Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 211 Who is not a cabinet minister?
Household Department.

Just after noon that day, Li Youzi, with a big belly, stepped into the threshold of the Ministry of Revenue with a shaky step, and walked along the path to the duty room.

On both sides of the courtyard, officials from the Ministry of Revenue stood with their hands hanging down, their faces full of respect, staring straight at the official who was about to enter the cabinet.

Early this morning, the list of names joining the cabinet spread to all the major government offices.

At first, the people in the Ministry of Revenue thought they had heard it wrong.

The name of his own official was not on the list of candidates recommended by the court, but in the end he was able to overtake others and squeeze out Wang Xijue and Wei Xueceng.

He entered the cabinet as the Grand Secretary of Dongge.

It's really a step to heaven.

Many officials in the Ministry of Revenue still admired this official.

When he was in office, not only did the officials of the Ministry of Revenue receive silver and small gifts during festivals, but even the meals in the yamen were different every day.

After a year, many officials from the Ministry of Revenue complained that they had gained weight.

The official is leaving today, and I feel a little reluctant to let him go.

Facing everyone's gaze, he walked to the door of the duty room. A clerk from the Ministry of Revenue came up to him with a smile and called out in a flattering manner, "Sir, the things are all packed. Do you think we should send them to the cabinet now?"

"Yes." The word "Lord" made him very happy, and the look he showed towards the steward became more and more pleasing to him.

I pushed the door open and found the duty room empty.

The steward had ordered everyone to pack up all the valuables before Li Youzi arrived, and they would set off as soon as he arrived.

Of course, this doesn't mean that people will forget about you after you leave.

Rather, it was the joy of promotion. Now Li Youzi was eager to go to the cabinet as soon as possible to hold the drafting pen.

Turning around, Li Youzi glanced at the officials who were seeing him off, clasped his fists and said with a smile: "Thank you all for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come here to see me off. I feel very honored.

We are holding a banquet at Tianxian Tower today, so just go there when you get off work tonight."

"Thank you, Mr. Ge."

The crowd shouted in unison.

The repeated calls of "Lord" made Li Youzi's bones go weak and his face flushed.

He shuddered, ordered his steward to follow him, and took his office supplies with him, heading straight for the cabinet in the Forbidden City.

After arriving at the cabinet and arranging the duty room, Li Youzi waved his hand and ordered the servant to go down, then sat down on the yellow pear wood armchair in the duty room.

The duty room is very large, more than 40 square meters, and is divided into three small rooms.

The outermost room is the wing where the clerk works, further inside is the small hall where the cabinet ministers meet guests, and further inside is Li Youzi's office.

The house has colorful beams, bright windows and elegant furnishings.

The scent of ink wafted out from the emerald Xuande furnace, floating in the air. Li Youzi took a sip, just like taking a sip of fine wine, and was completely intoxicated.

It turns out that there is such a duty room in the Forbidden City, and this is what it feels like.

Just sitting here, he felt indescribable joy.

No wonder all the scholars want to have their own duty room here all their lives.

It’s a pity that duty rooms like this are very limited, only six in total.

Li Youzi couldn't help laughing out loud at the thought of becoming one of the six.

Even if he dies suddenly in office now, it will be worth it!

Just as he was enjoying himself, he heard hurried footsteps outside the duty room, followed by a respectful voice: "Lord Li, the Prime Minister invites you to meet in the official hall on the second floor."

"Okay, got it."

When Li Youzi arrived at the official hall on the second floor, he and Zhang Siwei were the only ones inside. Li Youzi knew that the visitor had bad intentions, so he simply bowed and found a chair to the right of Zhang Siwei to sit down.

As soon as they sat down, Zhang Siwei said congratulations with a smile, and said a few words about working together, and then things got straight to the point.

He took out a memorial.

Written on it was "A memorial from the Ministry of Revenue requesting an increase in silver funds for the palace."

Without thinking, you know what is inside. If he votes to pass this thing, the officials in the court will break his spine.

If he doesn't pass, won't the emperor and the concubines in the palace eat him?

This is a dead end. If you stick your head out, you will be killed. If you hide your head, you will also be killed.

The man who set up this scheme is now a cabinet minister, and is sitting opposite with a calm and composed look on his face.

He was so anxious that he was jumping up and down, and he couldn't do anything about it. He could only patiently suppress his anger and ask: "Lord Li, how did your Ministry of Revenue set the rules for the use of these 500,000 taels of silver?!"

Li Youzi thought, since they have already torn their faces, he would not be polite, and just replied coldly: "The birth of the prince, a banquet of 100,000 taels, a reward of 100,000 taels for Concubine Zheng and her family, the emperor's inner palace concubines have not made jewelry for a long time, this time the Ministry of Revenue allocated 200,000 taels to make jewelry for the concubines.

Besides, Concubine Zheng has received 100,000 yuan, so how can the two Empress Dowagers and Queen Wang not express their gratitude? "

"Huh, Lord Li is really generous. This time he spent 500,000 yuan." Zhang Siwei dusted off the memorial and sneered.

"What's that? Lord Zhang is the richest man in Shanxi. Everyone knows that there are many rich people in Shanxi. This little money would not be a lot for others. But for you, Lord Zhang, how can it be called a lot?" Li Youzi grinned and replied in a slick tone.

"Five hundred thousand is too much."

"In that case, please ask Mr. Zhang to make a draft."

"you"

"I just came to the cabinet today and have some things to do. If the Prime Minister has nothing else to do, I will take my leave first."

After Li Youzi finished speaking, he turned and left.

Zhang Siwei's face darkened, and his bloodshot eyes suddenly filled with murderous intent. When Li Youzi's back disappeared from his sight, Zhang Siwei still felt angry.

He picked up the memorial again and read its contents over and over again.

After turning it over and over, looking at it sideways and vertically, he could only sigh and write down in a dejected manner: "Your words are very much in line with my heart. I will ask the Ministry of Rites to work with the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works to handle this matter."

This went on for more than ten days.

Li Youzi was quite obedient, and Zhang Siwei was too lazy to bother him when he saw that he was at the end of the list. Gradually, he relaxed his vigilance against Li Youzi and focused most of his energy on dealing with Pan Sheng.

This person is his biggest rival.

Early that morning, Zhang Siwei came to the duty room to report for duty.

As soon as he entered, the clerk in the duty room came forward as if he had lost his parents, holding a memorial with red-ink comments in his hand.

"Yuan Fu, something big has happened."

"what's up?"

"Take a look at this first."

As the clerk spoke, he handed the memorial to him.

Zhang Siwei took it, glanced at the name, and immediately became confused: Didn’t I already draft this memorial a few days ago?
Why do we have to do it again today?
He frowned and opened it to read the contents: "I have read your report and found that your words are very relevant to current affairs. I hereby order you to recruit 200 students. After they have completed their studies, the court will arrange for their placement."

"Who wrote the draft?!" Zhang Siwei shivered as if he was stung by a scorpion and turned his head to ask the clerk.

The clerk shook his head repeatedly: "I don't know. The imperial edict was issued early this morning. Eunuch Zhang from the Imperial Household Department said that it was sent from the Cabinet to the Imperial Household Department at twilight hour yesterday."

"Good job Li Youzi!"

(End of this chapter)