Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 53: The Royal Attendant Shi’s title is increased

After listening to Zuodu Yushifang's report on the affairs of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Zhu Youjian gave instructions and then looked at everyone in the Metropolitan Procuratorate. But he waited for a long time, but no one spoke again.

This surprised Zhu Youjian. He felt that the current combat effectiveness of this group of trolls was a bit weak, but he wanted to adjust, and now was the time. So after careful consideration, he decisively said to the ministers:
"I have thought about it in the past few days. The title of the department officials with supervisory responsibilities should not be the same as that of the government officials."

"I have decided to create a few high-level censors and add titles as officials of science and education. Other court and local officials with supervisory responsibilities will also use this title."

As he said, he set up the second-rank censor of the capital, the third-rank censor of the deputy capital, the fourth-rank censor of the deputy capital, and the fourth-rank censor of the capital. Censor. The word "Servant" is added before the imperial censor at each grade as an additional title for the lower grades.

Then, based on the old practice of the Hongwu period, the imperial censors in the palace of the fifth rank were set up, and under them were the observing censors from the fifth rank, the inspection censors from the sixth rank, and the inspection censors from the sixth rank. As the supervisory censors with a higher rank than the seventh rank. The title of history.

These censors with the word "Servant" are simply additional titles and have no actual duties. There will be no changes in the responsibilities of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and there will be no confusion.

At the same time, Zhu Youjian also stipulated that the imperial censors of the first and second ranks, the third and deputy capital censors, and the first and fourth rank censors of the Qian capital should all carry the word "right" as additional titles in the court to distinguish them.

As a result, the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Sixth Section have an independent title promotion system, which is parallel to the title promotion of the Administrative Department. The actual serving Zuo Du Censor and Zuo Deputy Du Censor can also be given the title of Fourth Auxiliary Minister to participate in the major affairs of the court. This made the Kedao officials very satisfied, thinking that the emperor valued them.

But what Zhu Youjian said next made them less satisfied:

"Those who have the title of Royal Attendant of the Fifth Grade Palace and above can participate in the regular court meetings in the Zhongji Hall and observe court etiquette."

"Those who are below the imperial censor in the palace, except for the thirteen censors and the six subjects who are all required to attend the regular court, the others take turns to participate, with two people from each subject."

"This way, the number of people in the court will be smaller, making it easier to discuss matters."

This made the low-level supervisory censors and service center officials dissatisfied, feeling that their status as regular court officials might no longer exist and their powers would be reduced. Zuodu Yushifang said magnificently:
"Your Majesty, officials of the Department of Science and Technology have their own responsibilities. Without them, some affairs may not be handled."

"I believe that officials of the Department of Science and Technology are important and there should be no restriction on the number of officials."

Zhu Youjian frowned and said:

"I also know that officials from the Department of Science and Technology are important, but every time so many people come to attend the Chang Dynasty, they can't stand up to discuss matters!"

"You all said so, right?"

The officials of the Department of Science and Technology were silent. The Zhongji Hall was now so crowded that they had no choice but to stand up. This also left them with such a large number of people, but they had no sense of presence in this court meeting.

The emperor's current regulations certainly weakened them, but left them speechless.

Then, Zhu Youjian improved the idea just now and said:

"If there is a major matter that needs to be voted on, I authorize the thirteen chief censors and the six subjects to discuss it with the two rotating censors, and represent all the personnel of the respective subjects to participate in the vote."

"If the supervisory censor and the minister do not have the title of imperial censor or above, and they are not on duty at court, but they do have something to do, I allow them to register with Honglu Temple and apply to participate in the regular court." "Every supervisory censor. Both Shi He and Gui Shizhong have the power to act independently, and they can submit letters directly and file them directly."

This resolution was acceptable to most Kedao officials, who believed that the emperor was only reducing the number of people in court, not restricting the power of Kedao. If the Chang Dynasty continues to be like this in the future, although they have a large number of people, it will be almost impossible to express their opinions.

Fang Guiwei, the censor of Zuodu, wanted to argue on behalf of the department. Zhu Youjian then said again:

"The title of Shi Yu Shi will be discussed by the Imperial Procuratorate and the Ministry of Civil Affairs together. The records should be made independently and given to other officials with caution."

"Promotion rules must also be drawn up separately. We cannot treat Kedao officials harshly, nor can we be promoted too quickly or too high, making other officials dissatisfied."

As he said that, he also glanced at Yang Suoxiu, who was directly promoted from the seventh-rank official to the third-rank Nanjing general affairs envoy. He felt that the rank and promotion system of Ming officials was too chaotic——

He jumped four levels in one go. He really took the levels too seriously. The purpose of setting up additional titles for Shi Yushi at all levels is to standardize promotions and allow them to complete their qualifications well. If you don’t make merit for yourself, why would you be promoted so quickly?

However, Zhu Youjian felt that Yang Suoxiu was promoted quickly, but Yang Suoxiu himself did not think so. He has the title of third-rank official, right deputy censor, and should have been promoted to the third-rank position. Now he feels that he is inferior to the post of Nanjing general envoy:

"The political envoy in Beijing is Jiuqing, and he can often see the emperor at the standing meetings. Who is the Nanjing General Secretary? Do you want me to take care of myself in old age? 』

"I have long thought that the eunuchs would be defeated. Since you are unkind, don't blame me for being unjust!" 』

Hateful of the eunuch ministers who recommended him to Nanjing, Yang Suoxiu was planning to conspire with the newly appointed ministers Chen Eryi, Beizhi Tixue censor Li Fan and other eunuchs to impeach Cui Chengxiu, Zhou Yingqiu and other eunuch ministers. Minister, put the blame on them and stay in Beijing for your meritorious service. He felt that this matter must be done quickly to avoid going to Nanjing and retiring there in the future.

I didn't know what Yang Suoxiu was thinking, and he didn't expect that chaos had begun within the eunuch party. After appeasing the Kedao officials and buying off the Zuodu censor, Zhu Youjian finally got his decision recognized. The number of Kedao officials is as follows. During the next regular dynasty, it will be reduced to less than a hundred people.

Then, looking at the prince's consort and other noble relatives who were gathering in the court, Zhu Youjian said to them:

"The relatives of honorable nobles can also act independently. If they have grievances, they can submit a letter through the General Affairs Department, or file it at Honglu Temple and discuss it at the court meeting."

"You can also let your wife enter the palace and tell the Queen."

Now they were satisfied. Many people thought that they would not come here anymore and would come to court again if something happened. Standing crowded in the temple like this now is really suffering.

Looking at the temple eunuchs and other officials in the court, and thinking about the various titles of temple minister, Shaoqing, and Zhengqing among the Kedao officials, Zhu Youjian ordered Fang Guiwei and Yang Jingchen:
"The titles of Kedao officials should be changed as soon as possible, and all of them should be changed to the title of Censor. Others with the title of Five Temples should be changed to the title of Shi Censor or the title of Administrative Secretary."

"The ranks of the officials of the five temples also need to be adjusted. We don't want this young minister to be in the fourth rank, that young minister to be in the fifth rank, and another young minister in the fifth rank. It looks really confusing."

"Using Dali Temple as the standard, Zhengqing is of the third rank, Shaoqing is of the fourth rank, and Temple Prime Minister is of the fifth rank. Following the example of the six ministries, we set up the principals of the sixth rank, and add senior officials of the sixth rank and governors of the seventh rank to standardize the official grades."

(End of this chapter)