Wronged."

Seeing him like this, Zhang Shenyan suppressed his dissatisfaction.

He was an upright man, and he wanted to explain some things about running the country, but he didn't expect Wang Yingxiong to directly talk about his son, which was simply a humiliation to him.

"How can this be compared to Zhao Shu? Are you afraid that you will be tricked by applause?"

Zhang Shenyan sighed repeatedly.

The civil service system is extremely repulsive to independent prime ministers, or even powerful prime ministers.

Because the emperor only transfers so much power, and if there is too much power, other people will have less to eat and will naturally become dissatisfied.

How could he feel at ease and hand over all his political resources to Wang Yingxiong?

The next day, Zhang Shenyan asked for the bones.

As usual, the emperor refused and rewarded him with a large amount of property so that he could spend his old age peacefully.

And, he received it in person.

Zhu Yixi's impression of Zhang Shenyan was not good at first, but it improved a lot later.

If Zhao Shu, the first assistant, is smooth and sincere, then Zhang Shenyan is upright and upright, rarely inconsistent with his words and deeds.

Compared with many people who are not caring and want to focus on agriculture while doing business properly, he bluntly asked for support for businessmen.

Maybe it has something to do with him being from Shanxi.

Reduce checkpoint exploitation, crack down on card-stealing, and strictly impose taxes, so as to use business taxes and utilize the people.

For example, he was very dissatisfied with the Commercial Tax Department at first, thinking that tax supervisors like Wanli were exploiting and ravaging the people, but later after learning the truth, he greatly supported and appreciated it.

At a young age, he and I have sex, and we have a good relationship.

In addition to the imperial edict, Zhu Yixi even prepared to give him a knighthood in the end, which can be regarded as the most benevolent and righteous act.

"His Majesty--"

Perhaps he let go, but Zhang Shenyan showed his old age. He held up his hands and wanted to say something, but the emperor stopped him and asked someone to put a chair down and sit down.

"You and I have been kings and ministers for many years, why should we be so formal?"

Zhu Yixi always respected the old and loved the young, so he kindly chatted with him about the past, the shogunate in Huguang, the war in Nanjing, and the current New Deal.

Basically, it was the emperor who was talking, and occasionally Zhang Shenyan intervened. It was a mutual favor between the emperor and his ministers.

"Come on, it's too hot in the palace, let's find a cooler place."

When they came to a pavilion, the emperor said regretfully: "In more than a month, I will go to Yuquan Mountain, but Zhang Qing's family will return home."

"I don't know when we will meet next time."

These words made Zhang Shenyan's eyes turn red and he was shaking so much.

"When Zhang Qing leaves, there are only three people left in the cabinet. One or two more have to be added. I wonder if the Qing family has any recommendations?"

Zhu Yixi felt a little emotional and asked directly.

Zhang Shenyan was the one who wanted to retire, so he had no scruples and said bluntly: "In my opinion, although the prime minister is from a prefecture or county, the governors and important ministers are still not as good as the eight ministers."

"That's true."

The emperor nodded. Although the senior ministers were of high rank, they were a bit intimidating once they entered the cabinet, not to mention that there were not many senior officials.

The only choice is among the eight ministerial books.

"I think Gao Hongtu, the Minister of Punishment, is quite good."

"I thought you would recommend Wang Yingxiong!"

Zhu Yixi was a little surprised. After all, the two of them had a great conversation last night and it lasted until midnight.

"This recommendation is not very good." Shaking his head, he said bluntly:

"Gao Hongtu's qualifications are not good, and he suddenly becomes the second assistant. I'm afraid the cabinet will be in chaos."

"The position of second assistant is so powerful, how can it be given to each other privately?" Zhang Shenyan became anxious, coughed a few times, and said: "I think that Gao Hongtu, regardless of his qualifications, ability, and gentle personality, is suitable for coordinating all parties..."

"Five people?" The emperor understood instantly.

It turns out that this is to turn that four-person group into a five-person group.

He thought about it.

Theoretically speaking, the more decentralized the power of the prime minister, the more centralized the imperial power.

Of course, for the founding emperor, it was

Even if there is only one, he will not be afraid and can still be defeated.

However, when it comes to Gao Hongtu's gentle personality, it inevitably reminds him of Wang Yingxiong's straightforward personality.

This is very different from Lu Daqi in the cabinet.

It would be hilarious if these two people collided.

I really need a few gentler people to neutralize it.

Moreover, Gao Hongtu was old after all, and he would only be busy in the cabinet for a few years, which would just satisfy his desire to be the prime minister.

This is a good thing about adult beauty, and it does not delay the emperor's win over people's hearts.

"I understand." Zhu Yixi nodded: "The recommendation from the Qing family is extremely appropriate."

Seeing the emperor's approval, Zhang Shenyan was relieved.

Subsequently, Zhang Shenyan begged for the bones three times in a row, and failed twice in a row. Finally, the emperor had to allow it.

Some rewards are of course mentioned.

Immediately after the imperial edict was issued, Wang Yingxiong resigned from the position of Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs and directly entered the cabinet as his second assistant.

What is surprising is that Gao Hongtu, the Minister of Punishment, also joined the cabinet and became the fifth cabinet minister.

The most unlucky one belongs to Lu Daqi.

No matter in terms of qualifications or anything else, he couldn't compare to Gao Hongtu, so he could only be relegated to fifth place, still ranked last.

The cabinet immediately settled down within a short period of time.

Funnily enough, among the five cabinet members, except Wang Yingxiong, who is from Sichuan, the other four are all from the north.

In a sense, this is still a Northern cabinet.

The officialdom was a mess, and many people shed tears as they bid farewell to Zhang Shenyan, who returned to Shanxi to retire, and then watched eagerly what happened in the cabinet.

Without him, among the eight divisions, two positions were suddenly vacant. I don’t know how many people were eager to take the position.

Who knew that what was waiting for them was another unexpected imperial edict - splitting.

That's right, the split of the household department.

As early as a few years ago, the emperor was particularly dissatisfied with the bloated household department.

In charge of the country's territory, fields, household registration, taxes, salaries and all financial matters.

It annexed the Shaofu of the Qin and Han Dynasties and the three divisions of the Song Dynasty, which can be said to be extremely large.

Now that Wang Yingxiong has come down, the emperor will naturally attack him without hesitation.

The Ministry of Household Affairs is divided into three parts: the Ministry of Civil Affairs, which is responsible for land and population affairs; and the Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for tax collection and budget.

The Account Department is specifically responsible for Taicang, distributing salaries, and keeping accounts.
Chapter completed!