Chapter 261 260 Threat

Although Xu Jie guessed a little, he still couldn't change the memorial he had written in the end, so he could only hand it over unchanged.

As expected, on the second day after submitting the memorial, Xu Jie learned through his own channels that Emperor Jiajing just smiled after seeing his memorial, and then uttered four words that made his liver and gallbladder split.

"Unbelievably stupid."

This was the only thing Emperor Jiajing said when he saw his memorial.

"What else did the emperor say later?"

This is in a small garden next to the East Pavilion. The location is remote and few people come and go, and the road coming here is also watched by his people. Naturally, no one will come in and see what is happening here.

At this time, a man in front of Xu Jie, dressed as a chamberlain, bowed and replied: "The emperor said later that this man's heart has changed after he has been an official for a long time.

At that time, Eunuch Huang said that it was because the adults wanted to share their worries for the country that they took the initiative to do this errand, and they probably had no other thoughts.

But the emperor just sneered and didn't say anything else. He just asked someone to turn out the impeachment memorials of the Jinke Jinshi scholars and show them to him. According to the godfather's analysis, it is likely that someone will be selected from among them to go.

The emperor's intention should be that he was just going to investigate a prince's illegal activities. The court did not need to spend a lot of time and sent officials of the court to go there. It felt like killing a chicken with a sledgehammer. "

Hearing this, Xu Jie sighed inwardly, "Yes, a powerless prince doesn't need to take care of his face. If he wants to save face, he won't do anything arrogant."

Unfortunately, it was a little late to understand this relationship and fell into Yan Song's trap.

Unexpectedly, he had stooped to such an extent, and the old guy was still on guard against him.

But what Xu Jie wants to know now is who will be the lucky one who will be ordered by Emperor Jiajing to go to Junzhou to investigate King Hui.

"According to my godfather, the memorials of Zou Yinglong, Lao Kan and Wei Guangde were left behind, but judging from the emperor's wishes, Zou Yinglong seems to be more favored."

The waiter replied.

"Zou Yinglong? Which yamen is he watching the government?"

Xu Jie had some impression of this name. He seemed to have come to his home a few days ago. In fact, after the imperial examination every year, new scholars would selectively send greetings everywhere.

For Xu Jie, who is a cabinet minister, he will naturally receive a lot of money.

Of course, they will not pay too much attention to these people's approach, let alone reject them. They will only start to pay attention to everything after Guan Zheng's appointment. Unless they find particularly good seedlings among them, they will not pay attention to them before the appointment. Reach out and pull.

For new Jinshi who have entered the officialdom, this is a chance to become disciples and hope to be cared for by senior officials. For those in high positions, it is an opportunity to cultivate a team of younger generations.

Select capable and responsible talents from those who are willing to join you and use them for your own use. You only need to speak out for them at critical times and fight for them. This will also expand your power.

"Zou Yinglong works in the Ministry of Rites to observe politics and serve in the Department of Pre-allocation of Pedestrians. Two days ago, the Ministry of Personnel received the first batch of Jinshi and his name is on the official list."

After being mentioned by the young chamberlain, Xu Jie remembered that some of the Jinshi candidates for this year's Bingchen Palace Examination would be conferred in the near future, and he should have seen Zou Yinglong's name in that list.

The Pingren Department was a very special department in the Ming Dynasty. Its work and name were very apt. It was people who moved around. In fact, they were dispatched on business trips. Officials needed accompanying personnel when they went on patrol. The Pingren Department was such a yamen.

In the Ming Dynasty, the Ministry of Rites was responsible for the affairs of domestic vassals and foreign vassals. There were also institutions such as Siyi Pavilion and Huitong Pavilion under it. Honglu Temple also had close contacts with the Ministry of Rites and even had a certain subordinate relationship.

The Department of Hosts and Guests under the Ministry of Rites is responsible for the affairs of the feudal vassals paying tribute and receiving gifts. Each tribe pays tribute and distinguishes its tribute routes, tribute envoys, and the number of tributes far and near, so as to determine whether the king's envoys will welcome and send off, banquets, and tents. , food, etc., the difference between rewards and gifts.

Fan Gong must read it carefully, and then go to the inner palace. If there are any goods attached, it will be worth it. If the Tibetan country asks for the title of heir, he will be sent and registered in his country. When the envoy returns, he will consider the customs, customs and customs of the place, and present the rituals and texts as a gift. If the various tribes have the ability to protect the fortress, they will be granted seals by imperial edict. When people from various countries come and go, if there are imperial edicts, the imperial edicts will be verified, and if the records are collected, the records will be inspected, and no one will be ordered to leave.

Local officials paid tribute and inspected the records. When he returns, he will carry out the edicts engraved in gold, which will surely be compared with the bronze talismans. He was responsible for reviewing speeches, translating texts, sending companions to the library, and checking the translators and generalists of the Siyi Library, and prohibiting their communication and leakage. All gifts from the imperial court and tribute from local products from various provinces should be handed over to the emperor."

Siyiguan is an official translation agency with real significance in Chinese history. Although there were official positions engaged in translation in previous dynasties, the establishment of specialized agencies began in the Ming Dynasty.

Honglu Temple is in charge of "court meetings, guests, good and bad rites.

All major national ceremonies: suburban temples, sacrifices, court gatherings, banquets, sutra banquets, canonization, entering the calendar, entering spring, passing on the system, and memorializing victory, all are dedicated to their own affairs. When foreign officials pay homage, the tribes and tribes pay tribute, and when officials and envoys return their orders and express their thanks, and if they see those who say goodbye, they will be quoted by Hong Lu.

The Huitong Pavilion was a large-scale posthouse in the Ming Dynasty that was specially used to accommodate tribute personnel. Foreign tribute envoys who came to the DPRK generally lived in one of the four pavilions in the southeast, northwest and northwest of the Huitong Pavilion.

Since there is something coming, there is naturally something going out. The Xingrensi is such an organization. Its responsibility is to "specialize in advocating festivals and serving envoys. It is responsible for issuing and executing edicts, canonizing clans, approving tribes, recruiting talents, and working with husbands." Rewards, condolences, relief, military expeditions, sacrifices, etc. "

After the court selected the chief and deputy envoys, most of the accompanying officials were drawn from the Xingren Division.

Initially, the Xingren Division had low official positions, with only the ninth and ninth grades, but after the large-scale tribute wave in the early Ming Dynasty, it was promoted to the seventh grade, "because most of the Xingren were filial and honest talents, and the envoys were incompetent."

Obviously, Zou Yinglong was also selected by the court. After entering the Ministry of Rites to observe politics, he was transferred to the Xingren Division. In the future, he would be able to handle both internal and external affairs.

"Is that Lao Kan also from Jiangxi?"

Xu Jie analyzed them one by one at this time to see who had a higher probability of winning.

There was no need to ask Wei Guangde. He had met this person several times and visited his house and said a few words.

He was deeply impressed by Wei Guangde from Jiangxi. He noticed him since the palace examination, but it was not easy to intervene and win him over.

"Lao Kan and Wei Guangde are from the same hometown and are from Jiujiang Prefecture. Now he is observing the government in the Ministry of Justice. It is not clear whether he will stay in the Ministry or be sent out. His name is not on the list."

"Did the emperor nod to the list of the Ministry of Rites?"

Xu Jie suddenly thought of another thing and asked suddenly.

"No, His Majesty just looked at it at that time and kept it in the palace. He did not give any instructions immediately."

The eunuch said immediately.

Hearing this, Xu Jie was sure in his heart. Although Zou Yinglong was mentioned in the first position, he, who was about to serve as a clerk in the Ministry of Rites, could not be sent to Henan to investigate the case unless he was specially granted the title of censor.

The Ministry of Rites concurrently served as censor, and it seemed that there was no such arrangement.

Lao Kan was possible. He only needed to add his name to the list, and he could be directly transferred to the Censorate, and he could be sent out to Henan to investigate the case.

As for Wei Guangde, the editor of the Hanlin Academy still held the title of the Taichang Temple, and it was unlikely that he would be given the title of censor of the Censorate.

Three seventh-rank official positions in one person, this is a joke.

Wei Guangde has been promoted from review to editing, and part-time jobs are generally used to upgrade officials or increase their power. It is rare for Wei Guangde to hold two seventh-rank official positions. Xu Jie believes that Emperor Jiajing will not give him the title of censor again.

When Xu Jie inquired about the news of Xiyuan, the list initially determined by Emperor Jiajing was also quietly sent to Wei Guangde.

Seeing that Zou Yinglong was ranked first, Wei Guangde could only smile bitterly, because Zou Yinglong had an average relationship with him.

Zou Yinglong, whose courtesy name is Yunqing, was from Gailan, Lanzhou. Because of the geographical relationship, he and Wei Guangde were destined not to get along well.

And according to Lao Kan's observation, Zou Yinglong got closer to Xu Jie after the palace examination. I heard that it was Xu Jie who raised his rank during the palace examination, and Zou also submitted a letter to worship Xu Jie.

As for the remaining Lao Kan and himself, the probability of winning the prize is estimated to be low.

Wei Guangde could only smile bitterly. What else could he say? He was too clever and ended up helping others.

The news of Emperor Jiajing's investigation of Prince Hui soon spread throughout the officialdom of the capital under the promotion of some people.

Most people sensed the meaning of Emperor Jiajing's decision not to nod to the candidates recommended by the cabinet, but to select candidates from the memorials of the new Jinshi.

Well, the emperor seemed to be warning them that if they didn't work hard, I would have plenty of people to replace them.

This was a naked threat.

The imperial examination was held every three years, and hundreds of new Jinshi were born each time. Even if there were serious vacancies in the court, they would try to release more places to solve the problem.

In the Ming Dynasty, there were really few scholars who didn't want to be officials.

Don't look at the fact that many scholars in the opposition talked a lot all day, worried about the country and the people, and wanted to realize their ambitions for the country and the people. In fact, most of these people were failures in the imperial examination.

Because they failed the exam, they acted like this. They pretended to be indifferent to fame and wealth in front of others, but they were cynical behind others.

The candidates recommended by the ministry could actually do what I asked a new Jinshi to do.

By this time, the officialdom in the capital had finally calmed down. Although there were still people impeaching from time to time, more officials chose to deal with government affairs down to earth.

However, in the Ming Dynasty, there were not many government affairs for them to deal with. It can only be said that some were busy to death, and some were idle to death.

The power department like the cabinet is the representative of being busy to death. Every day, there are memorials from all over the country sent to the capital, which need them to draft and send to the palace for approval.

Wei Guangde was one of those who died of idleness. He just invited Lao Kan and other classmates to have a drink together, and no longer had high expectations for going to Junzhou.

The emperor's attitude spread and the selection event quickly cooled down within two days. On this day, in the Yongshou Palace in the Western Garden, Emperor Jiajing was chanting scriptures and striking the chimes as usual. Perhaps because he didn't rest well last night, he took a nap and his hand accidentally slipped out and struck the dragon table.

With a "bang", Emperor Jiajing was startled. He opened his eyes and saw Ruyi knocking on the desk, and then quickly began to pray in his heart.

Well, I am practicing now. If I accidentally anger the gods and say that I am not sincere, how can I improve my skills in the future.

However, in the eyes of the eunuchs and palace maids on the side, it was the emperor who dozed off while chanting scriptures and woke them up, which was very funny.

But what kind of place is this, Yongshou Palace, everyone can only want to laugh but dare not laugh, and it is very painful to hold it back.

While Emperor Jiajing was still silently praying, there was a silver bell-like laughter. A little palace maid who had just entered the palace was impolite and laughed out loud.

This scene scared Huang Jin half to death, and he cursed the little maid in his heart for not having a good eye and forgetting the most taboo things around His Majesty.

Since the "Renyin Palace Change", Emperor Jiajing's attitude towards the palace maids has been very harsh, and they will be beaten, scolded, and beheaded if they are not careful.

After all, the palace change that year almost cost him his life.

Emperor Jiajing looked up and saw a beautiful little maid who was covering her mouth with both hands in panic and looking at him. Although her face was terrified, her eyes were still smiling like crescent moons.

The little girl was thirteen or fourteen years old, and looked innocent. At this time, she had already thought of the taboos, and her face was more frightened, but her eyes still exuded a look that made Emperor Jiajing's heart move.

This scene made his heart, which had been dead for a long time, ripple. He stared at the little maid silently for a long time. At the moment when the air in the palace was extremely solemn, Emperor Jiajing suddenly laughed out loud.

"Haha."

Different from the previous laughter, at least in the eyes of Huang Jin who was serving on the side, this laughter was from the heart.

Your Majesty was not really angry, thank God, Huang Jin silently said a few words in his heart.

Emperor Jiajing laughed enough, then waved his hand, and Huang Jin tactfully asked everyone else to leave.

The eunuchs and palace maids in the hall left the hall in a panic as if they had been pardoned.

Seeing that everyone had left, Emperor Jiajing asked Huang Jin: "Is it quiet outside the palace?"

"Your Majesty, all the government offices are honest."

Huang Jin knew what he was asking and answered in a low voice.

"Take the memorials that have been retained and approve them, reject Zisheng's memorial, and select an imperial censor from the Censorate to go down and take a look."

Then, Emperor Jiajing gave another order.

Zisheng, of course, was Xu Jie. The candidate recommended by the Ministry was rejected by Emperor Jiajing, and the Censorate sent an imperial censor to investigate the case instead.

In fact, this is considered normal operation, but the officials in the capital see the possibility of overthrowing a prince, which is an opportunity to make a name for themselves, so naturally they don't want to miss it.

"The note from the Jinyiwei yesterday said that Wei Guangde might marry the Duke of Wei's mansion. You go down and ask Wen Fu to find out more details. I want to know when the Xu family came up with this idea."

"Yes, I will inform Governor Lu when I go down."

Huang Jin hurriedly bowed and accepted the order, and then planned to do it according to the will of Emperor Jiajing, but then he heard a sentence that made him drop his jaw: "Arrange that palace maid to sleep with you tonight."