The three of them entered Renshou Palace in Xiyuan together. When they came out, Xia Yan's official position was gone, Yan Song's official position remained unchanged, and Qin Dewei's official position had some slight changes.
Yan Song returned to Wuyi Hall next to Renshou Palace, while Qin Dewei first went to Wenyuan Pavilion in the east of the palace.
Fang You, a member of the Zhongshu House, came out to greet him and asked, "Zhongtang suddenly came back today. Do you have any instructions?"
The word "come back" directly explained who was the owner of this place, which made Qin Zhongtang very satisfied.
Qin Zhongtang stood in the courtyard, pointed to the Dongzhan shed in the southeast of Wenyuan Pavilion, and ordered: "Take it up again and change it to a layout for multiple people to use it!"
Fang You was shocked, why should he change it back again?
Some time ago, in order to humiliate Zhai Luan, the Dongjuan shed was changed into a one-person office layout, and then it was said to be reserved for the use of the bachelor Zhai Luan.
As a result, Zhai Luan, who could not resign and did not dare to work in Wenyuan Pavilion, became a laughing stock and was known as the "Grand Scholar of Dongjuan Peng".
That's why Fang You was surprised when he heard the instructions to change the Dongjuan shed back to the multi-person layout. Of course, it wasn't because his boss was too troublesome to change it.
The main reason is that people with strong sensitivity like Fang You can realize it immediately, and changing it back means that the political situation must have changed again!
Not only Fang You, but also several people from Zhongshushe who happened to be passing by the courtyard also slowed down and pricked up their ears to listen.
As a confidant in the central hall, Fang Sheren had some qualifications to ask questions, so he asked cautiously: "Is it possible that Zhai Ge will not work here in the future?"
Qin Zhongtang sighed: "I just came out of the Renshou Palace to meet the Holy Spirit. Zhai Ge will be Zhai's chief assistant after he is old. If he wants to enter the Zhiwuyi Palace, he naturally doesn't have to work here in the Wenyuan Pavilion!"
These words were like a thunderclap on a sunny day, shocking the audience. There was no warning at all about this incident, and even the people in Zhongshushe in the center were not mentally prepared.
Why is Xia Shoufu gone? How come Zhai Luan, a great bachelor of the street, becomes the chief auxiliary? If this news had not been revealed by Qin Zhongtang himself, everyone would have just regarded it as a joke.
For the people in the Shushe House of Liangfangzhong whose main job is to serve the central cabinet and bachelors, the change of cabinet ministers is definitely the news that attracts the most attention, let alone a major event such as the sudden change of chief minister.
After Qin Dewei released the news of the replacement of the chief assistant, he greeted Fang You into the middle hall of Wenyuan Pavilion, and soon saw Fang You coming out again.
Qin Dewei sat firmly in the middle hall of Wenyuan Pavilion and drank tea leisurely for a while. When he was meeting the saint in Renshou Palace just now, he talked a little too much and needed to replenish water and moisten his throat.
Then Fang You and Fang Shiren came in again and reported to Qin Zhongtang: "Just now, three people asked for leave and left the palace!"
"There really are some things that don't know how to live or die!" Qin Zhongtang snorted coldly, put down the tea cup, walked out, and stood on the platform in front of Wenyuan Pavilion with his hands behind his back.
Fang You called out the people in the middle school room from the east and west rooms, and they all stood at the foot of the steps with their hands down, listening to the lecture in the middle hall.
Qin Dewei glanced around with sharp eyes and said, "I heard that three people just asked for leave and went out of the palace. Now I announce that all three of them have been dismissed!"
After everyone was stunned, those with quick minds had vaguely guessed what was going on, while those with slow minds were still confused and didn't know why.
Although the Shushe people in the cabinet also have grades and official status, their actual nature is that of "minor officials" in the cabinet. However, because of the noble status of the cabinet, the "minor officials" used also have official status.
Officials in the Ming Dynasty can be divided into three major categories based on their origins, which is known as "Three Ways of Advancement".
The first type is the imperial examination, Jinshi, and all candidates are of this type; the second type is the school background, specifically the Imperial College; the third type is the miscellaneous stream, which mostly evolved from the promotion of minor officials.
Therefore, officials like Shusheren in the cabinet are actually miscellaneous in nature, and it is not an exaggeration to say that they are the most noble "miscellaneous officials" in the world.
But Zaliu is just Zaliu, and cannot be compared with the elite scholars who came from the imperial examination, or even the officials who came from school.
Therefore, it is not that troublesome to dismiss someone from his post. It is even a matter of a few words from a cabinet minister, and the officials usually do it. Qin Zhongtang naturally has this ability.
Fang You, a confidant in the central hall, asked very cooperatively: "All of us in the central library are on the official register. Where will we go after we are dismissed?"
Qin Dewei issued an order to Fang You: "Go to the Ministry of Civil Affairs and tell Xu Tianguan that the talents left from the cabinet cannot be wasted.
All three of them were dismissed as officials and then sent to Gansu, Guangxi, and Guizhou to encourage them to make contributions in the frontiers!"
Qin Zhongtang's arbitrary punishment silenced all the Zhongshe people.
But some people were still unconvinced. They might be friends of the three people who had been dismissed before. They bravely stood up and asked Qin Zhongtang three words: "Why?"
Qin Dewei was too lazy to answer, so Fang You said: "Tell Xu Tianguan that this person who stood up will also be dismissed from his post and sent to Yunnan!"
The man still wanted to rush forward, but was knocked to the ground by Fang You with three punches and two kicks, and was dragged out by the guards outside.
After the fun was over, Qin Dewei sneered at everyone and said, "You can be really stupid in front of this hall, but don't pretend to be stupid.
Don't think that the main hall doesn't know why they took leave from the palace at this time. Don't they just want to rush to lick Zhai Shoufu as soon as possible?
Let’s see if Zhai Shoufu has the ability and willpower to invite them back from Gansu, Guangxi, Yunnan and Guizhou!”
A few of them had been hesitating about whether to lick Zhai Luan just now, and now their backs were so frightened that they broke out in cold sweat. The thought of it was like hell.
Some people also suspect that Mr. Zhai Ge wants to turn over and become the first assistant. As the person who humiliated the first assistant Zhai, don't you, Qin Zhongtang, know how to behave with your tail between your legs and restrain yourself?
Then I heard Qin Dewei say: "There is another thing to announce! The emperor has approved the establishment of a military aircraft office here in Wenyuan Pavilion, and it will be presided over by this central hall!
When the Dongjuan Shed is cleared out, it will be used as an office space for the Military Aircraft Department! We will also select a few people to work in the Military Aircraft Department!"
Everyone suddenly realized, no wonder Qin Zhongtang just ordered the Dongjuan shed to be changed back!
And it’s no wonder that Qin Zhongtang doesn’t like Chief Zhai, and even dares to use thunderbolt methods to suppress those who please Chief Minister Zhai. It turns out that he is confident!
Regardless of whether the people in Zhongshushe are gangsters or not, at least they have good knowledge of government affairs procedures and understand what the establishment of the Military Aircraft Division means.
That is tantamount to legally cutting off part of the power from the cabinet in terms of system! Besides, in recent years, the power of the cabinet has become more and more powerful. The emperor’s establishment of the Military Aircraft Department may not have the intention to check and balance the cabinet!
Finally, Qin Dewei lectured everyone: "This time Zhai Ge Lao can be promoted to the position of first assistant. It is because I did not avoid personal grudges and proposed to the emperor.
This is enough to show that this church has always been public-minded, and you have carefully performed it. After the imperial edict is issued, the military aircraft department staff will be officially selected!"
In this way, Qin Zhongtang's kindness and power were combined to keep the people in Zhongshushe docile and docile, ensuring that the rear was stable when the center was shaken.
While Qin Zhongtang was continuing his lecture, he suddenly saw eunuch Huang Jinhuang coming to Wenyuan Pavilion and said to Qin Dewei: "The emperor has an oral order and ordered Qin Dewei to draft an edict appointing Zhai Luan and pass it on to Zhai Luan!"
Qin Dewei was stunned. Drafting imperial edicts is indeed the scope of responsibilities of the central ministers, and making edicts is also one of the tasks of Wenyuan Pavilion. But isn't it generally the job of eunuchs to run errands and deliver edicts?
Moreover, the person who delivers the edict often represents the emperor's attitude. Especially when issuing an edict to a heavyweight like the chief minister, it is usually a trusted eunuch who does the errands.
Another example is that the person who went to the Qin Mansion last time to issue the imperial edict was Eunuch Qin, the second eunuch, which fully demonstrated the emperor's kindness.
The people in Zhongshushe who were standing in the courtyard also heard what Eunuch Huang said and were equally surprised. What is the relationship between Qin Zhongtang and Zhai Luan?
It can be said that Zhai Luan couldn't hold his head up in front of Qin Zhongtang, who was facing the bright sun, and he had been hiding away. Sending Qin Zhongtang to Zhai Luan's house to deliver the order, wouldn't that be a slap in the face?
After thinking about it for a while, everyone felt that this time the emperor did not want to send a trusted eunuch to convey the decree to Zhai Luan, but asked Qin Zhongtang to run errands. This was really meaningful.
Qin Dewei returned to Wenyuan Pavilion and was preparing to write a draft of the edict. At the same time, he told Fang You: "Send someone to Zhai Mansion to deliver the message. I will officially go to deliver the edict tomorrow!"
While Qin Dewei was reorganizing the Wenyuan Pavilion, Yan Song, the elder of the Yan Pavilion, was handling today's memorial in Zhilu of Wuyi Hall.
Now there is only Mr. Yan Ge in the cabinet for the time being, and all the heavy burdens are on his shoulders. It was not until dusk that all the memorials were not completed.
However, Mr. Yan Ge took a leave of absence, postponed the remaining memorials until tomorrow, and went home tonight.
Then he called his son Yan Shifan to the study and told Yan Shifan what happened today.
After hearing this, Yan Shifan sighed: "My father is really lucky this time!"
Yan Song sounded a little unhappy, saying as if his presence in the temple was all due to luck! "If Qin Dewei and I hadn't tried our best to deal with it, how could we have escaped unscathed?"
As he grew older and was repeatedly taught how to behave, although Yan Shifan was still so arrogant and domineering, at least when it came to Qin Dewei, his attitude was "restrained" enough.
He saw the crux of the problem at a glance and analyzed it to his father: "The emperor approved the establishment of the Military Aircraft Department because the cabinet may be dominated by one family, so the Military Aircraft Department was established!
Qin Dewei must also understand this truth, so he is also consciously promoting this situation! But who will dominate the family? It may be you, my father, or it may be Xia Yan! "
Yan Song asked in disbelief: "Are you thinking too much? Can Qin Dewei have such a profound idea and layout? Does he dare to risk such a bet?"
Thinking about it from another perspective, isn't Qin Dewei afraid that the cabinet will be dominated by one family, and that someone will swallow him up after taking complete control of the cabinet?
Imaginary strategies and practical operations are completely different things! There are many people who talk about strategies on paper, but how many people can actually achieve it?
Yan Shifan replied: "I prefer that Qin Dewei did not want to take such a risk, nor did he intend to implement such a plan.
But today he was forced to try his best, adapt to the situation, and add a little chance to succeed. But this success is probably not repeatable, and if he had to do it again, Qin Dewei may not be able to succeed."
Yan Song felt that his son's analysis made sense, "If you put it this way, Qin Dewei should be the lucky one."
Yan Shifan continued his analysis: "Then again, if there is a choice between Xia Yan and his father, Qin Dewei, acting based on his heart, should be more interested in bringing his father down.
But recently, Xia Yan took the initiative and blocked Qin Dewei's knife for his father! From the time Xia Yan sent Mao Bowen to Datong, some clues can be seen!
Qin Dewei's threat to the chief minister's power was too great, and Xia Yan could no longer control his normalcy. That's why Xia Yan became worried!
Then Xia Yan's overly concerned actions aroused Qin Dewei's violent reaction. After all, Qin Dewei couldn't just sit still and get beaten, and he wasn't the kind of patient person.
The final result was that Qin Dewei and Xia Yan had a direct fight today because of a misunderstanding between Xia Yan and Xia Yan. That’s why I said that my father was lucky, and Xia Yan actually took the initiative to block the knife for his father! "
Mr. Yan Ge couldn't help but sigh: "Although Xia Yan is kicked out of the cabinet, no one in the cabinet can compete with me in the future; but at the same time, Qin Dewei has also improved to a higher level. In the end, it is hard to say whether it is good or bad."
Yan Shifan replied: "The situation has become like this, which can be regarded as good and bad. I won't talk about the disadvantages. The advantage is that from now on, my father only needs to concentrate on keeping an eye on Qin Dewei, and no longer needs to be distracted by others."
Yan Song smiled bitterly and said: "It used to be that I only had to keep an eye on Xia Yan one more time. How much easier can it be now?"
Yan Shifan had another opinion: "The emperor is very particular about control and checks and balances. If there is no Qin Dewei and his father controls the cabinet alone, then there will definitely be a situation where everyone in the dynasty is an enemy!"
At that time, everyone must pay attention, everyone may be an enemy, and there will be open and covert attacks everywhere, and it will definitely be much more tiring than now."
Yan Song: ""
How come you still hear the taste of joy in suffering? Having Qin Dewei actually makes their Lao Yan family worry less?
After talking about Qin Dewei with his son, Yan Song asked him another matter that he was unsure about: "About the East Palace, do you really give up completely? After all, he is the prince, and he ascended the throne I don't know when."
The main reason is that Yan Song doesn't know whether Emperor Jiajing's lifespan will last. If there is no layout at all in the East Palace, wouldn't it be very passive if Emperor Jiajing dies?
So should we intervene in the East Palace? Cultivate party members in the East Palace?
Yan Shifan considered it and said: "Since ancient times, the relationship between the emperor and the East Palace has always been extremely sensitive. It is not uncommon for fathers and sons to kill each other in history books. Even sages such as Han Wu and Tang Zong are not immune to this.
Emperor Taizu of our dynasty established a system whereby all officials in the Eastern Palace were concurrently held by ministers of the inner court. For example, Qin Dewei previously served as a Hanlin bachelor and a young minister.
In this way, the royal father, son, and officials can work together to prevent outsiders from alienating the father and son. It has indeed solved some of the problems, but it cannot be considered a complete solution."
After talking about the historical reasons, Yan Shifan then talked about the current situation: "If you, father, are an official of the East Palace, supporting the prince is loyalty. There is no problem in etiquette and law, and you can be regarded as a pure minister, and the emperor will not say anything.
But if it weren’t for the officials of the Eastern Palace, who were surrounding the Emperor to express their loyalty and at the same time were thinking about arranging power in the Eastern Palace, it would essentially be the same as having one foot in two boats, and the two sides would not please you!"
In the end, Yan Shifan said very bachelorly: "So, in fact, I just choose one side to bet on! In any case, I suggest that my father bet on the emperor's side and cater to the emperor wholeheartedly. Don't think about trying to please the East Palace!"
With just one thought, if I win the bet, everything will be fine; if I lose the bet, I will go home and study! Anyway, I am willing to admit defeat!"
