The Ming Dynasty's Spokesperson

After sending Eunuch Chen away, Zhao Zhigao sat alone in the empty middle hall of Wenyuan Pavilion, looking at the tablet of the most holy master placed against the wall, and felt lonely.

He couldn't help but recite a poem to express his mood at the moment.

"Birds have disappeared from thousands of mountains, and people have disappeared from thousands of paths. A man with a coir raincoat hat is alone in a boat, fishing alone in the snow in the cold river!"

Zhao Zhigao also remembered that at the turn of summer and autumn six years ago, he was still sitting on the bench in Nanjing Imperial College, and his rank was only fifth grade.

A majestic man with a strong back and a strong waist walked into his office and said lazily to himself: "Old man! I see that you have wonderful bones and look like a leader. Do you want to hang out with me in the future?"

Three years and three years, how many six years can there be in life? But he was able to be promoted from the fifth-level bench to the first assistant, completing the fantasy journey of officialdom upgrade.

Who could have imagined beforehand that he could join the cabinet at the age of sixty-seven and become the chief minister at the age of sixty-eight?

Having said that, Zhao Zhigao should really be regarded as the chief assistant now, right? Zhao Si has been promoted to Zhao Da, right?

After all, he was the only bachelor left in the cabinet, and the first assistant could not be someone else.

Even if a newcomer comes, it is impossible for him to surpass himself and move to the front of the queue.

According to the cabinet system, the ranking of bachelors is based on priority. Those who join the cabinet first are ranked first, and those who join the cabinet later are ranked behind.

Sometimes the first assistant is weak and the second or third assistant is strong. This is because the first assistant only joined the cabinet early but does not have enough prestige.

But even if the prestige is insufficient, under the institutional arrangement, he can still be the first assistant just because he joined the cabinet early.

After confirming the identity of the chief assistant, Zhao Zhigao began to worry about gains and losses again.

Is it too radical and risky to be promoted from the fourth assistant to the first assistant this time?

I have only been in the imperial court for a few years, and my foundation is not that solid. Why can't I resist the temptation of becoming the chief minister?

Will it be possible to go too far, not to match the virtues, and suffer backlash?

After thinking wildly for a long time, Zhao Zhigao suddenly stood up with all his strength and shouted at the door: "Bring over today's memorial!"

He knew without looking that there must be a group of Zhongshushe people guarding him outside the door, because now he was the only one who could give orders in the cabinet, and of course only he could review the memorials.

Zhao Shoufu decided to use busy work to numb himself and free himself from the random thoughts about gains and losses.

If the resignation of the first and second assistants had been brewing for several days and everyone was mentally prepared, the resignation of the third assistant Wang Jiaping was like a thunderbolt from the blue.

It had only been two days since the announcement, which pointed directly at the emperor, was sent out. While everyone was still discussing it with great interest, the third assistant, Wang Jiaping, quickly confessed and resigned.

Amid the confusion among the entire capital officialdom, a drama that was the beginning of a new era suddenly came to an end.

People at home and abroad were shocked. A few days ago, the old man who was Zhao Si became Zhao Da in the blink of an eye. This transformation was too fast, and no one could react.

It was hard for the officials in the various ministries and temples to imagine that old Zhao, who had always been submissive and honest, could become the chief minister. This world suddenly seemed unreal.

Although it is common sense in ancient and modern times that "people change", and cabinet teams always have to be replaced, the average age of Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, and Wang Jiaping is only fifty-six years old, which can be said to be in the prime of life for the position of bachelor.

As a result, now that the three prime men are gone, the only old man left in the cabinet is Mr. Zhao, who is half buried at the age of sixty-eight. Which family is getting older with each passing generation?

Why? Is it just because Lin Jiuyuan has been supporting Old Man Zhao? But now that Lin Jiuyuan is no longer in the capital, can he still carry out operations?

Another day later, the emperor issued an order to promote Mr. Zhao from the position of Minister of the Ministry of Personnel (virtual) and Dongge University Scholar to Prince Taifu, Minister of the Ministry of Personnel (virtual) and the University Scholar of Wenhua Palace, and then to Wenyuan Pavilion and the Imperial Academy. Preliminary maintenance remains unchanged.

Then all the officials realized that Old Man Zhao's grade was only the third grade, and he had not made any achievements since he joined the cabinet last year.

Then the officials finally had to confirm, Mr. Zhao, no, Mr. Zhao Ge was really going to be the chief assistant.

The purpose of this promotion is obvious, which is to match Mr. Zhao Ge's formal official functions with his status as chief assistant.

Otherwise, if the chief assistant is a minister with the title of minister without even being a palace protector, he will be laughed at by the people of the world and the court has no one.

At this point, the officials had to psychologically accept the fact that the number one civil servant of the Ming Dynasty was replaced by Zhao Zhigao.

In front of the Zhao Mansion, there were also cars and horses flowing like dragons, but Zhao Shoufu did not open the door to receive guests.

On the night when he received the imperial decree for promotion, Zhao Shoufu only had a secret gathering with comrades from the Update Society. This was a matter of attitude.

Although Lin Jiuyuan is not in the capital, the Update Society is Lin Jiuyuan's spiritual projection and his eyes and ears.

The meeting place was in the west courtyard of Lingji Palace. When Zhao Shoufu arrived, about ten other people had already arrived.

Wang Xiangmeng, a member of the Literary and Selection Department of the Ministry of Personnel, was the first to shout: "Congratulations to Senior Zhao on your appointment as Chief Assistant, and may your future be prosperous!"

Chen Yunjian, the director of the Civil Service Examination Department, followed closely and shouted: "Senior Zhao has been joining the Xinxin Society for six years, and with the strong support of the society, he is finally appointed as the first assistant!"

Finally, the others shouted together: "Left-hand society, right-hand politics, society and politics both!"

The sixty-eight-year-old old man Zhao wanted to hide his face and leave in embarrassment. He didn't understand why Lin Jiuyuan insisted on implementing such embarrassing and childish internal etiquette.

After finally getting through the meeting ceremony, Dong Qichang, a scholar in the Hanlin Academy, shouted: "Senior Zhao, please give me a few words!"

Zhao Zhigao sat in the middle and said directly: "Lin Jiuyuan taught that conflicts have two characteristics, one is that they always exist, and the other is that they are constantly changing.

Therefore, we must always be prepared for danger in times of peace, we must not take it lightly when we gain power, and we must be prepared to face new problems!

Now the cabinet is empty and needs to be supplemented by two to three cabinet ministers. In addition, the Minister of Rites is also vacant.

Faced with this situation, what should we do? This is the biggest problem we are facing right now! "

After everyone looked at each other, they didn't know what to say.

On other issues, Lin Tailai may be able to seek their opinions; but on personnel issues, Lin Tailai, who claims to be good at understanding people, has always been arbitrary.

So they were used to following Lin Tailai's arrangements, but Lin Tailai was not in the capital now.

Faced with such a major personnel deployment, without Lin Tailai, it seems that there is no backbone.

Zhou Yingqiu, another scholar of the Hanlin Academy, said: "Brother Jiuyuan has long foreseen that the imperial court will be violently shaken before the winter solstice.

However, Lin Jiuyuan still left the capital and returned to Suzhou to visit relatives. He seemed not to take this incident too seriously.

This is enough to show that Lin Jiuyuan may not care about this personnel deployment at all, or he doesn't think it is very important, so it doesn't matter if we just do it casually. "

So the question is, when faced with the vacancies of two or three bachelors and a minister of rites, can we really treat them casually?

After everyone thought about it carefully, they found that they could indeed take it lightly.

Nowadays, in a broad sense, the Lin Party has mastered the chief assistant, the minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and the minister of the Ministry of War. With this triangle, it seems that the selection of cabinet ministers and minister of rites does not have much influence.

Seeing that his point of view was recognized, Zhou Yingqiu proposed to Zhao Zhigao: "I heard that in order to dispel Wang Shanyin's fighting spirit, Senior Zhao suggested that Wang Shanyin recommend a cabinet minister.

Now we might as well expand it further and ask the emperor to ask the two seniors Shen Wumen and Wang Taicang who have resigned to recommend a cabinet minister each. "

Wang Xiangmeng said doubtfully: "Isn't this against the rules? How can a cabinet minister recommend a cabinet minister?"

The only way to select a great scholar is through the recommendation of the ministers and the emperor's personal appointment. How can there be any suggestion of relying on the recommendation of other great scholars?

Zhou Yingqiu said with a bit of disdain: "What are the irregularities? The cabinet itself is unruly. The cabinet in the Ming Dynasty does not have a system to take charge of the government."

In Zhou Yingqiu's heart, Wang Xiangmeng, a "hothouse flower of a wealthy family", was always a bit pedantic, and was far less astute and flexible than Jiuyuan Zhenxian and Zhou Yingqiu, who came from humble beginnings.

"Wonderful!" Zhao Shoufu praised: "This proposal is feasible! It is enough for me to cope with the current situation."

As a person who has just become the chief minister, there are countless pairs of eyes staring at him from inside and outside. His actions have great symbolic meaning and will be considered to represent his "political opinions".

Shangshu asked three former cabinet ministers to recommend new people. First, they could show the emperor that they had no dictatorial intentions. Second, they could show the world the magnanimity and tolerance of the winner.

Even if the memorial is not approved, it doesn't matter. Anyway, my attitude has been expressed.

In addition, allowing three former colleagues, Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, and Wang Jiaping, to recommend new people will not affect his power as the chief assistant.

Anyone who understands the political rules of the Ming Dynasty knows that the power of a chief minister never depends on how other cabinet ministers are, but on the influence of the chief minister on foreign dynasties.

After understanding the reason, everyone looked at Zhou Yingqiu with a bit surprised and complicated look.

In everyone's perception, Comrade Zhou is a character who only flatters and flatters Lin Jiuyuan without thinking.

In fact, it is understandable, after all, every emperor needs to have favorites around him.

But I didn't expect that Zhou Yingqiu would have such insight? Could it be that Comrade Zhou is "also" a person who pretends to be a pig and eats the tiger?

At this time, Zhou Yingqiu faced strange looks and said to everyone sincerely:

“As long as we study Lin Jiuyuan’s remarks carefully from the bottom of our hearts, truly understand their profound meaning, and then analyze our thoughts, we will surely find the right direction.

Combined with practical work, all problems will naturally be solved. "

Everyone: "."

This tastes just right, Lao Zhou is still the same Lao Zhou.

Towards the end of the year, the official duties of the court gradually decrease, and the major events are basically ceremonial matters, such as the Winter Solstice Festival, the New Year's Day Festival, and sacrifices to the heaven and earth, ancestors, etc.

But if the emperor does not go to court, do not go to the suburbs, and does not offer sacrifices, then it is not a big deal, and the ministers can just do whatever they want.

So the real big thing at the end of the year is to complete the cabinet class before closing the office for the New Year.

As for the candidate for Minister of Rites, it’s better to do more happy things as the Chinese New Year is approaching and don’t cause trouble for others.

Given this situation, whoever is appointed as the Minister of Etiquette is probably in the same mood as "carrying a coffin to court".

Zhao Zhigao, the first assistant, asked the former first assistant, the former second assistant, and the first three assistants to each recommend one person to join the cabinet.

Regardless of whether he is sincere or not, he has established an image of a loyal elder who is tolerant and generous.

However, this proposal was fiercely opposed by Lu Guangzu, the censor of Zuodu.

If Wang Jiaping recommends someone, that's all. If three former bachelors recommend people, then what's the point?

The people recommended by Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue, in the current situation, still don't listen to Zhao Zhigao when they get to the cabinet?

Moreover, the memorial against Zhao Zhigao also undermined the prestige of the new chief minister to a certain extent, which could be regarded as killing two birds with one stone.

Lu Guangzu's reasons were also hard-line. He said: "Auxiliary ministers should be recommended by the court. They should not surrender internally, let alone be privately accepted by the first and second assistants!"

As Zhou Yingqiu said, the cabinet itself is an unruly existence, so there is no fixed rule on how to select cabinet ministers.

The Ming Dynasty never had clear provisions on how to select university scholars. After all, all roads lead to Rome.

How to select cabinet ministers may be different every time, mainly depending on the strength of each party.

Emperor Jiajing promoted Li Chunfang to the cabinet without any "procedure". Who can say anything?

As for other situations, sometimes it is recommended by the Ministry of Personnel, sometimes it is recommended by ministers of the ministry and the court, and sometimes it is recommended by the poets themselves.

However, it is the first time that Zhao Shoufu proposed to let the resigned cabinet ministers recommend the next candidate, at least it is the first time on the public level.

However, after reading Lu Guangzu's objection, Emperor Wanli replied: "Let the ministers of the ministry and the court recommend two people."

Letting the outer court recommend cabinet ministers is equivalent to throwing two bones to the dogs.

Ministers quarrel over entering the cabinet, so they have no energy to make trouble for the country.

This way, at least one year of peace can be spent. After the new year, a new examination and palace examination will be held, so it can be safe until April or May.

As for the other quota, Emperor Wanli still plans to let Wang Jiaping recommend it. After all, Wang Jiaping resigned to take the blame for himself.

Therefore, "recommending newcomers" is the reward that Wang Jiaping deserves. It is not allowed to let the meritorious officials shed blood and tears, and it can also ensure that there is at least one person in the cabinet to contain Zhao Zhigao.

After considering these, Emperor Wanli felt that his own imperial skills have improved again.

As the saying goes, the literary practice is improved day by day, and progress is made a little bit every day!

I just don't know what the result of the court recommendation will be. Emperor Wanli has a hunch that it will be a lot of fun.

Speaking of court recommendation, we must first look at the list of ministers who participated in the court recommendation.

Originally, in this year, the Left Censor-in-Chief was Li Shida, the Minister of Personnel was Lu Guangzu, the Minister of Revenue was Yang Junmin, the Minister of Rites changed three times, the Minister of War was Shi Xing, the Minister of Punishment was Sun Piyang, and the Minister of Works was Zeng Tongheng.

Most of them were either Qingliu forces or allies of Qingliu forces. It can be said that they were star-studded, and it can also be called "all righteous people in the court". The purity of Qingliu was probably second only to the early Chongzhen Dynasty.

At first glance, this list in the original history was thought to be a list of enemies of Jiuyuan Zhenxian.

What Lin Tailai has been doing all these years is actually to grab positions from this group of people - probably this is the most essential reason why this group of people became Lin Tailai's enemies.

So far, it has been fruitful, and Lin Tailai is very satisfied with his butterfly effect.

Who else can suppress the Qingliu forces, the predecessor of the Donglin Party, to only one-third of the original history with his own strength!