At five o'clock in the morning, bells rang, followed by drums. With the sound of bells and drums, before dawn, the city gates opened and the streets opened.
The hard-working vendors have already gotten up early to make preparations.
Servants of wealthy families also get up and do their work. If there is a clock at home, you can also check whether your clock is accurate while the Bell and Drum Tower is telling the time. If it is not accurate, adjust the hour and minute hands immediately.
Clocks didn't need to be promoted by the imperial court at all, at least they were already popular in the capital.
However, the bell and drum towers in each city still use the traditional timekeeping method, relying on sundials and hour markers to measure time. The fifth watch is called the bright watch, and the bells are struck first and then the drums are struck; the first watch is called the fixed watch, and the drums are struck first.
Then ring the bell - it is the morning bell and evening drum.
Since there was no advance notice, there would be no court meeting today. The ministers were used to the emperor not going to court. While admonishing the emperor to be diligent, they slept happily until dawn. Anyway, the responsibility was all on the emperor. They were simply forced to sleep so late.
of.
Under the service of his wife, Zheng Shanfu finished dressing and washing, and went to the Ministry of Etiquette to work in high spirits.
As the editor-in-chief of the Zhengde New Calendar, he had great success during this period. Although he was not directly promoted to Shaozhanshi due to opposition from courtiers, he also served as Zuo Shuzi of Zuochunfang, giving himself a layer of golden status as an official of Zhanshifu.
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Not long after Zheng Shanfu came to the office, Wang Zan, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, arrived.
"Wang Shilang!" Zheng Shanfu immediately stood up to greet him.
Wang Zan warned: "This spring, due to severe drought and haze (sandstorm), the cabinet plans to cancel the Dragon Boat Festival celebrations, His Majesty's inspection of hussars, dragon boat banquets, etc. will no longer be held. In this regard, the Ministry of Rites has reviewed and agreed. The edict
, the Ministry of Rites selects a date, urges all officials to fast, and sends officials to offer sacrifices to the mountains and rivers."
Zheng Shanfu quickly raised his hands and said, "I'll do it immediately."
Zheng Shanfu is the chief priest of the Temple of Rites, ranking second among the priests of the Ministry of Rites, and is responsible for various sacrificial activities.
As for Wang Zan, he had been the right minister of the Ministry of Rites for many years. When Wang Yuan was away from the capital, Wang Zan always acted as the left minister.
After Wang Zan left, Zheng Shanfu immediately got busy. He first calculated the auspicious days of the zodiac, selected the fasting and sacrificial dates, and then selected nobles to preside over the sacrificial rituals on behalf of the emperor.
After finishing all this work, Zheng Shanfu felt a little hungry, so he ran to the lobby of the Ministry of Etiquette to look at the clock, but it was already 1:30 in the afternoon.
After calling the head priest of the Rites Temple, Zheng Shanfu was about to assign work when he suddenly felt the house shaking.
Although it was only shaken for a short time, Zheng Shanfu was still so frightened that his face turned pale.
There was an earthquake in Nanjing half a year ago, and now there is an earthquake in Beijing.
This thing is so weird. Just one month after the promulgation of the new calendar, the capital city was hit by sandstorms and earthquakes one after another. This must have given officials who opposed the calendar change a reason to attack the new calendar. Wang Yuan was among the first to bear the brunt, and Zheng Shanfu must be
Taking the blame.
Zheng Shanfu hurriedly went to find Wang Yuan, but Wang Yuan was not working in the Ministry of Rites.
Wang Yuan gave a lecture to the prince in the morning and was taken by the emperor to go swimming in the lake in the afternoon. Zheng Shanfu could only wait patiently. In the evening, he went to the prince's house in the west of the city and was invited in for a cup of tea. Finally, he waited until Wang Yuan rode his horse home.
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"Sir, there was an earthquake today!" Zheng Shanfu said.
Wang Yuan smiled and said: "I know, I was taking a boat trip to Taiye Lake with His Majesty at that time."
Zheng Shanfu reminded: "The new calendar has only been promulgated for a month."
"There is no need to panic," Wang Yuan said consolingly. "The earthquake in Nanjing half a year ago and now the earthquake in Beijing must be caused by mistakes in previous sacrifices. There were still earthquakes after the promulgation of the new calendar. It is just that the implementation of the new calendar was not effective. Just urge officials in various places to implement it conscientiously.
."
"Is everything okay?" Zheng Shanfu asked.
"I'm supporting you," Wang Yuan said with a smile.
In the next few days, there were indeed countless impeachment memorials. Most of them targeted Wang Yuan, but a few caught Zheng Shanfu and started to criticize him.
Wang Yuan was so sweet, but Zheng Shanfu was on pins and needles. How had he ever been treated like this?
Then, nothing happened. As Wang Yuan said, the announcement of the New Calendar and the earthquake must be the reason why the promotion of the New Calendar is unfavorable!
…
Yang Zhai.
Cabinet minister Mao Ji put down his tea cup and asked: "It's a major event in the new calendar. If there's an earthquake, why doesn't Mr. Yang take the opportunity to attack?"
Yang Tinghe said with a smile: "Wang Ruoxu's holy family is prosperous. Even if you find the real reason for him, your majesty will probably pretend that nothing happened. Let alone one earthquake, even ten earthquakes in the capital will not be able to hurt him at all. In that case, why?
Do you want to act recklessly?"
"You can't hurt Wang Ruoxu, but you can hurt Zheng Shanfu!" Mao Ji said in confusion.
Yang Tinghe shook his head and said: "It is useless to remove a doctor from the Ministry of Rites. Wang Ruoxu will definitely fight back. What he says in front of His Majesty is worth a hundred words to you and me. I called you here today because I want to discuss with Liang Shuhou.
Liang Chu)."
Mao Ji asked: "What happened to Mr. Liang Ge?"
"I fell ill and was bedridden," Yang Tinghe said.
Liang Chu was seventy-four years old and was already in poor health. The earthquake a few days ago frightened the old man so much that he fell and fell into a coma. When he woke up, he was half paralyzed - a stroke.
The doctor said that as long as he takes good care of himself, there is still a chance of recovery.
Liang Chunan recovered for a few days, and he did improve. He could lift his arms and could barely walk even if he was supported. Therefore, he blocked the news and only said that he occasionally got cold and expected to recover in a month or two.
But there is no airtight wall in the world, and Yang Tinghe soon received the exact news.
Yang Tinghe said: "Although Liang Shuhou's condition has improved, he will probably not be able to serve as a cabinet minister again. Jin Chongsui (Jin Gui) is also frail and sick. He resigned several times last winter, but his Majesty kept him in the cabinet. If he gets sick again, he will resign.
, Your Majesty may have no choice but to agree."
Mao Ji asked: "Take the opportunity to recommend cabinet ministers?"
Yang Tinghe nodded and said: "Jiang Jingzhi (Jiang Mian) has enough qualifications to join the cabinet."
"What about the Hanlin Academy and the imperial office?" Mao Ji asked.
Jiang Mian is now in charge of the Hanlin Academy and the imperial office. Once he joins the cabinet, these powers will have to be handed over.
Yang Tinghe narrowed his eyes and smiled: "Qiao Xida (Qiao Yu)."
"How could it be him?" Mao Ji was shocked.
Qiao Yu is currently the Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing, the head of Nanjing's hundred officials, and has a very high prestige as a scholar. However, Qiao Yu is Yang Yiqing's student and Li Dongyang's lifelong friend, so he is not in the same pot as Yang Tinghe.
Yang Tinghe explained: "If Jiang Jingzhi (Jiang Mian) joins the cabinet, we have taken the greatest advantage. If we elect one of our own to take charge of the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial Palace, not to mention the opposition of the courtiers, even His Majesty will be jealous. Why not
What if Yang Yingning (Yang Yiqing)'s student is transferred back from Nanjing to run the Hanlin Academy? Yang Yingning must agree to this matter. No matter who is in charge of the Hanlin Academy, it cannot be Wang Ruoxu's person!"
In the current situation in the court, Yang Tinghe simply cannot be the sole leader. He relied on Chen Yong, who had been demoted to Qingtian, to win over many centrist Jiangxi officials, and now he is trying to win over Yang Yiqing.
Moreover, Qiao Yu is a conservative. As far as his political stance is concerned, he agrees with Yang Tinghe and has nothing in common with his teacher Yang Yiqing.
Yang Tinghe said: "You can make arrangements for the nomination of cabinet ministers."
Yang Tinghe made a good calculation. Both Liang Chu and Jin Gui were ill, and it seemed that they would not be cabinet ministers for long. If Jiang Mian was brought into the cabinet again and Yang Yiqing was friends with him, he would basically be able to completely control the cabinet.