After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang abolished the prime minister system and concentrated all power on the emperor. The power of ministers was greatly weakened, and the imperial power was also greatly improved.
During that period, the imperial power reached its peak, and the ministerial power also fell to the bottom. The ministerial power was completely unable to compete with the imperial power. The emperor had the power of life and death over the court ministers, even the first-class officials with deep qualifications and high morals. Zhu Yuanzhang also said
Just kill him, the officials have no power to resist!
However, as the saying goes, "a hundred officials represent the emperor's herdsmen". Although the ministers will compete with the emperor for power and interests, they will also share the pressure and work for the emperor. It is an interdependent relationship. The result of Zhu Yuanzhang's severe suppression of ministerial power is
, the ministers completely lost their right to autonomy, and everything needed to be decided by the emperor, so the pressure and workload faced by the emperor naturally increased dozens of times!
It is a pity that the Ming Dynasty has a vast territory and there are so many government affairs. If every government affairs needs to be handled by the emperor personally, I am afraid that all the emperors of the Ming Dynasty will die of exhaustion. Not every emperor is like Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang or Emperor Chongzhen
He is so diligent and caring for the people and full of energy.
In fact, even Zhu Yuanzhang could not bear such pressure and workload at all. He once wrote a poem and complained: "I got up before all the officials got up, and all the officials have gone to bed. Before I slept, I was not as good as the rich man in the south of the Yangtze River. The sun is still high at noon."
Cover yourself with a blanket.”
Therefore, one of the consequences of the substantial increase in imperial power is that the emperor has become the most grueling and tiring job in the world.
Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, was born in the grassroots. He was smart, wise, decisive and energetic. He couldn't bear such misfortune, let alone those later emperors who were pampered and well-clothed and well-fed, and couldn't bear the misfortune at all?
Therefore, after Zhu Di, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, succeeded to the throne, he could no longer bear it soon, so he established the Wenyuan Pavilion and established a cabinet system. He asked the cabinet ministers to help the emperor study the memorials and approve their own opinions, that is,
The so-called "vote draft" makes the emperor's job much easier. He no longer has to study and investigate carefully. He only needs to take a look at the opinions of the cabinet ministers and then decide whether to agree or not. This is the so-called "red approval".
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At that time, the cabinet still had little authority. It only assisted the emperor in handling government affairs. All matters of the cabinet also needed to be discussed with the emperor, and it was only equivalent to the emperor's personal secretary.
But as the emperors of the Ming Dynasty relied more and more on the votes of the cabinet, the cabinet naturally became an indispensable institution, and its authority became more and more important. By the middle of Ming Shizong, the status of the cabinet became more and more important.
It's so high that it can suppress six parts.
The cabinet can become the real core of the court because of a decree of Ming Yingzong, to the effect that "from now on, the emperor will no longer go to Wenyuan Pavilion to discuss matters with the cabinet elders, and all government affairs will be independently studied and drafted by the cabinet."
Just give it to the emperor. As for how the emperor approves the red, the cabinet cannot interfere."
Ming Yingzong was a very legendary emperor. He first changed from an emperor to a prisoner, then from a prisoner to the Supreme Emperor, and finally from the Supreme Emperor to the Emperor. Such an emperor was naturally well versed in political power.
, whose profound attainments in emperor's mental skills are probably still higher than those of today's Emperor Deqing.
However, Ming Yingzong, like Emperor Deqing, trusted too much in his own imperial power. This time he did a stupid thing. His original intention was to distance himself from the cabinet and monopolize the power of decision-making, once again expand imperial power and suppress
The cabinet gradually became bigger, but after he made this decree, although the cabinet could not interfere with the emperor's approval, the emperor could not interfere with the cabinet's vote.
At this point, the emperor and the cabinet were completely separated from each other, and this was also a turning point in the Ming Dynasty's imperial power from prosperity to decline.
But as mentioned before, by this period, the Ming emperor was very dependent on the cabinet's votes. If he left the cabinet's votes, the emperor would die of exhaustion sooner or later. Facing the cabinet's votes, the Ming emperor would never
Most of the time, it is just a reply of "agree", so the cabinet is equivalent to the decision-making core of the Ming Dynasty, and this decree of Ming Yingzong is equivalent to excluding the imperial power from the decision-making core, and the cabinet has become
The emperor could no longer interfere with the private territory of powerful ministers.
As a result, the power of the cabinet has naturally become heavier and heavier. The elders of the cabinet have become the de facto prime ministers, while the emperor's decision-making power of approving the red has become an insignificant procedure, and the imperial power can no longer control it.
Suppress the power of ministers.
Even during the Ming Xianzong period, cabinet voting had become an indispensable element when the court implemented administrative decrees. Its importance far exceeded the emperor's approval. If officials received an imperial edict,
It contains only the emperor's approval but no cabinet vote, so it can only be regarded as the emperor's personal letter, also known as the "central edict". If the "central edict" conflicts with the current imperial edict, officials can reject it.
After accepting it, the cabinet naturally supported him, and the emperor was helpless.
It can be said that at this point, if the factor of military power is put aside, the power of the ministers actually overwhelms the imperial power.
Today, the cabinet has become the recognized core of the court's decision-making. Although the emperors of the Ming Dynasty repeatedly wanted to intervene in the cabinet again or suppress the power of the cabinet, most of their actions were unsuccessful.
Even though Emperor Chongzhen of this world is a clever "Zhongxing Sage King", he only promoted the two decrees "Cabinet ministers are not allowed to hold the six actual positions concurrently" and "Expanded the number of bachelors" to slightly restrict it.
After adjusting the momentum of the cabinet, the imperial power and the ministerial power were once again in balance, but the ministerial power could still compete with the imperial power.
Now, Emperor Deqing is an emperor who is greedy for power. Like his predecessors of the Ming Dynasty, he also has the ambition to suppress the cabinet and interfere in cabinet affairs.
Now, there is a vacancy in the cabinet seats, which is a great opportunity for Emperor Deqing to realize his ambitions.
At this time, recalling the power changes in the cabinet, Zhao Junchen secretly thought: "These imperial party officials' vocal support for Liang Fuchen's entry into the cabinet to assist the government is probably a secret signal from Emperor Deqing! And Emperor Deqing wanted to
It is foreseeable to insert Liang Fuchen into the cabinet. After all, the current cabinet is at its most empty. Zhou Shangjing has lost his position as the chief minister, and his appeal has been greatly damaged. Although Shen Changmao is the chief minister, his ability and means are somewhat limited.
As for another cabinet minister, Cheng Yuandao, he was even more mediocre and incompetent! When Liang Fuchen was the governor of the three sides, he had outstanding achievements and a high reputation. If Emperor Deqing had fully promoted him into the cabinet, even if he was a bachelor
It is also difficult for Li He to compete. In this way, Emperor Deqing can intervene in cabinet affairs through Liang Fuchen, and the imperial power will be greatly increased."
Thinking of this, Zhao Junchen frowned and thought: "It's just that Emperor Deqing's idea made it much more difficult for Zuo Lanshan to enter the cabinet. Could it be that I have laid out so many foreshadowings, but still can't
To impress Emperor Deqing and give him the idea of using Zuo Lanshan to split the Zhao party? Or is it that Emperor Deqing intends to support both Zuo Lanshan and Liang Fuchen and let them enter the cabinet together? "
While secretly guessing, Zhao Junchen finally raised his head and secretly observed Emperor Deqing, hoping to deduce Emperor Deqing's specific thoughts through the changes in Emperor Deqing's expression.
However, Emperor Deqing looked expressionless at this time, just quietly observing the disputes among the officials, without revealing any emotions or expressing any tendencies, which was quite unpredictable.
Cabinet seats are related to the formulation of core policies of the imperial court. The most important thing is that each faction in the DPRK has its own opinions, and no one is willing to give in. Naturally, there will be disputes in a short period of time, whether it is the "Zhou Party" or the "Shen Party" ", "Zhao Party", or "Emperor Party" and "Princeling Party". As long as a party proposes its own candidate, it will be boycotted by other parties. In this way, even the "Zhou Party" "Even if the momentum is great, the goal cannot be easily achieved.
Therefore, at this time, there was still a lot of debate in the Huangji Palace, and the various factions were completely unable to reach a consensus.
At this time, Emperor Deqing's attitude became very important, but Emperor Deqing did not express any attitude, as if he had other plans.
"It seems that Emperor Deqing has been planning for today's changes in the situation for a long time. Perhaps his silence now is just to accumulate strength and wait for the opportunity. When he finally expresses his attitude, I am afraid that the situation in the temple will change drastically again."
Thinking of this, Zhao Junchen already regarded exploring Emperor Deqing's plan as his top priority next.
After all, Emperor Deqing's attitude had a great impact on Zhao Junchen's plan.
However, since it was impossible to guess Emperor Deqing's mind, Zhao Junchen did not force it. He just turned his attention to the prince Zhu Heyu on the other side and secretly considered the thoughts of the "princelings".
At this time, Prince Zhu Heyu also stood there quietly and did not express his attitude.
However, the successive speeches of the "princelings" have already stated the position of the "princelings", which is to move closer to Emperor Deqing and support Emperor Deqing's plan.
Although, the "princelings" probably don't know what Emperor Deqing's specific plan is now.
However, the performance of the "princelings" seems blind, but it is actually a clever move! After all, the biggest crisis for Prince Zhu Heyu now is that he has gradually lost the trust and support of Emperor Deqing, and the "princelings" are now trying their best to Supporting Emperor Deqing can not only restore Emperor Deqing's trust in Prince Zhu Heyu, but also enhance Emperor Deqing's power, allowing Emperor Deqing to better protect Prince Zhu Heyu, and also take the opportunity to revive " The momentum of the "Princeling Party" has allowed various factions in the DPRK and China to see the influence of the "Princeling Party".
"Based on the nature of the princelings, I'm afraid they wouldn't have thought of such a plan. They were deeply influenced by Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism and had always enjoyed selling money. Such a plan to move closer to Emperor Deqing without any reservations. It should have been written by Zhao Shancai." Zhao Junchen thought with a frown.
With the help of Zhao Shancai, the "princelings" became more difficult to deal with than before.
And while Zhao Junchen was sizing up Prince Zhu Heyu, Zhu Heyu was also secretly thinking about Zhao Shancai's advice to him the night before.
"Your Highness, when we come to court tomorrow morning, we must follow two principles! One is to fully support His Majesty's position, and the other is to do our best to further confuse the situation in the temple!"
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