Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

Have to admit.

Jiang Xinghuo's words made Zhu Di break his guard.

The cabinet system originated from Zhu Di summoning Hanlin scholars to organize and distribute memorials for him.

The members of the cabinet, in Zhu Di's era, did not have the power to handle government affairs. They were just Zhu Di's secretaries.

As for why it turned out to be what Jiang Xinghuo said, Zhu Di felt that what Jiang Xinghuo said was pretty much the same.

After all, not everyone has the exuberant energy and tireless interest in government affairs like Zhu Yuanzhang, the great emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Di's interest was more in Ming Dynasty's national strategic decision-making and military aspects, and he was not that much interested in government affairs.

Therefore, the establishment of the cabinet is actually a certain necessity.

Otherwise, why have there been "prime ministers" for thousands of years?

To put it bluntly, isn't it because the emperor is too tired to handle government affairs himself and needs to find someone to help him?

It's just that Zhu Di didn't expect it, or he didn't think about it that way.

He was not interested in government affairs. Will future generations become interested in government affairs when they become emperors?

Impossible, lazier than him!

Therefore, the power to handle government affairs was gradually handed over to the cabinet.

In the history of Jiang Xinghuo's previous life, from the draft plan drafted by Sanyang during the Hongxi and Xuande periods to the draft draft drafted by Zhang Juzheng in the early Wanli period, they were almost transformed into the blueprint for the emperor's approval of Zhu. The importance of cabinet power and the importance of cabinet positions Long, it goes without saying.

Zhu Di was slapped in the face by Jiang Xinghuo's words.

But at this time, it was hard to fall out.

Not only Zhu Di also turned to Jiang Xinghuo, waiting for Jiang Xinghuo to answer his questions.

More importantly, Zhu Di knew that what Jiang Xinghuo said was very likely to happen, or in other words, it was almost inevitable.

"Then how did later emperors fight against the civil service system headed by the cabinet?"

Facing Zhu Di's question, Jiang Xinghuo had a faint smile on his lips.

"There are many ways."

"There are those who concentrate on refining elixirs and cultivating Taoism, but do not forget to use the emperor's mind to divide and control civil servants."

"Those who are determined to cause trouble and go against the cabinet will not go to court for forty years."

"There are also those who hide in the palace and work as carpenters, pushing eunuchs to compete with civil servants."

After hearing Jiang Xinghuo's answer, Zhu Di almost spit out a mouthful of old blood.

Zhu Di felt that he had underestimated future generations, but he never expected that the future emperors of the Ming Dynasty in Jiang Xinghuo's mouth were even more outrageous than he expected.

"Ahem... Then please tell me, Mr. Jiang, which of the emperors in later generations used different methods to fight against the civil service system, which one was successful?" Zhu Di coughed twice.

"Don't worry, they all failed."

Jiang Xinghuo said confidently.

Hearing these words, the corners of Zhu Di's mouth twitched.

Zhu Di took a deep breath, tried to calm himself down, and then spoke slowly.

"So what Mr. Jiang is saying is that because of my current measures to establish a cabinet, civil servants will become more powerful in future generations?"

"That's right!"

Jiang Xinghuo looked at Zhu Di and said seriously: "But as I have always emphasized, problems should not be blamed on a certain person, so having said that, although you created the cabinet, even if you did not create it, the Ming Dynasty in future generations The emperor will also create an external cabinet as an auxiliary organization, and this organization will also develop and grow over time."

"So the root of the problem is not the cabinet, but how to restrict the civil service system."

This means that all Jiang Xinghuo's actions, whether it was to inform Zhu Di about the future of the Ming Dynasty or to point out the shortcomings of the Ming Dynasty's cabinet system and guard system, the fundamental purpose was not to strengthen Zhu Di's imperial power, or to give Ming Dynasty this Feudal empire patched.

Jiang Xinghuo's intention was to exchange.

The real dilemma Jiang Xinghuo faces is that if he wants to change the world, he cannot do it by relying solely on his own strength. He must tie the imperial power to his side.

Any political binding undoubtedly requires the exchange of interests and then the formation of a community.

The bargaining chip that Jiang Xinghuo can exchange with Zhu Di is that he can fill in the holes that Zhu Di cannot see, has knowledge that Zhu Di cannot get from other people, and can predict the future.

The last point is that Jiang Xinghuo left a relatively powerful back-up for himself based on realistic considerations.

Although Jiang Xinghuo’s predictions about the future of all individuals and countries are based on historical records.

But the problem is, Zhu Di doesn’t know! No one else knows either!

The information they know is that Jiang Xianren can predict the future, although this prediction of the future is subject to certain conditions and is not arbitrary.

But they didn't know that Jiang Xinghuo couldn't predict the changed future.

Therefore, this awe will always remain in the hearts of Zhu Di and others.

"Then what do I need to do next to prevent this from happening?"

Zhu Di urgently wanted to know this question at this moment.

Is the civil service system really unsolvable?

Could it be that in the future of the Ming Dynasty, this group of insects will destroy the country?

Looking at the current situation, even if it is the law, it only plays a restrictive role.

"It's easy!"

Jiang Xinghuo answered without hesitation.

"They failed because they didn't understand a truth, so they were guessed during the confrontation with the civil service system and subsequently lost. And as long as they understand this truth, they can naturally avoid this outcome!"

Hearing this, Zhu Di was stunned. Apparently he didn't understand the deep meaning contained in Jiang Xinghuo's words.

"reason?"

"right!"

"What's the point?" Zhu Di frowned slightly.

"Don't worry about this problem, just do it the way I said, and you will understand soon." Jiang Xinghuo replied.

"Okay, then tell me, what should I do?" Zhu Di said, his eyes burning, as if he was looking forward to Jiang Xinghuo's next answer.

"Close your eyes first." Jiang Xinghuo looked at Zhu Di and said softly.

Hearing this, Zhu Di closed his eyes without any hesitation.

Even if he is blind, in terms of individual strength, a first-class general like Zhu Di can easily deal with ten Jiang Xinghuo, so Zhu Di is not worried that Jiang Xinghuo will be detrimental to him after closing his eyes.

"Now between the two of us, can you see what I'm doing?"

Zhu Di, who closed his eyes, frowned slightly when he heard Jiang Xinghuo's question.

What nonsense is this?

I have closed my eyes, how can I see what you are doing?

But when Zhu Di was about to say these words, suddenly, a flash of lightning flashed in Zhu Di's mind.

If you close your eyes, you can't see it.

Then if I can make the civil servants close their eyes and not see each other, can I control the civil service system?

But how to make civil servants close their eyes to each other?

When Zhu Di closed his eyes and fell into deep thought, Jiang Xinghuo's words rang in his ears, waking up the dreamer.

"Information isolation."

This sentence instantly reminded Zhu Di.

Yes, as long as the civil servants do not know what information the other party has told the emperor, suspicion will naturally arise. In this way, the civil service system will scramble to surround the imperial power. Who else can threaten itself?

Zhu Di opened his eyes.

What caught his eyes was Jiang Xinghuo, who was still looking calm.

Zhu Di suspected that Jiang Xinghuo might not have done anything just now.

But when he closed his eyes, he didn't know what Jiang Xinghuo had done, but he was constantly suspicious.

This is the effect of "information isolation".

Now, Zhu Di felt that the whole world had changed.

Zhu Di took a deep breath and felt the "epiphany" feeling in his mind after being enlightened. He couldn't help but subconsciously think of Dao Yan and Zhang Tianshi who had gone crazy, and Xia Yuanji who was willing to be a lackey of Master Jiang.

Although he did not have the kind of enlightenment that touched his soul, just this level of enlightenment made Zhu Di feel clear and refreshed.

Is the prison a place of enlightenment?

A strange thought arose in Zhu Di's mind.

Without waiting for Zhu Di to continue thinking, Jiang Xinghuo simply said: "It is also very simple to achieve the effect of information isolation. You only need to promulgate a system among middle and senior civil servants."

"What system?" Zhu Di asked subconsciously, while secretly wondering in his mind whether the system Jiang Xinghuo was about to propose was really, as he suspected, to prevent the civil service system from being connected with each other and affecting the court's decision-making.

"Secretly folded." Jiang Xinghuo calmly spit out three words.

"Secret folding system?"

Zhu Di was stunned. He never expected that Jiang Xinghuo would say these three words.

"Isn't this the censorship system that Wu Zetian set up in the Tang Dynasty after accepting Yu Baozong's suggestion after Xu Jingye raised his troops to rebel?"

The so-called "inspection system" is that Wu Zetian stipulated that no matter how high or low or close, anyone can report to Tongjuan by writing a letter, and no one can interfere, and the informant will be generously rewarded. Not only that, Wu Zetian also personally met with the whistleblower. If the whistleblower was true, then the whistleblower could be promoted to an unusual position. Even if the whistleblower was untrue, he would not be punished. Therefore, whistleblowers from all over the world started to appear in droves. In the early days of the implementation of this system, Wu Zetian met nearly 10,000 informants.

Zhu Di frowned and said: "Although the censorship system in the Tang Dynasty can achieve the effect of isolating information, the result is that the whole court is panicked. The behavior of informing others on their words and deeds is not only quite shameful, but also long-term. , it is a loss of morals and corrupt customs, which is not conducive to my governance of the country and is absolutely impossible."

Jiang Xinghuo's fingers tapped the armrest of the seat regularly.

"Who said it was a censorship system?"

"Then what does this secret folding system mean?"

Jiang Xinghuo said: "The so-called secret folding system means that only mid-level and high-ranking officials authorized by the emperor can write secret folds. They must do it in person when writing, and cannot rely on others. Everything heard can be reported. After writing, the memorial will be written on the fold. The folded white paper is then put into a special leather box. There are only two keys to the leather box. One is in the hands of the superior official and the other is kept by the emperor. No one else can open it. After the secret is written, , the officials will send their close relatives and family members to the capital. Do not disturb the post station, go directly to the emperor, and the emperor will personally approve it."

Seeing Zhu Di's expression of understanding, an inexplicable emotion flashed through Jiang Xinghuo's heart.

Jiang Xinghuo provided Zhu Di with the powerful weapon of "secret folding system" to fight against the civil service system, and even took the risk of greatly strengthening the imperial power within a certain period of time.

The purpose is to better implement changes.

The secret folding system and the examination method will form a set of combinations that will completely defeat the civil service system.

Otherwise, according to Zhu Yuanzhang's urination of killing one after another, the civil service system can rise again. It is absolutely impossible to implement changes that offend their interests without relying on the new system to beat the civil service system to the ground at once. possible.

Moreover, as long as Jiang Xinghuo can plant the seeds of a new era, these seeds will take root and sprout sooner or later.

By that time, the overthrow of imperial power will also become an unstoppable historical trend.

Whether there was a secret folding system at that time, what could have changed?

After thinking carefully, Jiang Xinghuo said again.

"Since we are talking about the civil service system, we have to give an explanation."

"What statement?"

"The Ming Dynasty in the future will be destroyed by natural disasters, bandits, Sankai, and the Donglin Party."

Hearing this, Zhu Di's eyes showed undisguised murderous intent.

What is the Donglin Party? How dare you become the cause of the demise of the Ming Dynasty?

I will definitely avoid this trouble!