Sun Chengzong needed to go back and think carefully about what to do next. What position should he take after arriving at the General Staff Office?
Sun Chengzong went back to think about it, and other people in the cabinet were also thinking about it.
At the same time, the news quickly spread out of the cabinet and throughout the capital, and all officials knew that Sun Chengzong had been promoted to Minister of Staff.
For a while, it can be said that public opinion was in an uproar, causing an uproar among the civil servants.
Originally everyone was paying attention to the reform of the titles of the General Staff Office, but now that Sun Chengzong was appointed as the Chief of Staff, everyone's attention was drawn to it.
The reason is very simple. Sun Chengzong was transferred to the General Staff Office, which meant he had to resign from his posts as Minister of War and Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. What does this mean?
This meant that two high-ranking official positions in the court were suddenly vacant, one was the position of Minister of War, and the other was the position of Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.
Anyone qualified for these two positions would be tempted. So, who would care about the military reforms at the General Staff Office?
You can do whatever you want, it's a matter for the nobles and has little to do with us. We are now competing for these two positions.
For a while, the officialdom in the capital was complicated and in complete chaos.
In the home of Minister of Rites Shen Tingyun, a table of not-so-rich food and wine was placed in the study.
The guest who could be entertained by Shen Tingyun here was naturally an extraordinary person. He was Xu Guangqi, the second assistant university student of the cabinet.
Putting down the wine glass in his hand, Xu Guangqi smacked his lips and said, "Your Majesty's move is truly beyond the ordinary people's expectations."
"But the effect is very good." Shen Tingyun sighed and said, "As a result, everyone's attention is fixed on the Minister of War and the vacant position of Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. Who will care about the title reform of the General Staff Office? Good, really good!"
Xu Guangqi nodded and said, "That's right. And there are more benefits than that. The position of Minister of War is vacant, and the General Staff has taken the opportunity to seize power. Your Majesty is really indulgent towards them. If this continues, the Ministry of War will probably become a hollow office."
"I don't see it that way." Shen Tingyun shook his head and said, "As the saying goes, one situation changes with time. The power is in your hands today, but it could be mine tomorrow. The General Staff Office has just been established, and it does need some power. It's understandable that Your Majesty would temporarily suppress it to prevent anyone from hindering it."
"After this period, I'm afraid we'll have to restore some of it. Government at court is all about balance. If the General Staff Office gains too much power, it won't be a good thing for Your Majesty. Therefore, the Ministry of War will definitely remain, and its power will not be diminished."
Xu Guangqi nodded thoughtfully and said, "Should we fight for it?"
Shen Tingyun certainly knew what Xu Guangqi meant by this. The so-called competition naturally referred to the competition for these two official positions.
So Shen Tingyun asked hesitantly: "Which position do you like?"
"Of course I like both of them." Xu Guangqi said as a matter of course.
"Aren't you just right for the position of Grand Secretary?" Xu Guangqi didn't hide his intentions and said directly, "You are currently the Minister of Rites. There is no harm in joining the cabinet. On the contrary, there are many benefits."
"Feng Congwu is powerful. Once the reform of the Imperial Academy is complete, his status will undoubtedly rise. By then, you, the Minister of Rites, will probably not be able to suppress him. If he takes this opportunity to push you into the cabinet now, it would be wishful thinking for him to try to surpass you. Didn't you just say that government requires balance? This should also be balanced."
Shen Tingyun's eyes brightened a little, nodded and said: "What you said makes sense, but I'm afraid it won't be easy."
"There are only three elders left in the cabinet. Han Yu and Huang Kezun are in cahoots, and now with Sun Chengzong gone, I'm feeling outnumbered. Isn't it just right for you to join the cabinet?" Xu Guangqi continued matter-of-factly, "If we plan carefully, we might be able to accomplish something."
"What about the candidate for the Minister of War?" Shen Tingyun looked at Xu Guangqi and said directly, "We don't have any suitable candidates. You know this. After all, our foundation is still a bit shallow. The Minister of War is not an easy position. As you said, I'm afraid we will be at the forefront of the storm for a long time."
"I know that," Xu Guangqi put down his wine glass and said seriously, "There is a suitable candidate, and I believe Your Majesty will agree."
"Who are you talking about?" Shen Tingyun asked hesitantly.
"Wang Xianggan." Without any hesitation, Xu Guangqi directly said the name.
Xu Guangqi looked at Shen Tingyun and said, "I won't go into details about his military achievements and merits. I believe you know them. I believe it will be no problem for him to be the Minister of War."
"Are you familiar with him?" Shen Tingyun looked at Xu Guang and asked, "It seems like you two don't have much in common, right?"
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