When the rice harvest was finished, the candidate for the post of secretary of the ministry was submitted to the cabinet and voted for a decision. Under the recommendation of the ministers of the DPRK and China, Zhao Beixing passed the approval of the cabinet without any suspense, and the matter was reported to the emperor for approval.

Zhu Youxiao has been pretending to be unwell for three consecutive days and has not gone to court, and when he got the ticket, he was still busy painting his lamp screen. Repeating that kind of etiquette every day, it is indeed easy to get bored, the same tone, the same procedure, most of the time talking nonsense, that is, saying something substantial, it has to be mixed with a lot of nonsense, which is very nerve-wracking, and those crepe words, Zhu Youxiao can't understand what they are talking about at all.

The ministers also told jokes in private, such as gossiping about someone wearing a crooked hat one day, but once they entered the temple, they followed the steps and were not interesting, so Zhu Youxiao also felt that it was boring.

The eunuch of the celebrant took the proposed fold to the Heart Cultivation Palace, and waited for a long time, and when Zhu Youxiao was tired from work, he dared to take the fold over. Zhu Youxiao sat under the umbrella, washed his hands first, and then put his hands on top of a stack of towels and covered them, with ice cubes under the towels.

He wiped his hands, picked up the fold slowly, opened it and looked at it, and he didn't know more than half of the words. Originally, he could still understand a general idea of writing more popular articles, but these ministers had to write so complicated that Zhu Youxiao couldn't understand a word.

However, he finally saw the words Zhao Beixing in a recital, which often appeared in the recent recital. Zhu Youxiao raised the recital in his hand and asked the eunuch: "This is the recital for Zhao Beixing to be the secretary of the ministry?" ”

The eunuch bowed down and said: "Back to the emperor, the slave knows that there is a fold in it, which is indeed an excerpt about the cabinet vote to add the post of secretary of the ministry. ”

"Oh." Zhu Youxiao's hand stayed in the air for a moment, then put the copy aside, picked up another one, and said, "What's your name, are you literate?" ”

"Back to the emperor, the slave's name is He Fei, and I know a few words."

Zhu Youxiao patted the fold on the case and said, "Read this." ”

He Fei bent over and picked up the recital on the case, and read it with a mouthful of words. After reading it, Zhu Youxiao only understood a rough idea, probably the twists and turns of the previous chapter after the Jiangxi Fu army suppressed the rebellion, so he asked He Fei what the Fu army did after defeating the rebels. He Fei watched the twists and turns again, and saw the words "chasing the north", and under the nervousness, he saw it as "chasing the north", and said: "The Fu army defeated the Kou Chao, chased the fleeing people, and pursued the stolen goods. ”

Zhu Youxiao's expression was cold, and he said angrily: "In addition to thinking about profit, does he have anything else in his heart?" Originally, Pingkou was meritorious, but he was bent on pursuing stolen goods, did not want to eradicate the thieves, and was off the list to settle the people. ”

He Fei saw that the emperor was angry, and hurriedly fell to the ground, even saying that the emperor was angry.

For such a trivial matter that killed hundreds of rebel soldiers, Zhu Youxiao quickly put it out of his mind, and looked at the ticket plan fold placed next to him, but this fold was a little difficult to do. Zhao Beixing served as the secretary of the ministry, isn't Donglin going to occupy the temple?

Zhu Youxiao's heart was blocked, he was sullen, his throat and eyes were itchy, and he couldn't help coughing violently. He covered his mouth and coughed for a while, glanced at the beautiful and lovely light screen he painted, felt a little better, stood up again, picked up the brush and filled it carefully. But he forgot about the eunuch He Fei, and let him stand there and not dare to move.

Zhu Youxiao was busy for a while, and unintentionally saw that He Fei was still standing there, so he said, "Go and call Wang An over." ”

After a long time, Wang An came to the Heart Cultivation Palace, Wang An's body was already blessed, but at this time, he looked sick, and his health did not seem to be very good. After bowing to Zhu Youxiao, Zhu Youxiao ordered Wang An to explain the cabinet's decision to draft Zhao Beixing as the secretary of the ministry. Such a big event, Zhu Youxiao can't let a eunuch he doesn't understand, than how to spend such a person talking about it, at least find someone with some ability to take a look.

Wang An looked calm and explained the content of the book in plain and easy-to-understand language, Zhu Youxiao listened very smoothly, but Zhu Youxiao heard from Wang An's words that Wang An supported Zhao Beixing. It's no wonder that Wang An has a good personal relationship with several ministers of Donglin, and his personality is very compatible.

Wang An said that the ministers thought that Zhao Beixing was jealous and hateful, honest and capable, and that his character and talent were very good, and that he was a rare talent, so upon the recommendation of the ministers, the cabinet voted to approve Zhao Beixing to take up the post of secretary of the ministry.

Zhu Youxiao continued to fiddle with his paint carving, as if he didn't listen to Wang An, but he was very worried in his heart, Wang An had a certain amount of power in Dongchang and the palace, and now Donglin controlled the government again, and this situation of internal and external collusion was a taboo for the emperor.

Zhu Youxiao didn't want Donglin's people to be the secretary of the ministry and make the court monolithic, but at the moment, if he went against Donglin, he would definitely not be able to get good fruit to eat. For example, now that Zhu Youxiao has begun to often not go to court, Donglin did not scold too much, if there is a confrontation, it is estimated that Zhu Youxiao will soon become a faint monarch without virtue.

Besides, apart from the powerful Donglin Party in the DPRK and China, Zhu Youxiao cannot find strong support, and he really doesn't want to become a lonely man and precarious. Zhu Youxiao asked Wang An while painting things: "Is there anything interesting about Zhao Beixing, you can tell me about it." ”

Wang An hurriedly spared no effort to say good things about Zhao Beixing, wanting the emperor to like Zhao Beixing. Wang An thought that the emperor liked to play, so he specially selected Zhao Beixing's anecdotes such as worshiping Buddha and seeking immortals, appreciating flowers and scenery, and laughing at amorous styles, and sure enough, Zhu Youxiao's expression was smiling, and he seemed to be in a good mood, and listened to Wang An tell these stories with great interest.

Zhu Youxiao just thought in his heart: Why did Wang An pick such a trivial matter and say it, not say the big thing that Zhao Beixing did?

Zhao Beixing has done two things that have a deep impact, one is that Zhang Juzheng called the "four major evils" after his death, which was the clarion call to undermine and abolish Zhang Juzheng's reform measures; Second, when Zhao Beixing was in the Wanli Dynasty, he first turned Jingcha into a tool for party contention, creating a new means of party contention.

After listening to Wang An's story, Zhu Youxiao smiled and said, "Not bad, not bad, this person is good." Now that the people are in the Ying Dynasty, the ministers in the court are all knowledgeable and virtuous old ministers, I am very relieved, since the ministers all say that this Zhao ......"

Wang An added: "Zhao Beixing. ”

"Yes, it's this Zhao Beixing, then let the celebrant approve it."

Wang Anxi said: "The emperor is wise. ”

Zhu Youxiao said again: "It is difficult to have a person like you in the palace, the seal of the celebrant is still there, there are many inconveniences, Wang An, I will let you be the master of ceremonies." ”

Wang An was overjoyed and shocked when he heard this, and hurriedly knocked to the ground and shouted: "How can the old slave be so virtuous, I really don't dare to take on this big responsibility." Old slave ......"

Zhu Youxiao helped Wang An and said, "I think you can do it, you will be in charge of the seal of the celebrant and supervisor, ah, be flat." Wang An hurriedly kowtowed to thank him, only to feel that although the emperor was illiterate and didn't understand anything, he still had strengths, at least he knew who was a loyal minister and who was a traitor. Wang An thinks that the emperor is the best like Zhu Youxiao, he doesn't need to know too many things, he just needs to enjoy himself with peace of mind, and he can still do it well if he leaves political affairs to upright people.

At this time, Wang Anzhu Youxiao looked at his lacquer painting vigorously, and was obviously impatient with the secretary of the ministry, so he bowed and took his leave.

Today, Zhu Youxiao approved two memoranda, one about Jiangxi Pingkou and the other about the selection of the secretary of the ministry. I can't help but say that the previous one was handled a little sloppily and mediocre, and Zhu Youxiao was illiterate, so he inevitably had to make some mistakes. However, he was lucky, and the two pieces went out at the same time, which played a role he wanted to see.

The first one went out, but the one who should have been rewarded was punished, but it was not a big deal, the magistrates did not lack that little money, but this obviously made everyone cry and laugh, and Zhu Youxiao's ability was also seen through. The second vote to recognize the Donglin Party apparently won the favor of the ministers, who all considered Zhu Youxiao to be a Ming monarch, although he often did not go to the court to work as a carpenter. Moreover, with Wang An as the palm seal of the celebrant supervisor, the court is even more clear.

For a while, the courtiers praised and everyone was happy, and Zhu Youxiao was actually very willing to see everyone happy.

Zhu Youxiao continued to play with his gadgets, and just as the eunuchs waiting in the Heart Cultivation Hall changed their duties, Zhu Youxiao ordered Wei Zhongxian to come up to serve. Zhu Youxiao first asked the "Mrs. Fengsheng" about how she was doing. Mrs. Fengsheng is Zhu Youxiao's nurse Keshi, who has taken care of Zhu Youxiao's life since she was a child, Zhu Youxiao is a little grateful in her heart, and at the same time, the relationship between Hakka and Wei Zhongxian is very good, Zhu Youxiao knows, I heard that it is a "pair of food".

The food is the fake husband and wife of the palace maid and the eunuch, and after the relationship between the two is good, they stick together and eat together, so it is called the opposite food.

Zhu Youxiao said to Wei Zhongxian again: "My nurse is lonely, and I am busy with court affairs...... That enjoying with the people is also a court matter, and I have no time to take care of it, Wei Zhongxian, you have to talk to her more, what food and clothing are missing, try to help out. ”

Wei Zhongxian said: "The slave and maid obey the emperor's holy decree. He was very happy in his heart, in this palace, as long as he got the emperor's trust, it was to be windy and rainy. Whoever dares to speak ill of our family is slander.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Wei Zhongxian, and said in his heart, I don't know if this guy is useless, I will borrow your courage to get Wang An down for me, and see if you have the ability. He thought about it and felt that he should make it clear, for fear that an illiterate person like Wei Zhongxian would not understand the holy will, so he added, "I heard that you are Wang An's person?" ”

Wei Zhongxian hurriedly knelt down and said nervously: "The slave and maid are the people of the emperor alone, and the emperor told the slave and maid to go east, and the slave and maid dare not go west." ”

Zhu Youxiao smiled and said: "You are so nervous and what are you doing, you see that Wang An is doing things honestly, I will reward him as the palm seal of the master of ceremonies, if you do everything well, I can also award you to be promoted, understand?" ”

Wei Zhongxian said a few times, he didn't understand what the emperor meant, and said in his heart, could it be that Wang An offended the emperor somewhere, so that the emperor didn't like it? Wei Zhongxian hid this idea in his heart and felt that it was very useful, because the Hakka family did not like Wang An either.

Li Xuanzhi's current miserable appearance is a good thing that Wang An did, and the Hakka family is very afraid of Wang An, for fear that he will one day be made into Li Xuanzhi's appearance.

After Zhu Youxiao ordered the celebrant to approve the cabinet vote, Zhao Beixing served as the secretary of the ministry. The first thing Zhao Beixing did after coming to power was to interfere with the selection of people in the ministry.

The department is a functional department responsible for supervising the affairs of the Ministry of Officials. The duty of the official department is to monitor and balance the official department, but at this time, it becomes the person who chooses to monitor and balance himself, and the official department is the heavenly official mound Zai who is in charge of the appointment and dismissal of officials in the whole world, which is tantamount to monopolizing the dynasty.

In such a situation, everyone in the non-Donglin Party is in danger, and they can't live in fear, and they don't know when the black yarn will be gone. It's okay to say if you just don't have black yarn, but people often need to find some excuses and handles to get you, and if you don't pay attention, it's a capital crime, and your head is finished with black yarn.

The officials and the cabinet are united, and they are all sharpening their knives and preparing to clarify the unai and do a big job. At this time, the cabinet began to discuss the strategy of Liaodong again, believing that Xiong Tingbi of the Zhejiang Party was unreliable. Moreover, hundreds of thousands of troops are hoarded in Liaodong, eating and dressing, and it is another saying that Xiong Tingbi wants to build a fort for defense, which is a bottomless pit that sucks silver.

After Donglin took charge of the cabinet and the six ministries, he realized how difficult it was for Fang Congzhe of the previous dynasty, with only so much silver, and if he didn't make careful calculations, the court would go bankrupt. Let Xiong Tingbi spend money vigorously in Liaodong, and the imperial court will definitely not be able to bear it.

Therefore, after considering various factors, the cabinet believed that it was necessary to take an offensive in Liaodong and solve the problem as soon as possible, so that the finances could breathe and only then could the policy of tax reduction and love for the people advocated by the first assistant be implemented, and win the praise of the people.

The Donglin Party selected candidates internally, and only Yuan Yingtai's qualifications were the most suitable, so they recommended Yuan Yingtai to Liaodong to preside over the overall situation. Yuan Yingtai also actively prepared and put on the strategy. At that time, the cabinet voted to take Yuan Yingtai as the governor of Liaodong and preside over all parties.

After Zhu Youxiao got the news, he was faintly uneasy, at this time, the imperial court had been controlled by Donglin, and the military power of hundreds of thousands of troops in Liaodong was handed over to them. Zhu Youxiao was worried that he might become a puppet step by step, although he was illiterate, he really wanted to do something, and he didn't want to eat in the palace and wait for death. At this time, it's okay, at least you have to talk to the emperor about something, maybe you don't need to go through the emperor at any time, they can do it directly.

Under the eaves of the palace, there was a finch chirping up and down, but there was no way to be locked in a delicate cage, Zhu Youxiao saw the bird, and his heart was cold.

Now that the imperial court is clamoring to attack, then Xiong Tingbi can't be used, so Xiong Tingbi can only be dismissed and the big man who advocates the strategy can be used. Zhu Youxiao thought about it at this time, what kind of virtuous dynasty, at this time, when you want to use people, you can't find a good person, Yuan Yingtai is a person from Donglin, and Zhu Youxiao doesn't think he has much ability, so he doesn't want to use him very much. Xiong Tingbi advocates defending the land, and Yang Hao is a veteran of the Zhejiang Party, and Donglin will never allow Yang Hao to be used.

Zhu Youxiao thought about it, but he didn't know who he could use, and Zhang asked that no one would support a situation like Zhang Wen, who had no old qualifications and presided over hundreds of thousands of troops. In the end, Zhu Youxiao came up with two methods, which were also his last resorts to prevent trouble.

The first is that Xiong Tingbi has worked hard to defend the land, and now there is no big mistake and cannot be directly deposed, so the emperor hopes to let Xiong Tingbi hang the title of Liaodong Jinglu and sit in Shanhaiguan. Xiong Tingbi is not from Donglin, so he let him guard at Shanhaiguan, at least the gate of the Jingshi, and the border army in the east did not want to return to King Jingqin.

The second is that Zhu Youxiao wants to use Zhang Wen to patrol Liaodong and check hundreds of officials. Zhu Youxiao thinks that Zhang Wen made his fortune by himself, and he will definitely stand in the position of the emperor and let him go to Liaodong to do the imperial history. Moreover, the patrol is a seven-rank official, who does not need any qualifications, but has great power, and Zhang Wen is going to patrol Liaodong with the identity of the four-grade imperial history, which is very beneficial to the power balance of Liaodong.

So the emperor bargained with the cabinet on the condition that Yuan Yingtai should be appointed governor of Liaodong, and the cabinet finally agreed. After all, the emperor is quite supportive of Donglin now, and Donglin doesn't need to do everything against the emperor.

When Zhang Wen learned that he was going to be appointed as the Liaodong Patrol, he was slightly surprised, he didn't expect that it would be best to go to Liaodong after coming and going. He hurriedly found Huang Renzhi and Shen Jing to discuss and make some preparations.

On that day, Yuan Yingtai went to Chen Fangluo, and Zhang Wen also participated in the minister's court meeting, so he knew Yuan Yingtai's strategy. And Huang Renzhi and Shen Jing were Zhang Wen's henchmen, and Zhang Wen told them the new Liaodong strategy: "Yuan Yingtai's proposition is that part of the troops stick to Kaiyuan, Shenyang, and Liaoyang, and then gather superior forces in Shenyang, fight steadily to the east, and recover Fushun City and Fushun Pass." At the same time, he ordered the Sichuan army and the Korean troops on the eastern front to go out of Kuan-Burma, attack and harass the rear of the barbarian enemy, and encroach on it step by step. ”

Shen Jing listened and said: "This method is more stable than Yang Hao's strategy in the past, but as far as I know, Yuan Yingtai is inferior to Xiong Tingbi in military affairs, Xiong Tingbi is still unwilling to attack, Yuan Yingtai will ...... I am afraid that it may be effective. ”

Zhang Wen nodded and said: "I have heard what Yuan Yingtai has done for a long time, this person is more than generous, but not murderous, I don't have much hope if he can make a difference in a dangerous place...... But according to the arrangement of the imperial court, the military power will be in the hands of Yuan Yingtai, what can I do, what does the imperial court let me do......"

Huang Renzhi squinted his eyes, touched his beard and said, "Enabling the adult, it is definitely not Donglin's meaning, how could they think of the adult?" The old man felt that this was what the emperor meant. ”

Zhang Wen thought about it carefully after hearing this, and suddenly realized that the emperor didn't want to do anything by himself at all, and his role was only to contain Donglin's forces. Zhang Wen said a little depressedly: "In case something goes wrong in Yingtai and falls into a big defeat, I, a person who has not done anything and has no responsibility, is estimated to be impeached; Even if you want to make a meritorious service, you don't have the right to fight. Liaodong's errand really didn't do any good. ”

Huang Renzhi and Shen Jing both nodded in agreement with Zhang Wen, it is true that this errand is a bit thankless.