Under Zhu Youzhen's order, the governor of the capital registered all the stewards and eunuchs of the yamen in the palace and conducted personnel evaluations.

Those who fail to pass the personnel evaluation will either be removed from their positions or demoted. The criteria for personnel evaluation were made public in order to eliminate the personal influence of the chief eunuch as much as possible.

Although this set of measures has just begun to be implemented, the metropolitan governor, who was originally ranked last in the palace, suddenly surpassed the imperial horse supervisor and became the second most powerful yamen in the palace.

And the low-level eunuchs who originally surrounded these chief eunuchs all day long suddenly found that the shortcut to promotion in the past did not seem to work, and those honest people who worked diligently suddenly found that they actually had a bright future.

The chief eunuchs also found that they could no longer assign their subordinates to do things at will as they did in the past, and when something went wrong, they blamed their subordinates. Although these chiefs and eunuchs were not accustomed to this kind of life bound by rules, they also complained to the eunuchs in power of their benefactors.

However, under the strange situation that Wang Tiqian and Wei Zhongxian did not speak out, coupled with Zhu Youzhen's merciless dismissal and investigation of several leaders and eunuchs who violated the rules, the original sloppy and chaotic situation in the palace suddenly became completely new.

When Zhu Youzhen sent Wang Chengen to summon the two, Wei Zhongxian and Wang Tiqian followed Wang Chengen unsuspectingly.

Originally, the two thought that this time Zhu Youzhen was either going to punish the chief eunuch, or to formulate some new palace rules or something. But when Wei Zhongxian and Wang Tiqian walked into the room and saw Tu Wenfu standing on the side, Wei Zhongxian's originally relaxed mood suddenly sank.

After Zhu Youzhen saw the two coming, he put down the document in his hand and said: "After Gonggong Tu came back from inspecting the river workers, he highly recommended Tian Ergeng, the governor of Jinyi Weizuo, to me, saying that he was loyal to the king and was diligent and reliable. Therefore, I intend to appoint him as the Zuo Governor of the Houjun Governor's Office, and as for the commander of Jinyi Weidu, Luo Yangxing, the commander of the Nanzhen Fusi, will take over, and Dong Kun will take over the position of the commander of the Nanzhen Fusi. What do the two fathers-in-law think? ”

Wei Zhongxian was about to say something, but Wang Tiqian, who was beside him, suddenly stepped forward and said, "What Your Majesty said is extremely true, and the minister completely agrees. ”

Wei Zhongxian's heart sank to the bottom, and he immediately understood that not only Tu Wenfu, but even Wang Tiqian had already betrayed him.

When Wei Zhongxian was in a trance, he suddenly saw Zhu Youzhen and asked gently, "I don't know what Gonggong Wei's opinion is?" ”

Looking at Zhu Youzhen's gentle smile, Wei Zhongxian felt a little cold in his heart, and he stubbornly said: "Although Tian Ergeng is loyal and responsible, but the power of the Houjun Governor's Mansion is heavy, and the minister thinks that His Majesty should still consider one or two more things, and not act rashly. ”

Tu Wenfu seemed to know that he had no choice, and before Wei Zhongxian's words fell, he accused him and said: "Your Majesty, how can Father-in-law Wei be rash?" Is this what a servant should say? Your Majesty, Wei Zhongxian said nothing in front of the emperor, and asked His Majesty to punish him. ”

was accused by Tu Wenfu like this, Wei Zhongxian had to kneel down immediately and plead guilty to Zhu Youzhen.

"Hey, when discussing things, there is always a time when you don't have to say anything, so you don't have to be so nervous. Father-in-law Wei, please get up, Father-in-law Wei's suggestion is still the old man who seeks the country, and it should be the same next time. But today, I have already decided, Wang Tiqian will follow what I said. Zhu Youzhen said gently but firmly.

Wei Zhongxian could only watch with a blank eye, and Wang Tiqian wrote the edict according to Zhu Youzhen's meaning. Subsequently, under Zhu Youzhen's order, Wang Chengen and Tu Wenfu went to Jinyi Wei to pass on the edict, while Wang Tiqian and Wei Zhongxian began to discuss the ** problems exposed in the accounting of the three major palaces after Zhu Youzhen stayed.

During the discussion, the restless Wei Zhongxian frequently made mistakes, but Zhu Youzhen didn't care about it, while Wang Tiqian kept pretending to be casual and had a heated discussion with Zhu Youzhen.

The three of them discussed until Wang Chengen and Tu Wenfu returned, and Zhu Youzhen saw Wang Chengen nodding lightly to himself, so he stopped and let Wang Tiqian and Wei Zhongxian leave. After the two left, Zhu Youzhen looked at Tu Wenfu and said coldly: "Father-in-law Tu, you are a smart person, so I don't want to go around the bend, since you have made such a great contribution for me, it is better to tell me what you want in return." ”

Tu Wenfu hurriedly arched his hand and said: "As a minister of the Ming Dynasty, it is a matter of course for the minister to serve the monarch's father, and the minister does not dare to ask His Majesty for anything." ”

Zhu Youzhen shook his head and said: "In this world, free things must be the most expensive, so you still tell me what you want, I like fair trade." There may be one-sided efforts in this world, but it will definitely not appear between you and me, right, Grandpa Tu? ”

Tu Wenfu never felt that it would be more difficult than today's moment in his life. He has gone through the three dynasties of Shenzong, Guangzong, and Xizong, except for Guangzong, who is gentle and slightly mediocre, Shenzong and Xizong are all smart and outstanding.

Although the three emperors are outstanding, because they grew up in the deep palace and don't know much about the people's suffering, Tu Wenfu has always been at ease in front of them.

But Chongzhen is different from any previous emperor of the Zhu family, he may not have the same high IQ as Shenzong and Xizong, but his familiarity with the world is more than that of previous emperors, and in Tu Wenfu's view, only Taizu and Chengzu, two emperors who have been in contact with folk life, can be compared.

At the same time, Chongzhen is not meaner than Taizu in treating people, and for the eunuchs in the treasury who have embezzled the inner treasury, he only asks for the return of the corrupt money, and modifies the system of managing the treasury, and improves the treatment of personnel as the end.

Moreover, since he ascended the throne, he has canceled some cruel corporal punishments in the palace, and stipulated that the punishment of the palace maid must go through the capital governor's prison, and no punishment can be carried out in private, etc. This kind of benevolent style made Chongzhen win the hearts of everyone in the palace not long after he ascended the throne.

When Tu Wenfu returned to the palace, he found that the affairs of the palace were constantly appearing in front of Chongzhen under the collection of the governor's supervisor, which made Chongzhen know the affairs of the palace well.

In the past, by cutting off the emperor's right to know, and then selecting and submitting reports to the celebrants, eunuchs, and eunuchs, the way to manipulate the imperial power suddenly collapsed.

This is also the reason why Tu Wenfu defected to Chongzhen cleanly, because an emperor who is not deceived can use power that cannot be resisted by a few celebrant eunuchs and high-ranking officials of Jinyiwei.

It's just that the current Chongzhen doesn't know how to use this power, but he is just testing the limit of his power very measuredly.