Chapter 16 Let me suffer a little, and let the people enjoy the blessings!
When the Qingliu faction heard the emperor talking about Zhou Yunyi and just brushing the matter off so lightly, they couldn't help but feel terrified.
Although His Majesty did not intend to investigate further, they could not help but think about his attitude towards Zhou Yunyi being beaten to death.
Yan Shifan also lowered his head, sneering in his heart.
Zhou Yunyi's move was like shooting himself in the foot.
Now only one party was truly happy, and that was the servants in the Imperial Household Department. They all straightened their backs subconsciously.
After all, the master is on their side.
If the master held Feng Bao accountable, they would inevitably feel grief for the loss of the rabbit.
But now, there is only warmth in their hearts.
For a moment, everyone subconsciously raised their heads a few degrees, as if looking down on the cabinet.
Look carefully, we are the master's family. At critical moments, the master will still side with us servants!
Only Lu Fang knew that his master was going to take advantage of the situation.
If it weren't for the next purpose, the master would most likely hold Feng Bao accountable and use him as a warning in order to appease the Qingliu.
"Ultimately, this matter is still due to the malpractice of the civil service. They didn't select the right talents and only left people like Zhou Yunyi who can't speak. In the worst case, his words will bring disaster to the country, and in the worst case, his superiors will be exhausted to death."
"Just like the auspicious sign from heaven this time." Jiajing said, and then paused for a moment before continuing:
"As the old saying goes, it rains when the sky is up and it marries when the mother is up. Some things are beyond human control."
"Ordinary people know this truth, but Zhou Yunyi shamelessly blames the imperial court. The laws of nature are unpredictable. Rain, snow, wind and frost all have their destiny. How can they just happen as they wish?"
"After reading all those sage books, I ended up not understanding the truth."
"But there are thousands of faults of ministers, and I, as the emperor, have to cover them all."
"If a subject is unfilial, it is the fault of the ruler and father!"
"So I have no choice but to issue this self-blame edict. Otherwise, how can the people be at peace? Wouldn't the country be in chaos?"
When Jiajing said this, everyone lowered their heads deeply.
"If this is serious, I, as the emperor and father, will bear the burden for him. If this is minor, it will tire my superiors to death. Wouldn't I lose another minister?"
Having said this, everyone knew what it meant, and the Qingliu faction became more and more frightened.
Yes, if Yan Shifan makes a scene today and His Majesty investigates it, won’t they all be implicated?
For a moment, Xu Jie and others sighed in their hearts, thinking that Zhou Yunyi's move was indeed hasty and reckless!
"Zhou Yunyi's incident has given me a wake-up call."
"The lax administration of officials is the root of the problem. If more and more people like this come to power, disaster will come."
Having said that, his tone became more serious.
The old foxes were also shocked. They could tell that His Majesty was going to take advantage of the situation to rectify the administration of officials.
For a moment, Yan Shifan, who was feeling proud just now, couldn't help but change his expression. Rectify the administration of officials?
Who are you going to punish? Are you targeting my Yan family?
The Qingliu party, who had been nervous from the beginning, suddenly felt as if the situation had taken a turn for the better and were extremely surprised.
Rectify the administration of officials? Isn't this clearly stating that you want to rectify the Yan Party? Your Majesty is still wise!
Zhou Yunyi, he died a worthy death!
It seems that this move was a risky one, but it actually had the effect of a surprising move!
Of course, there are also sober people.
For example, Xu Jie frowned deeply at this time and glanced at Yan Song subconsciously.
At this moment, Yan Song, who was calm and composed, seemed to have sensed something and raised his eyes for a moment without leaving a trace. When their eyes met, they looked away indifferently from each other, but there was some kind of tacit understanding.
These two experienced and shrewd people naturally saw things much more deeply than others. His Majesty's move seemed to have hit the upright officials and the Yan family, but the final topic was led to the administration of officials.
For a moment, both of them were a little confused.
"Lord Yan, what do you think about the rectification of the administration of officials?" Jiajing asked casually.
Hearing this, Yan Song raised his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then spoke.
"Your Majesty, our dynasty's official system is complex, but well-organized. It is truly the crystallization of the wisdom of past sages."
"Although there are some problems at present, they are all local." After saying this, he said: "After all, ignorant people like Zhou Yunyi are a minority and are not enough to shake the foundation."
"I believe that the rectification of officialdom should start from the details and make gradual adjustments, rather than making drastic changes so as not to undermine the foundation of the country."
Hearing Yan Song's words affirming the rationality of the current situation, Jiajing nodded slightly, motioning him to continue.
"Since your majesty ascended the throne, the country has been peaceful and the people have been well served. I believe that the court's top priority at present should be to consolidate the borders, develop agriculture and commerce, and make the people's lives more prosperous."
After hearing this, Jiajing could tell that the old man was trying to change the subject, but he didn't care and continued listening.
He said he was rectifying the administration of officials, but the main point was to make all the clean officials in the court and the Yan Party hand over the money, and then he could slowly work things out.
Yan Song spoke sincerely and gradually, "We can slow down the administration of officials and wait until the time is right to rectify them. This will be more prudent."
Having said that, he very considerately proposed an alternative plan.
"The corruption of bureaucracy is not caused overnight. Haste makes waste."
"I suggest that we start by strengthening supervision, setting up a special department, regularly evaluating the performance of officials, rewarding the good and punishing the bad, so as to gradually improve the governance environment, without rushing into large-scale reforms."
“Thereby causing unnecessary commotion up and down.”
Having said that, he began to express loyalty and caution again.
"I know that Your Majesty is deeply concerned about the country and the people, but the reform of civil service is of great importance and must be done with extreme caution."
"I am willing to do my best to assist Your Majesty and discuss good strategies to ensure that the reform proceeds smoothly in order to achieve the best results." After saying this, he began to delay by using external events.
"The border situation has been tense recently, and disasters have occurred frequently in the interior. If we launch a major reform at this time, there may be unexpected changes. I suggest that we wait until the situation stabilizes before discussing this matter, which will be more conducive to the long-term stability of the country."
Emphasize the status quo, shift focus, propose alternatives, show loyalty, and use external factors.
In an instant, he completed a set of five consecutive moves. The words sounded beautiful and flawless, but they were not very practical.
Otherwise, why do we call him Yan Song? He is really amazing that he can make nonsense so constructive!
Xu Jie lowered his head, glanced at Yan Song, and nodded secretly in his heart.
He was also panicked at this time. His Majesty was criticizing the Qingliu one moment and the Yan Party the next, and now he was using the issue to rectify the administration of officials.
To be honest, he would rather deal with the Yan Party within the cabinet than carry out large-scale reforms in the civil service.
Again, no one present can withstand scrutiny.
Behind every person are complicated interests and the officialdom is intricately connected. If we reform the civil service system, it would be tantamount to killing each other.
"Lord Xu, what do you think of what Lord Yan said?" Jiajing looked at Xu Jie again.
"Your Majesty, I think what Lord Yan said is very true," he said, and he had to drag Zhou Yunyi out to flog his corpse, "Zhou Yunyi and his ilk are a minority after all."
"The administration can be improved, but now there are disasters at home and wars abroad, so it is really not easy to start a war."
After looking at Xu Jie who was looking down, Jiajing looked at the others, "Do you all think so too?"
Hearing this, everyone bowed and lowered their heads.
"It seems that my cabinet is very united." Jiajing said with a smile.
As soon as these words were spoken, Yan Song's body trembled and he quickly knelt down from the stool. The others also knelt on the ground in panic.
At this moment, except for the servants in the Imperial Household Department who understood the master's hidden meaning and stared at the people in the cabinet with murderous eyes.
Whether it was the Qingliu or the Yan party, they all broke out in cold sweat.
"Alright, alright, everyone, get up, get up." Jiajing smiled and waved his hand, asking everyone to get up, saying:
"What Lord Yan said is true. It is indeed not appropriate to start a war now to rectify the administration of officials, so as to avoid unrest in the government and the country."
"Just now, Lord Yan mentioned setting up a special department to monitor officials. This is a good idea..." Jiajing said with a smile on his face, his eyes seemed to be sharp as a knife, and said:
"Therefore, I have decided to reopen the Western Factory and recruit more Jinyiwei!"
"From the cabinet to the local governments, we should set up special offices to deal with the malpractices in the administration!"
At this moment, the real purpose is revealed!
Opening up the Western Factory, expanding the Jinyiwei, from the cabinet to the local level? !
When this news came out, it was like a thunderclap.
At this moment, the Yan Party and the Qingliu were all panicked. What was His Majesty going to do? Such a big event?
Is it really necessary to carry out a reform of the civil service system?
"Lord Yan, what do you think?" Jiajing asked again.
"Your Majesty is wise." Yan Song first bowed to affirm the emperor's decision, then paused slightly and said:
"The wars in the southeast and north also require military supplies. If we expand the Jinyiwei and open the Western Factory, the accumulation of manpower and material resources will be huge, and the financial budget may not be able to afford it..."
"The important thing is that there are still several palaces to be repaired in the palace."
The implication is very clear. If you do this, will you still repair this road? Will you still build the palace?
At this time, Yan Song’s meaning was very clear: Your Majesty, although I don’t know what you are going to do, please stop!
"Your Majesty, what Lord Yan said makes sense." At this time, Xu Jie also gritted his teeth, took a step forward, and said, "Besides, the Western Factory was tyrannical and was abolished during the Zhengde period."
"Reopening it now will surely cause panic among the people in the court. Your Majesty, please think twice."
After Yan Song and Xu Jie finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall dropped to freezing point. The others lowered their heads and kept silent. The eunuchs glared at the cabinet.
Looking at this scene, Jiajing was not surprised at all.
When interests are shaken, the Qingliu and Yan Party can also join forces, and they don't even need to develop a tacit understanding with each other.
And these are just some of the points on which the Ming Dynasty was unable to recover.
To rectify the administration of officials is to carry out a reform in the officialdom, and the rights of all parties will be unbalanced.
No one would be willing to do that!
But what can I do?
He thought that he only had five years. If he failed to reorganize the Ming Dynasty after five years, when the silver flowed in, the Ming Dynasty would suffer a heavy blow, which could be said to be a serious injury!
Daming is his own natal creature and must not be harmed.
He was also counting on the restored Ming Dynasty to feed back to his original life in the sea of consciousness, so that his cultivation and aptitude could be further improved.
Whoever dares to block my path to immortality, I will send him to death!
"From now on, no more palaces will be built, and all newly built palaces will be demolished. What can be sold will be sold for military supplies."
"All the expenses used for practicing Taoism will be used to expand the Western Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guard." Jiajing said lightly.
"I am the emperor and father of the world, and I am also the master of the family. If this family is in trouble, I cannot just think about myself."
"I will suffer for you, and let the people enjoy the happiness!"
"What?!" Hearing this, everyone was stunned again, even Yan Song couldn't remain calm at this moment.
No one expected that the emperor would do this.
The emperor, who regarded monasticism as more important than his life, actually stopped building palaces.
What's the point of suffering yourself and letting the people enjoy the benefits?
Is this your line?
"..."
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(End of this chapter)
