The days when I ransacked the house in Jinyiwei

Chapter 290 Ma Wensheng!Ma Wensheng!
Chang Feng's words made Liu Jin suddenly discover that there were fundamental differences between their "uncle and nephew".

Liu Jin's ideal is to surpass Wang Zhen and Wang Zhi, lead the eunuchs to replace civil servants, and become the controller of the world.

Chang Feng did not approve of eunuchs replacing civil servants at all.

At this moment, Liu Jin felt alienated from Chang Feng for the first time.

Let's say that Liu Jian and Xie Qian were full of confidence. They believed that they would be able to get rid of the Eight Tigers in October of the first year of Zhengde.

Everything is under control and the advantage is mine.

In the chief minister's residence, Liu, Xie and their confidants were having a secret meeting.

Liu Jian showed a sad look on his face: "The Eight Tigers have limited power and are by no means our opponent. The problem that worries me now is not the Eight Tigers, but another person."

Jiao Fang, the left servant of the Ministry of Personnel, quickly asked: "Who is the chief assistant talking about?"

Liu Jian replied: "Ma Wensheng, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Since Wang Shu became an official, Ma Wensheng has been in charge of the Ministry of Personnel for more than ten years. He has always been in charge of the personnel of the imperial court."

"If we want to promote or reuse any of our own people now, we have to look at his face."

"The power of personnel is not in our hands, and I always feel uneasy."

Xie Qian agreed: "Yes. The old guy Ma Wensheng is a stubborn donkey. He will retreat if he is not led away. And he has always had an ambiguous attitude towards the Eight Tigers."

"Chang Feng, the minion of the Eight Tigers, has a close relationship with Ma Wensheng. If he turns to the Eight Tigers, our plan to kill the tigers may be disrupted."

The attitudes of the two made Jiao Fang's heart move.

Lao Jiao secretly belongs to Liu Jin.But Liu and Xie wanted to engage Ma Wensheng, and he supported it with both hands.

If a minister loses his position, according to the rules, he, the Zuo Shilang, should fill the vacancy.Then he will become a heavenly official of the Ministry of Personnel.

Besides, if Liu and Xie compete with Ma Wensheng, it will be beneficial to the Eight Tigers regardless of whether they can defeat Ma Wensheng.

When the snipe and the clam fight, the Eight Tigers will gain.

So Jiao Fang suggested: "How about asking the people from the Criminal Department's Supervisory Division to collect illegal information about Ma Wensheng?"

"The appointment and dismissal of court personnel for more than ten years are all in his hands. It is inevitable that he will do a few things of pretending to be public for personal gain and nepotism. After the illegal activities are discovered, our people will report to him and impeach him."

Liu Jian waved his hand: "No! Ma Wensheng is one of the top three gentlemen in Hongzhi. He is famous all over the world. We must not take his official position by our people."

Jiao Fang asked: "You mean to find a way to force the Eight Tigers to take action against Ma Wensheng? Impossible, right? The Eight Tigers and Ma Wensheng have always stayed on the same page. Besides, there is a peacemaker named Chang Feng among them."

Liu Jian smiled and said: "Wrong. We are gentlemen, how can we take advantage of the eunuchs?"

"As you know, Liu Daxia, Minister of War, has two deputies. One is Xu Jin and the other is Xiong Xiu."

"Recently there was a vacancy for the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi. Ma Wensheng suggested to the emperor that Xiong Xiu, the right minister of the Ministry of War, be appointed as the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi. Xiong Xiu was very dissatisfied and scolded Ma Wensheng at home every day."

The Guangdong and Guangxi in the mid-Ming Dynasty were not the modern Guangdong and Guangxi.That place is a miasma land.Those who committed serious crimes were assigned to Jiubian in the north and Lingnan in the south.

The imperial minister was transferred to Guangdong and Guangxi to serve as the governor. It was like his unlucky mother opening the door for him, and he was unlucky enough.

Liu Jian added: "Xiong Xiu has already put up a sign as the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi in the Ministry of Personnel and received a letter of appointment. It's a done deal for him to go to Guangdong and Guangxi. But if he can read a copy of Ma Wensheng before taking office, things will be easier to handle."

Jiao Fang asked: "Shenzhen Ma Wensheng? On what charge?"

Liu Jian replied: "There is no charge for joining Ma Wensheng. The word 'aging' is enough! Ma Wensheng is already 80 years old. The official position of the Ministry of Personnel is so important, how can we appoint an octogenarian?"

Jiao Fang volunteered: "I have some friendship with Xiong Xiu. I will tell him what to do."

When it comes to fanning evil winds, igniting will-o'-the-wisps, and sowing dissension, Jiao Fang is an expert.

This is why, when Liu Jin was considering candidates for new cabinet members, the first thing that came to mind was not his own secret ally Jiao Fang, but Wang Hua, who was upright and had a good reputation.

Three days later, Jin Yiwei.

Lao Bing Qian Neng found Chang Feng in a hurry.

Qian Neng said: "There is a censor involved in impeaching Ma Wensheng!"

Qian Neng was Wang Shu's best friend, and Wang Shu was Ma Wensheng's best friend.Therefore, Qian Neng and Ma Wensheng can be regarded as old friends.

As Qian Neng gets older, the last thing he wants to see is for his old friend to be impeached.

When Chang Feng heard this, he slapped the table: "What kind of blind bastard would try to impeach Ma Laobu Tang?"

Qian Neng replied: "There is a young censor named He Tianqu from the Metropolitan Procuratorate."

Liu Jian did not dare to go to court to impeach Ma Wensheng, so he sent Jiao Fang to persuade Xiong Xiu.Xiong Xiu didn't dare to go to court to impeach Ma Wensheng, so he provoked He Tianqu, a stupid young man in his twenties.

Chang Feng asked: "Why is he involved in Ma Laobu Hall? No matter what he is involved in, the factory guards have ways to clean up Ma Laobu Hall. It is the duty of factory guards to protect virtuous ministers!"

Qian Neng sighed: "You can't tell why He Tianqu participated in the impeachment of Ma Laobu Tang."

Chang Feng frowned: "Is there any crime that the factory guard can't get over?"

Qian Neng said: "He Tianqu participated in the impeachment of Ma Laobu Tang. He is aging."

Chang Feng was stunned: "Aging?"

Chang Feng has been in charge of Jinyiwei for more than ten years.You can turn black into white and good into bad.Only with the word aging, he could not make things right for Ma Wen.

Ma Wensheng is already an octogenarian and very senile.This is a fact.

Halfway through the morning session the day before yesterday, Ma Wensheng fell asleep while standing in the courtyard in front of the royal gate, snoring.

Although Lao Ma hasn't started to get confused yet, he is very clear-headed when handling government affairs.But he is 80 years old after all.

Even in future generations, the 80-year-old organization minister is considered super old.What’s more, the Ming Dynasty had an average life expectancy of 40 years?

Chang Feng said: "If you can't solve the reason for impeachment of aging, then solve the impeachment person! Call Shi Wenyi!"

Not long after, Shi Wenyi came to Chang Feng.

Chang Feng said: "You immediately go and check He Tianqu, the censor of the Procuratorate. I will know exactly whose melons he stole when he was a child, and whose widow he peeped in to take a bath!"

Shi Wenyi cupped his hands and said, "Yes."

Chang Feng said to Qian Neng again: "Don't worry, Eunuch Qian. Even if it costs my life, I will keep Ma Wensheng."

Two days later, Ma Wensheng moved to the mansion.

Ma Wensheng was half lying on the lounge chair, squinting his eyes and basking in the sun.

Chang Feng came over: "Ma Laobu Tang."

Ma Wensheng seemed to be asleep and did not answer.

Chang Feng gently pushed Ma Wensheng's shoulder, and Ma Wensheng woke up: "Ah, Chang Xiaoyou."

Chang Feng said: "I have found out clearly. Xiong Xiu, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi who has not yet taken office, instructed the censor He Tianqu to deliver a report to the emperor about your aging."

"As long as you say a word, I will ruin Xiong Xiu and He Tianqu's reputation!"

"We have solved the problem of the person who participated in you and his backstage. Naturally, your position as Heavenly Official remains as unshakable as Mount Tai."

Ma Wensheng smiled bitterly: "I know it was Xiong Xiu who ordered it."

Chang Feng was stunned: "You know?"

Ma Wensheng said calmly: "I have been in charge of the official department for 16 years, and I am not deaf or blind. The factory guards may not necessarily be better informed than me about court matters."

"You said you want Xiong Xiu and He Tianqu to be ruined? Why?"

Chang Feng said quickly: "They attacked the virtuous ministers."

Ma Wensheng rubbed his cloudy old eyes with his hands: "The reason why they impeached me is correct. I am indeed old and about to die."

"It's true that Xiong Xiu is angry with me, and it's true that he doesn't want to go to Guangdong and Guangxi to take office. However, this person is a great talent in suppressing bandits in Anjiang. He is a Cantonese himself and is familiar with the local people. In the entire court, he is the only one who is most suitable to serve as the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi. .”

"He Tianqu participated in my aging. What they said is true. A small seventh-level censor dared to say things that everyone in the court knew but no one dared to say. I really admire He Tianqu's courage. . This person has the potential to be the censor of Zuodu."

"Chang Xiaoyou. I'm tired. Since I became a Jinshi in the second year of Jingtai, I have served the imperial court for 53 years." "During this period, I served as an official and censor; I patrolled Shanxi and Huguang; I served as a governor in Fujian and was in charge of criminal names; I was a minister of the Ministry of War in charge of the Beijing camp; I was a governor of Liaodong and participated in Chenghualiting; I was a governor of water transportation and in charge of grain; and finally I took charge of the personnel power of the imperial court for more than ten years. A life with a clear conscience and no regrets.”

"I'm 80 years old. It's time to take a rest. Returning to my roots and dying in my hometown is a good destination."

"I have prepared a resignation letter. I will submit it to the emperor this afternoon."

Ma Wensheng's words made Chang Feng inexplicably sad.

In a few words, Lao Ma told all his life experiences.It's easy to say it, but to actually go through this period of life, I don't know how many difficulties and obstacles I have to go through.

Chang Feng persuaded Ma Wensheng to stay: "Ma Butang, the Ming Dynasty cannot live without you!"

Ma Wensheng smiled slightly: "That's wrong. No matter who is missing in this world, the sun and the moon will still turn around, and the years will still pass."

"Before I submitted my resignation letter, I only asked you for one thing. After I leave, don't embarrass Xiong Xiu and He Tianqu. I have been the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel for so many years. I know the abilities of court officials well."

"Xiong Xiu is a talented person who controls the border. He Tianqu dares to impeach me, an official in the Ministry of Civil Affairs, which shows that he is not afraid of high officials and powerful people."

This is the true wise minister.Anyone else would have regarded Xiong Xiu and He Tianqu as enemies.Ma Wensheng treated the two of them with tolerance.Instead of pursuing them, we want to protect them.

Chang Feng burst into tears when he heard this.

Ever since he got older, Chang Feng has cried more and more.

Ma Wensheng smiled and said, "Don't cry. If the butcher of Jin Yiwei sheds tears, others will think you are a kind woman."

In the afternoon of that day, a famous scene in the history of the Ming Dynasty took place.

Ma Wensheng wrote a memorial, saying that he was old and frail, and was already an octogenarian.It was difficult for him to fulfill his position as a Heavenly Official in the Ministry of Civil Affairs, so he begged Emperor Zhengde for his bones.

Zou Shu arrived at the cabinet for duty first.

Liu Jian and Xie Qian were shocked!Originally, they thought that the old fox Ma Wensheng would fight back.It would take a lot of trouble for Lao Ma to pack up and go back to his hometown.

But Ma Wensheng took the initiative to resign?
It is a big deal for the officials and heavenly officials to beg for bones.The three elders of the cabinet immediately entered the palace and presented the memorial to Emperor Zhengde.

Although Emperor Zhengde was playful and rebellious.But he still knows who the good minister is.

Emperor Zhengde immediately expressed his stance and dismissed Ma Wensheng's memorial.He also wrote some words of encouragement in the memorial.

Liu Jian and Xie Qian frowned: It seems that Lao Ma expected that the emperor would reject this resignation letter.Lao Ma was putting on a show for the courtiers.Does he want to just get away with it and continue to serve as a heavenly official?There is no door!
Liu Jian discussed with Xie Qian.It was decided that in a few days, He Tianqu would be asked to write a memorial again to impeach Ma Wensheng's aging.

Liu Jian and Xie Qian thought too much.Not everyone loves power.

The next day, Ma Wensheng once again submitted the memorial to beg for the bones.This time Emperor Zhengde was a little anxious.After two memorials, it seems that Lao Ma really wants to retire.

So Emperor Zhengde dismissed the memorial again and wrote some touching words of condolences.

The next day, Ma Wensheng wrote three memorials.Emperor Zhengde rejected it for the third time.

On the third day, Ma Wensheng wrote a memorial to the fourth emperor.Emperor Zhengde rejected it for the fourth time.

On the fourth day, Ma Wensheng wrote five memorials.Emperor Zhengde rejected it for the fifth time.

If the author keeps writing like this, he can defraud readers of 320 words of manuscript fee.

Because of Ma Wensheng's resignation letter, it was posted 21 times in 21 consecutive days.Emperor Zhengde rejected it twenty times.

No. 20 After the resignation letter, Emperor Zhengde led his cabinet members, six ministers, nine ministers, princes, governors of the fifth army, and eight tigers to Ma Wensheng's residence to persuade him to stay.

In the hall of Ma Mansion.

Emperor Zhengde looked with admiration at the couplets inscribed by Yu Qian on both sides of the hall.

"The green bamboo serves as the bones of the soul lotus"

"The people's hearts are like mirrors and the moon lingers in their hearts"

Emperor Zhengde suddenly remembered that Ma Wensheng was Yu Qian's student.

Lao Ma and a group of ministers stood behind Emperor Zhengde.

Emperor Zhengde turned around and ordered: "Give Mr. Ma a seat."

Ma Wensheng quickly shied away: "There is no place for ministers to sit in front of the emperor."

Emperor Zhengde sighed: "If the distinguished veteran doesn't sit down, I don't dare to sit down either."

Ma Wensheng had no choice but to sit down.

Emperor Zhengde said in a pleading tone: "Mr. Ma, please don't resign, okay?"

Ma Wensheng said sincerely: "Your Majesty, I am not willing to leave the court where I have served for 53 years. However, I am already old. I don't know how many people will hate me if I continue to hold the position of official in the Ministry of Civil Affairs." !”

When he said this, Ma Wensheng looked at Liu Jian.

Liu Jian believed that his involvement in impeaching Ma Wensheng was done perfectly, and no one would doubt that he was the initiator.

Little did they know, how could such a little trick fool Ma Wensheng, a veteran of the Five Dynasties!
Emperor Zhengde said angrily: "Who dares to hate Mr. Ma? I asked the Jin Yiwei to peel off his skin!"

Ma Wensheng said: "Your Majesty, I have been dreaming about the carp braised noodles in my hometown in Henan from time to time during these days. I have not been back to my hometown for 53 years since I was awarded the title of imperial censor in the second year of Jingtai!"

"I hope to die in my hometown. Before I die, I also want to eat Yanjin-style carp braised noodles again."

Emperor Zhengde said: "I will ask the imperial chef to cook it for you."

Ma Wensheng smiled and said: "The carp braised noodles made in the capital are not the taste of Henan. Your Majesty, I am tired. The 53 winters and summers of serving the imperial court have exhausted all my energy."

"Now I just want to go back to Henan to choose a good coffin and a good cemetery."

Emperor Zhengde was an emotional young emperor.

Ma Wensheng's words made him so sad that tears filled his eyes: "If I had more virtuous ministers like Mr. Ma, why would I worry that my prosperous age could not last forever?"

Ma Wensheng smiled slightly, his mouth already toothless: "Your Majesty, a country has its own good ministers. A new generation replaces the old ones. I have a candidate who can be my successor and take care of the staff!"

Liu Jian, Xie Qian, and Liu Jin felt their hearts tremble.

Liu Jian and Xie Qian hoped that Jiao Fang could take over as Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.Because they think Jiao Fang is theirs.By that time, the Liu and Xie groups had taken control of personnel power and exerted real power on the government and the opposition.

Liu Jin also hoped that Jiao Fang could take over as Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.The Eight Tigers will receive strong reinforcements.

Unexpectedly, before leaving, Lao Ma recommended the successor to the official of the Ministry of Civil Affairs to Emperor Zhengde.In this sad situation of separation between monarch and minister, I am afraid that Emperor Zhengde would happily agree if Ma Wensheng recommended a fool.

Emperor Zhengde said: "Oh? Who does Mr. Ma recommend?"

Ma Wensheng replied: "Xu Jin, the left minister of the Ministry of War!"

Wang Shu, Ma Wensheng, and Xu Jin all belong to a special clique of civil servants - the Jiangchen Party.

They have a common experience, that is, they have served as frontier ministers at the border, led troops, and fought in wars.

Xu Jin once served as governor of Datong and governor of Liaodong.It is exactly the same as Ma Wensheng's official career. He became a general when he left the country, and he became an important official in the capital when he entered.

Xu Jin not only belongs to the Xinjiang Chen Party with Ma Wensheng, but he is also Ma Wensheng's little fan.I'm afraid that when Ma Wensheng said that the sun is dark, Xu Jin would echo, "Oh, it's really darker than ink."

Ma Wensheng glanced at Liu Jian and Xie Qian with a sly look.

Do you think that if I resign and return home, you will be able to control the civil service department?
Daydreaming!

Even if our old man goes back to his hometown in Henan, he will still leave his shadow in the main hall of the Ministry of Civil Affairs!

Emperor Zhengde happily agreed: "Okay, as Mr. Ma said, Xu Jin, the left minister of the Ministry of War of the Jin Dynasty, will be appointed as the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Mr. Ma will also be given the title of Guanglu doctor and Taifu, and he will be allowed to keep the first grade and double salary until he becomes an official. It can be used on the way home. Guards of honor for officials and heavenly officials.”

The ownership of the Minister of Civil Affairs has been settled.

Ma Wensheng raised his hands to all the ministers and said, "Before Wang Yue carried the coffin to the Western Expedition, he said two words to the people who were seeing him off. Today, I will give these words to you."

"There are times of success and failure, so don't be discouraged. The mountains are high and the roads are far away. May all the kings go straight up!"

(End of this chapter)