Ming politicians

When Liu Zhongji came to visit, Su Tiancheng was reviewing his homework. It was less than a year before the next year's provincial examination, and many students who were going to take the provincial examination had already been preparing for a long time.

Liu Zhongji has been to the Su Mansion several times. Since the last time he went to the brothel, Liu Zhongji has come to the Su Mansion when there is nothing to do. Talking about idleness is one aspect. The living arrangements in the Su Mansion are good. It also has the meaning of rubbing food.

Su Tiancheng didn't pay much attention to it. It's not good to always read dead books. He needs to adjust. If possible, he even thought that he could go out and travel for a while, so that he could empathize with the outside world and stay in this city all the time. Inside, all you see is peace and tranquility, and you don't gain much insight.

"Brother Liu, you came earlier today."

Facing Su Tiancheng's ridicule, Liu Zhongji didn't mind.

"Brother Su, I have two things to do when I come to the mansion today."

Seeing Liu Zhongji's seriousness, Su Tiancheng became curious. If Liu Zhongji was really a good man, he was very righteous. He just learned that Lei Wentong had come to Su's mansion, so he immediately followed him, telling himself not to worry, No matter what, he, Liu Zhongji, has a few friends in Pingyang Fucheng. At worst, if we fight together, it is uncertain who will win and who will lose.

"Brother Liu, something really happened."

"Of course there is something to do. I said two things. The first thing, father invites you to be a guest at home tomorrow, and wait at home in Sishi."

Su Tiancheng became a little serious. Liu Zhongji's father, Liu Dahua, was a bureaucrat in Pingyang Mansion. He had been working in the Yamen for decades, and he didn't know how many things he had experienced.

Officials in the Ming Dynasty were called shu clerks in full. The principal posts in Liufang in Fuzhou and counties were called clerks, the deputy posts were called clerks, and ordinary clerks were called shuban, or chengchai. These people had fixed quotas. Those who are public officials registered with the Ministry of Officials.

In addition, there are yamen servants. These people have no establishment or salary, and they obey the dispatching arrangements of officials.

The yamen of prefectures, prefectures and counties are mainly composed of six houses. Among the household houses, there are grain rooms, stables, in addition to prisons, delivery houses, etc., all of which work in the yamen.

The six rooms are also very different, each with its own characteristics.

The official houses are expensive, the household houses are rich, the court houses are poor, the punishment houses are majestic, the military houses are martial, and the workshops are poor.

Don't underestimate the officials of the Yamen.

According to the division of labor, officials make decisions, officials sort out documents, yamen servants are dispatched, government notices, criminal names, money grain and other documents are all written by officials, officials agree, stamped with a big seal, and then they can be implemented.

Let’s say that in Pingyang Mansion, there is one prefect, two co-prefects, two general judges, one judge, one experiencer, one governor, one director, one inspector, and three deputy inspectors. These 13 people are of high rank. In addition to the officials of the imperial court, there is a school inspector and a prison supervisor. These two people have not entered the stream, so they are treated as officials.

These officials, because of the restrictions of the Ming Dynasty's recusal law, are mostly foreigners, especially the prefects, Tongzhi, and Tongju. The general term of office is only three years, and it will not exceed five years if it is longer.They are foreigners, not familiar with the local customs and language, and when they are a little familiar with the specific affairs in the jurisdiction, their term of office will end.

Therefore, the decision-making of many things in the local area is often the responsibility of officials.

Without him, the officials are basically locals and familiar with the situation.

Among the officials, the role of officials and officials is very important. Many decisions are made by them, and they are directly contracted to the magistrate, and then reported to the magistrate or general judge in charge, and finally decided.

The official room, household room and criminal room are the key points among the key points.

Generally speaking, most of the officials and clerks of the three houses are the confidantes of the chief officials, either directly relying on the magistrate, or relying on the same magistrate and general judge.

Liu Dahua invited himself to the banquet, Su Tiancheng had to think about why.

All the officials and officials live in the yamen, and according to the requirements, the book office must also live in the yamen.It's just that the conditions in Pingyang Mansion are not very good. The yamen is a bit small, and many book offices are rented in nearby houses.They have a five-day rest period every month, from the first day to the fifth day of the new year.

The officials and officials with good conditions all bought private houses in Fucheng for their families to live in.

The yamen is majestic, and ordinary people are not allowed to enter at all. Su Tiancheng didn't see the drumming and complaints in those TV dramas, and he didn't know if it was true.

When Liu Dahua invited him to a banquet, he naturally went to his home.

Su Tiancheng was thinking, Liu Dahua invited him to the banquet, did he mean it himself, or was he entrusted by the chief officer, and it was very important to understand the situation.

"Brother Su, I see that you study your homework carefully every day. You must be a gold medal winner in the next year's provincial examination."

"Thank you Brother Liu for your encouragement and encouragement. I haven't reviewed my homework for such a long time. I'm unfamiliar. If I haven't prepared yet, I don't know if I can pass the pre-examination in the township examination."

"Brother Su was joking, just according to your knowledge, if you can't pass the preliminaries, then it's okay, I don't dare to think about taking the township examination."

The pre-examination they were talking about was actually the first exam held by the provincial education officer before the provincial examination. It was called the county examination or small examination, because there were too many people participating in the provincial examination in the whole province, and the Gongyuan could not accommodate them. , A pre-examination is conducted in advance, and only candidates who pass the test can participate in the rural examination.

Su Tiancheng's thoughts were focused on Liu Dahua's invitation, although the two were chatting about the township examination in August next year.

Not knowing if Liu Zhongji knew something, he decided to test it out.

"Brother Liu, I will come to visit tomorrow, so I need to prepare well. I don't know if you are at home."

"I must be waiting at home, it goes without saying."

"Hehe, I was just joking. I don't know if there are any other guests."

"No, father invited you."

"Oh, I'm flattered."

"Okay, Brother Su, I know you will guess, so why not tell me clearly, my father told me that I invite you to visit my house tomorrow, and I also want to have a good chat with you, you have made a lot of sensations Things, especially Lei Wentong's reception at the Su Mansion, I was surprised by the words you said, and it's not surprising that my father wanted to talk to you."

There was a smile on Su Tiancheng's face. He roughly knew some reasons. It was not Liu Dahua's intention to invite him to dinner. Although Liu Dahua was a pawn in the official house, he was not in the ranks after all, and he did not belong to the decision-making level. There is no need to care about himself those things that were done.

There are other people who want to know the situation, and Liu Dahua just came out to interview.

I was originally a student, and I will take the provincial examination next year, and I have already shown a certain ability. It is normal for someone to pay attention.

After Liu Zhongji satiated with wine and food, he left satisfied.

Su Tiancheng quickly found Su Pingyang. He was not very clear about the understanding of the visit. It is said that this is the first time he comes to the door, he always brings some gifts.

"Uncle, I'm going to visit Liu Dianli's house tomorrow, so I don't know what to prepare."

"Master, did you take the initiative to visit, or was invited by Dianli Liu?"

"Is there any difference here?"

"Of course there is a difference. If you take the initiative to go to Liu Dianli's house, you should bring more gifts."

"Oh, tell me, what gift should I prepare?"

Su Pingyang didn't feel strange anymore. In the past, the young master didn't care about such things at all, and he rarely visited others. Even if he did, he couldn't prepare a decent gift because of his lack of money.

"I need to prepare some rice noodles and fine salt. If you have enough money, you can also prepare some silver."

"Is there a specific amount?"

"I'm not very clear about this either."

Su Pingyang was also straightforward. If he didn't know, he didn't know. After all, he had never been in contact with anyone in the government. He used to be by Su Tiancheng's side. He belonged to the lowest level of the Su family. It was impossible to know these things.

Su Tiancheng thought about it for a while. Liu Dahua's salary is not much, about 40 taels of silver a year. Of course, other income is still a lot. Some people will pay tribute to things, otherwise the official house can't be said to be a valuable place.

He has made a decision, he doesn't need too many gifts, and he can't bear it under the current situation, besides, the first time he visits him, the main purpose is to leave a good impression on others.

A gift of five taels of silver is more than enough.