Yang Tinghe came to visit that day, originally to inquire about the capital inspection and the general plan, but he happened to meet He Mengchun, the new right minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, who had just arrived in the capital.
In the early years of Jiajing, He Mengchun was regarded as the core figure in Yang Tinghe's faction who opposed Zhang Cong's Great Rites Proposal. In the middle of the year, he was transferred from the position of right minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing to right minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in the capital. It took less than half a month to arrive in the capital.
He Mengchun and Yang Tinghe were old acquaintances. He Mengchun was extremely respectful to Yang Tinghe and explained the matter at hand in detail.
Then He Mengchun left, and Qiao Yu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, came to talk to Yang Tinghe.
"……how do you feel?"
Qiao Yu asked with a smile.
In the 16th year of Zhengde's reign, Qiao Yu transferred Nanjing's Minister of War to Minister of Civil Affairs in the capital. His replacement was Wang Shouren. This time He Mengchun was transferred to the capital, and it was still Qiao Yu who took the lead.
In the Ming Dynasty, this kind of transfer within a faction was a common thing. Usually the old boss was promoted and the position was reserved for the most loyal subordinates. Or the boss was transferred to the capital and his subordinates would follow him. This is called a rise in prosperity.
What Qiao Yu meant was to ask Yang Tinghe, what do you think of He Mengchun?
Is it of great use?
Yang Tinghe did not comment positively on He Mengchun, but simply asked: "Can you still handle the errands of the official department now?"
"At the beginning, I felt that there were so many things and no way to start. After a while, I sorted it out and there was no problem... I wonder when the position of Zuo Shilang will be decided? Sometimes... Ministry affairs still need someone to support them.
"
Qiao Yu was a little embarrassed.
In the first year of Jiajing, another major event occurred in the Ministry of Civil Affairs, that is, the iron-headed Hu Shining, who was famous for impeaching King Ning, was transferred from Yunnan to the capital as the left minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. As a result, after Hu Shining arrived in the capital, he was unable to adapt to the climate and could not afford to sleep.
Resigned due to illness.
This incident caused quite a stir in both the government and the public.
Hu Shining belongs to the neutral faction. He has neither taken the initiative to move closer to the traditional civil service forces nor has any intention of joining the emerging forces represented by the new emperor. This is a thorn in the side.
Hu Shining's illness was so severe this time that it was said that it was difficult to even get out of bed. There is no way of knowing whether it was a real illness or a fake illness, or a minor illness pretending to be a serious illness.
Historically, it was not until the fourth year of Jiajing that Hu Shining was reactivated and continued to serve as his minister Zuo. By that time, Yang Tinghe had retired and the new emperor had complete control over the situation in the court.
Yang Tinghe had no idea about winning over Hu Shining.
This man was praised by others for his uprightness. Because he impeached King Ning, he went to Liaodong and lived a hard life for several years. He was considered an "Internet celebrity official" in the court. The court used Hu Shining's spirit to inspire ordinary scholars. If he was not one of their own, he would be dismissed directly.
The impact of taking the official position was too bad, so it was a good thing for Yang Tinghe to quit now that he was facing difficulties.
"Your Majesty intends to intervene in this matter. The current situation is that for the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Justice and other yamen, Your Majesty may arrange a minister for each of them. On the contrary... um..."
Yang Tinghe didn't need to hide some things from Qiao Yu, but he didn't need to go into too much detail either.
Qiao Yu nodded to express his understanding.
Nowadays, in the court, there is no one who belongs to the new emperor in the strict sense. Civilian factions are in power. However, relatively speaking, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works are more aligned with the new emperor. After all, Sun Jiao, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and Zhao, the Minister of the Ministry of Works,
Huang, both became ministers due to Zhu Si's nomination, but Sun Jiao and Zhao Huang mostly took a neutral stance on court affairs.
The Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Punishment and the Ministry of Rites are regarded as the exclusive domain of Yang Tinghe's faction. Among them, the situation of the Ministry of Rites is less clear.
Although Mao Cheng, the Minister of Rites, has always been a supporter of Yang Ting's peace talks, but because he did not come to the throne after the new emperor ascended the throne, he has seniority in the court, and the Ministry of Rites is a place that pays attention to etiquette and rules. In the past six months, Mao Cheng has been separated from Yang Ting and Mao Heshen.
, not everything is supported without reservation.
Qiao Yu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, Peng Ze, the Minister of War, and Lin Jun, the Minister of Criminal Affairs who had just arrived in the capital, are Yang Tinghe's staunchest supporters. The three of them know very well that Yang Tinghe helped them to their current position, so they naturally need to reciprocate their kindness.
.
However, the civil servants had complete control over one part, and the new emperor could not intervene, which would cause discord between the emperor and his ministers.
So between the king and his ministers
The tacit understanding is that Zhu Si intends to arrange a minister for each of the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Justice controlled by Yang Tinghe... As for Yang Tinghe's "on the contrary", it is not so particular, because now except for the two ministers in the Ministry of Husbandry and the Ministry of Works, the rest
Everyone is leaning towards Yang Tinghe and there is no need for him to make special arrangements.
‘So, is there anything special that needs to be explained in this Beijing inspection?
Qiao Yu asked very directly...
Should some officials be given "poor" evaluations during the Beijing inspection, and then gradually fade out of the court?
Yang Tinghe put down a case file in his hand and said solemnly: "Everything must be handled impartially to avoid gossip. Even those who are cultivated by His Majesty cannot be mistakenly noted because they have done something beyond their duties."
Yang Tinghe tried his best to portray himself as an upright and upright minister.
Although Qiao Yu, your question is right, but can't you weigh it yourself?
Do you have to let me give you instructions face to face? Even if you are not afraid that the walls have ears, you can't let me, Yang, have two faces in front of others and be criticized by the courtiers, right?
"Yes Yes."
Qiao Yu knew that he had talked too much, so he smiled and agreed not to talk about it anymore, but he already had an idea in his mind.
…
…
Tang Yin had been in the imperial court for less than three years, and had not even completed the short examination period. This year, the imperial examination had nothing to do with him.
Tang Yin has been very leisurely recently. He stays in the capital and does not return to Xishan. Occasionally he is called to attend court meetings, but there is no special insight in the court. Even so... Tang Yin also feels that his life has reached its peak.
No more pursuits.
One time when I was having dinner with Zhu Hao, he unconsciously said that he wanted to retire and return to his hometown.
After being taught a lesson by Zhu Hao, Tang Yin smiled and said nothing. Perhaps he was not used to the political ecology of intrigues between the government and the government, and preferred to live a life of idle clouds and wild cranes.
This is also where Zhu Hao worries.
I have always wanted to change Tang Yin, but in the end I found... Tang Yin is more suitable to be a prodigal son, and he doesn't know how to cherish the errands given to him.
I complain and feel tired every day, as if someone has been mean to me.
Huang Zan was the most affected person among those around Zhu Hao during this capital investigation and planning.
Huang Zan has been in power for a long time, and he is very clear that he is now being targeted by Yang Tinghe, so Su Xigui has been running around the capital recently, not to seek medical treatment in a hurry or to send gifts everywhere, but to inquire about Huang Zan's career.
Case.
Money can make the world go round. Su Xigui relied on his ability to make money. He had already checked Yang Tinghe's faction up and down, and thought he had a certain friendship. Qiao Yu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, came from Nanjing and had been there before.
Having received generous gifts from Su Xigui, Su Xigui was very confident and felt that as long as Yang Tinghe did not press so hard, the official assessment would not have any impact on Huang Zan's career.
Early July.
Su Xigui met Zhu Hao again in the name of delivering a troupe to the new emperor. It had been a month since he last saw Zhu Hao.
This time, Su Xigui specially prepared a gift for Zhu Hao. It was not something about wine, sex, or wealth, but a list of disciples that Huang Zan had gathered from various places after serving as an official for many years. Although many of them were openly related to Huang Zan.
Very secretive, but there are also many secret communications.
"If the young master needs people, he can transfer them to the capital or arrange them in suitable positions. In short, they will not let down the holy grace."
Su Xigui gave Zhu Hao the list, which was equivalent to revealing Huang Zan's trump card to Zhu Hao.
If Zhu Hao follows the diagram and cleans out Huang Zan's forces one by one, it will be enough. Huang Zan is willing to use it, or he really feels the crisis and must express his loyalty to the new emperor. Since he is recommending useful people to the new emperor, he wants to
Show yourself clearly to the new emperor...
"Um."
After Zhu Hao read it, he put the things away.
Su Xigui was a little cautious and said: "My dear, this list is very important. If it is lost..."
Zhu Hao smiled and said, "Why don't you show it to me if you don't believe me?"
"It's not that I don't believe it, I'm just afraid that others will..."
Zhu Hao said: "Don't worry, His Majesty has only been on the throne for a short time, and there are not many available people around him.
, if Huang Gong can transfer people who are familiar with him to be used by His Majesty, it will also be a supplement to the court. But who can be used and who cannot be used can only be decided after detailed inspection... It is not written what these people do.
Yes, it’s useless for others to take it, and I won’t give it to others to see.”
"yes."
Su Xigui sat down again and poured tea for Zhu Hao.
Su Xigui said: "If it were anyone else, I would always send some beauties, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, etc., after all, it would be too shabby to send money directly, and most people would not accept it. A layer of packaging would be much better. But when it comes to small
You don't need anything here, I don't even know what to give you."
Zhu Hao glanced at Su Xigui and asked, "Why...are you in trouble again?"
"Hey! Isn't it a matter of salt production? The Ministry of Finance has tightened the regulation of salt production this year. I heard that Shanxi merchants took away a lot of salt production. Many of them lost their money to do this. I usually don't have any at this time this year.
There are millions of salt dollars, and there are also hundreds of thousands... this year, they won't even reach 10,000 dollars."
Su Xigui complained endlessly.
Zhu Hao asked curiously: "Why is the difference so big?"
"Who knows what's going on? All the salt fields are having a bumper harvest, and now there aren't that many people occupying the nests. I can't bear it, but others are stretching their heads and leaning forward... Alas, I am a salt merchant in name only, but this is not the case.
It would be even worse to let go. In fact, I also want to know. Didn’t you say before that you want to change the method of changing the color of silver? When will it be implemented? I have a large area of land in the northwest..."
Su Xigui is indeed the kind of person who can't afford to be early without any benefit.
Knowing that Zhu Hao intends to change the color-folding method in the salt method, even if it is not changed to the Kaizhong method, at least he will continue the merchant settlement policy in the northwest.
Su Xigui bought a large amount of land in the northwest in advance, because much of it was wasteland and the price was cheap. He waited for the grain reform to be implemented and sold the land to merchants who were going to manage the fields in exchange for huge profits.
But the money was spent, the land was bought, and then it was expected to appreciate in value and sell it to make money... But there was no further news.
Part of Su Xigui's family wealth was tied up, and he was waiting for Zhu Hao to free him.