As long as you are competent and can get practical work done, we are all civil servants of the Ming government, so why should we differentiate between clerks and officials?
Lu Qinghou recalculated the data and after confirming that it was correct, he signed his name, picked up the file, and went to the office of the chief officer Xia Zhongshi.
He entered the university as a student, passed the examination, and was assigned to work at the Salt Administration. Although he didn't come from a formal background, he was still an eighth-rank official, and his salary was enough to support his family, which was much better than being a hotel waiter.
His superior, Xia Zhongshi, director of the Salt Administration, was selected by the emperor after a merchant proposed a method of issuing salt tickets, and he entered the officialdom.
From this perspective, the two people still have similarities, neither of them entered the officialdom through the imperial examination.
He knocked on the door gently, and a voice of "Come in" came from inside, then Lu Qinghou pushed the door open and walked in.
"Sir." Lu Qinghou bowed and placed the file on the desk. "This month's salt output and salt tax have been compiled."
Xia Zhongshi nodded, reached out to take it, opened it and looked at it.
As a pilot salt factory for the ticket salt system, the performance of Changlu Salt Factory was crucial to Xia Zhongshi's future. At least, that was what he believed.
If the amount of salt produced and the salt tax both exceed the Gangfa, it will not only prove the advancement of the ticket salt system and make the Emperor very happy, but will also promote the ticket salt system throughout the country.
By that time, Xia Zhongshi would not only be in charge of the Changlu Salt Factory, but the entire country, so the quality would naturally rise as well.
Incorruptible, dedicated to the country and the people, not concerned about fame or fortune... Are there such noble people?
In Zhu Youxiao's opinion, there are definitely some, but they are definitely very few and are considered rare animals.
Therefore, he did not expect his officials to be rare animals, as they were not rare at all. He believed in clear rewards and punishments: those who made contributions should be promoted and rewarded; those who made mistakes should be punished.
For the emperor, it was exactly what he wanted for his ministers to be utilitarian.
Only with goals can one pursue, be motivated, and be motivated. If everyone is indifferent to fame and fortune, and doesn't take official positions seriously, how can they work seriously? The emperor felt that the court would become stagnant.
After Xia Zhongshi carefully read the document, he smiled slightly and asked again, "The data has been verified. Is there any mistake or omission?"
Lu Qinghou quickly bowed and said, "Don't worry, sir. I've checked it three times and there are absolutely no mistakes."
"Okay, that's good." Xia Zhongshi patted the document lightly, let out a long sigh, and was overjoyed.
After a while, Xia Zhongshi finally calmed down and said to Lu Qinghou with a smile, "Master Lu, there is no need to be so reserved. Sit down and talk."
After Lu Qinghou thanked him, he sat down. Xia Zhongshi asked the servant to serve him tea.
"Since you came to the Salt Administration, I've seen your diligence and hard work." Xia Zhongshi took a sip of water and said slowly, "Although the Changlu Salt Factory is vast, you have inspected it all, right?"
Lu Qinghou bowed and said, "Yes, as the salt inspector, I dare not be negligent. If the salt factory leaks smuggled salt, it will be a loss to the court."
"If you can think this way, you'll have a long-term career." Xia Zhongshi expressed his admiration with a smile and a nod. He bowed toward the capital and said, "The current emperor is wise and powerful, a benevolent ruler. What a wise ruler hates most is deception. Regardless of official rank, diligence and honesty are the golden rule."
Lu Qinghou didn't agree with everything, but Lao Xia was praising the emperor, so how could you say he was wrong?
"Yes, if it weren't for your Majesty's wisdom, I might still be working as an accountant in a tavern!" Lu Qinghou hurriedly followed suit and flattered the emperor.
This is not false. If the transfer of officials to other positions was not allowed, and if students were not summoned to study and become officials, he would have no chance other than taking the imperial examination.
"This official is also thanks to the grace of His Majesty, who has promoted me from a merchant to an official." Xia Zhongshi felt the same way and couldn't help but sigh, "The initial success of the salt ticket system has given me peace of mind. I have not let the emperor down!"
"Your Excellency has devoted all his heart and soul to this achievement." Lu Qinghou bowed and said, "It is certain that the salt ticket system will be widely promoted. I would like to congratulate you on your promotion."
Xia Zhongshi held his hand down with dignity and said with a smile, "Serving the Lord is the duty of a minister. A single word of praise from Your Majesty would satisfy me, and I dare not ask for anything else."
After a pause, Xia Zhongshi earnestly instructed, "The Spring Festival is just one month away. You must continue to work diligently and report the good news to the Emperor before the New Year."
"I won't bother with that." Lu Qinghou agreed with a bow.
Xia Zhongshi smiled and said with a hint of meaning: "The Changlu Salt Factory still needs officials like you who are familiar with the business to manage it, so that the salt tax can be stable and the emperor can rest assured."
Lu Qinghou was overjoyed and quickly bowed, saying, "Your Excellency's advice, I am deeply grateful and will certainly not let you down."
Xia Zhongshi smiled and nodded, saying, "That's good. Well, I have nothing else to say. You can go back to work!"
Lu Qinghou stood up, bowed again, and then walked out.
Although the year-end inventory was still a month away, the increase in salt tax was certain. In mid-summer, he would most likely be promoted or transferred to another place to implement the salt tax system.
The chief officer of the Changlu Salt Factory, Xia Zhongshi, was very optimistic about himself. Taking advantage of the emperor's happiness, it was just a matter of words.
At least he could be promoted to the seventh rank, and there was also hope for the sixth rank.
As Lu Qinghou thought about it, a smile appeared on his face and his steps became much lighter.
………………
The General Administration of Salt, the General Administration of Customs, the General Post Office… many of them had already been established or were planned to be established, and many officials were needed. Or, according to the emperor, the civil service was still far from enough.
The Ming Dynasty had been established for hundreds of years, and inevitably had a problem that was almost common in every dynasty, that is, redundant officials.
On the one hand, a large number of officials are needed, and on the other hand, there are redundant officials. Doesn’t this sound contradictory?
But if we analyze it carefully, or look at it from Zhu Youxiao's perspective, we will understand why such a contradiction arises, and we will know that there is no contradiction at all.
There are too many officials at the middle and upper levels, and too few officials at the grassroots level; there are more officials with knowledge, and too few officials with practical abilities; there are too many officials who entered the government through the imperial examinations, and too few professional officials.
It is precisely because of this vicious circle that when the emperor wants to do something big, he often feels that there are too few people available.
In fact, this is also due to the emperor himself. If he was not a time traveler, he would not have come up with so many new things and needed so many professional talents.
The Salt Administration was alright, after all, salt monopoly was a method of making money that had been implemented by almost every dynasty. It was just a change of method, not something too innovative.
In addition to the lack of professional talents, Zhu Youxiao also felt that it was time to add institutions and subdivide the business of the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers that had been in place for thousands of years.
Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of State Security, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Health...
There is no need to go into too much detail, at least a dozen departments are already in Zhu Youxiao's plan.
As society developed and productivity increased, the establishment of the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers seemed a bit crude and could not keep up with the needs of the times.
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