Ming politicians

The task of attacking Nanzhili is imminent. The time stability is inevitable, but the stability Su Tiancheng considers includes long-term stability and short-term stability. If he wants to maintain short-term stability, then the best way is to maintain the status quo. Next, attack Nanzhili, and after taking Nanzhili, follow the previous model of dynasty change to unify the Central Plains.

But Su Tiancheng doesn't see it that way. It's like a person needs to form a good habit. Su Tiancheng, who travels through time, is very aware of the importance of the system. People and the mode of managing affairs with the system must form a set of good modes.

Su Tiancheng will not be harsh on officials, he also knows that many officials who can enter the government to become officials are not simple in themselves. After years of studying hard and investing a lot of time and energy, they are indeed more sensible than ordinary people. More importantly, , there are a lot of illiterates in this era, but it is not the scene where schools are popularized hundreds of years later, and the quality of the common people is generally not improved. Therefore, it is undeniable that the privileges of the official class still exist, but what kind of privileges are used? If it is expressed in a different way, it needs to be carefully considered. In the final analysis, Su Tiancheng chose to be honest with a high salary.

On the one hand, he has greatly improved the treatment of officials, on the other hand, he has strict requirements on officials, and he is determined not to lightly forgive those officials who spend their whole day doing nothing but fish and meat.

Improving the salaries of officials is easy to say, but it is not so easy to sit up. Although the number of officials at all levels of government is not large, it must not be compared with hundreds of years later. For example, in a county, the total number of officials The number will not exceed a hundred, and there are only three or five high-ranking officials.However, the economic conditions of this era are incomparable to those hundreds of years later. Although Su Tiancheng tried his best to develop commerce and trade, the Central Plains is still a typical agricultural economy, accustomed to self-sufficiency.If it is not possible to vigorously develop commerce and trade, the central government will simply not be able to maintain the salaries of officials.

Shandong is a very successful model, but the situation in Shandong cannot be copied by Fujian and Zhejiang, including many places in Daming. This is because the wharf in Dengzhou, Shandong is the only legal market for overseas trade transactions in Ming Dynasty. This prompted Su Tiancheng to do everything possible.On the one hand, increase the intensity of business development, and on the other hand, after the unification of the Central Plains, the folio began to expand to meet the growing demand.

This is the path Su Tiancheng chose.

Hong Chengchou, Lu Xiangsheng, Qu Qingze and others discussed how to attack Nanzhili. Zhu Shenxuan, Yang Sichang, Lu Shanji and Zhang Pu discussed how to increase the salaries of officials and strictly demand officials. discuss.As for Su Tiancheng, he was already considering another important issue.That's the question of oversight.

Although the system is clear, there is a lack of supervision, and everything becomes a mere formality. Those who belong to the government are still the government, and those who belong to the common people are still the common people, but supervision has always been the most difficult thing.Everyone knows this. In this day and age, if Su Tiancheng and everyone talk about the difference between the rule of man and the rule of law, it is undoubtedly playing the piano against the bull.

Therefore, the person in charge of supervision matters is very important, that is, the imperial envoy of the Metropolitan Procuratorate is the core.

The Metropolitan Procuratorate of the Ming Dynasty.On the surface, it is for the supervisory officials, but in fact, things have changed a long time ago. The left and right imperial envoys and the deputy capital envoys are only in name, and they basically do other things. The real person in charge is the Qiandu imperial envoy. The imperial envoy is only a fourth-rank official, and the power cannot be so great, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate is responsible for supervision, impeachment, and advice, etc. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the main duty of the Metropolitan Procuratorate was to participate in party disputes It went inside, and it was used to strife among officials. In addition, it was to confront the emperor and supervise officials, which had long been forgotten.

The Metropolitan Procuratorate in Su Tiancheng's heart is completely different from the previous ones. The Metropolitan Procuratorate must be established separately, and has six high-ranking departments with the power to directly supervise the six departments. The duty to make suggestions to the imperial court, and more importantly, Su Tiancheng will give the Metropolitan Procuratorate the power to directly investigate and deal with officials. Except for officials of the third rank and above, the emperor and the cabinet need to discuss collectively before making a decision. Officials of the third rank and below , the Metropolitan Procuratorate will deal with it directly in accordance with relevant regulations after ascertaining the facts.

In this way, the power of the Metropolitan Procuratorate is very powerful, which also makes the Imperial Envoy of the Metropolitan Procuratorate very important.

The officials of the Metropolitan Procuratorate must be elite soldiers and strong generals, and they must have a strong style of work. As the old saying goes, you must be strong when you forge iron. Once you get involved in corruption, don’t think about investigating and punishing others. With the development of the business economy, there will be more and more temptations, and corruption will definitely appear. The Metropolitan Procuratorate maintains a high-pressure situation, and large-scale investigations can always curb corruption. of the situation.

Su Tiancheng's favorite candidates for the left and right imperial envoys of the Metropolitan Procuratorate are Fan Jingwen and Xu Eryi.

The governor's yamen wing.

Fan Jingwen and Xu Eryi were both in the wing room, and their attitudes were quite respectful. This was also because they knew very well that Su Tiancheng, who was opposite him, would become the emperor in a short time, so they had to be respectful.

In fact, everyone's attitude has changed, including Zhu Shenxuan, Su Tiancheng knows this very well.

"Master Fan, Lord Xu, I would like to ask you two to condescend to preside over the affairs of the Metropolitan Procuratorate."

Both Fan Jingwen and Xu Eryi were taken aback for a moment, obviously they didn't expect that, to be honest, the status of the Metropolitan Procuratorate was not as high as that of the six departments, let alone entered the cabinet. It is possible to enter the cabinet, but it is completely impossible for the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Fan Jingwen was originally a scholar of the imperial court cabinet. He came to Su Tiancheng and arranged for the Metropolitan Procuratorate. It seems that he has lowered his status. As for Xu Eryi , must also want to be able to shoulder heavy responsibilities.

The two didn't answer for a while, Su Tiancheng spoke with a smile.

"The soon-to-be-established Metropolitan Procuratorate is completely different from the imperial court's Metropolitan Procuratorate. Its main responsibilities are to supervise, impeach and punish officials. It is no longer responsible for making suggestions to the imperial court. The left and right imperial envoys of the Metropolitan Procuratorate all enter the cabinet. .”

The expressions of Fan Jingwen and Xu Eryi changed again, and they faintly heard something.

"The status of the Metropolitan Procuratorate is higher than that of the six ministries. It is between the cabinet and the six ministries. I have already asked King Jin, Lord Yang and others to discuss this point and come up with new regulations. As for the duties of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, it is even more important. The most important thing is to focus on investigating and punishing officials. That is to say, the Metropolitan Procuratorate has the independent power to directly investigate and deal with officials' dereliction of duty and corruption. An official."

"Master Fan and Master Xu know that I am very important to the integrity of officials and whether they are doing things for the common people. No matter who you are, if you want to be an official, you must first have a correct understanding. You must do things for the common people. The imperial court guarantees your salary, you can live a good life without worrying about food and clothing, and your status and status are guaranteed. Stop thinking about being an official."

"How to ensure the integrity of officials and ensure that they do things for the common people, just relying on words is not enough, without the constraints of the system, there is no strong yamen to investigate and deal with, it will definitely be useless, the corruption and dereliction of duty of officials , It has existed for thousands of years, and the trend is intensifying. Why can't it be banned? In my opinion, it is because of the lack of system, the lack of supervision, and the lack of punishment. The Metropolitan Procuratorate must take responsibility. "

"I have given the Metropolitan Procuratorate clear responsibilities. It can directly investigate and deal with officials from the six ministries and other localities, even officials from the six ministries and governors, and even cabinet scholars. Once anyone violates the system, we must resolutely investigate and deal with it, no matter what he is Status, so the status of the Metropolitan Procuratorate is higher than that of the Sixth Department."

"In addition, the Metropolitan Procuratorate is directly responsible to me and is not under the jurisdiction of the cabinet. Any issues involving officials above the third rank will be directly reported to me. In the end, the cabinet will discuss how to deal with them. It is the final opinion, the Metropolitan Procuratorate is not controlled by any yamen, and can directly investigate and deal with any problems."

"Let me say this, Mr. Fan and Mr. Xu should understand the responsibility of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. This involves a problem. If the officials of the Metropolitan Procuratorate are also corrupt and dereliction of duty, it will be a big problem. For example, When we drink water, if someone poisons the flowing river, there will not be many people who will suffer, and the poison can be removed through running water, but if the source is poisoned, then there will be a huge problem, so the Metropolitan Procuratorate Officials, if there is a problem of corruption, it will be dealt with more strictly, and breaking the law should never be lightly forgiven."

"Investigating and dealing with officials' dereliction of duty and corruption will definitely cause a lot of shock, and may even establish a part of the opposition force, affecting the stability of some places, but such things must be done, otherwise we will not be able to let Our dynasty is thriving, and this is the throes we have to go through."

"Lord Fan and Lord Xu have always been known for their incorruptibility and honesty, so I considered asking the two adults to preside over the affairs of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. The two adults should also understand that after entering the Metropolitan Procuratorate, it is impossible to discuss with other officials. The relationship is so harmonious, people are afraid of you, I hope the two adults will seriously consider it, if you are willing to enter the Metropolitan Procuratorate, then I will make it clear, as for the officials needed by the Metropolitan Procuratorate, the two adults can choose whatever they want, and I will definitely be satisfied of."

After Su Tiancheng finished speaking, within a minute, Fan Jingwen and Xu Eryi both stood up and saluted Su Tiancheng Jishou.

Fan Jingwen spoke.

"Your Highness King De, I will accept my duties and will never fail His Highness's expectations."

Xu Eryi didn't speak, Fan Jingwen's words represented his meaning.

Su Tiancheng nodded.

"Well, Master Fan and Master Xu have to worry about the specific responsibilities and requirements. For example, the handling of official corruption, corruption of 100 taels of silver, and corruption of 1000 taels of silver are definitely different. I ask the two adults to worry about the matter." (To be continued...)