Zhu Yijun didn't know where Daming would go in the future. Zhu Yijun also didn't know the result of his reform.
He knew what he had to do, but how to do it, Zhu Yijun didn't know.
What he had to do now was to train as many talents as possible. Maybe it was a bit hasty, but Zhu Yijun didn't know what else he could do.
If he let Zhang Juzheng do it, what would the result be?
Zhang Juzheng's reform seemed good on the surface, and the goal of making the country rich and strong had been achieved. However, the fundamental problem was not solved, and there was still no hope for Daming.
What he wanted was not to wait for a few more years in Daming, but to create a prosperous empire.
Putting down the teacup in his hand, Zhu Yijun waved his hand at Zhang Jing and said lightly, "Go ahead!"
Zhang Jing left. Zhu Yijun walked out of the hall. Standing at the door of the hall of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Zhu Yijun looked at the sky in the distance.
Maybe he would regret what he did today, or maybe he would be proud of what he did this year. Who knew?
These words flashed through Zhu Yijun's mind: Cross the river by feeling the stones.
In the first year of Wanli's reign, the whole capital was in turmoil. Zhang Juzheng, the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, came out with the examination method.
The six departments were controlled by the six departments, and the six departments were controlled by the cabinet.
For the things to be done, from the cabinet to the six departments, from the six departments to the yamen, they were tested layer by layer, so that they had a clear idea.
The introduction of the examination method made Zhang Juzheng's limelight unparalleled for a while. The Daming officially began to enter the era of Zhang Juzheng's rule.
The memorial to impeach Zhang Juzheng was sent in, like a clay ox entering the sea, and there was no news.
At the Grand Court Conference, both the Emperor and Queen Dowager Li supported Zhang Juzheng and strongly supported the examination method. For a time, the whole Daming officialdom was shocked.
While the outside world was in an uproar, Zhu Yijun was hiding in the palace.
This time, he planned to build a blast furnace for smelting steel. It didn't need to be too tall, but it was for experimental purposes.
This time, Zhu Yijun didn't want Wu Qingbo to do it. He wanted a eunuch to do it. This eunuch was Chen Ju.
As Zhu Yijun's confidant, Chen Ju had a special status in the palace.
Firstly, Chen Ju was young. Secondly, Chen Ju was well-behaved. Thirdly, it was Zhang Hong who was leading Chen Ju.
Everyone could see that the Emperor really valued Chen Ju, and at the same time, he was really ready to let Chen Ju do great things in the future.
Now that no one dared to offend Chen Ju, he would definitely soar in the future.
However, Zhu Yijun didn't plan to let Chen Ju stay in the palace. He needed Chen Ju to go out and do things for him.
The money he earned couldn't be left to rot in the Imperial Plantation. He still had to do something. What should he do?
The first thing that Zhu Yijun thought of was smelting steel. Anyone in the future would know what steel represented.
In the future, when China was first established, the Great Smelting Steel Movement was criticized by many people and caused a lot of waste. However, that movement wasn't useless. It laid the foundation for the new China to become a steel country.
If a country wanted to develop its industry, the first thing it would develop was steel.
Copper cannons would be eliminated sooner or later. Wrought iron cannons and steel cannons were the future trend.
With the addition of rifling, the power of cannons would double. If they could make breech-loading cannons, that would be amazing.
Metal cannons and breech-loading cannons would be the cannons of the future.
With smokeless gunpowder, their combat power would be off the charts.
Of course, this was only the final goal. Right now, Zhu Yijun was just fantasizing about it.
Other things could be delayed, but the matter of smelting steel had to be put on the agenda. This thing couldn't be delayed. The accumulation of technology in the early stages needed time.
It didn't matter if he couldn't smelt steel in the early stages. Wrought iron was his first goal.
Zhu Yijun told Chen Ju in detail what he wanted him to do. He gave Chen Ju his plan and told him to follow it strictly.
Zhu Yijun didn't have to worry about leaving this matter to Chen Ju. If it was Zhang Cheng or Zhang Jing, Zhu Yijun would rather do it well.
Even if it was Feng Bao, Zhu Yijun wouldn't do it.
Zhang Hong could, but the palace couldn't do it without him.
Before Chen Ju left the palace, Zhu Yijun arranged a new task for Chen Ju.
Zhu Yijun handed the Military Bureau to Chen Ju. Although the Military Bureau had always existed, it had existed in name only.
Although it was one of the 24 yamens of the internal court, it didn't have any real power or profit.
Zhu Yijun had his eyes on this yamen for a long time. Although it wasn't big and was just an empty shell, it had many important qualifications.
The Military Bureau was in charge of manufacturing military equipment, including knives, spears, swords, halberds, whips, axes, armor, bows, and other weapons.
The Military Bureau could meddle in these things. However, when the emperor's father was around, Gao Gong had the final say. How could he let a eunuch control these things? The Military Bureau had fallen into disuse.
Zhu Yijun felt that it was just right. It would be easier to rebuild them if they were all empty.
The Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works didn't even need to think about interfering. There were countless tricks in the military equipment. Zhu Yijun didn't want to poke that hornet's nest.
At the beginning of March, Chen Ju left the palace. He left quietly and didn't alert anyone in the palace.
In March, the implementation of the examination method became even more intense. Zhang Juzheng also began to clean up the court.
From top to bottom, there were more than ten officials in the capital who were promoted in March.
The highest ranking official was the Minister of Rites, Yang Bo. The lowest was the Imperial Censor.
Although the Imperial Censor was only a seventh-rank official, he was a noble official with great power. How could such a person not cause a commotion when he was promoted?
With the addition of the Minister of Rites, Yang Bo, everyone in the court was in a state of panic.
The number of memorials to impeach Zhang Juzheng increased again. However, they were suppressed again. Just like the last time, it proved Zhang Juzheng's invincibility.
Dongchang was quiet. The Imperial Bodyguard Commander-In-Chief Liu Shouyou followed Zhang Juzheng's lead. When Zhang Juzheng did things, he naturally didn't have any taboos.
Since the new year, You Chi and Zhang Jing's nephew got along very well. The two of them also became sworn brothers.
The successful formation of the Zhang Juzheng alliance boosted Zhang Juzheng's confidence. Naturally, he was full of ambition.
The officials in the capital were in a state of panic. However, some people were worried, while others were happy. For example, the people who followed Zhang Juzheng.
It should be known that Zhang Juzheng was not without people. Although Gao Gong was strong, Zhang Juzheng had also risen step by step. He was also Xu Jie's student. After Xu Jie left the court, the people Xu Jie left behind naturally became Zhang Juzheng's people.
At that time, Zhang Juzheng was already the Vice Minister of the Cabinet. His status and strength were both sufficient.
It had to be said that Xu Jie was really a master. Whether it was facing Yan Song or training a successor for himself, his thoughts were deep and his vision was very accurate.
However, Zhang Juzheng was not a fool. Although he was outstanding and appreciated by Xu Jie, he was completely different from Xu Jie.