Wang Yongji asked Lin Tailai again: "Then when do you plan to take office?"
Since you, Lin Tailai, are deliberately ambiguous, I urge you to set a deadline yourself. You can't just say that you will never take office, right?
Lin Tailai patted his chest and replied: "Don't worry, Shaozukazai! I have checked the relevant regulations and it will not delay my appointment time!"
The regulations promulgated in the third year of Jiajing's reign are that those who violate the limit for more than half a year will be demoted to another position in the Ministry of Civil Affairs; those who violate the limit for more than one year will be dismissed from their posts and serve as civilians.
So as long as I can take office within half a year, it won’t be considered a violation of the regulations. It’s really just a few days!”
Wang Yongji: "."
I asked you immediately when you would take office. Was it because I was afraid that you would delay your appointment?
At this time, facing Lin Tailai in person, Wang Yongji, who admired Hai Rui, finally understood Hai Rui's unhappy and helpless mood.
Also, Lin Tailai's ability to exploit loopholes in the system is truly extraordinary.
Previously, I was forced to find an official position as a doctor in the examination department in the system, but now I want to delay the time to seize power by sticking to the "taking office within half a year" rule.
Lin Tailai in turn comforted him and said, "You really don't have to worry, Shaozukazai. Anyway, in the various ministries and courtyards, the main force of work is us grassroots cadres and officials.
As for the ministers and ministers like you, it doesn’t matter if there are one or two less, it will not affect the daily government affairs, and the work efficiency may even be higher."
Listening to Lin Tailai's fallacies, Wang Yongji sighed deeply. He is not a person who likes to play tricks, but this is all because of you, Lin Tailai!
He said: "I am old and sick. I have been dizzy and short of breath recently. I am preparing to resign."
"Don't! Don't! It won't happen! It won't happen!" Lin Tailai immediately dissuaded him.
After Wang Yongji submitted his resignation, he could go home to rest temporarily, so all three officials in the Ministry of Personnel were vacant.
So the question arises, who should keep the official seal?
So don't think about it, extraordinary procedures will occur in extraordinary times, and the emperor or the court will definitely parachute a minister over urgently.
Then things would be completely out of control. He, Lin Tailai, a doctor in the exam department, would even lose his right to speak, make suggestions, and exchange interests!
"When will you take office?" Wang Yongji asked again.
Lin Tailai replied helplessly: "Three days, three days later."
The idea of taking office after being stuck for five months and twenty-nine days was shattered.
Wang Yongji immediately ordered the servant at the door: "Send a message to Chen Younian and tell him that Lin Tailai will officially take up his post in the Ministry of Personnel in three days! Let's see if he dares to continue pretending to be sick at home!"
Lin Tailai was thoughtful and asked, "Did Prime Minister Shen say something to you in private?"
Wang Yongji was secretly shocked and reprimanded: "Stop guessing here!"
Lin Tailai pointedly pointed out: "This method of threatening me by resigning from office must have been taught to you by Prime Minister Shen!"
Wang Yongji: "."
Damn it! How did Lin Tailai see through this? Where did he reveal his flaws?
Coming out of the right hall where Wang Youshilang was, Lin Tailai was walking on the corridor, and happened to meet Wang Xiangmeng, a member of the Literary and Selection Department of the Ministry of Personnel, and his great nephew Wang Xiangmeng.
Wang Xiangmeng quickly saluted and called: "Sister-in-law!"
Lin Tailai warned: "In the government office, you must address your position."
Wang Xiangmeng changed his mind and said: "Lin Kaogong! Are you free tonight? Please come to my place for a drink."
Lin Tailai asked in a low voice: "Does your second uncle have any ideas about the position of Tianguan?"
Wang Xiangmeng did not deny it, "Who can not be tempted?"
"There's no point in being tempted!" Lin Tailai gave the answer directly, "Just be honest and be the Minister of Household Affairs."
Unexpectedly, Wang Situ, who had always been mature and steady, would become unstable. This shows how tempting the official position of Minister of Civil Affairs is.
Wang Xiangmeng asked again: "No hope at all?"
Lin Tailai said with certainty: "Unless you leave the official department first, there is still a little hope."
"Then forget it." Wang Xiangmeng said wisely, "You can't give up the fruits you have already obtained just for the sake of a little hope. My Wang family cannot live in Longwangshu."
Anyone who has a slight understanding of the rules of officialdom can see that Wang Situ really has no hope.
A nephew is working as a member of the Literary Examination Department, and a brother-in-law is working as a Gong Examiner. Who dares to let Wang Situ become the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs?
Unless the emperor supported him against all odds, Wang Situ was obviously not the kind of bureaucrat who was promoted by the emperor's favor, and he did not have many holy relatives.
As the two walked and talked, Wang Xiangmeng said to Lin Tai: "The official assessment method only needs to stick to the rules, there is no need to mess around.
Moreover, it is difficult to intuitively see the advantages and disadvantages of the assessment method, and it is difficult to say whether the results will be good or bad in the future."
Lin Tailai replied casually: "How can I gain a sense of presence without struggling? How can I show that I have the courage to do my job? How can I distinguish myself from a large group of mediocre officials?
As for the future good or bad, that has nothing to do with me. Oh no, as for success or failure, I can't see it!"
Wang Xiangmeng said doubtfully: "I still can't understand why you proposed to reinstate the examination method? Isn't this just a scolding?"
Lin Tailai said without raising his eyelids: "If you could understand, you wouldn't have been an official for ten years, and in the end, the official position was not as big as mine!
If it weren't for your lack of ability, why would you want me to step in and come to the Ministry of Civil Affairs to preside over the overall situation?"
Wang Xiangmeng: "."
He was a Jinshi in the eighth year of Wanli's reign, and it has been exactly ten years since he became a member of the Wenxuan Department. Is this a bad thing?
Although the achievement of being a Dzogchen censor for nine years with the imperial staff was achieved with the help of my younger brother-in-law, it was also with the help of my younger brother-in-law that he was transferred to the Literary and Selection Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The next day, Lin Tailai had to continue to wander back and forth between the three government offices. He was troubled by having too many part-time jobs.
Sitting in the Zhuangyuan Hall of the Hanlin Academy, Lin Tailai let out a long sigh. At this time, Dong Qichang and Zhou Yingqiu, who had finished their morning classes for Shujishi, arrived hand in hand.
Seeing that Lin Tailai seemed to be in a bad mood, Dong Qichang asked:
"What's going on? Isn't it just that in today's morning class, Master Tian didn't let you give a lecture? Why are you so depressed?"
Lin Tailai replied: "It's not the reason. The main reason is that I feel upset when I think that I will have to go to the Ministry of Civil Service Examination Department to officially take office in two days."
Dong Qichang, Zhou Yingqiu, Zhu Guozuo, who also worked in the Zhuangyuan Hall, and the Tang Dynasty literature were all speechless. Listening to Lin Tailai's tone, they thought they would send you to Gansu or Guizhou to be the county magistrate!
Lin Tailai complained to Dong Qichang naggingly: "The situation is not very good now, because the meeting can be held normally after I take office, and after the ministry meeting is held, candidates for the new Minister of Civil Affairs will be drafted.
However, the criteria for selecting the Minister of Civil Affairs are very strict, and there are only a few qualified people, but there is no one like me.
Then what’s the point of me going to the Gongfu Examination Department to take up the post now? Am I just watching others take over?”
Dong Qichang: "."
The day has been filled with chatter, and I really can’t talk anymore!
Zhou Yingqiu, who is good at understanding people, advised: "The most important thing for a person is to be content. If that's not enough, Brother Jiuyuan should just retreat and do the next best thing. You might as well choose a Zuo Shilang from the Ministry of Civil Affairs."
Lin Tailai sighed, "That's all it can do."
The two seniors Zhu Guozuo and Tang Wenxu looked at each other in confusion. Do these newcomers from the 17th year of Wanli think they were sitting in Wenyuan Pavilion talking about personnel work?
Lin Tailai raised his head and looked at the sun outside, and then said: "It's time to go to the Ministry of Officials and Rites to have a look. I have to travel in the wind and rain every day on my official career. There is no one in the court who works harder than me.
Every time I think of the scorching summer heat that is coming, I feel uncomfortable in advance."
Everyone: "."
Are you Lin Tailai? Between the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Personnel, there is only the Ministry of War and the Zongren Mansion; between the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites, there is only the Ministry of Husbandry!
Only Zhou Yingqiu’s thoughtful advice said: “There is no way to solve this kind of hard work.”
Lin Tailai asked curiously: "If you have any good ideas, please come quickly."
However, Zhou Yingqiu began to tell an old story: "In the past, when Emperor Sejong was in Xiyuan, Renshou Palace was undergoing repairs, more than ten civil and military ministers went to Wuyi Hall in Zhixi Garden to assist Xuanxiu.
Li Mo, the heavenly official of the Ministry of Personnel, was also among them, and the seal of the Ministry of Personnel was also carried by Li Mo.
But when Li Mo went to Zhixiyuan, he often had to wait ten and a half days to get back to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Later, there was no choice but to send official duties to Xiyuan."
Then he added: "With this old practice, can Brother Jiuyuan sit in the Imperial Academy's Zhuangyuan Hall and let other ministries send official affairs here for disposal?"
Lin Tailai's heart suddenly moved, but he shook his head and said: "This can't be done! What virtue and ability can I, Lin Tailai, take charge of the government?"
Zhou Yingqiu said to Lin Tai sincerely: "It's hot, take care of yourself first!"
Lin Tailai: "."
Fortunately, it is summer that is coming, not the depths of winter.
However, Lin Tailai was still embarrassed and said: "The Host and Guest Department of the Ministry of Etiquette is okay, but the Examination Department of the Ministry of Personnel is not one of our own. If I don't go and take charge personally, I won't be able to rest assured."
Zhou Yingqiu said firmly: "If you don't change your mind, change the person!"
"It's exactly what I want." Lin Tailai responded, "Then let's change people first."
Dong Qichang couldn't stand listening anymore and couldn't help but remind Lin Tailai: "Don't be so arrogant, you are not the only one in the No. 1 Scholar Hall.
That’s it for the Ministry of Rites, but I’m afraid it’s not convenient for outsiders to know about the affairs of the Examination Department of the Ministry of Personnel, right?”
Huh? Lin Tailai looked around and almost forgot that besides himself, there were two other former top picks in the hall.
Zhu Guozuo and Tang Dynasty Literature: "."
What a premature death! In a place like the Hanlin Academy, where nobles and nobles raise their hopes, it is like a paradise compared to ordinary officialdom, but they can still encounter dangerous political storms.
Lin Tailai withdrew his gaze and said, "This is not a top priority, so let's ignore it for now."
As the order of the court gradually returned to normal, Shen Shoufu also returned to Wenyuan Pavilion after being away for several days.
He likes the current calm atmosphere very much. In this case, he can be very comfortable as the first assistant.
It's a pity that in the Wanli Dynasty, the peace time is getting less and less. I don't know how long this peace can last.
In the middle hall of Wenyuan Pavilion, the cabinet held its first plenary meeting in the past two months.
There was nothing big going on today, it was just like a tea party, but instead of Shen Da, Xu Er, Wang San, and Wang Si, they became Shen Da, Wang Er, Wang San, and Zhao Si.
Zhao Si took out an envelope and said to the other three cabinet ministers: "Lin Tailai has a secret to reveal about the White Cabinet."
After the power of the cabinet expanded, when there were major events, Chinese and foreign ministers often informed the cabinet in private first, and then formally went through formal procedures to report the matter.
Of course, under normal circumstances, secret disclosures of such discussions are usually sent to the chief assistant.
Wang San then said to Zhao Si: "How come this secret revelation was given to you instead of sending it to the chief assistant first?"
Listen to what you are saying, which is half sarcastic and half provocative.
Shen Da said generously: "Don't worry about this. When Lin Tailai is in trouble, it is a great improvement to be able to reveal secrets to the cabinet in advance!"
Wang Er also agreed: "In the past, Lin Tailai always acted willfully and easily. When did he ever think of shutting down the White Cabinet?
Just like last year when he was in the Xuanfu, he dismissed the governor without any prior notice to the cabinet, leaving the cabinet very passive."
Shen Da asked Zhao Si again: "What is Lin Tailai going to say this time?"
Zhao Si replied: "It is said to promote the reform of the official assessment system, further standardize the examination language, and restore the examination method."
Shen Da: "."
My mood suddenly felt a little complicated and I didn't know where to start.
Zhao Si looked at Shen Da strangely, what's going on? Why did his face change when he heard about the reinstatement method?
Wang San, who was a little gloating about his misfortune, explained with good intentions: "Old Zhao, you may not know that the law that was passed in the imperial examination was exactly what Shen Shoukui advocated for its abolition.
Now you are saying that you want to restore the examination method, oh, how can we judge you?"
Zhao Si: "."
Damn it! Could it be that Lin Jiuyuan even started to trick him?
Let yourself hold the law that Shen Shoufu advocated to be abolished, and tell Shen Shoufu that it should be restored. Isn't this a show of disrespect?
At that time, it seemed that I was still an old fellow who was far away from home, and my ears and eyes were very blocked!
Although we know that the imperial examination law was abolished by the imperial court, how can we know the details behind it?
I don’t even know that this was led by Shen Shoufu. In the edict issued by the imperial court, it was not clearly written that this was Shen Shoufu’s opinion.
In order to maintain the unity of the team, Shen Da did not get angry and said to Zhao Si seriously:
"You are still a new member of the cabinet, and the entrance exam is too difficult for you to control.
At that time, Zhang Jiangling used the imperial examination as a whip, and he lived in the inner court and whipped the outer court. But we, in order to avoid the suspicion of being authoritarian, abandoned the imperial examination at that time."
This is correct. From a political point of view, the Kao Cheng Law was indeed a tool used by Zhang Juzheng to control foreign dynasties.
In the twelfth year of Wanli's reign just after Zhang Juzheng was liquidated, the 50-year-old Shen Shixing became the chief minister not long after. He was too young and his position was very unstable.
On the one hand, in order to show the emperor that he did not have any intention of being authoritarian, and on the other hand, in order to win over the people of the court, Shen Shixing took the lead in abolishing the imperial examination law.
After hearing Shen Da’s explanation, Zhao Si responded: “But Lin Tailai’s restoration of the examination law is different from the past, and it will not make the cabinet suspected of being authoritarian again.
What he meant was that the examination method after the restoration would be presided over by the Department of Examination and Examination of the Ministry of Personnel, and it did not need to be presided over by the cabinet as in the Zhang Jiangling era.
Therefore, the cabinet really does not need to worry about being suspected by the emperor anymore."
King Shen II Wang San: "."
When you Lin Tailai revealed the secret, did you have something to discuss privately with the cabinet, or did you issue an announcement?
To avoid suspicion, if the cabinet cannot exercise power, it is up to you, Lin Tailai, to exercise it yourself, right?
I don’t know why, but it reminds me of the situation analysis I heard yesterday about “the government offices, offices, party organizations, and politics are gradually sinking.”
You, Lin Tailai, have taken the lead and practiced it personally. Do you want to use practical actions to tell everyone what political sinking is?