My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 288 The Ministry of Rites Debates on Rites
Yin Shidan left the cabinet, neither riding a horse nor taking a sedan chair, but slowly walking back to the Ministry of Rites.

As a clean-living official, Yin Shidan was not adept at political maneuvering.

Or rather, it wasn't that Yin Shidan was bad at political maneuvering, but rather that he disdained using it to oppress others.

However, Yin Shidan had a very high reputation.

The reason is quite simple: Yin Shidan was a master of Confucianism and had participated in the revision of the "Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty" and many other important documents of the Ming Dynasty. Naturally, he had a great influence in an "academic institution" like the Ministry of Rites.

By the time he returned to the Ministry of Rites, Yin Shidan had already made up his mind.

He first summoned all the officials in the Ministry of Rites' main hall.

The term "Libu Tangshangguan" refers to officials of the Ministry of Rites at the level of "Zhushi" or above.

The Ministry of Rites had four departments, including the Department of Ceremonial Affairs, which was responsible for royal sacrificial affairs and education. It also had the authority to interpret the classics related to rites and laws, and was in charge of matters concerning the imperial clan. It was the most important department in the Ministry of Rites.

The Temple and Sacrifice Office was responsible for mountain and river sacrifices and religious affairs.

The Office of the Minister of State Affairs, headed by Shen Yiguan, was responsible for tribute affairs and diplomatic ceremonies.

Finally, there was the Department of Imperial Cuisine, which was responsible for court banquets, sacrificial offerings, and meals for diplomatic missions. This was the so-called Department of Rites, and it was the least prominent department within the Ministry of Rites.

Yin Shidan suddenly summoned the officials in the hall, and the officials present all had a premonition that this matter was probably related to the memorials submitted by the Ministry of Rites in recent days.

In particular, the cabinet's summons of Yin Shidan today has sparked discussion within the Ministry of Rites, with some speculating that the cabinet intends to use Yin Shidan to pressure the Ministry of Rites.

This is also a common tactic used by the cabinet to suppress dissent within the six ministries.

Therefore, before Yin Shidan arrived, everyone had already made arrangements. If Yin Shidan spoke in favor of the cabinet, then they would resolutely uphold the voice of the Ministry of Rites.

At this moment, a white-bearded official preemptively spoke:

"Young Minister of Rites! Su Zilin's memorial has severed the arm of my Ministry of Rites and broken the ancestral rules of our court!"

"Tribute diplomacy is the 'guest etiquette' among the 'Five Rites,' which concerns the dignity of the nation. How can it be lightly separated from the Ministry of Rites and handed over to the Court of State Ceremonies, a mere department for welcoming and sending off guests? This is an act that shakes the foundation of the nation! We have jointly signed a memorial, earnestly requesting that the high-ranking official take the lead and knock on the Left Shun Gate again, so that this memorial will be dropped!"

The officials cheered.

This sentence roughly means, "Minister, lead us in a charge at Zuoshun Gate!"

At this point, another chief officiant stepped forward and spoke from a different perspective:
“Wang Honglu has made outstanding contributions and deserves a generous reward, but how can it be at the cost of altering the responsibilities of government offices? If this precedent is set, all ministries and temples will follow suit and demand power, which would surely lead to chaos in the court.”

Public opinion was overwhelming, and the crowd was in high spirits. All eyes were on Yin Shidan's face, waiting for the statement from this acting official who had been in charge of the Ministry of Rites for many years.

However, the officials of the Ministry of Rites were so excited that it made Yin Shidan feel more at ease.

If it were any other ministry or the Nine Ministers' office, Yin Shidan might not have been so confident, but this was the Ministry of Rites.

Officials in the Ministry of Rites have always been like this; they like to use debates to solve problems.

Yin Shidan was precisely a master of debate.

However, now that he has a high status, no one debates with him anymore.

Yin Shidan said:
"What does the 'Guest Etiquette' section of the 'Collected Statutes' refer to? It refers to the 'Grand Court Ceremony,' the 'Regular Court Ceremony,' and the 'Ceremony for Foreign Tributes.' These are all within the scope of etiquette and are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites, which is undoubtedly true."

Yin Shidan changed his tone and said, "Then, what is the subject of today's dispute?"

"What Wang Honglu did was to argue with the Northern barbarians on reason, demarcate the alliance's boundaries, and thwart their covetous ambitions!"

"Is this a matter of 'ritual' or 'duty'?"

After these words were spoken, the officials of the Ministry of Rites, who had just been filled with righteous indignation, lost some of their momentum.

As Yin Shidan said, was what Wang Shizhen did on the grasslands a matter of etiquette or practical matters?

Upon closer reflection, it seems that it really isn't a matter of etiquette or law.

Yin Shidan gave everyone no chance to catch their breath and continued speaking with the eloquence of a Confucian master:

“‘Ritual’ means reason. The establishment of rituals is to embody the nature of heaven and earth and to follow the principles of all things.”

"The ancient sage kings established and assigned official positions according to the times and reformed them in response to circumstances. Where are the six officials of the Zhou Rites now? The Han Dynasty established the Three Dukes, the Tang Dynasty had the Three Departments, the Song Dynasty added the Vice Chancellor, and the current Prime Minister and Cabinet of our dynasty are all examples of adapting to the times."

"Now, with the winds blowing across the world, foreign envoys paying homage, the signing of alliances, and border negotiations are becoming increasingly frequent and complex."

"Its current situation is no longer something that can be fully accommodated by the old rituals of 'holding jade tablets and silk, announcing names, and kneeling in worship'!"

"The Ministry of Rites has a multitude of responsibilities. It is responsible for the worship of gods and deities, the offering of sacrifices to ancestors in ancestral temples, the selection of talents for the imperial examinations, the education and civil service of the country, the investiture and inheritance of vassal states, and even the system of coming-of-age ceremonies, marriage and funerals. If foreign affairs are merely 'ceremonies,' then the Ministry of Rites is certainly capable of handling them."

"However, foreign affairs have now degenerated into a permanent 'political' matter, specializing in the in-depth study of foreign affairs. We, the officials of the Ministry of Rites, should ask ourselves: do the secretaries of each department have the expertise to 'master' their duties? Do they have the leisure to 'deeply study' them?"

After he said that, everyone present was speechless.

As Yin Shidan said, diplomacy has transformed from a matter of etiquette into a professional political affair.

Wang Shizhen's two visits to the grasslands brought stability to the northern frontier; this was a genuine achievement and a testament to his political prowess.

This is absolutely not something that officials from the Ministry of Rites could do.

In reality, most officials in the Ministry of Rites had little to do with foreign affairs.

The reason for such a strong reaction is simply the self-defense mechanism of the bureaucracy.

This also reflects the confusion about one's own positioning in this era of change.

Times are changing, but the work of the Ministry of Rites is gradually becoming marginalized.

Although it is still ranked among the top three ministries, its power and influence have dropped from first among the six ministries at the beginning of the dynasty to now being ranked after the Ministry of Revenue.

The functions of the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of War are all being expanded, but the functions of the Ministry of Rites are being reduced.

Yin Shidan's tone softened somewhat as he said:
"My intention is not that the Ministry of Rites has lost its power, but rather to reduce its 'redundant affairs' and increase its 'essential affairs.' I will entrust the 'external affairs' that are not my strengths or urgent matters to a specially established department, so that it can focus on them and respond swiftly."

"As for the Ministry of Rites, we can focus on the 'fundamentals'—striving for greater sincerity and reverence in sacrificial rites and grand ceremonies, for greater clarity and transparency in the administration of the imperial examinations and education, and for greater solemnity and correctness in the ceremonies and rituals of the imperial clan and vassal states! This is what is meant by 'returning to the source'!"

After these words were spoken, all the officials in the hall fell silent.

Yin Shidan's statement is indeed theoretically sound.

Of course, Yin Shidan also knew that simply relying on debate on the classics would not dispel the doubts of the Ministry of Rites.

He continued:
"To get to the root of the problem, we must also get to the root of the problem."

Yin Shidan took out a memorial and said:
"The function of the Ministry of Rites is to educate and guide people through the imperial examinations."

"Now that the civil service examination is being held in Shanxi, the capital region, it should be the responsibility of our Ministry of Rites. The allocation of new officials should also be handled by our Ministry of Rites, just like the allocation of those who have passed the imperial examinations."

Everyone's eyes lit up.

People with insight can see the importance of the civil service examination.

The role of the new officials in the capital region was evident to all the officials in the capital.

The power to lead the civil service examination and the power to assign new officials who passed the civil service examination were extremely important powers!

Yin Shidan said:
"The Cabinet also agrees with my opinion. Although the civil service examination selects officials, it is also an important task for the country to recruit talents. It would be more fair for the Ministry of Rites to take the lead."

The officials of the Bureau of Ceremonial Affairs cheered.

Then Yin Shidan added:

"In recent years, the world has become increasingly corrupt. Monks and Taoists often disregard the precepts and commit acts that damage public morals. There are also licentious cults and religious practices among the people. Furthermore, the White Lotus Sect, which incites rebellion, is causing trouble." "In coastal areas, there are also Western cults that attract believers under the guise of almsgiving."

"The Cabinet is also keen to make reforms, and the Office of Sacrificial Rites and Ceremonies should also put in more effort."

The officials in charge of sacrificial rites were delighted.

These are all within their jurisdiction, and this is also the work that can establish the prestige of the Ministry of Rites.

Finally, Yin Shidan added:
"As I have said, entrusting the affairs of the tribute mission to the Court of State Ceremonies does not mean abandoning the affairs of the Ministry of Rites."

"The Office of the Chief Clerk and the Office of the Minister of Justice shall continue to exist and shall continue to serve the court."

Now the officials of the Ministry of Personnel looked at Yin Shidan. They had already relinquished their duties, so how could they serve the court?
Yin Shidan said:
"The Court of State Ceremonies is in charge of foreign affairs, while the Ministry of Rites' Department of Foreign Affairs is in charge of tribute."

“The duties of the host and guest officials are strictly defined by the distinction between the Chinese and foreign countries, and the proper procedures for tribute and ceremony are followed to maintain the rites and order of ‘Celestial Empire – Subordinate Province’.”

Some of the more astute officials had already grasped Yin Shidan's meaning.

In other words, the Court of State Ceremonial was the executive body for foreign affairs, but the Ministry of Rites remained the body responsible for formulating foreign policy.

According to this view, the status of the tributary states within the Ming Dynasty's system, the treatment that the tributary states could enjoy, and the overall foreign policy of the Ming Dynasty would still fall within the purview of the Ministry of Rites, because this was not a matter of "duty" but of "rites".

This is precisely what the Ministry of Rites excels at.

After these words, everyone had no more doubts about Yin Shidan.

He truly deserves to be called a master of Confucianism! His few words pointed the way for the Ministry of Rites.

Most importantly, Yin Shidan's proposals were reasonable and well-founded, and they were all approved by the cabinet.

In this era of great contention, the Ministry of Rites also found its own direction.

Ultimately, the officials of the Ministry of Rites present agreed with Yin Shidan's opinion and tried their best to persuade the other officials of the Ministry of Rites to give up submitting their petition and transfer the affairs of diplomacy and tributary states to the Court of State Ceremonial.
-
Grand Secretary Li Chunfang persuaded Yin Shidan, the Vice Minister of Rites, to agree with your memorial. Yin Shidan then engaged in a heated debate with the Ministry of Rites, gaining their support and no longer opposing the transfer of diplomatic and tributary affairs to the Court of State Ceremonial.

The opposition from officials in the Ministry of Rites subsided, and the cabinet once again submitted a memorial supporting your report.

The Longqing Emperor approved your memorial with his imperial edict.

Wang Shizhen was appointed Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial after the reforms. During his tenure, he leveraged his personal prestige in the grasslands, Korea, and Annam to achieve significant diplomatic successes, creating a stable environment for the Ming Dynasty's development.

[National fortune +1.]

[Prestige +300.]

[Remaining Prestige: 1090.]

On October 5th, Wang Shizhen led the delegation back to the capital.

This time, the grassland issue was handled well, and the Longqing Emperor dispatched senior ministers from the cabinet to go out of the city to welcome the delegation.

Grand Secretary Li Chunfang read the emperor's edict to Wang Shizhen.

The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies was promoted to the third rank, ranking alongside the Commissioner of the Court of State Affairs, becoming one of the Nine Ministers' offices.

The Ministry of Rites' original tributary diplomacy affairs were transferred to the Court of State Ceremonies.

The Court of State Ceremonial was further divided into two offices: the Office of Officials in Charge of Tribute by Road and the Office of Officials in Charge of Tribute by Sea.

The affairs of the vassal states bordering the Ming Dynasty, including Korea, the grasslands, Tibet, and Annam, were handled by the Circuit Tribute Office. Shen Yiguan was transferred to the position of chief officer and served as a fifth-rank official.

As for the vassal states separated from the Ming Dynasty by sea, such as Ryukyu and Kuwu, the Maritime Tribute Office was responsible for them.

However, the Office of the Commissioner of the Tribute is not yet busy, so no chief official has been appointed yet.

In addition, the translators of the Hanlin Academy, the translation office of the Ministry of Rites, and the Sifangguan Guesthouse under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also managed by the Court of State Ceremonies.

In addition, the Court of State Ceremonial also has a Vice Minister, a fourth-rank official, but this position is currently vacant.

Other members of the accompanying delegation also received commendations from the imperial court, and some officials were promoted.

Wang Shizhen entered the city surrounded by high-ranking officials, and the people of the capital lined the streets to cheer.

Everyone cheered, for Wang Shizhen had brought peace to the country this year.

Major newspapers in the capital reported on Wang Shizhen's achievements, and the Yuefu Xinbao even published the full text of Wang Shizhen's "Hulando".

The capital of the Ming Dynasty was never short of talent. On that very day, entertainers sang "Hulando" on the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) in teahouses and restaurants. This exotic melody, combined with the love story that everyone loved, quickly became popular in the capital, and Wang Shizhen's reputation rose to another level.

In the capital, rumors began to circulate that Wang Shizhen was about to join the cabinet.

Newspaper office.

"Wang Honglu is not yet eligible to join the cabinet!"

Shen Yiguan said with absolute certainty.

Luo Wanhua looked at Shen Yiguan and asked:
"Brother Jianwu, why is this?"

Shen Yiguan got a bit darker after visiting the grasslands, but his complexion was much better than before.

Wang Jiaping and Zhang Wei had already received appointments from the Ministry of Personnel and went to their posts before Shen Yiguan returned to the capital.

The newspaper office had just quieted down when, thankfully, Shen Yiguan returned to the capital.

Upon returning to the capital, Shen Yiguan went to the newspaper office before even taking up his post as Minister of State Ceremonies.

Shen Yiguan said:
"Lord Yin has been appointed Minister of Rites, and Li Yiyuan, Vice Minister of Justice, is also favored by the Emperor. This year, he has been commended by His Majesty many times."

"Which of these three will be admitted to the cabinet is already the biggest prize in the capital."

Luo Wanhua was an honest man, and he exclaimed in surprise:

"These people are actually using cabinet membership as a starting point?"

Shen Yiguan said dismissively:

"What's this? When can't the betting be opened? According to the odds in the capital, Lord Yin's odds of entering the cabinet are still the lowest, and he is the most likely to enter the cabinet."

Luo Wanhua asked again, dumbfounded:
Why is it easier to get into the cabinet when the odds are low?

Su Ze said speechlessly:

"With more people betting on Lord Yin to join the cabinet, the odds are naturally lower. The bookmakers aren't charitable organizations; of course, the higher the probability, the lower the odds."

Su Ze never expected that Shen Yiguan would start making betting odds predictions.

However, this system doesn't seem to have much reference value in the Ming Dynasty. As everyone knows, in the Ming Dynasty, getting someone into the cabinet mainly depended on the emperor's wishes.

Even the merits of these three individuals were vying for a place in the cabinet, demonstrating the high caliber of this cabinet during the Longqing reign.

Before Su Ze could even settle into his seat at the newspaper office, Zhang Hong, the eunuch from the Eastern Palace, rushed over.

Thinking that his good disciple had been paying attention to things in Southeast Asia these days, he knew that there must be new developments there.

Su Ze had no choice but to follow Zhang Hong to the East Palace.

Sure enough, as soon as he stepped into Minglun Hall, Little Fatty Jun shouted, "Master Su, big news!"

(End of this chapter)