Domineering Daming

He is the hidden leader of the "imperial party", officials all over the world are looking at him, as long as he speaks a word, it is more effective than the cabinet's edict!

He is a weather vane, standing between the emperor and the world's officials, countless people are watching, ready to sway!

If Fu Changzong speaks out, there will be huge waves in the government and the public, and he will become the god of the sea, and there is no way to resist!

Fu Changzong remained silent, no one could understand the current court situation better than him.

If it was the emperor in the past, I am afraid that he could not wait to settle these matters long ago, lest the world be filled with chaos and people's hearts would be turbulent.But this time, the emperor was silent, without any hint.

This shows that the emperor is brewing something, waiting for the opportunity.

From the words passed by the cabinet, Fu Changzong had vaguely noticed that the cabinet was in a hurry, and they might not be able to continue to fight with the cabinet for some things.

Many people think that the cabinet's plans come from themselves. Only Fu Changzong and others understand that there is a deep shadow of the current emperor in it. If the cabinet becomes stronger, it means that the Qianqing Palace will soon intervene, and all these disturbances will pass.

Lin Rirui looked at Fu Changzong's expression, blinked his eyes, and said, "My lord, what are you thinking? Our six provinces are sparsely populated, and disasters are raging. We can't rely entirely on the cabinet plan, let alone register the population, measure the acres, Even if it takes only a year and a half to eradicate the banditry, the world is not peaceful, these things are impossible to talk about..."

How could Fu Changzong not know that the entire Ming Dynasty was like ants on a hot pot, the heat was unbearable, there was no peace for a moment, there were too many delicate things to do, especially at the bottom, the hands of the Ming court could not get in at all.

The various figures reported from the bottom layer have been reduced by more than half. If you want to do something, you must first find out the truth.But the cabinet was too anxious, and drew a timeline for each place, and the amount of tasks had to be completed within a limited time.

Moreover, many reform policies are too controversial, deprive the localities of too many rights, and there are countless supervisions, so local officials dare not easily agree.

These are one of the core points of stalemate, and so far there has been no compromise.

Fu Chang picked up the teacup, took a sip of it calmly, and said lightly: "Send the word out, look at my eyes today, and I will discuss it with Mr. Zhou later. Today, there should be a result."

Li Banghua and Lin Rirui's eyes were overjoyed, and they hurriedly said: "I obey orders!"

As long as Fu Changzong and Zhou Yingqiu open their mouths, even the cabinet will have to back down!As long as the cabinet backs down a bit, they don't have too much extravagance. This year's big meeting can be completely settled. In the next two or three years, there will be rules to follow, and they will do their best to complete the plan!

However, before Fu Changzong's words spread, those governors seemed to feel a cold wind passing by, and everyone's expressions were solemn, as if they had already sensed something.

In the cabinet meeting room, Sun Chengzong, Wang Qiaonian, Prince Jing, and Sun Chuanting all looked at Bi Ziyan, who was buried in his work, with slightly different expressions, and looked at each other from time to time.

This elder Bi Ge seemed to be a different person, full of energy and energy, no longer as deep as before, giving people the feeling of being like a deep, old man seeking the country, and the whole person seemed to be ten years younger, quick in doing things, and full of vigor, The action is clean and agile.

Bi Ziyan didn't notice this, and flipped through the documents one after another, speaking from time to time.

"Shaanxi sweet potatoes and other plants have been planted on more than 30 hectares. Is this figure true?"

"Last year, the tea tax was 480 million taels, but there was some concealment. Why is it much less than last year?"

"The salt tax is 100 million, why is it more than 300 million lower than last year?"

"The Anti-Corruption Bureau found out that a member of the Ministry of Rites, Wailang, took bribes and used his power for personal gain. Is it a case? Are there other people involved in the case that have not been reported?"

"22 The censor has been out of Beijing for many days, is there any return?"

Every question Bi Ziyan asked was answered by the secretary in the cabinet. He either criticized it, stayed it, or called it back.

Not long after, a guard came in to report and said: "My lord, the governors have already entered the palace, please come in."

Bi Ziyan looked up, put down his pen, put away the documents beside him, and said, "Let them in."

Sun Chengzong and others also stopped writing one after another, tidied up, and looked at the door quietly.

After nearly a month, there will be a result today.

Chapter 994 Unexpected Means

After Bi Ziyan agreed, the two prime ministers and twenty governors entered the chamber one after another, saluted, and then sat down on the chairs that had been arranged.

Then, the six ministers also arrived, and everyone sat down on the chairs and waited quietly.

Bi Ziyan, Sun Chengzong and others looked at each other, then stepped forward and sat down on the five vacant chairs.

Bi Ziyan sat in the first place, glanced at everyone, opened the letter on the table, looked up, and said, "My lords, this 'New Deal' has been delayed for a long time, we must make a decision today!"

Everyone was awe-inspiring and leaned slightly.This elder Bi Ge was so "heavy talking" at the beginning, and he must have become more imposing.

"There are three more questions, one is the task schedule drawn up by the 'New Deal', do you still think it is too short?" Bi Ziyan raised his head, his eyes swept over the faces of Fu Changzong, Zhou Yingqiu, Fang Kongxuan, Li Banghua, Zhao Pinglan and others , the voice is flat, revealing majesty.

Sun Chengzong and others, the six ministers, all looked to the left.Governors, many people are consciously or unconsciously looking at Fu Changzong and Zhou Yingqiu.

The two were expressionless and did not speak. Not long after, Guizhou Governor Wang Sanshan leaned over and said, "Mr. Bi Ge, Guizhou has a complicated terrain and a mixed population. Now there are ten houses and nine empty houses. Bandits are rampant and people's sentiments are raging. Officials are in a state of panic. Not to mention measuring the acres of land and registering the population, but just talking about disaster relief, they are unable to stabilize the people's sentiments. The imperial treasury is empty, and the funds and food for disaster relief are decreasing day by day. The officials are really powerless..."

This means that it is difficult for a clever woman to cook without rice, and the reality is difficult.

As soon as his words fell, Zhao Pinglan continued: "Mr. Bi Ge, my Guangdong province is far from being sparsely populated, but it is also a vast area. However, the governor's yamen has just been established and lacks authority. If we let go of these immediately, it doesn't matter whether it will be successful or not. Even if the success is successful, the reported figures, the lower officials can't believe it, how dare Mr. Bi Ge?"

Jiang Dejing hesitated for a while, and then continued: "The situation in Yunnan is complicated and changeable. So far, the lower officials have not been able to completely control the state capital, let alone the counties below. Acres of land, registered population, and drafting a new tax... This matter will not work."

The three governors in a row objected, and the atmosphere in the chamber once again fell into the usual depression.

Sitting on a high place, Bi Ziyan could see the expressions of these people in his eyes. These people had no "clique" and they were telling the truth, so Bi Ziyan was not angry.

His eyes turned to Fu Changzong and Zhou Yingqiu. These two represented most of the power in the court and most of the governors outside Beijing. Their words were very important, even a "one-word decision" was crucial.

Fu Changzong took a deep breath, looked at the inconspicuous eunuch in the corner, who was writing quickly, and said: "Old Bi Ge, the imperial court has its own policies, and the local government has local plans. I hope that the imperial court can give enough Independent rights, the ability to calmly govern the local area, and respond appropriately.”

This is actually the second problem. The cabinet has seized too much power from the local government, reporting everything and controlling everything.At the same time, in terms of the "New Deal", the cabinet holds the leading power, and the local power is quite small, and even the governor of a province feels that it cannot be used.

Fu Changzong seems to want power, but in fact he still hopes that the cabinet will make concessions to the previous one.

These words are commonplace these days, Bi Ziyan looked calm, looked at Zhou Yingqiu, and said, "Master Zhou, do you have anything to say?"

Zhou Yingqiu leaned forward and said: "My lord, I hope that the money and food from the local government and the imperial court can be more relaxed, and the local government can have more power to deal with it."

This is the need for financial power. Financial power is one of the most important powers of local officials. It is also an important means of power operation and gaining prestige, second only to the appointment of officials.

The progress requirements of the "New Deal", the scope of powers and duties, and financial power are the focus of disputes between the cabinet and the governors. There is no way to retreat, and there are three places where there is no way to compromise.

When a group of governors saw Fu Changzong and Zhou Yingqiu speak together for the first time, their expressions were awe-inspiring, and their eyes wandered around the faces of Fu Changzong, Bi Ziyan and others, feeling a little uneasy in their hearts.

Today's start is very different, a "decisive battle" posture.Everyone knows that no matter who "wins" or "loses", it will be a "tragic" ending.

Bi Ziyan saw Fu Changzong, Zhou Yingqiu opened his mouth, his expression became indifferent, he was silent for a while, and suddenly said: "I have a plan to set up the Prime Minister's Office in the five major regions of the southeast, northwest, and central areas. The post will also be expanded, and the cabinet will grant more powers..."

Everyone was startled when they heard this, even Sun Chengzong and Sun Chuanting were surprised because Bi Ziyan hadn't said it before.

Fu Changzong, Zhou Yingqiu and a group of people were even more surprised. They didn't expect that Bi Ziyan would suddenly have such an idea, and they didn't know how to deal with it for a while.

Bi Ziyan looked indifferent, but his heart was shocked.

This idea came to him suddenly when he looked at Zhou Yingqiu and Fu Changzong.If the "Five Prime Minister's Offices" are established to govern the five regions of Daming, it will not only greatly promote the further promotion of the "New Deal", but also strengthen the cabinet's control over the localities, greatly establish the prestige and power of the cabinet, and most importantly, be able to do it in one fell swoop. Break through the immediate predicament!

Everything is still under the control of the cabinet, and the loss of power at the local level has also been compensated. It is a stroke of magic!