I studied in modern times

Chapter 916: Openly repairing the plank road and secretly visiting Chencang
Lu Gongzhu finally agreed to Zhao Xu's request.

Open the manufacturing department!

He couldn't refuse.

Because, in the Song Dynasty, the power to appoint officials belonged to the emperor.

As prime minister, he only had the obligation to cooperate.

Moreover, the emperor wanted to issue an imperial decree to recruit talents in the name of "Sima Wengong's earnest words before his death."

Just ...

Lu Gongzhu always felt that there would be trouble in next year's imperial examinations and special examinations.

"Alas!" The prime minister could not help but sigh after returning home: "Confucianism will be in trouble from now on!"

How could he not see the intention of the current emperor?

It is to support Shen Kuo and his advocacy of "investigating things and seeking knowledge".

And promote relevant talents to the court to take up some key positions.

however……

Shen Kuo and his "Investigation of Things to Extend Knowledge" only sought tools but not the truth.

At least, we have not seen any statements from Shen Kuo on morality and moral principles.

The so-called "investigation of things to acquire knowledge" is seen by many as the corrupt official (Shen Kuo) leading a group of low-ranking clerks, craftsmen, and art officials of mixed origins to perform tricks and sleight of hand in order to gain fortune and advancement.

Originally, they just needed to keep themselves in their own circle.

No one will care about them.

But now, if they come out to fight...

Lu Gongzhu knew that this was bound to be a storm!
None of the mainstream schools would sit idly by and watch the rise of Shen Kuo and his "Investigation of Things to Extend Knowledge".

"Sir..." Lü Gongzhu was just feeling worried when his eldest grandson Lü Haowen came to him on tiptoe and bowed, saying, "Just now, Mr. Juncong sent someone to deliver a visiting card, saying that he would like to visit you at your house tomorrow..."

Lü Gongzhu came back to his senses and asked: "Have you entered the capital?"

"Yes... I heard that he arrived in Beijing yesterday and paid a visit to the Grand Tutor..."

Juncong is Xi Ruyan's courtesy name.

He was one of the thirteen elders of the Luoyang Elderly Association at that time.

He was also a backbone of the old party. Although he did not hold a high official position before his retirement, he had a wide circle of friends.

Whether it was Wang Gongchen, Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo or Han Qi, they were all familiar with him.

Lu Gongzhu leaned back in his chair and squinted his eyes. He suddenly remembered something.

Then he asked Lu Hao: "Shun Tu..."

"Have you ever heard of Jun Cong's story?"

Lu Haowen looked at his grandfather curiously. He didn’t understand why his grandfather asked him this.
But he still said obediently: "Please teach me, sir!"

Lü Gongzhu smiled and said, "During the Xining period, Juncong was an official in the court. One day, the late emperor ordered Juncong to take charge of a certain matter... Juncong rejected the order generously, saying: This is not the way the court treats Confucian officials well!"

Lu Haowen listened with a puzzled look on his face, not understanding why his grandfather told him this.

Lü Gongzhu looked at his eldest grandson and said, "Shun Tu...the storm is about to come!"

Lu Gongzhu had been an official for decades, and he knew very well that the court, both in the New Party and the Old Party, was filled with many people like Xi Ruyan who were proud of their status.

I'm already in a high position.

I have also moved the world with my writing.

Your Excellency, why do you still want me to do things that only "lucky young men" and "clerks" do?

This is not the way the dynasty treats Confucian officials well!
Back then, they were even unwilling to take over some specific details.

Now, if the imperial court wants to change the direction of selecting officials.

He began to tilt the resources of the imperial examination towards the direction of "investigating things and seeking knowledge", and promoted and appointed a large number of officials who were familiar with craftsmanship and skills.

Lu Gongzhu knew that they would definitely go berserk!
Lu Haowen opened his eyes and looked at his grandfather, but he couldn't understand no matter how hard he tried.

Why did his grandfather tell him these things?

After thinking about it, he decided to swallow these questions and ask his father again when he had the chance to see him.

Maybe my father knows the answer.

"That's right!" Lü Gongzhu looked at Lü Haowen and asked, "Shuntu, recently the government seems to have ordered you to go to the government offices to inspect the government?"

"Your Excellency, it is true!" Lu Haowen replied, "Your Majesty said: Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles!"

"If we, the scholars and officials, want to bring peace to the world, we must understand the sufferings of the people, know the details of government affairs, and understand the system of the country!"

"He ordered his grandsons and others to take turns in supervising the government in the six ministries!"

"My grandson just finished his inspection in the Ministry of Personnel a few days ago, and has now been transferred to the Ministry of Works..."

"Ministry of Works?" Lu Gongzhu narrowed his eyes.

Then, he sat up suddenly and muttered to himself: "I forgot that there are also the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Construction, the Imperial Academy of Astronomy, and the Yuanyou Hunyun Bureau..."

Then, he looked at Lu Haowen and asked, "How does Shuntu feel about being in the Ministry of Works?"

Lu Haowen replied: "Reporting to the Lord, my grandson has learned a lot in the Ministry of Works, which are not found in the books of the saints..."

"Hmm?" Lü Gongzhu perked up: "For example?"

"For example, water can float objects because water has buoyancy..."

"Hmm?" Lu Gongzhu frowned, "What do you mean?"

Lu Haowen said excitedly: "Tell the adults that these two grandsons are in the Ministry of Works, studying with Mr. Su and working among the officials..."

"My grandson has learned how to calculate the buoyancy of water by using arithmetic and calculation methods, through consulting officials and receiving guidance from Mr. Su..."

As he spoke, Lu Haowen began to dance with joy and introduced to Lu Gongzhu the buoyancy of water and how to calculate it using arithmetic.

Lü Gongzhu listened and didn't understand it clearly for a while, but he still asked a key question: "What is the use of this method?"

"It has many uses!" Lu Haowen introduced excitedly: "Your Excellency may not know that as long as we master this method, we can build larger ships that can carry more cargo..."

"At the same time, this method can be used to fly..."

"Feitian?"

"Yes!"

"My grandson heard that the officials of the Imperial Academy of Astronomy have planned to imitate the Kongming Lantern and create a device that can be carried into space..."

When Lu Gongzhu listened, he felt horrified.

When did all these things happen? How come he didn't hear anything about it!?
Oh……

In the past few months, he has been busy with the pawnshop purchases and the audits of the capital officials by various departments.

There is simply no time to take care of other things.

"Su Zirong..." Lu Gongzhu muttered to himself, then he looked at Lu Haowen and asked, "Are these all derived from Shen Cunzhong's study of things to gain knowledge?"

"Ok!"

Lu Gongzhu let out a deep breath, looked towards the direction of the imperial city, and laughed: "What a good move, pretending to build a plank road but secretly marching through Chencang!"

He suddenly remembered that after Su Song took office, the emperor ordered him to take on a lot of tasks -

He was in charge of the Yuanyou Hunyun Bureau, the Hanlin Academy of Astronomy, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Construction.

None of these assignments would be held concurrently by the prime ministers in the past.

Even the ministers in waiting would never take over.

Because, in the eyes of many people, these are chores and are a disgrace to society.

How can a scholar-official mix with craftsmen?
Even if it is to be done, it should be done by middle and low-level officials in the capital, or even selected people.

The ministers in office are all men of elegance and moral integrity. How could they stoop to do things that only small people and clerks do?

But Su Song was different from others. Not only did he accept the appointment with joy, but he also devoted his energy to the affairs of the Ministry of Works, the Hanlin Astronomical Bureau, the Imperial Household Department and the Hunyun Bureau.

Many people laughed at Su Song for this and even made fun of him.

For example, Liu Xun wrote a lot of jokes for Su Song, the content of which was roughly similar to the stories that slandered the people of Song and Chu during the Warring States Period.

Anyway, I will not miss any space where people enjoy this.

But, strangely enough, Su Song had no reaction to this.

Didn't even refute it!

Lu Gongzhu was quite surprised at that time.

After all, although Su Song has a good temper, he shouldn't be like this!

After all, the last person to be made into a joke like this was Wang Gui!
What happened to Wang Gui later?
Now, Lu Gongzhu finally understood.

All of this is probably a sleight of hand. Su Song sacrificed himself and put himself at the center of the storm, thus giving the institutions he supervises time and space.

It is also very simple to prove this.

Send someone to the Ministry of Personnel to check the number of officials recommended and promoted by Su Song over the past year or so and you will find out.

Thinking of this, Lü Gongzhu asked Lü Hao, "Shun Tu, please send a note to the Ministry of Personnel to Wang Zishao for me!"

Although Lu Haowen didn't understand his grandfather's intention, he still bowed and said, "Yes!"

The next day, when Lü Gongzhu arrived at the capital hall to take up his post, Wang Zishao from the Ministry of Personnel, in accordance with Lü Gongzhu's request, went to the capital hall in person and handed over to Lü Gongzhu the names of officials who had been appointed or changed since the first year of Yuanyou, including those from the Ministry of Works, the Imperial Household Department, the Hanlin Academy of Astronomy, and the Yuanyou Hunyun Bureau.

Lu Gongzhu didn't even look at the contents of the list, he already knew it in his mind.

"As expected!"

Because the list sent by Wang Zishao filled up three pages.

Each one is filled with names of people, their native places, and official positions they have been granted.

In just over a year, Su Song promoted and granted official positions to so many people? !
Lü Gongzhu picked up the list, sighed, and then asked Wang Zishao who was in front of him: "Since Lord Su has promoted and appointed so many officials..."

"Where are the original officials of the Ministry of Works, the Imperial Household Department, the Imperial Academy of Astronomy, etc. now?"

Wang Zishao bowed and said, "Reporting to the Left Prime Minister... According to the rules of the imperial court, officials should be reappointed after their term of office expires..."

"In addition, those who are incompetent or unwilling to perform their duties can be dismissed and ordered to re-employ..."

Lu Gongzhu listened and immediately understood everything.

He looked at Wang Zishao, his eyes full of helplessness: "The Ministry of Personnel just allowed so many officials to appear in the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Construction, and the Imperial Academy of Astronomy?"

In the Song Dynasty, the normal way for officials to enter the officialdom was not only the imperial examination but also the appointment as a special examinee.

The so-called "Bi Ju" is a system left over from the Five Dynasties.

It is a privilege granted to important officials such as generals, military governors and others above the rank of prefecture commander.

This gave them the power to appoint and discover those scholars and staff who had not passed the imperial examination.

But usually, the options are very limited.

Usually there is only one, and at most three or five.

There has never been an example of an official like Su Song who directly cited three full pages of articles in more than a year!

If the crows knew about this, they might be charged with "abusing public power", "granting an official position without permission", or even "plotting something unlawful" and "forming a clique for personal gain".

Facing Lu Gongzhu's questioning, Wang Zishao simply bowed slightly, clasped his hands and said, "Replying to Zuo Kui, the officials recommended by Su Gong have been reviewed by me and are all talents that the government urgently needs!"

"What's more, Mr. Su was ordered by the emperor to build the Yuanyou Hunyun Instrument for the government to show the virtue of the two emperors..."

"This is a matter of great filial piety and virtue on the part of the government!"

"It is the most important matter of the court!"

"For such a big matter, we should follow the authority!"

Lu Gongzhu stared at Wang Zishao. How could he not know that this young master was a mean person who only obeyed his superiors.

To Wang Zishao, what is the system? What is the law of the ancestors? What is the rule?
None of them is as good as a casual order from the official.

Therefore, it is useless to criticize him with morality, system and law.

They are the same characters as the five ghosts in the real temple back then.

In those days, Ding Wei and his men dared to believe in the Heavenly Book and build the Yuqing Zhaoying Palace in order to curry favor with the Zhen Temple.

Now, in order to please the emperor, what would Wang Zishao not do?
only……

Wang Zishao played like this without even saying hello to him.

If Lu Gongzhu doesn't give a warning, then what dignity will he have as the prime minister?
After thinking for a while, Lu Gongzhu said to Wang Zishao: "The Ministry of Personnel is the national selection department. It examines and selects talents for the country. It carries the expectations of the world, so it should be cautious and careful!"

This is to remind Wang Zishao that you are a scholar-official!

Gotta have some backbone!

Wang Zishao listened, but just bowed and said, "Yes!"

"I respectfully follow the instructions of the Left Prime Minister!"

Got it!
It's useless to say anything!

I forgot that this guy was expelled from his scholar-official hometown last year!
(End of this chapter)