The luxurious carriage procession gradually drove out of the city gate.
The emperor led the team, accompanied by guards in royal robes, escorting Yang Tinghe to retire and return home.
Brothers Yang Shen and Yang Dun followed on horseback. They were sending their father to Shuiyi Wharf outside the city, where there were a large number of officials waiting to see him off.
In the carriage, besides Yang Tinghe, there was also Wang Yuan.
Wang Yuan was so generous that he not only asked the retro-style literati to write poems and lyrics to praise Yang Tinghe's political achievements, but also personally sent Yang Tinghe home as a gift today.
Yang Tinghe was already seriously ill. He was swaying in the carriage and asked, "Do you really want the princess?"
Wang Yuan said: "It's not a rumor."
"Why bother?" Yang Tinghe sighed.
Wang Yuan smiled: "The late emperor's decree is this, who can object?"
Yang Tinghe said: "This matter is against the rules."
Wang Yuan said: "But it does not violate the rules of Taizu and Taizong."
Yang Tinghe said: "If you only want to reform the bad government, you should be cautious. How can you ruin big things because of small things? Not only will your future be ruined, but you will also attract criticism for yourself."
Wang Yuan said with a smile: "I asked my eldest son to go overseas and my second son Princess Shang. Can't I express my feelings? Your Majesty is smart and will understand."
"Alas." Yang Tinghe sighed.
When Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di were emperors, most of the princes-in-law were the sons of powerful people and could have real power.
As the civil service group gradually grew, the candidates for the prince-in-law turned to the people, regardless of their origins, as long as they were handsome. However, the real power was deprived, and they could only worship on behalf of the emperor, or control the clan mansion. Moreover, there was an unspoken rule. If the father-in-law had
If you hold an official position, you must resign to avoid suspicion.
According to this unspoken rule, if Wang Su marries the princess, Wang Yuan must resign!
Zhu Houzhao was accustomed to breaking the rules, so he naturally didn't care when choosing his consort. Wang Yuan also followed the trend, letting his eldest son go overseas, and letting his second son marry the princess. He clearly refused to let his sons become high officials, so as to show that he would not dominate the country for a long time.
The court will not allow his son to be in a high position.
The father-in-law must resign?
Haha, I want to restore the ancestral system. Taizu and Taizong did not have such regulations.
Wang Yuan said directly: "When the old man returns to his hometown, he hopes to take the initiative to clear the land of the Yang family. During the reform, I will not show favoritism to anyone. Even the brothers of the Queen Mother cannot escape the order of clearing the father. Only in this way can the gentry and right-wingers be frightened.
"
Yang Tinghe said with a smile: "The Yang family has been scholarly for generations, so we will not hide our land."
"I hope so." Wang Yuan did not argue.
Yang Tinghe's smile was a little awkward. Just two years ago, the Yang family was severely infiltrated by Jin Lei. Although they did not directly harm the people, they continued to annex land at low prices through famine, military affairs, and corvee labor. The Yang family was interested in
You don't need to come forward to get fertile land. Local officials recruit corvees and force the landowners to sell their land to protect themselves. Moreover, they accept countless donations and conceal huge land taxes!
This matter was not dealt with publicly, but it spread throughout the court and the public. Yang Tinghe was so disgraced that he wanted to strangle Yang Tingyi, who was in charge of family affairs, to death with his own hands.
Yang Tinghe spent three years in Dingyou's life to build bridges and pave roads, and the good reputation he had earned in his hometown was completely destroyed by his brother!
The carriage quickly left the city, and dozens of officials and scholars had been waiting for it for a long time.
But when the carriage stopped, it was Wang Yuan who showed up first and helped Yang Tinghe get out of the car together with Yang Shen.
People praised one after another that it was a blessing for the country that the two generations of ministers were so harmonious.
The willow trees along the river were damaged, and officials broke off the willow branches to see them off. This was a serious violation because the willow branches on both sides of the canal were strategic materials.
Well, don't be harsh, lest you ruin the scenery. After all, breaking willows to say goodbye is an elegant thing.
Wang Yuan watched the official ship leave from a distance and couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
No matter how many shortcomings Yang Tinghe had, at least he was always supporting the political situation of the Zhengde Dynasty. It is difficult to judge the merits and demerits.
Yang Tinghe walked away, and the officials turned to Wang Yuan one after another, and enthusiastically asked him to take the lead back to the city: "Please, Mr. Wang!"
…
Yang Tinghe left Beijing, Jiang Mian also left Beijing, and the situation in the court changed drastically again.
Wang Yuan passed through the Wuying Hall and the Wenhua Hall, and was promoted to a bachelor of the Jinshen Hall by the emperor, directly transforming into the first assistant. All official positions are: Youzhuguo (the first rank), Guanglu Dafu (from the first rank)
rank), Prince Shaobao (the second rank), Minister of the Ministry of Rites (the second rank and a virtual post), Bachelor of Jinshen Palace (the fifth rank, the first assistant), and a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy (the fifth rank and a virtual post).
Cabinet ministers: Wang Yuan, Mao Ji, Wang Qiong, Wang Jun, Liao Ji, Wang Xian, Wang Hong.
Hanlin bachelor and in charge of the Imperial Palace: Wang Tingxiang
Minister of the Ministry of Personnel: He Tang
Minister of War: Li Chengxun
Minister of Household Affairs: Yan Song
Minister of Rites: Luo Qinshun
Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice: Yan Yishou
Minister of the Ministry of Industry: Zhao Huang
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Censor of Zuodu: Chen Yong
Wang Yuan recruited several people into the cabinet at once. Except for Yan Yishou, the Minister of Punishment, all the chief officials of other key departments were replaced by his own people.
With this kind of power, Yang Tinghe has never achieved anything in his life.
Because Yang Tinghe always had Zhu Houzhao on his head, the emperor was always mixing sand in the six departments, or Jiang Bin and other powerful officials were mixing sand. Wang Yuan was a little emperor above him, and he had the trust of the Queen Mother. His starting point as the chief assistant was to cover the sky with one hand.
Yan Yishou, the Minister of Punishment, was a member of Yang Tinghe's party, but he was a pretty good official, so he was not moved by Wang Yuan.
However, if Yan Yishou does not cooperate in the future or holds a hand at critical moments, Wang Yuan would not mind sending him to Nanjing for retirement.
Chen Yong finally made it through. He was deceived by Wang Yuan in Qingtian, Jiangxi, and offended a lot of people in Qingliu. Not only did he face danger to his life several times, but he was also demoted and idle for several years. Now he finally takes control of the Procuratorate.
Anyone can betray Wang Yuan, but Chen Yong will never do it. He has offended too many people, and he can only follow Wang Yuan to the dark side. It is perfect for him to control the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
As for Zhang Cong, because of his merits in building the railway, he was promoted to the right minister of the Ministry of Rites.
Xia Yan inspected the Shuntian Mansion with meritorious service and was promoted to the Metropolitan Procuratorate (promoted two levels in a row). His official career was developing towards a big blow.
After Wang Yuan took control of the court, he still did not carry out local reforms. He allowed the retro-style literati to gain momentum while rectifying the government officials.
A few days before Zhu Zaiyi's wedding, the imperial court promulgated the "Legal Examination Law."
From now on, the work content of Beijing officials will be under the supervision of the six departments. Every once in a while, each department will be inspected. Which department did not complete the work on time and which department did the work well will be recorded.
The performance evaluation basis of the department chief. Department chiefs must also record the work status of subordinate officials in their respective departments.
The official test score book is divided into three books, compiled by six statistics, one is forwarded to the Cabinet, one is forwarded to the Supervisor of Ceremonies, and one is forwarded to the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
From now on, officials in the capital should no longer try to fish for money. All the crimes will be recorded in the books, and official promotions and demotions will be based on work performance.
While the power of the Sixth Section has greatly increased, the right to criticize has been abolished. That is to say, the Sixth Section is responsible for secretarial, auditing, and supervision work, and is no longer allowed to interfere with the affairs of the cabinet and the Six Ministries, lest many government orders fall into disputes due to the Sixth Section.
This is also very different from Zhang Juzheng's approach. In Zhang Juzheng's hands, the Sixth Section became the "Cabinet Guards" to consolidate the power of the Sixth Department.
But Wang Yuan doesn't need to be like this, because his starting point is too high, and he can immediately control the six departments as soon as he becomes the first assistant.
Without Liu Ke as a royal guard, under normal circumstances, the cabinet cannot cover the sky with one hand. Even if Wang Yuan leaves the court one day, the Six Branches will not be completely manipulated by the cabinet. Even if the successor as the chief minister wants to counterattack, it will depend on whether the six ministers agree.
If the future chief minister wants to undermine the results of the reform, he must at least control the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Punishment at the same time!
How could no one object to the sudden promulgation of the "Legal Examination Law" and the stringent curse placed on Beijing officials?
Wang Yuan was waiting, and Yang Dang, one of the opponents, took the opportunity to be purged.
Wang Yuan's methods are not that low-level. He doesn't do anything to exclude dissidents, and everything is done according to the rules.
The Yang Party took the initiative to cut redundancies and take back the Huangzhuang Huangdian. How could they not take advantage of the opportunity? And the people from the Wang Party who were sent to assist had a lot of black information in their hands!
Let Yan Yishou, the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment, be responsible for the investigation, let Party Yang go to trial Party Yang, and it has nothing to do with Wang Yuan no matter how many people are brought down. If Yan Yishou dares to show mercy, then just kick him to Nanjing, and Wang Yuan can take advantage of the situation and control the Ministry of Punishments. If Yan Yishou
If he handles the matter impartially, he will definitely be regarded as a traitor by Party Yang, and he will follow Wang Yuan's path to darkness from then on.
The Yang Party has been dealt with a lot, and those who are not opponents of the Yang Party naturally have to weigh their own futures.
Doesn’t anyone object to this?
The "Kaocheng Law" was successfully promulgated and implemented, which was regarded as Wang Yuan's wedding gift to the emperor.