Chapter 222

But he still maintained an inscrutable demeanor, scrutinizing the three men before him closely.

"Someone, bring seats for the three Grand Secretaries."

"Yes."

Gao Gong, Xu Jie, and Yan Song clasped their hands in thanks, then obediently sat in a row before Jiajing.

Xu Jie gazed at Jiajing seated on the dragon throne.

A vague sense of ominous foreboding rose in his heart.

Jiajing sized up Xu Jie and asked softly,

"Grand Secretary Xu, how old is Wu Shan, the beloved minister of the Ministry of Personnel, this year?"

Xu Jie lowered his head and said,

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Wu Gao'an is sixty-five years old this year."

Jiajing nodded slightly and said,

"I heard that beloved minister Wu's health is not very good?"

Upon hearing Jiajing's words, Xu Jie could not help but be stunned.

Is Your Majesty replacing Wu Shan?

Xu Jie glanced at the wooden-faced Yan Song beside him, then had no choice but to force himself to say,

"Reporting, reporting to Your Majesty, yes, Wu Gao'an fell seriously ill last year and has never recovered his health."

Jiajing sighed with melancholy and said,

"This is not good; if it gets out, people under heaven will think Great Ming has no successors."

Xu Jie's heart felt as if ten thousand horses were galloping.

If you want to dismiss him directly,

just say so.

Must you wait for us to speak up?

"Your Majesty, Wu, Wu Gao'an indeed submitted a memorial requesting retirement a few days ago."

Hearing this, Jiajing could not help but stare blankly...

and said with melancholy,

"Oh? I originally wanted to discuss with you, Grand Secretary Xu, to send several imperial physicians to check on beloved minister Wu's health, and to select some nourishing medicines from the tribute herbs brought by foreign nations."

Upon hearing Jiajing's words,

the crowd of Emperors in the chat group immediately could not help but feel a trace of contempt.

Isn't this wanting to have one's cake and eat it too?!

Jiajing looked down at Xu Jie before him and said softly,

"In that case, let Yan Maoqing go there to take over the duties of the Ministry of Personnel for now."

Upon hearing Jiajing's words,

Xu Jie was immediately dumbfounded.

Xu Jie naturally knew whose man Yan Maoqing was.

The key is, even if you want to favor the Yan faction, you don't have to be so obvious, right?!

Yan Maoqing is currently only the Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate; directly transferring him to become Minister of Personnel is a promotion of three ranks!

At this moment, Jiajing's gaze gradually turned to Yan Song beside him and he asked,

"Grand Secretary Yan."

"Your subject is here."

"How many people like beloved minister Wu are there in the court?"

Upon hearing these words,

Xu Jie and Gao Gong, seated beside him, were immediately dumbfounded.

What does this mean?

Are we ordering dishes directly now?

Yan Song looked at Xu Jie in disbelief, then looked at Jiajing again, and stammered,

"There, there is Zhou Yan, the Censor-in-Chief, and also the Ministry of War...?"

Jiajing nodded slightly and said,

"There is a man named Lu Kai in the Censorate; I remember he did a good job."

"The Ministry of War is indeed difficult to handle; beloved minister Yang holds the title of Minister of War, but he is stationed as the Regional Commander at the Nine Borders, so I fear the affairs of the Ministry of War have been delayed quite a bit."

"How about this: add one more person to the Minister of War."

"What about Yang Shun, the Viceroy of Xuan and Da?"

Jiajing stared fiercely at Yan Song.

How could Yan Song dare to utter a single word of no!

All those Jiajing mentioned were disciples of Yan Song!

If news spread today that Jiajing nominated them and Yan Song refused,

these disciples would likely go directly to join Xu Jie!

Is this still the Jiajing who usually shrank back whenever he saw trouble?!

Why is he leaving no way out for anyone now!

Yan Song's mouth trembled as he said,

"These three individuals all possess upright conduct and are fit for great use."

The moment those words fell.

Gao Gong, seated to one side, could no longer sit still.

Yan Song already held the title of Minister of Rites, and Yan Shifan controlled the Ministry of Works.

Now Yan Maoqing was in charge of the Ministry of Rites, Lu Kai had taken over the Censorate, and Yang Shun held the Ministry of War.

Of the Seven Ministers of Great Ming, five were Yan Song's men; of the Six Ministries, four were under the Yan family's control.

Gao Gong would have been a wonder to sit still!

"Your Majesty, if you arrange things this way, Great Ming is likely to court disaster!"

Jiajing studied Gao Gong and asked, puzzled

"Oh? Does Grand Secretary Gao feel that Your Majesty has handled these matters unfairly?"

The corner of Gao Gong's mouth twitched slightly, then he cupped his hands and said

"Your subject does not dare, but Your subject wishes to say that Your subject is already fifty years old this year, Your subject's age is already advanced…"

Jiajing silently studied Gao Gong.

"Granted."

In an instant, the great hall fell into a deathly hush.

Even Gao Gong looked at Jiajing in disbelief.

He hadn't even finished speaking yet.

And it was already granted?

And he was the Tutor of Prince Yu!

When Prince Yu ascended the throne in the future, he would surely be the Chief Grand Secretary!

And just like that, he was to retire?!

Jiajing snorted coldly and said

"Once Grand Secretary Yan has drafted the memorial, submit it directly to the Directorate of Ceremonial for批示. Your Majesty is tired."

Jiajing clearly did not intend to leave Gao Gong any further chance to speak.

Gao Gong looked at Jiajing, nearly suffocating.

He could only rise, kneel, kowtow, and say

"Your subject… thanks Your Majesty for heavenly grace!"

As he was leaving the Western Garden, Gao Gong finally could not help but look at Yan Song and rebuke him

"Grand Secretary Yan, are you truly not afraid of death? With so many people, don't you find them too hot to handle?"

Yan Song slowly raised his head, and as he looked at Gao Gong, a trace of envy could not help but show in his eyes.

"Gao Su Qing, I truly envy you."