Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 451 Imperial Censor
Within the Secretariat, Zhang Dai smoothly received the imperial edict appointing him as a Censor, and he was naturally delighted.

Although the difference between the Inspectorate and the Censorate is only in name, there is not much difference in their duties and treatment, but if you can be a regular official, who would want to be a minor official?
Just like Consort Wu Hui, although she received the same honors and treatment as the Empress, she was ultimately not the Empress, and without the proper title, her words would not be righteous.

Although the difference between a Supervising Inspector and a Supervising Censor is not significant during their term of office, when their term expires and they are transferred, they cannot be transferred according to the rank and seniority of a Supervising Censor. This results in a huge difference in treatment after leaving office.

That's why the inspectors were called "peppers with a 'happiness'"—because they had to do everything they could to become official officials during their term, so that they could get all the benefits of an inspector. If they missed this final step due to momentary negligence, it would be a lifelong regret.

He had just stepped out of the Ministry of Personnel when he heard the latest news: Pei Guangting, the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, had officially taken on the concurrent post of Grand Censor and had already gone to the Censorate to assume his new post.

Upon learning of this, Zhang Dai was overjoyed and immediately left Daming Palace to rush to Taiji Palace in the imperial city to offer his congratulations.

In the Imperial Censorate, the censors from the three courts gathered in front of the main hall to congratulate Pei Guangting on his new appointment, led by Censor-in-Chief Pei Kuan.

Pei Guangting, who was usually quite shrewd and never showed his emotions, couldn't help but smile today. He nodded in response to the congratulations from his subordinates and said to them, "The laws and regulations of the state are managed by the Censorate. In the past, when the Grand Master went to govern, there was no chief of the Censorate, and the subordinates had no one to follow his orders, so the affairs of the Censorate were inevitably delayed."

You are all loyal and capable individuals, yet you have been unable to demonstrate your abilities due to the shortcomings of your superiors. From this day forward, all matters shall return to normal; each person shall act according to their proper role, and any deficiencies shall be gradually remedied. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work with you all to uphold the law!

When Zhang Dai hurriedly returned to the Censorate, he saw Pei Guangting standing proudly in front of the hall, reprimanding the censors of the three courts. Pei Guangting was full of high spirits and was even more excited than when he was appointed prime minister the day before.

Indeed, this was the case. Before becoming prime minister, Pei Guangting had made various personnel preparations and made efforts to secure his position. When he officially became prime minister, he was in a good mood, but he was also quite calm and composed, and regarded it as a matter of course to enjoy the fruits of victory.

However, this time, the concurrent appointment as Imperial Censor was different. It was not something that had been planned for a long time. It was just an idea that Pei Guangting came up with on a whim after receiving Zhang Jiazhen's resignation memorial from Dingzhou. Now that he was able to achieve his wish smoothly, it was an extremely pleasant surprise for him.

Another particularly important point is that although Pei Guangting had already served as prime minister, he did not have a department directly under his command. In front of Xiao Song and Yuwen Rong, he was a weak and crippled prime minister.

However, this situation changed drastically upon his appointment as Imperial Censor. Pei Guangting not only gained direct control of his own agency, but also the crucial Censorate! With the prime minister wielding supervisory power, Pei Guangting's influence experienced a qualitative leap!
Because this matter was of great significance to him, Pei Guangting gave a long speech in front of everyone, which was rare for him. After seeing Zhang Dai enter the office, he made no attempt to hide his intimacy and beckoned Zhang Dai to come closer.

"Zhang Dai, the Censor-in-Chief, was considered by some to be too young and incompetent for the position of censor. I alone held a different opinion and strongly advocated for his appointment. As expected, Censor Zhang lived up to expectations, remaining upright and unyielding, and rectifying the morals of the world. As a result, he was highly praised by the Emperor and appointed as a full-fledged official!"

Pei Guangting pulled Zhang Dai to his side, like a madam in a brothel enthusiastically introducing the most beautiful courtesan she had trained: "You all should take this as an example, be upright, speak frankly, and dare to offer advice!"

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. In particular, the village officials who had entered the Censorate at the same time as Zhang Dai shouted loudly, their eyes blazing with fighting spirit, like flames burning brightly.

After giving everyone a pep talk, Pei Guangting waved for them to disperse, leaving only Zhang Dai behind to accompany him into the hall. As soon as they sat down, he couldn't help but laugh and say, "The situation has suddenly become much clearer! Zongzhi, you have made a great contribution!"

"It is thanks to your keen insight and decisive action, sir. I was merely following orders!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai quickly bowed again and said...

"You don't need to be too modest. I know that I have benefited from this change. The position of Imperial Censor is by no means indispensable. Moreover, Li Chaoyin and others are highly regarded. If it weren't for the previous case, my chances of taking on this role would be slim."

After saying this, Pei Guangting couldn't help but sigh again: "Life is like climbing a mountain. You climb one peak and then see another! I am not greedy for power and influence, but I am unwilling to be like Xue Tao, a mediocre person who holds a position and steals a salary without doing anything. Although I have a great plan, I have been hindered at every turn and unable to implement it. Now, I have finally seen a turning point! In the future, no matter what I do or don't do, I will always remember Zongzhi's help to me."

"Your Excellency has the world in your heart and ambitions in your heart. Your success is a blessing to the nation! I am fortunate to be able to ride on your coattails and also soar in this era!"

The more Pei Guangting expressed his gratitude, the more Zhang Dai dared not be overly proud. Their relationship was neither distant nor close, and they still needed to distinguish between superiors and subordinates.

Pei Guangting's gratitude towards Zhang Dai was genuine. After emphasizing this twice, he had clearly expressed his meaning before saying to Zhang Dai, "Your composure and skillful handling of affairs are commendable. You have accomplished much in the past, and your current position is somewhat beneath your talents. However, in officialdom, haste makes waste, and those who are promoted by chance often fade away when favor wanes. You have been promoted so frequently that it is not advisable to make any further appointments now. Instead, focus on your duties as a censor and consider your next move after your term is completed. Although there are many prestigious positions in the central government, without experience in local administration, one cannot achieve great things."

You, a refined young man, are likely unaware of the essentials of governing the people. This year, you have many affairs to attend to at the court. After the New Year, I will arrange for you to tour the various circuits. At that time, you will be able to focus on your visits, observe the details, and calmly choose your post in the three prefectures to solidify your foundation.”

Having connections in the court makes it easier to get an official position, a sentiment Zhang Dai was acutely aware of at this moment. Although Pei Guangting didn't promote him this time, he did help him plan his future career path and pointed out a development route.

If anyone else, including his grandfather, had said these things, it would have been just talk. But coming from Pei Guangting, it carried a different meaning. As the current prime minister, Pei Guangting had the ability to help Zhang Dai achieve his plans, provided Zhang Dai was willing to follow them.

Zhang Dai didn't actually want his term as Censor to end too soon. The Censor not only held the power of impeachment, but could also be considered the official with the most comprehensive range of powers besides the Prime Minister. Other officials, even those who held high positions in the Six Ministries, were only responsible for specific tasks.

The Censor-in-Chief was responsible for both inspecting prefectures and counties and scrutinizing officials upon returning home. The breadth of people he came into contact with was far beyond what other officials could achieve. The opportunities for building connections and gaining experience in this position were considerable, which was a major reason why lower-ranking officials aspired to become Censors-in-Chief.

After helping Zhang Dai with a medium- to long-term career plan, Pei Guangting began to assign him his current tasks: "I have briefly looked through the records of the Censorate. Currently, there are many censors who have been sent out, and there is a great shortage of staff in the departments that remain. Now that you have been promoted to a regular position, you should be brave enough to take on responsibilities. You should first take charge of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Justice."

The censors had a wide range of powers, and in addition to their basic duties, the specific matters they were responsible for investigating varied. The Censorate also had the power to investigate the Six Ministries, which were under the Ministry of Personnel, and these positions were usually held by senior censors.

Although Zhang Dai had been promoted to a regular official position, he was still a low-ranking censor, and generally wouldn't be given such a post. But since he had chosen the right leader, everything was naturally easier.

"Your humble servant will certainly be diligent and conscientious in his duties and will not dare to slack off!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai quickly lowered his head and said that he also wanted to understand the implementation status of Yuwen Rong's financial and accounting policies through the supervision of the Ministry of Revenue.

Pei Guangting assigned him this task with a similar deeper meaning: "I just discussed current affairs with the Duke of Bohai and realized that I had underestimated you before."

Financial planning is not my forte, but Zongzhi, you are an expert in this field, and even the Duke of Bohai speaks highly of you. I have now assigned you to oversee the two departments, hoping that you will thoroughly examine Yuwen's plans. If you find anything amiss, report it immediately, and lest it escalate into a dangerous situation that harms the state.”

Yuwen Rong gained power through financial schemes, and his actions often deviated from traditional political concepts, inevitably giving people a negative impression of him as someone who specialized in accumulating wealth. Moreover, since the Tang and Song dynasties, opinions about Yuwen Rong have been mixed, with some even regarding him as the originator of the path of exploitation, accumulating wealth, and seeking advancement through extortion.

Pei Guangting was a staunch supporter of traditional aristocratic politics, and given his real power struggles with Yuwen Rong, he naturally harbored no goodwill towards him. Zhang Dai, as Zhang Yue's grandson, possessed financial and business acumen that even Gao Lishi praised highly, making him the ideal candidate to monitor Yuwen Rong.

Zhang Dai naturally didn't have that kind of narrow-mindedness, but he also had no intention of easing the conflict between the two. Upon hearing Pei Guangting's instructions, he immediately nodded in agreement.

The two were still talking when suddenly a chaotic commotion of shouts and neighing horses erupted outside, and there were also cries of alarm and running around inside the Censorate.

What's happening outside?

Hearing these commotions, Pei Guangting was naturally displeased and immediately frowned and questioned him.

Before long, an official rushed in from outside, bowing hastily and saying, "Reporting to Prime Minister Pei and the Grand Physician, there are... soldiers from the North Gate rushing in, blocking the gate and demanding to see the Grand Physician..."

Upon hearing this, Pei Guangting and Zhang Dai's expressions changed drastically. They quickly got up and started walking out. Before they even reached the north gate of the government office, they heard an angry roar from outside: "Pei Guangting, Zhang Dai, get out here and see me right now! What grudge do I have against you that you would plot to murder my son!"

(End of this chapter)