Wanli Xinming

Chapter 403

On the first day of November in the 15th year of Wanli, the emperor delivered an edict to the Political Affairs Hall, ordering Liang Menglong, the prime minister of political reform, to meet in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Liang Menglong walked towards Miyagi under the jealous, blessed, or envious eyes of his colleagues in the Zhengshitang.Just after passing the Xihua Gate, I saw Sun Long, the emperor's close attendant, bowing behind the gate and said: "According to the emperor's will, please Liang Xiang enter the audience in a chariot." After finishing speaking, he pointed to the steps carried by the two internal officials behind him chariot.

When Zhang Juzheng was in danger, he sat on a chariot in the political affairs hall and the palace, and this tradition has been preserved.After Zhang Siwei became prime minister, the inner court did not remove the walking chariot.Otherwise, there is suspicion of slapping Zhang Siwei in the face.

Before Liang Menglong was promoted to be the prime minister, the chariot inside the Xihua Gate was ready, and the meaning of the emperor's message could be said to be very clear.

While Liang Menglong was grateful, he didn't get dizzy and really went to sit.A series of voices retreated modestly and said: "Please return to the emperor. The minister is only a minister, and he dare not use it. And the minister walks healthily, so there is no need to use a chariot."

Hearing what Liang Menglong said, Sun Long smiled at him.Liang Menglong was determined, and he also smiled and said to Sun Longgong, "Thank you, Eunuch Sun, to play back." How could Sun Long dare to accept his gift? Turned around and left.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation is on the west side of Qianqing Gate, and it is a straight road across the Neijinshui River.Liang Menglong gathered himself together, lifted the hem of the python robe, followed Sun Long and the others, and walked across the stone road on the bridge at a leisurely pace.

In the 15th year of Wanli, the building complex of the Hall of Mental Cultivation has been transformed beyond recognition by Zhu Yijun except for the exterior.Dongxinuange was the place where he met foreign ministers. The windows are bright and clean, clean and sparse, which is very different from the old interiors full of blessings, wealth, longevity and joy.

As deputy prime minister, Liang Menglong entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation no less than dozens of times alone or with others, but only this time made his nervous forehead sweat.After entering the East Nuan Pavilion, when he bowed his head forward, his knees bent down anxiously, and before he could make a sound, he knelt down on the teak floor involuntarily.

"One is that family corruption has become a chronic disease. Because of the yellow book and Zhangtian decree, it was difficult for high-ranking officials in the past to become landlords. But nowadays, in the world of industry and commerce, who doesn't have officials standing behind them? In recent years, major iron, cement, and textile companies have merged If it is severe, its victory or defeat does not depend on capital or profit, but on the height of the backing behind it. This alone is a serious illness."

Liang Menglong swallowed his saliva and replied, "Yes."

Zhu Yijun was listening to him with piercing eyes, and there was no hesitation on his face.Liang Menglong thought to himself, "It seems that the prime minister and the deputy prime minister are really different. It would be wrong to flatter the horse at this time."

Only then did Liang Menglong restrain his excitement, bowed to thank him, and sat down on the chair.Zhu Yijun didn't seem to realize that he had done something stupid just now, and asked: "In the past few days, Mr. Mingquan has some big ideas about political reform?"

He didn't stop talking: "But now the ruling and opposition parties have several major shortcomings in the administration of officials that have hindered the great cause of reform, and must be reformed."

The next moment he woke up, he hurriedly said in a hoarse voice; "Chen Liang Menglong, please greet Your Majesty!"

Zhu Yijun's eyes brightened when he heard the words, he nodded and said, "Please explain it in detail."

"Secondly, extravagance has become popular. As the national power of our dynasty grows stronger, extravagance gradually develops. This trend was prevalent in the south. The so-called wedding and funeral ceremonies are still complicated, which is quite presumptuous. However, before the death of the king of Zhongxing County, this trend has already It is prevalent in the capital. The imperial court is full of taicang, and local officials come to "money in" for the sake of political achievements, and spend a lot of money. What's more hateful is that most of the visits are for promotion, lawsuits, and engineering. Twelve taels of silver are no longer available on the table, there are many places for hundreds of taels and thousands of taels, let alone gifts! Since the emperor ascended the throne, the palace, gardens, chariots, and uniforms have gained nothing, but the ups and downs have no effect. Therefore."

"However, the disease of official administration that I see is not only the shackles of the reform, but also the cause of the country's subjugation. Therefore, I believe that the key to this political reform lies in the word "cleanness."

Making a judgment in his heart, he said softly without hesitation: "Mr. Mingquan, get flat quickly." He glanced at Wei Chao, who was calm on his face, and said, "Give me a seat."

"The so-called 'cleanness' means that the primary goal of this political reform is to do a good job in the administration of officials. Since His Majesty ascended the throne, especially after the reform, the administration of officials in my court has generally been clear—" Speaking of here , he peeked at Zhu Yijun's face.

Liang Menglong looked up at Zhu Yijun, saw the emperor looking at him with a smile on his face, and said in his mouth: "Mr. Mingquan has it! You continue to talk." After speaking, Zhu Yijun couldn't hide his excitement, and paced slowly in the room.

"Third, the most difficult thing to change and should be changed is the corruption of officials. Officials are corrupt and have their own inspectors to correct them. But the government of the officials is with the people. "County officials are not as good as the current management", the emperor's grace is difficult Your Majesty Ze is a child, the great political reform has gone down the drain, and it is not good for the people but harms the people, and the whole world is seriously ill."

"Hmm. That's a good point—do you have any specific ideas?"

Zhu Yijun, who was sitting on the throne, raised his eyebrows, and said in his heart: "It seems that the position of prime minister has made him lose his composure."

Liang Menglong took a slight breath, calmed down completely, and replied: "Your Majesty, I have some thoughts."

After sorting out his ideas again, he replied: "In the matter of political reform, I think the key lies in the word 'clean', the outline is in the word 'quan', the hand is in the word 'law', and the word 'benefit' is taken into account. , but the step is a word 'gradually'."

Seeing that Zhu Yijun listened seriously, Liang Menglong said a few more things, emphasizing that today's incompetent officials have become a serious hazard to the political reform.In the end, he concluded: "I have been in peace for 200 years, but the administration of officials has not been hard-won. A large number of unjust, false and wrongly decided cases; three times the fire wasted and returned to the public, and with the money to support the integrity, the administration of officials is much easier to manage."

Wei Chao bowed his head and took two steps, gently giving Liang Menglong a hand.When Liang Menglong got up with his face flushed, Wei Chao swept the whisk in his hand on the armchair near the throne, and said in a low voice: "Old sir, please sit down." Then he squeezed his hand slightly on the crook of his arm a handful.

As soon as this sentence was finished, Zhu Yijun clapped his hands on the throne and stood up from the throne.

"Although I have seen this disease, I haven't done in-depth research, so I don't have any good insights. It's just random thinking-I asked you to issue the "Prohibition of Officials' Families from Engaging in Business" to curb power from harming business, and the introduction of "Respect for Heaven and Protect the People". To curb extravagance, issue the "Officials Scientific Research Edict" to rule the subordinates."

Zhu Yijun stopped in his footsteps.Limited by the historical perspective, Liang Menglong only saw the appearance of the corruption problem, but did not deeply understand the political and economic logic behind it. Therefore, apart from the novelty of the "Officials' Scientific Research Edict", the other two solutions proposed are just bans ——I really didn’t want to understand.

Corruption and extravagance will lead to the subjugation of the country. There are many examples in ancient and modern China and abroad.But as long as there is a power aggregate of the state, as long as there is public power, it will inevitably breed its opposite—corruption.Corruption is like viruses and bacteria in the body. While attacking the regime and the country, it also promotes the continuous renewal and transformation of the superstructure.

But for Huang Ming, as long as there is Zhu Yijun, the "only husband", no matter how the system is restructured, corruption will inevitably be avoided.But even so, can we stop arresting officials?Not only must we grasp, but we must also grasp it skillfully, step by step, and in a well-organized way-the Ming Taizu who relied on the "Dagao" to catch officials and governed already had an example of failure there. Change to achieve results!

(End of this chapter)