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Chapter 695 Establishing Prestige ()

A huge pressure was coming towards me.

Only when you are in it can you experience the power that is like a mountain pressing down on your head.

Minister Zhang was now in a dilemma. If he gave in, he would lose his prestige as the Minister of Personnel and be manipulated by the emperor at will.

If we don't give in and remain in this stalemate, how will this situation end?

At the critical moment, it was Minister Dai who was soft-hearted and stood up to smooth things over for Minister Zhang: "Minister Zhang really made a mistake today. The emperor can use whoever he wants among all the court officials. How can a minister have the right to question it?"

"Besides, Censor Qian announced his resignation on his own initiative, and the Emperor only granted his permission. It wasn't the Emperor who wanted to dismiss him! Why is Minister Zhang still competing with the Emperor?"

"Hurry up and get the job!"

Jiang Shaohua was very polite to the 70-year-old Minister Dai, who had served four dynasties. He smiled and said, "Since Minister Dai has come forward to intercede, I will give him a favor today and will not pursue the matter any further. Minister Zhang, please accept the task!"

If he doesn't step down now, he will be completely exposed today.

Minister Zhang exhaled a breath of foul air, bowed his hands and accepted the order: "I obey your order!"

After the grand court meeting, Zhang Shangshu left the Jinluan Palace with a normal look. Dai Shangshu was old and his legs were not very agile, so he walked slowly behind Zhang Shangshu.

When they reached the palace gate, Minister Dai naturally got on Minister Zhang's carriage.

The six ministries were very close to the imperial palace, and no matter how slowly the carriage went, it would only take an incense stick of time to get there.

Minister Dai glanced at Minister Zhang, whose face was as gloomy as water, and suddenly asked: "Minister Zhang, what year is it now?"

Minister Zhang frowned and said in a displeased tone: "Originally it was the third year of Taihe when the new emperor ascended the throne, but now it is the first year of Zhaoping. The emperor has changed and the reign title has been changed. Everyone knows about this, so why bother to bring it up on me?"

Minister Dai frowned and looked at Minister Zhang deeply: "You have a clear mind and understand everything. I am sorry for saying too much."

Minister Zhang was choked, but he couldn't turn his face or get angry at Minister Dai.

In terms of official positions, the two were equal. In terms of seniority, Dai Shangshu entered the court earlier than Prime Minister Wang, and had been in the officialdom for more than 40 years, making him a veteran of four dynasties. In terms of personal relationship, the two were both members of the Prime Minister's party, and their daily contacts were considered close. Even though their political views were not quite the same now, they were closer than others.

Zhang Shangshu was awkward for a while, and whispered: "Thank you for helping me out in court today."

Dai Shangshu sighed: "It won't be solved for many times! At my age, I can't keep occupying the position forever. While the emperor is still willing to give respect to an old minister, I will take the initiative to retire in a year or two."

Another double entendre with hidden meaning.

The emperor is willing to treat the old ministers with respect now because he has just ascended the throne and wants to stabilize the court. In a few years, when the emperor has firmly established his throne, if the old ministers are not tactful and take advantage of their seniority, they will not have a good ending.

It's not that Zhang Shangshu didn't understand, but he couldn't bend down or lower his head, and he was even more unwilling to let go, and he would compete with the emperor from time to time. The censor Qian dared to jump around at the grand court meeting. Who was behind it? Others didn't know, but how could Dai Shangshu not see it?

However, Minister Zhang simply didn’t listen to Minister Dai’s advice.

Minister Zhang looked around and said: "Minister Dai is still strong and healthy. He can hold on for another three to five years as the Minister of Justice."

Minister Dai sighed inwardly and changed the subject. …

Censor Qian "resigned" on the same day and became the third official to be dismissed after the new emperor ascended the throne.

When Censor Qian left, there was an extra vacancy in the Censorate. There were many people waiting for the vacancy in the Ministry of Personnel. According to the previous practice, those who wanted to fill the vacancy of the seventh-rank censor had to "go around" in the Ministry of Personnel.

This is why the Ministry of Revenue has more money but less than the Ministry of Personnel.

Officials at the Ministry of Revenue embezzled and extorted bribes at every level, and it was easy to catch them if the accounts were checked carefully. The means of secretly giving gifts and bribes to officials in the Ministry of Personnel were so complicated that it was difficult to thoroughly investigate them.

For example, a farm or shop is transferred at a price far below the market price. Or a painting or calligraphy of an official from the Ministry of Personnel is purchased at a high price. Such things are carried out in secret, how can we investigate?
Even if they are found out, what crime should they be charged with?
The Ministry of Personnel is too complicated. Zhang Shangshu, who has been the Minister of Personnel for more than ten years, is in charge of the assessment and promotion of middle and low-level officials. The Zhang family is always bustling, and is no less prosperous than the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Zhang Shangshu held the Ministry of Personnel tightly in his hand, refusing to let go. Even if this day would come sooner or later, he was determined to delay it. Among the six ministries, it must be ranked last.

However, a group of officials who wanted to fill the vacancies were trembling with fear and did not dare to "take action".

Zhang Shangshu is a big-headed official, and they don't have the courage to play tricks under the emperor's nose. Doctor Wan was beheaded and his property was confiscated just because of a few thousand taels of silver. Weigh your own weight and be honest!

Of course, there are timid ones and bold ones. There was a man who had been in mourning for three years and wanted to get the position of censor. He privately bought a vase from the previous dynasty from the relatives of Zhang Shangshu for a high price of 50,000 taels of silver.

The vacancy of the censor finally fell to the bold and wealthy censor Cao.

……

"Fifty thousand taels?"

Inside the Showa Hall, Jiang Shaohua looked down at the note in his hand and sneered, "Minister Zhang has such a big appetite. Aren't you afraid of getting full?"

At this time, there were only Song Yuan and Chen Changshi in the hall, as well as Ma Yaozong and Chen Jinyu. These four people were all Jiang Shaohua's loyal confidants.

Ma Yaozong was in charge of the Ministry of Personnel. He had been to Huaiyang County before and reported to the Ministry of Personnel after returning. These days, he did not do any specific work in the Ministry of Personnel. He just stretched his ears and opened his eyes wide. He always saw what he should see and heard what he should hear.

In fact, spending money to get a job has been a practice in the Ministry of Personnel for many years. When Emperor Taihe was still alive, no one would talk about such things.

If an official does not seek money or benefits, what is the point of being an official? If he can get money and do his job at the same time, he is a first-class capable official. How can he be allowed to work without any benefits?

Ever since Jiang Shaohua sat on the throne, the rules of the officialdom had to be changed.

The beheading of Doctor Wan fully demonstrated the Empress's tough stance to clean up the officialdom. Jiang Yuanwailang was transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which shows that the Empress Dowager's face in front of the Empress was also discounted.

"When does the emperor plan to take action against the Ministry of Personnel?" Chen Changshi asked in a deep voice.

Jiang Shaohua's eyes flashed with coldness: "Let's allow Minister Zhang to run rampant for a while. I will first rectify the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War."

The Ministry of Personnel has been rotten for so many years. It is not easy to completely reverse the administration of officials.

First take control of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War. With money and soldiers in hand, what problems in the world can't be solved?