Zhang Shuo made up his mind. The next morning, it was morning court.
He didn't know why the weather was so hot today. It was a little stuffy early in the morning. The moment the sun came out, he could feel sweat seeping out.
Today was also a crowded day. All the fifth rank and above people in the capital were here. They stood in two rows outside. Fortunately, there were people holding 'umbrellas' for them.
Zhang Shuo wondered if he should wait until after work to talk to the Emperor about the candidates. At the same time, he could also get some tea from the Emperor. There wasn't much tea at home. Ever since he had a bad relationship with Cuckoo, Zhang Shuo and Wang family didn't bring him any tea when they sent him tea a few days ago. Children were really vengeful.
He thought so, but someone wouldn't let him do so.
At the start of the morning court, without waiting for Li Longji, who was sitting under two umbrellas, to ask about the situation during the spring plowing, Yuan Qianyao suddenly floated out. At least in Zhang Shuo's eyes, he was like a ghost.
"Your Majesty, I heard yesterday that Baoxin County's Registrar Zhang Xiaobao and County Deputy Wang Juan submitted a letter to the Secretariat. They want to fill the positions of the officials promoted from Xin Cai County. There are six candidates, and I think it's feasible."
Yuan Qianyao was afraid that Zhang Shuo would secretly say it. If he didn't mention it now, he wouldn't have the chance to participate in it later. He couldn't just blindly follow Zhang Shuo. Zhang Shuo wasn't the only person in the Secretariat. If he couldn't find out about this, he wouldn't be able to be the Prime Minister.
Li Longji didn't know about this and didn't directly say anything. Instead, he glanced at Gao Lishi.
Gao Lishi was also puzzled. How did Xiao Bao and Cuckoo go through the proper channels? It might be so for other officials, but it wasn't right for them. Zhang Zhong didn't seem to have gone through the proper channels many times. Xiao Bao and Cuckoo always directly wrote to him about what they wanted to do and let the Emperor know through him. Then, they would achieve their goals.
Gao Lishi, who couldn't figure it out and didn't understand, gave Li Longji a blank look.
Seeing that Gao Lishi didn't know, Li Longji became interested and asked Yuan Qianyao, "How can Xin Cai County be promoted to a county? Tell me. "
This simple sentence made all the officials envious and jealous. It wasn't because the Emperor asked about the promotion of Zhong County, but because the Emperor didn't mention when the registrar and deputy county magistrate of Baoxin County would be in charge of Xin Cai County.
It was as if what Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan said was very normal. That was how it should be, to catch up with the Censorate.
The officials of the Censorate and the Ministry of Rites resisted the urge to stand up and tell the Emperor that this matter was against the rules. They just stood there and selectively lost their hearing.
Yuan Qianyao wasn't thinking about this either. He replied to Li Longji, "Your Majesty, Commandery Prince Tong 'an wishes to build a few businesses in Xin Cai County to improve the living standards of the local people. Baoxin County's Registrar Zhang Xiaobao and Deputy County Magistrate Wang Juan should be helping to preside over matters in Xin Cai County. Oh, no, they should be in Xin Cai County to see how they can manage Baoxin County together.
This plan is divided into four steps … Once these four steps are done, the corresponding education and medical treatment will follow. At that time, the population of the county will definitely exceed 5,000 people. Therefore, there are six candidates for the replacement of positions, Chen Xi, Zhang Han … "
Yuan Qianyao didn't forget about the six candidates when he told Li Longji the details of the matter. They were all Yu Wenrong's men. Although they weren't really his men, he could still give Zhang Han a blow.
When the officials heard this, their eyes swept back and forth between Yu Wenrong and Zhang Han, wanting to see their reactions.
Under normal circumstances, even the County Magistrate of Shangxian County was only a Secondary Class, Grade 6 local official. No one in the capital cared about the officials. If they were really appointed, they would be demoted. However, once the Zhang Family and Wang Family were involved, things would not be so simple.
In the beginning, it was Sanshui County. Now, no one could send an official there. If they wanted to send an official there, they would have to first be a scribe and slowly rise up the ranks. Who would want to directly send a County Magistrate there? Dream on! Not even the registrar or deputy magistrate could be sent there, let alone a County Magistrate. It was about the same for Hua Yuan County. There was also Lu Zhou, Yi Prefecture, and Shu Prefecture where Commandery Prince Tong 'an was located.
These were the places where the Zhang Family and Wang Family had been before. Once there was a position, they would do anything to squeeze into it. They would rather not take the position in the capital first. After two years, they would definitely be able to come back. Those with idle positions would have real power. Those from the Ministry of Rites would be able to go to the Ministry of War or the Ministry of Revenue. This was a shortcut.
As long as they were not stupid and went against people when they went there, they would have a golden signboard that was extremely dazzling.
Currently, no one knew who would be able to take over the position of Baoxin County. The neighboring Xin Cai County was also targeted by the Zhang Family and Wang Family. They had already started building a complete set of facilities. Would there be any shortage in the future?
Li Longji knew what all the officials knew. If Xiao Bao and Wang Juan really got involved, Xin Cai County would become very prosperous in the future. They would be able to pay a lot of taxes every year. Unfortunately, Zhang Zhong could no longer be sent to be the Provincial Governor. The people from the Zhang Family and Wang Family could not be sent to be local officials for the time being. Otherwise, they would really want to disperse.
At that time, they would have more money. They could do whatever they wanted and fight wherever they wanted.
The six people who were promoted were all minor officials. Li Longji did not know who they belonged to. His eyes followed the direction of the officials' gazes. When he saw them, he understood. They were actually Zhang Shuo and Yu Wenrong's men.
If Zhang Shuo knew what Li Longji was thinking, he would be so angry that he would vomit blood. None of those six people were his men. His men had all gone through the imperial examinations. Look at those six people. Some of them were shady, and some of them slowly worked their way up. None of them were even in this life.
At this time, Li Longji spoke, "What do you think?"
After he asked, he did not forget to look at Gao Lishi. He meant to say that Gao Lishi should also think about it. Don't send the wrong person. If you really send a stupid person there, he would find trouble with the Zhang Family and Wang Family for no reason and delay the tax collection.
Gao Lishi replied to Li Longji with a look of understanding. He stood there and began to think.
He knew that the best candidate was not someone who had accumulated experience in the local areas, nor was he someone who had gone through the imperial examinations. He had to be someone who had been sponsored or taught by the Zhang Family and Wang Family. The best candidate was, of course, someone who had graduated from the Jianjia Academy. Those who had passed the imperial examinations could be arranged as they wished.
If they were asked to write history, they would do it. If they were asked to do something, they would do it. They would never make any mistakes. This was because these people wanted to take the imperial examinations. They would have to report to the academy a year in advance. The academy would specially set questions for them. They had to pass within a year before they were allowed to take the imperial examinations. Otherwise, even if they were capable and could get a place as a High Scholar elsewhere, they would not be able to pass the imperial examinations.
Those who graduated from the Jianjia Academy were all very capable. He had also heard that the examination questions were different every year. Some would send you out to be a registrar. The deputy county magistrate and county magistrate were in cahoots. Your good ideas would all be suppressed, and you would be asked what to do.
Some would send you to places that were prone to floods. When you were the county magistrate, the officials below would not cooperate with you. The provincial central government and the imperial court would not allocate money to you. How could you minimize the disasters caused by floods?
All the examination questions would not be asked in person. Instead, they would give you a map and arrange for people to complete the personnel involved in the examination questions. When you were the county magistrate, you would be like a real county magistrate in the year of the examination. There would be others who would cooperate with you or not. They would play supporting roles.
The difficulty of the examination was definitely higher than real life. There would even be unruly people who would cause trouble. The local gentry would be powerful. How could those who could accept such an examination and survive it be easy to deal with?
It was really comfortable to use such people. When a place was in trouble, they would be sent to be officials. That would save them a lot of trouble. However, all the places that the Zhang Family and Wang Family had been to, except for Sanshui County, could not be arranged anywhere else. Otherwise, it would be terrible.
If they really worked together, it would be like the wind following the tiger and the clouds following the dragon. No matter what, they had to be suppressed.
While Gao Lishi was thinking about this, the imperial court had already started to quarrel. Some people said that any of the six people could be chosen and that three people would be enough. Some people specifically picked three people.
There were also people who rejected the six people one by one, saying that none of them could be chosen.
At this time, Zhang Shuo had not said anything. It was not time for him to stand up personally. Naturally, he would have his own people to help him.
Time passed quietly like this. Li Longji was not in a hurry. He asked someone to bring tea and sat there to drink. When the officials of the Ministry of Rites saw the Emperor drinking tea, they also chose to be blind. As the sun rose, it was getting hotter and hotter. What if the Emperor's body could not bear it and fainted? Just drink a little.
Li Longji watched the commotion and planned to eat something later to prolong the morning court. When he heard the excuses of the people below, he felt that it was very interesting. He signaled Gao Lishi to come closer and said,
"Lishi, what do you think about sending three people who passed the examination of Jianjia Academy? Oh, there's no need for three. One is enough. Jianjia Academy's examination is stricter than the imperial examination. "
Gao Lishi wanted to nod and agree. If he sent three people from the academy, then Xiao Bao and Cuckoo would have less to worry about. However, he could not and could only reply, "Your Majesty, I think that's not right. The people from Jianjia Academy should be sent to places where they are needed more. Xiao Bao and Cuckoo are overseeing Xin Cai County, so we don't have to worry about them at all.
Moreover, even if the officials sent are not good, Xiao Bao and Cuckoo will have ways to deal with them. He Yiwei, whom I asked them to deal with, is not only not on a business trip, but also learned a lot. He is not greedy and is wholeheartedly devoted to the people. This is all thanks to Xiao Bao and Cuckoo's teachings. "
It was precisely because of this that Li Longji was not in a hurry. He really did not believe that the three local officials sent could avoid Xiao Bao and Cuckoo's methods when they were disobedient. If there really was such a person, they should be given a better position.
After hearing Gao Lishi's words, he was also very satisfied with him. He did not help his adopted son gain any benefits. How loyal! He nodded slightly and said, "Why don't we order Zhang Zhong to set up an academy in Luoyang? We can find people from the Jixian Courtyard to teach there."
"I don't think Luoyang is good. Why don't we build an academy in Wannian County? When Zhang Zhong comes to the capital, there will be someone there to manage it," Gao Lishi suggested.
The two of them talked about other things while the people below were quarreling.
When the monarch and subject were almost done talking, Zhang Shuo finally spoke.
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