Chapter 409 Acting on behalf of the emperor?
A long time ago.

When Jiajing learned from his son, Prince Yu Zhu Zaigui, that Yan Shaoting wanted to go south to serve as an official.

Jiajing made a careful calculation in his mind.

Is the Yan family loyal to him?

At last.

Jiajing chose to skip this somewhat ridiculous question.

Regardless of whether the Yan family is loyal to him, the Ming Dynasty will eventually have to operate according to his will at certain moments.

That's enough.

So what about Yan Shaoting’s request to go south to serve as an official?
Jiajing thought that it would be better to let this kid go to the south to see if he could stir up some unusual things in the seemingly prosperous place in the south.

then.

Arranging a suitable official position for Yan Shaoting has become a question that Jiajing has been thinking about recently.

But luckily.

The emperor's clever mind once again solved this problem for him.

Looking at everyone in the hall.

Jiajing's eyes turned to Yan Shaoting, who was standing in front of him with his hands clasped.

A smile appeared on his face and his voice gradually spread.

"Added to the Left Vice-Minister of the Censorate."

There was a slight disturbance in the hall.

This official position should have been passed down from the third-rank prince's guest.

And after this sentence.

Jiajing said in a loud voice: "He is in charge of the money and grain storage in Nanzhili, Zhongdu, Huguang, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong, and he is also the commander of the military affairs in Nanjing and the inspector of the local areas."

After finishing speaking.

Jiajing smiled faintly and looked at the hall, which was silent as he had guessed.

Indeed.

Just as the emperor expected.

The entire Wanshou Palace Hall fell silent.

Everyone was stunned by the emperor's words.

Even Yan Shaoting, the person involved, was surprised and shocked.

Almost at the same moment.

Yan Ne suddenly raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable!"

There was a deep sense of uneasiness in his eyes.

If the emperor's wishes were really followed, most of the Ming Dynasty's financial and tax revenues would be under the control of Yan Shaoting.

This means the lifeblood of the imperial court will be handed over to him!

But at this moment in the hall, except for Yan Ne who quickly spoke up to object, everyone else remained silent.

People like Xu Jie had surprise in their eyes, but never spoke a word.

Gao Gong, Yuan Wei and others were also shocked and subconsciously wanted to object, but after thinking it over, they decided to wait and see.

As for the officials from the six ministries and five temples present today, each of them has his own thoughts.

Only Yan Shifan in the crowd, after a brief excitement, frowned, looked sad and fell into deep thought.

Although the emperor's actions this time were shocking enough.

But the more this happens, the more difficult it will be for his son to get things done this time when he goes south, and the greater the responsibility he will have to bear if he wants to get things done.

Even the son has a son now.

But can this kid shoulder such a big responsibility?
The hall fell into silence for a long time.

Everyone was thinking about the meaning of the emperor's reward this time.

No surprise.

The Prime Minister was in charge of the money and grain storage in Nanzhili, Zhongdu, Huguang, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong.

This point is aimed at achieving what Yan Shaoting said about doubling the fiscal and tax revenue in the south.

So the emperor let Yan Shaoting take charge of the money and grain storage in the southern provinces.

But what is surprising is that according to common sense.

If the emperor really wanted Yan Shaoting to be in charge of the money, grain and taxation of the southern provinces, then he should have given Yan Shaoting an additional official position as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing or as the Left or Right Vice Minister.

But now, it is obviously not included in this oral instruction.

As for being the admiral of Nanjing military affairs, this was somewhat surprising, but also reasonable.

Since we want to rectify the financial and grain issues in the south, we naturally need to have something to rely on.

However, being the admiral of Nanjing’s military affairs has some conflicts with the group of nobles who are currently in charge of Nanjing.

Everyone's thoughts were mixed, and no one knew whether the emperor had thought of this or not.

Otherwise, when Yan Shaoting goes to Nanjing City, he will be faced with a situation where he has no troops to deploy.

On the contrary, the authority to inspect local areas at the end of the oral order was not shocking to everyone in the hall.

After all, there is a clear distinction between the governors and inspectors in the imperial court.

The governor is a high-ranking local official, while the inspector general cannot be compared with the governor in terms of power or responsibilities.

For example, a governor can handle matters such as corvée labor, lijia, money and grain, post stations, cities, soldiers and horses, and military pay in a place.

The inspectors could only manage local matters related to correcting corruption, executing serious criminals, examining and recording unjust sentences, promoting officials and farmers, and recording and verifying merits and rewards.

Eyes were moving around the hall.

no doubt.

This time, the emperor gave Yan Shaoting a real third-rank official position, but at the same time gave him a job with power far beyond the third-rank.

He was in charge of the storage of money and grain in several southern provinces, the admiral of Nanjing military affairs, and inspected the local areas.

In other words.

Yan Shaoting's official position can be called the governor-general of several southern provinces.

Except for not being able to directly manage local civil affairs, he could do almost anything he wanted in several southern provinces.

Wait until this time.

Only then did everyone realize why the emperor gave Yan Shaoting the position of inspector instead of governor.

Because the power of the inspector to correct corruption and abuses alone would allow Yan Shaoting to interfere in the local government.

Yan Ne was almost going crazy.

The emperor's words today almost handed half of the Ming Dynasty to Yan Shaoting.

Such great power was given to Yan Shaoting so casually.

Looking at the ministers in front of him who were dumbfounded by his words.

Jiajing laughed in his heart and called out to Yan Shaoting, "Yan Shaoting."

Yan Shaoting's shoulders trembled.

He hurriedly stepped forward and bowed.

"The minister is here."

Jiajing placed his palm on the imperial table, his eyes deep: "I allow you to act at your own discretion this time when you go south, and to execute first and report later. If I come in person, can you do as you said and increase the country's tax revenue by billions?"

Inside the palace.

Create a ripple.

First, the power to control several southern provinces was given to Yan Shaoting.

Now, the emperor has given Yan Shaoting the power to execute first and report later, as if I were there in person.

Doesn't this mean that Yan Shaoting can exercise the emperor's power when he goes south this time?
Yan Shaoting took a deep breath and said, "I will not let the emperor down. I will do my best until my death!"

Jiajing shook his head and smiled: "I can't really let you die."

Talking.

Jiajing glanced around at the ministers present.

He said, "If you can sort out the affairs in the south during your trip this time, and the court can work hard in the south in the future, it will be a great achievement. I will reward you with a reward at that time."

After saying this, Jiajing glanced at Yan Shaoting indifferently.

His words were meant to give Yan Shaoting a way out, and he didn't really want him to immediately increase the court's tax revenue by billions this time he went south.

What is really needed is to activate the chessboard in the south so that the court can truly take over this important financial and taxation area.

Yan Shaoting nodded immediately: "Your Majesty, I obey your command!"

Seeing Yan Shaoting giving the order, Jiajing smiled again.

Then he looked at everyone present.

It was as if he had just reacted.

Jiajing said with a smile: "The rivers in this world are thousands of miles apart from north to south. If it were not for my responsibility to support the country, I would personally ride a treasure ship to see the beauty of the south of the Yangtze River in my Ming Dynasty!" As soon as these words came out, everyone raised their eyebrows.

Xu Jie even said immediately: "Your Majesty is wise and wise, and he occupies a high position in the government. He governs the country with ease, and the whole world is in awe."

But we can’t really let the emperor think of going to the south of the Yangtze River.

Not to mention the huge amount of manpower required and how much the court would have to spend on this.

Just letting the emperor go south, God knows what thoughts and ideas he will come up with along the way.

In this regard.

Jiajing just smiled slightly.

Then he spoke lightly.

"That's why I just had the idea of ​​asking this kid to go to the south for me."

"Let him go and take a look for me."

As soon as the words came out.

The matter becomes very clear.

It also explains why the emperor did not first seek the opinions of the cabinet and the six ministries and five temples on how to arrange Yan Shaoting today.

Either agree.

Or oppose.

Agreed, then let Yan Shaoting go south.

disagree?
Then I will go to Jiangnan by myself.

Seeing that the emperor had made his will clear, Xu Jie's mouth twitched involuntarily.

Although he could guess that the emperor would do so, when the emperor actually did it, he could only feel helpless.

Other people in the hall had the same thought.

Can I object?

Naturally, some people want to object.

After all, Yan Shaoting went south this time, allegedly holding the official title of Left Vice-Censor of the Censorate, a third-rank official, to serve as the chief inspector in various provinces south of the Yangtze River.

But this third-rank official probably has more power than Hu Zongxian, the governor-general of the five southeastern provinces who led troops to suppress the Japanese invaders.

Even people like Zhao Zhenji, the Governor-General of Zhejiang and the Governor of Zhejiang, and Hai Rui, the Governor of Yingtian, would be able to interfere with their work after Yan Shaoting arrived.

After all, the prime minister’s money and grain storage alone is enough to firmly control the entire Jiangnan provinces.

Whenever there is a desire for resistance in any local area.

Yan Shaoting could also use his power as an inspector to directly rectify local government.

Plus the emperor’s current attitude.

Nowadays, this matter has become a complete mess.

There is no way to object even if you want to.

Gao Gong sighed slightly in his heart.

In the past two years, because of Yan Shaoting's relationship, he was in charge of the important task of rectifying the administration of officials in the court, and his work was quite successful.

Talk about it.

He also has to thank Yan Shaoting for his efforts.

But this time, Gao Gong wanted to object in his heart.

If Yan Shaoting was only given the job of inspecting the south, he would accept it.

Even if Yan Shaoting was directly appointed as the Minister of Finance in Nanjing, it would not be unacceptable.

So what if it's the second rank.

Anyway, judging from the current path of the Yan family, it is inevitable that another person from the Yan family will enter the cabinet in a few decades.

But now the power of several provinces is in the hands of Yan Shaoting alone.

Gao Gong was well aware that the greater the power, the greater the harm it could bring.

He was not worried that Yan Shaoting would use this power to seek benefits for himself.

Even Gao Gong had to admit that Yan Shaoting had always been clean as an official.

But he was worried that Yan Shaoting would use this power to stir up trouble in Jiangnan, causing chaos in the south, and the court would have to clean up the mess in the end.

If the trouble gets too serious, even the imperial court may not be able to clean up the mess.

Think about it.

Gao Gong spoke slowly: "Your Majesty, since it has been decided today that Yan Binke will go south to serve as the Prime Minister and Admiral to inspect Jiangnan, then should we also explain the affairs in the capital to avoid interruption and suspension of the court's work at that time?"

Although he was worried, Gao Gong opened his mouth and talked about something else.

Jiajing immediately waved his hand and said, "Yan Shaoting will be appointed as a Langzhong in the Zhejiang Qingli Division of the Ministry of Revenue. The Ministry of Personnel will select another official. Gao Wuguan and Xu Kun have been following Yan Shaoting in the military supply duties for the past two years. Now they will continue to handle it. Let Xu Wei take charge of the Changping Public Security Division, and make other arrangements for the rest."

Xu Jie, who was standing aside, glanced at Gao Gong indifferently.

He couldn't help but snort in his heart.

Gao Gong wanted to take this opportunity to push his son to take over the military supply duties of the court. Did he really think he couldn't see it?
But luckily.

The emperor did not hand over all the tasks to the Gao family; his own family also continued to take charge of this matter.

obviously.

Gao Gong couldn't guess what Xu Jie was thinking at the moment.

He just continued, "Your Majesty is wise, but if guest Yan wants to go south, where should he stay and how should he arrange for his office?"

After all, it is a new job and there are no established examples to learn from.

Although Gao Gong asked where Yan Shaoting would serve after he went south, what he really wanted to ask was whether to arrange auxiliary officials around him.

Or.

He can serve as an official to supervise Yan Shaoting, who holds power in several provinces in the south of the Yangtze River.

Upon hearing this, Jiajing, who was adept at political politics, immediately looked up at Gao Gong.

He naturally understood the meaning of this statement.

Jiajing's eyes swept across Gao Gong's face, and finally looked at Yan Shaoting: "What do you think of what Mr. Gao said?"

Gao Gong frowned suddenly.

Why are you asking Yan Shaoting, the person involved, about this matter?

Gao Gong couldn't help feeling a little worried. Could it be that the emperor had never thought of finding a way to check and balance Yan Shaoting from the beginning?

Yan Shaoting also understood the situation clearly and just smiled.

"I think that everything should be decided by the emperor."

Jiajing immediately smiled and said, "Then the Censorate will send a few more people to go with us, and we will carry out your orders when the time comes."

"I accept your order."

Yan Shaoting and Gao Gong both bowed and clasped their fists at the same time.

This end.

Jiajing just breathed a sigh of relief.

But he still subconsciously glanced at Yan Song, who did not raise any objections today.

I felt a little confused.

Jiajing said, "It is the twelfth month now. After the New Year and the Lantern Festival, we will set off to the south immediately."

These words were naturally spoken to Yan Shaoting.

It also clearly determined the date for his trip to the south of the Yangtze River.

Subsequently.

At Jiajing's instruction, Lu Fang stepped forward and asked the officials to disperse.

Yan Shaoting turned around and reached out to support Old Yan's arm.

Yan Song grabbed his grandson's wrist with his backhand, lowered his head, and stood up slowly and tremblingly: "It's cold, go slowly..."

Old Yan's voice was not loud, but it reached Yan Shaoting's ears.

Yan Shaoting was stunned for a moment, then he supported the old man more slowly.

In this way, the grandfather and grandson slowly left the Wanshou Palace Hall under the gaze of the emperor on the throne.

Wait until all the ministers have left.

Jiajing was already lying on his side on the throne.

For some reason.

Jiajing snorted coldly.

Then he gave instructions to Lu Fang who was standing beside him.

"Announce that Marquis Zhenyuan Gu Huan is here to see you."

…………

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(End of this chapter)