As early as the period of Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, the Ming Dynasty had abolished the prime minister system and concentrated power on the emperor. Later, it established a cabinet. Its original intention was just a secretarial agency to provide advice to the emperor and draft edicts, and had no decision-making power.
However, during the Xuanzong period of the Ming Dynasty, due to the early death of Ming Xuanzong and the young Yingzong who succeeded him, the Ming Dynasty began to be co-governed by the cabinet minister "San Yang" and the Empress Dowager, and the powers of the cabinet began to expand.
It was not until the Ming Dynasty that Zhang Juzheng came into being, and his authority was so powerful that he could be said to be the most powerful official in the Ming Dynasty. After Zhang Juzheng, the cabinet also had the strength to compete with the imperial power.
If ministers can join the cabinet, they are called "cabinet ministers" or "cabinet elders". There are usually three to five people, and they are divided into "first assistant" and "secondary assistant", and their powers are also different accordingly.
And to this day, the so-called "chief minister of the cabinet" does not have the name of prime minister, but he has the actual status of prime minister, and his power is so great that it attracts people's attention.
Zhou Shangjing has been in the cabinet for nearly thirty years, and has served as the chief minister of the cabinet for nearly ten years. His official career is stable and he remains standing. This was something that even Zhang Juzheng could not achieve at that time. After his many years of management, Zhou Shangjing's power is now
, even if he is not as good as Zhang Juzheng back then, I'm afraid he is not far behind. It's just that he is low-key and cautious, so he is not as grand as Zhang Juzheng.
Therefore, Zhao Junchen would naturally not refuse to agree to Zhou Shangjing's invitation.
"It is Junchen's honor to be invited by Mr. Chief Assistant."
Facing Zhou Shangjing, Zhao Junchen looked respectful and polite.
After hearing the conversation between Zhou Shangjing and Zhao Junchen, the ministers of the DPRK and China who gathered around them also took their leave one after another knowingly.
When only Zhao Junchen and Zhou Shangjing were left around, Zhou Shangjing looked at Zhao Junchen with a little surprise, and said with a smile: "Junchen, you have been away from Beijing for two months, and you have become a lot more mature since you came back."
In the past, Zhao Junchen, relying on his royal family status, was not as polite to Zhou Shangjing as he is now.
Zhao Junchen nodded and sighed: "On this trip to Lu'an Mansion, I saw a lot and thought a lot, and then I realized that I was so shallow in the past and made the chief minister laugh."
After saying that, Zhao Junchen actually bowed to Zhou Shangjing and said: "In the past, Zhao Junchen was ignorant and shallow, and he often offended the chief minister. Today I apologize to the chief minister here and ask the chief minister.
Mr. Fu, remembering that in the past, Junchen was young and would be more lenient to me."
Zhao Junchen didn't want to offend a powerful official like Zhou Shangjing, so he behaved very humbly.
Faced with Zhao Junchen's apology, Zhou Shangjing was even more surprised. He quickly supported Zhao Junchen and said: "Junchen is too worried. Who is not young and frivolous? If I had achieved such an achievement at Junchen's age, I am afraid it would have been a long time ago."
He has become even more forgetful. Besides, Junchen has not offended me in any way, so how can I blame him?"
After the two exchanged some polite compliments, seeing Mao hour approaching and the Meridian Gate opening, Zhou Shangjing finally revealed his purpose.
"I heard that His Majesty summoned Junchen yesterday?"
Zhao Junchen nodded and said: "Yes, His Majesty summoned officials to meet with him to discuss the matter of the southern tour."
Even if Zhao Junchen didn't say anything about this kind of thing, Zhou Shangjing could still find out. In this case, Zhao Junchen simply told the truth.
After Zhou Shangjing coughed twice, he asked again: "So, Junchen has already thought of a way to solve the problem of the southern patrol?"
As he spoke, he coughed a few more times.
Zhou Shangjing is now more than seventy years old, a rare longevity in this era, and even his body is trembling. The wind and cold night dew outside the Meridian Gate, and the various rules of the morning are nothing short of torture for him, and this
Zhou Shangjing was able to persevere, which made Zhao Junchen couldn't help but admire him.
Therefore, after seeing Zhou Shangjing coughing repeatedly while speaking, Zhao Junchen did not rush to answer, but walked to Zhou Shangjing's side, slowly patted Zhou Shangjing's back, helped Zhou Shangjing calm down his breathing, and then said: "Yes,
It’s just three to five million taels of silver, so it’s not very difficult to solve.”
Seeing what Zhao Junchen did, Zhou Shangjing's eyes flashed with satisfaction, and he sighed: "Junchen's financial management skills are truly unparalleled in the world."
Having said this, Zhou Shangjing hesitated for a moment and then said: "However, I do not agree with your Majesty's southern patrol. These three and a half million taels of silver are more valuable for river construction, border defense, and storage than for the southern patrol."
Meaning, Junchen, what do you think?"
Zhao Junchen said with a smile: "This is something that your Majesty and the Chief Assistant should consider. Your Majesty is just running errands to prepare money for the court. As for how to use it, your Majesty can't decide."
Seeing what Zhao Junchen said, Zhou Shangjing narrowed his eyes and said slowly: "Now the cabinet has a chief minister, a second minister, and two assistant ministers, a total of four people. According to the court's practice, one additional minister will be added.
it is also fine."
Zhao Junchen seemed to have thought of something and looked at Zhou Shangjing in disbelief.
Zhou Shangjing smiled and nodded, as if to say that Zhao Junchen's guess was correct, and continued: "If Junchen can find a way to prevent His Majesty from visiting the south, then I can guarantee that Junchen will be allowed to join the cabinet within three years!"
Zhao Junchen was even more surprised when he heard Zhou Shangjing say this.
Joining the cabinet is the biggest temptation for court officials. Although Zhao Junchen has a high official position and has a holy family, if he wants to join the cabinet and become a cabinet elder, it is due to his qualifications, reputation, connections, etc.
It’s a fantasy, but it’s not even qualified to discuss.
Only by joining the cabinet and becoming a cabinet elder can you have the qualifications to formulate and influence national policies, become a representative of ministerial power, and have power that can compete with the imperial power. In fact, the leaders of the major political forces in the court today,
As for the elders in the cabinet, although Zhao Junchen is powerful now, as long as he has not joined the cabinet, he can only be regarded as a small figure. Although he is determined to recruit cronies and form his own faction, as long as he has not joined the cabinet, his appeal is limited.
We can only make small fuss.
Joining the cabinet is not without temptation for Zhao Junchen. If he only relies on the support of Emperor Deqing and Zhao Junchen's own efforts, he may have to wait until ten years before he is qualified to join the cabinet. By that time, De
I don’t even know whether Emperor Qing is still here or not.
But if there is Zhou Shangjing's support, everything will be different.
However, compared with the temptation of joining the cabinet, Zhao Junchen was more curious about why Zhou Shangjing would rather help him join the cabinet this week than let Emperor Deqing tour the south?
You know, with Zhao Junchen's holy family, once he joins the cabinet, it will be a huge decentralization of power for Zhou Shangjing!
And decentralization is often the most unacceptable thing for powerful officials like Zhou Shangjing.
Could it be that something big happened in the Jiangnan area but I didn’t know about it?
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PS: Something happened at Chongzi’s house, which delayed my time and made me feel a little depressed. There are only two chapters today, sorry! There will be three more chapters tomorrow.