Chapter 1383 Cabinet
The rain outside was falling non-stop, and the imperial study was also filled with the sound of rain. Although the people present didn't even breathe a breath, it gave people a feeling of being particularly noisy, even deafening.
Because at this time, they all received shocking news.
Especially Wu Yingqiu and the others, they were almost stunned.
Zhu Feng sat behind the desk, the flickering candlelight shining on his face, revealing a moody and unpredictable look, and an unfathomable depth.
He said, "You all heard clearly what I said just now."
Everyone hesitated for a while before saying in unison, "I heard it clearly."
Standing before him were the frail Duke Wu Yingqiu and his son Wu Ding, as well as the Left Chancellor Heyi, the Minister of Works and Vice-Chancellor Gu Tingqiu, the General Xu Shifeng, and the Chief Censor Li Ziyun.
Behind them, there were two figures, but because of the dim light, they were not very clear.
However, it can be seen clearly that one is Chen Yilu, the second brother of the Chen family who has no official position, and the other is Liu Yueze, the head of the Ministry of Justice.
This group of people looked at Zhu Feng cautiously.
On weekdays, these officials rarely get together. Except for standing in front of the court during the morning court, they rarely communicate with each other at other times.
After all, the emperor doesn't like forming factions for personal gain.
But this time, it was the emperor who called them and said those words.
It was already autumn, and even if it rained heavily, there would be no thunder and lightning. But at this time, they all seemed to be frightened by the thunder, with a constant rumbling sound in their ears and their hearts were shaken.
Wu Yingqiu's mood was even more complicated.
He bent over and rolled his eyes calmly, looking at the expressionless He Yi beside him, and then at the solemn Gu Tingqiu on the other side.
And there were quite a few people looking at him.
Although these people held different official positions, they all served in key departments of the imperial court. Moreover, they were all trusted by Zhu Feng or had made contributions.
Ever since Jian Ruocheng fell from power, all the officials in the court had their eyes on the position of Right Prime Minister of the Secretariat, but Zhu Feng had not expressed his opinion for a long time. Even after he went south to Nanjing and put most of the work on He Yi alone, and it was said that this "Prime Minister Dao" was so tired that he vomited blood, he still had no intention of appointing another Right Prime Minister of the Secretariat.
Everyone is waiting.
They also showed their talents openly and secretly, hoping to catch the emperor's eye.
However, the emperor remained motionless, like a hanging fish, making these cats' eyes pop out.
Tonight, they suddenly received a secret order asking them to go to the palace and the imperial study overnight.
At this moment, everyone thought they had been chosen. Some were happy, some were frightened, but when they saw everyone else was there, they were all stunned.
Then, Zhu Feng told them his decision.
Starting tomorrow, the court will no longer have the positions of Left and Right Chancellor of the Secretariat.
He wanted to establish a new institution called the Cabinet.
All the officials present tonight, except the young Liu Yueze, who is the cabinet secretary and is responsible for writing and recording, are cabinet ministers.
only--
Zhu Feng turned to look at Wu Yingqiu and said with a smile, "Duke, I originally wanted this position to belong to you, but you have been ill for a few days, and I don't want you to be too tired, so let me decide. Should I give this position in the cabinet to you or your son?"
His words were very clear.
The ministers in the cabinet all have great power. In order to avoid forming factions for personal gain, there can only be one person from the Wu family.
If the father goes, the son cannot go.
Wu Yingqiu hesitated after hearing this, then looked at his young son, gritted his teeth, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, I am old and can no longer be of great use. It is hard for Your Majesty to still think of me. Even if I die, I will never be able to repay Your Majesty!"
As he said this, he knelt down.
Zhu Feng stepped forward, holding his thin arm with one hand and helping him up, and asked, "What are you doing, Duke?"
Wu Yingqiu said, "Our Wu family is committed to serving the emperor. However, I, an old minister, am not up to the task."
“…”
"Your Majesty, please let this unfilial son gain some experience."
Zhu Feng smiled and said, "That's what I meant."
After saying that, he turned to look at Wu Ding on the side and said, "You heard it."
Wu Ding immediately knelt down, kowtowed several times, and said in a deep voice: "Your humble servant Ding will share the emperor's worries, and will devote his life to it until his death!"
Zhu Feng nodded.
He slowly walked back to the table and sat down. His expression darkened again, and he said seriously, "The formation of the cabinet is tentatively decided. He Yi."
He Yi immediately stepped forward: "I am here."
"As the Left Chancellor of the Secretariat, you handle the most affairs here. This cabinet still needs your guidance. I appoint you as the Chief Minister of the Cabinet. If there is anything, please consult with them."
"yes."
Upon hearing this, Wu Yingqiu couldn't help but frown again.
He was originally a duke, and in order to avoid having too much power and arousing the emperor's suspicion, he "gave" the position of cabinet minister to his son. Unexpectedly, as soon as he gave it up, He Yi became the most authoritative person here, and he was made the chief minister of the cabinet.
If I were——
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but grit his teeth.
It seems that the emperor had already decided on the prime minister of the cabinet, and he had no chance to choose for himself.
At this moment, Zhu Feng looked up at Chen Yiliu, who had been silent in the crowd, and said, "Yiliu, do you have anything to say?"
Chen Yilu only raised his head when he heard his name being called.
Compared to his brother Chen Zixiao who left the palace a few days ago to take up a post in the northwest, and his younger brother Chen Xuan who was already working for Zhu Feng in Jinling, he seemed gentler and more taciturn. However, standing among this group of prudent ministers, he did not look out of place at all.
He thought for a moment and said, "I have done nothing, and if I were to become a cabinet minister, I'm afraid people would be dissatisfied."
Zhu Feng looked at him.
The people around him also had the same glint of suspicion in their eyes.
Zhu Feng said: "No merit, so I let you make merit."
“…”
"Being a cabinet minister may seem glamorous, but if you don't live up to the title, I will immediately dismiss you without mercy."
"Your humble servant obeys the order!"
Zhu Feng looked at Xu Shifeng on the other side again, and seeing that he was also looking at him with a twinkling gaze, he said, "Shifeng, you are the only military commander here, do your best."
He doesn't talk much, but every word he says is like a big stone pressing on people's hearts.
Xu Shifeng lowered his head and said in a deep voice: "I understand!"
Zhu Feng then dusted off his corner and said, "Now, this is the general arrangement. Before and after the court session every day, you will all come to the inner palace. I have had an attic built in the southeast corner of the Imperial Garden to discuss matters there first."
"yes."
Just as he finished speaking, suddenly, there was a sound of fighting outside.
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