The seasons rotate, year after year. Fengtianmen is still the same Fengtianmen.

The people who came to the court changed one stubble after another. Fengtianmen stood there quietly.

Chang Feng, as usual, came to Fengtianmen.

Ma Wensheng walked to Chang Feng's side with steady steps.

Lao Ma, this old guy is simply a demon, the more he lives, the younger he gets, he is seventy-seven years old, and he is still energetic, tough and tough, and he can pick three bowls of rice in one meal.

Last time, Lao Ma Daitian patrolled the 12th regimental battalion. He also rolled up his arms and sleeves, and had to compete with the strong men in their twenties in the regimental camp to try wrestling.

The opponent he picked was tall and big. The opponent is thinking about how to fall out of his personal sophistication and let Ma Lao Butang win, but don't be too deliberate.

Before he could think about it, "Bang" was thrown to the ground by the old horse.

Ma Wensheng still serves as the heavenly official of the Ministry of Officials. According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty, Shangshu cannot serve for a long time, especially the officials of the Ministry of Heaven cannot serve for a long time.

Emperor Hongzhi let Lao Ma manage the officials for a long time, and his trust in him can be seen.

Chang Feng praised Ma Wensheng: "If I were seventy-seven years old, I would be content to have a body like you." No, I'll live to be content at the age of seventy-seven. ”

In stark contrast to Ma Wensheng was Emperor Hongzhi.

The officials came to the front court and gathered.

Emperor Hongzhi was supported by Xiao Jing and sat on the dragon chair. His face was sallow, and his eyes were scary.

Xiao Jing shouted at the top of his voice: "Discussion!" ”

A group of ministers began to work.

Halfway through the early dynasty, Emperor Hongzhi suddenly remembered something: "Hangzhou town guard eunuch Lu Lun played, in recent years, the land annexation in the south of the Yangtze River has become more and more serious. ”

"The fields of the small people are mostly returned to the noble clan. However, the imperial court did not increase its wealth. ”

"Ahem, cough, cough"

Emperor Hongzhi coughed violently. Xiao Jing hurriedly offered him a bowl of tea and helped him carry his back.

It took a long time for Emperor Hongzhi to stop coughing. continued: "I have decided, Qingzhang Jiangnan Tianmu. Start with the Hangzhou pilot. ”

Clearing the acres of land would harm the interests of the gentry.

Liu Jian, the first assistant of the cabinet, came out of the class: "Your Majesty." Never! Half of the imperial court's finances and taxes were in Jiangnan. Qingzhang acres are involved in a wide range of fields, which may cause chaos in the south of the Yangtze River. ”

The second assistant Li Dongyang echoed: "Your Majesty, according to the overall calculation figures of the household department, Jiangnan Tianfu has been very stable in recent years. There is no need for the imperial court to make extraneous complications. ”

Cabinet member Xie moved out of the class: "The minister seconded the proposal!" ”

Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian are all famous ministers. There is no refusal to be able to manage the government.

But at the same time, they were the biggest spokesmen of the gentry group in the imperial court.

There is no way. The number of Ming officials was limited. In fact, the Ming Dynasty was not an official herdsman on behalf of the sky, but a gentry of all sizes on behalf of the herdsmen.

Without the support of the gentry, they could not sit firmly in the chairs of the cabinet.

Whether they were intentional or not, they had to defend the interests of the gentry of the world.

It is said that the emperor is a golden mouth and jade teeth, and he is full of words. In the Ming Dynasty, at least in the Hongzhi Dynasty, it did not exist.

The emperor proposed a major policy, and the three important ministers opposed it. If he had been replaced by a great grandfather, he would have removed the important ministers from his post and punished him for the crime of resisting the decree.

Now the cabinet has put the emperor in checks and balances.

Because the cabinet has two powers in its hands. One is the right to seal and restitulate, and the other is the right to draft votes.

During the period of the great grandfather, in order to prevent the king of later generations from being faint and making a holy decree, a set of small systems was designed, which was called "sealing and returning".

Grandpa Tai set up a position in the six departments of the seven products, that is, the six department corridor officials.

The emperor's holy decree to the six parts, if you feel unreasonable in the matter, you can return the holy decree to the emperor.

It's like a hundred beasts playing chess, like eating a lion, and a lion eating a tiger. Cats eat mice. It seems to be the least powerful rat, but it can eat elephants.

Although the six section corridor officials have the right to seal and return. But they are of low grade and have no ability to fight against the imperial power.

By the time of the "Sanyang Cabinet", the cabinet was strong. He actually took the right to return the seal from the hands of the people who gave it.

Now the emperor's decree, if the cabinet thinks it is unreasonable, it can be returned.

This was the cabinet's first killer weapon to check and balance the imperial power.

The second killer feature is the right to vote.

Originally, the system set by the grandfather was: if the magistrate and the Beijing official wanted to do major things, they had to ask the emperor for instructions first.

The emperor would use a red pen to approve "allowed" or "not allowed" on the recital, and explain the reasons clearly.

Also during the Sanyang Cabinet, there was a voting system.

Before sending the official chapter to the emperor for approval, the cabinet scholar should write down the approval proposal on a piece of paper and paste it in the chapter to the emperor.

The vote is intended to be the same as Zhu Pi's opinion in order to be effective.

For example, the governor of Zhejiang played a concert and asked for the clearing of Zhejiang fields.

The excerpt went to the cabinet. The Cabinet felt that the matter was inappropriate. Write a negative opinion on the ticket, or simply do not give the vote.

The chapter was in the hands of Emperor Hongzhi, and even if Emperor Hongzhi approved Zhu Bi's imperial approval and returned it to the governor of Zhejiang, Zhu did not count.

The magistrates of Tongjiang Province in Zhejiang Province can resist the matter of not doing Zhu Approval, which is not considered to be a protest.

The ticket is almost the same as the seal, which is a compromise after a long-term game between the emperor and the civil officials of the Ming Dynasty.

Let's say that in front of Fengtianmen, three cabinet members opposed the Qingzhang Jiangnan Tianmu.

Emperor Hongzhi had no choice but to say, "Okay." The matter is abandoned. ”

Chang Feng sighed in his heart: Alas, just ask today's court, I really don't know who has the final say.

It is said that the factory guard is a vicious dog raised by the emperor.

But if the owner of the vicious dog is a benevolent (or weak) person, he will never let the vicious dog bite. Vicious dogs can't help it.

Yang Tinghe went out and said: "Your Majesty." Fujian Yongning Zhenfu You Tianjue was martyred in a bloody battle, and he was really a loyal and brave person. ”

"The minister and the commander of Jinyiwei know Changfeng together, and jointly ask the emperor to give You Jingwu, the son of You Tianjue, the title of hereditary commander."

The bloody battle of Yongning is extremely tragic. Emperor Hongzhi didn't know about it.

Compared to the vast empire, the Battle of Yongning was a trifle.

Zuo Chunfang's bachelor and his confidant retainers jointly signed the folds, and Emperor Hongzhi will definitely give face.

Emperor Hongzhi said: "Give the chapter to the cabinet for vote, and then hand it over to me Zhu for approval." ”

Yang Tinghe arched his hand: "Yes, Your Majesty." ”

The early dynasty ended. This is the situation in the court today. The civil officials suppressed the imperial power to death.

Chang Feng went down the morning dynasty and did not go to Jinyiwei, but went home.

From ancient times to the present, whether it is any yamen or unit, Xiao Karami has to be on time and punch in.

Big leaders can come and go freely.

In the past two years, Changfeng generally didn't go to Jinyiwei much. If there is a big event, Qian Ning, Wang Miaoxin, and Shi Wenyi will come to Chang Feng to report and ask for instructions.

When he returned home, Chang Feng saw Liu Xiaoyan dancing a knife in the front yard.

In the tribute system of the Ming Dynasty, the sword was the most important tribute of the Ming Dynasty.

Chang Feng said casually: "This knife is good." ”

Liu Xiaoyan praised: "It is indeed a good knife, and it will be broken when you blow it." ”

Chang Feng asked, "Where did you get it?" ”

Liu Xiaoyan replied: "The concubine of the Governor of the Left Army Ye Du gave it to me." Behold, iron is sharpened like clay. ”

Chang Feng took the sword. He discovered the anomaly.

The swords were transported to the Ming Dynasty through tribute. On the body of the sword, it will be engraved with a tribute to a certain feudal domain of the Japanese state.

There was not a word engraved on the sword. Obviously, it is not the Ming Dynasty who came through tribute.

If it's not a tribute, then it can only be smuggled.

Chang Feng said: "There is no engraving on the knife. It's a private knife. ”

Liu Xiaoyan sat down at the stone table and took a sip of tea: "What's so strange about the private knife." ”

"Now in the blade shop in the capital, there are private knives from the Japanese country. Warriors and wealthy families rushed to buy, and the supply exceeded demand. ”

The Ming Dynasty banned armor, crossbows, and firearms, but bows, crossbows, knives and guns. There are many blade shops in Beijing that sell knives and guns.

You Tianjue had just died at the hands of the Wako. Chang Feng became angry when he heard this: "The swords smuggled into the Ming Dynasty are forbidden." ”

"Those coastal smugglers, mixed with the pirates. Smuggled the sword to the Ming Dynasty in exchange for silk, porcelain, and tea from the Ming Dynasty. ”

"In order to fight smuggling, how many soldiers of the coastal guard station were killed by the Japanese and martyred themselves?"

Liu Xiaoyan asked, "What's wrong with you today?" It's like taking a pill? ”

Chang Feng said: "Not much." ”

Coincidentally, Chang Feng's sister, Chang Tian, the county lord of Wanping, came to the front yard.

Chang Tian is no longer the greedy little sugar candy back then. She was twenty-three years old at the time, and she had the charm of a woman, and she and her husband Huang Yuan were like glue.

She also held a Chinese product in her hand, a beautiful Japanese fan.

Chang Tian smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, I just got a few good fans from the Japanese Kingdom. The characters on it are really interesting. I specially sent you a handful, and honored and honored you. ”

Chang Feng muttered in his mouth: "It's a widow again." ”

He took the fan from his sister's hand: "Where did you get it?" Is the queen the queen rewarded? ”

Chang Tian replied: "Huang Yuan bought it for me when he visited the fan shop." ”

Chang Feng frowned: "Fan shop? Both the Wa Kingdom and the Fan were tributes. How can there be a fan shop? ”

Obviously, this fan was also smuggled in.

He handed the fan to Liu Xiaoyan. went straight out to Jinyiwei.

Jinyiwei is still the same. The commander made Mu Bin not very much in charge. Qian Ning and Shi Wenyi are in charge of the North Division. Wang Miaoxin is in charge of the South Division.

Chang Feng's former follower Zhang Cai has now risen to thousands of households. In the Jin Yiwei, the limelight is in the limelight.

Chang Feng gathered everyone together and ordered: "Zhang Cai, give you an errand." ”

"Recently, there seem to be a lot of smuggled goods from the Japanese country in the shops in Beijing. Find out where to go. ”

"Look at what daring businessman dares to distribute smuggled goods."

Zhang Cai arched his hand: "Order." ”

Qian Ning was a little strange: "Master Chang, why are you interested in such a trivial matter?" ”

Chang Feng asked rhetorically: "You also think this is a trivial matter?" Those smuggled goods were stained with the blood of the soldiers of the coastal guards. ”

Fat Xu interjected: "Understood." You're still sad about You Tianjue's affairs. ”

Chang Feng said: "Hmm. They have always been brothers who have lived and died together. He was martyred, and I felt very uncomfortable. ”

"Oh yes, Shen Zhou is old. One member of the Thousand Households of the North Town Fusi is missing. Don't ascend up, vacate it. ”

"When You Tianjue's son enters Beijing, let him make up for the lack of a thousand households."

Chang Feng's power in the factory is second only to the East Factory Governor Qian Neng. Even the commander Mu Bin had to give him three points.

The candidate of Jinyi Wei Qianhu, he can make a decision directly.

Qian Ning chuckled in his heart. He had just accepted a bribe of three thousand taels from a deputy thousand-tael. I'm about to let the thousand households fill the gap.

Chang Ye spoke, and he was not good at raising objections. Three thousand taels of silver must be returned.

Channing was a righteous man. You have to collect money for doing things, and you will return if you can't do it.

Chang Feng glanced at Zhang Cai: "Why are you still sitting here, hurry up and go out on an errand." Within a month, I will make the smuggled goods of the Japanese Kingdom disappear from the shops of all sizes in the capital. ”

Zhang Cai hurriedly got up: "Yes, Master Chang, I'll do it." ”

To make up for the vacancy of Jinyiwei, it is necessary for the Military Selection Department of the Ministry of War to go through a selection procedure.

Chang Feng ordered again: "Come on, go across the street and call Wang Shouren, the director of the Military Election Department of the Ministry of War." Just say I'll invite him to tea. ”

Wang Shouren has been in officialdom for three years, and his career has been smooth sailing.

Emperor Hongzhi had a decree before, if there was a shortage of personnel in the military department, Wang Shouren would be transferred to the military department.

Wuxuan Division is one of the four major oil and water divisions in Beijing. The other three are the Ministry of Officials' Anthology and the Examination of Merit; Department of Military Examination.

Wang Shouren is honest and self-disciplined in office. Never rely on the power in your hands to accumulate wealth.

Wang Shouren is thirty-one years old and more calm and wise.

He came to Chang Feng's duty room, and Chang Feng told him about the matter.

The personnel of the Tiqi has always been an internal decision of Jinyiwei. The military department just hung a sign to prepare a file and go through the motions.

Besides, it is common to add Jinyi Wei after martyrdom and loyalty. Wang Shouren naturally nodded in agreement.

Chang Feng chatted with Wang Shouren over tea.

Chatting and chatting, we talked about the coastal plague.

Chang Feng complained: "The Hongwu and Yongle dynasties will be in trouble. But at that time, the plague was just a small fight. ”

"In this dynasty, it has become more and more intense."

Wang Shouren smiled slightly: "There's no way." Behind the real widows stood the false widows, and behind the false widows stood the gentry and wealthy families on the southeast coast. ”

"The southeast is the most prosperous place of the Ming Dynasty. Behind the gentry and wealthy families stood a large number of court officials. ”

"If you want me to say, the origin of the plague is not in the coast, but in the court."

Chang Feng said: "That's good! I used to have a master who once told me that during the Chenghua Dynasty, the imperial court cracked down on Quanzhou maritime merchants. ”

"It's because the maritime merchants hook the Japanese with one end and the people in the court with the other. The emperor believed that in the long run, it would lead to great disaster. ”

Wang Shouren said: "It's a pity that the tribute system of the Ming Dynasty determines that maritime merchants can make huge profits from smuggling. ”

"Businessmen are profitable. Dare to do anything for profiteering. Naturally, maritime smuggling has been repeatedly banned. ”

"The other day, I encountered an incident."

Chang Feng asked, "What's the matter?" ”

Wang Shouren said: "Ningbo Wei, a thousand households with no military merits, was recommended all the way to the Wuxuan Division by the Yamen of Zhejiang Bingbei Dao and the Yamen of the Dusi Division, and he was promoted to command the affairs. ”

"I did a cursory investigation and found that he has a maritime background."

Chang Feng frowned: "Ningbo is the location of the city's shipping division. Ningbo Wei is in charge of inspecting smuggling. If you want him to be the commander, won't you check yourself yourself? ”

"What did you do?"

Wang Shouren said: "There are too many people to ensure his promotion. If I refuse to give him a promotion, I will offend a large number of people. ”

"I just don't do it. The magistrate gave him a promotion. But the place of office was transferred to Xuanfu. ”

Chang Feng smiled dumbly: "What a trick to transfer the tiger away from the mountain." It's you. ”

Although Wang Shouren has read sages since he was a child, he is by no means a corrupt Confucian. Both ability and wrist.

Wang Shouren drank three cups of tea here in Changfeng. He got up and said, "I've been out for too long. We have to hurry back to the military headquarters. ”

"Master Chang, one of my father's students just gave him a jar of Hangzhou daughter red for 20 years. If you have time two evenings after tomorrow, come to my house and drink. ”

Chang Feng immediately agreed: "Done." I'll go to your house tomorrow night to fight the autumn breeze. ”

Moreover, Zhang Cai investigated the source of the smuggled goods of the Japanese state in Beijing and investigated it for three days. Finally the results.

Zhang Cai came to Chang Feng dejectedly.

Chang Feng glanced at him: "What's the matter, didn't you find out?" ”

Zhang Cai said: "Master Chang, check it out." ”

Chang Feng asked: "Why are you sad after finding out?" ”

Zhang Cai sighed: "Alas, all the smuggled goods of the Japanese Kingdom in the shops in Beijing come from a trading house. ”

"The boss of the trading house is an acquaintance with you."

Chang Feng frowned: "Who?" ”

Zhang Cai replied: "The two uncles of the Zhang family! ”

(End of chapter)