White-robed Minister

Chapter 164, Episode 0162: [Being Collectively Rejected by Colleagues at the New Job]

The emperor could not directly appoint or dismiss important officials in the central and local governments.

Even if the relevant departments approve it, it must be publicized in the imperial court, during which time officials can object.

This kind of public announcement activity is officially called "Xuanma".

The document was written on white hemp paper and read aloud in public at court assemblies.

Emperor Zhao Xu had previously proposed appointing Zhang Fangping as Vice Chancellor, but Sima Guang immediately objected. The emperor was forced to rescind the appointment.

Xu Lai was a minor figure, and the new official position he received was far below the level required for public announcement.

He can simply go to the Ministry of Personnel to obtain the official document and complete the formalities.

Sun Zhongqin, the judge in charge of the case, personally handed the letter of appointment to Xu Lai: "Congratulations on your promotion, Censor Xu!"

"Thank you for your trouble," Xu Lai said, accepting the gift.

He glanced at the imperial edict and saw that his new official position was: Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review (a top scholar in the imperial examination) and Acting Supervising Censor.

The Censorate, subordinate to the Censorate, was responsible for investigating the Six Ministries and all other government departments, and also oversaw all sacrificial activities.

The requirements for becoming an imperial censor were very high. One had to be a professor of the Imperial Academy or above, have served as a prefectural judge in a local area, and be recommended by three ministers.

If the above requirements are not met, the official title will be given a suffix, such as "Acting Censor".

Xu Lai didn't even meet the requirements for "Lixing" (里行), so he was given the prefix "Quan" (权). His official title then became "Quan Jiancha Yushi Lixing" (权监监御史里行).

They added prefixes and suffixes, practically raising it to the top!

It is evident how highly regarded Xu Lai was; he was a typical example of a low-ranking official holding a high position.

There are also different accounts regarding his official post, "Assistant to the Court of Judicial Review".

There are a total of 37 ranks, including court officials, officials in the capital, and those selected for official positions.

Xu Lai's previous official position was Secretary of the Imperial Library and Proofreader, belonging to the third rank of the 30th grade. Now, as the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he has been directly promoted three grades to the 27th grade.

Even though they were both Assistant Ministers of the Court of Judicial Review, their backgrounds were vastly different.

Even those who did not pass the imperial examination could become officials through hereditary privilege, but promotion was very difficult in such cases.

There are three types of officials who are Jinshi graduates and serve as assistant judges of the Court of Judicial Review: those who are Zhuangyuan (top scholar in the imperial examination), those who have a position in the Imperial Academy, and those who do not.

Xu Lai's position as Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review will be accompanied by a special note stating that he is a "top scholar in the imperial examination" and has access to a promotion channel exclusively for top scholars.

After completing the formalities at the Ministry of Personnel, Xu Lai returned to Taiping Xingguo Temple.

"What official position did you get promoted to, my lord?" Yu'er asked impatiently.

Xu Lai smiled and said, "I am the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and the Acting Censor."

Although Yu'er didn't understand much, she still cheered with joy.

The damselfly danced and jumped around in celebration: "Oh, Uncle San got promoted! Uncle San got promoted!"

Pianpian, on the other hand, was more reserved. After watching them jump around for a while, she finally asked, "Shouldn't we be renting a place?"

"Um."

Xu Lai nodded and said, "I'll have Bu Chao contact the real estate agent and inquire about the house prices. If the agent comes, we can look at the houses and negotiate the prices. If I'm not here, you can make the decision."

"I will definitely do it well," Pianpian said solemnly.

Since getting married, her first task has been managing the household, and now she has a second task: renting out apartments.

It's estimated that for the next two weeks, Pianpian will be running all over the city, taking Yu'er, Bu Chao, and others to look at houses.

Xu Lai chatted with Pianpian for a few words, then returned to his room to write a memorial to the emperor.

This matter requires striking a balance; first, we must praise several former emperors. Since the former emperors were all so capable, why did the Song Dynasty still suffer from so many problems? This needs to be analyzed gradually, and in the process, we must also help to deflect blame for the former emperors.

At the same time, care must be taken to avoid overly radical wording. Otherwise, before the reforms even begin, the discussion phase will be met with opposition from numerous ministers.

Damn it, writing this kind of note is like dancing in shackles.

Xu Lai racked his brains and wrote it several times, but he was still not satisfied, so he had to scrap it and rewrite it again and again.

"Bang bang bang!"

There was a knock on the courtyard gate.

Chen Dequan, a gatekeeper who was currently without a gatekeeper, hurriedly ran to open the door: "May I ask who you are looking for, sir?"

Xu Anshi handed over his business card: "Is Xu Sanlang here? He and I are good friends."

"Wait a moment," Chen Dequan immediately informed.

Xu Lai quickly came to greet him personally: "Congratulations, Brother Zhang, on achieving the highest rank in the imperial examination!"

"Haha, congratulations to you too," Xu Anshi invited. "We're holding a poetry gathering not far from here. I heard from the monks that Sanlang is also at the temple, so I'd like to invite him to join us."

Xu Lai waved his hands repeatedly: "How could it be convenient for me to attend your newly appointed scholars' banquet?"

Xu Anshi said, "I'm not the only one. Many of the successful candidates in this year's imperial examinations want to see Sanlang's demeanor."

Xu Lai still felt it was inappropriate, so he changed the subject, asking, "How many Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) were there in Guangdong this year?"

"There's only one in Guangdong, and it's a special case," Xu Anshi replied.

Special examinations were given to scholars who had passed the provincial examinations multiple times but failed to pass the metropolitan examinations.

The questions were very simple; the Ministry of Rites examination only tested one topic.

In the past, when the palace examination still had elimination rounds, the special nominations were even more interesting. They didn't need to rack their brains to write policy essays; they just needed to sing praises and flatter the emperor. As long as they didn't write anything nonsensical, they would definitely not be eliminated.

This year's specially selected scholars from Guangdong are at least in their forties or fifties, perhaps even fifty or sixty. Xu Lai certainly wouldn't recognize them.

It's a pity that all my old classmates failed the exam.

Xu Lai suddenly remembered someone: "Chen Yanhong failed the exam again?"

"Well----"

Xu Anshi chuckled, "He always does extremely well in the annual imperial examinations, but I don't know why he failed again. It might be this year—Sanlang, you know what I mean."

The competition was just too fierce this year.

In the previous imperial examination, many top candidates deliberately avoided it and flocked to participate in this one.

Xu Lai asked in a low voice, "Now that we are in a period of national mourning, are you newly appointed scholars allowed to drink and eat meat at your gathering?"

Xu Anshi replied, "I'll eat meat, but I won't drink alcohol."

Xu Lai found it amusing.

This year's graduates are really unlucky. Not only did they encounter the "list of those who have passed the imperial examination with a suspended list," but they also happened to be in a period of national mourning, meaning they couldn't even drink alcohol at gatherings. It's even worse than the previous year!

"You all go to the banquet, I won't participate. Let's talk another day," Xu Lai said, cupping his hands in greeting.

Xu Anshi did not insist, and cupped his hands, saying, "Farewell."

In the afternoon, Xu Lai still hadn't finished writing the note, so he instructed Bu Chao and Chen Xiaoyi to go find a real estate agent.

About an hour later, Bu Chao returned with the official guards.

After paying his respects to Xu Lai and Pianpian, the official in charge asked, "What price does Scholar Xu wish to rent at?"

"A monthly rent of 15 strings of cash or less is acceptable." This was the price Xu Lai could only afford.

"Foot Mo?"

""

"Um."

"Including servants, how many people live in your household?"

"Seven adults and one child. In a while, there might be an additional adult."

"With so many people, if the monthly rent is less than 15 coins, they can probably only live in the outer city. And the houses and locations aren't very good either. If they want better houses, they'll have to look outside the city."

"Only look for people in the outer city, don't go outside the city. Raise the monthly rent to 18 guan."

"Then I'll ask around for Scholar Xu."

"...

'

Although Xu Lai was promoted, his salary decreased.

Because the salary of the judge in Yingtian Prefecture was very high, much higher than that of the censor.

The position of Censor was a prestigious and respected one.

Whether it's expensive or not, Xu Lai doesn't know, but he certainly understands the meaning of "pure".

Adding up the cost of supplies, additional expenses, and meals, Xu Lai's current monthly salary is only 33 guan (a unit of currency). In addition, he receives 4 shi of rice per month. In spring and winter, he receives 10 bolts of silk and 1 bolt of gauze. In winter, he receives 30 liang of cotton. He also receives firewood every month.

If he spends 18 guan per month on rent, the rent will take up 54% of his salary.

We also need to support several servants.

Yu'er, Bu Chao, Chen Xiaoyi, and others also had to be paid according to the prices in the capital, because they also had their own lives to live. Fortunately, there was still some money left from the wedding gifts, otherwise Xu Lai would not have been able to support this large family at all.

As for Pianpian's dowry and private savings, Xu Lai never even considered touching them.

After sending the broker away, Xu Lai said to Pianpian, "I'm sorry to trouble you."

"I'm not upset, I'm doing fine now," Pianpian said with a smile.

She genuinely felt it was great; she had her own little family and would soon have a house to live in, a feeling different from when she was at her parents' home.

Xu Lai pulled Pianpian into his arms: "My promotion should be coming soon."

To comfort him, Pianpian said in a joking tone, "You're the top scholar and so capable, you'll definitely get promoted quickly."

Who knows, he might become prime minister someday.

Early the next morning, Xu Lai went to the Censorate to report.

You need to get to know your boss and colleagues.

At this time, the head of the censors was Peng Siyong, who resolutely opposed the "imperial father" in the Puyi debate and was now going against the prime ministers.

"Greetings, Vice Minister Peng," Xu Lai said, bowing.

Peng Siyong returned the greeting with a bow and admonished him, "As an imperial censor, you should set aside personal grudges. You must not use your position to settle private scores, nor to repay private favors. I hope you will remember this!"

Xu Lai indicated that he understood.

After bidding farewell to Peng Siyong, Xu Lai went to visit Sima Guang.

Sima Guang is now the second most important person in the Censorate.

In public, the two didn't have much to talk about and only exchanged polite words.

Xu Lai's workplace was the Censorate, which was under the Censorate.

His colleagues are: Liu Ku, Wu Shen, Lü Jing, Jiang Zhiqi, and Ma Mo.

When Xu Lai visited his colleague, he sensed that Jiang Zhiqi's eyes were darting around, as if he was up to something he was ashamed of.

What's going on?

The name Jiang Zhiqi sounds very familiar.

Xu Lai returned to his workstation and finally remembered who Jiang Zhiqi was. It was this man who had falsely accused Ouyang Xiu of incest!

Jiang Zhiqi is actually a very capable person.

During Wang Anshi's reforms, Jiang Zhiqi implemented reforms in Fujian, bringing order to various government affairs. He also promoted work-for-relief programs...

His achievements in water conservancy were among the best.

But this man was obsessed with officialdom and had an extremely strong desire for power.

A few years ago, Ouyang Xiu greatly appreciated Jiang Zhiqi because of his outstanding abilities. At the beginning of last year, in order to curry favor with Ouyang Xiu, he actively supported the Emperor's faction during the Puyi Conference, and was therefore promoted to Supervising Censor.

But now the wind has changed.

Jiang Zhiqi discovered that all his colleagues were against the prime minister, and he was ostracized by everyone at work.

Impeaching the prime minister has become politically correct.

Therefore, Jiang Zhiqi also planned to pledge his loyalty by targeting his patron, Ouyang Xiu! Only in this way could he befriend his colleagues, curry favor with the emperor, and be promoted quickly.

Jiang Zhiqi knew that Xu Lai and Ouyang Xiu had a good relationship. When they first met, he couldn't help but feel guilty and didn't dare to look Xu Lai in the eye.

Xu Lai sat there from morning until noon, and no one spoke to him. When lunchtime arrived, no one called him to eat.

I grass!

I just started working at a new company, and I'm already being ostracized by my colleagues?

Xu Lai felt bewildered, so he took out the official gazette to check it in the afternoon. After reading through nearly three months' worth of gazettes, he finally understood what was going on.

Because he was favored by the emperor and had a good relationship with Ouyang Xiu, his colleagues didn't know which side he was on, so they simply kept their distance from him.

Before Xu Lai publicly took sides, his colleagues neither offended him nor tried to get close to him—they simply treated him as if he were invisible.

Xu Lai deeply understood Gong Dingchen's predicament; back then, Gong was also caught in the middle, disliked by everyone in the Censorate.

Xu Lai even suspected that Gong Dingchen was deliberately causing trouble to escape his awkward situation by being transferred to Yingtian Prefecture.

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