Leaving the palace, Yan Keng rushed to the location of the cabinet without stopping.

At this time, Sanyang was in the cabinet, and the content they discussed was Emperor Xuande's illness, although they did not get the emperor's summons, but it was impossible for such a big matter to hide from their ears, so they were already present at this time.

Seeing Yan Keng's arrival, the three of them stopped talking in unison.

"Meet Chen Guogong." They saluted, and Yan Keng returned the salute as a sign of respect, and then sat down separately.

"How is Your Majesty?" Yang Shiqi was the first to speak, although they knew that most of Xuande was hopeless, but they still had to ask.

"Your Majesty died a few hours ago." Yan Keng replied, his tone a little choked.

Hearing this, San Yang immediately rolled off the chair and fell to the ground, blinked his eyes, was already full of tears, howled and cried, and kowtowed in the direction of Zhu Zhanji's bedroom.

Yan Keng also followed them and began to cry bitterly, this is a necessary process, otherwise I am afraid that it will not be gossiped about.

After this action, the few people began to talk about business.

"Your Majesty, before dying, ordered the Empress Dowager Zhang to be a co-adjudicator with me."

Sanyang looked at each other, which was expected by them.

The emperor's control over Ouchi is no longer as strict as that of the previous dynasty, and some news can be spread to some extent, they know that Chen Guogong was summoned to the palace, and naturally they also guessed what happened.

"I'm going to do my best to help." Yang Shiqi is the first assistant of the cabinet, and the other two are group assistants, so of course he must speak on behalf of everyone.

Of course, that's not what they think in their hearts.

This Chen Guogong has no actual administrative power, and the emperor is young, so what should happen when the time comes, it is not up to the cabinet to have the final say.

You must know that the six departments have the power to refute the matter!

Yan Keng nodded after hearing this, and then looked sad:

"It's just that I'm the governor of the military capital and the governor of the government, and my own duty is to lead the soldiers and horses in Beizhi and other places, so as to assist the government, but it's a little strange."

"That's true." Yang Shiqi didn't understand what he meant, so he echoed casually.

"So, I came up with a solution."

"Chen Guogong, please speak." Sanyang secretly said to himself: "It's here!" They had long expected that Chen Guogong would go to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing.

"But I want to wronged Yang Ge and give up the position of the first assistant of the cabinet, so that my auxiliary government is justified." A smile appeared on Yan Keng's face, he turned his head and stared directly at Yang Shiqi:

"Of course, I won't let Yang Ge Lao be wronged, I plan to set up another assistant in the cabinet to deal with government affairs with the first assistant......"

"It can't be!" Before Yan Keng finished speaking, Yang Rong immediately objected. This is a matter of principle, and it is absolutely unacceptable.

"I have won the support of the Queen Mother and the Empress." Yan Keng knew that it would cause such a reaction from them, and he replied indifferently.

Yang Rong's eyes widened, obviously he didn't expect the other party to move so quickly, but he immediately shot back: "So what! Cabinet ministers have always been civilian officials, but no military ministers have ever been in the cabinet! ”

"Is there a rule that military ministers and nobles are not allowed to enter the cabinet?" Yan Keng immediately asked rhetorically.

Sanyang suddenly became dumbfounded.

This is indeed not stipulated, but the general cabinet, as the emperor's secretary, chooses only the ministers, as for the black and white words "only the ministers can enter the cabinet" is indeed not stipulated.

After all, Wu Chen entered the cabinet to deal with government affairs......

"However, this matter has never happened before, Chen Guogong wants to set this precedent, is it a little whimsical?"

Yang Pu replied, nominally it means that this incident has never happened, but in fact, it means that you want to climb on top of us, you think too much!

"Think about it, three Lord Yang."

Yan Keng's face showed a slight sneer, he had long expected that these people would not easily give up the position of the first assistant, so he simply didn't pretend at this time:

"Three have been in the cabinet for many years, if I insist on opposing it, I can't help it."

"It's just that the Queen Mother and the Queen are on my side...... And the right to approve the red is in the celebrant and in their hands! ”

"You ......" Yang Shiqi's eyes widened, and the faces of Yang Rong and Yang Pu suddenly sank, the other party was a naked threat!

The meaning is very clear, if you don't agree, then I won't agree with your future performance.

However, the most uncomfortable thing is that Yan Keng is still telling the truth, which makes them feel helpless the most.

Before, whether it was Emperor Yongle or Emperor Hongxi, when they chose to take care of their lives, they were all four people together, which means that the emperor's trust in them is also a symbol of power distribution.

However, this time, Emperor Xuande only called Yan Keng alone, and left a last word, ordering him to be a joint assistant to the Empress Dowager, without the names of the three of them.

This means that if two people join forces, as long as they are unwilling, most things in the court will not pass.

The appointment and dismissal of officials, the admission of imperial examinations, and even their salary slips all need to be handed over to the emperor, and they have no power to approve them on their own.

If Yan Keng asks the Queen Mother to put this card, the officials will suffer.

Will these suffering officials hate Yan Keng? No, they will only hate the three old guys in the cabinet and point the finger at these three heads of the civilian clique.

After all, Yan Keng, as the first emperor's lonely minister, it is understandable for him to enter the cabinet, as he said, although there is no precedent, but there is no provision that the nobles cannot enter the cabinet!

Unless it offended the interests of the entire civilian group like going to the West, don't expect them to be united, the party struggle in the Ming Dynasty was also quite fierce.

"Together, let's train this orthodox emperor to become the Holy Lord Mingjun, isn't it? Or do the three of you have to go against me? ”

Yan Keng's tone was slightly threatening.

Sanyang was silent.

Yan Keng was not in a hurry, he made a cup of tea and enjoyed it slowly.

After a long time, Yang Shiqi spoke:

"So, too."

Yang Rong and Yang Pu immediately looked at him, with eagerness in their eyes, and were about to speak, but they were stopped by Yang Shiqi waving his hand.

"I have one condition, though."

"Although the cabinet ministers have the right to govern, but the rank is too low, which is not conducive to handling the government, I want you to play Your Majesty and promote the rank of the cabinet ministers."

He stared at Yan Keng's eyes.

"Otherwise, we'd rather suffer the infamy than fight you!"

Raising the rank of cabinet ministers is undoubtedly a comprehensive strengthening of the cabinet, and the cabinet's power will be thoroughly strengthened. And Yan Keng is already old, how many years can he sit in the position of Shoufu?

Yan Keng pondered for a moment.

"Upgrading the rank of the minister, isn't this another prime minister? I'm afraid that some people will refute it with the ancestral system, which is inappropriate. ”

After all, Emperor Hongwu said that if there is a system to restore the prime minister, it can be directly beheaded.

Yang Shiqi's eyes widened, and he was about to speak, but was stopped by Yan Keng:

"However, the rank of the cabinet ministers is really too low. I think Your Majesty should be happy to let the ministers take the post of the six scholars, of course, it is only a false title. ”

As soon as these words came out, Sanyang's face also became soothed.

The usual tactics of the courtiers are not to violate the rules, but to bypass them.

"What do you think?"

"Yes."

"Then the three elders, prepare to draw up an edict."

Two days later, the edict was issued.

In the edict, the crown prince Zhu Qizhen was appointed as the emperor, and Chen Guogong Yan Keng was awarded the title of first assistant of the cabinet, and the Empress Dowager Zhang and Yan Keng jointly assisted the government.

The crown prince Zhu Qizhen officially ascended the throne and set next year as the first year of orthodoxy.

Emperor Xuande is the Emperor of Xiantian Chongdao, Wise and Sacred, Qinwen Zhaowu, Kuanren, Chun Xiaozhang, the temple name is Xuanzong, and he is buried in Jingling.

(End of chapter)