Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 342 Selection of Subjects for the Ministry of Personnel

During the Tang Dynasty, the number of people selected for official positions increased by several thousand each year. Some entered officialdom through the imperial examination, while others entered through other means. The largest group of people who entered officialdom through hereditary privilege included, but were not limited to, sons of the Three Guards, those who served as attendants at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and students of the Imperial Academy.

After obtaining their official status, these individuals entered the preparatory bureaucratic system to await appointment. However, the number of vacancies in official positions each year was relatively fixed. Unless there was a major court struggle that affected the local areas, or a natural disaster with a wide coverage, such as in the fourteenth or fifteenth year of the Kaiyuan era, it was difficult for large-scale vacancies to occur.

Although there are distinctions between "lucky" and "unlucky" years in the selection process, even in a "lucky" year, it's impossible to meet the demand for all candidates. With many officials but few positions, how to select the right people becomes a major problem.

However, in reality, besides establishing a more objective and fair election law, controlling the increase in the number of candidates is also a possible solution. In Zhang Dai's view, the most crucial measure to cut was the hereditary system of granting official positions through family connections.

In the Tang Dynasty, a fifth-rank official could secure the position of his son, while a third-rank official could secure even more positions for his descendants. If an official reached the third rank, as long as he wasn't particularly unlucky and didn't act recklessly, his descendants would basically be guaranteed official positions for generations to come.

Take the Zhang family for example. Nearly twenty members of the family now hold official positions, some like Zhang Dai and his father Zhang Jun who entered through the imperial examinations, others through family connections. For instance, his uncle Zhang Yang failed his exams at the Hongwen Academy and will likely have to rely on family connections to secure an official position in the future.

However, even Pei Guangting hesitated and dared not speak out when he proposed a method based on qualifications. If Zhang Dai dared to suggest narrowing the avenues for hereditary privilege, he would be beaten to death by officials both inside and outside the court. Even the eunuchs wouldn't let him off the hook; although they had no blood relatives, they could still have adopted sons inheriting hereditary privileges!
At least before truly wielding power, Zhang Dai would not dabble in such a minefield, because this was different from Yuwen Rong's land and household requisition policy. It was a precise attack on the bureaucratic class, and the degree of hatred it attracted was much greater than Yuwen Rong's land requisition policy.

Pei Guangting's system of selecting candidates was developed based on the long list of names and the annotation method created by his father, Pei Xingjian. No matter how much it was criticized, it at least provided a relatively fair and intuitive standard for selection.

As for the most criticized aspect, the standards are too rigid and not conducive to the advancement of truly talented people, there are actually ways to make some improvements.

"For example, the methods for selecting candidates for the imperial examinations are divided into regular and special examinations, and the methods for selecting candidates should also be considered separately. The method proposed by Vice Minister Pei based on qualifications is a plan for selecting ordinary candidates. Ordinary talents can be promoted based on their seniority and given a position to perform their duties. However, extraordinary talents still need to be selected through special examinations, rewarded for their excellence, and given important positions."

Zhang Dai stood up from his seat, pondered for a moment, and said, "If we follow the qualification system, the selection process will be simplified. The Ministry of Personnel can then easily add subject-based selections, such as the erudition and eloquence of the 'Literature' subject and the outstanding writing and judgment of the 'Personnel' subject. Regular positions will follow the qualification system, while important positions will be based on the subject-based selection. Each will be done according to its own suitability, which is a good approach!"

"That's right, that's exactly what I was thinking, but it's not as concrete as Rokuro's idea!"

Upon hearing Zhang Dai's words, Pei Guangting clapped his hands and looked at Zhang Dai with admiration and joy at having found a kindred spirit: "Sixth Brother is a great talent! No wonder even Lord Yan said he was happy to discuss matters with Sixth Brother. His words have been very impressive and insightful!"
If he truly gains entry into the government in the future, the first thing to do is to prevent Liu Lang from remaining a lowly official, confined to a minor post. With such great talent, he should be given a chance to fully utilize his abilities, to live up to his life's potential, and to benefit his family and country!

Zhang Dai smiled slightly upon hearing this, "How could I not give you a good lesson? Because that's exactly what you did!"
Many people criticize Pei Guangting's system of selecting candidates based on their qualifications, but they often fail to mention that the Ministry of Personnel also implemented a special selection process along with the system of selecting candidates based on their qualifications. The purpose of this was to create special subjects to attract outstanding talents.

The relationship between the selection of candidates and the selection of subjects is similar to that between the regular subjects and the special subjects in the imperial examination. One is a general standard for talent selection, while the other is a higher-level standard.

Therefore, if candidates lack confidence in their abilities, they should honestly and methodically advance based on seniority. If they believe they have exceptional abilities and are unwilling to progress step by step, they can participate in the Ministry of Personnel's subject selection to challenge higher standards.

"With Liu Lang's brilliant plan supplementing our strategy, shall we submit our two plans together?"

Pei Guangting looked at Zhang Shuo with excitement and asked, though he didn't say it aloud, he was also eager to demonstrate his competitiveness.

But before Zhang could speak, Zhang Dai smiled and said, "The selection period is already halfway over, and it's too late to submit a petition now. It's just adding to the controversy."

However, the selection of candidates through examinations can be implemented immediately. Currently, those seeking selection within the capital region are still lingering and wandering the streets, many of whom are disappointed and disheartened by their failure to be chosen. Wouldn't it be wonderful if there were another selection process where outstanding talents who were not chosen could re-examine their abilities and stand out? At that time, all those seeking selection within the capital region would surely sing praises of Vice Minister Pei's love for talent and compassion for scholars, and his admirable virtue!

What is creating momentum? Simply put, it's about using words and actions to make others feel your goodwill, thereby encouraging them to express friendliness and support. Pei Guangting's biggest disadvantage in aspiring to become prime minister was his lack of experience and reputation. However, if he were to suggest adding a selection process to give candidates more opportunities to demonstrate their abilities, he would undoubtedly gain widespread praise and support from the tens of thousands of candidates in the capital region.

Although these candidates were merely reserve officials, not yet holding prominent positions, many of them had relatives or friends serving in official posts. Moreover, his ability to quell the discontent among the candidates alone was enough to earn him considerable prestige in the court, and also brought to mind his father's various contributions to the Tang Dynasty's election system.

“That’s right. Following the qualification method, it is perfectly acceptable to submit a memorial after the matter is settled. If it is for the purpose of creating momentum and seeking fame, the subject selection method is sufficient. Going too far will inevitably lead to more harm than good.”

Zhang Shuo also agreed with Zhang Dai's opinion, but he also knew that following the rules was the key achievement of Pei Guangting's design, and perhaps Pei Guangting wanted to highlight this aspect. So he added, "If you feel it is a pity that the good plan of following the rules is buried, you can try to submit it to the emperor through another channel so that the emperor can consider it."

The so-called "inner report through unconventional channels" naturally refers to reporting to the emperor through some unorthodox and special channels.

It should be noted that Pei Guangting's wife was Wu Sansi's daughter, and Gao Lishi also came from Wu Sansi's family. It would not be difficult for Pei Guangting to ask Gao Lishi to present his political views to the emperor through this relationship.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai frowned slightly. He was thinking that his aunt had an ambiguous relationship with Li Linfu. As soon as Li Linfu returned to the capital, there were signs that they were trying to force themselves together. If they went through Wu's connections, he couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't leak the information to Li Linfu.

This woman might not necessarily harm her husband; she might simply be showing off or hoping that Li Linfu would approach Pei Guangting and ask him for a way out, subtly revealing to him that Pei Guangting had the idea and means to seek a position as prime minister. That would be enough for Li Linfu.

Li Linfu still needs to stick with Yuwen Rong's more stable ship, especially since Yuwen Rong's rise is more vigorous right now. Of course, he won't jump ship halfway. He might even leak this matter and spread it around, thereby using public opinion to smear Pei Guangting and eliminate a potential political opponent.

While he was still pondering how to subtly remind him, Pei Guangting shook his head and said, "What Liu Lang said makes sense. Even if we report the matter now, it will be difficult to implement it immediately. In that case, it would be better to keep it a secret for the time being, so that we can focus more on the important matter."

This shows that Pei Guangting and Yuwen Rong have very different personalities. Yuwen Rong is a big mouth. No matter whether something will succeed or not, he will loudly proclaim it first.

Take, for example, when Zhang Dai traveled east to Weizhou. When he met Yuwen Rong, Yuwen Rong boasted about his grand plan to rebuild the Wang Mang River. Zhang Dai then subtly tried to sow discord among Yuwen Rong's mind, making him give up on Yuan Fu, an unqualified helper. In the end, the Wang Mang River was never repaired.

Pei Guangting, however, was clearly much more composed and calm. He planned his actions carefully, and wouldn't even confide in his wife until the opportune moment arrived. His advice to Zhang Dai to first trick the Yuan family before presenting his plan also revealed his cunning side. He had been blinded by concern earlier, but after being reminded, he quickly adjusted his mindset and stopped obsessively trying to show off.

Next, Zhang Shuo helped Pei Guangting review the wording of the memorial. Although all officials of the Ministry of Personnel were qualified to submit memorials, it was still a bit presumptuous for Pei Guangting, as the Vice Minister of War, to discuss the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel.

If this displeases officials in the Ministry of Personnel, including Minister Song Jing, it could negatively impact his further plans. The success or failure of such crucial personnel maneuvers often hinges on the thoroughness of a few key details. Therefore, a relatively reasonable groundwork needs to be laid regarding the angle from which the memorial is submitted.

One angle they ultimately chose was Pei Guangting, as Vice Minister of War, refuting the memorial submitted by the Jingzhao Prefecture and others regarding the gathering of people from the outlying prefectures of the capital region, their desire to increase the conscription of cavalry, and the need for long-term conscription to strengthen city defenses and guards. These people from the outlying prefectures were mostly elected officials, not criminals; rather than increasing the number of soldiers to intimidate them, it would be better for the Ministry of Personnel to add examinations to appease them.

Once Pei Guangting's problem was resolved, Zhang Dai brought up the discussion he had had that day at Yan Ting's house about the unfavorable situation regarding this year's examinations. He worried that his little group, which had just been formed, might be dismantled before it even reached the end of its infancy.

"This year's performance evaluation is indeed a concern. With Yan Tingzhi gone, Du Xian's situation will inevitably become even more precarious. His influence in court is far less than that of Li Yuanhong, and now Xiao Song has entered the court with his border merits, leaving him with even more indecisiveness. It is only natural that Cui Mian would want to take the position."

After listening to Zhang Dai's account, Zhang Yue continued, "Although Genji does not hold court, he often participates in state affairs. Cui Mian, as the envoy for performance evaluation, also provides some assistance. Genji should indeed be expelled now, so that there will be discord among them in court!"

(End of this chapter)