I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 481 Life is like a play
Gao Gong was silent for the time being, but Zhang Juzheng was not ready to give up and continued speaking.

"In the 26th year of Hongwu, the fish scale book recorded 850,870,000 mu of farmland, and the annual grain tax was 32,790,000 dan. In the 21st year of Jiajing, the fish scale book recorded 428,930,000 mu of farmland, and the annual grain tax was 22,850,000 dan."

Zhang Juzheng spoke without hesitation about the treasury data of the Ministry of Revenue and finally asked a question in return.

"Lord Gao, are you getting more and more well-off?"

Gao Gong's face turned dark and gloomy. "Old Zhang, are you interested in my position as the Minister of Revenue?"

Zhang Juzheng looked at Gao Gong's face and stomped on him hard: "I am not talented. I have traveled all over the country and found that the blood and bones of the people of the Ming Dynasty have been exhausted, and the state's expenditure is too extensive."

Gao Gong stared at Zhang Juzheng and activated his rebuttal skill.

His hair and beard were all standing up, he raised his head and straightened his back, and he retorted in a loud voice.

"Among all the officials in the court, you are not the only one who cares about the country and the people. We also understand that the people are in trouble and the country is poor.

Waste of money and public and private relations are in trouble.

Therefore, the Ministry of Revenue launched a large-scale land survey, population census, and balanced taxation to ensure that farmland would not be left barren, people would not flee, and taxes and grain would not be in arrears.

Carry out fiscal and taxation reforms to ensure national prosperity and people's happiness.

The imperial court has long had a law for monitoring and evaluating officials. Now, as the various ministries and temples follow His Majesty's orders and work hard to implement the new policy reforms, the Ministry of Personnel has come up with a performance evaluation system that has trapped officials in paperwork. Is the Ministry of Personnel helping the reforms or hindering the new policies?"

Zhang Juzheng was unwilling to be outdone and answered loudly: "As Gao Ge Lao said, our dynasty has a system of examination for all officials.

Taizu decreed that the Ministry of Personnel's Examination and Merit Office was in charge of the selection, appointment, honors, and examinations of officials throughout the country. When the Chief Censor came to the court, he would examine them and, together with the Ministry of Personnel, decide on their merits and demotions.

The two complement each other, cooperate with each other, and supervise each other.

There are two types of examinations for officials: full examination and inspection.

The examination for internal and external officials is held every three years, called the initial examination; every six years is called the re-examination; and every nine years is called the general examination. The examination results are divided into three levels: competent, average, and incompetent, and are used to determine promotion or demotion.

The inspection will be conducted for all officials inside and outside the country. Officials in the capital will be inspected once every six years, while officials outside the capital will be inspected once every three years.

The investigation divided incompetent officials into eight categories: greed, cruelty, old age, illness, impetuousness, incompetence, laxity and carelessness, which were called "eight items". They were punished according to four categories: retirement, demotion, idleness and serving the people, which were called "four categories".

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has repeatedly told the Emperor Xuanmiao that "the root of governance lies in the appointment of officials. The appointment of officials requires accountability. The method of examination, evaluation, promotion and demotion is the so-called accountability. The affairs of the country cannot be managed by the emperor alone. He must rely on the talents of others. However, their talents may be different, and their diligence may also be different. If we do not examine them to verify their merits and demerits, and promote and demote them to show encouragement and punishment, we will not be able to achieve governance."

Zhu Yijun stared at Zhang Juzheng, who was full of vigor and vitality, and after a while he shifted his gaze to other cabinet ministers.

Gao Gong looked furious, feeling as if he had been greatly provoked.

He tried hard to suppress his anger so as not to commit the crime of being disrespectful in front of the king.

Doesn't he know that the reform of civil service administration should come first?

know!

He was clear-headed.

However, he was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue instead of the Ministry of Personnel, so he had to take care of the performance of the Ministry of Revenue first. The Ministry of Personnel was in charge of the administration of personnel, so he had no part in the performance of the administration.

Besides, the easiest way to deal with civil service is to offend all the officials, so there is no need for him to do something that is thankless.

Yang Jinshui saw at a glance that Gao Gong was not as good as Zhang Juzheng. Apart from his courage, Gao Gong's New Deal reforms were more about making great achievements and leaving his name in history.

Zhang Juzheng's New Deal reforms were driven not only by the traditional Confucian idea of ​​achieving merit and fame, but also by his urgent feeling that if no further reforms were carried out, the people of the Ming Dynasty would suffer and the country would perish.

It must be changed, at all costs!

Chen Yiqin stared at Zhang Juzheng blankly, his mouth slightly open and his eyes full of surprise.

Zhao Zhenji remained calm, but there was an imperceptible sense of relief on the corners of his mouth.

Li Chunfang had a complicated expression and his eyes flickered.

Zhang Juzheng continued his impassioned speech.

"But although the examination regulations are good, over the past century, officials have been passive and idle. The central government and local governments only pass down the imperial edicts issued by the cabinet, and they don't care whether they are implemented or effective.

The imperial edicts became a piece of empty paper, the examinations were not strict, the names were not verified, and they were of no use at all.

In order to correct the official style, Zhang pondered over the advantages and disadvantages of the administration of officials in all dynasties and came up with this performance evaluation method. "

Zhang Juzheng turned to Zhu Yijun and said sincerely.

"Your Highness, I have heard that Yao ordered Shun to ask about the facts and examine the words, and only then can the words be implemented. Gao Yao's discussion on governance said, "Let the people start things and review them repeatedly before they succeed. Therefore, we should examine and implement them together."

The law of examination clearly classified the affairs of the six ministries and temples in the court, including important matters such as "memorials" and "imperial edicts", as well as routine matters that did not require examination.

Secondly, various government affairs were divided according to their distance and urgency, and the deadline for their completion was stipulated.

In accordance with Your Highness's principle of taking facts as the criterion, I have implemented the new examination system of "evaluating performance according to the situation" and "evaluating performance at each level", in which "examination" refers to the assessment of officials and "performance" refers to the officials' political achievements.

The purpose of implementing this method in the six ministries and temples is to clean up the bureaucracy, set an example for the upper echelons, and further promote the new policy reforms.

Zhu Yijun nodded and started speaking, not giving Gao Gong a chance to refute.

These civil servants are the best at arguing and quoting from classics, from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to the early years of the Ming Dynasty. Their main feature is to make unreasonable arguments, no matter what the reason is, they are the most reasonable.

You have to make the final decision yourself to avoid disputes.

"I have read Master Zhang's performance evaluation method and I think it is feasible. It is a major plan for the country. If we want to carry out reforms, we must first start with the administration of officials. If the administration of officials is not correct, the government's orders will not be implemented. Even the best new policies will not be effectively implemented and will be misrepresented by the crooked monk.

The "Officials' Performance Evaluation Law" should be implemented. The Cabinet should draft an edict and notify the six ministries, temples, courts, and other government offices, reiterating once again that the "Officials' Performance Evaluation Law" must be strictly enforced.

First, the Taichang Temple presided over the mobilization meeting of officials in Beijing in batches, and all officials in Beijing from the seventh rank and above had to attend. Master Zhang explained the details of the "Official Performance Evaluation Law" to them, and I would also attend to emphasize the seriousness of the "Official Performance Evaluation Law".

If you feel that this method is not a good one and you do not want to follow it, you can just submit your resignation and I will approve it right away!
If the mobilization meeting is over and the "Performance Evaluation Law" is passed down, and you pretend to obey it but actually disobey it, or even secretly make trouble to stop it, then don't blame the national law for being ruthless! Don't shout about punishing people for not teaching them!"

Punish without teaching!

When the five ministers heard Zhu Yijun utter the word "execute", their hearts skipped a beat. Killing people and destroying their hearts is what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is best at.

Facing Zhu Yijun's gaze, the five elders immediately responded, "We obey your orders."

"Okay, next item." Zhu Yijun saw Wanfu and Li Chun standing at the door.

"Li Chun, what's the matter?"

"Your Highness, the Governor-General of Shanxi Datong Military Affairs Office and the Governor-General of Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia Military Affairs Office sent a secret report in an urgent manner of 800 miles. The Supervisory Office dared not take the initiative and sent it to Xiyuanli."

"Well, Wanfu, what do you want?"

"Your Highness, the Queen has something important to tell you and would like to ask you to come to the palace."

Zhu Yijun made a decision immediately.

Military affairs are not urgent at this moment. Even if you are thousands of miles away, you cannot rush them.

The Forbidden City is nearby, and my mother has important matters to discuss with me, so it won’t be too late to go there first and come back to deal with military affairs later.

"Five old gentlemen, I will enter the palace first. Regarding the two issues discussed earlier, namely, the vassal state and the system of examination and performance, I will immediately draft an imperial edict, which will be issued after I have reviewed it.

Li Chun, please put the urgent military report in the secretarial office first, and I will deal with it when I return to the palace."

"As ordered!"

He entered the palace from Xihua Gate, sat in a sedan chair and went to Kunning Palace. After paying his respects to Empress Chen, he lifted up his lapel and sat down on the stool next to Chen.

Chen waved her hand, and only the mother and son were left in the side hall.

"My queen mother calls me into the palace. What's the matter?"

"This morning, your father fainted. Fortunately, he was treated by the imperial physician on duty at the Imperial Medical Office and woke up soon. Doctor Wan Shen also came to see him. He didn't say anything, but just wrote a prescription and told Your Majesty to rest well."

Zhu Yijun's eyebrows jumped, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Don't blame Wanfu. I told him not to disturb you. The emperor meant the same thing. You are busy with state affairs and have no time to be distracted."

Zhu Yijun frowned and said, "Doctor Wan said there would be a year's delay. How long has it been?"

Chen sighed, "Doctor Wan said that one should take a year off to cultivate one's character. But your father's temper has improved a little, and he can't help but act ridiculous."

Zhu Yijun also understood why his father told Wanfu not to "disturb" him, for fear of being told something by him.

"I'm going to see my father."

"Don't worry. I've gone to see your father and made an appointment with him for the three of us to have lunch together. You can go and pay your respects to him then."

Zhu Yijun was so smart that he could tell that Chen had something to discuss with him first.

"Mother, do you have something to tell me?"

"My prince, I am really worried about your father's health. If he doesn't make it to February next year, you will have to observe mourning for three years."

Yes, the country mourns for a hundred days, and the officials and common people observe mourning for twenty-seven months. As the crown prince, the emperor's own son, I must set an example for the world.

At least he must not marry or get married within twenty-seven months after ascending the throne to show filial piety.

"Mother, do you want to bring forward your son's marriage?"

"Yes, I don't want any accidents to happen. Don't worry about it, Prince. I will go and discuss with the Emperor and choose another auspicious day based on the divination that the previous auspicious day was not auspicious.

Go talk to the people at the Imperial Observatory and tell them that the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month this winter is auspicious."

"Has the mother counted her days?"

"I have invited four fortune tellers to calculate the date, and they all say that the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month is a very auspicious day."

Zhu Yijun thought about it and realized that the six rituals were now halfway completed. As for the preparations for the wedding, his mother had started preparing since the first year of Longqing's reign, and the wedding dresses and celebratory items had been prepared long ago.

The Ministry of Rites has also rehearsed the wedding ceremony twice. Because the twelfth month and the first month of the lunar calendar are the busiest times for the Ministry of Rites and there is no time to worry about these things, they rehearse twice in advance.

If we hurry up, we can complete the preparations in a month, which will leave us more than half a month to check for omissions and make up for any deficiencies.

"Then everything will be arranged by the Queen Mother."

"That's good!" Chen held Zhu Yijun's hand, very pleased, "Fortunately, the prince has already decided their status. Your Majesty and I only need a princess in the East Palace, but the prince still has a lot to consider."

"Thank you for your understanding, mother."

"I didn't expect that you would finally choose Xue Baoqin and Song Liuli."

"I also decided it after I met them once. I told them that my request was that they must meet once. So they planned it carefully and gave me a scene of picking lotus in the south of the Yangtze River and riding horses."

"It's hard for them. They took great pains to show you the two girls' best side that will please the prince. Now you are satisfied, right?"

"Thank you, mother, for your good choice."

"You and I are of the same mind. Jun'er, do you know why everyone in the palace likes to watch plays?"

"My son is stupid."

"A play is like life, and life is like a play. As I watch, I can no longer distinguish between the play and reality. It's as if I have changed my way of life and left this high Forbidden City.

Some ladies said that Xue was too lively and unworthy of being the mother of the country. Haha, no matter what a girl's temperament is, no matter how innocent and lively she is, as long as she enters the palace and sits on that seat, the etiquette and status will make her demure and upright. "

At this point, Chen looked at Zhu Yijun and said meaningfully: "Among the seven girls in Chonghua Palace, Xue looks the most honest and straightforward, but in fact she is the smartest and has the strongest will. She is gentle on the outside but strong on the inside.

From now on, she will take charge of the six palaces for you, and Jun'er will have less worries. "

"Thank you, Queen Mother, for taking care of this for me."

(End of this chapter)