Chapter 1005: Zuo Da Zongguan's chess game (first update, please subscribe)
Your Majesty is a terrible chess player!
In the Ming Dynasty, this was not a secret at all.
Although he is a terrible chess player, His Majesty still likes to play chess and Go.
He also likes to play chess with close ministers. What do the ministers think?
Whether he enjoys it, or never gets tired of it, or is he extremely nervous... But one thing is certain, only the ministers who are close to His Majesty have the opportunity to play chess with His Majesty.
Once again, after Zuo Zongtang reported on government affairs, he was kept by the Majesty. The two played chess for more than an hour. After Zuo Zongtang lost the game, Emperor Zhu threw away the chess piece and laughed.
"Left Prime Minister, your chess skills are getting better and better. If I'm not careful, I'm afraid I'll win."
Zuo Zongtang, who was quietly collecting chess pieces, smiled when he heard this.
"Your Majesty, chess is actually a minor art, just a leisure game. When it comes to playing chess, who in the world can compare with Your Majesty? I play chess only with the longitude and latitude of the chessboard, but Your Majesty plays chess with the longitude and latitude of the world as the chessboard."
Look at this flattery...how comfortable it is!
"You, Zuo Jigao, have also learned to flatter. This is not a good habit!"
"Your Majesty, I am only speaking the truth."
While he was speaking, Zuo Zongtang had already put away the chessboard. Then he looked at His Majesty and said.
"Your Majesty, I am afraid that I can no longer play chess with Your Majesty."
Zuo Zongtang said this because he was already seventy years old, and "retirement at the age of seventy" was an old rule in all dynasties. So at this time, no matter what, he had to submit a memorial to retire.
Looking at Zuo Zongtang with gray hair and beard in front of him, Emperor Zhu pursed his lips and said.
"Over the years, the Left Prime Minister has worked diligently for the government. The Ming Dynasty is what it is today, and the Left Prime Minister has made great contributions."
Before this, Zuo Zongtang had already expressed this intention, and Emperor Zhu had no intention of retaining him. After all, he had been the prime minister for twelve years, and it was about time to replace him.
Of course, a more important reason is physical!
Historically, Zuo Zongtang died in office a few years later, and Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang also hoped that he could retire and take good care of his health.
In response to His Majesty's praise, Zuo Zongtang shook his head and said.
"Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty is what it is today because of your Majesty. I am just following your orders."
Zuo Zongtang was not being polite. Although this empire's cabinet minister had visited various countries in Europe and the United States and had a certain international perspective, that was all. He could not be said to be proficient in foreign affairs. No matter how much he studied international diplomacy, he would always be far behind His Majesty.
In fact, in the Ming Dynasty, no one can compare to Your Majesty.
Your Majesty is truly a man of natural knowledge. Science and technology, economy, military affairs, diplomacy, almost everything in the Ming Dynasty is controlled by the emperor himself... All officials, including Zuo Zongtang, have more or less made a helpless discovery - Your Majesty controls everything.
Just as Zuo Zongtang said before, His Majesty's layout for the world is obviously a big chess game, but unfortunately he doesn't know much about it. Only relevant people know part of it. Even the Left Prime Minister of the Cabinet, the head of all officials, only knows a general idea.
Your Majesty seems to be "indifferent" to government affairs, like a hands-off boss, but in fact, all the officials of the Ming Dynasty are working according to Your Majesty's plan. As for him, the Left Prime Minister, he is just a general manager who manages trivial matters and pushes things forward.
Being a general manager like this...is actually not easy at all.
"That's what they say, but when it comes to getting things done, there aren't many people you can trust."
His Majesty seemed to say it casually, which made Zuo Zongtang ponder for a moment, and then he spoke.
"I think Qian Degong can be the cabinet minister. His work in Japan in the past few years is obvious to all."
Emperor Zhu nodded slightly and said.
"Qian Degong can really make people feel at ease when he does things, but Wang Youling..."
"Your Majesty, he is two years older than me."
Zuo Zongtang's casual remark made Emperor Zhu nod his head but said nothing. Since the left prime minister had retired, Wang Youling would also be retiring soon.
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, the term of office of a prime minister should also be limited. Why are there so-called "powerful and corrupt ministers" and "traitors" in every dynasty? They just sit in the court for more than ten years. Even if they don't form a clique, they will gather a group of people around them. The so-called cliques for personal gain are basically like this. A virtuous prime minister becomes a treacherous and powerful minister. In the end, most of them can't have a good end."
Perhaps because he had already made up his mind to retire, Zuo Zongtang spoke without any reservations and finally gave a direct suggestion.
"In my opinion, I may not be able to survive for the next twelve years. If I stay here for longer than that, I will either become a treacherous minister or a powerful minister, which will not be a blessing for the empire!"
Emperor Zhu nodded slightly at Zuo Zongtang's suggestion. In fact, the political center of the Ming Dynasty was different from both the Chinese tradition and the West. Take the Imperial Executive Yuan as an example. It was the highest administrative body and was responsible for the overall administrative affairs, including the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and other departments.
The Executive Yuan has a prime minister and two assistant ministers. For many years, Zuo Zongtang has been the prime minister, also known as the "cabinet prime minister", while Wang Youling is the assistant minister. Two years ago, Qian Degong was promoted to assistant minister. In the official context of the Ming Dynasty, both of them are assistant prime ministers.
Although the administrative system seems to be a fusion of the East and the West, in fact, it follows the traditional Chinese principles of governance. For example, the selection and appointment of officials above the rank of vice minister are all by imperial decree, and officials do not have a term limit.
In fact, to put it bluntly, the cabinet administrative system of the Ming Empire was itself designed to strengthen the imperial power. It was based on the European monarchy and further strengthened the imperial power. The Ming Dynasty's monarchy was different from the British constitutional monarchy and the German constitutional system. To some extent, the Ming Empire was similar to the Russian Empire - an absolute monarchy!
In the Ming Dynasty, the emperor had absolute authority and the bureaucratic system completely revolved around imperial power. This was naturally a "Chinese tradition", but Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang incorporated some modern administrative elements into this tradition, but in essence it was just old wine in a new bottle.
Absolute monarchy is the essence. Imperial power is the core!
The reason why Zuo Zongtang said this now is actually to prevent the emergence of a "powerful prime minister" and for the stability of the Ming Dynasty's political system. After all, in the current Ming Dynasty China, the traditional "competition between the emperor and the prime minister" has no market, but under the absolute imperial power, who knows?
Therefore, some things need to be prevented before they happen, and this is also the last thing Zuo Zongtang feels he can do for the Ming Dynasty.
"It seems like you already have an idea?"
"I will submit a memorial in the name of the Executive Yuan in the next few days."
Emperor Zhu nodded slightly and did not speak. After a while, he spoke.
"I have a villa in Genting. You can go there to recuperate. In a few years, I will still be of great use to you."
What?
Zuo Zongtang raised his head in confusion, his eyes full of surprise. What does Your Majesty mean?
"Don't look at me, Left Prime Minister. Take care of your health. In a few years, when something big happens, I will still need you to help me check and steer the ship. I can trust you to do the job!"
The words "I'm confident in your work" almost made Zuo Zongtang cry. How many ministers throughout history have had such trust?
(End of this chapter)
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