Chapter 197: 203. Chapter 197: The Vast Blue Heavens, Who Is This Person?

203. Chapter 197: The Vast Blue Heavens, Who Is This Person?

"Letting Wang Wang Chonggu state his position is out of consideration for the seven years of friendship between me and him; it is not because I am begging him. Regardless of whether he is willing to take the lead, I must take action against the Ministry of War. The position of Minister of War can no longer be left to Shi Mao-hua." As Zhu Zhu Yijun spoke, he gestured for Wang Wang Xijue and Wang Wang Zongyi to take their seats.

The imperial inspection party had traveled through Wen'an and Baxian, and after passing Wen'an County, they were now on their way back.

The distance of three hundred *li* was already far enough; seeing the other counties like Zhuozhou and Jizhou would be much the same—and given the risk of being "studied" by scholars there, it was better not to be too frivolous.

Thus, more than twenty days after leaving the capital, the Emperor's party traveled via Anxin and Wangqingtuo, boarding the dragon boat at Yangcun Station in Marquis Wuqing, heading toward Xianghe County in Tongzhou.

After arriving in Xianghe, they would follow the route to Tongzhou and return to the capital.

Half a day after boarding, perhaps because the Emperor had rested sufficiently, he summoned Minister of Personnel Wang Wang Xijue and Minister of Rites Wang Wang Zongyi to his cabin for a small meeting.

"Your Majesty, Shi Minister 【Minister Shi】 may not necessarily be involved in this matter yet. Is it not a bit too early to discuss dismissing him?" Wang Wang Zongyi pondered for a moment before expressing his view.

Since the sacrifice at the southern suburbs, the Emperor had become increasingly assertive. Now, before any conclusion had been reached, he had already decided to dismiss Minister of War Shi Mao-hua.

Wang Wang Zongyi did not mind the Emperor exercising his imperial authority to dispose of high-ranking officials at will, but he felt it would be better if it didn't appear morally questionable.

Wang Wang Xijue, sitting on a low stool opposite Wang Wang Zongyi, immediately interjected, "I believe the Grand Minister of Rites is mistaken. Even if Shi Mao-hua is not involved, he cannot escape the charge of negligence. Forcing him into retirement is entirely appropriate."

Wang Wang Zongyi did not agree in his heart. "Negligence" was a catch-all term that could be applied to anyone. If they followed that logic, should Wang Wang Chonggu, who was above Shi Mao-hua, also be charged with negligence? Should Zhang Zhang Juzheng, the former Senior Grand Secretary, also be charged?

But he knew the Emperor's mind, and since Wang Wang Xijue had already spoken, there was no need to argue further—the charge of negligence was at least passable on the surface, barely enough to suffice.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was reviewing memorials from the capital, opening and closing them one by one.

Hearing that the two high officials had fallen silent, he didn't look up and replied, "Even if only due to his advanced age and illness, Shi Mao-hua should retire. There is no need to discuss this further. Let us talk about a candidate for Minister of War instead."

The military power of the Ming court was divided into two.

The first was the Five Chief Military Commissions, which held the power to command troops but not to mobilize them; the second was the Ministry of War, which held the power to mobilize troops but not to command them.

At the beginning of the dynasty, the Commanders of the Five Chief Military Commissions could often suppress the Ministry of War—men like Li Wenzhong, who had fought for the empire, or Zhang Fu, were not people the Ministry of War could suppress.

But the Tumu Crisis had reversed the situation, and the Ministry of War had suddenly risen above the Five Chief Military Commissions.

It took over all the original powers of the Ministry of War as well as those of the Five Chief Military Commissions.

Military decision-making, operational strategy, weapons manufacturing, the promotion of military officers, the mobilization of troops, national defense... and so on.

Even the command of troops, which had been most taboo, could be exercised by appointing various Viceroys, Grand Coordinators, and Commanders with concurrent titles from the Ministry of War.

The power of the Ministry of War had grown so great over the past century that one only needed to look at the struggle for control over the Beijing Garrison since the Emperor Jiajing era to see it—Gu Gu Huan being appointed and dismissed repeatedly was the perfect epitome.

Because the Ministry of War had become so powerful, Zhu Zhu Yijun had never interfered in any drastic way since ascending the throne.

Instead, he had started with the Beijing Garrison, focused on the Viceroys and Grand Coordinators of the Nine Frontiers, and had been slowly encroaching upon their power ever since.

He had originally planned to wait a year or two for Shi Mao-hua and Luo Luo Fengxiang to die off, then naturally take control.

But now that he had found an excuse to make an issue of it, he would take the opportunity to act.