prosperous age

At this time, in the lobby of the Ministry of War, Langzhong, Yuanwailang, and the principals from various ministries gathered together, discussing where to draw troops, while in the side hall, Minister of the Ministry of War, Yang Bo, and two assistant ministers were discussing the strategy of suppressing thieves and generals.

Now the Ministry of War has to plan for the worst-case scenario, that is, to establish two command systems in Fujian, commanding the bandit suppression and Japanese imperialism respectively.

"I still think it's inappropriate for you to propose to go to Fujian from the nine sides.

It is true that there are many great Ming generals on the Nine Sides, but their combat environment is very different from that in the south. Given the complex terrain conditions there, personal bravery is not needed, and they will be acclimatized. "

Yang Bo said to the two below.

Before discussing the selection of a general to be responsible for the unified command of the army to suppress the bandits, some well-known generals in the south have already been recruited to Zhejiang and other places to guard against Japanese pirates. There are no suitable generals available for deployment.

Yang Bo mentioned one person before, but he was opposed, not because of his native place, but because this person was newly appointed, and it was not suitable for him to be transferred again in such a short period of time.

Yes, the person Yang Bo thought of was Yu Dayou who had already arrived in Guizhou.

Although Yu Dayou is from Fujian, the imperial court actually pays more attention to civil servants when it comes to employing personnel. Civil servants will not be easily sent back to the province where they work. Although military commanders also have such considerations, there is not so much resistance in actual implementation. .

Like Yu Dayou, with his current position as a general, in fact, there are not many people who object to being transferred back to Fujian, that is to say, there will be more opposition at the level of the general army.

While officials of the Ministry of War were discussing how to deal with the situation in Fujian, Emperor Jiajing in Xiyuan Yongshou Palace was also angry.

The cabinet and the supervisor of ceremonies did not deliberately block the submission time of the Fujian Memorial, but the document arrived in the afternoon, and the cabinet sent it to the palace after urgent processing.

Naturally, the supervisor of ceremonies did not dare to delay. This is something that Emperor Jiajing knew about, and no one had the courage to suppress it. It was just the habit of Emperor Jiajing's office. All the homework that should be done today is done.

"Deploy troops and dispatch generals to wipe them out quickly, hehe"

Emperor Jiajing had a habit of not being furious when he was extremely angry, but often sneered, but in the eyes of those around him, this was more frightening than a devil's smile.

At this time, Emperor Jiajing gently repeated the last two sentences drafted by the cabinet.

"If you approve red, let Hu Zongxian dispatch troops to wipe out the rebels."

At this time, Emperor Jiajing had put away that disturbing smiling face, and still chose to trust the judgment of the cabinet, instead of sending someone to open the palace gate with a sign in the middle of the night to summon the cabinet ministers and the Minister of the Ministry of War.

From the eyes of the eunuchs and servants around, it seems that this is the Emperor Jiajing's trust in the cabinet ministers, and he obeyed their votes, but among the people present, only Huang Jin, who had followed Emperor Jiajing for the longest time, seemed to see a trace of it. Clue, even Gao Zhong only thought it was the choice made by the emperor after he was furious.

Sighing inwardly, Huang Jin didn't say anything, and he didn't even wink at Gao Zhong until Gao Zhong brought his servants to take away the memorabilia that had been processed tonight.

"I'm going to bed."

Just when Huang Jin was standing there, Emperor Jiajing suddenly got up and walked to the bedroom, talking in his mouth.

"Hurry up and keep up."

Huang Jin came back to his senses, and hurriedly waved to the two servants beside him, and the three hurried away behind Emperor Jiajing, but when he was about to walk through the gate of the palace, they looked back at the empty hall. The main hall looked so gloomy under the light of flickering candles.

When the new day came, hundreds of officials arrived at the government office one after another, and many officials were waiting for the servants of Xiyuan to come to summon the officials of various ministries, but it turned out that half a day passed, and no angels from the palace came.

But soon, the government office roadside agency spread the news, the palace approved the red, agreed to the cabinet's proposal, the official document has been sent to the Ministry of War, and the task of exterminating the rebels fell to Hu Zongxian, the governor of Japan. Now he is in command of almost all the troops along the coast.

As the New Year approaches, the streets and alleys of the capital city begin to be filled with a strong New Year flavor. Walking on the street, you can hear the sound of children setting off firecrackers from time to time.

On this day, after Wei Guangde arrived at Prince Yu's Mansion, he soon learned from Yin Shizhen that Qin Tianjian had sent someone to notify him, and it was sealed on the 28th of the twelfth lunar month.

In previous years, it was two days before Zhengdan, but this year it was indeed one day earlier.

Under Wei Guangde's puzzled gaze, Yin Shi said with a smile, "I heard that there were no auspicious times for those two days, so I brought it up one day."

"Oh, that's it, hehe. Is the seal still open on the third day of the first lunar month?"

Wei Guangde smiled and said casually.

"Um"

Yin Shizhen also nodded with a smile.

An extra day is a good thing, the holidays of the Ming Dynasty are much less than those of the previous dynasty, and I don’t know if the Qin Tianjian gang also wanted to be lazy, so they actually set this time.

"Zhengdan Grand Court Meeting, His Majesty will not go to court."

At this time, Yin Shizhen spoke to Wei Guangde again.

"I already guessed it."

Wei Guangde just chuckled, "Which state leader is this year?"

"Cheng Guogong Zhu Xizhong."

Yin Shizhen laughed.

At the Zhengdan court meeting, Emperor Jiajing did not enter the palace, and ordered Cheng Guogong Zhu Xizhong to lead his civil and military officials to perform five prostrations and three kowtows at the gate of the court.

Since the 21st year of Jiajing, Emperor Jiajing has stopped going to court, and there is still a saying in the officialdom in the capital that is said to be said by him.

"What's the benefit of sitting in court!"

In fact, few of the official affairs of the Ming Dynasty were decided at the court meeting, and the performance there was just a formality. In fact, everything had already been decided, and the court meeting was just an announcement.

However, Wei Guangde still felt in his heart that it is not necessary to go to the usual court meeting, but the grand court meeting should still be held in the palace, after all, it is a ceremony.

Calculating the time, there are only a few days left.

After staying in Prince Yu's Mansion for a day, King Yu held a banquet in the evening, but when the banquet ended, Wei Guangde's carriage was already full of various rewards from the Prince's Mansion.

In the next few days, Wei Guangde doesn't have to come to Prince Yu's mansion every day, or in other words, King Yu will be on winter vacation in advance.

In the next few days, Wei Guangde returned to the Imperial Academy.

The Imperial Academy was on duty, and Wei Guangde would come back every now and then to find some archives, so Lu Bu also stayed here to take care of it, either searching for materials in the library according to Wei Guangde's instructions, or helping to organize them.

Soon, it will be the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, which is the day when the yamen seals.

In fact, on this day, it is not only the government offices in the capital to do so, but to inform all places, to be precise, the government offices of the entire Ming Dynasty, to seal and stop working on this day.

Of course, this is aimed at those idle yamen in Beijing, the local chief executives and inspectors, and does not include military-related yamen such as the commanders and envoys.

During the period from sealing to opening, officials from the capital city to local officials can rest and play freely, but things are not absolute. If the yamen need to use the seal during the sealing period, they will still take it out. Use, work normally.

As for those key departments in the capital, it is even more impossible to seal them for a few days and ignore everything. Important matters related to the military and national plans must be promptly dealt with by the emperor in conjunction with other departments.

There is a folk legend that whenever the government seals and closes the yamen, the gangsters on the street will go to the streets to misbehave and no one will manage them. In fact, this is just hearsay or taken for granted.

For example, the yamen of the six departments and five temples in the capital, as well as the yamen of Yingtianfu, Wanping and Daxing counties, will indeed seal and close the yamen on this day, but they just say that they will no longer work.

Yamen like Wucheng Bingmasi, who are responsible for patrolling thieves in the capital, clearing streets, ditches, prisoners, fire bans, etc., and government servants from one prefecture and two counties are all sent to the streets to maintain order.

Of course, the gangsters caught can only be thrown into prison, and the big master of the yamen will handle the case after the "seal is opened".

For catching these gangsters who have been doing nothing in the past, no matter whether they are soldiers patrolling the city or government servants in prefectures and counties, they are still very concerned.

People caught them, but since there was no master to ask, those who can give benefits to show respect, they don't have to spend the New Year in prison, but they can leave early, anyway, no one cares about them at that time.

As for those gangsters with a strong background, those who have already acted mischievously in the past and are not afraid of the government, naturally they will not take the New Year's Day to come out to make trouble, but they are the quietest in these few days, because they also want to celebrate the New Year, and they must be filial. the people behind them.

Therefore, around Zhengdan to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, it is the safest time, and ordinary people can go out and play in the streets with confidence.

"Sealing" and "opening the seal" are important events in the yamen. As usual, grand ceremonies will be held on these two days. At that time, the yamen will be decorated with lanterns and festoons, and officials will wear formal official uniforms and salute.

Both Wei Guangde and Zhang Juzheng participated in the sealing ceremony at the Imperial Academy. They are now the sixth-rank attendants of the Imperial Academy, and above them are only the Hanlin Bachelors and four attendants and lecturers, who can stand in the queue of the Imperial Academy. front row.

The person presiding over the ceremony today is Yuan Wei, who is already the right servant of the Ministry of Rites. He is in charge of the affairs of the Imperial Academy as a lecturer, so today the sealing ceremony of the Imperial Academy can only be presided over by him.

But Yin Shizhen was not in the Hanlin Academy. Although he was also a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy, he was still a horse in the Economic and Economic Bureau of Zhan Shifu.

At that time, all the serving officials of the Hanlin Academy stood in line in front of the lobby according to their grades, and Yuan Wei, a lecturer standing at the front, held a mahogany tray with both hands. On the tray was the Imperial Academy seal held by the head of the Imperial Academy. In a solemn and solemn atmosphere, Yuan Wei walked slowly to the incense table that had already been placed in the lobby, and presented the printout.

After placing the seal, Yuan Wei did not return to the head of the queue, but took incense from the side and lit it, respectfully inserted it into the incense burner, took two steps back and knelt down, and then retreated to the side.

In the misty smoke, the officials of the Imperial Academy stepped forward one by one to light incense and kneel down, and soon the incense burner was filled with the incense burnt by everyone.

When the last official finished the ceremony, Wei Guangde and Zhang Juzheng looked at each other, and naturally took two steps forward, congratulating Yuan Wei on the "seal".

Although Yuan Wei also took over the affairs of the Imperial Academy a few days ago, he presided over the sealing ceremony, which naturally means that he has successfully completed the official duties of the Imperial Academy for this year, and of course it is gratifying to congratulate.

"My lord has worked hard."

"My lord has worked so hard, this year is finally complete."

Wei Guangde and Zhang Juzheng were congratulating Yuan Wei at the moment, saying festive words wishing the Lord a bright career, it was naturally very useful to hear Yuan Wei's ears.

At this time, Yuan Wei was also very accommodating, and bowed his hands to them with a smile, "Let's encourage each other."

In fact, Yuan Wei also feels it now. After so many years of hard work, it seems that the excellent works of Qing Ci that he contributed last year and this year have finally moved Emperor Jiajing. Therefore, when Wei Guangde and Zhang Juzheng said "the sky is rising", they are "rising step by step" and they are full of joy.

For the dispute between King Yu and King Jing, Yuan Wei chose to be neutral, neither side.

However, after King Yu's status was confirmed, the two people in Prince Yu's mansion were still very respectful to him, which naturally made Yuan Wei feel a little ecstatic.

This year he is the right servant of the Ministry of Rites. If he can move to the Ministry of Officials next year to be another servant, the door to the cabinet will be completely opened for him. Even if it is King Yu, he will have to give him some face.

In any case, King Yu only confirmed his status, but Emperor Jiajing had no intention of making him a prince.

The status of the prince and the prince is obviously very different.

It's just that Yuan Wei still has to be courteous to the people in Prince Yu's Mansion, and he's not a snob.

After Wei Guangde and Zhang Juzheng, other imperial officials rushed up to congratulate Yuan Wei, the head of the court, and then congratulated each other. At this time, the small officials outside the hall had already started to set off firecrackers to celebrate the seal, making it like a new year .

"Crackling."

Amidst the piercing sound of firecrackers, Wei Guangde and Zhang Juzheng clasped their hands together, and walked to the entrance of the lobby, watching the electric fire dancing outside the hall, and the red dust flying around, the little officials around them covered their ears and hid aside, some clapped their hands and yelled something.

Not long after, crackling firecrackers sounded from the wall next door, and then smoke rose from the government office farther away.

At this moment, all the government offices in various parts of Ming Dynasty held the "seal" ceremony at this time, and the sound of firecrackers resounded all over the place.

"I don't know if the officials in Fujian are the same as me in the new district."

Wei Guangde opened his mouth slightly, showing a smile, and said loudly to Zhang Juzheng next to him.

The sound of firecrackers was a bit loud, and Zhang Juzheng couldn't hear clearly at all when his voice was quiet.

"Hehe, probably not."

Zhang Juzheng's voice was not loud, but he shook his head and said to Wei Guangde.

It was really noisy, Wei Guangde did not continue talking to Zhang Juzheng, but waited for the firecrackers to burn out before continuing.

Sealing and closing the yamen does not mean that they are on vacation and can go back to their respective homes. Because there are activities in the future, the two of them just stand at the door and wait.

"When does Big Brother Uncle plan to go to Xu Ge's old mansion?"

When the firecrackers outside the hall were burned out, Wei Guangde whispered in Zhang Juzheng's ear.

After hearing Wei Guangde's words, Zhang Juzheng's eyes lit up, and then he smiled and said to Wei Guangde: "Tomorrow I plan to visit the teacher, and I will give some new year gifts to those who celebrate the new year."

"I also plan to go to Xu Ge's old mansion tomorrow."