In September of the fourteenth year of Chongzhen, the edict of the Ministry of Officials arrived in Nanjing.

Everything was expected by Zheng Xunrui, the cabinet really started from the appointment of officials, but this time the action was not very big, the edict of the Ministry of Officials only appointed eight prefects, and they were all prefects of other prefectures other than Yingtianfu, and the magistrates who were adjusted did not have Zheng Xunrui's absolute henchmen.

According to the rules of the imperial court, the appointment of officials below the fifth grade, the cabinet deliberates and makes a decision, and after the emperor agrees, the ministry directly issues an edict, and the appointment of officials above the fifth grade must be appointed directly by the emperor.

Xu Wanghua and others feel that this is not a big problem, of course, they also know that this is just the first step of the emperor and the imperial court, to see what Zheng Xunrui's reaction is, if Zheng Xunrui directly opposes, the cabinet can make a big fuss about this matter, if Zheng Xunrui agrees, more officials will be adjusted in the next step.

The opinion of the General Staff Department was to prepare to accept the edict issued by the Ministry of Officials, and at this time, the eight prefects who had been appointed had already set off for Nanzhili, but the eight prefects who had been adjusted, because there was no order from the Nanjing Military Department, did not leave for the time being, although they had been completely transferred out of Nanzhili, and all of them went to the capital.

At the Nanjing Military Department, Xu Wanghua reported his views on behalf of the General Staff.

"The General Staff believes that the edict of the Ministry of Officials is acceptable, and the Investigation Bureau has also conducted an investigation into the eight newly appointed officials, most of whom have been transferred from Zhejiang and Shandong to Nanzhili, and most of them have also served as county officials in the past, and they are competent. Being able to transfer to the capital this time also means that the power of Nanzhili is extending towards the capital......"

"The General Staff feels that Nanzhili not only has to deal with the actions of the emperor and the imperial court, but also has to produce some countermeasures, such as the officials who have been adjusted to the capital, and they must still be loyal......"

When Xu Wanghua reported. Zheng Xunrui's face didn't have much expression, and he looked light.

Zheng Xunrui's expression made Xu Wanghua, Zheng Jinhong, Wen Kun, Li Yan and others a little worried.

Sure enough, after Xu Wanghua finished speaking, Zheng Xunrui quickly spoke.

"The Ministry of War's adjustment of the eight magistrates of Nanzhili this time is not a big deal in the eyes of many people, and it is unlikely to have a great impact, but I don't see it that way, the wealth and stability of Nanzhili. Many counties have made great contributions, and it can be said that without these counties doing things diligently, it would be impossible to have today's Nanzhili. ”

"Qian Shisheng is not a fool, he is the oldest in the cabinet, and he has seen through many things in the officialdom, how can he act at will, this time he adjusted the eight magistrates of Nanzhili, he was thoughtful."

"Think about it. There are many prefectures and counties in the south, such as prefects, prefectures and counties. These commanders do things according to the requirements of the Nanjing Military Department, holding different things from other places, and doing things different from those of other local officials, they have actually recognized our authority, and rarely care about the affairs of the capital, in their opinion. I, the secretary of the military department, have enough responsibility to support them, but if they can be adjusted by the imperial court at will, then tell me what they will think. ”

"Once they leave Nanzhili, I can conclude. Their safety is difficult to guarantee, Qian Shisheng can find many reasons, punish them, and even put them in prison, if such a situation really occurs, what will the rest of the prefects, prefectures and counties of Nanzhili think, how can they do things with peace of mind. ”

"The idea of the staff is good, we must counteract, we can't let the emperor and the court attack unscrupulously, but thinking about letting these adjusted magistrates continue to do things for us after leaving, it is extravagant and impossible to achieve."

Zheng Xunrui's words made Xu Wanghua and the others lower their heads, and they made such a decision largely because Zheng Xunrui didn't want to tear his face with the emperor at the moment.

"I know you are very embarrassed, after all, I don't want to openly do it with the emperor, but if I don't do it publicly, it doesn't mean that we don't have any action, let the court slaughter, this time the edict of the Ministry of War, we still have to do it, but not completely, the newly appointed magistrate can go to Nanzhili, as for the adjusted magistrate, there is no need to go to the capital to take office, what we need is talent, from now on, we must try to reserve as many talents as possible."

"The newly appointed magistrates will come to Nanjing to receive training for a period of one month, and they must do things in accordance with the requirements of the Nanjing Military Department, otherwise they will automatically write their resignations and return to the capital.

"In the future, the emperor and the imperial court will adjust the officials in Nanzhili and Shaanxi and other places, all in accordance with this method, and the Nanjing officials should not be idle, a large number of recommended officials, of course, the eyes are not only aimed at Nanzhili and Shaanxi, but also take into account Shandong, Zhejiang and Jiangxi and other places, the cabinet has given us tips, and we have also recommended a large number of seven county magistrates."

"The General Staff Department should set up a special organization for training officials, train all the officials who have arrived, and let them do things in accordance with the requirements of the Nanjing Military Department, and the General Staff Department will be directly responsible for this matter, and in the future, the emperor and the imperial court will continue to adjust the officials in Nanzhili and Shaanxi and other places, these officials may have a special mission, and they are very likely to have bad intentions and want to undermine the stability and prosperity of Nanzhili, but we don't have to worry, the sea is inclusive, there is tolerance, strive for the greatest support, and unite all the forces that can be united. Let the vast majority of these people be used by us, and the impact will be the real blow to the imperial court. ”

Zheng Xunrui put forward ideas and methods to deal with it, and Xu Wanghua and others soon began to implement them.

The General Staff Department carried out a division of labor, Xu Wanghua was personally responsible for the affairs of the training institutions, and the people who taught the classes were selected from the Shangshu and left and right attendants of the Sixth Department of Nanjing, Wen Kun was responsible for coordinating the matter of recommending candidates for officials from the Nanjing Ministry of Officials, and Li Yan was responsible for coordinating the placement of the readjusted officials, so that everything could go hand in hand.

Many officials in Nanzhili paid special attention to the adjustment of officials by the imperial court, although it was only said that the adjustment was only eight magistrates.

The magistrate of the county who was adjusted, is also uneasy, these years, they do things according to the requirements of the Nanjing Military Department, basically did not take into account the imperial court, if they leave Nanzhili, enter the capital, I don't know what kind of trouble they will face, in the past from Nanzhili to the capital to take up a post, that is a happy thing, now it is a frustrating and worrying thing.

Everyone's eyes were focused on the military headquarters and the general staff headquarters in Nanjing.

As a result, many officials soon learned that the eight magistrates appointed by the edict of the Beijing Officials Department were agreed by the Nanjing Military Department, but the eight magistrates who were adjusted did not go to the capital, but stayed in Nanzhili, and the Nanjing Officials Department made arrangements, and these people were very likely to be promoted, or to Shaanxi, or to Zhejiang, or to Shandong.

This decision of the Nanjing Military Department quickly stabilized the hearts of the people, but many worries still existed, and this move of the Nanjing Military Department was tantamount to negating the edict of the Ministry of Officials in the capital, and everyone knew that the edict of the Ministry of Officials represented the meaning of the emperor and the cabinet.

According to the requirements of the Ministry of War, these new magistrates must undergo a one-month training, and they can only really take up their posts after passing the training; if they fail to pass the one-month training, there is still one chance, and if they fail to pass the two trainings, I am afraid they will have to resign on their own initiative.

The county magistrate who has been adjusted has to stay where he is, waiting for the new magistrate to take office, and he still has to do things conscientiously during this period.

A month passed, seven of the eight newly appointed magistrates all took office, and the seven magistrates who were adjusted also came to Nanjing to report to the Ministry of Officials, and all of them were arranged to take up posts in Zhejiang, four of them served as the same governor of the government, three continued to be the magistrates in Zhejiang, and the other did not carry out the second training, directly wrote his resignation, and was sent back to the capital.

Xu Wanghua entered the room with a smile on his face.

"My lord, the Ministry of Officials has recommended twelve magistrates, all of whom have been approved, and so far, the imperial court has not expressed any position on the decision made by the Ministry of War, and there is no approval or opposition."

There was no smile on Jung's face.

"Mr. Xu, this is just the first step, Qian Shisheng and others will not be willing to fail, but he should be anxious at this time, I'm afraid that he doesn't have too much thought about the matter of Nanzhili, the Investigation Agency got the information, the Liukou under Li Zicheng of Kaifeng Fucheng began to infiltrate in the direction of Shanxi, Zhang Xianzhong of Xuzhou, turned around and went south, heading in the direction of Xiangyang Fucheng, in this case, Huguang, Henan and Shanxi and other places are in great danger, if the emperor can still calm down, That's weird. ”

Xu Wanghua showed a surprised look on his face, it seemed that this was the information that had just arrived, and his eyes looked at the map on the table.

"My lord, Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong are really idle."

Zheng Xunrui had a strange smile on his face.

"Mr. Xu, Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong are not just idle, their thinking may have changed dramatically, do not want to continue to be a rogue, it is said that after Li Zicheng occupied Kaifeng Fucheng, the wise move is to develop towards the south, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi and other places, are his best places to live, but Li Zicheng did not leave, but developed in the direction of Shanxi, Shanxi garrisoned a border army, once Li Zicheng defeated the border army, what shook was the entire Ming Dynasty, Zhang Xianzhong developed in the direction of Huguang, His eyes are obviously aimed at Huguang and Sichuan, and if he can occupy these places, Zhang Xianzhong can also be called king. (To be continued......)