Chapter 305: The Staff Office

Glancing at Chen Sihai, Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "Since you put it that way, I naturally have no reason to refuse."

"This matter is settled. Go back and hand over your duties at the Office of Transmission, then go with Ou Dalun to the Internal Treasury to establish the Tax Bureau!"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Sihai was overjoyed and quickly agreed.

After Chen Sihai left, Zhu Youxiao sat in his chair, his expression hesitant and uncertain.

He didn't know whether what he was about to do should be done right now.

Letting out a soft sigh, Zhu Youxiao was in a poor mood.

This matter was rather significant, but he hadn't yet decided whether to do it — after all, it involved far too much. But now truly was the best opportunity; if he didn't act, perhaps there would never be such a good chance again.

After thinking it over, Zhu Youxiao rubbed his temples and said to Chen Hong, "Go fetch the Duke of Ying for me."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong acknowledged and immediately scurried off to find him.

In fact, what Zhu Youxiao wanted to do was quite simple — establish a government office similar to the Grand Council, putting the power of the meritorious nobility to use once more; at the same time, it would give the civil officials something to occupy themselves with, so they wouldn't always point their spears inward — applying some pressure on them from outside.

Zhu Youxiao planned to use this opportunity to give the meritorious nobility a reward and properly placate them. Beyond that, it was also a way to win over and divide the meritorious nobility.

Next, Chen Sihai and Ou Dalun should be able to dig up something. These two weren't the type to just go through the motions — they would definitely do the job properly, and that would uncover a large number of illegal activities among the meritorious nobles and their relatives by marriage. At that point, he would have to punish them severely.

Purging the meritorious nobles and their in-laws had reached the point where it was absolutely necessary.

But purging without rewarding would lose people's hearts — if those below were anxious and fearful, many things would become difficult to handle. So he needed to offer some benefits to win them over.

This new Grand Council-style office that he planned to establish was the benefit Zhu Youxiao was offering.

However, Zhu Youxiao also had some concerns — namely, would the meritorious nobility be willing to go along?

If the meritorious nobles were unwilling, then things would turn very bad — forcing them into it wasn't a solution; if they were willing, then things would be much better.

That was why Zhu Youxiao needed to ask the Duke of Ying, the leader of the military faction. If the Duke of Ying was willing, then there wouldn't be much of a problem with the meritorious nobles and their in-laws. Otherwise, there would still be plenty of trouble.

Soon, the Duke of Ying arrived.

The Duke of Ying was in a fairly good mood. Today's court deliberation hadn't been a complete success, but it had thwarted the civil officials' schemes.

I may not succeed, but you can't succeed either. That was exactly how the Duke of Ying thought, and his goal had essentially been achieved.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty." Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, Zhang Weixian hurriedly bowed.

"Rise, my dear minister." Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhang Weixian and said with a smile, "I summoned you today because there is a matter I wish to discuss with you, and I'd like to hear your opinion."

Zhang Weixian was taken aback for a moment, then said respectfully, "Whatever Your Majesty commands, your subject will obey."

"I wish to restore the old system of the Grand Military Command. I'd like to hear your thoughts." Zhu Youxiao said in a flat tone.

But those plain words stirred up a storm of waves in Zhang Weixian's heart.

Not for any other reason — simply because of those four characters: Grand Military Command.

The so-called Grand Military Command was originally established by the Founding Emperor.

That was in the early years of the Great Ming, modeled on the Song dynasty's Bureau of Military Affairs. The central government established the Grand Military Command as the highest military organ, controlling the entire nation's armed forces — possessing both the authority to command troops and the authority to deploy them.

In the thirteenth year of Hongwu, in order to disperse military power among central organs and avoid the "harm of powerful ministers wielding troops," the Grand Military Command was reformed into the Five Chief Military Commissions, which only had the authority to command troops, while the authority to deploy troops was given to the Ministry of War — separating the two powers.

On the civil official side, the Founding Emperor abolished the position of Chancellor; on the military side, the Founding Emperor abolished the Grand Military Command. It was precisely these two policies that strengthened the Founding Emperor's power.

That Grand Military Command office had only existed for twenty years. The Great Ming had been around for over two hundred years, and no one had mentioned that office since.

Everyone knew why that office had been abolished back then.

And now His Majesty actually wanted to re-establish the Grand Military Command?

What was His Majesty thinking?

Zhang Weixian knew that since His Majesty was asking him at this moment, there was a good chance that he himself would become the Grand Commander of this Grand Military Command. How could that not excite him?

But Zhang Weixian was also hesitant in his heart, because this matter was too significant — if he sat in that seat, it might burn his backside.

That truly was a position placed over a fire. Could His Majesty merely be testing him?

But testing him wouldn't require using the Grand Military Command as bait, would it?

"Today is just a private discussion between sovereign and minister. If you have anything to say, my dear minister, speak freely." Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhang Weixian and said with a smile.

After hearing this, Zhang Weixian hesitated and asked, "The Grand Military Command Your Majesty speaks of — is it the Grand Military Command from the Hongwu era?"

Hearing Zhang Weixian's question, Zhu Youxiao said nothing.

Naturally, he couldn't possibly restore the Grand Military Command of the Hongwu era.

Back then, the Founding Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang abolished the Grand Military Command precisely to strengthen imperial power. If he were to re-establish it now, that would be like turning back the clock.

The reason he brought up those words "Grand Military Command" was nothing more than borrowing a name.

The purpose of establishing the Grand Military Command was, in essence, to divide power away from the civil officials — to take back a portion of power from them, especially the power held by the Grand Secretariat.

Zhu Youxiao also couldn't allow the Grand Military Command to become another Grand Secretariat.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhang Weixian and said, "It's not that Grand Military Command."

"Then what does Your Majesty mean?" Zhang Weixian asked cautiously.

"Rather than calling it a Grand Military Command, it would be better described as another Grand Secretariat — except this one oversees military affairs, serving as my staff for military strategy, coordinating various regional offices during wartime to increase speed and efficiency. After all, military intelligence is urgent as fire; the current system is too weak and too slow."

Hearing Zhu Youxiao say this, Zhang Weixian wasn't disappointed at all — on the contrary, he grew excited.

If it were the original Grand Military Command, Zhang Weixian would truly have been afraid.

After all, the first Grand Commander of the Grand Military Command was Zhu Wenzheng, the Founding Emperor's own nephew, who could be said to have achieved brilliant military exploits — yet what fate did he ultimately meet?

Confined until death.

The position of Grand Commander was practically a hot potato — it looked glorious, but once you got on it, you could easily die.

He was currently the foremost meritorious noble of the Great Ming, with a family lineage spanning over two hundred years. He could be said to enjoy the utmost favor and hold a very high status — there was simply no need for him to take on such a hot potato. If he were to ruin his family for the sake of a Grand Commander position, that would truly not be worth it.

Therefore, under such circumstances, Zhang Weixian simply didn't dare accept the position of Grand Commander.

But what His Majesty described was different — this Grand Military Command would be similar in nature to the Grand Secretariat.

What was the nature of the Grand Secretariat when it was first established?

It was merely an advisory body for His Majesty. Yet look at how it had developed — its power was now enormous.

If they did the same thing in the military, then this Grand Military Command would be quite formidable. Being in this position without fear of being dealt with, and still having plenty of power — that would be crucial.

So Zhang Weixian steadied his mind and said: "Your Majesty, I believe what Your Majesty says makes sense. However, I feel there is one point that is not quite appropriate."

"Oh, which point is not appropriate?" Zhu Youxiao asked.

"To answer Your Majesty, I feel that calling it the Grand Military Command is not appropriate. If it were called the Grand Military Command, it might remind people of the Grand Military Command of former times."

"But this is a new office — there is no need to use the old name. For one, giving it a new name allows people to have a fresh impression, taking on the meaning of 'all things renewed.'"

"For another, not calling it the Grand Military Command also avoids giving certain people all sorts of messy ideas, after all, this was an office abolished by the Founding Emperor back then. So I feel we could change the name."

Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhang Weixian and said with an interested smile: "Then what name does my beloved minister think would be more appropriate?"

"To answer Your Majesty, since it is to advise on military affairs, why not call it the Staff Office?" Zhang Weixian glanced at Zhu Youxiao and said cautiously: "In the late Tang Dynasty, there was already a post of staff officer in the military, though most were privately employed by military governors."

"Since Your Majesty wishes to find people to advise on military affairs, why not make it a permanent establishment, selecting those capable of war from among the officials to enter the Staff Office as staff officers."

"This name is simple — people understand its meaning at a glance, and at the same time it lets people know this is merely a place to advise Your Majesty on military matters, not some place for commanding or deploying troops."

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Zhang Weixian with considerable surprise — he truly had not expected him to come up with this name.

In fact, this name had always been in Zhu Youxiao's mind. Of course, besides the Staff Office, Zhu Youxiao had several other names in mind, such as the most direct one — the Military Council.

But comparatively speaking, the Staff Office seemed a bit more high-class.

After thinking it over, Zhu Youxiao said: "In that case, let it be called the Staff Office. Since my beloved minister has ideas, go back and write up a memorial and submit it, and we, sovereign and minister, will discuss it further."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhang Weixian quickly acknowledged.

"Alright then, you may go. This matter must be expedited — the New Year is almost upon us, and there must be some result." Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhang Weixian and instructed with earnest sincerity.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty — I will work on it as soon as I return." Zhang Weixian hurriedly bowed and said: "I shall take my leave."

Zhang Weixian understood the state of affairs in the Great Ming court all too well. In these times, the size of your power was not determined by your official position, but by how close you were to the Emperor.

How did those eunuchs rise up?

Wasn't it because of their good relationship with the Emperor? They could see His Majesty every day, and stirring up trouble was far more convenient for them than for anyone else.

If this Staff Office could be established, it would be an office that accompanied the King by his side.

The reason the Grand Secretariat had such great power was, on the one hand, the authority it controlled, and on the other hand, because they were His Majesty's trusted ministers.

If the Staff Office could stay by His Majesty's side, although it might not have much power at first, as time passed and it gained more of His Majesty's trust, power would naturally come as well.

So on this matter, Zhang Weixian saw things very clearly — this was also why he had rejected the name Grand Military Command and changed it to Staff Office.

The name Grand Military Command was simply too provocative.

The Staff Office was far more low-key.

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