31 031
"Mother, can I have another drink?"
After the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, officials returned to work.
The Ministry of Revenue was in charge of the financial affairs of the entire Great Qi Dynasty, including land registration, taxes, salaries, military supplies, and wages. All official positions, big or small, were highly sought after, and many officials would try their best to get in. Since a fifth-rank doctor of the Ministry of Revenue resigned due to illness in mid-April, some officials in the capital and even in the local areas had started to think and use various means.
The current Minister of Personnel Yang Zhimin is also a founding hero. When Emperor Xingwu was six or seven years old, his family was poor and he could not afford the tuition, so he climbed over the wall every day to sneak into a private school to study secretly. The old teacher who waived his tuition because he took pity on his love of learning was Yang Zhimin's grandfather.
Yang Zhimin was intelligent since childhood and was a well-known talent in the nearby area. He passed the examination for scholar at the age of eighteen, and passed the examination for juren at the age of twenty. When he was twenty-one and preparing to go to Beijing to take the imperial examination in spring, the court was in turmoil and the imperial examination for that year was abolished. Yang Zhimin had no choice but to stay at home and continue studying hard. He waited for a year but the court did not calm down. Instead, the Qin brothers, Deng Chong, and Lu Zan led a group of warriors to break into the county government office. Yang Zhimin looked at this group of high-spirited brothers of different surnames, threw away his books, and resolutely joined them.
Emperor Xingwu and his men were good at conquering territory, but after conquering the territory, civil officials were still needed to govern the people and be responsible for raising money, grain and other military supplies. Yang Zhimin pulled in a group of useful literati and scholars he had met during his studies. Later, whenever Emperor Xingwu planned to capture a place, Yang Zhimin was responsible for gathering information about the enemy, including recruiting civil officials and famous generals such as Yan Xizheng and Zhang Jie, all of whom were persuaded by Yang Zhimin.
In terms of state governance, Yang Zhimin was slightly inferior to Yan Xizheng and Dai Lun, so after Emperor Xingwu ascended the throne, he took the initiative to persuade Emperor Xingwu to appoint Yan and Dai as prime ministers. However, Emperor Xingwu also knew Yang Zhimin's ability to recommend talents, so he appointed Yang Zhimin as the Minister of Personnel, a position almost second only to the two prime ministers.
Yang Zhimin is about ten years younger than the second prime minister, and he will be promoted to prime minister one day.
The Minister of Personnel and two vice ministers shared a public room. After the prince came to the Ministry of Personnel as a clerk, Yang Zhimin had a set of tables and chairs added for the prince in the public room.
There is no court meeting on the seventh day, and officials are on duty from noon to midnight.
Yang Zhimin's qualifications are there, so there is no need for him to come too early. He can arrive at the right time as Chen Zheng ordered.
As soon as he came in, the two assistant ministers stood up and saluted, and the young crown prince Qin Hong also stood up. After he was established as the crown prince, the two prime ministers, Yang Zhimin, and the imperial doctor Nie Ao had all taught him for a period of time, with the etiquette between teacher and student.
Yang Zhimin returned the greeting and said to the three men, "We work together in the Ministry of Personnel and spend every day together. There's no need to be so polite."
As they were busy with official business, they greeted each other and then sat down.
There was a document on the political achievements of local officials in front of Qin Hong, but his mind was not on it. He glanced at Yang Zhimin from time to time.
After who knows how many glances, Yang Zhimin looked up and met the prince's gaze.
Qin Hong immediately lowered his head, looking embarrassed.
Yang Zhimin: “…”
At noon, the two ministers went to the dining hall for lunch. Yang Zhimin looked at the crown prince, who was still sitting at his desk, seemingly concentrating on reading a document. He walked over and asked in a low, concerned voice, "Your Highness seems to have been a little uneasy this morning. Is there anything worrying you?"
Qin Hong's face gradually turned red, because he knew that he shouldn't show favoritism, but he still agreed to his sister.
Yang Zhimin was clearly aware of the prince's temper and encouraged him, "There are no outsiders here, Your Highness, please feel free to speak."
Qin Hong pressed the corner of the document and said with a stiff upper lip, "The Ministry of Revenue's Qingzhou Qingli Division is vacant for a doctor. Does your Excellency have a candidate?"
Yang Zhimin had one, but he understood what the prince meant: "It's not decided yet. Does Your Highness have any talents to recommend?"
Having begun to speak, the Crown Prince slowly calmed down and looked to the side, saying, "He is also Fang Ji, the head of the Qingzhou Qingli Division. He has been working there for six years and is familiar with Qingzhou's land and household registration affairs. He is diligent and hardworking in his official duties. If he is promoted, he will directly take over the duties of a doctor."
In addition to the capital, the Great Qi also had thirteen states, and the Ministry of Revenue was divided into thirteen Qingli Si to be in charge of land taxes and other matters in each state. Each Qingli Si had two fifth-rank doctors and two sixth-rank officials.
Qin Hong recommended the chief official Fang Ji, but Yang Zhimin was attracted by another chief official Cao Jing.
Fang Ji is indeed diligent, but his talent is not as good as Cao Jing. However, Fang Ji is older than Cao Jing and has more experience, so there is nothing wrong with promoting him.
This is the first time the prince has asked for something, and he is such a shameless person. If he does not agree, will the prince have the nerve to step into the threshold of the Ministry of Personnel in the future?
Yang Zhimin smiled and said, "What a coincidence! Fang Ji is indeed one of my candidates. Since the Crown Prince also praised his diligence, I will recommend his name."
Qin Hong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"only……"
Qin Hong's heart immediately became anxious again, and he looked at Yang Zhimin nervously.
Yang Zhimin's eyes were gentle, as if he was looking at his own junior. "It's just that Your Highness has only been involved in court affairs for a short time. I am a little curious as to how Your Highness knew about Fang Ji."
Qin Hong's eyes flickered as he brought out an excuse he had thought of long ago: "One time, when I was leaving the Ministry of Personnel, it was almost dark, and I ran into Fang Ji on the palace road. Later, I heard people praise him several times for often arriving early and leaving late, and I also admired his diligence."
Yang Zhimin: "Indeed, Your Highness, please forgive me for my suspicions. Just now, Your Highness recommended Fang Ji to me, and I almost thought that Fang Ji was taking advantage of Your Highness's youth and tricking You into speaking well of him. You should know that although the position of Langzhong is not high, the Emperor only appoints people with merit and hates the corrupt and incompetent officials of the previous dynasty the most. I am not afraid of being dragged down by Fang Ji, but I am afraid that Your Highness will be reprimanded by the Emperor for his petty intentions. If that is the case, I am also at fault for not reminding Your Highness in time."
The Minister of Personnel, who was in his forties, had a pair of warm eyes, but Qin Hong felt a chill penetrating into his bones during this somewhat prolonged eye contact.
Why did Lord Yang say this? Did he really just suspect him, or did he see through his selfish motives in recommending Francis and deliberately remind him?
Just as Qin Hong was about to withdraw his recommendation of Fang Ji, unable to bear the condemnation of his conscience and the shame of being discovered, Yang Zhimin smiled, stepped back a few steps and said, "It's getting late, Your Highness. How about you join me for dinner?"
Qin Hong: "Okay, okay."
Yang Zhimin simply tidied up the table and never mentioned the matter of recommending Fang Ji again. The next morning, when the two prime ministers and the six ministers were discussing matters in the Council of State, Yan Xizheng and Dai Lun read his recommendation for Fang Ji as a doctor. Every word he praised for his diligence was true. How could the two prime ministers reject it?
Finally, the memorial regarding the transfer of the Ministry of Revenue officials was presented to Emperor Xingwu.
The officials from the six ministries that Emperor Xingwu usually summoned were all Shangshu and Shilang. He rarely dealt directly with the large number of middle and low-level officials unless it involved a specific case. However, he trusted the Shangshu and prime ministers he selected, so he approved it with a stroke of his imperial pen.
After the memorial was sent back, Yang Zhimin smiled and ordered someone to write a formal document appointing Francis to his new position.
He didn't greet the prince specifically, but Qin Hong was sitting in the same public housing, so of course he heard it.
At this moment, the relief of having things done suppressed Qin Hong's shame and uneasiness that had lasted for many days. At the same time, he made up his mind to make things clear with his elder sister and ask her not to do such a thing again in the future.
Having unloaded a burden, Qin Hong had his wedding day on May 18th.
The Ministry of Rites will go to the Lu family of Duke Chengguo's mansion to welcome the bride on behalf of the prince. Qin Hong just needs to wait in the palace. As soon as the sun rises, Qin Ren and Qingyang, who are still living in the East Palace, run to Chongyuan Palace.
"Brother, you look so handsome in this suit, like a god." Qingyang praised, and Qin Ren smiled and nodded beside him.
Facing these two brothers and sisters with clear eyes, Qin Hong couldn't help but smile: "You all had honey this morning, didn't you?"
Qingyang: "I ate it. Third brother got up late and didn't have time to eat."
Qin Hong then told his third brother, "You'll be leaving the house in two years, so don't let your sister laugh at you for staying in bed."
Qin Ren agreed with a smile, but whether he could do it was another matter.
The prince's wedding was a more complicated ceremony than his enthronement ceremony. Ministers and officials' wives followed the ceremonial officers around to pay their congratulations, and they were also very tired. They were not able to relax until the banquet was about to begin.
Tonight, Qingyang stayed with her mother and had a banquet with a group of officials' wives, because she knew that at a banquet like this, her father and the ministers would not discuss state affairs, and there would not even be any rewards for merit, so she had no interest in going to her father's place to watch the officials eat and drink.
The women had prepared fruit wine, and as they drank and chatted, some of them even got drunk.
Lady Dingguo looked at Concubine Li with a blushing face and said regretfully, "It's a pity that I couldn't give birth to a daughter. Otherwise, with the emperor's favor to our families, perhaps our family could also have a prince's consort."
Concubine Li shuddered in her heart. Princess Yong, the sister of Duke Dingguo Deng Chong, was a cruel person. She once sent people to beat to death the pregnant concubine that Prince Yong brought back from outside. Deng Chong's wife was also very fierce. Even if the Deng family had a daughter of marriageable age, she would not dare to let her son marry her.
Yongkang's mother-in-law, Lady Zhennan, replied with a smile, "Although your family doesn't have a prince's consort, we already have a princess. It's better to give the opportunity of marrying the emperor to other families."
Everyone looked at Princess Deng, the wife of Prince Yong.
Deng smiled modestly, but her sister-in-law, the wife of Duke Dingguo, shook her head, spilling a few drops of the fruit wine in her hand. "It's different. Being the emperor's sister-in-law is not as close as being his daughter-in-law..."
"Mother, you've drunk too much. Please drink less." The eldest daughter-in-law of the Deng family, who was sitting next to them, received a look from Princess Yong and quickly interrupted her mother-in-law. Regardless of her mother-in-law's objection, she apologized with her younger brother and sister-in-law, and half-supported and half-pushed her mother-in-law to leave early.
But the drunken talk of the wife of Duke Dingguo still made the noble ladies around her quiet down for a moment.
Princess Yong glanced around inconspicuously and took the initiative to joke to the wife of Pingliang Hou: "My sister-in-law doesn't have this blessing, but my sister does have a chance."
After saying this, he looked at Yuan Jie, who was sitting next to the wife of Pingliang Marquis, with great fondness.
Yuan Jie was twelve years old and understood matters of marriage better than the little princess. Upon hearing this, she shyly glanced at Concubine Li. The emperor had only three princes, and now only the third prince, Qin Ren, had not been granted marriage.
The wife of the Marquis of Pingliang was modest in her words and said that she did not dare to marry someone of a higher status, but there was a hidden passion in her eyes when she looked at Concubine Li.
Concubine Li: “…”
Qingyang thought that Pingliang Hou Yuan Zhaoxiong had been reported by the Censorate several times in recent years and had a criminal record with his father. Such a family was definitely not a good choice for his third brother's in-laws.
Seeing that everyone was curiously waiting for his mother's response, Qingyang took a sip of the fruit wine and raised the glass to his mother with an unsatisfied look: "Mother, can I have another drink?"
Concubine Li said subconsciously: "No, it's harmful to children to drink too much."
The little princess pouted, thinking of something, and looked at Princess Yong expectantly: "Aunt Wang, when is my eldest cousin getting married? I want to drink at his wedding!"
Everyone's eyes shifted to Princess Yong's face.
Princess Yong: "..."
【Author’s words】
Here I come, 100 little red envelopes, see you in the evening~
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com