Daming talker

Chapter 570 What is political decline?

Wang Yongji then asked Lin Tailai, "When do you plan to take office?"

Since you, Lin Tailai, are deliberately being ambiguous, then I'm urging you to set a deadline yourself. You can't just say you won't take up the post, right?
Lin Tailai patted his chest and replied: "Don't worry, Junior Prime Minister! I have checked the relevant regulations and it will not delay my taking office!
The regulations issued in the third year of Jiajing were that those who exceeded the deadline for taking office for more than half a year would be sent to the Ministry of Personnel for demotory appointment; those who exceeded the deadline for more than one year would be dismissed from office and become commoners.

So as long as I can take up the position within six months, it won’t be considered a violation of the regulations. These few days really don’t matter!”

Wang Yongji: "."

I asked you when you will take office. Am I afraid that you will miss the deadline?

Facing Lin Tailai in person at this time, Wang Yongji, who admired Hai Rui, finally understood Hai Rui's resentful and helpless mood.

Also, Lin Tailai's ability to exploit loopholes in the system is truly extraordinary.

Previously, they had forced the position of Langzhong of the Ministry of Examination into the system, and now they are trying to drag out the time and seize power by using the rule of "half a year in office".

Lin Tailai then comforted him, "You don't have to worry, Junior Prime Minister. In the ministries and departments, the main force doing the work is grassroots officials like us.

As for officials like you, such as the Shangshu and Shilang, it doesn’t matter if one or two are missing. It won’t affect daily government affairs, and it may even increase work efficiency.”

Listening to Lin Tailai's twisted theories, Wang Yongji sighed deeply. He was not a person who liked to play tricks, but this was all forced by you, Lin Tailai!

He said: "I am old and sick, and recently I have been experiencing dizziness and shortness of breath. I am preparing to submit a petition to resign."

"Don't! Don't! Not at all! Not at all!" Lin Tailai immediately dissuaded.

After Wang Yongji submitted his resignation, he could go home and rest temporarily, so the three vacancies of the Ministry of Personnel would all be vacant.

So the question is, who should be entrusted with the safekeeping of the Ministry of Personnel's seal?
So there is no need to think about it, extraordinary times will lead to extraordinary procedures, and the emperor or the court will definitely airdrop a minister urgently.

Then things would be completely out of control, and Lin Tailai, the doctor of the Ministry of Examination, would even lose his right to speak, make suggestions, and exchange interests!

"Then when will you take up your post?" Wang Yongji asked again.

Lin Tailai replied helplessly: "Three days, three days later."

The idea of ​​taking office within five months and twenty-nine days was shattered.

Wang Yongji immediately ordered the servant at the door: "Tell Chen Younian that Lin Tailai will officially take up his post at the Ministry of Personnel in three days! Let's see if he dares to continue pretending to be sick at home!"

Lin Tailai seemed to be thinking about something, and asked, "Did Prime Minister Shen say something to you in private?"

Wang Yongji was secretly shocked, but on the surface he reprimanded him, "Stop making wild guesses!"

Lin Tailai pointed out bluntly: "This method of threatening me with resignation must have been taught to you by Prime Minister Shin!"

Wang Yongji: "."

Holy shit! How did Lin Tailai see through me? Where did I reveal my flaws?
Coming out of the right hall where Right Vice Minister Wang was, Lin Tailai was walking in the corridor and happened to meet Wang Xiangmeng, the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Personnel's Selection Department and his good nephew.

Wang Xiangmeng quickly bowed and called out, "Uncle-in-law!"

Lin Tailai warned, "In the government office, you must be called by your position."

Wang Xiangmeng changed the subject and said, "Lin Kaogong! Are you free tonight? I'd like you to come over to my place for a drink."

Lin Tailai asked quietly, "Could it be that your second uncle has any idea about the position of Heavenly Official?"

Wang Xiangmeng did not deny it, "Who wouldn't be tempted?"

"There's no chance of being tempted!" Lin Tailai gave a direct answer, "It's better to just be the Minister of Revenue."

Unexpectedly, Wang Situ, who has always been mature and steady, also became unstable in his heart. This shows how tempting the position of Minister of Personnel is.

Wang Xiangmeng asked again: "No hope at all?"

Lin Tailai said with certainty: "Unless you leave the Ministry of Personnel first, there is still a glimmer of hope."

"Forget it then." Wang Xiangmeng said wisely, "We can't give up the fruits that have already been obtained for a tiny hope. My Wang family can't be greedy for more."

Anyone who has a little understanding of the rules of officialdom can see that Wang Situ really has no hope.

With a nephew serving as a Deputy Director of the Ministry of Selection and a brother-in-law serving as a Langzhong of the Ministry of Examination, who would dare to let Wang Situ become the Minister of Personnel?

Unless the emperor supports him against all odds, Wang Situ is obviously not the kind of bureaucrat who is promoted by the emperor's grace, and he does not have much royal favor.

As they walked and talked, Wang Xiangmeng said to Lin Tai: "The official assessment method only needs to follow the rules, there is no need to make any changes.

Moreover, it is difficult to directly judge the pros and cons of the assessment method, and it is hard to say whether the result will be good or bad in the future. "

Lin Tailai answered casually: "How can I make my presence felt if I don't make trouble? How can I show that I am brave enough to take on responsibilities? 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. No, as for success or failure, that is beyond my control!"

Wang Xiangmeng asked again in confusion: "I still don't understand why you want to propose the restoration of the performance evaluation system? Isn't this just asking for trouble?"

Lin Tailai said without even raising his eyelids: "If you could understand, you wouldn't have been an official for ten years, but ended up with a lower position than me!

If you were not incompetent, why would you ask me to personally come to the Ministry of Personnel to take charge of the overall situation?"

Wang Xiangmeng: "."

He became a Jinshi in the eighth year of Wanli, and it has been exactly ten years since then. He has become a Yuwenlang of the Ministry of Literature. Is this a bad thing?

Although my uncle helped me get the title of Imperial Censor after nine years of wearing the imperial cane, and also helped me get transferred to the Ministry of Personnel's Selection Department.
The next day, Lin Tailai had to continue to move back and forth between the three government offices. This was the trouble of having too many part-time jobs.

Sitting in the Zhuangyuan Hall of the Hanlin Academy, Lin Tailai sighed deeply. At this time, Dong Qichang and Zhou Yingqiu, who had just finished their morning lessons as scholars, came together.

Seeing that Lin Tailai seemed to be in a bad mood, Dong Qichang asked:
"What's going on? Didn't Master Tian not ask you to give a speech in the morning class today? Why are you so depressed?"

Lin Tailai replied: "That's not the reason. I am mainly upset because I have to go to the Ministry of Personnel to take up my official post in two days."

Dong Qichang, Zhou Yingqiu, Zhu Guozuo and Tang Wenxian who worked in the Zhuangyuan Hall were all speechless. From the tone of your voice, Lin Tailai, they thought you were being sent to Gansu or Guizhou to be a county magistrate!
Lin Tailai complained to Dong Qichang: "The current situation is not very good, because after I take office, the Ministry of Personnel meeting can be held normally, and after the Ministry of Personnel meeting is held, the candidates for the new Minister of Personnel will be drafted.

But the selection criteria for the Minister of Personnel are very strict, and there are only a few qualified people, and I am not one of them.

So what's the point of me taking up the post at the Ministry of Performance Evaluation now? Am I just going to watch someone else take over?"

Dong Qichang: "."

We've run out of things to talk about here, there's really no way to continue the conversation!
Zhou Yingqiu, who was good at convincing people, advised: "It is important for people to be content. If that doesn't work out, Brother Jiuyuan should settle for the next best thing and be the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel."

Lin Tailai sighed, "That's all we can do."

The two seniors, Zhu Guozuo and Tang Wenxian, looked at each other in bewilderment. Did these newcomers in the 17th year of Wanli think that they were sitting in the Wenyuan Pavilion to discuss personnel work?

Lin Tailai looked up at the sun outside and said, "It's time to go to the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites. I have to brave the wind and rain every day to work on my official duties. There is no one in the court who works harder than me. Whenever I think of the scorching summer heat, I feel uncomfortable in advance."

Everyone: "."

You, Lin Tailai, are really that serious! The only thing between the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Personnel is the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Imperial Clan Affairs; the only thing between the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites is the Ministry of Revenue!

Only Zhou Yingqiu offered thoughtful advice: "This kind of hard work is not unsolvable."

Lin Tailai asked curiously, "What good ideas do you have? Tell me quickly."

Zhou Yingqiu began to tell an old story: "In the past, when Emperor Shizong was cultivating in Renshou Palace in Xiyuan, more than a dozen civil and military officials went to Wuyi Palace in Xiyuan to assist him in his cultivation.

Among them was Li Mo, the official of the Ministry of Personnel, and he also carried the seal of the Ministry of Personnel with him.

But Li Mo was assigned to the Western Garden, and it was often difficult for him to return to the Ministry of Personnel for ten days or half a month. Later, there was no other way, so the Ministry of Personnel had to send the official business to the Western Garden.

Then he said, "Since there is such an old precedent, Brother Jiuyuan, can you sit in the Hanlin Academy's Champion Hall and let other departments send official business here for handling?"

Lin Tailai was tempted for a moment, but shook his head and said, "That's impossible! How can I, Lin Tailai, be qualified to run a government office?"

Zhou Yingqiu sincerely said to Lin Tai: "It's hot, take care of yourself!"

Lin Tailai: "."

Fortunately, it is summer that is coming, not the coldest winter.

However, Lin Tailai said awkwardly: "The Ministry of Rites is fine, but the Ministry of Personnel Examination Office does not have my own people. If I don't go there in person, I won't be able to rest assured."

Zhou Yingqiu said firmly: "If you don't change your mind, change the person!"

"That's exactly what I want." Lin Tailai responded, "Then let's change people first."

Dong Qichang could not bear to hear this any longer and could not help but remind Lin Tailai, "Don't be so arrogant, you are not the only one in the Zhuangyuan Hall.

The Ministry of Rites is fine, but the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Examination are probably not convenient for outsiders to know, right?"

Hmm? Lin Tailai looked around and almost forgot that there were two former champions in the Champion Hall besides himself.

Zhu Guozuo and Tang Wenxian: "."

What a tragedy! In the Hanlin Academy, a place where nobles can cultivate their reputation and is like a paradise compared to ordinary officialdom, he still encountered a dangerous political storm.

Lin Tailai retracted his gaze and said, "This is not a top priority, let's ignore it for now."

As order in the court gradually returned to normal, Prime Minister Shen also returned to Wenyuan Pavilion after being away for several days.

He likes the current peaceful atmosphere very much. In this situation, he can serve as the Prime Minister comfortably.

Unfortunately, during the Wanli Dynasty, the time of peace became less and less. I wonder how long this peace can last.

In the central hall of Wenyuan Pavilion, the cabinet held its first plenary meeting in nearly two months.

Nothing big happened today, it was just like a tea party, except that it changed from Shen Da, Xu Er, Wang San, and Wang Si to Shen Da, Wang Er, Wang San, and Zhao Si.

Zhao Si took out an envelope and said to the other three ministers: "Lin Tailai has a secret revelation about the Guanpaku Cabinet."

After the cabinet's power expanded, Chinese and foreign ministers would often first inform the cabinet privately when there were major events, and then formally follow the procedures to report them after good communication.

Of course, under normal circumstances, the secret information of such meetings is usually sent to the Prime Minister.

Wang San then said to Zhao Si, "Why didn't you send this secret report to the Prime Minister first, but gave it to you?"

Listen to the words and the tone, half is sarcasm and half is provocation.

Shen Da said generously: "Don't worry about this. When Lin Tailai has something to do, being able to release secret information to expose the Guanpaku Cabinet in advance is a great progress!"

Wang Er also agreed, "Before, Lin Tailai always did things on his own accord. When did he ever think of establishing a cabinet?
Just like last year when he dismissed the governor in Xuanfu without informing the cabinet in advance, he put the cabinet in a passive position.

Shen Da asked Zhao Si again: "What does Lin Tailai want to talk about this time?"

Zhao Si replied: "It is said that it is to promote the reform of the official assessment system, further standardize the assessment language, and restore the performance assessment system."

Shen Da: “.”

My mood suddenly became a little complicated and I don’t know where to start.

Zhao Si looked at Shen Da in surprise. What happened? Why did his face change when he heard about the restoration of the performance evaluation system?
Wang San, who seemed to be gloating over someone else's misfortune, kindly explained: "Old Zhao, you may not know that it was Prime Minister Shen who advocated the abolition of the performance evaluation system.

Now you are saying that you want to restore the performance evaluation system. Oh, how can we judge this?"

Zhao Si: “.”

Holy shit! Could it be that Lin Jiuyuan is even starting to trick himself?
Asking him to take the decree that Prime Minister Shen advocated to abolish and tell him that it should be restored, isn't this just a face-to-face attack?

At that time, I seemed to be just an old and incompetent Tongzhi who was far away from home and had no access to any information!

Although I knew that the Kaocheng System was abolished by the imperial court, how could I know the specific inside story?
They didn't even know that this was led by Prime Minister Shen. The imperial edict issued by the court did not clearly state that this was Prime Minister Shen's opinion.

In order to maintain the unity of the team, Shen Da did not lose his temper, but said to Zhao Si earnestly:
"You are still a new member of the cabinet, and the waters of the performance evaluation system are too complicated for you to handle.

In those days, Zhang Jiangling used the performance evaluation system as a whip to whip the outer court from the inner court, but in order to avoid suspicion of monopolizing power, we abolished the performance evaluation system. "

This is true. From the perspective of political tactics, the Kaocheng System was indeed a tool used by Zhang Juzheng to control the outer court.

In the 12th year of the Wanli reign, just after Zhang Juzheng was purged, the fifty-year-old Shen Shixing had just become the Prime Minister. He was too young and his position was very unstable.

On the one hand, in order to show the emperor that he had no intention of monopolizing power, and on the other hand, in order to win the hearts of the court, Shen Shixing took the lead in abolishing the Kaocheng System.

After listening to Shen Da's explanation, Zhao Si responded, "But what Lin Tailai said about restoring the performance evaluation system is not too different from the past, and it will not cause the cabinet to be suspected of being authoritarian.

What he meant was that the restored performance evaluation system would be presided over by the Ministry of Personnel's Examination and Reward Department, and would not have to be presided over by the Cabinet as in Zhang Jiangling's time.

Therefore, the cabinet really does not need to worry about being suspected by the emperor anymore."

King Shen, King II, King III: "."

Lin Tailai, did you secretly expose the secrets of the Chancellor this time? Were you discussing something with the cabinet in private, or were you issuing an announcement?
In order to avoid suspicion that the cabinet cannot monopolize the power, you, Lin Tailai, will take it all yourself, right?
For some reason, I recalled the situation analysis I heard yesterday: "Politics is gradually sinking in the government offices, the civil service offices, and the party societies."

You, Lin Tailai, are taking the lead and practicing it yourself. Do you want to use practical actions to tell everyone what political sinking means?

(End of this chapter)