Qing Yao

Chapter 362 Cutting Off Your Daily Necessities
Stop both office expenses and staff salaries!
Zhao An, as the provincial governor, had the power to suspend the education administration office.

He even has the power to cut off water, electricity, gas, telephone, newspapers, and everything else.

The reason is simple: on the surface, the provincial governor's office and the education administration office were independent and parallel, each performing its own duties.

The Education Commissioner was a special commissioner of the imperial court, responsible for education and the imperial examinations in a province. His position was not in the province, but in the capital. His superior was the Minister of Rites, and the relevant unit was the Imperial Academy.

The provincial governor was a high-ranking official in charge of the administration and finance of a province. He was stationed in the local government and his superiors were the governor and viceroy. He had no hierarchical relationship with the provincial education commissioner.

Therefore, the provincial governor could not control the provincial education commissioner, and the provincial education commissioner could not control the provincial governor.

However, due to the Qing government's tax policies, the operating expenses of the provincial education offices, the salaries of the education officials and their staff, the expenses for the education officials to preside over examinations in various places, and the salaries of the officials and teachers of prefectural and county schools all needed to be allocated by the provincial governor's office from the provincial treasury.

Otherwise, if funds were allocated from the Ministry of Revenue in the capital, not to mention the losses involved, the mere inconvenience alone would paralyze the educational administration offices of all the provinces.

To put it simply, this sum of money is an education fund. Every year, the Ministry of Revenue sets aside a fixed amount from the taxes due in each province to fund the education fund for the provincial treasuries. In principle, this is enough for the use of the education administration offices. However, principles can sometimes be broken.

For example, Anhui just suffered a major disaster this year. The treasury silver and the disaster relief silver coordinated by the Ministry of Revenue were all used to fill the huge hole of disaster relief and quelling the rebellion. So, is it reasonable that the salaries of education staff, including teachers, cannot be paid on time?
The Education Administration Office, despite its prestigious name, was actually a powerless institution. Unlike the Provincial Governor's Office, which managed finances and taxes, or the Provincial Judicial Commissioner's Office, which had income from judicial fines, the Education Administration Office itself had no legitimate source of income. While educational officials could have some illicit income, the office itself had no legal source of revenue.

The entire operation of the government office depends on the quarterly education funding from the provincial treasury. If the treasury suddenly stops disbursing funds, it would be like a company suddenly losing all its cash flow.

What are the consequences?
Even a Fortune 500 company has to declare bankruptcy if it runs out of money.

Undoubtedly, this is a desperate measure that will only lead to mutual destruction.

If the commotion gets too big, the lawsuit will definitely have to go all the way to the old man.

That's embarrassing too.

The provincial governor's office and the provincial education commissioner's office got into a fight, which led to the suspension of both offices. What about the face of the imperial court? What about the imperial examination system and education? What about the stability of the local areas?
If things go wrong, the old man might not stand on Zhao An's side this time.

After all, the education administration office was the foundation of the imperial examination system, which in turn was another fundamental aspect of the state, in addition to the Great Purge of the Eight Banners.

Zhao An's actions offended not only Xu Ligang, the provincial education commissioner, but also all officials and staff in Anhui's education sector, and even all students in Anhui.

Throughout history, how many people who went against scholars have had a good ending?

Zhao An was also furious, truly furious. If Xu Ligang, the education commissioner, were to have a face-to-face debate with him, he would have no objection. He would present the facts and reason with him, and listen to whoever was right.

Wouldn't it be better to be open and honest, exchange opinions frankly, value each other's demands, set aside points of contention, and work together for the development of Anhui?
Just because you, surnamed Xu, are on good terms with Zhu Gui doesn't mean you can look down on me, Zhao Youlu.

But this dignified academic official is like a child, constantly causing trouble and nitpicking. He's not annoyed, but Zhao An is.

Even clay figures have a bit of personality.

Moreover, one should not hit someone in the face, nor should one expose someone's shortcomings when insulting them.

There's no reason to expose a provincial governor's underwear in public!

You, surnamed Xu, are a scoundrel, so we, surnamed Zhao, can't tolerate you either!
Why would someone with nothing to lose be afraid of someone wearing shoes? Even if you beat the Education Commissioner to death, he would never know that Zhao An is not only a sycophantic villain, but also a genuine fake "cadre"!
The governor's order was quickly sent to the provincial office. Old Song, the office director who was handling official business, was startled by the order and quickly found Zhao An to persuade him not to act impulsively, because such a lose-lose situation was unacceptable.

"Your Excellency has finally been appointed as the acting governor. If you are reprimanded and demoted by the Emperor because of this matter, wouldn't all your previous efforts have been in vain?"

Old Song's reminder is reasonable. What is Zhao An's purpose in promoting industry and commerce to revitalize the province, reorganizing the army and improving its military skills, and cultivating an image of an upright official?
Isn't his goal simply to firmly grasp Anhui and make it his base for overthrowing the old master?

If this "battle between the two platforms" results in a lose-lose situation and a loss of control over Anhui, let alone defeating the old master, he probably won't even be able to withstand Sifu'er's debt collection team.

Even if the old master doesn't dismiss Zhao An, what if another governor is parachuted in?
Zhao An was able to vigorously promote the "new policies" precisely because Anhui lacked a governor.

"Then what do you suggest we do? Are we just going to let that Xu guy abuse me like this?!"

Zhao An knew, of course, that Lao Song was right, but he just couldn't swallow his anger towards Xu Ligang.

So fucking infuriating!

"Stop! We have to stop! If we don't teach that Xu guy a lesson, he'll think I'm some kind of elementary school student!"

Zhao An became angrier the more he thought about it.

"Uh, a primary school student?"

Old Song was completely unfamiliar with this new term.

"Anyway, if he doesn't let me have an easy time, I'll make sure he doesn't have an easy time either."

Zhao An was adamant that the Education Bureau must be suspended from both its functions and its operations, as a strong countermeasure against the Provincial Governor's Office.

“My lord, if someone like Xu is wrong to arbitrarily cut off public funds and stop paying salaries, you must consider the opinions of outsiders and the court.”

Old Song was very troubled.

"Um,"

Zhao An slowly sat down, glanced at the mountain of official documents on his desk, frowned slightly, calmed down and thought it over and over before instructing Old Song: "Here's what you'll do, immediately transfer capable personnel from the Household Department to the Education Administration Office."

Old Song was stunned: "What are you doing?"

Zhao Anwei snorted: "Doesn't that Xu guy like to talk about ancient etiquette and rules? Then let's talk to him about the 'Great Qing Code' and the 'Regulations of the Ministry of Revenue'. As the Provincial Governor, I am in charge of the administration of this province and the receipt and disbursement of money and grain. I, as the Provincial Governor, should know the whereabouts of every penny that flows out of the provincial treasury!"

After saying that, he stood up and flicked his sleeves, "To ensure that the imperial treasury is not wasted and not embezzled by corrupt officials, I will audit all the expenditures of the Education Bureau over the past year, no matter what the expenditure was, even the money spent on toilet paper, I will find out everything!"

Until the accounts are fully verified, all funding, grain, and staff salaries for the Education Bureau shall be suspended. This way, even if the Emperor finds out, he will have no grounds for complaint. Auditing is the prerogative of our Provincial Treasurer!

(End of this chapter)