Chapter 129                                                             

Zhang Zhi's power in the cabinet has been divided by Xia Yan and Yan Song, and what Zhang Zhi has left in his hands is just some chores.

Now that Xia Yan has fallen, all the power of the cabinet has been captured by Yan Song.

It was like Xia Yan was recalled by Jiajing and returned to the cabinet and was only on par with Yan Song, but the court regarded Xia Yan as the chief assistant. For the same reason, Yan Song had been in the cabinet for more than ten years. Zhang Zhi had only been in one or two years, but in terms of qualifications, prestige, and skills, he could not compete with Yan Song. Therefore, Zhang Zhi could only passively become an idle person.

This actually does not conform to Jiajing's always political principles: that is, the cabinet cannot be placed in the hands of one person.

There are no exceptions to Yan Song.

Therefore, now Yan Song replaced Xia Yan's position, who will occupy Yan Song's original position?

This is a question that Jiajing is thinking about. This is also an opportunity for Wen Yuan to see it. Therefore, Wen Yuan’s self-recommendation was not a nonsense, but a position that was taken early by looking at the opportunity.

After hearing this, Jiajing was thinking in his heart.

It is always wrong for Yan Song to dominate the cabinet. But who will dominate this person?

Jiajing had no choice in his heart for a while. However, he looked at Wen Yuan and shook his head secretly. If Wen Yuan was ten years younger, Jiajing might have chosen Wen Yuan. The reason is very simple. Jiajing has been using the combination of Yan Song and Xia Yan for many years.

And a man of Wen Yuan’s age might not be able to wear the shoes he took off that night.

If Wen Yuan had a few things, wouldn’t Jiajing have to trouble for a while?

Moreover, even if Wen Yuan can live to more than 80 years old and have a lot of energy, Jiajing has to consider another issue, that is, Yan Song is still in his 60s, and the two of them will go together, so Jiajing will clean up the mess.

So, he was after all, inclined to a younger minister to check and balance Yan Song.

But Jiajing was not in a hurry to do this.

The reason is very simple. Xia Yan is someone that Jiajing cannot control, and Yan Song is someone that Jiajing can control. Moreover, although Xia Yan has gone, there are many Xia Yan's supporters in the court. Even if Yan Song dominates the cabinet, he cannot monopolize the government.

Moreover, Jiajing has no candidates for the younger generation of talents, but he has a set of methods to select talents. Speaking of which, Zhang Cong, Xia Yan, and other ministers were all promoted by Jiajing. He did not bother with this before. Now he only needs to think carefully among the experienced young ministers of the court who are over 45 years old and fifty years old and can definitely find talents.

After all, many times, the superiors never worry about no talent available. It’s just that there is no place to arrange it.

Jiajing said: "What the old Shangshu said is very true, it is time to select some people and add some manpower to the cabinet. But the old Shangshu is old after all, and his ancestors have established laws, so the Minister of Personnel cannot enter the cabinet. So, the old Shangshu will choose a list for me?"

Wen Yuan felt a little nervous when he heard this, and knew that all his efforts today had failed. Compared to Yan Song, he said that it was not easy for him to see Jiajing. It would be even more difficult for him to defeat Yan Song today.

As for the provisions that the Minister of Personnel cannot enter the cabinet, there are some.

That was because the power of the Minister of Personnel was on par with that of the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. But now it is no longer the case. The Minister of Personnel saw that it was so difficult for the emperor. The power of the court naturally concentrated in the cabinet. Although the Minister of Personnel was known as the Heavenly Official, it was ultimately under the cabinet.

Wen Yuan couldn't sing the opposite tune with Jiajing at this moment, and said, "The old minister follows the order."

Jiajing seemed to have thought of something. He said: "Does the old Shangshu have any ideas about Xia Yan's handling?"

Wen Yuan said: "Your Majesty, the Han Dynasty has a successful law, and the generals and ministers will not be humiliated. No matter what Xia Yan is, he is the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty Cabinet. The old minister asks Your Majesty to leave some decentness for the Ming Dynasty."

Jiajing said: "This is the method of the Han Dynasty, not the method of the Ming Dynasty. The method of the Ming Dynasty is that if the punishment is not avoided, the Duke and Duke and Duke will not avoid it, what is a mere cabinet chief? You drink with you golden cups, and your blades will not be spared. Besides, it is not yet at the level of a blade? How can this not be considered decent?"

When Jiajing spoke, his tone was extremely calm.

This is actually Jiajing’s true thought.

It is not certain that Jiajing must kill Xia Yan. But Jiajing must not want to kill Xia Yan, and that is not certain.

For Jiajing, Xia Yan's era has ended. Xia Yan's life and death are not within Jiajing's considerations. He just considered the current situation. Since he chose Yan Song, he had to stand for Yan Song, and he was even willing to stand for Yan Song.

Because what he needs is a cabinet chief who has always relied on himself, rather than a cabinet chief who can integrate the court and fight against him.

The biggest reason for Xia Yan's failure is that he is too strong.

Yan Song saw Jiajing's needs, but Xia Yan might not have seen it. However, Xia Yan had the intention to make achievements. He was the chief assistant, not only for the emperor, but also for the world, the Ming Dynasty, and himself. Yan Song knew his shortcomings. All he wanted was the position of chief assistant in the cabinet.

It is not necessarily impossible to be the chief minister of the Emperor and the Ming Dynasty.

Character determines destiny.

Now that Yan Song can't take Wen Yuan down, Jiajing naturally has to help make Wen Yuan bow his head and establish prestige for Yan Song. It's best that Yan Song can handle affairs of the court in the future, but everything is inseparable from Jiajing's own influence. This is more perfect.

Wen Yuan bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, what you said." Then he stood up, took a few steps forward, and slapped Yan Song in the face heavily.

Yan Song never expected that Wen Yuan would dare to attack in front of the emperor.

At the beginning, I didn’t know what Wen Yuan wanted to do. When the slap fell on the face, I realized that Wen Yuan was going to hit him. It was too late to dodge.

Yan Song was slapped, his face flushed and his eyes almost popped out. He was a sixty-year-old man, and he had never suffered such a great humiliation. Wen Yuan was just a step away from Yan Song and said in a frivolous tone: "Geor Yan is indeed decent enough."

Yan Song clenched his fist with his fingers. He wanted to punch it out, but he held it back.

Seeing this, Wen Yuan said in his heart: "Yan Song is still a bit cunning."

"Wen Yuan, are you doing things?" Jiajing said angrily.

Wen Yuan knelt down, put his official hat on the ground, and said, "I really can't stand the promise of Master Yan. I'm sorry for the loyal and kind people with Your Majesty's order. I want to wake up the truth, but Master Yan's shamelessness is beyond my ability. I impeach Master Yan, embezzle and abuse the law, and harm loyal and righteous people. I think it's a guarantee of official position, and every sentence is true. Please check it out carefully. If there is any falsehood, I'll be willing to be the king's law."

In fact, Wen Yuan knew that this impeachment was useless.

Because everything Yan Song did was accused of Jiajing.

The reason why he deliberately slapped Yan Song was not because he was angry, but because he wanted Yan Song to fight back. He did not die now, and he would have to die in one or two years. There would be no big difference between one year or one year later. But he was old after all. After all, Yan Song only had to do it.

Wen Yuan could find a way to pull Yan Song down on the grounds of fighting. After all, Mr. Wen is 80 years old, no matter what the situation is? Once Yan Song takes action, Yan Song ignores it.

Although this technique is not authentic, it is just a trick of hitting the car by relying on the old man on the streets and alleys. However, the Ming Dynasty ministers also had a tradition of taking action in the palace.

But why Yan Song had a good fortune and his eyes were so angry that he was so angry that he was so angry that he didn't move, and he looked like he slapped his left face and sent his right face up. This attitude of spitting on his face made Wen Yuan really have no choice.

Jiajing said: "No one is allowed to spread this matter today. What kind of morality is a minister of the Ministry of Personnel doing this? I think you are old. After you go back, please submit a letter to retire."

Jiajing didn’t know what to do to this old minister? He couldn’t beat or scold him. After all, he had to respect the elderly and love the young, so he might as well kick him home.

For Wen Yuan, this was expected. After all, after missing today, Yan Song had some solutions to get Wen Yuan down. Wen Yuan had already decided before coming today, either to fight Yan Song on a new battlefield today. Or to retire and return home.

Anyway, he is almost eighty, so it's time to go back to his hometown to take a look.

But he was unwilling to give up. When he was young, he did not defeat Liu Jin, but now he cannot get rid of Yan Song.
Chapter completed!