During the Qin and Han Dynasties, "Shangshu" was originally a minor official next to the emperor. It was originally under the control of the Shaofu and was always filled by eunuchs. It was not until the Han Dynasty became emperor that it was replaced by scholars. Most people looked down upon this. "Book of the Later Han Dynasty* Hundred Officials"
"Zhi" quoted "Juelu Annotation" and said: The story is that Shangshu Lang made up for the long-term vacancy in the history. The ancestor of the world (Guangwu Emperor Liu Xiu) began to use Kao Lian as his minister, and Kao Lian Ding Han made up for it. Han complained that he was ill and could not cure it.
"If you are really sick, you are ashamed to be a man?" He said to him, "I am not really sick, but I am ashamed to regard filial piety and honesty as my official duty." Shizu angrily said: "A tiger can kill dozens of heads with a stick!" The imperial edict asked: "If you want to
Are you a gentleman?" Han said: "Your Majesty, you can kill your ministers, but you can't be your ministers!"
Scholars would rather die than become ministers, which shows that their status is low. In order to change this situation, the Eastern Han government took some measures to improve the status of ministers. According to Xie Cheng's "Book of the Later Han Dynasty* Zheng Hong Biography" contains: "Shang Shu
When Lang Jiudian was full of rank, he was promoted to the commander-in-chief, and Zheng Hong was appointed as a servant. He was appointed as a servant and rewarded little. If he is not happy, please ask Lang to make up for the two thousand stones." In this way, the position of the minister was raised several levels at once.
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Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu's measure of "Although the three ministers were appointed, all affairs were returned to Taige" made the authority of Shangshudai increasingly important, and his status was also improved, to the point where "the public officials and censors below Zhongcheng, when encountering Shangshu Ling, Pu, Cheng, Lang,
They all avoid each other by car and Yu. If the official passes by, he has to go."⑻ Especially among them, the officials and officials (later renamed the official department) are responsible for selecting scholars and appointing officials, and they are even more important positions. The entire Eastern Han Dynasty
During this period, the position of Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs was almost monopolized by famous Confucian scholars from aristocratic families, and it was beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Yushi Zhongcheng was originally an official subordinate to Yushi Dafu, and his position was not high, only Qianshi. After Yushi Dafu was changed to Sikong, Yushi Zhongcheng became the chief officer of Yushitai. The supervisory and correction officials were originally in charge of Yushi Dafu.
The responsibilities of Yushi Zhongcheng were borne by Yushi Zhongcheng. The increase in actual authority made this position more and more important, and the selection became more and more strict. People at that time called Yushi Zhongcheng, Sili Xiaowei, and Shangshutai together as the "Three Independent Sittings"