Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 228 Filling the vacancies and adding people
Wang Tiquan's mind went blank with a buzzing sound. No matter how he answered this question, it would be wrong!
But just as Wang Tiqian's scalp began to sweat from the sudden heat, the emperor's voice, as if from afar, came again. "I've heard that the Imperial Kitchen Supervisor usually overstates their budget when submitting it to the Imperial Household Supervisor. Is that true?"

Heard? Who told you that?
Although both are overreporting, the nature of the two things is completely different.

You have to understand that the inflated budget wasn't just for the Shangshenjian himself; it also involved kickbacks to the Silijian. When submitting the budget the second time, the Shangshenjian removed the part about "deceiving the Silijian, a new official, and not knowing the inside story." But the inflated budget, under the unspoken rules, remained intact. Furthermore, to atone for the mistake, when giving the kickback, the Shangshenjian not only made up the five underpaid bills, but also gave three more. To this day, Wang Tiqian still remembers Cao Huachun's satisfied expression when he received the 28,000 taels of silver.

Wang Tiqian quickly glanced at Wang An, only to find that Wang An looked normal, with nothing unusual about him. He couldn't figure out what was going on, so after a long pause, he managed to utter five words: "That's what happened."

Zhu Changluo asked, "How did you do it specifically?"

"Your Majesty," Wang Tigan said, his head spinning as if it were boiling dry. "The Imperial Household Supervisor, who oversees the Imperial Household Department, inflates the amount by 10% each year. If the Imperial Household Department calculates that this year's procurement costs will be 386,412 taels of silver, they'll report it as 425,100 taels. That's an overstatement of 38,688 taels." Wang Tigan paused, not going any further.

"You're going to eat all of this thirty-eight thousand taels?" Zhu Changluo observed Wang Tiqian's expression with interest and said, "Why don't you share some with others?"

Wang Tiqian felt every muscle on his face twitch. How much did the emperor really know? Who had told this story? Wang An and Cui Wensheng had always been at odds. Was this related to a struggle within the Imperial Household Department? There were so many questions, but Wang Tiqian couldn't answer any of them.

"We, your servants..." Wang Tiqian stammered, unable to utter a single word.

No one gave him any hints, and no one urged him on. As soon as Wang Tiqian stopped talking, the hall fell into silence.

Wang Tiqian closed his eyes and said resignedly, "A large portion of the over-reported budget will be used as kickbacks to the Imperial Household Department."

"Wang An, how much did the Imperial Household Department collect this year?" Zhu Changluo asked knowingly.

"In reply to the Lord's words. This year, the Imperial Household Department received a total of 28,000 taels of budget kickbacks from the Imperial Kitchen." Wang An replied, "All of it has been converted into cash and handed over to the Neichengyunku." The Neichengyunku only stores gold and silver in ingots or bars, and will not use silver bills issued by private banks as currency.

Wang Tiquan then realized that the Imperial Household Department had reported everything, and the emperor's question was just a test of his honesty.

"How did you divide the part you kept for yourselves?" Zhu Changluo continued to ask Wang Tiquan.

"Everyone in the Imperial Kitchen, from the seal-bearing eunuch to the kitchen supervisors, gets a cut. Usually, the seal-bearing eunuch gets 20%, the Imperial Household Supervisor gets 15% and a half, and the Chief Eunuch gets 10%. After the three major eunuchs have their share, the remaining portion is divided equally among the management, assistant clerks, chief cooks, and supervisors." Wang Tiqian didn't hesitate and began to spill the beans. Compared to the previous two questions, this was a trivial matter.

Every active palace had its own kitchen, each supervised by a eunuch called the Shangshenjian (Shangshenjian). Typically, the kitchen supervisor was also the chef. However, in the case of the Imperial Kitchen, which provided meals for the emperor, the foreman was no longer the "supervisor" but the "chief eunuch." The chief eunuch did not cook, but was solely responsible for ensuring the emperor's food safety. Of course, as with all safety concerns, this was only the first line of defense. Before the imperial meal reached the emperor's table, it had to pass through the Shangshen Bureau, headed by female officials, and the food-testing eunuchs, who were directly managed by the Silijian (Silijian).

"Are there any eunuchs doing odd jobs?" Zhu Changluo continued to ask.

"Those below the supervisor don't get to share profits but rewards. Rewards, like filial piety, are private matters that depend on each person's wishes. The Shangshenjian doesn't care about these things." Wang Tiquan replied.

Filial piety is from the lower to the upper, while reward is from the upper to the lower. Given the realities of low income and abundant supplies, the eunuch system has long since developed a secondary redistribution system rooted in corruption and waste. This can be described as both corrupt and unavoidable. It's because Taizu treated eunuchs as human beings, yet they were indeed responsible for important tasks and enjoyed greater proximity to the emperors.

Institutional flaws resulting in an imbalance of power, responsibilities, and benefits have led to systemic corruption. Tackling systemic corruption with a knife can only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. To eradicate it, the only way is to redesign the system.

"Well, okay." Zhu Changluo nodded.

"Let me ask you again, if the Shangshenjian gets away with this order, how much money can you get?" Zhu Changluo's tone sounded like he was chatting.

Wang Tiqian reacted briefly, guessing the Emperor was referring to the difference between the two budgets. This brought the topic back around. "The total over-reporting and under-payment is nearly 25,000 taels of silver. This is a special case; it doesn't need to be distributed to lower-level officials; it's simply distributed among those in the know. This means I'm getting about 5,000." Wang Tiqian didn't know what Du Xu was thinking or saying, and it didn't matter. He simply answered the Emperor's questions truthfully.

"I will not inquire about the hidden rules and practices of the Imperial Kitchen." Zhu Changluo had never intended to expand the scope of institutional corruption. "But this particular case, do you think I should inquire about it or not?"

"All affairs of the world are decided by Your Majesty. I will wait for your orders." Wang Tiquan kept his tone extremely respectful.

"Put aside your cleverness. I'm asking you." Zhu Changluo threw the question back to Wang Tiquan.

"Since this idea was proposed by me, Your Majesty, please sentence me to death." Wang Tiqian made up his mind and did not beg for mercy. Instead, he adopted the strategy of putting himself in a desperate situation and then surviving.

"Do you really want to die?" Zhu Changluo sneered.

"I don't want to die, but since Your Majesty wants me to, I have no choice but to die." Wang Tiqian kowtowed fiercely, then stood up again. He had not forgotten the emperor's order to look up.

Zhu Changluo did not immediately give a final judgment. Instead, he was silent for a long time before he smiled and said, "Hahaha. Okay, I like your answer. Let's just assume that this idea was from Du Xun."

Zhu Changluo didn't care about the truth. He made almost random decisions about the fate of high-ranking eunuchs who hadn't served as local mining tax collectors. The unlucky ones went to the East Factory, while the lucky ones went to the Southern Study.

"Your Majesty, I bow in gratitude for your grace." Wang Tiqian felt every muscle relax. His emotions seemed to rebound, and a small sense of anticipation welled up within him. Now that he had passed the test, it was time for him to be promoted to the position of Chief Eunuch. As he had said, there was no eunuch in the Imperial Kitchen with more seniority than him.

"Wang An." Zhu Changluo shifted his gaze and looked at Wang An.

"I'm here," Wang An replied. "Give him that," Zhu Changluo said, waving his hand.

"Yes." Wang An opened the drawer and pulled out a pre-written expense slip stamped with the Imperial Household Department's seal. It was only one page with two lines of text, but like a memorial, it had a hardcover cover.

Wang An walked up to Wang Tiqian, handed him the expense slip, and said in a severance pay tone:

"According to the new salary system, this is the salary you deserve for your years of service in the palace. Although you have been transferred between various government offices, in general, you have been a eunuch for five years, with an annual salary of eight hundred taels. As a junior eunuch for ten years, you get an annual salary of six hundred taels. As a deputy eunuch for six years, you get an annual salary of four hundred taels. As a deputy envoy for eight years, you get an annual salary of two hundred taels. The total amount is fourteen thousand taels of silver, which will be paid in one lump sum. Three days later, hire a car, take the note, and go to the inner transport office to pull the silver." One catty weighs sixteen taels, and fourteen thousand taels is eight hundred and seventy-five catties, so of course a car is needed to pull it.

"I don't understand." Wang Tiquan didn't respond.

"I asked you to collect the money. The total is 14,000 taels. What else don't you understand?" Wang An threw the expense slip on Wang Tiquan's lapel, then turned around and returned to his seat.

"Your Majesty, do you want me to leave the palace?" Tears welled up in Wang Tiquan's cloudy old eyes.

For eunuchs and court ladies who had spent their entire lives in the palace, never having been sent out, the imperial palace was their home, a life they had grown accustomed to. High-ranking eunuchs would often die in the palace, passing their life savings on to their adopted sons. The vast majority of elderly eunuchs, however, would wail like abandoned children on the day they were released, even if they had scrimped and saved enough to support themselves for the rest of their lives.

"Do you still want to stay in the palace and work?" This wasn't the first time Zhu Changluo had seen such a reaction. "This money is definitely enough for your retirement."

He questioned these old eunuchs one by one, naturally to see if they were still useful. But just like collecting money before distributing it, the most important thing was to demonstrate a commitment, to be seen by those who came after him. Whether these old men stayed on to continue their work or took the money and landed safely was irrelevant. As long as the power distribution structure, compensation system, monitoring system, punishment methods, and top-level personnel appointments and dismissals were in place, it didn't matter who was in charge of these administrative departments.

"I wish to remain in the palace and continue to serve the Master." Wang Tiqian kowtowed and said, "I beg the Master for permission."

"You really have a life of toil." Zhu Changluo nodded and said, "Since you don't want to leave, then continue to serve in the Imperial Kitchen. From today on, you are the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Kitchen."

"Your Majesty, I bow to thank you for not abandoning me." Wang Tiquan kowtowed again.

"Let me remind you first, from this moment on, I will no longer allow anyone to embezzle public grain. If you stretch out your hand, your hand will be chopped off; if you stretch out your head, your head will be chopped off. Do you understand?" Zhu Changluo said solemnly.

"I will obey the Holy Instructions." Wang Tiquan said in fear and trepidation.

"Kneel down and pay your respects." Zhu Changluo waved his hand.

"I'll take my leave." Wang Tiquan bowed his head, stood up, faced the king, and left.

------

After Wang Tiqian left, Zhu Changluo summoned several old eunuchs selected by the Imperial Household Department in the same way. Zhu Changluo had spent a whole day on this matter, but when the bell rang for the end of the court, he still had many vacancies to fill.

"Master, which palace's concubine should be invited to sleep with you today?" Wang An was like a wound-up clock, and would come running to ask this question when the time came.

Zhu Changluo didn't answer, but glanced at Wang An's desk and said, "I see you have to work by candlelight every day. Do you want to add a few more people to the Imperial Household Department?"

The emperor seldom asked about the miscellaneous affairs of the Silijian. The so-called entering the Silijian meant entering the Silijian to serve as a close eunuch.

Wang An was startled for a moment, then said happily, "The Imperial Household Department is indeed a little short-staffed. If you add a few more people, this servant and Wei Chao will have a little more free time."

According to previous dynasties' custom, under the eunuch holding the seal of the Imperial Household Department, there were generally three to five eunuchs holding pens. This structure of one eunuch holding the seal and three eunuchs holding pens was not problematic. However, before this, the Western Depot had not yet been reestablished, and the Eastern Depot was merely a shell of the government, with all responsibilities being delegated to the Imperial Uniform Guard. The eunuchs holding pens, who also handled factory affairs, still had to assist with mechanical work.

Now, the two eunuchs had become special eunuchs, merely holding the title of "Bingbi" (writing in the imperial pen), under the supervision of the Sili (official ritual department), and spending most of their time in their own yamen. This was very similar to how civil officials, holding titles such as the Ministry of War and the Censorate, were assigned to other positions such as provincial governor, governor-general, and general manager. Therefore, the only two eunuchs who assisted the emperor in managing his affairs were Wang An and Wei Chao.

"What do you think of Wang Tiquan just now?" Zhu Changluo asked.

"He is an old man. But I don't know him very well." Wang An told the truth.

In the 22nd year of the Wanli reign, Wang An entered the Jingyang Palace as a tutor to the eldest prince. After that, he either passively or actively severed contact with the outside world, retaining only contact with his godfather, Chen Ju, and his fellow apprentices. After Chen Ju's death in the 35th year of the Wanli reign, his interactions with his fellow apprentices also largely decreased.

Wang An thought for a moment and said, "Although this person is a little greedy, he is still loyal enough. We can observe him first." Wang An did not say whether to use him or not, but only stated the objective facts he observed.

"Do you have any candidates to recommend?" Zhu Changluo asked again.

Wang An frowned slightly. He welcomed the Emperor's request to recruit someone to the Imperial Household Department, but he didn't want to recommend one. Whether the recommendation was good or not was secondary; it would be bad if the Emperor thought he was forming a clique. He was young when Feng Bao fell, and his memory was still shallow, but he remembered the fates of Zhang Cheng and Zhang Jing vividly. Furthermore, his godfather had repeatedly warned him to be cautious and not to become overly indulged by the Crown Prince's favor.

In order to avoid arousing the emperor's suspicion, he not only did not get close to Cui Wensheng and Wei Zhongxian, but instead deliberately treated them badly, so that they only maintained a subordinate relationship between them and him.

(End of this chapter)