After the court was dismissed, Fang Yun returned to the Left Prime Minister's Pavilion with a sickly look.
The officials of the Left Prime Minister's Pavilion immediately came out to welcome him. They were even more enthusiastic than before.
Fang Yun hadn't been to the Left Prime Minister's Pavilion for the past few days. Although he had used letters to deal with matters, there were still some omissions. Thus, he asked about the affairs of the Left Prime Minister's Pavilion.
There were basically two types of officials in the Left Prime Minister's Pavilion. The first type was those with a strong background. Being in the Left Prime Minister's Pavilion was equivalent to being gilded.
As long as they weren't involved in factional disputes, their experience in the Left Prime Minister's Pavilion would be an important factor in promotion.
The other type was officials like Li Zhixiao and Xu Changgeng who were related to the Left Prime Minister. They didn't have a strong background, but their relationship with the Left Prime Minister wasn't particularly deep. They were needed to maintain the operations of the Left Prime Minister's Pavilion and prevent problems from occurring in the highest bureaucracy in Jingguo.
If nothing unexpected happened, these people would be sent to the yamen in three to five years at most. However, Fang Yun's appearance saved them.
Those with strong backgrounds were at most the Empress Dowager's in-laws or the sons of aristocratic families. They were nothing compared to ordinary scholars of the four realms, not to mention Fang Yun, Xusheng. Thus, they were more careful than anyone else. If they offended Fang Yun, their fate would be worse than ordinary officials.
Ordinary officials would at most lose their positions and be able to go anywhere in the world. However, once they were punished by Fang Yun, their backers would temporarily abandon them in order to avoid angering Fang Yun. They would lose their originally excellent treatment. Perhaps many years later, when the limelight had died down, their backers would compensate them. However, it wouldn't be of much use.
As for people like Li Zhixiao and Xu Changgeng who didn't have a strong background, they were even more loyal to Fang Yun because they saw hope in joining the Fang Party.
No matter what the future of the Fang Party was like today, they could only grasp at this life-saving straw.
Moreover, the benefits of joining the Fang Party were too tempting.
Just a few days ago, a rumor had spread across the entire Saint Origin World. More than thirty percent of the officials and friends of Xiang Province who had attended the banquet had made breakthroughs recently. They had either made breakthroughs in calligraphy, literary courage, or calligraphy.
Joining the Fang Party had become the fastest way to reach the heavens. It was far better than joining an aristocratic family.
To be able to hold a position in the Left Minister's Pavilion, there were honest people, there were honest people, but it was impossible for there to be an idiot.
Therefore, after Fang Yun learned about the affairs of the Left Prime Minister's Pavilion, he felt bored. This was completely different from the situation in Ning An County and Xiang Province. When he was the county magistrate or governor in those two places, there were constantly officials jumping out to challenge his authority. However, the officials in the Left Prime Minister's Pavilion were all dutiful.
Fang Yun finally shook his head.
"He's either a coward or a wily old fox. Forget it."
Fang Yun smiled. He knew that his position in Jingguo was becoming more stable.
However, this wasn't enough.
Throwing out the cabinet centralization system too early would definitely alert the royal family, but this was the right way to go.
As the leader of all the officials, using so-called schemes and conspiracies was already a bad idea. Only by using the righteous way of the Emperor could he solve the problem cleanly. Otherwise, if he succeeded in using conspiracies, it would be difficult to convince others and there would be endless trouble in the future.
Revealing his purpose in advance would offend others, but he could also rope in like-minded people and even neutral forces.
For example, the Minister of Rites, Wei Xu, didn't attack Fang Yun when he was in dire straits. When Fang Yun dominated the court, he didn't flatter him. This was commendable. As long as people like him didn't become part of the royal family, they would be of great use.
Next, Fang Yun began to work together with the officials in the Left Minister's Pavilion to draft a detailed reform plan for the Ministry of Personnel. It was based on the principle of benefiting the people.
After the plan was drafted, Fang Yun ordered people to copy it and distribute it to the Empress Dowager, the Right Minister's Pavilion, the Assistant Minister's Pavilion, the Wen Minister's Pavilion, and the six ministries in the capital. Then, copies were sent to all the cabinet members to ask for their opinions and suggestions. This would be included in the Ministry of Personnel's evaluation.
In the history of the human race, there had never been such an open and fair method. This made all the officials have a better impression of Fang Yun.
This was because the officials had predicted that even though the various parties had already permitted Fang Yun's reform, no matter what sort of plan Fang Yun came up with, it would inevitably lead to a war of words and a storm of blood. Without an intense court debate, it would be impossible for it to be truly implemented.
However, Fang Yun avoided this possibility and asked for the opinions and suggestions of all parties in the most respectful way. After receiving the feedback, the Left Minister's Pavilion would definitely make changes based on the suggestions of all parties. Then, it would be discussed in the court.
At that time, other than a few areas that might cause controversy, most of the contents would have received the tacit approval of all parties. The chances of approval would be greatly increased, and once implemented, the efficiency would be frighteningly high.
It could even be said that as long as the fundamental interests of all parties were not affected, they didn't care what Fang Yun did. What they needed more was face and a way out. Now, Fang Yun had given them face and a way out. As long as they compromised, the reform of the Ministry of Personnel would not be hindered.
After all, Fang Yun was the Left Minister and had absolute control over the Ministry of Personnel.
At the beginning, when Fang Yun proposed to centralize the cabinet and distribute power to the cabinet members, cabinet members, and cabinet members, many officials did not believe it. This had never happened before.
But now, many officials saw the light.
Now, Fang Yun was using the draft to ask for the opinions of all parties. Then, the next step would be a vote.
In the imperial study, the Empress Dowager and Jing Jun sat side by side. On the table in front of them was Fang Yun's draft of the Ministry of Personnel's evaluation and reform. Across from them sat the Minister of Rites, Sheng Boyuan.
"Minister Sheng, what do you think of this … hmm, let's call it Fang Yun's way. What do you think of this draft?"
Sheng Boyuan sighed softly and said, "I dare not hide it. Fang Yun's talent is rarely seen. I have read this draft over and over again, and I have to admit that Fang Yun is indeed a good minister. Not to mention anything else, just this system of accountability is like a large hand clamping down on an official's throat. Moreover, he has completely given up the power of accountability of the Ministry of Personnel and given it to the Overwatch Council. The Ministry of Personnel is only responsible for evaluating demotion, demotion, transfer, and determining the number of years without promotion. If nothing unexpected happens, the Overwatch Council will gradually lean towards Fang Yun. "
"Fang Yun is strengthening the authority of the Overwatch Council. Does he want to take the opportunity to control the Overwatch Council and obtain the power to supervise hundreds of officials, even more than Mount Liu?" the Empress Dowager asked.
Sheng Boyuan hesitated for a moment and said, "There are two possibilities for this. One is as you said, Fang Yun is paving the way for power. The other possibility is that Fang Yun is purely carrying out a reform. Because, from a certain point of view, it is a good thing to hold officials accountable. Moreover, this reform has been around since ancient times. It is just making it public and institutionalized. The essence has not changed much. "
The Empress Dowager snorted coldly. Sheng Boyuan was silent.
The two of them were well aware that this accountability system was in itself seizing the monarch's power.
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