Although the word "court nomination" was simple, it was definitely a big deal for the Daming officialdom.
Whenever it was a nomination, it would decide the personnel of the upper echelons, especially since this was the first time Zhu Yijun was presiding over a nomination.
The officials inside and outside the court were all paying close attention to this matter. Everyone wanted to see the Emperor's ability, or rather, the quality of the Emperor.
In the past, although many things were done in the name of the Emperor, everyone knew that it was Zhang Juzheng who made the decisions. This nomination was very important.
When Zhu Yijun walked into the venue of the nomination in his dragon robe, the dozen or so officials hurriedly knelt down and saluted him. After Zhu Yijun sat down, Zhu Yijun said, "Everyone, you may rise!" When everyone stood up, Zhu Yijun's gaze swept across everyone's faces.
The people participating in the nomination included the Ministers of the six ministries, the Imperial Censorate, the Chancellor of the Supreme Court, and the Minister of Transmission. These were the Nine Ministers of the Daming.
Other than these Nine Ministers, there were also two Grand Scholars of the Cabinet, Zhang Siwei and Lv Diaoyang.
Other than these two, there were also a few assistant ministers of the six ministries. However, they were only there to serve as foils, or rather, spectators.
Being familiar with the process was also a kind of preferential treatment for them. Among them was Ceng Shengwu, the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War.
Ma Ziqiang and Shen Shixing were about to be nominated by the court. These two people were also here. In terms of official position, Ma Ziqiang was the Minister of Rites and should be here.
Shen Shixing was the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Appointments and was also qualified to participate.
"Lv, you, begin!" Zhu Yijun glanced at Lv Diaoyang and said.
According to the normal procedure, the nomination was presided over by the Grand Scholar of the Cabinet. Since Grand Scholar Zhang Juzheng was not here, the heavy responsibility naturally fell to Lv Diaoyang.
Lv Diaoyang was also the only person present, other than Zhu Yijun, who was seated.
This was also a special treatment for the Grand Minister and Vice Minister. During the nomination, only these two could sit.
"As you command!"
Lü Diaoyang stood up to receive the decree and sat down again. Then he said, "Today, the first recommendation of the court is the vacancy of the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. Minister Zhang recommends Minister Ma of the Ministry of Rites and Assistant Minister Shen of the Ministry of Appointments to the Cabinet."
When Ma Ziqiang heard Lv Diaoyang's words, he immediately became alert.
Entering the Cabinet could be said to be the ultimate goal of Daming's civil officials. Ma Ziqiang's qualifications were not enough, and he had been promoted to the point of feeling guilty. Now that he was going to enter the Cabinet, how could he not be nervous?
Forcing himself not to look around, he listened quietly.
Zhu Yijun sat on the Dragon Throne and looked at the ministers in the hall with a smile.
Lv Diaoyang and Zhang Siwei from the Cabinet followed Zhang Juzheng's lead. Now that the person recommended was the Minister of Rites, Ma Ziqiang, there was no problem with the Ministry of Rites.
The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was still vacant. Ever since Zhang Han retired, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel had become Zhang Juzheng himself.
It could be seen that Zhang Juzheng did not want to hand over the Ministry of Personnel for the time being. Shen Shixing, the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, naturally would not be stupid enough to jump out.
Apart from Ma Ziqiang, he was also going to enter the Cabinet.
The Minister of Revenue, Zhang Xueyan, was originally the Governor of Liaodong. He had single-handedly promoted Li Chengliang. Under his and Li Chengliang's leadership, Liaodong had defeated the barbarians.
Zhang Xueyan was also promoted by Zhang Juzheng. When he was in Liaodong, he had received a lot of support from Zhang Juzheng.
The Minister of Revenue, Li Youzi, was a loyal supporter of Zhang Juzheng and the initiator of Zhang Juzheng's Love Seizure.
The Minister of War, Wang Chonggu, had originally supported Zhang Juzheng's reforms. He did not think that this matter had anything to do with him. Since he was going to retire and go home, he naturally stood to the side and did not say anything.
The Minister of Works, Guo Chaobin, was known as the favored minister of Jiangling.
He was famous for being pragmatic and never participated in power seizing. He was Zhang Juzheng's trusted aide.
Guo Chaobin did not participate in this kind of thing. Moreover, this was recommended by Zhang Juzheng, so he would not stand out to oppose it.
The Minister of Justice, Wu Baipeng, was originally named Wu Bopeng. Because of his meritorious service in fighting against the Japanese, he was praised by the Emperor. The Emperor rewarded him with the imperial pen, "Go with the hundred," so he changed his name to "Baipeng."
He understood war, was unyielding, and had a fiery temper. He was a person who could not bear to have sand in his eyes.
Of course, he was not interested in etiquette or dogma. Therefore, he got along well with Zhang Juzheng and could be considered a supporter of Zhang Juzheng.
The six ministries of the Daming court were basically filled with Zhang Juzheng's people. Regardless of whether it was the Minister or the Assistant Minister, they were all promoted by Zhang Juzheng. They were truly trusted aides in the court and held power in one hand.
The Imperial Censor of the Left, Chen Zan, was an upright and outspoken man. He was a veteran of three dynasties and had a lot of experience. Even Zhang Juzheng did not dare to offend him lightly.
However, this person's position in the Imperial Censor was very stable. This was also because he did not easily participate in power seizing matters in the court.
Adhering to the principle of the Imperial Censor not getting involved in anything, he sat there with his eyes closed and did not say a word.
Zhu Yijun looked at them one by one, going through each person's information in his mind.
This was the highest level of power in the Daming court. Zhang Juzheng had already planted so many people. What about the local governors?
It was not an exaggeration to say that they had the power to overturn the world.
However, whether these people supported Zhang Juzheng's reform policies or Zhang Juzheng himself, Zhu Yijun did not know.
No wonder the Wanli Emperor wanted to take back his power and had to carry out a great purge. However, this kind of purge would definitely implicate the innocent. At the same time, it would cause personnel problems to become the mainstream. Everyone was thinking about fighting and official positions. Who would think about doing anything?
After chasing away the Jiangling Faction, the Qizhechu Faction came. After chasing away the Qizhechu Faction, the Donglin Faction came. It was impossible to just chase them away.
Zhu Yijun could not help but think of one word: balance. Imperial power was about balance. As expected, this word was the key.
An emperor who did not know how to balance was not good. Zhu Yijun could not help but think of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi. That person was an expert!
In the future, the faction led by Zhangsun Wuji and the aristocratic families were also very effective.
However, Li Zhi did not expect that he would nurture a Great Empress. Before Wu Zetian, who would have dared to think about it?
Li Zhi might have been prepared for Wu Zetian to take over the reins after his death or be Empress Lu. However, he did not expect her to ascend to the throne.
Wu Zetian was a ruthless person!
However, in the end, Wu Zetian could only return the reins to the Li family. This showed the limitations of a woman. Her son's surname was Li. She could not just give the world to her nephew!
To Li Zhi, the meat was still rotting in the pot.
The people below did not say anything. Zhu Yijun also did not say anything. He smiled at Zhang Siwei and then at Shen Shixing.
The dozen or so people here did not seem to be many, but they were the highest authority in the Daming court. Everyone had different thoughts and ideas. Everyone represented different interests. However, they were all sitting here. Zhu Yijun could not help but admire Zhang Juzheng's methods.