The Prosperous Era of Longwan

"Shandai, His Majesty has been on the throne for several months now, but I only want to make changes to the court meeting.

In the duty room of the Chief Assistant of the Cabinet, Zhang Juzheng talked eloquently to Wei Guangde, who was sitting next to him.

"How do you plan to change it, uncle?"

Wei Guangde asked in confusion.

"I would like to report that your majesty will visit the court every three, six or nine days every month. This way, there will be an interval of two or three days, and your majesty will not be too hard. After all, your majesty is still young."

Zhang Juzheng said, "There are rumors outside that I want to come to Shandao. Your Majesty only goes to court twice a month, which really makes me feel uneasy."

Wei Guangde nodded when he heard this. He also knew the rumors outside. Although the emperor was young, the officials in the capital could not see the emperor for a long time, so they would make strange remarks.

Emperor Longqing did the same thing at the beginning. No one said anything because they were all adults and naturally knew what to do.

But that's it, I didn't expect to kill the emperor directly.

Although many of Emperor Longqing's affairs have not been dealt with openly, there are many private rumors.

Therefore, the courtiers were dissatisfied with the emperor's long absence from court.

Even if the emperor is young, he can't hide it from others all the time.

It would be good to show up every now and then to at least let everyone know about the emperor's current situation.

At least if everyone shows up in front of the emperor, maybe there will be a chance?

Thinking of this, Wei Guangde then answered: "Brother Uncle, what you said is reasonable, but since ancient times, although emperors have sacred qualifications, they are especially anxious to study. My Taizu has attached great importance to classics, classics banquets, and daily lectures, which have the power to become a constitution. The emperor is wise and wise, divinely endowed, wise and wise, and all his speeches are correct. His etiquette, hiring, and administration are all impeccable. He is a man of unparalleled sincerity. If he adds the merits of learning, ethics, and openness and wisdom, the cause of peace can be calculated. .”

"Shan Lian means that Your Majesty should hold a sutra feast?"

Zhang Juzheng understood the meaning of Wei Guangde's words as soon as he heard it. It was time for the little emperor to study.

When Zhu Yijun was still the prince, he naturally talked about leaving the cabinet to study. But now that he is the emperor, the emperor's study is naturally not to leave the cabinet, but to study at the banquet. In fact, they are all classes, but the names are different.

Before the princes and princes reach adulthood, they will be educated, that is, read, by specialized royal private school teachers in the study room.

However, after the prince became the emperor under his minor age, the emperor was the highest representative of the country's power. Under an autocratic regime, all the people of the world were united to serve one person, and no one could overstep his position as the emperor.

Therefore, no one dares to call the emperor's teacher without permission. In ancient China, people who had the title of emperor's teacher could only be called emperor's teacher by Minister Tuogu.

However, whether Zhang Juzheng or Wei Guangde had to deal with heavy government affairs, it was naturally impossible for them to focus on teaching the little emperor, so they could only arrange lectures by knowledgeable and respected people in the court, and they could only give lectures to the little emperor. The emperor attends class.

"It's time for the sutra feast to begin. Your Majesty is actually past the age of enlightenment. It's a bit later than the common people."

Zhang Juzheng said: "I will talk to Lu Shusheng about this and ask him to determine the candidate for the banquet official as soon as possible. You and I will also take turns giving lectures to His Majesty." ’

"That matter was reported to the cabinet"

Wei Guangde asked.

Arranging teachers is one thing, but asking the palace for approval requires a separate report from the cabinet.

When Wei Guangde asked this, he naturally asked Zhang Juzheng whether you should draft this memorial or should I.

Logically speaking, even if Wei Guangde is anxious about this matter, he cannot report it alone, because this is the responsibility of the chief minister of the cabinet.

"I'll do it. I'll draft a memorial later and send it to the Shanxi Loan Value House for review."

Zhang Juzheng said.

It should be the responsibility of his chief assistant. Zhang Juzheng naturally does his duty and will never do anything to others.

"Well, Shandai will just wait for your uncle's memorial."

Wei Guangde smiled.

"Let's finish it once. Since Shandai mentioned this matter, I think it is related to what I mentioned before."

Zhang Juzheng smiled and asked casually.

"Brother Uncle also knows that His Majesty is still young after all, so it is best to separate the viewing and lectures and read them in between."

Wei Guangde continued with a smile: "Since my uncle suggested that His Majesty attend the imperial court, I think it would be better to arrange for His Majesty to give lectures and readings in the Wenhua Hall on other days.

In this way, it is best to pay attention to the dynasty and study diligently. "

Zhang Juzheng stroked his beautiful beard and pondered Wei Guangde's opinion.

After a while, he nodded and said with a smile: "The words of Shan Lian are reasonable. Your Majesty will pay attention to the court for three to sixty-nine days, and spend the rest of the days in the Wenhua Hall to give lectures. Unless there is severe cold or severe heat, there will be no lectures on those days." , you will be exempted from attending court on the day of lectures and readings, so the common people will not be too tired."

It should be said that what Zhang Juzheng said later made up for some mistakes in Wei Guangde's previous arrangements, that is, under special weather conditions, the morning study can be exempted, which is a rest day.

Hearing this, Wei Guangde nodded, and then said: "In addition, there will be no need to read after the meeting, and no other arrangements will be made. Your Majesty will have two days to rest. What do you think, uncle?"

According to the previous arrangement, don't think that the little emperor can have fun without studying after watching the court. It's not that simple.

There will be no lectures after watching the court, but the banquet officials and the palace will assign calligraphy homework to the young emperor, such as copying books such as "Huangming's Ancestral Instructions" that need to be memorized by the emperor.

Reading is not as good as copying books. Ancient times actually knew how to enhance students' memory.

In fact, the current young emperor Zhu Yijun is copying the "Emperor Ming Ancestor Instructions", and if he doesn't understand it, the eunuch Feng Bao next to him will explain it.

Wei Guangde felt that Feng Bao was not knowledgeable enough and had no problem interpreting the "Huang Ming Ancestor Instructions", but such work should have been done by the courtiers, so it was necessary to arrange the Sutra banquet early.

After coming out from Zhang Juzheng's side, Wei Guangde went back to work. Recently, he mainly dealt with memorials from the Ministry of Rites, directly contacted his room attendant, and arranged for the funeral of Emperor Longqing.

When he was about to leave the Yamen, two memorials were sent from Zhang Juzheng, one was "Memorial to the Banquet for Opening Sutras" and the other was "Memorial to the Second and Three Matters of Shangyu Wenhua Palace".

Wei Guangde read it briefly, and it was similar to what they said in the check-in room, so he signed it and left a place in front of his signature for Zhang Juzheng to sign.

After finishing it, he immediately asked Lu Bu to send it back.

These two memorials were discussed between him and Zhang Juzheng, but they had to be read by Lu Tiaoyang. They were jointly signed by cabinet members for the memorial to be influential enough.

The memorial was sent to the palace, and was sent back by Piao Hong two days later. According to the eunuch who sent the memorial, Piao Hong had written it herself, and the text was full of approval.

After all, it was such a big deal as sending the little emperor to study. Although Zhu Yijun already knew a lot of words, it was not systematic after all. He could read and write many words, but he didn't know their meaning.

Empress Chen had long ago intended to send Hanlin from other dynasties to teach the young emperor, but at that time Emperor Longqing had always declined, saying that if the children were allowed to play for a few more years, they would have no time to have fun after studying.

In fact, it was much harder for the prince of the Ming Dynasty to study than for children of the same age in the private sector. Emperor Longqing may have realized from the pain of studying in his childhood, and was not willing to let his children work too hard, so he kept blocking the Ministry of Rites from inviting the prince to go out to study. Invite.

Wei Guangde was arranging things one by one. On this day, an imperial edict of grace suddenly came from the palace.

"Jiaen, Zhang Juzheng, the chief minister of the cabinet, plus Zuo Zhuguo, a bachelor of Zhongji Palace, and Yin's son Shangbaosi Sicheng.

Secondly, he assisted Wei Guangde, Jin Shaofu and Zhu Guo, and then Jin Prince Taifu. He entered Jianji Hall as a bachelor, and Yin's first son was Sicheng of Shangbaosi.

The assistant minister Lu Tiaoyang joined the prince Shaobao and entered the Wuying Palace as a bachelor."

In the fifth year of Longqing's reign, Zhang Juzheng was already a young master, a crown prince, a minister of the Ministry of Personnel, a scholar of Zhuguo, and a bachelor of Jianji Palace. This time he was only promoted to Zuozhuguo, and his palace title was also promoted to the highest level of Zhongji. Bachelor of the Palace.

Wei Guangde's favor this time is to fill the vacancy he left in the fifth year of Longqing. He added Shaofu, Prince Taifu and Zhu Guo. The title of the palace was directly promoted from the original Grand Scholar of Wuyingdian to Wenhuadian. Jidian Grand Bachelor, this is also to match his status as the second assistant.

Of course, in fact, it does not mean that the chief assistant of the cabinet must be a bachelor of Zhongjidian. In fact, when Yan Song and others served as the chief assistant, because of his rapid promotion, he only had the title of bachelor of Jinshendian for a long time. A few years later, he was Promoted to bachelor of Huagaidian.

The Grand Bachelor of Huagai Palace is now the Grand Bachelor of Zhongji Palace, and the Grand Bachelor of Jinshen Palace is the Grand Bachelor of Jianji Palace. After all, Emperor Jiajing only changed the names of the three major halls in the 41st year of Jiajing. The title also changed.

This grant of favor is actually targeted at the Cabinet and the Ministry of Rites, the two busiest departments recently. The list of grant officials also includes the names of the officials who have been confirmed by the Ministry of Rites.

It's funny to say that the yamen of the Ministry of Rites is very quiet. On weekdays, it is a little busy during the imperial examination. The remaining busy time is when the old emperor dies and the new emperor succeeds to the throne. If things are done, there will be favors.

The Ministry of Officials received the decree, and Wei Guangde's Mansion sent a new title decree the next day.

Along with Zhang Juzheng, Wei Guangde and others, Ma Ziqiang and others were awarded the award. Ma Ziqiang and Tao Dalin were both promoted to the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, Wang Xilie, Zhu Dashou, Yu Youding, Chen Jingbang, He Luowen, Shen Li, Zhang Zhi, Shen Yuan , Xu Guo, etc. were each upgraded to one level.

The funeral of Emperor Longqing was decided, and Wei Guangde could finally breathe a sigh of relief. At this time, he met Wang Guangguang and began to discuss the matter of shipping grain.

Wei Guangde didn't seek out Fu Yi from the beginning because in this position, many times the person in charge is actually the big boss behind the scenes. Fu Yi may have his own attitude, but he can often only act according to the wishes of his backers.

The reason why he didn't go to Yang Bo was because Wei Guangde had already heard a rumor from Guo Chaobin, the official department, that his immediate boss seemed to be ill.

Wei Guangde had no doubt that Guo Chaobin would lie to him. According to Guo Chaobin, he accidentally discovered Yang Bo's illness.

That day, I was going to the Shangshu's duty room to submit official documents. I heard Yang Bo coughing violently outside the door, while his personal clerk was serving him medicine in the room.

You know, Yang Bo gave the impression that he was energetic and strong outside, and did not appear to be sick at all. Moreover, no one in the Ministry of War or the Ministry of Personnel noticed that Yang Bo was secretly taking medicine.

However, Wei Guangde actually understood that Yang Bo's health was probably failing. After all, he was almost 70 years old and had been supervising the army in the border town all year round. He should have a lot of hidden diseases, so Wei Guangde didn't believe that this man could compete with Yan Song and Xu. Compared with the life span, one can still be in the imperial court at the age of eighty.

Although, it seems that this is what this person thinks.

"Master Wang, what you mean is that Fu Shilang wants to be transferred to the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate?"

They were all sensible people. Wei Guangde persuaded Wang Guangde to publicly support grain shipping, but Wang Guangde did not agree. Instead, he complained to Wei Guangde that Fu Yi had always disobeyed him because of his close relationship with Yang Bo, the Minister of Civil Affairs, so he wanted to transfer him. .

Well, Wang Guoguang and Fu Yi are at odds, just listen.

But Wei Guangde also knew from a few words that their intention was to prepare a ladder for Fu Yi to achieve greater development.

Sure enough, after repeated inquiries, Wang Guoguang finally offered a price, which was to let Fu Yi take charge of the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate as the censor of Youdu.

Although most of the censors are in Beijing, there are also more than ten censors in the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, mainly from the southern provinces. There are two or three censors here each year. Every year, the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate will send out these censors in turn. Go to patrol the provinces.

In terms of power, although it is not as big as the Metropolitan Procuratorate, it is not small. At least the skills of the mouthpiece are not much worse than those of the Beijing Metropolitan Procuratorate.

However, Wei Guangde didn't care about the power of the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate. He was more worried about Wang Guoguang's actions. The purpose was to allow Fu Yi to replace Ge Shouli in the future and let the Shanxi Gang control the key yamen of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Because there is a personnel gap in Jiangxi, Wei Guangde has been secretly cultivating his friend Lao Kan, hoping that after completing his experience in Fujian, he will be directly transferred to the Metropolitan Procuratorate and first serve as deputy imperial envoy. The ultimate goal is to get involved in Zuodu The position of censor.

After the political struggles of the Jiajing and Longqing dynasties, it is obvious that the various forces currently on the stage have actually set their sights on the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Sixth Section, two yamen that seemed to have little power in the past.

Don't think that the ancients were poor in wisdom. They just lacked historical experience. Travelers can see farther and higher.

But when it comes to political struggles, their experience is no worse than that of ordinary time travellers, or even better.

After all, people have to go up step by step, or struggle and win to get to where they are now.

Unless the travelers themselves are high-ranking officials and have rich experience in struggle, they may not do better than the natives when they come here.

As for time travelers being able to change the world, come on, then you first have to learn to teach people of this era to use modern minds to think about the problems they face.

Even if you come up with a good solution, it will still be subject to the limitations of the times, and problems that future generations will not consider to be problems at all will emerge one after another.

Modern people all know that sea transportation is cheaper than river transportation and has fewer limitations. In fact, people in the Ming Dynasty also understood this, but they did not choose this way.

Both for personal gain and public interest.

At least, until measures were taken to properly resettle millions of workers along the river, water transportation in the Ming Dynasty would always stabilize sea transportation.

"Removing Shilang Fu will reduce the opposition in the Ministry of Household Affairs. As long as Shilang Guo insists, there will be no obstacles to shipping rice by sea."

Up to this time, Wang Guoguang was still swearing to Wei Guangde.

Wei Guangde was actually angry at Wang Guoguang's attitude, as he was being fooled like a three-year-old child.

Wei Guangde even wanted to ignore the matter.

Why do you have to work hard to make this happen?