This was somewhat unexpected. Although I knew that Zhu Yijun attached great importance to victory in foreign wars and regarded it as an effective means to consolidate his authority, I did not expect that his importance would reach such an extent.
In addition, what Zhang Siwei said just now is also worth pondering: "The Emperor is very optimistic about your ability in foreign wars."
This seems to be a good thing, but Gao Pragmatism thinks it is not entirely a good thing.
Gao Pragmatic's long-term plan is undoubtedly to join the cabinet, become the chief minister, and then write and criticize the world, ruling the world. Because only by becoming the chief minister can he implement his will to reform, and the key point in his reform is
, most of them are unable to get along with the ancestral system. If they cannot become the iron-fisted chief assistant, there is no hope at all.
For example, when it comes to banning and opening the sea, it is both an ancestral system and not an ancestral system, because the "ancestors" have both banned the sea and opened it, some have banned it and opened it, and some have opened it and banned it.
When Gao Gong insisted on opening up the sea, he started from this aspect - I am on the side of opening up the sea, and I also "respect the heaven and the ancestors".
But some of the things Gao Pragmatic will do in the future are different. For example, one of his priorities is to reform the entire financial system and strengthen the central government's financial control capabilities.
This matter fundamentally violated the "ancestral system" established by Zhu Yuanzhang back then - Zhu Yuanzhang felt that it would be unnecessary to allocate a lot of tax revenue to the localities, so he directly let the local governments make their own arrangements. This system has been in place since the Hongwu Dynasty.
It has been in operation to this day, and even Zhu Di has never thought of changing it. It is truly an ancestral system.
But this ancestral system is simply stupid in the eyes of Gao Pragmatic: Not only did your imperial court give up such a large financial power, but you even gave up the power of supervision. You don't know what happened at the local level!
So if the local government levies exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes, imposes additional taxes, or even imposes excessive taxes in the name of the imperial court, wouldn’t you, the central government, not know about it? You still think that the local government is obediently following the imperial edicts! At this time, the decision made by the imperial court is obvious
It is impossible to conform to the local reality. No matter what the court does, it is actually a slap on the head. How can the world not be in chaos?
Therefore, even if you take into account the traffic conditions, administrative losses and other facts at this time, some wealth does not have to be transported from the local area to the capital for storage, then allocated by the capital, and then transported back to the local area, but at least you have to settle the account.
We need to send someone to do an inventory and find out! How can we let the localities talk and act on their own?
However, reforms at this level cannot be implemented by Gao Pragmatic through his personal connections and influence on the emperor. He must take the lead personally and, as the chief assistant, take the initiative to stand in front of the stage and give orders, with the emperor's firm support behind him.
, only then can it be done.
Because of this, even when Gao Gong was in power, Gao Pragmatic did not consider promoting it, because the emperor was still young at that time and could not give real support. Instead, Gao Gong's opponents would slander him, saying that he was holding the emperor hostage.
In order to order the princes to usurp power and disrupt the government.
Even with Gao Gong's character, he may not be afraid of criticism, but Gao Pragmatic does not want to give the Gao family such a "good reputation", because once this reputation is spread by everyone, it will not only be the Gao family's inevitable problem, but also the biggest problem.
The most likely possibility is that once Gao Gong passes away, he will immediately cease to exist and all reform efforts will be in vain.
Fiscal reform is only a microcosm of the real "big reform" in Gao Pragmatic's mind. There are several other major events that are similar in difficulty. Therefore, his goal can only be to sit in the position of chief minister himself, without any room for compromise.
But the system of the Ming Dynasty is very strange. What you need to become the first assistant is not grassroots work experience, local work experience, or even the "main cadre position work experience" popular in later generations, but central work experience, especially work experience in the Hanlin Academy.
——In other words, the work experience of "Emperor's Secretary".
In fact, the highly pragmatic "Emperor's Secretary" has very rich work experience, but unfortunately his part does not count. The counting part starts from his appointment as the Japanese Lecturer.
As for Annan and North, governor of Liaodong, etc., these resumes can at best be regarded as bonus points to prove personal ability, but they are never decisive items.
Just as Gao Pingshi considered before he was appointed as the minister of Yuan Masi in Liaodong, if it were not for the purpose of raising his rank as soon as possible, Zhu Yijun would not send him to the foreign post at all - he would stay in the Hanlin Academy for six or nine years, and his qualifications would be in place.
He will be able to serve as a minister of a certain ministry immediately after that.
Even, based on his six top picks, he directly replaced him as Minister of Rites and found an opportunity to join the cabinet.
This is the noble choice for the elders of the Ming Dynasty to ascend to the throne. The former chief assistants Li Chunfang, Gao Gong, Guo Pu, the current chief assistant Zhang Siwei, and even the possible chief assistant Shen Shixing in the future, who has not followed this path?
Gao Pragmatic is still busy with "foreign wars", so this may be a good thing or a bad thing.
The good thing is that he can prove his ability through foreign wars, and can also "unite" a large group of border ministers and generals.
The bad thing is that he didn't spend enough time in the center, and his "noble" reputation was seriously dragged down - in the Ming Dynasty, there is no need to emphasize again how important a person's reputation is.
The only good thing among misfortunes is probably that he was born in the Gao family of the practical learning sect. It can be said that he did these things in order to practice the essence of practical learning. In addition, it can be regarded as a remedy, which is the status of Liushou Number One Scholar.
Otherwise, according to the general situation, it is difficult to come back after serving for a long time. Even if you come back, you will usually be dismissed with just one Minister of the Ministry of War.
When Zhang Siwei saw Gao Pragmatic, he suddenly fell silent and was lost in thought for a while. He couldn't help but ask: "What are you thinking about, so lost in thought?"
"Ah?" Gao Jingshi was woken up by Zhang Siwei, scratched his head and said: "My nephew is thinking, will the emperor leave it to me whenever he has foreign affairs? Is this... a good thing or a bad thing?
"
Zhang Siwei was stunned for a moment, then laughed dumbly and said: "Are you afraid that you will not be able to return to Beijing if you continue to work abroad in the future?"
Gao pragmatic coughed dryly: "It doesn't mean that I will never come back, it's just that at this time..."
Zhang Siwei shook his head and said: "You are worrying too much. If it is what you think, the emperor will not let you secretly preside over this war in Yunnan through such means."
"Why?" Gao Jingshi was a little confused as to why Zhang Siwei was so sure. He asked: "I always feel that if the actual status of the governor of Yunnan was not as good as that of the governor of Liaodong, the war in Yunnan this time would be difficult, especially when the emperor was fighting
When I make up my mind to fight this battle resolutely, I might be sent to Yunnan instead."
Zhang Siwei laughed, shook his head and said: "No, no."
"Why are you so sure?" Gao Pragmatic couldn't help but wonder.
"There are two points." Zhang Siwei stretched out two fingers, then took back one, and said: "First, you, the Liao Fu, took office not long ago. As soon as the war started in Yunnan, you were transferred to the Yunnan Fu. This will make you
People in the world wonder, does the emperor feel that you are the only one who can use it? The world is so big, if there are two places to mobilize troops, or three places to mobilize troops, what should the emperor do? Without you and Gao Qiuzhen, I
The Ming Dynasty could only sit in sleepy city?
Secondly, you said that the status of the governor of Dian is not as good as that of the governor of Liao. This is generally true. However, if the emperor really wants you to preside over the war in Yunnan, he does not have to ask you to be the governor of Dian. I will give you a strategy for Diangui.
The economic strategy of the three provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan is even more exaggerated. Including Guangdong and Guangxi, how about giving you the economic strategy of the five southwest provinces? You are now the right minister of the Ministry of War, and you can also preside over the military affairs of several provinces. This kind of economic strategy
"It's just a temporary assignment. You will be withdrawn as soon as the matter is over. You are asked to control the five southwestern provinces. Are you afraid that you will not be able to defeat Burma?"
Gao Pangshi suddenly realized, and thought: It turns out that the Minister of War can go through a few provinces... Oh, that's right, in history, when Yang Hao's servant was in charge of Liaodong and North Korea, he only had the title of Right Minister of the Ministry of War. It seems that Minister of War
After all, this official title is one of the high officials of the imperial court, so it is very powerful.
Seeing that Gao Pragmatic accepted his statement, Zhang Siwei smiled again and said: "So don't think too much. The reason why the emperor did this is actually not that complicated. First of all, he knows your abilities best and will tell you about the war in Yunnan."
He will feel more at ease if he secretly leaves it to you to control him. Secondly, his original intention is to worry that no one will be able to use you in the future. Have you ever thought about this carefully?"
"Have you thought about it carefully?" Gao Pingshi didn't understand why Zhang Siwei's tone was obviously serious when he said this.
Zhang Siwei said: "I just suddenly thought of this after talking to you about recommending candidates to join the cabinet: Have you noticed that my school of practical learning may be in a state of decline?"
Gao Pragmatic's eyes narrowed and he said thoughtfully: "What my uncle means is that, apart from you, most of the second generation's main force in the practical school lineage is from the Jiajing 44th batch of gold medals. If we assume that my nephew is the first
The third generation, judging from the gold list, has reached the eighth year of Wanli..."
Zhang Siwei interrupted: "You can count it according to the eight years of Wanli, but your 'generation' cannot count it according to the eight years of Wanli - the simplest point is, besides you, who else in Wanli
How can a disciple of the Practical School who has been on the Gengchen Section Gold List for eight years be promoted to Minister of War in just three years? I won’t mention the others, but what is Tai Zheng’s current rank?”
Zhang Taizheng, the second son of Zhang Siwei, Gao Pragmatic's cousin and the same year who won the Gengchen Science Gold List. He was born as a Jinshi in the eighth year of Wanli and ranked second and fourth in the Gengchen Science Gold List. He was selected as a scholar and became a Shujishi for eight months. After he was dismissed, he became a Jinshi.
He is currently the head of the Department of Rites of the sixth rank. At the beginning of this year, because of his excellent performance in the examination, he was promoted to the rank of Doctor of the Department of Rites and Ceremonies in the Qing Dynasty. He is now the official of the fifth rank.
The son of a dignified chief minister and a top student ranked fourth in the second class, he only achieved the sixth grade in three years, and he was still hanging around on "idle jobs" such as worshiping the officials of the Qing Dynasty in the ancestral hall of the Ministry of Rites. This shows that he has the aura of a new scholar.
Retirement and promotion are never easy.
Even with Zhang Taizheng's background, can anyone else be more successful than him?
Even Xiao Liangyou and Wang Tingzhuan, who were ranked as "celestial beings" in the same class as Gao Jingshi, are still in the Hanlin Academy, and their positions have not changed. They were editors when they entered, and they are still editors now. , it’s just that the literary and prose officials were promoted two levels, from Chengshilang to Xuanyilang.
This is what Zhang Siwei means: Your Gao Shiwei promotion speed is too fast. It is a special case. It is impossible for normal people to catch up. So you yourself have no problem according to the Wanli eight years, but your "generation" as a whole is based on the Wanli eight years. Eight years is unreasonable.
Or to put it another way, if your "generation" is calculated based on the eighth year of Wanli, then you can't do this yourself. You have to push forward at least two subjects, or even three subjects.
But it is precisely because of this that if you join the cabinet in the future and start to take up the leadership of my practical school, your group of people of the same age may not be able to play their due role and serve as your wings and wings.
Judging from Gao Wuzhen's current situation, Zhang Siwei estimates that he will join the cabinet in his thirties. At that time, what position will his group of the same year reach?
There are two types of people who stay in the capital: one is those who stay in the Hanlin Academy. At this time, they can probably work as attendants and lecturers. The best ones may be bachelors as attendants and lecturers, and are in the state of "quasi-servant".
The second is those who stay in the Liubu and other capital yamen. It is basically impossible for them to rise to the rank of Shilang (third rank), but below the rank of Shilang, they are still just Langzhong (fifth rank). It is hard to say whether they can rise to the rank of Shilang. It is better to stay in the capital. Those from the procuratorate may have the opportunity to be posted as patrol inspectors, and those with better luck may be posted as deputy inspectors of a certain province, that is, soldiers on the road, but generally speaking, it is unlikely that they will be promoted to governor in ten years.
As for those who were directly transferred to other places, it's hard to say. Maybe they always had good evaluations when they were appointed outside, maybe they met the opportunity and made great achievements outside, and then they were promoted from county magistrate to prefecture, from prefecture to administration, or even transferred back to the capital (or Nanjing) as a minister, etc., but generally speaking it is difficult. Being able to be appointed as chief minister is a matter of luck. In fact, it would be good to be able to participate in politics.
These official positions are not low in terms of level and status. After all, Jinshis in the Ming Dynasty are still very popular, but if compared to Gao Pragmatic, who may have joined the cabinet at this time... How much can they help him? No! At most it can play a "public opinion role" at some point.
At this time, most of the students who were on the Golden List for the 44th year of Jiajing period when Gao Gong was the chief examiner were already in their sixties, and the younger ones were in their fifties. How many more years would it take to get around?
This is how insecurity arises.
But Gao Pingshi didn't understand, and asked: "But uncle, if the gold medal for the second year of Wanli was examined by my mentor Guo Gong, and for the gold medal for the fifth year of Wanli, you were the examiner. Can't the Jinshi in these two subjects be used?"
Zhang Siwei shook his head and said: "You don't know what kind of temperament your mentor Guo Gong is? He never makes exceptions for his disciples. Not many of the Jinshi in the second year of Wanli are decent. The only name I often see at the moment is probably Ma Zhen, Fan Shouji, but Ma Zhen was because I took care of him (Ma Zhen, Ma Ziqiangzi), Fan Shouji was because he was from Kaifeng Prefecture, and I took care of him a little.
In addition, there are really no figures in this subject. For example, Li Sancai, Zhao Nanxing and others all have the opportunity to climb up, but unfortunately they are all from 'over there'. Oh, yes
Well, there is also Xu Yuanchun in this department, who is the eldest grandson of Xu Huating..."
Gao pragmatic couldn't help but be silent, and thought to himself: This is good, the teacher is a decent person, but the disciples will suffer because of it. Fortunately, the uncle is not pedantic, otherwise Ma Zhen would not be able to do anything... It seems that Ma Zhen did not do anything in the original history, could it be because
My uncle’s time in power was too short?
At this time, Zhang Siwei continued: "As for the fifth year of Wanli, although this subject is my main examination, it is only one subject ahead of you. What's the use of three years? In ten years, one or two ministers will be produced.
, governor and so on, I will burn high incense."
He sighed and smiled bitterly: "To tell you the truth, I plan to let you take care of them in the future."
Uh, is it so embarrassing...
Gao Pragmatic couldn't help scratching his head.
"So, the emperor's move has deep meaning, but not as deep as you think." Zhang Siwei came to the conclusion: "He is just afraid that no one will be able to use you in the future, so he remembered Chen Yubi for some reason. Well, maybe it's
Because Chen Yubi has been a lecturer for a long time... In short, if you don't believe it, our uncle and nephew will make a bet today: within a year, the emperor will definitely promote him, either to become a bachelor and to take charge of the Hanlin Academy, or to let him
He sent a certain minister to the outside."
Gao Pingshi smiled bitterly and said: "It seems that after my nephew is admitted to the Ministry of Rites in two days, he will have to communicate with Chen Yuanzhong (Chen Yubi)."
Zhang Siwei stood up with a smile, patted him on the shoulder and said, "You shouldn't need me to teach you about this kind of thing."
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Thanks to the book friends "HAMW05", "Frost Treasure Vase", "Cao Mianzi", "Golden Hair 123", "Panda Little Panpan", "System Collapse", "Lao Xi of Altay", "Ma Junrou",
