It's not quite three years, but it's almost there.
When he left the capital and went south, Zhang Fujing was a new scholar in his forties. When he returned to the capital, he was already a third-rank right-deputy imperial envoy with experience as a governor.
The speed at which new officials were promoted during the Jiajing Dynasty was unparalleled.
It was already June, and the officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Metropolitan Procuratorate who came to greet him, as well as Zhang Fujing's classmates and friends, all looked at him with eyes as hot as the weather.
When he comes back this time, how will the emperor use him?
Seven counselors left Beijing, among whom Wu Tingju went to take office as the governor of Guangdong. Many people originally thought that Zhang Fujing would return to Beijing and become a counselor, but now the counselors have been filled.
And Zhang Fujing was also very confused.
When Liang Chu pointed out His Majesty's plans for Guangdong and Guangdong to him, Zhang Fujing always thought that he would stay in Guangdong for a long time. He would not only make the new law in Guangdong effective, but also complete the major task of conquering and restoring Jiaozhi in the future before returning to the court.
But now he has returned to Beijing early, and Gui E has also been transferred to Sichuan as an envoy.
Naturally, Zhang Fuking would not think that His Majesty was giving a signal to abandon or adjust the new law. This only shows that the situation the new law is facing now is very serious.
To call him back to Beijing must be a bigger mission.
After entering the city, Zhang Fujing didn't bother to rest for a while, so he directly requested to see your Majesty.
This is not only because it is very impressive to ask for a report immediately after a long journey, but also because he does not want to delay his future.
I am already fifty years old.
Zhang Fujing was only a short distance away from the ministers and ministers. If promotion were normally based on age and seniority, his chances would be slim.
All his opportunities were given by the emperor and the new law.
At the Meridian Gate, Zhang Zuo was waiting for him in person.
"Eunuch Zhang, I haven't congratulated you for taking charge of the ceremony."
"Zhang Dutai is out."
Zhang Fujing was stunned for a moment when he heard the name Dutai, and then he understood in his heart.
Apart from Shandong, where else is there no governor?
He took a deep breath and suppressed his inner excitement.
The governor is often given the title of right deputy capital censor or minister, while the governor or general is usually given the title of right censor or minister.
Although he has not yet become a counselor, this time he has reached the rank of minister of the second rank.
"Thank you so much, Eunuch Zhang!" Zhang Fujing saluted Zhang Zuo seriously.
Zhang Zuo returned the favor with a smile: "We are not deliberately leaking Chinese, but since this fate has been decided long ago, it will not be changed. We will wait until Zhang Dutai enters the palace. It is just that His Majesty and all the counselors want to take the initiative.
.”
"Oh?" Zhang Fujing followed Zhang Zuo forward while looking at the long-lost Forbidden City.
The changes are relatively big. This does not mean the buildings around Fengtian Hall, but the people in them. It is obvious that now there are busy people coming in and out of Wenhua Hall, Wuying Hall, Wenlou, Wulou and the surrounding corridors.
There are more officials.
Before Zhang Fujing left the capital in the 16th year of Zhengde, there were only many officials in the Meridian Gate during the court meeting. At ordinary times, it was just the cabinet ministers on duty in Wenyuan Pavilion, Zhongshu Sheren and some general affairs envoys and officials were busy on business.
.
But now, there are many people wearing scarlet robes, green robes, and even green robes.
Zhang Zuo heard Zhang Fujing's high-pitched "Oh" and thought to himself that he was worthy of being a governor, with his hands stained with the blood of a third-rank official, and he still had the natural tone of a superior.
Although he took over as the Supervisor of Ceremonies, the emperor's focus on using ministers had shifted. Zhang Zuo was worried that he would be reprimanded again, so he suppressed the strangeness in his heart.
"Zhang Dutai didn't know something. Since the impeachment of Li Xiang on the 15th day of the first lunar month, there had been changes in the fifth military camp, and then there was a rebellion in Sichuan. After questioning, it was found that there were many people involved in the matter in the government and the public. Each province has a governor to take part in the plan and leave the capital.
When selecting the vanguard in the capital camp, there were also decrees issued to the officials in Southern Zhili, but some people still persisted in not realizing it. From this, it can be seen that Zhang Dutai's order was kept secret, which fully demonstrates your majesty's foresight."
"Still stubborn? I returned to Beijing from Guangdong, but I don't know what happened all the way. If Eunuch Zhang can tell me, please give me some advice." Zhang Fujing bowed to him again.
"Zhang Dutai was promoted by His Majesty. If he didn't have other important responsibilities, he would have been able to participate in national policies, and our family would not be outside." Zhang Zuo said after being polite, "This time, you are also in a difficult position.
.”
After that, I quickly talked about some recent developments on the way to the Yangxin Hall.
All memorials will go through the Supervisor of Ceremonies before they are submitted to the imperial study for the emperor's reading.
What Zhang Zuo told Zhang Fujing were the memorials that had been sent to the capital in the past month or so, mainly from various prefectures in southern Zhili and Huguang and Jiangxi provinces.
It was mainly the aftermath of two events. One was that after the King of Liao invaded the capital, the Liao Palace, Jingzhou Palace and Huguang patrolled the capital. The other was to impeach the King of Liao for his lewdness and immorality and the Liao vassal for harming the people.
It was the King of Liao himself who begged for favors.
The other incident was related to Nanjing. Before Meng Chun and others were captured, the Nanjing Ministry of Household Affairs went to the Beijing Ministry of Household Affairs to report to the Ministry of Household Affairs in accordance with the regulations. At the same time, they also sent official documents to all the prefectures in southern Zhili and the three provinces of Huguang, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang. Then.
, officials from all over the country have shown enthusiasm for the new law, but the many old accounts that have been dug up are all about unfair tax and service showdowns in various places. Now the people who used to bear more responsibilities are not complying, and the people who used to be borne less are not complying.
Will share equally.
This is not to block the new law, but to make preparations in advance, clarify fallacies, and "mobilize" local areas.
Zhang Fujing understood: "Do things according to the rules, don't hold everyone accountable according to the law, and don't have enough people to patrol the constitution?"
"...The governor is right." Zhang Zuo couldn't understand the full meaning of this sentence immediately, but Zhang Fujing and others were more capable than him, so Zhang Zuo still recognized it.
Under the pressure of Zhu Houcong, Zhang Fujing did not feel deeply, but Yang Tinghe and others clearly felt that the power of the eunuchs in the Zhengde and Jiajing dynasties was different.
Without the emperor's favor, Zhang Zuo, the chief minister of etiquette, became both humble and cautious.
While talking, the two of them had arrived in front of the Yangxin Hall.
Zhang Fujing looked at the small door, but sighed in his heart: Now this is the real center of the Ming Dynasty.
Memorials from all over the Ming Dynasty were submitted here, and decisions on many major events in the Ming Dynasty were issued from here.
The emperor's daily life was also here, and the Qianqing Palace was mostly used to hold some ceremonial ceremonies or banquets with a larger number of participants.
"Your Majesty, Zhang Fujing has arrived." Zhang Zuo announced outside the imperial study.
"come in."
When Zhang Fujing heard the emperor's voice again, he felt that it was louder than it was nearly three years ago.
He first knelt down and bowed outside the royal study, and said loudly with choked sobs: "I, Zhang Fu, respectfully bow to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty! Long live! Long live your Majesty!"
You can't say that he is too willing to pat the dragon's fart. When he meets the emperor later, he will definitely kowtow to him face to face again.
But for him to soar into the sky like this is indeed the opportunity given by the emperor.
In Zhang Fuking's mind, everything stemmed from the imperial examination, from his courage to ask the emperor for his name, and from the emperor's understanding of his intentions when he was only fifteen at the time.
Then, he was directly asked to discuss the strategy of enriching the country. He was promoted to the imperial study and appointed as an imperial envoy to go south to Guangdong.
"Get up, I know what you mean."
Zhu Houcong's voice sounded in front of him with a smile. Zhang Fujing straightened up and saw that the emperor was already standing inside the door.
He has grown taller, and now his body is stronger and he looks more majestic. Not only that, he has also started to grow a beard, which naturally makes him look more stable.
Zhang Fujing's eyes were indeed wet: "I am so frightened that I bother Your Majesty to welcome..."
Zhu Houcong, who was cooperating with his performance, stretched out his hand and took his arm: "Mao Gong worked hard and achieved great results, I will remember it in my heart. It's hot, come in and have some refreshing and delicious drinks."
The emperor has great trust, and his ministers are loyal and capable. Zhang Fuking is an example of the new emperor who knows people well and is responsible for their duties.
Gu Dingchen, the current chief of the imperial study, no longer has to serve as the daily lecturer and daily lecturer. The person who serves as the two accompanying bachelors is now a doctor from the sixth rank of the sixth grade.
The threshold of the royal study room is getting higher and higher. Looking at this scene, the two of them can only look at Zhang Fuking with envy, envying the opportunities he once had.
Zhu Houcong cordially invited Zhang Fujing to drink some chilled cold drinks, and asked him if Guangdong was hotter. He listened to him describe the specific process of cutting off Wang Ziyan, and then joked: "I actually use the powerful medicine of Huguang to describe me, 伱
This courage is greater than Wang Ziyan's hand sword."
Zhang Fujing smiled awkwardly and said: "I know your Majesty's broad mind, so I dare to do this. It's just that they are cunning, so I can only make this move, pretending to be complicit, thinking that I can find out more clues so that Guangdong will not be in chaos for a long time. Unexpectedly
Your Majesty is strategizing, but what I have learned from what I have said is not as good as the account books that Your Majesty ordered Wei Eunuch to send to Guangdong. I am ashamed! Although I dare not slack off in Guangdong, after hearing about His Majesty's practical experience, I really regret that I cannot meet him often in Beijing.
Your Majesty, I would like to ask you for your help."
The smile on Zhu Houcong's face did not change: "So, you want to stay in Beijing? What if I send you somewhere else again?"
Zhang Fujing nodded: "Of course I want to stay in the capital and always be with Your Majesty, but Your Majesty has promoted me to a young age, so I will naturally devote myself to death. As long as Your Majesty has orders, I will never give up even if I die!"
Although he already knew that he would go to Shandong, he still wanted to say this.
Who doesn’t want to be a highly respected minister? Zhang Fuking does not hide his desire.
He came back from "killing" in Guangdong, so he should be motivated.
But Zhang Fujing was not ambiguous about his attitude.
Zhu Houcong nodded: "Since you know that I still want to send you somewhere, with Mao Gong's talent, do you know where and what position?"
Zhang Fujing pretended to think for a moment, and then asked: "Your Majesty wants me to go to Shandong to oversee the constitution?"
"Exactly." Zhu Houcong's eyes became sharper, "What do you think Mao Gong should do after going to Shandong?"
Zhang Fujing naturally knew that His Majesty already had a plan, but by asking him now, he no longer regarded him as just a sharp sword.
In the past three years in Guangdong, has Zhang Fujing's ability been recognized by the emperor? This is what he thought in his heart, so he thought about it for a while.
This time, I really thought about it.
The emperor was testing him.
If he only accepts orders, then when he arrives in Shandong, it will take time to report, and he will inevitably be unsure of the propriety of many things. But if he can accurately understand the emperor's meaning, then with his intelligence and experience, he will naturally be able to grasp this propriety.
.
He is the hero of the new law in Guangdong. He was asked to go to governor Shandong. Under the current situation, it is natural that he is for the new law.
The biggest difficulty with the new law at present is nothing more than what Zhang Zuo said before, "It's very difficult for you to take part in the policy."
For relatives and vassal kings, and even for some possible rebellions and rebellions, there are already plans to advise the governor-general and select leaders in the capital camp.
But what Your Majesty wants is for the Ming Dynasty to function normally.
Guangdong has added so many official positions, and Zhang Fuking, who is in charge in Guangdong, knows best. The real purpose of adding more officials is not just to divide the Guangdong officials and gentry and win people's hearts. After the restructuring of the Guangdong Yamen Office, the biggest purpose is to improve the efficiency of public affairs.
Outside Guangdong, the provinces still have few officials and many officials, and they send servants to do everything. Nowadays, various places are actively engaged in digging up many old accounts to actively deal with them. There will be so many things that the officials will be "unspeakably miserable"
", and also involves many people who are ignorant and easily incited.
Isn't the emperor's determination to implement the new law not obvious enough? Isn't the handling of the Five Military Camp Incident and the Sichuan Rebellion case, with so many high-ranking officials arrested and questioned, not tough enough?
The reason why these people dare to do this is because there are indeed many people involved this time, and they are all local officials who deal directly with the people, and they all use the banner of supporting the new law.
The fact that the law does not hold the public accountable is second, but they are indeed "supporting the new law". At most, they are a little "eager". They actively made some preparations five years before Jiajing, which is not really in advance.
New laws have been implemented everywhere.
This is the collective tacit understanding of the veterans to present problems to the court.
If they are dealt with collectively this time, not to mention how many people will be temporarily recruited to replace local affairs, does the Ming Dynasty have tens of thousands of grassroots officials in reserve? This alone will be very difficult: in the future, provinces will need to be brave to implement new laws.
They are diligent people, but this time they were punished for supporting the new law. People who come up again in the future will naturally be conservative and cautious.
Zhang Fujing thought for a long time and then said: "When I go to Shandong, Your Majesty should give me a special favor, so that the world can once again understand your Majesty's determination to reform and become stronger. After I went to Shandong, I have been in charge of Xianyan and Shenggong's mansion for many years. I have done nothing wrong!"
I have been delighted to hear about His Majesty's practical knowledge since the end of last year, and I have gained a lot in the past six months. Since I want to supervise the constitution of Shandong, I should submit a brief memorial to His Majesty for your inspection."
"oh?"
Zhu Houcong remembered that Zhang Fujing was a fierce man who defeated the Kong family, but he did not remember how he operated.
Now, has Zhang Fuking really thought about how to reform Confucianism and create a new world for practical studies in the past six months since he came into contact with practical studies?
Zhu Houcong's voice was the tone of a superior again, and Zhang Fujing also replied confidently: "Your Majesty said that today's people are better than the ancients. Although I am ashamed, I am also inspired! Scholars in the world should have such vigor, and Confucianism has not always been
This is to stick to the inside and not talk about the development of knowledge. Nowadays, scholars are all underestimating themselves. They dare not claim to be the sages of Yue in terms of knowledge. When studying and doing things, they talk about the Six Classics Annotations. The source of all kinds of chaos is that they respect Confucius too much.
This is an indecent act!"
"How to refute?" Zhu Houcong fast forwarded to the point where someone would jump out to express objections.
Zhang Fujing smiled a little evilly: "Use the spear of the son to attack the shield of the son. Your Majesty clearly knows that I will naturally make all the Confucian scholars in the world speechless. What I worry about is that after the success, if Yan Shenggong Palace has forgotten it for many years
After hearing the teachings of our ancestors, what step should I take?"
When Zhu Houcong saw that he was trying to pass him off, he knew that he had already calculated. Even when he didn't know that he would be the governor of Shandong, he probably had already thought about how to carry forward practical studies in the future. Otherwise, why would Guangdong be so bold as to do so now?
Add practical learning content to the rural examination?
Zhang Fujing wanted to go to Shandong with this background, and also with his reputation of almost killing all the important officials in Guangdong and Guangdong.
"Prepare the decree!"
Zhu Houcong gave an order, and the two accompanying bachelors who had heard the conversation between the emperor and his ministers trembled in their hearts.
As Confucian disciples, are they now discussing how to deceive their masters and destroy their ancestors?
However, it is not new that there are many crimes in Yanshenggong's palace. Wasn't Kong Hongxu, the father of the current Yanshenggong Kong Wenshao, deprived of the title of Yanshenggong because he was too promiscuous and a bastard, and his younger brother took over?
Zhang Fujing only asked what step should be taken. What is the emperor's will now?
"Zhang Fujing was the governor of Guangdong and had meritorious service in trying new laws. He ordered the governor of Shandong to supervise military affairs, food and salary, and the governor's affairs. He was assigned the title of Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites and the censor of Youdu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. He was given the title of Crown Prince, Shaoshi, and Bachelor of Youchunfang. He was given the title of Mang and Yin Yi.
The son is admitted to Huangming University."
To their surprise, this was just a promotion decree, although it was very interesting.
Ministers on the governor's side are often given the title of Minister of the Ministry of War, but Zhang Fujing was given the title of Minister of the Ministry of Rites.
It is normal to serve as the censor of the right capital, but to add the prince's young master... You must know that since the birth of the emperor's legitimate son, this is the first minister to be given the false title of prince, three gongs and three orphans. Although after Yongle, the prince, three gongs and three orphans were added
It has nothing to do with the prince's tutoring, but who knows what His Majesty is thinking now?
Didn’t you see that there is a bachelor of You Chunfang following behind him? If a prince is established in the future, will he become a bachelor of Zuo Chunfang, and really become the person in charge of the prince’s petitions, announcements and lectures?
"Prince's Master"?
In addition, he was given a python suit. Even though he was just walking on a python instead of sitting on a python, it was doubly gracious. There is one more thing... The robe given by Duke Yan was to walk on a python.
Yan Shenggong's grade is only the second grade.
If Zhang Fuking went to Shandong now, his face would be so bright that it would be frightening. There is not a single part of Yanshenggong Kong Wenshao's face that could dazzle in front of Zhang Fuking.
Zhang Fujing thanked him excitedly, and then listened to the emperor's encouragement: "Mao Gong's experience in practical learning can be found in Zhejiang. If you listen to it, you will have some enlightenment."
"...I should learn more from Yan Weizhong."
Zhang Fujing trembled, knowing that the answer to his question was hidden in this sentence.
Which step should be taken?
In the past, during the reign of the Meng Yuan Dynasty, the descendants of Confucius first had three sects, and then the northern and southern sects existed side by side for more than a hundred years, and they were even exempted from the title of Yanshenggong.
Aren't these descendants of the Nanzong in Quzhou, Zhejiang?
Nowadays, the Yanshenggong Mansion in Qufu does not need to exist.
Zhang Fujing knew the price he was about to pay for receiving so many "special favors": it was not enough to just peel off some of Confucius' halo, this matter must also be connected with the specific affairs of the new law outside of current practical studies.
Now when he goes to Shandong, he will still kill people! Kill the descendants of the most holy teacher!