My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

Chapter 31 Sending Sun Chengzong off
The wheels of the cart were spinning smoothly. After a brief exchange with Wei Zhongxian, Wei Zhongxian was asked to prepare, starting with digging trenches.

The carriage stopped for a moment, and after putting Wei Zhongxian down, Zhu Youxiao flipped through a copy of the Wanli Era Examination Memorial that someone had found from the Ancient and Modern Tongji Library.

Zhang Juzheng's life was met with mixed reviews.

Those who praise him say that he is an outstanding prime minister, a wonder of the past, and a prime minister who saves the time.

Those who scolded him said that he was monopolizing evidence collection, seeking self-imposed authority, censorship, and disturbing the people.

Whether his reforms were good or bad for the Ming Dynasty is not clear at all.

But the examination method he came up with is definitely a great way to improve administrative efficiency.

The core of the examination method is to determine responsibilities and assess.

Set deadlines for the matters to be done by officials affiliated with the Sixth Ministry and the Metropolitan Procuratorate and register them. Make three copies: one for the Sixth Ministry and the Metropolitan Procuratorate, one for the Sixth Section, and one for the Cabinet.

The Sixth Ministries and the Metropolitan Procuratorate register according to the account books and conduct monthly inspections on the matters undertaken by their subordinate officials. Every time one is completed, one item must be logged out. Otherwise, it must be reported truthfully.

The Sixth Section requires the Sixth Department to report the implementation status every six months based on the account book registration. Violators will be dealt with in limited cases.

The cabinet will verify the audit work of the six departments.

Anyone who conceals errors in any aspect of the Sixth Department, the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the Sixth Section will be subject to corresponding sanctions.

This move allowed the cabinet to truly take control of the real power.

At the beginning, Zhu Yuanzhang abolished the prime minister, established a cabinet, and took charge of national affairs. The cabinet's responsibilities were essentially just drafting edicts and had no actual power.

However, Renzong (Zhu Gaochi, nine months old) and Xuanzong (Zhu Zhanji, ten years old) died young, leaving behind a nine-year-old emperor named Zhu Qizhen. Empress Dowager Zhang (Empress Renzong of the Ming Dynasty) was in charge, and there was internal pressure on Wang Zhen, Empress Dowager Sun used three Yang (Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, and Yang Pu) to assist the government, which kicked off the cabinet's control of the power of the prime minister.

However, this power of the cabinet is illegal, so the memorial proposed by the cabinet must be visited in the palace.

Even if Zhang Juzheng had the endorsement of Empress Dowager Li, held Longqing's edict, and was collaborating with Feng Baokang, the memorial he approved had to be seen in the palace. Even if the young Emperor Wanli couldn't understand anything, the meaning must be in place. .

Once the emperor became strong, the cabinet would become a decoration. This led to the reputation of the three pavilions made of paper and the six ministers made of clay during the Chenghua period.

Although Zhang Juzheng's examination method did not allow the cabinet to replace the power of the prime minister, it also greatly increased the power of the cabinet: six ministries supervised various localities, six subjects supervised six ministries, and the cabinet supervised six subjects.

Through the layer-by-layer approach of nesting dolls, the cabinet had the power to interfere with the six ministries, and Zhang Juzheng achieved the feat of suppressing the six ministries in the Ming Dynasty.

After Zhang Juzheng's death, the examination law was abolished, and the cabinet lost its power to supervise the six subjects.

However, the Liu Ke Yan Guan still has the power to supervise the officials of the Six Ministries. Once someone wants to take the position, just find someone from the Six Ke Ke or the Metropolitan Procuratorate to impeach the person in the position.

This is the fundamental reason why the party has been in trouble since Zhang Juzheng in the late Ming Dynasty!

Looking at the examination regulations in his hand, Zhu Youxiao drew on them with a pen.

For him, the emperor, if there is a serious problem of party disputes in the court, he must take a broad view and use the examination method to identify officials who can do things based on their ability to do things.

Where did this party come from? They were all ministers of the Ming Emperor.

The emperor must not feel that there is party strife in the court, otherwise everyone who sees him will find it unpleasant.

There is a saying that when you have a hammer in your hand, everyone looks like a nail.

Now what he, the emperor, has to do is to determine the six departments and the powers and responsibilities of officials, so that he can judge his merits regardless of his heart, and have evidence for promotion and demotion.

In this way, the revolving door of officials in the court can be avoided to the greatest extent, and a stable and united center can be formed to ensure the normal operation of the state machine.

"Your Majesty, we are here."

Just when Zhu Youxiao was sketching the outline.Liu Shimin's voice came.

"Huh? Are you here? Where are you?"

Zhu Youxiao, who was silent in his heart, was a little confused when he heard this, but then he reacted.

He threw the memorial on the small table and stepped out of the carriage on the small stool.

"The ministers respectfully invite Shengan."

As soon as they got out of the carriage, a group of courtiers gathered around it.

These people came to see off Sun Chengzong. When they saw the emperor coming, of course they came up to say hello to him.

"I'm fine, please be safe." He waved his hand to signal the ministers to get up, and Zhu Youxiao looked at Sun Chengzong, who was wearing a new official robe.

"Master Sun is leaving for Liaodong today. I am a little worried, so I came here to see you off."

"The minister is ashamed and dare not take it."

Hearing this, Sun Chengzong quickly bowed.

"I have told Master Sun before about the matter of Liaodong. We, the Ming Dynasty, are not in a hurry about Liaodong. For now, we will only defend Liaodong, and we can only kill the slaves."

"Since the Gaohuai rebellion in Liao Dynasty, the people of Liaodong have turned against each other. I have thought over and over again and decided that Liaodong will be exempted from taxes for three years."

"On behalf of the people of Liaodong, I would like to thank His Majesty for your great kindness."

Hearing this, Sun Chengzong quickly bowed again.

"Bring it up."

Indicating to Sun Chengzong that there was no need to be polite, Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, and a little eunuch came forward holding an exquisite small box.

"The former eunuch of the Liaodong supervisory army died in the Battle of Sarhu. I currently have no one available, so I will not send the supervisory army to Liaodong."

"However, I am also a little worried about the matter in Liaodong. Recently, Master Sun went to Liaodong. I have nothing to give, so I will give this box I made before to Master Sun."

Zhu Youxiao said, picked up the box with his own hands and placed it in Sun Chengzong's hand.

"This thing was made by me myself. The lock on this box only has two keys."

"One from me, one from Master Sun."

"After Master Sun arrives in Liaodong, if you have anything to say or experience, you can write a secret note, put it in a box, and send it to me by your confidants."

"After this thing is locked, anyone who dares to open it privately, except me, will be punished by the three tribes."

Zhu Youxiao said, and looked at the people surrounding him.

"Your Majesty is so kind, but I am ashamed to accept it."

Hearing what the emperor said, Sun Chengzong was suddenly moved.

What is this, trust.

The emperor made the box with his own hands, and also gave him the right to publish the secret music.

Listen, after it is locked, anyone except the emperor who dares to open it privately will be punished by the three clans.

With this thing in hand, when he arrives in Liaodong, will he still be afraid of people going to the capital to accuse him?
"Your Majesty, this is inconsistent with etiquette."

Just as Sun Chengzong finished speaking, someone next to him said noisily.

Ignoring whoever made the noise, Zhu Youxiao continued to talk to Sun Chengzong.

"It's getting late, Master Sun, let's get on our way."

"Your Majesty, which minister has gone?"

Hearing this, Sun Chengzong saluted Zhu Youxiao again, and then boarded the waiting carriage.

"Alright, please take it seriously."

Seeing Sun Chengzong's carriage leaving, Zhu Youxiao said silently in his heart.

After the carriage went away, Zhu Youxiao had just opened the door curtain of his carriage and was about to get in, when suddenly someone knelt down in front of the carriage with a plop.

"Your Majesty, Yang Lian, risked his own life to remonstrate with me. The son of a rich man cannot sit down in the hall. I ask your Majesty to move you back to the palace."

"Yang Lian?"

Hearing the sound, Zhu Youxiao took back his feet that were already on the bench, turned to look at Yang Lian and asked.

"You want to imitate Hai Rui and criticize dragon scales?"

(End of this chapter)