My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 134 The drawbacks of the performance evaluation system
Last night, Shen Shixing was stopped by Shen Yiguan at the post station before entering the city. Shen Yiguan told him about Su Ze's memorial.

This morning, Shen Shixing knocked on Su Ze's door and asked directly:
"Brother Zilin, you really submitted the memorial?"

Su Ze nodded and said:

"The memorial has already been submitted."

Shen Shixing looked travel-worn. In order to get back to the capital as soon as possible, he brought Shen Yiguan back at dawn. Even Shen Shixing's family had not yet received the news.

After returning to the capital, Shen Shixing sent a message to his family, telling them that he had returned to the capital, and then immediately took Shen Yiguan to Su Ze's house.

"It was sent to the Ministry of Justice yesterday."

"Brother Zilin! You're being too hasty!"

Even a steady and kind-hearted man like Shen Shixing showed an anxious expression, and Shen Yiguan, who was following behind him, turned pale.

There were many people talking in front of the door, so Shen Shixing pulled Su Ze inside before saying:
"Brother Zilin, this matter can actually be delayed."

Shen Shixing suddenly stopped, and Shen Yiguan, who was the most perceptive person in the room, immediately understood his meaning and pulled Xu Wei out of the room.

At this point, only Su Ze and Shen Shixing remained in the room. Su Ze carried a stool and sat down by the charcoal stove, where the roasted potatoes emitted an enticing aroma.

Su Ze picked up a potato and handed it to Shen Shixing, saying:
"Brother Rumo, you haven't eaten breakfast yet, have you? This is a local specialty from the southern region that Governor Tu sent from Dengzhou and Laizhou. Would you like to have one to tide you over?"

Shen Shixing took the potatoes. He wanted to refuse, but the aroma of the freshly roasted potatoes was irresistible. He had set off from the post station before dawn, and now his stomach was rumbling.

Shen Shixing couldn't resist taking a bite, and then quickly finished the potato.

Su Ze picked out another potato and handed it to Shen Shixing, then gave the remaining potatoes to Shen Yiguan outside the door.

After Su Ze's interruption, Shen Shixing calmed down and lowered his voice to say to Su Ze:

"Brother Zilin, are you going to implement the performance evaluation system?"

Su Ze nodded. Yesterday, Shen Yiguan and the others had only read the beginning of the memorial and had not seen the detailed implementation rules that followed.

The performance evaluation system is not a new concept. Every dynasty has had a system for evaluating officials. The Tang Dynasty had performance evaluation, and the Song Dynasty had assessment.

Shen Shixing continued in a low voice:
"In fact, Minister Zhang had long intended to implement the performance evaluation system, but both the teacher and the minister felt that the time was not ripe for it."

So Zhang Juzheng was already preparing the Examination and Assessment Law at this time?

That makes sense. Given Zhang Juzheng's personality, he must have already started thinking about reforms. The performance evaluation system was the most important step in the reforms, and Zhang Juzheng must have revealed his idea of ​​reforming the bureaucracy to his staunch disciple Shen Shixing.

Shen Shixing sighed:
"Brother Zilin's ability to align with the Prime Minister's ideas shows that he has already reached the level of a prime minister. However, even the Prime Minister feels that the time is not ripe. If Brother Zilin insists on doing so, he will only face resistance from the court and the public, and gain more criticism."

Su Ze said:

“Brother Rumo, the reason I am submitting this memorial is to implement the performance evaluation system in the Six Ministries and the Censorate.”

Immediately afterwards, Su Ze handed a copy of the memorial to Shen Shixing.

Shen Shixing took the question booklet and quickly began to read it.

After Shen Shixing finished reading, he nodded and said:
"To return power to His Majesty? If it's just about evaluating the Six Ministries and the Censorate, that seems quite feasible?"

Su Ze looked at Shen Shixing with some surprise. In the history before his transmigration, he was the one who abolished the examination and assessment system. He didn't expect that Shen Shixing would support it now.

However, upon closer examination of Shen Shixing's historical circumstances, he entered the cabinet when Wanli Emperor had just assumed personal rule, Zhang Juzheng had already been overthrown, and he was still burdened with the lingering influence of Zhang Juzheng. Faced with opposition to the performance evaluation system from both the court and the public, abolishing the performance evaluation system was probably not Shen Shixing's original intention.

At least at this point, Shen Shixing also agreed with the performance evaluation system.

Su Ze thought he would have to persuade his friend, but Shen Shixing unexpectedly expressed his support.

Shen Shixing said again:

“Brother Zilin, if it’s only targeting the Six Ministries and the Censorate, then I have no objection.”

Su Zeqi said:

"Brother Rumo, are you against extending the performance evaluation system to other government offices?"

Shen Shixing nodded and said:
“Brother Zilin, if you intend to extend the performance evaluation system to the entire Ming Dynasty, then I am firmly opposed to it.”

Su Ze looked at Shen Shixing, realizing that he had underestimated his friend.

That's right. The person who could become the future Grand Secretary, and the one who held power for the longest time after Zhang Juzheng during the entire Wanli reign, Shen Shixing would never have been able to hold the position of Grand Secretary for so long if he were just an opportunist.

Shen Shixing also had his own political views.

The most outstanding politicians are all founders of their own schools of thought, aiming to create their own unique methods and realize their political ambitions.

Ordinary politicians are like sect leaders, possessing the highest level of internal martial arts within the sect, and are responsible for safeguarding the interests of the entire sect.

Ordinary politicians are like ordinary martial arts masters; they have some skill, but their main purpose is personal gain.

Shen Shixing, in history, also contributed to the political stability of the early Wanli reign. Although he cannot be compared with Zhang Juzheng, he was not an ordinary person.

"Please enlighten me, Brother Rumo."

Shen Shixing organized his thoughts and said:

"Brother Zilin, I have been deeply moved by this trip to Huguang."

"Take Longquanyi, where I rested yesterday, for example."

"Longquanyi is a post station in the southern suburbs of the capital. Because it is close to the capital, officials traveling to and from the capital would rest here."

"When we went to Jingzhou, the Liaodong delegation was so large, and with the addition of their personal guards, so many people stayed at Longquan Post Station. In order to entertain Minister Hong, the post station chief persuaded an official to give up his room so that Minister Hong could be properly served."

"When we returned, it was the end of the year again, and people from all over the country who were heading to the capital occupied the post stations. Many of these people were from the local areas who were sending charcoal and tributes to the capital. Many of them did not hold official positions, but they had official documents from the government and they all asked the post station chief to arrange food and lodging."

"The entire Longquanyi was in chaos. The postmaster and his staff were busy day and night, and they were often scolded by passing officials."

"Brother Zilin, how many officials does this small Longquanyi post station welcome and send off every year?"

Su Ze remained silent.

Shen Shixing continued:

"When I arrived in Huguang, I also spoke with a county magistrate from my hometown."

“In the prosperous Huguang region, a county government office has no more than eighty clerks and subordinate officials, but a county government office is complete in all its functions and also undertakes the six departments established by the six ministries. It is responsible for the county’s agriculture, sericulture, criminal justice, public security, education promotion, summer and autumn taxes, and is busy all year round.”

“But this fellow villager has been owing taxes year after year, and has already failed the examination by the official for two years.”

Shen Shixing paused for a moment and then said:
"This fellow villager begged me to transfer him to another place to be a leisurely school inspector, because he really didn't want to be a local official anymore."

"Brother Zilin, if the performance evaluation system were to be implemented in all post stations and county governments across the land, what would it look like?" Su Ze now understood. Historically, when Shen Shi abolished the performance evaluation system, it wasn't just to politically distance himself from Zhang Juzheng, but because he genuinely felt that the performance evaluation system was ineffective.

Su Ze had encountered something similar in his previous life.

The saying goes, "There are a thousand threads above, but only one needle below."

Su Ze had inspected grassroots units before. Grassroots units had to coordinate with multiple departments. Even if each higher-level department required a monthly report, the grassroots units sometimes had to fill out dozens or even hundreds of monthly reports.

If you add in the supervision and inspection, and various initiatives, some grassroots units are busy with these tasks all year round.

Just as Shen Shixing said, if the performance evaluation system is applied to the grassroots level, it will either produce officials like those in the previous life who are "GDP-only" and treat various performance indicators as the only standard to forcibly complete the tasks assigned by their superiors.

Either grassroots workers end up just to appease their superiors' assessments, using more paperwork to meet those targets, while those who actually do the work are eliminated, and those who are good at flattery rise through the ranks.

Just like many departments conduct performance appraisals and eliminate the bottom performers, those who are actually eliminated are often the ones who get things done.

Perhaps it was Shen Shixing in history who saw the gradually distorted officialdom under the harsh performance evaluation system during the later years of Zhang Juzheng's rule, and thus took the opportunity to abolish the performance evaluation system.

Su Ze sighed and said:
"Governing is difficult!"

Su Ze then pulled Shen Shixing aside and said:
"Brother Rumo, I'll go and invite Brother Jianwu in. Please tell us about your experiences in Jingzhou so we can learn from you!"

This is also a problem with the Ming Dynasty's system of promoting officials from the "pure stream" (a system of officials who were not in power).

Cabinet secretaries often rise through the ranks after sitting in the capital for a short time, lacking grassroots work experience. They also lack understanding of grassroots policies and tend to blame problems on poor performance at the grassroots level.

The reason for this is that the Ming Dynasty's Grand Secretariat was originally just an advisory body to the emperor, and it was not trained to be a prime minister like those in the Tang and Song Dynasties.

During the Tang Dynasty, prime ministers were all "rising from the ranks of local officials, and fierce generals emerged from the ranks of soldiers." Many prime ministers were both generals and ministers, skilled in both literature and martial arts.

In the Song Dynasty, prime ministers would also have to travel around to the grassroots level. Moreover, after serving as prime minister for a long time, they would go out of the capital to serve as prefectural officials, and after serving as local officials for a few years, they would return to the capital to serve as prime minister again.

In the Ming Dynasty, Hanlin scholars considered it shameful to serve as local officials. The old Hanlin scholar who committed suicide by burning charcoal could have been appointed as a county magistrate even if he failed the imperial examination, but he would rather die than go.

Su Ze opened the door and invited Shen Yiguan and Xu Wei in, listening attentively as Shen Shixing recounted his experiences on this trip.

But Shen Shixing felt something was off. Wasn't he supposed to be advising Su Ze against submitting a memorial? How did he end up lecturing him?
Oh well, Su Ze's memorial has already been sent to the Ministry of Justice, and it's not going to be retrieved anyway.

In any case, the candidates for the examination are the Six Ministries and the Censorate, and Su Ze's reputation in these two departments is already about the same as Yan Shifan's, so it doesn't matter if he offends them again.

Su Ze also focused his attention on the grassroots issues that Shen Shixing had mentioned. As Shen Shixing said, the Ming Dynasty was a whole, and if the performance evaluation system was to be promoted, the situation at the grassroots level would have to be taken into account.
-
Zhongshu Ke (Secretariat).

Liu Jun, a secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, arrived at the Secretariat early. Although it was close to the New Year and there was not much work left in the cabinet, Liu Jun still dared not be negligent.

Has the new newspaper arrived?

Liu Jun asked a new servant, who quickly replied:

"It has already been placed on the desks of all the Grand Secretaries."

"The Commissioner of the Court of Judicial Review didn't come to deliver the memorial yesterday, but he should come this morning. Once he arrives, he should deliver it to the Cabinet immediately so that the Grand Secretaries can finish reviewing it as soon as possible and go home early this afternoon."

The young secretary quickly agreed. It was already the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, and the cabinet had already changed to a half-day shift in the morning and a rotating shift in the afternoon.

Liu Jun nodded, left the Secretariat, and headed to the Grand Secretariat.

Pushing open the door to the inner chamber, Liu Jun looked at the charcoal stove in the corner. This was a new device designed by Su Ze, using honeycomb briquettes for heating.

After using it, the cabinet was much warmer than before.

Honeycomb briquettes could be burned all day long, and could also be used to heat tea, which slightly improved the environment of the cabinet.

This small matter was naturally handled personally by Liu Jun, and the Grand Secretaries all noticed it. This is also why Liu Jun, as the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, was able to remain in the Secretariat for so long.

Liu Jun began inspecting the cabinet again, and in about an incense stick's time, the Grand Secretaries would arrive at the cabinet.

The seat for Grand Secretary Zhao is empty.

Zhao Zhenji's younger brother and his family came to the capital to prepare for the wedding of his niece and Su Ze next year.

It is said that Grand Secretary Zhao felt very guilty towards his younger brother, who had given up the imperial examination because of him and refused to serve in the government for the rest of his life, and thus treated his grandniece's marriage as if it were his own granddaughter.

Of course, in Liu Jun's shrewd opinion, it was more accurate to say that Zhao Zhenji valued his grand-niece's husband, Su Ze, rather than his grand-niece's daughter.

What Liu Jun heard was that Zhao Zhenji was not preparing for a wedding at all, but was gathering like-minded people at home to write an article to refute Grand Secretary Gao's "practical learning"!
Collect the newspapers from Zhao Zhenji's table and have someone deliver them to Zhao Zhenji's home later.

The newspaper belongs to Grand Secretary Zhao. Even if Zhao Zhenji were at home, he would certainly have newspapers to read. This is also the responsibility of the Secretariat.

Liu Jun then looked at Gao Gong's position.

Gao Gong's position is the most chaotic. These days, Gao Gong has stopped coming to the cabinet in the afternoons and is busy perfecting the theory of "practical learning".

Liu Jun then looked at Zhang Juzheng. His seat was neat and tidy, and everything was properly categorized and placed.

Zhang Juzheng arranged all of this himself; this Grand Secretary never allowed the Secretariat scribes to touch his desk.

Thinking about it carefully, this cabinet is really bizarre.

Gao Gong and Zhao Zhenji have created two separate Confucian factions, constantly arguing and bickering in the newspapers.

But that's not surprising; what's surprising is Zhang Juzheng.

In Liu Jun's view, this Grand Secretary Zhang could not be considered a Confucian at all; he should be a follower of Shen Buhai and Han Fei.

Of course, Zhang Juzheng was very discerning; only someone close to him, like Liu Jun, who was in charge of the secrets of the Secretariat, could discern Zhang Juzheng's political views.

But then again, it's not surprising that they believed in Shen Buhai and Han Fei; for thousands of years, they've all been Confucian in appearance but Legalist in essence.
Zhang Ge Lao was not the first to use the name of Confucianism to implement Legalist practices.

Liu Jun approached Li Chunfang's seat and thoughtfully moved the copy of "Journey to the West" to the top.

This Chief Minister Li is the most eccentric one.

This person believes in Master Huang.

If Liu Jun hadn't truly understood Li Chunfang, he probably wouldn't have believed that the Huang-Lao philosophy, which had become extinct in the early Western Han Dynasty, still had followers.

Just then, Li Chunfang stepped into the cabinet, and Liu Jun hurriedly went to greet her.

On the day the newspaper was published, Grand Secretary Li would arrive at the cabinet earlier than everyone else.

Li Chunfang greeted Liu Jun and had just sat down in her seat, preparing to look through this issue of the newspaper.

Li Yiyuan, the Commissioner of the Court of Judicial Review, personally brought Su Ze's memorial to the cabinet.

(End of this chapter)