Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

People in the workplace are very pragmatic; a leader's power is not determined by a single administrative order!

Without the support of his subordinates, he is nothing!

If the subordinates are dissatisfied, they have plenty of ways to deal with their superiors.

They may outwardly comply but inwardly defy authority, shirking responsibility and failing to perform their duties; or they may over-execute tasks, turning a perfectly good job into a mess, ultimately blaming their superiors for all the mistakes; if they are even more cunning, they can easily sideline someone, making it difficult for them to issue orders without being allowed to leave their post.

In many parts of the Song Dynasty, officials who were close to the people faced such a dilemma: the intricate network of local relationships was simply not something that outside officials could handle.

If the local officials and clerks cannot be subdued, the government's policies cannot be implemented!

There are two ways to subdue them: coercion and bribery!

Either seize their weakness and make them obey, or you can bring them benefits and let them know that following you has a promising future.

The same principle applies to the Gemensi (a military unit), which is why Wei Xun, upon assuming office, only conducted preliminary investigations and did not issue any orders!

Only when the opportunity arose to posthumously honor Empress Mingda did he act swiftly and decisively!

He not only demonstrated his abilities but also showed everyone the benefits of following him, thus establishing his prestige in one fell swoop. He not only gained the trust of his superiors but also won the hearts of his subordinates.

If he wants to deal with me, then now is the best time, given the momentum of a great victory!

After Gao Zhao figured this out, he became very worried. He was so absent-minded on his way to work that he didn't even pay attention when the stall owner who sold guns and whips by the Imperial Road called him!

As a newbie in the workplace, I seem easy to bully. How do I deal with other people's malice?

Unfortunately, Gao Qiu wouldn't let him ambush him!

In terms of cunning, how could someone as simple and kind as myself possibly outmaneuver these scheming old foxes in officialdom!

Sorrow!

After entering the palace gates and checking in, he slowly and methodically compiled the list of officials who were to come to the Chongzheng Hall for an audience that day, as was customary.

Just as Wei Xun left, everyone hurriedly bowed and said, "Greetings, Attendant Wei!"

This time, the greeting was much more respectful than when Wei Xun first arrived; this was due to his prestige!

Wei Xun was quite pleased with this, waving his hand and smiling, "We're all colleagues I deal with every day, no need for such formalities! Let me arrange today's work!"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately stood at attention, listening to their superior's instructions.

Instead of assigning tasks, he first smiled and recounted: "At the previous ceremony for the posthumous conferment of a temple upon Empress Mingda, everyone diligently performed their duties, and the ceremony was well-organized and orderly, which was highly praised by the Emperor."

This credit will not be kept to myself; everyone in the Bureau of Palace Attendants shares in it. I have already recorded everyone's performance and achievements, and will submit them to the Privy Council at the end of the month for inclusion in the year-end performance evaluation.

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone in the room perked up, their eyes filled with joy.

However, Gao Zhao's unease grew stronger!

Wei Xun's methods are a classic example of using both kindness and severity!

First, use tangible rewards and benefits to stabilize the entire team, win over everyone's hearts, and make everyone grateful for his support.

In this way, no matter what harsh tasks he assigns or who he targets for suppression, his subordinates will only blindly obey and no one will dare to question or obstruct him.

Now that kindness has been bestowed, the next step is to exert authority!

"Now that the ceremony is set and things are in order in the palace, all departments should continue to perform their duties in accordance with the established rules and regulations, and simply fulfill their responsibilities."

Wei Xun spoke calmly, smoothly transitioning to the main topic. He picked up the stacked duty roster on the table, spoke loudly, and arranged the duty shifts for each person that day.

The assignments were arranged in a very orderly manner. He was new to the area and there were no trusted confidants here, so there was no question of favoritism. He was extremely fair and no one could find fault with him!

The crowd was delighted to hear this, and they held Wei Xun in even greater awe for his fairness and compassion for his subordinates.

In a short while, most of the tasks were assigned. Finally, Wei Xun's gaze slowly settled on Gao Zhao, who was standing at the end of the line. His smile was gentle, without any intention of targeting him.

"Gao Zhihou".

"Your humble servant is here." Gao Zhao knew the main topic was coming, sighed inwardly, composed himself, bowed, and looked respectful.

Wei Xun looked at him, his tone light and natural, as if he were simply assigning official duties, and casually instructed, "You're new to the Bureau of Gates. Staying in one position for too long isn't good for your growth and advancement. You should gain experience in other positions within the Bureau!"

"From today onwards, you are temporarily relieved of your duties as an attendant in the palace. This year is the year of the suburban sacrifice, and memorials from various regions are arriving in the capital one after another. The Memorial Hall has been gradually transferred to the Palace Gate Office, so you will be solely responsible for guarding and filing the memorials. If any violations are found, the Memorial Hall must be rejected immediately!"

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone in the room glanced up instinctively, then quickly lowered their heads, no one daring to utter a single word.

Those present were all seasoned officials who had worked in the Bureau of Imperial Household for many years; none of them were unaware of the intricacies of the matter.

Guarding the Chongzheng Hall meant frequent opportunities to see the Emperor and the chance to make a living – it was the best job of all.

Organizing those memorials, even after being screened by the Jingzhou Academy, was still extremely tedious and exhausting. One wrong move could lead to being held responsible, making it a truly arduous task.

The intention behind sending someone directly from a desirable job to a dreadful one is self-evident!

Although everyone knows about this, the reasons they give are very valid. It is reasonable to let a newcomer like you rotate through multiple positions to fully understand the different job roles in the department. No one can find fault with that!

Even if you, Gao Zhao, are a troublemaker and a troublemaker, and take this case to the Privy Council or even to the Emperor, you still won't be in the right!

This is the proper way to suppress someone. As a superior, why do you need to personally deal with your subordinates? You can just use the rules!

"Lord Gao, do you have any objections to my arrangements?" Wei Xun looked at Gao Zhao, who stood motionless, his smile turning colder, and said indifferently, "If you have different ideas, you can bring them up, and we can discuss them further!"

"I wouldn't dare!" Gao Zhao looked up at everyone's expressions and knew that he had messed up today. Even if they hadn't received any favors from Wei Xun, they would never offend their boss for the sake of a new colleague like him.

"This humble servant obeys your orders and will certainly do his best to fulfill his duties without any slackening."

Wei Xun gave him a deep look, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, which quickly turned into a gentle smile.

He thought he would provoke this kid! But he actually held back. It seems he's not as lawless as the rumors say!

He had seen plenty of troublemakers like this. They were initially unruly, but eventually, under his tutelage, they all became obedient!

Next, we'll put even more pressure on him!

First, I'll blunt his arrogance, then make him feel hopeless and forced to submit to me. Once I've subdued this troublemaker, will anyone in the Hemen Division dare to contradict me?

After the task was assigned, everyone dispersed. Gao Zhao handed over the documents in his hand and then went to work with a group of scribes and clerks to organize and file the documents.

He was busy all day and didn't return until the end of the day. But as soon as he entered the office, he sensed that something was wrong.

Looking up, he saw Wei Xun standing in the office with a dark expression. He was wondering what had happened when Wei Xun, seeing him enter, sternly rebuked him, "Where have you been today? Why have you abandoned your post and not been on duty at Chongzheng Hall!"

Gao Zhaoren was completely bewildered and asked in surprise, "Didn't you ask me to organize the congratulatory messages?"

"Nonsense!" Wei Xun roared. "When did I send you there? Do you have any transfer documents?"

Gao Zhao stared at Wei Xun in astonishment, then turned to look at the officials who had attended the meeting that morning. Seeing that everyone was bowing their heads and remaining silent, he immediately understood!

I was so angry I laughed!

I'm really giving you a hard time!