Southern Ming: A boy soldier at the beginning, supporting the world

Chapter 45 Official Seal
At night, the left deputy commander of the Du Biao Army camped in Xinxu, and the soldiers stayed in the homes of ordinary people.

Jiao Lian was strict in military discipline, but Dan Chu went beyond him and formulated more detailed and strict military regulations.

For example, when soldiers and officers stayed in civilian houses, they were required to live in one courtyard with each squad, and they were not allowed to live separately. If a soldier broke the law, the squad leader would be held responsible, and the entire squad would be held responsible. Soldiers and officers were strictly prohibited from staying in the master bedroom, and were strictly prohibited from molesting women. When eating at the same table with civilians, they were not allowed to sit in the main seat. When eating, they were strictly prohibited from asking civilians for military rations.

It was Zuo Xie’s first independent action, and Danchu was worried, so he walked around the town instead of riding a car.

What is surprising is that the prefect Wei Shizhong had good command and the people of Xinwei were very cooperative and obeyed the prefect's arrangements, and the order in the town was in good order.

Although this prefect in his forties was in charge of a remote county, he was well governed and the people respected him. Wei Shizhong followed Danchu with neither servility nor arrogance, and the people greeted him with smiles.

interesting.

Danchu was very curious and asked him, "Looking at your appearance, it seems that you are not from a legitimate family?"

Wei Shizhong showed no shame and said, "I was born as an official. I have been evaluated with excellent results in successive examinations. I have served as the ambassador of the warehouse, the ambassador of the tax bureau, the inspector, the chief clerk, the county magistrate, and finally the magistrate of Yong'an Prefecture."

Danchu smiled and said, "It's not easy for you, brother. You started as a lowly clerk and got promoted to an official. From a lowly rank warehouse ambassador, you got promoted to a seventh-rank prefect. It must be difficult to imagine."

"You are making fun of me, Marshal. I am just doing my duty and caring for the people."

Officials and clerks were not clearly distinguished in ancient times. After the imperial examination became popular, the officialdom attached great importance to the official career. Officials are officials, clerks are clerks, and the two are clearly distinguished.

In the early Ming Dynasty, Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang severely punished the malpractices of the late Yuan Dynasty, strictly enforced local administration, and attached importance to the selection of officials who were close to the people in prefectures and counties. At that time, there were not many officials who came from the imperial examinations, and clerks were often promoted to the first or second rank officials.

After the middle period, the Ming court attached great importance to the imperial examination in selecting officials. The officialdom valued officials in Beijing and neglected officials outside the capital, which led to a sharp decline in the status of county officials. Newly-appointed Jinshi were ashamed to serve as county magistrates and prefects. Most county and prefectural officials were tribute students or clerks.

Especially in remote and poor counties, officials were often promoted. According to the regulations of the Ministry of Personnel, officials who were born as officials could only be promoted to the seventh rank at most. The county magistrate was the seventh rank. When officials were promoted to county magistrate, they had reached the ceiling of their career and had no hope of promotion. They often engaged in corruption or had no interest in government affairs.

Since the migration to the south, the official positions have been abused, and people are employed regardless of their background. Even if they are from a humble background, if they have the opportunity, they can be promoted to the first or second rank officials. Wei Shizhong was also able to break through the seventh rank limit and was promoted to the fifth rank of Yong'an Prefecture.

Although Wei Shizhong seemed smart and capable, he was content with the status quo. He worked very hard in the prefecture and county and was loved by the people.

Perhaps he has seen through the current situation and has no intention of making progress. He just wants to keep his current position.

Danchu asked again: "Where are you from, brother?"

“I’m from Liping, Guizhou.”

"Oh, so he is General He's fellow townsman." Dan Chu suddenly realized that perhaps, this Wei Shizhong was the person promoted by He Tengjiao.

Ming Dynasty officials implemented a strict avoidance system and were not allowed to serve in their own province. However, in ancient times, transportation was inconvenient, and when encountering matters such as mourning, it was often difficult to get help in a hurry. For this reason, officials served in other places, generally in neighboring provinces.

Wei Shizhong said solemnly: "Although I am from the same hometown as the governor, I have never received any favor from him. The reason why I was transferred to the post of governor of Yong'an was because of my excellent performance in the examination and was promoted according to the rules."

The prefecture officials were close to the people and were also grassroots officials in the Ming Dynasty. Since the reign of Emperor Taizu, the Ming Dynasty has attached great importance to internal affairs and neglected external affairs. Local prefectures and counties had little autonomy and grassroots political power was stagnant. In the later period, local administration and finance deteriorated further, prefectures and counties were out of order, and the situation was difficult to reverse.

Danchu's visit to Yong'an Prefecture this time is an opportunity for him to gain a deeper understanding of the malpractices at the grassroots level and think about how to save the situation.

All officials were transferred from other places and were ashamed to learn their jobs. The real grassroots government affairs were complicated and tedious, and were all handled by local officials.

This Wei Shizhong had served as a seal-holding official in a prefecture or county, and was also a clerk by background, so it seemed that he could serve as an assistant.

Danchu nodded and asked, "So, you are familiar with the affairs of the prefecture and county?" Wei Shizhong was very proud and said, "I was first appointed as a clerk in the household department of Liping County, Guizhou, and I succeeded him. Because I am good at my job, work diligently, and have excellent performance in the examination, I was promoted to the clerk of the household department of Liping.

"He was promoted from a clerk in the Household Department to a clerk in the Household Department, and then to an official in the Warehouse Department. He was promoted to an official in the first place, but not in the official ranks. He was promoted to an official in the Taxation Department, a ninth-rank official, and then to a chief clerk, a ninth-rank official, and then to a county magistrate, an eighth-rank official, until he was the governor of Yong'an Prefecture, a seventh-rank official.

"I have made steady progress along the way. In terms of family background, I am not as noble as those who have passed the imperial examinations. But in terms of my familiarity with affairs and my management of money and grain, I can say with confidence that few state and county officials can surpass me."

Danchu had an idea in mind, but he just smiled and said, "Very good. I need your help to manage the money and grain. According to the letter, you will still be the governor of Yong'an Prefecture, and there will be no change."

Wei Shizhong was finally relieved and thanked Danchu profusely.

When they returned to the inspection office, the food and wine were ready. Four people sat at a table. Danchu sat at the main table, and he sat at another table with his staff member He Yun, the commander of the central army Feng Lin, and the prefect Wei Shizhong. The captains of each team, the prefectural magistrate, and others sat at two other tables.

Officials such as Wei Shizhong had already changed into casual clothes. Casual clothes were more comfortable and convenient to wear, and like court clothes, sacrificial clothes, and official clothes, they were all official uniforms.

Dan was disgusted when he first saw this. Changing clothes and feasting are the etiquette of officials. However, a small prefect, traveling 20 miles, and bringing a cook, official uniforms, and sedan chairs, isn't this a bit too much?

After three rounds of drinking, Danchu said to Wei Shizhong, "I heard that you were the prefect in the first year of Hongguang, and you were able to keep your position when the reigns of Longwu and Yongli were changed. When the Qing invaders came, you shaved your head and surrendered. When I came, you surrendered. You are the prefect of Yong'an, and you are holding on to it."

From the first year of Hongguang to the present, there have actually been only three years, with a new reign title each year, which shows how frequent the changes of power in the Southern Ming Dynasty were.

Wei Shizhong was slightly embarrassed, but not ashamed, and said:

"Dynasties change, emperors rotate, and the world changes its era name. The ancients said, 'When a country prospers, the people suffer. When a country perishes, the people suffer.' As a local official, I am powerless to influence the rise and fall of a country. I only wish to maintain peace in the area. I am not seeking personal wealth. As long as the people live and work in peace and contentment, that is enough."

Since the end of the Ming Dynasty, integrity has become a rare thing. There are many civil officials and military generals who surrendered to the Dashun first and then to the Qing Dynasty. Wei Shizhong also had no integrity. No matter who came, he would surrender voluntarily, grovel and bend to preserve his position. He was indeed a real villain.

"Brother, you are wrong." Danchu refuted: "Every man has his share of responsibility for the fate of his country. In the past, Yan Liheng (Yan Yingyuan) was the prefect of Jiangyin. He was also a lowly official. He led the army and people of Jiangyin to fight against the invaders for 81 days. He was the most righteous and brave man in the world and his name will go down in history."

Wei Shizhong was too ashamed to speak, and Feng Lin was taciturn and did not say anything either.

He Yun clapped his hands and praised: "Since ancient times, when emperors ruled the world, the Chinese lived in the interior to control the barbarians, and the barbarians lived outside to serve the Chinese. I have never heard of the barbarians living in the Central Plains to control the world.

"The Tartars are barbarians who have secretly occupied the Central Plains, wearing barbarian clothes that disrupt the Chinese culture and corrupting the culture of the previous generations. If the Ming Dynasty falls, it means the fall of the country, the fall of the race, and the fall of the world. People like us who are educated and sensible have enjoyed the grace of the country for generations. How can we sit back and watch the fall of the country, the race, and the world?"

"Well said," Danchu praised, "God will repay good. The Ming Dynasty has the potential to be revived. People are eager for peace and order. The Tartars will surely be destroyed. If our civil officials and military officers can work together, how can we not drive out the Tartars and restore the Ming Dynasty?"

Wei Shizhong was deeply touched and remained silent.

After drinking a lot of wine, Danchu patted Wei Shizhong on the shoulder and said, "Brother, I have always had a hobby. I wonder if you can help me?"

I am not afraid of leaders who stick to principles, but I am afraid of leaders who have no hobbies. Wei Shizhong was greatly relieved, his eyes narrowed into a small smile, and he said: "The commander-in-chief is frank, and Wei will do his best to satisfy you."

Danchu also smiled and said, "I love collecting official seals the most in my life. I'm staying in Yong'an Prefecture these few days. How about you lend me your official seal for me to admire?"

Danchu promised Wei Shizhong to continue to serve as the prefect, but if the prefect lost his official seal, could he still be called the prefect?
Wei Shizhong worked hard for most of his life and finally became the official seal holder, but someone took it away from him. He was angry but dared not say anything. After hesitating for a while, he finally took out the official seal he carried with him and said, "General, look, it's right here."

Danchu took the official seal and said, "Well, you are quite sensible. When I lead the army to garrison Yong'an Prefecture, I will be in charge of all military and political orders. You must lead the officials to perform their duties faithfully, and you will definitely get benefits in the future."

Wei Shizhong hung his head and said weakly, "Yes."

(End of this chapter)