Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 103 The Wind Rises from the End of a Drip (Bonus Chapter, Please Vote!)

……

The emperor's decree, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, quickly stirred up ripples.

The first stop was the cabinet.

Grand Secretary Huang Lijie held the thin imperial edict in his hand, his expression calm.

He passed the imperial edict to Li Guopu and Shi Fenglai, and slowly said:

"Such a promotion is somewhat unusual. However, His Majesty has just ascended the throne and intends to clean up the bureaucracy and refresh the atmosphere, so such an exception is not a problem. What do you two think?"

Shi Fenglai pondered for a moment, the image of the three-unknown Grand Secretary flashing before his eyes, and finally nodded in agreement: "The Grand Secretary is absolutely right."

Li Guopu, on the other hand, seemed somewhat hesitant.

He looked at the appointment document again and again, and finally nodded, saying, "Your Majesty's move was swift, but accurate."

"I have also read Xue Guoguan's proposal. It is well-organized and thoughtful. He is a capable person who can get things done."

"Promoting him to oversee the new policies in the capital is the right choice. I have no objection to this imperial decree."

Huang Liji nodded: "Since there are no problems, let's do as the decree says."

He summoned a secretary from the Imperial Secretariat and instructed him, "Send this imperial edict to the Six Ministries."

"As ordered."

The secretary of the Imperial Secretariat accepted the order and left.

Li Guopu watched the departing figure of the Imperial Secretary with a deep gaze.

He thought for a moment, then turned back to his desk, spread out paper and pen, and began to grind ink.

He wanted to submit a private memorial.

The emperor's appointment was correct, but his actions are questionable.

If we promote a worthy person today, the world will know where the emperor is headed, and all officials will strive to be the first to step up.

But if indiscriminate rewards and favoritism are allowed in the future, and this loophole is opened, then the laws of the country will cease to exist.

Using people for personal gain is ultimately not as good as using them to govern.

No matter how corrupt the system may be, it cannot be abandoned in favor of relying solely on one's own will; only in this way can one truly govern the country.

Li Guopu picked up his brush and wrote the six characters "Your subject Li Guopu respectfully submits this memorial" on the paper, his expression solemn.

However, Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, is wise and powerful, and is determined to make progress. This enthusiasm is good and must not be dampened.

Therefore, when offering advice, it is best to submit a mild memorial; under no circumstances should a strongly worded memorial be submitted, lest the tragedy of Emperor Shenzong be repeated.

Li Guopu was advising the country for its own good, not for the sake of leaving a mark on history!

……

The second stop was the Sixth Department of Langfang.

Chen Erji, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, held the imperial edict forwarded by the Grand Secretariat, remaining silent with a furrowed brow.

“Brother Xiubai, this seems to be contrary to common practice.”

He spoke softly, his gaze falling on the man sitting in the grand chair at the head of the table, who was resting with his eyes closed—Yang Suoxiu, the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

In the Ming Dynasty's official system, although each of the Six Ministries had a Supervising Secretary, there was no clearly defined head official. Whoever's title included "in charge of ministries affairs" was the de facto leader.

Yang Suoxiu is now the head of the Ministry of Personnel.

Chen Erji continued, "Today's Xue Guoguan was originally a Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, a seventh-rank official."

"According to custom, the highest rank a Beijing official can be promoted to is a fourth-rank official. Even if they are sent to a provincial post, they can only become a third-rank provincial administration commissioner."

"These days, the title of Right Vice Censor-in-Chief is nothing special, it's only a fourth-rank official. But the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture and the Vice Minister of Works are both genuine third-rank officials!"

"To rise to the top in one step, advancing eight ranks in a row, is simply too astonishing."

Yang Suoxiu kept his eyes closed, as if he were asleep, and after a long while, he slowly opened his eyes.

"When it comes to promotion, it ultimately depends on the official position. Although the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture is a third-rank official, he has always been regarded as a corrupt official and cannot be compared with the upright officials who speak out against injustice."

"Compared to the provincial governors and vice-governors who are sent to the provinces, this is only one rank higher. Your Majesty's decree is not too extraordinary."

He paused, picked up his teacup, and took a small sip.

"Besides, we've both read Xue Guoguan's proposal, and it's indeed well-done and impeccable. Given his ability, it's only reasonable to promote him exceptionally."

"The key is……"

Yang Suoxiu put down his teacup, looked at Chen Erji, and sighed.

"Even now, you still don't understand? How can you still ask such a question?"

Chen Erji was silent for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said, "Actually... I should have understood when His Majesty appointed the three ministers during the selection process. However, I was ultimately just hoping for the best."

Yang Suoxiu sighed, "Yes, this emperor doesn't care whether you're a member of the eunuch faction or the Donglin faction. What he wants are people who can be used by him. He's trying to start anew and establish his own faction!"

He gently picked up the imperial edict, ran his fingers along the gold thread patterns on it, and said slowly:

"The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is bustling, all for gain."

"But for us scholars, the benefit lies in fame, and fame lies in merit. What Your Majesty is giving us now is a path to success where we can exchange merit for fame."

"As long as you please him, you can rise to the top in no time."

"If Xue Guoguan can really handle the affairs of the capital properly, he will probably be able to enter the cabinet within a few years."

"Less than ten years have passed since he was appointed a low-ranking official, yet he is already on the verge of becoming a prime minister..." Chen Erji's tone was filled with admiration and longing, "What a leap to heaven this is..."

Yang remained silent.

Chen Erji snapped out of his daze and asked, "Then... Lord Yang, should the Ministry of Personnel issue a copy of this edict exactly as it was?"

"Just send it out." Yang Suoxiu waved his hand, his tone indifferent. "At this juncture, a mere Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture won't affect the overall situation. Why be the one to stick your neck out and cause trouble?"

He said meaningfully, "I feel that our new ruler is waiting for someone to run into his trap. Whoever does will die."

Chen Erji felt a chill run down his spine, nodded, and immediately sat down to write it down. He then called over a censor and asked him to send it to the Ministry of Personnel.

He turned his head and asked again, "Lord Yang, Chen Jiuchou has been jumping around lately, recruiting old eunuch followers, seemingly wanting to establish his own faction. Should we take him down as an example and offer him a pledge of allegiance to His Majesty?"

Yang Suoxiu pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "This is probably not what His Majesty wants." He tapped the table lightly. "His Majesty wants things done, not factional strife. Let those Donglin gentlemen who are about to enter the capital do this foolish thing."

Chen Erji then asked, "Then...should we also submit a memorial to discuss the new policies in the capital?"

Yang Suoxiu shook his head and chuckled, "With the new policies in the capital, there's no place for us anymore. What, are you willing to go under Xue Guoguan's command and be at his beck and call?"

Chen Erji was speechless.

Yang Suoxiu stood up, hands behind his back, walked to the window, looked at the patch of sky shining through the window of the Sixth Department Corridor, and said leisurely:

"If we're going to do something, let's do something big. There's no need to rush. Let's take it slow."

……

The Ministry of Personnel.

Yang Jingchen, the Minister of Personnel, only glanced at the imperial edict forwarded by the Six Ministries.

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately summoned a person in charge.

"Immediately draft Xue Guoguan's appointment document, affix the seal, and send it to the Office of Transmission to announce it to the world."

"Yes, Minister."

Yang Jingchen watched the departing figure of the person in charge and fell into deep thought.

He knew perfectly well that His Majesty's move, ostensibly to promote Xue Guoguan beyond the usual ranks, was actually sending a signal to the entire officialdom.

This sends a signal of "appointing people based on merit, without being bound by conventions".

However, most of the officials in the capital are of the "pure stream" type; how many of them are truly capable of getting things done?
It seems I need to carefully select talented individuals for His Majesty.

—There can't be only one Lu Xiang-sheng in the Ming Dynasty!
He clapped his hands and summoned several key officials from the Ministry of Personnel.

"Everyone, put aside what you're doing for now."

Yang Jingchen scanned the area, his gaze sharp.

"Give me all the performance evaluation records of the officials in office in all provinces, prefectures, states, and counties."

……

Department of General Affairs.

Commissioner Lü Tunan gently put down the appointment document that had just been transferred from the Ministry of Personnel and picked up another document.

That was a copy of Xue Guoguan's memorial to the throne.

When this memorial was first sent from the Office of Transmission, he didn't pay much attention to it. He simply followed the usual procedure, registered it, and then submitted it to the Cabinet.

Only after the Imperial Censor approved the Emperor's decree and the Ministry of Personnel issued the official appointment document did he finally retrieve the original draft of the memorial and carefully read it.

The plan was certainly brilliant, but the key point was still the emperor's inclination.

Having served as an official for thirty years and weathered the ups and downs of officialdom, how could he not understand the latest political trends?

only……

Lu Tunan sighed deeply, and an old saying that had been circulating in officialdom for many years came to mind.

Those skilled at swimming drown; those skilled at riding fall. The way of an official is this: the more you do, the more mistakes you make; the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make; the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make.

He has grown old and lost the vigor and drive he had in his youth.

You should just stay in the Office of Transmission.

No matter how great the storm in the imperial court, could it reach him, who was only responsible for relaying information from top to bottom?
After pondering for a moment, Lü Tunan summoned his subordinate and instructed him:

"Make a copy of this appointment and send it to all ministries and provinces for record-keeping. Also, include this matter in today's official gazette."

……

Inside the Hanlin Academy, Ni Yuanlu stretched and put down his calligraphy brush.

As one of the future lecturers, he has been preparing lectures for the emperor for the past few days, putting in tremendous effort.

Now that the final draft of the lecture plan has been completed, all that remains is for His Majesty to determine the date for the first daily lecture.

He looked up and realized that the Hanlin Academy, which was usually full of colleagues, was now completely empty.

"Brother Yuanfan?"

"Brother Yuanhui?"

He called out a few times, but there was no response, only the clear chirping of birds outside the window.

Ni Yuanlu walked out of the Hanlin Academy with a puzzled look, looked around, and was immediately stunned by the scene before her.

Not far away, beneath Chengtian Gate, a large, dark mass of officials dressed in green robes had gathered, three or four layers deep, all craning their necks as if watching some spectacle.

Curious, he rushed over, only to be firmly blocked from entering the crowd, unable to squeeze in no matter what he tried.

Ni Yuanlu pulled over a green-robed official who was also struggling to push forward, cupped his hands, and asked, "Brother, may I ask what's going on up ahead? Why are all of you gathered here?"

The official turned and glanced at him, panting, and said, "Brother, don't you know yet? Xue Guoguan, the former Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, submitted a policy proposal on the new road construction policy in the capital. His Majesty was delighted and personally selected him for a promotion of eight ranks! Now, he is the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, a third-rank official, with the additional titles of Right Vice Censor-in-Chief and Vice Minister of Works, in charge of the new policies in the capital!"

He excitedly pointed to the wall of people in front of him.

"Being promoted eight ranks is nothing; the key is that earth-shattering policy essay, which is now posted on the imperial edict at Chengtian Gate!"

"His Majesty personally wrote the imperial edict, which is hailed as 'the first official document for governing the country in the Ming Dynasty'!"

"Old man... I want to see what kind of article dares to claim to be the best official document for governing the world!"

the first?

the first!

Ni Yuanlu's eyes widened instantly.

He abandoned the official and, disregarding all gentlemanly conduct, desperately pushed his way into the crowd.

He squeezed and squeezed, and suddenly felt...

Wait, this scene looks familiar!

(End of this chapter)