I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 196 Eliminating Abuses and Revitalizing the Nation! Shen Nian: Your Majesty, I oppose Your Majesty's Personal Rule.
If Zhang Juzheng, the regent, were still in power, no official would have dared to submit a memorial requesting the young Wanli Emperor to assume personal rule.

Because of the change in power.

This means that the regency structure of "Zhang Juzheng holding power" in the Ming Dynasty will be broken, the cabinet's voice in the court and its decision-making power in military and political affairs will be greatly reduced, and there will be many personnel adjustments.

In addition, the young Wanli Emperor's mindset may have changed drastically.

once.

Before he ascended the throne and began ruling in his own right, the Longqing Emperor was perceived by his officials as someone who was reserved, taciturn, frugal, and self-disciplined.

However, not long after assuming power, he became obsessed with the harem and had sex with several women every day.

of course.

It's not necessarily a bad thing for the emperor to rule personally.

For example, the grandfather of the young Wanli Emperor, the Jiajing Emperor.

He ascended the throne at the age of fifteen (by Chinese reckoning). At the beginning of his reign, he took personal control of the government through the Great Rites Controversy. He actively governed, rectified official corruption, reduced taxes and corvée labor, and restored production. Based on his early achievements, he can be called a restorer of the dynasty.

There is no specific standard for whether or not a person is in power; it depends entirely on the emperor's personal abilities and character.

According to the usual practice of the young emperors of the Ming Dynasty ascending the throne.

Generally, it was when the regents petitioned to relinquish power, or when the regents were incapable of assisting in governing, that the officials petitioned the emperor to assume personal rule.

but now.

When Zhang Juzheng was in mourning at home, the cabinet and the drafting office assisted him in governing.

The memorial submitted by Liu Yingqi, a secretary in the Ministry of Rites, "earnestly requesting that the young Wanli Emperor assume personal rule," presented the cabinet and the drafting department with a difficult problem.

As a subject, I am not qualified to judge whether the young Wanli Emperor is capable of ruling in his own right.

Upon the release of this memorial, officials either wrote their own memorials in support or remained silent.

However, their silence was suspected of being an opposition to the young Wanli Emperor's assumption of power.

In particular, officials in the Cabinet and the Drafting Office.

Not only would it raise suspicions of opposition, but it would also be seen by some officials as an attempt to covet power.

Less than half a day after Liu Yingqi's memorial was submitted, more than thirty officials submitted their own memorials in support of it.

These officials all want to advance their careers.

Once the young Wanli Emperor assumes personal rule, his contact with the officials in charge of drafting documents and the officials who give daily lectures will decrease, while their opportunities to demonstrate their abilities will increase.

In addition, some people opposed Zhang Juzheng's new policies and therefore advocated that the young Wanli Emperor should rule in his own right.

When an emperor assumes personal rule, he often introduces policies to suppress powerful ministers and promote new talents in order to enhance imperial power.

This gave other officials an opportunity.

Their logic in considering whether the young Wanli Emperor should assume personal rule was based on whether it would benefit them, rather than whether it would benefit the Ming Dynasty.

……

Within the drafting department.

After reviewing the memorial submitted by Liu Yingqi, a senior official in the Ministry of Rites, requesting that the young Wanli Emperor assume personal rule, the five officials on duty discussed the matter and, citing their lack of qualifications to assess whether His Majesty was capable of ruling personally, left the memorial blank and sent it to the Forbidden City.

They then returned to their respective offices and wrote memorials to support their proposals.

Upon learning of this, Shen Nian frowned.

He speculated.

Next, the vast majority of officials will follow suit and submit memorials urging the young Wanli Emperor to assume personal rule, since he will inevitably have to do so sooner or later.

The young Wanli Emperor was also absolutely inclined to rule in his own right.

The young Wanli Emperor would most likely follow the "three refusals" etiquette, first declining Xiande's request, then Xianxian's request, and finally reluctantly agreeing to the requests of his ministers, thus demonstrating the demeanor of a wise ruler and virtuous ministers.

However, Shen Nian felt that now was not the time for the young Wanli Emperor to assume personal rule.

He did not believe that the young Wanli Emperor was incapable of ruling personally.

With the help of a group of officials, as long as the young Wanli Emperor doesn't follow the example of the Longqing Emperor who "had sex with several women every day" or the Jiajing Emperor who "sought immortality every day and neglected state affairs," he will be able to achieve his goal.

The Ming Dynasty will definitely continue to rise.

However, the Ming Dynasty is currently at a critical juncture in eliminating its long-standing problems.

Zhang Juzheng had placed a series of new policies and laws, as well as local civil and military officials, in appropriate positions, and it was the perfect time to implement them.

When the one in power in the court suddenly becomes a mini-Wanli.

With Zhang Juzheng's power weakened, those reform-minded officials he approved of would inevitably be suppressed. This move could easily lead to factional strife and shake the foundation of the current new policies.

When changing the ruler, a handover must take place, rather than a sudden replacement.

In Shen Nian's mind, when the Ming Dynasty was eliminating its abuses, it wasn't that the young Wanli Emperor didn't do a good enough job, but rather that Zhang Juzheng did a better job.

Once the malpractices are eliminated and power is fully transferred between the two sides, the task of revitalizing the country will require the young Wanli Emperor to be at the forefront.

Shen Nian thought for a moment and decided to observe the situation of the officials' support for the proposal before going to see the young Wanli Emperor and explaining his thoughts.

At that time, he only had the right to offer advice to the young Wanli Emperor.

In the entire Ming Dynasty, only Zhang Juzheng could make decisions on behalf of the young Wanli Emperor.

……

At this moment, the Cabinet is on duty.

While the three Grand Secretaries were examining the amnesty edict and the edict bestowing titles upon the two empress dowagers following the young Wanli Emperor's wedding, they came across Liu Yingqi's memorial.

All three of them frowned.

Once the young Wanli Emperor is declared to be in power, many chaotic things will inevitably happen in the court.

With Zhang Juzheng absent from court, the cabinet's control had already weakened considerably. If news were to spread that Zhang Juzheng's power to assist in government had been revoked, infighting among officials would intensify.

Many new policies will be more difficult to implement.

"Whether Your Majesty assumes personal rule should be up to Your Majesty, not us. If we oppose it, we will be suspected of coveting power. To avoid suspicion, this memorial will not be drafted. However, we will still submit the memorial and earnestly request Your Majesty to make the decision yourself. We respect any decision Your Majesty makes!" said Lü Diaoyang.

After thinking for a moment, Ma Ziqiang and Yin Zhengmao both nodded.

Both men were unwilling for the young Wanli Emperor to assume personal rule at this time, but as ministers, they could not decide the young Wanli Emperor's choice.

If they oppose it, it means they are dissatisfied with the young Wanli Emperor, and with his knowledge and governing ability.

This is a grave sin.

Immediately, the three submitted a joint memorial praising the young Wanli Emperor and asking him for his decision.

……

Inside the Wenhua Hall.

Empress Dowager Li, Emperor Wanli (the young emperor), and Feng Bao gathered in the warm room of a side hall.

When Empress Dowager Li heard that an official had submitted a memorial advocating that the young Wanli Emperor assume personal rule, she immediately went to him with great excitement.

She was very much looking forward to the young Wanli Emperor taking over the reins of government.

Once the young Wanli Emperor had consolidated his power, he could easily fabricate a reason to release the Earl of Wuqing from prison so he could enjoy his later years in peace. In this way, she could be said to have successfully fulfilled her duty of "ruling from behind the curtain."

Feng Bao was naturally even more excited.

In his eyes, before the young Wanli Emperor assumed power, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs was only one of his hands, but after he assumed power, it became both of his hands.

The cabinet, originally intended to manipulate the thoughts of the young Wanli Emperor, will become his pen.

Even if Zhang Juzheng were to return, it would be difficult to change all of this.

The young Wanli Emperor also favored assuming personal rule immediately.

Once he assumes personal rule, he will have fewer daily lectures and less homework, and he will be able to do more things. Some of his ideas about politics will have the opportunity to be implemented.

His life will be much freer.

He will stand at the very top of the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty, looking down on everyone and giving orders to everyone.

The young Wanli Emperor knew that with his current abilities, he was not capable of leading the entire Ming Dynasty.

But now that this opportunity was presented to him, he still wanted to give it a try.

An hour later.

The memorials piled up in the Wenhua Hall, all of them supporting the idea that the young Wanli Emperor should immediately assume personal rule.

This greatly excited the young Wanli Emperor.

He enjoyed the feeling of being recognized by his ministers.

……

Near dusk.

Hanlin Academy, Lecture Hall.

Upon learning that almost all the officials in Beijing who held official positions had submitted their second memorials, Shen Nian straightened his clothes and prepared to meet with the young Wanli Emperor.

at this time.

Shen Shixing, who was in charge of the Hanlin Academy, came to Shen Nian.

"Ziheng, what's wrong with you? All the Hanlin Academy officials have submitted their second memorials, why haven't you made a move yet? With His Majesty assuming personal rule, you will surely be the biggest beneficiary in the Hanlin Academy!"

Shen Shixing's statement is correct.

If the young Wanli Emperor were to assume personal rule, Shen Nian would most likely be promoted to the rank of Vice Minister of the Third Rank within six months.

Shen Nian smiled and said, "Scholar Shen, I feel that the timing is not quite right for His Majesty to assume personal rule. I intend to meet with His Majesty to offer my advice. Would you be willing to accompany me?"

"Advice?" Shen Shixing glared at Shen Nian and said, "Ziheng, whether His Majesty should assume personal rule is a decision His Majesty must make. It's fine if you remain silent, but how can you offer advice? Advising His Majesty not to assume personal rule is tantamount to believing that His Majesty's current abilities and virtues are insufficient, which is extremely disrespectful!"

"Scholar Shen, let me give it a try. Maybe His Majesty will approve of me!"

After saying that, Shen Nian walked towards the door.

He didn't speak much with Shen Shixing because it was already nearing dusk, and if he didn't have a chance to persuade him today, speaking up in court tomorrow would be a slap in the face to the young Wanli Emperor.

Shen Shixing watched Shen Nian's retreating figure with a helpless expression.

When Shen Nian gets stubborn, she's incredibly stubborn, and he simply can't persuade her.

……

As the sun set, the shadows of the Imperial Guards standing watch in the Forbidden City stretched very long.

Inside the Wenhua Hall.

After Feng Bao finished organizing the memorials on the imperial desk, he reported to the young Wanli Emperor: "Your Majesty, apart from Shen Nian, the Hanlin Academy Lecturer, all the other officials in the capital who hold real positions advocate that Your Majesty should immediately assume personal rule or follow Your Majesty's wishes."

"Shen Qing hasn't submitted his second memorial yet? That's really unusual. He should understand that after I assume power, he will be the first person I appoint to an important post!" The young Wanli Emperor looked puzzled.

"My lord, go and see Shen Shijiang in person to find out the reason. I hope that all officials will advocate that I assume personal rule immediately!"

"This old servant obeys!" Feng Bao quickly withdrew.

However, less than ten breaths later, Feng Bao entered the main hall again, cupped his hands towards the young Wanli Emperor, and said, "Your Majesty, Attendant Shen requests an audience."

"Let him in!" said the young Wanli Emperor.

……

A moment later, Shen Nian strode into the Wenhua Hall.

"Your subject, Shen Nian, a Hanlin Academician, pays respects to Your Majesty!" Shen Nian bowed to the young Wanli Emperor.

"Rise, Shen Qing. What brings you here? Explain your purpose immediately!" The young Wanli Emperor was certain that Shen Nian had come because of the matter of assuming personal rule, but he still emphasized his words and asked for the reason, in order to express his dissatisfaction that Shen Nian had not seconded his opinion.

Shen Nian cupped her hands in greeting once more.

"Your Majesty, I believe it is not appropriate for Your Majesty to assume personal rule immediately!"

Upon hearing this, the young Wanli Emperor's face darkened.

"Shen Shijiang, do you think I lack knowledge, or my governing ability, or some other reason?"

"Your Majesty, none of them are correct."

"Given Your Majesty's current knowledge and ability to manage state affairs by reviewing memorials, you are fully capable of ruling in your own right, but the timing is not right now."

"I have three reasons."

"Firstly, Your Majesty has just been married, and your primary task at this time is to produce offspring for the Ming Dynasty. If you were to assume personal rule, the busy political affairs would be too much for Your Majesty's health to handle!"

"Secondly, our current reforms are in the process of eliminating abuses. Once Your Majesty assumes personal rule, some officials will be more concerned with Your Majesty's position than with politics, which could easily lead to factional strife and shake the foundation of the new policies."

"Thirdly, I believe that Your Majesty's new policies represent a new beginning. At present, our dynasty is in the final stage of eliminating abuses. Once the elimination of abuses is completed and the country is in a period of prosperity, it will be best for Your Majesty to assume personal rule. At that time, Your Majesty can announce several new policies to the world with a wave of your hand, and our Great Ming will officially enter the stage of moving towards a golden age. Now, Your Majesty is assuming personal rule, but there are no policies to follow. You can only make minor adjustments to the current political situation, which is not enough to demonstrate the power and virtue of Your Majesty's personal rule!"

……

The young Wanli Emperor paid no attention to the first two reasons, but was particularly interested in the third.

The emperor's new policies must bring about a fresh atmosphere, and currently, the land surveying system has just been implemented nationwide.

The young Wanli Emperor had no solutions, making his personal rule seem little different from the past.

He looked at Shen Nian.

"Shen Qing, when will you have a plan to revitalize the country? Do you already have an idea?"

Shen Nian shook his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I do not have one for the time being, but when our dynasty's new policies change from eliminating abuses to revitalizing the country, the Cabinet and the Drafting Office will certainly formulate a set of laws to revitalize the country, to help Your Majesty take personal control of the government and carry out a series of laws to revitalize the country and bring about a prosperous era."

At that moment, young Wanli was somewhat tempted.

Shen Nian did not criticize his incompetence, but simply said that now was not the best time for him to take charge of the government.

He understood the hidden meaning in Shen Nian's heart.

The current new policies were set up by Zhang Juzheng, the people were all selected by Zhang Juzheng, and the policies were all supervised by Zhang Juzheng. It would be better if Zhang Juzheng finished his performance before Wanli took the stage.

in short--

The young Wanli Emperor was very capable, but it would be more beneficial for the Ming Dynasty to assume power during the period of national prosperity than during the period of eliminating corruption!
A smile gradually appeared on the face of the young Wanli Emperor.

He could tell that Shen Nian was thinking of him and the future of the Ming Dynasty.

If the young Wanli Emperor were to rashly assume power and prove incompetent, and then hand over the reins of power to Zhang Juzheng, it would be a huge disgrace!

After Shen Nian finished speaking, he took out a memorial from his sleeve and then bowed again.

"Your Majesty, this is a memorial from your subject advocating that Your Majesty immediately assume personal rule. Your subject humbly requests that Your Majesty reject the requests of the officials!"

Upon hearing this, the young Wanli Emperor burst into laughter.

Shen Nian opposed his immediate assumption of power, but still submitted a memorial to the throne to second his opinion.

This was to ensure that the young Wanli Emperor would refuse all requests from officials during the daily court sessions in the Ming Dynasty, thus showcasing his excellence and broad perspective.

Shen Nian's actions took both substance and appearance into consideration.

If Shen Nian were to say these words in front of the civil and military officials during the Ming Dynasty's daily court sessions, even if the young Wanli Emperor knew there was some truth to it, he would not agree.

Agreeing would make one appear extremely foolish.

Shen Nian's actions always made him feel very comfortable, a skill that other officials, including Zhang Juzheng, rarely possessed.

"Shen Qing, let me think about it. I will announce the results in court tomorrow!" The young Wanli smiled mischievously, also wanting to give Shen Nian a surprise.

"Your subject obeys!" Shen Nian immediately withdrew.

……

Outside the Meridian Gate, the sun had completely set, and darkness was falling.

Shen Nian strode forward, gazing at the officials leaving the Meridian Gate one after another, and murmured to himself, "His Majesty's wedding and the nationwide land survey are underway. In the new year, I hope to sweep away all the long-standing abuses. It's time to find a way to invite Grand Secretary Zhang back. Only then can the Ming Dynasty enter its best state of reform!"

At this moment, Shen Nian missed Zhang Juzheng very much.

The drafting of the bills was far from sufficient to offset the negative impact of Zhang Juzheng's absence.

With Zhang Juzheng around, many flaws would not occur; with Zhang Juzheng around, Shen Nian would not be so exhausted.

Everyone criticizes Zhang Juzheng for seizing power and controlling the country, but they don't know how heavy a burden he carried for the Ming Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)