My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

Chapter 65 Fang Congzhe’s instructions
At nightfall, at the house of Fang Congzhe, the chief assistant of the cabinet, officials Yingzhen and

"I have already written the memorial to my official appointment."

A bright red memorial was placed on the table in front of Fang Congzhe.

Sitting next to him were Guan Yingzhen, leader of the Zhejiang Party, and Qi Shijiao, leader of the Qi Party.

"Tomorrow, I will go to Nanhaizi to see the emperor in person."

"Teacher, what about Donglin?"

"Don't worry, I will make arrangements."

Fang Congzhe was worried about his disciple's understanding, so he called Guan Yingzhen today and planned to give him another lecture.

"Since Gu Xiancheng was dismissed from his post and returned to his hometown in the 22nd year of Wanli, we have been fighting with Donglin for 25 years. Now, there should be a result."

Fang Congzhe seemed to be really an old man at this moment, recalling the prosperous years of the past.

In the 22nd year of Wanli, Gu Xiancheng was dismissed from his post and returned to his hometown because he angered Wanli.

After many travels, in the 33rd year of Wanli, Gu Xiancheng and his younger brothers Gu Yuncheng, Gao Panlong, An Xifan, Liu Yuanzhen, Qian Yiben, Xue Fujiao and Ye Maocai formed the first generation of Donglin senior officials, and were nicknamed the Eighth Young Master of Donglin.

In the same year, eight people initiated the Donglin Conference and formulated the "Donglin Convention", which stipulated that the conference should be held once or twice a year and a small meeting should be held once a month.

With the funding and publicity of unknown people, the reputation of Donglin Academy spread quickly, attracting scholars from all over the world to join.

In the same year, Donglin Party members Censor Wen Chun and Minister of Civil Affairs Yang Shiqiao presided over the Beijing inspection and demoted Zhejiang Party officials Qian Menggao, Zhong Zhaodou and others, but were blocked by Zhejiang Party leader Shen Yiguan.

At this point, the Donglin Party officially entered the political arena of the Ming Dynasty, and the temples and rivers and lakes echoed each other.

After that, Donglin and the Qi, Chu, Zhejiang, Kunxuan and other parties started a mighty party struggle.

The Beijing inspection held every six years has become a stage for mutual criticism between the two sides.

Until, Shenzong died and Guangzong came to power.

Although among the courtiers recalled by Guangzong, there were practical people like Bi Ziyan and Yuan Keli, but more of them were Donglin.

Originally, Fang Congzhe felt that Donglin would definitely occupy the court in the future.

But in just one month, Guangzong disappeared.

As for the newly enthroned little emperor, although he was unreliable in his work, he ran away to Nanhaizi before the period of filial piety was over.

But Fang Congzhe keenly discovered that while promoting officials, the young emperor was also trying to stabilize the court.

Regardless of whether the emperor knows about the partisanship in the court or not, the emperor's current selection method will not allow the partisanship to further expand.

Among the people promoted by the little emperor now.

Bi Ziyan's resume is quite rich: Songjiang official promotion, chief of the Ministry of Justice, Yuanwailang of the Ministry of Industry, deputy envoy to Hedong, Taomin soldiers and political envoys, inspector of Yulin West Road, and right chief envoy.

Zhou Yingqiu, governor of southern Jiangxi.

Xu Guangqi, the young master of Zhan Shifu and the censor of Henan Province, trained troops in Tongzhou and prepared a good sword for the emperor.

Sun Chengzong, a member of Zhanshi Mansion and a minister of Qiandi.

Yuan Keli was appointed as an official in Suzhou Prefecture under the southern Zhili government.

Wang Sanshan, promoted official in Jingzhou.

Among these people, except for Xu Guangqi, the alien who had nothing to do with the Xiyi people, and Sun Chengzong, the emperor's teacher, they all had a common characteristic, that is, they had served as foreign officials.

Moreover, Sun Chengzong, who had never been a foreign official, was also sent to Liaodong by the emperor.

To this day, the emperor has not promoted any ministers from the Hanlin Academy to the throne.

The emperor's use of people in this way was like a knife stabbing Dong Lin's weakness.

Among the senior Donglin officials in Beijing today, neither Han Xu nor Liu Yishui had any experience as foreign officials. Before Ye Xianggao arrived in the capital, Zhou Jiamo went to the Hanlin Academy.

In addition, the emperor added a rule to Ke Dao and imposed a physical ban. People with experience as county magistrates such as Hui Shiyang, Zuo Guangdou, and Yang Lian were immediately useless.

"As soon as the emperor and the courtiers come, the rules in the court will also change." "Zhou Yingqiu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, issued a transfer memorial today, most of which were envoys, envoys, and prefects who were outside. Yesterday, he just Having been to Nanyuan, I can be sure that this is the emperor’s intention.”

Fang Congzhe's voice was a little hoarse, as if there was something stuck in his throat.

"If you have the opportunity in the future, take the initiative to go out for a walk. The Emperor will see it."

"However, if you leave the capital and enter the capital again, it may not be easy."

"Ha ha."

Hearing this, Fang Congzhe waved his hands and said.

"Nowadays, not only is there a serious shortage of officials in the capital, but there are not many people available in the various state capitals. Otherwise, Zhou Yingqiu would not have hired Enke."

"If you go out early, you can choose a good place and come back early. If you achieve results, you will come back faster."

"I heard that there is not a single word of comment on the newly established positions in the Ministry of Personnel, only the previous official positions."

"Today, the officials in the capital are enduring the emperor's 'willfulness', but they don't know that the emperor is also enduring their incompetence."

"You haven't seen the approvals in those people's memorials, but I have. Many of the memorials that were approved back to the cabinet have the word "details" written on them."

Fang said this, picked up the tea cup and took a sip of water.

"You must understand that there is a difference between those who have served as officials outside and those who have always been in the capital."

"Although I don't know what books Sun Chengzong has read, I am certain that the emperor prefers officials who are close to the people than ministers like me."

"So from now on, in this court, you should get closer to those people. If you are not completely sure of what they say, you must not object rashly."

"Talk less, learn more, do more."

"Also, please do not contradict the emperor's affairs in person."

"Don't worry, Fang Fu, we are not those arrogant and rebellious people, and we will never dare to contradict the Holy Lord."

After hearing Fang Congzhe's instructions, Guan Yingzhen nodded, and then said cautiously.

"If Fang Fu leaves and Ye Xianggao, Shen Huai, Zhu Guozuo, He Zongyan and others have not arrived in Beijing, there will be only Han Xu in the cabinet. If..."

"Cabinet? Liu Yishen is still in the prison of the Ministry of Justice. During the interrogation of the three departments, Huang Kezhan was transferred to the Ministry of War. Don't you think it's strange?"

Hearing Guan Yingzhen's words, Fang Congzhe shook his head with a smile, reached out and uncovered the red cloth covering the head of the table.

There, neatly placed were his salary, which was just issued last month, and a total of fifty silver coins.

"Assistant minister of the cabinet, to put it mildly, he is called to assist the emperor in handling government affairs."

"To put it harshly, he is just a fifth-rank official drafting memorials."

"You still didn't understand what I just said."

"Today, I don't trust the cabinet and want to take back power!"

"Teacher, this."

Hearing this, Guan Yingzhen and Qi Shijiao looked at each other, both a little surprised.

The Ming Dynasty's cabinet ministers handled government affairs. This was an unspoken rule that had been formed since Sanyang during the Zhengtong years. How could the emperor dare to break it?How to break?
"It has become our practice in the Ming Dynasty for cabinet ministers to handle ministry affairs. Your Majesty..."

"This is a memorial to Wang Zuoci's acceptance of his new life."

Fang Congzhe took out a memorial from somewhere and showed it to the two of them. Fang Congzhe stroked his beard and said.

"Don't force me, just go home and retire."

"Looking at these eight words, do you still think the emperor cares about the so-called conventions of the courtiers?"

"You must remember that there will never be a shortage of officials in the world, but there will be a shortage of people who do things."

(End of this chapter)