My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 140 The prosperous age
Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong both looked bitter.

Ever since the emperor issued an edict appointing the Six Ministries to supervise the Censorate, I had severely offended the Censorate during the last verbal battle and had been thoroughly harassed by the censors of the Six Ministries.

As the Lunar New Year approached, the Six Ministries did not actually uncover anything from the Censorate, but they required each censor to prepare an evaluation book before the end of the year, setting goals for the year ahead.

If they fail to meet the targets in the examination book, they will be assessed as inferior by the Six Ministries. According to the assessment method proposed by Su Ze, censors who are repeatedly assessed as inferior will be impeached by the Six Ministries and transferred out of the Censorate.

Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong were newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) who had just been retained in the Censorate. Naturally, they did not want to leave this prestigious position in the eyes of others.

Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong eventually found Shen Yiguan, who then led them to Su Ze for help.

Wang Renzhong was a rather rough and straightforward man from Northwest China. After entering Su Ze's courtyard, he said:
"Brother Su, you must show us the way, otherwise we will be used as a sacrifice by the Examination and Assessment Law."

Su Ze looked at his classmate, Wang Renzhong, who used a joke to explain his predicament, but dared not complain about the performance evaluation system, for fear of displeasing Su Ze.

As expected, those who can pass the imperial examination are not lacking in intelligence, and after half a year in officialdom, their emotional intelligence is basically up to par.

Shen Zao was more timid, but at this moment she looked at Su Ze with hope.

Su Ze led everyone back inside and sat down. After lighting the charcoal stove, Su Ze asked:
"What did the other people in the Censorate do?"

Wang Renzhong said:
"According to the new law, the Censorate will follow the old Hongwu precedent and be divided into thirteen circuits to supervise the prefectures and counties throughout the country."

"My brother Yiqing (Shen Zao's courtesy name) and I are both supervising censors of Shandong Circuit."

"The senior censors in the province all have connections with Shandong. They all send people to Shandong to gather information and set targets in the examination records to catch a few corrupt officials and bigwigs."

Su Ze understood now.

After the reform, the Censorate returned to its functions from the Hongwu era, focusing its supervision on the areas under its jurisdiction.

The Shandong Circuit Inspector was responsible for keeping an eye on officials within Shandong Province.

For senior censors, these are no big deal. They have connections in the capital and in the provinces, know information about corrupt officials, and then just need to collect evidence to impeach them. They can always meet the quotas on the performance evaluation list.

However, this wouldn't work for Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong, as they were newcomers and lacked resources in the officialdom.

At this moment, Shen Zao cautiously said:

"Brother Su, I heard from Brother Jianwu that you are acquainted with Governor Tu of Dengzhou and Laizhou. Could you please introduce us?"

Su Ze decisively shook his head and said:

"Governor Tu has just taken office and is busy with the opening of the fishing season. How could he have time to help with this?"

Upon hearing that Su Ze refused to help, both of their faces fell.

But Su Ze then said with a smile, "But there just happens to be a big matter that requires the two of you to investigate!"

event?

Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong immediately looked at Su Ze. Could Su Ze have some clues about the Shandong case?

The two men made sure to listen attentively before Su Ze began to speak:
"Post station".

"Post station?"

Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong both doubted that they had heard correctly. The post station chief in charge of managing the post station was not even a clerk, let alone an official. How could they, two dignified censors, impeach the post station chief?

What kind of massive corruption could a post station chief possibly have?
If Wang Renzhong didn't know Su Ze's character, he would have thought Su Ze was playing a trick on him.

Su Ze said:

"The two of you listened to what Su had to say."

"First, let's talk about the post station system of our dynasty. Emperor Taizu set up post stations, with horse stations on land and water stations on water. They were originally used for official business, or for transmitting urgent military information, as well as for censors visiting local areas, or for personnel who were granted special treatment by His Majesty."

“At each post station, the local people had to share the cost of horses at the horse post station, and the people had to pay for boats at the water post station.”

"The households near the post station also had to send people to work at the post station. They were to 'provide their own food and labor, and pay for their own fodder, horses, boats, and other supplies according to the amount of silver they had to pay for them.'"

"In addition to the grooms and boatmen, the local people also had to take turns working as stewards at the post station to prepare meals for the traveling envoys."

Su Ze continued:

"According to the system established by Emperor Taizu, there were actually not many people who could use the post stations, and it would not have placed too much burden on the people near the post stations."

"However, when Su's friend Ru Mo went to Liaodong last time, he found that the post stations were under a heavy burden."

"Even so, the officials at the post stations were still not satisfied."

"Officials demanded banquets, entourages, grain and vegetables, oil, candles, firewood and charcoal, and these things were also added to the burden of the local people."

"But if it were just officials traveling back and forth, that would be one thing. But there are also many people who, under the guise of carrying out official business, wield official permits issued by the government and arbitrarily order around the post stations along the way. Some officials even issue permits to people without official rank. And some people don't return the permits after they've finished their business; instead, they resell them. The burden on the post stations is getting heavier and heavier."

Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong listened attentively, clearly aware that what Su Ze was saying was something they, as new officials, were unaware of.

Su Ze continued:

"Take Longquan Post Station on the outskirts of Beijing for example. It has a hundred guest rooms but they are not enough to use. When the Liaodong delegation arrives, the post station chief has to coordinate accommodations. As a result, officials with important business cannot get a proper rest, while cunning people use the Liaodong mission to exploit the post station."

"Emperor Shizong appreciated the hard work of the post stations and ordered the Ministry of Revenue to allocate funds to subsidize the busy upper post stations. Now, the current emperor, understanding the people's burden, has also included the middle post stations in the subsidy."

"In the second year of the Longqing reign, the Ministry of Revenue allocated 500,000 taels of silver to support the post stations."

"These people are now not only consuming the people's hard-earned money, but also the imperial treasury."

Su Ze then sighed and said:

“When I was in the Hanlin Academy, I read an imperial edict from the Taizu Emperor. During the Hongwu era, Marquis Lu Zhongheng of Ji’an returned to the capital from Shaanxi and used the post station without authorization, which angered the Taizu Emperor.”

"Emperor Taizu personally wrote an edict rebuking Marquis Ji'an: 'After the devastation of war in the Central Plains, the people have just begun to resume their livelihoods. Registering households and buying horses is extremely difficult. If everyone were to follow your example, even if the people sold all their children, they still could not make ends meet.'"

"Emperor Taizu understood the hardships of the common people, and Emperor Shizong and the current emperor also appreciated the hard work of the post stations. But these cunning and treacherous people do not appreciate the emperor and the people, and they wantonly squander resources. Isn't this the time for the Censorate to step forward?!"

Hearing Su Ze say that, Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong became excited!
Yes, although the post station is a small matter, according to Su Ze, it is a major issue involving 500,000 taels of public funds and tens of thousands of people!

Unbeknownst to the two, this seemingly "minor" matter of the post station would become a major event during the Chongzhen era, turning a dismissed post station worker into the gravedigger of the Ming Dynasty.

However, it's not the right time yet. After listening to Shen Shixing's words last time, Su Ze has been thinking about how to reorganize the post station.

With Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong coming to his door today, Su Ze had a plan.

Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong immediately said:

"Brother Su, what should we do?!"

Seeing that the two had taken the bait, Su Ze then presented his plan.

Su Ze said:

"Both of you are censors of Shandong Circuit, and you have the power to supervise affairs in Shandong."

"There are four superior post stations in the east, west, south, and north of the capital, as well as twenty medium post stations." "After the New Year, you two gentlemen, with the seals of the Censorate in hand, can search for those traveling with Shandong tallies at the post stations near the capital, arrest those wicked people who bully the post station workers and exploit the post stations, and then you can report back to the Six Ministries?"

Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong exchanged a glance, their eyes shining.

Yes, the matter of the post station may not seem like a big deal, but according to Su Ze's analysis, it is indeed a major issue related to the operation of the imperial court.

These people holding illegal warrants are like vampires clinging to the postmen and government officials.

By arresting these people themselves, they respected the ancestral rules of the founding emperor from a legal perspective, were legal in procedure, and were feasible in operation.

Another important point is that many of those holding official documents were actually sycophants and cronies of local officials. These people were essentially scoundrels who used their power to bully others. There would be no resistance in truly punishing them, and it wouldn't offend too many people because of it.

In fact, both Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong were preparing to apply for official business trips to Shandong in order to complete their missions.

Su Ze's method doesn't require leaving the capital; one can leave the city in the morning and return in the evening. It's practically a perfect solution tailored for them!
Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong quickly said:

"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Su!"

Su Ze sighed and said:
"Actually, the matter of the post station may seem small, but it is not small at all."

“These scoundrels and hangers-on have seized the post stations, leaving them exhausted, so the court’s truly urgent official business cannot be delivered on time.”

“During the reign of Emperor Sejong, there was an old story about an urgent military situation in the nine border regions, but the horses could not be exchanged at the post stations, which ultimately delayed the military operation.”

"If you two can reorganize the post stations and ensure the smooth transmission of imperial orders and military intelligence, I, Su, will definitely submit a memorial after the New Year to commend your achievements!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong blushed with excitement!

They had all heard of Su Ze's reputation, and with Su Ze's prestige, his memorials were sure to reach the emperor.

If you can make the emperor remember you, it will be a great help to your future career!
They didn't even need the emperor to remember them; as long as the news spread, the two of them would be famous in the capital.

Wang Renzhong quickly said:
"Brother Su, this is your brilliant method, we dare not take credit for it!"

Su Ze said:

"It's all for the sake of the court's grand plan. Both of you are upright officials and ministers, so it's your job to handle this kind of matter of correcting corrupt practices!"

"If all the censors in the Censorate could do things as well and thoroughly as you two, then the affairs of the court could be handled well, and the people of my Great Ming could truly live in peace!"

Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong admired Su Ze even more. They thanked him profusely and insisted on leaving behind a few local specialties from their hometown before Su Ze personally saw them off at the door.

After the two left, Shen Yiguan looked at Su Ze with even more admiration.

In the same year, while others were still worrying about their future, Su Ze had already begun paving the way for others.

Moreover, it's obvious to anyone with eyes that Su Ze has paved a broad and smooth road for him.

Perhaps these two, born in the same year, can actually be promoted from acting censors to full censors because of this incident.

This was certainly not a sudden inspiration of Su Ze's, because in history, Zhang Juzheng used the "divine sword" of the performance evaluation system to first address the problem of encroaching on post stations.

This incident greatly reduced the government's subsidies to the post stations and also alleviated the burden on the people living near the post stations.

However, Zhang Juzheng's performance evaluation system was short-lived, and the Ming Dynasty eventually returned to its original course.

The cost of the post stations increased year by year until the Chongzhen Emperor simply abolished them altogether.

The rest is self-explanatory.

Of course, Su Ze's guidance to his two classmates also had another layer of meaning.

He wanted to test the functions of the "Handheld Ming Dynasty Court".

If you can use the "Portable Ming Dynasty Court" to help your fellow students claim merits, then you can use this cheat code to build your own political power.

In officialdom, the most reliable relationships are those with protégés and former subordinates, and the one who recommended you.

The recommender is the person who recommends you.

Su Ze helped Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong. If Su Ze submits a memorial after the New Year and it really gets the two promoted, then Su Ze will be the one who recommended Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong.

In the same year, both of them were already deeply bound to Su Ze.

According to the moral standards of the Ming Dynasty officialdom, if Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong were to betray him in the future, he would be condemned by the literati.

Although in this era of moral decay, it was common for disciples to betray their teachers and for sons to stab their fathers in the back, reputation was still extremely important in the officialdom.

Who would dare to employ someone who would betray even their own master?
-
At Zhao Zhenji's residence.

"Third Sister, have you remembered?"

A fair-skinned and beautiful young woman said coolly to the headmistress, "I've remembered."

"Then may I ask, Third Sister, what items are needed for the Kitchen God worship ceremony, and what are the steps involved in the family rituals?"

Zhao's third daughter calmly recited the names of the offerings needed for the ceremony, and then explained the required steps in detail.

In this room sat a group of middle-aged and elderly women, the one at the head of the group wearing a crown with an imperial edict, who was none other than Li, Zhao Zhenji's legal wife.

As the principal wife of the Grand Secretary, Lady Li was a first-rank lady. Besides Lady Li, there were several other women in the room who also held official titles.

The fact that so many of the women in the Zhao family of Neijiang were granted official titles speaks volumes about their family's rich heritage.

The headmistress nodded in satisfaction and then said to Madam Li, "Old Lady, I can no longer teach Third Young Lady anything."

Madam Li instructed her maid to present a thank-you gift to the headmistress, and then addressed the third daughter of the Zhao family:
“Once you marry into the Su family, without your in-laws to support you, you'll have to rely on yourself for everything.”

The women present also sighed.

Zhao Zhenji was the patriarch of the Zhao clan, and Li Shi was naturally the head of the female members. She spoke on behalf of San Niangzi's biological mother and grandmother, instructing her:

“Su Zilin is a Hanlin scholar, from an official family, and is highly regarded by His Majesty and the Grand Secretaries. He will also enter the Grand Secretariat in the future, just like your great-grandfather. You must manage the affairs of the household well, and you cannot let people say that the Zhao family has no family education.”

Zhao San Niangzi bowed respectfully and said, "Granddaughter understands."

Li then said:
"Besides managing the family ancestral rites and festivals, you will be in charge of the household in the future. I am not worried about your needlework, but you will also need to manage the household finances."

"When the servants return with the accounts tomorrow, I'll show them to you."

"For your marriage, your husband has given you all the estates outside the capital as part of your dowry. They will become the property of the Su family in the future. These are all part of your dowry, so please take good care of them."

"In addition, you must also keep in mind the 'Admonitions for Women' and the 'Inner Instructions'. Our Zhao family of Neijiang has a long tradition of poetry and books. You are also married to a scholar. You should use these to instruct your children in the future."

Zhao San Niangzi said again respectfully:
"My granddaughter has learned a lot."

Only then did Madam Li reveal a kind expression and say:

"This is a marriage that many people would kill for. You should spend the New Year with your sisters at home this year."

(End of this chapter)