After pasting the couplets, the entire Railway Administration Headquarters suddenly looked a lot more festive, making people feel more comfortable. Especially the people who worked there, they felt a lot more carefree.
"There are rumors outside that all the employees of the Railway Administration won't get year-end bonuses and New Year's gifts this year. I wonder whose idea it was?"
Ang Lee asked as soon as he finished pasting the couplets.
"Replying to Assistant Minister Li, no one came up with such an idea. It's just that our Railway Administration had such a big incident, so no one dared to propose to purchase New Year's goods or give year-end bonuses to the employees. These all need to be calculated and prepared in advance. Since no one dared to do this, naturally there was no way to prepare for it. In this way, it means that there won't be any bonuses. If there are employees who are worried about it, we can only say so. Some departments even directly announced that there won't be year-end bonuses and New Year's gifts. In fact, no one dared to come up with such an idea, but no one dared to mention the year-end bonuses."
A low-ranking official said.
After listening, Ang Lee said with a smile, "Although the corruption case in the Railway Administration is very serious, this is only the fault of a few vermin. Most of the employees of the Railway Administration are still very dedicated. After working hard for a year, year-end bonuses and New Year's gifts must be given. The imperial court can't let the ordinary railway employees suffer because of the mistakes of a few high-ranking officials. This will make most of the railway employees bitterly disappointed. Don't worry, as long as I'm here, I will definitely intercede for you and not let you be implicated by a few officials."
Hearing Ang Lee's words, all the low-ranking officials of the Railway Administration Headquarters present were very excited. They were even about to cry. Their labor was finally recognized, and it was the recognition of Ang Lee, a high-ranking official. As long as Ang Lee could recognize their labor, the imperial court would definitely come down soon. With Ang Lee's support, this year's year-end bonuses and New Year's gifts would be settled.
"Thank you, Assistant Minister Li. Among all the civil and military officials in the imperial court, only Assistant Minister Li can speak for our Railway Administration."
"To be honest, Assistant Minister Li, this official has been scolded by my wife for the past few days. I almost didn't dare to go home. Now, I can finally get the bonus. When I go back, it will be easier to explain and I can have a good New Year."
"Yes! Yes! My son has been asking to buy a bicycle. As long as he can get the year-end bonus, he will have a place. Haha! "
"Me too. My son is waiting for the year-end bonus to buy things. If he doesn't have the year-end bonus, he won't be able to have a good New Year."
The low-ranking officials were very happy. After all, the year-end bonus wasn't a small amount. It was equivalent to several months of salary. There was a big difference between having this money and not having this money. Many employees worked for a year for the last bit of benefits. In addition, the year-end gift package was also very rich. These low-ranking officials had fifty kilograms of rice, fifty kilograms of flour, five bolts of cloth, mutton, pork, chicken, and duck meat. In addition, there were a lot of other miscellaneous things. The total value was still very high. It was a valuable gift.
As for the ordinary low-level employees of the Railway Administration, they had at least fifty kilograms of rice, fifty kilograms of flour, and two or three bolts of cloth.
Ang Lee promised to protect the rights of the employees of the Railway Administration. It was natural that he was loved and respected by the employees of the Railway Administration. After hearing the good news, the low-ranking officials of the Railway Administration who were still working all ran out and warmly chatted with Ang Lee. They even flattered Ang Lee so much that he was embarrassed.
"Since Assistant Minister Li is willing to speak for our Railway Administration, what are we waiting for? Hurry up and issue the order for all departments to calculate the situation of the employees and start to prepare the year-end bonus and New Year goods."
A low-ranking official struck while the iron was hot and said.
"Yes, I am willing to sign and support the year-end bonus and New Year goods."
"I am also willing to sign and support. I must support it!"
"Yes! We are low-ranking officials who don't embezzle the money of the imperial court. What are we afraid of? Even if my house is searched, they won't find anything valuable. I want all of us to unite and support the year-end bonus. We want to stand together with Assistant Minister Li. "
"Yes, yes, yes. Since Assistant Minister Li is willing to stand up for us, then we also have to make a statement and let the imperial court see our hearts. We are just ordinary low-ranking officials who have never embezzled a single copper coin from the imperial court. We are not afraid of anything."
The low-ranking officials spoke together and supported Ang Lee's decision.
The imperial court ordered a thorough investigation of all departments of the Railway Administration, and indeed found a lot of corruption. However, this corruption was done by only a few people, and most of the employees of the Railway Administration were not involved. Therefore, there was no reason for the ordinary employees to suffer together with them. They could not let the kind ordinary employees share the blame for the corrupt officials, and they could not allow some corrupt officials to use the employees' benefits to make up the deficit. This kind of behavior was absolutely not allowed.
Since these low-ranking officials were so cooperative, Ang Lee could not wait any longer. He directly took several representatives of the low-ranking officials to the Southern Yamen. The Railway Administration in the capital could directly order the departments to prepare the year-end bonus at any time, but it was not so easy in other places of the Tang dynasty. They had to send someone to deliver the order by car, and it might take many days to reach the farthest place.
However, the order must be given by a leader. Yu Chaoen had already reflected on his mistakes in seclusion, and the imperial court had not promoted him to the new Railway Administration Supervisor. Therefore, it became a problem who could give the order.
Although the standard of the Railway Administration was not high, it was still a very large and important department of the imperial court. If the main leader was not in office for a long time, it would be difficult for him to fully coordinate the normal operation of the railway. This was not a long-term solution.
For example, the year-end bonus this time. Because there was no unified leader, none of the officials and low-ranking officials in the headquarters dared to mention the year-end bonus when it was almost the New Year. They were worried that they would be criticized, or that they would be implicated if they said it. However, it was different now. With Ang Lee supporting them, they did not have to worry about anything. As long as they followed behind Ang Lee, they did not have to worry about anything.
When Ang Lee and these low-ranking officials arrived at the Southern Yamen, Yang Guozhong was not there. He had gone to the palace to report the situation, but the Governor Xianyu Zhongtong, who was in charge of the thorough investigation of the Railway Administration, was here.
"Assistant Minister Li, why are you here? What's the matter?"
Xianyu Zhongtong asked when he saw Ang Lee.
Ang Lee smiled and said, "It's not a big deal. I just want to discuss with the Imperial Censor to find a new leader of the Railway Administration as soon as possible. The Railway Administration is very important to the Tang dynasty, and it can't be without a leader! It's almost the New Year, and they haven't even started to prepare for the year-end bonus. This must be prepared. We can't let the ordinary employees suffer just because some of them have embezzled the imperial court's money. The money that should be given must be given. "
"Yes, of course, the innocent people should be given what they deserve. This must be given. There is no saying that the Railway Administration is not allowed to give the year-end bonus!"
Xianyu Zhongtong said.
Ang Lee nodded and said, "Of course, I know that. However, the year-end bonus has always been in charge of Yu Chaoen and a few other key officials. Now, they can't take up their positions. Therefore, no one is in charge of strategizing, and the people below dare not buy and distribute at will."
After all, the people in charge of purchasing materials had the opportunity to be corrupt. For example, when buying rice or noodles, they could use the reason of quantity to lower the price, but when reporting, they would write the highest price in the world. This way, the people in charge of purchasing could make a lot of money, and there were even more people who could be corrupt when buying materials such as meat and cloth.
This kind of corruption was extremely common in any era, and even the civilized society of later generations could not avoid it. Moreover, this kind of situation was impossible to eliminate, and the difficulty was too great.
In other words, no matter the era, as long as the person in charge of purchasing, there was a chance to be corrupt. After all, it was impossible to let a lot of people buy at the same time! In this way, the cost of manpower would go up, and it would waste more money.
Because the Railway Administration was investigating corruption, the people who were originally in charge of purchasing New Year goods did not dare to ask for it, nor did they have the idea of asking. In the past, when they were in charge of purchasing, they could be greedy, but this time, they did not dare to be greedy. Purchasing also required physical and mental strength. If they could not be greedy, then what was the point of doing it? Wouldn't it be a waste of energy? If someone framed them, then it would be even more tiring, and only a fool would be willing to do it.
But thinking about it, if no one was in charge of purchasing, this benefit would not exist. Wasn't this a great loss? These people in charge of purchasing were also employees of the Railway Administration. If no one was in charge of purchasing New Year goods, then they would not be able to get the New Year goods themselves.
In a situation where the situation was unclear, no one dared to take the lead to discuss this matter. Only when Ang Lee came to make the decision for them did they become bolder. After all, with the protection of a big shot, they did not have to worry about anything.
"Assistant Minister Li is right. We should not implicate the innocent, but the person in charge of the Railway Administration? It's not easy to find one in a short time! The main officials in the headquarters have been arrested and demoted. There is really no suitable person to be found! We can't just find a small official to be the official! In addition, His Majesty only let Yu Changshi reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors and did not punish him. Perhaps, His Majesty intends to let Yu Changshi be in charge of the Railway Administration again in the future. "
Xianyu Zhongtong expressed his doubts.
Ang Lee nodded and agreed, "It seems to be quite difficult, but this problem is already in front of us. We still have to solve it as soon as possible. We can't delay it again and again! Why don't we go see His Majesty together and ask for his opinion? How about it? "
"Oh, Assistant Minister Li can go and ask. I still have a lot of official business to deal with."
Xianyu Zhongtong said slyly.
Because he did not have a candidate in mind, Xianyu Zhongtong was unwilling to see the Emperor. If he just asked for a candidate, it would seem a little inappropriate and he was afraid that the Emperor would be unhappy. Ang Lee's status was much higher than his, so it was not a big deal even if he made the Emperor unhappy. However, he was different. He was a dispensable person. Without his existence, the Tang Dynasty would not suffer any losses, unlike Ang Lee. Without Ang Lee, the entire Tang Empire would not be able to operate well. Moreover, Ang Lee was still carrying out the most awesome Ten Thousand Miles Sound Transmission Plan. Once this plan was realized, it would bring earth-shaking changes to the Tang Empire. This plan was completely inseparable from Ang Lee. Only Ang Lee could complete this impossible task. No one else could complete this task, and they would not even be able to figure out how to complete it.
"Well, you can go about your business! I'll go by myself. "
Ang Lee did not want to force him. He winked at several low-ranking officials to follow him into the palace. Since he was working for the Railway Administration, he naturally had to let the Emperor hear the voices of the grassroots.
"Assistant Minister Li, what are you doing?"
When Yang Guozhong finished reporting his achievements and left the hall, he happened to meet Ang Lee, who was leading several low-ranking officials of the Railway Administration, so he went up to greet him.
Ang Lee quickly responded, "The Railway Administration has been leaderless these days, and the ordinary employees have lost their motivation. I'll take them to see His Majesty and let His Majesty decide on a new Railway Administration as soon as possible, so that the Railway Administration can get on the right track as soon as possible."
Yang Guozhong heard this and nodded, "Assistant Minister Li is right! The Railway Administration cannot be without a leader for a long time, so naturally, there must be a new leader. However, what is the Railway Administration? The Right Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty has not been decided yet. Why doesn't His Majesty worry? "
"How can the Right Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty not be decided yet? Isn't Censor Yang the best candidate? Haha! "
Ang Lee said with a smile.
Yang Guozhong heard this and was naturally very happy. He said with a smile, "Assistant Minister Li is making fun of me. I hang around in front of His Majesty every day. If His Majesty wants me to be the Right Prime Minister, then what is he waiting for? I'm afraid he has other ideas!"
"You're too kind. His Majesty still wants to test you. As long as Censor Yang handles the Railway Administration well and satisfies His Majesty, then there's nothing else to say. The Right Prime Minister will definitely be you!"
Ang Lee said with a smile.
"In that case, handling the Railway Administration's affairs is very important right now! Then, I wonder if Assistant Minister Li has a suitable candidate? "
Yang Guozhong asked.
"Not yet, but there are so many employees in the Railway Administration. There must be someone suitable. Censor Yang has been handling the case for many days, but he hasn't found anyone who is honest and not corrupt in the Railway Administration. It's not impossible to choose one of these people to be the Right Prime Minister!"
Ang Lee said.
Yang Guozhong nodded and said, "Assistant Minister Li is right. After working hard on the case these days, I did find some honest and not corrupt officials in the Railway Administration. However, their official positions are not very high. Wouldn't it be too fast to promote them to the position of Right Prime Minister?"
"It's not fast, not fast at all. Even if it drags on, there might not be a suitable person. Don't you think so?"
Ang Lee said with a smile.
Yang Guozhong nodded and said, "If that's the case, then let's go see His Majesty together! I know the situation of the officials in the Railway Administration better than Assistant Minister Li. "
"Okay, then let's go together!"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
