Qing Yao

Chapter 97 I am a person of the Grand Secretary

The words are rough and the reasoning is not rough!
Zhao An spoke from the bottom of his heart, and sincerely hoped to receive moral support and financial assistance from the two former leaders.

After all, how long would it take him to climb up the ladder if he relied on himself alone?

These days, it's not like the early Qing Dynasty when official salaries had increased dozens of times.

Thirty years ago, the Ministry of Personnel clearly priced a county magistrate position of the eighth rank at 980 taels of silver. With the additional fees for bribing officials, it would only cost a maximum of 1500 taels of silver to secure the post. But what about now?

The starting price for even a minor county magistrate is 7000 taels of silver!
It increased fourfold.

Ding Dalong, the ambassador of the Ganquan County Tax Bureau, spent 5000 taels of silver to buy the ninth-rank position. Of course, the position of ambassador of the Tax Bureau was a lucrative one, and it was indeed more expensive than other positions of the same rank.

In general, a ninth-rank official would only be paid around three thousand taels of silver, while in some particularly poor areas, a few hundred taels might suffice.

Overall, official prices not only take into account regional economic development differences and the amount of power and money involved, but are also influenced by the broader historical context.

This major historical factor was the high inflation caused by the massive influx of silver during the Qianlong era.

In short, everything is expensive.

In addition, the official positions offered for sale by the Ministry of Personnel and those facilitated by local officials are generally no higher than the fourth rank. For those above the fourth rank, it's not about money, but about connections.

Of course, one must also possess genuine skills.

In other words, if County Magistrate Ding and Instructor Song desperately try to make enough money to climb the ranks, their ceiling will be below the fourth rank.

Moreover, one cannot directly acquire the fourth rank; one must be promoted step by step.

It's impossible for a seventh-rank official to be promoted to fourth-rank in one go. Each rank in between requires money. You have to bribe the Ministry of Personnel and the superiors who help you. Even if you manage to buy your way into a fourth-rank position, it's very likely that it won't be worth it after all the calculations.

Why make it so complicated?
It's just a dirty trick by the Ministry of Personnel to make money.

It's more cost-effective to stamp multiple times than to stamp only once.

Moreover, even if one becomes a fourth-rank official, it doesn't necessarily mean that the initial investment will be fully recovered; there are still many uncontrollable factors.

The most unjust thing is spending money, having an official in office, but losing your life.

In short, buying an official position is a skill-based activity; it's a complex and murky business, not something you can just decide to do on a whim.

Those who buy their way into official positions are all people without connections. The Ministry of Personnel and their superiors can manipulate them however they want. People with real connections don't need to waste their money on this.

Manchu bannermen from the Upper Three Banners were not subject to the control of the Ministry of Personnel.

Of course, there were exceptions among Han officials.

For example, Zhao An, who was personally selected by the old master, was promoted five ranks.

Those lucky ones who weren't in the old man's sight had no choice but to keep spending money.

Therefore, Zhao An hoped that the two old leaders would understand that with their own qualifications, it would be difficult for them to climb to a high position. County Magistrate Ding was estimated to be at most a fifth-rank official, and Instructor Song was an even worse academic official. If they could become a seventh-rank county magistrate, they would be lucky to have their ancestors' graves emitting auspicious smoke.

Since your two have limited room for advancement, why not give Zhao An the money so he can climb the ranks quickly?

This is called concentrating resources to accomplish big things!
With Zhao Anzhen becoming a high-ranking official, what are they worried about?

That's the logic, but Magistrate Ding wasn't convinced: "This county's esteemed Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) couldn't get promoted, but you, who only donated money to become a supervisor, can?"

"can!"

Without hesitation, Zhao An said with a proud expression, "I've been featured in the official gazette. Anyone who tries to stop me from climbing the ranks is going against the court and against His Majesty the Emperor!"

"."

One of the two senior leaders trembled as he held the teacup, while the other twitched his cheek like Zhao Si.

Damn it, he's gotten arrogant?!

Zhao An was quite proud. He lightly scraped the teacup with the lid, reminding him of another fact: "You two surely know where the fines for breach of contract are paid, right?" Of course!

Everyone knows that the money for punishing crimes is sent to the Imperial Household Department.

Zhao An nodded: "Who is in charge of the Imperial Household Department?"

Instructor Song hesitated for a moment: "It seems that Heshen and the Grand Secretary are in charge."

"Then do you two think that I am now considered one of the Grand Secretary's men?"

After speaking, I drank the light tea, which was very refreshing.

After a moment of stunned silence, County Magistrate Ding spat in Zhao An's face, saying, "Who do you think you are, a mere acquaintance of the Grand Secretary? Don't you know your own background?"

"You two know this, but others don't."

Zhao An was not annoyed at all. He calmly took out a handkerchief and gently wiped his face. "Why would a lowly ninth-rank official like me voluntarily pay the court a thousand taels of silver for punishment? And why did the court promote me five ranks and publish my story in the official gazette so that the whole country would know? Who else could it be but the Grand Secretary manipulating things behind the scenes?"

Ok?
The county magistrate and the instructor exchanged a glance: It seems that's the case.

When this kid went to the government office to hand over a thousand taels of silver, everyone laughed at him, but in the end, he surprised everyone and was amazed.

How did this happen?

Who is the biggest beneficiary of this?
It wasn't Zhao An, but He Zhongtang, who was in charge of the criminal fine!
If we look at it this way, isn't this just a good show that the Grand Secretary directed and acted in himself?

So, who was Zhao Youlu, the person in question, to Zhongtang?

I don't know, you'll have to use your imagination.

Anyway, the result of my imagination will definitely benefit that bastard Zhao An.

Realizing this, Instructor Song couldn't help but ask, "So, what does Lord Zhao intend to do?"

"First, I'll do a good job as a professor at the prefectural school and achieve some political success. Then you two can help me raise some money so I can get a promotion."

Zhao An was referring to the previously agreed-upon career advancement roadmap.

Having just become a professor at the prefectural school, he hadn't even had time to settle in before he was expected to be promoted. Therefore, he needed to achieve political success to gain his superiors' approval and then find a way to get in touch with the Grand Secretary. Only in this way could he climb the ranks legitimately.

With his brows furrowed, Magistrate Ding suddenly asked, "What kind of official do you want to be?"

"Waterways, canal transport, salt industry, and local official seals with real power are all acceptable, but assistant officials are not."

Zhao An also had principles regarding being an official: he would never be someone else's assistant, otherwise the credit would go to someone else.

Instructor Song had a bit of a headache: "Those officials that Lord Zhao mentioned must cost a lot of money."

"Aren't there two of you here?"

Zhao An picked up the large teapot and stepped forward to refill the water, saying, "As long as you two support me wholeheartedly, you might one day be able to address me as the Circuit Intendant, the Provincial Governor, or the Provincial Governor."

"Why don't you call me Minister?"

County Magistrate Ding snorted in annoyance, but in his heart he was very tempted by Zhao An's suggestion. This kid was currently riding high and was on the Emperor's side. Others didn't know whether he was actually with the Grand Secretary. Wasn't he more promising than him and Old Song?

Even if this kid forgets about the two of them after he goes up there, at least he won't have to live in fear every day like he does now, constantly cleaning up his messes.

Looking at Song Jiaoyu from the side, I saw that he was calculating on his fingers, looking very engrossed.

Just as I was about to ask Old Song what he was calculating, someone knocked on the door. It was Ma Xuezheng from the prefectural school, who brought a supplier to see the principal.

Seeing that there were guests in the principal's room, Ma Xuezheng tactfully led his men to wait outside.

Zhao An looked at the two senior leaders with some difficulty: "If I were to accept a bribe, wouldn't you two like to go back first?"

(End of this chapter)