Domineering Daming

Chapter 387 Reduction of Yamen

The resurgence of the eunuch party naturally aroused the righteous indignation of all the gentlemen.

In addition to Zhu Xu receiving countless impeachment transcripts, the most direct consequence is that the power of the trustworthy king Zhu Youjian is also rapidly expanding.

Ye Xianggao and Yang Lian, the old and new generations of Donglin Party members represented by them, gathered around Zhu Youjian within a few days, which greatly increased his power.

However, their influence in the court is low, and they have no one to speak of, but they have set off a huge momentum among the people.

In Jiangnan, especially in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, various book clubs have sprung up one after another.

Yunjian Jishe, Zhexiwenshe, Jiangbeinanshe, Jiangxizeshe, Litingxishe, Yunzanshe, Wumen Yupengshe, Wumen Kuangshe... There are dozens of them, every less than a hundred You can see a book club within a few meters.Especially during the assembly, they are connected to each other, well-dressed, and the whole city is full of attention.

Most of these people are rich and well-known families from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and their deeds are as fierce as fire, and they are directed at the eunuchs.They are either classmates or fellow countrymen, they are inseparable, they are close to each other, they are happy to make mistakes, and they recommend each other to be friends. For a while, the momentum is huge and majestic.

Although the names of the clubs are different, they are inextricably linked to the Donglin Party. Several important figures are even members of the Donglin Party.

For a moment, Dong Lin's momentum was the same.

Inside Wenzhao Pavilion.

Zhu Youjian appeared in Wenzhao Pavilion early in the morning, earlier than everyone else.

He had a cold a few days ago, so he canceled the morning meeting, but was "corrected" by Donglin Yushi's memorial. He personally wrote back to apologize, and promised to be punctual and fulfill his duties every day in the future.

In the past few days, Zhu Youjian is in a good mood. Although Wei Zhongxian is becoming more and more arrogant, his power is also growing. Ni Wenhuan, Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice, Wang Shaohui, Minister of Dali Temple, and Yang Lian, the censor of Zuodu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, all expressed their disgust to him. The eunuch party supports Wenzhao Pavilion to trace its origins and exorcise evil spirits and use righteousness.

With the support of Ye Xianggao's old ministers in the opposition, Zhu Youjian almost held the entire Donglin Party in his hands.

Qian Longxi, Jiang Dejing, Zhou Yanru and others came soon, but they all looked worried and worried.

As soon as the cabinet meeting was held, Qian Longxi glanced at Jiang Dejing, and said to Zhu Youjian: "My lord, the national treasury has an overspending of 120 million taels, the salaries and rewards of the officials at the end of the year, the sacrifices for the next year, and the budget for next year before the summer grain." , I’m afraid there’s nowhere to come from.”

The taxation structure of the Ming court has become two sets, one is Zhu Xu and Huitong Commercial Bank, and the other is the Ministry of Household Affairs.

Huitong Commercial Bank is Zhu Xu's property. In addition, the income from commercial tax, salt tax, tea tax, and ship tax are all included in it, and there is no household registration department.The household department can get it, and what Wen Zhaoge can use is the grain tax, plus the 200 million taels allocated by Zhu Xu from Huitong Commercial Bank, a total of nearly 400 million taels of cash in cash, and 500 million shi tax grains.

It stands to reason that these taxes, far exceeding the tax revenue of the Tianqi years, are enough to use, but Wen Zhaoge's hands are extremely long, and they have to be involved in all kinds of affairs in the whole country. The money is also spent like running water, but it seems to be bottomless The abyss, after throwing it in, there was no response at all, and people continued to ask for money everywhere, complaining endlessly.

The so-called clever woman can't cook without rice, and now the whole Wenzhao Pavilion is worried about this matter.

Jiang Dejing has gotten used to the atmosphere in Wenzhao Pavilion, and knew that it would be bad luck if he didn't speak, so he thought for a while and said, "My lord, it's too late to increase the income at present, so we should cut down the expenditure."

Zhu Youjian has used the method of throttling expenditure countless times, and it is always a temporary method. Daming needs money everywhere, and he is already tired of this method.

However, he valued Jiang Dejing very much, and nodded with a smile: "Tell Jiang Qing."

Jiang Dejing glanced at the others, and said: "My lord, there are too many bureaucrats in my Ming Dynasty, which are overgrown and bloated. How about streamlining the yamen, reducing redundant manpower, and merging the redundant yamen? In this way, a large amount of money can be saved every year."

The corners of Zhu Youjian's face moved slightly, and his heart moved intentionally.He is also very dissatisfied with the current bureaucracy, and feels that many yamen are useless at all. If it can be done, it will not only improve the efficiency of the yamen, but also save a lot of money!

Qian Longxi's eyes were dissatisfied, and he said to Zhu Youjian in a blink of an eye: "My lord, this move may cause criticism."

The so-called "criticism" is more directly "rebound".No one would agree to the reduction of official positions and the removal of official hats for no reason.What's more, the politics of Ming Dynasty is now more like a huge network, and a few people can be transferred to involve the high officials of the court and the central government, and the dignitaries of Beijing and China.They are intertwined with friends and relatives and friends.I'm afraid that before the cuts are made, the impeachment memorials will be full of the chief inspector.

Zhou Yanru and the others also frowned. They also have friends from the village, and they have helped each other to get to where they are today. If they are eliminated, wouldn't it mean destroying their foundation?

Zhou Yanru glanced at Zhu Youjian, and said with a serious expression: "My lord, this move is inappropriate. What is bloated? What is redundancy? If there is any inappropriateness, it will inevitably make the world's scholars and officials object. careful."

Zhu Youjian's eyes were slightly fixed. He knew that he needed the support of officials, and he couldn't do things that offended officials all over the world.

Jiang Dejing knew that he was still an "outsider", looked at Zhu Youjian's strength and said: "My lord, this matter naturally needs to be discussed with the adults of the six ministries and nine ministers. It is a fact that the organization is bloated and the staff is redundant, so there is no need to worry. As long as the court agrees, there is no fear of criticism."

Zhu Youjian was very moved when he heard Jiang Dejing's words.

Several other people were also speechless and didn't know how to refute for a while.

Zhou Yanru was still dying, and said: "My lord, this matter is of great importance, and the emperor's approval is still needed."

Zhu Youjian nodded without paying attention.Recently, Zhu Xu has become more and more "regular", rarely intervening in the affairs of Wenzhao Pavilion.In particular, he has also gradually become familiar with the "rules of the game", as long as he acts within a certain range, Zhu Xu will not interfere with him.

After another discussion in the cabinet, Zhu Youjian got up and went to Wenhua Hall.

The Wenhua Palace has a group of officials from the six ministries and nine ministers. Although the supervisor is responding to disasters, they are all important officials of the six ministries after all. With Zhu Youjian's identity, some messy things are also passed on to the six ministries through here. Therefore, the authority The scope expands imperceptibly.

Zhu Youjian wanted to convene a meeting in the Wenhua Palace to test the attitude of the six ministries.

The current structure of the Ming Dynasty is very vertical. In terms of government affairs, the emperor, the six ministries, and extended to the governors and the chief secretary's yamen.As for Wenzhao Pavilion, although it is the prime minister's office, it is actually in an awkward position that does not rely on both sides.

Not far from the Ten Princes' Mansion, Wei Zhongxian bought a very large mansion here, not much worse than the Wang's Mansion.

At this moment, in the compound, there are six ministers among the nine ministers, Shi Lang, Zheng Qing, Shao Qing, the censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, the local governor, the chief envoy, the political councilor, and the Dongchang, the minister of rites sent from abroad. The inner prison and so on, set up more than 20 tables.

The banquet is full of guests and guests!

Sitting under the eaves, Wei Zhongxian was wearing a boa suit, a gold gauze cap on his head, and purple and silver boots, showing Uncle Suning's nobility to the extreme!

Standing beside him were Fu Yingxing, Hou Guoxing and others, and sitting below him were Zhang Woxu, Zhang Ruitu, Huang Liji, Cao Qincheng, Wu Chunfu, Tian Ergeng and other key members of the eunuch party.

These officials spanned many yamen and were involved in all aspects. To a certain extent, Wei Zhongxian's power surpassed that of Prime Minister Zhu Youjian.

"Congratulations on your father-in-law's birthday!"

The censor Zhang Yunru stood up, holding the wine and shouting.

When he shouted, the whole courtyard stood up and shouted at the same time: "Congratulations to the father-in-law on his birthday!"

Wei Zhongxian sat there with a dark complexion and a slight smile on his usual indifferent expression. He also picked up his wine glass and drank it down in one gulp.

He is 56 this year, and he is at the peak of his power, regardless of age or power!

Wei Zhongxian's gaze swept across the courtyard. These ministers, high-ranking officials, and some of them are relatives with clan and titles, are now prostrate at his feet.The ambition that has been suppressed for a long time is surging.

Immediately afterwards, there was a lot of flattery.

Wei Zhongxian listened, smiled, nodded, and answered a few words from time to time. He only promised this group of people "high officials and rich salary", and he didn't talk about the others.

Now he has no so-called [-]-year-old, nor is he a godfather. He created the "Five Tigers" and "Ten Dogs", and he has a bottom line in government affairs. He never gets involved in military affairs. Never mess up.

On this point, he knows how to measure better than Zhu Youjian, and he knows very well what should be touched and what should not be touched.For things that violate taboos, he has always kept his distance and never made Zhu Xu feel uncomfortable.

Wei Zhongxian looked at the people below with cold eyes and dancing flames.

As an inner eunuch, he knows what to do. The one in the palace is not the emperor of Tianqi, and his mind is unpredictable. If he wants to ensure his prosperity and wealth for a long time, he must cater to him and never go beyond the rules!

Wei Zhongxian's big banquet lasted until midnight. This big banquet had a great influence in the capital.

The situation in the imperial court has stabilized. From the six ministers to the ministers below, there is no shortage of principals in each department. Unlike before, if you want to be promoted but don't want to get seniority, you can only find shortcuts.