Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

Minister of Personnel Zheng Sanjun looked at the sumptuous food and wine on the table and had no appetite. Seeing that everyone who was supposed to come had already arrived, he got straight to the point and said:

"I believe you all already know that the family banquet that Your Majesty is hosting in the Palace of Heavenly Purity today is actually a Hongmen Banquet."

Those who can reach their positions in the court are almost all well-connected and versatile people, and naturally they also have their own spies in the palace.

"Well, we only got the news in the afternoon. It seems that Yang Gebu's plan will fail." Liu Zongzhou, Grand Secretary of Jianji Palace and Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, said in a teasing tone.

Both the suppression and training exercises were carried out at the suggestion of Yang Sichang. For this matter, Yang Sichang even ran back from the front line.

"Qidong, he also does it for the court, how can you be so narrow-minded?" Zheng Sanjun shook his head and said, Qidong is the courtesy name of Liu Zongzhou, the teacher.

The party struggle had ended long ago, and now that the winner had been decided, Zheng Sanjun did not want his colleagues to continue to suppress other officials as they had done before.

"What Brother Yong Zhang said makes sense. If it weren't for Minister Yang taking the lead, I'm afraid we wouldn't be so at ease." The chief minister of the cabinet, Liu Yuliang, took over the conversation and echoed Zheng Sanjun's words.

Although Liu Yuliang is the prime minister of the cabinet, when it comes to a critical moment, the person everyone trusts the most is Zheng Sanjun.

Zheng Sanjun is 65 years old this year. Not only is he the oldest among them, he also has the highest seniority. If it weren't for the unspoken rule in the Ming Dynasty that the Minister of Personnel cannot enter the cabinet, it would not have been the turn of Liu Yuliang to be the Chief Minister of the Cabinet.

Among the six ministries, the Minister of Personnel has always been headed by the Minister of Personnel. The reason is very simple. The Ministry of Personnel controls the appointment, dismissal and promotion of officials below the fifth rank.

To put it bluntly, officials in Beijing are a minority after all. The majority of officials in the Ming Dynasty are local officials in the two capitals and thirteen provinces. No matter how high or low their official rank is, they have to pass the Ministry of Personnel if they want to be promoted.

"It is true that Brother Zhang taught them a lesson, but that group of nobles and relatives actually obeyed him obediently. Don't you find it strange?" Liu Zongzhou changed the subject.

"My dear brothers, although the nobles are vulgar, they are not stupid. Last time when His Majesty was collecting donations, everyone cried more than the other.

In my opinion, Your Majesty must have received guidance from an expert, otherwise, with Your Majesty's... hehe, you might not be able to think of using those children." Minister of Industry Fang Fengnian said.

Although Fang Fengnian has not yet entered the cabinet, he is already in the plans of Liu Yuliang and others. He is only 42 years old this year, the youngest of the five, and has a bright future.

"Well, what Shutian said is exactly what I thought. It's just that you and I both know the important ministers in the court, but who is that expert?" Zheng Sanjun frowned and stroked his beard.

The others also thought hard but could not come up with any idea after a long time.

“Since we have no clue, let’s discuss it later. The fox will eventually reveal its tail.

Your Majesty's words today seem to indicate that you want to make use of military officials. What do you think?"

Although Emperor Chongzhen said this with the intention of appeasing his nobles and relatives, after all, they had been defrauded of so much money, Zheng Sanjun did not completely agree with it.

This is the biggest reason why they are gathered together today.

These civil officials followed each other's will and spent more than a hundred years to suppress the military officials, leading to the current situation of many upright officials in the court.

They will never allow the situation to change in their generation, otherwise they will be sinners of Donglin and laughed at by scholars all over the world.

"Isn't he being too cautious in using the seal? Your Majesty hasn't promoted any of his relatives to higher positions, and besides, which of those relatives are really useful?

Is it the boy from the Duke of Ying? Or is it Sun Weifan, the Marquis of Huaining?"

Xiong Mingyu, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, who had been sitting silently nearby, took over the conversation with a hint of sarcasm in his words.

"Haha, a dissolute prodigal son and a reckless man. Your Majesty is truly... 'virtuous'."

These words made Fang Fengnian and Liu Zongzhou laugh. They even suspected that the fundraising was just a coincidence and there was no such person behind His Majesty.

Zhang Shikang's reputation as a playboy was well-known to everyone in the capital, so they had naturally heard of it a long time ago. As for Huaining Marquis Sun Weifan, anyone present could easily name no less than ten schemes that would put Sun Weifan in trouble.

In their eyes, neither Sun Weifan nor Zhang Shikang were worthy of being their opponents.

"Alas, Your Majesty is so careless. The Ming Dynasty will be destroyed in his hands sooner or later." Liu Yuliang sighed.

"How can Ji Long be so discouraged? Aren't there still people waiting for him?

As long as Your Majesty is willing to listen to our advice, there is no need to worry about the Ming Dynasty's revival." Fang Fengnian encouraged.

Zheng Sanjun sighed when he heard this.

“If it was ten years ago, when His Majesty had just ascended the throne, it would have been as Shutian said, but now His Majesty... seems to be on guard all the time.

Last year, when we drew up a list of recommended ministers, we clearly put Shutian at the top, but Your Majesty still included Fan Fucui and Cai Guoyong."

Although Emperor Chongzhen never mentioned the affairs of Donglin in front of them, what he actually did inevitably made those present feel resentful.

"Brother Yong Zhang is cautious, but it's a bit too much. Fan Fucui and Cai Guoyong are both mediocre people and there's nothing to worry about." Xiong Mingyu said after a moment of hesitation.

Zheng Sanjun is known for his prudence. Although he has enough prestige, he is already very old and should have retired and returned home long ago.

This was also the reason why Xiong Mingyu was dissatisfied. He believed that Zheng Sanjun no longer had the backbone to be the leader of the Donglin Party and should give way to others.

After Xiong Mingyu finished speaking, Fang Fengnian and Liu Zongzhou both nodded in agreement. The important official positions in the court were all filled by individuals, and if Zheng Sanjun didn't move, the people below him would never be able to get promoted.

The position of Minister of Personnel is definitely a lucrative one.

Zheng Sanjun still had a blank expression on his face, showing no emotion. He was silent for a long time before he said:

"You all think that I am cautious. Well, once Yang Ge's army has wiped out the rebels and Zhang Xianzhong, I will resign from my post, Your Majesty."

When everyone heard this, they tried to persuade him to stay, but they all had smiles on their faces.

In their eyes, the bandits were nothing to be feared. As long as the military pay arrived, Yang Sichang would be able to quickly destroy Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong.

In fact, no matter whether it is the civil and military officials in the court or the common people, if you tell them that Li Zicheng will destroy the Ming Dynasty in six years, they will definitely think you are a fool.

For a long time, the bandits have been chased and beaten by the government troops, and Yang Sichang’s performance in the past year is enough to make them believe that the bandits will be wiped out in the near future.

"Well, let's stop here today. I'm tired." Zheng Sanjun stood up and prepared to go out.

The restaurant owner Li Yilian, who had been waiting outside the door, came in quickly with a big smile on his face.

Anyone who can open a restaurant in the capital must have some background. Li Yilian is the nephew of Liu Zongzhou, the Grand Secretary of Jianji Palace.

Although the restaurant is not well-known in the capital, its standards are quite high. Ordinary people are not admitted and only people with official titles are allowed to come in, and the consumption level is not low.

"Why are you leaving so soon, gentlemen? The restaurant has recently invited many beauties from Yangzhou. Their tea art is very good. Would you like to go and have a taste?" Li Yilian said with a smile, pointing to the third floor.

Zheng Sanjun glanced at Li Yilian. He knew what he was talking about. He snorted coldly, shook his head and walked out.

"I have no interest in tea. Goodbye, everyone."

Xiong Mingyu, Liu Zongzhou and others also bid farewell one after another.

Only the Minister of Works Fang Fengnian was left. When he saw that everyone else had gone away, he whispered to Li Yilian:

"Are you really from Yangzhou?"

When Li Yilian heard this, he knew that the youngest Lord Fang wanted to drink tea, so he immediately introduced him with a smile:

"How dare I deceive you, my Lord? They are all carefully selected, the tea art is exquisite, and the taste is absolutely wonderful!"

Fang Fengnian was delighted when he heard this, but he still maintained his airs as a minister.

"I love drinking tea the most. Please lead the way and I will go and taste it for myself."

"Master Bao, am I satisfied?" Li Yilian smiled and made a gesture of invitation.

……