Daming: Apocalypse of Longevity

Chapter 79 Cabinet Candidates

Hearing that the ministers were quarreling over the selection of cabinet ministers and six ministers, Zhu Tianqi breathed a sigh of relief. The reason why he "gived in" so quickly this time was because he deeply understood a truth - "People They are often united when facing a common enemy, but when faced with interests, they are greedy and selfish!"

However, Zhu Tianqi could not care less about watching the show from the other side. He was more anxious than these ministers, because once the cabinet was established, he would appoint, promote, or remove officials according to his personal wishes. It can't be done. When the time comes, the cabinet will have to give the nod.

Therefore, he had to hurry up and arrange a few people he trusted before these ministers submitted the list of candidates they recommended.

Even though Zhu Tianqi now controls the Supervisor of Ceremonies and holds the decision-making power tightly in his own hands, the cabinet has the "right to refute".

Although the cabinet is not so strong and domineering when exercising this power, the cabinet ministers do not dare to openly reject the emperor's orders. Instead, they often respectfully send back the memorials approved by the emperor Zhubi, and then the cabinet ministers lead them. A group of cabinet ministers took turns urging the emperor to "think twice" until you took back the order. The result was that the emperor's order could not be implemented.

Of course, as the emperor, Zhu Tianqi can naturally veto the cabinet's "votes". Whatever the cabinet wants to do, it cannot be done without Zhu Tianqi's nod.

In short, if the opinions of the emperor and the cabinet cannot be unified, the result will be that no one can succeed, and it is very likely that nothing will be done in the end. But most of the time, the court's affairs cannot be delayed, even if the ministers If you can spare it, the emperor can't spare it either!
Therefore, in the power game with the cabinet, the emperor is often the last party to compromise, and the emperor is often at a disadvantage. Although he has supreme imperial power, he cannot withstand the opponent's large number of people. After all, six or seven cabinet ministers cannot "persuad" him. When the emperor is moved, they will mobilize hundreds of officials to "persuade" until the emperor chooses to compromise because he cannot withstand the huge pressure from the officials!

Zhu Tianqi cannot tolerate his power being emptied out by the cabinet, and he also knows very well that once the cabinet is controlled by the civil servant group in the DPRK, all his previous efforts will be in vain and his achievements will be in vain, so the cabinet must be controlled by himself!

In the past few days, Zhu Tianqi desperately read the history books, looking for suitable candidates, but there were not many candidates to choose from, because whether they were cabinet ministers or six ministers, they were important positions in the court, and people without a certain foundation and status were It is difficult to convince the public, so it is best to choose people who have served as cabinet ministers.

Among the previous cabinet members, now only Qian Longxi and Liu Hongxun are left. Lai Zongdao, who was supposed to retire and return to his hometown in June next year, has already resigned and returned to his hometown while investigating the eunuchs. The history books say that Lai Zongdao resigned in advance and returned to his hometown. Zongdao's evaluation is that he "knows how to advance and retreat." Zhu Tianqi believes that such people should be relatively obedient.

Moreover, Lai Zongdao is a man with acceptable abilities and a good reputation. He was also highly regarded by Zhu Youxiao in the past. If he chooses him to join the cabinet, he should be justified both emotionally and logically.

The second candidate Zhu Tianqi liked was Zhou Daodeng. Most of the evaluations of Zhou Daodeng in history books were that he was "stupid and dull" and was good at "pretending to be a grandson." Cabinet members rarely die well, but Zhou Daodeng, a man with a shallow foundation, escaped unscathed in the end!
However, Zhu Tianqi didn't care whether Zhou Daodeng was really stupid or pretending to be stupid. The reason why he admired Zhou Daodeng was mainly because Zhou Daodeng was good at "recognizing one's weakness". He probably didn't dare to confront him head-on, and it was easier for him to control.

But this week Daodeng is no better than Lai Zongdao. He has no foundation. The reason why he was able to enter the cabinet back then was mostly due to luck. He was lucky enough to be drawn by Chongzhen.That's right, it was a drawing of lots. Because the party dispute between North Korea and China was serious at that time, no matter who was elected to the cabinet, it would arouse resistance from the other side. Therefore, Chongzhen created a "divination ceremony", which was to put the names of several candidates together. Then use an ivory pick to pick out the paper sign inside. Whoever's name is picked will be admitted to the cabinet. It is simply a lottery meeting.

Facts have proved that this "Divination Ceremony" is indeed "unreasonable". In the more than 200 years of the Ming Dynasty, there were only more than a hundred cabinet ministers. However, in the short period of 17 years, Chongzhen Dynasty actually had more than 50 cabinet ministers. There is no one who is reliable, so it can be seen that Chongzhen can indeed have a dark face!

Zhu Tianqi didn't want to hold this kind of nonsense lottery meeting. Since he had asked the ministers to recommend candidates, he would just wait for them to submit the list and then choose from them.

Of course, before that, I have to select a few suitable candidates in advance. After all, there are not many candidates who can meet the criteria for joining the cabinet. The two people I like are most likely to be on their recommendation list.

In addition to selecting Zongdao and Zhou Daodeng, Zhu Tianqi has ordered Wang Yuanbao to prepare an edict with the Supervisor of Ceremonies, conferring Xu Guangqi the title of Bachelor of the East Pavilion, and is preparing to let him join the cabinet. This position of chief minister of the cabinet is a must. It is done by someone you trust.

Among Zhu Tianqi's trusted ministers, only Xu Guangqi and Sun Chengzong are qualified to join the cabinet and serve as the chief assistants of the cabinet. Sun Chengzong is more qualified and well-established than Xu Guangqi. Unfortunately, Sun Chengzong is now the governor of Ji Liao, and Liaodong has not yet Ping, it was impossible for him to recall him, so he could only let Xu Guangqi serve as the chief minister of the cabinet.

It's not that Zhu Tianqi is dissatisfied with Xu Guangqi's ability, but because he wants to push Xu Guangqi to the position of chief minister of the cabinet. The resistance he must face is much higher than that of choosing Sun Chengzong. But now, it is not possible. I can only bite the bullet.

However, the reaction of the ministers was beyond Zhu Tianqi's expectations. After Xu Guangqi was awarded the title of Dongge University Bachelor, none of the ministers stood up to express objection, probably because this was something they had expected. After all, this For some time, the emperor had not seen anyone, but he was only willing to summon Xu Guangqi and Sun Chengzong. His reliance on these two people was already obvious.

Especially Sun Chengzong, who had been directly promoted from Dongge University to Zhongjidian University, he seemed to have become the chief assistant of the cabinet, but he did not expect that the emperor would not let him work in Beijing in the end, but let him go to Liaodong as a post. Supervisor.

However, although Sun Chengzong left, Xu Guangqi was still there. Since the emperor did not ask Sun Chengzong to be the chief minister of the cabinet, he would most likely leave the position of chief minister to Xu Guangqi.

Although the ministers were naturally unwilling to see the position of chief minister occupied by Xu Guangqi, but now the emperor has made concessions and given up the seats of several cabinet ministers and six ministers. They You can't be too ignorant of current affairs, you should still "reciprocate with courtesy"!
(End of this chapter)