Chapter 65

"Appointing Zhao Junchen, the Left Attendant of the Ministry of Revenue, as the Minister of Revenue."

Regarding Emperor Deqing's decree, the ministers, whether they were part of the Crown Prince's faction or the senior official Wen Guanliang, might feel some dissatisfaction, but none of them had much opposition.

In fact, given the current state of the Ministry of Revenue, whether Zhao Junchen was the Minister of Revenue or not made no real difference; it only gave him a nominal title.

However, Zhao Junchen was somewhat pleased. In his view, an Attendant was a third-rank official, while a Minister was a second-rank official, and this was the biggest difference. With the title of a second-rank Minister, it was always more convenient to gather followers.

However, the next decree from Emperor Deqing broke the calm and caused a stir throughout the court!

Even Zhao Junchen, who had already received the news from Emperor Deqing in advance, could not help but frown slightly.

"… Appointing the former Minister of Revenue Li Chengru as the Left Censor of the Censorate, and the former Left Censor of the Censorate Bo Caihua, who is advanced in age, is granted retirement and allowed to return home …"

"… Appointing the former Right Attendant of the Ministry of Rites Ma Sen as the Left Attendant of the Ministry of Revenue, and the former Right Attendant of the Ministry of Rites Zhan Shanchang as the Right Attendant of the Ministry of Revenue to fill the vacancy …"

"… Appointing the former Right Deputy Censor of the Censorate Zhang Xuan as the Right Attendant of the Ministry of Rites …"

"… Liu Chang'an, the Prefect of Lu'an, who has governed the people well and provided relief effectively, setting an example for all officials, is promoted to the Right Attendant of the Ministry of Personnel …"

...

As Emperor Deqing's various decrees were issued one after another, the originally calm officials were all either surprised or stunned. After the shock, they could not help but whisper to each other. The solemn and solemn morning court was suddenly filled with a buzz.

Such a large-scale change in officials was rarely seen even during the triennial review and adjustment of officials, let alone in the crucial departments like the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue?

Any official with a bit of insight could see the impact of such a reassignment.

The Ministry of Revenue was Zhao Junchen's territory, but Ma Sen, who was appointed as the Left Attendant of the Ministry of Revenue, was a supporter of the Chief Cabinet Minister Zhou Shangjing; the Ministry of Personnel was Zhou Shangjing's sphere of influence, but Liu Chang'an, who was promoted to the Right Attendant of the Ministry of Personnel, relied on Zhao Junchen! Such mutual infiltration, how would Zhao Junchen and Zhou Shangjing view each other?

And Zhang Xuan, the Right Deputy Censor of the Censorate, was a supporter of the senior official Huang Yourong. After being promoted to the Right Attendant of the Ministry of Rites, would he start to clean up Zhao Junchen's newly established influence in the Ministry of Rites?

Such a small-scale reshuffle, how would it affect the long-stable factional distribution in the central government?

Compared to the officials who had just received the news, Zhao Junchen thought more deeply.

The appointment of the former Minister of Revenue Li Chengru as the Left Censor of the Censorate was something Emperor Deqing had not mentioned to Zhao Junchen. This appointment seemed insignificant, but if one considered that the Right Censor of the Censorate, Lu Chunxiao, was also a supporter of the Crown Prince Zhu Heyu, then the Censorate, as a supervisory department, would likely be more influenced by the Crown Prince Zhu Heyu in the future.

If Zhu Heyu could ultimately control the Censorate, although he still could not wield real power in the court, his voice would become heavier, and he would at least be safe.

"Is this to protect Zhu Heyu?"

Zhao Junchen frowned, raised his head, and secretly observed Emperor Deqing. He saw that Emperor Deqing still maintained a dignified and majestic demeanor, showing no change, but he was somewhat displeased with the noise of the officials.

"Silence among the officials!!"

With the eunuch Zhang De's command, the officials in the court realized their rudeness and fell silent, bowing their heads to listen to the reprimand.

However, Emperor Deqing did not scold them but instead spoke in a slightly gentle tone, "Do any of you have objections to these arrangements of Mine?"

Emperor Deqing's question was purely for the sake of formality. He had already issued the decrees without consulting the officials. Since the decrees were issued, the words of the Son of Heaven could not be changed casually. This was a way to force the officials to accept them.

For a moment, all the officials, including Zhao Junchen, focused their attention on the Chief Cabinet Minister Zhou Shangjing. At this moment, only he could make Emperor Deqing change his mind.

Noticing the attention of the officials, Zhou Shangjing, who had been silent since the start of the court session, finally moved.

Zhou Shangjing shakily stepped out of the line of officials and bowed to Emperor Deqing, saying, "Your Majesty's arrangements are very appropriate, and this old minister agrees."

Hearing Zhou Shangjing's response, the officials in the court were once again surprised!

Zhou Shangjing actually agreed with Emperor Deqing's arrangements?

Zhao Junchen, who had hoped that Zhou Shangjing would oppose, was also stunned. Looking at Zhou Shangjing's aged back, a hint of doubt flashed across his face.

Zhao Junchen was naturally unhappy with Emperor Deqing's arrangements. Zhao Junchen did not want to get entangled in a conflict of interests with Zhou Shangjing, Huang Yourong, and others, but according to Emperor Deqing's approach, this was hard to avoid.

In the political arena, the distinction between friends and enemies was not determined by personal will; otherwise, there would not be the saying "one's position determines one's thoughts."

However, Zhao Junchen did not have the power to resist Emperor Deqing, but Zhou Shangjing did! In fact, if it were not for Zhou Shangjing's support, Emperor Deqing's plan to tour the south would not have been so troublesome.

In Zhao Junchen's view, Zhou Shangjing must also be unhappy with Emperor Deqing's arrangements. Although the Ministry of Revenue nominally controlled the country's taxes and finances, the actual situation in the Ming Dynasty was that tax evasion was severe, and the use of the treasury was limited. Although there were many benefits, Zhou Shangjing might not be interested. On the other hand, the Ministry of Personnel, which managed the review, promotion, and demotion of officials, was the most core department in the central government, far more important than the Ministry of Revenue. Zhou Shangjing had operated it for many years, and exchanging a Minister of Personnel for an Attendant of the Ministry of Revenue would not make him happy.

Zhao Junchen asked himself, even if Ma Sen came to the Ministry of Revenue and could sideline him, he would still be unhappy to have such a thorn in his side.

However, although Zhao Junchen was puzzled, with Zhou Shangjing's agreement, the officials had no leader and did not dare to easily oppose Emperor Deqing's decrees. Although the officials were silent and the atmosphere was strange, the matter was settled.

Li Chengru, Zhan Shanchang, Ma Sen, Zhang Xuan, and others, either happy or worried, all bowed to Emperor Deqing to thank him for the decrees.

...

In the face of Emperor Deqing's sudden reassignment of officials, the happiest among the officials might be Wen Guanliang.

In Wen Guanliang's view, Emperor Deqing's arrangements would inevitably cause Zhou Shangjing and Huang Yourong to develop some hostility towards Zhao Junchen. As his subordinates impeached Zhao Junchen, not only would Huang Yourong, who had already reached an understanding with him, become more active, but Zhou Shangjing, who originally had no intention of getting involved, might also change his attitude and secretly assist.

In addition, the Crown Prince's faction, which was already hostile to Zhao Junchen, and the Shen Changmao faction, which would certainly take advantage of the situation, would make Zhao Junchen, although promoted to the Minister of Revenue, face a lot of trouble that would keep him busy.

Thinking this way, Wen Guanliang felt that this was the perfect time to act. He turned his head and gave a subtle signal to Gu Quan, the Right Deputy Censor of the Censorate, to step forward and impeach the unclear accounts of the Ministry of Revenue.

However, perhaps because Emperor Deqing's previous arrangements were too shocking, Gu Quan was now looking down, deep in thought, and did not notice Wen Guanliang's signal.

Wen Guanliang, feeling helpless, could only skip Gu Quan and signal to Zuo Lanshan, the Minister of Works.

However, at this moment, Zuo Lanshan was also like Gu Quan, looking down and lost in thought, and did not notice Wen Guanliang's signal.

Seeing the two of them like this, Wen Guanliang frowned, feeling something was wrong. Just as he was about to cough to remind them, Emperor Deqing spoke again.

Perhaps because he was displeased with the strange atmosphere and the silence of the officials, Emperor Deqing no longer had the heart to continue the morning court. He said slowly, "Since that is the case, all matters are settled. If there are no other matters, then let us adjourn."

Hearing Emperor Deqing say this, Wen Guanliang felt a sense of urgency. He could not care about the strange behavior of Gu Quan and Zuo Lanshan and stepped forward himself, saying, "Your Majesty, this old minister has important matters to report."

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ps: First update.

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