After talking for a while, the tea tasted almost the same, Zhu Yicheng then turned the topic to the main business.

"Mr. Wu, I have something in my heart that I want to ask for advice."

"I really don't dare to take it. If the emperor has anything to do, I will just ask me directly. I promise to say everything."

Nodded, Zhu Yicheng said: "Since the founding of the First Emperor of Hongwu, our Ming Dynasty has lasted for 276 years. Although there were national disasters during this period, our Ming Dynasty has now recovered. I ascended the throne at a young age, and my country has been destroyed and my country has not been restored. I am trembling every day, worried and tired of the Ming Dynasty. I dare not slacken at all, but I am a little more willing but not capable. I am willing to change it. But I always feel that my Ming system seems to be incomplete."

Speaking of this, Zhu Yicheng glanced at Wu Sidao, and saw that he looked normal, and said: "During the Hongwu period, the late emperor followed the previous dynasty and even the Secretariat and implemented the prime minister system. Then the late emperor of Hongwu removed the Secretariat and abolished the prime minister, and took over the power of the emperor. During the Chengzu period, our Ming Dynasty began to establish a cabinet system, and later, because the power of the cabinet was too great, the Secretariat was added as a restraint. This system continued until the national crisis. After I ascended the throne, although six ministries were established in the court,

However, there is no Secretariat. From this point of view, it is similar to the late Emperor Hongwu. But I know very well that my talents are far inferior to the late Emperor Hongwu, and I cannot do everything. It is still barely feasible now. But once my Ming Dynasty takes Guangdong, attacks Jiangxi westward, or even attacks the Central Plains northward, can the people in the world be busy with thousands of miles and hundreds of trillions of people? So I have been wondering whether to imitate the ancestor emperor and adopt a different system?"

After a pause, Zhu Yicheng glanced at Wu Sidao again, as if he wanted to see something from his expression, but Wu Sidao still looked normal and seemed to have no reaction.

Zhu Yicheng took a sip of tea, put down the teacup and said, "Sir, you know that although I use eunuchs in the palace in the Ming Dynasty, they are different from previous dynasties. If it is not necessary, I don't want to use these people at all. However, if the cabinet system is implemented, the rank of the ritual supervisor will inevitably be established. Moreover, this system seems balanced on the surface, but it has congenital deficiencies. I think Mr. Wu also knows it. For this reason, I am in a dilemma and it is difficult to make a decision for a while. I wonder if Mr. Can you please explain it bluntly."

At this time, Wu Sidao's expression began to change. He fully understood Zhu Yicheng's meaning, but this answer was not that easy.

Zhu Yicheng wanted to use the cabinet to share his work, but was unwilling to hand over the imperial power in his hands. This method of having the best of both worlds is really embarrassing. In Wu Sidao's heart, he agreed with imperial power. This is where Wu Sidao's character and ideals reach. Wu Sidao actually does not have much ambitions. His only wish is to let the world see his talent and have a stage to show it.

Therefore, when Zhu Yicheng appointed Wu Sidao, he not only did not feel that he had given his official position, but instead refused the appointed position. In his opinion, being an official is worse than being a strategist around the emperor and using the emperor's rights to show his talents.

From this point of view, Wu Sidao is a bit like Yao Guangxiao, the famous black-clad prime minister in the Ming Dynasty, who is disdainful of the wealth and honor that ordinary people dream of, helping the king ascend to the throne and create a new era. Showing his ambitions is what he really hopes for.

When Wu Sidao and Zhu Yicheng first met, Zhu Yicheng was just a great governor and did not reveal his identity. But now he is the magistrate. These days, it can be said that Zhu Yicheng grew up quickly under Wu Sidao's gaze.

Today, Zhu Yicheng used the imperial means to punish Zhang Ran, not only easily resolved his embarrassment, but also made his ministers respect him and further firmly control the power. Wu Sidao knew this more than anyone else, and then Zhu Yicheng invited him here, pointing out the previous events bluntly, and seemed calm and generous, which made Wu Sidao sigh that Zhu Yicheng now has a full emperor style.

Zhu Yicheng's growth made Wu Sidao feel moved and could not help but be proud of it, which further strengthened his inner belief in assisting Zhu Yicheng to achieve a true domineering foundation. Zhu Yicheng actually knew this, because he knew the difference between Wu Sidao and other officials in the court that he treated him with a half-teacher and half-friendly manner and said such words.

"The emperor sees it clearly!" Wu Sidao thought for a moment: "Although the cabinet system is beneficial, it is absolutely not desirable! In the Ming Dynasty, except for the late Emperor Hongwu and Chengzu, there were feats of expanding the border and conquering the four barbarians. But after Chengzu, the emperor saw that the late emperor did this? The reason was nothing more than the emperor said. The cabinet divided the imperial power, resulting in the loss of the imperial power, and the emperor did nothing anymore. In addition, the competition between the Silijian and the cabinet formed the three elements of the emperor, the cabinet, and the Silijian were mutually restrained, resulting in constant internal friction. In the end, due to the party struggles and bandits, the national crisis occurred. The lessons of the past are right in front of us, so the cabinet system is absolutely not feasible!"

Zhu Yicheng didn't expect that Wu Sidao would either not speak. As soon as he opened his mouth, he pointed out directly the drawbacks of the cabinet system, and at the same time showed that he was absolutely on the side of the imperial power. This made Zhu Yicheng very happy. Although he was a little sure of asking Wu Sidao to come, he felt that Wu Sidao should be on his side, but he didn't expect that his attitude was so firm.

"What the sir said is very true! This is what I have always been concerned about. Although the cabinet system is good, it has serious internal frictions, and it is easier to form party disputes in the long run."

"That's right." Wu Sidao nodded and said, "In fact, stones from other mountains can be used to attack jade. The Qing court has not completely used the cabinet system. It only established a cabinet but also used the system of ministers in the study room to replace the cabinet. The two are similar in structure, but their rights are very different. The emperor may adopt a slightly more flexible system."

"I have considered this, sir, but the Qing court's minister of Shangshu is not small in power. Don't forget the Soetu Rebellion during the Northern Expedition of Emperor Kangxi of Qing. If Kangxi hadn't had the good luck at the time, he would have almost died in the desert."

"This..." Wu Sidao knew about this. During the Northern Expedition of Kangxi, Soetu in Beijing, supported the prince ascended the throne, directly used his authority to go to the study room minister to instruct the border to cut off the military rations. If Kangxi had not made other arrangements in Mongolia and his subordinate Fei Yanggu urgently transferred food from other places, let alone winning the battle, the entire army might have been wiped out.

Wu Sidao thought about it carefully, and there was no sound for a moment. Zhu Yicheng was not in a hurry. He sat patiently waiting for Wu Sidao because he knew that Wu Sidao would definitely have a way to solve this problem. In fact, he had this answer in his mind, but it was not appropriate for Zhu Yicheng to tell it, so Wu Sidao had to say it.

Finally, after a long time, Wu Sidao's eyes lit up and he had an idea.

"The Emperor may set up a new counselor's organization to bring the cabinet and the counselor's organization together. The original cabinet's writings and titles continue to be assigned to the cabinet. Other powers belong to the new counselor's organization, and this organization only has the power of the counselor, and the decision-making power must be handled by the Emperor himself. In this way, the two form a restraint, which will not damage the imperial power, but can solve the problems that the Emperor has troubled..."

Zhu Yicheng was immediately happy and hurriedly asked about the specific settings. Wu Sidao explained while thinking. Seeing that he was slow and his ideas had not been straightened out, Zhu Yicheng directly asked someone to use paper and pen for him. Wu Sidao was not polite, so he immediately took the pen and wrote and scratched the paper, writing for a while, thinking for a while, and then talking to Zhu Yicheng in the middle, and it was not over until dark.

In the end, the first draft produced by Wu Sidao had already looked like the Military Affairs Office. It was normal for him to make this thing. In fact, the reason why Yongzheng used the Military Affairs Office to replace the study room and the cabinet in history was that this thing was his work.

After a closer look, although it was not very perfect, Zhu Yicheng was already very satisfied. He smiled and nodded repeatedly and praised three good words. Then he asked Wu Sidao to repair it carefully these days. It must be comprehensive and there must be no omissions. Wu Sidao did not refuse and nodded in agreement with a smile.

"I'm going to bother with this matter. I also have to ask the sir to name the institution." Zhu Yicheng said with a smile.

"Since this institution is taking charge of military affairs for the emperor, why not just call it the Military Affairs Office?" Wu Sidao blurted out.

"Military Affairs Office..." It seems that the name has not changed, but the name of the Military Affairs Office is indeed good. Anyway, Yongzheng cannot use it, so let's use it yourself. Zhu Yicheng immediately expressed his approval.

After talking about this, Zhu Yicheng had another thing to discuss with Wu Sidao, which was the Portuguese fleet in Macau.

The Battle of the South China Sea has ended. Next, the warships drawn by the Ming Dynasty from the East China Sea Fleet and the Taiwan Fleet will move south soon to supplement the losses suffered by the South China Sea Fleet after the naval battle. Wang Dong will continue to lead the fleet to cooperate with the army to implement the strategic goal of attacking Guangzhou.

However, the Portuguese fleet in Macau is still there, and their power is still strong. The so-called "sitting others to sleep soundly beside the bed. How to treat this powerful Portuguese fleet next is a question that must be considered.

Let Wang Dong wait until the replenishment fleet arrives to attack Macau? This is not impossible, but although the Portuguese fleet was defeated, the opponent's warships were still not weak. Once the battle was started, the outcome would be difficult to predict. Not only would all the South China Sea fleet be defeated, but even the drawn warships would suffer great losses.
Chapter completed!