Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

Zhai Ruwen was a Hanlin bachelor promoted by Zhao Huan. Hearing that there was no Hanlin Academy among the "one pavilion, three academies and six departments", he couldn't help but ask: "May I ask the generalissimo, will the Hanlin Academy be abolished?"

"No," Ju Ming said, "but there are some changes in the rights and responsibilities."

The Hanlin Academy was not even a serious official office in the middle and early Tang Dynasty. Everyone inside is a talented person who specializes in accompanying the emperor for leisure and entertainment. To put it bluntly, they are the helpers raised by the emperor.

After the Anshi Rebellion, the emperor could not trust anyone, so he began to reuse the people around him as part-time consultants and participated in drafting internal regulations.

In the Song Dynasty, Yuanfeng reformed the system, and Hanlin bachelors became the third grade. Those with the words "Chengzhi" are the emperor's advisors and drafters; those with the words "Zhi Zhigao" can only draft internal drafts and cannot hold other positions.

Internal regulations are special edicts issued by the emperor himself, canonizing queens and princes, promoting prime ministers, or informing the people of the world. Such imperial edicts all fall under the category of internal regulations. It must be written by "Hanlin Bachelor Cheng Zhi" or "Hanlin Bachelor Zhi Zhi Gao". If they are unwilling to write, they can only throw it out and replace it with someone else.

In order to ensure that the Tongzhengyuan would not be seized by the cabinet, Ju Ming transferred the internal drafting power of the Hanlin Academy to the Tongzhengyuan. Then the power of drafting external edicts (ordinary edicts) was given to the imperial edict office under the cabinet.

The power of the cabinet created by the father and son is close to that of the Jingtai, Hongzhi, and Zhengde periods. It has huge power but is checked and balanced.

As for the Tongzhengyuan, it is a weakened Si Li Supervisor with a strengthened Six Sections, and has the shadow of the Tongzheng Yuan during the Zhu Yuanzhang period.

Let’s put it this way: the cabinet is the Council of Elders, the General Council is the general office, and the six ministries are the ministries.

The Inspectorate is a powerful weapon and is directly under the leadership of the emperor. As long as he is an official of the Supervisory Council, no matter how low his rank is, he still needs to be personally appointed by the emperor. The cabinet and the Ministry of Personnel only have the right to recommend them. When the new emperor wants to reorganize the court, the Inspectorate is a sharp knife that can cut holes easily.

Seeing that Zhai Ruwen still didn't understand, Ju Ming explained in detail: "In the future, the first-ranked Jinshi must first enter the Hanlin Academy and be seconded to the Cabinet or Tongzhengyuan to observe the government. Then he will serve as a local magistrate and be promoted to a state magistrate for at least three years. Then he can continue as appropriate. When he is in charge of the local government, he may be transferred to the post of six ministries, or he may be transferred to the middle school, or he may be a student or lecturer. If he returns to the court, he may also serve as a minister of left and right."

"I understand!" Zhai Ruwen said nothing.

The Hanlin Academy is a talent reserve department and will probably produce many prime ministers.

But compared with the Hanlin Academy in the Ming Dynasty, Ju Ming made another change, that is, he had to be a local official.

The promotion path for Hanlin officials has been decided——

First serve as a junior official in the Hanlin Academy, and then be seconded to the Cabinet or the General Affairs Council for an internship to become familiar with the overall operation of the country.

Then he became a county magistrate and a prefecture magistrate.

Depending on the specific circumstances, he may continue to be promoted to prefect or transferred back to the central government. After returning to the central government, he either worked as a department-level official in the Six Ministries, worked as a senior secretary in the cabinet, or worked as a low-level advisor to the emperor. At the same time, he also held the position of Chunfang, that is, an official in the East Palace, and established a relationship with the prince.

Of course, there are also those who stay in the Hanlin Academy to edit books.

You can choose to stay in academics, but you can only go to the Ministry of Etiquette to be promoted to a special position. If you want greater development, you must gain experience as a local official.

Zhu Guoxiang announced his first appointment after arriving in Beijing: "Zhai Ruwen, a Hanlin scholar in the old Song Dynasty, can be a cabinet minister and help with political affairs."

"Thank you, my lord!"

Zhai Ruwen was so happy that he actually became deputy prime minister.

Officials of the old Song Dynasty were envious, but they could understand. Who made Zhai Ruwen the master of Marshal Zhu?

Qin Hui was also overjoyed. Zhai Ruwen was not only Ju Ming's tutor, but also his Qin Hui's tutor.

Their relationship was even closer. When Qin Hui was the principal of Mizhou, Zhai Ruwen was demoted to the magistrate of Mizhou. When Qin Hui was able to pass the Maoke exam and make a comeback in the officialdom, it was Zhai Ruwen who recommended him to take the exam!

Huan Guoneng became the leader of the Qin Party in the Southern Song Dynasty, which was also related to Zhai Ruwen.

Zhai Ruwen introduced You Ye (Cheng Yi's student) to Qin Hui, and You Ye was good friends with Hu Guo. You Zuo admired Qin Hui very much. Huan Guo had been friends with Qin Hui for more than ten years, and he immediately helped him wholeheartedly after meeting him.

When Qin Hui was not a traitor, everyone spoke highly of him.

The first evaluation is "good at doing mean things". Since Qin Hui is good at handling official and secular affairs, no matter what public or private affairs he encounters, it will definitely be no problem to leave it to Qin Hui.

Another comment is that he is "talented and thoughtful". Not only does he do things beautifully, but he is also knowledgeable and thoughtful, making everyone satisfied.

After Qin Hui's true colors were exposed, Huan Guo chose to continue cooperation.

And what about Zhai Ruwen? Break off relations with Qin Hui directly!

Only two months after he was recalled to the court by Qin Hui, he chose to resign and live in seclusion. He regretted that he had made a mistake and promoted such a thing.

Zhu Guoxiang continued: "In the old Song Dynasty, the Baojing Army Jiedu envoy Zhong Shidao could serve as a cabinet minister and assist in political affairs."

Zhong Shidao is away and has gone to serve as Yang Zhi's adviser.

However, Zhongshizhong has returned to Tokyo and is now out to replace his brother to thank him.

The two cabinet ministers, one is the grandfather of Ju Ming's concubine and the other is Ju Ming's advisor, both seem to be giving Ju Ming face.

Actually, Zhongshidao represents the generals of the Western Army, and can even represent all the generals of the Zhao and Song Dynasties. Giving him the position of deputy prime minister can put the generals of Zhao and Song Dynasties at ease, and Yao Gu, Liu Yanqing, and Zhe Keqiu can be more efficient when handing over military power.

As for Zhai Ruwen, who demoted officials on behalf of Tokyo, at least one deputy prime minister position must be assigned to these demoted groups. While appeasing the demoted officials, Zhai Ruwen's status as a teacher also allowed the Sichuan team to have nothing to say.

Li Bangyan was a little anxious, why hasn't it reached him yet?

Sure enough, Zhu Guoxiang named the third cabinet minister: "Li Bangyan, the young prime minister of the old Song Dynasty, can be a cabinet minister and assist in political affairs."

"Thank you very much for your grace." Li Bangyan was overjoyed.

After all, this guy made great achievements in capturing Tokyo, and he was the prime minister in Zhao and Song Dynasties. It is unreasonable not to be a cabinet minister.

If he could stop, he might be able to die well in this life.

But it probably won’t stop, so it’s up to Shi and his son to see who will take action.

There are five cabinet ministers in total, Zhang Gen is the first assistant, Gao Jingshan is the second assistant, Li Bangyan is the third, Zhong Shidao is the fourth, and Zhai Ruwen is the fifth.

The only ones who can really make the decision are Zhang Gen and Gao Jingshan.

Zhu Guoxiang added: "Liang Yi, you will be the general envoy and take charge of the General Affairs Council."

A young man in his twenties came out, so young that it shocked countless people.

This was Zhu Guoxiang's chief disciple, even half-adopted son. He had arrived in Beijing with Zhu Guoxiang and helped Ju Ming manage the coal shop. Before raising the army, he actually managed Daming Township, and then assisted Zhu Guoxiang in managing Sichuan.

Even though he is thirty years old, Liang Yi is actually the person who is most familiar with Zhu Guoxiang's administrative style. It is perfect for him to be the director of the General Office of the Central Committee.

Zhu Guoxiang continued: "Chen Dong, you become the censor of the capital and take charge of the Inspectorate."

Chen Dong is also young. He probably has more experience in the past few years and has become calmer than before. His face is expressionless when he is doing errands.

Then came the Minister of Civil Affairs, who was handed over to Li Hanzhang.

Li Hanzhang is almost forty years old, but compared to this position, he still looks too young.

Three consecutive appointments finally made everyone remember that this was a brand new court, exuding a cutting-edge atmosphere from the inside out.

Six ministers were named one after another.

Zhao Yu, Minister of the Ministry of War, was a member of the Zhao Song clan and surrendered after taking over Sichuan.

Qian Chen, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, was a businessman who donated money to buy an official position.

Meng Zhao, the Minister of Rites, is a fallen scholar and the chief village teacher of Daming Village.

Liu Yao, the Minister of Punishment, was originally the punishment envoy of Luti in Lizhou. At that time, Hanzhong was captured, a number of officials were captured, several notorious ones were killed, and a few were recruited by Zhu Guoxiang. Since then, these people have all served in Sichuan, and Liu Yao has the most outstanding political performance among them.

Zhao Quan, Minister of Industry, the founder of Fengli Canal, a century-old project in the Northern Song Dynasty, is currently dismissed from his post and is living in his hometown for retirement. However, his son Zhao Fengji designed and built the Hanzhong Mountain River Weir and is currently inspecting the Jingbei area and is responsible for rectifying floods and swamp problems in Jingbei.

When his name was read out, Qian Chen was so moved that he burst into tears. He knelt down in the hall and shouted, "Thank you, Mr. Jinglue, for your cultivation!"

Everyone thought it was nonsense and this reaction was too country bumpkin.

According to the etiquette system of the Song Dynasty, officials were not allowed to kneel for private matters in the Daqing Hall, but they could kneel down to persuade them to enter.

Qian Chen didn't care about this, he couldn't think anymore.

A guy who is too lazy to take care of any business, donates money and food to become an idle official, and instead of squatting at home, rushes to the mountains to take up a job. Now he suddenly became the Minister of the Ministry of Finance. How excited do you think he was?

Meng Zhao was about the same, even a little frightened.

He doesn't know much about etiquette, and he doesn't study the "Book of Rites" deeply. Can the Minister of Rites be qualified for the job?

"Xu Fuyan, you will be a Hanlin bachelor and take charge of the Hanlin Academy," Zhu Guoxiang said. "Zhao Ji left a large number of classics. You select one hundred and twenty officials from the old Song Dynasty to sort out these texts. In addition, prepare to compile the "History of the Song Dynasty" "."

"yes!"

Xu Fuyan was actually a little unhappy. He had surrendered together with Liu Yao, and his official position was higher than Liu Yao's.

But now, Liu Yao is in charge of the Ministry of Justice, but he can only be in charge of the Hanlin Academy, a Hanlin Academy whose power has been weakened.

Li Bangyan couldn't help turning his head to look at Shi Yuangong, why didn't this contemporary Kong Ming catch anything?

However, Shi Yuangong smiled. As a confidant of the marshal, he had countless detailed works under his hands. How could he be compared to ordinary officials?

Although Li Bangyan became the deputy prime minister, he always had to pretend to be a grandson in front of him, Shi Yuangong.

"Ju Ming," Zhu Guoxiang turned his head and looked at his son, "You will be the privy envoy, and you will be the official official of the government."

Ju Ming finally stood up and stood in the palace to thank him.

Ju Ming's old friends and subordinates were all promoted, but there was no need for Zhu Guoxiang to announce them on the spot.

For example, Qian Chen, as the son of a princess, was familiar with various etiquette systems and was assigned to be a Langguan in the Ministry of Rites.

Another example is Hou Xuan, whom I haven’t seen for many years. But before Ju Ming was admitted to the imperial examination, this man came to listen to his lectures, and took Ju Ming to Goulan to listen to music. He was arranged to be the temple minister in Honglu Temple.

Lu Zai, who rented a house to Ju Ming, was recruited to the capital a while ago. Halfway on the passenger ship, my wife gave birth to a son, named Lu You, who was appointed by Zhu Guoxiang as the Minister of Justice.

In the year of the Yellow Turtle, he was the Minister of Rites.

Zhang Bor, the Minister of War, was responsible for connecting the Privy Council and the Ministry of War, and returned after handing over the Shandong army to Zhang Shuye.

Even the three people who were transferred to poor counties due to his involvement when Ju Ming was the governor of Puzhou, all were promoted to the level of prefect this time because they had joined the father and son early.

Not to mention Bai Chongyan, Zheng Hong, Ling Guxu, Min Zishun and others. They will continue to serve in local areas and be trained according to the line of senior officials. If they really do not have the ability, they will be transferred back to the central government to take up noble positions.

It's not nepotism, but the father and son temporarily don't trust the officials of the old Song Dynasty, and the team they have is really not enough.

Li Gang was sent to be the magistrate of the state. Ju Ming thought that his character was good, but his ability to do things was very problematic and he needed to practice locally.

Qin Hui is just the opposite. His ability to do things is top-notch, but his moral character is worrisome.