The first assistant, Zhao Zhigao, was feeling a little unhappy. It was his first time as the first assistant, and Lu Guangzu, the censor of Zuodu, came out to object fiercely.
The key is that the emperor also approved Lu Guangzu's proposal, so he felt as if he had been slapped in the face by Lu Guangzu.
Although I am not a domineering person, isn't it too disrespectful to the new chief assistant to do this up and down?
What does it mean to be slapped in the face as soon as you get on stage?
So Zhao Shoufu asked his fellow countryman Hu Yinglin to visit Wang Shizhen, the Minister of Civil Affairs, to see if he could regain his position.
After all, no matter what, Tingtui must be presided over by the Minister of Civil Affairs.
The most famous literary critic today, Hu Yinglin, who has completed the masterpiece of literary criticism "Shi Sou", suddenly found that he seemed to have new value outside the literary world?
As we all know, the political climate of the imperial court largely depends on the relationship between the chief minister and the official minister.
If civil service politics is compared to a long drama, then the chief minister and the official minister are the two eternal protagonists who love and kill each other.
Due to their sensitive identities, in order to avoid suspicion, the chief minister and the minister of official affairs generally do not communicate openly, and often rely on intermediaries to convey messages.
And now, he, Hu Yinglin, is the best communication bridge between the chief minister and Tianguan!
He and his chief minister Zhao Zhigao are very close fellow villagers from the same county. He and Tianguan Wang Shizhen have been friends in the literary world for twenty years ago and are successors in the field of literary criticism.
Therefore, no one is more suitable than himself to act as the middle person to coordinate affairs between the chief minister and the heavenly official!
Unexpectedly, at the age of forty, I can still discover a new track in life. What the saint said is really good. Today I understand what it means to be forty without confusion!
So after receiving instructions from Zhao Shoufu, Hu Yinglin, who was preparing for the exam, excitedly went to visit Tianguan Mansion.
About an hour later, Hu Yinglin returned to Zhao Mansion and reported to Zhao Shoufu:
"Senior Wang said that no one knows elections better than him. Please rest assured, Chief Minister. Whether Lin Jiuyuan is in the capital or not, he will try his best to cooperate."
The implication is that everyone was supported by Lin Jiuyuan, and we should look after each other.
Zhao Zhigao said with some worry: "In your opinion, can Wang Tianguan attack Lu Guangzu's arrogance at the court?"
The outcome of the court trial really didn't matter to Zhao Shoufu. He only cared about whether he could fight back Lu Guangzu's "provocation".
Hu Yinglin thought for a moment and then replied: "This junior is not familiar with Lu Guangzu, but he knows Senior Wang very well.
I think Senior Wang has been in charge of the literary world for decades, and in order to support literary figures, he has conducted countless elections during this period, so there are various "Five Sons" combinations.
Therefore, in the field of elections, Senior Wang is absolutely experienced. He can manipulate procedures, set issues, and balance factions at his fingertips.
The imperial court's recommendation is probably based on a similar approach. As long as you don't meet someone with strong martial virtues like Lin Jiuyuan, Leader Wang should be able to control the situation."
After listening to Hu Yinglin's analysis, Zhao Zhigao felt a little relieved. This is indeed the truth. Wang Tianguan is definitely the leading expert in the field of elections.
However, he also felt that little brother Hu Yinglin was a little excited tonight, so he asked tentatively: "After you finish writing twenty volumes of "Shisou", do you have any new creative plans?"
Hu Yinglin shook his head and replied truthfully: "This junior just wants to get the honors first and has no other ideas for the time being."
Zhao Zhigao said sincerely: "Lin Jiuyuan taught at the internal meeting of the Update Society that the relationship between literature and politics is interactive. Literature will be affected by politics and can also have a certain influence on politics.
Lin Jiuyuan also pointed out at the literary conference that the reality of literature should be strengthened, reflect the characteristics of the times, highlight the style of the times, and reflect the essence of the times."
Hu Yinglin's eyes were clear and confused. Senior, what do you mean by suddenly saying this?
Zhao Zhigao said angrily: "It seems that your "Shisou" was only published during the Jiajing Dynasty?
What I mean is, let you rewrite "Shi Sou" and add another volume.
As for the content of the new volume, it is dedicated to commenting on Lin Jiuyuan’s poetry!”
Hu Yinglin: "."
Is this “literature being influenced by politics”? Is this “strengthening the reality of literature”?
He was also worried about his fellow countryman Zhao Zhigao, and said: "If you really want to get into politics in the future, it will be of great benefit to you to re-edit "Shi Sou" like this!
It’s much more useful than writing in a book, ‘Spring River, Flowers and Moonlight Night alone is the best chapter in the entire Tang Dynasty’, ‘Climbing high to the top of the Seven Rhymes of Ancient and Modern Times’ and the like!”
Hu Yinglin: "."
This means that “literature can also have a certain impact on politics”? This means that “literature must reflect the characteristics of the times”?
"Do you understand what I mean?" Zhao Zhigao asked again.
Hu Yinglin sighed and replied: "Old seniors don't know something. 'Spring River Flower Moonlight Night alone is the best in the Tang Dynasty' and 'Deng Gao is the first of the seven ancient and modern laws' are not my original creation.
These formulations were pointed out to me by Lin Jiuyuan at the Suzhou Literary Forum six or seven years ago, and it cannot be said that they are completely useless."
Zhao Zhigao: "."
Suddenly it’s hard to say. Is this considered an improvement or a degradation?
However, it is also understandable that when a person's close senior from the same county becomes the chief minister, and at the same time, a literary teacher whom he has known for twenty years becomes the minister of the Ministry of official affairs, how many people can not forget their original intention and insist on continuing to be a prodigal son in the literary world?
Two days later, the last year-end drama of the imperial court in the 19th year of Wanli was staged. The ministers of the foreign ministry were ordered to recommend ministers.
Still at the same place, Wang Tianguan came to the east room outside the Meridian Gate early and carefully asked the Jinyiwei Officer School to put some more braziers.
Compared with looking at boring personnel files in the Ministry of Personnel, Wang Tianguan found that he preferred the occasion of court promotion.
Looking at the Meridian Gate next to the East Chamber, Wang Tianguan secretly lamented that since entering the court, he had never been able to go to the morning court.
Although it is very painful to go to morning every day, but not even once, it seems that life is incomplete.
The ministers and ministers of various ministries, the censor of the capital and deputy censors of the capital, the ministers of Dali Temple, and general political envoys arrived one after another.
Lu Guangzu also arrived very early. He glanced back and forth in the crowd and counted the votes in his mind.
The Qingliu forces, plus the iron ticket of the Shanshan Gang, include themselves as the censor of Zuodu, Sun Piyang, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, Liu Yukui, the left minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Sun Quan, the left minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and Yang Junmin, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, Zhao Yongxian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, and the right minister of the Ministry of Punishment.
The minister, Shao Bi, added up to six or seven votes.
The Lin Party's iron vote to add the remnants of the Party should include Wang Tianguan of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ye Mengxiong, Minister of the Ministry of War, Zhou Cai, the Minister of Dali Temple, Xu Shen, the general political envoy, and possibly Zhan Yangpi, the deputy censor of the capital, and Wang Yongji, the right minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Five or six votes.
Others are essentially free votes, but there are too many people who are dissatisfied with Lin Tailai, such as Li Chun, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, Shi Xing, the left minister of the Ministry of War, and Zhong Zhenji, the right minister of the Ministry of Industry, etc. are all people who have offended Lin Tailai.
.
As for Yu Shenxing, the Minister of Household Affairs, and Chen Yubi, the Minister of Industry, they are not so naive that just because they have dealt with Lin Tailai, they must support the Lin Party, right?
So overall, the advantage still lies with me!
Seeing that about twenty ministers had arrived, Wang Tianguan stopped dawdling and stood directly in front of the crowd.
However, Wang Tianguan did not start the selection process directly. Instead, he said: "Please invite ministers from various ministries to come forward and formulate regulations first!"
Then Jiu Qing came out, and Wang Tianguan said to Jiu Qing alone: "Everyone should be able to understand that the current situation of Ci ministers is actually in decline, and there are very few people suitable to join the cabinet."
Wang Tianguan's words seemed very abrupt and even demeaning, but no one could refute it because it was a fact visible to the naked eye.
As mentioned earlier, the cabinet ministers in these years are very young. The average age of Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, and Wang Jiaping is only fifty-six years old. They were only in their fifties when they first joined the cabinet.
As for the sixty-eight-year-old Zhao Zhigao, that is because he was very old when he became a Jinshi. In terms of academic title, he was later than Wang Xijue of Shen Shixing.
And Cilin is a place that pays great attention to the relationship between seniors and juniors. There is an unspoken rule that seniors give priority and juniors are courteous.
So where are the seniors who are older and more qualified than Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, and Wang Jiaping?
It can only be said that the past two or three decades have been an era of high-intensity political struggle within the cabinet, and it has been one continuous wave after another.
After intense cabinet struggles in the late Jiajing, Longqing, early Wanli, Zhang Juzheng era, and post-Zhang Juzheng era, all the ministers who were closely related to the cabinet had been exhausted.
The old man who stood at Yange was liquidated by Xu Jie, the man who stood at Xujie was liquidated by Gao Gong, the man who stood at Gaogong was liquidated by Zhang Juzheng, and the man who stood at Zhang Juzheng was liquidated by Emperor Wanli.
How many other poets can survive Yan Song, Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng without falling?
Some people say that as long as you know how to take sides in the officialdom, then the twenty years of history from the end of Jiajing to the eleventh year of Wanli can make those who say this have a swollen face.
This is the reason why a group of people in their fifties have appeared in recent years, because there are really no old people left.
Now even these "young" cabinet ministers in their fifties have resigned. Wang Tianguan said that the ministers were "not taking over", and others could not find any reason to refute.
Wang Tianguan saw that everyone acquiesced to his point of view, showed a standard smile, and continued: "Therefore, I think that this time the court recommends ministers, the candidates should not be limited to ministers, and should not be limited to assets, but only talents."
Everyone knows that there is a saying that "non-Hanlin men cannot join the cabinet", which very straightforwardly explains the qualification requirements for cabinet ministers.
Of course, there are actually some exceptions, but they are just exceptions.
Everyone was secretly surprised. Wang Tianguan wanted to make a special exception this time, using the excuse of "not taking over the job"?
Immediately, many people suddenly realized, did Wang Tianguan want to make a special case for himself?
Although the official minister of the Ministry of Personnel is extremely powerful, perhaps even more powerful than ordinary cabinet ministers, what if Wang Tianguan really has a "prime minister complex"?
No matter how ordinary the cabinet minister is, he can be respectfully called "Xiang", and no matter how powerful the civil servants and heavenly officials are, they are only one of the six ministers.
Before most people could understand Wang Tianguan's proposal of "not being limited to material goods", two ministers suddenly jumped out at the same time.
What’s even more surprising is that the two ministers almost shouted in unison: “Agree!”
Then the two ministers looked at each other, and the situation suddenly became a little awkward, and then the two ministers retreated silently.
Only then did everyone see clearly that one was Yu Shenxing, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who had been the Minister of Rites three months ago; the other was Chen Yubi, the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, who had been a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy three months ago.
Both of them were Jinshi in the second year of Longqing's reign, and their resumes are very similar. They were selected as Shujishi in the back hall of junior high school, and then they were promoted all the way through the Ci Chen system.
Even the age is the same, they are both forty-seven years old, which can be called a young man, and their official positions have reached the level of minister.
If they are recommended according to the normal routine, the next wave of cabinet ministers will probably be these two people.
After all, there are not many old Ci officials nowadays, and there are too few Ci officials who meet the requirements.
Even in terms of seniority, these two ministers, who were former ministers, have extremely high priority.
Although they are young, they are the same year as the 68-year-old first assistant Zhao Zhigao.
Thinking of this, everyone suddenly realized again. No wonder the two ministers jumped out excitedly and loudly supported Wang Tianguan's proposal of "not limited to assets" and expanding the scope of candidates.
Because these two young ministers don’t want to join the cabinet at all, not even to the point of death!
Isn’t it good to fish in the two administrative offices of the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Works, which are not so politically sensitive? Why go to the cabinet to wade into troubled waters?
Three months ago, one went from the Ministry of Rites to the Ministry of Husbandry, and the other went from the Hanlin Academy and the Zhanshi Mansion to the Ministry of Industry.
Even if they don't care about their high-ranking positions and go to the general affairs office to curry favor with Lin Tailai, doesn't that show that they want to stay away from disputes?
Several old bureaucrats over 60 lamented that the next generation of young people are such waste!
They are either escaping or lying down. They have no sense of responsibility and sense of responsibility. They are really the beat generation!
But Lu Guangzu, the most senior person, felt a little panicked. The situation didn't look good!
Originally, in his calculations, Yu Shenxing from the Ministry of Revenue and Chen Yubi from the Ministry of Industry, two independent figures, were not included in the Lin Party's side!
But unexpectedly, Wang Shizhen, an old man, actually took advantage of the two useless ministers' unwillingness to join the cabinet and leveraged their positions.
Isn't this Wang Shizhen the most famous official gangster in recent decades? Where did he get this ability to move around?
Others didn't expect that it was just a small-scale preparatory meeting, and the confrontation had already begun inadvertently.
Ye Mengxiong, the Secretary of the Ministry of War, also slowly stood up and said: "I agree with the proposal of not limiting goods."
Zhou Cai, the former governor of Jiangnan, minister of Dali Temple, and Xu Shen, general affairs envoy from Suzhou, also came out to second the proposal.
Due to the vacancy of the Minister of Rites, there were actually only eight Jiuqings who held the preparatory meeting.
Now there are six people, including the Minister of Personnel, the Minister of Hubu, the Minister of War, the Minister of Industry, the Minister of Dali Temple, and the Minister of General Affairs, who support the proposal of "not restricting capital".
What does it mean to be independent of capital, that is, the qualifications are not limited to being a Hanlin Ci official, and the grade of being selected as a Ci official is not limited to the customary third grade or above, which greatly expands the options.
Lu Guangzu, the censor of Zuodu, and Sun Piyang, the minister of punishment, looked at each other helplessly.
Our own forces have a lot of people, but there are a lot of ministers on horseback! There are too few high-end combat power at the level of Jiuqing.
It’s all Lin Jiuyuan’s fault, and I don’t know how much luck I’ve taken away!
They had a plan that was originally perfect. Not only could they push someone into the cabinet, but they could also remove Zhao Zhigao, the chief minister, in one fell swoop.
But judging from the current situation, there are many more variables.
It’s just unknown how much the competition will increase, and it will be more random and less predictable.