Chapter 89: Rewarding Merit, Weighing the Scales

Zhao Wenhua Hall.

Today's court deliberation was quite noisy.

Even outside the hall, one could hear the intense voices inside.

"Regardless of whether we agree to the Tatar barbarians or not, we must make the necessary preparations first," said Shi Shi Mao Hua, Senior Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, in a deep voice.

As soon as the voice fell, Fu Yi, Junior Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, spoke indifferently: "Minister Shi might as well make it clear, what kind of early preparations?"

"Liu Liu Yingjie, Grand Coordinator of Jiliao, has long since deployed troops and adjusted the garrisons."

"Qi Qi Jiguang, Grand Coordinator of the Sizhen' Training, has already personally led his troops to defend against the enemy and strictly prepared for war at the border."

"We surely don't need to draw from other towns, do we? Could it be... that there is a shortage of money and grain again?"

Liu Liu Yingjie came from the Ministry of Revenue; after the Gengxu Incident, he took the initiative to request to become a Vice Commissioner of Military Defense, and later became the Grand Coordinator of Liaodong and Henan, and Grand Coordinator of Jiliao, which can be called a steady and experienced general.

Qi Qi Jiguang was a famous general with great military exploits in the southeast. Previously, as a Regional Commander, he was constrained by other Regional Commanders. After the Grand Secretariat requested and the Emperor showed mercy, he was granted the title of Grand Coordinator of the Sizhen' Training.

Both were in high positions and were the best choices of the time; what preparations were still needed?

It was nothing more than the Ministry of War eyeing the silver brought back from the salt patrol in the two Two Huai regions!

Shi Shi Mao Hua's expression remained unchanged: "Drawing from other towns is certainly not necessary, but the recruitment pay that should be issued cannot be saved."

"Besides that, there is grain and grass, which must also be prepared early."

"I'm just afraid that someone who doesn't understand military affairs and is only focused on money will ruin the border defense. If another Gengxu chaos occurs, that is not something money can remedy."

Shi Shi Mao Hua's words, with a big hat buckled down, could already be considered an attack.

Recently, the officials had been arguing over the salt patrol silver, and there was some fire.

Fu Yi's face changed upon hearing this.

He was about to speak.

Suddenly, there was movement on the imperial steps.

Seeing two young eunuchs move the throne up, the officials understood—the Emperor had arrived.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng immediately interrupted the dispute.

"Then let it be so."

"Purchase 1.2 million bundles of grass in the five fields of the West City Ward to prepare for border defense."

"Promote Wang Wang Zhiyu, Mobile Corps Commander of Dingzhou, to Garrison Commander of Xifengkou, and issue 2,000 recruitment troops."

Fu Yi glared at Shi Shi Mao Hua and shut his mouth resentfully.

Before long, the young Emperor's figure appeared on the imperial steps.

Everyone bowed: "Your Majesty!"

When they stood up again after bowing, the officials' faces changed in unison.

It was not because the Emperor had come to listen to politics, nor because the Emperor was not following the rules and not blocking the screen.

It was because, below the imperial steps, in the position of the Hai Yushi of Correction, there was one more person, sitting on a low stool, eyes watching his nose and nose watching his heart.

Xu Jie!

How did this old immortal return to the court!

The officials' thoughts raced, frowning and pondering.

Zhu Zhu Yijun took in the expressions of the officials and found it interesting.

He looked at Zhang Zhang Juzheng and asked: "Senior Grand Secretary, is this discussing the Jibian matter?"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng stepped out and bowed: "Your Majesty, the Tatar Khan's invasion of the border cannot be ignored, and we are just about to discuss a plan."

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded: "How is the discussion going?"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng briefly smoothed out the places discussed in the past few days: "The colleagues have quite different opinions on Dong Dong Huli sending people to exchange prisoners."

"Qi Qi Jiguang and Liu Liu Yingjie submitted a memorial, hoping to exchange back the soldiers so that the troops can see the benevolence of the imperial court and work hard."

"The Ministry of War is worried that this move will encourage the Tatar Khan's arrogance, competing to invade the border and looting the people to make up the numbers to exchange with our dynasty."

"The court deliberation is discussing this matter."

"There is also the matter of Dong Dong Huli asking for rewards; we dare not specialize, and we are waiting for Your Majesty's holy decision."

There were some unspoken meanings that were not easy to say clearly.

The so-called plundering of the common people to make up the numbers is actually more out of fear that once they get used to exchanging prisoners, it will eventually lead to a peace treaty.

You come to invade the border to grab money, I come to earn military merit, and then exchange prisoners to settle the accounts, a win-win situation; these are all lessons learned.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was lost in thought.

However, he did not state his position clearly, but skipped the matter: "Senior Grand Secretary, let's discuss this later."

"I just met with Junior Tutor Xu and realized the hardships and obstacles of this salt patrol matter, which truly makes my heart palpitate."

"The rewards for such meritorious officials cannot be delayed."

"Have the Ministry of Personnel and the Grand Secretariat discussed the rewards for the meritorious officials this time?"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng looked at Xu Jie, who was attending the court deliberation at this moment, and immediately understood the Emperor's decision.

He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief in his heart.

He faced Shen Shen Shixing and signaled for the latter to respond.

Shen Shen Shixing understood and stepped out: "Your Majesty, this matter has been reviewed by the Ministry of Personnel and re-examined by the Censorate officials, and it is about to be discussed in the court."

"Among them, Right Vice Hai Yushi-in-Chief Hai Rui, Right Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Chen Dong..."

He glanced at Xu Jie sitting on the low stool, guessing the Emperor's intention, and added another person: "And former Senior Grand Secretary of the Zhongji Hall, Junior Tutor Xu Jie."

"These three have the greatest merit."

"Others like Jiao Ze, Gu Gu Chengguang, etc., are secondary."

"Among them, Hai Rui is proposed to be promoted to Left Vice Hai Yushi-in-Chief, reducing the assessment period by two years."

"Chen Dong is proposed to be promoted to Left Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, reducing the assessment period by one year."

"As for Junior Tutor Xu... he is in a high position and has a thick salary, so we still need Your Majesty to decide."

The Emperor had not stated his position on how to deal with Xu Jie before.

It is impossible to discuss how to reward him one moment and then execute him the next.

Taking a step back, even if Xu Jie were to be rewarded, his status was special, and it was really hard to handle; he couldn't really be given real power and enter the court to make trouble for his colleagues, could he?

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded; the rewards according to the system did not exceed his expectations.

Mainly because he had offended too many people; he had stepped on others' heads to get to the top, and wanting to reward him heavily would be thankless.

But for Zhu Zhu Yijun, this was a bit cold to the meritorious officials.

He pondered for a moment and said: "What Shen Minister just said is complete according to the system, and I follow what was discussed."

Speaking of this, his tone changed: "However, besides the rewards in official position, I also have a heart to express, otherwise it will be said that I am harsh to good ministers."

"Bestow Chen Dong with a residence outside the Donghua Gate, exempt from rent, and he can bring his wife and children, and grant his two sons entry into the Imperial Academy."

Zhu Zhu Yijun heard that Chen Dong's father was a lunatic, and his son's salary was all taken for his own consumption, and he would whip and punish him by kneeling, which was simply a disgrace to the dynasty.

Unfortunately, it was a family matter, and outsiders were not easy to intervene.

Now that there was an excuse for rewards, rather than doing something fancy, it was better to give him an excuse to bring his children to school and move out.

Shen Shen Shixing didn't understand the Emperor's painstaking efforts, only thinking it was a casual favor, and respectfully accepted it.

Only heard Zhu Zhu Yijun continue: "As for Hai Rui having no descendants, it is not easy to grant titles to his relatives..."

He pretended to ponder for a moment and said reluctantly: "Just bestow him the status of a Tong Jinshi!"

Shen Shen Shixing had subconsciously prepared to accept it, but when he came back to his senses, he looked up in astonishment.

Hai Rui's low background was well known.

A Juren background, it can be said that the seventh-rank official is the end.

But he relied on carrying the great expectations of the pure stream on his shoulders, shaping a golden body that would not be broken, and killed his way to the fourth-rank Vice Hai Yushi-in-Chief, which was already rare in the dynasty.

If he wanted to go further, the third-rank official, that is a dignified court official who can influence the situation of the world, without a Tong Jinshi background, it is impossible to get it.

Now the Emperor is bestowing the status of a Tong Jinshi in the blink of an eye.

This is paving the way for Hai Rui!

The officials looked at each other, their eyes full of resistance.

The Emperor relying on Gao Gong's retirement to force everyone to revive Hai Rui was already the limit.

Could it be that he still wants to let this stubborn donkey enter the cabinet!?

How unreasonable!

Minister of Rites Zhang Zhang Siwei took the lead and stepped out: "Your Majesty, the Tong Jinshi is selected through the palace examination; how can it be bestowed because of merit!?"

"Even if there is such a thing in the dynasty, it is posthumously bestowed; I have never seen a living person bestowed the status of a Tong Jinshi!"

"In this way, it is unfair to the candidates and also breaks the imperial examination system!"

"Please think twice, Your Majesty, and do not break the ancestral laws!"

Zhu Zhu Yijun explained gently: "Minister Zhang doesn't know, this matter, although rare in our dynasty, is common in history."

"Lu You, didn't he get the status of a Tong Jinshi bestowed by Emperor Xiaozong of Song?"

On the surface, he explained kindly, but in his heart, he was sneering.

What ancestral laws, just an excuse.

Bestowing a Tong Jinshi status is really not a big deal.

The Emperor Wanli Emperor in history, in that appearance, didn't he also bestow Juren status to students and Tong Jinshi status to Juren in the fourth month of the forty-sixth year of the Emperor Wanli reign?

That was bestowing a group of people, why didn't anyone say anything?

In the final analysis, Hai Rui is not very popular, and the court officials are excluding him.

Minister of Justice Wang Zhi'gao stepped out with a straight face: "Your Majesty, the previous dynasty is the previous dynasty, and the current dynasty is the current dynasty."

"Selecting Tong Jinshi is a great ceremony of the dynasty; how can it be easily destroyed?"

Because of the Southern Metropolitan Area matter, his son was exiled three thousand miles, so naturally, he would not have a good impression of Hai Rui.

Li Li Youzi, who had just changed from Left Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, also stepped out to echo: "Your Majesty, if the Tong Jinshi status is lightly bestowed and overflows, I am afraid it will cause great trouble."

Subsequently, seven or eight people, including Right Hai Yushi-in-Chief Huo Ji, Vice Minister of Rites Ma Ma Ziqiang, and Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue Cai Cai Ruxian, all echoed to varying degrees.

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at these court officials quietly.

Some were resisting Hai Rui, and some were simply afraid that the Emperor would disrupt the imperial examination.

He had thought before that the resistance would be great, but he didn't expect it to be so great.

He looked at Zhang Zhang Juzheng, who had no expression.

He couldn't help but sigh in his heart; the cabinet probably didn't want to see Hai Rui climb above the third rank, which was already the threshold for entering the cabinet.

Shen Shen Shixing, Vice Minister of Personnel, looked at the attitude of his colleagues and made a decision, immediately stepping out to persuade: "Your Majesty, why not grant titles to Hai Hai Yushi's parents and ancestors instead?"

Zhu Zhu Yijun gave no indication.

Just at this time, Li Li Zaiting, Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, also stepped forward.

He persuaded righteously: "Your Majesty, I also think that bestowing the status of a Tong Jinshi is somewhat inconsistent with the ancestral system and has the suspicion of destroying the imperial examination."

"I suggest, why not follow the story of Yan Shu and bestow Hai Rui to participate in next year's spring palace examination!"

As soon as the voice fell, Zhu Zhu Yijun immediately opened his mouth, not giving anyone a chance to interrupt.

He blamed himself loudly: "The officials are right; the Tong Jinshi status relies on talent and should not be lightly bestowed."

"Then follow Li Minister's meaning, and let him participate in the palace examination in the spring of next year."

"From now on, it depends on his talent."

The officials glared at Li Li Zaiting.

What kind of persuasion is this! The palace examination will not fail anyone!

Previously, Zhang Yuan of the Song Dynasty was failed in the palace examination, rebelled and fled to Western Xia, and was directly granted the position of Chancellor.

And then he led Western Xia to beat the former Song to the point of dog brains, and the Battle of Haoshuichuan alone killed tens of thousands of people, and after the war, he even wrote a poem to mock, signing "Grand Preceptor, Secretary of the Secretariat, and Chancellor of the Secretariat Zhang Yuan followed the imperial carriage to this place," making the Song court so angry that they couldn't eat or sleep.

With this example in front, everyone understood that talented people should not be left in obscurity; if there are too many such people, there will be chaos.

Therefore, in the future palace examinations, only rankings were listed, and no one was failed.

Li Li Zaiting's proposal was still to bestow Hai Rui the status of a Tong Jinshi, just legalizing the process.

Even the previous court officials saying that the process did not conform to the regulations looked like the Emperor was deliberately fishing.

Hai Yushi-in-Chief Ge Ge Shouli came out to echo: "There is no sage greater than Your Majesty!"

Wu Tongzheng Envoy He He Yongqing, Vice Minister of Personnel Wen Chun, and others also bowed and agreed.

At this time, the cabinet had to express its position.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng hesitated for a long time and said: "Your Majesty, Hai Rui naturally has merit, but since the Ministry of Personnel has already given rewards in official position, if we grant the palace examination again, will it be a bit too much."

He really couldn't get along with Hai Rui.

Temperament is one aspect, mainly because political views are different.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was afraid that such a person who had a clean reputation and did not leave any room for action would enter the central government and disrupt major events.

Regarding the Southern Metropolitan Area matter, he heard that Gao Gong came forward to share the Emperor's worries, but was stopped by Hai Rui.

He saw it in his eyes and understood even more that for Hai Rui, the overall situation of the Ming Dynasty was not in his eyes at all; this person's eyes only had the Emperor and the people.

This kind of temperament cannot reconcile yin and yang and is not suitable for entering the central government; blindly standing on the Emperor's side will only worsen the relationship between the officials and the Emperor.

The Emperor hadn't spoken yet.

Xu Jie, sitting on the low stool below the imperial steps, suddenly stood up: "The Senior Grand Secretary doesn't know."

"In this case of the Southern Metropolitan Area, Hai Rui had the greatest merit, and this old bone of mine had no merit at all."

This is pushing merit to Hai Rui, now catering to the monarch, and there is no need to worry about being in a high position and difficult to seal.

The court officials looked at Xu Jie one after another.

Many couldn't help but glance at the Emperor.

Again?

If he doesn't let him push merit to Hai Rui, is he preparing to use Xu Jie's return to the capital to threaten everyone?

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was also startled.

Although he is a teacher, he doesn't want Xu Jie to return to the court.

At this time, Zhu Zhu Yijun finally opened his mouth: "The Censorate has difficulty in making merit, and it will be even more so in the future. I cannot bear to treat heavy ministers harshly. Now, showing a little grace is also to express my heart."

Hearing this, Zhang Zhang Juzheng's expression cleared slightly.

The Censorate having difficulty in making merit is naturally false.

The Emperor is telling him that he doesn't intend to let Hai Rui enter the cabinet, but is paving the way for Hai Rui for the position of Hai Yushi-in-Chief.

If so... it is still acceptable.

The Censorate is the best place for Hai Rui.

Thinking of this, Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed: "Your Majesty is thoughtful, it is my fault."

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded.

The cabinet agreed, and things were easy to handle.

"Then let it be so."

"By the way, Junior Tutor Xu Jie, I will keep him in the capital for consultation, and grant Xu Fan the title of Junior Minister of the Imperial Seal Office."

Shen Shen Shixing waited for a while, and seeing that no one topped the Emperor again, he bowed and agreed.

After finishing this matter, he looked around the hall.

Zhu Zhu Yijun paused and said: "Yang Bo, Minister Yang? Didn't he come to the morning court today?"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng replied: "Grand Secretary Yang is seriously ill and has no strength to get up. After submitting his resignation memorial a few days ago, he has not entered the palace again."

Zhu Zhu Yijun sighed: "Another pillar of state is about to leave me."

He instructed Zhang Hong beside him: "Let the Taiyi Academy go and see. If the medicine is not effective, then replace me with red ink to approve his resignation memorial."

"By the way, if he wants to return to his hometown in Shanxi, let the imperial physicians Wang Wenli and Song Zhaosui accompany him to take care of him, otherwise I won't be at ease."

When ordering this matter, he saw Zhang Zhang Siwei with his peripheral vision, with an expression of uncontrollable excitement.

He shook his head secretly in his heart.

He collected his mind slightly and talked about business: "Let's talk about the Tatar Khan."

Zhu Zhu Yijun finally looked at Wang Wang Chonggu, the Minister of War, who was attending the court deliberation for the first time today but did not say a word.

He asked: "What suggestions does Minister Wang have for this?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 90 =====