Not only did Li Tingji have to plan the overall situation, but he also had to mediate the conflicts between the various departments.
For example, the Audit Department and the Ministry of Works always quarreled over the funds they applied for. The Audit Department had to conduct strict inspections, while the Ministry of Works was waiting for the funds. The two sides were always quarreling.
In the end, Li Tingji was forced to arrange for the two departments to work together. The two sides would face each other and discuss all the problems. They could see each other's work progress, so they could understand each other better.
This method worked. Li Tingji could take a breather. Of course, it was just a breather. Rest was impossible. Xiao Ruxun had assigned more than 20 assistants to him, but they were too busy.
It couldn't be helped. This was the first time he had organized such a special birthday party. It was also the first birthday party to entertain so many important foreign guests. Safety, etiquette, and the reputation of the Daqin were all very important.
For this reason, the inner and outer city walls of Beijing and the palace walls were arranged to undergo a large-scale renovation. Of course, this was all the responsibility of the army. It was directly paid for by the military instead of going through the normal procedures. Xiao Ruxun didn't need to be responsible for it either. It was directly managed by people assigned by Xiao Ruxun to reduce Li Tingji's burden.
On the birthday day, the route of the army entering the city had been completely figured out. There would be a large number of people on both sides of the road to watch the ceremony. In addition to the military parade, there would be more security forces in charge of security.
This responsibility fell to the Central Imperial Guards. Han Degong began to get busy. Of course, he was happy to be busy. This way, he didn't need to care about the invitations to eat, hunt, and visit brothels.
There were too many things to do. Li Tingji sighed deeply. If the Daming Dynasty was still around, with the efficiency and style of the Daming Dynasty, it wouldn't be able to get things done in three years, let alone three months.
Not to mention other things, such a large amount of money would take months of arguments without any results. The civil officials of the North and the South would quarrel with each other, and they would even fight over money. They would take however much they wanted, and it would be useless even if the Emperor personally got involved.
Because the Emperor didn't have actual financial power, the national treasury was empty. If they directly used the internal funds, the Emperor probably wouldn't be happy, right?
The Daqin Dynasty was different. With the Emperor's order, there was no obstruction or doubt. The huge central government quickly took action.
A large number of officials began to move, and a large amount of money began to flow everywhere. Staff and resources were running all over the place. This department and that department were all working, and there was not a single moment of rest.
Not only that, the Black and White Impermanences of the Audit Department and the Investigation Department floated around the palace all day, intimidating everyone in the palace.
It was said that the biggest worry for the officials in the palace was not that they were too busy with work, but that they were losing too much hair.
Often, when two officials met each other, they would take off their official hats and reveal their heads. They would look at each other to see who had less hair, and then they would recite a phrase together, "White hair scratched even shorter, muddy desire unable to overcome the hairpin."
Every time this happened, Xiao Ruxun would feel that he didn't have enough manpower. It did affect his efficiency to a certain extent, but he needed to be very careful when adding more manpower.
Every time Xiao Ruxun expanded the number of central government officials, he would do a lot of data analysis.
If they increased the number of people at this time, it would indeed be very smooth. However, putting aside the expenses of the palace, once this period passed, there would definitely be a large number of idle people.
The imperial court didn't raise people for nothing. The imperial court didn't raise useless people and idle people. The number of people needed to be maintained at a certain level. The standard was that when the imperial court needed to operate at full power, the officials wouldn't be busy to death, nor would they be idle.
Currently, the number of officials was above this standard, and it was maintained very well.
In Xiao Ruxun's view, everyone had to have something to do. Once things were done, there would be no desire to fight for power, and once things were done, there would be no more intrigue.
Even the eunuchs and palace maids were busy moving things everywhere, filling in the gaps, and cleaning the inner court. The collusion between the inside and outside would be gone, and the entire palace would be peaceful.
Therefore, whenever Cai Yun and Xiao Ruxun mentioned increasing the number of eunuchs and palace maids in the palace, Xiao Ruxun did some calculations and shook his head in refusal.
"Let them be busy, let them be tired, and let them not have the heart to think about this and that. They won't be busy to death, and they won't be idle. This is the best state. Right now, the number of people is just right, no more, no less."
Xiao Ruxun was very proud of this.
Cai Yun understood Xiao Ruxun's meaning, and did not mention this matter again.
The central government of Daqin had expanded more than ten times compared to the previous Ming Dynasty, and it was still expanding. Not only were there central officials in the capital, but there were also many central officials in the local areas. From inside to outside, it was very convenient to do things.
Even so, when handling government affairs every day, Xiao Ruxun could feel the eagerness and hard work of these officials.
However, Xiao Ruxun did not intend to lighten their burden.
Of course, in addition to Xiao Ruxun, the main character of this birthday celebration, the Xiao royal family also played an important supporting role: Crown Prince Xiao Zhenbang, Second Prince Xiao Zhenwu, Retired Emperor Xiao Wenkui, and Empress Yang Caiyun.
There were also the three kings of the Xiao clan, King Chu Xiao Rulan, King Zhao Xiao Ruhui, King Wei Xiao Ruzhi, and their descendants.
There were very few people in the Xiao royal family now, no more than 30 people. Everyone had a close relationship, and Xiao Ruxun also had time to meet them personally, and then teach them what to do, what to do on the birthday, and so on.
Anyway, according to the officials of the Ministry of Rites, the members of the royal family were absolutely important, and they had to congratulate the emperor and present gifts before the other officials.
Originally, Xiao Ruxun did not intend to let the officials present gifts, but this way, the officials did not know what to do. So, after thinking about it again and again, under the request of the officials, Xiao Ruxun still allowed them to present gifts.
However, Xiao Ruxun had other requirements, which was that the value of the gifts from his officials could not exceed ten taels of silver, or else he would not accept them. So, the content of the gifts was also greatly limited.
So, the royal family decided to let the children display their talents and skills to the emperor, such as calligraphy, painting, and martial arts.
The Royal Academy was specially prepared by Xiao Ruxun for the children of the Royal Family. The teachers she hired were all very outstanding. As for the children of the Royal Family who could inherit the title of King, it also depended on their results. Only the most outstanding few would be able to inherit the title. Although the competition was not obvious now, it would definitely be very fierce in the future.
More importantly, the power to inherit the title of a king was controlled by the emperor, not the three kings.
After Xiao Rulan, Xiao Ruhui, and Xiao Ruzhi passed away, it was not Xiao Ruxun who had the final say, but Xiao Zhenbang who had the final say. They could make suggestions and plead, but the one who made the final decision was Xiao Ruxun, the emperor.
This was the most direct way for Xiao Ruxun to realize his control over the royal family.
After making arrangements for his own family, he would have better arrangements for the outsiders. Anyway, for the kings of the vassal states and the congratulatory envoys, Xiao Ruxun did not limit their gifts. They could give whatever they wanted, the more the better.
The stingy and the generous, Xiao Ruxun would arrange different living conditions and standards for them, and tell them openly and secretly — —
The gifts are not bad, I am very satisfied.
The gifts are not good, stingy, I am angry.
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