I, Jiajing, successfully cultivated immortality

Ever since Ouyang Yijing exposed the ulterior thoughts behind Yan Song and Xu Jie in front of many officials at the scene.

Only then did everyone realize that they had been fooled and instigated.

Soon, the revenge against Yan Song and Xu Jie began in an orderly manner, and the memorial to impeach Yan Song and Xu Jie floated to the Inspectorate like snowflakes.

Not only that, many students from the Imperial College were incited and began to publicly criticize Yan Song and Xu Jie.

Yan Song and Xu Jie's reputation among the scholars had already fallen to the bottom because they had previously clearly supported the emperor and vigorously promoted the policy of integrating government and gentry into paying grain.

Although there was some recovery later, it was still better than nothing. No one in Shilin stood up to speak for the two of them.

Gradually, public opinion became more and more turbulent, almost reaching the point where people could hardly breathe.

Rumors even circulated in the court that Yan Song and Xu Jie were deliberately retaliating, excluding dissidents, and avenging private vengeance by ranking various departments.

Naturally, Yan Song and Xu Jie immediately denied such rumors, but not many people were willing to believe them.

……

Night falls, in the capital, Yan Mansion.

At this moment, Yan Song was sitting behind the bookcase, with a copy of "Spring and Autumn" placed in front of him.

At this time, Yan Song was browsing the books in front of him with extra concentration, as if nothing had happened.

At this moment, there was a slight knock on the door.

Seeing this, Yan Song turned his attention away from the book in front of him and ordered: "Come in!"

After the words fell, there was only a "squeak" sound, the door of the room was pushed open, and then the housekeeper walked in quietly.

After entering the study, the housekeeper leaned down, looked in the direction of Yan Song, and said respectfully: "Sir, someone from Hu Ge just sent a message, saying that there are recent rumors in the capital..."

Before the butler finished speaking, he was interrupted by Yan Song: "Okay, there's no need to say anything else. Tell Hu Ruzhen for me that this is just a small matter and he doesn't need to worry about it!"

When the housekeeper heard Yan Song's words, he immediately looked stern and replied in a deep voice: "Yes, sir!"

After the housekeeper left, Yan Song turned his attention back to the book in front of him.

Yan Song is not worried about the increasingly turbulent public opinion in the capital, because in the final analysis, those officials have no substantive evidence to prove their claims.

After decades of ups and downs in the officialdom, Yan Song developed the ability to remain calm in all situations. He knew that after a while, these seemingly turbulent public opinions would gradually calm down.

"Your Majesty still needs me, Yan Song, for the time being. The two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty still need my old bones to support you. You guys, who don't know the heights of the world, want to overthrow me. What a wishful thinking!"

After that, Yan Song's face was full of ridicule. He picked up the teacup with wolfberry water on the table and took a sip.

Then, I heard a rush of footsteps outside the door, and not long after, I saw Yan Shifan walking in.

At this time, Yan Shifan looked quite excited. As soon as he entered the door, he couldn't wait to look in the direction of Yan Song and said in a deep voice: "Father, the ranking of the six departments has been decided!"

Hearing this, Yan Song had a look of curiosity on his face, raised his eyebrows, and asked, "Oh, have you guys reached a conclusion after discussing it?"

Facing Yan Song's gaze, Yan Shifan organized the words in his mind, and then said: "Father, it's settled. According to the agreed results, the Ministry of Personnel is ranked first, and the rest are the Ministry of Husbandry, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Works. Department, Department of Punishment!”

After listening to the rankings reported by Yan Shifan, Yan Song nodded and said slowly: "Well, it would be great if the rankings that have been discussed for so long can be finalized. If the Sixth Department has the results, other departments should also Soon!"

Yan Shifan looked at Yan Song's slightly rickety figure and couldn't help but recall the increasingly turbulent public opinion in the capital recently.

Afterwards, Yan Shifan mustered up his courage, looked in the direction of Yan Song, and said in a deep voice: "Father, recently, not only those officials, but also some students from the Imperial College have been incited by the officials to publicly slander your innocence. !”

"Father, why don't you let me say hello to the Ministry of Punishments, teach those ungrateful Imperial College students a lesson, and simply charge them with making irresponsible remarks about government affairs..."

Yan Shifan seemed quite indignant about this, and when he said this, he clenched his fists subconsciously.

When Yan Song heard this, he just looked Yan Shifan up and down with cloudy eyes, and said slowly: "No need, doing this will make it true!"

"It doesn't matter if you let them curse a few times, there won't be any substantial loss."

Then, Yan Song changed the subject, looked away from Yan Shifan, and then ordered: "Next, we have to pay close attention to the ranking of relevant departments and try not to make any mistakes. Do you understand?"

When Yan Shifan heard Yan Song's words, he immediately lowered his head and respectfully responded: "Yes, father, the child understands!"

"Okay, it's getting late, you go down first!"

"Yes, father, I will take my leave now, and you should rest early!"

After responding, Yan Shifan did not stay too long. After bowing to Yan Song, he stepped out of the study.

……

Capital, Prince Yu's Mansion.

In the room, Zhu Zaijing was seen sitting in the main seat, and Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng were sitting beside him.

At this time, Zhu Zaijing looked very satisfied. After all, it had been some time since King Jing Zhu Zaizhen left the capital and returned to his fiefdom.

During this period, Zhu Zaijing seized the opportunity and began to vigorously expand his subordinates' power.

Today's Zhu Zaijing can be said to be completely different from what he used to be.

For Zhu Zaijing, the fourth brother Zhu Zaizhen left the capital and returned to the fiefdom, which meant that no one could threaten his status in a short period of time.

He can then free up his hands and concentrate on dealing with the threat from Zhu Zaiyuan.

It just so happened that not long ago, Jin Yiwei and Dongchang took action boldly and eliminated all those in the court who wanted to side with Zhu Zaiyuan in advance.

After this incident, many officials in the court switched to Zhu Zaijing's command.

In the eyes of those people, the current situation is already very clear.

The position of emperor will definitely fall to Zhu Zaijing or the infant Zhu Zaiyuan in the future.

And with the lessons learned from the past, those in the government and the opposition did not dare to have any ideas about Zhu Zaiyuan.

After all, before Zhu Zaiyuan grew up, everything was just talk!

With this idea in mind, many people placed their chips on Zhu Zaijing, who seemed to be more secure. After all, the current King Yu was the eldest son of His Majesty.

Afterwards, Zhu Zaijing was seen calming down, looking in the direction of Xu Jie with a worried look on his face, and asked: "Mr. Xu Ge, the direction of the wind has been blowing recently..."

Xu Jie took in the expression on Zhu Zaijing's face, shook his head, and said unhurriedly: "Your Highness, Prince Yu, don't worry. You have a right body and are not afraid of shadows. After a while, these people in the court will The rumors will dissipate on their own.”

After that, Xu Jie looked in the direction of Zhu Zaijing with a worried look on his face, and reminded him: "His Royal Highness, although many people in the court have expressed their attitudes to you recently, you must be cautious. ah!"

"Some of them have impure motives. Not only will they not be able to accomplish anything, they will actually hold us back!"

After listening to Xu Jie's persuasion, Zhu Zaijing pretended to accept the remonstrance, nodded, and said in agreement: "Thank you, Mr. Xu Ge, for reminding me that the Guild will carefully screen these people!"

Xu Jie saw that Zhu Zaijing listened to his suggestions obediently, and the worry on his face faded a lot.

……

After the topic was over, Zhu Zaijing seemed to have suddenly remembered something. He looked in the direction of Xu Jie and asked: "By the way, Mr. Xu Ge, recently my father asked the cabinet to make arrangements for various departments in the Ming Dynasty. Do you use your political performance and work efficiency to evaluate the ranking?"

"Is there any result about the ranking?"

When Xu Jie heard this, he had no intention of hiding it. After recalling it for a moment, he turned around and said: "Right now, the rankings of the six departments, five temples, and twelve prisons have been decided. The remaining ones will be ranked in a few days." , and we can all settle down!”

After Zhu Zaijing learned the news from Xu Jie, a look of hesitation appeared on his face, and he continued to ask: "As for the six departments..."

Facing Zhu Zaijing's gaze, Xu Jie said without hesitation: "For the six ministries, the Ministry of Personnel ranks first, followed by the Ministry of Husbandry, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Punishment!"

"I can understand that Hu Zongxian's Ministry of Personnel is ranked first, but why is it not Yan Shifan's Ministry of Work that is ranked last?"

After Zhu Zaijing heard the specific rankings, he looked puzzled and asked the crowd.

When Zhu Zaijing finished speaking, Gao Gong stood up from the side, his face full of disdain, and mocked: "Humph, it's not because this Yan Shifan has a father who is the chief minister of the cabinet!"

Gao Gong seemed to be quite indignant about this. After a pause, he continued: "If it weren't for his father, based on the achievements of the Ministry of Industry this year, he would be ranked at the bottom!"

Seeing this, Xu Jie on the side looked in the direction of Gao Gong and comforted him: "Okay, it's just a ranking. Don't take it too seriously. In the final analysis, it still depends on His Majesty's approval!" After the words fell, Zhang Juzheng on the side also followed up to comfort him: "Yes, Mr. Gao Ge, Mr. Xu Ge is right. In the final analysis, it still depends on His Majesty's approval!"

After that, Gao Gong's mood gradually calmed down.

Then, Xu Jie looked around, looked at everyone, and then said: "It seems that the end of the year is coming soon. Let's find some time to calculate the accounts of each department this year and draw up the votes." Bar!"

"This imperial meeting cannot be noisy like last time!"

Although Xu Jie said this, he knew very well that the following imperial meeting would be the most relaxing one in so many years.

Because this year the imperial court not only completely put down the Japanese pirates, but also defeated the Tatars, and even put down the rebellion of the Yang family in Bozhou.

The imperial court not only won military victories, but also made great achievements in domestic affairs.

Not only did it get rid of the empty state treasury in one fell swoop, but it also eliminated many corrupt and mediocre officials through the imperial court's triennial plan.

Thanks to the abundant treasury, all the bills of various departments of the imperial court this year can be passed without even having to glance at them!

The imperial court used troops more frequently this year. The three battles of defeating the Japanese pirates, fighting the Tatars, and destroying Bozhou cost a lot of money and food, but the money and food spent can always be made up from other places.

Putting aside everything else, just for the battle of Bozhou, the court spent nearly five million taels of silver from beginning to end.

But after the imperial court captured Bozhou and confiscated the Yang family, which had been operating in Bozhou for hundreds of years, and the seven local chieftain families with different surnames, they confiscated nearly 30 million taels of silver!

In addition to the previous expenses, the imperial court had an additional surplus of more than 20 million silver!

It is no exaggeration to say that Ming Dynasty is really prospering now!

Xu Jie, as the Minister of Household Affairs, naturally knew very well that the money in the treasury now reached as much as 300 million!

Most of them came from the smuggling families on the southeast coast and the big salt merchants. In addition, the Four Saints and Three Sages families in Shandong also contributed a lot.

After all, when the imperial court treated the above-mentioned people, it really broke their bones and sucked out their marrow. Not only did they kill them all, but they didn't even leave them a penny.

The confiscated money was a windfall for the imperial court, and naturally it could not last long.

"Right now, there are at least 300 million in the national treasury, plus the tax from opening up the sea, and the trade agreement that Ming Dynasty negotiated with the Rakshasa mission not long ago. This trade agreement will bring Ming Dynasty every year. At least thirteen million taels of income!"

When Xu Jie thought of this, his breathing became rapid.

Xu Jie had no time to think about it because he was busy with other things on weekdays. When he calmed down and thought about it, he realized that Ming Dynasty had unknowingly gotten rid of the empty treasury.

"Could it be that this is the increase in revenue and expenditure reduction that His Majesty mentioned in front of us? But this is too exaggerated!"

……

The night passed in the blink of an eye, and in the early morning, after breakfast, Yan Song and his son took a sedan chair to the Forbidden City.

After the sedan stopped, Yan Shifan got off the sedan first and carefully helped Yan Song out of the sedan.

With Yan Shifan's support, Yan Song was seen walking tremblingly in the direction of the cabinet.

"By the way, father, I got the news. Those officials seem to be planning some big move recently?"

"Don't worry too much. Those officials don't have any substantial evidence. All they can do is incite public opinion and increase the intensity of impeachment!"

Yan Song didn't seem to care about this, he just glanced at Yan Shifan and responded.

After that, Yan Song paused for a moment, and then continued: "When the cabinet announces the evaluation results of various departments, the group of officials will die down!"

"By the way, I didn't ask you to check the situation in the Sixth Section before. How is your investigation going?"

When Yan Shifan heard this, he didn't hide anything. He immediately stopped and respectfully reported to Yan Song.

"Father, the child has been investigated clearly. Among the six departments, except for Ouyang Yijing's criminal department, Hu Yingjia's official department has the highest efficiency and the best political achievements!"

"Among them, Hu Ke is in trouble. He has been doing nothing for the past year and has made almost no achievements!"

After listening to Yan Shifan's report, Yan Song thought about it for a moment before giving a response: "Don't provoke Ouyang Yijing for the time being, let's use Hu Yingjia to do the surgery, and put him in the civil service department. In last place, Hu Ke ranked second in the matter!"

When Yan Shifan heard this, he immediately looked stern and responded in a deep voice: "Yes, father, the child knows what to do!"

After that, Yan Song, with the support of Yan Shifan, continued to march in the direction of the cabinet.

Unexpectedly, before taking a few steps out, Xu Jie's voice sounded from behind: "Old Yan Ge!"

Hearing the words, Yan Song paused and followed the sound, only to see Xu Jie getting down from the sedan chair, and then catching up with Yan Song and his son in three steps at a time.

After arriving in front of Yan Song and his son, Xu Jie bowed his hands to Yan Song and said respectfully: "I have met Mr. Yan Ge!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Song looked Xu Jie up and down with his cloudy eyes, and then said slowly: "Oh, it's Mr. Xu Ge!"

After that, Yan Song and Xu Jie were seen walking together, while Yan Shifan consciously followed about four or five steps behind them.

After a few words of greeting, Xu Jie looked away from a distance and took the lead in provoking the topic: "Mr. Yan Ge, now the rankings of the six departments, five temples, and twelve prisons have been decided. In a few days, With time, the task entrusted to our cabinet by His Majesty can be successfully completed!"

Yan Song was quite emotional when he heard Xu Jie's words. Then, he straightened his rickety body, looked in the direction of Xu Jie, and said bluntly: "The rankings of the six subjects have also been decided!"

When Xu Jie heard this, a trace of curiosity flashed across his face, and he asked, "Oh, I'd like to hear the details!"

Facing Xu Jie's gaze, Yan Song organized the words in his mind, and then said: "Ouyang Yijing is ranked first in the criminal department, and the second place is in the household department. The rest are as follows: Engineering, Etiquette, Military, and Civil Service are ranked last in Shizhong!"

After that, Yan Song seemed to be asking Xu Jie for his opinion, and asked: "Mr. Xu Ge, what do you think of this ranking?"

After hearing this, Xu Jie expressed his attitude after thinking briefly: "Well, I have no objection. Since Mr. Yan Ge has already decided, let's follow this ranking!"

In Xu Jie's view, Yan Song's ranking was full of malice.

According to the information he received, Hu Yingjia's official department was extremely efficient and had outstanding political achievements.

But now, he is ranked last, and Hu Ke, who has made no achievements, is ranked second.

As a result, even if Ouyang Yijing is in the middle to mediate, the various departments of the Sixth Section will inevitably have dissatisfaction, and the conflicts between them will only intensify.

After all, if you don’t worry about scarcity but inequality, why can you be in the second position despite having no achievements in the field?

At that time, with just a few tricks, the officials can be turned into a piece of loose sand to avenge the original attack!

"This Yan Song is really skilled at frame-up work. It seems I have to be more careful in the future!"

……

Then, Xu Jie calmed down, raised his head, looked in the direction of Yan Song, and suggested: "Mr. Yan Ge, it seems that it is almost the end of the year. I think we should just find some time to compile the accounts of various departments." Just do the math and draw up the votes by the way, what do you think?"

After Yan Song listened to Xu Jie's suggestion, a look of surprise flashed across his face, and then he responded: "Oh, is it so early this year?"

Since the conversation between the two did not avoid Yan Shifan, Yan Shifan also heard the proposal that Xu Jie wanted to draft in advance.

At this time, Yan Shifan's face was not good-looking, and the previous scene could not help but appear in his mind.

In the last imperial meeting, he was severely teased by Xu Jie and Gao Gong in front of the emperor.

Xu Jie signed Zhang Juzheng's bill from the Ministry of War without even looking at it. However, Xu Jie rejected the bills from the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Works on the grounds that the overspending was too large and the Ministry of Revenue did not dare to sign.

Not only that, Gao Gong actually used the reason that being present did not mean consent to excuse himself.

If he hadn't used the loss of shipping, labor costs, and the capsizing of several ships in the wind and waves as reasons, he would have been killed long ago.

Thinking of this, Yan Shifan clenched his fists unconsciously, and then began to listen more intently to the conversation between Yan Song and Xu Jie.

Seeing that Yan Song was still thinking about it, Xu Jie, after considering his tone, looked away from Yan Song and said: "Mr. Yan Ge, look, it's almost the end of the year. This year's things will be over, so why delay?" Let’s go next year!”

"If we settle the accounts of each department and draw up the votes as soon as possible, everyone can have a good New Year with peace of mind, right?"

Hearing this, Yan Song pondered for a moment, nodded, and said in agreement: "In that case, as Mr. Xu Ge said, let each department report all this year's expenditures, and then the cabinet will vote. !”

When Yan Song said this, he paused and continued to add: "But we have to wait until the cabinet has almost finished the matters at hand before we start settling the accounts of various departments!"

Seeing that Yan Song agreed to his proposal, a hint of excitement flashed across Xu Jie's face. He lowered his head and said in a deep voice: "Yes, Mr. Yan Ge!"

Yan Shifan, who was following the two of them, saw that both parties had reached an agreement on the advance vote, and a look of confusion flashed across his face. He didn't know whether he should step forward to dissuade them from this matter.

In his opinion, this Xu Jie must have evil intentions and is planning something secretly.

Maybe, like last time, he would switch sides and cheat himself hard.

After a long battle between heaven and man, Yan Shifan finally decided to mention the matter to Yan Song in private. (End of chapter)