial Study of the Maoqin Palace. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

Wang Tingxiang hurried over, and after seeing Zheng De saluting, who was practicing calligraphy, he asked, "I don't know what urgency Your Majesty has to come to Weichen?" ”

"Ziheng, you sit down first and take a look at this recital." Zheng De greeted him and handed him a piece of music.

After taking his seat, Wang Tingxiang quickly finished reading this recital, and asked suspiciously, "Your Majesty is not satisfied with the imperial court's promotion of Wang Wei, the right attendant of the original official department, into the cabinet?" ”

"It's not that I'm dissatisfied, it's just that I think his ability is a little lacking." Zheng De shook his head. He searched through the system and found that this Wang Wei's ability rating had only reached a B level, which really made him unsatisfied.

"Incompetent?" Wang Tingxiang thought about it and had to admit that this Wang Shilang had been in the court for so many years, in addition to his high reputation, he really didn't have any political achievements or anything like that.

However, it has to be said that prestige is also an extremely important political capital. Especially in the future in Western countries, as long as you have a high reputation among voters, you can be elected even if you have no political experience. Just like the current Ming Dynasty, as long as you have a high reputation in the court, there is a good chance that the court will be able to pass and fill the vacancy, of course, the emperor needs to decide in the end.

Of course, there are also advantages and disadvantages to this kind of democratic selection, after all, this kind of selection is mostly based on personal charm, if the elected person is only lip-talking, and has no ability, it will undoubtedly be a disaster for the whole country. However, this is only for the Western countries of later generations, and the current Ming Dynasty can be pushed into the cabinet by the court, all of whom are people with good character and prestige. Even if you don't have any skills, as long as you stay in the cabinet honestly, work soy sauce and gangsters every day, and don't make trouble or make trouble, you can still not affect the normal operation of the imperial court. After all, the cabinet is only a yamen equivalent to a secretarial institution to assist the emperor in handling political affairs, and there are six yamen behind it.

Of course, now that Zheng De has entered the Ming Dynasty, he naturally can't tolerate these court ministers who don't have much ability to enter the cabinet. If the cabinet also follows itself, then who will help him solve the affairs of the imperial court?

"Then what is Your Majesty going to do?" Wang Tingxiang knew that the emperor had definitely not asked him to come to say this, so he asked straight to the point.

Zheng De looked at him and hesitated for a moment, then said his thoughts, "I want Wang Jing or Zesun to be handed over to the cabinet as an assistant, I don't know if Ziheng thinks it's feasible?" ”

"Let Wang Jing or Zesun be handed over to the cabinet as an auxiliary minister?" Wang Tingxiang was not surprised, judging from Zheng De's unsatisfactory tone with Wang Wei, he knew that he obviously wanted to change someone into the cabinet. And the only person in the court who can be appreciated by the emperor is Sun Jiao, except for Wang Jing.

"Actually, my most optimistic candidate is Ziheng you, if it is really possible, I want you to join the cabinet and assist the government. It's a pity that it's not just the beginning of the cabinet, so don't really want to enter without any qualifications. Zheng De said suddenly.

Hearing Zheng De's words, Wang Tingxiang was slightly stunned, and then laughed. It is not surprising that he can see how much the emperor values him by walking in the imperial study. However, he has only been in the department for three years, and he really doesn't have any capital to enter the cabinet.

"Your Majesty has lifted love." He said modestly, and then continued, "If Wang Jing or Sun Jiao can have one of them enter the cabinet to assist the government, it will naturally be an excellent thing, but I am afraid this matter will not be easy!" ”

Zheng De looked at him when he heard this, "What's wrong?" ”

"Since the reign of Emperor Yingzong, there has been a practice in the imperial court that 'non-Jinshi will not enter the Hanlin, and non-Hanlin will not enter the cabinet'. And Wang Jing and Sun Jiao were not selected for Hanlin, and this matter may be greatly criticized by the civil and military officials of the imperial court. Wang Tingxiang said this, and shook his head helplessly.

Since he entered the imperial study, he has also begun to pay attention to the ministers in the court, not to mention Wang Jing and Sun Jiao, whom the emperor is quite fond of. Wang Jing doesn't need to say much, although he has been released as an official, his ability is also well-known in the court. And Sun Jiao was also an extremely capable official, who was valued by Wang Shu, the secretary of the Nanjing Military Department at that time. Compared with the officials who came out directly from the Hanlin Academy, the abilities of these two people are even more superior.

But these two quite capable officials are now unable to enter the cabinet because of their status as a Hanlin, which is really embarrassing.

"It's just a convention, not a formal rule. Besides, the rule is that the dead are alive, and if there is no precedent, it doesn't mean that you really can't enter the cabinet! Zheng De said to him dissatisfied.

Wang Tingxiang nodded, feeling that he was also bound by the rules and regulations of the imperial court.

"What Your Majesty said is very true, but if you want Wang Jing and Sun Jiao to enter the cabinet at the same time, I'm afraid it's still not appropriate!"

"Tell me about it!" Zheng De looked at him and asked lightly.

"Lord King Jing, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, is fortunately, he is quite famous among the ministers of the court, and his qualifications are not bad, even if he enters the cabinet, he will not suffer too much criticism. However, although the head of the household department, Sun Jiaosun, is outstanding, he is too shallow in the court in terms of qualifications and prestige. is not even as good as the emperor's three teachers, and I am afraid that he has suffered the most criticism when he entered the court. If His Majesty orders him to enter the cabinet, most of them will definitely resign. ”

"Then let Wang Jing join the cabinet as an assistant."

Zheng De didn't insist, he was just dissatisfied with Wang Wei's entry into the cabinet, but he didn't have to have Wang Jing and Sun Jiao enter the cabinet together, as long as one of them could enter the cabinet to assist the government, his goal would be achieved.

Hearing that the emperor had circled Wang Jing, Wang Tingxiang still couldn't help but say more, "Your Majesty, after all, Wang Wei has a strong reputation in the court, if Wang Wei and Wang Jing are allowed to enter the cabinet and assist the government together." Wouldn't it be a better thing to save a lot of trouble when the time comes. ”

Zheng Degang wanted to refuse directly, and then thought of the three elders in the cabinet. If they really don't agree with Wang Wei's entry into the cabinet, they may inevitably come to their ears to nag, which is really unbearable.

After thinking about it, I agreed.

"Okay, you can draw up the purpose."

Wang Tingxiang also secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this, if Wang Wei did not enter the cabinet and assist the government in the end, I am afraid that he will be criticized by the courtiers again, and he will lie down innocently.

……

"Xiaguan has seen Master Tu." In the Daming National Security Bureau, when he heard the news of Tu Xun's coming, Yan Song hurriedly greeted him.

Tu Xun didn't say a word and asked directly, "Recently, when arresting those eunuchs who committed crimes, was there any indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians?" ”

Seeing Tu Xun with an unkind face, Yan Song was also quite shocked when he heard this, and said with some doubts, "I don't know where the adults heard this kind of rumor, Xia Guan has never done such a thing." ”

"Really?" Tu Xun still looked at him with some suspicion, "Do you dare to guarantee that the group of people under your command have not done such a thing?" ”

"This ......" Yan Song hesitated slightly, after all, this Ming State Security Bureau had changed the name of Dongchang, and he hadn't been in office for long, so he really didn't dare to guarantee anything.

"You, you...... As a scholar, how can you do such a unconscionable thing? Seeing his hesitant expression, Tu Xun was even more sure that all this was arranged by Yan Song.

Yan Song was aggrieved when he heard this, and before he could defend himself, Tu Xun smashed down a lot of words again, "Do you feel extremely aggrieved by the Daming National Security Bureau, and feel that there is no future at all, so you broke the jar and broke it, and these people in the East Factory were in the same stream, and let the people under him do mischief and not strictly discipline them?" If you really have this kind of thought, even if the emperor values you again, I think you only deserve to stay in this filthy place for the rest of your life. ”

Yan Song was completely scolded by Tu Xun, he was just a little jinshi who had just entered the department, and he had never been reprimanded like this. I wanted to refute it, but I couldn't say anything in my throat.

Seeing his silent expression, Tu Xun didn't bother to talk nonsense, and said directly, "I hope you will deal with this matter as soon as possible, otherwise I will go directly to the emperor, and you can do it yourself when the time comes." ”

threw down a sentence and left without looking back. From beginning to end, Yan Song was not given a chance to defend himself.

After being stunned for a long time, Yan Song came back to his senses, looked at the street where Tu Xun disappeared last, and said secretly, "It seems that I still take the errand of being in charge of the Ming National Security Bureau too easily, and there are already rumors in the court, and I, the director of the National Security Bureau, actually don't know anything, I really am ashamed of the emperor's entrustment." If it reaches His Majesty's ears, I am afraid that I will not be able to serve as the director for long, and my future will be really ruined. ”

From Tu Xun's tone, Yan Song also came to his senses completely. I am afraid that what the Ming State Security Bureau needs to do is more thankless, and these are exactly what the courtiers are afraid of. If they continue to act like this, I am afraid that they will inevitably suppress themselves. He is just a small sesame official who has just entered the department, and he has no foundation background in the court. Even if his own teacher, Yang Tinghe, is afraid that he may not be on his side at that time and be the enemy of all the ministers of the imperial court. But if he really took refuge in that group of court ministers, I am afraid that the emperor will be the first to not let him go.

"I'm really in an awkward situation." Yan Song sighed helplessly, and said secretly, "It seems that the emperor has set a trap for me, if I don't want to end up miserable, I can only rely on the emperor to be a loyal minister." ”

This is simply a multiple-choice question, it is true that he is a civil official of the imperial court, and it is also true that he is also the eyes and ears of the emperor, although both are in control of his future and destiny. Compared with the emperor, if you take refuge in the civil official group, it is basically a dead end, and you may not be able to get a good reputation and leave a name in history. This is also destined if he wants to go further in the officialdom, he can only follow the pace of the emperor. Of course, in the end, he can also choose Zhishi, but it depends on whether the emperor agrees or not.

"But now we still have to deal with the affairs of the bureau, and we must do a good job of collecting intelligence, otherwise it will really be over."

Thinking of this, Yan Song turned around and returned to the office of the National Security Bureau and began to deal with it. And he, who has never been engaged in intelligence work, has a serious attitude towards his job or responsibilities from now on, and he really cares. After all, if you want to be truly recognized by the emperor, you don't just talk about it.

It was also from this moment that the Ming National Security Bureau, which was feared by the civil and military officials of the imperial court in the future, really began to move on the right track, and slowly spread the intelligence network to every corner of the entire Ming Dynasty.