Chapter 328: Officials on Strike
Several government offices in the capital were in a mess. Officials and clerks were like headless flies, running around in rooms with government documents.
Many officials in important positions fell seriously ill overnight and were recuperating at home. With the imminent tax collection and the busy official business, more than a hundred officials in important positions did not show up. Who should they report to for urgent official business and how should they hand it over?
The emperor convened a small court meeting in the study room and asked more than a dozen important officials to discuss countermeasures.
The little emperor sat there with a frown on his face and said nothing. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent was still calm and did not look annoyed or anxious.
Shen Lun, the Vice Minister of State Affairs, knew the reason for this matter. Gu Pingzhou had come to his house yesterday and persuaded him to join the strike of all officials today. Shen Lun refused to agree, but he might persuade His Royal Highness the Regent to give up the implementation of the New Deal across the country.
All the officials present were seriously ill in such a clear-sighted and large-scale manner. It was clear to all the wise men present that this was a premeditated strike of officials to resist the reform of the New Deal.
This move was cruel and damaging enough. It depends on how His Royal Highness the Regent will crack it? Should he continue to fight on regardless of the unrest in the court and the delay of government affairs, or should he compromise and admit defeat?
Seeing that no one was talking, Prince Regent Zhao Defang smiled faintly, "Since hundreds of officials are collectively seriously ill, it proves that they are weak and unsuitable for heavy government affairs. Let them stay at home forever!"
The ministers were all shocked!
Is the Prince Regent going to dismiss those officials? This is incredible. If hundreds of officials of all sizes who hold important positions are suddenly dismissed, wouldn't the government offices in the capital be in chaos? If government affairs are delayed for a long time, the government offices of the various prefectures will also be in chaos.
Shen Lun quickly spoke up to persuade him, "Your Highness, you must not do this! These officials who are collectively seriously ill hold important positions in various government offices. If they are dismissed, the government affairs of the court will be in chaos!"
Regent Prince Zhao Defang looked at Shen Lun and asked, "Sir Shen, how did these hundreds of officials suddenly become collectively seriously ill overnight? I'm sure you all know what happened. If you don't dismiss them, will they just occupy their positions and delay the handling of government affairs?"
Shen Lun smiled bitterly, "To be honest, Your Highness, someone came to see me yesterday. Lobbying for a strike today. This new policy affects the interests of too many people. Even if the poor people at the bottom support it, Your Highness, this country must be governed by knowledgeable and capable officials!
If this new policy is implemented head-on, it will inevitably cause civil unrest. Please think twice."
The little emperor Zhao Wuji said angrily: "Without rat shit, the porridge in the pot is cleaner!"
No one went to argue with the little emperor. The person who could take charge was His Royal Highness the Regent in front of him, and all the ministers were watching his reaction.
Regent Prince Zhao Defang, however, did not compromise: "The new policy reform must be implemented. Whoever resists, I will do as he wishes.
Quickly promote a group of young and promising or capable low-level officials to replace them, and let them recuperate at home to resist?"
Prime Minister Xue Juzheng said worriedly: "Prince, it is easy to select a group of low-level officials who are familiar with government affairs to replace them, but the positions of those low-level officials also need to be filled immediately.
There is a shortage of talents! If there are more officials who respond to the strike, then... it will be a big trouble!"
"There won't be any big trouble." Regent Prince Zhao Defang smiled confidently, "The group of young students that Lord Luo and Lord Kou have trained in Western Shu can do a lot."
Kou Zhun, the youngest among the court officials, came out after hearing this, "The group of young people that our mentor Lord Luo and I have taught are pragmatic, down-to-earth and capable. They are no worse than ordinary officials in handling government affairs, and are a hundred times better than those incompetent officials who have been sitting in office for nothing. We will not let you down."
Luo Ji also stroked his beard and smiled in agreement, "Yes, at the beginning, under the order of the prince, Kou Zhun and I spent a lot of effort on the more than 600 carefully selected young students. We taught them the ability to handle government affairs. They are down-to-earth, hardworking, passionate, willing to use their hearts and brains, and each of them is a talent."
"More than 600?" Bohai County Prince Gao Huaide exclaimed in surprise!
If this news gets out, I wonder how many people's official hats will be in danger?
Some people were jealous and frightened, while others looked at the young and handsome Regent Prince with admiration. Such an early layout really shows far-sightedness!
Regent Prince Zhao Defang said calmly: "Of the more than 600 young students trained in Shu, I have sent more than 300 to the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, and the "Mingfeng" Academy, which opened in the capital last winter, was also funded by me. Lord Luo and Lord Kou are both guest teachers of the academy. Cao Wei and Gao Yingxiong are also guest martial arts teachers of the academy.
Do you need capable talents? I have plenty!"
Everyone was shocked again! The "Mingfeng" Academy in Nanshan outside the city, which only recruits students from poor families, was actually organized by the Regent Prince?
The young emperor Zhao Wuji saw the ministers being surprised again and again, and was shocked and stunned, and he smiled so proudly!
[How can you old-fashioned guys who stick to the old ways understand the great talent and far-sightedness of the emperor's uncle?
Not to mention being able to catch up with him, you can't even catch up with the emperor's uncle. ]
Cao Bin and Gao Huaide were shocked, and secretly scolded their son in their hearts: "Stinky boy! You are so strict. Last year, he ran out every two or three days and was not seen. It turns out that in addition to being on duty in the military camp, he also worked as a martial arts teacher in the prince's "Mingfeng" Academy? Although he was a guest martial arts master, it was also an honor for my father!
The next day, the court was shaken!
More than one hundred officials of all ranks who were seriously ill at home were honored with the treatment of being raised at home. More than one hundred capable or young and promising low-level officials were lucky enough to be promoted to replace the honorary official positions.
More than one hundred young people with Sichuan accents and local Beijing accents were hired as exceptions to fill the vacancies of low-level officials. There was chaos in the various government offices for a while, but then they were in order, everything went on schedule, and government affairs were handled smoothly.
The Minister of Rites Gu Pingzhou almost vomited blood! The purpose of using strikes to threaten resistance was not achieved, but he lost his job instead?
His position as Minister of Rites was replaced by Liu Yaozu, the Right Vice Minister of Rites, and Liu Yaozu's position as Vice Minister was replaced by Fan Jinjiang, a sixth-rank official. Fan Jinjiang's position was actually replaced by a white-clothed scholar with only the title of Xiucai?
This is truly an unprecedented and shocking thing! It is not tolerated by law, and it is not tolerated by heaven!
Zhao Defang, do you want to go against the aristocratic families and the rich and powerful in the world? Do you want to give up the supreme honor enjoyed by the Zhao royal family and die without a burial place?