Daming talker

Chapter 580 This is a test!

Half a month ago, Wang Shiqi, the head of the Ministry of War, had already prepared a mansion for his father, the old leader Wang.

But today, after entering the city, the old leader Wang did not return to his mansion to rest first. Instead, he sent his second son Wang Shiqin to carry the luggage back to the mansion, while the old leader himself went directly to the Ministry of Personnel under the scorching sun.

The world is big, but taking office is the most important thing.

Seeing how the old leader Wang did not show any reserve, officials who loved literature praised him, saying that he was straightforward, honest and unpretentious.

Perhaps this is the reason why "If you don't take what heaven gives you, you will suffer the consequences."

When the Minister of Personnel reported to the Ministry of Personnel, all procedures went smoothly and without any obstacles, and no one dared to make things difficult for him.

From then on, the old leader Wang officially transformed into Wang Tianguan, also known as the old prime minister.

Sitting in the main hall of the inner courtyard, Wang Tianguan couldn't wait to give orders, notifying all officials to convene a departmental meeting immediately!

But the secretary replied in embarrassment: "We don't have all the people now, so it's not easy to hold a meeting."

Wang Tianguan snorted coldly, "I've already passed on the red ticket. I'm here today. Who dares not to be here?"

The secretary replied, "The examiner Lin Jiuyuan is not here, so the Ministry of Personnel meeting really cannot be without him."

"Then please invite him back quickly!" Wang Tianguan gave another order.

After the steward agreed, he immediately sent two servants to look for people, one to the Hanlin Academy and the other to the Ministry of Rites.

At this time, Lin Tailai was sitting in the Champion Hall of the Hanlin Academy, talking with Zhao Huan, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, who had just completed his term.

This minister was from Shandong and was close to Prime Minister Wang. Prime Minister Wang had previously asked Lin Tailai to help Zhao Huan get promoted in the Ministry of Personnel.

Lin Tailai sighed, “Originally, you were nominated as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. With your six years of experience, you are fully qualified.

I don't want to fail at the last minute. If the emperor chooses someone else, I will be helpless."

Although Zhao Huan felt it was a pity to miss the opportunity, he still answered generously:

"Promotions in the officialdom are all determined by fate. This is just my bad luck. No one can control it."

Lin Tailai added: "But I noticed that the post of Fengyang Governor and Governor-General of the Grain Transport Department has become vacant, which is also a good place to go."

The position of Fengyang Governor and Governor-General of the Grain Transport Administration was considered the highest position among the inland governors. According to official practice, it was very easy to be promoted to Vice Minister or Shangshu.

For example, the governor of Xuanda or Jiliao in the border town could easily be promoted to the Minister of War.

Moreover, the Fengyang governor and governor-general of the grain transport system was stationed in Huai'an Prefecture, located on the main north-south transportation route of the Grand Canal. He often received passing officials, making it extremely convenient for him to build up his network.

Therefore, if he could not become the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, the post of Governor of Fengyang and Governor-General of the Grain Transport would be a very good compensation.

Zhao Huan said uncertainly, "This position may not be easy, right?"

Lin Tailai said with a smile: "The new official will be here soon, as the saying goes, a new official starts with three big things.

What else can the Minister of Personnel do? Of course, he can appoint several important officials to demonstrate his authority.

I will try to make you the new Heavenly Official. Isn't it wonderful to follow the trend?"

As the two were talking, a servant from the Ministry of Personnel suddenly came running over to inform them that the new Tianguan had completed the procedures for taking office and that a ministry meeting was now being convened, and Lin Kaogong was invited to return to attend the meeting!
Lin Tailai exclaimed in his heart, "Oh shit!" Old bastard Wang wanted to hold a departmental meeting right after taking office. What kind of bureaucratic style is this?

He hid in the Hanlin Academy, thinking that the king would not meet the king, so that the newly appointed old bastard Wang would have more prestige.

I didn't expect that old man Wang would be so depressed and insisted that I go back to attend the meeting.

So Lin Tailai said to Zhao Huan, "Let's stop here today. I will go and say hello to the Heavenly Official now."

Then he got up and left the Hanlin Academy and went to the Ministry of Personnel.

In fact, the Ministry of Personnel has not held a meeting for some time since the last court recommendation.

After all, the new Heavenly Official has been selected, and it is no longer convenient for others to exercise the authority. Any important matters will have to wait until the new Heavenly Official takes office before deciding.

When Lin Tailai walked into the hall, the three officials of the Ministry of Personnel and officials from other departments had already arrived and were sitting and chatting.

After taking a quick look around, Lin Tailai simply bowed to the new Heavenly Official Wang Shizhen on the main seat, and then sat down.

There was no unnecessary gossip. He was not familiar with the new official and he nominated him out of public interest.

Then Lin Tailai said to Chen Younian, the doctor of the Ministry of Literature, "Hasn't your term of office expired? Why are you still here? Are you reluctant to leave the Ministry of Literature, so you don't want to leave?"

Chen Younian didn't want to pay attention to Lin Tailai, but Lin Tailai's words were too harsh. If they were spread out, it would easily cause bad misunderstandings and affect his image.

He explained, "I must hand over the selection affairs to the chief minister before I can leave."

The Ming system implemented a one-person-responsibility system. The ministerial-level leader in charge of official selection was the Tianguan, and the department-level leader was the Wenxuansi Langzhong. One of the two leaders had to be in office to maintain the normal operation of the personnel system.

If both Tianguan and Wenxuanlang are absent at the same time, it will be troublesome.

Therefore, Chen Younian has to wait until the new Heavenly Official officially takes office before he can leave office.

However, Chen Younian did not expect that Wang Tianguan would arrive so quickly. He originally thought that he would take office in half a month.

As a result, many things have not been done yet, and the depression index has increased by another 50%
"Hurry up and complete the handover! I'm waiting for you to leave!" Lin Tailai enthusiastically instructed Chen Younian.

Chen Younian felt desolate and felt like a defeated general who had lost his army and humiliated his country.

The Ministry of Personnel established by our ancestors was ruined in our own hands!
Lin Tailai turned to the newly appointed Left Vice Minister Liu Yukui and greeted him casually, "Nice to meet you! I have heard a lot about you!"

Liu Yukui smiled at Lin Tailai gently and said nothing.

Then Lin Tailai asked sincerely: "I have been thinking about a question for half a month, but I still can't figure it out.

You suddenly parachuted into our Ministry of Personnel as the Left Hall, who is your background?"

Liu Yukui: “.”

Is there something wrong with you, Lin Tailai? Is there anyone who asks me directly in front of me?

The others were also quite surprised. Lin Tailai usually had an arrogant attitude. He seemed to be able to see through everything about everyone and was unwilling to listen to anyone's nonsense.

Why did Liu Zuo Shilang ask such a simple question?

In fact, Lin Tailai had no choice. He had no information advantage over Liu Zuo Shilang.

Liu Yukui, the Left Vice Minister, was only 38 years old and might be the youngest third-rank official in the current imperial court.

But his qualifications are not shallow at all, and he has been promoted step by step.

The reason why he holds a high position at such a young age is mainly because he entered the circle too early.

He was a child prodigy since childhood. He won the second place in the local examination at the age of sixteen, passed the imperial examination at the age of nineteen, and became a lecturer to the emperor at the age of thirty.

He was promoted to the third rank in his thirties, and now he has been transferred to the position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. However, in history, this man who looks like a man sent from heaven is actually an "unknown" person.

One reason is that this person is too low-key. Unlike Shen Da and Wang Er, who have a lot of negative evidence flying around, even Lin Tailai is not interested in them.

Second, this person died young. He observed mourning for his parents twice in a row and died at the age of 45, leaving no personal material.

Therefore, even a time-traveling great man like Lin Tailai did not have much information about Liu Yukui and could only try to test him in reality as much as possible.

Liu Yukui was stunned for a moment, then he bowed to the north and replied, "I came to the Ministry of Personnel to serve the emperor. This is my background."

Lin Tailai turned a deaf ear and asked again, "Wang San?"

Liu Zuo Shilang's hometown is Shanxi. According to official ethics, he should be a member of Wang Jiaping's hometown and the Shanxi Gang.

Liu Yukui kept silent.

Wang Tianguan looked at Lin Tailai in surprise. What the hell is this title of Wang San? Is this how you respect the elder?

Lin Tailai asked again: "Is that Wang Er?"

Although the chief examiner of the imperial examination that year for Liu Zuo Shilang was the already defeated Zhang Juzheng, his co-examiner in the Classics Department was the still active Wang Xijue.

Liu Yukui remained silent.

Wang Tianguan looked at Lin Tailai in surprise again. Is this how you respect the Second Assistant?
Lin Tailai suddenly realized: "So it was shared by the two kings!"

Working back from this result, Lin Tailai suddenly understood.

In order to push Wang Shizhen to the top, Lin Tailai wanted to cut off the ties between Wang Shizhen and Wang Xijue, two of his fellow Taicang natives, and thus "exposed" Wang Xijue's dirty laundry.

Nothing is perfect. Where there is gain there is loss. This will definitely make Wang Xijue unhappy.

So it was normal for Wang Xijue to have the idea of ​​doing something small, and it just so happened that Wang Jiaping also had the need to do something small.

The candidate of Liu Yukui was acceptable to both Wang Xijue and Wang Jiaping.

It just so happened that he was the political balancer that the emperor needed and was also an acquaintance of the emperor. By various coincidences, he took the position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

So the background of Liu Zuo Shilang is a bit complicated, but judging from the camp, he is definitely not one of Lin Tailai's own people.

But after hearing the words "the two kings share it", the usually elegant young Zuo Shilang was completely enraged and loudly questioned Wang Tianguan:

"Aren't we here for the ministry meeting? If there is nothing to discuss, I will leave!"

Wang Tianguan quickly comforted him, "Not really! Let's have a meeting now!"

Then Wang Tianguan said to everyone: "I have arrived today and would like to ask you all, is there any urgent matter that needs to be decided by me immediately?"

Everyone can understand that the subtext is "We must make three important moves after taking office."

Lin Tailai, a doctor in the Ministry of Examination, was the first to speak out: "The new law of examination has been drafted, and it needs to be implemented with the seal of the Heavenly Official!"

After Wang Tianguan asked a few questions, he agreed, and then asked everyone, "Is there anything else that needs to be done?"

It was still Lin Tailai, the doctor of the Ministry of Examination, who said in a loud voice: "We need the Heavenly Official to reiterate the etiquette of the full examination to all departments!"

Wang Tianguan, a new official who came to the Ministry of Personnel for the first time, was very confused. What did this mean?
Lin Tailai explained in detail: "In the early years, when the officials of various departments completed their examinations, they would go to the Ministry of Personnel to submit their examination cards and books. They would not only pay a visit to the Shangshu, the left and right assistant ministers, but would also personally pay a visit to the Ministry of Examination.

But now the rituals and music have collapsed, and the officials are becoming more and more unruly! When the examinations of various departments are completed and they come to the Ministry of Personnel, they only pay a visit to the three halls, and no longer pay a visit to the Ministry of Examination!
I think this is disrespectful to the Examination Yuan and we need to establish new rules!
Please ask the Heavenly Official to send a letter to each department to reiterate that when you go to the Ministry of Personnel after the exam, you must pay a courtesy visit to the Examination Office! "

Wang Tianguan: “.”

These are the three things the new Minister of Personnel will do after taking office, not the three things your Ministry of Examination will do!
Chen Younian, the Selectman, suddenly became furious and shouted angrily, "Lin Tailai! Don't go too far!"

Wang Yongji, the right assistant minister, suddenly asked with a sense of meaning, "Who will be the next minister to pass the exam?"

As a merit examiner, Lin Tailai answered very professionally: "Lu Guangzu, the Minister of Justice."

Officials of the Ministry of Personnel: “.”

Is this considered a political persecution? You won the last time the court was nominated, so just let Old Lu go!
Lin Tailai was also helpless because Lu Guangzu was too lucky.

Among the people of the same age group, he has the most seniority, even the most seniority in the current dynasty; among those with the same seniority, he has lived long enough, so who else should we punish if not him?
Wang Tianguan suddenly realized what was going on, and with the vigilance that had dominated the literary world for decades, he immediately pointed out from a high vantage point:
"The court etiquette should not be neglected. Officials of all ranks should be treated equally in the assessment! We really need to re-establish the rules."

Then Wang Tianguan continued to ask everyone: "Are there any other important matters?"

Lin Tailai, a doctor in the Ministry of Examination, said in a clear voice: "Recently, several officials have passed the examinations with outstanding results. I suggest that they be given special positions."

Wang Tianguan was puzzled again. Isn't it the job of the Ministry of Literature to nominate and select officials? Are you even going to take over the job of the Ministry of Literature?
Lin Tailai explained: "I made this suggestion based on the results of the full-term evaluation, which is of course related to the Performance Evaluation Department."

Then Lin Tailai continued to elaborate: "In addition, I have another idea. We should select outstanding officials based on their performance in the assessment and establish a reserve list system for officials."

At this time, Wang Tianguan understood a little bit why the steward had said earlier that "Lin Jiuyuan cannot be absent from the Ministry of Personnel meeting."

It’s just like the Ming Dynasty cannot do without Fengyang Prefecture.

Judging from the situation, the Ministry of Personnel can do without a Shangshu or a Shilang, but it really cannot be without Lin Jiuyuan.

Thinking of this, Wang Tianguan couldn't help but look at the Left Vice Minister Liu Yukui again.

I heard that the court parachuted you here to balance me, Wang Shizhen, and Lin Jiuyuan?
But it seems that you can't even balance Lin Jiuyuan alone. You really deserve sympathy.

It is better to be more comfortable without having to worry about this aspect.

The first ministry meeting after Wang Tianguan took office ended successfully under the enthusiastic chairmanship of the Langzhong of the Ministry of Examination.

Looking at Lin Tailai today, Chen Younian, the outgoing official, recalled his past self.

In the past six years, his style has been the same, using his power as a Langzhong in the Ministry of Literature to maneuver. Unfortunately, the new generation has surpassed the old one.

Afterwards, Chen Younian came to the Tianguan Hall to take over the selection work.

At this moment, Chen Younian was still doing his best to build a foundation for the Qingliu forces in the Ministry of Personnel.

He pretended to be casual and said to Wang Tianguan: "The Minister of Personnel has the most authority in the outer court and is the most respectable minister.

But today, Lin Tailai wantonly humiliated his colleagues in front of the old prime minister. I'm afraid he doesn't take the old prime minister seriously.

Having personally experienced Lin Tailai's tyranny, could the old prime minister not feel anything? "

Wang Tianguan glanced at Chen Younian and replied contemptuously: "This department can see that you know nothing about Lin Jiuyuan!
I am not afraid to tell you the truth. Lin Jiuyuan's arrogance today is deliberately shown to us in order to test our character.

If our department is as shallow as you, unable to discern the truth, unable to withstand the test, and becomes dissatisfied with Lin Jiuyuan, then we have fallen into a trap!"

Chen Younian: "."

Damn it! Do you only regard Lin Tailai's arrogance as a test of his character?

What kind of people are these? Do they feel pleasure from being tortured by Lin Tailai?
(End of this chapter)