Although Zhao Jun is now reforming the officialdom, it is completely different from his Qingli New Deal.

After the Jingyou reform, the number of redundant officials would not decrease but increase, so that those officials would have positions.

Isn't this bullshit?

It turned out that more than 10,000 officials were just salaried officials. Without any assignments, they lost an important source of salary income, and the court could also reduce its expenses.

Now that everyone is being assigned a task, plus the stipend-bearing officials and the scattered officials, wouldn't the money spent on land be even greater?

It doesn't make sense.

However, Fan Zhongyan also knew that Zhao Jun would definitely give him a reasonable explanation.

So he waited quietly.

As expected, Zhao Jun continued, "After the Jingyou reform, the problem of redundant officials seemed to have worsened. However, first of all, with the establishment of official rules, order will no longer be as chaotic as before. There will no longer be unclear responsibilities, mutual buck-passing, and even people not knowing who their superiors are."

"Um."

Fan Zhongyan nodded slightly. After the reform, responsibilities were indeed clarified.

Zhao Jun put his hands behind his back and continued, "In this situation, I've already established rules for them, a system to follow. If a new policy is implemented at this time and problems arise, should we follow the new rules?"

"you mean?"

Fan Zhongyan subconsciously stroked his beard and narrowed his eyes. "After the Jingyou reforms, we can promote the Qingli New Deal. Once the new deal is implemented, if those people violate the new rules, will there be grounds for their dismissal?"

"That's right."

Zhao Jun, with a teachable attitude, said happily, "Old Fan, you've finally learned to change your ways. Don't always be stubborn and single-minded like in history. You need to learn to think from a different perspective."

"The problem of redundant officials is serious. If you dismiss them directly, wouldn't that be asking for trouble?"

"There are tens of thousands of officials, many of whom have entered the government through family connections. The officialdom is intricately connected, with a complicated network of relationships. If you remove them all, everyone in the officialdom will be insecure. It would be strange if they didn't fight you to the death."

"Everything must have a legitimate reason. Why did Prime Minister Zhuge Liang of the Han Dynasty launch a northern expedition? Because he wanted to restore the Han Dynasty. This was a just cause."

"And if we want to address the issue of redundant officials, we must have a legitimate reason. So tell me, what is the most reasonable reason to remove an official?"

What is the most reasonable reason to remove an official?

After a moment's thought, Fan Zhongyan said, "What if the officials themselves are not at fault? Is it that they are doing nothing or are not able to exercise their power properly?"

"That's it."

Zhao Jun said, "The bureaucracy is in chaos. You don't even know who your superiors are. There are even a large number of redundant officials with nothing to do. Your reasons for removing them are inadequate."

"Because they have their reasons. I don't even know who my superiors are. I don't even know what my duties are. I don't even have any orders or authority. What right do you have to dismiss me?"

"What can you do then?"

"So everything must be done legitimately. If you're an official, you can't do anything corrupt or abuse the law. If you do, and you're caught, you'll be deposed or even jailed. That's perfectly natural, and no one can say anything about it."

"Now I am working on the reform of the officialdom in order to establish this status. I want to make sure that all officials are in the positions they should be in, to determine their powers, and to clarify their responsibilities."

"Then, you, Mr. Fan, will implement reforms and begin governing. The officials below will each perform their duties and promote the policies you promulgate."

"If they don't do their job well, then isn't that their problem? Wouldn't that give them reason to be removed? Don't you agree?"

After these words, Fan Zhongyan was enlightened.

He came to his senses and said, "So that's how it is. So this is what we call being justified and righteous."

Then he praised Zhao Jun with endless praise: "Hanlong, you are indeed a man of great wisdom. Your ideas are really unique."

"These are all the wisdom of later generations. I am just learning from them."

Zhao Jun smiled.

How did Zhang Juzheng carry out his reforms?

First, in 1573 AD, the Kaocheng system was implemented to rectify the administration of officials and clarify their duties. Then, a performance appraisal system was formulated to put them on the spot.

Then the military system was reformed, and finally in 1581 AD, when the officialdom and civil service were almost in order, the Wang Zha Yi Tiao Bian Law was introduced. By this time, the opposition voices in the officialdom were much smaller, and the policy reform was successfully carried out.

So Zhao Jun was just learning from Zhang Juzheng.

After he finished speaking, he said to Fan Zhongyan, "I think your Qingli New Deal should be revised."

"How do you say that?"

Fan Zhongyan asked.

Zhao Jun said, "Believe it or not, my Jingyou reform can be implemented smoothly."

"Hmm"

Fan Zhongyan thought for a moment and said, "I believe it."

"Jingyou's reforms didn't dismiss officials, and instead allowed many redundant officials to retain their positions. They also left the Privy Council untouched. The only people dissatisfied are probably the officials of the Three Departments."

Zhao Jun said, "For most redundant and disbanded officials, they would have welcomed it with open arms. So, guess why the Qingli New Deal failed?"

"snort."

Fan Zhongyan snorted coldly: "The conservative interest groups will not agree."

"That's it."

Zhao Jun raised his head and saw Xihua Gate in the distance. He said softly, "So the Qingli New Deal can't just stipulate the elimination and reduction of officials. You can refer to the Zhang Juzheng reforms I gave you. First, implement the performance evaluation system to kill those people, and then promote the New Deal. Wang Anshi's reforms, the Single Whip System, and even the land tax system can all be studied. After that, when they can't do their job, you can find an excuse to remove them. Wouldn't that work?"

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