Chapter 281 Zhang Qingzhi
"Your Highness, these are the usual practices. When the new emperor ascends the throne, it is natural to celebrate grandly." Han Zhang said.
"How many people need to be sealed?" Zhao Xing asked after being silent for a while.
The addition of Enke will not have much impact, it is nothing more than enrolling two to three hundred people.
"According to the usual practice, each official who comes to attend the enthronement ceremony of His Highness can seal one person." Han Zhang said.
"Routine?" Zhao Xing snorted coldly when he heard this: "Where does this routine come from? Are there any ancestral regulations?"
There are thousands of officials in Bianjing alone, although many of these people are not qualified to participate in his For the enthronement ceremony, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of people.
Officials from various places will also come to watch the ceremony.
A rough calculation shows that there must be thousands of people.
Didn’t he say that he would appoint thousands of people as officials?
Even though Zhao Xing knew that the Song Dynasty had a lot of secretly appointed officials, he was extremely angry when he thought of having to secretly appoint thousands of officials when he ascended the throne.
The ones admitted by Kai Enke still have some talents, but most of those who are admitted are the children of the elite.
Zhao Xing remembers that in the original play, Liang Liulang followed Mrs. Wu to the Sheng family.
Qi Heng was also there at that time, sitting and talking with Liang Liulang.
Liang Liulang praised Qi Heng for his ambition. He couldn't bear the hardship and could just wait for Yin Feng to become an official.
What's the use of being granted an official position for such a person?
It is like the imperial court spends money to support them.
“I know what His Highness is thinking, but after all, Your Highness has just ascended the throne. If the seal is cancelled, it will not be conducive to the stability of the world. Your Highness can use the excuse of not being extravagant and wasteful, so that the local government does not need to send officials to watch the ceremony. Bianjing officials Officials below the fifth rank can also be prohibited from attending the ceremony," Han Zhang said.
Zhao Xing's brows widened when he heard this. If the problem of redundant officials is to be solved, not only must the system of shackles be abolished, but the number of shackles must also be strictly limited.
But not now.
Now that the Liao Dynasty is in civil strife, he is also planning the land of Hehuang. At this time, the Song Dynasty cannot be in internal chaos.
Since the shadow seal system cannot be abolished for the time being, we cannot alert the snake in the grass. The method mentioned by Han Zhang is the best method.
"What the Grand Prime Minister said is very agreeable, so just do what the Grand Prime Minister said." Zhao Xing said.
"Then I will first draw up a rough charter, wait for the officials to announce it to the world, and then discuss it with the other ministers." Han Zhang said.
"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded slightly when he heard the words.
"If your Highness has no other instructions, I will leave first!" Han Zhang saluted.
"My lord, wait a minute." Zhao Xing asked: "There are currently a few people around me who can make plans for me. I wonder if the lord can recommend anyone?"
Han Zhang understood after hearing this. Understood Zhao Xing's intention.
The official think tank is composed of several bachelors from the Hanlin Academy, but as the emperor and courtiers, Zhao Xing obviously has no intention of using those people and wants to form his own think tank.
Han Zhang pondered for a moment and said: "Zhang Qingzhi, a doctor from the Ministry of Finance, is very talented, and he may be able to use it."
"Is there anything else?" Zhao Xing asked.
“Back to Your Highness, I couldn’t think of anyone else in my haste.” Han Zhang shook his head.
Zhao Xing glanced at Han Zhang and said with a smile: "Then Mr. Xiang, please go and do your work first."
"I retire!" Han Zhang saluted and left.
"Eunuch Liu, do you know this Zhang Qingzhi?" Zhao Xing asked.
There are thousands of officials in the capital, but among the household ministers is only a sixth-rank official. Zhao Xing has never even heard of him.
"Old slave has heard of this man. He was a Jinshi in the fifth year of Zhizheng. He was ranked second and fourth." Eunuch Liu said.
"Five years since Zhizheng? It has been more than twenty years since now. He ranks second and fourth. How can he be a sixth-grade official?" Zhao Xing frowned.
It is the first reign title used by the official family after taking office. It has been more than 20 years now.
Logically speaking, a second- and fourth-place Jinshi, even if he has passed the qualifications, should be in the fourth or fifth grade now.
Unless this person has made any mistakes, but if so, does Han Zhang dare to recommend him?
"Old slave heard that this person has a withdrawn temperament, and his relationship with his colleagues is not very good no matter where he works." Eunuch Liu said.
“That’s it.”
Zhao Xing nodded slightly, it was just that this person didn’t know how to make friends and be popular, and he was relatively straight-talking, so he was ostracized.
"By the way, I remember that Yan Kuan, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, was a Jinshi in the fifth year of Zhizheng, right?" Zhao Xing asked.
"That's right, Master Yan was a Jinshi in the fifth year of Zhizheng. He was ranked among the top 12 at that time." Eunuch Liu said.
Zhao Xing was speechless when he heard this. It seemed that the difference between the two was only eight places, but the one at the top was one place higher, and the gap was not small. As a result, one of them was a fourth-rank minister, and the other was a sixth-rank minister. They were completely different.
However, it was not easy for Eunuch Liu to talk about the situation of court officials. No wonder his father asked him to follow him.
"Send someone to summon this person, Gu Xiang wants to see him." Zhao Xing said.
"Yes!" Eunuch Liu responded.
Zhao Xing continued to deal with the memorial, and did not put down his pen until Eunuch Liu reported that Zhang Qingzhi had arrived.
Zhang Qingzhi is in his forties, with a thin body but very calm eyes.
Zhao Xing did not see the depressed ambition in his eyes, nor did he see the surprise and excitement of being summoned by the prince.
"I pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!" Zhang Qingzhi saluted.
"I heard that you were a Jinshi in the fifth year of Zhizheng, and you were ranked second and fourth at that time?" Zhao Xing asked.
“Your Highness, that’s right!” Zhang Qingzhi replied.
"Yan Kuan, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, and you were both Jinshis in the same ranking. He was promoted to the right minister of the Ministry of Rites three years ago. How come you are only a doctor of the Ministry of Hubu?" Zhao Xing asked.
Zhao Xing’s words were very hurtful. If anyone else heard them, they would be somewhat angry.
Even though he did not dare to reveal his identity, he looked a little embarrassed.
But Zhang Qingzhi said calmly after hearing this: "Back to your highness, the imperial examination is only a way to select officials. It does not mean that those with lower rankings are not as good as those with higher rankings in governing the place. Although I have a higher ranking, I am capable of serving as an official and governing the place. Hearing this, Zhao Xing thought highly of Zhang Qingzhi.
Han Zhang being able to recommend this person shows that he must have some talent.
However, such people have not been reused for many years. Generally speaking, such people have some resentment in their hearts.
Zhao Xing just asked, no matter how deep the city is, people will show some resentment.
If Zhang Qingzhi is like this, Zhao Xing will not use such a person.
You are depressed and frustrated, and you still have resentment in your heart. If you are suddenly reused, you will inevitably become mentally unbalanced.
Zhao Xing remained calm and said, "Tell me about the situation in the Household Department."
"I wonder what your Highness wants to know?" Zhang Qingzhi asked.
“Just tell me whatever you want.” Zhao Xing said.
"Yes!" Zhang Qingzhi responded, pondered for a while, and then began to tell.
Today’s Ministry of Household Affairs is actually similar to the Ministry of War, and most of the powers have been delegated.
The Ministry of War was divided by the Privy Council, while the Ministry of Household was divided by the three departments.
Today’s Ministry of Household Affairs is only responsible for land tax and wine income, and the most important taxation authority is gone.
Expenditure is actually an audit. Each department that needs money will submit an application, and funds will be allocated only after approval.
Without the power to support the Ministry of Household Affairs, the status of the Ministry of Household Affairs is not much higher than that of the Ministry of Industry.
Although the authority of the Ministry of Household Affairs has been reduced a lot, it still manages the income from field taxes and wine all over the world.
There are many various accounts every year.
However, Zhang Qingzhi is very familiar with the accounts of the Ministry of Accounts over the years.
Zhao Xing asked him to talk casually, so he told Zhao Xing about the income from land tax and wine over the years, and the amount he mentioned was accurate to the letter.
If I didn't come prepared, I would have memorized all the accounts for the past years.
Zhao Xing felt that it was unlikely that he would come prepared. He asked Han Zhang just on a whim. Han Zhang didn't have time to notify.
And the time was so short, even if he was notified, Zhang Qingzhi would not have time to memorize these things.
After Zhang Qingzhi stopped, Zhao Xing said: "Starting from tomorrow, you will come to Longtuge to take up a post and organize the books for me in preparation for inquiries."
"I obey. Purpose!”
Although he was reused, Zhang Qingzhi was still very dull and did not look happy at all.
Zhao Xing nodded slightly and took a higher look at it.
"Stand back first." Zhao Xing waved his hand.
"I retire!" Zhang Qingzhi bowed and left.
(End of this chapter)