Shi Xing and Yang Junmin practiced pressuring Shen Li. If it was before, Shen Li might have been the vice or even the Grand Secretary. If that was the case, neither Shi Xing nor Yang Junmin would dare to make trouble for him. However, now that Shen Yicheng had become the vice, Shen Li was suppressed. It could even be said that Shen Li had lost a choice.
The Emperor did not like Shen Li!
This was a clear signal. Perhaps Shen Li himself had already noticed something, so when he spoke, he didn't have much confidence. Otherwise, Shen Li would have taken practical actions to protect his dignity at this time. However, he didn't.
Shen Yicheng was the vice and would become the Grand Secretary after Zhao Zhigao abdicated. At that time, Shen Yicheng would have the highest authority. Shen Li had always been at odds with Shen Yicheng. Shen Yicheng was willing to see Yang Junmin and Shi Xing quarreling with Shen Li.
Zhao Zhigao was like a Buddha with his eyes closed. He did not say a word. It seemed that he had no intention of helping Shen Li. Without Zhao Zhigao's support, Shen Li could not do anything. However, even with Zhao Zhigao's support, a nice guy like Zhao Zhigao could not do anything.
Shen Li suddenly found himself in an unprecedented state of isolation.
Shi Xing quarreled with him for his future. Yang Junmin quarreled with him for his own benefits. Shen Yicheng was laughing at him. Of the nine people in the highest decision-making group, three were standing against him. One-third of the group was against him.
The Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue were not weak.
Then, to Shen Li's surprise, the Minister of Justice, Song Yingchang, also stood up to support this idea.
"The war is urgent. I think it is not the time to discuss rules. Xiao Zhennan is a famous general who has been through hundreds of battles. He is the most famous general in the Daming Dynasty. If he cannot solve the war, it will be difficult for us to find someone to solve it.
What's more, even if we immediately select a candidate and set off today, it would take at least seven days to arrive at the battlefield after traveling day and night. The speed of the Northern Invaders' cavalry is extremely fast. Now that Xiao Zhennan is acting as the Governor, I'm afraid that the problem will be solved in seven days. But if it's not solved, the newly appointed Governor will have to familiarize himself with the situation of the war.
Therefore, I think it is urgent. The situation in Shanxi Datong has reached a point where we have to solve it. If it continues, we will not have the money to restore the people of Shanxi. By that time, all the refugees in Shanxi will be sent to Myanmar. "
Song Yingchang's voice wasn't loud, and his tone was gentle, but his words were reasonable. Even if the big shots had different opinions, they still agreed with Song Yingchang's considerations.
However, Shen Yicheng looked at Song Yingchang with a hint of consideration in his eyes.
In the battle of Korea three years ago, Song Yingchang had won the battle with Xiao Ruxun's prowess. He had gained a huge amount of credit for the battle and was promoted to one of the Six Ministers. Till now, his position was stable, and he didn't seem to have any intention of moving up. But with the current situation, even Shi Xing was jumping up, let alone Song Yingchang.
The meaning behind this was profound.
However, this was not important. Shi Xing and Song Yingchang were not from the Hanlin Academy. Logically speaking, they were not qualified to enter the Cabinet. Therefore, the position of Minister was the highest peak.
They basically did not have any powerful interest groups behind them. The eyes of the interest groups were all on the high-ranking officials with the Hanlin Academy background.
Only by entering the Cabinet would one have the opportunity to control the world's authority and obtain the greatest rewards. This was undeniable. Ministers who could not enter the Cabinet would not be able to obtain the favor of truly powerful interest groups. In comparison, Song Yingchang's situation was even worse than Shi Xing's.
These two people …
They could be used.
Shen Yicheng was deep in thought. He instantly thought of something worth being happy about.
The Minister of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of War all supported him. Half of the Six Ministries had already stood on the opposite side of Shen Li. Under Shen Li's anxiety, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Tsai Kuo-chen, also expressed his support.
"Song Butang's opinion is very pertinent. I think what Song Butang said is the best solution at present. Now is not the time to discuss whether to abide by the rules or not. The actual situation is already unbearable for us. Even if the problem is solved immediately, the loss of Datong and Shanxi will be difficult to recover."
Shen Li took a deep breath and did not intend to continue to ask. Yu Jideng and Xu Zuo obviously did not intend to support him. They just kept silent. He planned to directly lay his cards on the table with Shen Yicheng.
Obviously, everyone present regarded Shen Yicheng as the controller of the Cabinet and the ruler of the Daming Empire!
"What does the Second Minister think of this matter?"
Faced with Shen Li's showdown, Shen Yicheng's mood was up and down. He suddenly found a glimmer of hope in a hopeless situation.
The Emperor wanted him to preside over the reconstruction and disaster relief after the military disaster. This was to draw a clear line between him and the other officials. Then, together, they would face the verbal attacks of the civil officials and take the bullet for the Emperor. Shen Yicheng was not stupid. The reason why Wang Xijue abdicated so quickly was because of the factor of giving advice to the Emperor during the Three Princes Incident.
And although he longed for the position of the First Minister of the Daming Empire, he also cherished his own feathers. He knew that if he followed Wang Xijue's example, he could only go home and farm. There was no other way. Those damned Imperial Censors would never let him go.
How many people in the Daming Empire had been scolded by the Imperial Censors?
He could not do this. If he did, he would be cutting himself off from the world.
But now it was not the same. Because Taiyuan was lost!
All the wealthy families in the city had been killed!
Looking at Yang Junmin's pale face and the uneasiness on his face, Shen Yicheng realized that the Jinshang Empire was finished!
The world's merchants had been suffering for the Jinshang Empire for a long time!
These Jinshang Empire had made use of the geographical advantage of Kaizhong and the borders to expand their influence all over the country. They eroded the strength of the local merchants. If it was not for the local merchants awakening and uniting to fight against the Jinshang Empire, everyone would have been eaten up by these greedy fellows.
It was still fine when Datong was destroyed. But now that Taiyuan was destroyed, the first thing that came to Shen Yicheng's mind was definitely not the safety of the people in Taiyuan, but the fact that the Jinshang Empire had been killed. It did not matter if these fellows had internal strife or were cheated. Now that the matter had blown up and the government had gotten involved, would they still be able to stay out of it?
Impossible!
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