Chapter 703 802 Candidates for the Minister of Revenue

Since the beginning of the third year of Longqing, with the launch of the imperial examination, the official positions of officials in the capital have been in constant change.

The changes in the upper-level officials are not big, after all, that requires the approval of Emperor Longqing.

Under the premise of not losing the emperor's favor, their official positions will certainly not change.

However, some of the lower officials have been promoted, some have been transferred horizontally, and there are more who have stayed where they are. There are also dozens of officials who have been dismissed.

Originally, such adjustments were nearing the end. Those who should leave have left, and those who should be promoted have already made connections and arranged their positions. They are just waiting for the official documents from the Ministry of Personnel to take office.

But at this time, the court suddenly vacated a third-rank official position, and all those who were eligible to compete for this position in the court were excited.

The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice is a third-rank official position in the court.

Although the Ministry of Justice seems to have less power than the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue, it is a third-rank official position after all.

In the court of the Ming Dynasty, there were only a limited number of fourth-rank officials, and each position was filled by one person. Whenever a position became vacant, it would attract countless people to compete for it.

If someone was promoted to the position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, there would be a high probability that a fourth-rank official position would be vacated.

Everyone was paying attention to who would be promoted, and whether they had a chance to take the vacant position. As for which unlucky person would be selected by the Beijing Inspection, who would care.

Those who lost their official positions were no longer the same as them.

Officials who were dismissed were different from those who were deprived of their official positions for offending the emperor.

Those officials who impeached Yan Song and accused Emperor Jiajing were now rehabilitated, the dead were posthumously awarded, and the living were re-appointed.

But those who were dismissed in the capital were different. They were considered unqualified to continue to hold official positions by the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate, which was actually detrimental to their reputation.

Few of the dismissed officials could return to the court.

Generally speaking, if the court knew that his future was hopeless, it would choose to let him step down in a decent way, that is, to resign voluntarily, so that he would have a chance to return to the court.

But this time, it didn't happen. It directly gave him a comment that he failed the assessment, which almost cut off his hope of reinstatement.

No one knew what Hong Chaoxuan felt when he received the document. The people in the Ministry of Justice just looked at him with sympathy.

He had just returned from a business trip to Huguang a few days ago, and he had not yet accumulated merits to accumulate capital for promotion, but he got a document of dismissal.

They just quietly made way and watched him walk out of the Ministry of Justice in despair.

After leaving the Ministry of Justice, his family didn't know that he was dismissed, so the sedan chair sent him to the yamen and went back, and would not come to wait for orders until near noon.

Hong Chaoxuan didn't stay in the yamen to wait for the sedan chair to come. He really didn't have the face to stay there now.

He was a person who was dismissed because of his failure in the assessment. His future was ruined. Staying would only make others laugh.

Early in the morning, the people who went to the market saw a high-ranking official in a red robe walking desolately on the street, his eyes dull, like a walking corpse.

The people were pointing and talking around him, saying all kinds of things.

You know, although the people could not understand the patches on the official uniform and did not know how high the official was, they still knew the red color, which was only the color that the most important people in the court could wear.

After Hong Chaoxuan, the people in the capital talked about it, and soon the news came out from some government office.

The gossip about Hong Chaoxuan "showing off in the market" has become the topic of conversation for the people in the capital today.

How many people have seen such an adult? In the past, they passed by in cars and sedan chairs and could not see him at all.

The cabinet was of course the first to know the news of Hong Chaoxuan's dismissal. It took a day from the approval of the palace to the return of the cabinet to the release of the news.

Wei Guangde was also looking through the imperial edict of the imperial examination, which was returned from the palace.

The Imperial Household Department also had to follow procedures for returning the imperial edict, and like the cabinet, the memorials were also prioritized.

Urgent documents would be handled specially and delivered as soon as possible, so as not to be delayed in their hands. As for ordinary documents, especially routine documents, as long as they did not delay things, they would often be delayed.

Jobs are never completed.

"The Minister of Rites and Hanlin Academy Academician Gao Yi, the Minister of War Huo Ji, the Minister of Punishment Mao Kai, the Minister of Works Zhu Heng, the Left Vice Minister of Rites Wan Shihe, the Right Vice Minister and Hanlin Academy Academician Lü Diaoyang, the Left Vice Minister of Punishment Hong Chaoxuan, the Right Vice Minister Zheng Shiwei, the Left Vice Minister of Works Xu Gang, the Imperial College Jiji Wang Xilie, the Hanlin Academy Attending Academician Zhu Dashou each reported themselves for investigation, and Shiwei was ordered to retire by the imperial edict, and the rest of them continued to serve as before."

A very ordinary document, written by the Imperial Household Department, according to the decision made by Emperor Longqing after reading the reports of the main officials of the six ministries.

After Wei Guangde quickly read it, he planned to call the Zhongshu Sheren to take it down and draft the imperial edict. There were too many people who received the imperial edict this time, and Wei Guangde didn't want to spend time on this matter, so he let the Zhongshu in the cabinet do it best.

There are fixed templates, with the yamen and names changed, and they are universal, so they can be sent directly.

However, Wei Guangde closed his mouth again, re-examined the document, and looked at the time. Sure enough, there was a flaw.

Hong Chaoxuan, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, had been dismissed by Emperor Longqing, but this document still ordered him to continue to serve.

This was a coincidence in time. The Imperial Household Department had just drafted this document according to the emperor's wishes, and then they dismissed him.

He picked up the red pen and wrote the word "dismissed" next to Hong Chaoxuan's name. Looking at the end, Emperor Longqing ordered Zheng Shiwei, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, to retire.

"Hehe."

Wei Guangde chuckled and shook his head. It was just a coincidence that Emperor Longqing chose to change people. Coincidentally, they all ended up in the Ministry of Justice. Now, the left and right assistant ministers are gone.

It is estimated that Mao Kai will soon submit a petition to return home. Although Hong Chaoxuan and Zheng Shiwei may not be his people, the signs are not good.

Feeling that it is almost time, Wei Guangde called the Secretary to instruct on this matter, and emphasized the matter of the Ministry of Justice, so that he would not make mistakes.

As soon as the person left, someone came to find him outside.

"Wei Ge Lao, the Prime Minister wants to see you."

The person who came was from Li Chunfang's duty room, and Wei Guangde had seen him.

"What's the matter with the Prime Minister?"

Wei Guangde asked casually. He had just finished dealing with something and wanted to rest for a while, but he didn't expect that something would happen again.

"I don't know."

The clerk bowed and replied.

Wei Guangde nodded, saying that if he didn't know, then he didn't know. He stood up and followed the man to Li Chunfang's side.

After entering the duty room, Wei Guangde bowed to Li Chunfang and Chen Yiqin and was about to speak when he heard footsteps behind him.

After being here for a long time, Wei Guangde knew by instinct that it was Zhang Juzheng. Soon, Yin Shizhen also came over. It seemed that there was another cabinet meeting, but he didn't know what it was about.

"The Minister of Revenue Ma Sen has submitted a petition for retirement again."

Seeing that everyone was there, Li Chunfang directly threw out the petition he received from Ma's family today.

"What's the matter?"

Yin Shizhen asked, but his expression was not surprised.

Ma Sen had asked to return more than once or twice, but the cabinet had not found a suitable candidate to replace him, so the cabinet did not give any opinions after repeated petitions. Emperor Longqing saw that the cabinet could not discuss the successor, so he naturally did not allow it.

"Ma's mother is old. She was ill at the end of last year and she is afraid that she will not live long. Minister Ma is worried and he is not in good health, so he asked to retire and go home to take care of his mother."

After Li Chunfang finished speaking, Chen Yiqin continued: "Yesterday, the family of Minister Ma came to me and handed me a letter. His mother was ill. The doctor gave the opinion that she could only stay for half a year at most. This time, Minister Ma said that he would leave no matter what.

Before, he said that he would find a candidate to take over. Is there anyone available now?"

Wei Guangde shook his head gently when he heard this. None of his people were suitable to be the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. However, the left and right assistant ministers of the Ministry of Justice, which had just been vacated, could compete for it.

I thought that the imperial examination was over and that this year would be the end. I didn't expect that one minister and two assistant ministers would be vacated at once.

Wei Guangde looked at Yin Shizhan. Seeing his eyes, Yin Shizhan also shook his head gently.

In fact, the two of them had not been in the court for a long time. Yin Shizhan came earlier. After all, Wei Guangde spent a lot of time copying books, which affected the speed of his gathering wings in the court.

For officials who can reach the third or fourth rank, it takes a long time, not just a few years, so for those who have not been in the court for long, it is difficult to find a suitable person to succeed Ma Sen.

Perhaps, only Li Chunfang and Zhang Juzheng are better, and Gao Gong may also have a candidate.

Somehow, Wei Guangde thought of Gao Gong.

Wei Guangde did not have a good impression of this person, and he felt that he was just a snake when he was with him.

"Is there really no suitable candidate?"

Li Chunfang frowned slightly and said, obviously he did not have a suitable candidate to recommend as the Minister of Revenue.

After all, the Ministry of Revenue has a heavy responsibility. If it was the previous dynasties, the court had abundant finances, and the Minister of Revenue would naturally be beautiful, but the current situation is that sitting on the official chair of the Minister of Revenue is like sitting on the crater of a volcano, which is very hot.

"How about Liu Tigan, the Minister of Revenue in Nanjing?"

At this moment, a voice came, and everyone looked over involuntarily.

The speaker was naturally Zhang Juzheng. Some time ago, when the cabinet and the Ministry of Personnel discussed the removal and replacement of officials, several forces restrained each other and competed for some attractive official positions. Yin Shizan and Wei Guangde's faction naturally won a great victory and got a lot of powerful official positions.

Zhang Juzheng, who had inherited most of Xu Jie's people, could only get some soup and water because he did not have enough voice in the cabinet.

Since then, in the past few days, the few people met except for a polite greeting, and there was not much talk.

Wei Guangde was not surprised that Zhang Juzheng came out to recommend the candidate for the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

Xu Jie had been in the court for many years, and many of the people he supported were already fourth or fifth grade, or even higher. Of course, someone was selected to enter the Ministry of Revenue.

However, after hearing Zhang Juzheng's words, Wei Guangde did not think about Liu Tigan at the first time, but considered whether he could make him successful.

Success, of course, refers to Zhang Juzheng.

In the previous competition for official positions, Zhang Juzheng was at a disadvantage. Wei Guangde estimated that in the eyes of his officials, the situation was hopeless.

In this situation, Wei Guangde thought that it was better to "pursue the enemy with the remaining courage, rather than seek fame and imitate the tyrant", and completely disintegrate the strength that Xu Jie had cultivated for many years.

As long as this force can be disintegrated, Zhang Juzheng will truly return to the same starting line as them, and everyone will check and balance each other to achieve a balance of power in the cabinet.

At that time, in order to reassure the one on the throne, he can gradually distance himself from Chen Yiqin and Yin Shizhan.

The three of them are now united, although they are serving Emperor Longqing, but more to resist the possible oppression of Li Chunfang and Zhang Juzheng's power.

You should not have the intention to harm others, but you must be on guard against others.

Ever since Gao Gong wanted to take him to Fujian, Wei Guangde has not dared to trust Yu Ju and his old friends completely.

Although it seems that Chen Yiqin and Yin Shizhan are not opportunists like Gao Gong, who put profit first, Wei Guangde is still on guard.

This time, if the person recommended by Zhang Juzheng is appointed as the Minister of Revenue, it may not be a good thing for him.

"Liu Tigan, with the courtesy name Ziyuan, is from Dong'an County, Northern Zhili, and was a Jinshi in the 23rd year of Jiajing.

He served as a clerk in the Ministry of Personnel, a censor in the Department of Military Affairs, and was promoted to Tongzhengshi. Later, he was transferred to the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and then to the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and the Governor of the Granary. He is currently the Minister of Revenue in Nanjing."

Zhang Juzheng showed Liu Tigan's qualifications. In fact, he entered the official career one term earlier than Zhang Juzheng, and was considered his predecessor. It was obviously the connection left by Xu Jie.

Speaking of qualifications, Wei Guangde had to nod his head. He was the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, the Governor of the Granary, and the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing. Obviously, he was qualified enough to serve as a hall official of the Ministry of Revenue in Beijing. However, since it came from Zhang Juzheng, Wei Guangde couldn't help but look at Chen Yiqin.

He didn't intend to come out to stop him, but he still saw what Chen Yiqin said.

Ma Sen sent all the letters to his house, which was actually using his personal connections, hoping that the cabinet could arrange someone to replace his official position as soon as possible. He really had no interest in the position of Minister of Revenue.

The court was in financial difficulties, and had to face various requirements from the palace from time to time. It was not easy to be an official, so it was better to return home early.

Thinking of Gao Yao, Lei Li and others who had retired, Wei Guangde found that they seemed to have a big grudge with the palace. After Emperor Longqing ascended the throne, he became a person who enjoyed and spent money.

Finally, Chen Yiqin in Wei Guangde's eyes moved. He leaned to Li Chunfang and whispered a few words to him.

However, Li Chunfang just shook his head, seemingly indicating "no".

Shaking his head at this time may mean that there is no candidate to recommend, or it may mean that there is no opinion.

Wei Guangde knew that Chen Yiqin did not seem to intend to stop Zhang Juzheng from recommending people.

Sure enough, Chen Yiqin quickly expressed his attitude, but only symbolically asked for his and Yin Shizhan's opinions.

"Liu Tigan has been in the Ministry of Revenue for many years, has rich experience, and has the qualifications to be in charge of the southern department. He is indeed suitable for the transfer to the north to be in charge of the northern part."

After seeing that no one objected, Li Chunfang made a summary and finalized the proposal that Liu Tigan be transferred to the Ministry of Revenue in Beijing as a minister.

"In this case, let's vote and report Liu Tigan, Liu Ziqiang, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and Zhao Kongzhao, the right assistant minister, to His Majesty, and let His Majesty make a selection.

If His Majesty does not allow it, consider the candidates recommended by the court."

Li Chunfang said, and everyone nodded.

"The memorial service for our teacher Confucius is coming soon. Who do you think we should send this time?"

The cabinet has decided on the candidate for the Minister of Revenue for the emperor to choose from, and Li Chunfang asked another question.