My father is Jiajing

Chapter 509: I was moved to tears
"Ouyang Bijin?"

After Huang Jin came back, he told Emperor Jiajing about the candidate for the new Censor-in-Chief recommended by Zhu Zaigui. When Emperor Jiajing heard the name, he could not help but be surprised.

Obviously, he did not expect Zhu Zaigui to recommend Ouyang Bijin.

Huang Jin replied respectfully: "Yes, Your Majesty, the candidate recommended by Prince Yu is Minister Ouyang."

Emperor Jiajing was surprised. He looked at Huang Jin and asked, "Why did San'er recommend him?"

Huang Jin replied: "Prince Yu said that Minister Ouyang is old and steady, and he is a relative of Lord Yan, so he will consider the overall situation."

When Emperor Jiajing heard this, he was also immediately happy.

"San'er is right! Ouyang Bijin is really old, and he is also really steady and obedient. Yan Song is also his relative. Even if he takes a step back, he has to consider the stability of the current court."

After saying this, Emperor Jiajing's depressed mood suddenly improved a lot.

"Why didn't I think of Ouyang Bijin?"

Emperor Jiajing became more and more pleased. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Ouyang Bijin was really suitable, as if he was tailor-made for him.

Huang Jin looked at the Emperor Jiajing who was so happy, and he said, "Prince Yu also said that if Shangshu Ouyang was transferred to the Censorate, it would give the Emperor more time to investigate and arrange new candidates, and the Ministry of Personnel could temporarily let the two assistant ministers take charge of the matter, and then arrange for the right person later."

Emperor Jiajing hummed in agreement and nodded, "San'er is right. The affairs of the Ministry of Personnel are complicated and simple. Without a minister for the time being, it won't delay the operation. But the Censorate is not in good shape. If the Censorate is leaderless, these censors will rebel!"

Huang Jin said: "Yes, the imperial censors of this dynasty have the ancestral system of Emperor Taizu to rely on. They are notoriously arrogant in any generation of emperors, but there is nothing that can be done about it. Without them, the powerful officials would be unscrupulous."

Emperor Jiajing laughed and said, "There will be no powerful ministers in my Ming Dynasty. The power of a powerful minister is only given by me. If I am willing to give it, he is the one. If I am not willing, he is nothing."

Emperor Jiajing said this with great confidence, and it is also a true portrayal of the Ming Dynasty.

After all, the feudal imperial power had developed for one or two thousand years, especially when it came to the Zhu family. Zhu Yuanzhang broke the record and abolished the position of prime minister, setting an unprecedented precedent.

Although the system of cabinet and cabinet prime minister was derived later, the power of the cabinet and the cabinet prime minister was completely different from that of the prime minister of the Secretariat, and they were not positions of comparable high status and power.

It can be said that whether the cabinet or the cabinet chief can continue to exist, or in what form it exists, can be changed and determined by the emperor's words.

Therefore, it was really difficult for a decent powerful official to appear in the Ming Dynasty. Even for Zhang Juzheng who came later, his status as a powerful official was not as impressive as portrayed in novels and self-media accounts.

If he was really that powerful, why didn't he grant himself the Nine Gifts and get a royal title of a different surname like the powerful ministers in history?
Now he also understands that his power does not truly come from himself, nor is it irreplaceable, and his eventual failure is inevitable.

Therefore, powerful officials like Zhang Juzheng later on actually had power but not authority. They were not as powerful as Yuan Gongbao, who controlled the Beiyang New Army hundreds of years later.

From this we can see that if a powerful minister wants to truly possess the qualities of a powerful minister, in addition to having a prominent position second only to the emperor, the most important thing is to have irreplaceable military power in his hands. Only such a powerful minister can be considered a true powerful minister.

Huang Jin was also conquered by the strong self-confidence of Emperor Jiajing, because in a practical sense, all his current favor and status were decided by Emperor Jiajing. If one day Emperor Jiajing disliked him, he would just be an old eunuch with no merit and anyone could bully him.

But if he could continue to enjoy the emperor's favor and grace, then he would be the ancestor of the 100,000 palace maids and eunuchs in the Forbidden City!
"When will the Emperor arrange for Minister Ouyang to take up the post of Chief Censor of the Censorate? I will go and draft an order."

Huang Jin asked Emperor Jiajing again.

Emperor Jiajing hummed and thought for a moment, "Let's draft the decree tomorrow. It's too late today. Tomorrow, you will go to Zhou Yan's mansion on my behalf to take a look and draft an edict to grant him the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. Have the cabinet draft a posthumous title as well and send it over as well."

Huang Jin responded with a "yes", then stepped aside and began to pack up the items in the abode for Emperor Jiajing. At the same time, he was also preparing to light a piece of incense for Emperor Jiajing, prepare a golden elixir, and ginseng tea to go with the golden elixir.

After Huang Jin prepared these things, he brought the tray to Emperor Jiajing.

"It's time for the Emperor to enter the elixir."

Emperor Jiajing hummed and looked up at the golden pill and ginseng tea that Huang Jin brought over. He stretched out his hand to pinch the amber golden pill placed in the imperial box and yellow handkerchief, then gently put it in his mouth, as if he chewed it, or rolled it around. After his mouth was watering, he picked up the ginseng tea and swallowed the golden pill.

After taking the golden elixir, Emperor Jiajing finally entered into the cultivation mode. He looked solemn and dignified, sitting on the cushion in the golden tent of the monastery, like an old Taoist who had entered into a trance.

At this moment, Huang Jin was standing beside Emperor Jiajing with great respect, acting as his protector, as if everything was extremely harmonious.

The next day, Huang Jin went to Zhou Yan's residence with the decree of Emperor Jiajing, expressing the emperor's regret over Zhou Yan's sudden death. He bestowed upon Zhou Yan the title of Prince Taibao and posthumously named him Jiansu!
Huang Jin then went to Ouyang Bijin's house again and announced to Ouyang Bijin the good news that he would be transferred to the position of Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, and encouraged him to continue to shine in his position in the Censorate and continue to contribute to the court.

When Ouyang Bijin received this imperial edict, he was so moved that he cried and knelt on the ground to express his gratitude.

Huang Jin looked at Ouyang Bijin who was so moved, and he comforted him, "Central Minister Ouyang, this is the emperor's trust in you. Zhou Yan passed away suddenly, and the Censorate cannot be without a leader. The emperor looked at the entire court and only Central Minister Ouyang was mature and prudent enough to take on the task in times of crisis, so he temporarily transferred you here."

Ouyang Bijin was so moved that he shed tears. He still held the imperial edict in his arms. He looked at Huang Jin with tearful eyes and said, "Eunuch, who will His Majesty promote to be the Minister of Personnel?"

Huang Jin smiled and said, "Don't worry, Zhongcheng Ouyang. The Emperor has not arranged anyone to be the Minister of Personnel, and has not issued an order to recommend a new candidate. So I guess that the Emperor may still be thinking of transferring Zhongcheng Ouyang back after finding a suitable Chief Censor of the Censorate."

Huang Jin's words immediately ignited Ouyang Bijin's hope, "Really?"

But Huang Jin's face changed when he heard this, "Central Minister Ouyang, please be careful with your words. Can we guarantee this for the Emperor?"

After hearing Gao's words, Ouyang Bijin was so scared that he stopped crying. He finally came to his senses and realized that what he had just said was a bit inappropriate. Could the emperor promise such a thing?
Obviously this is impossible!

Therefore, if you want to maintain your dignity in the future and have the opportunity to go back again, then you should accept the order carefully and do a good job in the work of the Censorate!

Moreover, Huang Jindu had already told him that the Minister of Personnel would not select a new person, so this might be just a pie in the sky for him.

With this big pie in the sky, Ouyang Bijin will definitely work hard and strive to return to the Ministry of Personnel as soon as possible.

After all, the position of Minister of Personnel is the real head of the six ministries and the top position under the cabinet. As long as there is still a little hope, who would be willing to let go?

Therefore, at this time, Ouyang Bijin didn't seem to be so upset, and he stopped crying.

Ouyang Bijin said to Huang Jin: "Please convey this to His Majesty. I will definitely live up to your expectations and do my best to complete the work of the Metropolitan Procuratorate."

After hearing Ouyang Bijin's words, Huang Jin nodded with satisfaction and said, "We will definitely stay here. Ouyang Zhongcheng, please go into the house. It's cold outside." After saying that, Huang Jin left Ouyang Bijin's residence and went towards the Ministry of Personnel.

The Ministry of Personnel is also bustling today, with two assistant ministers and several officials from the Ministry of Personnel all here.

They were notified early in the morning to wait for the imperial edict at the yamen. Now it was almost noon, and the imperial edict had not arrived yet, which made these people a little anxious.

But no matter how anxious they were, they had to wait at this time. After all, this was an imperial edict, not a verbal notice that could be easily evaded.

Guo Pu and Gao Gong were both sitting in the lobby of the Ministry of Personnel at this moment, with several officials from the Ministry of Personnel sitting below them.

Guo Pu glanced at Gao Gong and said, "Mr. Su, we have been drinking tea for the whole morning, why haven't the ministers come yet, and why haven't the imperial edicts arrived?"

Guo Pu was also one of the assistant ministers of the Ministry of Personnel. He was transferred from the post of right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites. He was also a talent famous for his Qingci. In the historical evaluation of later generations, he and Li Chunfang, Yan Ne, and Yuan Wei were collectively called the "Qingci Prime Minister."

However, because he was not from Prince Yu's mansion, even though he was fortunate enough to serve as the Grand Secretary of Wuying Palace and enter the cabinet in the 45th year of Jiajing, he did not work in the cabinet for a full year and retired in the first year of Longqing when Prince Yu ascended the throne. This shows that this guy actually didn't do very well.

Otherwise, why would he retire and go home not long after Longqing ascended the throne? You have to know that he was only in his early sixties at the time, which was considered to be the right age for a high position in the cabinet.

Unfortunately, he was so unlucky that he could neither be honored by the new emperor nor be tolerated by Xu Jie and others, so his early retirement was also something he could not help.

However, the current historical trajectory is not quite the same as the original one. Although Guo Pu is still following his original historical trajectory, he has now become a colleague in the same government office with Gao Gong in advance. Perhaps there will be some new changes in the future.

In fact, Gao Gong was also very puzzled. If he had not been the head of the Beijing Special District and the Ming Federal Reserve for several years, he would have lost his patience long ago.

Gao Gong said, "Wait a little longer, maybe they will come soon. Almost all the officials in the palace and the capital have gone to Zhou Zhongcheng's house to pay their respects today, so it is normal to delay for some time now."

Guo Pu nodded in agreement. Originally, they were going to go to Zhou Yan's house to pay their respects, but they received an imperial decree from the palace early in the morning asking them to wait at the Ministry of Personnel first. Otherwise, he would have gone to Zhou Yan's house long ago.

"Another pot of tea, then?"

Guo Pu and Gao Gong were both from Henan, so when they got along with each other, they felt like fellow villagers, but there were some differences in their accents.

Because Guo Pu's hometown is Anyang, and the accent of Anyang dialect is a combination of Jin dialect-Han dialect-Huoji dialect, which is not the Central Plains Mandarin. So when he and Gao Gong communicated in their hometown dialect, they could not understand each other.

So when the two of them were chatting, they tacitly did not use their native dialect, but instead used the Hongwu Zhengyun dialect commonly used in this dynasty. However, like most other officials who had been in the capital for a long time, their Hongwu Zhengyun dialect had more or less a Beijing accent, which sounded a bit strange.

But even if it's a little strange, at least I can understand it.

So there won’t be any problem in communication.

Gao Gong looked at Guo Pu who was about to pour tea, and did not refuse. He also stood up slightly to show his respect.

But at this moment, Huang Jin finally arrived at the Ministry of Personnel, exhausted.

As soon as Huang Jin arrived, he immediately attracted everyone's attention in the lobby of the Ministry of Personnel.

Guo Pu and Gao Gong also quickly stopped what they were doing. Guo Pu put down the teapot, and Gao Gong turned around to face Huang Jin who was coming over.

The two of them stood up at the same time and came to greet them with other officials from the Ministry of Personnel.

"Thank you for your hard work, father-in-law."

Guo Pu, Gao Gong, and other officials from the Ministry of Personnel bowed slightly to Huang Jin.

Huang Jin also returned the greeting slightly, "Thank you for your hard work, it's my fault that I'm late."

Guo Pu and Gao Gong smiled and said, "What are you talking about, eunuch? You are serving His Majesty and have important matters to attend to. It doesn't matter if we wait a little longer."

Huang Jin smiled and said, "You two are too polite. Get ready. I will announce the Emperor's order first. This way, I won't be late for you to report back, and it won't delay your lunch."

Guo Pu and Gao Gong looked at each other in confusion, it seemed that the Shangshu had not arrived yet?

But the two did not ask any more questions and quickly replied, "That's right, that's right, Master."

Then Guo Pu and Gao Gong asked several other officials from the Ministry of Personnel to prepare the incense table that had been prepared long ago, and invited Huang Jin to the upper seat in the hall to prepare to announce the decree.

Huang Jin placed the imperial edict on the incense table and bowed together with Guo Pu, Gao Gong and others.

Huang Jin turned around and said solemnly: "There is an order!"

Guo Pu, Gao Gong and others bowed together and said, "We, your Highness, wish you the best of health."

Huang Jin replied on behalf of the Heaven: "May the Holy Spirit be well and healthy."

Huang Jin then picked up the imperial edict on the incense table and opened it to read: "Minister of Personnel Ouyang Bijin is transferred to the Censorate as Left Censor-in-Chief. Guo Pu and Gao Gong are left and right assistant ministers of the Ministry of Personnel. From today on, the two of them will temporarily take over the duties of the Minister of Personnel to handle all the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel. I hope you will live up to my expectations. I decree this."

When Guo Pu and Gao Gong heard this imperial edict, they were stunned. Ouyang Bi was appointed as the Left Censor-in-Chief in the Censorate? Didn't he just become the Minister of Personnel? It seemed like less than a month had passed. How did he go to the Censorate?

But at this moment, whether it was Guo Pu or Gao Gong, even though they were shocked, they both immediately digested the imperial edict. This was to give them more power, so what was wrong with that?
Guo Pu and Gao Gong immediately bowed together and said, "We accept your order and kowtow to thank you for your grace!"

The officials of the Ministry of Personnel behind him also followed with a bewildered look on their faces and kowtowed to thank the emperor for his grace.

Huang Jin also smiled and handed the imperial edict to Guo Pu and Gao Gong, "Congratulations, the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel will be entrusted to you from now on. I will also go back to report the edict."

Guo Pu and Gao Gong also hurriedly escorted Huang Jin out of the Ministry of Personnel, "Goodbye, eunuch."

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