Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 183 The Emperor Meets Shi An

Lying on the bed, Song Shi'an raised his hand and looked at his palm.

The scene from last night is still replaying in my mind.

In this era where one has to make love (referring to entering the bridal chamber) upon first meeting a girl one has never met before, it is still possible to experience the feeling of being in love.

He never expected that Xin Yue would feel hurt and want to apologize, so she tried to make amends by holding his hand.

She's an assassin, a death squad member, a vengeful person with a blood feud, yet she's acting so alluring and seductive.

Song Shi'an originally thought that she would tell him directly not to wait for her—that they would meet sometime in the future.

But she didn't want to make any definitive statements...

Are you trying to hook me up?
No, it's not that bad.

She simply wanted both.

She wanted to allow him to pursue his revenge with a pure heart, but she also didn't want to reject this troublesome romantic encounter in her life.

It doesn't really matter.

Song Shi'an was not sexually repressed to that extent; Xin Yue was a reason not to marry anyone else.

In his previous life, Song Shi'an never had a romantic relationship until he was twenty-seven or twenty-eight.

A person who wants to improve himself has no interest in women.

Moreover, since the Song family does not form marriage alliances with other families and does not seek marriage partners with women from prominent families to have children, the emperor will be less vigilant and will not be too worried about the Song family becoming too powerful.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Upon hearing the rhythm, Song Shi'an knew it was Song Ce, so he casually said to Yun'er, "It's Jingming."

Yun'er quickly opened the door, gave Song Ce a lady's bow, and then withdrew.

Song Ce walked over and said, "The Ministry of Personnel has sent people. Our father has been officially appointed as the Vice Minister of Personnel."

"It's pretty fast."

Logically, this process should take a while. It seems they want my father to be directly involved in this round of official appointments and removals.

“The person who came was Yu Xiu, a senior official in the Ministry of Personnel,” Song Ce said. “According to him, Minister Ouyang is still unwell and bedridden at home.”

“He was sick during the morning court session before, and he’s still sick now…” After a moment’s thought, Song Shi’an concluded, “His illness is probably going to last a long time.”

"What does that mean?" Song Ce asked, puzzled.

"The appointment and removal of important officials throughout the country all require the emperor's personal decision. However, promotion, recommendation, transfer, and dismissal all require the opinion of the Ministry of Personnel."

Ancient emperors could indeed rule with absolute authority, but what about their energy?
In the hundreds of counties of Dayu, how could the emperor possibly notice a county magistrate who had served for five years and was then promoted to the sixth rank?

The Ministry of Personnel can use normal official promotion methods to include him in the list of recommended candidates for promotion.

A celebrity like Song Shi'an can't be buried, because countless eyes are watching him.

But what about someone who is unknown?

The Imperial Secretariat could easily find a pretext to give him a slight promotion, and the emperor would readily have the eunuchs stamp it without a second thought.

Therefore, this government office is very important.

Historically, the "Organization Department" has always been the most powerful institution.

"Does my brother mean that the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat deliberately feigned illness, so that real power would temporarily fall into Father's hands, in order to facilitate the readjustment of officials when the 'military agricultural colonies' policy is implemented?" Song Ce understood.

"The Minister of State Affairs probably discussed it with the Emperor and decided to give up his position first," Song Shi'an continued to deduce. "That's understandable, since Ouyang Ke isn't a member of the land reclamation faction and doesn't want to get involved."

The position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat is indeed one of high rank and great power, but it is also a sensitive one.

You've recommended and promoted so many people. What if one of them turns out to be a major traitor or even a national sellout? Aren't you going to take responsibility?

Therefore, it is necessary to carefully consider and repeatedly examine the matter.

But if I make him struggle with the decision, each step of the process will take several months. Will I still need to hire people?
My reforms are aimed at climbing the ladder.

Ouyang Ke has already reached the top, what is he still climbing for?

"But if we use too many familiar people, won't it raise suspicions of forming cliques and factions?" Song Ce asked.

“Our Sheng’an is a plain, without any mountains.”

Without mincing words, Song Shi'an directly lectured, "How can you use someone you don't know well? How can you use someone who isn't on our side? Don't get hung up on whether they're forming cliques or engaging in favoritism. The only thing you need to think about is getting things done."

When others suspect you of engaging in factionalism, you've already been targeted.

When you yourself feel that you are engaging in factionalism, it's tantamount to admitting guilt.

Just as I told the King of Wu yesterday, I cried.

I don't know anything. I just want to get grain for the emperor, to make his granaries burst and overflow with white rice.

"I understand now, a clear conscience fears no accusation."

Song Ce understood.

It was thanks to Song Jing's words that Song Shi'an was able to see the truth clearly.

Don't think of yourself as someone who's using power for personal gain. You don't actually have any other thoughts; you just want to get things done, and you're willing to give everything for it, including your heart.

Ahhh, baby, you are a... famous minister!
“Someone from the Imperial Secretariat just informed us that we will be going to the Imperial Secretariat tomorrow afternoon for a consultation,” Song Ce said.

"Huh, in the afternoon?" Song Shi'an asked curiously. "Usually, don't we all go first thing in the morning? Is it just the two of us, or everyone else?"

“The rest of us will be in the morning, and the two of us will be in the afternoon,” Song Ce said.

"Oh, then it's probably to avoid suspicion." Song Shi'an realized. "With our father there, it's definitely not him who will tell us in person."

When Ouyang Ke's son was promoted, he also had to avoid suspicion.

"Tomorrow, we'll first determine the rank, and then ask for our opinion." Song Ce looked at Song Shi'an and asked, "Then should I not speak frankly and just follow the court's arrangements?" "You've decided to marry Princess Changqing, right?" Song Shi'an asked.

"Hmm." Song Ce had no objections to this matter and there was no need to dwell on it anymore.

“Hmm.” Song Shi’an smiled. “That’s good too. At least I can stay in Sheng’an, close to my father, and listen to his teachings more often.”

"What are your wishes, brother?" Song Ce asked. "This time it's at least a fifth-rank official position. You're probably the only one at such a young age to achieve this. At most, there'll be Sun Qian, who bought his position with money."

"Is a fifth-rank official really that high?" Song Shi'an asked rhetorically.

“Of course,” Song Ce said earnestly. “Father spent his whole life, more than twenty years, to reach the rank of third grade. And you, brother, have only been at the rank of fifth grade for less than a year. That’s fast and very significant.”

He's roughly equivalent to a deputy director-general level official.

Under Song Ce's somewhat worried gaze, Song Shi'an said solemnly, "Change is imminent. There's not much time left for His Majesty to go through the motions."

.........

"Lord Minister, Yu Langzhong."

Ge Zhao entered the inner room, stood in the center, and paid his respects to the two officials.

Song Jing sat at the desk, while Yu Xiu stood to the side.

However, because he was not yet familiar with the work, Yu Xiu helped him with the process.

Learn by watching.

“You were previously the top scholar in the provincial examination and served in the academy in Huaizhou, holding the rank of seventh grade. Now you have become the second-highest scorer, so you have been promoted one grade to sixth grade,” Yu Xiu said. “However, there may not be any vacancies for sixth-grade officials; it usually takes six months to a year. Do you want to take up the post as soon as possible, or do you have other options?”

The old bureaucrat Song Jing, who was standing to the side, could basically understand.

That's true. Once a position is fixed and there are no new ones, it's impossible to be promoted immediately after passing the imperial examination. There will definitely be a waiting period before being promoted.

But at this point, their salary and benefits were already calculated according to the standards for a sixth-rank official, so it wasn't considered a loss.

“Your Excellencies,” Ge Zhao said, “I would like to learn more about the tax laws of the Great Yu.”

At this point, Song Jing looked at the documents in the case file. The topic of the policy essay written by this person was "Tax Reduction Law".

It's true that exams are a form of test preparation.

However, the essays in the exams do indeed reflect certain political views.

“Tax officials in prefectures and counties are filled more quickly. But in Sheng’an, it could take up to a year for a position to become vacant,” Yu Xiu said.

“Your Excellency, I wish to go to the prefectures and counties,” Ge Zhao said.

Yu Xiu nodded, then said to Song Jing, "Sir, that's enough."

“Alright, the second-place scholar can go now,” Song Jing said.

"Yes, I'll take my leave now."

Ge Zhao bowed to the two men and then left.

“My lord,” Yu Xiu explained, “during the interview, when inquiring about the official’s intentions, the main purpose is to determine what the official is good at. Of course, we also need to consider their resume. As for the official positions recommended to His Majesty, there should generally be a definite one and some alternatives.”

"Understood." Song Jing had no objections.

Official positions were mainly assigned based on talent.

And this talent mostly comes from resumes or the content of scientific examination papers.

If there are no instructions from the palace, the candidate's own 'first will' still carry a lot of weight.

After all, there were no specialized professional examinations in ancient times, so you knew best what you were good at.

"What rank will Sun Qian be next?" Song Jing asked.

This is different because the Prince of Jin had supported Sun Qian, and the emperor had also explicitly stated that he would promote him.

"Previously, Lord Ouyang and the others discussed setting the rank of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) at the fifth rank," Yu Xiudao said. "Does Lord Song think it needs to be adjusted?"

"Then I'll listen to Lord Ouyang," Song Jing said without hesitation.

"Yes," Yu Xiu said. "Then, what's next, Lord Song?"

“Okay, I’ll do it.” Song Jing watched it once and understood it, then smiled and said, “If there’s anything wrong, you can correct it from the side.”

"I dare not presume to correct you. If you have any questions, please feel free to give me your orders."

“While Lord Ouyang is away,” Song Jing patted the middle-aged man on the shoulder, encouraging him, “we two should support each other more.”

"My lord, I will do my best to assist you."

And so, Song Jing finished her morning's work.

Furthermore, a large number of case files were accumulated.

Although he wanted to start dealing with it immediately, his two sons were coming for the afternoon interviews, and the best thing he could do to avoid suspicion was to simply go home.

Therefore, after getting into the carriage, they returned to their residence.

Not long after he left, a sedan chair from the palace, carried by several servants in plain clothes, entered the Ministry of Personnel through a small back door.

Furthermore, the leader was wearing a Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) badge.

Sensing something serious was about to happen, Yu Xiu rushed over. He saw a sedan chair parked in the courtyard.

So, he walked over quickly.

Just as he was about to question the plainclothes imperial guards, the side curtain of the sedan chair was slowly lifted.

Upon seeing it, he paused in astonishment: "Your Majesty."

As he prepared to pay his respects, the emperor coldly replied, "Pretend I am not here."

(End of this chapter)