"Oh, the explorers went all the way south along the east coastline of Hanzhou and discovered the southernmost tip of the Hanzhou continent. And through longitude calculations, they learned that the area of the southern Hanzhou continent is also very vast, larger than the Central Plains?" See
Regarding this memorial, Yun muttered to himself with a little surprise in his voice.
"This is really great. I finally discovered the entire Hanzhou continent, this last new world." He said again with a smile.
But Yun was happy for a while, but then became embarrassed. Now that this land has been discovered, it is best to enfeoff it to the kings. It is easy to enfeoff a few princes to Nanhanzhou, but where do the people come from? Now the Ming Dynasty has to bear so much
The demand for immigrant population is already overwhelming. There are simply not enough volunteers and captured prisoners. How can there be enough people to migrate to Nanhanzhou?
"Well, for the New Year at the end of this year, in the name of celebrating the capture of India, I will ask all the vassal kings still in the Central Plains to come to Beijing to pay tribute. Then I will ask who is willing to go to Nanhanzhou. If no one is willing to go, I will exile a few hundred people first.
Let the extremely evil people go there and see if they can create the greatest achievements of the Iberians who came there in history." Yun finally decided.
After temporarily deciding how to deal with Nanhanzhou, Yun put this memorial aside and continued to criticize the other memorials. At this time, Lian Zining came up and put the memorial in his hand on the imperial table. Yun didn't care and raised his head.
After saying a few words to him, he lowered his head and continued to criticize and answer the memorial. But then Lian Zining suddenly said: "Your Majesty, I have something to report to Your Majesty."
"What's the matter?" Yun asked.
"Your Majesty, I request you to retire and return to your hometown." Lian Zining suddenly knelt down and said.
Hearing this, Yun was startled and paused before ordering the eunuch to help him up.
"Why does Lian Qing suddenly want to retire?" After Lian Zining stood up, Yun asked again: "Lian Qing has been feeling unwell recently? I will immediately send an imperial doctor to treat Lian Qing."
"Your Majesty, although my body and bones are not as good as when I was young, I am still in good health and have not suffered from any disease." Lian Zining said hurriedly.
"Since my beloved is not sick, why do you suddenly ask for help?" Yun said.
"Your Majesty, it has been twenty-nine years since I was favored by the late Emperor to be ranked second on the list in the eighteenth year of Hongwu and served as editor of the Hanlin Academy. During these twenty-nine years, I have only returned to my hometown twice for funerals when my father and mother passed away.
In addition, I have never returned to my hometown. As I grow older, I miss my hometown more and more."
"Moreover, I am already in my sixties this year and have already passed my sixties. Although my body is still healthy, I may suddenly fall ill one day and the disease will be difficult to cure. I want to return while my body and bones are still good.
In the future, my children and grandchildren will not have to travel thousands of miles to return to my hometown for burial. I beg your Majesty to show mercy and allow me to retire and return to my hometown." Lian Zining said.
Hearing Lian Zining's words, Yun was very embarrassed. Lian Zining had already mentioned this, and besides, he was indeed quite old. In a situation where most people could only live around fifty years old, he really couldn't say for sure.
He passed away in one day, and it was inappropriate not to allow him to retire and return to his hometown.
But now he relies heavily on Lian Zining and does not want to let him go back. Yun is still carrying out reforms, and these reforms require the cooperation and support of ministers. Lian Zining's tough style is very useful in implementing reforms, which saves Yun a lot of money.
Don't worry. If he gets old, it will be easy to find someone to succeed Xia Fuguan, but it will be difficult to find someone like him who can vigorously promote reforms.
But looking at Lian Zining's expression, it was difficult for Yun to say the words he wanted to retain several times. After a while, Yun said: "Lian Qing, even if I want to retire, I have waited this month. Things this month are more complicated."
I'll wait until I'm done with my work before I say goodbye."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Lian Zining was very happy when he heard His Majesty's words that he was allowed to retire. He bowed and agreed.
"There is one more thing. I want you to help me get this done." Yun said again.
"But I will obey your majesty's orders." Lian Zining said hurriedly.
'If I ask you not to retire, you will obey.' Yun thought about this sentence in his mind, but did not say it out loud. He raised the tea cup and took a sip, and then said to him: "I want you to help me, and I will retire."
It’s been formulated.”
"Retirement system? What does your majesty mean?" Lian Zining was stunned for a moment and asked. He knew the two words "retirement" and knew their meanings, but when combined together, he didn't know what they meant.
"The meaning of retirement is that when an official reaches a certain age, he no longer holds an official position. The retirement system means that I set a rule that when an official of a certain level reaches a certain age, he must no longer hold an official position."
"Your Majesty, is this forcing me not to continue to hold an official position?" Lian Zining asked. Seeing Yun nodding, he couldn't help but wonder: "Your Majesty just wanted to retain me, why do you want to set a rule to force someone to not hold on to me when he reaches his age?"
What are the rules for becoming an official again?'
Lian Zining couldn't help but ask. Yun thought about it and decided to tell him the truth. "Because I intend to restore the system of prime minister."
"Restore the system of prime minister? Your Majesty, the late emperor has already abolished the position of prime minister. How can we restore it?" Lian Zining said immediately, his voice a little louder.
"My dear, you don't have to speak so loudly, you can speak louder," Yun said hurriedly. At the same time, he was a little lucky: "Today is a holiday, and there is only one assistant officer and one person from Zhongshushe who are on duty. The people from Zhongshushe are just now."
You followed my instructions and went to deliver the order. You don't have to worry about others hearing what you said. Otherwise, even if you talk to him in the side hall, he might be heard as loud as he was just now.'
He later explained his thoughts. "Lian Qing, I am not trying to restore the official position of prime minister, but to give the four auxiliary officers greater power, similar to the prime minister in the early years of Hongwu, so I call it restoring the prime minister system."
"Your Majesty, I dare to ask: Why should the fourth auxiliary officer be given greater power, similar to the prime minister in the early years of Hongwu?" Lian Zining asked again after his mood calmed down.
"Because the kings of future generations may not be as diligent as me." Yun said with a wry smile.
Yun's words sound a little funny: Compared with Zhu Yuanzhang, Yun's working hours are at most two-thirds, no, three-fifths. How can he be called diligent? But Yun's analogy is not Zhu Yuanzhang, but
He is the emperor of the late Ming Dynasty in history, and is also similar to the emperors of all middle and late dynasties.
In the middle and late stages of all dynasties in history, emperors will inevitably neglect their political affairs. They will have less and less time to deal with government affairs and leave more time to ministers. Yun does not think that his descendants can violate this rule. In this case, there must be something
Someone with enough power can handle the affairs of state on behalf of the emperor. The system of the Ming Dynasty is inherently flawed in this regard. No one can handle the affairs of the state on behalf of the emperor. As mentioned earlier, many of the chaos in the late Ming Dynasty in history are related to this system.
Defects related to this system. Although this system can prevent someone from usurping power from within the system, it also makes the court's operation efficiency extremely low, and local areas are gradually separated from the control of the central court. In order to avoid this situation, Yun could only decide to restore
,No, partially restore the prime minister system.
Of course, Yun did not tell the truth to Lian Zining in these words, but explained to him half truthfully and half falsely. After hearing Yun's half truthful and half false explanation, Lian Zining lowered his head and thought for a while, and said: "I understand, Your Majesty
The intention is clear. However, I still don’t understand: What does this have to do with formulating the retirement system?”
"The purpose of formulating the retirement system is to prevent people with evil intentions from threatening the society. We have stipulated in this system that the fourth auxiliary officer can only serve for one term for three years. After that, he cannot serve as the fourth auxiliary officer again, nor can he serve as the fourth auxiliary officer again.
Served in the Sixth Department."
"Of course, it would be too deliberate to set up this system only for the fourth auxiliary officers. And as far as I know, when many officials get older, they miss their hometown like Lian Qing and want to return to their hometown. However, if they are not old enough,
Asking to retire in his sixties or even seventies will inevitably make people think that he is dissatisfied with the court and will be ridiculed. Moreover, the salary after becoming an official is only half of what he was when he became an official. It is difficult for some officials from poor family backgrounds to maintain a decent salary.
life, so I don’t want to grow old.”
"In response to this, I have set up a retirement system to force officials to retire at a certain age, so that people who want to return to their hometowns to live leisurely do not have to worry about being thought to be dissatisfied with the court, and will no longer be ridiculed. In order to avoid family problems.
Due to the concerns of poor officials, I have decided that after this system is established, all officials can enjoy full salary after retirement; if they are of lower official rank, they can also transfer to an official position before retirement and be promoted by one level, and the payment will be based on the upgraded official position.
Salary.”
Everything Yun said was for the sake of officials. But the reason why he wanted to implement the retirement system was certainly not for the sake of officials. Yun believed that most officials would not make progress if they were not promoted to senior officials after reaching their fifties.
Stick to the old ways. Under normal circumstances, that's fine. Although they will stick to the old ways, they won't stop doing errands, and it won't have much impact.
There are many reforms that Ke Yun wants to implement, which are difficult for conservative officials to accept. Most of them will resist openly or covertly. On the contrary, young officials are more enterprising and accept reforms to a higher degree. In order to facilitate reforms, Yun has to promote a large number of people.
Young officials. Anyway, so many people graduate from the Imperial College every year, and there is an imperial examination every three years, so there is no need to worry about not enough people to be officials. But if a large number of older officials are fired, it will not only be difficult to do, but also the reputation of Yun will be damaged.
It caused a devastating blow, so we decided to implement the retirement system.
"I have decided that the retirement age for officials from the eighth to the seventh rank will be fifty-five; for officials from the fourth to the seventh rank, the retirement age will be sixty; and for officials from the first to the third rank, the retirement age will be
The age is set at sixty-five." Yun finally said the grade he had set for them.
After listening to Yun's words, Lian Zining lowered his head and remained silent. No matter how good Yun said it, the retirement system must be opposed by most officials, and only a few people are willing to retire. If Lian Zining implements this system, he will definitely
He would be drowned in the scolding, and he would have to lose his reputation. Yun also knew this, so he did not rush him, but just waited for Lian Zining to make his own decision.
After a long time, Lian Zining raised his head and said with approval: "Your Majesty, I am willing to implement the retirement system." 'The so-called eating the emperor's salary and being loyal to the emperor, since your majesty has given the order, how can I do it for my own sake?
Refusing in private? Moreover, His Majesty has placed great value on me and is very kind to me. If I evade, I would not have the face to consider myself a scholar. So I just agree,' he thought.
"Okay!" Hearing Lian Zining's promise, Yun immediately felt relieved and said loudly. He then realized that he was a little out of control, coughed and took a sip from the teacup to cover up his emotions. After he calmed down,
Then he said: "My dear, I agree very well. I will implement this system after I think about this matter again."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Lian Zining agreed again.
A few days later, Lian Zining suddenly proposed retirement during a court appearance. Yun pretended that he had not known about this matter before and did not express his position on the spot. Instead, he accepted Lian Zining's memorial and expressed that he would think about it.
After the news spread, many officials immediately began to scold Lian Zining. Even if he still receives a full salary after retirement according to the system, the various subsidies he received when he was an official are gone, and there will be less gifts for subordinates on their third birthday and two birthdays, not to mention the need for
You will definitely not get a cent of your money for corruption and bribery, which is very different from when you were an official. Except for a very small number of people, who is willing to retire early? As the instigator, Lian Zining will of course be scolded by them. Not only that,
They also began to slander Lian Zining's reputation. The slightest mistake made by Lian Zining when he was an official would be taken out and made a thousand times bigger, and he would be ridiculed.
Facing the scoldings and ridicules coming from all directions, Lian Zining just remained silent and ignored them completely. He went to court on time every day, went on duty, and went home after work, as if he didn't know.
There were also people who wanted to ridicule him in person, but were stopped by others. After all, Lian Zining was Xia Fuguan and was trusted by Yun, so the consequences of offending him in person were hard to predict. Moreover, some people thought about His Majesty's actions, and the more they thought about it, the more profound they became.
As expected, I don’t know who the real offender was by ridiculing Lian Zining in person, let alone doing this.
A few days later, Yun announced that he had accepted Lian Zining's suggestion and would implement the retirement system. Since he had already discussed this with all second- and third-grade officials in advance, they did not object, and the retirement system was officially implemented.
Another month later, Lian Zining formally submitted a letter requesting to retire according to the retirement system. Yun agreed to Lian Zining's request, and Lian Zining left the capital and returned to his hometown.
