The six-dimensional pictures of emperors of all dynasties were exposed, and the ancestors panicked

Chapter 196 The original intention of the imperial examination system.

On the canopy

Twelve crowns cover the face of the emperor.

His Highness's ministers served him respectfully.

A minister was stating the above table at this time.

"There are twice as many counties today as there were in ancient times."

"In some places, the radius is less than a hundred miles, but there are several counties within the territory."

"In some places, the household registration is less than 1,000 households, but there are two counties under the jurisdiction."

The voice echoed in the hall, and the emperor scanned the colors on the faces of the ministers.

"There are many officials who receive empty salaries but do not serve as directors, and the national finances are increasing day by day."

"The number of officials and soldiers has doubled, but the tax collection from farmers and tenants has been getting smaller and smaller year by year."

The minister raised his jade wat and bowed to the ground, and said loudly:

"Your Majesty, in the world today, there are few people and many officials!"

"Ten sheep require nine people to herd them."

"For the present plan, we should retain useful officials and lay off idle and redundant ones."

"Merging small counties and counties into larger counties."

"In this way, the country does not have to waste salaries on redundant personnel, and it will be easier for counties to recommend talented people."

After the words fell, Yang Jian asked lightly:
"Do you have any objections, sir?"

A minister headed by the left came out and said:

"Your Majesty, what Yang Shangshu said makes sense."

"Today, under unification, all the bad governance of the six dynasties should be swept away."

Yang Jian looked at the other ministers who had no objections and nodded.

……

[In 589 AD, the Sui Dynasty completed its unification and Yang Jian began to govern the world. 】

[Due to the frequent changes in political power during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and the frequent wars between all parties, all dynasties often set up prefectures and counties indiscriminately and spread officials widely, either to reward meritorious officials or to win over wealthy families. 】

[After the unification of the world, there will be a total of 241 states, 680 counties, and 1,524 counties in the country. 】

[Henan Daoxingtai and Yang Shangxi, Minister of the Ministry of War, wrote a letter saying that small counties should be merged or abolished. 】

[However, in view of the extremely serious overlapping of prefectures and counties, Yang Jian did not adopt Yang Shangxi's suggestion of optimizing the small for the large, but went a step further to solve it completely. 】

[The three-level local system of "state, county, and county" that has been inherited from the Western Han Dynasty for more than 400 years will be changed to the two-level system of "state, county". Completely ban the county. 】

……

Da Qin,

Ying Zheng calculated.

In other words, one state has two or three counties under its jurisdiction, and one county has two or three counties under its jurisdiction?

There are too many states and counties under the jurisdiction of the court.

Such a large number of institutions not only consumes a lot of finances but also reduces administrative efficiency.

The most important thing is, wouldn’t it greatly boost local power?
Ying Zheng shook his head.

It is not as convenient as the county system.

Then he was stunned again.

and many more!

There is a two-level system of states and counties, and a two-level system of counties.

The corners of his mouth rose again.

……

The period of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty
Liu Heng thought about it for a while.

The "suspect" who created the three-tier system was subsequently identified.

It’s my great grandson again!
……

The period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty
Liu Che scratched his face.

Wouldn't it be easier for you to speak some truth?
From the end of Qin to the present, the number of counties in the world has increased to more than one hundred!
Doubled!
More than a hundred!

How do you want me to govern!

Just bring Qin Shihuang over! A day's memorial can exhaust him to death!
Wouldn't it be easier to govern if one hundred and nine counties were divided into thirteen states?

But the most important thing is.

I did not put the governor of the state into the political system!

What puts them into the political system is...

Liu Che thought for a while and pulled out a figure from his memory.

It's Liu Hong, that arrogant person!
So, cut off those four hundred years for me by one hundred years!

……

Yanhan·Lingdi Period
Be reasonable!
Liu Hong looked at the sky angrily.

Then he lowered his head dejectedly.

This is indeed my problem.

If the Yellow Turban Uprising were not so powerful in the future, the counties would have nothing to do against the Yellow Turban Uprising.

I will not be forced to send Renzhou Mu to the local areas to rectify the counties.

Let the local administrative system evolve from a "two-level system of counties and counties" to a "three-level system of states, counties and counties"

It is easy to delegate power but difficult to take it back.

but!

Liu Hong raised his head energetically again.

Although my poor governance led to the Yellow Turban Rebellion, you, the Northern and Southern Dynasties, were not at fault!
If you hadn't made a mess!

How can there be so many states in the world!

……

Eastern Jin Dynasty,

"Quick, quick, quick! Copy them all!"

Liu Yu clapped his hands and looked at the clerks below.

"Whoever finishes copying first will be rewarded with a pair of Hu girls!"

The clerks' hands couldn't help but pause.

Hu Nu?

"Pair with the dancer!"

Dancer!

Swish swish!
Everyone wrote vigorously!

……

Nanliang·Era of Emperor Wu
Xiao Yan looked at the sky and sighed.

"This Yang Jian is indeed somewhat talented."

The two-level system of states and counties had gotten out of control during the continuous expansion of Liu, Song and Southern Qi.

But there is no way.

Everyone in the Jiangnan land is the master.

The newly promoted king had to use new states and counties to please and win over the wealthy families.

Especially those aristocratic families who moved from the north to the south.

Because they want to move together with their hometown Junwang.

In order to win over them, the emperor had to establish a new state or "Qiaojun" in the south with the same name as the north.

There are also children from aristocratic families who want to be officials, but there are not enough official positions.

They want to be "upright officials" rather than "corrupt officials" and are unwilling to truly govern the place.

So one more state or county was added.

The addition of state and county officials will inevitably expand the state and county official system.

Xiao Yan sighed tiredly.

Then he settled down and thought.

The military system must be established!

Look at the lush green plants built on the ruins of Dong Thai Temple not far away.

Lord Buddha, I must learn from Emperor Wu of Zhou.

……

[Yang Jian’s decision immediately abolished nearly 600 counties in the world. 】【According to the regulations at the time, counties were divided into nine levels. The largest Shangshang County had more than 140 officials, and the smallest Xiaxia County had more than 70 officials. 】

[This time the county was abolished, there were at least 50,000 to 60,000 officials involved! 】

[And these officials are all recruited by the local government, and many of them are from local aristocratic families. 】

[They are not only very powerful locally, but also often have various intricate relationships with senior officials from other places and even the imperial court. 】

[If it cannot be handled properly, it will cause irreparable consequences. 】

[But Yang Jian has demonstrated great governance ability and political talent. 】

[He absorbed some of the county officials into the state at the upper level, and decentralized some to become county officials. 】

[And more county officials have become so-called rural officials, who have no official status, ignore current affairs, and have completely lost their power. 】

[At the same time, he also carried out a more important reform, changing the name of state and county officials to pinguan. 】

[Not only must all be appointed by the Ministry of Personnel, but strict evaluations must be conducted every year as the basis for retention or promotion. 】

[It also stipulates the terms of office of local officials. The term of governors and county magistrates shall not exceed three years, while the term of officials shall be four years. 】

……

Late Han Dynasty,

Zhuge Liang's eyes were bright, his feather fan was covering his mouth, and he whispered to Liu Bei:

"Lord, this move is of great significance!"

Liu Bei listened quietly and calmly.

Zhuge Liang looked at the sky and said with excitement:

"After this move, the appointment power of local officials will be completely returned to the court."

"This has changed the situation since the Second Emperor Huan Ling where local powerful people controlled local administration."

"The emperor's power was consolidated and his control over local areas was greatly increased."

"If things go on like this, the court's command over local areas can be said to be like an arm and a finger."

"The Lord and General Guan and Zhang wield the power of the gods."

"Under the general situation, even insects dare not look up."

"This is a great time to establish a new system."

Liu Bei was thoughtful, his lips moved slightly and he whispered:
"Kong Ming, although this system is good, where do these officials come from?"

"Without these people, there would be no one to serve as an official."

Zhuge Liang smiled slightly:
"My lord, there is no need to worry."

"We only need to open the Imperial Academy and order the children from poor families in the world to enroll, so as to discuss and test them."

"These powerful men will not just watch these young men take power."

"Then you can order the local government to select virtuous people and promote them. This is called surrounding three and missing one."

"None of this can be accomplished in a day, but the Lord must set the standard for these new systems."

"And, looking at it clearly, this policy of the Sui Emperor will definitely have a follow-up."

"My lord, you can watch quietly."

……

[The establishment of the two-level system of states and counties increased the Sui Dynasty's finances exponentially. 】

[And reduced one-third of the local official positions in the world. 】

[And official positions are directly related to the appointment and promotion of talents. Without official positions, the level of competition will inevitably increase. 】

[As a result, Yang Jian also made an important decision. 】

[That is to abolish the "nine-level Zhongzheng system" since Cao Wei. 】

[Establishing the predecessor of the imperial examination system, the tribute system]

[Based on the two subjects of "Zhi Xing Xiu Jin" and "Qing Ping Qian Ji". 】

[The governor of Rangzhou recommends three scholars to the imperial court every year to take the imperial examination together. If they pass the examination, they will be awarded official positions by the Ministry of Personnel. 】

……

Ming dynasty,

Little Zhu Di looked at the sky and said in surprise:
"This Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty actually planned this far?"

Zhu Biao, who was taking a tea break at the side, smiled and said:

"Not really."

Zhu Biao put the tea cup back on the tray, looked at the sky and continued:
"Today's imperial examination is not the same as what Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty originally intended."

Zhu Di picked up the pastries on the table and stuffed them into his mouth.

"Different? What's the difference?"

Zhu Biao thought for a while and said:

"The imperial examinations in the Sui Dynasty were divided into three subjects: Xiucai, Mingjing and Bingong."

"After arriving in the Tang Dynasty, the Bingong subject was divided into two subjects: Jinshi and Junshi."

"That is the earliest form of imperial examination."

"There is still a big gap between the tribute system of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty and the later imperial examination system."

"The greatest role of the imperial examination is to break the monopoly of the aristocratic families on the use of talents in the court, and to promote people without family background."

"But when the Nine-Rank Zhongzheng was just abolished and Gongshi was established, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty had to deal with the talent competition caused by the downsizing of officials during the state and county reforms."

Zhu Di's mouth was full and he said vaguely:
"I understand, rare things are valuable!"

Zhu Biao laughed, but after thinking about it he nodded and said:

"That's pretty much it."

"Because there are fewer official positions, we need to use a stricter method to examine people who want to become officials."

"Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty's tribute system was equivalent to adding an additional layer of assessment mechanism to the official path at that time."

Suddenly there was a strange sound, and Zhu Biao looked sideways.

Zhu Di was holding a teapot and pouring it into his mouth.

"Gulu gulu! Ha! Hiccup~"

Burp and wipe your mouth.

Zhu Di said carelessly:
"To put it bluntly, he is targeting people from a well-established family, but in the end he still has to select from those who have status and qualifications to be officials."

"What's the difference from before? It's still the same group of people!"

Zhu Biao tipped the teapot.

Well, empty.

"The difference is still huge."

Indicating the attendant to add more water, Zhu Biao continued:

"The Nine-Rank Zhongzheng System is just a tool used by noble families to support their disciples or arrange for the children of aristocratic families to embark on official careers."

"All privileges are in the hands of Zhongzhengguan."

"You can upgrade your grade at any time, or you can downgrade your grade at any time."

Zhu Biao took off the jade ring on his hand.

"Just like this finger machine, it is a stone in itself, but you have to first look at the mine it came from, and then look at the quality of the jade."

"Then it depends on the workmanship, and then the owner gives a rating, and finally it flows to the market for trading."

"And Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty established standards in addition to the original Zhongzheng system when he opened the imperial examination."

"The original nine grades are subjective and are evaluated by Zhongzheng officials."

"The opening of a course involves an additional process and ceremony, establishing a set of objective standards for assessment and examination."

Zhu Biao looked at the time, then walked to the desk and sat down.

He opened a memorial and said:

"Although this was the original intention of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty in setting up the system."

"However, because of the chosen examination method, it later played a role in changing the family's control over talent promotion."

"Similarly, the selection of scholars by subject is also based on the nine-level Zhongzheng system, from which a person will only get an overall rating of "upper" or "lower"."

"Such an evaluation is not in line with the utilization of talents, so we have to "divide into disciplines."

"Look at a person's different abilities separately and know in which areas the person has outstanding talents."

"So far, the two methods of opening up the civil service examination and selecting the candidates by subject have wrested talents from the hands of aristocratic families."

Zhu Di crossed his arms and thought for a while.

If I follow the Zhongzheng system, my old man will definitely give me a middle-to-lower rating.

But if it were divided into different disciplines, then I would definitely be the top pick in beating people!
Well, the imperial examination is a good thing!
……

　It seems like there is more to write than I thought.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)