Chapter 8 Cabinet Law
The cabinet that Yan Xuanyu wanted to form had functions somewhat similar to those of the Ming Dynasty's "cabinet", but was not exactly the same as the Ming Dynasty's "cabinet".
Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, established the "Palace Grand Secretary", dismissed the prime minister, and strengthened centralization of power. The cabinet system was perfected during the reign of Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty. The purpose was to concentrate power in the emperor alone. Therefore, the ranks of cabinet members were generally low, but they actually shared the power of the prime minister.
Yan Xuanyu wanted to form a cabinet, but would not touch the existing official positions in the court. He planned to make the "cabinet" a tool to facilitate his connection with the court and also a "honor" for officials.
There is a chief cabinet minister in the cabinet, also known as the prime minister.
Han Yuan was perfectly qualified for the position. He had served as the Prince's Grand Tutor during the late Emperor's reign, and in his middle age, he had served as Prime Minister. In his later years, the late Emperor had appointed him as a tutor to the Second Prince. Han Yuan's faction had always believed that the Second Prince should inherit the throne and would undoubtedly be a wise ruler. Furthermore, the Han family was already one of the most prominent families in the capital, and Han Yuan's disciples were spread throughout the country, with four of them already in the court alone. This was enough to demonstrate Han Yuan's influence. Even if the late Emperor had favored another prince, they could have competed with the help of their family. Unfortunately, before the late Emperor's death, the Second Prince, consumed by anxiety and worry over his father's suspicions, died of illness.
Later, several other princes were demoted or sentenced to death. In the end, no one expected that the ridiculous and dissolute Fourth Prince would ascend the throne.
Yan Xuanyu had to appease Han Yuan first. Han Yuan was old and confused, and Yan Xuanyu couldn't let him bang his head against the pillars in the Golden Palace and shout "The Great Zhou is in danger" again.
Obviously, this matter has affected others. If Han Laoshi really wants to shout and bump into someone, Yan Xuanyu will allow him to bump into someone privately at home and rebel against him privately.
Han Yuan had just reached the age of sixty, and in this era it was almost time for him to leave the court, but how could Yan Xuanyu let him go free and not attend court? Then he could be a mascot in the cabinet. With him in the cabinet, Han Yuan's disciples who all held official positions would be unable to say anything.
Prime Minister Jiang Yuanhua has always been neutral and has never shown any favoritism towards any prince. He is one of the few people who can keep himself out of trouble in the court and seems to be a breath of fresh air in the court.
But in fact, this was not the case in the original owner's memory. In the later period of the original owner's reign, he was all-powerful and made the court a mess. He was a very secretive and cunning person.
Regarding the Han Yuan incident, Yan Xuanyu had no evidence, but he had a hunch that Jiang Yuanhua had someone behind the scenes pushing him. Jiang Yuanhua was still portrayed as a clean official, but many important officials in the court had his people around them.
The prime minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty was still responsible for supervising all officials. Yan Xuanyu set up a cabinet not only to serve him but also to supervise all officials. When the cabinet was first established, Yan Xuanyu did not think it could make much contribution. At present, it only screened memorials on weekdays, so Yan Xuanyu intended to let Jiang Yuanhua become a member of the cabinet.
In addition, there were several important court officials, such as Zuo Qiucheng, the censor of the Censorate, who was on the side of the eldest prince.
The most important point is that the Zuo Yushi faction and Lin Fu and others have been at odds with each other for a long time because they stand on different sides for the selection of the crown prince.
Yan Xuanyu felt that selecting the initial cabinet members was like conducting a chemical experiment, and he had no idea what reaction would occur when everything was put together.
...
Mao hour.
Yan Xuanyu opened his eyes and looked at the curtain with yellow tassels hanging above his head, feeling unwell all over.
It was still dark in Chengtian Hall, and the sky outside was still inky black.
Until Li Zhongxian urged softly for the third time beside the dragon bed: "Your Majesty, it is time for you to go to court."
"...Let me wake up." Yan Xuanyu said resignedly.
After sitting up, he coughed lightly a few times, which made Li Zhongxian shocked and worried. He brought some tea to clear Yan Xuanyu's mouth, and then brought him a cup of warm tea that was suitable for his taste.
Yan Xuanyu took it and drank it, and his throat felt a little better.
This body is still too weak, Yan Xuanyu thought to himself. After he gets better after taking the prescription from the Imperial Hospital, he will make an exercise plan for himself. After all, the body is the capital of revolution.
Yan Xuanyu felt sick when he thought that not only today, but every day from now on except for days off, he would have to get up at dawn to go to the Golden Palace.
Li Zhongxian brought a few young eunuchs to help Yan Xuanyu dress. Yan Xuanyu originally thought that he would not be used to being served to dress himself, but when Yan Xuanyu closed his eyes and opened them again, he found that his court clothes were already on.
In the last few moments, Yan Xuanyu almost fell back into his dream.
"I'm so sleepy." Yan Xuanyu's eyes were dead, and he made a complaint that was not typical of an ancient person.
Fortunately, no one heard his words.
He had clearly fallen asleep at 5 p.m. yesterday after drinking the medicine from the Imperial Hospital. His bed was clearly soft and comfortable, and the palace had been burning silver charcoal all night. But now that Li Zhongxian had woken him up, he felt exhausted all over and his head was dizzy.
The court robes of the emperors of the Zhou Dynasty were still mainly black. Initially, this was because the dyeing technology was backward when the Zhou Dynasty was first established, so the emperor's court robes were black. Hundreds of years later, the Zhou Dynasty changed to bright yellow, but the rules established by Zhou Taizu have been passed down to this day.
The court robe was embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon in intricate gold thread. Yan Xuanyu allowed Li Zhongxian to respectfully put the tassel on him, and then he left the Chengtian Hall, sat on the dragon chariot and headed towards the Golden Palace.
The group set off in a mighty procession. Yan Xuanyu thought he would fall asleep comfortably again, but the dragon sedan chair inevitably shook. Yan Xuanyu couldn't stand the slightest movement, and now even though the shaking of the sedan chair was so slight that it could be ignored, Yan Xuanyu was still very uncomfortable.
...
Inside the Golden Palace.
All officials stood quietly with their tablets in hand.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
A sharp but not harsh voice sounded, and the officials in the hall knelt down in unison.
"Your Highness, long live the Emperor!"
The rich and powerful voices of the ministers mixed together resounded throughout the Golden Palace.
"My dear ministers, please stand."
This was the first time Yan Xuanyu came to the Golden Palace since he came to this world, and it was also the first time he sat on the lofty dragon throne.
It was the first time that Yan Xuanyu felt so directly what the supreme ruler of the world looked like. It was impossible for him to say that he was not excited at all.
But he has never been an optimist. The more he sees the scene, the more he thinks about it.
The imperial court is currently facing crises on all sides, and only a delicate and tentative balance is maintained in the court today. No one can predict what will break this balance one day.
All the officials knelt down because he was the emperor who ascended the throne legitimately according to the will of the previous emperor. Whether in the original owner's previous life or now, they never regarded him as a true monarch in their hearts, but as a tyrant.
This is not what Yan Xuanyu wants. What he wants is for all officials to truly submit to him one day.
Thinking of this, Yan Xuanyu's originally heated mind suddenly calmed down.
He lowered his eyes to look at the officials standing in the Golden Palace holding tablets, as if he was looking at a group of sheep waiting to be plucked. Many of Yan Xuanyu's plans still required them to carry out.
"Do you have anything to report, my dear ministers?" he said calmly.
From Yan Xuanyu's perspective, he could easily observe the people standing below. They looked at each other very briefly, and most of them chose to stand there and keep silent.
At this moment, an official wearing a blue official uniform who was standing almost at the end of the line of courtiers suddenly stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to make!"
This voice immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the Golden Palace.
Yan Xuanyu was secretly observing the reactions of these "important court officials" in front of him. Among them, only Prime Minister Jiang, who was standing in the front row, just tilted his head to glance and continued to stand there calmly, which seemed to be in line with his image as an honest official.
"Oh?" Yan Xuanyu gestured to him.
The official in blue suddenly looked up and said, "Your Majesty! Imperial Tutor Han is a veteran of three dynasties. His current imprisonment is likely to chill the hearts of the people! Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the throne room became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
There were strange looks in the eyes of the officials in front. Zuoqiu Cheng looked at Lin Fu with disdain, as if mocking his naivety and his vain attempt to change Han Yuan's situation by giving advice, or perhaps he was waiting leisurely for the emperor to drag the blue-clothed official away.
Lin Fu and the Minister of Personnel looked at each other, and the latter shook his head slightly, indicating that this matter had nothing to do with him.
Lin Fu immediately caught sight of Zuo Qiucheng's gaze. He held his breath, then burst into a rage! Someone was trying to harm the teacher!
This remonstration not only threatens the life of the Qingyi official, but also puts the teacher in a dire situation. Zuoqiu Cheng doesn't seem like someone who would resort to underhanded tactics, so...
Lin Fu's eyes slowly fell on a figure in front of him.
Just when all the ministers thought they were going to bear the emperor's wrath, they heard a light laugh from above.
"I didn't realize when I placed Imperial Tutor Han under house arrest?" Yan Xuanyu said slowly, "I remember that Imperial Tutor Han was unwell that day. I was extremely worried, so I allowed him to return home to recuperate."
The official in blue seemed to have not expected the emperor to say this. He was dumbfounded for a moment, and his face showed a dull look that he had not yet disguised.
Yan Xuanyu continued, "The late emperor once said that Grand Tutor Han was a man of profound talent and learning, worthy of being the emperor's tutor. Since I ascended the throne, I have often felt guilty about my initial inability to handle government affairs, and I have been constantly worried that I might not be able to fulfill the late emperor's wishes. I have recently come up with the idea of a cabinet, which I will soon establish, with Grand Tutor Han as the chief minister, overseeing it."
This sentence was like a time bomb dropped in the Golden Palace!
The other officials in the throne room were all confused by this sudden change. Why did the emperor's attitude towards Han Yuan suddenly change?!
The whole court was in uproar!
...
Lin Fu looked up and saw the man sitting on the dragon throne. He had a calm expression and was majestic without being angry, looking a bit like an emperor.
The last time he saw Yan Xuanyu, he was still the fourth prince of the capital, a dissolute and violent man. He and a group of servants rode their horses in the street and injured someone. Lin Fu, as the prefect of Jingzhao, handled the matter. At that time, the fourth prince Yan Xuanyu spoke with violence, saying that the person they injured should be beheaded and that the person had frightened his horse.
When Lin Fu heard the almost unfamiliar voice in the Golden Palace, he was filled with doubt.
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