In order to impose its rule, the Qing Dynasty reformed the inscription system. After Zhang Tingyu institutionalized memorials, local officials first drafted memorials for slightly more important matters. After Emperor Zhu approved them, they wrote inscriptions and made them official.

The report serves as the basis for the memorial. However, the contents of Zhu's comments in the memorial must not be written into the title book. In this way, the title book becomes a red tape and its value is greatly reduced.

This is actually equivalent to cutting off the power of the cabinet to vote in disguise. Memorials go directly to the emperor without going through the cabinet. After the emperor approves, they go through the process at the cabinet. The cabinet becomes the yamen that handles daily affairs.

Memorials replaced the role of the original title book and made it the main official document. This system lasted until the end of the Qing Dynasty. When memorials first came into being, there were not many officials qualified to use memorials. After Yongzheng implemented Zuo, he suffered internally from the slander of the clan kings.

Excluded and trapped by the factions of the Manchu and Han ministers, they were eager to seek advice, so they relaxed the scope and authority of the subjects' special reports.

Since most of the matters involved in the memorial are state secrets, the confidentiality of the memorial is very important. If you can't keep it secret, don't submit the memorial. Confidentiality is a prerequisite for writing a memorial.

Precisely because confidentiality is the premise, officials can feel at ease when submitting memorials to the emperor without worrying about others finding out and then being retaliated by others.

This was what Zhu Houzhao valued. For example, in the Yangzhou case this time, if there had been a memorial, then Zhu Houzhao believed that the situation would not have collapsed to this point. Not to mention other things, for so many years, not a single upright official in Yangzhou has been spared.

Of course not, it’s just that they were powerless! The question book probably didn’t reach the imperial court, so the person was gone, and the things the emperor saw were also washed away.

Once the memorial system is established, the power of the cabinet will be greatly weakened. The weakening of the cabinet's power means the weakening of the power of the chief academician of the cabinet.

Although this seemed to be a weakening of the power of one yamen or one person or several people, Zhu Houzhao knew that this was definitely not the case. Once the power of the cabinet was weakened, it would mean the weakening of the entire civil service group and the strengthening of imperial rule.

The Qing Dynasty is called the pinnacle of the feudal dynasty, and it is not without reason. Many of its systems were very conducive to dynastic rule.

Since the memorial eliminates the need for intermediate transmission, and adopts the method of court mail, it can not only be delivered to the emperor quickly, but also can be directly returned to the official who submitted the memorial after the emperor approved the imperial edict, so that it can be implemented immediately, thus greatly improving the administrative efficiency.

efficiency.

Since the memorials were all conducted in secret, a mutually restrictive relationship was formed between the provincial governor and the chief minister, between the local government and the central government, and between the inner court and the outer court, in addition to the normal relationship between leadership and being led.

.

Ministers informed each other, and the emperor's eyes and ears were spread all over the capital. No one knew who reported what to the emperor. The emperor could directly learn about public and private events and interpersonal relationships in the central ministries and localities, no matter how big or small, from the memorials.

The emperor then relied on memorials to rectify the administration of officials, monitor the public sentiment, issue orders, and exclude dissidents. The general affairs of the world were always handled by one person, thus bringing the feudal imperial power to an unprecedented level.

Emperor Yongzheng was the only Qing Dynasty emperor that Zhu Houzhao admired because his reforms and the system he formulated were groundbreaking in many aspects.

Zhu Youtang listened to his son explain the memorial in detail, and the expression on his face suddenly became very exciting. He looked at his son up and down with strange eyes. His son was also very proficient in this kind of power play. Such methods were really quite effective.

It was somewhat like the Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty to let officials inform each other, which would simply cost the lives of these officials.

Not to mention other things, just the strife between officials, how many people will be impeached back and forth? If a lower official covets the superior's position, will he wait for the superior to make a mistake?

Of course, if you think about it from another perspective, if those upright officials have a way to submit letters, wouldn't it be much easier to handle many things? If you encounter any problem, you can submit a memorial and fulfill your duty as a minister, and at the same time, you will not

How many people are willing to do such a thing without fear of retaliation from others without hurting themselves? Zhu Youtang couldn't imagine it.

"Where should I deliver the secret certificate?" Zhu Youtang looked at Zhu Houzhao and asked with a slight hesitation: "Have you thought about this question?"

If it is handed over to the Supervisor of Liturgy, then once an emperor does not like to work in court, the Supervisor of Liturgy has the power to criticize the emperor. What will be the consequences if the secret is in their hands? Zhu Youtang wants to know this, Zhu Houzhao

It is impossible not to imagine that if the secret document is really delivered to the Supervisor of Ceremonies, it will be equivalent to reducing the power of the cabinet and strengthening the power of the Supervisor of Ceremonies.

"Go back to your father and go through the political department!" Zhu Houzhao said without even thinking about it. He had actually thought about this problem for a long time.

The current situation of the General Affairs Department is very miserable. The status of the Jiuqing is very low. It can be said that it is a very, very sad yamen. At the same time, Shen Lu, the general affairs envoy, is from Shouning Hou Zhang Heling. It is difficult to say in the future, but this person will be useful in the early stage.

Yes, at least he would do anything to seize power, but if he uses it first, he must know that Mi Zhe's resistance is definitely not small, especially from the cabinet bachelors.

"Secretary of General Affairs?" Zhu Youtang smiled bitterly and shook his head: "The Secretary of General Affairs is now like a colander. Is the secret fold that goes in there still a secret fold?"

"The Secretary of General Affairs is responsible for submitting reports to subordinates. It is appropriate to secretly visit the Secretary of General Affairs. At the same time, the Secretary of General Affairs is not involved in drafting votes, nor is it involved in red approval. It has no impact on both parties. At the same time, the Secretary of Ceremonies will not be contacted.

Instead, the Secretariat of General Affairs will submit it directly to the imperial court. As for the issue of confidentiality, I will prepare secrets at the Secretariat of the General Affairs Department, which will be responsible for submitting secrets from various places. "Zhu Houzhao directly stated his idea.

After looking his son up and down, Zhu Youtang asked directly: "Have you been thinking about this for a long time?"

"Back to my father, I was thinking about this matter before I left the capital. Sitting in the Forbidden City, the hardest thing to get is the truth. It can be said to be even more difficult to know what happened outside. At that time, I

I was just thinking of a way. Once there is a secret, in addition to civil servants, military generals from all over the country can also submit memorials to the emperor, which is also beneficial." Zhu Houzhao did not deny it, and nodded directly to admit it.

Looking at his son's face, Zhu Youtang smiled. What would be beneficial? If the secret rights of military generals from various places were released, it would be equivalent to improving the status of military generals, and with it, the status of nobles.

Although everyone looks down on you, your status in the army is very high, especially since the Jiajing Dynasty has not yet happened, and the garrison in Nanjing is all Cheng Guogong. It can be said that your influence in the army is intricate and intricate.
Chapter completed!