Chapter 74: Employing Talent According to Ability, Rising Again in Shandong

Zhu Yijun abandoned his previous idea. While it would certainly be good to have Shen Shixing, who hailed from Nanzhili, initiate this matter—as the resistance from Nanzhili would naturally be much smaller—it would lose its sense of grandeur and majesty.

He stated directly and frankly that the Opening-the-Middle Law was something he wanted to do, and that out of consideration for national policy, it should be the Emperor who stands at the forefront.

If one wishes to slightly curb the rampant practices of local factions, one must start with the Emperor, making a statement that the whole country is one single game of chess.

In matters of the overall situation and grand trends, one cannot always just go with the flow; at appropriate times, one should lead the trend.

Half a year after ascending the throne, Zhu Yijun's mindset finally advanced a step further, possessing the realization of being the core.

Although the assembled officials did not know what the Emperor was thinking,

this sense of grandeur and majesty, clearly analyzing the pros and cons, could not help but make people beat their palms in praise—the methods of Emperor Shizong, which let subordinates take the blame, were certainly called brilliant, but it was very difficult to make subordinates identify with them.

On the contrary, this young monarch, who was willing to bear the filth of the state, almost possessed the bearing of a Sage King.

Seeing this Emperor who clearly analyzed the pros and cons without any avoidance, Shen Shixing also suddenly understood why this person, only eleven years old, could make so many court officials bow their heads in submission.

Thoroughly understanding the pros and cons, and possessing a natural, innate spirit!

To be so frank and sincere—this is the appearance of a true sovereign!

Shen Shixing was slightly dazed, then immediately rose, bowed down in the snow, and performed a grand salute: "Your Majesty, I was adopted from a young age; my adoptive father was a Prefect, and I also grew up in the Prefectural Yamen."

"I ate the grain of the Prefectural Yamen and received the grace of the Great Ming Dynasty."

"I have studied the classics and histories, and holding a position in the central government, I understand even more what it means for the North and South to be one!"

"Even if I have a fondness for my relatives and am close to my fellow townsmen, I would never dare to let small favors override great righteousness!"

"Now, Your Majesty has the ambition to unite the North and South; how could I dare to defy it with the small matters of my home and village?"

"Regarding the matter of the Opening-the-Middle Law, I am willing to be a saddle-follower for Your Majesty and mediate among the Southern officials!"

Of the Emperor's words, Shen Shixing was the first to feel the pressure; he had to express his stance immediately.

Even if he usually had a bias in his feelings or promotions toward people from Nanzhili, there was always a limit.

At the very least, one could not go against national policy; otherwise, one would be cutting oneself off from the officialdom.

After Shen Shixing, Yang Bo was even less reserved, loudly singing praises.

He rose directly and said in a booming voice: "Your Majesty is truly endowed with pure talent by Heaven, with supreme virtue naturally formed!"

"If this proposal is moved, it aligns with Heaven; if carried out, it treads the Dao! If the Opening-the-Middle Law is restarted, Your Majesty's holy virtue and divine achievements will surely be passed down in history!"

It was the first time Zhu Yijun had seen Yang Bo flatter him so much; compared to Li Chengming, it was truly much stiffer.

Although he knew this move conformed to the interests of the Northerners and it was normal to have this reaction, Zhu Yijun still couldn't help but get goosebumps and hurriedly told Yang Bo to sit down.

Subsequently, several Cabinet Ministers and Wang Guoguang also expressed their stances one after another.

Although Yu Youding did not know what he had come for, he still followed the crowd in bowing.

Seeing that a general consensus had been reached, Zhu Yijun nodded with satisfaction.

However, although the general direction was set, there was still much to discuss.

Lu Diaoyang cautiously reminded: "Your Majesty, although the Opening-the-Middle Law is indeed where the great righteousness lies,"

"however, after the Opening-the-Middle Law fell into ruin, it was restarted many times; during the Jiajing reign there was Yang Yiqing, and during the Longqing reign there was Wang Chonggu, yet neither could bring it back to life."

"At that time, Pang Shangpeng concurrently held the military colony affairs of the Nine Frontiers and submitted a memorial listing twenty items on salt administration, single-mindedly trying to revive merchant colonies, but in the end, he still regretfully memorialized, saying, 'It has been ruined for too long, and it is already difficult to achieve real results.'"

"If Your Majesty wishes to restart the Opening-the-Middle Law, I fear it will still require detailed and proper discussion."

The credibility of salt certificates was ruined; no matter how much one shouted below, it was useless—if you couldn't exchange them for salt, you couldn't exchange them for salt.

However, if merchants couldn't make money, would they care about what benefited the country or the people?

Therefore, besides the policies of the central government, it had to be implemented in practice.

Zhu Yijun nodded and said sincerely: "On this matter, the Cabinet court deliberation should indeed be discussed in detail; I have some suggestions that you ministers might wish to refer to."

Since the Emperor had said so, the subordinates had no reason not to refer to them.

Zhu Yijun raised his palm, sometimes grasping at the air, sometimes pointing: "I have combed through the gains and losses of those before me and have some insights."

"The reason the Opening-the-Middle Law cannot be restored, in the final analysis, is still that salt merchants cannot exchange for salt."

"If merchants cannot be made to see profit, the policies of the central government are just rootless duckweed."

"And the prerequisite for salt merchants to be able to exchange for salt is that every Transport Commissioner's Office has salt and is willing to exchange it for small salt merchants."

According to the current total-contracting method of the Chambers of Commerce, it would be strange if small salt merchants could exchange for salt.

Zhang Juzheng knew that the Emperor was pointing at the model of salt sales by the Transport Commissioner's Offices again.

He immediately expressed his stance: "Your Majesty, the several big salt merchants of the Chambers of Commerce have all been raided by Hai Yushi Hai; it is just the right time to stretch one's limbs."

News between the North and South Zhili normally took twenty days to travel, fifteen days for urgent dispatches; if one wanted to be faster, one would have to run several horses to death.

Matters in the Two Huai were all handled urgently, so fifteen days ago, which was December 8th, Hai Rui had already raided the homes of Shen Chuanyin and the group of salt merchants.

Zhu Yijun nodded and skipped over this matter.

How exactly to change it would still depend on the extent to which Hai Rui carried it out; he could only wait until then to speak.

He continued: "At the same time, in order to keep the salt certificates effective, the salt certificates must not be issued indiscriminately; otherwise, they will surely become waste paper."

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"Therefore, the right to issue these salt certificates should be collected from the six Transport Commissioner's Offices and brought under one place."

"With the source coming from one hole, it is convenient for overall planning and also for the central government to trace."

For this kind of financial currency to a certain extent, the right of issuance cannot be left to the local level.

Gao Yi turned this thought over in his mind and felt it was reasonable, so he couldn't help but praise it secretly.

He asked: "So Your Majesty wishes to set up a Salt Tax Yamen to coordinate this matter?"

Zhu Yijun nodded: "The quota and production/sale of salt certificates should be placed in the Capital Region; the coordination of the Salt Tax Office, the transport of salt, and the distribution of salt certificates should be established as a separate Yamen."

"The functions and powers of the several Transport Commissioner's Offices and the Salt Commissioner's Offices can be appropriately collected in part."

Zhang Juzheng led the civil officials of the world; it was time for him to take up the conversation.

He looked around at the several Cabinet colleagues.

Yang Bo fully supported it, Gao Yi thought it was feasible, and Lu Diaoyang was only afraid it was too radical, but he did not oppose it either.

After Zhang Juzheng had a clear idea in his heart, he did not drag his feet: "Your Majesty's heart embraces the world; we ministers look up in admiration."

"The Cabinet understands the holy intent and observes the holy heart; tomorrow we will discuss this matter with the various court officials."

"However... the specific regulations of the government offices, the official ranks, and the powers and responsibilities are not a one-day achievement."

The general direction was set, but the specifics still had to be worked out through court deliberation.

This matter involved the North and South, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, Water Transport, and Salt Tax; it would always involve some buck-passing for a period of time; it was not as if the Emperor could just open his mouth and it would be unimpeded.

For the Cabinet to implement this matter in practice, it would inevitably require a great deal of energy.

Now that the end of the year was approaching, all matters were busy.

The Ministry of Revenue had to do accounting, the Ministry of Personnel had to do performance evaluations, not to mention that the autumn grain had not yet entered the capital, and Xuan-Da and Ningxia were already crying out for food.

With many things to do, handling them would always be slower.

Since it would take quite a few days, Zhang Juzheng naturally had to agree with the Emperor first.

Otherwise, the Emperor would again feel that the Cabinet was not siding with him and would say something in a fit of pique about conquering the world again—it was hard not to keep the last incident in mind.

Zhu Yijun understood why the old man said this and nodded in agreement very gently: "That is natural."

"The matter of the Two Huai has not yet yielded a result; it is just to let the central government prepare first, so as not to be difficult to clean up the mess in the Two Huai."

"Let's set it for the turn of spring and summer!"

"It will also allow the salt merchants to catch up with the ripening of the summer grain."

Seeing that the Emperor did not immediately urge for a result, Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

However, speaking of establishing a new Yamen, everyone finally knew why the Emperor had called Yu Youding, a person from the Secretariat, to come.

It was already decided internally.

Yu Youding was a top-three scholar and a Hanlin compiler by origin, with a higher background than the current several Cabinet Ministers; for example, Zhang Juzheng was only a second-class scholar.

He also had the qualifications of a Daily Lecturer and a Classic Mat Lecturer; he was certainly qualified to be sent out to a Junior Third Rank position.

But... the Regional Transport Commissioner was already a Third Rank official rank.

If the new Yamen wanted to coordinate the six Transport Commissioner's Offices and seven Salt Commissioner's Offices, it would at least need to have the regulations of the Water Transport Yamen, starting from the Junior Second Rank.

Yu Youding was not quite qualified enough.

Thinking of this, Lu Diaoyang couldn't help but remind: "The chief official of this Salt Administration Yamen must be at least Second Rank to meet the regulations; does Your Majesty have a candidate?"

As soon as Zhu Yijun saw everyone's expressions, he knew what they were thinking.

He couldn't help but smile: "Naturally, I do; I will tell you ministers to deliberate."

"How about restoring the former Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall, Yin Shaobao Yin Shidan?"

Everyone's expressions changed.

A Jinshi from the 26th year of Jiajing, a scholar by origin, he was also a lecturer in the former Emperor's private residence.

After the former Emperor ascended the throne, he entered the Cabinet only one step slower than Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong.

At that time, he did not get along with Gao Gong in the Cabinet.

The two fought a battle, Yin Shidan narrowly lost to Gao Gong and resigned from office.

Now the Emperor wanted to restore this person?

Zhang Juzheng understood the implication and reacted immediately: "Your Majesty wants to set up the Salt Administration Yamen in the Shandong Administration Commissioner's Office!?"

As a former Cabinet Minister, Yin Shidan could no longer enter the central government.

Gao Gong was able to do it back then because Gao Gong had a deep relationship with Emperor Muzong.

Yin Shidan had nothing worth remembering for the little Emperor.

Now that the Emperor wanted to restore this person and use him at the local level, besides utilizing his political influence, there could be no second reason.

As for where Yin Shidan's political influence was... this person was a Shandong native and was currently living in retirement in Jinan Prefecture!

In other words, he was the Xu Jie of the Shandong Administration Commissioner's Office.

Of the six Transport Commissioner's Offices, Fujian and Shandong had no Salt Inspection Censors.

Shandong was adjacent to the Two Huai, both on the line of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, and both were represented by the Two Huai Salt Inspection Hai Yushi to represent the central government and spread virtue.

In reality, it was the Two Huai managing the Shandong salt administration on their behalf.

Now that the Two Huai salt tax was too big to be managed, the Emperor was clearly going to reverse the primary and secondary, not only wanting to separate Shandong out but also wanting to use this to divide the powers of the Two Huai!

When Zhang Juzheng asked this, everyone reacted.

This was to use Yin Shidan's influence to suppress the Two Huai salt administration in Shandong!

Wang Guoguang couldn't help but look at the Emperor several more times.

What a seasoned method.

The Emperor, however, looked calm: "Yin Shaobao Yin is venerable and respected, and understands political affairs; is this not appropriate?"

Zhang Juzheng did not answer immediately.

He only pondered: "I understand Your Majesty's meaning; tomorrow I will discuss this matter together at the court deliberation."

This meant he had to go back and carefully deduce it before speaking.

Yin Shidan's background was not bad.

Former Emperor's private residence, Cabinet Minister, Yin Shaobao.

Moreover, this person was also quite famous in the poetry world, and his reputation among the scholars far exceeded that of Gao and Zhang.

For a person with such qualifications, if he really sat in Shandong and suppressed the Two Huai salt administration, it was inevitable that there would be miraculous effects.

It was just... this person's qualifications were too high; even if he was only used at the local level, one had to consider it carefully.

Zhu Yijun was not worried at all that the Cabinet would not pass it, and then added: "As for the position of deputy, why not let the top scholar Yu take it? He and Yin Shaobao Yin are teacher and student with one heart."

Everyone looked at Yu Youding one after another.

Several Daily Lecturers had been appointed, but this one had been left out; it turned out it was for Yin Shidan.

Calculating by time, the Emperor probably already had a draft several months ago.

It was truly one ring after another.

Yu Youding suppressed the excitement in his heart and immediately rose to thank him: "I have mediocre talent, and suddenly jumping to a high position, I fear I am difficult to shoulder the great responsibility. Only by shattering my body to repay the country can I slightly thank Your Majesty for your trust."

Zhu Yijun helped him up.

There was another round of earnest exhortations, telling Yu Youding to organize the salt administration files well, study deeply, guard against arrogance and rashness, and combine it with specific political affairs after arriving at the local level.

After finishing the serious business, the sky was still early, and the Emperor personally roasted skewers to share with the ministers.

It was a pity that the condiments were too bland, and one could only rely on the taste of the ingredients themselves to win.

Fortunately, there was no shortage of beef and mutton, and for barbecue, just sprinkling a little salt was still quite palatable.

During this time, Zhu Yijun chatted again.

"The New Year and Lantern Festival are approaching; I followed the advice of the Senior Grand Secretary and stopped the Lantern Festival lights, but there are complaints inside and outside that the New Year atmosphere is insufficient."

"I just had a sudden thought; why not set up two or three grass-stage troupes in the city, invite some actors and performers to gather a bit of New Year atmosphere; the expense is not high, what do you ministers think?"

After speaking, he added: "The palace opera troupes and eunuchs can also go to have fun together."

It's New Year, after all; it's helpless to save money by not holding a lantern festival, and it doesn't matter if one is scolded.

However, these inexpensive evening parties might as well be made more interesting and enjoyed with the people.

Just setting up a stage as the organizer naturally wouldn't cost much silver, and the Cabinet thought about it and agreed.

Everyone chatted casually about some ideas.

The Emperor and several Cabinet Ministers each wrote a piece of calligraphy as a prize, and so on.

Feeling the current political atmosphere with the Cabinet, Zhu Yijun couldn't help but smile slightly.

Just at this time, the matter of the general amnesty for the change of reign was brought up again.

Zhang Juzheng and Gao Yi advanced together: "Your Majesty, Wang Zhiyuan of the Ministry of Justice memorialized that the Three Judicial Offices have concluded the case of Duke of Qian, Mu Chaobi."

"The Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review believe that this person should be sentenced to death."

"The Censorate feels that sending him to Nanjing for imprisonment is enough."

"The opinions are inconsistent, and we request Your Majesty's holy decision."

Although the Emperor had entrusted the government to the Cabinet,

the Cabinet could not act arbitrarily in such criminal cases involving nobles and had to ask the Inner Court.

In the past, they would ask the two palaces, but since they were here today, it was just right to ask the Emperor.

Zhu Yijun heard this, finished chewing the mutton in his mouth, and asked: "Imprisonment!?"

"This person raped his mother and insulted his sister-in-law, seized his brother's fields and houses, hid criminals, secretly harmed his own children, and used military fire tallies to spy on the imperial court—and such a person is not to be killed!?"

No wonder people say that most of the current nobles are trash.

Since he ascended the throne, the nobles handled by the two palaces had repeatedly refreshed his worldview.

Guan Xu, a General of the Imperial Clan from the Prince of Anqiu's mansion, committed adultery and personally murdered his sister-in-law, then set fire to her home to silence her.

Qin Hong, a General of the Imperial Clan from the Prince of Lushan's mansion, killed Mu Rui, a General of the Imperial Clan from the Prince of Wu's mansion, in the middle of the street following a verbal dispute.

And the Mu Chaobi mentioned by the two assistant ministers was even more of a freak!

He was originally not qualified to inherit the title, but relied on killing his nephew to get to the top.

After getting to the top, he raped his mother and insulted his sister-in-law, seized his brother's fields and houses, and was then impeached by a censor; as a result, he used the border army tally and scouts to enter the capital to spy on the central government's attitude.

After the incident was exposed, the central government stripped him of his title and passed it to his son; he held a grudge and killed his son!

Why keep such trash alive instead of killing him?

Zhang Juzheng deliberated: "Chaobi has accumulated evil for years, plotted to harm his own children, and wantonly killed the innocent. Judging by his circumstances and crimes, sentencing him to death is not unjust."

"But... his ancestors for three generations all had great merits to the country; unless there is real evidence of rebellion, it seems we should be slightly lenient."

"My meaning is to temporarily send him to Nanjing for imprisonment."

Gao Yi also followed: "Your Majesty, the Three Judicial Offices sentenced him to death, which is reasonable and fair; however, there are only seven days left until the general amnesty for the change of reign."

"Unless he is killed quickly in these few days."

"I believe that extraordinary matters should not be done frequently."

Zhu Yijun was helpless.

He really wanted to kill this person, but since the Cabinet had said so, he couldn't frequently consume the tacit understanding between him and the Cabinet for such matters.

He had to wave his hand: "Go ask my mother; I am not good at handling these kinds of things."

After discussing some other matters casually, it was getting late.

The ministers rose one after another to take their leave.

Zhu Yijun made a gesture to see them off, but the ministers hurriedly declined the favor.

He had to let Zhang Hong see the ministers off for him.

Zhang Hong walked to the front and reached out to lead the way, while the ministers were facing the Emperor to bid farewell.

Zhu Yijun was bidding farewell to the ministers.

Suddenly, he saw the Secretariat Zheng Zongxue holding a memorial marked in red, approaching the crowd.

Marked in red meant urgent.

Zhu Yijun's heart jumped.

His face remained calm, only slightly shaking his head to signal Zheng Zongxue not to make a scene.

The ministers had their backs to Zheng Zongxue and did not see this scene.

By the time the ministers turned and left, Zheng Zongxue had already quietly put the memorial behind his back.

After the ministers left, Zheng Zongxue handed the memorial to the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, a five-hundred-li urgent memorial from Nanzhili."

Some readers asked me to save manuscripts, but I can only do so much every day; it's a critical rising period, and I can't reduce updates, to prevent readers from hoarding books; I really can't save any QAQ ===== CHAPTER 75 =====