Chapter 230 Returning to the cabinet, the dark hand appears!
The 70th year of the Jiajing reign, the fourth day of the first lunar month, noon.
Inside the main hall of Yuxi Palace, Jiajing sat on the imperial throne, while the Imperial Household Department and the cabinet stood on both sides.
"In ten years, the era of spiritual energy industry has been fully launched. The total number of 'spiritual energy filling stations' in the territory of Ming Dynasty..." Yan Shifan held the memorial and reported in a rhythmic manner.
"Your Majesty," After reading the memorial for about half an hour, Yan Shifan paused, then bowed and said:
"In the past ten years, apart from the immortal salary expenditures of officials at all levels, and with the construction of the 'Spiritual Gas Station' and the development of the 'Spiritual Industrial Era', the Ministry of Revenue's finances have been struggling..."
Yan Shifan began to stammer as he spoke.
And below him, everyone's eyes subconsciously looked towards Jiajing.
"Just say whatever you want to say." How could Jiajing not see that what Yan Shifan and others wanted to say was nothing more than laying spiritual veins and adding new "spiritual warehouses" within the territory of the Ming Dynasty.
"Yes!" Yan Shifan bowed and then said, "The Ministry of Revenue has discussed and decided whether the court can add a new 'Spiritual Warehouse' within the territory of Daming?"
As he spoke, Yan Shifan looked cautious, with his head lowered, not daring to look at Jiajing's expression.
After all, in the 60th year of Jiajing, the New Party and the two kings behind them were reprimanded for wanting to open a new "Spirit Warehouse". If he brought it up again at this time, there was no guarantee that the same mistake would not be repeated.
Although before going to Yuxi Palace this morning, my father repeatedly assured that the emperor would not blame me for proposing to build a new "Spirit Warehouse" and would even agree to it, but living with the emperor is like living with a tiger. Who knows what the emperor is thinking?
The current emperor's cultivation has reached the Golden Core Stage, and his mind is even more unpredictable. If his father guesses the emperor's intentions wrongly, he will be the one to be reprimanded.
However, there are some things that if the Yan family doesn't do them, no one else will do them.
The emperor had previously rejected the proposal to open a "Spirit Warehouse", so naturally he could not take the initiative to propose it at this time. So at this time, they had to use their Yan family to share the emperor's worries.
Yan Song, who was sitting by the stove with his hands spread out to warm himself, always looked like he was half buried in the ground and about to die. He seemed to not care at all whether Yan Shifan's request would anger the emperor.
"What do you think?" Jiajing did not reject it immediately, but raised his finger, "Prince Yu, Prince Jing."
"Father." The two Princes Yu and Jing, who were named, stood up immediately and bowed to Jiajing. Then Prince Yu spoke first, saying, "I think what Minister Yan said makes sense."
Yan Shifan also served as the Minister of Revenue. In the court, everyone was an official in the same dynasty. Even if he was a prince, it would seem strange and awkward to call him Grand Secretary by his name directly. So it was most decent and appropriate to call him by his title.
"I agree with you." King Jing cupped his hands and said, "With the advent of the 'Aura Industrial Age' proposed by Xu Fan, the amount of resources spent by the Ministry of Revenue has been increasing year by year."
"If this continues, the spiritual finances will probably be in deficit."
"Besides, the third and fourth phases of the land reform have not yet begun. Military supplies and the distribution of immortal salaries to officials at all levels... these are all expenses. If we open a few more 'spiritual warehouses', we can avoid these problems and make advance preparations for the land reform."
"We second the motion." As King Jing finished speaking, the three representatives of the New Party, Hu Zongxian, Wang Chonggu and Yu Dayou, spoke up one after another.
All those present were veteran officials and shrewd men. After hearing this, they could see that the emperor was already tempted.
"Before I left the country, I watched the Ming Dynasty," Jiajing glanced at everyone and did not rush to express his opinion. Instead, he spoke slowly, "In the past ten years, the development of the Ming Dynasty has indeed been unexpectedly fast."
"Especially the development of the two capitals of Beijing and Nanjing."
"First, the scope of the capital has expanded to the entire Shuntian Prefecture. Although it is not as prosperous as Nanjing, it has the style of a fairy capital." Jiajing said, his serious face slightly relaxed, "Then there is Nanjing City, which covers the entire Yingtian Prefecture."
"It has even developed into a community called 'Cultivation World'. Its prosperity and profound cultivation background have surprised me."
Listening to Jiajing's casual remarks, Yan Shifan and others showed no other expressions on their faces.
Everyone was waiting for the emperor's real words, but Yan Song, who had been pretending to warm himself by the fire, slowly raised his drooping eyelids, and a gleam of light flashed in his deep pupils.
"You are right," Jiajing said, leaning back on the throne with his arms hanging down on the armrests. He raised his finger and said, "Then we will take the capital and Nanjing as the center." As his voice sounded, the natal charts of North Zhili and South Zhili suddenly appeared in the middle of the hall, "and spread spiritual veins around them."
"Yongping Prefecture, Baoding Prefecture, Hejian Prefecture, Zhending Prefecture... Yingtian Prefecture, Changzhou Prefecture, Suzhou Prefecture, Yangzhou Prefecture..."
As Jiajing named the names, beams of light lit up in all the prefectures and counties in Southern Zhili and Northern Zhili.
"Southern Zhili, excluding Yingtian Prefecture, has a total of five states and thirteen prefectures. Northern Zhili, excluding Shuntian Prefecture, has a total of seven prefectures and two states. A total of twenty-seven spiritual veins are needed," Jiajing paused and said:
"For prefectures and states that are closer to the capital and Nanjing, the spiritual veins will be laid out from the seventh grade onwards. The grade of the selected spiritual veins will be gradually improved, with the third grade being the top grade... Lu Fang and Yan Song."
"I (your servant) am here." When his name was called, Yan Song quickly stood up and stood respectfully with Lu Fang.
"The spiritual vein will be laid by the Imperial Household Department, the Cabinet, and the Immortal Martial Department. I will give you one month. Can you complete it?"
Today, all the people in the Cabinet and the Imperial Household Department are in the Foundation Establishment stage, while Lu Fang and Lu Bing are in the late Foundation Establishment stage.
Yan Song and his son Yan Shifan were both in the middle stage of foundation building, and the others were in the early stage of foundation building.
Therefore, it is not a difficult task to complete the laying of twenty-seven spiritual veins within one month.
"Your servants and I will definitely live up to the emperor's expectations!" Everyone in the cabinet and the Imperial Household Department expressed their opinions.
"Is there anything else?" At this time, Jiajing spoke again, but his eyes fell lightly on Yan Song.
As expected... Yan Song sighed in his heart, but his face remained calm, and he said, "This old minister has something to report." As he spoke, Tongshou, who was bowing to Jiajing, straightened his hunched back slightly, and said in a submissive tone:
"It's about cabinet appointments."
Cabinet appointments? As Yan Song finished speaking, several eyes in the hall turned to him.
Even Yan Shifan showed a hint of surprise in his eyes, and then suddenly as if he thought of something, he subconsciously looked towards Jiajing, and then quickly lowered his head slightly.
Could it be that what Dad and Shao Ting said was true, that Xu Jie, Zhang Juzheng and others were going to return to the cabinet? Wasn't it too soon?
According to Yan Shifan's speculation, it is inevitable that Xu Jie and others will return to the cabinet, but it should not be so soon.
After all, the return of these people to the cabinet means that the third and fourth stages of land reform are about to begin.
However, while he was doubtful, Yan Shifan suddenly realized that the emperor had approved 27 spiritual veins at one time, covering the entire northern Zhili and southern Zhili, and all prefectures and counties. This meant that the Ming Dynasty would add 27 "spiritual warehouses".
With the laying of the twenty-seven spiritual veins, the development speed of Xu Fan's "Spiritual Industrial Era" will rise to a new level. Not only that, all the construction projects in the entire Daming will be completed quickly in a much shorter time than expected!
It is obvious that the emperor is intentionally accelerating the development of the Ming Dynasty.
In this way, it would make sense to let Xu Jie and others return to the cabinet in advance. Because once the third and fourth stages of land reform are launched, it means that the Ming Dynasty will enter an era of war.
Once the era of war begins, the members of the new party will be fully responsible for the Ming army, and what the cabinet needs is someone who can strategize, coordinate the world, and take a broad view of the overall situation.
It is obvious that among the current members of the New Party, except Hu Zongxian, Wang Chonggu and Yu Dayou are not worth mentioning at all.
The entire Ming Dynasty lasted for thirty years, from the 40th year of Jiajing to the 70th year of Jiajing today. During this period, countless geniuses naturally emerged, and many virtuous people also appeared in the officialdom.
But if you want to find talents who can compare with Xu Jie, Zhang Juzheng, Gao Gong and Zhao Zhenji, you can count them on one hand, and these people do not have enough foundation and prestige in the officialdom.
Instead of working hard to find other people and then training them for a long time, the emperor would naturally want to use people like Xu Jie who are easy to use.
Moreover, these people have been demoted from the 52nd year of Jiajing to the 70th year of Jiajing. In the past 18 years, neither their cultivation nor their arrangements in the court have been neglected.
As long as these people return to the cabinet, they will be able to get started immediately and coordinate and arrange all major and minor affairs across the country!
How can such talents be left unused?
The most important thing is that although the national policy of land reform was proposed and revised by the emperor, Zhang Juzheng was in charge of the entire process.
In an instant, Yan Shifan thought of a lot.
Of course, he was not the only one who was thinking a lot at this moment, but also Hu Zongxian and others from the New Party, as well as Prince Yu and Prince Jing.
At this moment, everyone seemed to think of the same thing, that is, Xu Jie and others were going to return to the cabinet.
Especially Prince Yu and Prince Jing were the ones who felt the most deeply.
You have to know that it was the two of them who conspired together to cooperate with Yan Song to kick Xu Jie and others out of the capital, and then divide up the Qingliu forces.
But no one expected that in just eighteen years, these people would return to the cabinet.
Is eighteen years a long time? Yes!
But this is for mortals. In officialdom, there are ups and downs. It is normal to be demoted for eighteen years and then be reinstated.
But now is the spiritual era of the Ming Dynasty, a time when officials above the fourth rank in the capital can practice Taoism. Eighteen years is too short, and it is no exaggeration to say that it is just a blink of an eye.
Especially compared with the Xu family's "implicit sentence of 300 years", these eighteen years really seem not worth mentioning.
At the beginning, the emperor said that the Xu family would be confiscated and would not be allowed to work as officials or practice Taoism for three hundred years. However, Xu Jie and Xu Fan were still doing well, and the father and son even seemed to be "living a second life."
Not only that, Xu Fan has also given birth to many children over the years. So, is the Xu family in the capital considered the Xu family?
These were not made clear at the beginning!
Moreover, they all saw clearly the original purpose of sending Xu Jie to Yingzhou Prefecture. The emperor wanted all the profits of Yingzhou Prefecture to belong to the national treasury!
After all, when Yingzhou Prefecture was pacified, my father tacitly allowed the two kings, the Yan Party and the Qingliu Quartet to eat meat and drink soup.
But from the moment Xu Jie was demoted to Yingzhou Prefecture, they knew that their father was going to take away everything.
And the fact was just as they thought. For the sake of his own political achievements and in order to return to the cabinet, Xu Jie directly transferred all the spiritual resources of the four forces in Yingzhou Prefecture to the national treasury.
In the end, all forces could only squeeze into Nanjing City, bringing development to Nanjing City's immortal path while making some money.
Everyone knew that the emperor would allow Xu Jie and others to return to the cabinet sooner or later, but they did not expect that in the end Yingzhou Prefecture would be returned to the court, and Nanjing City would also develop well. As for people like them, they did not make much money over the years and ended up with only "a mess".
As for these twenty-seven spirit veins and the future twenty-seven "spiritual warehouses", aren't they the next bait?
However, even though they knew it was a trap, they still had to eat this huge bait and dive into it!
Why? You don't fight? You don't eat?
Well, the current Ming Dynasty has nine princes. In the future, when Xu Jie and others return to the cabinet and the era of war comes, the court factions will be reshuffled again.
If you don't make plans in these twenty-seven prefectures and states, you can only watch your younger brothers catch up.
Using the layout of these twenty-seven prefectures and states, they could squeeze out a space for themselves in the imperial court! Once they were caught up and equal, what was the point of their efforts to kick out the Qingliu?
Isn't it because Xu Jie and others are all talented people, and each has his own ideas and ambitions for governing the country?
And they were "abandoned" by their father, so they were worried that Xu Jie and others would support other princes, so they kicked these people out. Was it to squeeze the "survival" space of their younger brothers who were not born yet in the future in the court?
At this moment, if they don't fight for those twenty-seven prefectures and states, all they have done before would be in vain!
Oh! Father, how can we say that when it comes to cruelty, selfishness, greed, and coldness... it has to be you, Father! You really don't care about our feelings at all, do you?
Even though they had long known what a cold-blooded man their father was, and that he treated everyone as pawns, Prince Yu and Prince Jing still couldn't help but feel suffocated at this moment.
Of course, compared to Prince Jing who was also feeling depressed, there was a hint of subtlety and surprise in Prince Yu's expression.
However, this subtle emotional fluctuation was hidden very well by him and could not be discovered by anyone.
Above the hall, Yan Song's voice slowly sounded.
"Now, the immortal way of our Ming Dynasty is flourishing, the three religions are thriving, hundreds of schools of thought are contending, the five elements and eight works are competing with each other, the mortal world's finances are considerable, and the income from immortal resources is stable..."
It can only be said that he is worthy of being the head of the cabinet. Under his gentle but firm tone, the four words "a prosperous country and a well-off people" were embodied.
Of course, the Ming Dynasty was indeed a rich nation at that time, but people had already become tired of hearing similar tones and rhetoric before the 39th year of the Jiajing reign.
However, Jiajing looked at the old man below and his expression was slightly relieved.
It can only be said that Yan Song, this old fellow, has not forgotten his way of survival in the court because of his cultivation over the years. The four words "the tacit understanding between the monarch and his subjects" are indeed in his heart.
"That's why," Yan Song finished the foreshadowing and didn't waste any words. While speaking, his eyes swept directly over Prince Yu and Prince Jing, and then he turned lightly and glanced at the cabinet members behind him, and said:
"I have discussed with Your Highness, the Second Prince, and the Cabinet and have decided to add some more staff to the Cabinet."
“Roar!” On the natal plateau, in the Yan family’s natal field, the black tiger let out a low roar, and its monstrous aura rushed straight into the sky. The terrifying tiger roar overwhelmed all the natals.
In the court, except Jiajing and Lu Fang, everyone seemed to feel an inexplicable pressure.
This pressure does not come from one's cultivation, but from the overwhelming power of the chief minister of the cabinet!
Did Yan Song discuss this with the cabinet and the two princes? No! Even at that moment, when he looked at the two princes, there was no extra expression in his eyes, only calmness, even indifference.
At this moment, Yan Song once again demonstrated his power as the prime minister of the cabinet with just a few light words.
As for the Second Prince, Wang Chonggu, and Yu Dayou, although they were somewhat dissatisfied at being suddenly represented by Yan Song, the Emperor was talking to the Prime Minister at the moment, so they naturally could not interrupt rashly.
Even the second princes were the same. Although they were somewhat resentful towards their father at the moment, they had expected Xu Jie and others to return to the cabinet, so they did not have any thoughts about it.
Anyway, there is no room for the nine princes to survive in the court now. If they want to squeeze out a place again...then let them fight for it. In the era of great strife, it is nothing more than a fight to the death!
Isn't it you, the Emperor, who forced all this?
If you don't mind being ashamed, then we are not afraid of being ashamed to let others say that the Zhu family can never escape the bloody power struggle!
Besides, since the time of Emperor Chengzu, the Zhu family has changed from "if you don't give, I won't take it" to "if you don't give, I will rob you"!
"After all, the imperial court will add another 27 'Spiritual Warehouses'. This way, the national policy of 'Spiritual Industrial Era' proposed by Xu Fan will be implemented more smoothly."
"With the implementation of the 'Aura Industrial Age', the Ming Dynasty will develop even faster. I estimate that within five years, we will be able to start the third and fourth stages of the land reform national policy that was shelved at the time."
"It won't matter if we are a little tired by then, but it would be wrong if it delays the development of the Immortal Dynasty..." While speaking, Yan Song also made fun of himself.
"Therefore, I propose that the cabinet needs to expand its personnel so that they can better serve the emperor and Ming!"
As Yan Song finished speaking, everyone in the Yuxi Palace hall looked on eagerly. Although they knew that Xu Jie and others would be allowed to return to the cabinet, would those who were still in the cabinet be asked to withdraw?
It seemed that the two princes had secretly decided that if their father wanted to kick either Yu Dayou or Wang Chonggu out, they would protect them to the death.
If these two people were not in the cabinet, wouldn't the military power they hold be weakened little by little one day?
Will the Ninth Prince also come to get a piece of the pie?
After the third and fourth phases of land reform began, the military became even more important! Who wouldn’t be jealous?
"Well, then in your opinion, who should be promoted to the cabinet?" Jiajing said bluntly.
"I think it would be better to let Xu Jie, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng and Zhao Zhenji return to the cabinet." Everything was clear, and there was no point in beating around the bush. Today, Yan Song, the person recommended, was confirmed, and there was no one more suitable than him.
"Although these four people made mistakes in the past, their achievements in recent years are obvious to all, and the imperial seal can be checked at any time," Yan Song paused and continued, "Besides, these four people were cabinet ministers before the 52nd year of Jiajing. Returning to the cabinet will not only help them better handle government affairs, but also demonstrate the court's benevolence in allowing officials to reform themselves."
With just a few light-hearted and evasive words, the sensational party dispute of that year was exposed.
"Da, da, da..." Jiajing's fingers tapped lightly on the dragon head on the handrail. After a moment, he looked at everyone and said, "What do you think of what Lord Yan said?"
After hearing this, everyone understood that the emperor agreed.
"I second the motion!" Yan Shifan was the first to stand up and express his opinion loudly.
"I second the motion as well!" Hu Zongxian, who was a member of the New Party but had the support of the Yan Party, also spoke after Yan Shifan expressed his opinion.
I have no objection." Prince Yu and Prince Jing looked at each other and nodded their heads to show their support.
As soon as the two finished speaking, Wang Chonggu and Yu Dayou also spoke up to express their opinions.
At this point, with the tacit cooperation between the monarch and his ministers, the cabinet passed it unanimously, and Xu Jie and four others returned to the cabinet.
"In that case, let them come back," Jiajing said directly, "Xu Jie will still serve as the cabinet's deputy minister. As for the prefect of Yingzhou Prefecture, do you have any candidates?"
"Father, your Majesty, I have a candidate to recommend." At this moment, to everyone's surprise, Prince Yu suddenly spoke.
Upon hearing this, Yan Song raised his eyelids slightly and subconsciously looked at Prince Yu, not understanding what he wanted to do.
The Yingzhou Prefecture is now doomed, and all resources can only be used to distribute various immortal salaries to officials of all ranks and the Xianwu Division, Jinyiwei, etc. The prefect of Yingzhou Prefecture is of no use at all.
Moreover, this was a sinecure. Xu Jie used it as a stepping stone to enter the cabinet because the emperor gave him this stepping stone. Others could only serve as prefects.
In this life, unless there are any unexpected events, this is how it will be.
"I recommend you, your son. You Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, also serving as Chancellor of the Palace of Prince Jing, and Shen Shixing, the Prefect of Yingzhou Prefecture!" Prince Yu didn't care at all about the people around him and the surprised and weird look of Prince Jing, and named the candidate.
Prince Yu recommended the Chancellor of the Qianjin Palace to be the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel? What is this operation? Is there something going on here?
Everyone was confused, Jiajing also cast a curious look at Prince Yu, but he didn't think much about it and said directly:
"That's right."
"The Chancellor of Prince Jing's Palace, currently the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Shen Shixing..." Yan Song repeated the name in his mind, always feeling that there seemed to be something crucial that he had missed.
"Okay," Jiajing waved his hand and stood up, saying, "We've said everything we need to say. It's getting late, so let's all go."
"Your Majesty is here to see him off respectfully." After everyone knelt and escorted Jiajing back to the side hall, they stood up and left.
However, at this moment, everyone was worried.
"Ruzhen, come to my house and sit down for a while." After leaving the Yuxi Palace, Yan Song looked at Hu Zongxian and said, "It just so happens that I have something to tell you."
"Yes, Lord." Hu Zongxian bowed. In fact, even if Yan Song didn't invite him to his home, he would have taken the initiative to ask.
What happened in Yuxi Palace today will inevitably cause a stir in the court and the country, so he needs to "learn from" Lord Yan.
At this time, the sky was gloomy and tiny snowflakes were floating in the air. Prince Yu and Prince Jing walked silently in front without saying a word, followed by Yu Dayou and Wang Chonggu.
Yan Song and his two companions walked at the back.
After a while, everyone returned to their homes, and Yan Song, Yan Shifan and Hu Zongxian also took their seats in the hall.
"Humph," Yan Shifan suddenly said, "It seems that Prince Jing is indeed plotting against the Ministry of Personnel!"
"Gu Xiancheng, the head of the Ministry of Personnel, and Shen Shixing, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, are both minor officials. I didn't pay much attention to them at first. But now, combined with what Shao Ting said yesterday, there is a dark hand plotting in the court."
"Now it seems that it is undoubtedly King Jing!"
"At first I thought they were just some minor officials, so I didn't take them seriously when Jingzhi reported to me. But now it seems the Ministry of Personnel is going to have a major purge. With the return of Xu Jie and others and the entry of the Ninth Prince, the future situation will be turbulent. The Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Personnel must be firmly in our hands!"
"The black hand in the court..." After hearing what Yan Shifan said, Yan Song suddenly realized that he had missed something, but he thought further, "The black hand is protecting Gu Xiancheng."
"Gu Xiancheng was originally promoted by King Jing... Logically, he should be King Jing's man, but in fact, he is not..."
"There is also Shen Shixing, who is also a man of King Jing, but was recommended by King Yu to be the prefect of Yingzhou Prefecture..."
"Gu Xiancheng, Shen Shixing, this person is planning in Nanzhili, and then planning in Yingzhou Prefecture? It shouldn't be. If he uses Yingzhou Prefecture as a springboard and then promotes him to the court, or plans on the next 27 'Spiritual Warehouses'... this makes sense!"
"The dark hand in the court that Shao Ting noticed now seems to be Prince Yu, but the method is more like a re-planning."
"Does Prince Yu want to rearrange his plans? No, this move is too obvious. Or, Prince Yu was deliberately exposed by the other party."
"But no matter what, it proves one thing, that the black hand that Shao Ting mentioned is in Prince Yu's Mansion!" Yan Song raised his drooping eyelids slightly, and a person appeared in his mind.
Prince Yu’s son, Zhu Yijun!
At the same time, in Prince Yu’s Mansion, in the backyard.
"Prince, is it too risky to ask Prince Yu to recommend Shen Shixing?" Feng Bao asked Zhu Yijun, who was lying on a recliner covered with a white fur robe under the corridor.
"Are you worried that I'll be exposed to other people?" Zhu Yijun glanced at Feng Bao with a smile, and then said, "It's not that easy to play tricks in the court of the Ming Dynasty."
"It's not easy for me to take a step forward. It's only a matter of time before I'm discovered. I've already laid out my plan and the situation is set. No one can change it. I've achieved my goal..."
"..."
(End of this chapter)
