Daming talker

Chapter 674 After the Court Meeting
All the issues that needed to be discussed have come to an end, and the court meeting is about to end.

At this time, many ministers discovered a pattern: any court meeting with Lin Jiuyuan's participation was very efficient.

At least a resolution can always be reached in the end, and there won't be a situation where a meeting lasts for a long time but still no decision is made.

For example, today, as soon as Lin Tailai arrived, he set the tone for the strategy on North Korean affairs. Before that, the court had been arguing for two months without any result.

Wang Tianguan, who presided over the court discussion, acted like a subordinate and reported to Lin Tailai, "The results of the court discussion must be reported to the emperor tomorrow morning at the latest."

Lin Tailai did not feel anything wrong with this report. He nodded casually and said:
"You guys leave the palace first. I still need to go to Wenyuan Pavilion to visit the new elders."

Wang Tianguan was slightly surprised, "You want to plant a flag at the cabinet?"

Lin Tailai was stunned. "What do you mean by flag-raising? How did you know this term?"

Wang Tianguan replied: "Isn't this a word you invented? It has become very popular in the past two years. Didn't you go to Wenyuan Pavilion to plant a flag?"

Lin Tailai replied vaguely: "After all, I have not come into contact with this cabinet. Since I am here today and this place is so close to Wenyuan Pavilion, I might as well pay a visit as well."

The East Court Room was located between the Duanmen and the Wumen. Other ministers went out of the Duanmen to the south, while Lin Tailai went north alone through the Wumen, then turned east to the Huijimen.

Behind Huiji Gate are Wenhua Hall and Wenyuan Pavilion. For ordinary ministers, unless they are summoned by the emperor, they generally would not pass through Huiji Gate without special reasons.

But according to traditional concepts, the noble Hanlin can enter and leave the Huiji Gate. In fact, there is no hard and fast rule in this regard, but it is also an unwritten rule in the officialdom.

On the one hand, it was probably because Hanlin needed to go to Wenhua Hall frequently to give lectures to the emperor or consult advisors.

On the other hand, in the early years of the Ming Dynasty, Wenyuan Pavilion was actually the office of the Hanlin Academy because it was closer to Wenhua Hall. Later, when the cabinet became powerful, the Hanlin Academy was moved out of the palace.

It just so happened that Lin Tailai also held the position of a reader in the Hanlin Academy, so he would not be gossiped about when entering and leaving Huijimen.

After registering at Huiji Gate, Lin Tailai did not rush over. Instead, he walked to the door of the corridor where the eunuchs of the secretariat were and took a few looks.

Every day, the eunuchs on duty in the secretariat of the Imperial Household Department would receive and send various memorials at Huiji Gate.

A strange eunuch asked Lin Tailai, "What can I do for you? Are you here to submit a memorial?"

Lin Tailai asked, "Is Eunuch Sun Yong still here? He used to be the commander of the twenty gates."

The strange eunuch replied, "I haven't been here for half a year."

Lin Tailai asked curiously again: "Where did he go?"

The strange eunuch said calmly, "Who knows? Anyway, his whereabouts are unknown. I don't know where he went."

Lin Tailai sighed endlessly. The power field was so turbulent and dangerous that one never knew which would come first, tomorrow or an accident.

Sun Yong was promoted from the commander-in-chief of twenty gates to the junior supervisor of the secretariat of the Imperial Household Department. He was only one step away from being promoted to the eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, and would be able to "leave his name in history" in the eunuch industry.

As a result, he disappeared from the inner court inexplicably, perhaps disappearing physically, or perhaps he went to Fengyang or Nanjing to grow vegetables.

When Lin Tailai was inquiring about his "old friend" Eunuch Sun in the corridor where the secretariat of the Imperial Household Department was located, the Zhongshu Sheren who was on duty at Huiji Gate had already informed the cabinet.

The news of Lin Tailai's visit immediately alarmed the four ministers, and they all came out of their single rooms and gathered in the central hall.

Fourth Assistant Minister Zhang Wei asked First Assistant Minister Zhao Zhigao, "Has Lin Jiuyuan visited the Cabinet before?"

Zhao Zhigao smiled bitterly and replied, "Lin Jiuyuan has never been to Wenyuan Pavilion before."

After a simple question and answer, several ministers understood what it meant.

A subtle emotion that can only be understood but not expressed in words arose in the hearts of the ministers.

Why did you, Lin Tailai, never visit Wenyuan Pavilion during the time of Shen Shixing?

At that time, did you, Lin Tailai, feel that you were inferior to others and were embarrassed or thought you were not worthy of visiting Wenyuan Pavilion?

Now that the cabinet has been replaced by them, do you, Lin Tailai, dare to come here as a guest so openly?

Who are you looking down on? Do you think you are equal to the cabinet?

The ministers were a little unhappy, but there was nothing they could do. How could they have the confidence and toughness of the Shen Shixing era?
The Grand Secretary was of noble status, so it was impossible for him to go out to greet the emperor, so everyone sat in the central hall and waited.

After Lin Tailai entered the courtyard, he walked around Wenyuan Pavilion and the later-built East Shed and East Pavilion as if he was looking at the scenery, and then he walked into the central hall of Wenyuan Pavilion.

Fourth Assistant Zhang Wei couldn't help but ask, "Why have you been looking outside for so long? Do you want to satisfy your eyes?"

Lin Tailai was a little sentimental, and sighed, "It has been so many years, but it feels like a dream to revisit the old place. It's great to see Wenyuan Pavilion still south of Wenhua Hall."

The cabinet members were all confused. They were all top intellectuals in the world, so how could they not understand what this meant? Why did it sound so mysterious?
It seems as if you, Lin Tailai, have been to Wenyuan Pavilion in your previous life. Could it be that you are the reincarnation of some senior university scholar?

In the Ming Dynasty, Wenyuan Pavilion was located to the south of Wenhua Hall, across the road from Wenhua Hall, and was the office location of the cabinet.

But during the Qing Dynasty, Wenyuan Pavilion was moved to the north of Wenhua Hall and became an annex building of Wenhua Hall.

This was the layout that Lin Tailai saw when he visited the Forbidden City in his previous life. The Ming Dynasty version of Wenyuan Pavilion had long disappeared.

That is why Lin Tailai felt some emotion when he returned to the Ming Dynasty version of Wenyuan Pavilion today.

Prime Minister Zhao Zhigao called Lin Tailai and said, "Sit down and talk!"

After sitting down and exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Tailai took the initiative to talk about what had just happened in the court.

After finishing speaking, Lin Tailai continued: "Tomorrow at the latest, you elders will be able to see the official report. In addition, I would like to emphasize a few points.

Sending troops to Korea is a matter of great importance and involves a wide range of issues. It is estimated that 100,000 troops will be dispatched and the cost will be one million silver coins.

It must be a large-scale and extremely complicated matter, and our Ming Dynasty must not lose.

Therefore, I hope that the people at the center can take the overall situation into consideration, work together, and win this war together."

At this point, Lin Tailai turned to the Third Assistant Minister Li Chun and continued, "Don't let your party struggles and sectarianism hinder you from doing things that would make your relatives sad and your enemies happy, or that would trip others up and hinder them from advancing."

Li Chun: “.”

Just say what you want to say. Why are you looking at me?
Then Lin Tailai stared at the fourth assistant Zhang Wei and said calmly: "Don't be too greedy for merit, always wanting to show off yourself, so that you will be stubborn and self-righteous, lose sight of the overall situation, and ruin the overall situation."

Zhang Wei snorted coldly, "It turns out that Lin Jiuyuan came to visit to teach the cabinet how to do its job."

Lin Tailai responded: "I am just having a frank conversation with you gentlemen from a position of strength."

The ministers respected their status and did not want to debate with Lin Jiuyuan.

Zhang Wei asked impatiently: "Do you have anything else to do?"

This means it’s time to get out of here. Just leave after you’ve finished talking!

Lin Tailai then talked about another matter: "According to the current situation, the court will definitely appoint a governor, whose position is higher than that of the governor, to take charge of the affairs in the direction of Korea. However, the early affairs are mostly the mobilization of troops, horses, money and grain, and overall planning. The governor does not need to rush to Liaodong, and it is more convenient to stay in the capital.

Also, most of the affairs concerning North Korea are urgent, requiring quick and efficient handling and feedback, and at the same time, they involve military aircraft and must be kept highly confidential.

Therefore, the location of the Jinglüe government office should be close to the center, so that it can be convenient, efficient and easy to keep secret. "

Zhao Shoufu asked doubtfully, "What do you mean, Lin Jiuyuan?"

Lin Tailai pointed to the east and said, "Why not vacate one or two rooms in the East Pavilion as the office of the governor, and at the same time requisition the cabinet's secretaries as the governor's subordinates."

"This is impossible!" Zhang Wei, who had the worst temper among the ministers, slammed the table and said, unable to bear it any longer.

Lin Tailai asked back: "Why not?"

Zhang Wei replied with emotion: "Our predecessors worked hard to establish a cabinet, how can we just sit back and wait for others to take over?"

Lin Tailai said dissatisfiedly: "How can you be so narrow-minded, Fourth Minister? Do you only see others planting flags in the cabinet?

From another perspective, if the Jinglüe Office is located here, wouldn't it be more convenient for the cabinet to intervene in North Korean affairs? "

Sanfu Li Chun also spoke up: "There is no need to say such high-sounding words here.

Everyone knows what you, Lin Jiuyuan, are up to. There is no need for the cabinet to do something stupid like inviting a wolf into the house."

It’s good enough that I’m not being snatched away by you, Lin Tailai. How can I expect to snatch power from you, Lin Tailai?

Lin Tailai asked in confusion: "Why did the Third Elder start to slander me directly?"

Li Chun was so angry that he laughed and said, "You, Lin Jiuyuan, blatantly want to open a government office in the cabinet, and you still say that it is slandering you?"

Lin Tailai immediately cried out in grievance, "Could it be that the Third Minister has forgotten that the Minister of State Affairs for Korea nominated by the court is Lu Guangzu, not me, Lin Tailai!

So I was just standing from an objective perspective and making an objective suggestion, how can that be considered as me having evil intentions? "

Li Chun: “.”

Why are there such cunning people in the world?

Zhang Wei angrily emphasized: "Even if it's Lu Guangzu, it's impossible!"

The deputy assistant Zhu Geng tried to smooth things over by saying, "The Jinglüe Office is not urgent today, so let's not talk about it for now."

Lin Tailai sighed. It seemed that the time was not yet ripe to establish his influence in the cabinet. Even Zhao Zhigao did not dare to support him openly.

After coming out of the inner court, Mr. Lin, who was physically and mentally exhausted and whose strength had not yet fully recovered, did not want to go to the government office to work and decided to go home to continue resting.

When passing by Lu Guangzu's mansion, Lin Tailai dismounted and went forward to knock on the door.

After a long while, an old servant came out tremblingly and said, "My master is ill and will not see any visitors."

Lin Tailai did not embarrass the old man, "Then pass on a message for me!"

The old man said anxiously: "My master is recovering from illness and does not communicate with the outside world."

Lin Tailai: "."

This is not only pretending to be sick and stupid, but in order to make the act more realistic, one also has to pretend to be deaf and dumb and pretend not to receive any news from the outside world?
"If you refuse to pass on the message, I will break into the inner courtyard and speak to your master in person!" Lin Tailai threatened viciously.

The more than one hundred big men behind him said that they were definitely capable of doing so.

Lin Tailai grabbed the old man by the collar and said, "Go tell your master right away that I have recommended him to govern Korea today! I hope he will not disappoint me!"

On the next morning, the memorial regarding the court discussion was presented to the inner court.

The cabinet's proposal was, first, to allow the Korean king and his ministers to send their property across the river first to avoid suspicion of collusion with the Japanese pirates, and to grant the Korean king 20,000 taels of silver as a settlement fee;
Second, it is difficult to gather 100,000 troops in a short time, but the situation in Korea is urgent, so 40,000 to 50,000 troops can be gathered first to go into battle.

Third, Lu Guangzu is old and not a minister who is familiar with military affairs. We should choose a young and strong minister who is familiar with military affairs to govern Korea.

The cabinet's draft and the original memorial were then presented to Emperor Wanli, waiting for the emperor to make the final decision.

Emperor Wanli had no objection to asking the Korean monarch and his ministers to prove their innocence with money and property.

As long as money is not a problem, then mobilizing the army will not be a problem, and this one will be passed.

Seeing the name Lu Guangzu, Emperor Wanli was slightly confused and could not help but say to the eunuchs in the Imperial Household Department:

“Last time, Lu Guangzu strongly advocated for the appointment of a cabinet minister, and in the end, the person who was recommended was him.

Wasn't he firmly opposed to mobilizing the army this time? Why is he the one who was proposed by the court?"

Gong Sun Xian of the factory said, "It was Lu Guangzu who was recommended by Lin Tailai."

Emperor Wanli was stunned and asked, "Do you treat military and national affairs as a joke?"

The eunuch Zhang Cheng said, "To be honest, it is not a good idea to use Lu Guangzu to govern Korea. I am afraid he will do more harm than good. Don't make it difficult for an old man who is over 70 years old."

Another eunuch, Chen Ju, who was in charge of writing, said, "Lin Tailai might be afraid that the resentful Lu Guangzu would ignore the overall situation and hinder the situation from behind, so he put Lu Guangzu on the throne first."

Emperor Wanli ordered Chen Ju, "Go and ask Lu Guangzu if he dares to take on the important task of governing Korea!"

Eunuch Chen followed the order and hurried out of the palace to Lu Guangzu's residence.

He could claim to be sick and avoid meeting others, but when the imperial edict came, he had to crawl out to receive it even if he was dying.

Chen Ju looked at the haggard Lu Guangzu, sighed that the old man had not been having a good time recently, and then conveyed the emperor's questions.

Lu Guangzu lowered his head and remained silent for a long time, but Eunuch Chen did not urge him and waited patiently.

How much Lu Guangzu wanted to hold his head high and take on this heavy responsibility with great enthusiasm, but he didn't dare.

He was afraid of being laughed at by the world, he was afraid of messing up and being disgraced, and he was afraid of dying in a foreign country.

Lu Guangzu took out a letter of resignation and said to Chen Ju: "I have been ill for a long time and it is difficult for me to work. I beg the emperor to release me to the mountains and forests."

After struggling for a long time, he was finally forced to this point. His 46-year official career seemed like a dream.

Perhaps this was the destined outcome from the moment I took up the banner of the clean stream forces?

Chen Ju replied expressionlessly, "I understand," then accepted the memorial and returned to the palace to report.

Even if I give you a chance, it's useless! Emperor Wanli pointed at Lu Guangzu's resignation letter and said to the eunuch Zhang Cheng, "Approved."

Then he issued an edict, saying, "No need to select another person. Just appoint Lin Tailai to manage the affairs of Korea and prepare for the Japanese invasion! He will be appointed as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and the Right Censor-in-Chief. He can do whatever he wants! He will be granted the Qilin robe!"

There's nothing wrong with choosing the one who always wins!
(End of this chapter)