My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 325 Li Chunfang Resigns as Prime Minister

Su Ze put down the memorial, looked at the two men, and asked:
"Who was the chief writer of this memorial?"

Shen Yiguan honestly replied:

"It was written by Brother Rumo."

That's definitely Shen Shixing's style.

In the original timeline, Shen Shixing succeeded Zhang Juzheng as the Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty after Zhang Juzheng's death.

At that time, Zhang Juzheng was being purged, and the court was in great chaos.

During Shen Shixing's tenure as cabinet secretary, he bridged the contradictions between the court and the public, completed the transition of the political situation after Zhang Juzheng's era, and ensured the stability of the court.

To put it bluntly, Shen Shixing's greatest skill is to smooth things over.

To put it nicely, they are good at bridging conflicts and finding common ground between the government and the public.

Officials like Shen Shixing may not be able to accomplish anything groundbreaking, but they have no problem maintaining existing reform achievements and uniting the majority of people.
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On March 7th, the political landscape shifted once again.

The group of noble military officers who were the first to propose budget allocations became the first to be eliminated.

Unfortunately, although the number of nobility and military generals who jointly signed the petition was the largest, allocating the budget was not simply a matter of having more people.

Or rather, the distribution plan for the elite military group only took into account the interests of the military, making it the most unpopular plan.

At this point, Duke Zhu Shitai of Chengguo knew that things were hopeless, so he requested the emperor to withdraw the joint memorial signed by the nobles and military generals.

The Longqing Emperor approved the request and rewarded the meritorious officials and military generals for their voluntary humility, allowing them to sign their names again.

This was naturally a favor from the emperor.

The right to sign one's name is also a very important right. If meritorious officials and military generals withdrew their memorials and the emperor allowed them to sign their names again, it would be equivalent to having more than two hundred signatures in the court, which would be equivalent to having an additional political force.

The parties currently drafting the budget are clearly trying to win over these military and noble groups, making further revisions to their budgets and compromising with them.

So the officials once again shuttled between the residences of these meritorious officials and military generals, and a new round of negotiations began.

So Shen Shixing began a new round of busy work.

However, none of this had much to do with Su Ze. These days, he stayed in the East Palace, giving lessons to Little Fatty Jun and teaching Tao Guan basic chemistry knowledge. He spent the rest of his time slacking off in the public room of the Imperial Household Department.

The struggle over the budget proposal has made even the previously relaxed cabinet ministers take it seriously.

Clearly, the cabinet ministers have realized that this is no longer just a competition over the budget; it is a test of the political climate in the court, revealing the sentiments of the senior officials.

The cabinet also felt the pressure.

As long as a budget proposal has a certain number of signatures, senior cabinet ministers must take it seriously, because regardless of whether these budget proposals are passed or not, they represent the attitude of a group of officials of the fifth rank or above.

These people were the backbone of the Ming Dynasty's officialdom, and any decisions made by the court had to be implemented through them.

If they object, or even if they merely go through the motions without putting in the effort, it will create enormous difficulties for implementation.

Today, Su Ze had just finished his official duties when he encountered Guo Zhun, a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat who served Gao Gong.

"Mr. Guo?"

"Su Hanlin, the Grand Secretary would like to invite you to his residence for a chat today."

Su Ze had assumed that Gao Gong wouldn't approach him to discuss the budget.

As a politician, Gao Gong keenly realized that the joint discussion was not only about financial issues, but also about political ones.

These days, Zhang Siwei, the official in charge of personnel selection in the Ministry of Personnel, has been making connections everywhere as Gao Gong's representative, and it is said that he has gained a lot of support.

Zhang Siwei also approached me, but I politely declined.

Su Ze knew Gao Gong's personality; since he refused to sign his name, he wouldn't force him.

Why then was he summoned?

Su Ze shook his head. Instead of guessing, he figured it was better to ask in person that evening.

That evening.

Su Ze arrived at Gao Gong's residence.

To Su Ze's surprise, Gao Gong's residence was deserted, and no other disciples were summoned.

Su Ze arrived at Gao Gong's study and met the old minister sitting behind his desk.

"Master Prime Minister".

Gao Gong nodded, gesturing for Su Ze to sit down. Facing his prized disciple, Gao Gong's emotions were complex.

Su Ze was not a disciple in the full sense; he rarely participated in Gao Gong's gatherings, and he would never obey Gao Gong's orders.

However, when Gao Gong encountered problems, the first person he thought of was Su Ze.

"Zilin, Grand Secretary Li is preparing to retire."

Su Ze asked doubtfully:
"Doesn't Grand Secretary Li routinely submit his resignation? Why is the Prime Minister saying this?"

Li Chunfang's habitual excuses of illness and resignations were common knowledge throughout the court.

Gao Gong paused for a moment and then said:
"The other day, Grand Secretary Li invited me to his residence to discuss his plans to return to his hometown."

Su Ze paused for a moment, it seemed that Li Chunfang really wanted to retire.

Gao Gong said with a hint of envy:
"It is truly enviable that Grand Secretary Li's parents are still alive. His decision to resign and return home to serve his parents is such a filial act that His Majesty will probably not try to persuade him to stay."

Su Ze hadn't expected Li Chunfang's parents to be so old.

He must be almost seventy years old by now, right?
And then, thinking of the pitiful lifespan of the Ming emperors, shouldn't you, as their subjects, offer them secret recipes for longevity?
But considering the emperor's fondness for elixirs, it would be difficult for him to live a long life.

By that calculation, the Longqing Emperor in the original timeline didn't have many years left to live.

Su Ze was considering whether to offer the Emperor a "panacea" to prolong his life, but then he thought that Emperor Longqing must have many illnesses, right? How much of this would it take to extend his life?

Seeing that Su Ze was lost in thought, Gao Gong assumed he was contemplating the political landscape after Li Chunfang's departure, so he didn't continue speaking.

Su Ze snapped out of his daze and quickly said:
"Disciple was distracted, Master. If Grand Secretary Li really intends to retire, then disciple must congratulate Master."

Given Gao Gong's standing in the emperor's eyes and his seniority in the cabinet, it was only natural that he would succeed as Grand Secretary.

That's how it was in the original timeline.

Gao Gong, however, said:
"Zilin, are you this optimistic too?"

Su Ze paused for a moment and then said:
"Does the Prime Minister mean Grand Secretary Zhang?"

Gao Gong nodded. He had no intention of hiding anything from this disciple.

“Zhang Jiangling has always been ambitious. He is not the type to be subservient to others, and he wants to seize power in order to accomplish great things.”

“Zhang Jiangling studied under Xu Songjiang, so he understands this principle better than anyone else.”

Su Ze remained silent.

Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng were remarkably alike.

There is no room for two strong-willed figures in one cabinet.

The reason the two did not fall out was partly due to the presence of Li Chunfang, the Grand Secretary who was adept at balancing relationships.

Li Chunfang's age, experience, and abilities were convincing, and he also gained the emperor's trust. Although he usually pretended to be sick and lazy, he was a master of governing the country.

As long as he was in the cabinet, Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng could only mess around in their own little sphere.

Gao Gong was busy promoting practical learning, while Zhang Juzheng was busy with fiscal reforms; they kept to themselves and didn't interfere with each other.

But once Li Chunfang steps down, the situation will be very different no matter who becomes the prime minister. Su Ze is also starting to have a headache.

If the political winds shift, it will be even more difficult for me to navigate between the two factions, and it will be much harder to implement policies.

However, in the current court and among the officials, only Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng are capable of serving as Grand Secretaries. It would be difficult for Emperor Longqing to find another important minister like Li Chunfang.

In the game's parlance, I've now passed the "newbie protection period."

The change of generations is an inevitable fact. Su Ze put aside these chaotic thoughts and said to Gao Gong:

"This disciple still wishes to congratulate Master."

Gao Gong stroked his beard; it would be a lie to say he wasn't happy.

Before leaving, Li Chunfang specifically sought him out to discuss matters concerning the cabinet, indicating that Li Chunfang also agreed to let him succeed as the Grand Secretary.

Given his relationship with the emperor and Gao Gong's achievements over the years, it was impossible for Zhang Juzheng to surpass him and become the Grand Secretary.

As for Zhao Zhenji, he has been busy with military affairs in recent years and is too unbalanced in his studies, so he has been excluded from the list of candidates for Grand Secretary.

Lei Li was already quite old and a senior official, so he wasn't a competitor.

Gao Gong continued:

"This joint memorial by the court officials was proposed by you, Zilin. You've really worn them out."

"The busiest person is Ziwei. He's busy getting autographs and has already collected nearly a hundred names."

Gao Gong has controlled the Ministry of Personnel for many years. If he can't even come up with a hundred names, then he shouldn't expect to become the Grand Secretary.

Gao Gong continued:
"But Zhang Jiangling's side has almost collected two hundred names."

Su Ze asked doubtfully:
"A few days ago, wasn't the situation on Grand Secretary Zhang's side similar to that on Prime Minister Shi's side?"

According to Shen Yiguan's "battle report," the number of supporters for Gao Gong's and Zhang Juzheng's budget proposals was about the same, both around one hundred.

The remaining civil officials either waited and saw or joined Shen and Shen in signing the joint document.

Gao Gong said:

"His Majesty rejected the memorials of meritorious officials and military generals, and now they have all gone to Zhang Jiangling to sign them."

So that explains the surge in supporters on Zhang Juzheng's side.

Gao Gong said worriedly:
"At such a crucial moment, will it affect His Majesty's decision?"

Su Ze immediately understood why Gao Gong had summoned him.

Just as Li Chunfang was vying for the position of Grand Secretary and was about to resign, Su Ze's joint proposal, which happened by chance, could be seen as the court officials' support for the cabinet minister.

Gao Gong is now losing support, so naturally he is starting to worry.

Su Ze quickly said:

"Master, you are in the thick of it all."

“As I stated in my memorial, the joint discussion was not for the sake of a private faction, but rather to discuss matters in order to disperse once the matters were discussed.” Your Majesty must have understood this principle, which is why you approved my memorial.

Su Ze continued:

"Prime Minister, may I ask if you know what kind of chief minister His Majesty desires?"

Gao Gong paused for a moment before saying, "After His Majesty ascended the throne, he worked diligently to govern the country, so naturally a capable chief minister is needed."

"The Grand Secretary, the Grand Secretary, although our dynasty has abolished the position of Grand Secretary, still has the power of a Grand Secretary."

"The chief minister assists the emperor above, regulates yin and yang, follows the four seasons, and ensures the well-being of all things below. He pacifies the barbarian tribes and feudal lords outside the capital, and fosters close ties with the people inside the capital, so that each minister and official can fulfill his duties."

Gao Gong nodded.

Su Ze continued:

"By regulating Yin and Yang, following the four seasons, and ensuring the well-being of all things, this is why His Majesty relies on Grand Secretary Li so heavily."

Gao Gong paused for a moment, and Su Ze continued:

"The Grand Secretary that His Majesty desires is an official who can ensure that all ministers and officials in the outer court fulfill their duties, quell court disputes, and gain the trust of all officials."

"The Grand Chancellor wants to compete with Zhang Jiangling to see who can better reconcile the various factions and ultimately come up with a budget that satisfies everyone."

“Zhang Jiangling is too closely tied to the meritorious officials and military generals, making it difficult for him to make too many compromises. Now is the perfect time for the Prime Minister to demonstrate his abilities to His Majesty.”

Gao Gong nodded repeatedly after listening, feeling even more certain that calling Su Ze over for a meeting today was the right thing to do.

Yes, in order to win over meritorious officials and military generals, Zhang Juzheng still allocated more than half of the funds to the New Army.

Without this burden, one can be more flexible in negotiating one's bottom line. One can negotiate on one's own, and even if one does not gain support, as long as other officials do not object, it can still demonstrate one's ability to assist in managing the affairs of the court.

Emperor Longqing also realized that as the length of his reign increased, his enthusiasm for governing gradually waned.

The emperor naturally needs a chief minister who can stabilize the court.

After seeing Su Ze off, Gao Gong indeed began to take action.

On March 9, Gao Gong personally met with representatives of the five joint memorials, all of whom were influential and had more than ten signatories, including Shen Yiguan.

Although Shen Shixing was the chief writer, it was not appropriate for him to personally meet with Gao Gong.

As Zhang Juzheng's disciple, Shen Shixing was allowed to propose different suggestions from Zhang Juzheng, after all, he was a disciple, not a servant.

However, openly contacting political opponents is blatant betrayal.

Therefore, it was Shen Yiguan who represented more than fifty signatures to meet with Gao Gong.

This time, Gao Gong changed his usual domineering style and instead talked to everyone in a warm manner, listening to the opinions of everyone present.

He found that while many proposals might not be reasonable in terms of overall allocation, they had some highlights in terms of certain budget requirements.

After listening, Gao Gong listed the places where everyone had no objection and agreed to spend money.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Once a consensus was reached, the next step was to determine the specific allocation.

These matters no longer required Gao Gong's personal attention. He summoned Zhang Siwei, and the group discussed them for another afternoon. After the final proposal was handed to Gao Gong, Gao Gong was astonished to discover that this budget was almost identical to the one signed by Su Ze and produced by Shen Shixing.

Zhang Siwei said with a wry smile:
“Master, Shen Yiguan is indeed worthy of being from the Court of State Ceremonial. His words have even convinced this disciple.”

Gao Gong lowered his glasses and said:

"Take this and explain it to everyone. If there are no problems, then present it to the emperor together."

"It is not necessary for everyone to sign the same memorial, as long as the content is similar. The specifics should be decided by His Majesty."

"The disciple understands."
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On March 14, the budget dispute caused by the Beijing garrison issue finally subsided.

Gao Gong and the remaining five memorials, which included more than four hundred signatures, exceeded half the total number of civil and military officials.

The five memorials were not significantly different in content, and in the end, the emperor approved the memorial led by Gao Gong.

However, the officials who led the petition, including Shen Shixing and Shen Yiguan, also gained great prestige.

Shen Shih-hsing, who was originally considered marginalized because of his position as the military commissioner of Zhigu, has suddenly become a rising political star.

Amidst rumors of Li Chunfang's impending resignation, the emperor's actions sent a clear political signal: more officials than ever visited Gao Gong's residence, but Gao Gong ordered them all driven away.

Su Ze then answered the summons and went to Li Chunfang's residence.

(End of this chapter)