Flowers on the other side [Comprehensive Red House]

Zhu Youxiao was listening to Liu Shimin's report at this time, saying that Zhu Youjian had a severe cough a few days ago and was detained by Concubine Li Zhuang in Yongning Palace for rest.So Zhu Youjian was absent from the discussions of the cabinet ministers and others.Liu Shimin heard about the expedited eight hundred miles in Sichuan, but when he went to the cabinet to ask Fang Congzhe, Fang Congzhe denied the expedited memorial.

"My lord, the inspector of etiquette can only see the papers that the cabinet is willing to send in, that have been drafted and that need to be printed. If there is no rule of checking every five days, if any papers are sent by the cabinet and the six ministries If it is left behind, it may not be until the time of the general clean-up, or if you search specifically, it will be difficult to find out that there are discounts.”

Zhu Youxiao didn't want to restore the six subjects.What could have been accomplished by six ministers, it is barely possible to come up with a cabinet to replace the prime minister.The cabinet originally set in the Ming Dynasty was humble and powerful, but after more than 200 years of evolution, the "position" of the cabinet's chief assistant is no longer what it used to be.

Liu Shimin's words seemed to be suggesting that he should restore the scientific path and increase the supervision of the cabinet, but it may not be the intention to fight for greater power for the supervisor of ceremonies.If the supervisor of ceremonies can see the documents sent in without review by the cabinet, the process of ticket drafting, red approval, and printing is likely to be broken soon. The supervisor of ceremonies will snatch all the memorials into the inner court, and Tickets are proposed to be replaced.

That is the eunuch controls all the government affairs, which is a higher level than previous dynasties.

Zhu Youxiao sneered in his heart.

The eunuch currently has enough power, and I have been thinking about how to cancel the right of the supervisor of ceremonies to grant awards.Liu Shimin still wants to read more excerpts?

Zhu You squinted his eyes and said nothing.Liu Shimin couldn't wait for an answer, so he habitually lowered his eyes and bowed his waist in front of the emperor's right, respectfully waiting for the emperor to speak.

"How is Wulang today?" Zhu Youxiao asked abruptly.

"I sent someone to see King Xin this morning. His cough has eased a lot. The imperial doctor said that he should take good care of him for a year, otherwise the root cause of the disease will be left, and he will cough when he is exposed to a little cold."

"Is there anything else going on in the palace?"

"A talented man of the former Emperor Mu Zong passed away at the Renshou Palace. He was buried in the cemetery of his concubine according to the law. Nothing else."

The little eunuch guarding the door slipped in quietly, stood within sight of Liu Shimin, bowed and pointed out with his fingers.

Liu Shimin walked over gently and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Zhou Jiamo from the Ministry of Officials, Zhu Guozuo, the servant, Zhang Wenda from the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and Huang Kezuan from the Ministry of Punishments, please see the Emperor."

Liu Shimin knew that the son of heaven must have heard the eunuch's report clearly, so he walked up to Zhu Youxiao and asked, "My lord, have you summoned them?"

With Zhou Jiamo and the three old officials involved in it, Zhu Youxiao was very reluctant, so he nodded and answered the summons.

After the emperor and his ministers saw the ceremony, Zhu Youxiao gave a seat to the old minister as usual.

Among these people, Zhu Guozuo is the youngest and the least qualified, but he is also over sixty years old.Although he is highly regarded by the emperor, but now there is a need for a person who is the first to come out to bump into difficulties and make fun of boredom. Among the four, he really has no possibility of evading.

"Your Majesty has worked hard on the Western Expedition. I congratulate Your Majesty on his successful return from the Western Expedition."

Seeing that Zhu Guozuo came up to say New Year's greetings, Zhu Youxiao replied with a smile: "It's easy to say. Is Chunwei going well?"

When Zhu Guozuo saw that the emperor asked about Chunwei, he reported all the events of Chunwei in detail for the past month. At the end, he remembered to ask the emperor: "When will the imperial examination be held, Your Majesty? All the tributes in Chunwei are looking forward to it."

Zhu Youxiao thought about it and said: "In the past few days, I have sorted out the more urgent and important government affairs that have accumulated in the past few days, and then I can arrange the palace examination."

"How many days will it take? I will first inform the Ministry of Rites to make preparations."

Zhu Youxiao thought about Zhou Jiamo, "Zhou Qing, Huang Qing, and Zhang Qing think it will be possible in a few days?"

Zhou Jiamo hesitated for a moment, "Your Majesty, I don't think it will take a few days. I will send a court memorial to Your Majesty on the fifth day. The only thing that has not been sent in the last five days is the rebellion of She Chongming."

"Is the matter of She Chongming's rebellion a five-day gift?" Zhu Youxiao asked.

Zhu Guozuo quickly replied: "It doesn't belong. This matter is Fang Shoufu's wrong idea."

"It's just about Fang Zhonghan?"

Huang Kezuan immediately stood up and said, "Your Majesty, the old minister asked Cui Ziqiang about this matter, and it was Fang Shoufu who decided it. He was worried that His Majesty would go south directly, so he withdrew [-] miles to expedite. It wasn't right."

"I'm worried that I can deduct [-] miles to expedite? This is deceiving the emperor! If such a thing, I don't hand it over to the third division for punishment, wouldn't it be possible for everyone to deceive in the name of doing what is good for me in the future? ?”

The emperor's words immediately made the atmosphere in Qianqing Palace tense.

Zhang Wenda couldn't believe that Zhou Jiamo and Huang Kezuan had senior qualifications. He looked at the expressionless emperor. Although his voice was severe, he only said that he would be handed over to the third division for punishment, and he didn't say that he would be sent to prison. It can be seen that the emperor was not so angry. There are also transfers.

He quickly seized the opportunity to stand up and intercede, saying: "Your Majesty, every mistake is a mistake in the decision of the cabinet. But please look at the decision behind the cabinet, transfer General Qin and the white soldiers to the south without delaying the affairs of the court, and deal with it leniently." .”

"Yes, Your Majesty, the old minister wants to intercede for the cabinet and Cui Ziqiang."

Huang Kezuan directly opened his mouth to express his intentions. This way of speaking was actually developed when he was developing new artillery with the emperor.

Zhou Jiamo stood up and said sincerely to Zhu Youxiao.

"Your Majesty, Ye Xianggao has been a cabinet minister for many years. Liu Yixiu and Han Yu are the most upright people. They are both upright and capable ministers who are dedicated to the court. Even Fang Zhonghan, who is a little cowardly, is also loyal. , is someone who puts His Majesty in consideration of matters before his own personal interests.

If he hadn't been thinking of His Majesty wholeheartedly, only doing the things within his duties, and handling the eight hundred li urgent report according to the imperial court system, he could send it to His Majesty immediately while transferring General Qin and Baigan soldiers; It is also possible to convene the six ministries and seven ministers to discuss this matter together.San can also disregard Xinwang's poor health and persuade Xinwang to take over the matter.

It is very likely that the final result will not be reported to His Majesty. "

Huang Kezuan hurriedly interjected: "Then it becomes the responsibility of the six ministries and seven ministers, and even the responsibility of the King Xin, instead of Fang Congzhe personally being charged with 'deceiving the emperor', and it is not the matter of several cabinet ministers and Cui Ziqiang. Your Majesty, that Fang Zhonghan is an old minister who has no treacherous thoughts, and a loyal minister who is dedicated to the court."

"According to what you, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, have to order to commend Fang Congzhe?"

Huang Kezuan got stuck for a while and said hurriedly: "The old minister, please calm your majesty, the old minister has said something. The cabinet should be punished for doing something wrong."

Zhou Jiamo hurriedly followed and added: "Your Majesty, the old minister supports His Majesty in punishing the cabinet ministers and Cui Ziqiang."

Zhu Youxiao said to Zhou Jiamo and Huang Kezuan with a calm expression: "It happens that some of you from the Ministry of Officials, the Ministry of Punishment, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate are all here. Let's discuss and discuss what punishment should be given to them."

Zhu Guozuo pretended to say: "Beheading and exile is not an exaggeration to punish the king for deceiving the emperor."

"Really? Zhu Qing wants to leave me with a bad reputation forever?"

"Hey, hey, the old minister knows that His Majesty is reluctant." Huang Kezuan would seize the opportunity to climb along the pole, "The old minister wants to knock them down and hit the board, okay?".

"not good."

Zhang Wenda glanced at Huang Kezuan, it was too perfunctory for you two.Treat Your Majesty as a child!

"Your Majesty, the old minister suggested that they should be fined for one year."

"Inappropriate. This will open the door for paying for crimes in the future."

Zhou Jiamo hesitated to suggest: "Your Majesty, the old minister suggested that Fang Congzhe's Chief Assistant, Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Officials, and Dongge University Bachelor should be cut, but his official status should be retained. It is His Majesty who ordered him to be an/banggu in the light temple. For the sake of ordering the minister, I forgive him. The old minister wanted to suggest that His Majesty cut his official status and exile, but that would hurt the sincere heart of the courtiers who are loyal to the king. After all, the purpose of the cabinet is for the Ming court."

Zhu Youxiao was silent for a while, then said slowly: "Yes."

Zhou Jiamo was ecstatic when he waited for the word "ke".

He continued: "Liu Yixiu, Han Yu, and Cui Jingrong are all ministers of An/Bang Guming, and Ye Xianggao has also been a cabinet minister for more than ten years. Penalty for one year. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

The four old faces all turned up, looking at Zhu Youxiao pitifully and sadly, the pleading in their eyes made Zhu Youxiao dare not look more.

Zhu Youxiao closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, he said decisively: "Fang Congzhe's Dongge University scholar and official status will be retained. The first assistant and the left servant of the official department will be cut off, and he will be resigned from office and never return.

Liu Yixiu, Han Yu, and Cui Jingrong stayed in their posts for a year for inspection, but the Ministry of Officials reprimanded them and fined them half a year's salary. "

Zhou Jiamo immediately knelt down and kowtowed, "Old minister, thank Your Majesty for your kindness." Before he finished speaking, he began to cry choked with sobs.

Huang Kezuan also knelt down and kowtowed, shouting from the bottom of his heart: "Old minister, thank you for your kindness."

This result was beyond their expectations.Zhu Youxiao came out from behind the case, first helped Zhou Jiamo up, and Liu Shimin and others quickly helped up the other three.

"Zhou Qing, ah! I said earlier that you and Huang Qing don't have to kneel and worship, so why did you come here?"

Zhou Jiamo burst into tears, "Your Majesty, the old minister is very happy. Your Majesty can remember Fang Zhonghan's hardships as a cabinet minister in the past few years, and give him the dignity of a bachelor."

He sniffled and took out a handkerchief from his sleeve to blow his nose.Then he cleared his throat and continued: "The old minister is crying with joy, because he is happy for the benevolent king of the Manchu Dynasty."

Zhu Guozuo slipped away cleverly, "Your Majesty is virtuous and streamlined, the mountains are beautiful, bright and virtuous, and tolerant—"

Zhu Youxiao went on to say: "The only sage from ancient times to the present."

Zhu Guozuo smiled awkwardly, "Your Majesty, I speak from the bottom of my heart. Just look at how Your Majesty treats Fang Zhonghan. Even if I go through fire and water and do my best, I will die for Kuang Fuming."

In fact, Zhu Youxiao reserved Fang Zhonghan's title as a bachelor, and he really took pity on him and rewarded him for his hard work in being the prime minister in the last years of Wanli and working hard to maintain the government.He was not a qualified politician, but Ye Xianggao put him in the position of chief assistant.He is not as aggressive as Liu Yixiu and knows how to preserve himself, and he is not as famous as Han Yu's uprightness.Among the four cabinet ministers, he is the most suitable for handling daily trivial affairs.

Fang Congzhe's departure indicated that the cabinet was full of Donglin party members who had been in power in history.The scene that Zhu Youxiao didn't want to face finally appeared.