The Ming Dynasty's Spokesperson

Anyone familiar with the history of the Ming Dynasty knows that the history of the civil service system in the mid-Ming Dynasty is, in a sense, the history of cabinet struggles.

The pavilion is the cabinet, and the ministry is the six ministries of the outer dynasty. The specific representative is the official minister. In the concept of the Ming Dynasty, the official ministry is higher than the other five ministries.

The struggle for power between the minister of official affairs and the cabinet, the first person in the outer dynasty, lasted throughout the mid-Ming Dynasty.

In the early years, the Minister of Personnel had to compete with the cabinet for even his position in the court, and he considered himself to be ahead of the cabinet's bachelor.

The Minister of Civil Affairs and the cabinet scholar met on the street. Whether it was necessary to shelter the scholar's sedan chair was an etiquette issue that the Ming Dynasty repeatedly struggled with.

Of course, the overall trend is that the cabinet is getting stronger and the ministers are getting weaker.

But the officials have always stood at the center of the political stage and have never been absent.

A closer look at the history of the Ming Dynasty will reveal that many political struggles were fought in the context of the "Beijing-Cha".

The main yamen in charge of Beijing inspections are the Ministry of Personnel and the Metropolitan Inspectorate. They conduct inspections of Beijing officials every six years. If they fail to pass the inspection, they will be dismissed.

Until the emergence of non-traditional forces like the Donglin Party and Nine Thousand Years Old, the cabinet dispute, which was hit by dimensionality reduction, became meaningless.

In the traditional concept of party struggle, the power of a chief minister mainly depends on whether he can control the staff.

A chief assistant who has little influence on the staff must be a weak chief assistant.

That's why Yang Wei, the always obedient Minister of Civil Affairs, decided to resign, which made Shen Shoufu's mentality collapse.

Historically, not long after Yang Wei resigned, Shen Shixing decisively left, but that was supposed to be next year.

Lin Tailai originally thought that he would be left hanging until noon at the gate of Shen Mansion.

As a result, not long after it got light, Shen Yongmao, the uncle of Shen Mansion, came over and led him inside.

Lin Tailai couldn't help but sigh to Shen Yongmao: "Your Majesty, you don't even have the energy to compete. Sure enough, there is something wrong with your thinking again.

My father-in-law entered the cabinet at the age of forty-five and became the first assistant at the age of forty-nine. After all, he was still too young, and his mental experience was almost meaningless. "

Application: "."

After arriving in the study, Lin Tailai said directly to Shen Shoufu: "Although Yang Tianguan is gone, I am still there. Why should the old man give up on himself?"

Yang Wei only came to pay his respects last night, but Lin Tailai, who was far away in Xizhimen, knew immediately and came to visit this morning for this matter.

Shen Shoufu is not surprised at all. Without him, the family would be unlucky.

At this time, Shen Shoufu glanced at Lin Tailai and asked, "What? Do you also want to be a Heavenly Official in the Ministry of Civil Affairs?"

Lin Tailai said a little embarrassedly: "If the seniors can do it, I can't give it a try."

Before he finished the cup of tea, Shen Shoufu choked and said rudely: "If there is nothing else, just step back!"

Lin Tailai immediately got to the point: "Senior, do you really want to quit?"

Shen Shoufu asked, "Does it have anything to do with you?"

Lin Tailai replied: "Junior, I don't want to stop the senior, but I just thought that if the senior really wants to quit, the junior should prepare early."

Shen Shoufu was a little shocked in his heart. Lin Tailai had changed. He didn't persuade him as hard as he did a few times before? Do you want to directly prepare to find a new home?

After all, Shen Shoufu couldn't restrain his damn curiosity, "How can you prepare in advance?"

Lin Tailai answered honestly: "If the old man retires to Linquan, according to the usual practice, the second pavilion old Wang Xijue, no, the highly respected Wang Taicang will serve as the chief assistant.

Then I left the Shen Mansion and quickly went to Wang Taicang's Mansion to repair the relationship.

Firstly, Wang Taicang came to power in a hurry and lacked a solid foundation, so he needed the support of a powerful person like me. Secondly, since they are all from the same hometown in Suzhou, who can Wang Taicang trust more? "

Shen Shoufu felt a little sore and asked, "What happens next?"

"Then," Lin Tailai thought for a moment, then continued to answer: "Wang Taicang and the old man are both from the same hometown and in the same ranking. You were the top pick and he was the second, and now they are in the cabinet together.

I heard that Wang Taicang has always had a desire to compare in his heart. This time, senior, you stepped down and he stepped up, finally tying you in the career comparison.

The dispute over the country has been in a stalemate for four years, and all parties are exhausted. What if the East Palace issue is resolved in the past two years?

Then Wang Taicang will be the first assistant who can determine the situation, and senior you are the one who can't solve the problem and runs away from the battle.

By that time, Wang Taicang would definitely write letters to You when he had nothing to do, and he would also record it extensively in his personal notes.

When Dong Gong ascends the throne in the future, he will definitely be extremely grateful to Wang Taicang, and may even give him a posthumous gift. Anyway, he should be one level higher than you. "

Shen Shixing: "."

Damn it! The scene of Taicang Wang Er, who had been suppressed by him for most of his life, suddenly riding on his head, was really terrifying!

It doesn't matter if you are worse than anyone else, you just can't be worse than Wang Er from the same hometown and on the same list!

"So, senior, please give me an accurate answer?" Lin Tailai asked back.

Shen Shixing said solemnly: "I am still in my prime years, waiting for the emperor to call me back at any time to do my best for the country!"

Lin Tailai then advised again: "Old seniors, you can rest easy. Even without Yang Wei, the staff can still be reorganized like the cabinet, and we can just arrange some obedient people."

Shen Shixing sighed: "The official department has always been the focus of attention of the whole court. Whenever there is a political dispute, the official department is the focus of attention.

People who are incompetent will not be able to stand in the official department at all, and they can't just obey orders."

Having said this, Shen Shixing suddenly realized a question, "Who do you mean to listen to?"

Lin Tailai said "haha": "It's all the same, it's all the same, why bother with it."

When the court recommended the old man to join the cabinet, one of the only two candidates, Yang Wei, the Minister of Civil Service, suddenly resigned from his post and decided to pack his bags and leave the capital. This immediately caused a shock to the court!

Although in the past two months, the whole court has been shaken a lot, almost all the courtiers were numbed by the shock.

But Yang Tianguan's departure is still worthy of another shock to the public. After all, this is the official minister with real power that can compete with the cabinet.

Others don’t know what they think, but the Qingliu forces fell into a carnival!

This is the most significant good news in the past two months, no, in the past two years!

The Ministry of Personnel immediately became the focus of the entire court's attention, even more so than the recruitment of cabinet ministers.

After all, there is no suspense on the issue of adding cabinet ministers. If Yang Wei leaves, then the only candidate left is Zhao Zhigao. What else can we continue to pay attention to?

On the contrary, the officials are having great "fun" now!

The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel has given up his choice and left, and the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Zuo Shilang, is about to join the cabinet, so the two highest official positions in the Ministry of Personnel will be cleared in an instant!

Two top key positions were revealed at once. In this late spring season, all the officials in the dynasty were almost in a collective rage!

Which second-grade person doesn’t dream of becoming the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs? Which third-grade person does not covet the left minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs?

Anyone who can calm down at this time and not have some daydreams is not a human being.

In this context, Zhao Zhigao, the 67-year-old left minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, quietly entered the cabinet and almost no one paid any attention to it.

On the towering Xizhimen Gate Tower, the setting sun is like blood.

A tall young man with frowning eyebrows looked at the manuscript paper on the case attentively, deeply lost in thought.

Pang Ba always looked like a little boy, greeting from not far away: "It's time for dinner!"

Lin Tailai, a soldier who was still being dispatched to the army, turned a deaf ear, as if there were difficult problems for him to think about and make decisions.

Mr. Pang came close to him and asked curiously: "What on earth is Mr. Lin writing? Why is he thinking so hard about it?"

Lin Xiaobing replied solemnly: "I'm helping draft the edict of sinners. I'm not very skilled yet. I'm not sure about a few points."

Boss Pang: "."

Is this the answer that he, a small commander of the fourth rank, Xizhi Mengzong, can hear?

Damn it! Why do you have to ask this question? As a result, I heard this answer that could be fatal!

Suddenly Zhang Wen, the Zuo protector, came up the stairs to the top of the city and reported: "Today the imperial edict is in the hands of Mr. Zhao and Mr. Zhao of Lanxi!"

Lin Tailai put away the manuscript paper on the desk, stood up and said, "Let's go! Go to the Zhao Mansion to give guidance and congratulations!"

Mr. Pang reminded him, "The new eunuch has already taken office. Mr. Lin is leaving without saying hello?"

Lin Tailai said nonchalantly: "The imperial court's budget is tight, so don't build a new Martyrs' Shrine."

After getting off the city wall, Lin Tailai got on his horse and drove for more than ten miles straight to Zhao Zhigao's mansion!

Old man Zhao will probably enter the inner court tomorrow, so arrangements must be made tonight!

Suddenly, I saw an official's sedan chair and ceremonial guard coming towards me in front. I saw that the ceremonial sign was Lu Guangzu, the Minister of Punishment.

On the streets of the capital, there is a set of rules when encountering such things. Generally speaking, common people give way to officials, and small officials give way to high officials.

But Lin Tailai hurried on, regardless of these avoidance rules, he immediately mounted his horse and whipped his whip, rushed away from the leader on the opposite side very arrogantly, and passed by the sedan.

This made Lu Shangshu furious and said to his friends at the banquet: "There are five kinds of aliens in the capital today. They don't know how to wait for authority, have no regard for dignity, and don't avoid the big sedan chair. There are five kinds of people and animals!

One is a young eunuch, the second is an old woman, the third is an elephant entering the court, the fourth is a concubine, and the fifth is Lin Tailai who rides on the horse! "

Lin Tailai didn't know that he had become the "Five Black Categories", and he didn't get off his horse until he arrived at Zhao Zhigao's residence.

Old man Zhao seemed to know that Lin Tailai would definitely come, so he sat in the front hall and waited.

After seeing Lin Tai coming, he smiled bitterly and said: "Since I took the great scholar as my assistant minister, I'm afraid I have never had such a deserted person enter the cabinet."

When he entered the cabinet this time, he really received no attention at all, which caused a gap in his heart.

On the one hand, it is because there are two big holes in the Ministry of Personnel, and all the attention of all the court officials is on the Ministry of Personnel.

On the other hand, most people may subconsciously feel that they, a sixty-seven-year-old newcomer, are a transitional figure.

There is a high probability that he will not be able to work for long and will still be ranked fourth and last, so there is no need to pay too much attention.

Lin Tailai comforted: "This just shows that you are what everyone expects. Everyone has already accepted it, so they are not surprised."

Who knew that this old man could work for ten years without the support of time travellers?

As a twenty-three-year-old young man, after the fifty-six-year-old chief assistant, he also has to provide psychological training for a sixty-seven-year-old man, which is tiring.

As he spoke, he flipped through the imperial edict for entering the pavilion and studied it first.

After receiving this imperial edict, Zhao Zhigao, the Zuo Shilang (actual title) of the Ministry of Personnel, became the Zuo Shilang (virtual title) of the Ministry of Personnel, a bachelor of Dongge University, and a prefect of Wenyuan Pavilion.

"I felt relieved when I saw the words "pre-maintenance maintenance." Lin Tailai said casually.

Zhao Zhigao: "?"

I don't understand at all. What does this mean? Are there any cabinet bachelors who don’t have pre-mechanical skills?

"It doesn't mean anything else! It was just a slip of the tongue!" Lin Tailai said, "From today on, you are the elder of Si Ge, or Zhao Si for short!"

Zhao Zhigao laughed "hehe" a few times. In front of Lin Tailai, Zhao Zhigao had no airs.

Of course, this is also the advantage that Lin Tailai admires the most.

After congratulating him, Lin Tailai stuffed the paper in his arms to Zhao Zhigao and told him: "The draft of the self-criticism edict has been written for you. You can modify it and use it at your discretion. Just keep the main idea unchanged."

Zhao Zhigao was a little surprised. What else can be said about such an official document as the self-criticism edict?

But he still took it. Maybe this is Lin Tailai's "loyalty test" and there is no need to make trouble for himself.

After reading it, Zhao Zhigao said a little uncertainly: "Is it okay to write directly like this?"

Lin Tailai said calmly: "There's nothing wrong. Doesn't the emperor want me to be in the limelight? It's okay!"

The next day, Zhao Zhigao got up early and seemed to be ruddy.

No matter whether others pay attention to it or despise it, he has entered the cabinet anyway! He can also be honored as Zhao Xiang!

Looking back five years ago, I was just a fifth-rank Hanlin who was living in Nanjing.

At that time, I would never have thought that I would be able to enter the cabinet at the age of 67 five years later!

The course of history is important, but Lin Tailai's efforts are more important.

Passing through Chang'an Right Gate, Chengtian Gate, Duanmen, Wumen, Huiji Gate, Neigeyuan Gate, Wenyuan Pavilion Gate, I finally entered the dark Wenyuan Pavilion.

Considering that the emperor worked in Wenhua Hall, Wenyuan Pavilion is an extremely rare layout of sitting south and facing north, with the main gate facing Wenhua Hall in the north.

Therefore, Wenyuan Pavilion has very poor lighting and is dim all year round. Candles are often lit during the day.

Because Shen Da was still at home, only Wang Er and Wang San, two cabinet elders, greeted their new colleague Zhao Si in the middle hall.

In fact, facing Shen Da, Wang Er, Wang San and other cabinet elders, Zhao Zhigao still felt a little inferior.

There are two factors. One is that Zhao Zhigao passed the imperial examination at the age of 45, while Shen Da entered the cabinet at the age of 45.

Although old man Zhao was a third place winner, Shen Da was the first place winner and Wang Er was the second place winner.

Second, although Zhao Zhigao was from the Hanlin Academy, he failed most of the time and never served as a lecturer for Emperor Wanli, which was a big shortcoming.

Shen Da, Wang Er, and Wang San all served as lecturers when Emperor Wanli was young, crushing Zhao Zhigao in the contempt chain within the Hanlin Academy.

Others frequently traveled in the inner court as lecturers more than ten years ago, while Zhao Zhigao entered for the first time in his sixties.

So in the middle hall of Wenyuan Pavilion, Zhao Si still felt a little uneasy after bowing to Wang Er and Wang San.

He didn't know what to say for a while, fearing that he would be despised and laughed at.

He blurted out subconsciously: "Lin Tailai asked me to pass on a message. You should not interfere in the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel!"

Wang Er: "."

Wang San: "."

Fuck! You old man with thick eyebrows and big eyes are really not a good person. You really look like a traitor sent by Lin's party to infiltrate Wenyuan Pavilion!