prosperous age

Chapter 623 Chapter 622 Cabinet Resolution
"Teacher, what do you think of Tu Zemin's memorial?"

In the cabinet, in Xu Jie's room, Zhang Juzheng was standing in front of the table with his hands behind his back, and asked softly.

At this time, Xu Jie had already finished reading Tu Zemin's "Please Open the Market" and the memorial had been placed on the table, but he was bowing his head in thought.

Because Tu Zemin summed up the imperial court’s frontier policies before and after the Japanese Rebellion, before tightening coastal defenses to crack down on smuggling, although Japanese pirates appeared from time to time, their scale was small and almost negligible.

After the coastal defense was tightened, the Japanese pirates appeared almost overnight, which shows that the tightness of the coastal defense has a great influence on the Japanese pirates.

Xu's family is in Songjiang, and he knows a lot about the Japanese pirates.

The Xu family also has a large number of cotton fields, and even has its own weaving field. Although it is not clear about the whereabouts of the woven fabrics, it has been heard.

Looking up at the eagerly expecting students in front of him, Xu Jie sighed inwardly.

As the chief assistant, sometimes you can do it if you think it is right, because he represents civil servants all over the world.

What are the methods used by the civil official group to restrain the imperial power?

Among them, the ancestral system naturally ranked first. This is a big killer, and the emperor can't say anything when it is used.

Even the daring Emperor Jiajing couldn't stand the big hat that blatantly violated the ancestral system, so he could only change it quietly, playing around the edges a little bit.

"Governor Tu's memorial is very insightful."

Xu Jie finally spoke.

When Zhang Juzheng heard it, his face was filled with joy, but soon his expression became gloomy.

"It makes sense, but it doesn't work."

Xu Jie sighed and said, "According to what he said, opening the sea ban is a blatant violation of the ancestral system. If our cabinet does not object, the civil servants will oppose us that day."

Whether the sea ban is the ancestral system or not, there is no need to discuss this for a long time. Countless people looked up the imperial decrees after Hongwu, and they already had the answer.

Although some people suggested that times have changed, the imperial decree should also change.

Everyone understands the truth, but the ancestral system is the ancestral system, not to mention that Zhu Yuanzhang added words that future generations should not delete or modify after many decrees, making the preservation of the ancestors a filial piety.

Violating the ancestral system is unfilial. The Ming Dynasty ruled the world with filial piety. Can an unfilial emperor rule the world well?
"The teacher also thinks you can give it a try?"

Even though he knew the result, Zhang Juzheng still asked a little unwillingly.

Xu Jie glanced at Zhang Juzheng, "I know what you think, but there are some things that cannot be touched.

If you only have six ministers, it's fine to say words of support, but when you enter the cabinet and become a cabinet minister, you still have to set an example. "

"Officials all over the world will oppose this proposal. Don't Tu Zemin know? Why does he still have to submit this memorial?"

Zhang Juzheng said in a puzzled way, but his eyes were rolling rapidly.

"Let me say it first, if you are a minister, you can say such things, but the cabinet ministers cannot.

Governor Tu should know the real situation in Fujian, so he concluded that he is a good official and knows that being an official will benefit one side.

It's a pity that the sea ban can't be opened just by saying it. "

Xu Jie said disapprovingly.

Tu Zemin is not the first one to ban the opening of the sea. A few years ago, Tan Lun also tested the court's movements. Although he did not explicitly mention the opening of the sea, he clearly stated the actual situation of the people in Fujian, and almost blocked all ways to benefit the local area.

Finally, I said that the prosperity of Fujian in the Southern Song Dynasty was all due to the prosperity of Quanzhou Port, and the purpose is self-evident.

Going forward, many people also mentioned that the sea ban should be relaxed or even lifted, and the court councils all failed without exception.

Therefore, Xu Jie didn't think deeply about it, and thought it was a normal situation. When he was about to ask Zhang Juzheng to draft Tu Zemin's memorial, he heard Zhang Juzheng's words in his ears.

"Teacher, why don't you open a cabinet meeting and let the cabinet ministers discuss this matter together."

When Zhang Juzheng spoke, he stared at Xu Jie without blinking.

Under Xu Jie's surprised eyes, Zhang Juzheng continued: "Master, you can express your stance from the very beginning and oppose Tu Zemin's memorial. Didn't the teacher say that all officials in the world will object?"

"you mean"

Xu Jie understood the meaning of Zhang Juzheng's words, since it was a public opinion to oppose opening the sea, and Gao Gong preferred to fight against himself, so he just planned an upright plan to see if Gao Gong would jump into it.

It's fine if he obeys, and he doesn't lose anything.

But if he insists on opposing himself and submitting a memorial to support Tu Zemin, he will be an enemy of all officials in the world. As long as he operates properly and creates a situation where the court is overturned, even the little emperor Long Qing may not be able to resist, so he will try his best to keep him down. .

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Xu Jie's old face, the skin was completely wrinkled and looked a little leaky.

"Go ask Zishi and the others to come over."

Thinking about it, Xu Jie decisively used Zhang Juzheng's strategy to see if he could catch a big fish.

I have been waiting for the opportunity before, but I have never waited for the opportunity.

If you can't wait, create an opportunity yourself.

Soon, several cabinet ministers were summoned to Xu Jie's office.

Xu Jie was not in a hurry to say anything, but let everyone read Tu Zemin's memorabilia in his hand, and then said: "Governor Tu has achieved remarkable achievements since he became the governor of Fujian. For the memorabilia he published, I am very impressed." I take it for granted.

It only involves the ancestral system of the sea ban, and I dare not violate it in the slightest, so I plan to directly reject his proposal.

I invite you to come here, just to let you know about this matter. After all, the things mentioned in the memorial have something to say, and it seems very feasible. I am not good at it. The result of implementing it is unknown. . "

From the very beginning, Xu Jie showed his attitude. He kind of agreed with Tu Zemin's suggestion. It was difficult to judge the result, but because of the ancestral system, he wanted to oppose it clearly.

"What Lord Shoufu said is wrong"

Before the secondary assistant Li Chunfang could answer, Gao Gong jumped out from below, got up and stood in the center of the room, looked around everyone, and began to refute Xu Jie's remarks.

Everything was as Chen Yiqin expected. Xu Jie was subject to the ancestral system. As the chief assistant, he did not dare to support it publicly even if he approved it in his heart. Instead, he directly rejected it, and Gao Gong really expressed his support directly.

However, Chen Yiqin always felt that something was wrong when he looked at Xu Jie, whose eyelids were drooping and the old god was there.

After Gao Gong finished speaking, Zhang Juzheng also expressed his support for his teacher and refuted Gao Gong's remarks.

This is also the fundamental purpose of Xu Jie's introduction of Zhang Juzheng into the cabinet.

It is impossible for Gao Gong to jump out to oppose him every time, but he should go down and refute him in person.

With Zhang Juzheng helping him to take over the tricks, he can deal with many things calmly in the future.

Out of the corner of his eye, he inadvertently glanced at Li Chunfang. As the second assistant, he has not said a word until now, and the speaker in the field has changed from Zhang Juzheng to Guo Pu. He naturally stood by Gao Gong's side and refuted Zhang Juzheng's words.

Chen Yiqin finally understood what was wrong.

Logically speaking, or in other words, it was the usual practice of the cabinet, Mr. Shoufu should not be the first to express his opinion on such matters.

The order should be that their four assistant ministers expressed their opinions first, followed by the second assistant Li Chunfang, and finally the first assistant made the final decision.

But this time, Xu Jie made it clear from the very beginning, as if he was sure that Gao Gong would oppose it, or that there were other options to block Gao Gong.

"broken."

In an instant, Chen Yiqin understood.

He knew about this a long time ago, and he did a lot of deduction in his mind, but it was all done under normal circumstances.

However, what he thinks more than Gao Gong is the reaction of the government and the opposition.

Until now, perhaps because of the suddenness of the incident, Gao Gong should not have thought too much, so he just followed his own judgment and thought that Tu Zemin's suggestion was reasonable, and Xu Jie objected, so he made a hasty statement.

Although this was what Chen Yiqin wanted to see, he also saw another thing that they hadn't thought of before, and that was the reaction of the government and the opposition.

It's fine if it's just a normal debate, but if Xu Jie uses this to fan the flames and attack Gao Gong.

At this time, Guo Pu had finished expressing his views, and it was his turn to speak next.

How should I express my position, support Gao Gong or Xu Jie?

Of course Chen Yiqin knew what he should say, but if Xu Jie really set up a trap for this matter, he would be out of their control, should he jump into it?
After all, I still lack political experience, and I just think it is a normal court struggle, but forget that this can be used by others.

Chen Yiqin stood up, bowed his head and thought for a while before saying: "Old Xu Ge also said earlier that Governor Tu's suggestion is reasonable, at least it is in line with the actual situation in Fujian.

Although I have to object due to the ancestral system, I can see that Su Qing's statement has some truth, and we can definitely try it in the new dynasty and new atmosphere.

I support Governor Tu's memorial, Fujian can try the strategy of opening the sea. "

In any case, it was impossible for him to stand on Xu Jie's side against Gao Gong, but he also included Xu Jie in his words.

Regardless of whether you really approve or pretend, you must say that Xu Jie really approves, and he will spread this word to the outside to let the government and the public know that the chief minister of the cabinet actually supports it from the bottom of his heart.

While Gao Gong supported Tu Zemin's opinion, he said that he supported Fujian's attempt to open the sea.

Since it is an attempt, forget it if you succeed, and take it back if you fail, and continue the strategy of banning the sea.

Well, Gao Gong's support for Kaihai in Fujian is actually the opinion of most people in the cabinet, and it is only because of the ancestral system that he has to do so.

Chen Yiqin's words made Xu Jie's eyelids twitch slightly, and then they continued to droop as if nothing had happened.

No matter how Chen Yiqin calculated, as long as he insisted that he violated the ancestral system, so he resolutely opposed it, the ruling and opposition officials would not have any objections to him.

Even if Tu Zemin's memorial is correct, he is not wrong.

The last one to express his position was Li Chunfang, the secondary assistant. After talking a lot of scenes, he still didn't have a clear attitude, but he still knew one thing, that is, the ancestral system was immutable, so in the end he sided with Xu Jie.

As a good old man in the cabinet, Li Chunfang tried to mediate for the sake of the harmony of the cabinet after the banquet, persuading Gao Gong to apologize to Xu Jie.

Gao Gong knew that what he said was inappropriate at the time, so he followed suit, but Xu Jie was noncommittal.

And the choice this time, of course, is not to choose sides between Xu Jie and Gao Gong, but purely for the stability of the court.

The banner of the ancestral system cannot be overthrown.

"Zi Shi thinks so too, so I will vote down this proposal."

The seniority of the cabinet ministers in the Ming Dynasty was ranked according to the time when they entered the cabinet. The voice of the first assistant and the second assistant undoubtedly far exceeded that of other assistant ministers.

In a three-on-three situation, the choice of the first assistant and the second assistant is crucial, and their attitude almost determines the attitude of the cabinet.

But at this time, Gao Gong's stubbornness broke again, and he insisted on including their supportive opinions in the draft.

Why, because he knew that after seeing his and Chen Yiqin's statements, Emperor Longqing might not support Xu Jie's opinion.

Because, his attitude can really influence the emperor's decision sometimes.

After the cabinet meeting, the memorial was sent to the Supervisor of Rituals, and the news quickly spread outside the palace.

Wei Guangde heard the news from the cabinet as soon as he was on duty at the Ministry of Officials, and knew that, as Chen Yiqin said, there were two opinions.

This is actually not difficult to understand, either positive or negative, immediately Wei Guangde took out the note he had prepared long ago and called his servant.

The note was put in a letter, sealed, handed it to the man and said: "Go to the palace city immediately and ask them to deliver this letter to Eunuch Chen for His Majesty."

"Yes, sir."

The servant replied respectfully, put the envelope in his pocket, turned around and left quickly.

We have done everything that needs to be done, now we will see what Emperor Longqing will choose, I just hope that his attitude towards this matter will not change too much like his.

Wei Guangde watched people leave, thinking silently in his heart.

After sitting quietly for a while, Wei Guangde picked up the official documents on the desk and began to review them. They were the promotion documents of some small officials reported by the local government.

In the short time since he entered the Ministry of Officials, his family has received several congratulatory gifts, and he also signed several documents to celebrate his promotion.
Forbidden City, Inner Garden.

"Peck, peck quickly."

At this time, a group of people dressed as eunuchs surrounded a middle-aged man wearing a black gauze wing crown, a robe with a collar and wide sleeves, and a belt made of gold, jade, amber, etc. around his waist.

He is naturally the current emperor of Longqing, Zhu Zaixi.

As for the emperor, they would not wear thick and heavy crown clothes to show off unless there were important occasions, and even except for important ceremonies and court meetings, they would not wear them like this.

In the harem, they will only choose some loose clothing of the season, which is comfortable and convenient.

Let’s just say that the regular uniform he is wearing now should have been a gown with a collar and narrow sleeves, which was the style established by the ancestor Zhu Yuanzhang.

Narrow sleeves are naturally convenient to do things, and this style has been handed down to the Zhengde Dynasty.

But when he came to Emperor Jiajing, he was not at all interested in this kind of robe with a collar and narrow sleeves exclusive to the emperor. He preferred to wear a loose Taoist robe with wide sleeves, and his movements were indescribably extraordinary.

Therefore, in order to please the emperor, the eunuchs of the Shangyi Supervisor modified the handed down collar and narrow-sleeved gown, making the gown body and two sleeves larger and closer to the Taoist gown.

This kind of change is very much liked by Emperor Jiajing. Although most of the time he still chooses to wear Taoist robes, he spends more time wearing the emperor's ordinary clothes.

This style was also favored by Emperor Longqing in the Longqing Dynasty, and he was required to follow this style for ordinary clothes, and no longer use the narrow sleeve design.

At this time, surrounded by a group of them were two bruised fighting cocks. Under the stimulation of medicinal wine, they fiercely attacked each other with their beaks and claws until one fell down and the winner was determined.

(End of this chapter)