Wang Yongji was puzzled when he received the imperial edict. Was he promoted just like that?
Although he was going to Nanjing, it was a promotion after all.
Besides, Nanjing was very close to home, so it was good to be an official in Nanjing for two years.
Although the impeachment of Zhang Juzheng didn't result in anything last time, Wang Yongji felt that he had done his best. There was nothing he could do if things didn't go his way.
So he took his entourage and went to Nanjing by boat to take up his post.
After Wang Yongji left the capital, Zhang Juzheng's team also returned to the capital.
When Zhang Juzheng arrived in the capital, many officials went to greet him. Zhu Yijun also sent eunuch Zhang Jing of the Department of Rites to greet him.
Once again returning to his mansion, Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but sigh. Looking at his son who was following him, Zhang Juzheng said, "Father is back again. Although it hasn't been long, it really feels like a dream!"
Zhang Jingxiu nodded and said, "I admire father's foresight. His Majesty really summoned father back to the court."
This was what Zhang Jingxiu said sincerely. Last time, his father said that His Majesty would definitely summon him back to the court, and now it really happened.
In Zhang Jingxiu's heart, in addition to admiration for his father, he also admired the emperor.
"Tomorrow, father will go to the palace to meet the emperor. Everything will have to wait until I see the emperor!" Zhang Juzheng waved his hand and said.
The next morning, Forbidden City, Wenhua Hall.
Zhu Yijun was going to summon Zhang Juzheng here today. This was the place where Zhang Juzheng once taught Zhu Yijun. Naturally, there was a special meaning to summon Zhang Juzheng here.
Sitting on the dragon throne, Zhu Yijun's face was without the slightest expression.
"Is Mister Zhang still in the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful?" Zhu Yijun glanced at Zhang Jing and asked.
"Your Majesty, Pavilion Elder Zhang is still in the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful!" Zhang Jing hurriedly bowed.
Zhu Yijun nodded and didn't say anything. After Zhang Juzheng entered the palace, he was summoned by Queen Dowager Li. Zhu Yijun also understood that this was a communication between a teacher and a parent. He didn't have to think to know what they were talking about.
The topic would definitely not leave her. Queen Dowager Li would probably ask Zhang Juzheng to be strict with her.
"Your Majesty, Grand Elder Zhang is here!" Zhang Jing walked to Zhu Yijun's side and said cautiously.
As a matter of fact, the atmosphere in the imperial palace was not quite right today. Everyone was subconsciously cautious when Grand Secretary Zhang entered the palace.
In particular, the eunuchs and palace maids who served Zhu Yijun were trembling with fear.
"Your subject, Zhang Juzheng, greets Your Majesty!" Zhang Juzheng came in and saluted to Zhu Yijun.
Zhu Yijun quickly walked over and helped Zhang Juzheng up. He said with a smile, "Sir, you've worked hard all the way. I've missed you so much these days. Let me have a good look at you!" With that, Zhu Yijun pulled Zhang Juzheng to have a good look.
Compared to when he had left the capital, Zhang Juzheng seemed to be in a much better state. His entire being was full of energy.
There was nothing to say about Zhang Juzheng's appearance. In this era, one's appearance was even more important. It was easy to become an official if one was ugly, but if one was cunning, then one's career as an official was basically over. Wasn't it because of his wretched appearance?
"Sir's voice and appearance are still the same. I'm very relieved!"
With that, Zhu Yijun said to Zhang Jing, "Bring a chair for Sir. I want to have a good talk with him."
After the two sat down, they began to chat. At the beginning, they talked about daily life. Zhang Juzheng was concerned about Zhu Yijun's marriage, and Zhu Yijun was concerned about Zhang Juzheng's dead father.
The unfamiliarity gradually disappeared, and the conversation between the two gradually deepened.
"During the days when Sir was not here, I looked through the affairs of the camp in the capital and found something."
Zhu Yijun said with a sullen face, "Regarding the appointment and promotion of generals, the current system of the imperial court has a big oversight!"
Zhang Juzheng was stunned. His face didn't change, but he was much calmer in his heart.
Before returning to the capital, Zhang Juzheng had thought that the emperor's student must have prepared something big for him.
Now it seemed that it was true. Zhang Juzheng didn't say anything and waited for his student to speak.
"The appointment and promotion of generals is in the hands of the Ministry of Personnel. I feel that this matter is very inappropriate," Zhu Yijun said lightly.
As soon as this sentence came out, Zhang Juzheng's body trembled. If the appointment and promotion of officials was not in the hands of the Ministry of Personnel, where would it be?
It was indeed a big surprise, but this surprise seemed a little too big, right?
Previously, regarding the reorganization of the camp in the capital, Zhu Yijun only used the news of Zhang Juzheng's return to the capital to suppress it. His purpose was to make Zhang Juzheng the scapegoat now.
In Zhu Yijun's view, a large part of the reason why the generals were suppressed by the civil officials was that the hats of the officials were in the hands of the civil officials.
The Ministry of Personnel controlled the hats of all the officials in the world. The generals couldn't reach their hands in it, so how could they not be suppressed?
The appointment and promotion of all the generals were in the hands of the Ministry of Personnel. In addition, the local officials used the civil officials to control the military, so it would be strange if the generals could raise their heads.
If one's promotion depended on the other party, how could one not curry favor with the other party?
What Zhu Yijun wanted was to take back this power. The appointment of all the generals did not go through the Ministry of Personnel, but directly through the commander-in-chief's office of the five armies. This was to give the commander-in-chief's office of the five armies the power of personnel.
There was no need to mention the importance of the power of personnel. Otherwise, why would the secretary be in charge of personnel?
If the commander-in-chief's office of the five armies obtained this power, and the commander-in-chief's office of the five armies was responsible to him, it was equivalent to him obtaining this power.
With the power to appoint generals, the status of the commander-in-chief's office of the five armies would naturally be greatly improved. The Honours who controlled the commander-in-chief's office of the five armies would also naturally rise with the tide. This way, he could cut off one of the hands that the civil officials had extended to the military.
"The people in the Ministry of Personnel are all civil officials. They are not in the military, so it is inevitable that there will be omissions," Zhu Yijun continued without looking at Zhang Juzheng.
What if the local generals wanted to be promoted?
Then they would need someone to recommend them. Who would recommend them? Of course, it would be the local civil officials. This would return to that endless cycle.
Your promotion and dismissal were in the hands of others. How could you be smug?
If you wanted an army that could be easily controlled, this power had to be taken back. This way, the generals would not be inferior to others.
When the generals of the same rank saw civil officials, what was this?
This was a broken backbone. An army with a broken backbone, how could you expect them to fight?
Don't even think about it. Therefore, this matter had been planned by Zhu Yijun for a long time.
"I want to set up a merit examination office and a martial arts selection office under the commander-in-chief's office of the five armies. The merit examination office will be responsible for assessing the merits of the generals, while the martial arts selection office will be responsible for the promotion of the generals." After saying this, Zhu Yijun turned to look at Zhang Juzheng. "What does Mister think?"
Zhang Juzheng was silent. Martial arts selection office?
Merit examination office?