Chapter 403 Worshiping the Prime Minister (Part 1)
On the first day of the eleventh month of the fifteenth year of Wanli, the emperor conveyed the decree to the Political Affairs Hall and ordered Liang Menglong, the prime minister for political reform, to pay an audience at the Yangxin Hall.
Under the jealous, blessing or envious gazes of his colleagues in the political hall, Liang Menglong walked towards the palace. Just after passing through the Xihua Gate, he saw Sun Long, the emperor's closest attendant, bowing behind the door and saluting: "By the emperor's decree, please invite Liang
Let's take the chariot to the throne." After saying that, he pointed to the chariot carried by two internal officials behind him.
When Zhang Juzheng was in critical condition, he rode a chariot in both the political hall and the palace, and this tradition has remained. After Zhang Siwei became Prime Minister, the inner court did not remove the chariot. Otherwise, it would be suspected of being a slap in the face to Zhang Siwei.
Before Liang Menglong was elected Prime Minister, the chariots inside Xihua Gate were ready, and the emperor's message could be said to be very clear.
Although Liang Menglong was grateful, he didn't get dizzy and actually sat down. He said humbly: "Please tell me, Your Majesty, I am just an assistant. I don't dare to look down on my face and use it. Besides, I have a healthy walk and don't need to use my steps."
chariot."
When Sun Long heard what Liang Menglong said, he smiled at him. Liang Menglong was determined, and he also smiled and cupped his hands to Sun Long and said, "Thank you, Eunuch Sun." How could Sun Long dare to accept his courtesy without even saying a word?
Dare, he turned around and left with two internal officials carrying the chariot.
The Yangxin Hall is on the west side of Qianqing Gate, and there is a straight road across the Neijinshui River. Liang Menglong calmed down, lifted the hem of his python robe, followed Sun Long and others, and walked leisurely across the stone road on the bridge.
In addition to the appearance, the interior of the Yangxin Hall complex in the fifteenth year of Wanli has been transformed beyond recognition by Zhu Yijun. As the place where he received foreign ministers, the East and West Nuan Pavilion has bright windows, clean and sparse interiors, which are the same as those in the past when they were full of blessings, wealth, longevity and joy.
Very different.
As the deputy prime minister, Liang Menglong entered the Yangxin Hall alone or with others dozens of times, but only this time made his nervous forehead sweat. When he entered the Dongnuan Pavilion, he bowed his head and bent his knees down anxiously.
When he said something, he couldn't help but kneel on the teak floor.
The next moment he woke up and said in a hoarse voice: "Your Majesty, Liang Menglong, come to see your Majesty!"
Zhu Yijun, who was sitting on the throne, raised his eyebrows and thought to himself: "It seems that the position of Prime Minister has made him lose his normalcy."
Making a judgment in his mind, he said softly without hesitation: "Mr. Mingquan, please get back on your feet quickly." He glanced at Wei Chao, who looked calm, and said, "Give me a seat."
Wei Chao lowered his head and moved two steps, and gently gave Liang Menglong a hand. When Liang Menglong stood up with his face flushed, Wei Chao swept the dust fly in his hand on the armchair near the throne, and whispered: "Mr.
, please sit down." He squeezed his arm slightly with his hand.
Liang Menglong suppressed his excitement, bowed and thanked him, and sat on the chair. Zhu Yijun seemed not to realize that he had done something stupid just now, and asked: "In the past few days, Mr. Mingquan has been a little concerned about political reform."
Big idea?”
Liang Menglong took a deep breath, completely calmed his mind, and replied: "Your Majesty, I have some thoughts."
After sorting out his thoughts, he replied: "In the matter of political reform, I believe that the key point is the word 'Integrity', the outline is the word 'Quan', the starting point is the word 'Law', and the word 'profit' is also taken into consideration."
, but the step is the word 'gradual'."
Zhu Yijun's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he nodded and said, "Please explain it in detail."
Liang Menglong swallowed his saliva and replied: "Yes."
"The so-called 'integrity' is the key, that is, the primary goal to be achieved in this political reform is to do a good job in the administration of officials. Since His Majesty came to the throne, especially after the reform, the administration of officials in our dynasty has generally been clean and clear--" At this point
, he secretly glanced at Zhu Yijun's face.
Zhu Yijun was listening to him with bright eyes, and there was no hesitation on his face when he heard what he said. Liang Menglong thought to himself: "It seems that the prime minister and the deputy prime minister are indeed different. It would be wrong to flatter him at this time."
He kept talking: "But now, both in the government and in the public, there are several major shortcomings in the administration of officials that have hindered the great cause of reform, and they must be reformed."
"First, family corruption has become a chronic disease. Because of the yellow records and the order to create land, it was difficult for high-ranking officials to become landlords in the past. But now in the world of industry and commerce, who does not have officials behind them? In recent years, major iron, cement, and textile industries have merged.
Violent, the victory or defeat does not depend on the basics and benefits, but on the level of backing behind him. This alone is a serious illness."
As soon as he finished saying this, Zhu Yijun, who was sitting on the throne, clapped his hands and stood up from the throne.
Liang Menglong looked up at Zhu Yijun, and saw the emperor looking at him with a smile on his face, saying, "Mr. Mingquan got it! Go on." After saying that, Zhu Yijun couldn't hide his excitement and walked slowly in the room.
"The second is extravagance. As our dynasty's national power grew stronger, extravagance began to flourish. This trend was originally popular in the south. The so-called wedding and funeral ceremonies were also complicated, which was quite arrogant. However, before the death of Prince Zhongxing, this trend had already
It was popular in the capital. The imperial court in Taicang was overflowing with money, and local officials came to "make money" for their political achievements and were extravagant. What's even more detestable is that most of the visits were for promotions, lawsuits, and engineers. These people entertained the capital officials at every meal.
Ten taels of silver are no longer on the table, and there are many places where one hundred taels and one thousand taels are available, let alone giving gifts! Since the emperor came to the throne, his palace, gardens, chariots, and horses have all gained nothing, but the ups and downs have no effect. This peace has lasted for a long time.
Therefore."
"Third, the most difficult and most important thing to correct is the corruption of subordinate officials. Officials are corrupt and have their own supervisors to correct them. But the policies implemented by subordinate officials are all around the people. 'County officials are not as good as current officials', and the emperor's favor is difficult
Your Majesty, you are an innocent man, your great reform policy has been carried out in a ridiculous way, which is not good for the people but harms them, and it is a serious disease in the world."
Seeing that Zhu Yijun was listening attentively, Liang Menglong said a few more words, vigorously stating that today's unclear official governance has become a serious harm to the reform. Finally, he concluded: "Our dynasty has been in peace for two hundred years, but the official governance has not been difficult to recover. Unlike the emperor's reforms in recent years,
They are inseparable. Firstly, the emperor revolutionized the Metropolitan Procuratorate and focused on combating corruption and promoting integrity; secondly, with the establishment of circuit courts, a large number of unjust, false and wrongful cases were cleared up; thirdly, when the emperor returned to the public administration and had money to support integrity, it would be easier to do a good job in governing the officials.
I took care of a lot."
"But the diseases that I see in the officials' treatment are not only a shackle for the reform, but also the cause of the country's destruction. Therefore, I believe that the key to this political reform lies in the word "integrity"."
"Yeah. That's good——, do you have any specific ideas?"
"Although I have seen this disease, I have not conducted in-depth research, and I don't have any good insights. I just have random thoughts - I request the introduction of the "Prohibition of Officials' Families from Engaging in Business" to curb powerful businessmen, and the introduction of the "Edict of Respecting Heaven and Protecting the People" to
To curb extravagance, the "Edict on the Scientific Examination of Officials" was issued to govern the subordinate officials."
Zhu Yijun stood still. Limited by historical perspective, Liang Menglong only saw the surface of the corruption problem, but did not have a deep understanding of the political and economic logic behind it. Therefore, the solution he proposed was somewhat new except for the "Edict on the Scientific Examination of Officials"
, the other two are just prohibitions - I really didn’t understand them.
Corruption and extravagance will lead to the destruction of the country. There are many examples at home and abroad in ancient and modern times. But as long as there is a state as a collection of power, as long as there is public power, its opposite will inevitably breed - corruption. Corruption is like a virus or bacteria in the body.
While attacking the political system and the country, it also promotes the continuous renewal and reform of the superstructure.
But for Huang Ming, as long as Zhu Yijun, a "lone man", exists, no matter how the system is reformed, decay will be inevitable. But even so, can it be done without arresting officials? Not only must they be arrested, but they must also have skills and steps.
Methodical arrest - Ming Taizu, who relied on the "Great Edict" to arrest officials, has already had an example of failure. This time he really needs to plan carefully and use political reform to achieve results!