I want to be emperor

Chapter 694

When Wang Tu was running around for the development of the local industrial and commercial economy in the mountainous area of ​​northern Guangdong, the Imperial Palace of Jinling City.

Cheng Yongfeng also just finished his trip out of the palace, and just got into the carriage after leaving the palace, and he couldn't help showing a smile after putting down the curtain.

Years of hard work and months of continuous planning finally paid off.

Just now, His Majesty summoned him, but instead of asking him about some important matters of the Secretariat as usual, he discussed the development of Guangdong with him.

He also focused on asking him about his views on the development of the industrial and commercial economy and people's livelihood in Guangdong.

Cheng Yongfeng, who had been preparing for this for several months, naturally responded appropriately, and explained to His Majesty in detail some of his views on local economic and people's livelihood affairs.

Cheng Yongfeng believes that Guangdong is located on the southern coast, which not only has the advantages of sea transportation and export convenience, but also has the Pearl River Basin that can go deep into northern Guangdong and even Guangxi. Relying on sea and river transportation to further develop industries, based on the current well-developed defense manufacturing and mining Iron and steel, comprehensive machinery manufacturing, shipbuilding, and textile industry, further expand the advantages of these advantageous industries, and at the same time strengthen the upstream and downstream supporting of the local advantageous industrial chain, so as to reduce the supporting cost of the supply chain of enterprises and the cost of material transportation.

Keeping up with the empire's overseas expansion policy, taking advantage of Guangdong's geographical advantages close to Nanyang and its own industrial base to further develop foreign trade, in addition to continuing to develop the defense industry for export, there will be further focus on the development of cotton spinning, wool spinning, porcelain, and tools. Iron products, small hardware, soap and other daily-use chemical industries represent the export of civil consumer goods industries, and they have fully seized the civilian markets in Southeast Asia, India and even West Asia.

Finally, Cheng Yongfeng also emphasized the importance of railway development, believing that railway development is an important tool to connect Guangdong and other neighboring provinces, and it is also the main artery to improve the economy of Guangdong and neighboring provinces.

For this reason, he proposed that in addition to the established Guanghu Railway (Guangzhou-Jiangxi Hukou), another railway line from Guangdong to Chunan, that is, the Guangzhou-Hengyang Railway from Guangzhou to Hengyang, so that Guangzhou and Chunan and Chubei Regions can be more closely linked.

Industrial centers such as Guangzhou in Guangdong can continuously obtain various industrial raw materials from southern and northern Chu areas, and at the same time, Huguang area can also obtain industrial commodities and funds from Guangzhou more conveniently.

This time, the prelude to Jun lasted for more than an hour. Cheng Yongfeng said a lot of content, but the content was all around the local economic construction.

Not only industry and commerce, but also agriculture, fishery, etc., especially in agriculture, Cheng Yongfeng spent a lot of time explaining his ideas.

He believes that although many parts of Guangdong are mountainous and farming is limited, the Pearl River Delta Plain and Leizhou Prefecture and Gaozhou Prefecture in western Guangdong are relatively flat terrain and rich in water resources, which are very suitable for growing rice. .

At the same time, in other places, even if there are many hilly and mountainous areas, there are often some small basins between the hilly and mountainous areas that are suitable for farming. For example, the Heyuan Basin under the jurisdiction of Heyuan Prefecture in Huizhou Prefecture is very suitable for farming. It is suitable for self-use, and can be transported south to Guangzhou.

In the huge Guangdong, besides the relatively well-developed agricultural industry in the Pearl River Delta Plain, the development in other places is relatively primitive, especially in western Guangdong.

The geographical conditions and climate of Leizhou Prefecture and Gaozhou Prefecture are still very favorable. Not only can they grow a large amount of food, but they are also very suitable for growing sugarcane because of the climate.

At present, sugar cane is a very important economic crop, and it is the largest raw material for sugar production in the Great Chu Empire. It is widely planted in many places and even overseas colonies.

Facing Cheng Yongfeng's statement, Luo Zhixue didn't express too many opinions at that time, and he didn't even listen carefully. In fact, Luo Zhixue had already understood Cheng Yongfeng's thoughts and practices before.

This inquiry was just a formality, Luo Zhixue had already decided to let this person go to Guangdong, even Cheng Yongfeng himself knew... Otherwise, Cheng Yongfeng has nothing to do, why did he collect so many various materials in Guangdong, and wasted a lot of money. Do your best to come up with various development plans.

Because...Luo Zhixue had hinted to him a few months ago that he might be sent to Guangdong to take up a post, either for other things or as a political envoy.

There is no transition period as imagined by the outside world, and he was directly promoted to two ranks in the past, and he was the governor of Guangdong who was the third rank.

Because Luo Zhixue was about to transfer Li Qihua, the current governor of Guangdong, to Beijing, there was not much time for Cheng Yongfeng to make the transition.

Li Qihua served as a chief envoy in Guangdong for three years and a governor for five years. During his eight years in Guangdong, he led the development of Guangdong's industrial and commercial development, and made great achievements.

Luo Zhixue has never been stingy with his rewards for meritorious ministers.

Li Qihua's five-year term as governor has expired, and Luo Zhixue is ready to transfer him back to Beijing, just in time to take over the post of Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and enter the Imperial Study as the co-organizer.

Well, in order to make room for Li Qihua, Zhang Wenqing, the current Minister of Industry and Commerce, has already submitted the memorial for the third time to beg for bones... Luo Zhixue holds the bones of the third time for begging for bones, and he can approve it at any time.

Zhang Wenqing's begging for bones was not because he was excluded or failed in the struggle, but because he was already old and in poor health. He fell ill a few months ago. Although he was not as good as a Huhu, he was no longer normal. director.

It was also at that time that Luo Zhixue was preparing to transfer Li Qihua to Beijing, and to let Cheng Yongfeng go to Guangdong to be a political envoy, which in turn would lead to a series of changes in the positions of high-ranking imperial officials.

Among them, the most influential one is naturally Li Qihua's entry into Beijing.

According to Luo Zhixue's arrangement for him, first let him work as a co-organizer in the Yushufang for three to five years. If this person handles affairs properly, then Luo Zhixue will also consider letting Li Qihua be a military and political counselor in the Yushufang. Participate in the strategic decision-making of the empire.

The top position of the Great Chu Empire, the position of the extremely personable minister is not a minister, not a minister, but a minister of affairs.

To be precise, it is not a job, but a dispatch. The full name is "attending the imperial study to participate in important military and political affairs", which can also be referred to as participating in affairs.

As for the Minister of Counseling... This title has never existed in official documents, and it is not called that in the officialdom. It is called by the people. To show respect, there are also some titles such as privy ministers, cabinet ministers, etc., um, privy ministers are not counted.

The word privy... In other dynasties, this thing may refer to cabinet ministers, powerful ministers or something.

However, in the Great Chu Empire, it generally refers to the dozens of official first-class, second-class, and third-class secretaries of the Secretariat of the Imperial Academy. There is a warning at the gate of the Secretariat: "The Secretariat is an important place for the secretariat, and it is not a special secretariat." Imperial decree, no unauthorized entry"

Why did Wang Tu, who was a small county magistrate in the mountainous area of ​​northern Guangdong, say that he has a strong background... because this person is a former "private secretary" with a very special political status.

It is Luo Zhixue's preliminary idea to make Li Qihua one of the Ministers of Counseling in the future. Whether it will be successful in the future depends on Li Qihua's performance in the next few years.

Now, naturally, he would not reveal the slightest inner thoughts to the outside world.

Li Qihua was transferred to Gyeonggi due to meritorious service, and the candidate for the new governor of Guangdong is also easy to handle. That is Tang Tiangui, the current chief minister of Guangdong who has also done a good job over the years.

A thin old man with a very short stature, but his ability to handle affairs is quite good. Guangdong's industry and commerce have developed rapidly in recent years. Although Li Qihua is in charge of the overall situation, Tang Tiangui is the one who implements it.

When it comes to economics, Tang Tiangui is a professional...

For the sake of policy continuity and Tang Tiangui's ability is really good, Luo Zhixue intends to promote Tang Tiangui to be the governor of Guangdong.

But for the sake of balance, he chose to parachute a chief envoy from Gyeonggi.

After all, Tang Tiangui and Li Qihua have been partners for many years. After Li Qihua entered Beijing, he will still have great influence on Guangdong. As his old subordinate Tang Tiangui, he was promoted in place, which is prone to problems in the long run.

But, Luo Zhixue felt that this person was quite suitable to be the new governor of Guangdong, and it was a pity to abandon him.

Therefore, Luo Zhixue chose to promote Tang Tiangui to be the governor of Guangdong, and at the same time airborne a chief envoy from Gyeonggi.

As for the deputy director of the secretariat and first-class secretary, Cheng Yongfeng, the attendant, has just reached the deadline for release, and he himself has the willingness to release, so after Luo Zhixue inspected him for a period of time, he felt that this person is still feasible. So it was decided.

Let Cheng Yongfeng go to Guangdong to partner with Tang Tiangui.

In this way, there is no need to worry about the emergence of localism.

After all, everyone in the world knows that the people in the secretariat are lonely ministers, and at worst they call themselves factions, so there is no need to worry about them colluding with local officials or officials from various ministries.

The adjustment of governors and chief executives in Guangdong is one of a series of adjustments Luo Zhixue has made in the appointment and dismissal of senior officials recently. The envoys and many ministers and servants made adjustments.

This is not to say that Luo Zhixue is going to make any layout or something, it is purely a normal operation.

After all, in the Great Chu Empire today, if you don’t count the military, there are more than a dozen institutions in the Gyeonggi area, such as ministries, inspectors, courts, and Hanlin, and there are seven or eight independent, chief officials. From the level of the second grade bureau.

There are more than [-] local governor's offices.

This means that there are dozens of current officials at the two levels of the second rank and the second rank.

This does not include some titles, or some important positions with humble positions.

If you count the positions of the top three ranks, there will be even more. There are hundreds of people in Gyeonggi, such as directors and bureau chiefs, local political envoys, provincial inspectors, directors of the taxation department, and provincial judges. Woolen cloth.

With so many senior officials, a large number of people have to be transferred every year for normal personnel transfers. The transfer of these senior positions requires Luo Zhixue to make decisions.

In the Great Chu Empire, there was no such statement as Ting Tui. All the appointments of senior officials were made by Luo Zhixue at his discretion.

Although this will allow Luo Zhixue to focus a lot of energy on personnel adjustments, even so, Luo Zhixue has never thought of decentralizing personnel authority.

Because it concerns the most core power: personnel power.

As an emperor, Luo Zhixue, how did he rule this huge empire?

How did he let this huge empire move forward according to his own will?
After formulating various macro strategies, how do you promote the implementation of these strategies?
He just saw the ministers, reviewed memorials, and held meetings all day long. To be honest, he didn't see him doing anything.

Not to mention being immersed in various research and development like some time-traveling protagonists, going to the front line to fight the enemy to death, playing a wave of special warfare by the way, and then having sex with the enemy's female spy or something.

In the research and development of the steam engine, he actually provided some ideas and materials in the early days. The specific research and development work was still carried out by those scientific researchers. At most, he was asking people to ask for money...

The battles were fought by the generals, and Luo Zhixue generally took charge of the overall situation from behind, sending people and weapons to the front.

When fighting with Dongyao back then, Luo Zhixue had never even been near Shanhaiguan, and he had never been to Dongyao even more than ten years after the extermination of Dongyao!
To be honest, the Dongbang people were all exterminated by the soldiers of the empire, but until now he didn't even know what the Dongbang people looked like, and he had never seen a rattail with his own eyes...

The territory of Nanyang has expanded thousands of miles, and the province of Malacca has been established, but Luo Zhixue has never seen the sea a few times, but when he went to the Wusong Naval Base in Songjiang Prefecture, he looked at the sea from a distance... Even strictly speaking, that is still It is not considered the sea, but at most the mouth of the Yangtze River, and it is still tens of kilometers away from the real sea.

So Luo Zhixue didn't do many things himself, and he didn't even know many things until his courtiers reported them: Oh, so what has been laid down, and what new things have been created.

For example, the original iron-ribbed wood-hulled ships, and even the current high-pressure steam engines and trains.

When Luo Zhixue knew about the iron-ribbed wooden hull, the navy had already done several tests, and they were ready to conduct formal test ships.

Luo Zhixue knew that when the train was successfully developed, the Guangzhou Machinery Company built the train and conducted internal tests many times.

But this does not prevent him from ruling this huge empire!

How did he pass the reign?
It's actually very simple to say: use people!

Firmly control the power of employing people, put the right people in the right positions, and then ensure that their own rule is firm and that the various macro strategies under their top can be implemented smoothly.

If the strategy does not go smoothly, then Luo Zhixue will continue to implement it with replacements!
Of course, sometimes the strategy itself is not good, so Luo Zhixue will continue to advance in another direction.

And all of this requires people.

Through the power of personnel, let the courtiers do things according to their own ideas.

If you don't do it right, just replace it.

It's that simple!
In Luo Zhixue's view, personnel power is more important than finance or even military power itself.

Because whether it is financial power or military power, they are actually controlled by personnel. After all, Luo Zhixue has no way to directly manage a huge tax and financial system, let alone direct more than 100 million soldiers.

He needs someone to help him manage the purse and command the army.

This again involves personnel power.

Therefore, he can let go of other rights, even if it is some strategic affairs, he can not participate, but he has always firmly grasped the power of personnel, and he will not allow his ministers to interfere.

Of course, it was limited to the appointment and removal of officials above the third rank, and he didn't even care about the appointment and dismissal of the rank three, because there were too many people.

Just from the three ranks of the provinces participating in politics, this adds up to one or two hundred people, plus the various deputy directors in Gyeonggi and other officials from the third rank, there are at least a few hundred people.

If they were also in charge, Luo Zhixue would directly manage thousands of people, and that would be too difficult for him.

Therefore, he is mainly in charge of officials of the second rank and second rank. The third rank is basically limited to the chief envoys of important provinces, the directors of important departments, and other ordinary third rank positions. Sometimes he will leave it to the Ministry of Civil Affairs to select candidates, and he will choose the right person from among them.

As for Cheng Yongfeng, the deputy director of the secretariat of the fourth rank, this one is quite special, belonging to the emperor's close minister, and because of the special nature of the secretariat, he is a typical lowly position.

Although it is only the rank of the fourth rank, it cannot be regarded as the fourth rank, and its actual political status is similar to that of the third rank.

In addition, the position of the chief envoy of Guangdong is more important, so Luo Zhixue will personally arrange it. If it is replaced by the chief envoy of other provinces, Luo Zhixue will not bother to deal with it.

-

Not two days after Cheng Yongfeng's face-to-face meeting, there was an order to convey that Cheng Yongfeng's deputy director of the secretariat and first-class secretariat, the current positions of the minister, and the current positions of the secretary, and he was transferred to Guangdong Province to participate in politics immediately. Department of Guangdong Province chief envoy post.

Because Cheng Yongfeng's rank is relatively low, although he is actually promoted two ranks in a row, there is still a transition, so he is only given the third rank to participate in politics, and the official who participates in politics is acting as the chief envoy.

After a few months of transition period, he can be promoted to the chief minister and be promoted to the third rank at the same time.

This can also be regarded as the management of the country with a leapfrog promotion. It is said that it is a leapfrog promotion, but it is usually in the name of a temporary agency, or in the name of a title, and there will be no direct promotion across levels, especially promotion across levels.

After receiving the imperial decree of appointment, Cheng Yongfeng was in high spirits, and accompanied by a director of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, he went to Guangdong to take up his post. Generally speaking, when a chief envoy takes office, it is not necessary to dispatch the director of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and the deputy director is about the same level. up.

But Guangdong is unusual. It is the third most important province in the empire, second only to Jiangnan Province and Yingtianfu, and its development speed is much higher than that of Yingtianfu. One or two years.

At that time, it will be time for Guangdong Province to compete with Jiangnan Province.

In such an important province, Luo Zhixue would personally inquire about the appointment of the chief envoy, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs would send a director to accompany him to take office, and it would be logical to read the imperial edict when he arrived.

Accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Cheng Yongfeng set off from Jinling City on a steam ship with a displacement of more than 200 tons newly commissioned by the General Post Office, and then arrived at Wusong Naval Base in Songjiang Prefecture.

Here he and the officials of the Ministry of Civil Affairs transferred to an ocean-going steamer of more than 600 tons that still belonged to the General Post Office, and then headed south all the way to Guangzhou.

Already independent from the Ministry of Communications, the 'General Post Office', which is in charge of all postal affairs, followed the pace of the times after the appearance of steamships, and immediately ordered a batch of steamships. The boat was refitted.

Therefore, there are quite a lot of steam ships in the General Post Office. Simply speaking of the number of steam ships, in fact, the post office is currently the most.

It's just that their steam ships all have a peculiarity, that is, they can neither transport people nor goods...

The mission of the postal ships is not to transport people and goods, and Cheng Yongfeng took their ships only incidentally. The mission of these postal ships is to deliver various official documents at the fastest speed, including various frontier and even overseas battle reports.

Speed ​​is their only mission and pursuit.

All Post Office ships are designed to be extreme, carrying relatively small loads, but generally very fast.

Even in the age of steam.

Standing on the No. 12 steam ship in Youhai, Cheng Yongfeng couldn't help but sigh, now that there is a steam ship, it is really much more convenient to travel between the north and the south.

He left Beijing only the day before yesterday, but now he has already crossed Zhoushan, Zhejiang, and it took only two days to work hard.

This speed is unimaginable in the past.

The advantage of steam ships over sail ships is reflected here. They can run directly regardless of wind direction or ocean currents.

When there is wind, hang the sails to speed up, and when there is no wind, rely on the steam engine to continue to move forward. It is not like watching the sky and eating like sailing ships. It is very fast when the wind is smooth, but it is very troublesome when the wind is against the current.

The No. 12 steamship of Youhai, just like the courier buddies of later generations, stopped and stopped all the way, passed through many coastal cities, and sent a large number of original documents from official documents and Dachudi newspapers to these coastal cities.

At the same time, some official documents sent to southern cities will also be collected.

It finally ended its journey when it arrived in Guangzhou, and brought a large number of official documents from Gyeonggi and other places to Guangdong, as well as their new chief envoy!

When Cheng Yongfeng arrived at the Pearl River Wharf in Guangzhou by boat, a large number of local officials had already greeted him on the shore.

The local officials had already learned about the relevant appointment and dismissal news a few days ago. After all, Tang Tiangui had been to Beijing for a while before, and then returned to Guangzhou to take up the post of governor of Guangdong. When he took office, the former governor of Guangdong Li Qihua went to Beijing by order to serve as Minister of Industry and Commerce, and joined the Imperial Study to assist in important military and political affairs.

Under such circumstances, the candidate for the new Guangdong chief envoy has attracted the attention of many people.

However, Tang Tiangui, the new governor of Guangdong, knew that his future partner was Cheng Yongfeng before he came back from the capital!
Tang Tiangui stood on the second-floor building of the Governor's Office, looking at the rolling water of the Pearl River outside. There was an endless stream of boats coming and going on the river, and there were docks and warehouses on both sides of the river. Behind these docks and warehouses were countless factories that were rumbling!
Slightly frowned!
The deputy director of the secretariat who came down from the air...

This kind of people are close ministers of the emperor, and I am afraid that the number of times they have seen His Majesty in a day is more than the number of times they have met the Holy Majesty in their entire life!

It's fine if the other party knows how to be a human being and cooperates with me.

If the other party refuses to cooperate, relying on the status of the emperor's close minister to mess around...

(End of this chapter)