The court dispersed early in the morning, and the ministers left Fengtian Hall with a lot of discussion.
Today's court meeting was a mixed experience for the ministers in the outer court, with mixed emotions. On the one hand, the outer court suffered heavy losses, which is an undoubted fact. But on the other hand, the situation was much better than predicted. Li Dongyang was promoted to chief minister
Auxiliary, the vast majority of officials have not been held accountable for participating in the impeachment, retaining some of their strength, and there is still room for action.
Almost everyone realizes that the political structure of the Ming Dynasty will undergo huge changes from today on.
After this court meeting, Liu Jin and others in the inner court were undoubtedly the biggest winners. The inner court fell into their hands, which was a huge power. The identity of the eunuch in charge of the ceremony was actually the position of the chief assistant of the cabinet in the outer court.
Privately, the ministers all refer to the chief minister of the cabinet as the foreign minister, and the chief minister of rites as the internal minister. Their statuses are almost equal.
In addition, Liu Jin and others have the power of Dongchang, and also control the Jinyiwei Yamen. That is real strength. The Jinyiwei Yamen and Dongchang, plus the Royal Horse Supervisor and the Three Thousand Battalion, are the manpower controlled by the inner court.
There are already as many as thirty or forty thousand.
For the officials of the Outer Court, while they are fortunate, they also understand that the next step will be the most difficult moment for the Outer Court. Obviously, Liu Jin and the others will never be able to maintain a kind of peace with the Outer Court like Wang Yue and others before them.
They had a tacit understanding and even connected with each other at critical moments.
Confrontation between the inner and outer courts will be inevitable.
If Liu Jin and others want to seize and control the outer court, everyone in the outer court will inevitably launch resistance and counterattack. This will probably become the norm in the imperial court in the future.
The most worrying thing for most of the outer court officials in the past was who could gather the strength to lead the outer court civil servants to hold on to the last fortress and defend their own positions after all the outer court bosses were gone.
Now, the boots have fallen. Li Dongyang has risen instead of falling, and is still sitting in the outer court. There is hope in all this, and they have a backbone.
For some characters, their existence is a kind of strength, cohesion and combat effectiveness. Li Dongyang is obviously such a person.
Another winner is Zhang Yanling, the Marquis of Jianchang.
The emperor broke the taboo and let Zhang Yanling join the regiment camp to command the troops. What a favor. You must know that only the most trusted people by the emperor are qualified to supervise the capital camp. Obviously, Zhang Yanling became one of them. Breaking through the restriction of foreign relatives
After taking charge of the fortress, Zhang Yanling has obviously appeared in everyone's sight with a new attitude. Compared with the previous Zhang Yanling who was famous for his stench in the capital, this time it is a completely different situation.
The Xungui Group also received great benefits. In addition to the reward of Zhang Yanling himself as the admiral of the capital camp, Zhu Lin, the young prince of the Chengguo Palace, also received commendations for his meritorious service in rescuing the army. He was also awarded the title of Wu Xun, a third-grade Qingqi Captain, and was awarded the title of General Zhaowu. Xu Yande
For those who have made meritorious service in protecting the imperial city, they will be awarded the title of "General of the Guarding Army". Zhang Lun will be awarded the title of "General of the Guarding Army".
In addition, the British Duke Zhang Mao had always hoped that the emperor would approve the appointment of Zhang Lun as the deputy governor of the regiment camp. This was Zhang Mao's cunning. Zhu Houzhao wanted to fulfill Zhang Yanling's promise to supervise the regiment camp, but Ten
The princes of the Second Regiment Battalion were digging carrots and pits.
How could he move the place to Zhang Yanling when he was occupying the place? Under this situation, Zhang Mao chose Fengshan Marquis Ming'en, the boss of the Zhenwei Camp who was holding the position but refused to move, and forced him to become an official and free up his place. In return,
, Zhu Houzhao naturally agreed to Zhang Lun’s appointment as deputy governor of Tuanying.
In fact, for Zhu Houzhao, this was a matter of course. Governor Zhang Mao had been in the regiment for many years, but he was already old. He had to find a candidate for the governor of the regiment. There was nothing wrong with leaving it to Zhang Lun. After all, he was one of the honorable ministers.
The family is also Zhang Mao’s grandson. In the future,
It is to be a hereditary minister of the British Duke. As long as other nobles do not object, there is nothing wrong with this matter. The key is to allow Zhang Yanling to supervise the regiment camp, fulfill his promise to Zhang Yanling, and explain to Zhang Yanling. This is the best of both worlds.
thing.
…
Under the afternoon sun, Li Dongyang and his student Yang Tinghe sat in the back garden of Li Dongyang's residence.
The sun is scorching hot and the cicadas are chirping and the birds are noisy, but the trees in Li Dongyang's back garden are lush. In the small pavilion next to the bamboo forest, there is even a bit of chill.
"Tinghe, you shouldn't have stood up and spoken at the court meeting today. I reprimanded you, do you know why?" Li Dongyang drank tea, looked beyond the dazzling shade of the tree, and asked in a deep voice.
"Teacher, of course students understand. Teacher does not want students to be hated by Liu Jin, but cares for students." Yang Tinghe said in a deep voice.
"What you said is right, but not entirely." Li Dongyang glanced at Yang Tinghe and said softly: "I do love you, but not just because of love, but for the overall situation."
Yang Tinghe said: "Students are stupid and don't know what their teachers mean."
Li Dongyang sighed and said softly: "Tinghe, after this incident, the outer court is riddled with holes and has become a mess. Whether we can gather the strength of people's hearts is the key to the survival of the outer court."
"Tinghe understands. However, as long as the mentor is here, people's hearts will be there. The outer court will definitely make a comeback." Yang Tinghe said solemnly.
Li Dongyang chuckled and said: "Come back? Easier said than done. Your Majesty... Hey... His Majesty kept me as his first assistant. He had ulterior motives at that time. To put it bluntly, the Emperor needs a group of mules and horses to help him.
Forget it, where is the grace? Mr. Liu, Mr. Xie, Han Wen and Mingui, they are all veteran ministers who have worked hard and have great virtues and high respect. The emperor abandoned them like worn-out shoes without any kindness. The emperor is cruel. "
Yang Tinghe nodded and said: "Yes, the emperor went too far. He said that he would not become the former emperor, but that he was the master of the Ming Dynasty. The implication was that the ministers were allowed to do their own work, not speak, and be silent mules. The king's view
If the ministers are like dogs and horses, then the ministers will treat the emperor like a countryman; if the emperor views the ministers like dirt, then the ministers will regard the emperor like a bandit. If the emperor is like this, how can he teach people to return to their hearts?"
Li Dongyang was shocked, frowned and looked at Yang Tinghe, and shouted in a deep voice: "Tinghe, you are not allowed to say these words again. Xie Qian said these words to Zhang Yanling, and then there was no room for it. Tinghe, I know you are angry in your heart.
.But don’t let anger get to your head.”
Yang Tinghe hurriedly bowed and said: "The students were taught, and the students were indeed too angry. What we are pursuing is nothing more than a more reasonable way of governing the country. When the late emperor was still alive, this way had already taken shape. However, there are signs of a resurgence.
.
But now, everything has been ruined. The emperor would rather trust the sycophant than think about the overall situation. How can we not make people feel chilled and angry? Expelling the important officials in the court and getting close to the despicable villain, our Ming Dynasty is in danger."
As Yang Tinghe talked, he became excited again.
"Sit down, sit down, drink some tea, and calm down. Tinghe, don't be so impulsive. If you are so angry, I won't know how to discuss things with you. Tinghe, don't be like this." Li Dongyang waved and frowned.
Yang Tinghe breathed a sigh of relief, sat down slowly, took a tea cup to drink water, but choked on the water and coughed loudly.
Li Dongyang smiled bitterly and stretched out his hand, patted him on the back, and complained: "Drink more slowly, drink more slowly."
Yang Tinghe stopped coughing, bowed and said: "The student is rude, don't blame the teacher."
Li Dongyang sighed: "Tinghe, do you see? Even if you drink water, you still have to cough when you are short of breath. Let alone the situation in front of you? How can you be impatient and controlled by emotions? You are my favorite student
, all your knowledge and cultivation are not worthy of my praise, how can you be so restless? How can I put my hope in you? "
Yang Tinghe hurriedly said: "Student is ashamed."
Li Dongyang waved his hands and stood up, walked to the side of the pavilion with his hands behind his hands, looked at the shadows under the sun deep in the shade of the trees, pondered for a long time, and spoke softly.
"Tinghe, you have to help me. Originally I wanted to handle the situation alone, but now, I feel like I can't handle it alone. Although I didn't want you to be too prominent originally, I hope you can practice for a few more years and gain some knowledge.
and ability. But now, I have to ask you to come out and help me."
Yang Tinghe said softly: "What do you mean, mentor?"
Li Dongyang turned to look at Yang Tinghe and said: "I didn't want you to be exposed to the storm so quickly. I wanted you to hide well and come out to shoulder the burden later. This is the main reason why I don't want you to quarrel with Liu Jin today.
.However, I have changed my mind. Tinghe, I want to recommend you to the cabinet."
"What? Master, is this a joke?" Yang Tinghe said in shock.
Li Dongyang said in a deep voice: "Of course it's not a joke. You and I need to share the responsibility of revitalizing the outer court. I can't trust anyone, but you can be trusted."
Yang Tinghe said: "But students..."
"I know that you are worried that you are not qualified enough. Qualification is nothing, just enough ability. I know that you are capable enough to take on the responsibility, and that is enough. Tinghe, I don't need to say more about the current situation in the outer court. Liu Jin will definitely snatch it away
Vacancy in outer court
I don’t want such an important position as cabinet minister to be occupied by his party members. I must recommend you to the cabinet position. At least one of the two cabinet minister seats must be occupied. Do you understand what I mean?" Li Dongyang said calmly.
vocal tract.
Yang Tinghe took a breath, nodded and said: "Students understand. The cabinet vote is drawn up, two to one, to take the initiative."
Li Dongyang nodded and said: "Exactly. Liu Jin cannot be allowed to control the outer court. The position of minister must also be taken over. How many of them can be won. It must not be fully controlled by Liu Jin. Otherwise, sooner or later, all the officials of the outer court will come under his sect. However,
There is no hope of recovery."
"The student understands. But the student is worried that the emperor may not agree to the student joining the cabinet. Liu Jin will also strongly oppose it." Yang Tinghe said softly.
"Of course Liu Jin will object, so what? As long as the emperor agrees, what's the use of his objection? What matters is the emperor's approval." Li Dongyang said loudly.
Yang Tinghe said softly: "The student doesn't understand how to get the emperor's approval. Can the teacher convince the emperor?"
Li Dongyang smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Of course it won't help me to speak now. Besides, you are my student, so I can't speak for you. I can nominate, that's all. This will already give Liu Jin a handle. But it doesn't matter, you
If you are talented and learned, you will not shy away from your relatives. I can use this as an excuse. But if we want to ensure that you join the cabinet, we still need a helper. A helper who can convince the emperor."
Yang Tinghe said in a deep voice: "But, do we still have such helpers?"