"I'll take my leave."
After Emperor Jiajing dictated the imperial edict, he gave another secret order to Huang Jin. Zhu Ping'an tactfully kowtowed and left the inner hall, waiting in the outer hall.
There is a bronze tripod with four dragons and eight trigrams in the outer hall. Three slender sandalwood sticks are burning in the tripod, and the scarlet sparks are very eye-catching in the hall.
Zhu Ping'an stood in front of the tripod, waiting quietly.
While Zhu Ping'an was waiting, Emperor Jiajing had already given a secret order to Huang Jin. Huang Jin was the director of the East Factory and was deeply trusted by Emperor Jiajing, so it was most appropriate for him to be entrusted with some matters.
"Huang Ban, go and get the self-preservation box from the secret box in my study."
After issuing the secret decree, Emperor Jiajing ordered Huang Jin to take out the self-reflection box from the secret compartment in the study. The self-reflection box was named after the story "I reflect on myself three times a day". It was equivalent to Emperor Jiajing's memorandum. Emperor Jiajing would often take out the self-reflection box, look through the contents inside, and reflect on himself and make notes.
"As you wish."
Huang Jin took the order and went to the study separated from the inner hall. He walked to a bookshelf and pressed the red eyes of a lifelike jade dragon on the bookshelf. Then a secret compartment on the bookshelf opened automatically, and a sandalwood box came out.
Huang Jin carefully took out the sandalwood box, held it in both hands, came to Emperor Jiajing, and handed it to Emperor Jiajing respectfully with both hands.
Emperor Jiajing opened the sandalwood box and took out a piece of exquisite Korean tribute paper.
Goryeo tribute paper is paper paid as tribute by Korea. It is made from cotton and silkworm cocoons. It is as white as satin and as tough as silk. It is very suitable for writing and preservation, and is the aristocrat among papers.
When Huang Jin saw Emperor Jiajing take out the paper, his eyes jumped.
Huang Jin was not unfamiliar with this piece of paper.
After all, there was only one file in the box, and it was printed with this kind of Goryeo tribute paper.
After Emperor Jiajing took out the paper, Huang Jin took the initiative to grind the ink without any instructions and handed over the brush with both hands.
Emperor Jiajing took the brush and wrote three words "Zhu Ping'an" on the paper.
In addition to the three newly written characters of Zhu Ping'an, there are three other names on the paper, namely "Yan Shifan", "Gao Gong" and "Zhang Juzheng".
Others may not know, but Huang Jin is well aware of the great reputation of this piece of paper. Huang Jin calls this piece of paper the "Hidden Prime Minister List."
All the names listed on this piece of paper are being examined by Emperor Jiajing as potential prime ministers and will be given special attention by Emperor Jiajing.
That’s not all.
This piece of paper will also be passed on to the next emperor as an important political legacy. Although it is not known whether it will be the third prince who is a month older or the more favored fourth prince, it is certain that when one of them inherits the throne, Emperor Jiajing will pass this "Potential Prime Minister List" to his successor, who will become the team of the new dynasty, or the minister of state.
Needless to say, Yan Shifan was known as the greatest genius in the Ming Dynasty. However, a stroke was drawn on Yan Shifan's name with a red pen, as if it was erased, but also as the focus of attention.
Of course, Huang Jin knew the deep meaning of this...
Gao Gong's name has been on the list for several years. Huang Jin forgot how Gao Gong was included in the list of potential prime ministers, but Huang Jin knew that Emperor Jiajing had been paying attention to Gao Gong. Although Gao Gong is now the chief lecturer of Prince Yu's Palace, Huang Jin knew that Emperor Jiajing wanted to appoint Gao Gong as the chief lecturer of Prince Jing's Palace at first, but when Prince Jing's mother, Concubine Jing, heard about it, she disliked Emperor Jiajing letting Gao Gong, a little-known person, serve as the chief lecturer of her own prince. So after more than a month of persuasion, Emperor Jiajing finally made Emperor Jiajing replace Prince Jing with a well-known scholar, and Gao Gong was appointed as the chief lecturer of Prince Yu's Palace instead.
In fact, speaking of this, Huang Jin feels that the saying that women have long hair but short knowledge makes a lot of sense.
Huang Jin was deeply impressed by Zhang Juzheng's name, which was only listed by Emperor Jiajing at the beginning of this year. However, Zhang Juzheng had already entered Emperor Jiajing's field of vision two years ago when he wrote "On Current Affairs".
Huang Jin remembered the scene two years ago. On that day, the cabinet mixed Zhang Juzheng's "On Current Affairs" with the memorials and sent them for preview. After reading Zhang Juzheng's memorial, Emperor Jiajing smiled and commented, "It's naive, but a talent." His expression was still full of appreciation. After commenting, he asked Huang Jin to read the memorial again. Huang Jin remembered clearly that the "On Current Affairs" was a political essay written by Zhang Juzheng imitating Jia Yi's "On Political Affairs" in the Western Han Dynasty. In this memorial, Zhang Juzheng proposed the five major crises of the current dynasty from five aspects: "royal family" problem, "talent" problem, "bureaucracy" problem, "armament" problem and "financial revenue" problem, hoping that the province can take timely measures to reform the bad policies. However, in the memorial, Zhang Juzheng did not propose any measures or reform suggestions.
Although Emperor Jiajing did not give any response to Zhang Juzheng after reading the memorial, Huang Jin knew that Zhang Juzheng had successfully entered the Emperor Jiajing's vision.
After submitting the memorial, Emperor Jiajing observed for another two years before making up his mind at the beginning of this year to include Zhang Juzheng's name in the list.
It can be said that the names of the above three people were fortunately included in this list of potential prime ministers after Emperor Jiajing had observed and paid attention to them for several years.
but
Zhu Ping'an is a complete exception. He just passed the imperial examination and entered the officialdom this year, and it has only been less than half a year, but he was already listed on the list of potential prime ministers by Emperor Jiajing.
This shocked Huang Jin.
Recalling that Zhu Ping'an won the top spot in the imperial examination this year, he was promoted to a higher rank a few days later, and was appointed as the Cabinet Officer a few months later. Now he is included in the list of potential prime ministers. Moreover, with Zhu Ping'an's merits in inspecting Taicang, he will definitely be promoted again when the Taicang case is concluded and rewards are given according to merit... This speed is simply unprecedented.
"Huang Ban, what do you think of Zhu Ping'an?" After writing Zhu Ping'an's name, Emperor Jiajing glanced at Huang Jin and asked.
"I feel that although the number one scholar is young, his abilities are not inferior to those of some experienced officials, and what is particularly rare is that he is conscientious and responsible. I heard that when the number one scholar was counting the silver treasury in Taicang this afternoon, in order to prove his innocence and to ensure a smooth counting of the treasury, he stripped naked in front of dozens of officials, walked into the silver treasury naked, and counted the gold and silver in the treasury... I heard that everyone was shocked by the scene of the number one scholar's naked buttocks..." Huang Jin replied respectfully, and specifically mentioned the situation of Zhu Ping'an checking the silver treasury naked.
Of course, even if Huang Jin didn't say it, the Jiajing Emperor would know it sooner or later. After all, the East Factory had already reported Zhu Ping'an's inventory to the Jiajing Emperor, but it was only in the afternoon when Prime Minister Yan reported the matter, and Princess Ning'an had just come to stick to the Jiajing Emperor, so the Jiajing Emperor didn't have time to read it.
"Oh? There is such a thing."
Emperor Jiajing exclaimed in surprise when he heard this, and even though he was furious, he couldn't help but curl his lips when he thought of Zhu Ping'an stripping naked without saying a word in front of everyone.
"Haha, this Zhu Ping'an! It's amazing that he insisted on checking the treasury for me even though he was naked. His courage is commendable! If every official in my Ming Dynasty could be like Zhu Ping'an, it would be easy to be the emperor." Emperor Jiajing sighed with a curved mouth.
Seeing the curve of Emperor Jiajing's mouth, Huang Jin couldn't help but cheer for Zhu Ping'an for checking the treasury naked. He took off his clothes so well, it was simply stunning. Once he took off his clothes, it touched the heart of Emperor Jiajing.
Simplicity is in the heart of the Emperor. Simplicity is in the heart of the Emperor.
The simpler you dress, the more favored you are by the emperor.
Huang Jin rarely showed such trust in his eyes when Emperor Jiajing mentioned the name of an official.
She was stunning once she took off her clothes, and the emperor trusted her unprecedentedly.
Zhu Ping'an, I have high hopes for you.