Han Shizu

Chapter 1822 Lack of people

In the 24th year of Kaibao, it seems to be much colder than previous years. It’s already March, and the spring cold still hasn’t subsided.

This is the 30th year that Emperor Liu has ruled the country. For an emperor, this kind of ruling time is really long, which is a bit numb. Not to mention the subjects under his feet, it is Emperor Liu himself. Sometimes there is a sense of loss.

Once a year, the Jiaqing Festival is coming again, but this year Emperor Liu is not in the mood to celebrate the festival, and even decreed that the palace does not need to make too many preparations, the ceremony will not be held, and the imperial banquet will not be held. The relatives of the state gather together, eat, chat, and that's all.

However, Emperor Liu did not deliberately control the situation outside the palace, but the reactions of the subjects in Xijing were not as flat as Emperor Liu.Even ordinary people have passively formed the habit of celebrating festivals. Although it is not as good as Yuanxi, Qingming, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Winter Solstice, it is still an important festival and has begun to integrate into the lives of ordinary people.

Not to mention anything else, it is enough to make people happy that all the goods in official stores and public stores will be greatly reduced for the three days before and after Jiaqing. You must know that many private merchants will increase their prices during the holidays. .
As for the aristocratic bureaucrats, there is no need to spur them. The emperor's life is just his business, but as a courtier, he has to express it. Treated differently.Even, for many bureaucrats, the Jiaqing Festival is one of the most important festivals of the year. When it comes to licking the emperor, regardless of their power and status, they don't care about it.

"How could it be so chaotic?" In the Chuigong Palace, the old emperor lacked self-knowledge and scolded Lu Duan, Minister of the Ministry of Officials: "The Qiantang embankment has been renovated for two years, and it has not yet been completed. This is asking the imperial court for funds. Who made the budget at the beginning? Or is someone playing tricks on it and filling their own pockets?
Shannan, Jiannan, Dongchuan, Liaodong, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Yunnan. More than a dozen autumn taxes have been delayed for nearly four months, and they have not been confiscated. They even have the face to ask the court for a waiver of time. Is it deliberately delayed? , drag it to the end and just let it go?
Government affairs are slack and inefficient. What are the local governments doing?How do officials fulfill their duties?Could it be that there are some corpses and vegetarians all over the Han government?

How do you central ministers supervise and encourage you? "

Emperor Liu flipped through some of the official memorials presented below. The more he looked at them, the more he became angry and dissatisfied. There were too many delays and omissions. Procrastination, inefficiency, confusion, mistakes and omissions, not seeing anything exciting
Faced with Emperor Liu's angry questioning, Lu Duan remained calm and composed. He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the renovation of the Qiantang embankment was previously supervised by Fan Zhigu, a doctor from the Ministry of Water. Last June, Reported embezzlement of public funds for embankment repairs, and seven of his subordinates were sent to prison for investigation, and the project was suspended.

In the winter of last year, the imperial court reopened the project, and its deputy Zheng Huai was in charge of presiding over it. Later, it was found out that Fan Ruoshui's case was framed by someone, and Zheng Huai was behind the scenes.

Zheng Huai was imprisoned and asked to be executed, and the project was delayed again.Later, after discussing with the Ministry of Industry, it was decided to reuse Fan Zhigu and continue to preside over the repair of the embankment. Now the work has fully resumed.

Now I am asking the imperial court for additional repair funds, presumably because of several delays before, delays in the construction period, and the increase in the cost of labor collection due to the farming season, the previously issued funds are not enough to support the completion of the embankment, so I have to ask for additional funds.”

"It should be killed!" As soon as Lu Duan finished speaking, Emperor Liu sternly said, his old face was covered with a layer of anger: "These treacherous ministers, officialdom struggles, power strife, have reached the point of ignoring the overall situation and ignoring the national economy and the people's livelihood? It is simply hateful!"

Facing the angry Emperor Liu, Lu Duan just lowered his body a little and didn't answer.After calming down, Emperor Liu asked: "The situation of this Fan Ruoshui has been investigated, are you sure he is innocent?"

When asked, Lu Duan replied skillfully: "Your Majesty, Fan Ruoshui, styled Zhongshi, was originally named Ruoshui, his ancestral home was Jingzhao, and his ancestor and father were officials in Jiangnan. He grew up in Chizhou, and after Jiangnan was settled, he worked in Chizhou. Bao went to Beijing for reference in the seventh year, and won the first place in engineering.

He is shrewd and capable, has the ability to be an official, and is quick and eloquent. After observing politics, he successively served in the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry, and then he was transferred to Huaidong and Henan. Physician"

"Okay, okay!" Seeing that Lu Duan was eloquent, Emperor Liu interrupted him, and said, "I didn't ask you about this person's resume! However, from your description, it seems that this person has some talents and no mistakes, but entrusted with a heavy responsibility?"

Regarding this, Lu Duan said conservatively: "As far as the current situation is concerned, the Qiantang embankment project can be completed properly with this person!"

"You, Lu Duan, look at people, and I still believe it!" Emperor Liu said.

"I dare not be a minister!"

Glancing at him, Emperor Liu said indifferently: "This Fan Zhigu seems to have been wronged before, so let him be given the title of minister of the Ministry of Industry. Just approve it. In addition, tell Fan Zhigu, work hard, if the Qiantang embankment is repaired, he, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, will be appointed as a regular, if the repair is not good, and there are problems again, then he will fill the embankment!"

Even if he is as old as Lu Duan, he can't help trembling when he listens to Emperor Liu's orders. This is again whipping his officials with an unsheathed steel knife. This compensation from the "Ministry of Industry" is for Fan Zhigu , I am afraid it is too heavy.

Steady his mind, seeing that Emperor Liu was still staring at him, Lu Duan calmly continued to explain: "As for the chaos in government affairs and the delay in business affairs, the minister and Yousi have also made an understanding. Over the past few years, from the center to the local government, too many officials have been replaced and too many new officials have been promoted.

Newly appointed officials need some time to adapt, and many of them have deficiencies in political experience and ability to handle affairs and need to be tempered.And so far, there are still many positions that have not been fulfilled in government offices across the country.”

The more Emperor Liu heard Lu Duan's explanation, the more he didn't like it, and he couldn't help interrupting him angrily: "According to Lu Qing, this is caused by the purge of the court's officials? Is it possible that only those corrupt officials can make government affairs run smoothly? , Without them, the government affairs would be in chaos instead? How unreasonable! Also, if there are talented people who are not worthy, why should the Ministry of Officials make arrangements? What is the basis for appointing officials who are not talented? "

"Your Majesty, I don't mean this! It's just that it really takes some time for adjustments from the central government and local governments at all levels!" Lu Duan responded calmly, "In addition, there are still large vacancies for official positions in various places. The company is gradually implementing”

Seeing Lu Duan's unhurried appearance, Emperor Liu also realized that it was meaningless to lose his temper with this old man, and he fell into a inferior position instead.

After thinking for a moment, Emperor Liu asked: "The big man will be short of people to be officials now?"

Asked about this, Lu Duan sighed slightly in his heart. If Emperor Liu had tried his best to find out how many officials he had taken down in the past year, he would not have asked such a question.What's more, what is lacking is not officials, but people who meet the standards and have sufficient abilities.

However, Lu Duan's expression already explained everything. After a little consideration, Emperor Liu asked again: "Have all the scholars, bachelors, and candidates who observe politics have been arranged?"

Lu Duan nodded: "Return to Your Majesty, this is the first choice for officials to be selected by the Ministry of Officials!"

The brows could not help but frowned, and then said: "Kai Enke! In addition, cooperate with the Privy Council to evaluate and select retired officers! The officials have also put some thought into it. There are more solutions than difficulties. I will give you another half a year. Solve this personnel problem for me! Such a mess, I don’t want to hear and see it again!”

"Yes!" Lu Duan replied calmly.I finally breathed a sigh of relief, but luckily Emperor Liu gave me half a year's time, fearing that Emperor Liu would be impatient and demanded that everything be done in one step.
(End of this chapter)