My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 100: Paving the Way with High Arches
Coming to Gao Gong's study again, Su Ze looked at Gao Gong in front of him and felt that Gao Gong seemed much more tired.

"sit down."

Gao Gong asked Su Ze to sit down, and told him again what happened at the meeting between the cabinet ministers and the emperor. He looked at Su Ze with a round face and asked:

"Zilin, do you know why His Majesty went easy on the censors this time?"

Compared with the previous severe punishments of censors, Emperor Longqing's handling of this incident can be said to be quite restrained.

Regardless of the followers, only the leading censors who initiated the petition were investigated, that is, they were suspended from their posts for investigation, unlike the previous few who were all quickly exiled from the capital.

Su Ze was also a little confused. This time the Dai Wang case was much more turbulent than the previous ones, but this time the emperor was somewhat biased towards the censors.

Gao Gong said:

"The cabinet is a little too united this time. If the censors are dismissed again, Your Majesty will probably be uneasy."

It turned out to be the case.

Su Ze suddenly realized!

If the cabinet and the six ministries were too harmonious, the emperor would worry that his imperial power would be hollowed out. The censors themselves were tools used by the imperial power to check and balance the executive power, so the emperor had to keep these censors.

Is this what they call the art of mixing different opinions?
Of course, Emperor Longqing still trusted his cabinet ministers very much, and doing so was just the self-preservation instinct of imperial power.

Seeing that Su Ze understood everything immediately, Gao Gong nodded in satisfaction.

Gao Gong continued:
"Zilin, please don't get involved in the affairs of the Liao vassal state. Elder Zhang is watching over you in the cabinet. Just focus on running the newspaper and compiling books, and giving lectures to the Crown Prince."

Su Ze was naturally aware of the grudge between the King of Liao and Zhang Juzheng. He also understood Gao Gong's meaning. He had been too popular recently and it was time to bide his time.

In any case, Zhang Juzheng will not let the King of Liao go.

"Students save it."

Gao Gong saw that Su Ze said he would be content, but he always gave the cabinet a lot of trouble, so he knew that his promise was probably not of much value.

Gao Gong continued:

"I was not thoughtful enough about this matter. I need to be more careful when dealing with border affairs in the future."

"If it weren't for your recommendation of Qi Jiguang, Datong wouldn't have been stabilized so quickly. Governor Wang also wrote a letter praising Qi Jiguang."

Gao Gong looked at Su Ze with satisfaction. As a leader of the cabinet, Gao Gong's military shortcomings had always been a hidden worry. Although his faction included Wang Chonggu, the governor of Xuanda, Wang Chonggu was still a civil servant after all.

Qi Jiguang, who was recommended by Su Ze, made great contributions. Gao Gong took advantage of the opportunity to recruit Qi Jiguang into his team. By gaining control of this power, Gao Gong had more control over border policies.

This is how politics works. From the makers to the promoters, and from the supervisors to the executors, each one of them is indispensable and must be of one mind. Otherwise, even good policies can be implemented incorrectly, or those below them may simply pretend to obey but actually disobey, thus ruining good policies.

Now Gao Gong is in the cabinet, Wang Chonggu is the governor of Xuanda, and Qi Jiguang is the general of Datong.

Then the strategy of "using fighting to promote peace" proposed by Su Ze would have a chance to be realized, and the opportunity to obtain tribute from Anda, which Gao Gong pursued, and to resolve the northern issue would have arrived.

For Gao Gong, who was determined to "launch the Longqing New Deal", this was the biggest gain from the Dai Wang incident.

Su Ze looked at Gao Gong and had to admit that Gao Gong was indeed a good leader.

When subordinates are unable to resolve an issue, he can take responsibility and not pass the buck to them.

He taught Su Ze the skills of being an official through personal experience and was also able to express his ideas openly.

This kind of leader is probably one who wants to get things done. He is unwilling to focus his energy on the so-called "art of controlling people". What Gao Gong needs are subordinates who can help him realize his political ideals, rather than docile yes-men.

After discussing the affairs of the court, the next step was to reward the merits. Gao Gong said:

"The observation period for the newly minted Jinshi is almost over. Your class is the first major talent selection ceremony since His Majesty ascended the throne. His Majesty and the ministers all hope that you will serve the country. Are there any outstanding talents among your peers?"

Su Ze understood that this was Gao Gong's reward.

In the same year, it can be said that it was an extremely important political resource in the Ming Dynasty officialdom.

However, the relationship between people is developed through getting along with each other. It does not mean that the relationship will naturally be good just because you are of the same age.

Gao Gong asked Su Ze to recommend his classmates to give him the opportunity to do favors and increase his influence among his classmates.

Newly minted Jinshi always have to be granted official positions. Gao Gong was in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, and recommending talents for the country was within the Ministry's jurisdiction.

“After passing the imperial examination, students were all busy working in the Hanlin Academy and didn’t know their classmates very well.”

Gao Gong frowned and said:

"You should get closer to your peers. Anyway, it's still some time before the end of the observation period and the appointment of officials. If you have any recommendations, just speak directly to the selection officer Zhang Siwei."

Zhang Siwei, a disciple of Gao Gong, was also the chief minister of the Wanli Dynasty in history.

The Libu Wenxuanlang, whose full name is Libu Wenxuan Qinglisi Langzhong, is responsible for the selection, appointment, assessment and job allocation of civil servants across the country. It is one of the core positions in the operation of the bureaucratic system.

"Nothing is more important than selecting officials in the world." This is the most important position in the Ministry of Personnel. This shows that Zhang Siwei was Gao Gong's most trusted confidant.

Not to mention the newly-minted scholars waiting to be appointed as officials, even the high-ranking officials in the frontiers had to be extremely respectful when facing the candidates.

Gao Gong asked him to meet Zhang Siwei, which meant that he regarded Su Ze as his most inner circle disciple. Su Ze hurriedly thanked Gao Gong.

Gao Gong looked at Su Ze and threw out a new pancake.

He added, "You were so concerned about the Shuntian Prefecture provincial examination earlier. According to our dynasty's system, the chief examiners for the Shuntian and Yingtian Prefecture provincial examinations must be appointed from among the Hanlin Academy officials. This year's provincial examination has already passed, so you can compete for the position of chief examiner for next year's Shuntian Prefecture provincial examination."

Su Ze didn't expect Gao Gong to give him such a benefit.

Fellow students and former officials are the most important resources for officials.

The disciples under Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng were accumulated through their repeated service as chief examiners of the imperial examinations.

The chief examiners of the imperial examination were all important officials of the cabinet, and Su Ze was far from this position.

Gao Gong appointed Su Ze as the chief examiner of the Shuntian Prefecture's provincial examination, naturally to pave the way for him to accumulate political resources.

Although the Shuntian Prefecture Provincial Examination was only an examination for obtaining the title of Juren, after Su Ze submitted his memorial last time, the participants of the Shuntian Prefecture Provincial Examination included the children of officials in the capital and students of the Imperial College. If these people passed the imperial examination and became Jinshi, Su Ze would be considered their teacher in the provincial examination.

Every important cabinet official accumulates resources bit by bit in this way and eventually becomes a political leader.

Gao Gong was sincerely paving the way for himself, and Su Ze was really moved. He respectfully paid homage to Gao Gong as a teacher.

After saying all this, Gao Gong suddenly stammered:

"And there's one more thing."

"Master, please give your instructions."

Gao Gong's face showed a rare conflicted expression. After all, this was the first time for him to act as a matchmaker for someone.

(End of this chapter)