After Xu Jingchang took charge of the General Affairs Department, Zhu Di's biggest feeling was that nothing happened!
That's right, all government affairs are in the hands of Xu Jingchang, and his decisions are smooth and there is no stagnation.
Regardless of the construction of Peiping, the reorganization of Jiangxi, or the operation of various tax districts, everything was progressing in an orderly and rapid manner. Even the revision of books was progressing continuously, which surprised Zhu Di repeatedly.
"Your nephew is quite capable." Zhu Di admired from the bottom of his heart.
Empress Xu said: "It is a good thing that the country has virtuous ministers and the Holy Emperor rules from the top. It's just that this guy can even fool me. I want to ask him about the use of Jiangxi's land, but he is not willing to tell me."
Zhu Di was surprised for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "Even I don't know much about this matter. Otherwise, I will go over in person and see what this kid is doing."
Empress Xu nodded, "Your Majesty, just take a look and see what skills he has. He can manipulate the courtiers and make all the ministers do their best. If you learn this skill, the emperor and the emperor's grandson will be able to use it in the future."
Zhu Di smiled and said: "I have this intention, but I want to see how he became the prime minister."
With that said, Zhu Di called the eunuch and asked him to find out where Xu Jingchang was.
As a result, when asked, Xu Jingchang actually asked for leave. He did not go to Wuying Hall or the General Administration Department, but was in the Xu Mansion.
When Zhu Di heard this, he became furious and went to Xu Mansion in a rage.
You dare to be lazy while eating my salary, and I won't give you any advice.
When Zhu Di arrived, he saw Xu Jingchang holding a purple bamboo fishing rod and fishing by his pond... Zhu Di walked over angrily. When he was within ten steps, he saw that Xu Jingchang was still bowing his head. Zhu Di couldn't help but said: "Dong Guo, Lord Ding,
Are you quite happy?"
Xu Jingchang quickly raised his head and saw Zhu Di coming, so he hurriedly saluted.
Zhu Di ignored him, but walked up to Xu Jingchang, stretched out his hand to snatch away his horse, and then hummed: "Ding Guogong is very happy to do things like this?"
This person's tone was blaming, even asking for guilt, and Xu Jingchang couldn't hear it.
He smiled calmly and said, "Working for the country is far from comfortable."
"Working hard for the country?" Zhu Di couldn't help laughing and said, "Fishing is hard work!"
Xu Jingchang said lightly: "Although fishing is not hard work, facing such a large fish pond, it is not easy to catch a few important fish. It requires a lot of thinking."
Zhu Di was slightly stunned, there was something in his words!
"Tell me, what are your plans?"
Xu Jingchang said calmly: "It's nothing important, I'm just thinking about the official system."
After hearing this, Zhu Di actually became interested... Because to this day, the Ming Dynasty has added too many government affairs, and if they are allocated, it is obvious that the six ministers are not enough.
But if he wants to adjust this pattern and completely break the inherited habits, Zhu Di also feels a headache. After all, this is not as simple as Zhu Yuanzhang's ancestral system, but something that has lasted for thousands of years. It is very troublesome to consider profits and losses, increase and decrease.
"Tell me what you have planned. If it is feasible, I will definitely implement it."
Xu Jingchang said: "Your Majesty, this matter is not that simple. Officials do things honestly, but officials also need to consume the court's wealth, and once they are given power, they will inevitably be arrogant and use chicken feathers as arrows.
.If you arrange a yamen, you will inevitably have to arrange for people to supervise it. Over time, the people responsible for supervision will be corrupted and become corrupt officials. Then you need to continue to arrange people... Such stacking of beds and houses, layer upon layer, will only affect the influence of the government.
Governance is a waste of national money and people's money and cannot truly benefit the country and the people."
Zhu Di said: "Master Yao has told me many times about the harm of redundant officials. It is precisely because of this that I have not dared to reform official positions. Since you have said it, why not open your heart and let's have a good chat.
"
Xu Jingchang said: "Your Majesty, I also want to say this. Officials are responsible for doing things, but can we first find out what officials need to do?"
Zhu Di was puzzled, "There are many things that officials need to do, including public finance and military affairs, river construction, educating the people, and resisting foreign humiliation... which one does not require people?"
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "What your Majesty said is still general. What I mean is that we need to think carefully from the perspective of the overall situation and the standpoint of the Ming Dynasty to see what things the imperial court is responsible for. Put things to bed.
Come up with a list and it will be easier to handle."
Zhu Di became curious and said, "What you mean is to first list out the things that the country needs to do, and then set up officials according to the needs, so that we can achieve the right goals, make the best use of people's talents, and make the best use of things."
"Your Majesty is smart, this is exactly what I am thinking about."
Zhu Di said: "Then do you have any thoughts?"
Xu Jingchang said: "I just have some ideas, and I don't dare to say right or wrong. I just ask your majesty to listen to it for now... The operation of a country can be roughly divided into two parts. One is to maintain the normal operation of the court, and the other is to fulfill its duties."
The responsibility of governing the people is both internal and external."
Zhu Di nodded, "It makes sense."
Xu Jingchang continued: "For the internal affairs of the imperial court, this includes the Ministry of Rites cultivating talents, presiding over imperial examinations, and selecting new talents. The Ministry of Personnel selects officials, evaluates officials, and arranges positions. In addition, the operation of the court cannot be separated from money, and the Ministry of Households is in charge of money.
This is what bags are for. And the reason why the imperial court has the prestige and can frighten the world is that it needs force. This requires the Ministry of War and the Governor's Office of the Five Armies to control the troops and horses, kill bandits, use troops externally, etc.
.”
Zhu Di still nodded, "Is there more?"
"And externally... First of all, the imperial court must set an example for the world, be fair and just, and uphold justice. Therefore, the criminal names are very important. Only in this way can we win the trust of the people. Otherwise, what are the people doing to support the imperial court?"
When Zhu Di heard this, he was very touched, "So this time the boss did a good job in Jiangxi, and I fully agree."
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "His Royal Highness is indeed very good, but there are also some omissions. For example, it is very important to make decisions for the people, but the court also needs to provide relief from famines, relieve the poor, build water conservancy projects, and save the people from hunger and cold. It also needs to build the Great Wall to prevent
Foreign enemies. We must also promote enlightenment and give knowledgeable people a way to advance."
Xu Jingchang talked eloquently, and Zhu Di nodded repeatedly. Their conversation seemed to be very similar to the current setup of officials in the imperial court, and there was no difference. However, if you taste it carefully, it seems that there are differences.
At the end of the conversation, Xu Jingchang simply said: "Your Majesty, I have an idea, which is to clarify the responsibilities of the court, clarify the settings of the officials, and their respective limits. What can the court control and how should it be managed? This most important matter should be clearly explained and announced.
The world. Let the soldiers and civilians know what they are doing. In this way, based on these things, the officials can be adjusted, the number of officials increased or decreased, and their responsibilities clearly defined. In this way, Your Majesty can rule the world, manage the people, and supervise the officials."
When Zhu Di heard this, he nodded repeatedly. He was really tempted... The reform of official positions had been brewing for a long time, and Zhu Di was constantly making adjustments, such as setting up a cabinet, arranging Pingzhangyuan, improving the status of the General Affairs Department, and establishing a general affairs department in Peiping.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry... But these are just minor repairs and do not shake the fundamentals.
If, as Xu Jingchang said, we could clearly write down what the court needs to do, and then arrange officials based on this, everything would be much clearer.
"I agree with you, let's go ahead and do it. As long as it is good for the Ming Dynasty, I will fully support it." Zhu Di sighed: "I am now over 10 years old and my grandchildren are so old. In order to maintain long-term peace and stability, I really need to deal with it.
These things."
Zhu Di smiled and put the fishing rod back into Xu Jingchang's hand, "Do it well, Ming Dynasty cannot do without your good brain."
The aggressive Emperor Yongle failed to succeed in his trial, and was deeply moved.
After a while, Xu Jingchang went to the General Affairs Department and invited Jian Yi, the official from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, to explain the general matter.
Jian Yi was worrying about the affairs of Jiangxi officials when he suddenly heard about it. He was stunned for a moment, then he was shocked and couldn't believe it. He asked repeatedly and finally confirmed that he had nothing to say.
"This, how could His Majesty agree to this! How could it be possible?"
Xu Jingchang said with a smile: "Your Majesty, for the sake of the long-term peace and stability of the Ming Dynasty, what is wrong with caring for the people?"
Jian Yi turned his head, stared at Xu Jingchang, and snorted coldly: "Mr. Dingguo, we are all smart people, so stop pretending. If your Majesty hears this, I am afraid that the entire palace and inner court will be abolished. The entire palace will be abolished."
The official system must be changed."
Xu Jingchang suddenly stood up and said hurriedly: "Jian Tianguan, I didn't expect there would be such a big movement. I'm going to see your majesty now and take back my proposal. I'm going now!"
"Stop!"
Jian Yi stopped Xu Jingchang fiercely, stared at him and said: "Ding Guo Gong, I don't care whether you have thought of it or not. We might as well say it directly. If this can be done, I am willing to obey your orders and respect Duke Ding Guo."
dispatch."
Xu Jingchang's brows moved slightly, and after thinking, he chuckled and said: "Jian Tianguan, if it is as you said, this matter is particularly important, we may not necessarily have to accomplish it. As long as we can make a start and lay the foundation, it will be great."
.”
Jian Yi pondered for a while, then nodded vigorously with great admiration.
This matter really cannot be impatient. In fact, as long as it can be announced and the responsibilities of the imperial court are clearly defined, it will be the greatest victory.
Because as long as this black and white letter is there, the emperor cannot support one person with one country.
In other words, a bunch of yamen in the inner court, including Jinyiwei, as well as Yuanma Temple, Taichang Temple, Taipu Temple, a bunch of yamen that have no clear responsibilities and are just to serve the royal family, will all face being abolished.
fate.
Because in fact, the current official system is built around the core of the emperor.
Otherwise, what use would such a big Zhan Shifu be?
Xu Jingchang is also very interesting. He has always planned for his own long-term interests. The first time he took charge of the General Affairs Department, he grabbed a lot of power.
After he left office, he severely punished the courtiers.
Now that he has returned to serve as the general envoy, he has gained almost the authority of the prime minister, and he immediately began to help the courtiers with their arrangements.
"Don't worry, Duke Dingguo, I know what to do... The officials are good at this. I will draw up a draft of what the court should do and hand it over to you immediately."
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "That's good news. I'll wait for the good news."
