"Ever since they came to power, they've been actively expanding their power!"
Sun Chengzong looked at Zhou Jiamo seriously. He really didn't expect that things could be thought about from this perspective.
There was a slight hesitation because Sun Chengzong felt that this might not be true.
But what Zhou Jiamo said made so much sense that it was impossible not to believe it.
Sun Chengzong asked hesitantly, "What about Huang Kezun..."
"I call Xu Guangqi and Shen Tingyun's actions the 'Big Six Ministries'. They wanted a bigger Ministry of Revenue and a bigger Ministry of Rites; and now Huang Kezun wants a bigger Ministry of Justice."
"Unlike the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Justice has always been relatively inconspicuous. If we want to establish a large Ministry of Justice, the first problem we need to solve is how to reach out."
"So Huang Kexun thought of Xunzi. The combination of rites and laws was Huang Kexun's starting point and original intention."
After hearing this, Sun Chengzong remained silent for a long time.
He had begun to believe what Zhou Jiamo said, but still hesitated and said, "But what about His Majesty?"
"Don't you understand yet? His Majesty no longer believes in the previous tricks. His Majesty wants to see who can come up with something new."
"The facts have proven that Xu Guangqi and his team are doing a good job. At least after Xu Guangqi took over the Ministry of Revenue, he really did get things done. Whether it was the Hundred Craftsmen Academy or the cultivation of new crops, Xu Guangqi was doing it."
"As for the Ministry of Rites, they've also been working on practical matters. The Royal Academy and lectures may seem insignificant, but they're actually related to party disputes. Even though we didn't acknowledge it before, it was a party dispute!"
"With the precedent set by these two individuals, Your Majesty will probably agree with Huang Kezun this time. Your Majesty wants to see what these people with new ideas will come up with."
Zhou Jiamo turned to Sun Chengzong and said with a frown, "The direction is already very clear. As far as I know, some people from the Censorate have already begun to write letters in support of Huang Kezun."
"I think you're well aware of what this means. Although the petition was submitted by Cui Chengxiu and his men, who appear to be Wei Zhongxian's followers, the fact that Yu Maoheng of the Censorate didn't suppress them proves one thing: His Majesty is pleased to see this happen."
"If my guess is correct, the next people to support Huang Kezun should be Xu Guangqi and his group. As the saying goes, they want to do something new, but some people don't want them to do it. In this situation, they need to unite with those who want to do new things, so Huang Kezun and Xu Guangqi will quickly become close."
Listening to Zhou Jiamo's words, Sun Chengzong fell silent.
He discovered that he seemed not to be suitable for officialdom.
After so many years as an official, he had never thought or calculated in this way. Now it seemed that he was far behind. These people were really more shrewd than the other.
"Then why did Lord Zhou come to see me today?" Sun Chengzong asked Zhou Jiamo.
"If we don't act, we'll be in trouble." Zhou Jiamo tapped the table lightly and continued, "Your Majesty wants to see something new. If we don't have anything new to offer, then there's no need for us to stay in the court. Don't you think that the Ming Dynasty really needs something new?"
Sun Chengzong looked at Zhou Jiamo and said hesitantly, "Master Zhou, are you talking about reform?"
"Since His Majesty wants to see it, then let's give it a try. His Majesty is young now, and if he wants to do it, why can't we, as his subjects, accompany him? The reason I dragged you along is because I don't want you to leave the court."
"Everyone in this world wants to do something, but no one knows what they will ultimately accomplish. Xu Guangqi and his colleagues are bold and have ideas, but I don't know whether they will mess it up."
"I hope they can succeed, but if they mess up and turn a law that serves the people into a law that harms them, then we can intervene. So we have to stay in the court and keep an eye on them."
"Then I wonder what Lord Zhou is going to do?" Sun Chengzong asked doubtfully.
"Our Ministry of Personnel's job is simple: it's nothing more than selecting and managing officials. The imperial examination system is there for selection, so we don't need to do anything. And now that His Majesty has established the Royal Academy, we have even less power to interfere."
"The only solution is management. As for how to manage, don't even think about it. Just learn from the seniors."
Listening to Zhou Jiamo's words, three words flashed through Sun Chengzong's mind.
He looked up at Zhou Jiamo and said in disbelief, "Master Zhou, are you talking about the performance evaluation method?"
As soon as these three words came out, Sun Chengzong felt that his breathing was tightened. These three words were really too big and too sensitive!
You have to know that the performance evaluation system was implemented by Zhang Juzheng. How many people opposed it at that time?
Zhang Juzheng's final fate was not unrelated to the performance evaluation system.
Now Zhou Jiamo actually wants to use the performance evaluation method. Once this news gets out, it will definitely cause an uproar, and Zhou Jiamo will even become the target of public criticism.
So Sun Chengzong looked at him hesitantly.
Glancing at Sun Chengzong, Zhou Jiamo smiled and said, "I was born in the 25th year of the Jiajing reign, and became a Jinshi in the 5th year of the Longqing reign. I am 76 this year."
"People often say that the earth covers half of the body, and I'm already buried up to my neck. I don't know how much longer I can live, I might die tomorrow. What should I be afraid of right now?"
"If you have anything to say, just come to me! I want to tell you today that if His Majesty agrees with Huang Kezun and me, then you will have to do something."
"I don't know much about the Ministry of War, but His Majesty has already asked Qi Jin to train a new army, so you should understand. Do your best. I hope we can keep an eye on them together, but we have to infiltrate them first." When saying this, Zhou Jiamo smiled like an old fox, and at the same time like a naughty boy.
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