Chapter 216 The Art of Man Control

Wang Pu took the list handed over by Sun Chuanting, and after reading it carefully, shook his head and said, "No, this list needs to be changed!"

Sun Chuanting said: "Tell me what you think."

Wang Pu said: "Shi Kefa cannot be the chief minister of the cabinet, this chief minister can only be you."

Sun Chuanting frowned and said, "As for the candidate for the cabinet chief, it was carefully considered as a father. Shi Kefa is famous and capable, and he is an important official in Liudu. He has good reputation and is the most suitable candidate."

"No." Wang Pu said decisively, "You can only be the chief minister of the cabinet. Shi Kefa, Gao Hongtu, Huang Daozhou and Ma Shiying can only be the secondary assistants. This is unquestionable. Tomorrow, I will find a way to let the people from Donglin Fushe say this proposal. I wish Shi Kefa, Gao Hongtu and others had nothing to say."

"Let the people from Donglin Fushe come forward?" Sun Chuanting said, "Is this possible? If the people from Donglin Fushe don't sing the opposite tune with us, they will burn the incense."

"Sing the opposite? That's what they have to have the courage!" Wang Pu picked up the letter on the table and said grimly, "Don't forget that there are such things in our hands, and Zhou Biao's case has not been tried yet. These two things are our killer moves against Donglin Fushe. Do they dare not listen to us?"

To be honest, Wang Pu hated Donglin Fushe very much. These guys dared to murder the prince and had no loyalty at all. They only had party interests in their eyes, and they did not care about the country and the people's lives or death. It would not be an exaggeration to send troops to arrest them and kill them.

But then again, Donglin Fushe is a huge political force after all, and it is not worth worrying about just a mess. But if they are forced to force them to become a group and exert unimaginable power. If they are used to force this force to be eradicated, the entire Jiangnan will inevitably cause panic. This is definitely not the situation that Wang Pu wants.

Therefore, the best strategy to deal with Donglin Fushe is to use it in a differentiated way.

"I've thought about it." Wang Pu said, "Yangming Academy cannot be built in Yuyao, Mr. Yangming's hometown, and must move to Nanjing immediately. The young Confucian scholars scattered in the south of the Yangtze River must also find a way to gather them, let them go to Yangming Academy to study, and let them give up Neo-Confucianism and believe in the study of the mind."

It is undoubtedly a ruthless trick to let the Confucian scholars from Donglin Fushe study in Yangming Academy!

Wang Pu has made arrangements for the courses of Yangming Academy. The students of the academy not only need to learn knowledge in various disciplines such as astronomy, geography, arithmetic, medicine, water conservancy, physics, chemistry, etc., but more importantly, Wang Pu also arranged "political classes" for them and spared no effort to instill capitalist ideas into them!

Never underestimate the power of ideological transformation. In such an environment, no young people can remain indifferent. When these Confucian scholars from Donglin Fushe graduated, they will change their appearance and become Wang Pu's most die-hard followers. Wang Pu is trying to kill Donglin Fushe and then cultivate a new force that is completely obedient to him on the "corpse" of Donglin Fushe!

Sun Chuanting said: "Aren't you afraid that Yangming Academy will become the territory of Donglin Fushe?"

"The territory of Donglin Fushe?" Wang Pu sneered, "As long as those Confucian scholars enter Yangming Academy, they will no longer be members of Donglin Fushe. I will conduct complete militarization management of them. They must learn knowledge of various disciplines such as physics, arithmetic, geography, astronomy, medicine, etc., and pass the examination of each discipline before they can graduate. When they graduate, their ideological understanding will undergo earth-shaking changes."

"Graduation?" Sun Chuanting said in surprise, "What graduation?"

Wang Pu smiled slightly and said, "The so-called graduation is almost like passing the Jinshi, so they can be released as officials!"

"Send to be an official?" Sun Chuanting became more and more confused. "Then he had to choose from the Hanlin Academy."

"No, this convention has to be changed." Wang Pu said, "From then, officials of the Ming Dynasty will no longer be selected from the Hanlin Academy. Once there are vacancies, they will be directly selected from the graduates of the Yangming Academy."

Wang Pu's idea has actually been brewing for a long time, but at the beginning he was just a small general of Datong, and he was powerless even if he wanted to reform. But now it is different. Now Chongzhen is dead and the prince is young. It is a foregone conclusion that Sun Chuanting takes charge of the court alone. With Sun Chuanting's support, this matter will be easier.

Why did Wang Pu reform the official selection system?

The reason is very simple, because the imperial examination system can no longer provide excellent officials to the Ming Dynasty. Wang Pu must reform the official selection system and select a large number of truly capable talents to various positions, rather than accommodate those Confucian scholars who only know how to study the classics and have a deep breath.

So why didn’t Wang Pu directly abolish the imperial examination system?

Because it is not the time to abolish the imperial examinations. If the imperial examinations are abolished at this time, then scholars all over the world will have no hope and will not fight to Wang Pu. Although the scholars failed to rebel for ten years, if all scholars all over the world rebelled, it would be enough for Wang Pu to have a drink.

So Wang Pu cannot come out of the blue, he has to use the corruption practices in the officialdom to come out in secret.

According to the Ming Dynasty, all scholars in the world are Tongsheng. If the scholar passes the Tongsheng Academy exam, they are qualified to participate in the provincial examination, and if the Juren passes the provincial examination, they are qualified to participate in the imperial examination. In addition, if someone recommends it, the Juren can also be an official directly. Hai Rui, who was praised by Emperor Jiajing as the Ming Dynasty's Divine Sword, is just a Juren.

If you pass the imperial examination, you will usually enter the Hanlin Academy as an editor or a reviewer. If you are not good enough, you can become a Shuji scholar. Then wait. If there is a vacancy for officials, the Ministry of Personnel will give priority to officials from the Hanlin Academy. However, this is just a convention. Later, corruption in the Ming Dynasty became popular. After a large number of Jinshi entered the Hanlin Academy, they basically had no chance to be released and become officials. They could only stay in the Qingshui Yamen for the rest of their lives.

Wang Pu wanted to take advantage of this loophole. He did not explicitly abolish the imperial examinations. The future imperial examinations will continue as usual. Scholars in the world can still pass the college entrance examination, the provincial examination, and the imperial examinations. However, if you enter the Hanlin Academy, you don’t think about becoming an official again. Anyway, it will not cost much money to support hundreds of Hanlin Academy in a year.

If you want to be an official, it is easy to go to Yangming Academy. As long as you graduate from Yangming Academy, even if you are just a child, you can get the recommendation of Sun Chuanting, the chief minister of the cabinet, and be directly sent to the prefect.

Although Sun Chuanting lacked politics, he was not stupid. Wang Pu understood at one point and said, "Boy, are you asking me to seize the power of appointment and removal of Ming officials and use this to make a big fuss?"

"Yes." Wang Pu nodded, "So, you have to be the Minister of Personnel. Your old man Sun was the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty and the Minister of Personnel. You have to nod your head for the appointment and removal of all officials. If you don't want someone to be an official, he will not be an official even if he is a new top scholar. If you want someone to be an official, he will still be a magistrate even if he is a beggar on the side of the road."

"Haha." Sun Chuanting blew up and pointed at Wang Pu and said, "Boy, you still don't know much about the checks and balances system of Ming officials. That's right, if I am really the chief minister of the cabinet and the Minister of Personnel, I can appoint and remove officials, but don't forget that the cabinet will be supervised by the Censorate, and the Censorate also has the power to return official documents from the Ministry of Personnel. If only one or two confidants are appointed or removed, I would not dare to say anything. But if you want to appoint a large-scale private person as you said, then what do you think of the Censor of the Censorate and the Censor of the Censorate? They are not decorations!"

"They are just decorations!" Wang Pu's eyes showed a ferocious look and sneered, "The imperial officials of the Censorate and the censors of the Six Certificates, who gave their power?"

Sun Chuanting said: "Of course it's Master Long Live."

"It's good." Wang Pu said with a grim voice, "If even the Emperor Long Sui is a puppet in the hands of you, my father and son, the imperial officials of the Censorate and the Sixth Censors would be useless? And why can't we do things more perfectly? For example, a large number of people from the Donglin Fushe were inserted into the Censors and the Sixth Censors' yamen. If anyone dared not cooperate with us, he would instruct the people from the Donglin Fushe to attack and defeat him!"

Sun Chuanting said: "Boy, you want to cover up the world. Will the people from Donglin Fushe obey your orders?"

Wang Pu said: "Old man, don't overestimate the character of the people in Donglin Fushe, and don't underestimate the power in your hands. Don't forget that you are now Cao Cao of the Ming Dynasty."

Sun Chuanting's brows frowned in an instant. Wang Pu's words made him feel uncomfortable. Although he had already agreed to the fact that he was Cao Cao in his heart, he was unwilling to break the window paper verbally.

In Luanzhou, Li Yan, who was ordered to cut off the rear, has been fighting fiercely with Wu Sangui's Guanning Army for two days. The rebel army suffered heavy casualties and was seriously injured. Li Yan was also seriously injured and could only lie on the soft couch to command the battle.

The sky gradually became dark, and the Guanning Army finally withdrew its troops, and the battlefield that had been noisy all day was silent again.

Amid the rapid footsteps, Li Hu and Jing Maocheng strode to Li Yan's soft couch. Both of them were exhausted and blood-exuded. Li Hu shouted: "Brother, Luanzhou can no longer be defended. If you fight so hard, you should fight all the brothers!"

Li Yan asked in a low voice: "How many people are left now?"

Jing Maocheng said: "There are more than 5,000 left, but many brothers are injured."

"Oh." Li Yan hit the edge of the couch with his fist in pain, and sighed to the sky, "In the battle of a stone, our army was defeated!"

"Brother, what's the use of saying this now?" Li Hu said in a muffled voice, "What should we do now, go to Beijing or go back to Henan?"

"If we go back, we will lead Wu Sangui's army to Beijing. In that case, the pressure on Beijing will be even heavier. Therefore, we cannot return to Beijing. We have to turn to Tianjin, lead Wu Sangui's army away, reduce Beijing's pressure, and buy time for the king."

Jing Maocheng said: "But what if Wu Sangui is not deceived?"

Li Yan sighed again and said, "At this point, we can only do our best and leave our will, Senior Brother Jing."

Jing Maocheng clasped his fists and said, "I am in a humble position."

Li Yan said: "You fly to Beijing immediately and tell the king that he cannot give up Beijing no matter what. As long as the king guards Beijing for the first half of a month, more than 100,000 elite troops from Henan, Shanxi and Shandong provinces will arrive at the capital. There is still something to do about major events. If the king withdraws from Beijing, I am worried... I am worried that it will trigger a chain reaction. The Ming Dynasty surrendered officials who had already surrendered to Dashun will be rebelled again!"

"Yes." Jing Maocheng said solemnly, "I will definitely bring the general's words."

"Yeah." Li Yan nodded tiredly and said to Li Hu again, "Hu Zi."

Li Hu clasped his fists and replied, "I'm here."

Li Yan said: "After sending the order, the entire army evacuated Luanzhou overnight and moved towards Tianjin Guards. First join Henan, Shandong reinforcements and then resolve the danger in Beijing!"

Nanjing, Qian Qianyi's residence.

Wang Pu spread the secret letter on the case. Qian Qianyi glanced at it and his old face turned pale in an instant. He knew which letter was this without looking at the content? Because it was his handwriting and his signature below. Obviously, this was the secret letter conspiring to intercept the prince.

Qian Qianyi couldn't help but feel confused. If Wang Pu made this letter public, then Qian Qianyi would not only be ruined, but also beheaded!

Wang Pu carefully folded the secret letter and put it away, then picked up the teacup on the case and took a sip, and asked, "Old Mu, what is the crime of murdering the prince?"

Qian Qianyi shivered with excitement, and when his legs were weak, he knelt at Wang Pu's feet and said tremblingly: "Mr....Mr., my husband, I..."

"Oh, Mr. Mu get up quickly." Wang Pu quickly stepped forward and helped Qian Qianyi up and smiled, "Old Mu, don't do this. I know that Mr. Mu was just bewitched by Zhou Biao and was just confused for a moment."

Qian Qianyi's eyes lit up and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes, I was confused for a moment. Only after being deceived by Zhou Biao's bastard would do such a traitor. I hope the prince-in-law will be aware of it, don't..."

"Haha." Wang Pu smiled, "Young people will not make this letter public, let alone give it to Yingtian Mansion."

Qian Qianyi wiped away the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and whispered: "Thank you, my husband, for your mercy."

Wang Pu smiled slightly and continued, "But..."

Qian Qianyi's heart thumped and said quickly: "If you have anything to say, please give me the order."

Wang Pu smiled and said, "I have always admired the Donglin Party members very much. Therefore, I want to have a friend with Donglin Fu. I wonder if Mr. Mu can thread the needle in the center?"

Qian Qianyi is old and mature, how could he not hear Wang Pu’s implied?

Wang Pu means that he can let him go, but Qian Qianyi must do his job for Wang Pu from then on.

"Oh, it's really a blessing for Donglin Fushe to be able to make friends with your son-in-law." Qian Qianyi hurriedly said, "I dare to assure my son-in-law that the future affairs of our son-in-law will be our Donglin Fushe. As long as you say, your son-in-law, let us do whatever we do."

"Old Mu." Wang Puzhen smiled, "Can you understand this way, and we will be friends who are sincere in cooperation in the future?"

"Of course." Qian Qianyi hurriedly said, "That's of course."

"Very good." Wang Pu said, taking out the list of officials he modified from his sleeve and handed it to Qian Qianyi, saying, "Old Mu, when the court will discuss tomorrow morning, you will take the lead and jointly submit it to the Prince's imperial front in the name of Donglin Fushe. Of course, after the list of major officials such as the cabinet, the Six Ministry, the Censorate, etc., there will be vacancies in many yamen such as the Censorate, the Six Departments, and other yamen. At that time, the younger generation will definitely recommend you Donglin Fushe people in front of the Chief Secretary."

Qian Qianyi looked happy. He was originally worried about how to mention this matter to the people in Donglin Fushe, but with this level, he had excellent speeches.

"Also..." Wang Pu took out a piece of paper from the other sleeve and handed it to Qian Qianyi, smiling, "I have to worry Mr. Mu to sign a name on it. In fact, this is nothing. It's just to be prepared for Mr. Mu to clear his suspicion when necessary. The younger generation is also thinking about Mr. Mu. What do you think?"

Qian Qianyi looked at it and was stunned.

It was a letter of regret, which said that supporting King Lu and intercepting the prince were all conspiracies planned by Zhou Biao. Qian Qianyi and the other Donglin Fushe Party members were just bewitched by Zhou Biao, and they were really confused for a moment. Wang Pu's hand was too powerful. If Qian Qianyi signed a name on it, he would have sold himself to Wang Pu.

But can Qian Qianyi not sign?

Of course not, Qian Qianyi cares too much about his reputation. Fame even relies on life for people like him! In order to preserve his reputation, he could only obediently sign his own name.

Wang Pu took the letter of repentance and stood up and smiled, "Then I won't disturb Mr. Mu anymore, say goodbye."

Qian Qianyi then stood up and said respectfully: "I'm sending you to the prince consort."

After leaving Qian Qianyi's residence and walking less than two hundred steps, Wang Pu suddenly turned his horse and said to Lu Liu, Neng Niang and dozens of personal soldiers following him: "Let's go to the mansion of Lu Daqi, the Minister of War!"

Wang Pu played the tactics of each defeat. The reason why he visited Qian Qianyi, Lu Daqi and other leaders of the Donglin Party was to make them have concerns, but they did not dare to reveal the fact that they secretly surrendered to Wang Pu to others. If no one exposes this kind of thing that damages his reputation, who would be willing to reveal it on his own initiative?

The benefits of doing this are obvious. Qian Qianyi thought he was the only spokesperson of Wang Pu in Donglin Fushe, while Lu Daqi also thought he was the only spokesperson of Wang Pu in Donglin Fushe. Zhang Pu Yiran, they did not dare to make a statement about Wang Pu's threat, which avoided the Donglin Fushe party members colluding to deal with him Wang Pu.

What is the art of controlling people? This is called the art of controlling people!

It was not until late at night that Wang Pu returned to Yanziji Camp after visiting Lu Daqi and Zhang Pu respectively.

Back to the camp, Wang Pu had just sat down and had no time to drink a sip of hot tea, Lu Liu led the sweaty prefect Wei Daben in. Wang Pu stood up in a little surprised and asked, "Mr. Wei, I'm still here in Yanziji camp so late. Could something have happened?"
To be continued...