For the civil service group, it was another setback. Although the result did not seem to be a desperate situation, Jiang Mian was obviously exhausted.
Mao Ji took Jiang Mian aside alone and asked in a low voice: "Were you ready to quit the court and return to your hometown to take care of yourself?"
Jiang Mian nodded: "In such a situation, your Majesty is so stubborn. As the head of civil servants, he cannot fulfill the responsibility of supporting the king. What's the point of staying in the court?"
"But you can't be angry."
Mao Jidao, "If you and I both withdraw from the court, will the current situation be stable? Huang Gongxian will definitely join the cabinet. What do you think the cabinet will do in the future regarding matters of etiquette?"
One sentence made Jiang Mian fall into deep thought.
Fei Hong and Liu Chun both seemed to be opposed to the Great Rites Conference, but this was based on the fact that Jiang Mian was the chief assistant and the civil servants of the DPRK and China advanced and retreated together.
If Jiang Mian and Mao Ji are no longer in the court and Fei Hong becomes the chief assistant, how can we ensure that they will still firmly oppose the emperor's ideas?
Mao Ji sighed: "Speaking of which, I got news two days ago that Xi Shu was on his way to Beijing."
"What?" Jiang Mian frowned. This surprised him.
Mao Jidao: "When your Majesty recruited Zhang Cong, Zhang Bangqi and others to come to the capital, he planned it secretly. It was not until they arrived in the capital that the news came out. I thought that your majesty was just recruiting ministers to discuss matters in the capital. Now it seems that your majesty may have planned it long ago."
In order to replace him with the Minister of Rites, this move is not a temporary plan."
Fei Hong closed his eyes, shook his head and said, "Your Majesty greeted us in advance when discussing the ceremony. Doesn't it mean that Your Majesty has already made a plan?"
The two were silent for a moment.
At this time, footsteps were heard outside, and Liu Chun called the door: "You two, Mr. Zhang, the Superintendent of Ceremonies, is here. He said he wants to see the four of us."
"Understood, let Eunuch Zhang wait for a moment until I finish handling the matters at hand." Jiang Mian said.
When Liu Chun went to the living room, Mao Ji asked, "What does Zhang Zuo mean by coming to the cabinet?"
Jiang Mian said: "To convey His Majesty's intention, it may also be to appease me... Let's take it one step at a time."
After saying that, he stood up and walked towards the door.
Mao Ji looked at Jiang Mian's rickety old back, and probably heard that Jiang Mian was interested in the government. Without saying anything, he got up and followed, and the two of them went to see Zhang Zuo.
Zhang Zuo smiled and saluted the four cabinet members, his tone seemed very polite.
It seems that Zhang Zuo didn't care at all about the previous conflict between the king and the civil servants at the ceremonial meeting. He smiled like a good old man. It was just because he was born in Prince Xing's palace and had never stayed in the study room of the ceremonial supervisor, that the civil servants always kept a close eye on him.
Distance, dare not get close.
"Let's put it this way, Your Majesty wants to add one more person to the cabinet. This time, Your Majesty said he would like to recommend someone. Currently, three Hanlin bachelors have been added to the cabinet. I wonder what the four cabinet ministers think?" It's a cliché.
The emperor wanted to increase the number of bachelors in the cabinet.
Jiang Mian and Mao Ji knew very well that the emperor just wanted to dilute their influence in the cabinet. It was obvious that the emperor did not intend to add Grouper and Fengxi to the list of bachelors in the cabinet. The purpose was to facilitate Huang Zan's entry into the cabinet.
Mao Jidao: "Hasn't this matter been discussed at the court meeting? The current cabinet of four people can still complete the errands. If we have to increase the number, I am afraid that the Hanlin Academy and other government agencies will not have enough manpower to complete the affairs of the court. "
Zhang Zuo continued with a smile and said: "Anyway, the cabinet's errands are more important. The words have been brought to you. If the cabinet ministers have any objections, why not... wait until the next meeting in Japan and North Korea to discuss it?"
Coming again?
When Jiang Mian heard that he was furious, he could no longer hold back and said loudly as if he was questioning: "If your Majesty is dissatisfied with the cabinet's work, why did you want to retain him when you resigned earlier?"
This time the smile on Zhang Zuo's face froze.
Mao Ji, Liu Chun and Fei Hong all looked at the two of them with strange eyes, probably feeling that Jiang Mian had lost his composure.
Zhang Zuo hesitated for a moment and then said: "This is your Majesty's intention. We are just sending you a message. What is the specific intention? If Jiang Ge always has any doubts, please go with him."
After consulting Your Majesty... we are leaving."
Originally, the eunuch, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, came with a smile, and the relationship between the two parties was quite harmonious. They were both people in the scene, and there was no need to break up. But now, Zhang Zuo left with a tense face.
Now even Mao Ji didn't understand Jiang Mian's impulse.
Jiang Mian went in to deal with the voting matter. Mao Ji called Fei Hong and Liu Chun aside.
Mao Jidao: "You have also seen that your Majesty intends to increase the number of cabinet ministers. His first choice is Huang Gongxian. He once served as a vassal in Huguang and had more or less contacts with Prince Xing's palace. With Huang Gongxian's reputation in the court, he was appointed minister.
Perhaps, if he were to be included in the cabinet, I'm afraid it would make people dissatisfied."
Fei Hong and Liu Chun both heard that Mao Ji wanted to win over the two of them and oppose Huang Zan's entry into the cabinet.
Liu Chun smiled and said: "The cabinet is like this, which is actually quite good." Mao Ji turned his attention to Fei Hong again.
Perhaps Mao Ji also knew that if he and Jiang Mian resigned, Fei Hong would be the next chief minister, and the political orientation of the future imperial court officials would be largely determined by Fei Hong.
Fei Hong said: "There is nothing wrong with adding more cabinet ministers. I have prepared my resignation and will submit it in the next two days."
Mao Ji shook his head: "You shouldn't leave."
Liu Chun was still laughing, but after hearing this, his smile suddenly faded away. What does this mean?
Shouldn't he leave? Should I leave?
"It is not appropriate for the cabinet to undergo major turmoil. In the current situation, Jingzhi and I have to retreat, but if you are left here, the major affairs in the DPRK can at least remain as they are... As for whether Gongxian and others will join the cabinet, it will be fine."
Mao Ji suddenly said in frustration. Liu Chun couldn't understand.
You are obviously trying to win over the two of us, and we are following your first and second assistants to oppose Huang Zan's entry into the cabinet. Why do you suddenly say that this matter doesn't matter?
If this matter doesn't even matter, how can it be called important? Fei Hong thought for a while and asked: "The most worrying thing at the moment is, will your Majesty use the old man from the previous dynasty?"
One sentence hits the point.
Obviously Fei Hong is ready to be the chief minister. Probably only he himself knows who the potential political opponents will be if Jiang Mian and Mao Ji retire. They will definitely not be Huang Zan or Qiao Yu.
It will not be Shi Yun, Feng Xi, Jia Yong, Li Tingxiang and others who may join the cabinet in the future, but the "old men of the previous dynasty", namely Yang Yiqing and Xie Qian.
Only when they return to the DPRK will they have a fundamental impact on the future cabinet order.
Mao Ji nodded: "That's right. Your Majesty has tended to continue to use old ministers in the past, but for many things, the older the better, the better. When managing affairs in the court, you must always look forward."
Fei Hong himself was also an old man appointed by the emperor. He didn't think there was anything wrong with appointing an old man. It's just that if Yang Yiqing and Xie Qian came back, Fei Hong would feel tremendous pressure.
Liu Chundao: "What on earth are we going to do? Agree to your Majesty's proposal to increase the number of cabinet ministers? Let Huang Gongxian join the cabinet?"
Mao Ji shook his head: "That is something you should be concerned about in the future...I will continue to resign tomorrow, so you two should not join in the fun. Even if you do, His Majesty will not agree. Whatever should be done, we will follow the established rules."
Come up with your plan."
After talking to Mao Ji alone, Liu Chun had many doubts in his mind. Before Sun Jiao left the capital, Liu Chun missed his old friend and paid a visit in person. However, he saw that Sun Jiao's belongings had almost been packed and he was preparing to leave in the next two days.
About to leave for the south.
"Why are you leaving in such a hurry?" Liu Chun and Sun Jiao arrived in the main hall. Sun Jiao looked contented with himself, and Liu Chun was puzzled.
Even if your grandson Jiao resigns, wouldn't it be nice to stay in the capital for a while and have time to talk about court affairs with your son and son-in-law, who are officials in the Hanlin Academy?
Why are you in such a hurry to return to Huguang?
Sun Jiao said: "Since I have retreated, I must retreat completely. No one will bother me with court affairs again."
Liu Chun asked: "Then who will succeed you as minister?" Sun Jiao shook his head: "I don't know."
"You haven't suggested any candidates to His Majesty?" Liu Chun still didn't understand.
Sun Jiao is obviously close to the Xinhuang faction. When Sun Jiao returned to the court, it was the new emperor who insisted on kidnapping him back. Why did he retreat this time?
In such a hurry?
Even if your grandson is leaving, should you complete the handover first?
After all, the candidate for the new minister has not been finalized yet, so you are going to flee? Do you have a big deficit in your household and must leave?
Sun Jiaodao: "Your Majesty is young and promising, and he has finally made some achievements in governing the court with his ideas... I will not get involved."
After hearing such nonsense, Liu Chun's face tightened, and he was obviously not happy. I am here to exchange my sincerity with you, and you just use diplomatic rhetoric to deal with it? Sun Jiaodao: "I have something to tell you. Your Majesty is the most respected person around you.
People respect the Tao."
"Didn't you mention it already?"
Liu Chun frowned, "You say you value it, but I don't think you value it very much. Now you are still just a Hanlin editor, and your life is precarious... How do you think you value the law?"
Sun Jiao snorted: "Everything you see is all done by Jingdao. Do you understand?"
Liu Chun smiled and shook his head: "I don't believe it. If you say that there are some things that Jingdao was involved in, I can still understand. But if you say that everything happened to him...how is this possible?"
Sun Jiaodao: "I've told you everything, and you will understand it yourself later, but don't blame me for not reminding you. I will leave for the south early the day after tomorrow, so you don't have to come to see me off... This place in the capital is freezing cold in winter and hot in summer.
Death, I have lived enough! From now on we will not see each other again, we will have time to exchange letters."
"Um."
Liu Chun originally wanted to mention the matter of Jiang Mian and the cabinet to Sun Jiao, but seeing that Sun Jiao was so relaxed, he felt embarrassed to mention it.
"What's up?"
Only then did Sun Jiao remember to ask Liu Chun about the purpose of his visit.
Liu Chundao said: "We respect and defend him, and we will continue to petition him tomorrow... Your Majesty also intends to increase the number of cabinet ministers."
"Forget it, forget it, don't mention this to me, it has nothing to do with me." Sun Jiao really didn't want to talk more about the employment of people in the court with Liu Chun.
Liu Chundao: "Then you should tell me what kind of future direction you foresee for the court, right?"
Sun Jiao said impatiently: "I told you that Jingdao was planning everything behind his back. If you have any questions in the future, just ask him directly...
"Don't underestimate him. If His Majesty had a choice, he would definitely let Jingdao be the chief minister. Do you think I'm just joking with you? He won't tell me clearly when he has something going on, just like what happened in the court this time.
I know very little, so... you'd better find him to find out."