On the afternoon of Chinese New Year's Eve, the capital is already in the atmosphere of the New Year.

The sound of firecrackers is heard from time to time, and every family is looking forward to a better next year.

The day before the first year of Jiajing, Yang Tinghe read the letter brought by Yang Shen from Guangdong again.

After thinking about it, I will reply to him after returning from the palace today.

"Go and ask Madame if she's ready."

Yang Tinghe came out of the study, and the second son, the third son, and the fourth son were all busy writing Spring Festival couplets together.

Lao Yang is naturally a complete winner in life, with four sons and two daughters.

Yang Shen is the champion, the second and fourth are already lifters, and the third is also a scholar in the shade. Two daughters, the eldest daughter married a jinshi, and the second daughter married to a person can also take the exam again.

Yang Tinghe looked at the stability of the current Manchurian family, and had some fears.

His thoughts naturally returned to the emperor, and he felt that the emperor's temperament was very complicated: he had a resolute and eager side, and he was very able to tolerate some things calmly, solemnly, and leniently.

Including Yang Tinghe's previous offenses on many things.

Thinking about it on the other hand, knowing that Zhang Heling had participated in the arson of Rijing Gate, His Majesty could endure it first and not deal with it wantonly, so what was he Yang Ting and that little matter?

But in the end, he did not expect that the emperor who was so sharp during the Great Ceremony Discussion really wanted to leave him Yang Tinghe, so that he could continue to celebrate the New Year in the capital, and also called him and his wife to the imperial banquet on Chinese New Year's Eve.

At about three o'clock in the morning, the ministers of national policy had already arrived outside the Chengtian Gate, plus Guo Xun.

Their wife took another warm sedan chair and entered the palace through another door.

No matter how-for-tat was in the past, at this New Year, everyone is greeting each other with a smile on their faces.

"Master Hou took the lead this time, and his injuries are all healed, right?" Goodbye Guo Xun on this occasion, Yan Song asked with a smile.

“…… A slight flesh wound, not enough to worry about the teeth. Guo Xun always felt that Yan Song's smile meant something else, but he couldn't understand it.

"Only in the middle." Yang Tinghe asked Yan Song very kindly, "The congratulatory watches from all over the country and the officials in Beijing have been presented to the palace, Your Majesty should have seen them in the past few days, right?" ”

"Your Majesty said that he would take a break from the dynasty, and he would also take a holiday. It's all a lot of good words, and it's the same whether you look at it or not. I, Bo'an, and Chongxiang have not been called to the palace in the past few days. ”

“…… It's rare. Yang Tinghe sighed, and then said leisurely, "Zhongde Gong is gone, Your Majesty is sad." In the future, there will be no Zhongde Gong...... Even if Your Majesty is lenient and benevolent, he has always expected us to speak out boldly. After the change, let's be loyal to the king. ”

Including Jiang Mian, Fei Hong, and Wang Qiong, they all glanced at him.

In the final analysis, everyone has a sense of apprehension about the reason for today's imperial banquet.

After chatting for a while, Huang Jin came out and invited them into the palace.

There were eighteen ministers of national policy, Yuan Zonggao died, and Yang Yiqing was in the northwest.

However, Wang Shouren temporarily participated in the national policy meeting on behalf of Yang Yiqing, and Guo Xun made an exception to give the edict, and there were still 18 people who entered the palace.

On the way to the Qianqing Palace, they all asked Zhang Zilin about the situation in the southeast.

"I have run seven big families, and there is solid evidence for hiding traitors, who can have anything to say?" Zhang Zilin replied calmly, "There are three more families, knowing that those servants secretly have a secret relationship with the Haikou Kou, and they actually made the act of leading the Haikou to plunder their enemies, which is an unforgivable crime. When Jinyiwei finds out the truth of the case of the traitor and the murder of the official, the newspaper will be sent to the southeast, and there will be no such simple handling in the future. ”

He looked at Guo Xun again, and said with a rare smile: "Before I returned to Beijing, I also said that the Marquis of Wuding and the Marquis of Funing were supposed to be on call at any time, and the Duke of Wei asked me to advise the Marquis of Wuding to garrison Nanjing. ”

“…… Wei Guogong is really ......, "Guo Xun didn't say that Xu Pengju was afraid in front of so many important ministers.

Who wants to go to Nanjing for the elderly! Cui Yuan said that Jingying has a great future!

"Speaking of which, Xia Qishi is extremely diligent and capable this year, which made the reorganization of Beijing straighten out the charter for a while." Guo Xun said to Cui Yuan, Wang Shouren, and Jiang Mian again, "You should ask for credit for him." ”

The matter was led by Jiang Mian, and after Yang Yiqing went to the northwest, Wang Shouren co-organized it on his behalf.

At present, in Beijing, more than 120,000 people are involved in a huge workload. After the change to recruitment, except for the Shenji Battalion in which Guo Xun was in the camp, although it has not reached 50,000 in the past few months, the three new battalions have appeared, and the total strength has reached more than 46,000 people.

Jiang Mian knew that he was talking about the opportunity for next year after the absence of the Ministry of Rites, nodded and said, "Of course." ”

Since the emperor once took Xia Yan as the first example, now that the matter has been done, it is appropriate to be promoted.

Before they arrived at the Qianqing Palace, they still talked about state affairs, because they all felt that the emperor should also talk about it at today's imperial banquet.

But I didn't expect it to be a family chat.

So Sun Jiao was very eccentric: "...... The minister's family is fine. The eldest son, Yuan, served as an official in Sichuan, and the second son, Jing, was stupid and was still preparing for the township exam. The only people who came to Beijing together were the second son and the little girl Ming......"

Zhu Houxi was laughing, so Sun Jiao's heart was even more twisted.

The situation in the important minister's family, how could the emperor not know?

Why are you talking about this?

Others didn't know what was going on back then, Guo Xun just said: "There are many uncles and brothers in the minister's family, and the minister only has two sons, and he is still young. Seeing that the ministers returned from suppressing the bandits, they still thought that the ministers were stinky. ”

After that, he looked at Zhu Houxi with a look of praise.

Zhu Houxi was a little convinced: People in their forties, don't pretend to be naïve?

Although Guo Xun is not particularly smart, he is not a simple character in Xunqi. The first Marquis of Wuding, Guo Ying, was very capable, and when it was passed to Guo Xun, the sixth grandson, the Guo family was no longer small, but there was only one title.

Guo Xun's father was a knight that year, and the disputes within the family even reached the emperor. When Lord Guo became the lord, his pattern was considered large, his meritorious service was rewarded by Zhu Houzhao, and the place of Yinzi was given to his brother to ease the contradictions in the family - although it was also because Guo Xun did not have a son at that time.

There is also a reason why he made money in Liangguang. Don't look at his five big and three coarse, he also knows how to spend money to print books to help the Guo family earn some reputation.

"It's good that the military general is a little sweaty." Zhu Houxi smiled, "Although the bandits were ugly this time, I remember the hard work and didn't forget it." But let's not talk about state affairs today, and celebrate the New Year with peace of mind. ”

Guo Xun continued to maintain his simple and loyal appearance, showing a happy look.

After greeting them about the current situation at home, Zhu Houxi said to Wang Shouren: "You said that your father's health is not very good, how about receiving a good life in the capital after the spring is warm?" ”

"I'm afraid of water and soil." Wang Shouren looked at the emperor and bent over, "Your Majesty is concerned." ”

Zhu Houxi sighed: "Master Yuan passed away, and Zhongqing has also worked hard this year, and they have worked hard. ”

Yang Tinghe said: "The three-year national policy has been decided, but it is only vigorously promoting social science and health science, coupled with the inventory of floods and water conservancy, the Jingying border town to practice food and salary, and the new law in Guangdong, the ministers and others are relieved to be like this year. ”

"It's still about state affairs." Zhu Houxi laughed, "The first three things cost money, and they have all been done before, so as long as the money can be spent well, it is naturally not as good as the last one." ”

Zhu Houxi did not do as much as they originally thought he would do in the next three years.

More schools for enlightenment were built, the imperial court listed some expenses, and the local government called on the gentry to donate it, which has been done in the past, but now there is a clearer plan. The number of social studies run in various provinces and localities within three years will also be included in the performance appraisal of local officials if there is a target requirement.

The flood and water conservancy situation is not to be carried out immediately, but to find out the bottom in three years. This is related to the people's livelihood, but also related to the future of grain production and land endowment, and is an act of laying the foundation.

As for Jingying and border towns, the focus is on what the emperor said: no matter how difficult it is, it will not be difficult for border towns. The preparation and transfer of grain and salary, the imperial court is nothing more than to establish a more perfect mechanism to ensure this.

As the emperor said, these three things are things that cost money.

The new Guangdong law is undoubtedly trying to find a way to "make money". How to do this place where the new law is being tried out, Zhang Fujing has asked for a performance, and there is also a discussion at the national policy meeting, but it has not yet been decided, or the emperor will press the rhythm of this matter first.

The killing of officials in the southeast still touched the emperor a lot after all. Fang Muxian actually felt that this was a good time, which could only show that there was a lot of resistance to the real implementation of the new law in the future.

At present, Guangdong has only updated the Yellow Book and the Fish Scale Book, and has not substantially touched on the interests of land annexation and other aspects.

"Let's not talk about that today." Zhu Houxi said relaxedly, "Even if you want to talk about state affairs, let's only talk about one thing." When I get married next year, the concubine will be on the throne, and I intend to no longer choose only from ordinary good families. Suddenly enjoying wealth and not knowing the general situation is really not a blessing for the country. ”

Everyone was hesitant.

So it was Yang Tinghe who spoke first: "As Your Majesty said before, how to prevent foreign relatives from messing with politics?" This dynasty can be free from this trouble, and the work of the ancestors is real. ”

The emperor wanted to break the ancestral training in this matter, Yang Tinghe and others had been boiled for more than half a year, and they had learned to dissuade them rashly at this moment.

"What about Yi Qing and the others?"

Others are still waiting for Yang Tinghe: Who made you the first assistant?

“…… The ancestral training of this dynasty, an ordinary family, has no foundation for chaotic government. Second, it is not possible for the second and third generations to enter the palace as concubines, and the old and the new are replaced. Thirdly, relatives are not allowed to be officials, but only give the land and the house. Fourth, Empress Zuxun was able to govern the concubines in the palace, that is, outside the palace gate, and nothing happened in advance. All the concubines and concubines after the son of heaven and the prince should carefully choose the daughter of a good family for them, and those who enter will be accepted. ”

Yang Tinghe summed up the current situation and said suspiciously: "The minister said bluntly, there are real donors, and under many circumstances, the queen has also pre-court. It's just that if the daughter of a big family or an important minister is a concubine, the case is opened, and the relatives cannot be appointed as officials, but they already have a foundation, and they are afraid that they will become more and more powerful. In the minister's humble opinion, His Majesty is wise and martial, and there may be no major danger in this dynasty, but what will happen in the future, we have to guard against it. The ancestral teachings have been effective for a hundred years, but they should not be changed. ”

This is a negotiating tone, what do you want to do, I feel like you have the ability. But to prevent foreign relatives, it is all for your children and grandchildren.

Imagine, if you choose the daughter of an important minister of a big clan, the heirs, protégés, and relatives of their clan can still form a force in the court after one or two generations. This dynasty does not allow relatives to be officials, not that the three clans cannot be officials, but they cannot be directly appointed officials. If your heirs and brothers are capable enough and pass the imperial examination and pass the Jinshi examination, then they can still be officials.

It's just that the imperial examination is very difficult, and the family learning and accumulation of ordinary people are not enough, and the sudden prosperity and wealth will gradually lose their enterprising spirit, so it is not enough to be troubled.

Zhu Houxi nodded: "It may indeed bring hidden dangers, so I have been thinking about preventive measures." The establishment of the National Policy Council and the Imperial Study Room is also one of the methods. ”

Yang Ting and the others suddenly looked at the emperor a little confused: You started thinking like this so early? So you've long thought about not choosing concubines and concubines from ordinary people? What does the national focus meeting have to do with this?

"The chaos of foreign relatives lies in the young age of the Son of Heaven, the second is the official position of the central authority that is too great, and the last is the use of the Zhu pen and treasure seal of the Son of Heaven." Zhu Houxi said, "Now that there is both the cabinet and the national policy meeting, and Zhu Bi Baoyin has the imperial study and the celebrant to help and supervise each other, how can the relatives be fully visible?" The most important thing to guard against is that the Son of Heaven is young, and the ministers are bent on childishness, so that the Son of Heaven has to rely on his relatives. ”

The scene was a little awkward for a while, and the words were very clear.

"There were no troubles of relatives in this dynasty before, and the celebrant supervisor became more and more prominent, and the disasters of the ministers have been several times." Zhu Houxi looked at them and said, "Now that the celebrant supervisor, the imperial study, the national policy meeting, and the cabinet are all four-legged, national affairs will not be easily controlled by anyone and which yamen in terms of process." Even if the Son of Heaven is young, what can his relatives do? ”

After Yang Ting thought about it with them, he found that this was really the case.

The power is dispersed in the central stage before the end of the process, and even if the Son of Heaven is young, he does not need to rely too much on his ministers and relatives.

A position like the Imperial Study, which goes directly to the center, can almost be directly promoted by the emperor, and there is no grade anyway.

The nine secretaries can participate in the national policy meeting, and the cabinet ministers have set a quota of six people, and the will of the Son of Heaven is better implemented.

The courtiers wanted to "look down" on the emperor, and the ministers and relatives could quickly reach the center. Ministers and relatives want to control the government, but they can't occupy so many positions.

Besides, in this current situation, where can so many important ministers be able to "care" about the young son? There have always been many differences of position among the ministers.

There is a lot of room for the Son of Heaven to operate.

"So just add a few." Zhu Houxi said, "In the imperial study, cabinet, and national policy meeting, there must be no relatives of the three clans and protégés of more than two people in the same column. Within three generations of relatives, there can be no more concubines and concubines in the palace. Zhu Houxi finally said, "Besides, every time there is a draft, the local good families are panicked, and there are a lot of disturbances. And then it is necessary to insist on it, but it is also very important for the concubines and concubines to know the general importance of the situation, and the family of relatives to be educated and afraid of the law of the country. ”

Hearing this, Yang Tinghe had to ask: "Listen to Your Majesty's wishes, this relative can still be ranked in the center." If the rest of the central ministers take it as a task in the future, there will still be hidden dangers. ”

Once a relative can be included in the national policy meeting, the situation is completely different. There is a queen or queen mother in the palace, and she is also an important minister of national policy.

To put it mildly, even if the Son of Heaven wants to move his relatives, he will have to weigh the weight, and even his own life.

Only then did Zhu Houxi say: "If a relative wants to be listed in the national policy meeting, he can only be from the imperial examination and belong to the civil ministers. All ministers who participate in the national policy meeting shall be limited to five terms, and shall leave office after fifteen years. Whenever the old and new dynasties alternate, the relatives who were originally listed in the national policy council will automatically leave office. If the Son of Heaven has not reached the age of 16, there shall be no curtain to listen to the government, and major matters shall be discussed and decided by the National Policy Council. ”

Including Guo Xun, the eighteen important ministers of national policy did not speak.

In other words, no one can stay in the National Policy Conference for more than fifteen years, starting from the Chief of the Imperial Study or Jiuqing.

This means that the cabinet minister is not the most fragrant: if he has been in the position of Jiuqing for 14 years before, then he will have to be completely successful in the first year after entering the cabinet?

Of course, the provision that relatives who were originally ministers of state policy automatically leave office before the new emperor ascends the throne is naturally very binding on foreign relatives.

After the new emperor ascends the throne, whether there will be relatives entering the national policy meeting depends on whether the emperor thinks the courtiers are useful. If the courtiers are not "easy to use" and re-use the old relatives or new relatives cause chaos, then the root cause is not the foreign relatives system itself, but the emperor said that the ministers "despise" the emperor and coerce the emperor.

This is the same reason as relying on internal ministers to control foreign ministers before.

Comparative...... If the relatives at the national policy meeting are also from civil servants, it seems more acceptable: at least everyone has a similar "cultural level", and some things are not as brainless or distorted as eunuchs.

For a moment, they couldn't figure it out: Is this an excuse to limit the tenure of other civil servants by taking advantage of the hidden dangers of their relatives in the national policy meeting, or does the emperor really think that this will prevent his relatives from messing with politics?

It is really difficult to convince everyone of this new rule, but the current national policy meeting has only just appeared, and everyone present is not worried about their "term limits", and the future "disaster" has nothing to do with them.

Emperor Taizu's ancestral training really completely avoided the possibility of foreign relatives messing with politics.

It's just that the chaotic government of the ministers who replaced them did make Yang Ting and this group of civil ministers suffer.

Looking at the emperor's appearance in his chest, Yang Tinghe asked with a complicated expression: "Your Majesty thinks so carefully, could it be that among the younger generations such as Feichen, there are people who Your Majesty wants to hire as concubines and concubines?" ”

It's normal for him to ask this, otherwise why would it be necessary to make a provision for the national policy meeting of foreign relatives now?

Yuan Zonggao has passed away, and the emperor's most trusted minister is now missing a leader, who will it be?

So Your Majesty is still using this matter to play balance, right?

Isn't it enough for me Yang Tinghe to reassure you now?

(End of chapter)