Cabinet.
Chen Xun was sitting in the public room, the fire was squeaking, and it was as warm as spring. However, when he looked at the memorial in his hand, he always felt a little uneasy in his heart.
Ever since the conversation with Wang Ao broke down on the winter solstice, he and Gao Gu no longer had any scruples.
If conditions permit, of course everyone should jointly submit the memorial.
After all, he is the chief assistant of the cabinet. Together, the three of them are more legitimate and more certain of success.
But since Wang Ao is unwilling, then the two sides are on opposite sides.
They recruit courtiers into the cabinet. If he, the chief minister, is unwilling to follow suit, it is tantamount to announcing to the government and the opposition that the cabinet is fighting within itself.
Since it's inevitable, let's just have a fight!
It just so happened that Chen Xun and Gao Gu were also feeling angry about Wang Ao's strong style during this period.
After all, the two of them were also ministers of the late King Ao who entered the cabinet.
Wang Ao parachuted over directly and became the chief assistant. He just sat on their heads.
As a result, as soon as he came over, he took power from them without any courtesy. Do you really think they are stupid?
In the past, it was just to give him face, saying hello to me and hello to everyone.
Since he doesn't know how to praise, let him try to be awesome!
After the banquet that day, Chen Xun and Gao Gu took it together and felt that Wang Ao's biggest weakness was that he had no power in the capital.
And this is precisely their advantage.
The discord in the cabinet can no longer be concealed, so it would be better not to conceal it at all.
Above the court, in the final analysis, it is a place where strength and ability are valued.
Although the emperor promoted Wang Ao to the cabinet, it did not mean that he really had the prestige to secure this position.
If you want to stand firm, you have to be able to cope with challenges from the outside world.
This is an eternal truth!
At today's sutra banquet, he severely lost Wang Ao's face, which was considered a complete loss of face.
Next, either they kill Wang Ao and let him step down from the position of chief assistant, or they both wait for Wang Ao to take care of them.
Anyway, there is no way out!
With so many years of business in the capital, it should be said that Chen Xun felt that he had a good chance of winning.
Especially at today's sutra banquet, the emperor clearly noticed something, but didn't say anything, which made him more confident.
But when he and Takatani submitted the joint memorial, he always felt uneasy for some reason.
His mind felt confused, and after the ink on the tip of his pen once again stained a brand-new receipt, Chen Xun simply put down his pen and got up to go to Gaogu's public room.
However, as soon as he stood up, there was darkness in front of the public house, and then, Gao Gu's figure appeared at the door.
Chen Xun was a little surprised. He took two steps forward and led Gao Gu to sit down at the table. He also ordered someone from Zhongshushe outside to bring him a cup of tea before he asked.
"Shi Yong, why are you here?"
Gao Gu's face looked quite ugly, and he said directly.
"Brother Dezun, just now my subordinate Shi Ren came to tell me that Wang Jiugao left the Sutra Banquet today and did not return to the cabinet. He went straight to the Yamen of the Ministry of Civil Affairs."
"He stayed in the Ministry of Personnel for more than an hour, and then handed over the notice to enter the palace. By now, he should have been in the audience."
"Also going with him were Lao Tianguan and Wang Jianzhai."
Wang Ao's courtesy name is Jiugao.
After hearing Gao Gu's words, Chen Xun also frowned.
"Ministry of Staff?"
"Tianguan has been very idle these days. Although I don't know why he hasn't handed in the memorial, but these are the days around him. Why is he going to the Ministry of Officials?"
Gao Gu had a stern look on his face, glanced outside, and saw a group of Zhongshushe people busy with their own affairs, so he lowered his voice and said.
"Brother Dezun, have you forgotten that the cabinet is not what it used to be? In the past, cabinet ministers were simply elected, relying entirely on the recommendation of ministers and the decree of the emperor. But now, I am afraid that Wang Jiugao will take a third approach."
Chen Xun opened his eyes wide, twitched his gray beard, took a deep breath, and said.
"You mean, Tingtui?"
Gao Gu nodded solemnly, sighed, and said.
"Other than that, I can't think of what Wang Jiugao is doing at the Ministry of Personnel at this time..."
Chen Xun suddenly stood up from his chair and said coldly.
"How dare he do this? Aren't you afraid that the people who will come after you will spurn him?"
The cabinet is different from other yamen.
Strictly speaking, the cabinet is not a government office, but a dispatch, the so-called "entering Zhi Wenyuan Pavilion".
Therefore, the emperor has great freedom in the selection of cabinet ministers and does not need to be restricted by the selection process.
Normally, when a courtier joins the cabinet, he or she is recommended by his subordinates and approved by the emperor.
Either the emperor likes a certain minister and directly joins the cabinet.
Basically there will be no other situations.
Therefore, in the past, the grades of cabinet ministers were mixed.
There are those who are second-rank ministers, some who are third-rank ministers, and some who are fifth-rank ministers.
But, as Takatani said, the cabinet is not what it used to be.
The Emperor's golden words made it clearer for the cabinet, although it still did not become a completely independent yamen in the imperial court.
However, the grades of cabinet ministers have already been defined.
All cabinet ministers who join the cabinet are originally ranked as a fifth-rank scholar, but they all need to add the title of six-rank minister. In other words, the rank of cabinet ministers is actually regarded as the second-rank minister.
In this way, cabinet ministers will be eligible to participate in the nomination!
Tingtui is a selection process specially set up for high-ranking officials of third grade or above.
In the past, the rank of the cabinet was uncertain, so there was no room for nomination, but now that the cabinet has been reorganized, it naturally qualifies for it.
Of course, there are still many things to consider.
For example, the cabinet is not a truly independent bureaucracy. It is essentially a dispatch. And the court recommendation is a process for appointing court officials. Is it appropriate to use this process to select cabinet ministers?
For another example, the appointment of cabinet ministers is customarily chosen by the emperor himself. If it is changed to recommendation by the court, it would be equivalent to overturning the previous rule. Will the emperor be dissatisfied?
Of course, there is the most important point.
This was also the reason why Chen Xun was so furious.
That is, whether to appoint cabinet ministers through court recommendation essentially involves the issue of whether the authority to recommend cabinet ministers belongs to the cabinet or to the Ministry of Personnel.
The reason why Chen Xun didn't go to court before was to think about it.
It was because he felt that Wang Ao would not be so stupid no matter what.
The old Tianguan now has the intention to retire. He obviously does not want to interfere too much in the government affairs of the court, and only wants to be able to serve in an official position safely.
According to the previous precedent of the cabinet, as long as the recommendation of ministers is successful this time, there is a high probability that the power to recommend ministers in the future will be in the hands of the cabinet.
Now that the cabinet system has just undergone major changes, it can be said to be a brand new institution. Any power the cabinet seizes at this time will become the "old practice" in the future.
This affects not just a few of them, but all the cabinet ministers who will join the cabinet later, whether they have power or not.
Therefore, Chen Xun never thought that Wang Ao, as the chief minister of the cabinet, would hand over the power he had gained to the officials?
You know, it is easy to let go, but it is difficult to get it back!
Facing the furious Chen Xun, Gao Gu smiled bitterly, spread his hands and said.
"It's not certain whether he will be cast aside by those who come after him, but if he really does this, I'm afraid that my wait for this opportunity will be in vain."
"Don't forget, the old Heavenly Official may no longer care about his duties, but the Lord who is waiting to take over as Heavenly Official will not let this opportunity pass by!"
This chapter has been completed!