In the imperial study, Zhang Yan looked at the revised new law, but it was also in order. Although many of them protected the rights and interests of scholars and ordinary people, they also had the right to protect the royal family. For example, the army is owned by the emperor and must obey the emperor's orders, and the emperor can directly issue an order to arrest the punishment of officials. The decree is also possible, but it cannot change the law, and if you want to change the law, you must go through Parliament.

Why doesn't Yue Su stipulate in the law that the army belongs to the state, but to stipulate that it belongs to the emperor, the reason is very simple, if the army does not obey the emperor, how can the emperor be willing to do it. Don't look at Lord Yue in power, but his rights are also given by the emperor, the real constitutional monarchy is not so easy to implement, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty has not yet fallen to the role of being slaughtered, if you really dare to divide the army, he will really dare to let Dongchang take you.

Moreover, now Yue Su doesn't want to really empty the Zhu family, it is good that the state system is perfect, but the emperor is the emperor after all. It seems that Japan adopted a cabinet system during the Meiji Restoration, but the monarchy was supreme and had to obey the emperor's orders. The reason why the emperor was deprived of his rights was, in the final analysis, that he was defeated in World War II and was sanctioned, otherwise, the emperor still had the right to say and the army would still have to be loyal to the emperor.

All systems must be improved little by little, just like this parliamentary system, Yue Su also found the shortcomings in this election, so he created this parliament.

Since the army is the emperor's, although the military department manages the promotion of generals, the first- and second-grade generals do not need to pass the parliament. Still according to the old rules, after the military department is prepared, it will be reported to the cabinet and presented to the emperor. As for knighthood. Sealing and disbanding officials or something, it is still up to the emperor to say, and the parliament can't control it either. You can't deprive the emperor of this right.

This new method is passable on the face of the big guys, so it is over on Zhang Yan's side. However, Zhang Yan still had some scheming and told Yue Su. This set of laws is only a trial trial, and everything will be officially implemented after the emperor takes office, and you should think about it again. If there is anything to add, the emperor will also take a look here, what needs to be added.

Yue Su naturally couldn't force Zhang Yan to agree, and he fell into the name of bullying the young master, so he agreed.

After Yue Su retired. Zhang Yan asked her son to do what he should do and return to Cining Palace on his own. As soon as she returned to Cining Palace, she immediately called Liu Mingguo, Cao Huachun, and Zhao Zhi. Then show them the new law and ask them to give some advice. After all, now. It can also be modified.

This new law has no effect on their eunuchs, and they should do whatever they want. Whether it's the celebrant or the East Factory. It's still the same function.

However, after Zhao Zhi finished reading it, he said: "Queen Mother, the slave maid thinks that there is something wrong with this. ”

"Zhao Zhi, what's wrong, tell me." Zhang Yan said in a gentle tone.

"Other places are nothing, but this parliamentary system, the suppression of the emperor's power, seems to be a little bigger. Don't look at the promotion of officials, but everything in the court depends on these officials, although the emperor has the right to recall officials, but after the recall, the new officials are not selected by them. Moreover, this new set of laws does not seem to have any problems, but when it is really implemented, God knows what will affect the emperor, but the emperor does not have the right to change it directly, and it must pass through the parliament, so they have the final say. The emperor's rights are restricted everywhere, so the slaves and maids feel that it is inappropriate. Zhao Zhi bowed down and said.

"You're right, I've thought of that, but there are also benefits to having a council, at least in terms of material selection, which can be balanced. Otherwise, there will always be a situation in which one party dominates the DPRK and China, and today it will be the Junyi Party, tomorrow it will be the Junzuo Party, and the day after tomorrow it will be the same party. Since Wu Zong, the power of the cabinet has not been increasing. When Shenzong fought for the country, he could see it. With this council, it will be possible to maintain a balance between the various forces and contain each other. Zhang Yan said.

"Let the various forces maintain balance and contain each other, that is, in terms of official governance, it is indeed possible to select competent talents, which the slave maid also agrees with. But balance is balance, in the final analysis, it is the right of those scholars, and the emperor can't participate in it at all, so that in the long run, the emperor will inevitably be set aside, and everything is what they say. In the eyes of those officials, there may only be a parliament, and there is no longer an emperor. Zhao Zhi said worriedly.

A eunuch is a eunuch, and he is always thinking about the royal family, because the emperor is their master, and the state is secondary. Once the emperor's rights are weakened, their rights will definitely be weakened as well.

"Zhao Zhi, on this basis, do you have any ideas?" Zhang Yan asked.

"There are two methods, the first one is that the emperor directly rejected it; The second is ......" Zhao Zhi hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "Increase the seats in the parliament." ”

"An increase in the number of seats in parliament? What's the use, in the final analysis, it's not the same. Zhang Yan said puzzled.

"The slave means that those seats are not for the ministers, but for the ministers." Zhao Zhi said.

To put it bluntly, Zhao Zhi is a reigning eunuch fighting for rights. If the emperor loses the right to promote officials, then they also lose the right to promote officials, so they must fight for this right.

"Increase the number of seats for the ministers......" Zhang Yan groaned, thought about it in her heart, thought for a while, glanced at Liu Mingguo and Cao Huachun, and said: "Liu Qing, Cao Qing, what do you two mean?" ”

"The slave agrees with Gonggong Zhao's opinion."

"The slave also agrees with Zhao Gonggong's opinion."

When it comes to their own rights, Liu Mingguo and Cao Huachun are not stupid, of course they know that they must stand up at this time, otherwise, once this new law is really implemented, if they want to change it then, they will definitely see blood. Therefore, in order not to make a big deal in the future, and to gain rights from it, the three great eunuchs stood together this time.

"Then you think it would be appropriate to increase the number of seats for the ministers." Zhang Yan said.

"Naturally, the more the merrier." Zhao Zhi said.

"You say light, the more the merrier. That's a lot. If there are too many, the cabinet will never agree. Zhang Yan said.

"Queen Mother, what you said is right, many words. The cabinet will never agree, but what is the use of it. In the selection of officials, it takes more than 50 votes to be able to pass the test, and seven or eight seats can be of any use. Zhao Zhi said truthfully.

"This mourner understands it, but you also see it. The Monarchy is the strongest, but it has only twenty-nine seats, and it has not exceeded thirty, let alone fifty. If you give fifty seats to the ministers at once. How could the Cabinet agree. Zhang Yan said.

"The Queen Mother is right, fifty seats are indeed a little more." At this time, Liu Mingguo stood up and bowed down and said, "The slave thought about it for a while, there are nobles among the members of the council. There are military generals, not to mention the honorables, and the generals can also be directly promoted by the emperor, and these two are added together. is eighteen seats, and they will definitely obey the emperor's orders. Fifty votes only. Counting these eighteen, there are thirty-two left. The ten votes of the sons and daughters of the scholars can be ignored, and there should be no problem in winning five votes out of the eighteen votes of the peasants, workers, and merchants. The remaining twenty-seven votes, the Queen Mother must give to the internal officials. ”

"What Gonggong Liu said is extremely true." Zhao Zhi hurriedly agreed.

"The queen mother, the slave and maid also agree with Gonggong Liu's words, at least twenty-seven seats must be won." Cao Huachun also said.

"Twenty-seven ......" Zhang Yan leaned back in her chair, thought for a while, and said, "In the inner palace, can you find twenty-seven qualified candidates?" ”

"Naturally, there is." Seeing that the Queen Mother sent her mouth, she also moved her mind, Zhao Zhi hurriedly said: "In the inner palace, counting the newly established Mint, there are a total of twenty-five yamen, not counting the East Factory, you can make up enough people casually." ”

"Yes, Queen Mother. The palm print eunuchs of the twenty-five yamen, plus the eunuchs of the Dongchang Governor and the eunuchs of the celebrant Bingbi, are there exactly twenty-seven people. Liu Mingguo also said.

Zhang Yan nodded and said, "That being said, isn't it not good to count the Shangshan Supervisor and Shangyi Supervisor." ”

"The Queen Mother, farmers, workers, and businessmen have all been counted in, and Shangshan Supervisor and Shangyi Supervisor have often dealt with them, so what's wrong with counting them in." Cao Huachun said.

"That's right." Zhang Yan's eyes lit up, the thing is like this, Shangshan has to buy vegetables, Shangyi has to buy fabrics, isn't this all dealing with businessmen. "Well, that's it. Liu Mingguo, you will go to the cabinet and ask Yue Su for these twenty-seven parliamentary seats. ”

"The slave obeys."

Now that Zou Yi is dead, Zhang Yan has been promoted to Liu Mingguo as the eunuch of the celebrant and the seal according to Zou Yi's recommendation. Cao Huachun also became the admiral eunuch of Dongchang.

"Queen Mother, the slave maid has a small proposal." Zhao Zhi said suddenly.

"What do you propose, just say." Zhang Yan said.

"The slave maid thought that when Gonggong Zou went, he should not ask Yue Su for twenty-seven seats straight to the point, he should ask for a little more first, and it is not too much to ask for fifty. Let's take a look at what Yue Su means, bargain with each other, anyway, the bottom line is twenty-seven, wouldn't it be better to ask for a few more. Zhao Zhi said with a smile.

"You're pretty clever. Liu Mingguo did what Zhao Zhi said. Zhang Yan commanded.

"The slave obeys."

Although Zhao Zhi stole the limelight in front of Zhang Yan, Liu Mingguo didn't have the time to pay attention to it now, at this time, it was necessary to consider his own rights, and the big guy had to twist into a rope. Don't look at Liu Mingguo's relationship with Yue Su is good, but at this time, the friendship can only be temporarily put aside.

Leaving Cining Palace, Liu Mingguo went to the cabinet, all in the Forbidden City, and it didn't take long for him to arrive. Yue Sugang finished the meeting with the ministers, said what the queen mother meant, and now talked about his plan to march to Liaodong. The imperial court has so many soldiers and horses, and it has not been disbanded yet, so it is naturally used to fight, and it is almost practiced at the moment, and it can save more grain and grass by fighting early. Moreover, in the cabinet, Yue Su still has the final say, and everyone will not object.

After the meeting was held, Yue Su returned to his duty room to watch the performance, and someone outside the door reported that Liu Gonggong wanted to see him.

Yue Su invited him in, politely greeted each other, and let Liu Mingguo sit down.

"Father-in-law Liu, I don't know why I have time to come and sit today." Yue Su said kindly.

"Lord Yue, I can't hide it. Our family came this time to be sent by the Queen Mother. Liu Mingguo said.

"Oh? Does the Queen Mother have anything to command? Yue Su asked.

"Sure there is one thing."

"What's the matter?"

"Just now, the Queen Mother passed me over and said that there are some problems with the number of members of parliament stipulated in the new law. I want to discuss it with Lord Yue. Reformulated. Liu Mingguo said.

"Is there a problem with the number of people? Before the legislation was enacted, the number of people was also reported to the Queen Mother, and there was no problem at the time, so why is there a problem now? Yue Su stared at Liu Mingguo and asked.

Liu Mingguo is not an idle person, and said with a smile: "This queen mother didn't say it, passed it on to me, only told me to come here and discuss the matter of the council seat with Lord Yue." ”

"Okay. How does the Queen Mother plan to change? Yue Su said directly.

"The Queen Mother means that there will be another fifty seats." Liu Mingguo said honestly and unceremoniously.

"Fifty more......," Yue Su groaned, "That's many." The Queen Mother can say how these fifty seats will be distributed. ”

"Having said that, these fifty seats are for internal officials." Liu Mingguo said.

"To the Officer. Fifty ......" Yue Su couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Gonggong Liu, let's open the skylight and say something, do you think the cabinet will pass." You know, our monarchy party has only twenty-nine seats. If 50 seats are given to the internal officials, wouldn't everything be decided by the internal officials? Then what do you want us ministers to do? ”

"Lord Yue, to be honest, our family also thinks that fifty is a bit more. I also told the Queen Mother at that time, but the Queen Mother wanted to do so. There's nothing we can do. Otherwise, we can sit down and discuss it. It doesn't matter if you reduce it a little, let our family go back and be able to deal with the Queen Mother. Liu Mingguo said in embarrassment.

"I, Yue Su, have promised the Queen Mother to tell the truth and tell the truth, so now in front of you, I don't care about telling the truth more. said that the Queen Mother asked the cabinet for a seat in the Parliament, I think it should be your internal officials who instigated the Queen Mother to ask for a seat in the cabinet. Yue Su stared at Liu Mingguo with a smile.

"Lord Yue, you always like to tell the truth......" Liu Mingguo smiled awkwardly.

"The Queen Mother can promise you, naturally it makes sense, but fifty places, don't mention it. Let's say a number, if it's about the same, if it's acceptable, I'll discuss it with them, if it's too much, it's absolutely impossible. Yue Su said bluntly.

This kind of thing, Yue Su understands that in the current Ming Dynasty, eunuchs have become the climate, and sometimes the emperor can't suppress his courtiers, so he has to rely on eunuchs. The queen mother fought for the parliamentary seats for the eunuchs, to put it bluntly, for the royal rights, and Yue Su, as a courtier, had to serve both the country and the royal family. The balance between the two sides cannot be completely broken, and the royal family cannot feel a sense of crisis, so this face must be given. It's just that they must do a good job with each other.

"My lord, since the adults are like this, our family can no longer pretend to be fake, the bottom line given by the Queen Mother is thirty, and on this basis, the more the merrier. Lord Yue, look ......"

"I don't think I need to talk about it, I have just said that our monarchy party, as the largest party in the DPRK and China, represents countless officials, and only has 29 seats. You internal officials, you plan to ask for thirty seats, so how can I wait to be a courtier. Otherwise, the world will let you say what you say. Yue Su said lightly.

There are really few ministers in the world who dare to talk to the eunuch of the palm seal of the celebrant like this, and after saying this, the eunuch of the palm seal does not dare to have any opinions, so there are even fewer. Liu Mingguo smiled bitterly again, and said: "Fifty is not good, and thirty is not good, so how many are you going to give to the Queen Mother." Otherwise, you say a number, and I will go back to report to the Queen Mother and see what the Queen Mother means. ”

"That's it, I say a number, it's also my greatest ability, you go back and discuss it with the Queen Mother, see if it's okay." This number, I think the Queen Mother should be able to agree. Yue Su said flatly.

"How much?"

"Eighteen." Yue Su replied directly.

Yue Su also knew that if he gave too little, it would really be unreasonable, and eight out of ten would be of little use if he threw them into the council. But if it is given too much, it is not like it, as the second largest party, the Junzuo Party only has twenty-three seats, if the internal officials have more seats than the Junzuo Party, then Qi Shijiao will not agree to them. The Ilo Party can be ignored now, but the Junzuo Party must not be ignored, not only to give the royal family's face, but also to make the Junzuo Party passable, so it can only come up with this number.

This number is nine different from the number that the Queen Mother just discussed. Liu Mingguo has been up and down for so many years, and naturally understands what Yue Su means, eighteen is indeed the limit, and it is impossible to give more. And he also believes that the Queen Mother's side will definitely accept this number. "Lord Yue, Liu admires it, it is worthy of the style of a prime minister......"

Saying that, Liu Mingguo stood up and said, "Lord Yue has not only maintained Shilin, but also the royal family. Bowed by Liu Mingguo...... "In the end, Liu Mingguo gave Yue Su a deep look.

"Father-in-law Liu...... What are you doing, how can Su afford such a big gift......" Yue Su also stood up.

"I can afford it, except for the emperor and the queen mother in the world. Only Lord Yue can afford it. In this way, Mingguo said goodbye and went back to report to the Queen Mother. ”

"Okay, Rong Su will send Grandpa Liu."

Yue Su sent Liu Mingguo to the door, and Liu Mingguo said goodbye again. The two also parted.

Liu Mingguo returned to Cining Palace, at this moment Cao Huachun and Zhao Zhi were still waiting here, and after Liu Mingguo came in, he first saluted the Queen Mother. Then he said the reply given by Yue Su.

"Eighteen ......" Zhang Yan took a deep breath for this number. Zhang Yan was quite satisfied, after all, Yue Su didn't lose her face. "Yue Su promised eighteen seats. How do you guys think? ”

None of the people present can see that Yue Su gave this number not to offend you, but also to protect his own rights. However, this is indeed a bit of a chicken rib, take it, it is useless to talk in the parliament, at least there are nine votes left. If you don't want it, I think it's a pity, eighteen votes are a lot, you know, the votes of Xungui and Shilin's children together are only twenty votes, and the first party, the Junyi Party, has only twenty-nine votes. To put it mildly, the votes that the royal family really has in their hands, the nobles and generals, plus these eighteen votes, have actually reached thirty-six votes. The royal family is the largest party in Parliament.

"Queen Mother, the Junyi Party only has twenty-nine votes, the Junzuo Party has twenty-three votes, the Yiluo Party has only ten votes, and Lord Yue promised to give the ministers eighteen votes, which is actually quite a lot." Zhao Zhi was the first to say.

"Yes, the slave also thinks so, although it is not as much as expected, but this number is enough to be significant. The meaning of Lord Yue is also obvious, I hope that the people in the parliament will work together, and I don't want any party to be able to take over the power. Be truly fair. Cao Huachun said.

"Okay, Liu Mingguo, if you run again, you will tell Yue Su that the mourning family is ready."

"The slave obeys."

Liu Mingguo agreed, and rushed to the cabinet, Yue Su's duty room, indicating that the Queen Mother agreed. Yue Su also believed that Zhang Yan could agree, and the two gossiped, Yue Su asked Liu Mingguo to follow him to the cabinet office hall and invite other cabinet ministers to discuss the matter of adding eighteen internal official seats in the parliament.

Because Liu Mingguo also came, the big guy also understood what it meant, and these people understood it better, that is, this number must have been finalized by Yue Su after consultation with the Empress Dowager. Although the ministers did not want any internal officials to join the parliament, this matter needs the final decision of the royal family, otherwise it will not take effect at all. Eighteen seats, not much, but not a lot, but not yet able to influence the situation. One thing that is more important is that as long as the three parties are willing to join forces, the parliament will still be up to them.

Imagine that even if the parliament were to expand by 18 more seats, bringing the total number of seats to 142, the three parties would stand for 62, and the non-party officials would occupy 16, which would add up to 78, not counting the 10 votes of Shilin, which would already be more than half. As long as everyone works together, they can still fight for the imperial power.

Thinking about this, the ministers have nothing to say. After all, Lord Yue has already decided, and he can't help but give the queen a son. So, together they expressed their approval, and it was adopted.

In the council, plus the organization of eunuchs, Yue Su didn't dare to say whether it was right or wrong, but for now, there was nothing to be done. The sedan chair carries people, and it is always impossible not to give the royal face.

But from another point of view, this is not unreasonable, at least it can make the parliament more balanced. The imperial power will not be overwhelmed by this, and the power of the scholars will not completely overwhelm the imperial power. If everyone upholds the public heart to do things, then all aspects are perfect, if you have selfish intentions, then you will be constrained by all parties, that line half a step.

Maybe there are still imperfections in this council, but this is all Master Yue can do now, and this is also his greatest ability at present.

Well, the housekeeping arrangements are in order, let's go on the expedition next. (To be continued......)