After thinking for a while, the eunuch Chen Ju, the eunuch Bingbi, the ceremonial supervisor, politely declined to Lin Tailai and said:
"I'm just here to deliver a message, and whether to add more cabinet ministers has nothing to do with today's court discussion.
Why should I change the music without authorization? You should submit a separate letter."
He, Eunuch Chen, only served the emperor and did not want to get involved in the affairs among civil servants.
If you, Lin Tailai, really have any ideas, please submit a letter through formal channels and do not use him, Eunuch Chen, as a messenger.
The more times you help others spread the word to the emperor, the more risks you will take.
Lin Tailai frowned and said: "The emperor has been deceived by the cabinet. Reorganizing the cabinet or adding cabinet ministers are top priorities.
Those of you who work in the ceremonial department must think about the emperor at all times, and you must think ahead in everything!
If I were to be the officiant, forget it, that’s not what I want to do!”
Chen Ju was a little unhappy and snorted coldly.
You, Lin Tailai, think being an eunuch is easy? The competition in the palace is more cruel than that of your civil servants!
Also, you Lin Tailai, a foreign minister, do you know more about the emperor than their eunuch who is in charge of rituals?
If you, Lin Tailai, dare to "take advantage of yourself" and forcefully intervene in cabinet selection, you will be the first to be punished afterwards!
After Lin Tai finished speaking, he opened the door to the East Chamber. Eunuch Chen, who represented the emperor, left first and went to the inner palace to play.
Then the Dongchaofang ended, and Lin Tailai walked out first.
But when he saw Luo Sigong, the commander of Fusi in Jinyiwei North Town, was still outside, Lin Tailai asked: "Did eunuch Chen just give an order to arrest me and send me to prison?"
Luo Sigong replied unhappily: "No."
Lin Tailai looked around and asked again: "Liu Qianhu was responsible for escorting me from Xizhimen to Dongchaofang in the morning. Now I should be escorted back."
But why didn't you see Liu Qianhu at this time? This is leaving your post without permission! This is dereliction of duty!
There are many censors in the Dongchao room, how dare he do this?"
Luo Sigong said impatiently: "Okay, okay! I will escort you back! Don't make trouble over nothing!"
Lin Tailai immediately asked again: "Commander Luo, is he planning to use practical actions to protect Liu Qianhu?"
Luo Sigong: "."
Just do whatever you like! Never mind! You, Lin Tailai, won’t run away anyway!
After seeing Commander Luo leave angrily, several people quickly approached Lin Tailai.
Wang Situ, the Minister of Hubu, Zhao Zhigao, the left minister of the Rites, Zhao Huan, the censor of Zuoqiandu, and others walked outside the palace together.
It would be really hard to talk if the Jinyiwei Official School was nearby.
Zhao Zhigao said with some worry: "Is it too hasty to propose additional cabinet ministers today?"
Lin Tailai said nonchalantly: "How can you call it too hasty? It's just right, just wait for progress!"
Having said this, Lin Tailai was quite pleased.
Starting from the 13th year of Wanli's reign, it took nearly five years of hard work to finally train Mr. Zhao.
If "mature and prudent" is used as the criterion, the only candidates for the cabinet are Yang Wei, the Minister of Civil Affairs, and Zhao Zhigao, the Left Minister.
If Zhao Zhigao joins the cabinet, it will certainly be a good thing.
Even if Yang Wei joins the cabinet, Zhao Zhigao can still take over as the Tianguan of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, which is also a position no less than that of an ordinary cabinet elder.
Zhao Zhigao couldn't help but ask: "In your opinion, Lin Jiuyuan, which one is better between fish and bear's paw?"
This means, which direction should we strive for next? Bachelor of Arts or Minister of Civil Affairs?
Lin Tailai sighed: "To be honest, I am also very hesitant and don't know which choice is better.
So just leave everything to fate, whichever one you get is the one, anyway, both choices are not bad."
At this time, Emperor Wanli was in Yikun Palace, studying with Concubine Zheng in the room.
When Eunuch Chen Ju and Chen arrived, they stood in the front courtyard of the palace and waited. It wouldn't take long anyway.
Sure enough, after a while, the sage-like Emperor Wanli came out.
Eunuch Chen came forward to kowtow and heard the emperor proactively ask: "What was the result of the discussion?"
It can be seen that the emperor is still very concerned about it.
Eunuch Chen reported: "The court officials believe that Lin Tailai should be pardoned!"
Emperor Wanli said a little angrily: "I knew it! There is no punishment for those who criticize the emperor and father without being punished!"
Eunuch Chen then reported: "However, the court officials concluded that the disaster came true when Lin Tailai was demoted and expelled.
Therefore, in order to eliminate the misfortune, please pardon Lin Tailai."
Emperor Wanli immediately turned from anger to joy, "Very good! Then Lin Tailai can be pardoned!"
This is the news that the emperor wants to hear most. Someone should take responsibility for the disaster and don't talk about his lack of morality all day long.
Then Emperor Wanli said: "Since Lin Tailai has been wronged before, he can be promoted and rewarded."
Seeing that the emperor was in a good mood, Chen Ju also smiled and replied:
"Lin Tailai also requested today that His Majesty should add more cabinet ministers as soon as possible.
He also blamed me and other ministers for not thinking about His Majesty.
After all, he is still too young and impatient."
Emperor Wanli did not comment, and then began to arrange the work.
"Publish the decree! Let the cabinet draft an edict to accuse me, and I will be deceived, demoted to Zhongliang, and warned from heaven."
At this point, Emperor Wanli suddenly realized something. He paused and then said hesitantly: "No one in the cabinet can issue an edict, right?"
According to the current system, all formal edicts (except for edicts, oral edicts, warrants, etc.) are first drafted by the cabinet, and then sealed by the emperor after confirmation.
But this time the emperor's edict contained the content "I was deceived", but the people who deceived the emperor were the cabinet ministers.
It sounds funny to ask someone who deceived the emperor to help the deceived emperor draft a self-incriminating edict.
The edict of sinner is not only for the people of the world to see, but also for heaven to see. The more superficial the article is, the less it can really become a joke.
Thinking of this, Emperor Wanli sighed: "So Lin Tailai's words are reasonable. It is indeed necessary to add more cabinet candidates, even if it is to draft an imperial edict."
Chen Ju: "."
Is he really inferior to Lin Tailai? Is Lin Tailai really more suitable than himself to be the eunuch and eunuch?
Thinking of this, Eunuch Chen decided to test it again and said:
"Lin Tailai also said that the current cabinet is too young and unstable, so someone who is mature and prudent and about 65 years old should be elected to the cabinet."
Emperor Wanli still nodded, "Lin Tailai has indeed thought everything through, as he should. If he hadn't reminded me, I really wouldn't have thought of this."
If the cabinet team is too young, isn't it very likely that there will be cabinet ministers who can't be replaced after serving for ten or twenty years?
So if you add more people, it’s best to find someone older.
Eunuch Chen suddenly felt a little autistic, and he finally discovered the power of Lin Tailai.
This method cannot be regarded as judging the emperor's thoughts at all, but invisibly and actively guiding the emperor's thinking, allowing the emperor to think in the direction he needs.
Don't think that this is very simple. Unless you have a very deep understanding of the emperor, you can't do this at all.
So Lin Tailai might be more suitable to be a eunuch than himself.
Immediately, Emperor Wanli no longer hesitated and sent an order to the Ministry of Personnel, ordering the Ministry of Personnel to recommend candidates to the cabinet.
Candidates are also required to be mature and prudent, and the age gap between them and existing cabinet ministers should be widened.
After this decree spread, all the yamen in the imperial court were speechless.
Earlier, Lin Tailai openly proposed that the cabinet must elect an old man, which seemed like a joke.
Generally, newcomers choose young people. How can there be any reason to choose old people as newcomers?
Unexpectedly, the seemingly playful request actually came true, and the emperor actually accepted this suggestion.
Under normal circumstances, once someone is selected to join the cabinet, the court will definitely become excited.
Countless people will cross the sea and show their magical powers, jumping up and down just to get a seat in Wenyuan Pavilion.
But this time everyone was very calm because they were not qualified to participate in the competition.
It is good for a person to live to be sixty-five years old, but it is even rarer for a person to live to be sixty-five years old.
There are even fewer people who can serve as officials at an advanced age and still have the qualifications to join the cabinet.
Not to mention the liquidation of Zhang Juzheng seven years ago, which resulted in the liquidation of many ministers of the older generation, resulting in not many senior ministers in the court now.
So it seems that the only candidates are Yang Wei and Zhao Zhigao.
Faced with this kind of recruitment pit, why should others join in the fun?
"So this is the situation now." Shen Yongmao introduced to his father at home.
"If the emperor wants to pardon Lin Tailai, he must first issue an edict to offend himself; if he wants to draft an edict to offend himself, he must first recruit new cabinet ministers, so he is waiting for the results of the election of new cabinet ministers."
Shen Shixing said quietly: "Did the emperor and the court forget something?"
After Shen Yongmao thought for a while, he said doubtfully: "What on earth has been forgotten?"
Shen Shixing suddenly felt a little resentful, "You forgot to let me go back to Wenyuan Pavilion! I, the chief assistant, am still at home!"
Shen Yongmao: "."
After being stunned for a moment, Uncle Shen continued: "It seems that these things currently have nothing to do with my father, right?
As a member of the old cabinet, it is impossible for you to draft the edict of sin.
As for the selection of new cabinet ministers and elders, it has nothing to do with you, and it is impossible for you to publicly express your support for anyone.
The most important thing is that the emperor did not want to consult you secretly, and you have absolutely no ability to influence it."
In this regard, Shen Shixing only said: "No matter what, I am still the chief assistant."
Shen Yongmao told the truth: "With or without you as the first assistant, it really has nothing to do with the overall situation.
Now it’s not like there’s no one leading these things, it’s Lin Tailai.”
Shen Shixing asked unhappily: "Whose son are you?"
Shen Yongmao replied: "I just said a few words from an objective standpoint.
Lin Tailai wanted to give you the leadership, but you reached a tacit agreement with the Qingliu forces.
In order to so-called stabilize the overall situation, you ignored Lin Tailai's appeal and watched Lin Tailai be expelled.
So now that Lin Tailai has regained the leadership with his own ability, what can you complain about?"
Shen Shixing was speechless after being contradicted. No matter who was sitting in his seat at the beginning, he would not make any other choice.
Except for those who were superstitious about Lin Tailai, who would have thought that Lin Tailai, a criminal who was thrown into a border town, could come back and dominate the situation?
At this time, the disciple came to report that Yang Wei, the Minister of Civil Affairs, came to visit.
Shen Shoufu regained some confidence and said to Shen Yongmao: "It is impossible for the major affairs of the imperial court to be completely independent of my influence."
The relationship between the Minister of Civil Affairs and the chief minister has always been sensitive, and public visits are rarely made. Yang Tianguan's visit this time shows his strong support for the chief minister.
Shen Shoufu took Shen Yongmao to the second door to greet him personally, and invited Yang Tianguan to sit down in the private study.
"Old Heavenly Official, are you here tonight for the purpose of court promotion?" Shen Shoufu asked proactively.
"That's not true." Yang Tianguan replied: "I intend to resign and return home, so I informed Mr. Ge in advance."
Shen Shixing was instantly shocked and said subconsciously: "Why is this!"
Yang Wei, the Minister of Civil Service, was his most powerful assistant and the pillar of his foreign affairs. He was even a unique and irreplaceable pillar.
Precisely because of his status as chief minister of Shen Shixing and his control over the Minister of Civil Affairs, he was able to exert a huge influence on the imperial court despite the crazy encirclement and suppression by the Qingliu forces.
If he loses the support from the Minister of Civil Affairs, his power structure of Shen Shixing will collapse immediately.
Yang Tianguan sighed: "It's too tiring to be in this position, and I am nearly 70 years old, and I can no longer support it."
The position of Minister of the Ministry of Personnel is too important and sensitive. It turned out that he was caught between the chief minister and the Qingliu forces, and was bitten by the Qingliu forces every day.
But now that the Lin Party is gradually taking shape, I am afraid that in the future, I will be criticized and interfered with by the Lin Party at every turn. Is this how people live?
Moreover, it was obvious that the court was becoming more and more troublesome. He was an old man in his late seventies, but he was in the most sensitive position, and he really couldn't stand it anymore.
You know, Yang Tianguan is on the same list as Li Chunfang and Zhang Juzheng. After three dynasties and forty years, I am really tired.
Shen Shixing said a little against his will: "You have the opportunity to join the cabinet this time. Don't you want to enjoy the honor of prime minister for once?"
Although Shen Shixing preferred that Yang Wei continue to be the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
Yang Wei smiled bitterly and said: "I can see clearly that it is probably Zhao Zhigao who will join the cabinet this time."
Finally, Yang Tianguan said: "I hope the chief assistant will take care of you in the future. I am too old to help you anymore!"
After sending Yang Tianguan away, Shen Shixing had completely lost his confidence as the chief assistant and sat in a daze without any care.
Under the current situation, it is impossible to find an obedient official minister like Yang Wei.
As long as Yang Wei leaves the court, then he, Shen Shixing, will be the one who suffers the most losses.
"Father? Go to bed early." Shen Yongmao advised.
President Shen Shi sighed, "If Yang Wei resigns, then I will also resign, truly resign.
Without the support of the Chief Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, it would be better not to do this!"
Shen Yongmao knelt on the ground to salute, kowtowed with his head to the ground, and shouted from the bottom of his heart:
"Father, think twice! The Ming Dynasty can't live without you! I can't live without you in the capital!"
During this period of time, Shen Shoufu was choked by his son every day at home, and his blood pressure was a lot higher. He was a little relieved to see this.
Then he said with emotion: "It turns out that you also understand in your heart how important being a father is to you."
Shen Yongmao replied: "Lin Jiuyuan said, let me watch my father's movements at home, and I must not let my father really resign."
"Get out!" Shen Shoufu yelled.
The next day, Shen Shoufu had just woken up and before he had eaten breakfast, he saw his elder son rushing to the door of the house.
I heard another report: "Lin Jiuyuan has been waiting at the gate before dawn, asking to see his father!"
Shen Shoufu: "."
Lin Tailai was asked to wait outside the door before dawn for an interview. This must be treated like an emperor, right?
"It's better to meet father," Shen Yongmao advised.
Shen Shoufu snorted coldly: "I realize now that only when I am ready to resign can I gain your respect!"
