Chapter 182 Showing Power (Part 2)
The Tang Dynasty was an era of transition from short-footed furniture such as sitting tables, seats, and low tables to tall furniture such as tables and chairs.
In the early Tang Dynasty, low furniture such as couches, beds, and desks were still the main ones, and chairs with long legs and backrests had not yet appeared. In the later period, close to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, chairs with backrests and high-leg tables became popular in the whole society. But even then, and even until the Ming and Qing dynasties, the "couch" for people to sit cross-legged did not disappear. It was still widely used in all walks of life, and gradually became a symbol of style - now mahogany furniture The "Arhat Bed" that is very popular on the market is a "couch" for people to sit cross-legged.
In some thunder dramas of later generations, regardless of the Han, Tang, Three Kingdoms or which dynasty, high tables and chairs are flying around, which is purely random fabrication; but some serious dramas known as "documentary style" have gone too far, such as those in the Zhenguan and Kaiyuan eras. It’s unlikely that people are still sitting on mats and sleeping on floor mats in the palace... Short-legged furniture is furniture after all, right? There is no reason not to sleep on the "couch" but to sleep on the floor mat instead.
"Is there a carpenter in the Yamen?" Fang Jun twisted his waist, feeling a little sore.
Ren Zhongliu replied: "The carpenters in our Ministry of Works are usually in the city's workshops, but there must be some generals and supervisors nearby. I will borrow two of them. I wonder what is the use of a house servant?"
"Let them make something..."
In this life, I can't be like my previous life, where I worked so hard to get promoted, and in the end I died, and I don't know which bastard got a better political performance. Anyway, my current wish is not to be a big official. The first problem is naturally to solve the problem of office environment. I sit on a bench all day long and have to use lumbar support for a long time...
Ren Zhongliu pondered for a moment and then said tentatively: "As the new official of the Fang Shilang takes office... should he summon his colleagues from the Water Department to recognize their faces and arrange their work?"
No matter how much you mess around, you still have to show off, right? On the first day after taking office, he did not summon his subordinates to show his authority, but instead summoned the carpenter... How unreliable!
It’s not like Fang Jun has never been an official. How could he know these inevitable processes?
It's just that he has been busy recently and has no time to find out the inside story of the Ministry of Works. His eyes are dark, arranging a shitty job?
I wanted to wait a few days to get familiar with the situation, but since Ren Zhongliu brought it up, let's just meet him and not express our attitude!
Fang Jun was all right: "Okay, go and call everyone here."
After saying that, he lowered his head and picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and started writing and drawing on the paper.
Ren Zhongliu agreed, turned around and went out, shouting twice in the corridor. After a while, he walked in with five or six people and stood in a row.
Everyone shouted in unison: "See Shangguan!"
Fang Jun looked up and twitched the corner of his mouth...
These are the senior officials of the Ministry of Water Resources. They are all seventh or eighth grade officials. It is said that their grades are not low. When they are released to the county, they are at least county magistrates and county magistrates, and they are intimidating figures. But this one is as miserable as an old farmer, and the other is as lean as a bamboo pole. This trembling old man's eyebrows are all white. Is he a hundred years old?
Okay! Why does the entire Water Department feel like old, young, sick and disabled?
No wonder this Ren Zhongliu became a Yuanwailang because he has a good appearance and a strong body...
Fang Jun stood up in a hurry, handed the old man the stool under his buttocks, and said with a smile: "Oh, you are so old, you should go to visit you, how dare you come over?"
The old man chuckled and sat down without refusing. According to his age, even if he goes to the Tai Chi Hall, His Majesty Li Er will also give him a seat...
Everyone introduced themselves.
The structure of the Water Department is streamlined, with a total of only one doctor, one member, two directors, and five clerks.
Among them, the doctor is the chief official, the Yuanwailang serves as the deputy to assist the chief official in his work, the chief is responsible for specific affairs, and the real people who handle the affairs are the clerks.
Although Fang Jun reported his name, he couldn't remember it all at the moment.
The stool was given to the old man with a white beard, and Fang Jun could only stand. He didn't want to show any official power in this small yamen, so he said very kindly: "This is the first time we met, but from now on we will need colleagues." As an official, we should help each other and work together as one. We don’t talk nonsense. If anything happens, we will report it and if nothing happens, we will perform our duties.”
There is a sense of déjà vu that “when something happens, you start to act, but when nothing happens, you retreat”...
The subordinates looked at each other with a little surprise.
It stands to reason that every new official who takes office must give a long speech to clarify his attitude and demonstrate his official authority, which is beneficial to future work.
This guy just said two dry sentences and that's it?
"Oh, one more thing..." Fang Jun said.
Is this right... The subordinates are all complaining, saying it all at once, do they have to play this trick?
"I have booked a few banquet tables at Songhe Tower for noon, and I will treat you all. I hope you will take care of me in the future. Okay, let's go back first. Finish the things at hand quickly, and don't delay eating wine. It’s time, don’t wait until it expires!”
The subordinates were stunned again. According to the rules, shouldn't subordinates like them join in the party to entertain the superior?
Moreover, Songhe Tower! That's a famous restaurant in Chang'an City, and it's famously expensive! If you are not a high-ranking official or a wealthy businessman, you would not dare to enter that door! Ordinarily, a banquet would cost them three to five dollars, equivalent to several months of their monthly salary. Who would be willing to give it up?
Of course, the bulk of these officials' salaries lies in their annual salary and position, but that's heartbreaking.
But then I thought about it, this new Shangguan is famous for making money. He sold some treasure a year ago and got tens of thousands of coins! People really don't care about this small amount of money.
As a result, everyone's eyes changed when they looked at Fang Jun.
The son of the current prime minister, the future emperor's son-in-law, walking around the city of Chang'an, but still having tens of thousands of dollars in his pocket... Such a Shangguan is destined to have a bright future, even if he can't keep up, he can talk about it. Refreshing!
Seeing no reaction from everyone, Fang Jun waved his hand: "Since there's nothing going on, let's all leave..."
"I have something to report."
Someone stood up and said.
Fang Jun was slightly startled and looked at this person. The person in charge, Liang Renfang, was the one who looked as miserable as an old farmer. He was responsible for the current accounts of the Water Department and was considered the chief accountant.
Fang Jun said in a deep voice: "Say."
Liang Renfang was holding a thick account book in his hand. He didn't seem to notice Fang Jun's displeasure and said slowly: "The spring flood is coming this year. We need money and food for river management. We need to submit last year's accounts before we can go to the Ministry of Civil Affairs to apply for funding." . The subordinates want to report last year’s summary to Fang Shilang so that they can apply for funds as soon as possible and arrange the river management matters in a timely manner.”
The so-called river management matter refers to the management of the Yellow River. Every spring and summer, the water level of the Yellow River rises, and if you are not careful, it will burst its banks. When the time comes, no one will be better off if the government is involved.
Ordinarily, this is definitely a serious matter, but you have to say it at this time?
Ren Zhongliu's face sank and he scolded: "Mr. Liang, the Minister has just taken office and has not yet learned about the affairs of the Water Department. There is no need to rush."
Liang Renfang frowned and retorted with great righteousness: "My subordinates can wait, but the river floods cannot wait!"
Fang Jun waved his hand to stop Ren Zhongliu, looked at Liang Renfang with squinted eyes, and nodded: "Please come back soon."
"No!"
Liang Renfang agreed, stood and opened the account book in his hand, and read out the current accounts one by one.
"Last spring, the first month of the year, Yisi, the Ministry of Civil Affairs allocated 130,000 guan to control river floods. A total of 153,765 guan was spent on labor, baggage, grain, oil and sundries, etc., and the Ministry of Civil Affairs paid the balance. Not made up. Summer, April, Wuyin, floods in Anzhou. The Ministry of Household Affairs allocated 120,000 guan to build a 30-mile dike, which cost 54,195 guan. In total, the total amount allocated by the previous Ministry of Civil Affairs was 28,355 guan. The balance is withheld from last year's total..."
"Stop!"
Fang Jun waved his hand to interrupt him and said: "This account is wrong."
Everyone is a little confused. The number of transactions makes people dizzy. Do you know it is wrong?
Liang Renfang's expression changed: "Why is it wrong? I have calculated this many times..."
Fang Jun said flatly: "It's not right if I say it's wrong!"
How dare you play this trick with your brother!
On my first day in office, you want me to take advantage of this opportunity to confirm this account, and try to hide the truth?
I will tell you that we won the runner-up in the city's abacus and mental arithmetic competition that year?
Fang Jun said coldly: "The difference between the import and export is not 28,355 guan, but 42,040 guan. Where did the missing 13,685 guan go? ?”(End of this chapter)