At the end of the year, the Jingshi seemed very peaceful.

After Zhang Zhou was promoted to the secretary of the Ministry of War, the minister was only uncomfortable at first, feeling that Zhang Zhou's appearance had broken the system of officialdom arguing seniority and seniority.

But with Zhang Zhou's promotion to Shangshu, he didn't care about most things in the court, which also made the minister feel that Zhang Zhou's aggression didn't seem to be so strong, even if Zhang Zhou could interfere with more aspects, it was still in the military department and the governor's mansion, and Zhang Zhou didn't seem to have directly provoked any too fierce conflicts with them.

The ninth day of the first month.

On this day, Zhu Youzhu summoned the three cabinet members in the inner court, but did not see Zhang Zhou.

At the first meeting after the year, Zhu Youzhu mentioned to the three cabinet members that he wanted to add one more person to the cabinet, but he was only in the discussion stage, and he wanted to listen to the opinions of Liu Jian and the three of them.

Next to Li Rong stands, now Li Rong is just a eunuch of the ceremonial eunuch Bingbi, but because of the commander of Dongchang and his extremely high seniority in the palace, he has vaguely become the most trusted eunuch around the emperor.

“…… His Majesty's intention is to share some pressure for the three elders, and who to use depends on the recommendation of the three elders and the ministers of Hanyuan, and His Majesty will consider it as appropriate. ”

When Li Rong said this, he would turn a layer from it and appear more tactful.

Liu Jian and the others felt before that the emperor wanted to push Wang Wei into the cabinet, even if it was not Wang Wei, it could be Cheng Minzheng.

The emperor said that he wanted to consult with them, but he only said it beautifully.

Liu Jian said: "Your Majesty, the old minister is old and difficult to do the errands in the cabinet, and I also ask Your Majesty to allow the old minister to return to his hometown to retire for the rest of his life." ”

It is not only the habit of the three members of the cabinet to resign in case of trouble, but also the ministers of the DPRK and China.

From the middle of the Ming Dynasty to the middle of the Ming Dynasty, officials, especially when they reached the level of Zhengqing and Shilang, even if they were Zhishi, they generally resigned, and after making mistakes, there were few direct investigations, and until the Jiajing period, this kind of "harmony" between the monarch and the minister has been maintained.

When the minister is impeached, he will resign, which has formed a convention, in order not to embarrass the emperor, as if he was testing the emperor's intentions, but also to find a step for himself.

Zhu Youzhu said: "There are some not very good rumors outside, saying that I only want to appoint Jinyu, especially when it comes to the use of Bingkuan, I don't know what those people's intentions are, and even the clan is coaxing." I said a long time ago that whoever has the ability, I will use whom, Bingkuan's exploits should be obvious to all, right? ”

Liu Jian said: "Lao Chen didn't mean to target anyone, it's just that Lao Chen is old and ...... old."

Zhu Youzhu waved his hand and said: "There is no need to say anything about resignation, if Liu Ge is really ill and difficult to bear the affairs of the court, I will allow you to return to your hometown, and I will reward you more, thank you for doing so much to the court." But now is not the time to retreat, and the cabinet will be added by one person, and I will not listen to the opinions of anyone except Er and Han Yuan...... Take your heart back and take a stand. See if you need to increase it, or by whomever it will be added, I will take it. ”

……

……

The three members of the cabinet thought that there was something else important, but the inner court summoned them and only said that they wanted to increase the number of cabinet ministers.

And the emperor still seemed to care about them very much, and did not mean to force it.

After the three of them returned to the cabinet room, Xie Qian sat by the stove, clamped a piece of new-style honeycomb coal into the iron furnace with iron tongs, and said with a smile: "This thing is really effective, no matter how you burn it, it won't be extinguished!" It's so warm. ”

Liu Jian said: "What's there, just say it." ”

Xie Qian smiled and said nothing.

Li Dongyang said as if he was supplementing Xie Qian: "Your Majesty said that he would listen to the opinions of the ministers of Hanyuan, but Zhang Bingkuan is also a minister of Hanyuan. ”

In a word, it seems to point out the most critical point of the problem.

Zhang Zhou is still a bachelor in the Hanlin Academy, if the emperor proposes to find someone to enter the cabinet, not Wang Wei and Cheng Minzheng, then it is likely to want Zhang Zhou to "wear many hats", anyway, Zhang Zhou has already held the position of Hanlin bachelor before, and the Hanlin bachelor has become a "university scholar", it seems that it has not changed much.

The upper listening office is also a value, and the cabinet is also a value, which value is not a value?

Liu Jian thought about it for a long time and sighed with emotion: "Your Majesty will be so biased towards Zhang Bingkuan? ”

The implication is that we are all guarding against Wang Wei, Cheng Minzheng, and preventing others from seeing Zhang Zhou's rise and moving closer to Zhang Zhou's camp.

Now you actually think that the emperor wants Zhang Zhou to enter the cabinet?

Then why does Your Majesty still show such a listening side? Wouldn't it be nice to say it directly?

Xie Qian rubbed his hands in front of the stove and said, "I think what Binzhi means is that Your Majesty will listen to Zhang Bingkuan's opinion on who to choose, and it is not necessarily to let Zhang Bingkuan enter the cabinet, right?" ”

"Hmm." Li Dongyang nodded.

Liu Jian also did not explicitly say that he wanted Zhang Zhou to enter the cabinet, saying that the emperor was biased, or it could be said that the emperor had too much faith in Zhang Zhou's opinions.

Xie Qian said again: "Zhang Bingkuan said that there will be ground movements in Shaanxi, which seems to be quite serious, it has been eight or nine days, but there is still no movement at all? ”

Li Dongyang said: "If it happens in Shaanxi, or if it takes two or three days to sort out the disaster, it will be reported in detail, and it is estimated that it will come in two or three days." His Majesty did not make a big deal about this matter, but he didn't know how to deal with it locally, and he came and went, but he was afraid that it would make the people respect Zhang Bingkuan even more. ”

Xie Qian smiled: "Yes, it's still true now, if he really wants to use the topic of disaster in the future to make something out of nothing, who can question it?" Didn't you say that the Zhang family of Longhu Mountain was going to enter Beijing? Why haven't you heard any news yet? ”

"Come on."

Liu Jian sat down, and on his desk, there were still a lot of notes waiting to be drafted.

But he didn't seem to be able to calm down, he said: "Binzhi, you have time in the past two days, go to Hanyuan for a walk, show His Majesty's intention to promote people into the cabinet, and let Hanyuan first discuss the candidates for the cabinet." The three of us don't have many opinions, everything follows the mainstream opinions, and whoever they recommend will play with Your Majesty, so it is best. ”

The emperor said to listen to us.

We don't express our opinions, we just convey your majesty's intentions, and let the people in the Hanlin Yuan system discuss it on their own to see who is more "respectable".

Xie Qian said: "Aren't you afraid to hear the candidates we don't want to hear?" ”

Liu Jian sighed: "I'm afraid that these candidates are exactly what His Majesty wants, so it is better to let the officials of the Hanlin Academy want, if the power is not up to others, why force it?" ”

We have already given everything to the "public opinion", and if the Hanlin Yuan is to promote people we don't want to hear, it means that the emperor and Zhang Zhou's purpose has been achieved, and their infiltration of our own land, that is, the Hanlin Yuan system, has reached the point where we can't choose a candidate we like.

So what is it for?

It's as if you're going to lie flat and wait for the heavy artillery fire of your political enemies.

Li Dongyang said: "I don't expect it to be like this, I have my own opinions." ”

……

……

Zhang Zhou has been very light recently.

During this period of time after the year, although the affairs of the military department were very busy, Xiong Chong and Xiong Xiu handled them properly, and the Shangting Office was currently only responsible for the military affairs of the border gates.

Wang Qiong's entry into the listening office was proposed by the emperor, and Zhu Hui was "elected" by the Governor's Mansion, which was originally Zhang Mao's value, but Zhang Mao liked to rely on the old and sell the old when he had nothing to do before, not to mention the emperor, even the ministers looked at him a little unpleasantly, so the anonymous recommendation of the Governor's Mansion was finally better than Zhu Hui.

And from the matter of electing Zhu Hui to the Shangting Office, a precedent of "secret ballot" was also opened.

Roughly speaking, those who are qualified to be nominated do not need to let others know who you are promoting, and there is no need to announce the number of votes of each person when the final votes are counted, and the emperor is the referee, which can be regarded as ensuring fairness to the greatest extent.

Zhang Mao thought that no matter how slacking off he was, others would still regard him as the first martial artist, but he could lose the election between the lords and ministers, and he was naturally resentful.

He was depressed at home for several days, and after the Chinese New Year, many people visited his house, but he turned them away.

"Father, after the Shangyuan Festival, my son will enter the Yanwu Hall to study, what other instructions do you have for your son?"

Zhang Rui has been like a person who has not been sick recently, and he has done a good job in horse riding and archery recovery training, and he was the first batch to sign up for this Yanwutang enrollment.

In addition to Zhang Rui, there is also Zhang Rui's son Zhang Lun.

The father and son want to study together in the martial arts hall.

Zhang Mao said angrily: "If this continues, the prestige of my Zhang family will be gone, are you going to learn the true skills and make contributions in the future, or are you going to form a gang?" ”

Zhang Rui said: "My son doesn't quite understand what his father meant. ”

Zhang Mao said angrily: "If you also belong to Zhang Bingkuan, then our Zhang family will be completely finished!" ”

In one sentence, Old Man Zhang's true state of mind was exposed.

He now regards Zhang Zhou as an enemy...... is no longer like when Zhang Zhou first rose, he still wanted to use his prestige and connections to rein in Zhang Zhou, and even get along with Zhang Zhou on an equal footing, and even forced Zhang Zhou to cooperate with him by detaining Jiang Dezhong and other means.

"Father, why don't you go?" Zhang Rui asked for instructions.

"If I don't go, will the result be better?" Zhang Mao sat there, as if he was sulking, "Are you blaming me for having no one in the Zhang family?" Or do you blame Zhang Bingkuan, this kid for rising too fast? Is it possible to be jealous of a father? Now even the soldiers in the Beijing camp are separated from their father...... When will it be the turn of the Baoguo Princess? ”

Zhang Rui then understood.

's father felt so sorry for himself, it turned out that he was robbed by Zhu Hui because of an errand in the listening office.

From Zhang Rui's point of view, perhaps Zhang Mao used to think that even if there was a Zhang Bingkuan, at least in the Governor's Mansion, in terms of high morality, he Zhang Mao was the first...... As a result, I was slapped in the face by reality this time.

It seems that the governor's mansion has taken the opportunity to express his previous dissatisfaction with the British duke.

Zhang Rui said: "If my father intends to serve the imperial court, he should take the initiative to propose it to His Majesty, and he can recommend himself." ”

"I don't have that face for my father." Zhang Mao said, "The matter has come to this point, you continue to go to Yanwutang." You have to remember that if you can't return from school, then the façade of the British public will not be saved! If there's anything to charge for, you can't pass the buck......"

When Zhang Rui heard this, father, you are so cowardly, you actually encourage your son to be cannon fodder?

Zhang Mao said: "There is no other way for your father, after you practice from the Yanwu Hall, your father will help you find a military position in a border town in front of His Majesty, so that you will have the opportunity to practice!" But I'm afraid that Zhang Bingkuan, this kid, will make a hindrance from it......"

"Father, Cai Guogong shouldn't be like this." Zhang Rui still trusts Zhang Zhou.

"Do you believe in your father or in me?" Zhang Mao was also annoyed.

I said that Zhang Bingkuan is a bad person, do you still treat him as a good person? Elbow outward?

Zhang Rui could only lower his head.

"Fuck." Zhang Mao also lost his forbearance, and scolded directly, "What is Zhang Bingkuan!" Even if he doesn't give you the opportunity to make a contribution, Lao Tzu will let you follow Wang Bo'an to fight...... Nothing else, Lao Tzu has been in the court for so many years, and he is still not able to seek a position as a pioneer officer for his son? Can Your Majesty not give such face? ”

Only then did Zhang Rui know that his father, for the sake of the façade of the British government, actually wanted him to charge into battle, or even send him to death.

Zhang Rui is also pondering.

Father, what major blow has you suffered? I'm not your biological son, can't I? So much for ...... You're going to kill me!

……

……

Li Dongyang went to Hanlin Academy.

He went to meet a person, Wang Hua, who had just been promoted by the emperor to a bachelor in the Hanlin Academy.

Wang Hua's promotion was all due to the exploits of his son Wang Shouren in the northwest...... Many people want to say this, although the words are difficult to hear, but Wang Hua doesn't care, just like he taught Wang Shouren at the beginning...... Go your own way and let others say go.

"Your Majesty wants to transfer someone to the cabinet, Dehui, who do you think has this qualification?" Li Dongyang was blunt.

You recommend someone to me.

Wang Hua beat a drum in his heart.

He knows very well that in the system of the Hanlin Academy, there are those who are higher than him Wang Hua in terms of qualifications, not to mention Wang Wei, Jiao Fang, and Li Jie, but among the rising stars, Yang Tinghe and Liang Chu have all been appreciated by the cabinet before, after all, when the Hanlin bachelor was vacant before, Liu Jian and they were the first to recommend Yang Tinghe and Liang Chu.

If you add Zhang Yuanzhen and Zhang Zhou, Wang Hua knows very well that among the people who have not entered the cabinet in the Hanlin Academy, his status is close to the tenth......

Pick someone to join the cabinet, and it will be my turn?

Take it a step further and say, you Li Dongyang is asking for a candidate, as for asking me?

Wang Hua said: "Wang Jizhi has been the main speaker in the East Palace for more than a year, and he is the foreman when he speaks on the day of the feast. ”

Since my king knows that your drunkard does not mean to drink, then I will recommend the most suitable person in my opinion.

I'm not afraid of retaliation anyway.

And the Wang Wei he recommended ...... is obviously the candidate that Liu Jian mentioned before, and he didn't like it.

Li Dongyang said with a smile: "Why should Dehui be arrogant? Ling Lang has not been in the court for a long time, and he has already been in charge of Xuanda military affairs, if you enter the cabinet, you can help each other inside and outside, which can be described as a good story in the court. So...... You're better suited than anyone else to be in the cabinet! ”

(End of chapter)