Idle courtiers

Chapter 374

Zhou Nan was sued by the head of the Ministry of Rites, Huang, and was fined by Xu Jie for three years of salary. Naturally, he felt unhappy.Now that this opportunity is seized, it is natural to find a way back, and a gentleman will not take revenge overnight.

The problem is, if Xu Jie's dream of being the chief assistant was disturbed, wouldn't it be cheaper for Gao Gong in the end?
The relationship between me, Mr. Zhou, and the palace is not very good. There are many kindnesses and grievances, and they didn't give me a penny, so why do you help me?
Or, simply mess up both sides?
Thinking of this, Zhou Nan's eyeballs moved: "I am terrified. I just want to serve the marquis and listen to the teachings of the sages. My life's wish is enough. The system of my Ming Dynasty was inherited from the puppet Yuan Dynasty. The second prime minister, the prime minister of state affairs. Later Taizu Emperor Gao abolished the prime minister and divided power into six departments. The Zhongshu provincial officials were completely removed, leaving only the Zhongshu Sheren. In this way, the disadvantages of the dictatorship of the power ministers in the past dynasties were eliminated, and the Taizu Gao was wise. what!"

"Actually, in the early years of my dynasty, the emperor actually served as the prime minister. However, the state affairs were busy, and Emperor Gao and Emperor Chengzuwen were the heroes of a generation, so they were naturally energetic. But when Emperor Renzong was born, because the emperor Long If you are sick, you can't work hard, so you have an assistant cabinet scholar."

Zhou Nan looked carefully at Jiajing while talking, and saw that the emperor had no expression, so he boldly said: "When the Cabinet Grand Scholars were first established, their grades were not high, and they only made suggestions for the emperor's administration, and they did not make decisions. Powerful. Although he is in the center, his position is under the Shangshu. However, because Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong were former ministers of the Eastern Palace, Renzong promoted Yang Shiqi to be the minister of the Ministry of Rites and a scholar of the Huagaidian University, and Yang Rong to be the Taichang Qing and a respectful person. Later, Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong and others all held the positions of ministers. Since then, the authority of the cabinet has become more and more powerful, and later became the de facto prime minister."

"Your Majesty, wouldn't this go against Emperor Taizu Gao's original intention of abolishing the left and right prime ministers? In Yichen's opinion, it doesn't matter whether the cabinet needs the chief minister or not. It's just a secretarial organization anyway. What the elders can do, the Imperial Academy Even if you are a lecturer and a bachelor, you can do it, but if you don’t see those bachelors, you have to be ranked. You are the chief lecturer, and I am the second lecturer.”

It is about a major change in the central decision-making body of the national organization, and one cannot be careless. When Zhou Nan said these words, his tone was very relaxed, pretending to be irresponsible for small talk, so as not to trap himself in it and become a public enemy of the cabinet.

Any emperor has the ideal of monopoly, especially in the Ming Dynasty, when the power of civil servants was unprecedentedly strong, and the emperor was constrained by them to be a wronged little daughter-in-law. To be able to kill the cabinet and have the final say is a big deal temptation.

In fact, during the Yongzheng Year of the Qing Dynasty, Yongzheng did just that.Aren't you the de facto prime minister when you go to the study room? Then I will set up another military aircraft office above the Shang study room that only obeys my orders.At that time, China's feudal centralization really reached its peak, and the imperial power was no longer restricted, and then the Qing Dynasty fell.

Aren't you Xu Jie and Gao Gong going to fight for the position of chief assistant in the cabinet? Let's finish it together!

Hearing Zhou Nan's words, Jiajing's expression changed and he stopped talking.

Huang Jin felt as if he had been hit by a thunderbolt, and couldn't help shouting: "Zhou Nan, what are you talking nonsense, the family law of the ancestors cannot be abolished/, abolishing the cabinet, thanks to your thinking, it is extremely absurd! Abolishing the cabinet , Is it possible for His Majesty to personally review the memorial, can the master's dragon body withstand it?"

Zhou Nan's goal was to frustrate Xu Jie and Gao Gong's dream of prime minister, but he never thought of laying off the cabinet.If he really does this, the civil servants of the world will tear him up first.Besides, the emperor always needs people to work.Without a cabinet, all the work fell on the shoulders of the emperor alone.From ancient times to modern society, the only monarchs who have the ability to handle everything properly are Qin Shihuang and Yongzheng.Both of these two ended badly. Qin Shihuang died on the road of inspection due to overwork, and Yongzheng was so tired that he vomited blood and died.

With Jiajing's temperament of not going to court for more than 20 years, is it possible for him to read books every day until midnight without any personal life?
Zhou Nan was not worried about this.

Jiajing smiled faintly: "The position of the chief assistant of the cabinet is very important, and we must be cautious. Before the chief is selected, let the three ministers of the cabinet maintain it!"

Seeing that he meant to shelve the controversy, and I don't know how long this shelving will last. Zhou Nan, who had achieved his goal, shut his mouth knowingly.

He really understands Jiajing's thoughts, what he needs is a laborer who can help him work without being paid.

This mother is a sweatshop capitalist!

Without the chief assistant, the emperor could not only control the power, but also use this position to whet everyone's appetites, so that those who are qualified to take up this official position compete with each other, so that he can check and balance.

Zhou Nan thought so, and Jiajing also thought in his heart: Zhou Nan's idea is good, there are many advantages to not having a chief assistant than having a chief assistant.It's just that I'm afraid that the ministers will nagging, so let's procrastinate for a day!

This was just a casual chat between Jiajing, Zhou Nan and Huang Jin.

After this seed was planted in the emperor's heart, Zhou Nan stopped paying attention.He had too many things to do, he had to study his homework, go to the inner school, deal with the government affairs of the Daolu Department, talk with Emperor Jiajing to relieve his boredom, engage in feudal superstition, and was so busy that he didn't get enough sleep.

It was the end of July, and there were only fifteen days left before Qiuwei.

It was said that Gu Yan and deputy chief examiner Gu Yan and deputy chief examiner of Qiuwei in Shuntian Mansion, as well as supervisors and transcriptions, had already settled in the Gongyuan.

The entire tribute courtyard has been completely sealed off and guarded by soldiers.The examiners will not be able to come out until the exam is over and the list is out.

Zhou Nan has been trying to figure out how to get through Gu Yan, and wanted to get the exam questions, but he couldn't find a chance no matter what.At this time, it was too late.

He had more pimples on his face, until it was like the surface of the moon.

There is no new life, and the internal fire is strong. When I woke up in the morning, I found a pillow with nosebleeds.

On the other hand, Xun Fangyu, although her belly was already as big as a ball, her skin became fairer, as crystal clear as suet jade, really radiant.

Zhou Nan smiled wryly in his heart, thinking that the ugly duckling full of freckles and peas had turned into a white moth now, and the handsome Zhou Caizi had become like this now, could it be that I have to bear the peas on her face.

Looking back, when I was studying, I didn't seem to have had a youth bean.He was proud of this incident back then, but he didn't expect these Doudou to come as promised at the age of 28. It seems that boys will experience this experience sooner or later, and they cannot escape.

On this day, Lord Zhou arrived at the Daolu Department as usual, unlike the usual bluffing and resolute handling of government affairs, he hid in the room alone while squeezing beans and thinking.There is still half a month until Qiu Wei, and I have to finish the work at hand as soon as possible. Please take a few days off to move to my mentor to make a surprise attack.

So, what else is there to do?
There are still [-] unsold orders to raise military pay for Fujian, and they must be done as soon as possible, and there is really no way to give a [-]% discount.There are still two classes to be held in the inner school hall, so I simply change classes with the familiar teacher and teach for two consecutive days.

In addition, there is a Zhaijiajiao and a sutra feast at the emperor's place, and it has to be done.The matter of asking for leave must also be reported to the emperor.

Just as they were squeezing hard, Shi Wenjiang rushed in, "Master Zhou... hiss...Master Zhou, why is your face covered in blood?"

Zhou Nan was ashamed, and hurriedly covered her face with a handkerchief: "Wen Jiang, what's the matter?"

Shi Wenjiang knew that he had made a slip of the tongue, pretended not to see it, and said, "Report to Sizheng, Eunuch Huang sent a servant to look for you earlier, saying that there is no need to go to Xiyuan today, and the matter of Governor Wang has some clues, and I need to write a letter. Send a letter of love, and you and Wang Yuanmei can go to the prison to visit, so as to fulfill your filial piety. The law is nothing more than human feelings, and the principles of ethics are common, and the foundation of a country is greater than laws and regulations."

"Really, that's great. I'm going to tell my teacher right now. Prepare the sedan chair, prepare the sedan chair quickly." Zhou Nan jumped up in surprise, ignoring his bad image, and rushed out of the room like a wind.

It has been nearly a month since I pleaded with Huang Jin last time. Even though we met every day, Eunuch Huang still delayed giving him a letter of approval until now.

Comrade Huang is really old and reliable in his work.

As the seal of the supervisor of ceremonies, since he said so, it means that Wang Shu's case has finally come to a conclusion.

The words he asked someone to bring revealed two meanings: first, Wang Shu is fine; second, after all, Governor Wang suffered a defeat and was still guilty, so he needed to write a letter of confession and hand it over to beg the court for understanding and forgiveness.At that time, the supervisor can grant a lighter punishment.

Zhou Nan was so anxious that he kept urging the bearers to run faster along the way.

When they arrived at Wang Shizhen's mansion, the mentor hadn't gotten up yet, but the mistress had already prepared breakfast with the maid.

Seeing Zhou Nan, the teacher asked worriedly: "Zimu, you have such a face, but the inner fire is too strong, I'm going to ask someone to make you a bowl of pear soup."

Zhou Nan was a little embarrassed, but she couldn't cover her face in front of her mistress: "Miss, where's your mentor?"

The teacher smiled and said: "Your teacher stayed up writing the manuscript last night, and now he is still in bed."

Zhou Nan: "Hurry up, hurry up, ask your mentor to get up, it's urgent."

Mistress looked puzzled: "See why you are in such a hurry, where are you going?"

Zhou Nan: "Go to the imperial prison to visit Master, the matter of his old man has a clue, maybe he will be free in a few days."

"Ah... I'll call your teacher right away." The teacher's wife's eyes suddenly filled with tears. She knew that although her husband, a student, didn't look like a serious person, he seemed to be full of yellow accents, but he couldn't do anything. Everything is very safe.

Since he said that his father-in-law would be released from prison immediately, it was true.

Zhou Nan waited for a while, and then saw Wang Shizhen running out barefoot: "Zimu, it's true, but is it the meaning of the emperor?"

Zhou Nan nodded: "Probably."

"What probably is?"

Zhou Nan thought for a while: "It's the news brought by Huang Jin."

Wang Shizhen's tears flowed down: "That's true, God is pitiful, God is pitiful! I have to tell my father the good news as soon as possible."

At the moment, the teacher and the student didn't care about eating, so they got out of the sedan chair and went straight to Beizhen Fusi.

Since the fall of Yan Song, Wang Shizhen can also come to visit the prison, but he entrusted a lot of favors a few times before, and when the father and son met, there was Jin Yiwei guarding him.

This time it was much more relaxed. When they reached the ground, a Jin Yiwei pointed to a courtyard in front of him: "Go in and visit yourself!"

The management is so loose, it can be seen that Jin Yiwei also knows that Wang Shu will be released soon, so he is no longer embarrassed.

Why didn't Wang Shizhen know this, he was so excited that he was shaking all over, he knelt at the gate of the yard and choked with sobs: "The unfilial son Wang Shizhen begged to see my lord father."

A clear voice came from inside: "But Shizhen, come in, come in..." Before he finished speaking, he began to sob.

This voice shows that it is Wang Shu.

When the benefactor met with the master and his son, they naturally had something to say, and it was not convenient for Zhou Nan, an outsider, to listen.

After thinking about it, he walked away, planning to wait for them to calm down after speaking, and then come to greet them.

After walking a few steps, I somehow came to a small courtyard, and saw Wen Qianhu coming out of it.

When the two met, they were naturally happy in their hearts.

Wen Qianhu's family was so hot that they couldn't bear it, and they often went to Guangfu Palace where Zhou Nan's Yamen was located to cool off for vacation.

Every time he went to the land, Shi Wenjiang received him.

Sure enough, as Zhou Nan expected, the two lovers of gossip and gossip, Wen and Shi, hit it off and got together all day long to exchange information and discuss official secrets.

Wen Qianhu laughed loudly: "Zimu, Zimu, I also said that the magpies on the branches kept barking early this morning, so you are the one who wants to come. Hey, why did you come to the prison?"

Zhou Nan: "So that Brother Wen knows, my mentor Wang Yuanmei came to visit Master today, and I, as a junior, naturally have to accompany and serve."

"Oh, Master Wang Shu, I know about him. Don't worry, since you have such a relationship with Zimu, Brother Yu will take care of you."

While talking, suddenly, a voice came from the yard: "It's Zhou Nan and Zhou Zimu outside, can you come in and talk?"

Zhou Nan: "That's right, isn't it convenient?" She looked at Wen Qianhu with doubts.

Wen Qianhu said in a low voice: "The prisoner inside is Yan Song, this old man...hehe..."

"How to say?" Zhou Nan also asked in a low voice.

Wen Qianhu: "This old man obeyed the rules after he came in. After all, he was the chief assistant, and he didn't cause trouble for everyone. He just likes to read, and he yells all day long for us to bring him books in to relieve boredom. Just kidding, he is an admiration Criminal, if you bring him a book, what should you do if there is something in it that leaks out?"

Zhou Nan: "It's true that you can't bring it to him. Who can afford it if something goes wrong?"

Wen Qianhu laughed again and said: "Who says it's not! This old Yantou is bored to death in the cell, saying that he will die if he doesn't have any books to read. It was the Governor Wang who was next to him who felt sorry for him and lent him the books in hand to solve the slander."

Zhou Nan's eyes widened. Aren't these two big enemies who will never die? Why is the teacher so kind to lend books to Yan Song?Yan Song is also pitiful, the dignified former chief assistant went down to the prison, and transformed into the old Yan head.

Probably seeing his doubts, Wen Qianhu smiled again: "Everyone is a prisoner after entering here. It doesn't matter what their previous identities were and what grievances they had. Anyway, they are all poor people. It's strange to say that this The two hit it off very well, as if they were old friends."

Speaking of this, Yan Song's voice came from inside again: "The old man and Wang Shu were just business affairs at the beginning, so what's the matter with personal friendship? Naturally, the court dispute will never end, but the court is a bosom friend. Zhou Zimu, you I have read the articles in the school when I was teaching, and they are very inspiring, can you come in and talk about them?"

(End of this chapter)