Goose Three Kingdoms

Chapter 639: Temporary Decentralization
As the Yuanshi was returning, Black Bear leaned against the command tower, looking at the Skull Nest on the south bank.

As large clouds of steam gushed out from the bow and stern of the ship, the speed of the Yuanshi slowed down and the stern rudder began to adjust.

Several ships waiting there transported ropes and cooperated with the garrison at Fenglingdu Wharf to tow the Yuanshi to the wharf.

Only two-thirds of the shogunate officials who set out on the ship to inspect Sanmenxia returned. If some of these people's positions had not been difficult to replace, more of them would have stayed there.

As people of our time, they are more aware of the extraordinary significance of breaking through the pillar.

The mere reputation gained from participating in it cannot be measured by power or money.

At the shogunate headquarters, Kurokuma summoned the heads of various departments and ministries of the shogunate to gather together.

Except for a few military officers who wore crimson robes and large military caps, most of the senior officials in the shogunate wore black official uniforms and black gauze Jinxian caps.

Those with noble titles wore hairpins and gold and jade jewelry, but otherwise they generally dressed simply.

In the pre-Qin and Han dynasties, there was a change between political officials and affairs officials. Political officials were the so-called chief officials. The chief and deputy officials in the various departments of the government were political officials. The county magistrates who were sent out to govern a certain area were also political officials.

The clerks in the various offices of the ministers in prefectures, counties, and generals, colonels, and commanders were all considered administrative officials.

The honest and capable officials among the selected filial and incorruptible officials are selected from the administrative officials. After passing the assessment, they become Langguan, a reserve of political officials.

The "Official Rank Law", which is now well-known but has never been formally promulgated, basically broke down the barriers between political officials and administrative officials.

However, senior officials such as civil servants still need to be appointed by the central government, and local governments do not have the power to promote or appoint them.

The whole country would be in chaos, otherwise the provincial governors and county governors would have no power to appoint or dismiss county magistrates.

The most they could do was to get evidence of a crime, force the other person to resign, and have the central government appoint someone else.

The governor was only a supervisory unit, the real executive unit was the county.

In theory, the heads of various departments and ministries of the shogunate also have the authority to handle government affairs, but the specific implementation is still the responsibility of the counties below.

Due to Kurokuma's extreme diligence, the shogunate officials did not often use their authority.

Only when Black Bear went on expeditions or patrols, some minor matters and normal official documents would be handled by these officials.

If there is any emergency, the heads of various departments and offices will gather together to discuss and vote... This is a primitive and simple democracy.

Everyone had expected this meeting to be held.

Over the past two years, Hongnong has conducted surveys, calculations, and made material preparations.

Camps and warehouses had already been built near Sanmenxia, ​​but the camp was built to accommodate 30,000 people.

Therefore, we can start work directly now, and then continue to recruit personnel and replenish the consumed materials.

After everyone gathered, the secretary sitting next to Black Bear asked Yang Jun to cough twice. After everyone quieted down, he said, "The task of drilling through the pillar has been handed over to General Xingba. This is the top priority of the shogunate in the future."

The Chief Secretary Yi Ji, who was sitting on the other side of Black Bear, also spoke up and said, "Since Your Majesty entered Guanzhong, you have not repaired the palaces and cities. It is not because you do not love them, but because the mountains and rivers are broken and the people are scattered. The people are restless and poor, and the Grand Marshal cannot bear to enjoy it all by himself. Now I will not elaborate on it. I just hope that the various Caos will give priority to replenishing the materials requested by Hongnong and ensure that the materials are delivered. Do not let Your Majesty down."

"Here."

The officials of each Cao kowtowed to Black Bear, and then Black Bear spoke: "I moved you to Tongguan for many reasons. The first is that many people do not know how difficult it is to start a business. When they come here, they will understand that the foundation of Guanzhong is not easy to come by. The second is to inspect Hongnong nearby and fully assist Xingba in digging the Xinmen Canal. The last point is that Ganquan is peaceful and comfortable, and I am worried that you will forget the danger in peace and not care about the hardships of the people."

"I dare not wait."

"You are role models for county officials. I hope you can make some achievements before the next performance evaluation. If you dig through the pillar, it will benefit the country for thousands of years. This is not only my honor, but also yours. It is easy for me to conquer the world, but it is difficult to govern. Governing the country is governing the people, and governing the people starts with the governance of officials. If the officials are clean, the government is harmonious, and the people are united, the harsh policies are eliminated, the people can benefit, and the people can be happy and concentrate on production, then the people will be rich and the country will be strong, and the world will be at peace."

Black Bear's tone was as calm as ever, as if he was stating something very normal: "You have all seen the Skull Nest on the South Bank. I often regret that I have not been able to fill it up. The heads of enemy prisoners can be filled in, as can the heads of traitors and rebels."

"In the coming period of time, I will travel between Hancheng and Pingyang, and the daily affairs will be handed over to you. After the autumn harvest, if the four directions are at peace, I will not conquer the rebellious and chaotic Hu people. When the river freezes, we will move to Wangchuan to spend the winter." This time, only the daily affairs were handed over. During this period of time, Black Bear would still take charge of the official affairs led by the county, and the letters from the centurions and county magistrates would continue as before.

This kind of letter is more like a diary, which is his eyes and ears to understand the grassroots.

Only through these routine exchanges of letters could he maintain his relationship with the grassroots officials.

For example, in this year's performance appraisal, many county magistrates who were punished and stripped of their official positions did not cause any trouble because of the intensive correspondence they had previously exchanged with each other.

Taking away one's official position does not mean beheading, and if one's family members are implicated, they will only be arranged to work in the Shanglinyuan area.

The county magistrates accepted the punishment calmly, and Black Bear felt that he had gone too far with his pen pals, so he transferred these criminals into the Hancheng system and had them continue to serve in management positions to assist him in reforming and improving the efficiency of Hancheng.

Communication between people, especially between superiors and subordinates, even if it is just his routine greetings and words of concern, can make many grassroots officials give up resistance.

Those who were stripped of their official positions during the first performance evaluation did not suffer a very miserable end. After Han Cheng was reformed, he still had hope of having his sentence reduced or being reinstated.

Then when the second performance evaluation takes place, those who have been questioned and stripped of their official positions will be even less likely to resist violently.

Having made a good start in government affairs, Black Bear did not mind delegating power and giving the shogunate's various departments a chance to perform.

Otherwise, even if he did everything, he still wouldn't be able to measure these people's abilities and attitudes.

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

It was also because no one had done what he did before that he had a unique effect of winning over the hearts and minds of the old officials and guilty officials and appeasing them.

Of course, Guanzhong’s battle record is also a crucial factor.

As Black Bear finished speaking, the guards waiting in the corridor outside the door brought drinks and distributed them to everyone.

Black Bear raised his glass and said, "Many of you are newlyweds. This year's Double Ninth Festival banquet is for workers and farmers. We will drink this wine in advance."

Yi Ji turned sideways towards the black bear, holding up the wine bowl with both hands, and in the bowl was a blooming royal chrysanthemum.

Holding back his excitement, Yi Ji said, "This is a move by the king to value and love the people. This is the style of all the wise kings in ancient times. We are so happy that we don't have time to complain."

Kong Rong sat in the second seat after Yi Ji, and he also held up the wine bowl with both hands: "It is a great honor for us to be able to help you, Your Majesty, to share your worries and solve your problems."

Zhang Ding, who sat next to him, also held up a wine bowl and said, "Congratulations to the emperor for chiseling through the pillar as soon as possible!"

Black Bear smiled: "Everyone, drink up!"

"Congratulations!"

More than twenty people raised their wine bowls to their brows, straightened their backs, and drank from them in one gulp.

Kong Rong drank slowly and glanced at the young men in the crowd. There were no wives, concubines or maids serving him here.

Thinking that Zhong Yao and Wei Duan missed the extra wine, he felt very happy and felt that the wine was sweeter than usual.

After the wine was consumed, another group of guards brought other wines and dishes, and Black Bear stood up: "Everyone, enjoy it now, no need to stand up to see me off."

"I respectfully send you off, Your Majesty."

Yi Ji turned around and kowtowed to see him off, Kong Rong followed suit, and the various officials followed suit.

Only Yang Jun and Zhuge Jin stood up and followed Black Bear out of the side door. If he stayed here, these people would not be able to leave.

All the food on the table that he had touched with his chopsticks was basically wasted.

Instead of this, he preferred to return to the ship and have dinner with his accompanying secretary and personal soldiers, where there were fewer restrictions.

(End of this chapter)