The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 49: The Great Purge of the Court

The cold wind is howling and the snow is falling.

The first snow has fallen in the capital, but the successors to the six ministries and seven officials have still not been decided.

Wanli's rebellious temper seemed to come back again.

He just wanted to replace the officials promoted by Zhang Juzheng.

Naturally, Zhang Siwei couldn't agree.

The two of them were in a stalemate for more than a month!
Wanli was not in a hurry anyway. At the moment, Zhang Juzheng's old party still had the upper hand in the six ministries and seven ministers, so he would not change them.

In the end, Zhang Siwei couldn't bear it anymore.

If the stalemate continues like this, not to mention purging all officials this year, it will be impossible to purge all the officials in the court in the capital.

The young emperor said that next year he would evaluate local officials according to the "Land Surveying Regulations."

If he doesn't quickly purge the officials in the court, he will really have to implement the "Land Surveying Regulations" next year.

There was no other way, he could only take the initiative to find Wanli.

Early in the morning around noon, the heavy snow had just stopped and the sun was rising. The entire Forbidden City was still covered in silver, and the weather was still very cold.

The eunuchs in the Qianqing Palace were still sweeping the snow, breathing out air and stamping their feet, when Zhang Siwei had already come over with his hands behind his back, stepping on the snow.

The clothes under this guy's official robe are all made of precious fur, including his shoes, so naturally he is not cold at all.

Wanli was not cold at this time, because there was a heated kiln under the Qianqing Palace. Red-hot charcoal was stuffed into it, and the entire Qianqing Palace was as warm as a heated kang.

He was sitting at the tea table with Duke Cheng, Zhu Yingzhen, discussing the opening of the Wansheng Company when Li Xuancheng's voice suddenly came from outside: "Your Majesty, Zhang Siwei requests an audience."

Li Xuancheng was also very rebellious. He would not be polite at all if he was unhappy with someone. He would even call the chief minister by his name.

Upon hearing this, Wanli stood up and sat back down behind his desk. He then raised his hand and asked Duke Chengguo Zhu Yingzhen to stand beside him. Then he said in a clear voice, "Announce."

Soon, Zhang Siwei walked in quickly, clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I greet you."

Wanli said expressionlessly, "Excuse me, Lord Zhang, what do you want to see me for?"

Zhang Siwei feigned concern and asked, "Your Majesty, the beauties selected from Nanzhili have been in the palace for over a month now. Didn't you know?"

Of course I know this.

However, I dare not visit the beautiful girl you selected casually.

I have just ordered Luo Sigong to send secret guards to investigate.

This depends on the concubine's place of origin, so you need to go to the local area to check.

The concubines are generally from poor families. If one of them suddenly becomes rich for no apparent reason, or has good connections, then they must have been bribed by you, and I cannot favor her.

Wanli pretended to sigh and said, "Alas, there is nothing I can do. I am very busy these days and have no time."

What are you busy with?

People in the palace said that apart from staying in the Qianqing Palace, you went to the Kunning Palace, and they didn't see you doing anything all day.

Zhang Siwei still pretended to be concerned and said, "Your Majesty, take care of yourself."

You old bitch, don't think I don't know what you are here for.

Don't play these little tricks, I won't be fooled.

Wanli simply asked, "Lord Zhang, is there anything else? I am really a little busy."

You're busy as hell.

Zhang Siwei said helplessly, "Your Majesty, the performance evaluation system has been implemented for over a month, and the six ministries and seven ministers are still undecided. This progress is really too slow. I just want to discuss the selection of the six ministries and seven ministers with Your Majesty."

Are you anxious?
I am not in a hurry.

Wanli feigned curiosity and asked, "Didn't I issue an edict? If you approve it, wouldn't the six ministries and seven ministers be decided?"

What you said, can I approve of what you mentioned?
Zhang Siwei said cautiously, "Your Majesty, the ones you mentioned have all been impeached by the censors. They seem to have problems."

If you let the censors impeach someone, will he be guilty?

Wanli still pretended to be curious and asked, "Zhang Aiqing, have you never been impeached by the censors? Do you think there is anything wrong with you?"

Your problems are bigger than anyone else's!

Zhang Siwei was choked by this and almost rolled his eyes.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief before continuing, "Your Majesty, even if there's nothing wrong with them, they're all exiled officials. Moreover, most of them aren't even second-class Jinshi, let alone Shujishi. It wouldn't be a good idea to let them hold such important positions in the six ministries and seven ministers, right?"

Are you still ranking based on seniority?
Wanli shook his head slightly and said, "Zhang Aiqing, there is no such thing as Jinshi ranking in the official examination, right?

Official assessment, fiscal year in office, ethics, political achievements, corruption issues, age issues, which one is related to the ranking of Jinshi?
The performance evaluation system mainly assesses political achievements, right?
These are all meritorious officials who implemented the "Land Surveying Regulations".

Next, aren’t we going to vigorously promote the “Land Surveying Regulations”?

Naturally, we should prioritize those officials who have made outstanding contributions to the implementation of the Land Surveying and Land Surveying Regulations. "Why are you holding on to the Land Surveying and Land Surveying Regulations?"
I have no intention of implementing the Land Surveying and Land Surveying Ordinance for you.

Zhang Siwei thought about it carefully, then pretended to be serious and said, "Your Majesty, as the saying goes, everyone has their own expertise. The six ministers can't all use their expertise in implementing the 'Regulations on Land Surveying'. Many government offices have nothing to do with the 'Regulations on Land Surveying'."

You said this, right? Okay, then let me show you how I choke you to death.

Upon hearing this, Wanli nodded slightly and said, "That does make sense. The Ministry of Revenue is responsible for the Regulations on Land Surveying, right?

The Huguang Governor Chen Sheng had already completed the survey of all the land under his jurisdiction, but the Shandong Governor Yang Junmin was several months behind and had not yet completed his survey.

Compared to this achievement, it should be Huguang Governor Chen Sheng who was promoted to Minister of Revenue, right?"

Yang Junmin is the son of Yang Bo, your cousin. If you want to recommend him to be the Minister of Revenue, that's impossible.

Zhang Siwei was so choked that he didn't know what to say.

Everyone knows about the relationship between Yang Junmin and him. The little emperor is so rebellious that he would never let Yang Junmin become the Minister of Revenue.

In addition, Yang Junmin and Chen Sheng are indeed incomparable in terms of political achievements, so it seems that there is not much point in continuing the dispute.

He was silent for a long time, then pretended to be helpless and said, "Well, then let Chen Sheng do it.

Your Majesty, Chen Rui is already sixty-eight years old, and Chen Rui and Chen Sheng are cousins. Isn't it inappropriate for him to be the Minister of Rites?"

Chen Rui is indeed a bit old, but this is the trap he had dug in advance.

Because Wang Xijue, who was selected by the Ministry of Personnel, was also a disciple of Zhang Juzheng. This guy was recommended by Shen Shixing, and he had some conflicts with Zhang Siwei.

Wanli had dug a pit for Zhang Siwei to jump into, and Zhang Siwei really jumped in.

He pretended to hesitate for a moment, then pretended to be helpless and said, "Okay, Chen Rui, I won't talk about this anymore.

You said that one should specialize in one's field. Xu Guo was born in the Hanlin Academy, and he used to be in charge of the affairs of the Imperial College and the Zhanshi Mansion. He had little to do with the Inspectorate, and there was no question of his political achievements.

Gao Wenjian is the Left Vice-Chief Censor of the Inspectorate, and he has made outstanding achievements in the three border areas of Shaanxi. No matter how you compare them, Gao Wenjian should be the Left Chief Censor of the Inspectorate, right? "

Xu Guo was the son of the famous Huizhou merchant Xu Fu. In history, during the party struggles at the end of the Wanli period, it was the Donglin Party, formed by the Shanxi merchants and the Huizhou merchants, that fought against the Qi, Chu and Zhejiang Party, which were formed by the maritime merchants and local tyrants and gentry.

This guy is the key figure in the alliance between Shanxi merchants and Huizhou merchants. Naturally, he cannot let this guy take power smoothly.

Zhang Siwei couldn't help but frown when he heard this.

Xu Guo was indeed not suitable to be the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Inspectorate. He had originally planned to let Xu Guo be the Minister of Rites.

But Shen Shixing refused to do it. This guy proposed Wang Xijue, six ministries and seven officials, five lucrative positions. Could he not propose any of them to Shen Shixing?
Therefore, Xu Guo was squeezed out to compete for the position of Left Censor-in-Chief of the Inspectorate.

In this position, Xu Guo and Gao Wenjian are indeed no match. Moreover, Gao Wenjian always makes things difficult for them in the three border areas of Shaanxi. Transferring him back to be the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Inspectorate seems to be a bad solution.

He frowned and pondered for a while, then pretended to be helpless and said, "Your Majesty, what you said makes sense, but I won't mention the Xu Kingdom.

Your Majesty, there should be no problem for He Qiming to be appointed Minister of Works. He is already the Left Vice Minister of Works, and his achievements in renovating the Imperial Palace deserve a promotion."

This guy He Qiming is Zhang Siwei's lackey.

But it doesn't matter. This guy is greedy for money, and he has unclear connections with Zhang Hong, Zhang Jing, and Zhang Cheng. There are a lot of tricks in the renovation of the palace.

If you get promoted this year, I will confiscate your property and exile you next year!
Wanli nodded in mock resignation and said, "Okay, let's not talk about Jia Yingyuan.

It's not appropriate for Hu Ji to be the Minister of Punishments. He is only a fourth-rank Left Censor-in-Chief of the Inspectorate, and he has no outstanding achievements. How could he be promoted four levels in a row and become the Minister of Six Ministries?

Xin Zixiu has meritorious service in surveying land, and he has served as the chancellor of Shuntian Prefecture and the chief justice of the Dali Temple. These positions are closely related to the investigations of the Ministry of Justice. Isn't it a perfect fit for him to be the Minister of Justice?"

Hu Ji was also Gao Gong's disciple and a fellow apprentice of Zhang Siwei, so naturally he wouldn't let this guy go up.

Zhang Siwei was speechless when he heard this.

This time, three of the six ministries and seven ministers were snatched away by the young emperor, leaving him with only two. Moreover, Wang Xijue was related to Shen Shixing. Would he agree to this?
The problem is that he disagrees. Given the little emperor's rebellious temper, he will definitely continue to argue with him. What should we do?

He was frowning in deep thought when Wanli suddenly sighed and said, "I really don't have time. After the six ministries and seven ministers are decided, I'll have to trouble you to complete the examinations for the remaining officials."

This implies that officials below the second rank will no longer be taken care of!

That's fine. There are many important positions below the second rank. You don't have to worry about them. I will definitely have the majority in future court discussions.

Besides, time is running out and we can’t delay any longer.

Zhang Siwei heard this and said with a bit of disgust: "It is my humble duty to share His Majesty's worries. I dare not say it is hard work."

The two of them have reached an agreement.

Under the imperial edict, Gao Wenjian, the Left Vice-Censor-in-Chief of the Inspectorate and Governor-General of the Three Borders of Shaanxi, was promoted to the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Inspectorate; Wang Xijue, the Right Vice-Minister of Rites, was promoted to the Minister of Rites; Chen Sheng, the Right Vice-Minister of War and Governor of Huguang, was promoted to the Minister of Revenue; He Qiming, the Left Vice-Minister of Works, was promoted to the Minister of Works; and Xin Zixiu, the Right Vice-Minister of War and Governor of Baoding, was promoted to the Minister of Punishments.

After the six ministries and seven ministers were established, a major purge of the court began.

It is unknown how many officials promoted by Zhang Juzheng were dismissed. Most of the third-rank officials and important positions below them in the six ministries and five temples were taken away by Zhang Siwei and his faction.

Wanli really didn't say anything. After he got the list, he asked Luo Sigong to check it secretly!
Zhang Siwei's faction seemed to have gained a great advantage, but in fact they were confused by Wanli's random punches.

These guys, just wait for their property to be confiscated and exiled!
(End of this chapter)