Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 92 Uneven distribution of benefits is the most agonizing.

Zhu Youjian shook his head, temporarily setting aside the thought that had flashed through his mind.

The idea of ​​establishing a completely new power center that supersedes the Cabinet and the Directorate of Ceremonial is extremely tempting.

During the reign of Emperor Zhengde, there was the so-called "Leopard Chamber Office," and during the reign of Emperor Jiajing, there was the so-called "Western Garden Residence." In essence, both were to circumvent ancestral rules and restructure the power of the Grand Secretariat and the Directorate of Ceremonial, thereby amplifying the emperor's personal will to the extreme.

With the authority of the Ming Dynasty emperors, there was almost nothing they couldn't do, as long as it wasn't too subversive to the established social order.

The so-called Ming Dynasty cabinet was nothing more than a flawed version of the prime minister, completely incapable of standing up to the imperial power.

But Zhu Youjian suppressed this impulse.

Firstly, he can still handle the current workload.

With the promotion of the secret report system and the reorganization of the imperial guards, the arrival of an information deluge was inevitable, but that would take time.

He still had some leeway before the tide truly engulfed his desk.

More importantly, it's about talent.

A skilled craftsman is needed to make a tool, and a wise minister is needed to establish a law.

He can easily set up the framework of a new institution, but if he fills it with bureaucrats who are still full of old-fashioned thinking, then what he assembles is essentially just a "cabinet within a cabinet," an enlarged Directorate of Ceremonial.

That kind of organization was far removed from the efficient, professional modern organization he envisioned, comparable to the "General Staff" or "Secretariat" of later generations.

You have to eat one bite at a time, and you have to go step by step.

He needs time to slowly identify, screen, and even cultivate talent that truly meets his standards.

Just then, a report came from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty, Eunuch Wang has arrived."

"Let him in." Zhu Youjian's voice was calm and even.

Soon, Wang Tiqian, the eunuch in charge of the Eastern Depot, entered in haste, knelt down, and respectfully performed a grand salute.

"Your Majesty, this servant Wang Tiqian pays his respects."

"Get up." Zhu Youjian's gaze did not leave the memorial in his hand. He said gently, "Sit down beside me. I will speak with you after I have finished reviewing these memorials."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Wang Tiqian responded cautiously, got up from the ground, and sat on the brocade stool that the palace servants had brought over.

For a moment, the only sound in the hall was the soft rustling of paper as Zhu Youjian flipped through the memorials.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like an invisible file, scraping back and forth across Wang Tiqian's heart.

He dared not look up and gaze directly at the emperor's face; the only thing he could see out of the corner of his eye was the ground and the hem of the crimson robe worn by Gao Shiming, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, not far away.

The robe was made of the finest material, gleaming with a soft and noble sheen.

The hem of the robe swayed slightly, and the robe moved forward half a step.

Gao Shiming's slightly humble yet composed voice came from above Wang Tiqian's head.

"Your Majesty, these three documents are the proposals submitted by Cao Huachun, Liu Ruoyu, and Zheng Zhihui, concerning personnel, finance, and supervision within the palace."

Wang Tiqian felt a mix of emotions in an instant.

"The Imperial Envoy and Chief Eunuch of the Eastern Depot"—what an impressive title!
In the past, this would have been enough to make all the officials take notice and shake the court and the public.

However, now he can only enter the palace when summoned by imperial decree.

In terms of face and power before the emperor, let alone compared with Gao Shiming, the newly appointed head of the Directorate of Ceremonial, he was probably not even as good as those eunuchs who could walk in front of the emperor.

In the Ming Dynasty, the power of eunuchs never depended on their official rank or grade, but only on their proximity to the emperor.

What power and status can a head of the Eastern Depot who can't see the emperor all the time have?
As his thoughts were churning, Zhu Youjian's voice rang out again from above.

"Gao Banban, write down my imperial edict and send it to these three people."

"After the reduction of palace eunuchs, how should the extra personnel be placed? How should the elderly and infirm be treated differently from the young and strong?" "How should the newly established positions of financial auditors and palace supervisors be coordinated with personnel promotions to form a system of checks and balances?"

"Furthermore, these policies are too vague and need to be more specific! How many people should be laid off, which people should be laid off, how many rounds of layoffs should be implemented, and when is it expected to be completed..."

"I won't go into details. Just copy Xue Guoguan's memorial from a few days ago regarding the reorganization of the Beijing Garrison, along with my imperial approval, and send it to the three of them to see. Have them rewrite it and submit it."

Wang Tiqian's heart sank piece by piece.

What are the responsibilities of supervision, finance and taxation, and personnel?
Why didn't anyone tell him this news?

The new emperor has only been on the throne for a short time, so why have the people in the palace already switched sides so quickly?

A new emperor brings a new court; the rise and fall, the joys and sorrows, are not solely determined by the ruler.

Gao Shiming slightly lowered the hem of his robe as he bowed to receive the imperial decree.

"Your humble servant has noted it down."

Wang Tiqian's eyelids twitched at Gao Shiming's address, and a nameless anger suddenly flared up.

"Your humble servant"? You're nothing but a eunuch, yet you dare to call yourself "your humble servant" before the Emperor?
Wei Zhongxian's body is barely cold; have you already forgotten the lessons of the past?
You idiot! Utterly idiotic!
However, Gao Shiming's next words made his heart tighten.

"Your Majesty, there are two left here, which are... the two that you specifically requested before."

Gao Shiming paused, his voice carrying a perfectly timed hesitation.

A surge of anger rushed to Wang Tiqian's head.

His Majesty has already allowed me to sit here, so what is it that you need to hide from me?!
He was seething inside, but dared not show it on his face.

The hall returned to silence, with only the rustling sound of Zhu Youjian turning the pages of memorials.

A moment later, Zhu Youjian's voice rang out again, carrying a hint of undisguised disappointment.

"Neither of these two proposals will work."

"Guopu's strategy was too radical, and Jingchen's strategy was too conservative. They seemed comprehensive, but in reality they were just empty talk and strategies without any substance."

Zhu Youjian paused, then suddenly turned to Wang Tiqian.

"Body dryness".

"The slave is here!"

Wang Tiqian jolted awake and instantly slid off the brocade stool and knelt down, his entire body prostrate on the ground.

"I asked you to keep an eye on things in the city a few days ago, has there been any progress?"

"Your Majesty!" Wang Tiqian's voice trembled slightly with excitement, "This servant...this servant has not dared to slack off day and night since receiving the imperial decree, and has indeed gained some insights, which I am willing to tell Your Majesty one by one!"

"In the city..."

He had barely begun when Zhu Youjian interrupted him.

"There's no need for that," Zhu Youjian said gently. "Sit down and answer. Gao Banban, help yourself up."

Gao Shiming stepped forward in response, extended his arm, and gently helped Wang Tiqian up, saying in a low voice, "Eunuch Wang, please get up."

Taking advantage of the situation, Wang Tiqian stood up and exchanged a glance with Gao Shiming.

He sensed a bottomless coldness lurking beneath that smiling face.

The emperor's power lies not in thunder and lightning, but in the grace of rain and dew.

Under the thunder, people only feel fear; uneven distribution of rain and dew is what truly torments people.

A vague thought flashed through Wang Tiqian's mind. He didn't have time to think about it further, so he chuckled and carefully sat down on the brocade stool.

This can't go on!
If we continue like this, regardless of our power and influence, we will probably be discarded by the new emperor sooner or later!
Once he loses all his power, even if His Majesty doesn't kill him, plenty of others will!
—Tian Ergeng, I'm so sorry!

(End of this chapter)