Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

After agreeing on the policy for governing Shaanxi with Yuan Keli, the next step naturally involved appointing officials to implement it.

After all, according to Sun Chuanting's speculation, there would be refugees in Shaanxi in July. Now it was the end of June, and time was running out.

The post of governor-general of the three frontiers was undoubtedly held by Sun Chuanting, and Zhu Youjian's policy for governing Shaanxi was largely in accordance with his plan.

Therefore, Sun Chuanting was undoubtedly the person in charge of the suppression of rebellion and disaster relief in Shaanxi, and was granted full authority by Zhu Youjian.

However, he could not continue to hold the concurrent post of Governor of Shaanxi. The duties and locations of the Three Border Governors and the Governor of Shaanxi were different, so the same person could not hold both posts.

Regarding the posts of the Shaanxi governor, although Zhu Youjian had obtained the decision-making power over Shaanxi affairs through the martial law order, he still summoned the Grand Secretaries and the Nine Ministers to discuss the candidates together.

After all, he had used almost all the talents he knew, and other talents needed to be recommended by his ministers.

Sun Chuanting recommended a candidate for the post of Shaanxi governor. Zhu Youjian told his candidate and solicited the opinions of all the ministers:

"Sun Chuanting's point is that although the effect of Shaanxi's drought relief efforts this time is not great, it is impossible for the drought to dry up rivers and canals every year in the future."

"So his opinion is that Shaanxi should continue to develop water conservancy, especially in Xi'an Prefecture and Fengxiang area."

"He recommended Shen Zizhang, who was once the prefect of Fengxiang and built water conservancy projects in Fengxiang, to be the governor of Shaanxi. What do you think?"

Shen Zizhang is now a Langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel's Selection Department, and can be considered the most powerful middle-level official in the Ming Dynasty.

Moreover, he was promoted from the third-rank councilor to the fourth-rank assistant censor-in-chief, which cannot be considered an extraordinary promotion.

After hearing the emperor's words, Shen Zizhang's superior, Yang Jingchen, the acting Minister of Personnel, said:

"Shen Langzhong once served as an official in Fengxiang and had outstanding achievements. I have no objection to him being appointed as the governor of Shaanxi."

"But if this happens, the position of Langzhong in the Ministry of Literature will be vacant, and we need to recommend new officials."

Zhu Youjian did not want officials to serve in the Ministry of Literature for a long time, so as to avoid gathering a group of people like Gu Xiancheng. Hearing this, he waved his hand and said to Yang Jingchen:

"When there is a vacancy, we will select another person. You can recommend someone from among the local officials with outstanding political achievements."

"The governor of Shaanxi has been decided. Shen Zizhang will take the position."

"The court cannot thwart the request made by Sun Chuanting."

As there was no objection from the ministers, Zhu Youjian decided on this position and said:
"Shaanxi's current situation should focus on stability."

"Are there any personnel who need to be replaced in the governors and generals of Yansui, Ningxia, and Gansu?"

The ministers had a lot to say about these candidates. Right Censor-in-Chief Cheng Jiming said:
"Yan Sui Governor Zhu Tongmeng once built a temple for the traitorous eunuchs. This is a matter of solid evidence. Your Majesty, please punish him."

Zhu Youjian had already determined that Zhu Tongmeng was available, so he had to protect him. He said:
"Zhu Tongmeng's crime of treason has been punished. Do not mention it again."

"If you really say so, shouldn't Yuan Chonghuan, who also built the temple, be punished as well?"

Cheng Jiming was speechless when he heard this, because although Yuan Chonghuan once had connections with the eunuch party, his more important identity was that he was a disciple of Han Yu, and had a closer relationship with the Donglin Party.

If expelling Zhu Tongmeng means losing Yuan Chonghuan, it is better to keep him. After all, Yuan Chonghuan can be said to be the most knowledgeable person in the Donglin Party besides Sun Chengzong. After saving Zhu Tongmeng, Zhu Youjian appointed him as the military envoy of Yansui.

Ningxia Governor Jiao Xin was also retained and transferred to be the Ningxia Protector General because he had no obvious faults and had made contributions to the opening of canals in Ningxia.

However, it was not so easy for Gansu Governor Zhang Sanjie to get away with it. In March, he was impeached by the Bingke Jieshizhong for covering up his defeat and bribing Wei Ni to get promoted. Now that the truth has been basically revealed, he was listed as a traitor and dismissed.

After recommendation by the ministers, Mei Zhihuan, who was formerly the governor of Nanjian and was from Huguang like Yang Lian and was stripped of his official title by the eunuch party, was recommended as the military protector of Gansu.

Zhu Youjian saw that he was the nephew of Mei Guozhen, who had served in Ningxia and other places and had some military skills. So he had some expectations for Mei Zhihuan and thought that he should be able to do the job. So he appointed Mei Zhihuan as the Protector of Gansu on the recommendation of the ministers.

Finally, Yue Hesheng, who had served as the governor of Shuntian, was recommended for the newly established Longxi Protectorate.

This person is the 18th generation grandson of Yue Fei and is a brother of Yue Junsheng, who previously served as the Shaoqing of Guanglu Temple. Yue Junsheng falsely accused Wang Zhicai of taking bribes, which led to Wang Zhicai's death in prison, and was convicted of the sixth degree of treason.

However, his brother Yue Yuansheng was listed as a member of the Donglin Party.

When Mei Guozhen, a member of the Donglin Party, was appointed as the Protector of Gansu, Yue Hesheng was recommended by ministers such as Wen Tihen to serve as the Protector of Longxi.

The reason is very good, that is, when Yue Hesheng was the magistrate of Ruyang County, he built the Yuegong Dike. When he was the prefect of Dongchang, he did a good job in drought relief.

Zhu Youjian approved of this candidate and appointed Yue Hesheng as the military governor of Longxi.

As for the five generals in Shaanxi, General Qian Zhongxuan of Shaanxi, General Du Hongyu of Ningxia, General Xu Yongshou of Gansu, and General Wang Chengen of Lintao were all retained, but the name of General Lintao was changed to General Longxi.

Only Wu Zimian, who succeeded Yang Zhaoji as the commander-in-chief of Yansui, was secretly reported by Zhu Tongmeng as being too greedy. Zhu Youjian ordered him to be dismissed and asked the Ministry of War to nominate another person.

Yuan Keli recommended You Shiwei, who was born in Yulin Wei and currently served as deputy general in Shanhaiguan, to serve as the general of Yansui.

This person is You Shigong's younger brother and You Shilu's elder brother. You Shigong died in the battle of Shenyang, and You Shilu was serving as the governor of Liaodong.

As You Shilu's elder brother and also a man of military merit, he should be promoted.

Zhu Youjian had a good impression of the three brothers of the Yu family and agreed with this candidate.

At this point, the main officials in Shaanxi had been determined, and Zhu Youjian ordered an immediate edict to urge these officials to take office.

At the same time, the court's decision was informed to Shaanxi officials, allowing them to start disaster relief.

In order to pass the message as quickly as possible, Zhu Youjian not only ordered the officials who were delivering the imperial edict to ride as fast as possible, but also asked the Jinyiwei Confidentiality Department to use the newly established pigeon system to send the message to the Northwest Pacification Department by carrier pigeons.

Although the message delivered by pigeons could not be regarded as the official decree of the court, it could let officials such as Yuan Shu and Sun Chuanting know the court's decision, so that they could start disaster relief without any worries, instead of waiting in vain.

Along with this, there was an order for Yuan Shu to set up the Yansui, Ningxia, Gansu, and Longxi Weiwei Offices under the Northwest Pacification Office, and to send Jinyiwei personnel to serve in the four military guard offices.

Some members of the Jinyiwei in the capital were also promoted and transferred to the four Weiwei Offices.

This made the Jinyiwei in the capital full of laughter. However, a piece of news from the Southwest Pacification Office made the Jinyiwei high-ranking officials who received the news solemn:

"Xu Bengao, the pacification envoy of the Southwest, reported secretly: Mu Qiyuan, the Duke of Qian, died suddenly on the tenth day of the sixth month of the first year of Chongzhen." (End of this chapter)