Prime Minister

Chapter 257, Section 256: [The Road is Hard]

In early April, the wind in Beijing was still mild and pleasant.

The east corridor of Zuoshun Gate is inside the Ministry of Works.

In the document room, the current heads of the four departments were gathered: Yuan Cheng, the director of the Water Conservancy Department; Fang Jiming, the director of the Construction Department; Ge Cunyi, the director of the Forestry and Land Management Department; and Tan Mingguang, the director of the Land Reclamation Department, who had only been in office for two months.

According to the regulations of the Great Yan's "Official Laws", officials must focus on official business in their offices and are prohibited from gathering to talk and play. As a practical department, the Ministry of Works has carried out several clean-up campaigns after Shen Wang took office, so the previous lax and negligent phenomena no longer exist.

The gathering of the four physicians today does not violate Shen Wang's rules, as this was originally a briefing convened by Shen Wang to summarize and analyze the Ministry of Works' official duties for the next half month.

Unexpectedly, the meeting was only halfway through when Shen Wang was summoned to the palace by imperial edict from the palace eunuchs. Before leaving, he instructed the four to continue discussing the remaining matters and compiling them into a document for him to review upon his return.

Yuan Cheng and the others worked for another half hour before the scribe finished copying the meeting minutes, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Working under Shen Wang is indeed not easy. Although he is not like some high-ranking officials who like to put on airs or are extremely harsh on their subordinates, on the contrary, Shen Wang maintains a certain respect for his officials. However, this is on the premise that you can complete the official tasks assigned to you seriously and meticulously.

Just being "meticulous and thorough" is a challenge for many people.

However, there is one advantage to following such a superior: as long as you achieve results, you will gain his recognition, and your merits will not be erased or stolen. Therefore, Yuan Cheng and others cherish their current situation very much.

"Have you noticed that Minister has been going to the palace more and more often these past two months?"

After the clerks left, the doctors finally got a short rest. The straightforward Ge Cunyi smiled and spoke, his face showing some enthusiasm.

Yuan Cheng remained expressionless. He had served as an imperial censor for nearly ten years, and his cold-faced image was deeply ingrained in people's minds. After taking office as the Director of Waterways, he became a living Yama whom the clerks feared from the bottom of their hearts.

Fortunately, after more than a year of adjustment, he has gotten used to Ge Cunyi's unconventional nature. In the past, he would have definitely criticized Ge Cunyi for speaking ill of his superiors to his face.

Fang Jiming looked around. On one side was Yuan Cheng with a cold face, and on the other side was Tan Mingguang, who was very cautious. He had no choice but to take over the conversation and ask, "What do you want to say?"

Ge Cunyi lowered his voice and said, "I heard from the cabinet that Chief Minister Ning is drafting a list of candidates for the new cabinet minister. It is said that there are only two candidates left now. One is Minister Zheng of the Ministry of Rites, and the other is our Minister Shen!"

These words piqued everyone's interest, and even Yuan Cheng couldn't help but ask, "Is there going to be a grand court election this time?"

The so-called Grand Councilor Selection refers to the process where, under the leadership of the Grand Secretary, the six ministries and nine ministers jointly elect a new cabinet minister, who is then appointed by the emperor.

Fang Jiming pondered for a moment and said, "Minister Zheng is getting on in years, and last year's spring examination caused a commotion that was inextricably linked to the Ministry of Rites. In my opinion, there is a 70% chance that the Minister will be admitted to the cabinet this time."

"More than 70%?"

Ge Cunyi tapped the table lightly with his fingers and smiled, "In the past two years, Minister has managed the Ministry of Works very well. Such solid achievements are beyond what Minister Zheng can match. I just wonder if Minister will continue to manage our Ministry of Works after he enters the cabinet."

According to the unwritten rules of the central government of the Great Yan, the ministers of the six ministries would generally only retain the honorary title of minister after entering the cabinet, while the real power would be gradually transferred, at most holding the power of advice and supervision.

On the surface, joining the cabinet seems to reduce power, but this is not the case. Cabinet ministers are close to the emperor and can participate in important national decisions, draft decrees on behalf of the emperor, and even interfere in the appointment and removal of officials in various central government departments. If they still hold real power in the departments, their power would be too great.

Fang Jiming's heart stirred slightly, and he turned to look at Tan Mingguang, asking, "Old Tan, what do you think?"

Because of his connection with Xue Huai, Tan Mingguang's two months at the Ministry of Works, if not perfect, were at least quite smooth. From Shen Wang to the heads of various departments and even the lower-level clerks, everyone treated him with great care and respect.

Tan Mingguang, of course, would not be complacent. After a moment's thought, he said, "In my humble opinion, His Majesty will allow you to continue to manage the Ministry of Works, regardless of whether you join the cabinet or not."

Ge Cunyi asked curiously, "Why?"

Tan Mingguang said no more, picked up his pen and wrote two characters on the paper, then pushed it forward.

The other three looked up and saw the words "Grain Transport" written on the paper.

A moment later, Ge Cunyi gave Tan Mingguang a thumbs up and praised, "Old Tan, brilliant!"

Tan Mingguang smiled modestly.

Yuan Cheng and Fang Jiming exchanged a glance, their eyes simultaneously showing appreciation. It seemed that the young Master Xue had indeed made a good judgment. Although the physician Tan he recommended had many of the habits of a seasoned official, he was at least a capable person.

……

Imperial City, Royal Study.

The Emperor summoned Shen Wang today to discuss the renovation of the West Garden Palace. He had lived in the Imperial City for twenty years. Although the palace was magnificent and imposing, he had grown tired of seeing the same sky for so long. Therefore, he had long wanted to renovate the West Garden so that he could stay there from time to time to relax.

The main body of the West Garden is the Taiye Pond, a vast and scenic area. According to the Ministry of Works' estimate, this renovation will cost at least 1.5 million taels of silver. If the national treasury hadn't been tight two years ago, Xue Minglun would have finished this project long ago. However, last year, Xue Huai confiscated nearly 10 million taels of silver from corrupt officials and powerful families in Yangzhou, so the emperor put the matter back on the agenda and entrusted it to Shen Wang.

Shen Wang did not forcefully advise against it, which is what the emperor appreciated about him—even upright officials should know what is important. I have worked hard for this country for half my life, so what's wrong with building a garden at the age of fifty?

After the emperor and his minister finished their conversation, the emperor took a sip of tea and leisurely asked, "Minister Shen, how is the current state of the grain transport? Is it still running smoothly compared to previous years?"

Throughout the more than one hundred years of the Great Yan Dynasty, the powers and responsibilities of the Grand Canal Administration underwent several changes. Initially, the Grand Canal Governor was in charge of both the Grand Canal and the waterways. Later, he also served as the Governor of the eight prefectures of Huaiyang. However, the Governor's authority was weakened during the reign of the previous emperor. First, the Governor's power was stripped away, and then the waterway management authority was transferred to the Ministry of Works' Water Conservancy Department.

Today, the powers of the Grand Canal Governor include supervising the collection and transportation of grain, constructing and allocating grain transport vessels, arbitrarily deciding cases involving grain transport, dredging sections of the canal, and collecting commercial taxes on the canal.

In short, the Grand Canal formed a system where the Superintendent of Transport managed the canal and the Ministry of Works managed the canal, which stemmed from the principle of checks and balances that established the nation based on the canal and maintained the canal's control over the transport.

Shen Wang composed himself and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, the Grand Canal connects the north and south and is the lifeblood of the nation. Currently, Governor-General Jiang is in charge of the canal transport, and with the cooperation of various prefectures and counties along the canal, it is generally running smoothly, and the transport of grain and supplies is proceeding as usual."

"Generally normal..."

The emperor discerned the unspoken meaning in Shen Wang's words and fell into deep thought.

If the salt administration was the lifeblood of the Great Yan Dynasty, then the Grand Canal was the backbone of the state. The grain and supplies transported northward through the Grand Canal were the lifeblood of the dynasty, not only bearing the consumption of the entire capital region, but also ensuring the safety of the soldiers in the nine border garrisons.

A contemporary saying goes, "The grain transport is vital to the nation's lifeline. If it doesn't arrive in three months, the emperor and prime minister will worry; if it doesn't arrive in six months, the people of the capital will weep." This shows the importance of the grain transport system.

The emperor was well aware of the deep-seated problems in the canal transport system, including rampant corruption, layers of exploitation, smuggling, and staggering losses. These problems were not difficult to discern. The issue was that, at least for now, the canal transport system could maintain its apparent stability, much like the Ministry of Works before Xue Minglun was dismissed—in any case, this government office was able to maintain normal operations.

If the court hadn't been in dire straits a few years ago, even if Shen Wang's abilities far surpassed Xue Minglun's, the emperor wouldn't have sent him to investigate the Ministry of Works.

Ultimately, the emperor doesn't like his ministers to always cause him trouble. If he needs to do everything himself, why does the court need to maintain so many officials?

Furthermore, if the long-standing problems of the Grand Canal were so easily solved, why would the emperor need Shen Wang's hints?
Because this matter was so far-reaching, affecting the livelihoods of millions of laborers in eight provinces and the stability of the capital and the nine border garrisons, the emperor did not want to arbitrarily alter the grain transport system.

Upon thinking of this, the Emperor calmly changed the subject, asking, "What is your opinion, Minister Shen, on the salt administration reforms implemented by Xue Huai and Huang Chong?"

"I have heard something about it."

Shen Wang did not rush to offer advice or remonstrance, but calmly said, "The reform of the Lianghuai Salt Administration has integrated the power of salt merchants, standardized salt affairs, and eliminated the malpractice of embezzlement. Not only has salt tax revenue increased, but the burden on salt merchants has also been reduced. Merchants and people are all grateful for Your Majesty's grace. This is clear evidence that Your Majesty cares for the people and makes good use of capable ministers. If the experience of the Lianghuai Salt Transport Office is extended to salt offices throughout the country, it will surely greatly enrich the national treasury, sweep away the old problems, and achieve the effect of breaking the deadlock from a single point."

The emperor suddenly smiled faintly, his gaze full of profound meaning.

This Shen Zhanxing is indeed different from those civil officials who claimed to be upright but were actually pedantic.

"Using a single point to break through the overall situation?"

The Emperor slowly said, "Is Minister Shen implying something to me?"

Shen Wang lowered his head and said, "How dare I?"

The emperor raised his hand and gently tapped the table, then fell silent again in contemplation.

The subtext of Shen Wang's words was actually quite clear: since the salt administration reform could be piloted in Yangzhou first, and then promoted to other places after it proved effective, could the canal transport system follow the same example?

Choosing a location along the Grand Canal for reform would avoid strong opposition from officials at court and prevent impacting the nation's fate, thus reducing resistance to some extent.

"I will give this matter some more time to consider."

The Emperor looked at Shen Wang with a slightly complicated expression and said, "After Shen Qing enters the cabinet, he will continue to serve concurrently as Minister of Science and Technology for a period of time. A final decision will be made after the completion of the Western Garden."

Shen Wang remained calm, bowed, and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Stepping out of the imperial study and walking through the majestic palace, Shen Wang kept his eyes straight ahead and his steps were steady.

Only after leaving the palace and boarding the carriage did he turn his head to glance at the imperial city, which resembled a lurking beast, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

The emperor's reaction today was within his expectations. Even though his words were tactful and considered the overall situation, he still did not receive a clear answer.

"call……"

Shen Wang let out a soft sigh of relief, lowered his head, and entered the carriage. His shoulders felt slightly heavy, but his back was not bent.

(End of this chapter)