Daming: Apocalypse of Longevity

Chapter 227 Cabinet Change
Therefore, throughout the meeting, Lai Zongdao looked at Zhu Tianqi eagerly, as if he was constantly hinting to Zhu Tianqi with his eyes to remind him of his retirement and return to his hometown.

Another "idle person" Zhou Daodeng didn't come to the meeting at all. He took sick leave half a month ago. Zhu Tianqi didn't care about it. After all, it didn't make any difference whether Zhou Daodeng came or not. It was estimated that Zhou Daodeng was also older this time. I was too lazy to move, so I just pretended to be sick.

A few days later, the matter was made public at the court meeting. The post of Minister of Rites was vacant for the time being, and Zhu Tianqi had to search for a suitable candidate.

Because the matter had been discussed with the cabinet long ago, and the meeting was just an announcement and a formality, Zhu Tianqi was a little absent-minded. He noticed that Zhou Daodeng was not present again.

After retiring from the court, Zhu Tianqi sent Wang Yuanbao and the imperial doctor to visit Zhou Daodeng's house. To Zhu Tianqi's surprise, Wang Yuanbao reported that the imperial doctor had personally checked Zhou Daodeng's pulse, and Zhou Daodeng was already terminally ill. He may not have many days to live.

In fact, this thing is not sudden. It's just that Zhu Tianqi ignored Zhou Daodeng too much before. This time, Zhou Daodeng was about the same age as Xu Guangqi and Sun Chengzong, and he was indeed too old.

It can be said that Zhou Daodeng's sudden serious illness made Zhu Tianqi feel a little unprepared. At first, he thought he had a period of time to select new six ministers and cabinet ministers to replace Zhou Daodeng and Lai Zongdao. Don’t wait for anyone!

Zhu Tianqi can't take care of anything now, two of the six books were empty at once, wouldn't it be a mess, he felt that he dug out the history books and started looking for candidates in it, and then he found a suitable person—— —Sun Chuanting.

"Wang Yuanbao, go quickly and summon Sun Chuanting to the capital!"

Wang Yuanbao couldn't help being stunned after hearing this, and asked cautiously: "Your Majesty, this Sun Chuanting, where should I find him?"

Zhu Tianqi pointed at the history books and said without raising his head: "First go to the Ministry of Civil Affairs and ask. In the past, Sun Chuanting served as a doctor in the Ministry of Civil Affairs. If the Ministry of Civil Affairs cannot find his whereabouts, he will go to the Shanxi Governor's Office. Let’s look for him in Daizhou Zhenwuwei’s hometown!”

Wang Yuanbao secretly wrote down Zhu Tianqi's words, and hurriedly saluted and accepted the order: "I obey the order!" After saying that, he ran out quickly.

Zhu Tianqi rubbed his temples with his hands and frowned. Sun Chuanting could not solve the problem. Just now, Zhu Tianqi went through the information of the six current ministers and found out that except for Sun Yuanhua and Qian Longxi, who are relatively young, several others All of them are already quite old. If according to historical records, Liu Hongxun only has two years left to live.

Zhu Tianqi's original plan was to wait for the students from Shuntianfu University to graduate, then select the best among them to take over the positions of the six ministers, and gradually replace these old guys, but now it seems that water from afar cannot quench the thirst of the near!

Zhu Tianqi had no choice but to continue looking for candidates in historical records, and then he found Shi Kefa, who was serving in the Ministry of Household Affairs, and promoted Shi Kefa to the position of Minister of Household Affairs.

Ten days later, Sun Chuanting was summoned to Beijing to face the Holy Emperor, and Zhu Tianqi received him in Huangji Hall.

Sun Chuanting was a versatile civil and military man. If he had been serving in the court, he might have become the second-in-command of the Six Ministries. However, he was not a person who wanted to follow the crowd. He chose to resign and return home because he couldn't stand Wei Zhongxian's dictatorship.

After returning home, Sun Chuanting initially lived a quite leisurely life, serving his mother and teaching students. His life was filled with music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry and wine.

However, later, due to the widespread disasters in Shaanxi Province, peasant uprisings and border army rebellions occurred frequently, Sun Chuanting began to pay attention to the military affairs of the imperial court, hoping that one day he could help the imperial court to bring peace to the world.

Originally, as the local situation became more and more turbulent, Sun Chuanting's mentality became more and more pessimistic. However, as the imperial court launched a series of new tax reform policies and implemented various disaster relief policies for the Chief Envoy of Shaanxi Province, Sun Chuanting couldn't help but marvel.

Seeing that the local area was becoming more and more peaceful, the disasters were effectively contained, and the Ming Dynasty became stronger and stronger year by year, allowing Sun Chuanting, who was originally very disappointed with the court, to see hope again.

Later, Sun Chuanting even heard that the emperor personally went on a military expedition and annihilated the eight-banner army of [-] slaves. Later, he sent troops to attack the Tatars in the north, Liaodong in the east, and the Japanese slaves in the south. All the Ming armies were victorious in every battle, and they were as powerful as a broken bamboo. While Sun Chuanting was shocked, he was also full of admiration and admiration for the emperor.

Sun Chuanting had long been tempted and wanted to return to the court and contribute to the coming prosperous age of the Ming Dynasty. The current court is no longer as smoky and dark as when Wei Zhongxian came to power, but it can allow talented people to show their talents. Fist and kick, a great time to realize your ideals and ambitions.

Therefore, after Sun Chuanting received the emperor's order to summon him to the capital, he immediately set off for the capital to meet the emperor. He had long wanted to come to the capital to meet his majesty the emperor, whom he admired very much!

Zhu Tianqi took a look at the gentle and tough northwest man in front of him, and asked with a smile: "Sun Chuanting, it is the time for the imperial court to employ people. Do you have any plans to enter the imperial court as an official again?"

Sun Chuanting was not pretentious either, and immediately answered with clasped fists: "Back to the emperor, although Sun has been at home all these years, he has always cared about the court, and he has long thought of serving the court again. Sun has not yet understood the imperial examination..."

Zhu Tianqi couldn't help laughing after hearing this, waved his hand and said: "Don't study the new imperial examination anymore. I don't know when you will have to wait until you pass the new imperial examination. I can't afford to wait. You have already Serving in the Ministry of Officials, as long as you are willing, I will reinstate you as an official today!"

Sun Chuanting's mention of the new imperial examination was just an excuse. He had no real intention to take part in the new imperial examination. It was just that he resigned and returned to his hometown on his own before. Now even if he wanted to come back and become an official, he had no way. He couldn't say I have always wanted to come back and become an official, but I have never found a way, right?

Now that the emperor has asked himself so straightforwardly, Sun Chuanting immediately replied: "Of course Sun is willing!"

Zhu Tianqi nodded, and immediately turned to Wang Yuanbao and said: "Pass the decree, Sun Chuanting official will be reinstated!"

Wang Yuanbao immediately took out an imperial edict prepared in advance and declared it.

Sun Chuanting retired after receiving the order to thank him, and went back to arrange for his subordinates to move their families to the capital. Sun Chuanting also went to the Ministry of Personnel to report his appointment the next day.But when Sun Chuanting arrived at the Ministry of Personnel, he found that Wang Yuanbao was already there. Just as Sun Chuanting was about to go over to see the gift, he saw Wang Yuanbao taking out an imperial decree and loudly said: "Sun Chuanting, the doctor of the Jixun Division of the Ministry of Personnel, accepts the decree!"

Sun Chuanting quickly knelt down to listen to the order.

Wang Yuanbao immediately read out the imperial edict in public and promoted Sun Chuanting to the rank of Minister of Rites, which shocked all the officials in the Ministry of Personnel. Sun Chuanting had been promoted several levels in a row!
Soon, the news that Shi Kefa and Sun Chuanting were promoted spread throughout the court. Everyone privately discussed that Shi Kefa and Sun Chuanting were likely to be re-employed. It was quite clear that the emperor had promoted Sun Chengzong, Xu Guangqi, Sun Yuanhua and Yuan Chonghuan again. The meaning of the four people is that it may not be long before Shi Kefa and Sun Chuanting join the cabinet.

Because of the lessons learned from the past, no one dared to go against Shi Kefa and Sun Chuanting this time. They all started to get close to them, leaving Shi Kefa and Sun Chuanting speechless.

Half a month later, the news of Zhou Daodeng's death reached the palace. Zhu Tianqi sighed and sent Wang Yuanbao to send a pension to Zhou Daodeng's mansion. He buried Zhou Daodeng generously and gave him a posthumous gift to the crown prince. They were just messing around, but at any rate, he had always been his staunch supporter, especially when he was struggling with the Donglin Party in the early stage, he tried his best.

After Zhou Daodeng's death, the position of the Minister of Rites became vacant. Two of the six ministers were suddenly missing. Zhu Tianqi had to convene the cabinet again to discuss the change of positions.

Nowadays, Liu Hongxun is also old and has no ambition to confront the emperor anymore. Qian Longxi has been much more compliant since he came back from the last acceptance of the warship. So it is said that it is a discussion, and it is basically Zhu Tianqi who makes the decision alone. thing.

After the position adjustment, Liu Hongxun returned to the Ministry of Rites and served as Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Qian Longxi was still the Minister of the Ministry of War, Sun Yuanhua was still the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and Lai Zongdao was still the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment.

Sun Chuanting was appointed as the new Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Shi Kefa was appointed as the new Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs. It can be said that in just over half a month, Sun Chuanting and Shi Kefa became the top leaders of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Household Affairs, and then they also They were all awarded the title of Grand Bachelor of Dongge and entered the cabinet.

With the rapid development within the Ming Dynasty, all walks of life were changing with each passing day, and the power and status of the six ministers had long been different from before.

In the past, the six ministers, the Minister of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel, had the highest status. Nowadays, all the affairs have been rectified and standardized. Whether it is the imperial examination or the appointment and assessment of officials, they have been institutionalized. The power of the minister has been In order to contain and weaken him, he became a high-level wage earner.

On the contrary, it is the Minister of Industry and the Minister of Household Affairs, because now the Ming Dynasty is moving towards industrialization in various ministries, and the finance and taxation of the Ming Dynasty is also improving and developing towards modernization. The ministers of these two departments are becoming increasingly powerful.

Sun Yuanhua, the Minister of Industry, is well-deserved as the chief minister of the cabinet.

Although Zhu Tianqi has now used Shi Kefa and Sun Chuanting to make up for the vacancies of Xu Guangqi and Zhou Daodeng, Zhu Tianqi has to continue to look for two reliable people as backup, because Lai Zongdao has really begun to desperately provide He submitted his resignation, and Liu Hongxun's body seemed to be getting worse day by day, which made Zhu Tianqi feel a little dizzy.

Later, news came back from Japan that Kyoto had been captured. Emperor Mingzheng of Japan had officially surrendered to the Ming Dynasty and was willing to be a vassal of the Ming Dynasty for generations to come.

Zhu Tianqi then sent the canonization edict to the Japanese state. In addition to canonizing Emperor Mingzheng of the Japanese state, it also listed various conditions that the Japanese state needed to accept after surrendering to the Ming Dynasty. Compared with the peace talks between the two countries at that time, these conditions were The conditions are much more stringent.

First of all, Emperor Meisho wants to cancel his title of "Emperor" and tell the people of the world that the Emperor is not a descendant of the gods. The so-called mythical figures such as Amaterasu are also fictitious legends, fabricated out of thin air by the Japanese royal family in order to consolidate their rule. Come on, in fact the title "Emperor" is copied from the title of Emperor Taizong Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty.

The Japanese nation is a country with strong national self-confidence. All the Japanese people believe that they are a superior nation. This is largely due to the legend that the "Emperor" is a descendant of the Gods and that the entire Yamato nation is a descendant of the Gods. , and if you want the Japanese people to completely surrender to the Ming Dynasty, then trampling on their national self-confidence is what must be done.

At this time, the Emperor of Japan was only eight or nine years old. He knew nothing at all and could not make the decision in anything. It was helpless to ask her to stand up and surrender. It was also the Japanese royal family and ministers who were behind the scenes. They were all ready to betray the country. Why do you care about the plan to seek glory? Even if it is signed by Emperor Mingzheng.

Subsequently, Wu Sangui, the representative of the Ming Dynasty, read out the Ming Dynasty's canonization edict to the Japanese emperor, conferring him the title of King of Japan and bestowing him with an edict, a gold seal, and clothes and jade belts.

Then, according to the conditions listed in the surrender document of the Ming Dynasty, even if the Japanese country has surrendered, after surrendering to the Ming Dynasty, the follow-up disposal policy for the Japanese country must still be implemented in accordance with the previous "Disposal Plan for the Occupied Areas".

Except for the Japanese soldiers who surrendered to the Ming Dynasty and were willing to serve the Ming Dynasty, all men in the Japanese country had to be transferred to Siberia, while the women had to go to the entertainment venues opened by the Ming Dynasty in the Japanese country to engage in related service work.

Of course, the dignitaries of the Japanese country were naturally unwilling to go to extremely cold places like Siberia, and since many of them had long been Japanese traitors and had been secretly serving the Ming Dynasty and promoting the surrender of the Japanese country, the Ming Dynasty also Don’t burn bridges across rivers.

Therefore, Zhu Tianqi then asked Wu Sangui to set up a special inspection team in the Wa Kingdom to review all the dignitaries and feudal lords of the Wa Kingdom, leaving only those who are absolutely loyal to Ming Dynasty, but anyone who can pick out some faults and stains must be All homes were searched, people were distributed, and those with serious problems were punished.

So far, the problem of the Wa Kingdom has basically been resolved, because it was Wu Sangui who captured the capital first and won the first victory in the war against the Japanese, so the follow-up management of the Wa Kingdom was handed over to Wu Sangui, Li Banghua and Zheng Zhilong was ordered to evacuate the Wa Kingdom, and returned to the capital to return his orders.

Although the Japanese state has surrendered to the Ming Dynasty, there are still many problems that need to be solved in the future. In those places that have not been conquered and occupied by the Ming army, there are still many local governments that maintain their independence and autonomy, and the Ming army still needs to defeat and occupy them one by one.

In order to commend Wu Sangui, Zhu Tianqi named him a general who conquered Japan, and ordered him to stay in the Japanese country and be responsible for the subsequent construction, operation and management of the Japanese country.

At the same time, Zhu Tianqi also sent a team of civilian officials to Wu Sangui to assist Wu Sangui in carrying out his work in the Japanese country. After all, Wu Sangui was only a military commander and he was still very young. Although he was a good fighter, he was not necessarily reliable in governing the place. .

(End of this chapter)