Shoufu is also a minister, the Son of Heaven has decided, who in the world can persuade him? The next day, a holy decree came out: Sun Yuanhua and Zhang Tao abandoned the city, and Wang Zheng and Yu Dacheng were sent to war.

Min Hongxue, the new secretary of the Ministry of Officials, Zhang Fengyi, the new secretary of the Ministry of War, Zhang Yandeng, the new head of the Imperial History of the Right Capital of the Imperial Inspectorate, and the new head of the six sections, all came to the platform on time at the end of the matter to wait for Hou Chongzhen's edict.

This platform edict is the third time since Chongzhen ascended the throne, and Yuan Chonghuan, the person who saw the first edict, was killed; The second edict was made by Shi Dayong and plotted rebellion. What will happen to those who have been summoned for the third time is not yet known. However, with the lessons of the previous two, now none of the ministers want to be edicted by the emperor on the platform, although this is a great honor for the courtiers, but the officials just don't want to be able to share this glory.

After Zhou Yanru stepped down, the secretary of the ministry has been vacant, and the affairs of the ministry are temporarily managed by the left and right servants, and this Min Hongxue is the left waiter of the ministry. Now that she has finally become a daughter-in-law for many years, she has finally become the official of this ministry.

Zhang Fengyi took Xiong Mingyu's position, Xiong Mingyu was also unlucky, he took Liang Tingdong's position, as a result, as soon as he took office, he encountered the defeat of Dalinghe, Kong Youde mutinied, and the thieves broke into the Central Plains, coupled with the Xuanfu governor Shen Di carrying the imperial court behind his back and the Dongyu fornication, the Denglai rebels could not be exterminated for a long time, and all kinds of disadvantages were added together, making him the first chief of the six departments to step down in the shortest time since Chongzhen ascended the throne. He has only been in office for just one year, and I don't know if there is anyone shorter than him.

Zhang Fengyi got the high position of the secretary of the military department, which can be regarded as a sideways step, it should be the left waiter Liu Dexia to take over, but it is a pity that Liu Dexia and Wen Tiren are not in harmony, Wen Tiren naturally does not want to see a military secretary who is unwilling to obey his orders appear, so this cake fell on Zhang Fengyi's head.

Zhang Yandeng took over Li Changgeng's position, this old master has been in three dynasties, and he should have returned to his hometown a long time ago. Zhang Yandeng is actually not young, he is sixty-two years old this year, but because of his good maintenance, he still looks quite energetic.

Liu Silai took over the position of the minister of Wei, the original officials were all given to the minister of Wei in the matter because he first opposed Chongzhen to send eunuchs to supervise the army, and then when the news of Xie Lian's death came, the rebels launched the courtiers to jointly impeach the eunuch Gao Qiqian after the rebels surrendered again, pointing out that he had misled the country and failed to exercise the responsibility of supervising the army, resulting in the difficulties of the imperial court, the imperial court should take this as a lesson, immediately recall all the eunuchs of the prison army, and no longer send a person to the inner court. was dismissed by the young Son of Heaven with a word, and then asked the cabinet to select candidates, and Liu Silai was at the top of the list.

The four of them are not upstarts, they have been up and down for many years, and they have spent a lot of time in Beijing, and they have seen a lot of changes, and they know how to deal with the grace of the Son of Heaven and the wrath of the thunder, and after entering the platform to salute, they stood there cautiously, waiting for the Son of Heaven to ask.

Chongzhen's face was very heavy, looking worried, and when the four of them saluted, he didn't instigate anything with them, and directly asked straight to the point: "Do you know what happened to Dao Zhaoqing and others?" ”

The four of them looked at each other and said in unison: "I don't know." ”

Chongzhen took a breath and said, "Since I ascended the throne, the state affairs have been collapsing day by day, internal and external troubles, and the people are uneasy. ”

"This natural and man-made disaster is not the emperor's fault!" Where did the four of them dare to say that Chongzhen was wrong, and they replied in unison.

Chongzhen knew that they would answer like this, and snorted secretly, "Can a natural disaster or man-made disaster push all the faults?" I ask you, why is it that some places are peaceful, while others are not well-off. For example, Yang He touched Shaanxi before, but it turned out to be a big mess, I sent Hong Chengchou to go, Shaanxi decided quickly, and there was Chen Qiyu, he could do what others couldn't do, and in March, he was able to change to someone else, but it was very difficult. You say, 'What is the reason for this?' ”

Several people didn't understand what Chongzhen meant, and no one dared to answer.

Chongzhen didn't need to answer, he said directly: "The reason is in one sentence, talents are rare!" ”

Chongzhen got up and walked to the front of the imperial case and paced with his back hand, "Han Yiliang once gave me a sloppy, although he wanted to invite pets, but I don't talk nonsense, he said that it is indeed a big disadvantage for my dynasty!" did not use an official, bribed first, and both civil and military were average. Electors have to borrow debts, bribes to fill vacancies, gifts to inspect inspections, and repay debts as soon as they arrive at the office. Isn't it a stripping of the people? How can there be good officials who are willing to love the people? ”

Speaking of this, Chongzhen stood facing the four of them and looked at them with inquiring eyes, "'If you don't reform this evil, if you want to become a good government, you can't get it!'" Who said that? ”

This time, Chongzhen expected the four of them to be able to answer, but to his disappointment, all four of them were asked, and none of them knew the truth.

Seeing this, Chongzhen shook his head in disappointment, his voice became louder, and he was very dissatisfied.

"This is what Taizu said! Taizu also published the "Brief Record of Awakening Greed" and promulgated it to the world. What do you say, "The sin of killing the head?" ”

As a new official of the Ministry of Officials and a few years as a left waiter, Min Hongxue certainly knew how to determine the crime of killing the head of Lu Dao, and he replied: "The officials embezzled more than 60 taels of silver, and the heads were shown to the public, and then they were punished by skinning, peeling the skin and grass, and hanging on the flagpole to show the public." Chongzhen nodded, his expression a little angry, "Sixty taels!" The current officials, there are not tens of thousands of taels, can they take it? He shook his head again, "I can't bear to peel the skin, but the corrupt officials can bear to peel the people!" ”

After Chongzhen sat down in the case, "The election law is corrupt, and it is really a traitor who accepts bribes, and there are non-outsiders who can know about it." The second department of the soldiers is to employ people at all, if others say it, they will use it, they will be unassertive, and they will make a big mistake! The new appointees must thoroughly sort out the old malpractices, carefully inspect them, and take no care of their feelings, so that they can use good people, fulfill their duties, and live up to their appointments.

The Department of Literature and Literature of the Ministry of Officials and the Department of Military Affairs are the most important. The officials set up thirteen provincial officials, which is for the talents of the province who know the Dao, but how can they visit with their hearts, and when it comes to the employment season, they still don't know the north and the south. In the future, if the officials are unbearable, and there are favoritism, cheating, and disobedience, they must participate! Don't say that the hall is one, only show favoritism, if you see someone asking the ministry to control, you must also participate in it according to the facts, and investigate them separately! Of course, first of all," Chongzhen accentuated his tone when he said this, "The head of the ministry must be upright in heart and body. ”

"Yes," Min Hongxue said busily, "You must not be afraid of others to participate, so that you can participate in others, and you can complain." ”

Zhang Fengyi followed up and said: "The minister has been activated since the field of Teen, and he dares not to report his heart." Now he has been given a holy decree to supervise the judges, and if there is any disobedience, he shall participate in the recital. The ministers may be wrong, and I hope that the saint will be forgiving. As for the disadvantages of love, I dare not bend it. ”

Chongzhen was afraid that he didn't say it thoroughly, and emphasized: "The disadvantages must be clear from the yamen such as the secretary, and the employment needs to be asserted." If you push any official, you can use it according to what people say, or only rely on the squire to promote, this is not it, after all, you should choose carefully from the public. If you blindly listen to favoritism, why don't you want to be in the ministry? In the future, it is not allowed to only rely on the old interview list to take responsibility and entrust the situation, and such a matter must be dealt with seriously. When is this?

There are many reasons inside and outside, and the ministers and workers of all sizes cannot be held responsible. Promote and employ talents in both departments, the source is clear, and the employment is self-responsible. If there is any unbearable talent, it is which source is unclear, and the responsibility is not light! What we do now is the world's work, which is called heavenly work, and we must do our best. If you only follow the old routine, it is enough for a few officials to be promoted, so what is the use of asking for a book? For example, there are many evils in the ministry, and all kinds of things cannot be entrusted to the officials. ”

Hearing these words, Min Hongxue Khan came down, Chongzhen said clearly, the source of all the evils of employing people is in the ministry, and the emperor wants to clean up the source! He didn't dare to say anything, so he had to say: "The disadvantages of the officials are only small officials, and as for the responsibilities of the big bureaucrats, they dare not blame." The original consultation with the old list, the minister will re-consult, and the body will be re-consulted. Min Hongxue said that he wanted to rectify the rule of officials, how dare Zhang Fengyi pretend to be deaf and dumb, but his foundation is shallow, he has just taken office, he doesn't want to toss too much, offend his colleagues too much, and think about it: "Today, the East has not been appeased, and the thieves are fighting, just because they will not be able to be used, which is the crime of ministers." The matter of pushing officials, Wu Ben has always been in the original drill camp, since the emperor and the gods have been in the palace, this disadvantage has been gone. ”

Although Chongzhen is young, after all, he is responsible for the world, and he is an emperor who seeks to govern and strive to be strong, how can he not hear Zhang Fengyi's words?

glanced at Zhang Fengyi, snorted, and said: "Regardless of the slightest affection, you can use a few good people if you completely clear it." If it is said that there is no harm, how can it? In the previous year, there was a general soldier who asked for a push, and found Kong Zhao in the middle of the staff Shilang, Xie Yin 3,000 taels, what do you say? As soon as I arrived at the place, I naturally stripped the army. As ministers, they need to clean themselves and their subordinates. ”

In the middle of Zhang Fengyi's death, Zhang Fengyi was speechless, lowered his head, and secretly calculated how to manage the affairs of the military department on the premise of satisfying the emperor.

Chongzhen didn't pay attention to what the two of them thought, turned to Zhang Yandeng again, and said to him: "The Metropolitan Procuratorate should be more disciplined, and the place where the imperial history patrol is not visible to me, if you want him to patrol, what does it matter!" Whether the imperial history patrol is virtuous or not, it is all in the assessment. Now just rely on the following provincial government brochure to say that a number of civil and military personnel have been raised, a number of valley stones have been accumulated, and a number of festivals and filial piety have been raised, and the matter is over. Even if there is a mistake in the locality, there is a strict assessment of the order, and he has to be excused for him, and he will be punished and demoted, and he will not be punished by one, what kind of constitution will he become! ”

In a few words, the situation of the patrol according to the imperial history of accepting bribes and protecting Tongtong and cheating was clearly revealed, Zhang Yandeng was suddenly so frightened that his legs trembled, and he stammered a little: "The people of the world are poor, and all the officials are not clear, and the imperial history is agitated and can't." In the future, when the minister sees that he is not in office, he will immediately take action and will not dare to be lenient. ”

"As long as it is done, it is not lenient, and if there is a real achievement, it is competent, and there is no major mistake or great merit, it is ordinary, if there is a local wreck, there is no rectification in ordinary times, or there is no omission to report, or the correction is improper, this is incompetent. Now there are not even ordinary ones, they are all competent. If they are all competent, how can the world be like this? The incompetent one was relieved for him, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate did not work hard or complain, and ended up being a good person, how could the imperial history be dedicated? ”

These words made Zhang Yandeng's heart tremble even more, and he hurriedly said: "The minister doesn't dare not strictly assess......

Chongzhen interrupted him and didn't let him say it, but only said to himself, "The assessment must be real, not just talking, if you only rely on the Taoist books, it's just a story." ”

"The case must be submitted by the provincial government, and the ministers should be interviewed by many other parties, and they dare not rely on other people's documents."

After hearing Zhang Yandeng's words, Chongzhen softened his tone slightly, and said seriously: "Qing is the new appoint, and I believe that Qing can do his duty." But then he became stern again, and said heavily: "As before, this Metropolitan Procuratorate is really unbearable." The selection of the ancestral system is very cautious, no matter who you are, as long as you take the experience of the old city, you are honest and simple. Today's examination is only based on that text, you have all passed the subject, the text is originally able to do, what is the use of taking it? The trial of the imperial history was originally to test him to be fruitful, and only then did he actually teach, but now that he has tried the imperial history, he will definitely teach it, and he will not come down again. Kedao is used to Jingtang, as a shortcut, and it is extremely unbearable to be promoted to the government and the two divisions, and there are few people who are promoted to the prefect, what is the reason? ”

After finishing speaking, Chongzhen sat up straight, swept the four of them, and continued: "Now that the frontier is not quiet, the beacon fire is shocked, and the thieves are spreading, what time!" The civil and military ministers did not seek to make real achievements, but only used a false name to say that they were not all virtuous, even if the seven members of the six Metropolitan Procuratorates were all virtuous, they could be peaceful? The civil and military forces were originally in the soldiers, and the wind was in the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the responsibility was not light! ”

"Ministers should do their own things!" The four of them were silent.

After Zhang Yandeng finished speaking, Chongzhen turned to Liu Silai again, and said: "Liu Silai, Qing is a speech official, and he takes words as his job. But now the official moves to say that the way of speech is blocked, or it seems to be blocked but it is actually blocked, is it blocking your way of speech? ”

"The Emperor"

Liu Silai knelt down, and just wanted to speak, but Chongzhen raised his hand to stop him, "No matter whether the official's discussion is good or not, it is only for the sake of affection or bribery and presents a letter of responsibility, what kind of official?" Just like the soldiers, horses, money, and food everywhere, which place is not bad and waiting for inspection, how can he be willing to send treacherous and evil, and when something bad happens, and he is outside, what is the use of being bad? On weekdays, Gu Shu is faintly flashing, participating in one person, not referring to his actual achievements, recommending one person, not referring to his real name, or a copy of the court officials, so that it is inconvenient for him to participate in the impeachment. Are there any of these things? ”

Seeing that Chongzhen asked, Liu Silai hurriedly argued: "The ministers are at their disposal, and they must tell if they hear it, and they dare not hide it from the saints." ”

Chongzhen did not give up, he said: "If you hear this, you must tell this sentence, do you say it from your heart, or only from your mouth?" The official is the eyes and ears of the court, not smart, and everything is wasted. If you cheat yourself and say that others cheat, and if you are bad at the law and say that others are bad at the law, how can you become a speaker? In the future, if there is a person who is entrusted with bribery, he will find that the law from his ancestors is there! Get up. ”

looked at the four of them again, "If you are an official, you will have an official position, the people of Fang Jinjin are exhausted, thieves are born everywhere, everything should be worried, everything should be planned, and the world can be peaceful." ”

After saying so many words, I don't know if the courtiers listened to it, but Chongzhen didn't plan to say anything more, he was a little tired, and raised his hand tiredly, "Let's do this today, you all retreat." ”

"Wait for the resignation!"

If the four of them were amnestied, they bowed down and were about to retreat, but they saw the sound of footsteps coming from outside the stage, and the four of them wondered who dared to be so presumptuous on the platform, and was not afraid of the emperor's anger.

Liu Silai is in the middle of the matter, and as soon as his heart moved, he was ready to join the people, burn the first fire for his new official, and leave a good impression on the Son of Heaven. But when he looked up and saw the person who came in, he was "groan" and his mind was dispelled, the person who came was not what he dared to participate in, it was the crotch of the inner court and the palm print of the celebrant Wang Dehua!

Wang Dehua has always been old-fashioned, why does he not know the proportions of Lu Dao, doesn't he know that Lu Dao I am summoning the minister?

Chongzhen frowned slightly, a little displeased, but he didn't have a seizure, after all, there were still foreign ministers.

Wang Dehua didn't care about the emperor's dissatisfaction, he hurried over, couldn't wait to hand a copy of the report in his hand to Chongzhen, and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Dengzhou has been recovered!" ”

"Huh?" Chongzhen thought he had misheard, "What? Subconsciously reached out to pick up the report.

"Dengzhou has been recovered!" Wang Dehua repeated again in a low voice.

This time Chongzhen heard it clearly, a spirit, as if beaten with chicken blood, hurriedly opened the report, glanced at it a few times, and the smile on his face couldn't stop overflowing, but after looking at it a few times, the smile was stunned and stiffened.

The words that Chongzhen saw after the most were - "Chen Shi has the courage to cry blood in Dengzhou"