Chapter 397 396 Forced to Agree

"Tomorrow I will go to Shandai to discuss this matter. As long as he doesn't object, we will make a plan accordingly."

After hearing from Xu Jie that Yan Song might not be in office for long, Prince Yu's Mansion naturally became very enthusiastic about the military power in Jiangnan and had to fight for it.

How to fight? Naturally, it was to let Wei Guangde make achievements in Fujian Province.

Think of Hu Zongxian, who also started as the censor of Zhejiang Province. He started a rebellion because of Zhao Wenhua who was on the list. Is Prince Yu's Mansion not as good as Zhao Wenhua?

The next day, Wei Guangde got the news on his way to the Hanlin Academy that Gao Gong asked him to talk about something at noon.

Although Wei Guangde was curious, he didn't expect Gao Gong to talk to him about something. He didn't expect Gao Gong and Xu Jie to let him go to Fujian to wait for an opportunity to spy on Hu Zongxian's position in suppressing the Japanese pirates.

This is actually not surprising. There is a huge gap between Hu Zongxian's current rank and his.

When Hu Zongxian climbed to the position of governor, he actually spent more than half a year as the governor of Zhejiang. Zhao Wenhua had no way to directly promote a seventh-rank censor to a high position of the second rank.

"Shandai, what do you think?"

In a hidden private room in a restaurant near Chang'an Street, Gao Gong and Wei Guangde sat opposite each other and explained in detail to Wei Guangde what he and Xu Jie had discussed last night.

When Wei Guangde heard that he was called to discuss going to Fujian, he did not give an answer immediately, but lowered his head to think.

To be honest, according to Wei Guangde's opinion, he definitely did not want to go.

In fact, most of the Beijing officials did not want to be sent to the local areas.

Once they left the Beijing officialdom, their chances of promotion would become slim.

Local officials, one carrot one position, under normal circumstances can only slowly accumulate qualifications.

Officials in this era, a full term of office is actually nine years, and they have to be evaluated every three years, and they have to take the exam three times to be considered full.

Of course, this does not mean that officials have to serve for nine years before they can be promoted, because the officials who really pass the exam and get promoted are actually people forgotten by the court and basically have no future.

Wei Guangde certainly will not be like this. His previous investment in Prince Yu's Mansion is destined. Once Prince Yu ascends the throne, he will most likely be promoted quickly.

But promotion in the capital is different from promotion in the local area.

If you are in the capital at this critical moment, you will naturally be promoted in the ministry and still serve in the central government, but what if you are in the local area?

Wei Guangde does not want to serve as a governor or even a governor-general in the local area. Such officials can only be six ministers even if they "return to the ministry" in the future. The probability of entering the cabinet is extremely small.

In addition to being on the gold list, the scholars of this era pursue becoming cabinet ministers.

If he was screened out during the imperial examination and failed to enter the Hanlin Academy, Wei Guangde would not have considered too much. He would just want to find a more comfortable position to muddle through and enjoy life.

But since he has entered the Hanlin Academy, he will naturally strive for a cabinet position.

But now, Xu Jie and Gao Gong's plan seems to have completely killed the goal he is working hard for.

It sounds good. He was previously an imperial censor in Fujian. Once he wiped out Zhang Lian's gang of rebels, if he had some more military merits in suppressing the Japanese, he could compete for the position of governor of Fujian and then covet the position of governor-general.

What a big official, governor of military affairs in Nanzhili, Zhejiang, Fujian and other places, but Wei Guangde also knew that once he really took up this official position, he could only be the Minister of War after returning to Beijing until he retired.

As for wanting to enter the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel, it is highly unlikely to be realized.

The positions in the Ministry of Rites are not enough for people who came from the Hanlin Academy alone, so how could they be given to people who were promoted from the local area, even if he was once a member of the Hanlin Academy.

Xu Jie and Gao Gong painted a big pie for him, that is, the official positions of local military and political leaders such as governor and governor-general, but it fundamentally cut off his title as a Hanlin official.

If people who left the Hanlin Academy stayed in Beijing, most of them would work in the six departments and the Censorate, and very few would enter the six ministries. If they went to the local areas, most of them would serve as the noble positions of the Education Commissioner, and would not enter the government offices such as the Provincial Administration Commissioner, unless they had given up the idea of ​​the cabinet.

Even when Xu Jie was transferred to the local areas, he was a prosecutor in charge of criminal justice. Later, he served as the Zhejiang Censor and the Jiangxi Censor, and governed the education. It can be said that Xu Jie was very well protected and was not too deeply involved with local forces.

Even so, after Xu Jie was transferred back to the capital, he switched from the Xima of the Jingju of the Zhanshifu and the Jijiu of the Imperial Academy to return to the Hanlin Academy as a lecturer, and then the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. It took a long time to successfully enter the cabinet.

Xu Jie placed Wei Guangde in the local areas to help him compete for the position of governor or even governor-general. The emperor would not let the governor-general have the opportunity to contact the Ministry of Personnel.

In fact, Wei Guangde was not only thinking about whether he should give up the idea of ​​the cabinet, but also about the vigilance in his heart.

Gao Gong just said that the idea was proposed by Xu Jie, but he did not object.

Didn't Gao Gong understand the deep meaning?

Why did Xu Jie come up with this idea?

Wei Guangde has already felt their deep malice from this incident.

Wei Guangde still couldn't figure out how he had offended Gao Gong and made Gao Gong start to be hostile to him. Was he worried that he would threaten his position with Prince Yu?

Wei Guangde found it hard to understand. Even if Gao Gong wanted to be on guard, it should be Chen Yiqin and Yin Shizun. After all, they had been with Prince Yu for a longer time and had a closer relationship.

As for Xu Jie, Gao Gong was on guard against him. Xu Jie seemed to be planning to invest all his efforts in Zhang Juzheng, so he naturally tried his best to eliminate his competitors.

It seemed that he had been regarded as a threat and opponent by Xu Jie and Gao Gong without knowing it.

If there was no bait, Wei Guangde actually didn't mind going to Fujian to serve as a censor.

The censors were inspectors of local officials, but they were also Beijing officials. According to the system, they only had to return to the capital after one year.

Although the governors and governors were also sent by Beijing officials, they were local officials and frontier officials.

While Wei Guangde was still thinking, Gao Gong on the other side said again: "Xu Ge Lao's idea is still worth taking, that is, Hu Zongxian now has too much power in his hands, and we have to guard against accidents."

It seems to be a fair word, but it is extremely harsh in Wei Guangde's ears.

The world still belongs to Emperor Jiajing now. He is not worried, so what are you worried about?

It is enough to think one thing in your heart, but you can say another thing in a high-sounding way.

Wei Guangde now understands a little why some people can share adversity but not wealth. Gao Gong is such a person now.

From Gao Gong's words to him today, Wei Guangde began to mourn for Chen Yiqin and Yin Shizhan in his heart. He can already see that Gao Gong will find an opportunity to treat the two like this in the future.

They have been in the Prince Yu's Mansion for many years, but Gao Gong didn't even let him go, so how could he let them go.

Everything seems to have started from Emperor Jiajing's decision to let Prince Jing go to the vassal.

Wei Guangde knew very well that the reason Gao Gong said this was nothing more than to remind himself to make a decision quickly, but he really couldn't make a choice.

After working so hard for so long, are you going to give up just like that?

Wei Guangde was a little unwilling, but now he was helpless.

At this stage, he couldn't offend Gao Gong or Xu Jie.

Now, whether he was helping himself or others, he needed Xu Jie and Gao Gong to help him in the court, otherwise he couldn't do anything.

After all, he had been an official for too short a time and his foundation was too shallow. He had to rely on others to do anything. Wei Guangde had a deep sense of powerlessness in his heart.

Nodding slightly, it seemed that Wei Guangde had agreed, and Gao Gong couldn't help but feel secretly happy in his heart.

In Gao Gong's view, Wei Guangde went to Fujian. As long as he was willing to work hard, they would operate in the capital and it would not be a problem for them to take the post of Fujian Governor.

Even if some people questioned Wei Guangde's age deficiency, Fujian was the front line of the anti-Japanese war after all, so it made sense to let an official with the ability to command troops take office.

It was just a matter of urgency.

Giving him a chance to become a governor and governor-general was not unfair to Wei Guangde. After all, this journey not only expanded the sphere of influence of Prince Yu's Mansion and established his own strength in Jiangnan, but also helped Wei Guangde gain experience in the future when he was in charge of a ministry.

Based on Gao Gong's understanding of Wei Guangde, it seemed that Wei Guangde was still a little short of entering the cabinet, but it was not bad to let him take charge of the Ministry of War, at least he looked capable of fighting, not to mention that he was from a garrison.

What is the cabinet?

The cabinet is the emperor's confidant, in charge of the imperial edicts, and also in charge of coordinating the six ministries.

The cabinet ministers had no power to restrict the six ministries.

Therefore, to sit firmly in the position of cabinet ministers, they needed to obtain the support of the officials of the six ministries.

The reason why Yan Song was able to invade the court and the country, in addition to the connivance of Emperor Jiajing, was also inseparable from the support of three Shangshu in the six ministries.

I have the trust of Prince Yu. In addition to waiting for Prince Yu to ascend the throne, I should also make some preparations.

"Has the cabinet sent a document to Fujian?"

Wei Guangde asked the first question after he raised his head.

"The document was sent yesterday."

Gao Gong replied that Xu Jie had already said that Fujian should explain itself.

"Guangde is obliged to expand the influence of Prince Yu's Mansion in Jiangnan."

Although he was unwilling, this was not the time to turn against him, so Wei Guangde pretended to be very satisfied and said righteously: "But now, with my age and official position, it is still a little early to seek the position of governor. Be cautious to avoid suspicion from others."

Wei Guangde expressed his meaning. He was willing to go to Fujian Censor, which was actually enough. Gao Gong was very satisfied.

As for Wei Guangde's words "be cautious to avoid suspicion from others", Gao Gong automatically ignored them.

Emperor Jiajing had already made it clear that Prince Yu would be the crown prince, but because of some things, the emperor refused to make him the crown prince. But it didn't matter. After Prince Jing was enfeoffed, Prince Yu was the only one left in the capital, so he was naturally the crown prince.

At this time, as long as Prince Yu was careful about his words and deeds, even if the people below him had some excessive actions, Emperor Jiajing would probably just turn a blind eye, after all, the starting point was for Prince Yu.

After leaving the restaurant, Wei Guangde returned to the Hanlin Academy. He was a little depressed all the way, even when he was sitting in the duty room, and he didn't have the heart to read.

Although he agreed to Gao Gong, it didn't mean that Wei Guangde was willing to be manipulated by others. He was still thinking hard about how to break the situation.

In a word, he didn't want to give up the hope of entering the cabinet, and wanted to gamble again.

"Good loan."

Just as Wei Guangde was thinking about a solution, a voice called him from the yard.

Wei Guangde knew who was coming as soon as he heard it, Yin Shizhen.

As the door was pushed open, Yin Shizhen stood outside the door with a smile.

Seeing that it was him, Wei Guangde instinctively resisted. He didn't know whether Yin Shizhen and Chen Yiqin knew what Gao Gong had done today.

Wei Guangde had already stood up and greeted Yin Shizhen while cupping his hands.

Lu Bu brought tea, and they were the only two left in the room.

"I went back to the Hanlin Academy to do some errands today, so I stopped by to sit down."

Yin Shizhen smiled.

"I haven't congratulated Brother Zhengfu yet. I heard the day before yesterday that Brother Zhengfu is going to be promoted to the Bureau of Economic Affairs. I wonder if the decree has come down?"

Wei Guangde asked with a smile.

A few days ago, Wei Guangde also heard that Chen Yiqin and Yin Shizhen were about to be promoted. They had been in Prince Yu's Mansion for many years, and they were finally coming out.

"Not yet. I heard it's decided, but I haven't received the order, so nothing can be done accurately."

Yin Shizhen smiled.

"Then I guess you and Brother Yifu will be appointed together, as well as Brother Suqing's appointment as Minister of Rites."

Wei Guangde smiled and looked at Yin Shizhen.

"It should be that since Yi Qin is in charge of the Imperial College, Su Qing will naturally have to move into the Ministry of Rites first before the position can be vacated."

Having said this, Yin Shizhen looked at Wei Guangde and said: "It seems that next year I will also be supervising the Imperial College. In two years, that position should be yours."

Yin Shizhen's meaning is very simple. It seems that the promotion path of people in Prince Yu's palace is basically like this.

First, he was promoted in the Zhanshi Mansion. When he reached the highest level, he was promoted to Taichang Temple to take charge of the Imperial Academy's wine ceremony. Finally, he was moved to the Ministry of Rites or the Ministry of Personnel. It was a standard smooth path to the palace.

The current Gao Gong is just ahead of them, and they basically follow this path for promotion.

"Brother Zhengfu should have no problem taking charge of the Imperial College's errands, but it will be difficult for me."

Wei Guangde's heart moved, and he planned to test it out to see if Prince Yu's palace knew about Gao Gong and Xu Jie's arrangements.

"What's wrong?"

Hearing what Wei Guangde said, Yin Shizhen asked a little surprised.

"I wrote a tribute to His Majesty before, but the one I wrote may have offended the Tian family, so I'm thinking about what to do."

"I know about this, aren't you trying to figure it out?"

Yin Shizhen nodded, and then asked a little strangely: "Is there a way?"

"Today, Brother Suqing asked me to talk about what he and Mr. Xu Ge think."

Wei Guangde repeated the plan that Gao Gong had told him in the restaurant before, paying attention to the change in expression on Yin Shizhen's face as he spoke.

Sure enough, Yin Shizhen's face became a little ugly as he listened.

He was upright by nature, but he was not a fool. If he were stupid, he would not be able to pass the Jinshi examination, he would not be elected to the Hanlin Academy, and he would not be sent by Emperor Jiajing to assist King Yu.

"What is Gao Gong doing?"

After Wei Guangde finished speaking, Yin Shizhen said dissatisfied.