The location selection of the six government offices is very particular. Each government office is equivalent to an independent community, and the departments under each ministry are distributed in these communities.
As the department responsible for receiving envoys from the vassal state and conducting foreign affairs, the Host and Guest Department certainly has an independent office area.
When we arrived at the first courtyard house on the east side, there was a sign hanging on the lintel with the characters "Host and Guest" carved on it, which made it look very impressive.
Entering the courtyard, the courtyard is neatly repaired. The ground is covered with bluestone tiles, and various landscapes and flowers are planted next to it.
Even though it is winter, it is still lush and green. You can imagine how beautiful it is here when the flowers are in bloom.
There is a row of duty rooms on the left and right, with a wooden corridor running through it, allowing you to reach each duty room, which looks orderly and elegant.
Under the guidance of the clerk, Yang Fan came to an independent duty room, looked around, and nodded with satisfaction.
This duty room is at the back. When you open the window, you can see the flowers in the backyard of the duty room. The backyard is shaded by trees, pavilions and waterside pavilions. The environment is very good.
Especially in the hot summer, soaking in a cup of fragrant tea on the pavilion should be very comfortable, but now in the winter, the hotel room is relatively cold.
This made Yang Fan ask in confusion: "Why is there no charcoal fire in the room for heating?"
The clerk gave a wry smile and replied: "My lord has just arrived, but you don't know something. Our etiquette department has a small budget and cannot afford much charcoal. Therefore, the Host and Guest Department has stipulated that charcoal will only be burned for heating after the winter solstice."
This surprised Yang Fan. Although the Rites Department was part of the Qingshui Yamen, it was one of the six departments in the government. How could it be so poor? The treatment was so bad. He curled his lips and waved the clerk out.
Yang Fan was led to the duty room. Of course, other officials in the duty room would see it. Even if they didn't pay attention, they would tell each other.
After all, this is the first time that the Minister of Rites has directly parachuted into the Host and Guest Department to take charge of affairs.
After a while, two officials came to Yang Fan's room.
As soon as he entered the room, the fat man introduced himself: "Gu Bingcheng, the host and guest, has met the minister; this is Li Yifu, the host and guest." He looked very casual and perfunctory.
However, as soon as Gu Bingcheng finished speaking, Yuanwai Lang Li Yifu bowed his hand and complimented: "Your Excellency, you are really young and promising. It is truly an honor for me to serve under you."
Gu Bingcheng was unhappy when he saw Li Yifu flattering him.
He was originally the head of the host and guest department, but now he had a waiter sitting on top of him. It was strange that he was happy.
Gu Bingcheng was displeased in his heart, but he did not hesitate to speak: "Yes, the arrival of the Lord Assistant immediately made the host and guest full of vigor and welcome."
The two of them don't look like they are the same, which makes it much easier to handle.
However, I was shocked. I didn't expect to hear the name Li Yifu among the Ministry of Rites.
Li Yifu would become a famous treacherous prime minister in the Tang Dynasty. He came from a humble background. Although he later became the right prime minister, he did not belong to the gentry.
Therefore, the petition requested a re-editing of the "Chronicles of the Clan", advocating that "regardless of family status, all those who have obtained an official of the fifth rank or above will join the scholar stream".
It can be seen from this that this person is extremely utilitarian.
This kind of people are talented and know how to get things done, so they are deeply loved by their leaders. As long as they are used properly, they are better than those sour scholars and talented people.
But now is not the time to think about this. Yang Fan smiled slightly and said: "We are all colleagues. You don't need to be polite. We will need to rely on you two more in the future. We must work together to live up to His Majesty's expectations."
"Of course..." Gu Bingcheng forced out a stiff smile.
Naturally, Li Yifu had many: "It is a blessing for the court that the minister has such an idea, and it is also a blessing for the humble position."
Not to mention whether Li Yifu's words are true or false, but Gu Bingcheng's words must be false.
He was directly parachuted in as the boss of the main and guest department, which made Gu Bingcheng a little shorter. It was impossible for him to cooperate sincerely.
But Yang Fan doesn't care about this, as long as he doesn't offend him, otherwise...
Yang Fan looked harmless and said teasingly: "Are you serious?"
"Absolutely truthful!" Li Yifu swore without hesitation.
This surprised Yang Fan. Why did Li Yifu think so highly of him?
Although he is nominally responsible for the affairs of the host and guest department, when he first came to his post, generally speaking, the officials below will act based on the situation.
Li Yifu is not stupid, there is no way he would have thought of this.
But how did Yang Fan know that Li Yifu became an official because he was recommended by Li Daliang, the inspection ambassador of Jiannan Province, as a provincial official because of his good writing skills.
It is equivalent to Li Yifu being Li Daliang's protégé. Li Daliang was serving as Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs at this time and was Li Shimin's confidant.
The Ministry of Rites suddenly parachuted a minister, and of course Li Daliang had to give Li Yifu some advice.
As far as he knew, there were countless impeachment memorials against the new Minister of Rites by the imperial censors.
However, His Majesty Li Er did not even look at it. He either kept these impeachment memorials without issuing them or dismissed them outright.
For such a favorite, Li Daliang would certainly have some instructions for his disciples.
Li Yifu has a flexible mind and knows the ways of officialdom very well.
Now this talented person happens to be in the host-guest department. Anyway, it does not harm his own interests, so of course he is more attentive.
If Yang Fan can really win over Gu Bingcheng, the host and guest doctor, he may not be able to go further.
To put it bluntly, even if we can't defeat the enemy, there is still Yang Fan, an outstanding person, standing in front of us, and the board will not fall on him.
With this in mind, Li Yifu behaved just now, which was contrary to officialdom.
But Gu Bingcheng quit. Seeing Li Yifu expressing his loyalty so anxiously, his face suddenly darkened.
However, he did not dare to get mad at Li Yifu. After all, Yang Fan was the nominal head of the host and guest department, and there was nothing wrong with Li Yifu's compliment.
Feeling unhappy, Gu Bingcheng was naturally irritated. When he saw Yang Fan staring at him with a smile but not a smile, Gu Bingcheng didn't bother to say any more polite words and said angrily:
"Your Majesty, the Minister, knows what you are telling the truth, so there is no need to be pretentious. As long as your Majesty, the Minister, considers the court wholeheartedly and works for the benefit of your guest, I will cooperate with you."
Unexpectedly, Gu Bingcheng could not hold back his composure, and before he even made a move, the host and guest doctor jumped out in such a hurry.
Since someone wanted to jump out and fight, Yang Fan certainly didn't mind, so he pretended to be surprised and said: "Oh... Then what does Mr. Gu think is considered for the court and for the benefit of the guest?"
Gu Bingcheng clasped his fists and pointed in the direction of the palace and said arrogantly: "Loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, showing the Tang Dynasty's imperial style to the envoys of the vassal state, and so on are all considerations for the imperial court;"
After a pause, he continued: "Your Excellency, the Vice Minister, has just taken office. Let's not talk about these for now, but there are several major matters in the Host and Guest Department that need to be resolved urgently. Since Your Excellency, the Vice Minister is now in charge of the affairs of the Host and Guest Department, please solve them as soon as possible."
As soon as Gu Bingcheng finished speaking, Li Yifu quickly changed the subject and said: "Sir Gu, the Vice Minister has just taken office, and is not yet familiar with the procedures and affairs of the host and guest department. According to the opinion of the subordinate, this matter is not urgent at the moment;"
"Besides, when the new minister takes office, shouldn't he first call all the colleagues in the host and guest department to come and meet him? Otherwise, how can he carry out his work in the future?"
Even though Yang Fan has never been an official, he still knows this process, which is no different from the management of a company.
As a leader, no matter how unreliable you are, you still have to get familiar with the people below you after taking office.
Otherwise, how will others know who you are? How will you arrange work in the future?
Even if you want to hang out, you have to make a show of gathering everyone.
It was obvious that Li Yifu deliberately changed the topic because he was afraid that he would fall into Gu Bingcheng's trap.
No matter what Li Yifu's purpose was, Yang Fan still remembered his feelings in his heart because he could speak for himself like this when he first came to the host and guest department.
Since Li Yifu was so kind, it was difficult to refuse, so he laughed and said: "What Yuan Wailang said is true, but I was negligent, so please go and call everyone here."
"However, Mr. Gu said that there is a major matter between the host and guest that needs to be resolved. Of course, we cannot delay it. It is better to wait for everyone to arrive and then discuss how to solve it together."
He wanted to persuade him again, but when he saw that Yang Fan just waved his hand, Li Yifu had no choice but to endure the words and said with cupped hands: "I respectfully obey the order of the Master."
After saying that, Li Yifu turned around and walked to the corridor passage and shouted several times.
After a while, Li Yifu came in with seven or eight people.
I saw everyone standing in a row and shouting in unison: "I'm here to see you, Sir..."
I was a little nervous at first, but then it was a bit novel and gradually turned into excitement.
Yang Fan did not expect that he had only been in Datang for more than half a year, and now he was already a fourth-rank official. It was like a dream.
Later generations often say that the economic base determines the superstructure.
Yang Fan couldn't help but think:
With a millionaire, a high official salary, and a beautiful woman in his arms, he is a sure winner in life.