Chapter 183 You are all disciples of the Son of Heaven
Chapter 183 You are all disciples of the Emperor
Jian Yi did not cause any trouble to Xu Jingchang. It could even be said that he fully cooperated and approved more than a dozen new scholars at once, all of whom were outstanding in various ministries.
Send them down to serve as county magistrates and handle matters in Shandong.
The list was delivered to Zhu Di in the morning, and Zhu Di approved it in the afternoon. Not only did he agree, but he also allowed everyone on the list to enter the palace for the banquet.
This decree shocked everyone.
It stands to reason that there are only a dozen county magistrates and officials as big as sesame seeds and mung beans, are they worthy of such kindness from the emperor?
Could it be that there was a mistake?
Facts have proved that Zhu Di not only entertained guests, but also had extremely high standards.
Wine and food were served, and the prince and Dingguo Duke Xu Jingchang were even allowed to accompany him.
Zhu Di glanced around and found that among all the county magistrates, the one at the top was Zuo Yutian, the number one scholar.
Zhu Di smiled and said, "Master Zhuangyuan, if you don't enjoy happiness in the Hanlin Academy, why do you want to go out?"
Zuo Yutian stood up hurriedly and replied: "Your Majesty, I was born as a minor official. I was lucky enough to pass the Enke and get the number one scholar. However, I have limited literary skills and I really can't be promoted to the Imperial Academy to compile books. Instead of staying in the capital and wasting the country's money and people's money,
Why don't you go out to the county magistrate and do something for the people, which is also a way of repaying your kindness."
Zhu Di glanced at Xu Jingchang and said, "Dong Guo Gong, what do you say?"
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "Your Majesty, in the past, the Imperial Academy's study of history and scholarship also had the Confucian meaning of respecting teachers and respecting morality. Therefore, those who ranked high in the imperial examinations and were selected into the Imperial Academy were the best of the best and were highly valued. But now Your Majesty
The employment strategy has changed, the direction of the imperial examinations is different, and the standards for talent evaluation are also different. I believe that ministers who can truly do things for the people and share the worries of the country should be reused."
Zhu Di smiled and nodded, "Listen to what you said, if Duke Zhuangyuan becomes a county magistrate, is he not deserving of his talents?"
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "If the court doesn't take it seriously, how can your majesty grant a banquet?"
Zhu Di couldn't help clasping his hands and laughing, "It's Duke Ding who knows my thoughts. That's right. The county magistrate is not a petty official, he is a real Bailihou and the emperor of a county!"
Hearing the word emperor, all the new scholars stood up, trembling and terrified, not knowing what the emperor was going to say.
Zhu Di smiled and said: "Don't be nervous, I'm just chatting with you... They all say that the sky is high and the emperor is far away. I am in the capital, and all I can see are the six ministries and nine ministers. I am powerless to do anything about the outside world. You guys are here
When you go to a local place or take charge of a county, you often do things based on your own conscience and talents. If you have a good intention, you can benefit the people of one place, but if you have a vicious intention and only know how to enrich your own pocket, you will bring disaster to the other party."
Zhu Di hummed: "You also have to remember some things. Although I can't keep an eye on the place all the time, as long as someone does something dishonest, they can't keep it secret from me. I can deal with the Kong family, and I can also
I will deal with you, so you have to take care of yourself and don’t get yourself into it, do you understand?”
"I understand!" Everyone agreed.
Zhu Di added: "Let's go back to the magistrate. Even though you are only in the seventh rank and your official position is not high, what do the people call you? Lord Qingtian! Parents and officials! You are the people's heaven and their parents. In the eyes of the people, the imperial court is
You people, you are all my incarnation among the people."
Zhu Di was not exaggerating at all, and Xu Jingchang also knew very well that when he was doing things in the court, he paid attention to rules everywhere... because the court had a complete process, and each yamen supervise each other and check and balance each other.
You can mess around, but you can't do it according to your temper. You must understand the rules and you can't make any serious omissions that will cause people to catch your pigtails.
But it's different when it comes to the local level, especially at the county magistrate level, where he has great power and can control everything.
Money, food, punishment, education, bandit suppression...everything that can be counted is left to the county magistrate to have the final say.
And there is no one to restrict it.
A county magistrate who has good intentions can definitely benefit a place.
Of course, if you want to be greedy and do evil, accumulate tens of thousands of dollars in property, and force people to lose their families, it is just a thought.
"Replying to Your Majesty, it is only through the grace of Heaven that I can pass the imperial examination and gain fame. Now I am an official in the court and a magistrate of the county... It is all due to the great grace of Heaven. No matter what, I will not dare to live up to Heaven's grace. Please rest assured, Your Majesty.
"
Zuo Yutian took the lead and said again.
Zhu Di was very satisfied after hearing these words, "Although those who came out of the imperial examination are all disciples of the emperor, those of you who came out of Enke, passed the imperial examination, and became the first batch of Jinshi in the Yongle Dynasty. In my heart, you are the real emperor."
Disciples. I am giving a banquet today, not only to my ministers, but also to my students. I hope you will all be good students."
As Zhu Di raised his glass, Xu Jingchang and Zhu Gaochi also raised their glasses and drank with them.
While drinking, Xu Jingchang glanced at these new scholars and found that some of them had red eyes. He was really moved.
The emperor is so high above others, he is like a half-god. If the emperor can trust him and treat him with sincerity, even those old-timers can't stand it, let alone these new scholars.
Although most of them had worked as scribes in local places and had experienced a lot, they had never served the emperor or enjoyed the treatment of the emperor's disciples.
So for them, the first half of their lives was completely wasted, and starting from the moment they become Jinshi is their new life.
It is no exaggeration to say that Zhu Di started their second life.
"I will bear in mind His Majesty's teachings, and I will certainly live up to His grace."
Zhu Di smiled and said: "When I go to Shandong, I am not only an official, but also have many things to do. Prince, please tell me about it when you come back from Shandong."
Zhu Gaochi hurriedly said: "Yes, right now in Shandong, there are still many refugees who have not returned home smoothly. Large areas of fertile land are deserted, bandits are rampant, and murders and looting occur from time to time. Local officials need to appease the people, reclaim wasteland, build water conservancy projects, and work hard to restore people's livelihood.
We also have to clear out banditry, suppress the powerful, and protect the people... All of these tasks are much heavier than those of officials in other places."
With so many things going on, everyone present was a little startled, and their hearts couldn't help but hang up.
Zhu Di nodded and looked at Xu Jingchang again.
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "Don't be afraid. Your Majesty will ask you to go to the local area to do things. He will definitely arrange personnel to properly protect you. In addition, to restore people's livelihood and build water conservancy projects, the court can also arrange some money to assist in recovery. And there will be a meeting recently.
There is a batch of grain that will be shipped from Annan, and we can allocate 300,000 dan to be shipped to Shandong... In short, the imperial court will not let you fight alone."
After hearing this, Zuo Yutian and others breathed a sigh of relief.
If someone protects them, they don't have to worry about their personal safety, and they can get money and food support.
If you don't do it well, it will be unjustifiable.
"Your Majesty, in the past, my ministers worked below. This time I can take charge of a party. It is a good opportunity to show my ambition, share the worries of the king and father, and solve the problems of the people."
Zhu Di nodded happily, "It's best for you to think so, but don't be careless. There are still many powerful people in the local area. They have all kinds of tricks. Some people are desperate and crazy, and some people are used to using money and beauty to seduce you. You can
Be sure to take good care of yourself, and don’t make mistakes for yourself or the country!”
The new scholars agreed again, and everyone thought a little more. They would never dare to be careless about what the emperor told them.
The banquet was still going on, and after two more drinks, Zhu Di had a good idea and took the initiative to say: "Master Zhuangyuan, you suggest that the allowances and the actions of the officials should be put together. I have issued an edict that starting from this month, the allowances will be given for those who perform their duties faithfully.
Only half of the officials are paid. Your suggestion saved the court a lot of money."
half?
Zuo Yutian was still a little hesitant, because in his mind, those who fulfilled their duties must be those who did a good job and were loyal to the state affairs. If ten out of a hundred officials could receive it, it would be regarded as a great blessing.
How can you still save money by paying half the amount to officials? What is the rationale for this?
Xu Jingchang knew this matter clearly. The main problem was the definition of loyalty to one's duties... The Ministry of Officials believed that as long as nothing happened, it would be regarded as one's loyalty to one's duties.
It's hard to say who did well, and it's very clear who did poorly. Just go to the Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple to check, excluding those officials who were beheaded and dismissed because of the case. Everyone else is loyal to their duties and should be
Get a stipend.
It perfectly explains that as long as you make no mistakes, it is the greatest achievement.
That's why Zhu Di requested that the dedication award be given to only half of the people at most...According to common sense, this alone can save more than 200,000 taels, but in fact it only saved more than 100,000 taels.
Xu Jingchang also knew that the Ministry of Personnel had conveniently increased the share of the daily allowance.
Therefore, if you want to squeeze some oil and water out of the official's mouth, it is as high as the sky.
But no matter what, it was still saved and the amount was not increased, which is considered a good thing by Zhu Di.
"Come and get my gift."
While talking, Hou Xian brought up a plate, which contained a very exquisite sword, less than two feet long, but very beautiful in shape and decorated with gold.
Zhu Di took it, looked at it in his hand, and handed it to Zuo Yutian, "Take a look."
Zuo Yutian was frightened and took it in his hand. He saw four words on the hilt of the sword: Disciple of the Emperor!
He was shocked, raised his head in disbelief, and looked at Zhu Di stupidly.
At this time, Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "Master Zhuangyuan, as your Majesty said before, although there are many disciples of the Emperor, you are the ones that your Majesty truly recognizes. This imperial sword is the best proof."
When Zuo Yutian heard this, he was already trembling all over. He couldn't help but kneel on the ground, holding the sword high in both hands, and said excitedly: "My emperor's kindness is so great that I can't repay it."
Zhu Di smiled and said: "No need, just remember to serve the country and the people and have a clear conscience."
As he spoke, he waved his hand again, and then the eunuchs held up more than a dozen swords, one for each person.
"Don't say I'm stingy, everyone has a share."
Of course, this does not include Zhu Gaochi and Xu Jingchang.
"Cousin, I'm a little envious."
Xu Jingchang rolled his eyelids, "Really? I don't seem to feel anything... By the way, I have a sword given by the emperor."
Zhu Gaochi's face turned dark. There are piles of royal gifts in your family, so it's no wonder he doesn't care.
