Chapter 88: Appointing Officials Based on Merit, A Tacit Understanding

Inside the Wan Shougong, there were only the monarch and his subject, one kneeling and one standing.

Xu Jie prostrated himself to plead guilty, requesting a pardon without reservation.

Zhu Zhu Yijun gave no indication of his stance.

He asked about something else entirely: "Minister Xu, were you born in the ninth month of the sixteenth year of the Hongzhi reign?"

Xu Jie was startled, not understanding the reason, and nodded hesitantly.

Zhu Zhu Yijun's expression was inscrutable as he spoke: "Then you are exactly seventy this year."

Xu Jie added: "That is my nominal age, Your Majesty. My actual birthday is the twentieth of the ninth month."

Zhu Zhu Yijun sighed and remarked with emotion: "Few reach the age of seventy since ancient times. Rise."

Xu Jie stood up, puzzled, not understanding the meaning behind the Emperor's questioning.

Zhu Zhu Yijun ignored him and instead tapped heavily on the imperial desk.

Li Jin was waiting at the palace entrance; hearing the sound, he trotted into the hall.

At the Emperor's signal, he took a congratulatory scroll titled "Birthday Preface for the Seventieth Birthday of Junior Tutor and Cunzhai, Minister Xu" from his sleeve and handed it to Xu Jie.

Xu Jie looked at the signature, "Respectfully presented by disciple Zhang Zhang Juzheng," and was at a loss.

Zhu Zhu Yijun shook his head: "Minister Xu, the Senior Grand Secretary entrusted this congratulatory scroll to me several months ago."

"He said that if you were to be executed in Songjiang Prefecture, I should have the Embroidered Uniform Guard burn it before your corpse."

"If I showed mercy and spared your life, I was to pass the scroll to you on his behalf."

"The Senior Grand Secretary said he was ashamed to face his mentor."

"Minister Xu, had it not been for the Senior Grand Secretary's intercession, you would not have even made it to the capital. Yet, I did not expect that you would still disregard his difficult position and go to trouble him yesterday."

"Sigh..."

Zhu Zhu Yijun sighed and prepared to rise and leave.

He had rarely acted out of personal sentiment; even an emperor cannot escape the ways of human relationships.

Do not be fooled by Zhang Zhang Juzheng's appearance of distancing himself; in reality, he had already made his stance clear to the Emperor months ago—Zhang Zhang Juzheng supported the Emperor's decision, but personally, he still hoped Xu Jie could live out his years in peace.

Since his own teacher had spoken, Zhu Zhu Yijun had no choice but to go along with the flow.

Of course, his thoughts had changed after seeing Xu Jie.

Xu Jie's talent, combined with his appearance of outward submission but inward defiance, actually made Zhu Zhu Yijun want to make him truly submit.

He glanced back at the dazed Xu Jie and turned to leave.

Xu Jie held the congratulatory scroll, his expression complex.

He had only thought his disciple was devoid of emotion yesterday; he had not expected him to have pleaded for him so long ago.

Conversely, he had not considered his disciple's difficult position at all and had gone to trouble him.

Now that the Emperor had shown mercy, he felt a mix of emotions.

With emotions surging within him, Xu Jie slowly opened the scroll and began to read: "In the past, when I studied the secret archives, you were my mentor..."

The rest recalled their time of teaching and learning, followed by birthday wishes.

Although these were common birthday greetings, they were written by the current Senior Grand Secretary; the sincerity and filial affection were enough to move anyone.

Especially when thinking of the disciple who had shown him no mercy yesterday, Xu Jie felt the dilemma his disciple must have faced in every word.

Truly a good disciple.

Xu Jie sighed silently and turned to the next page.

"Zhang Juzheng once said: What a gentleman does is to honor the sovereign, protect the people, establish laws, and secure the state. Some achieve this through their own actions; others do not need to act personally, yet their Dao spreads across the world, and their grace covers the common people. I humbly believe that my mentor possesses both..."

Xu Jie finished reading and gently closed the scroll.

No wonder he had the Emperor pass it on; he had come to act as a lobbyist—he was urging him to "honor the sovereign and protect the people."

Xu Jie sighed.

Naturally, he had no reason to blame Zhang Zhang Juzheng; although it somewhat underestimated him, he had to acknowledge the sentiment.

It was just that with Zhang Zhang Juzheng interceding and acting as a lobbyist, if he, Xu Jie, offended the Emperor again in the future, he would likely be implicated and affect Zhang's imperial favor.

This favor was likely a heavy debt to owe.

When Xu Jie finished reading the scroll and looked up, he saw the Emperor was no longer in the hall.

He looked at Li Jin beside him, his eyes questioning.

Li Jin signaled for Xu Jie to rise and said softly: "Junior Tutor Xu, His Majesty is going to the Zhao Wenhua Hall and wishes for you to accompany him."

Xu Jie was startled and, lost in thought, was helped by Li Jin to wait outside the hall.

Before long, Zhu Zhu Yijun led Zhang Hong out of the Wan Shougong.

He glanced at Xu Jie: "Let's go. We can talk on the way; I have a court deliberation today."

There were many matters to discuss at today's court deliberation, and Zhu Zhu Yijun had to attend personally.

Especially the exchange of prisoners and the Tatar Khan's demand for rewards, which involved large-scale military affairs; he had to state his position.

And as for the silver Hai Rui brought back this time, half of it was privately split between him and Zhang Zhang Juzheng, so he also needs to go and show support for the Cabinet.

Additionally, there were the rewards for Hai Rui and his team, as well as the debate over yesterday's sacrifice to the Mongol Yuan; he had to make an appearance.

Busy, indeed.

Zhu Zhu Yijun sighed as he walked in front, with Xu Jie following silently.

After walking a distance, the former handed back the latter's "Memorial on the Five Great Evils of the World," and a voice with an unreadable tone rang out: "Minister Xu, since you have stated the five evils, do you have any sound strategies?"

The five evils Xu Jie had stated—official corruption, land annexation, taxation, Japanese pirates, and the Tatars—all struck at the heart of the current ills; he was truly worthy of the talent of a Senior Grand Secretary.

Although he was wagging his tail to save his life, it did not hinder Zhu Zhu Yijun from wanting to hear Xu Jie's sound strategies.

Xu Jie opened his mouth slightly, about to speak the strategies he had prepared, but suddenly stopped.

Sound strategies naturally existed, and he had prepared more than one; just like the upper, middle, and lower strategies of ancient strategists, they were all sound.

However, some sound strategies were for getting things done, while others were merely for show.

To save his life, Xu Jie had naturally prepared the latter.

But now...

He looked up at the Emperor's back, recalling the conversation in the hall and his disciple's advice.

The young Emperor had a certain bearing, and he had no reason to be outdone.

Furthermore, if the Emperor were to naively believe in empty strategies, while he, Xu Jie, might gain favor, his disciple, who truly intended to get things done, would be the one to suffer.

His thoughts turned a thousand times, and finally, he decided to provide sound strategies for getting things done.

Xu Jie tried to slow his tone as much as possible and said: "I dare not deceive Your Majesty. I believe these five evils must be solved in order, but they all have prerequisites."

"If you wish to pacify the northern Tatars, I have methods, whether it be granting titles and tribute or moving the gentry to the borders; there are always countermeasures. But... the prerequisite is to truly destroy all the bellicose Tatar tribes before implementing them; otherwise, it is just a castle in the air."

"As for the Japanese pirates, forgive my bluntness, even if everyone knows the key lies in the pirates within the country, one must first annihilate the pirates overseas before slowly cleaning up the rest; otherwise, you will be dragged to death."

"Both of these require major wars, and one must wait until the finances are sufficient to determine the outcome."

"Insufficient finances are limited by land and taxation."

"And if Your Majesty truly wishes to address land and taxation, you must at least first rectify the official administration."

If the Emperor merely cleaned up the salt administration, tea taxes, and horse markets, it would only treat the symptoms, not the root cause.

Even if a large sum of silver were recorded each time, it would be like adding firewood to a fire.

Only by reforming the tax system and surveying the land could the financial problem be temporarily solved.

Then, relying on this vacancy period to accumulate the national treasury, one could hope to sweep away the border troubles in the north and south once there were enough resources for a few major wars.

However, reforming the tax system and surveying the land would inevitably require officials who could be commanded like one's own arms.

The logic was naturally sound, but the hardships and obstacles involved were self-evident.

Moreover, even if this step were achieved, it would still be treating the symptoms.

Xu Jie looked at the Emperor's back, his thoughts racing.

This step was still a hundred thousand miles away from the Emperor's stated goal of suppressing annexation and resisting the cycle of the four seasons.

He just didn't know if he would live to see that day.

Zhu Zhu Yijun heard Xu Jie's words, and a smile flashed across his face; this approach coincided with his own.

He turned his head and looked at Xu Jie: "So, Minister Xu, do you feel the Examination Law is not enough?"

Since official administration was mentioned, he couldn't just brush him off with what already existed; he had to have some of his own insights.

Xu Jie nodded: "Your Majesty, the Examination Law can only drive officials, but there are two other problems that are also huge hidden dangers for our dynasty."

Zhu Zhu Yijun signaled for him to continue.

Xu Jie deliberated: "First, the tenure of our dynasty's itinerant officials is too short!"

"Often, after a year or two, they are transferred or promoted; sometimes, officials arriving at their posts receive their transfer orders as soon as they arrive."

"Take the Shandong Administration Commissioner as an example: from the second month of the fourth year of the Emperor Longqing reign to the twelfth month of the fifth year, in just one year and ten months, five people were changed: Chen Zuan, Xu Shi, Tao Chengxue, Chen Jiang, and Cao Ke!"

"Each person had a tenure of only a few months; let alone spreading virtue and governing, they probably couldn't even understand the local situation!"

"The superiors don't know the local situation and only aim to polish their resumes, leaving after a few months, while the subordinates are like old trees with deep roots, never moving. This is also one of the reasons why the central government is gradually losing control over the localities."

"Besides this, there is a second point."

"In our dynasty, if a superior recommends a subordinate and the subordinate is incompetent, the superior is implicated."

"Everyone seeks profit and avoids harm, Your Majesty. Once a subordinate is truly incompetent, it forces the superior to cover for them and the subordinate to pledge loyalty!"

"Such official cliques lead to endless troubles!"

Zhu Zhu Yijun frowned upon hearing this.

He really didn't know much about this; in the past year, he had only been observing politics and hadn't interfered with the operation of the Six Ministries, and he hadn't paid much attention to official tenure.

Only a few months!?

With a tenure of a few months, they couldn't even hold a few democratic life meetings, let alone be the head of a province.

As for this recommendation implication, he knew a little, but not specifically.

Zhu Zhu Yijun suddenly realized that he seemed to be lacking an old minister who was on call and familiar with the dynasty's system for consultation.

After all, he hadn't taken personal charge of the government yet, and it was impossible for him to know everything about the dynasty's operation.

In this situation, the role of old ministers like Xu Jie became very important.

He had originally planned to send Xu Jie away, but now he was suddenly hesitant.

Zhu Zhu Yijun temporarily suppressed this thought and brought his attention back to the present.

He didn't state his position immediately but asked: "Minister Xu, do you mean that if a recommended person is incompetent, the superior should no longer be implicated?"

"If so, wouldn't they be even less likely to consider virtue and talent when recommending?"

Since there's no responsibility for recommendations, wouldn't they just recommend their own students and subordinates?

The harm might not be less than the old method; this is the two-sided nature of things.

Unexpectedly, Xu Jie shook his head: "Your Majesty, since the Examination Law already exists, isn't talent clear at a glance?"

"In my opinion, compared to the recommendation of a high official, it's probably not as good as three years of excellent performance in the Examination Law."

Zhu Zhu Yijun was startled and looked at Xu Jie with surprise.

He was very familiar with this method.

In the past, for the sake of promotion, this "excellent" rating had tortured him quite a bit.

He only heard Xu Jie continue: "In this way, tenure also has a basis, such as requiring three years of excellent performance for promotion to the fifth rank, five years for the third rank, and so on."

"Combined with the review by the Six Ministries' Secretaries, the re-examination by the Censorate, and the deliberation by the Ministry of Personnel, it can be gradually perfected."

"Killing the atmosphere of cliques and recommendations, and giving minor officials without cliques some hope, isn't that also a kind of improvement?"

Zhu Zhu Yijun grabbed Xu Jie's hand, making him walk alongside him.

He sighed: "Minister Xu is truly a great talent, worthy of being my pillar of state."

"I will send the memorial to the Grand Secretariat later and let them discuss it thoroughly."

Sure enough, people who have been rained on are very eager to steal others' umbrellas.

The drawbacks and sound strategies in Xu Jie's mouth might not have been thought of by others before.

But at that time, everyone was eating from the same pot; who could bear to smash it? After all, the power of recommendation was in their own hands.

Now, one Zhang Zhang Juzheng wanted to rebuild the Great Ming and created the Examination Law.

One Xu Jie was forced to become a loyal minister and proposed promotion assessment.

If the promotion mechanism could truly be made transparent, then the stagnant pool of official administration would likely ripple.

Even if the policy were to die with the person in the future, it would still be a direction for future generations to refer to.

Of course, the resentment should still be attributed to Xu Jie.

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Xu Jie with gratification, and a series of praises poured out as if they cost nothing.

It seemed as if it wasn't him who had humiliated the old minister earlier.

He thought for a moment: "Minister Xu, I originally intended to promote you and have you return to Songjiang Prefecture to retire, but now, I cannot bear to see such a beautiful jade hidden."

He was just saying that; he had originally planned to send Xu Jie to Fujian to look after the Shipping Office and maritime affairs with Yu Yu Dayou.

But now it seemed that having an old person in the family is like having a treasure; it was better to keep him in the central government for consultation.

"Minister Xu, stay in the capital!"

"You have merit in the case of the Southern Metropolitan Area, but if I were to seal you as one of the Three Dukes, I fear the Senior Grand Secretary would again say I am roasting you on a fire."

"How about this: the former Junior Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Xu Fan, is also a pillar of talent; let him be granted an official title! Move to the capital so you can be reunited."

"You don't need to worry about a place to live; there is a vacant residence in Xila Alley, Nanxun Ward, which I bestow upon Minister Xu."

"However... Minister Xu is a former Senior Grand Secretary, so it is not appropriate to grant you a real position. Could you be wronged by serving as the Head of the New Academy? It just so happens that it is outside the Donghua Gate, right next to the residence. How about that?"

Xu Jie looked at Zhu Zhu Yijun in astonishment; he had never seen an emperor change his face so quickly!

Who would have thought that this sage monarch, who had ordered his second son to be executed just a few months ago and had looked like he wanted to kill him half an hour ago, would be like this!?

However, this feeling of surprise was not disgust, but rather a sense of admiration that welled up!

This is the potential to achieve great things!

Before Emperor Emperor Gaozu of Han made his fortune, he didn't even offer a gift when attending a banquet; if he didn't give one, he would even shout "Congratulations, ten thousand coins" at the door, making a fool of himself.

When Emperor Taizu of Song was in trouble, he was penniless; passing by a melon shed, he sat down and started eating, and after finishing, he said he would repay him later, shameless.

How shameless!

But being shameless is correct!

This is not the thick-skinned shamelessness of a commoner; this is having great ambitions and not being constrained by trifles!

Although the young Emperor was not yet old enough to have such heroic courage, he had shown him a glimpse of it.

In time, he might not be unable to catch up with the two ancestors of Han and Song.

The Emperor's performance was even more impressive to Xu Jie than the impassioned speech in the hall just now.

He only heard Zhu Zhu Yijun continue: "Stay in the capital from now on, for consultation."

Xu Jie was so stunned that he hadn't even agreed before the Emperor had decided it directly, which was truly speechless.

The former sighed and said respectfully: "I obey your decree."

He understood that his performance today had been a bit over the top, making the Emperor want him to give his all even after sparing his life.

However... unexpectedly, he had no regrets.

On the contrary.

Although he understood that it was impossible to enter the core of the central government again, this feeling of touching the supreme power of the dynasty again was truly addictive—even if it was only for consultation.

Go home and retire?

Being able to spy on the central government again is the best retirement!

Zhu Zhu Yijun glanced at Xu Jie and said nonchalantly: "Since you have accepted the position, you might as well speak up in the hall later, so that the court officials know you have returned to the capital."

How could Xu Jie not know that the Emperor had a pit for him to fill.

But he did not resist and asked proactively: "Please give your instructions, Your Majesty."

Zhu Zhu Yijun shook his head: "It's not that I want to give instructions."

"It's just that recently, many nobles have been breaking the law, and the censors' impeachments have all been sheltered by my mother, the Empress Dowager. As a son, it is not easy for me to come forward and persuade her."

"I think Minister Xu is venerable and respected, and has great influence; surely you can persuade my mother."

There was no help for it; the nobles were all related by blood or marriage.

These days, his mother, his aunts, his brothers-in-law, and several dukes had all come to plead for mercy.

Even the Emperor couldn't handle it.

Xu Jie also cooperated with the Emperor's performance: "Breaking the law!? Nobles must also abide by the Great Ming laws! Even if pleading for mercy, it should be Your Majesty initiating the Eight Deliberations; how can they be directly shelved!?"

"Please tell me, Your Majesty, who are they, and how did they break the law!"

On the surface, he was righteous, but in his heart, he was pondering the Emperor's intentions.

Zhu Zhu Yijun did not answer for a moment.

Instead, he nodded to Zhang Hong.

The latter immediately took a book from his bosom.

Zhu Zhu Yijun took the book and said: "Although I don't ask about government affairs, Li Li Zaiting has already reported to me, and I have recorded it a little."

As soon as Xu Jie heard that it was Li Li Zaiting's impeachment, he immediately understood that this was a double act.

Zhu Zhu Yijun opened the book, cleared his throat, and said: "Zhang Yuanshan, Earl of Hui'an, and Guo Yingqian, Earl of Cheng'an, of the Rear Mansion, are incompetent."

"Mao Guoqi, Earl of Nanning, has perverted the law."

After finishing this page, he licked his finger, turned the page, and continued: "Li Li Yingchen, Earl of Xiangcheng, is licentious, perverse, and has imprisoned officials."

"Zhao Zhao Zuzheng, Earl of Xincheng, who manages the Red Helmet Generals, is guilty."

Speaking of this, Zhu Zhu Yijun added: "In addition, there is the Duke of Qian, Mu Mu Chaobi, who was previously convicted and only confined in Nanjing."

"But... after the new year, the Yunnan pacification commission investigated Mu Mu Chaobi's case and actually learned that the sister-in-law he had raped was pregnant!"

"Now there is a debate about how to deal with this person."

It is different whether a raped sister-in-law gives birth or not.

It can be said that this is a crime compounded.

Xu Jie connected these nobles and quickly went through them in his mind.

On the surface, he respectfully accepted the matter, but secretly he was thinking about the Emperor's purpose.

Only heard the Emperor continue: "In addition, there is Yang Bing, Earl of Zhangwu, but the facts of his case are not very clear, it's just possible."

As soon as the voice fell, Xu Jie immediately reacted!

The Emperor is paving the way for reorganizing the Beijing Camps!

Mu Mu Chaobi is to kill the chicken to warn the monkey.

The previous string of nobles are probably all trash in the Beijing Guard Martial Arts Academy, the Beijing Camps, and the Chief Military Commission, but they are not easy to remove, so let them be the scapegoats!

And Yang Bing, Earl of Zhangwu, the former Governor of the Beijing Camps, is even more obvious!

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Xu Jie quietly, waiting for his reaction.

Indeed, as someone thought, his move was to reorganize the Beijing Camps.

To survey the land and reform the tax system, how can it be done without the Beijing Camps.

Xu Jie and these civil officials would deliberately skip over it, but he had always kept it in mind.

These days, he had been instructing Gu Gu Huan to reorganize the Beijing Camps, but there had always been obstacles.

The quality of the Beijing Camp officers was too poor!

It was too rare for nobles to produce a few useful people.

People like Gu Gu Huan, who was both civil and military, and Zhu Zhu Xizhong, who was resourceful, could be called rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

Most of them were stupid as pigs, knowing only brothels and theaters all day long.

The Beijing Camps were the concentrated gathering place for these goods.

The harm in the military camp was even greater; let alone training, they didn't even let others train, pulling officers to gather and fight, gamble, and bringing down the atmosphere of the entire camp.

Wanting to kick these people out, but they were deeply rooted.

Gu Gu Huan sent people to ask these people to report for duty, but they were kicked out by their parents every time.

Among them was his cousin, Li Wenquan.

The rest, dukes, marquises, aunts, brothers-in-law, were countless.

These days, Gu Gu Huan had been beaten enough by the two palaces and didn't dare to act rashly at all.

Zhu Zhu Yijun couldn't beat this one and scold that one every day for these small fish and shrimp.

In the end, the training matter was also ruined.

Finally, it was time to arrest some nobles and kill the chicken to warn the monkey—the political trend must be made clear.

Originally, he was prepared to let Zhang Zhang Juzheng be the villain, but now that he wasn't planning to let Xu Jie go... then this villain had a better choice.

Xu Jie looked at the Emperor, suppressed his emotions, and said: "Your Majesty, I am duty-bound to arrest those who break the law! I will impeach them in the hall later!"

After speaking, he paused: "However, in my opinion, so many generals and Rear Mansion officials are incompetent, and the Ministry of War probably cannot shirk its responsibility."

Impeaching nobles, at most, would make the two palaces and a group of princes have some opinions, and they didn't have the ability to counterattack, so Xu Jie agreed without any psychological burden.

As for the Ministry of War, it was testing the Emperor's intentions.

After speaking, Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Xu Jie in surprise.

Actually sensitive to this point!?

And, not to mention seeing through his intentions, he sold out the Ministry of War in the blink of an eye!

Good, sure enough, he is a loyal minister.

Zhu Zhu Yijun praised: "Minister Xu is truly suitable for consultation. I will keep this in mind for filling the gaps, and I will grant your third son a title in the future!"

In the future, it means waiting for Xu Jie to really get things done.

The two had a tacit understanding.

A strange feeling rose in Xu Jie's heart again—several retired cabinet ministers now seemed to have been brought out by this young emperor to give their all, which was truly making the best use of everything.

A playful look flashed in Zhu Zhu Yijun's eyes, and he glanced at Xu Jie nonchalantly. This Junior Tutor was so old and still ambitious, it seemed that he could add some burden to the court deliberation later?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 89 =====