After Yang Shen read the letter sent to him by his chief minister, Jiang Mian, he probably understood what he was going to do next.
Yu Chengxun said: "Since Mr. Jiang Ge mentioned the great ritual discussion, why didn't he come forward in person? We and others are so quiet, I'm afraid it won't have an impact on the court situation, right?"
Yang Shen said: "We people don't take our words lightly. Who said that we must listen to the old minister in this court matter? When it comes to matters of great etiquette, we should focus on educating the people of the world. We are in the Imperial Academy, and we are among the scholars in the world. You should set an example and never back down in the face of righteousness."
"But……"
Yu Chengxun actually wanted to remind Yang Shen that we should stay away from this kind of thing, as there will be no good results.
Unlike Yang Shen who was fearless, Yu Chengxun, as Yang Tinghe's son-in-law, saw things more clearly.
This is no longer the time when Yang Tinghe was in power. Even when his father-in-law was the most powerful, most of the people who faced the new emperor were tolerant. But now, the issues related to the Dali Conference require the righteousness of scholars to speak against the arbitrary emperor Qian Gang. It is very likely that It will escalate the situation. Once the emperor takes action, it will not be as simple as reasoning with you.
It is not easy for the emperor to punish several ministers?
Zhang Zuo was very embarrassed. What he wanted to explain was that he had no channels to contact civil servants.
The opponent can never pull back, they can only win over those neutrals.
There is no one else who can make decisions for his subjects.
After this meeting, Zhu Hao went to the city to meet visitors from afar.
It actually turned into a situation where the two of them were pushing each other.
Isn't it okay to leave me to continue to hang around in the civil service group, find out the movements of political opponents, and secretly help the emperor handle court affairs?
Zhang Zuo was very embarrassed, and Qiqi Ai Ai said: "Your Majesty... wants Mr. Zhu to stand at the front desk... He is always so secretive and hard-working, so why not just let Mr. Zhu stand up and raise a big flag? Recruit party members and fight back against the attacks of civil servants... By the way, we can make Mr. Zhu a Hanlin bachelor and directly join the cabinet... This has always been His Majesty's wish."
"Mr. Zhu, please don't laugh at our words. We haven't even read our books for a few days. Who will be convinced if you tell me? Or you... you were born as a champion and have a reputation in the court. This is also for the sake of your future... …”
The question raised this time was naturally a matter of great ceremony.
Besides, even if Zhu Hao joins the cabinet, he is still far away from being the first minister of the cabinet. Isn't it the best choice for now to let Zhu Hao continue to hide in the dark?
Even if he resigns because of this, he will be satisfied.
As an envoy of Zhu Si, Zhang Zuo came to lobby Zhu Hao to let Zhu Hao personally participate in this great debate. His purpose of asking Zhu Hao was probably to say that it was more important that Zhu Hao could not subdue the demons and monsters in the court without Zhu Hao. What's more, the emperor wanted Zhu Hao to move from behind the scenes to the front.
Zhang Zuo was startled and hurriedly explained, "Our family has always lived in the palace and did not live in a private house outside the palace like the eunuchs of the previous dynasties did. Others want to have sex, but they can't find anyone from our family. Mr. Zhu is overly worried."
The emperor wanted to hold a grand meeting in public, and if Tang Yin didn't come forward, Zhu Hao naturally didn't want to come out either.
Zhu Hao said: "Eunuch Zhang, please be patient. Everything has been arranged. Just relax."
"Master Zhu."
Have a verbal battle with a group of scholars in front of hundreds of officials?
Zhu Hao asked himself that he did not have that eloquence, or even if he had that eloquence, he would not be able to convince a group of people with stereotypes and prejudices. The position of this group of people has long been solidified and they will be taken to the coffin. The so-called "different Taoism" does not lead to conspiracy. Winning the support of such civil servants is almost impossible.
No matter how impatient the emperor was, he should have known that Zhu Hao's appointment as the first assistant bachelor would definitely cause a lot of trouble, and the courtiers would also be dissatisfied, right?
It doesn’t matter whether the theory is tenable or not; what’s important is to attract this group of people to join us with benefits.
Zhu Hao said: "There must be quite a few people who have come to talk to Eunuch Zhang recently. I'm afraid Eunuch Zhang has taken the trouble for a long time, right?"
He naturally knew that it would not be good for him to speak out against civil servants.
Zhu Hao smiled and said: "But if we leave the city, there will be a dispute over the ceremony. Whether it is in public or in private, there will always be someone trying to say something to Eunuch Zhang."
Huang Zan looked very tired. Given his age, it was not an easy task to get from Nanjing to the capital in less than a month. The most important thing was that he had arranged it properly. Even now, the people in Nanjing still don’t know that Huang Zan has entered the capital.
Already.
If you, Zhang Zuo, don't want to come forward, don't come to me in the name of the emperor to complain, as if anyone wants to come out to oppose the civil servants.
"...Eunuch Zhang, I can tell you the truth and record it in the case one by one. If you find someone to mention it, I may not need to come forward in person."
Zhang Zuo looked puzzled.
Zhang Zuo was very puzzled, didn't the emperor know the inside story? If Zhu Hao and the emperor knew it, why didn't they tell him? Was he treating him as an outsider, as the eunuch in charge of the ceremony?
The emperor kept urging Zhu Hao to come forward to argue with the civil officials, just to get Zhu Hao to disassociate himself from the civil officials?
Up to this point, Zhu Hao had not explained the specific plan to Zhang Zuo.
…
This time he came to persuade Zhu Hao to come forward, just to convey the emperor's intention. In addition, Zhang Zuo also had small thoughts. He felt that Zhu Hao had offended the civil servants and was destined to have a difficult time in the court in the future. This may further reflect his value as Zhang Zuo.
...From a certain perspective, the interests of Zhang Zuo and Zhu Hao are not completely consistent, and there is always a conflict of competition for employment.
After Zhu Hao met with Huang Zan in Nanjing last year, he sat down to discuss it again.
But if the eunuchs reported news to each other, it would not be difficult even to send a message to Zhang Zuo, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony.
"Mr. Zhu, what do you mean by mentioning this to our family?"
Regarding the issue of the Great Ceremony, Zhu Hao has already pointed out the direction, that is, do not expect to win the support of the general civil servants, and can only start with those marginal characters.
…
Being the Minister of Household Affairs in Nanjing was once his highest ideal, but now his goal in life has become to join the cabinet. As a rare official fan among the civil servants of the Ming Dynasty, in order to become the cabinet minister, Huang Zan, even if he was burdened with criticism from the world, he also
No matter what.
"ah?"
Participating in debates can certainly make you stand out, but it will offend the entire civil service group. Why force others to do so?
The most indispensable thing in the Ming Dynasty Palace was eunuchs. The scale of eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty was very large, and there were many people who had contact with the outside world. Because Zhu Si came from Prince Xing’s Mansion, there were only a few eunuchs brought to the palace from Prince Xing’s Mansion, so
The current main personnel of the palace, including stewards at all levels, are mostly filled by eunuchs from the previous dynasty.
Zhang Zuo said again: "Mr. Zhu, we haven't decided yet who will come forward for Your Majesty to fight against the ministers. When Zhang Shaoqing enters the palace, I'm afraid we won't have enough time. Mr. Tang has made it clear that he is unwilling to come forward. You... in the end
What do you think? At critical times, someone needs to support His Majesty."
At this time, Huang Zan didn't care whether he could still be the Minister of Household Affairs in Nanjing.
Yang Shen was righteous and Lingran said: "If others don't come forward to discuss the etiquette, we will never stand idly by. I will reply to Mr. Jiang Ge. This matter is of great importance, and someone from my Hanlin Academy will definitely be the one to do the Dinghai Shenzhen."
…
Su Xigui welcomed guests in front of his secret house, and then Zhu Hao saw Huang Zan, who had been traveling all the way and had red eyes.
Zhu Hao himself didn't pay much attention to the matter of joining the cabinet, but Zhu Si took the initiative to fulfill his wish?
You, the emperor, are so polite.
Zhu Hao smiled and said: "What I mean is that it is better for Eunuch Zhang to personally propose the matter of etiquette. This can not only promote Eunuch Zhang's reputation, but also reflect Eunuch Zhang's loyalty to protect the Lord. There are many benefits...
I wonder what Mr. Zhang’s opinion is?”
Zhang Zuo seems to be the internal minister, but he is at best a slave leader. At this point in the early Jiajing period, Zhang Zuo, a eunuch who has not received professional training, has always been inconspicuous. It seems that no one in the court cares about him.
He took it seriously.
Soon it will be the day to celebrate the opening of the train, and it is also the day the emperor has scheduled a public debate on the grand ceremony.
Zhu Hao explained with a smile.
It is not easy for these people to deliver a message to the upper echelons of the palace on behalf of the civil servants, such as bringing a message to the emperor, queen, queen mother, etc. Except for a very small number of powerful eunuchs, who has the courage to deliver a message to the master on behalf of a foreign minister?
?
This is what Zhu Hao wants.
It was a matter of great etiquette. The old monk Shu and the minister-level officials in the Chaozhong Pavilion were not sure. They were hesitant and worried. On the contrary, Yang Shen was resolute in this matter and left no way out.
But in fact, if the civil servant really wants to contact him, does he need to meet in person?
But it was Su Xigui and Huang Zan who came from Nanjing day and night.
Zhang Zuo shook his head and smiled bitterly.
A fierce competition is about to begin.
The smile on Zhu Hao's face did not diminish.
…
Huang Zan came to Beijing as the Minister of Household Affairs in Nanjing and was ordered to go to Beijing by Zhu Si. As Nanhu was about to enter the autumn harvest season, Huang Zan's move was "absent from his post without permission". However, Zhu Hao's plan for Huang Zan allowed him to leave his post without permission.
After joining the cabinet as the cabinet minister, it will take about half a year to a year to retire...
Many people look alike, but they are not. Apart from the eunuchs around him, did the emperor really rely on any of his foreign ministers?
It is difficult to justify just this communication... After all, the emperor lives deep in the palace. If he often summons a certain minister, he must stay in the palace. Is it possible that there are such high-ranking eunuchs who follow the emperor into the palace?
people?
But the most well-known eunuch Zhang Zuo, the Chief of Ceremonies, is just like that. Could it be that he is a real person and does not show his face?
Yang Shen was also helping Jiang Mian, Qiao Yu and others find the aides who were hiding behind the scenes to help the emperor secure his throne. His father had been searching to no avail, so Yang Shen was naturally not easy to find. There were many suspects, including even Zhu Hao.
It has been suspected, but it is not easy to find confirmation.
Zhu Hao said: "Huang Gong, let me make it clear first. If you come forward for His Majesty, Your Majesty can directly appoint you as a Hanlin bachelor to preside over the debate on etiquette. It is logical that you will join the cabinet within half a year. But this will also offend many people in the court.
Civil servant, so you must think clearly."
Zhu Hao's efforts to persuade Huang Zan to join the cabinet were not in vain.
Huang Zan wants to be a pavilion elder. I can understand your feelings, but the problem is that you are not from the Hanlin system. You have to go to the Hanlin Academy to gain gold, right?
To enter the Hanlin Academy, you must have convincing merits. If you have made great efforts in helping the emperor negotiate etiquette, even if you risk the disapproval of the world, if the emperor does not promote you to become a Hanlin bachelor, who can he promote?
You are the Minister of Household Affairs in Nanjing, and you are already a top civil servant. Being a Hanlin bachelor is not an exceptional promotion.
This depends on whether you can accurately grasp the emperor's will and dare to go against the orthodox civil servants.