My father is Jiajing

Take one step at a time. Although this may sound a bit irresponsible, it is also a helpless fact.

Many times, many things actually happen like this.

There is no such thing as a foolproof plan, and most of the so-called foolproof plans have actually been deified.

So when Zhu Zaigui said these words, Xu Jie and others would not jump out to find fault.

After all, they are not censors. They are the highest decision-makers and executors of the empire. Naturally, they are well aware of how difficult the affairs of the court are.

Especially those things that require courage to make breakthroughs are extremely difficult.

Now Zhu Zaigui has given them the lead and has also taken some corresponding checks and balances.

Moreover, this position is an important opportunity for any one of them.

Therefore, at this juncture, Xu Jie and others would naturally not directly oppose Zhu Zaigui.

Xu Jie and others bowed to Zhu Zaigui and said, "Your Majesty is right. We are ashamed."

Zhu Zaigui laughed, "What are you ashamed of? I need your help as regent, otherwise, your majesty will give me such a heavy burden, and I will not be able to bear it alone."

"I have been the regent for several years now. I have seen that under the wise leadership of your majesty and the dedicated implementation of all the gentlemen, the Ming Dynasty is on the verge of rejuvenation."

"Not only have the capital and the surrounding prefectures completed the transition to a new management model, but the border areas in the north and along the grasslands have also formed an unstoppable momentum of rise after several rounds of fortune turning from bad to good!"

Zhu Zaigui also seemed extremely excited when talking about these past achievements.

After all, he had planned all of this himself. No matter how cunning and scheming Zhu Zaigui had become, he couldn't help but raise his chin in pride because of this feeling of honor.

Xu Jie and others did the same after hearing Zhu Zaigui's words.

Although these things were not their ideas, they were able to accomplish them to the extent they have today. As the specific executors of the court's major policies, they also believe that they have played an irreplaceable role.

In particular, when Zhu Zaigui said these words, he also specifically pointed out their contributions. How could this not make them feel proud and proud?

Although the Prime Minister at that time was Yan Song, it doesn’t matter at all!
Since the pen is still in their hands, it is easy for them to take most of the credit for themselves.

So when Zhu Zaigui praised their efforts and contributions, their pride and glory were not fake.

After all, who doesn’t like to leave behind a legendary story of a “capable minister who governs the country” in history thousands of years later?
Xu Jie and the others said modestly, "Your Majesty, thank you for your praise. We have done our best, but it is only a small contribution. All the credit belongs to Your Majesty and Your Majesty."

After hearing this, Zhu Zaigui could not help but laugh. This was still the case of "a sedan chair carried by people", and when the emperor and his subjects praised each other, there was really no nonsense in their words.

And no matter how corny the words are, they sound sincere and heartfelt at this time, as if everything in the past was so harmonious and beautiful.

However, only those who have truly experienced this period of time know that some things have been able to reach the point where they are today, and they don’t know how many twists and turns, opposition, slander and defamation they have gone through in the process.

However, none of this matters anymore, because now that it's done, the credit should be shared among all the participants, otherwise how can people's hearts be united?

Zhu Zaigui continued with emotion, "In the 29th year of the Jiajing reign, Anda launched a military campaign in an attempt to seize power. The Champion Marquis Zhu Wuyi was like a shining star across the historical sky of the Ming Dynasty. He turned the tide, fought bloody battles, and completely annihilated the Tatars led by Anda, saving the capital from danger and causing a fundamental change in the subsequent court's policy towards the grasslands."

"So, the achievements that I and the other gentlemen have made today are inseparable from the extraordinary achievements of Lord Zhu Wuyi!"

Zhu Zaigui also took the opportunity to pull out his own vest and praised it.

Although Xu Jie and others had long speculated that the champion marquis "Zhu San" who died after achieving success was Zhu Zaigui himself, such speculation seemed unrealistic and absurd.

Therefore, sometimes when the topic comes to General Zhu Sanda, who once led the defenders of the capital to defeat the main force of Anda, people can't help but sigh for the regret of his untimely death.

So much so that many people now compare Zhu San to the reincarnation of Huo Qubing!

Therefore, over the years, whenever there was discussion about the court's military preparations and strategies, there would always be people who proposed posthumously conferring new honors on Zhu San, promoting him to the rank of Duke, or even the highest posthumous honor for military merit in the Ming Dynasty, the title of Prince!

But unfortunately, such memorials and reports never received direct feedback from Zhu Zaigui and Emperor Jiajing, so many things were just left unresolved when this matter was mentioned.

Now Zhu Zaigui took the initiative to talk about Zhu San's heroic deeds.

Xu Jie, Li Chunfang and others also rolled their eyes and immediately responded: "Lord Zhu Wuyi has made outstanding contributions. His achievements have not been matched in the past hundred years. Moreover, after Lord Zhu Wuyi, the grasslands have almost become a vassal of our Ming Dynasty."

"Your Highness, we have the audacity to propose that we posthumously confer upon Zhu Wuyigong the title of Duke of a County, and request that he be enshrined in the Martial Temple so that he can be worshipped forever!"

Zhu Zaigui laughed, "We'll discuss this later. Although the Champion Marquis Zhu Wuyi has made great contributions, he is still inferior to the heroes who founded the country and pacified the rebellion. Moreover, in the transition period between the Zhengtong and Jingtai eras, Yu Qian and Yu Shaobao also made great achievements and saved the Ming Dynasty from danger. He was not awarded the title, so how can the Champion Marquis, as a younger generation, be ranked higher?"

When Xu Jie and others heard this, they looked at each other. It was true that Yu Qian had made great contributions, but his support for Jingtai was also an indelible mistake in the subsequent political development.

Who could have thought that Baozong, who had already abdicated and become the emperor, would suddenly succeed in his restoration? Therefore, the greater Yu Qian's contributions, the more incorrect they seemed under the new political situation.

Therefore, even during the Chenghua period of Emperor Xianzong, when Emperor Chenghua rehabilitated Yu Qian, it was not realistic to give him more honors after his death. After all, Emperor Xianzong was still the son of Emperor Baozong. Rehabilitating Yu Qian and Jingtai was already a slap in the face of his father. If he conferred honors on them posthumously, wouldn't that be like pulling his father out of his grave and whipping his corpse?

Moreover, rehabilitating Yu Qian had already helped Emperor Chenghua gain sufficient political rewards, so there was no need for him to add further weight to the matter.

Moreover, in the ancient world of rules, the most important principle of governance is "filial piety"!
Whenever he comes across the word "filial piety", even the emperor would have to retreat.

Otherwise, it would be tantamount to taking the lead in breaking the rules, which would have very serious consequences and would definitely cause big problems and chaos.

Therefore, no matter whether Yu Qian himself was unwilling to receive the title at the beginning, or whether later monarchs had other considerations, as long as the matter of conferring the title on Yu Qian was constrained by the word "filial piety", then no matter who the successor monarch was, he would not cross the bottom line and exaggerate Yu Qian's achievements.

Therefore, after Xu Jie and others heard Zhu Zaigui say this, they were able to change the subject.

Otherwise, they would have to follow Zhu Zaigui's words and speak for Yu Qian, who had been dead for nearly a hundred years, which was obviously not in line with their current political interests and needs.

What's more, Yu Qian was a civil official. In the cultural atmosphere of the Ming Dynasty that valued civil officials over military officials, if they turned Yu Shaobao, a role model of the generation, into Yu Guogong or Yu Wangye, they would also be met with the indignation of countless scholars all over the world!

Xu Jie said: "Your Majesty is right."

Then he changed the subject and said, "Now, under the guidance of the policy of the Ming Dynasty's industrial circulation market, the grasslands are no longer the enemies that have fought against the Ming Dynasty for hundreds of years. Their cattle, sheep and horses can be traded to our Ming Dynasty at the lowest price. Our Ming Dynasty's smart and talented business talents can also open commercial trade supervised by the court in the former nine border towns."

"In the past ten years of development, the imperial court's economic control over the grasslands has become much stronger than that of previous dynasties. In addition, with the update and iteration of Ming Dynasty's firearms technology, even if the grassland tribes have recovered their vitality, they dare not have any dissent."

"Now they are dependent on the Ming Dynasty, enjoying the hard-earned peaceful days, and gradually starting to sing and dance. Moreover, they are now acting as pioneers to attack the old Western Regions that were separated from the Central Plains for hundreds of years. This is undoubtedly a significant manifestation of the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty."

What Xu Jie said was also quite well-spoken, and very much in line with his current position as the Prime Minister of the Cabinet.

Zhu Zaigui nodded slightly and said, "What Lord Xu said is right. These changes are visible to the naked eye. Lord Xu has led the cabinet over the years and continued to follow the national policy that Your Majesty originally decided. He has made great contributions!"

"Especially since I have been the regent for several years and have personally experienced the difficulty of handling state affairs, I have even more respect for Lord Xu and the other gentlemen in the cabinet. You work tirelessly for the Ming Dynasty and I am truly grateful!"

When Zhu Zaigui spoke these nice and polite words, he was full of energy and emotion, which moved Xu Jie and others so much that their eyes became red. They couldn't help but kowtow to the ground again and express their gratitude.

Zhu Zaigui looked at the excited Xu Jie and others, and said with emotion: "Speaking of the hard work and achievements of you gentlemen, there is also the Huazhou earthquake crisis in the 34th year of Jiajing!"

"Originally this would have been a catastrophic disaster, but under the wise leadership of your majesty and the unremitting efforts of all the gentlemen, the Huazhou earthquake, a crisis of such magnitude, has been transformed into the most important opportunity for the Ming Dynasty in the past ten years."

"With the help of the Northern Construction Bank, several northern provinces affected by the Huazhou earthquake have not only completed post-disaster reconstruction, but also revitalized the northern economy that had been dormant for hundreds of years."

"Some places have even developed into prosperous areas that are not inferior to the Jiangnan region. In particular, the Shanxi merchants have taken the initiative to shoulder their responsibilities. They not only provide a large amount of taxes to the court, but also actively develop the northern wool textile industry that is not inferior to the Jiangnan silk business."

"The wool weaving technology of Shanxi merchants is now one of the important industries of the Ming Dynasty. It not only recruited people who had suffered from wars in border areas as weaving workers, allowing them to live a peaceful life, but also provided a new model for the development of other regions of the Ming Dynasty."

"It can even be said that the taxes paid directly to the court by several northern provinces in recent years are not much less than those in the Jiangnan region. If I don't take advantage of the current favorable situation and reintegrate the development of the Jiangnan region, it will also have a new look."

"Otherwise, after a few years, the North will complete a magnificent transformation under the guidance and help of the court, while the South will still be conservative and live a life of drunkenness and debauchery. How can I be worthy of the millions of people in the southern provinces?"

"So the original intention of my plan for Nanjing this time is actually to balance the development trend between the north and the south again. And whether it is for me or for your majesty, the Ming Dynasty does not distinguish between the north and the south. Every inch of the Ming Dynasty is an indispensable part, and every citizen of the Ming Dynasty is a concern in my heart."

"Therefore, I want to set up a cabinet minister in Nanjing to concurrently serve as the governor-general of Nanzhili, so as to make an overall layout for Nanjing and even the entire Jiangnan and the six southern provinces. In fact, it is to make the officials in Nanjing feel the attention from the capital, and the people in the south feel the care and concern from the court."

Xu Jie and others bowed again: "Your Majesty is so virtuous! If the people of Nanjing and several southern provinces knew that Your Majesty cared so much about them, they would surely be grateful and shed tears to thank Your Majesty for your kindness."

Zhu Zaigui laughed and said, "I don't need the people to shed tears of gratitude. I just want them to live in the Ming Dynasty and feel the grace from your majesty like the spring breeze and drizzle. In this way, I will not fail the important responsibility of supervising the country entrusted to me by your majesty."

"Now, gentlemen, please help me think about it. If we want to select a candidate for the Nanjing Cabinet Grand Secretary and Governor-General of Southern Zhili, who is suitable in the court now?"

After hearing Zhu Zaigui's words, Xu Jie and others were immediately cheered up.

The crucial moment of victory has finally arrived.

This person must be recommended by yourself!

Xu Jie was the first to stand up, ahead of Li Chunfang, Yuan Wei and Yan Ne who were eager to try.

Xu Jie bowed to Zhu Zaigui and said, "I think the candidate for the post of Nanjing University Scholar and Governor-General of Southern Zhili should be someone with pioneering experience, who is not afraid of difficulties and has a tenacious character, so as to lay a solid foundation for the new changes in Nanjing in the future."

"Therefore, I recommend Zhang Juzheng, the Minister of War, to take this position!"

He was not at all surprised at Xu Jie's recommendation of Zhang Juzheng.

First of all, Zhang Juzheng was his most proud and trusted disciple. Moreover, Zhang Juzheng was one of the tutors in Zhu Zaigui's palace and a member of the Prince Yu Party with a good pedigree. Recommending him would definitely not be rejected by Zhu Zaigui.

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