manynovel Chapter 1161 Reorganization
Chapter 1161 Reorganization
Chapter 1161 Reorganization
September of the third year of Yuanfeng.
Wang Gui, Zhang Yue asked the emperor for the third time to give him a title of honor. This time, Zhang Yue simply added ten more to the emperor's title than the last time.
The whole court felt that this flattery was excessive, but Zhang Yue did not feel embarrassed. He just flattered to the end.
Fortunately, the emperor remained calm and restrained, and said to Wang Gui and Zhang Yue, "The title you have given me is really too much. I'd better settle for the next best thing and accept the previous title of 'Shao Tian Fa Gu Yun De Jiangong Ying Wen Lie Wu Qin Ren Sheng Xiao Emperor'."
After he was given the title, the government ordered the establishment of the "Office for Detailed Regulation of Official System" under the Zhongshumen, and ordered Zhang Yue to be in charge of the office to carry out comprehensive reform of the official system.
With this detailed official system in hand, it was like setting up the Regulations Office of the Three Departments back then, and it was almost like approving Zhang Yue to set up the Prime Minister's Office. This time it was like having a real imperial sword in hand.
The newly established Office for Detailed Definition of Official System was located within the Secretariat.
To reform the official system, we must do it from top to bottom, and the reform must start from the Secretariat.
Zhongshu Menxia is located to the west of Wende Hall. Zhongshu Menxia is divided into five rooms. The prime minister meets with officials in the Zhengshi Hall, while the prime minister rests and does private work in this hall.
Now that we want to restore the three ministries, we must include the Secretariat.
So the Secretariat was about to make a big move, and Zhang Yue used the left and right halls of the original Secretariat as the future Secretariat and Ministry of Personnel respectively.
Wang Gui and Cai Que held office in the East Hall, while Zhang Yue held office in the West Hall. As for the original Political Affairs Hall, it was renamed Du Hall as a reserve for the future Secretariat.
In the Tang Dynasty, there were eight councils in the Secretariat, namely the Left and Right Pushe of the Secretariat, and the six ministers held the highest meeting. However, in the Song Dynasty, the Secretariat was in name only, so the meetings were held in the Political Affairs Hall of the two governments.
However, the meetings of the Secretariat were still retained, with officials from two provinces and above and scholars participating, but they only discussed unimportant matters.
Therefore, Zhang Yue changed the Shangshu Province meeting, which was attended by scholars and above, into a meeting of the three ministries, which was still convened at irregular intervals by the Zhongshu Menxia.
Compared with the previous Council of State Council meetings which were only attended by the prime minister team, there are more people involved.
Moreover, this was a "joint discussion", that is, the result of collective discussion by officials without the participation of the emperor. In the eyes of many officials, it was more authoritative than the imperial edict.
Moreover, the order of officials in the capital hall was based on their official rank, while the seating arrangement in the emperor's living quarters or the inner hall was based on the rank of the official.
It was common for young officials like Zhang Yue to be promoted by the government to be scholars of the Longtu Pavilion, surpassing countless veteran officials to hold high positions, causing dissatisfaction among other officials.
This situation was avoided by holding meetings in the capital according to seniority.
This is also a gradual transition to the three-province system in the future. Zhang Yue's style of doing things is not to easily achieve everything in one step. He first spreads the word, then tests it little by little, and gradually transitions to the final goal.
After the division of the East and West Halls, it formed the prototype of the two ministries of Zhongshu and Menxia in the future. As for Zhang Yue, he was freed from the constraints of being in the same yamen with Wang Gui and Cai Que.
Officials could finally go directly to the West Hall to discuss matters with Zhang Yue openly, and their words would not be heard by Cai Que and Wang Gui. Although the branch hall was a small matter, Zhang Yue's power as prime minister was doubled.
However, this also made things difficult for the officials originally under the Secretariat, as they originally only had to go to the Council of State Affairs to ask the prime minister to sign the document.
Now I have to run back and forth.
There were also times when they were sent back for rewriting. However, the officials also saw that Wang Gui rarely hesitated, and most of the political affairs were decided by Zhang Yue, so most of them went to the West Hall where Zhang Yue was first.
By the time Zhang Yue passed, Wang Gui would basically be able to pass as well.
Of course, such behavior was also eye-catching. In order to avoid the monopoly of power by the prime minister and the resentment of Wang Gui and Cai Que, Zhang Yue immediately appointed Xue Xiang to the Secretariat, making him the second assistant minister after Cai Que.
As for Lu Gongzhu, who successfully negotiated peace with the Dangxiang, he returned to the court and replaced Xue Xiang in the Privy Council.
Because Feng Jing was absent from office due to illness, Wang Gui was able to nominate Sun Gu to join the Privy Council as he wished.
The position of the prime minister is like a carrot pit. When one person moves, the ones below will immediately fill it. When one person is promoted, many people below will follow suit.
As for the position of Kaifeng Prefecture vacant after Sun Gu left, it was taken by Wang Anli, who was chosen by both Zhang Yue and Wang Gui.
Zhang Yue and Wang Gui negotiated many times in private about the personnel changes, and in the end, both sides got what they wanted, and everyone was happy. Being able to promote people from below shows that you are a true prime minister, and your power and position will be more stable.
After personnel changes.
With Wang Gui and Zhang Yue as prime ministers, Cai Que and Xue Xiang as assistants, plus Feng Jing, Lu Gongzhu and Sun Gu, Zhang Qie was the candidate for prime minister of the two governments in the capital.
In the capital hall, the prime ministers of the two governments still hold meetings every three days.
Of course, the newly established Official System Detailed Planning Office was also located near the West Hall of Zhangyue.
The Official System Detailed Planning Office was the team that Zhang Yue later used to reform the official system. Zhang Yue summoned Cai Bian, Chen Guan and Su Che to join the office as detailed planning officials.
After Zhang Yue entered the West Hall, he renovated it and made it look more like a prime minister's office.
In the new hall, Zhang Yue's living and sleeping arrangements were very thoughtful. The large bed for resting and overnight stay was placed behind the viewing hall, and the sitting and sleeping equipment were practical and not extravagant.
Zhang Yue looked around and was very satisfied.
Then he came to the main hall accompanied by his staff.
As soon as he arrived at the main hall, he stopped and looked up at a sign hanging in the hall.
The signboard had the words "People's Root" written by Zhang Yue himself. These two words were hung high in the hall, so that anyone who came in and out could see them.
Zhang Yue's calligraphy is now worth a fortune.
This piece of ink calligraphy hung in the hall, naturally attracting many people to watch. Even the emperor was curious and made an exception to come to the West Hall in person to see Zhang Yue's calligraphy, and he also praised it highly.
Zhang Yue stood in the hall and looked up at the words "People-oriented" hanging high in the hall. He said to Su Che and Cai Bian beside him earnestly: "No matter how many principles there are in the world and how morality changes, I think the words "People-oriented" will never change."
"All dynasties in the future will govern according to the principle of people-centeredness. If the rulers understand the essence of these two words, they will generally not go wrong."
Cai Bian said, "What the Prime Minister said is absolutely right. The words 'people-oriented' are truly a law that will never change. Mencius was able to explain the principle of 'people-oriented'. He is worthy of being a teacher for all ages."
Zhang Yue smiled slightly and said in a nostalgic tone: "You may not know, but when I was young, the first book I read was Mencius, and the first article I memorized was also Mencius. I wonder if it was God's will."
At this point, Zhang Yue closed his eyes and recalled the scene when he was twelve years old, sitting in front of the window facing the crystal clear Nanpu River, reading Mencius's words attentively.
As soon as I traveled through time, I became connected with this book, and now that I am in power, I will follow this path for the rest of my life.
Zhang Yue unconsciously reached out and seemed to be able to touch the boy.
"Prime Minister!"
Zhang Yue opened his eyes, as if waking up from a dream. His subordinates were on both sides, and they all looked respectful and obedient.
Zhang Yue calmed down and said, "Now that I am in power, I will also follow the principle of 'people first' and establish it as the great classic and law of the world! I will honor Mencius in the Confucian Temple and include Mencius in the imperial examination list, so that all scholars in the world can recite it."
Cai Bian, Su Che and other staff members all agreed.
Then everyone sat down in the reception room and the clerks brought tea to each of them.
Chen Guan said: "Prime Minister, now the whole world is discussing that the court's policy has transitioned from Wang Shugong's reform to the Prime Minister's new policy in Yuanfeng."
"Everyone talks about the time when Lord Zhang replaced Lord Wang Shu as prime minister during the Kaiyuan Period, which is like Song Jing replacing Yao Chong."
Everyone laughed when they heard this. Zhang Yue said, "Don't compare them like that. Each of us should do our own thing. Wang Shugong made drastic changes to eliminate the accumulated problems. This is where I am not as bold as him."
"But..." Zhang Yue said, looking at the words "people-oriented" on the hall, "but I also have my strengths."
Cai Bian smiled and said, "The Prime Minister shoulders the expectations of the world. This reform must be in line with the people's will. The people of the world are all looking forward to it!"
Zhang Yue smiled slightly when he heard this.
In fact, I know clearly that he is just an ordinary person.
In terms of political schemes and tactics, he was not as good as Cai Que and Lu Huiqing, and in terms of his desire for power, he was not very persistent.
He has this kind of personality. The government wants him to govern the world as prime minister. Zhang Yue considers it again and again. If you agree, he will do his best to do it for you.
If you feel it is not good, I will pack up and leave without stopping.
But I don't know when I got to this position, and unknowingly shouldered the expectations of the world.
To be honest, he had always been so cautious and treading on thin ice. Every day when he sat in this position, he would ask himself, "Can I do it? Can I really govern the people? Can I really live up to the trust of the emperor and the people?"
No one can tell these words.
Under the gaze of his staff, it was unknown what Zhang Yue was thinking about.
He just thought for a while, and finally said softly, "It's the time, it's the fate."
While they were talking, someone came to report that Cai Jing had come to see them.
Cai Jing looked a little flustered when he entered, and Zhang Yue rarely saw him in this state.
The staff on both sides left at the right moment. Zhang Yue left Cai Bian in the hall and asked, "Why is Yuanzhang so anxious?"
Cai Jing took the tea from Cai Bian and drank it. After calming down, he said, "Prime Minister, I just received a report that the Jieyan Salt Pond was flooded!"
Cai Bian's face changed when he heard this and he said, "Really? If so, wouldn't the salt notes in the hands of the people become a piece of waste paper?"
Cai Jing said: "Not yet. At least the salt notes can be exchanged for Zhang salt in Xihe. But if the salt pond does not produce salt next year, the salt notes in the hands of the people will plummet and even become like waste paper."
As we all know, salt notes are mainly banknotes issued with salt as a deposit. Previously, they accounted for 80% of the currency in the market. Now that the value of Jiaozi has stabilized, salt notes still account for 30% of the currency in the market.
This is the downside of the financial industry, money comes quickly, but once the market plummets, it’s gone just as quickly.
If the salt notes in the hands of the people became waste paper, and tens of millions of strings of currency became worthless overnight, the blame would be borne by the people. Resigning from the post would be a small matter, but the angry people would also denounce him.
Just when Cai Bian and Cai Jing were worried.
Zhang Yue calmed down and said, "Don't worry too much. This crisis has always been an opportunity. If I use it well, I can reform the money and banknote laws without worrying about being criticized."