My father is Jiajing

Chapter 490 The Thoughts of Emperor Jiajing

As soon as Zhu Zaigui finished his words, none of the officials in the Huangji Palace made any sound. They all looked at Zhu Zaigui under the throne in astonishment.

No one expected that Zhu Zaigui would interrupt Xu Jie and directly reject the subsequent cabinet proposal.

At this moment, the Huangji Palace was eerily quiet, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

However, facing the astonished gazes of the officials, Zhu Zaigui did not feel any fear or nervousness.

You have to know that he was also a tough warrior facing thousands of troops back then, and the mentality of a superior for so many years also made him look down on everyone from a high position.

So with this mentality, how could Zhu Zaigui feel psychologically intimidated by the gazes of so many people?
Zhu Zaigui continued in a calm voice: "I don't know what the rules of your previous court recommendation were, but since I am here today to preside over this court recommendation under the order of the emperor, there are some rules that I still need to explain."

"The cabinet recommends Ouyang Bijin, the Minister of Criminal Affairs, and Gao Gong, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and Chairman of the Ming Federal Reserve, as candidates for the new Minister of Personnel. This king would also like to hear the two candidates' understanding of the Ministry of Personnel and their understanding of the responsibilities of the Minister of Personnel."

"So, next, Minister Ouyang and Chairman Gao will explain to the king and the officials present their understanding of the Ministry of Personnel and their understanding of the responsibilities of the Minister of Personnel. Afterwards, those officials present who have opinions or objections to them may also raise their hands to ask questions."

"This time, I also want to hear the suggestions and ideas of the officials on the future Minister of Personnel. I wonder if the cabinet and the ministers present have any opinions on my proposal?"

Zhu Zaigui stopped talking here, and then looked around at everyone: "I have finished speaking, who agrees, who opposes?"

Zhu Zaigui's voice echoed in the Huangji Hall. Officials from the six ministries of the cabinet and other temples and courts all looked at each other in confusion. This did not seem to conform to the previous court recommendation rules, but they did not intend to object for the moment. After all, this was the first time that the Prince Regent presided over a court meeting.

Although most people have never seen this prince regent, this does not affect the lofty status of Zhu Zaigui, and they also heard the unquestionable attitude from Zhu Zaigui's indifferent tone just now.

After hearing what Zhu Zaigui said, Xu Jie's heart couldn't help but tremble. This was very different from what he had imagined Prince Yu to be. He used to think that Prince Yu should be a prince who spoke well, the kind of person who was easily influenced by others and had few opinions of his own.

But the attitude shown by Zhu Zaigui at this moment not only showed that he was very opinionated, but also that he had a strong attitude.

At the same time, Yan Song, the only cabinet minister who had a chair and was sitting in a daze in the Huangji Hall, suddenly stood up without anyone's help. He bowed to Zhu Zaigui and said, "Your Highness's idea is very good. I agree with it."

With Yan Song taking the lead in supporting, all the officials in the palace followed suit and bowed: "We agree with your idea, Your Majesty."

When Zhu Zaigui saw everyone bowing to him, a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. "Very good, then let's do it. The cabinet will continue to preside over it."

Zhu Zaigui gave the right of presidency to the cabinet with just one word, but at this time, Xu Jie was not as confident as he was at the beginning.

He looked at Zhu Zaigui cautiously, then at Yan Song, and seemed to feel unhappy.

The hope that I had finally managed to hold on to was about to be shattered.

At this moment, Gao Gong, who was standing in the queue in the hall, could not help but get excited. He could hear that it was Prince Yu who was fighting for an opportunity for him, so at this moment Gao Gong's heart couldn't help but get excited, feeling that he finally had hope in his life.

Zhang Juzheng, who was still standing in the crowd, couldn't help but glance at Zhu Zaigui in the hall, then glance at his teacher Xu Jie, and finally glance at Gao Gong silently. There was not much expression on his face, but his heart was extremely uneasy.

Because he knew the weight and attitude of Zhu Zaigui's words that just interrupted Xu Jie.

According to Xu Jie's lines, all the officials in the palace should have been very clear that the cabinet would unanimously nominate Ouyang Bijin, and Gao Gong was just a runner-up.

But now that Zhu Zaigui had interjected this, the officials' minds were naturally shaken.

They couldn't help but wonder, did Prince Yu want Gao Suqing to serve as the Minister of Personnel?
If so, will Prince Yu's power as regent become real from this moment on?
Once such a political change really happens, what kind of wind will blow in the Ming Dynasty court next?
So at this time everyone's minds began to fluctuate.

Among them, the people with the biggest fluctuations were those from the "Yan Party". They had just seen with their own eyes that Yan Song was the first to stand up and support Prince Yu.

They couldn't help but wonder if Lord Yan and Little Lord were going to change their stance and start supporting Prince Yu?
Therefore, at this moment, everyone in the hall was in a state of confusion, and no one could clear the fog before their eyes and see clearly the direction of the future.

Xu Jie took a deep breath, calmed himself, and bowed to Zhu Zaigui again.

You must know that he and the upright people he represents have long been staunch supporters of Prince Yu.

Now Prince Yu personally went to the Huangji Hall to preside over the court recommendation at the order of the Emperor, which broke the tacit understanding formed in advance by the cabinet and added variables to this court recommendation. Yan Song also took the opportunity to express his support for Prince Yu.

This sense of crisis really made Xu Jie feel what it was like to be chilled to the bone.

Moreover, after experiencing this incident, Xu Jie suddenly realized his embarrassing situation. All these years of being submissive had made him lose his edge, and he did not truly form a friendship between monarch and subject with Prince Yu.

Although his disciple Zhang Juzheng was also in Prince Yu's mansion, judging from the situation just now, Prince Yu was obviously more optimistic about Gao Gong rather than Zhang Juzheng.

Therefore, Xu Jie was really confused at this moment, and he couldn't help but feel hesitant about his future.

What if Zhang Juzheng fails to grow up to the point where he can provide protection for the Xu family's future? What will the Xu family do then?

You have to know that official positions in the Ming Dynasty could only be obtained through the imperial examination. Even if one was favored by the emperor during his reign and had great power in his hands, as long as he left the court, and his descendants did not have the ability to take the imperial examinations or to mix in officialdom, then this family would easily become ordinary within two or three generations.

But if there is a guarantee from the younger generation, even if they become ordinary within two or three generations, they will at least have a reputation as a local gentry, and will not fail so easily, making people feel that this family is just an ordinary family that is short-lived. Xu Jie began to preside over the meeting again. This time, his attitude was much more cautious and he spoke more slowly, as if he was afraid that he would say something wrong and be interrupted by Zhu Zaigui again.

At the same time, the situation in the Huangji Palace was being urgently transmitted to the West Garden word by word.

Emperor Jiajing sat on a meditation cushion, wearing a pair of crystal reading glasses donated by the Shunyi Industrial Park. With an expression that could not tell whether he was happy or angry, he looked at the written records that were urgently sent from the Huangji Palace.

After Emperor Jiajing heard what Zhu Zaigui said after interrupting Xu Jie, his originally indifferent expression finally revealed a smug smile.

"San'er is really capable. He treated Xu Jie like a grandson. No wonder San'er described him as a 'follower of the cabinet'. Look at what he said. Isn't he a follower of Yan Song?"

While Huang Jin was tidying up the written records that Emperor Jiajing had read, he also took a look at it. He naturally knew what Xu Jie had said that caused him to be interrupted by Zhu Zaigui.

Huang Jin said: "Lord Xu is a man who knows his superiors and his inferiors. After all, Ouyang Bijin was recommended by Lord Yan. Although Lord Xu was ridiculed by Prince Yu a few times later and actively pushed Gao Gong as the candidate for this court nomination, he should still stand together with Lord Yan in his heart. Otherwise, wouldn't the affairs of the cabinet be torn between the two sides?"

Emperor Jiajing snorted, "What do you mean by fighting on both sides? Is it a good thing for them to be harmonious in the cabinet? If so, wouldn't they have teamed up to deceive me many times over the years?"

Huang Jin was shocked when she heard what Emperor Jiajing said, and she immediately knelt on the ground and said, "I have spoken out of turn, please punish me, Your Majesty."

Emperor Jiajing glanced at the flustered Huang Jin and said, "Get up. What am I punishing you for? You are right. What San'er said in the Huangji Palace this time was also very appropriate. The Minister of Personnel has not yet been selected, but they have already started to arrange the position of the Minister of Justice after Ouyang Bijin moved to the position. Isn't this using the court's rules of recommendation as a cover for privately granting court positions?"

"This time, San'er didn't reprimand them in person, which has given them a lot of face. If they still don't know when to advance and retreat, and still treat the rules of the court recommendation as a one-sided decision made by some people, then it's better not to recommend them in the future."

Listening to the words of Emperor Jiajing which were filled with a hint of resentment and some ambiguity, Huang Jin could also tell that Emperor Jiajing was really angry with the current cabinet. Perhaps after experiencing this incident, Emperor Jiajing would re-appoint some cabinet members to serve as a wake-up call to Yan Song, Xu Jie and others, asking them to think clearly about what they are doing.

Huang Jin said: "The cabinet has indeed gone too far in this matter. How about I go and reprimand them on behalf of the Emperor?"

Emperor Jiajing said, "No need. San'er has said it all. I don't need to argue with him anymore. Ouyang Bijin is so old, and he still wants to be my official. He really doesn't know how high the sky is and how deep the earth is. After this court recommendation, no matter what the final result is, I have to find a reason for him to retire and return home. Otherwise, my court is full of such vigorous old people. How can I revive my Jiajing rule?"

It has been a long time since Emperor Jiajing disliked Ouyang Bijin. When Ouyang Bijin served as the Minister of Works, Emperor Jiajing was very dissatisfied with him.

The head of the Ministry of Works has to listen to the words of a minister who was a student of the Imperial Academy before he dares to do anything. What's the use of such a minister?

If it weren't for the fact that Yan Song and Yan Shifan were still useful, Emperor Jiajing would have sent Ouyang Bijin, a corrupt official, back home long ago. Moreover, he would not have agreed so readily to Zhu Zaigui's proposal to create a self-sufficient special district in the capital.

It can be seen from this that Emperor Jiajing really looked down on Ouyang Bijin's work in the Ministry of Works. Later, he was transferred to the Ministry of Justice, and the result was the same. Now he even wants to lick his face and become the Minister of Personnel. This is really taking advantage of him!
Therefore, this time Emperor Jiajing was really determined to drive Ouyang Bijin away, and then give Yan Song and Yan Shifan a heads-up, asking them to focus their attention and do some real work.

Otherwise, the cabinet will really have to be replaced.

At the same time, the court debate in the Huangji Palace was still going on.

Under the gaze of Zhu Zaigui, Ouyang Bijin tremblingly came out of the queue, bowed to Zhu Zaigui, and then bowed to all the officials in the hall.

Then he began his "campaign" speech.

Ouyang Bijin's voice was very weak, and every sentence was based on quotations from classics. He talked about the ancient Zhou system, the Qin and Han systems, and then the six ministries system after the Sui and Tang dynasties. Finally, he focused on the Ministry of Personnel system of this dynasty.

If the occasion was not too serious and Zhu Zaigui's position was not conspicuous enough, he would have been unable to hold back his yawn.

After such a long speech, there is not a single key point. It is all about popular science about the evolution and origin of the Ministry of Personnel system. This is not a classroom for professional historical research. This is the Huangji Hall, one of the most serious political occasions in the Ming Dynasty.

The issues to be discussed here are all national affairs, but Ouyang Bijin ended up organizing a small class here to popularize historical knowledge points of the Ministry of Personnel. I really don't know whether he is showing off his knowledge or running for the position of Minister of Personnel.

Finally, after about half an incense stick of time, Ouyang Bijin finally finished his speech with a lingering feeling.

Just when Ouyang Bijin bowed to Zhu Zaigui again and was about to return to his seat, Zhu Zaigui spoke again.

Zhu Zaigui said, "Now that Minister Ouyang has finished speaking, do you have any comments?"

All the officials in the hall looked at each other, and finally looked at Zhu Zaigui, and no one stood up to express their opinions.

Seeing this scene, Zhu Zaigui sighed in his heart, but he could also understand what these people were thinking.

After all, they are all professional bureaucrats, not the kind of representatives or members of parliament in later generations who need to be responsible to their respective voters and only responsible for political supervision. If they offend the future Minister of Personnel, they will inevitably be held accountable and given trouble.

So it is normal that no one of them stood up to make suggestions. After all, this is the system. We are all athletes. Who dares to be a referee easily?

Zhu Zaigui said: "Since everyone has no objection to Minister Ouyang, then let Gao Gong also come out and talk about his understanding of the Ministry of Personnel and the position of Minister of Personnel."

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Asking for a monthly ticket~~
(End of this chapter)