Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

Jiang Zhao looked troubled, as if seeking advice: "Judge Liu's political achievements are indeed first-rate. He has served as the transport judge for six years, working diligently and conscientiously. As the chief official, he knows how to make good use of people."

Halfway through his sentence, Sima Guang had a bad feeling.

"I intend to write a letter directly to Bianjing, recommending him to the Ministry of Personnel, and requesting that the Ministry of Personnel give him due consideration and promote him."

Jiang Zhao looked at Judge Liu Ping with a gentle expression: "As far as I know, the position of Commander of the Ruzhou Militia is still vacant, which is a fifth-rank official position. If Judge Liu takes the position, he will be able to wear a red robe and have a promising future."

Then Jiang Zhao looked back at Sima Guang and asked, "Junshi, do you think he should be promoted?"

Recommending too many people can have negative consequences; recommending one or two people is definitely not a problem.

Jiang Zhao wouldn't be foolish enough to genuinely and purely engage in a political struggle with Sima Guang.

If there are political resources involved, they will definitely be used.

Upon being suddenly recommended, Liu Ping was startled, his heart pounded, and his mind went blank.

The key issue is that even he himself is unsure whether he should be promoted.

Once promoted, the position of Transport Judge will become vacant, allowing Jiang Zhao to place his own people and thus gain a certain amount of power.

But what if I don't get promoted?

Honestly, am I content with this?

This is a fifth-rank red robe!

He was a man who rose through the ranks of scholars, yet he was qualified to wear a red robe. Even if he didn't have any real power, that made a big difference!

Even Lord Sima is only a fifth-rank official...

Liu Ping was more confused, while Sima Guang was more upset.

What to say?

To promote or not to promote?

He's been promoted. The judge is one of the core officials of the Transport Bureau; if he's sidelined, there's bound to be some problems.

Not promoting him would likely severely damage morale.

The decisions made by those in power may not be understood by those below them.

Even if they truly understand, they will still be unwilling to accept the outcome.

Just like Liu Ping, if the person in charge had said that he shouldn't have been promoted, thus cutting off his opportunity, it would have been...

Sima Guang was caught in a dilemma.

This was the first time he had seen this method of handling things.

In a fictional world, someone was actually promoted!

Sima Guang looked at Judge Liu Ping.

He hoped that Judge Liu Ping would come forward and make the decision himself.

Unfortunately, Liu Ping shared the same idea.

Jiang Zhao stood up, took the initiative to pat Liu Ping on the shoulder, and said with emotion, "Only after joining the Transport Bureau did I realize how many outstanding officials here have been unfairly treated and have not been promoted."

"I have been appointed by the imperial court and will select virtuous and talented individuals to govern this region."

"What did Lord Sima say?"

Sima Guang's lips twitched slightly, and he said with difficulty, "He should be promoted!"

His move to sideline others was an open scheme, and Jiang Zhao's promotion was no less an open scheme.

Uncomfortable!

“Junshi is right!” Jiang Zhaoping smiled gently: “Why don’t we recommend him together? That way we can increase our chances of success.”

Sima Guang felt a chill in his heart and bowed with difficulty, saying, "Your Excellency is truly virtuous."

Jiang Zhao patted Sima Guang on the shoulder but said nothing.

Local areas have their own fighting styles, and he was naturally aware of that.

However, Sima Guang focused too much on the differences in tactics and forgot about the overwhelming power of Bianjing over the local areas.

Sima Guang habitually applied local rules, unaware that local disputes could also be resolved using the power of Bianjing (Kaifeng).

It would be bad to abruptly transfer the deputy envoy away, and it would also be bad to drastically suppress a dozen or so subordinate officials, as both would cause controversy.

But what if you get promoted?

You can't say that it's wrong for me to recommend someone, can you?

His performance is outstanding; shouldn't he be promoted?

Recommending Liu Ping was a decision he had made long ago.

Of the four main officials in the Transport Commission, two judges were Sima Guang's confidants, and their arms had to be severed.

First, recommend a judge to try and sow discord.

If that doesn't work, then both judges will recommend him, which will completely isolate Sima Guang.

Once the major events are accomplished, the two judges who were recommended can be dealt with later.

Sima Guang bowed and slowly withdrew.

Jiang Zhao recommended Liu Ping, the transport judge.

This incident thwarted his plans to some extent.

The Transport Judge is one of the key officials of the Transport Bureau.

Sima Guang walked out of the transport commissioner's hall, looked up at the sky, and a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes.

Can you win?

Just from Jiang Zhao's open scheme, he realized that the "Little Grand Secretary" was indeed extraordinary.

Furthermore, the longer it drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be for him.

He might not be able to beat him!

Is there any turning back now that things have been fabricated?

After only a moment's hesitation, Sima Guang became resolute again.

Once the arrow is drawn, there is no turning back.

This time, he clearly expressed the concept of fiction.

Once Jiang Zhao takes power, it's impossible for him to be allowed to take power as well.

Either Jiang Zhao sidelines him, or he sidelines Jiang Zhao; there is no other choice.

"Taxes!" A ruthless glint flashed in Sima Guang's eyes.

We still have to fight for it!

Judge's Chamber.

Liu Ping hesitated for a moment before eating, but then resolutely picked up his pen and wrote a secret letter.

Ever since Sima Guang suggested starting with taxation, he hasn't had a good night's sleep.

The young Grand Secretary's formidable reputation made people dare not relax in the slightest.

A confidant is a confidant, and loyalty is loyalty.

But even trusted confidants must consider their own interests and find a way to survive!

If Jiang Zhao could recommend him, he could also recommend Judge Chen Xin.

Once both judges have left, the situation is truly hopeless!

To avoid being purged later, he had to try to surrender.

Chapter 80: The Letter of Complaint!

At the end of June, the transport company.

In recent days, the Transport Commissioner has issued numerous decrees, ordering prefectures and counties to truthfully and promptly pay their taxes.

The officials of the transport department immediately became busy.

Of course, as officials who had been granted official rank, any official from the Transport Department would have a very prestigious presence when they went out.

Regarding the taxation matter, the Transport Commissioner issued a special decree, instructing the officials of the prefectures and counties to cooperate fully.

Any official from the Transport Commissioner, once they stepped out, represented the Transport Commissioner. Their sole responsibility was to direct the county and prefectural officials to collect taxes and tally the amounts; they did not need to do any of the work themselves.

As dawn broke, Jiang Zhao had already taken office at the yamen.

Beneath several neatly arranged government documents, Jiang Zhao was somewhat surprised to find an unusual letter.

Upon opening it, it turned out to be a letter of complaint.

The letter records Sima Guang's plan to reduce the reputation of his superiors by starting with taxation.

Signed Liu Ping.

I'm filing a complaint under my real name!

Jiang Zhao's spirits lifted.

Originally, recommending Liu Ping was just a side effect; the real intention was to sow discord among Sima Guang's right and left arms and to try to implement a divisive tactic.

Unexpectedly, some things actually came out of the blast.

"Summon Liu Ping here. I have something to ask him," Jiang Zhao called out, and his page Hesheng immediately went to do so.

A short while later, Judge Liu Ping entered.

Perhaps due to lack of sleep, Liu Ping appeared somewhat listless.

Jiang Zhao smiled faintly and waved his hand, saying, "Sit down."

Liu Ping sat down cautiously, looking at Jiang Zhao with hopeful eyes.

Clearly, he wants to defect!

"What is the meaning of this letter?" Jiang Zhao asked.

Liu Ping quickly explained, "Vice Envoy Sima intends to commit a heinous act."

After listening to Liu Ping's explanation, Jiang Zhao looked him over a few times and couldn't help but fall silent.

Are they betting that hard?

"Is there any evidence of a crime?" Jiang Zhao asked again.

"Yes," Liu Ping quickly replied. "To get the clan to resist taxes, we need to exchange quite a few letters. Even Lord Sima wrote a letter specifically to them, promising a lot of benefits."

Currently, some evidence has been brought to the yamen by this humble official, and the letter written by Lord Sima should arrive in a few days.

Jiang Zhao nodded slightly: "I am not one to be indiscriminate in rewarding or punishing. Since Judge Liu still cares about the millions of people in Shaanxi, I will disregard the previous events."

"Your humble servant thanks you, sir." Liu Ping was overjoyed and quickly bowed.

This is the result he wants.

Sima Guang's attempt to resist taxes was too risky, so he dared not follow suit.

Jiang Zhao stepped forward, helped the man up, and said calmly, "In that case, let's wait and see how Vice Envoy Sima resists the tax!"

"Your humble servant will follow your lead without question."

Two weeks have passed, and as expected...

Gwangju's powerful families resist taxes!

A powerful clan in Jizhou resists taxes!

The Chen family of Tongzhou resisted taxes!

However, the Liu family of Yanzhou did not resist the tax.

To be precise, it was submitted neither too early nor too late.

The taxes were paid in mid-July, a few days later than most large families, but much earlier than the three states that resisted the taxes, thus failing to achieve the desired effect of tax resistance.