"Your Excellency, the Emperor has summoned you to enter the palace." They had just finished breakfast when someone came to deliver the message. Chang Yu was actually preparing to enter the palace to say goodbye to the emperor, so he asked Tu Yuan and others to leave the city first to wait for him. , and then drove into the palace.
The emperor was not in Qianqing Palace, but in Wenyuan Pavilion, which was the office of the cabinet boss. Chang Yu speculated that the emperor came to discuss something with the cabinet after leaving the morning court, and it was most likely related to his departure. Actually, calling him here is just to say a few words and say goodbye by the way.
After entering Donghua Gate and before reaching Wenyuan Pavilion, a palace maid hurriedly came to say hello to Chang Yu, and then quickly gave him a note. Chang Yu took it and hid it in a tacit understanding, because the palace maid was Kun. Princess Xing's personal maid.
In the early days of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Lao Zhu felt that the prime minister had too much power and abolished the prime minister system. After decentralizing power to six departments, he established the Huagai Hall, the Yingwu Hall, the Wenyuan Pavilion, the Dong Pavilion and other great scholars. This was the prototype of the cabinet, and the complete cabinet system was truly established. During the reign of Zhu Di, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, the first assistant was the Grand Scholar of Huagaidian (later renamed Zhongji Hall), the second assistant was the Grand Scholar Jinshen Hall (later renamed Jidian), and the remaining four were Wenhua, Wuying, Wenyuan and Dongge. Qun Fu also means that there are six cabinet ministers. These six people are the center of power in the court and the people in charge of the court.
Usually, the suggestions of cabinet ministers are written on the above and affixed to the memorial, which is called "Piaoyang". The emperor's instructions in red letters are called "Pinhong". At first, the emperor personally did it. Later, he just picked up a few important instructions symbolically, and the rest were given to the eunuchs. He came to ghostwrite, so the ceremonial officer had the eunuch who held the pen and the eunuch who held the seal.
In fact, eunuchs were not allowed to read or write at first. Emperor Xuanzong, who was Zhu Di's grandson, complied with this rule and set up an eunuch school in the palace. It goes without saying that this approach was to restrain the power of the cabinet.
Why? Because the power of the cabinet is getting bigger and bigger. By the Jiajing period, its power was no less than that of the prime minister system. Before that, the emperors took many countermeasures to contain the cabinet. The outer court had a cabinet, and the inner court had ministers. In terms of ritual supervisors, the outer court has the Three Legal Departments, the inner court has Dongchang and Jinyiwei, the outer court has local governors and governors, and the inner court has garrison eunuchs, garrison eunuchs, etc. who are sent to local areas. Anyway, the royal family has tried every means to contain it from the beginning. The rights of the outer court!
But many times he was punished by the outer court, such as during the Zhang Juzheng period, because he was Wanli's teacher and could influence the emperor's decision-making. Secondly, he had a close relationship with Feng Bao, the eunuch who was responsible for approving red officials, so in the end the cabinet vote was drafted. and the emperor's red coat were all manipulated by him.
Another example is that in the Jiajing Dynasty, this major was a monk and did not do his job properly. After Yan Song became a bachelor, the power of the cabinet reached its peak, and he was more powerful than the prime minister, so Yan Song was also called the Yan Prime Minister.
Another example is Emperor Chongzhen. After the Donglin Party was established in the outer court, the society was restored. However, when Wei Zhongxian was in control of the inner court Jinyiwei, he did not dare to use it. He did not trust him, and the Dongchang almost closed down. Because he could not fight against the outer court, he has been He was hanged and beaten, that’s why there were so many guilty orders!
Until Chang Yu was born, after more than a year of illustrious military exploits and the rectification of Dongchang and Jinyiwei, Emperor Chongzhen could finally feel proud. Although he did not directly suppress the cabinet, he could at least straighten his back and talk to each other on an equal footing!
The old foxes in the cabinet also know how to assess the situation. They know that the great eunuch is in the limelight now and the court also needs him, so they avoid his sharpness and appear very low-key and peaceful.
But as smart as Chang Yu and Emperor Chongzhen, they all know that once the situation calms down, these people will come out to act like monsters!
The place where the cabinet works is called Wenyuan Pavilion. Some people may wonder, wasn't Wenyuan Pavilion built only in the Qing Dynasty?
Yes, the later Wenyuan Pavilion you see now was indeed built only in the Qing Dynasty.
But the Ming Dynasty did have Wenyuan Pavilion, but it was far less majestic than the three-story building in the Qing Dynasty. In the Ming Dynasty, the area east of the Forbidden City was called Wenyuan Pavilion. The houses were also ordinary houses, even a little inconspicuous.
The only small attic is still used to store books, the others are single-story, but everyone from Sanyang Kaitai to Zhang Juzheng worked here, making this ordinary house become prominent, and the cabinet that worked in this became the actual government decision-making of the Ming Dynasty.
By.
To this day, there is still an oracle hanging high on the door of the pavilion: "This is a confidential place where officials and other people are waiting. No unauthorized entry is allowed. Violators will not be punished." Chang Yu would look up at this oracle every time he came. It is said that it was during the Jiajing period.
left.
Later, the Manchu and Qing Dynasties built a three-story Wenyuan Pavilion in this place.
Wang Chengen was already waiting at the door. When Chang Yu arrived, he greeted him with his hands. The emperor was inside. Chang Yu returned the courtesy and walked in without saying anything.
There were many people inside, the emperor was sitting in the middle, and the prince was listening to what the cabinet elders were saying. When he came in, everyone looked at him. After Chang Yu greeted the emperor and the prince, he bowed to the cabinet ministers.
Hands over.
The courtesy is complete and thoughtful, making it impeccable.
Neither humble nor arrogant, nor arrogant nor arrogant, he looks like an ordinary eunuch, but all the cabinet ministers admire him in their hearts. The more he is like this, the deeper the city is. How can this person be so good at such a young age?
"Your Majesty, I want to leave Beijing today and come here to say goodbye to the Emperor. Does the Emperor have any explanation?" Chang Yu asked.
Emperor Chongzhen smiled calmly: "I have nothing to explain. Can you ask the elders of the various pavilions if they have anything to explain?"
These words made all the cabinet ministers stunned. They looked at each other and their minds were clear. Li Banghua coughed lightly: "When it comes to marching and fighting, no one in the government or in the field can compare to Eunuch Chang. We all sit down and watch the sky and talk about war on paper. How can we dare to speak so loudly?"
Explain what?"
"Your Majesty, the First Assistant, is too humble. Both military affairs and people's livelihood are the affairs of the government and are the responsibilities and obligations of cabinet ministers. Our family is just a eunuch who is ordered to supervise the army. We can do whatever the emperor and the court say. If there is anything wrong,
I would like to ask you all to give me some advice." Chang Yu said to Li Banghua.
Li Banghua had no expression on his face, but he felt very relieved. He couldn't help but sigh. If he hadn't been a eunuch, it would have been limitless. But luckily he was an eunuch, otherwise he wouldn't have imagined the consequences.
"We all know and agree with Eunuch Chang's intention of leaving the country this time. However, the war situation and the current situation are unpredictable. Eunuch Chang needs to respond immediately. We believe that no matter what happens, Eunuch Chang can do it."
He is able to cope with things with ease, and the border is stable, thanks to Eunuch Chang." Second Assistant Wu Sheng unexpectedly praised Chang Yu in a rare way.
But how could Chang Yu not know these words? Everyone must be aware of them.
It seemed that just asking him to enter the palace meant that he had nothing else to do. Chang Yu didn't want to waste time chatting here, so he bowed to Emperor Chongzhen and saluted: "I have devoted myself to the border affairs, so the emperor will wait for good news in the capital."
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Emperor Chongzhen was overjoyed: "I will wait for your success in Beijing!"
"Then I will resign." When Chang Yu bowed and was about to leave, Fan Jingwen, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, suddenly said: "Your Majesty, do you want to hear Eunuch Chang's opinions or suggestions on what we just discussed?"
Don't wonder why the Minister of the Ministry of Industry is here, because Fan Jingwen is not only one of the six ministers, but also a bachelor of Dongge, that is, one of the cabinet bosses.
Both Emperor Chongzhen and Chang Yu were startled, but soon Emperor Chongzhen smiled and said, "It's a good idea to listen." He gave Chang Yu a seat: "Several places along the Great Wall were in disrepair due to age or war, and several ministers wrote to ask for repairs.
, but the treasury is shy and the debate continues for a while, do you have any suggestions?"