Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

This year, Wen Yanbo submitted his recommendation memorial as usual.

However, he believed that Wang Anshi would not agree either, so he recommended Sima Guang, hoping to replace him.

Surprisingly, Wang Anshi changed his mind and agreed?

Jiang Zhao was recommended for the position of Transport Commissioner twice, but he was the first to be appointed. Wang Anshi was the official who favored Jiang Zhao for the position of Imperial Academy Proofreader.

It's truly a cruel twist of fate!

"Your Majesty, Physician Jiang requests an audience." Just then, an official came in to announce this.

Pang Ji sighed, bowed, and said, "Your subject takes his leave."

If he fails to recommend someone twice, it's not impossible for him to insist on recommending them a third time.

However, it's not necessary.

Sima Guang was a fifth-rank official, serving as a deputy transport commissioner.

Historically, the Transport Office was responsible for managing finances, transporting goods, and supervising local areas.

The position of Deputy Transport Commissioner was actually one of the most powerful local official positions.

Due to the problems with the official system of the Great Zhou Dynasty, there were very few transitional official positions with real power in the local areas.

The Transport Commissioner was a fourth-rank official, and the Deputy Transport Commissioner was a fifth-rank official.

One is the principal and the other the assistant, but they are two levels apart.

Generally speaking, a deputy transport commissioner must first transition from a fourth-rank official position to become a transport commissioner.

However, those holding the fourth rank rarely held any real positions.

Besides the lack of transitional substantive positions at the fourth rank between the fifth and fourth ranks, the pacification commissioners at the second rank and the deputy pacification commissioners at the third rank also lack transitional substantive positions at the third rank, all of which have similar problems.

This is a problem that originated during the reign of Emperor Taizong.

The government was governed by four departments: the Pacification Department, the Transport Department, the Grain Commissioner Department, and the Judicial Commissioner Department.

Initially, there were no problems with the system.

However, as time went on, flaws gradually emerged.

The responsibilities and powers of the four departments are too disparate.

More powerful pacification and transportation offices were headed by officials who either controlled both military and political affairs or had control over finances.

The less important positions, such as the Supervisor of the Ever-Normal Granary and the Supervisor of the Criminal Justice Bureau, were responsible for border trade and justice, and were undoubtedly less important.

Gradually, they were forced to lower the rank of the chief officials of the Changping Division and the Judicial Commissioner to only the fifth rank.

This has widened the gap between the four departments, with some official positions being upgraded in rank and others being downgraded, resulting in a lack of some transitional positions with real power.

Therefore, if someone in a fifth-rank official position wants to be promoted to a fourth-rank official position, they either need to find a transitional fourth-rank nominal position and then be promoted to a fourth-rank official position.

Either they skip a grade or they skip a grade.

Compared to the former, the transition to a nominal position is undoubtedly too difficult.

During the period of holding a nominal position, it is difficult to produce any political achievements, and unexpected events are very likely to occur.

When a position becomes vacant, people with good connections almost always choose to fill the vacancy with a deputy position.

He was promoted from the fifth rank to the fourth rank in one leap.

Sima Guang held a powerful fifth-rank official position. If he were to be promoted further, he would simply become one of the three positions: Transport Commissioner, Pacification Commissioner, or Deputy Pacification Commissioner.

However, both the Pacification Commissioner and the Deputy Pacification Commissioner were officials of the third rank or above, and even if Sima Guang skipped ranks, he could not reach such a high position.

The only option is for the deputy transport envoy to become a transport envoy instead.

Otherwise, being promoted to a nominal fourth-rank position would be worse than not being promoted at all.

In the path of officialdom, promotion is essentially for the purpose of gaining power.

If one's real power decreases after being promoted, wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse and only lead to more trouble?

However, unfortunately...

The position of Transport Commissioner of Shaanxi Circuit had already fallen into Jiang Zhao's hands, so his plan naturally failed.

Alternatively, Sima Guangping could be transferred to the capital and given a powerful fifth-rank official position.

Pang Ji had originally planned this.

From the moment Sima Guang failed to be promoted to Transport Commissioner, Pang Ji went to the capital to recommend him for the position of collator in the Imperial Academy.

As a result, Wang Anshi's path was cut off.

It was June, and the Ministry of Personnel had already issued most of the official reshuffle notices.

Given Pang Ji's status as a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, it wouldn't be impossible for him to squeeze out a powerful fifth-rank official in the capital.

However, Sima Guang was already over forty years old and only held the rank of fifth grade, so his potential was not considered high.

As the party leader, it wouldn't be a problem for Pang Ji to recommend a fifth-rank official.

However, if it goes too far and complicated, it will undoubtedly cause turmoil within the party.

As a fellow townsman of the Empress, he was already labeled as someone who had "become an official through favoritism," which led to his exclusion by some literati.

Of the six Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, he had the least control over the party.

Compared to the likes of Han Zhang and Wen Yanbo, he is far inferior.

It would be unwise to go to such great lengths just to bring Sima Guang to the capital.

In comparison, it would be better to let Sima Guang continue to serve as the Deputy Transport Commissioner.

If it's just bad luck, then we can only wait and see.

Pang Ji bowed and slowly withdrew.

Jiang Zhao happened to walk in.

The two exchanged a glance, and Jiang Zhao politely cupped his hands in greeting and stepped aside.

"Your humble servant Jiang Zhao greets Your Majesty."

Jiang Zhao walked over and bowed.

"Please sit down."

Zhao Zhen immediately perked up, picked up the Book of Han, and asked, "Jiang Qing, what is the solution to this problem?"

With that, Zhao Zhen waved his hand and dismissed his attendants.

"Perhaps—"

Jiang Zhao stood up and said calmly, "Let the Crown Prince be adopted by His Highness the Prince of Wei!"

The King of Wei was Zhao Fang, the eldest son of Zhao Zhen who died young.

Jiang Zhao's meaning was very clear.

The grandson of the emperor ascends the throne!

When the crown prince ascends the throne, he may posthumously honor his biological father.

How should a posthumous title be bestowed upon the grandson of the crown prince upon his ascension to the throne?

Could it be that they posthumously honored their living father as the Retired Emperor?

Not everyone has the ability of Emperor Taizong of Tang to be unafraid of the intimidation of the retired emperor.

Once one sits on the throne, suspicion between father and son becomes commonplace.

"To adopt the crown prince to the King of Wei?"

Zhao Zhen pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded.

good idea!

"I resign!"

With the matter resolved, Jiang Zhao bowed.

Just as he stepped out, he saw an official waiting quietly outside the Imperial Study.

This man had a long beard, was thin, and had a piercing, resolute gaze.

At first glance, he looked somewhat unfamiliar.

Jiang Zhao politely cupped his hands in greeting: "Jiang Zhao, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites."

The lean, middle-aged man raised his hand in return: "The newly appointed collator of the Imperial Academy, Wang Anshi, has come to the capital to report on his duties!"

Jiang Zhao nodded calmly and strode away.

interesting!

Chapter 75 The Transport Bureau is not the Transport Commissioner's alone!

Water and water, mountain island.

The waves are vast and boundless, stirring up wave after wave.

Jiang Zhao stood on the deck, his hands behind his back.

As the Transport Commissioner of Shaanxi Circuit, his administrative office was located in Jingzhao Prefecture.

By taking the Bian River into the Luo River, and then turning overland into Fuzhou, one can reach the destination directly.

Besides Zhang Heng, dozens of Jiang family members from Yangzhou accompanied him this time. They were all highly skilled fighters, naturally for self-defense.

The river breeze brings a sense of comfort and tranquility.

Jiang Zhao gazed into the distance, a slight stirring in his heart.

I wonder when I will be able to return to the capital?

As a student, Jiang Zhao often read some cabinet edicts and understood the heavy burden on his teacher, and was willing to share it.

I wonder if I will be able to shoulder the weight of the two capitals and thirteen provinces at that time?

"Lord."

He Sheng stepped forward and presented some information about officials registered with the Ministry of Personnel.

Information on officials on Shaanxi Road!

Jiang Zhao took it from his hand and began to read it.

When discussing the route, one must undoubtedly pay attention to the chief officials of the four departments.

Among them, the officials in charge of the Criminal Justice Bureau and the Grain Reserves Bureau were of low rank, only fifth or sixth grade, and could be almost ignored.

The chief official of the Pacification Commissioner was the Pacification Commissioner, a high-ranking official of the second rank, and a regional governor.

The current Pacification Commissioner of Shaanxi Road was named Cheng Kan.

This person was a relative of Wen Yanbo, a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. He experienced several ups and downs in his career, serving successively as Imperial Diarist, Prefect of Chengdu, Prefect of Yizhou, Transport Commissioner of Jingxi Circuit, and Pacification Commissioner of Shaanxi Circuit.

He was sixty-four years old at the time.

If nothing unexpected happens, he should be in a state of semi-retirement and semi-governance.

People in their sixties, unless they are members of the cabinet, will gradually lose their presence.

All for the sake of a safe landing.

The deputy pacification commissioner was named Sun Mian. He was relatively skilled in military affairs and belonged to the group of civil officials who were the most capable in combat. He often served as a military supervisor and advisor.

After glancing at the information of the officials in the Pacification Department, Jiang Zhao looked toward the Transport Department.

This is the government office where he is about to take office.

Upon looking around, Jiang Zhao immediately noticed a particular name.

Sima Guang!

Deputy Transport Commissioner – Sima Guang!

Sima Guang, courtesy name Junshi, served successively as judge of Suzhou, Xuandelang, chief clerk of the Imperial Workshop, judge of the Court of Judicial Review, and deputy commissioner of the Transport Commissioner.

In the first year of the Huangyou era, he served as the deputy commissioner of the transport commissioner, but was demoted and transferred to the position of prefect of Yunzhou, and later changed to the position of vice prefect of Bingzhou.