Jingming

Chapter 293 Eyes, Looking Beyond Daming

In the Jingzhou mansion, the Zhang family was both happy and worried.

Fortunately, Ding was added to the family in the fourth year of Jiajing.

There are more than one worries.

"It's... what's the matter? The Liao Palace is gone... if it's gone, it's gone. When... serving as a soldier and eating the imperial rations, where would you go... Isn't it the same?" The old man first pointed at his son, and then at his grandson Long-winded, "If you don't pass the exam... then you don't pass the exam. In the future, if you take new... new things, you are not... not sure. It's better to just...just... teach your son well! Not everyone...all say that you are a scholar... ...Can you be...be...a petty official? Just...even if you become a teacher, you can raise...a family!"

After training his son and grandson, the old man's stuttering problem seemed to disappear, and he looked at his great-grandson with crooked eyes: "Be good, Bai Gui!"

In the third year of Jiajing, Zhu Zhige, the king of Liao, died of illness not long after he was granted the title of king.

The first was the king of Chu, then the king of Liao, and finally the king of Ji who was arrested after conspiracy and finally "died of illness" in prison because of his advanced age.

Among them, the death of King Liao is the most strange.

Although it was true that he had been a bit licentious when he took over the throne just now, he would not die of illness if his body was weak.

The case was only investigated in May of the fourth year of Jiajing. This case involved not only Chu Fan, but also the prefect of Jingzhou at that time, especially Zhu Zhizhen, the king of Guangyuan County.

It is a big case involving the throne and the new law.

The final solution was that the king of Chu was demoted to a commoner, and the Chu clan was downgraded to a county king.

Including the prince of Guangyuan, several princes of Liao were demoted to common people.
Although the Liao Fan was still there, Zhu Zhige did not have time to leave his son.In the end, it was the Mao family who was rewarded for their contribution to stabilizing the Liao feudal situation during the Huguang rebellion, and the emperor ordered to adopt a young son from a side branch and make him the heir king.

The point is: His Majesty's policy towards the clan has changed.As long as the palaces next to the altar in the south of Beijing are completed, the kings of all provinces will move to the capital.

Living in the capital, where do you need a dedicated ceremonial guard and guards?

Zhang Zhen is about to lose his job.

Zhang Wenming, who just became a father, failed again in the provincial examination last year. When "Ming Pao" hit him with simplified characters and a new format, Zhang Wenming only felt his eyes go dark.

Throughout the twelfth lunar month, his mood was very low.

Learning new things is hard enough. How many new things do you have to learn again in order to adapt to the future imperial examinations?

His son giggled amusedly in his grandfather's arms, and Zhang Wenming let out a long sigh.

Zhang Juzheng, who was called Bai Gui because his great-grandfather had a dream about the moon falling into the water urn and the white turtle crawling out of it before he was born, is only eight months old now, and he can't give Lao Tzu advice like Gao Gong.

Gao Gong has a fifth-rank father, but the Zhang family only has a palace guard and a failed scholar. Now Zhang Juzheng's father and ancestor's future is in jeopardy.

"I've heard people say that news has spread from the capital's yamen that the provinces are going to recruit soldiers. After Huguang put down the rebellion, there are a lot of elite soldiers, so we need to change them first." Zhang Zhen also sighed accompanying him, "I'm getting old. , Why would recruiting soldiers want me? I can’t even eat the imperial rations.”

There are four generations in the family, and only Zhang Cheng, who is called "Zhang Jian's son", is quite angry with his son and grandson: "Hungry...you can't die from starvation! We...we suffer...suffer a bit, it's...for nothing Gui... Guijide!"

Zhang Zhen and his son looked at each other helplessly. Zhang Cheng was indeed benevolent and kind-hearted. Even if there was only a bowl of gruel in the family, he would give half of it to the poor and the monks.

Zhang Cheng is always optimistic, Zhang Zhen can only look at his son: "If you really feel that the exam will be difficult or fail in the future, you might as well listen to your grandfather. Know the simplified characters well, study new learning, maybe you can pass the exam. Find a job in the small college."

After finishing speaking, he looked at his father again: "After the Lantern Festival, my son asked someone to ask. I'm afraid we in Huguang will also set up some kind of security department. My son can't be a recruiter. Try to find a job in the Jingzhou Prefecture Public Security Bureau."

"This...isn't there...a solution?" Zhang Cheng nodded approvingly, and then looked at his great-grandson, "Hungry... I can't be hungry, Bai...Bai Gui!"

Zhang Baigui, who was less than one year old, stared at his eyes, reached out and grabbed his great-grandfather's beard and giggled happily.

……

On the twelfth day of the first lunar month, Xu Jie, the magistrate of Xiangshan County, Ningbo Prefecture, Zhejiang Province, hosted a banquet for He Yunyuan, the new magistrate.

In the Xiangshan County Yamen, Xu Jie took him to identify all the people first, then handed over many official documents and files, and finally invited He Yunyuan to sit down in the backyard of the county Yamen.

Today, there are three tables lined up in the county government office, one master and two assistants.

On the main table, in addition to Xu Jie and He Yunyuan, there were also the county magistrate, master book, teaching instructions, patrol inspection, and canon history.

Next to the other two tables, there are officials from the county-level yamen, such as the secretary of the sixth house, Chengfa Fangchengfa, and the delivery office of the Taxation Bureau.

"Sit down, all sit down." Xu Jie still acted like a magistrate, and asked the officials to sit down as well.

In Xiangshan County, those present are all "big shots".

Seeing Xu Jie's hand pressed down, the officials just bowed respectfully first: "Thank you, Mr. Langzhong."

He Yunyuan looked at the people in Xiangshan County who would be under his control in the future, and then at Xu Jie.

He was only 24, and he was able to suppress these oily old officials, of course not only by Yan Song, his teacher who was the governor of Zhejiang.

Of course, it was also because of his background in Tanhualang and his expectation of a bright future.In the 16th year of Zhengde, the first Tanhualang after the new king ascended the throne, he is now the governor of a province.

He Yunyuan also sincerely thanked: "Master Xu first served as the governor of Zhejiang, and then served as magistrate of Xiangshan County. The people live and work in peace and contentment. I have heard many people praise Mr. Xu for his integrity and talent. Now Mr. Xu is promoted to the Ministry of Officials in Nanjing. Yan, it is also difficult to separate."

Xu Jie looked at him and felt that these words were not level.

At that time, Yin Mengchun of Yingtian Mansion and the Ministry of Household Affairs in Nanjing planned to issue the official document to let Nanzhili and Zhejiang, Huguang, and Jiangxi provinces clarify the old and false. He was promoted by half a grade and transferred to Xiangshan to be the county magistrate.

Transferring him here, it can only be said that there may be problems in Yan Song's judgment.

For more than two years, Xu Jie has mainly done things to maintain stability, and he can't be called any meritorious service.

"I've been in Xiangshan for the past two years, so I can only say that I haven't made any major mistakes." He was modest first, and then said to He Yunyuan with a smile: "Hezhi County is taking office, and this year we have to clean up the land and reform the county government office. There is a long way to go. "

He Yunyuan couldn't help but look at the officials in other counties.

Yes ah, the task is very heavy, very headache.

Can he, a county magistrate who was born in Juren, handle these people?After taking office, I have to rely on their help for many things.

"Master Xu is familiar with the situation of the county, so please don't hesitate to enlighten me. You have been in Xiangshan for a long time, and you hope to work together in the same boat and help me manage all the things this year."

He envied Xu Jie very much.The new law is about to be implemented in all provinces, and he will be promoted to a more noble fifth-rank doctor. How much trouble will be saved?

The 24-year-old Zhengwupin!
"I can't talk about giving advice. If there is any confusion in Hezhi County, I know everything and can say everything." Xu Jie picked up the chopsticks first, "Talk while eating."

While dealing with He Yunyuan, Xu Jie continued to ponder the purpose of his appointment in his heart.

Under the circumstances that the Ministry of Officials in Beijing had already set up the chief divisions of the four divisions under the minister, and that Mr. Yang Ge was about to arrive in Nanjing to serve as the governor of Yingtian, Yan Song participated in Beijing. Why did you help him run this appointment during the national policy meeting?

Xu Jie knew that he would only be able to get the answers from Yan Song after he set off for Hangzhou Mansion.

The Ministry of Officials in Nanjing has the right to assess officials in Southern Zhili, and this part of the right to assess was not restricted by the Ministry of Officials in Beijing in the past.It can be said that the promotion of many officials in Nanzhili is actually in the hands of the Ministry of Officials in Nanjing.

And the one he was going to take up was none other than Doctor Kao Gongsi.

Although there are You Shilang and Nanjing Officials Shangshu on it, but he is not a person who can be easily ignored when he went to Nanjing.

"My lord Xu, this year's reform of the government office, officials and officials are all assigned grades, and the officials are called officials with official backgrounds and miscellaneous servants. I don't know what suggestions Mr. Xu has for the selection of the officials of the various houses and yamen in the mountains?"

When He Yunyuan asked, the other two tables and the rest of the table all pricked up their ears and held their breath.

Xu Jie had two things in mind, first he took a deep look at him, and then said: "I have preached to them many times before. Although the county officials have the right to nominate them, they still have to be decided by the province. It is better for Hezhi County to decide who to choose."

Officials who are born in Juren should not be underestimated. He Yunyuan wants to sell him a favor, and use himself to build a good relationship with Yan Song?

The power to appoint officials at the county level has been delegated to the provinces.The so-called decision in the province, isn't that Yan Song's decision?

In the past, officials only passed the nine-year merit examination before they were awarded an official background. That was also a miscellaneous official, and they could not actually enter the selection sequence of chief officials.With the current reform, it is also possible for officials to climb to Zhengliupin magistrate in the future.

In addition, according to the new rules, the county magistrate will only be in charge of important affairs in the county in the future, and there will be a county magistrate in the county.
He Yunyuan looked sincere: "Master Xu is well-governed, why should I delay too much time and delay the important affairs of Qingzhang's land? Today, all the assistant officials and all the house officials are here, and everyone must settle down before we can talk about cooperation." Use your heart and mind to share the worries of Master Dutai and manage Xiangshan Mountain for His Majesty!"

It seems that as long as it is a candidate recommended by Xu Jie, he will use it, not pretending to listen to Xu Jie's opinion first, and then use the power of nomination to manipulate the county officials.

The 24-year-old Xu Jie also tasted the feeling of being hugged on the thigh. He smiled on his face: "I will only talk to Mr. He about what I have learned about you in the past two years. Mr. He knows people and does things well."

As the wine got drunk, Xu Jie suddenly realized some problems.

With Yan Song as his back, he can leave behind some reliable team members in Xiangshan.Yan Song was in Zhejiang and held the power to appoint officials at the county level, so how much power should he leave behind?

The governor of every province is like this. How can His Majesty prevent the provinces from going their own way in the future and prevent the local officials from supporting the government?
……

On the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, in the Forbidden City, there is a luncheon in the Hall of Mental Cultivation and a dinner in the Palace of Qianqing.

Today, Zhu Houcong will have dinner with Yang Tinghe first.

After the Lantern Festival tomorrow, Yang Tinghe will leave for Nanjing.

This is his special speech to Majesty.

Zhu Houcong looked at Yang Tinghe who had aged a lot with emotion: "It's been almost five years in a blink of an eye. The Taifu has worked hard and bravely, and my heart is truly sympathetic."

In compensation for Yang Tinghe's resignation as Prime Minister and Minister of State, his title was upgraded from Taibao to Taifu.

If there are too many lice, it doesn't itch. Anyway, Daming is already the first to live with Sangong, and Yang Tinghe didn't refuse, not to mention that Fei Hong was also added to the Taibao.

Living Sangong seems to be the threshold for enjoying the Taimiao.

"Your Majesty has favored me, and I just do my best." He expressed his attitude, "After I went to Nanjing, I first discussed the strategy with Marquis Wu Ding and Eunuch Zhang. This year's Beijing inspection, I will not cause trouble in Nanzhili."

During the Hongwu period, it was first established that the Beijing official examination was every three years, and later it was changed to a ten-year examination, which is called Jingcha.During the Hongzhi period, it was changed to a six-year exam, and counting from the 16th year of Zhengde, the fifth year of Jiajing was the sixth year after Zhu Houcong succeeded to the throne.

The long-lost Beijing inspection will be carried out when the Jiajing five-year new law is implemented in all provinces. This is naturally a big reshuffle.

In the northern and southern capitals, if the Beijing inspection is carried out in place, the new law in the next year or the next will be smoother.

The Nanjing Jingcha also shoulders the important task of weakening Nanjing's influence.

After the official national policy meeting ended, in the twelfth lunar month, the new staff members actually held a national policy meeting again.Yang Tinghe, who resigned as Prime Minister and Minister of State, naturally participated in the meeting.

The important topic of discussion is Nanzhili.

Zhu Houcong held up the wine solemnly: "For everything in the south of the Yangtze River, please leave it to the Taifu. The Taifu didn't wait until Yongxiu arrived in Beijing before heading south. I really feel inexplicable."

"On the way to the south, I will probably meet with Quanzi in Linqing." Yang Tinghe hurriedly replied, "The dog is reckless. Your Majesty is serving as the right servant of the household department to lead Jiangxi's Qing officials. Please bear with me."

"Yongxiu has practiced in Guangdong for several years, and he is familiar with the new law. He leads Jiangxi to clean up officials, and he can cooperate with his younger brother to manage Jiangxi's food and tax affairs."

"...Your Majesty is trustworthy, and my minister is terrified."

The governor of Jiangxi is Yang Tingyi, and the head of the Jiangxi Qingli Department of the Ministry of Households is Yang Shen. Yang Tinghe's "fear" is sincere.

What he felt back then was the hostility and wariness of the new monarch towards him, but after becoming the leader of the new party, he also felt the emperor's almost "undefended" trust in their Yang family.

Yang Tinghe naturally knew where the emperor's defenses were, why Jiangxi?

Because Jiangxi's literary style is very prosperous, there are many officials and gentry, and the leader is the current Prime Minister and Minister of State.

In the past, Governor Fei Hong in Sichuan guarded Yang Tinghe's lair; now Governor Yang Tingyi in Jiangxi guards Fei Hong's lair.

And the Yang family, under the pressure of the whole world that the Yang family is almost in charge of Jiangxi's civil affairs, should hand over the answer sheet of the new law implementation like a model.

Not only that, but Yang Tinghe had to go to Nanzhili in person to pave the way for the emperor to take the long-term responsibility of holding the entire empire's taxes and taxes in his hands.

Only in this way can it be guaranteed that the emperor's holy family to the Yang family will not weaken in the future when the Yang family encounters any emergency.

This is just a defense, Yang Tinghe didn't forget that the emperor still has important things to do.

Since the monarch and ministers have been "candid", the efficiency of communication has been much higher, let alone in private like now?

Yang Tinghe quickly left, leaving the emperor to do the next big thing.

After a brief preparation, Zhu Houcong ordered Huang Jin: "Get ready to go to the Hall of Martial Heroes!"

The bell tower of Huangming University in the distance has already rang thirteen times, and people should have gathered in the Hall of Martial Arts one after another.

The Hall of Martial Arts has been rebuilt, and the Military Affairs Conference will be formally established.

There is one permanent general staff member of the Military Affairs Conference, who is based in Beijing, and now Yang Yiqing is in charge.

The number of staff officers is not fixed, but there are four permanent members in Beijing. Today, they are Gu Shilong, Duke of Yasukuni, Li Quanli, Uncle Xiangcheng, Ma Yong, Chief of the General Department of Public Security, and Peng Ze, who has been reactivated as a full-time staff officer for the Military Affairs Conference.In the local area, there are also two frontier generals recommended by Yang Yiqing, as well as two honored ministers, Guo Xun and Zhu Qi.

And if there are major issues to be discussed at the military affairs meeting, Wang Shouren, the minister of the Ministry of War, Zhang Jing, the deputy director of the military department, the assistant director of the Jingying Rongzheng of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the governors of the five prefectures will also attend as non-voting delegates.

Now these people are gathered in the Hall of Martial Arts.

Among them, although there are many honored ministers, they are respected by the counselors.

The layout here is similar to that of the National Policy Hall.

Now everyone is seated, and there is not much greetings.

They are all waiting for the owner of the throne to arrive.

In a corner of the hall, there is also a larger clock.

It was just a quarter past one in the afternoon when a voice came from outside the hall: "The emperor is here!"

Everyone in the hall stood up and left their seats, and Zhu Houcong's figure appeared at the door.

"I see you, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Houcong walked to the throne during the ceremony, and then pressed his hand: "Sit down."

After looking around the crowd, Zhu Houcong said to Yang Yiqing, "General Counselor Yang, let's start."

Yang Yiqing is still getting used to his new identity, but he knows that this military affairs conference is the highest power center for the emperor to control the military power of Ming Dynasty.

He nodded, and said loudly: "Your Majesty has an order, and this military affairs meeting will officially begin. The first item on the agenda is to discuss the candidates for the commander of the Ming Zhudu Division and the Chief of the Public Security Division."

How do the governors of the provinces clamp down?The most powerful thing is the separation of military and government, and military power is always in the hands of the emperor.

The commanders of the local capital commanders and the chief of the public security department all belong to the military, and the strength of force is different.

Don't forget that there is also a special service team from Jinyiwei under the Provincial Department of Public Security.

To hold on to this military power, identifying candidates is naturally the top priority.

In fact, Zhu Houcong already knew this list, but he had to go through it again at this meeting.

The meeting was pushed forward one by one, and then came to the most important agenda.

Yang Yiqing looked at the emperor, and Zhu Houcong began to preside over it himself.

He first looked around at everyone, and then solemnly said: "The next agenda, everyone must keep it secret. If it is leaked, it will be found out in the end, no matter who it is, no matter what official position it is, there will be no mercy!"

Everyone was stunned, not knowing what was going to happen next.

Zhu Houcong first clarified the rules, and then said: "The foreign inspector factory came to report that Mo Yongdeng, the powerful minister of the Li Dynasty, Anxing, had acted disobediently. I am afraid that the usurpation of the throne is imminent. The Li family is weak, and I am afraid that it will not be able to escape this catastrophe. .If Jiaozhi changes hands, the Li family will ask me to send troops to rescue. The big event is planned first, and I intend to take back Jiaozhi, thinking that it will be one of the bases for attacking the Tartars in the future. Starting today, Qing and others can plan in detail from the overall situation and make a decision Strategies."

Wang Shouren's heart was shocked, but the looks in the eyes of the honored ministers were inexplicable.

The new law will naturally be pushed down, and this foreign war will not start immediately.

But the emperor's gaze has already looked beyond Daming.

The plan was started several years in advance, and what the courtiers were told was a clear fact: when the new law was first implemented, the reform of the local guards of the Ming Dynasty was completed, and the soldiers and food were sufficient, the emperor would definitely send troops to expand the territory.

In the Jiajing Dynasty, the prime minister came out first in the Wenchenli, and the new Duke was appointed in the Wuchenli.

And if there is still such unworldly martial arts in the future, what will happen?
(End of this chapter)