Compared with previous dynasties, the Ming system had many differences in the specific details of government governance, such as greater reliance on the circulation of official documents.
In the past, meetings in dynasties may have been the mainstream way of running government affairs, but the exchange of official documents in the Ming Dynasty was the mainstream.
In most official matters, officials from different government offices do not meet each other, and they rely entirely on documents to achieve communication and communication at different levels.
People like Lin Daguan who go to work in a wandering style, gesticulating and giving advice everywhere, are definitely outside the mainstream.
Specifically in the inner court, the clerk's room under the Supervisor of Ceremonies is equivalent to the general hub for the circulation of official documents.
For example, memorials from various parties must first be collected by the clerk's office, and then sent from the clerk's office to the cabinet, or directly to the imperial court.
In addition, the cabinet votes are also sent from the clerk's office to the ceremonial supervisor. After approval, they are sent back to the cabinet from the clerk's office.
After the cabinet completes the imperial edict based on the approval, it will still be taken from the clerk's office and then sent to the Sixth Section for review and issuance.
It can be said that every aspect of the circulation of official documents in the inner court must be handled by the clerk's office.
Therefore, the clerk's office has a very high status in the eunuch system, which is equivalent to the Hanlin Academy among civil servants. Eunuchs who can take charge of the clerk's office will basically be eunuchs who are responsible for rituals and eunuchs.
Eunuch Sun Yongsun, the former admiral of the twenty gates and now the full-time young eunuch of the internal study room, is such a hot and popular figure.
It was unanimously recognized both internally and externally that after Sun Yong's godfather and factory Gong Sun Xian retired, Sun Yong would be able to take over as the eunuch.
There were several eunuchs in charge of the inner study, and Sun Yong's main working place was at Huiji Gate.
This place is just outside the cabinet, which is conducive to getting acquainted with the cabinet elders. It will be easier to carry out work after being promoted to the ceremonial supervisor in the future.
Today, the fourth assistant, Zhao Zhigao, went to the cabinet to enter the cabinet. When passing by the Huiji Gate, he suddenly spoke to Sun Yong, the young eunuch in the inner study, and asked: "Is there any secret submission to the cabinet today?"
The secret content must be kept secret, and Sun Yong is not qualified to open it, but the existence of the secret itself does not necessarily have to be kept strictly confidential.
After thinking about it, Sun Yong decided to sell a small favor.
Although Old Man Zhao has no future and is just waiting to die in the cabinet, Old Man Zhao is from Lin Tailai, and Lin Tailai's face is still very valuable.
If Lin Tailai hadn't created the "loyal eunuch of Xizhimen" last year, Sun Yong wouldn't have taken advantage of it and been promoted from the 20th gate admiral to the inner study.
So Sun Yong made two gestures towards Zhao Zhigao, the numbers "one" and "two" respectively, implying that both the first assistant and the second assistant were on the secret mission.
Sure enough, we finally made it to the dense forest! Zhao Zhigao walked to Wenyuan Pavilion worriedly, but felt a little suffocated inside, so he paced back and forth outside the door of Wenyuan Pavilion.
Generally, after arriving at Wenyuan Pavilion every day, bachelors would either have meetings in the central hall or work in cubicles.
Zhao Zhigao pacing back and forth outside like this is like a conspicuous person.
Perhaps because the conversation with Lu Guangzu last night affected his sleep, the third assistant Wang Jiaping came a little later today.
Seeing old Zhao, a bachelor in the cabinet and a bachelor, walking around in circles in the courtyard, Wang Jiaping couldn't help but sarcastically said to the people in the middle school room: "Old Zhao looks like an ant scurrying before a thunderstorm."
In front of Zhao Zhigao, who was thirteen years older than him, Wang Jiaping, the youngest bachelor in the cabinet, could not help but feel a little superior.
Wang Jiaping did not lower his voice deliberately, and what he said reached Zhao Zhigao's ears.
Then Zhao Zhigao suddenly turned around, glanced at Wang Jiaping, but did not respond, and walked directly into Wenyuan Pavilion.
Wang Jiaping suddenly felt that he might be dazzled. The moment the coward old Zhao turned around, a strange and ferocious look seemed to flash across his face.
In the porch room of Huiji, a junior eunuch in the clerk's room held a pile of fresh edicts and asked Sun Yong, the junior eunuch, for instructions.
Sun Yong waved his hand casually and said simply: "Take the sixth subject."
This is all done according to routine procedures, just like an assembly line, and does not require any thinking.
The clerk's office is an operator only responsible for sending and receiving, and does not have any power to process the contents of the edict.
A quarter of an hour later, these edicts, which had been stamped with Dabao, were sent to the Sixth Section in categories. After the Sixth Section had completed the registration and review, they were distributed to various ministries.
When several people from the engineering department were looking through today's edict separately, two people suddenly cried out in unison: "How come we have this?"
Sun Yong, the young prisoner in the Huiji Porch Room and the Clerk's Room, exhaled a breath of cold air and sat on the edge of the brazier, warming himself by the fire while letting his thoughts wander.
Godfather Sun Siam is not in good health and may have to resign from his position as factory boss next year and apply to return home for retirement.
So when I get there, will it be possible for me to go a step further and be promoted to the eunuch of the ceremonial department?
Suddenly, a follower opened the door and rushed in with a cold wind. He howled like a mourning concubine: "Master Sun! Something bad has happened!"
Sun Yong looked at Chang Sui in surprise. He was only responsible for the transportation work in the clerk's room and did not bear any responsibility for the content of the memorial. What bad things could happen?
The chief officer shouted: "There is news from the Engineering Department. There are two secret letters from the First Assistant and the Second Assistant. For some reason, they were included in the edict to be issued. They were sent to the Engineering Department and have been read!"
Damn it! Sun Yong stood up in shock and almost kicked over the brazier, "How could such a big mistake happen!"
The secrets written by the bachelor to the emperor must be filled with content that is not suitable for public disclosure! If it leaks, it will be a major accident!
The more sensitive the content, the greater the liability if it is leaked!
"Who did this?" Sun Yong became anxious and shouted indiscriminately: "Who is setting us up secretly?"
The intrigues and mutual strife among the eunuchs were even more insidious. Sun Yong's first reaction was that someone must have framed him, a rising star!
Thinking of this, Sun Yong ordered his attendants: "Hurry and report to your godfather!"
Then he personally ran to the Sixth Section to confirm the contents of the two leaked secret letters in order to judge the seriousness of the situation.
After leaving the Meridian Gate, I saw Zhang Youde, who was studying in the Engineering Department, standing in front of the Sixth Section Corridor, holding a booklet and reading loudly to a group of people:
"I, Shen Shixing, am recuperating at home. The cabinet's objection to the dismissal of Luo Wanhua is not really related to me, and I feel that Luo Wanhua is stupid and does not understand the general situation.
As for the matter of enrolment, the Holy Will must have been decided, and the Emperor can make his own decision, and there is no need to cause more worries due to the noise of villains."
After reading it, Zhang Youde shouted again: "The second assistant Wang Xijue also has a secret book with similar content!"
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Sun's legs became weak and he fell directly to the ground.
It’s over! Everything is over! Not only are the first and second assistants finished, but I am also completely finished!
If we were to classify levels based on political sensitivity, this dense content would definitely be at the highest level!
The chief minister actually told the emperor in private that Luo Wanhua, the minister of rites who petitioned to appoint the emperor's eldest son, was stupid and ignorant of the general situation. The courtiers who made noises about national issues were villains. Let the emperor directly make decisions without having to listen to the noise from the outside world!
This kind of face is not in line with the current political correctness at all! Political correctness such as establishing a long-term position and smooth channels of speech have been completely trampled on!
Moreover, the second assistant Wang Xijue’s meaning seems to be similar!
After being exposed, it can’t be said to be a storm, but the world is shaking!
For some reason, Eunuch Sun suddenly remembered Eunuch Liu who committed suicide by jumping from the top of Xizhimen City.
In politics, it seems reasonable for the scapegoat and victim to commit suicide out of fear, right?
"Hahahahaha!" Eunuch Sun was sitting on the corridor between Duanmen and Meridian Gate, looking up to the sky and laughing wildly.
One second, you are looking forward to being promoted to the ceremonial supervisor and eunuch next year, and the next second, you foresee your own death. Is there anything more ridiculous than this?
The contents of the two sealed letters were like strong winds, blowing out of the Chengtian Gate from the Sixth Section and violently sweeping through all the ministries of the outer court!
All the officials in the imperial court were so shocked that their minds were buzzing. Even Shen Shoufu's political opponents did not expect that secrets could be leaked publicly.
When Shen Yongmao, a member of the Military Selection Department of the Ministry of War, heard the news, he galloped towards his home desperately.
In the middle hall of Wenyuan Pavilion, the second assistant Wang Xijue's face was as pale as a sheet of paper, his hands were shaking violently, and he could not even hold the tea cup steady.
The other two academicians, Wang Jiaping and Zhao Zhigao, frowned and sat on either side.
The secret leak was so weird that most people were confused at first.
How did this happen? Why did this happen?
Wang Cifu, who always prided himself on being smart, seemed to have lost his ability to think. He could only say to himself repeatedly: "How could this happen? How could this happen?"
Now he will be subject to a storm of impeachment attacks, and no one will publicly defend himself!
What's the point of being the chief assistant and even losing his official position?
Bang! Suddenly there was a loud noise, and the fourth assistant Zhao Zhigao stood up clapping the case, attracting everyone's attention.
At this time, people who have nothing to do with themselves are pretending to be low-key, and what does Mr. Zhao want to do when he gets up?
Zhao Zhigao, who had white hair and beard, pointed at Wang Jiaping, the third assistant, and scolded with an angry look: "You have gone too far!"
Wang Jiaping slowly raised a question mark in his heart, are you an old bastard having a convulsion?
Old Man Zhao shouted angrily: "Although the first and second assistants have different political opinions from you, Wang Jiaping, you should not use such despicable methods!"
Caught off guard, Mr. Wang Sange was hit on the head so hard by a big black pot that he almost vomited blood on the spot.
"Zhao Zhigao, how dare you spit on others!" Wang Jiaping stood up subconsciously and scolded sternly.
Old Man Zhao continued to ask: "You broke the rules and the bottom line. Whoever caused the instigation will have no consequences?"
Wang Xijue looked at Wang Jiaping confused and suspiciously. In terms of motives, this Wang San didn't have any.
If the first assistant and the second assistant are killed together, wouldn't the third king become the king?
Moreover, from a technical perspective, the matter of handing the edicts mixed in a pile to the clerk's office was not impossible as long as Wang San had the will to do so. He could just instruct a Zhongshu Sheren to do it.
In the strange atmosphere, Zhao Zhigao said loudly: "Lin Jiuyuan once said that the biggest beneficiary may often be the messenger!"
So Wang Jiaping could finally be sure that the fierce look he seemed to see flashing across Old Man Zhao's face earlier was definitely not a dazzle of his own!