The Wenyuan Pavilion inside the Donghua Gate of the Imperial Palace was the place where the royal books were collected and where the emperor gave lectures. In addition, it was also the office building of the cabinet, the most powerful department of the Ming Dynasty.
The cabinet, a unique power organization of the Ming Dynasty, was first established by Zhu Hongwu in the early Ming Dynasty. At that time, it only served as a secretariat. By the time of Zhu Di, it had become a formal institution of the country. The cabinet officials were getting higher in rank and more powerful than the six ministries.
On top of that, some cabinet members even work part-time as six ministers.
As the power of the cabinet became more and more powerful, it could even reject the emperor's imperial edict and refuse to implement it, which seriously threatened the imperial power. It can also be said that it checked and balanced the imperial power to avoid the emergence of a dictator, but it also made the emperor feel rebellious, and even
For hundreds of years, the imperial power and the cabinet have been at odds with each other.
For example, Emperor Zhengde supported Liu Jin and gained a slight upper hand in suppressing the cabinet. Emperor Jiajing defeated his chief minister Yang Ting. The cabinet became his plaything and posed no threat to the imperial power. However, during the Jiajing period, when his sons failed to live up to expectations, they were basically suppressed by the cabinet.
Now, Mu Zong wanted to buy some jewelry for his wife, but the cabinet didn't agree. This was already a matter of housework, and he was bullying the family. The imperial power was suppressed to death. When he arrived at Shenzong, Zhang Juzheng was appointed in the cabinet, and he didn't even care about the little emperor.
In eyes.
It was not until Wei Zhongxian took action during Zhu Youxiao's reign that he beat up the Donglin Party in the cabinet and the imperial power gained the upper hand. Unfortunately, during the reign of Emperor Chongzhen, he killed Wei Zhongxian and the Donglin Party entered the cabinet. The two parties distrusted each other and fooled each other, and finally
Ming Dynasty was destroyed.
Fortunately, Chang Yu was born a few months before the demise of the Ming Dynasty. He secretly chopped off the big bosses in the court who were eating corpses, such as Chen Yan, Li Jiantai, Wei Zaode and others, and killed them.
After killing him, although it can't be said that the sky is clear and clear immediately, there is also a lot less smog.
At this time, the cabinet included Chief Assistant Li Banghua, Second Assistants Wu Zong, Qiu Yu, Fang Yuegong, Ministry of Industry Minister Fan Jingwen, Ministry of War Shi Kefa, Ministry of Revenue Ni Yuanlu and others. Although it cannot be said that the monarch and his ministers are united, they must have taken some responsibility as usual.
At least I am more pragmatic and can do things, do practical things, and there is less waffling and dawdling around.
In the past few months, fighting has been raging near the capital. Although the cabinet did not make any great efforts, it did not make any obstacles. It assisted Emperor Chongzhen to deal with it calmly and finally calmed down the war. The thieves were defeated and fled the Tatars. It was a long-awaited event.
It was a great victory that relieved the hatred and was very proud. The people cheered and the cabinet ministers also breathed a sigh of relief. They even felt complacent and felt that they had done their best.
But no matter what, this is an event worthy of celebration by both the government and the public, but at this moment, the people in the cabinet are not happy!
It was because Emperor Chongzhen wanted to hold a grand military parade to commend the soldiers who participated in the war.
This is destined to be a grand event and the best opportunity to inspire the morale of the military and the people.
There was no reason for the cabinet not to support it, but Emperor Chongzhen decided the matter directly without any discussion with them, and ordered that the Jin Yiwei, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Husbandry, and the Ministry of Rites be responsible for related matters.
From beginning to end, the cabinet was completely blown away!
A few days ago, in violation of regulations, the eunuchs supervising the army even emptied the Ministry of War and the Governor's Office of the Fifth Army, which caused dissatisfaction among the ministers in the court. However, because at that time, except for the young eunuch who was good at fighting and put out the fire, we tolerated it.
After that, in the past few months, all matters related to military affairs were almost entirely handed over to the young eunuchs, and the court had almost no intervention or even say. This kind of behavior of monopolizing power and favoring eunuchs not only violated the ancestral laws, but also violated the rules of the court.
The slaps in the face also made them think that the eunuchs were about to resurrect, but at this time, apart from using the little eunuch to get on the line of fire, who else would they choose? Well, we can bear it!
But right now, I don’t even think about holding a big military parade. Chongzhen, you want to do it!
Do you still have our cabinet in your eyes? Do you still have the imperial court and court officials? Why do you want to leave us and play on your own?
So, on this afternoon of universal celebration, the cabinet ministers in Wenyuan Pavilion held a meeting, but Shi Kefa and Ni Yuanlu were absent because they were busy with the military parade.
"In the more than ten years since Wei Ni, the eunuch party has been in a state of decline. The court affairs were clear and the ministers in the Ming Dynasty no longer formed cliques for private purposes. However, after this little eunuch appeared out of nowhere, the eunuch party revived in just a few months and became more and more fierce.
The more violent it becomes, if Li Xiangruo doesn't take advantage of its unstable foundation to use thunder, he will be afraid that he will turn back and harm it when he grows stronger!" Wu Zong, the second assistant, was worried and shook his head repeatedly.
It was obvious that the cabinet wanted to compete with the emperor, but it wanted to throw dirty water on Chang Yu. Moreover, this time Dongchang did not participate in the military parade at all to avoid suspicion.
However, the struggle between the prime minister's power and the imperial power is actually a struggle between the cabinet and the Dongchang. No matter how hard Chang Yu tries, he can't stand alone unless he doesn't do things for Emperor Chongzhen.
"What Prime Minister Wu said is absolutely true." Fang Yuegong sighed at the side: "The little eunuch has made great achievements in the past few months and has been at the peak of his power. There are already ministers in the court who are clinging to him, not to mention his deep-rooted connections in the army. I am afraid that in the future..."
Li Xiang had already planned this! His words naturally alluded to Shi Kefa, Wang Jiayan, Ni Yuanlu and others.
Qiu Yu and others echoed.
The chief assistant Li Banghua was silent while holding a tea cup and looking at the water in the cup. As a civil servant, he had a natural hostility towards Chang Yu, but as a loyal minister who shared the emperor's worries, he had great appreciation and admiration for the young eunuch, who could serve as the head of the cabinet.
Boss, he also understands that he will be incompatible with the little eunuch!
There is no reason as they are inherently hostile.
The civil servant group and the eunuchs can never coexist peacefully. Either you die or I live!
"The eunuchs have always caused great harm. We have learned from the past and we must not repeat the same mistakes. It is imperative to suppress the small eunuchs. However, the time is not right now. An inadvertent act will backfire." Li Banghua sighed slightly, and everyone frowned.
Because they all know very well in their hearts that if it hadn't been for the little eunuch's efforts to turn the tide in the past few months, the Ming Dynasty might have been destroyed. Now that both the government and the public are claiming credit, if they take the opportunity to impeach them, they will be scolded and become a street rat. This is for
This is very unacceptable to civil servants who cherish their reputation.
"But the military parade is the best time. If you don't grasp it, you may just leave immediately." Wu Di raised his eyebrows: "How about we use a roundabout tactic?"
Everyone was startled and didn't understand what was happening.
"We will not impeach or suppress the eunuch for the time being. We will attack the emperor first." Wu Di smiled slightly, and Li Banghua raised his head and glanced at him: "That's fine!"
As the sun sets and the lanterns come on, the entire capital city is still silent with singing, laughter and dancing. In the past few months, the Ming army has achieved a record that has been rare in more than ten years, which makes the common people feel proud and proud. In the streets and alleys, in the teahouses and restaurants, countless street vendors, literati and poets are spitting.
Fei talked about all kinds of news he heard from nowhere.
In the imperial city, the first assistant Li Banghua and the second assistant Wu Zong asked to see Emperor Chongzhen, and then they had a huge quarrel.
In the Waidongchang Yamen, the young eunuch was sleeping as fast as a pig.
More and more soldiers and horses gathered outside the Desheng Gate in the capital, and they were ordered to camp on the spot and rest without disturbing the people. By the Tonghui River in the east of the city, Gao Jie, Liu Zeqing, and Huama Liu heard the spies' reports and learned about Li Yan's identity.
The main troops have returned to Beijing one after another, but there is still no one to greet them.