Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

The trees want to be quiet, but the wind doesn't stop.

In just a few days, the matter of Wang Hua's deduction of soldiers' pay quickly fermented in the capital, and officials in the capital, including Jiangxi Silangzhong, submitted an impeachment memorial.

"Governor of Southern Gansu, why have I never heard of him?"

"This is a new position created by His Majesty, but it is a pity that this time it is entrusted to someone else!"

"Wang Hua is too young after all. How can he serve as governor of a place after only a few years in the official career?"

"Who says it's not the case? The imperial court has always appointed talented people to follow the rules, but now... all the courtiers are in charge!"

"The governor should not have been appointed from outside the capital. Not to mention that he is not familiar with the local situation, and he just wants to make money so that he can manage and pave the way!"

…

At first, the officials and people in the capital were only focused on deducting soldiers' pay itself, but gradually the trend changed, and they pointed the finger at the issue of the court's employment of local personnel.

According to the consistent practice of the Ming Dynasty officialdom, important positions in the court were based on seniority. Especially in the selection of local governors, local governors or chief envoys were usually selected to serve. It was rare for officials to be appointed by the capital's yamen.

Zhu Youtang broke the usual routine this time. The governor of Southern Jiangxi was not selected as a virtuous minister with high moral standing in the local area, but a small man who was compiled from the sixth-grade Hanlin Academy and was directly appointed to the local area.

Who is Wang Hua?

A Jinshi in the 17th year of Chenghua has been an official for only seven years and has been drinking tea in the Hanlin Academy. How can he compare with a wise minister with dozens of resumes?

However, changing the rules of officialdom can easily bring about adverse consequences.

No, something happened to Wang Hua.

He could not resist the temptation of money and embezzled local military salaries. The emperor's unconventional appointment brought bad consequences.

The capital city in May is very treacherous, and no one knows when a big storm will suddenly come.

When I was young, I was in Yongfang, Xu Mansion.

Before dawn, the lights in the house were turned on, and the servants in the house were already busy. A chicken man who specialized in calling beds was imitating the sound of a rooster crowing outside the window.

"Master, it's time to get up and go to court!" The housekeeper came to the bedside and called softly to Xu Pu who was lying on the bed.

Xu Pu had actually been woken up by the chicken man. At this moment, he took off the quilt and got up. However, the concubine next to him, who was still sleeping happily, couldn't help but exclaimed.

Gu...

The housekeeper couldn't help but swallowed, but he liked his master's generous style. Whether it was a concubine or a bed-warming girl, it seemed that he was just an object.

Although Xu Pu did not enjoy as much as an emperor, he had four maids to serve him every day. He only had to cooperate with the maids to wash and dress.

In this era, status not only brings power, but also a high quality of life.

Xu Pu felt uncomfortable when he thought about his current embarrassing position and that he had been teased by fate.

Now, let alone entering the cabinet to worship the prime minister, anyone with a discerning eye can see that the current emperor is alienating himself, and has even secretly started to get rid of him.

It's just that he doesn't intend to resign, and he can't resign.

Although the court was completely controlled by the emperor, the Ming Dynasty not only had one capital, but also managed two capitals and thirteen provinces.

Although he was no longer favored in the Hongzhi Dynasty, he was still a high-ranking official Zuo Shilang and still had relatively large influence in the local area. His disciples still held important positions in the local area.

Take Jiangxi, which has been relatively lively recently, as an example. Li Ang, the governor of Jiangxi, and I were friends of the same age, and it was he who single-handedly promoted Li Ang to the important position of governor of Jiangxi.

When it comes to local influence, today's Hongzhi Dynasty has to continue to call himself master.

Xu Pu used the West Lake Longjing Tea to rinse his mouth. This was a filial gift from his favorite disciple, but he understood the subtleties of controlling the place better than anyone else.

Although it is difficult to join the cabinet and become prime minister again during the Hongzhi Dynasty, no one knows what changes will happen next. Only by gathering more officials under his command can the real hard power be achieved.

As for the emperor in the Forbidden City, it was easy to control the capital at the feet of the emperor, but if he wanted to influence the place and extend his tentacles to the thirteen provinces, it can only be said that he was still too young.

Xu Pu touched the flower rhinoceros belt that could only be worn by the second rank. Thinking that he was still the imperial master who was the left minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, he walked out of the room with his head held high and his tooth tag in hand.

"My dear, please give your regards to your father!" Xu Yuangai, who was waiting outside in the courtyard, saw Xu Pu coming out and immediately greeted him with a smile on his face.

Affected by the incident of the official prostitute Lanxiang in Jiaofang last time, although it was later confirmed that the official prostitute Lanxiang committed suicide, both Xu Yuangai and Yang Tinghe were affected by this incident, and the Zhongshusheren obtained by Guan Yin was dismissed by the court. .

Xu Pu looked at his frustrated son and said with a straight face: "This year's Enke Provincial Examination is coming soon. Don't just spend your time drinking and drinking. Stay at home and study more when you have time!"

"Dad, my son no longer plays with Zhu Qi's gang. Recently, some of my new friends are going to Qufu, Shandong to worship the saints, so I want to buy a BMW!" Xu Yuangai observed Xu Pu's reaction and immediately He spoke cautiously.

Xu Pu was quite helpless towards this naughty son, but he never cared about such small requests and said: "Go to the warehouse to withdraw money, and come back and warm up the books at home for me!"

"Definitely!" Xu Yuangai said overjoyed when he found out that there was still a reliable father.

But he also understood that compared with the filial piety money of his father's local disciples and former officials, no matter how much he asked for money, it was impossible for his father to be poor.

Xu Pu didn't have the habit of eating in the morning court. After all, it was impossible to provide a hut in the morning court, so he went straight to the front yard.

Three well-dressed concubines were already waiting here, and they sent Xu Pu off in a polite manner.

"Get up the sedan!" The steward ordered hurriedly when he saw Xu Pu getting on the sedan.

Xu Pu sat in the sedan chair and closed his eyes to relax. While feeling the changing environment outside, he also began to think about some things that might happen in the morning.

If this court was left to my own control now, it would definitely get better, but it was a pity that I misjudged it and ended up falling into the hands of a student whom I could not see through more and more.

It was obvious that as long as they chose to be tolerant towards Mongolia, they would be able to achieve peace together. It was obvious that there was no need to send so many supplies to Jiubian through the Kaizhong method. As a result, the emperor had long forgotten all about his teachings in the East Palace.

Now I just hope that the Jiubian soldiers under Zhu Youtang's nonsense will be completely defeated, and countless soldiers will die tragically in the Mongolian cavalry, and then it will be up to me to save the Ming Dynasty, which is about to collapse.

Perhaps, some people really have to suffer pain before they realize that seeking peace is the best way out for the Ming Dynasty.

Since today is a rare morning dynasty and a strict attendance system is implemented for morning dynasties, officials from the capital came to the square in front of the Meridian Gate one after another early in the morning.

"Your Majesty pays homage to Li Shangshu!"

"Your Majesty, I respectfully wish to welcome Jia Shangshu Jun!"

"I respectfully wish to honor you, Lord Yuanfu!"

…

Dawn had just broken in the east, and nearly a thousand officials had gathered in this square. Seeing the important ministers arriving one after another, they immediately greeted them respectfully.

As of today, the situation in the DPRK has been stabilized.

The flattering parties Wan An and Liu Ji of the Chenghua Dynasty continued to sit firmly in the cabinet, and the factions headed by Li Yu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, Li Si, the Minister of Household Affairs, Xu Qiong, the Minister of Rites, Du Ming, the Minister of Punishments, and Jia Jun, the Minister of Industry, controlled six ministries. .

The old man from the East Palace who was thought to be a noble person turned out to be unsatisfactory.

Xie Qian and Zhang Sheng, who were the most favored, were promoted, but they had no real power after all. Cheng Minde, a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, sought to be the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, but Qiu Jun, who was not from the East Palace, got the job first; the left minister of the Ministry of Personnel Although Xu Pu and Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, held important positions, they were not favored.

Just like this, Qingliu did not advance but retreated in the new dynasty. The Mei Party still occupied the cabinet, and the most powerful one was the Men Party headed by Li Yu, the Minister of Civil Affairs.

Xu Pu arrived relatively late, but when many officials saw Xu Pu appearing, they pretended not to see it.

Recently there is a rumor in the capital: last year at Jiyan Hall, Xu Pu suggested to Zhu Youtang that he should recall Huaien, and even spread rumors in front of Zhu Youtang that the late emperor had abolished the throne.

At the moment when Wynn was convicted, Xu Pu undoubtedly made a serious political mistake.

For this alone, the emperor could dismiss Xu Pu from office.

When Xu Pu claimed to be ill a few days ago, everyone thought that the left minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs was going to hand in his resignation, but they did not expect that he would still return with a look on his face.

After all, the position of Zuo Shilang in the Ministry of Civil Affairs is too favourable.

It's just that everyone knows in their hearts that Xu Pu has completely lost his holy family, and Xu Yi's ability to stay in the position of Zuo Shilang in the Ministry of Civil Affairs is probably the emperor's need to check and balance the forces of all parties.

Because of this, officials at the middle and lower levels deliberately distanced themselves from Xu Pu, and their views on Xu Pu's future have changed from being extremely optimistic about it to now being pessimistic about it.

"Your rites department will prepare an invitation to pay homage to the mausoleum later, right?"

"That's exactly what happened. Your Ministry of Industry must have asked you to build the river embankment!"

"Our Ministry of Household Affairs is going to petition for funding, and the Ministry of Works is naturally petitioning for building river embankments!"

"This is nothing to guess. I just chose some important things to announce here. This morning's meeting is just a formality!"

"Fortunately, it's only two or three times a month. I really don't need to come to this morning meeting every day. I'm just wasting so much time!"

…

Officials such as Li Yu, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, gathered together. After experiencing a series of palace ceremonies that were true to their words, now facing this morning court that was just a formality, they couldn't help shaking their heads and saying disparagingly.

Just at this time, a discordant voice sounded: "Nothing should be more important than paying attention to the court. Whenever there are regulations and reports, they are all approved by the internal committee. I wonder if the emperor personally approves them and suppresses the treacherous ministers who are monopolizing power? What's more, it is an ancestral system for thousands of officials to listen to the government. , if the Chang Dynasty is abolished in the long run, it will only lead to the abolition of discipline!"

Li Yu, the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and other officials looked for reputation and found that it was Xu Pu, the left minister of the Ministry of Affairs, who had returned slightly ill. They couldn't help but look at each other.

It's just that the other party brought out "rituals" and "ancestral systems." Even if he still disdained this formality in his early court, it was hard to refute Xu Pu's words.

Li Yu, the official secretary, took a deep look at Xu Pu. Seeing that Xu Pu was obviously different today, he felt that today's morning court would not be peaceful.

"All officials come in!"

The bells and drums of the Meridian Gate Tower rang together, and a eunuch suddenly spoke loudly.

More than a thousand civil and military officials who had been waiting for a long time filed in from the left and right gates of the Meridian Gate, arranged their clothes in front of Jinshui Bridge, and then arrived in front of Fengtianmen Square.

Fengtian Gate still stands majestically, representing the power of the emperor.

After a while, as a burst of palace music sounded, Zhu Youtang appeared from behind wearing a dragon robe.

The eighteen-year-old emperor demonstrated his extraordinary wisdom in governing. Although the idea of ​​strengthening the army was criticized by conservatives, the effectiveness of sorting out the salt policy was obvious to all.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Wan An, the officials present immediately shouted long live.

Now, the personnel power of Jiuqing Tingtui that they had stolen earlier is slowly fading away. This young emperor has firmly controlled the fate of all of them. Only by surrendering to this emperor can they get ahead.

Zhu Youtang sat on the throne and looked at the dark officials below without anger or authority.

Although he wished to cancel the three morning court meetings a month, he knew that it was necessary to occasionally show his face in front of the officials in the capital. After all, he needed people's loyalty and gave them a little hope.

After a series of rituals, the performance began.

"There is a report from the clan's residence: The King of Han said that the salt purchased by the palace from the salt merchant is bitter and hard to swallow. Please allow the imperial court to use the salt from the palace. Only a hundred citations will be enough!"

"The request is not allowed, and the case of Wangfu salt cannot be opened again!"

"There is a report from the Ministry of Household Affairs: The Ministry of Household Affairs in Nanjing has requested the Nanjing Inner Government's Transportation Treasury to collect the summer tax in exchange for more than 17,000 taels of wheat silver and give it to Ying Tian and other Sixth Guards officers and soldiers as monthly salary!"

"If you don't agree to your request, the Southeast Army's pay should be based on monthly rations!"

"There is a report from the Metropolitan Procuratorate: Guangxi bandits gathered more than 60 people to kill and plunder Yishan and other counties. They were arrested and questioned by officials such as Bei Yu. Wang Xi, the general in charge, stayed behind closed doors. The commander Qi Wan, the commander Liu Shao, If there is no defense, even if you perform some minor feats, you cannot atone for your sins. Wan Shao will be demoted to one level, and Xi will be demoted to two levels!"

"If you don't agree to your request, the crime is too light!"

…

Although the morning court still had to be held, Zhu Youtang deliberately selected some simple and clear things to put on top of the morning court, which significantly improved the efficiency of the performance.

It's just that everyone has gradually become accustomed to Emperor Hongzhi's efficiency. As representatives from various yamen followed the matters designated by Zhu Youtang, they arrived at the Ministry of War in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Ying, the Minister of the Ministry of War, was from the Zhili Province in the south of Songjiang Prefecture. He had already served as the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, but because of Ding You, he was forced to leave the court and return home to observe filial piety.

Although he was appointed as the Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing, he had no obvious military talents and basically wanted to retire in Nanjing. However, he was recommended by Wan'an and was appointed as the Minister of the Ministry of War.

Zhang Ying, Minister of the Ministry of War, came out and reported solemnly: "Your Majesty, I have something to report!"

"Please report?" Zhu Youtang said calmly, knowing that the Ministry of War was going to report on the construction of the Datong City Wall.

Xu Pu, who had been keeping his eyes closed as if concentrating, suddenly opened his eyes and looked towards his fellow countryman, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

Zhang Ying, the Secretary of the Ministry of War, took out a memorial from his sleeve and said solemnly: "Wang Hua, the governor of Southern Jiangxi, has been unfaithful. When he was the governor of Southern Jiangxi, he withheld military pay of more than a thousand taels. I sincerely request that Wang Hua be dismissed from office. Take him to Beijing to await trial!"