Rise of the Poor
In the first spring after the reform of the imperial examination system, the officialdom of the Tang Dynasty was shaken like never before.
Wu Meiniang looked at the list of newly appointed officials presented by the Ministry of Personnel, and a satisfied smile appeared on her lips.
Liu Rengui, the top scorer in the Ming Suan Ke (a type of Chinese mathematics exam), was assigned to the Canal Transport Office. Di Renjie, the top scorer in the Ming Fa Ke (another type of Chinese mathematics exam) and the son of a clerk in the Ministry of Justice, was promoted to Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. The sesame seed cake vendor from the Agricultural Administration Department who presented a new method for fermenting cakes was actually exceptionally recruited by the Imperial Food Bureau.
(Inner monologue: Great, the catfish effect is starting to show!)
However, change is always accompanied by growing pains.
On this day at the court assembly, the newly appointed Grand Canal Transport Judge Liu Rengui presented a report pointing out that the Cui family of Qinghe had privately set up tax checkpoints along the Grand Canal.
The Vice Minister of Revenue, who came from the Cui family, immediately sneered: "A commoner like me dares to speak ill of a noble family?"
Liu Rengui, neither humble nor arrogant, presented a thick ledger: "I have already calculated it. Last year, in the Bianzhou section alone, the 'escort fee' collected by the Cui family's private transport was equivalent to 30,000 shi of grain—exactly several times the losses incurred during the same period of canal transport."
(Inner monologue: Well done! It's so satisfying to prove them wrong with data!)
Wu Meiniang spoke up at the opportune moment: "Minister Cui, would you like to take a look at the cargo that 'accidentally sank' in your fleet? It's currently stored in the official warehouse in Luoyang."
Amidst the uproar in the hall, Li Zhi issued an imperial edict: thoroughly investigate the illegal canal transport operations, and all the families involved shall be punished according to the "Law on Unauthorized Operations".
As the court session ended, the elderly Changsun Wuji walked past Wu Meiniang and suddenly whispered, "Your Majesty, do you know that water that is too clear has no fish?"
"Grand Commandant," Wu Meiniang replied with a smile, "only when the water is murky will those who can't swim drown."
(Inner monologue: Times have changed, old man!)
The new policy has been implemented for six months and its results have exceeded expectations.
Officials from the Ming Dynasty's Ministry of Justice reformed the criminal justice system, clearing up a large portion of the backlog of cases.
Officials from the Mingsuan Department audited the national treasury and recovered a deficit of one million guan.
The most surprising thing was the fermentation method improved by the agricultural administration department—that sesame seed cake vendor—which extended the shelf life of military rations by half a month.
"Your Majesty, please look," Wu Meiniang said, pointing to the good news reported from various places, "officials from humble backgrounds understand the hardships of the common people best, and they are often more effective in their work than those from aristocratic families."
Li Zhi flipped through the "Records of Injustice Rectified" presented by Di Renjie, and suddenly said, "I remember that Minister Di's father was only a registrar of the Court of Judicial Review?"
"That's why he understands even better the methods of petty officials who engage in corruption," Wu Meiniang chuckled. "Like Liu Rengui, who, having experienced hunger, knows that every grain of rice should be used wisely."
(Inner monologue: Their different upbringing is precisely their advantage!)
One autumn day, Wu Zetian hosted a banquet in the palace.
The newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) sat at the same table with those who had passed the three imperial examinations. At first, they were reserved, but after a few drinks, they opened up and chatted freely.
A young official from the Department of Calculations debated tax laws with a scion of a prominent family, while students from the Department of Agriculture pulled aside a master craftsman from the Directorate of Works to discuss improvements to waterwheels.
Looking at this scene, Li Zhi suddenly whispered to Wu Zetian, "Do you know what makes me most gratified?"
"What?"
"When they argue, they don't look at the other person's background," Li Zhi said with a deep gaze, "but at the logic and the data."
As the banquet ended, moonlight bathed the palace path.
As Wu Meiniang gazed at those spirited figures, she suddenly recalled the green lamp at Ganye Temple many years ago.
(Inner monologue: If I hadn't time-traveled, I'd probably be working overtime in some office building right now, all night?)
"Meiniang?" Li Zhi looked at her with concern.
She took her husband's arm and pointed to the brightest star in the night sky: "Your Majesty, do you think there are also poor scholars studying diligently by lamplight under that star?"
Li Zhi looked in the direction she pointed and said softly, "As long as there is light, people will travel."
——
[Mini-Theater: A Mother's Pride]
(From Wu Zetian's perspective)
Di Renjie came to report on a case again today, and almost tripped over the threshold when he went out.
I couldn't help but laugh. This kid is shrewd in solving cases, but he's always clumsy in everyday life.
Like Liu Rengui, who could find errors in the canal transport accounts, but could never remember how to wear court robes properly.
(Inner monologue: Perhaps it's precisely because I'm unfamiliar with those red tapes that I can focus on getting things done?)
Last night, while reviewing memorials late into the night, I discovered that Di Renjie had written "The Washing Away of Wrongs" on the back of a piece of paper—the ink had seeped onto the front.
This silly child must be reluctant to use new paper.
I secretly asked the Shanggong Bureau to send him more paper, saying it was needed for the case.
(Watching these children from humble backgrounds go from being timid and hesitant to being able to stand on their own two feet made me even happier than when I was promoted myself.)
Perhaps this is the joy of being a "teacher"?
——————
【Note】
Three years later, when Di Renjie became the youngest Minister of Justice in the Tang Dynasty, he still maintained the habit of writing drafts on the back of paper.
On one occasion, when Wu Zetian was inspecting the Dali Temple, she saw him calculating cases on the back of a piece of paper and suddenly said, "Minister Di, it's time to use the front side."
Di Renjie, filled with fear and trepidation, begged for forgiveness.
The Empress smiled: "Because every word you write now deserves to be treated with utmost care."
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