Without money, what is the point of being a traitor?

Chapter 383: Court and Law
The relationship between Yang Yiqing, the Minister of Personnel, and Xie Qian was very close.

Yang Yiqing was a heavyweight minister who was the first to side with Emperor Jiajing during the subsequent Great Ceremony Debate.

In addition to personal ambitions and political ideals, this also includes some personal grudges between him and Yang Tinghe.

Specifically, his personal grudge with Yang Tinghe accounts for about 99%...

After Yang Tinghe was driven out of the court, Yang Yiqing, as the only important minister who supported the Great Ceremony Debate, naturally took the position of Prime Minister and Grand Secretary.

When the war was evaluated, Zhang Cong felt that he had achieved 76.3% of the output, and he should have a seat in the cabinet.

In addition, he is an ally of Huo Tao and Gui E from the winning camp, and Yang Yiqing was also the one who was pushed to Emperor Jiajing by Zhang Cong. So everyone should support each other.

However, Yang Yiqing unexpectedly had no intention of letting Zhang Cong join the cabinet, but instead quickly sent someone to summon Xie Qian to the court.

Can you bear this horse riding?
Zhang Cong immediately joined forces with Huo Tao and Gui E to defeat Yang Yiqing again.

After returning to the court, old scholar Xie Qian was dumbfounded when he saw Zhang Cong's three-man shortfall. Then I leave?

What is a political beast? This is a political beast!
Zhang Cong, Zhang Fujing.

He failed the national civil service exam eight times and spent more than 20 years in despair, which made him stronger than ever.

Zhang Cong, who was invincible in the entire court, became the chief minister of the cabinet in just over six years after he passed the imperial examination and remained firmly in that position until he became too ill to move.

Only then did he return home to retire, with the emperor reluctantly letting him go.

If we compare "Zhang·Guose Tianxiang·Cong" with Wang Qiong, who did everything well but was beaten by Yang Tinghe politically, there is a world of difference between them.

Wang Qiong was still hesitating there, and after a long while he said to Pei Yuan, "But if this happens, I'm afraid he will have no future at all."

Pei Yuan said, "Just find an opportunity to let him be an imperial censor."

Wang Qiong naturally understood that Pei Yuan was talking about the fast track. He shook his head and sighed, "It's easier said than done."

Pei Yuan wanted to laugh, and said perfunctorily, "There's a chance."

Opportunity.

Naturally, it is time to wait until Wang Qiong becomes the Minister of Personnel!

This is also the reason why Zhang Song is a rare commodity.

According to history, Wang Qiong would have to wait a few more years if he wanted to become the Minister of Personnel, but passive waiting was not Pei Yuan's style.

What is bothering Pei Yuan now is that Wang Qiong is a difficult person to deal with, and Pei Yuan does not have many opportunities to bring him into his camp.

It just so happens that Wang Qiong, this double-edged sword, is quite capable, and Pei Yuan also needs such a political ally.

As Pei Yuan thought about it, he became more and more troubled.

Another guy who occupies the same ecological niche is Zhang Cong.

When Zhang Guose was a cute fat scholar, who could have imagined that he had such strong fighting power?

But how can Pei Yuan use such a powerful man?
Politics is really not fun at all.

Pei Yuan sighed slightly. Seeing that Wang Qiong had reluctantly accepted his plan, he knew that the next juncture would have to be resolved by Wang Qiong's favor.

Without violating the general premise, the identity of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue is still worthy of respect from those officials of the Ministry of Personnel.

Unexpectedly, Wang Qiong hesitated for a long time and said to Pei Yuan, "Why don't you take care of this matter? In the past, I often worked for Zhang Song. If I suddenly change my mind and demote him, I'm afraid, I'm afraid, there will be criticism."

Pei Yuan was speechless.

What do you think you are worth, cough cough.

Pei Yuan suddenly had an idea and remembered something.

He immediately said to Wang Qiong calmly, "This is easy to handle. Since we are officials in the court, we should naturally uphold a fair mind. It is indeed easy to be criticized if we disrupt the normal appointment of officials in the Ministry of Personnel for the sake of our own personal relationships."

Wang Qiong's expression relaxed after hearing this.

He stroked his beard and said to Pei Yuan with satisfaction, "Pei Yuan, you can always keep justice in your heart. I really didn't misjudge you."

Then Wang Qiong changed the subject again, "What's the plan then?"

Pei Yuan couldn't help but laugh when he saw Wang Qiong's clear purpose.

It seems that you, old man, want to be a whore and also want to be a virtuous woman.

Also.

How could Old Six, who could hide quietly with Wang Shouren for several years just waiting for Prince Ning to show up, be a stubborn person?

But unfortunately, Pei's archway is also good and big.

Pei Yuan thought for a moment and said to Wang Qiong, "Do you think two taels of silver is too much, Lord?"

Wang Qiong frowned and glanced at Pei Yuan.

He was a very smart man and immediately thought of Zhang Song.

Wang Qiong was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, and he was very serious and responsible in managing the ministry. He knew everything about the number of soldiers under the command of a general in a border town, the amount of food and fodder they had received, the amount of food and fodder on hand, the amount of food and fodder supplied annually by local counties, and the amount of autumn grass collected by border soldiers every year. Naturally, he knew that Zhang Song, a seventh-rank official, could only receive two taels of silver in salary every month.

Wang Qiong followed Pei Yuan's words and said, "Not much. This is not the early years of the country. Prices are high and discounts are heavy. Many officials in Beijing who come from poor backgrounds can't even get enough to eat. When they encounter some official social events that cannot be refused, they are even more embarrassed."

After Wang Qiong finished speaking, he looked at Pei Yuan.

I have already said something nice, please continue.

Unexpectedly, Pei Yuan did not play according to Wang Qiong's understanding. Instead, he looked at Wang Qiong seriously and asked, "Not much?"

"Two taels of silver can be exchanged for four stone of rice, which is enough for a family to eat for a long time."

"The oxen that a common people depend on for their livelihood are only worth two or three taels of silver."

"Yangzhou, ahem, the price is the same in Yangzhou."

Wang Qiong was confused again, "So?"

Pei Yuan said solemnly, "From a personal perspective, it is very difficult for Zhang Song to support his family with a salary of two taels of silver, which is certainly worthy of our sympathy. But from a public perspective, there are more than a thousand idlers in the court. How many more than a thousand two taels of silver have they wasted?"

"In order to support these idle people, I don't know how much of the people's money has been wasted. If I were the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, I would write a letter to the court to request the court to cut redundant staff."

Wang Qiong almost pulled his beard off again.

The problem of redundant court staff has existed in every dynasty.

The source of these idle officials is mainly various kinds of patronage officials. Basically, most of them are officials whose fathers have made contributions or are rewarded by the higher-ups when they are pleased, and they directly promote their children to be officials.

Many of these young men were very young and had no experience in being officials.

The Ministry of Personnel did not dare to make any mistakes, so they just found a lot of idle officials to assign these people, and basically they just received a salary.

Given these people's backgrounds, they naturally looked down on these few taels of silver.

But if you think these people are easy to negotiate with and want to stir up this hornet's nest, you must be prepared to be besieged.

Because although these redundant officials have little money, they have helped those people improve their social status. Wang Qiong wanted to say, why is it so?
But Pei Yuan is speaking the truth and is politically correct.

Wang Qiong could only follow suit and said indignantly, "That's right. The court has been suffering from redundant officials for a long time. If I were the Minister of Personnel, I would definitely write a letter to request the court to cut these redundant officials."

Seeing that the old wily fellow was not taking the bait, Pei Yuan said to him in a gentle and persuasive way, "Right now there is a great opportunity. Not only can we get rid of these parasites for the court, but we can also preserve the friendship between fellow townsmen. Isn't your Highness tempted?"

Wang Qiong looked at Pei Yuan warily, "What do you mean?"

Pei Yuan said to Wang Qiong, "Li Dongyang has resigned as the Prime Minister, and Yang Tinghe has just taken over. It is time to do something and show strength. If you write a letter now and ask for the removal of redundant officials, you will definitely get Yang Tinghe's strong support."

Wang Qiong naturally saw the trap here and said disapprovingly, "Yang Tinghe is not stupid. Why would he do something that obviously won't have any good results?"

Pei Yuan said, "Yes, he can't do it. Then who will do it?"

Pei Yuan smiled, "It's the Ministry of Personnel. It will be Yang Yiqing who will be put on the spot. Isn't that exactly what Yang Tinghe wants?"

"If the deed is accomplished, the prince will be credited with initiating it, Yang Tinghe will be feared by the court, and Yang Yiqing will be criticized."

"If the task is not accomplished, it will be nothing more than Wang Gong and Yang Tinghe, along with others, pointing fingers at Yang Yiqing and cursing him."

Pei Yuan said confidently, "Yang Tinghe will definitely not object. As Yang Yiqing is the Minister of Personnel, this is within his authority. He has to take it on even if he has to bite the bullet. Isn't this a done deal?"

In fact, after Yang Tinghe came to power, he did make a drastic change and implemented his "Tinghe Laws".

One of the most important actions was to clean out redundant officials in various government offices.

At that time, it was just the result of discussions among various ministries and commissions, and it was believed that "there were thousands of redundant staff in various government offices."

The total number added up is even more terrifyingly huge.

But the final outcome of this incident was shocking.

This vigorous new policy of Yang Tinghe resulted in the dismissal of a total of five people.

This is not an interpretation by later generations, because the results of the treatment of these five people are clearly stated with their names.

"Sun Jian, Wang Fang, and Zhang Lingfa, who served as students in Wenhua Palace, were made civilians, and Wang Cong and Yao Long, who served in the rank class, were transferred to other posts."

In other words, the matter has been clarified. All officials in the entire Ming Dynasty are doing their jobs well and the atmosphere is clean and upright. The so-called redundant staff are only these five people.

He, he, he, and he, he.

Yang Tinghe didn't expect that Yang Yiqing would just give up and leave him with such a result.

The exaggeration of this result has reached a level that has made people inside and outside the officialdom feel it is outrageous.

Now Yang Yiqing threw the ball to Yang Tinghe, and it depends on the result, whether Yang Tinghe admits it or not.

Yang Yiqing's attitude was very firm. Either everyone had to eat shit together, or Yang Tinghe would take the ball and play with it himself.

Then I will join others in pointing at your spine.

Yang Tinghe is also a ruthless person, he will eat shit if he wants to!
So he simply acknowledged the result, and this incident eventually caused both he and Yang Yiqing's prestige to plummet.

However, Yang Tinghe's prestige plummeted, but he was still the prime minister.

Yang Yiqing's prestige plummeted and he would not be able to enter the cabinet.

In the end, Yang Yiqing, who was no match for Yang Tinghe, was eliminated from the cabinet.

Pei Yuan didn't mind getting this matter done in advance, taking the opportunity of Zhang Song's transfer.

When the two tigers fight each other, a bigger space will appear.

After listening to Pei Yuan, Wang Qiong did not give any clear answer and directly served tea to see the guest off.

Pei Yuan smiled and left Wang Qiong's house calmly.

The conflicts between Yang Yiqing and Yang Tinghe gradually surfaced, and it was time to go to Shandong as soon as possible.

Another thought flashed through Pei Yuan's mind. In this tense situation, it was time to give his good friend He Huan a future.

Pei Yuan came out and said to Chen Xinjian, "Remember to go to Gu Dayong's residence tomorrow. I have something to discuss with him."

Chen Xinjian asked in confusion, "Why not just call him over?"

Pei Yuan kicked him directly and cursed, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Pei Yuan was thinking about Wang Qiong's affairs, Yang Tinghe's affairs, Yang Yiqing's affairs, and Zhang Cong's affairs, and suddenly he felt his heart was in a mess.

The easiest way is to just get rid of all the trouble.

But if we just compromise like this, are we going to just watch the Ming Dynasty sink into ruin?
These available talents are the essence of this era, and we must always make good use of their potential.

It was just that Pei Yuan couldn't discuss this matter with outsiders. He returned to his own house and asked the maids, "Is the young lady asleep?"

The maid said quickly, "Not yet. The young lady has been reading until very late these past two days."

Pei Yuan was silent for a moment.

I became more and more annoyed with Jiao Huangzhong.

Pei Yuan weighed the chips he could use to please the little beauty, and thought to himself, maybe arranging an idle position for Jiao Huangzhong in the capital would be the best he could do?
At this moment, Pei Yuan certainly no longer had any thoughts about wasting the people's money.

Pei Yuan rubbed his forehead and said to the maid, "Go get some food and send it back. I'll sleep in the backyard tonight."

After the maid left, Pei Yuan went to the backyard. Seeing that the light was on in the house, he pushed open the door.

When Jiao Yan'er saw that it was Pei Yuan who came back, she couldn't help but stand up happily and said, "Husband."

Although Pei Yuan was a little evasive about pillow talk, he liked Jiao Yan'er. When Jiao Yan'er came up to help him take off his winter clothes, he opened his arms and picked her up.

Jiao Yan'er scolded him and put her hand on Pei Yuan's chest.

She looked at Pei Yuan, and waited until her rapid breathing slowed down after being held by Pei Yuan. She held Pei Yuan's hand and supported herself slightly, gradually calming down.

Then, without struggling, she rested her head on Pei Yuan's shoulder and asked softly, "Is my husband hiding from me?"

Pei Yuan said, "What nonsense are you talking about?!"

Holding her in my arms, I went to the desk to see what she had written.

Pei Yuan's eyes fell on the paper and he praised, "Good handwriting."

Jiao Yan'er's head was still on Pei Yuan's shoulder. She lowered her eyes, glanced at the words, looked at Pei Yuan again, and continued softly, "Father did come here, and asked me to help persuade you, wanting to help my grandfather return to the court."

Pei Yuan saw that it was as he expected, so he smiled and hugged Jiao Yaner, put her on his lap, and asked, "So what do you think?"

He had a smile on his face and his hands were casually caressing the beauty's body.

Pei Yuan is such a heartless person that he has secretly marked the position of every woman he has met in his heart.

Jiao Yan'er doesn't have much.

(End of this chapter)