The atmosphere in the main hall of the East Palace was not very harmonious, and there was a huge difference of opinion between the emperor's father and son and the scholars in the cabinet.

Regarding the matter of letting the retired forbidden army serve as the elder of the village, several cabinet elders basically agreed with the emperor on this matter, and the biggest disagreement between the monarchs and ministers was still on the innovation of the official system.

Although the system of officials in this dynasty has been improved while inheriting the system of the previous generation, there is a set of examination and promotion system for officials, but it has also inherited the old habits of lowly officials in the previous dynasty, and it is not only difficult for officials to be promoted to high-ranking officials, but also the government is generally lowly officials.

With no hope of promotion and despised by society, these figures have no possibility of being promoted to high office, and it is difficult for them to be respected in society, so they can only make full use of the existing conditions to satisfy their own desires.

The first is to use the defects in the system to achieve the goal of grasping the actual power in a certain aspect, and the second is to use the actual power they have to make a fortune, and then cause "malpractice" that is difficult to eliminate.

"Corrupting" has become one of the main evils of the politics of the DPRK.

Later, in the time of Taizong, there was a change, and under the will to try to eliminate the malpractice of officials, on the one hand, the road to the promotion of officials was blocked, on the other hand, the quota was reduced and the number of officials was set, and many measures were taken to prevent the malpractice of officials.

However, it backfired, and instead of eliminating the malpractices of the officials, it caused a situation in which "this dynasty shares the world with the officials", and the malpractices of the officials are even more serious.

There is a poem: "Yesterday, when the tenant came, he slaughtered and filled the plate." The officials are angry and oppose Suojin, how can Li Min have this?"

Once he is not satisfied, it is just "the thin complainant turns to anger, and the lock does not look back", vividly portraying the faces of these "slave bodies" of "slave soap subordinates, etc.".

They believe that they are familiar with the yamen, so they take money and food, control the market, and gamble, and do everything. And still trying to fulfill his desire, every time with the capture of his hands, nest thieves, trace instructions, name the day to release the line.

The stolen goods were stolen by three, and by Peter seven. and intimidated the victim with words, ordering him not to report to the official, even if the incident happened, and the state and county arrested and acted as a front-line collusion, or stealing by force, or deliberately indulged, and the people were harassed by it.

Collect the profits of the robbers' monthly money, in the name of detecting and arresting thieves, the wrecked will be captured and unheard, and the arrest of people will be lynched and tortured, and many thieves will be blackmailed, and the thieves will be used to make false accusations.

Although the status of these officials is low, they are important local political forces, which have a direct bearing on the quality of local governance.

The local officials were well aware of this situation, and several scholars in the center were not aware of it.

But no one dares to do anything about "cheating"?

Why? Pull a hair and move the whole body, the country and the dynasty are thousands of miles, without the support of the officials, how can they rule the people by relying on those officials of the court? Do you rely on the Eight Strands of the Sages Article?

The emperor is now going to take action against the "official malpractice", and as soon as he comes up, he plans to drastically reform the system of officials.

Even if the great grandfather is reborn, it is estimated that it will be difficult to calm down the chaos caused by the officials in a short period of time.

"Your Majesty, the 'cheating' has been around for a long time, and the old minister also knows that this matter is to be innovated and improved after all, but it will affect the whole body, and this matter must be cautious and consider it in the long run."

As the first assistant of the national dynasty, Zhou Jiong is the most aware of the bloated and complex operation mechanism of the Great Xia dynasty.

For the first time, he looked at Jia Cong with a sharp gaze, and said dissatisfiedly: "Yongfeng...... Jia Cong, you are young and promising, and the old man is clear, and you are ambitious. But some things can't be solved with a pat on the head, and in Princess Wen'an's excerpts, those suggestions for reforming the system of officials should have come up with you......"

Jia Cong was about to nod his head in acknowledgement, but saw Zhou Jiong wave his hand to stop his words that had not yet spoken, and continued: "The old man asked Ling, how many states and counties are there in the country? How many clerical clerks are needed? Even if all the forbidden troops in service are scattered, can they take over the current local officials for a while? ”

Zhou Jiong asked three times in a row, and Jia Cong was stunned.

There are 13 provinces, 3 major prefectures, and 17 prefectures, with a total of 162 prefectures and 1,866 counties.

There are countless clerical clerks needed, and even if all the current forbidden troops are retired and scattered, it will not be enough. For a while, it was indeed difficult to take over the work of the current officials.

Therefore, although Zhou Jiong's words splashed Jia Cong's cold water, they also woke him up with a temporary brain fever.

Jia Cong is like this, and so is the crown prince Liu Hong.

After the two of them came to their senses, they were all in a cold sweat.

Sure enough, governing a big country is like cooking a small fresh, and the ginger is still old and spicy.

Everyone understands the "cheats of officials", but the time for Jia Cong to replace the current system of officials with public examinations is still not ripe enough, and hasty implementation may cause a catastrophe.

Several pavilion elders in the hall all nodded in agreement with Zhou Jiong's opinion, and when Lord Shoufu asked Jia Cong speechlessly, there was a rare feeling of relief in his heart.

It's not that they have an opinion on Jia Cong, it's really that this kid is too "aggressive", and it's a little scary.

The prince's and Jia Cong's expressions were a little sluggish, and the emperor was quite happy to see it.

In fact, although he believes that Jia Cong's "public examination" model is a very promising path, he also believes that now is not the time to implement the "public examination" model to replace the old system of officials.

Not to mention anything else, just according to Zhou Jiong, the country is thousands of miles long, and the number of officials required can be described as massive.

Relying on the retired soldiers of the forbidden army, the number of lieutenants and village elders waiting to be replaced is not enough.

Why did the emperor bring Jia Cong to the East Palace, and acquiesced to a few scholars to pour this basin of cold water, just to let Jia Cong understand one thing.

Change the law and innovate, can't be in a hurry!

Of course, he did it for the sake of the crown prince.

How can young people always be frizzy and frizzy? Thinking about what happened to the chaos in the DPRK and China when I succeeded to the throne, it was not by forbearance that I took back the power step by step and brought Daxia to a peak!

(Emperor Taishang: Ah, yes, yes, you are not impatient at all!) ）

"Prince, Jia Cong, don't hurry up and thank Zhou Qing for his teaching!"

The emperor's sudden opening broke the solemn atmosphere in the hall, and Liu Hong and Jia Cong got up almost at the same time, tidied up their clothes and bowed down to Zhou Jiongzuo.

"Hong (Cong) thank Master Zhou for his teaching!"

In a word, a teacher is also a teacher, although Mr. Zhou Jiong is sometimes a little too cautious, but in this matter, Zhou Jiong's guidance and teaching did make the two of them empowered.

It's not about identity, it's about right and wrong. Therefore, the gift of the prince and Jia Cong, Zhou Jiong accepted it calmly.

He bowed his head in return, and then sighed and said: "However, the harm of 'cheating' must be improved and innovated after all. Jia Cong, this idea of yours is indeed a good idea, you might as well pick a place to try it out. ”

"I don't think it's appropriate, because reforming the official system is different from reforming the bureaucratic system. There is no shortage of people who want to be officials, so I can reveal the news in advance, and even guide the officials to discuss it. But Xu officials are different, as Zhou Qing said, the dynasty is too big, and there are too many officials needed, if it can't be replaced quickly, it will cause a big disaster! ”

Looking for a place to try it out, isn't that revealing the news that the imperial court intends to reform the system of officials?

When the vested interests got the news, they didn't make a fuss?

Zhou Jiong smiled bitterly again, and he really wanted to be left. It seems that the emperor has always been sober, and he was afraid that the emperor would be said by Jia Cong to have a hot brain, and stubbornly implemented the "public examination" policy.

With that said, things will be easy to do.

According to the results of the discussion between the emperor and the cabinet, the imperial power was first sent to the countryside, and the appointment and dismissal of the elders of the village were returned to the imperial court by combining the retirement of the forbidden army with the "public examination".

After the imperial court has achieved actual control of the locality, the scope of the "public examination" will be expanded to the level of officials.

In this matter, it is not only necessary to unify the forces of the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of War, but also to involve the Ministry of Rites.

The most important link in this is that in addition to continuing to comprehensively promote compulsory education, it is also necessary to carry out "literacy eradication for the whole people" in the military and at the local level, and it is best to train enough talents to fill the national court.

Otherwise, even if you want to open a public examination to recruit officials, how can you take the exam if you don't know a few big characters?

……

As the sun sets, the "small court" in the East Palace is temporarily over.

As soon as Jia Cong left the palace gate, he was invited into the carriage by the old man Zhou, the first assistant of the cabinet.

The fireworks outside the car made the old man very intoxicated, and after he put down the curtain of the car, he solemnly said to Jia Cong: "Today's matter, the old man is not aimed at you......

Jia Cong thanked him again: "I know, I have to thank you." It's a shame that the old man woke up in time, otherwise I wouldn't be able to get out of the horns. ”

"The old man can still last for three or two years, try to save money for your kid, and then you will poke a hole in the sky, and we will also have the capital to make up for the lack of heaven."

Each generation has a generational task, and the previous generation has to save enough money for the next generation, which seems to have become an unwritten inheritance system.

Zhou Jiong thoroughly understood what Wei Qinghe did not understand when he was in power in the continuous changes of the dynasty.

It is no wonder that at that time, Wei Qinghe had the opportunity to forcibly promote the reform of the law, but he always adopted a moderate way of governance.

It's not that Old Man Wei doesn't want to go down in history and become a generation of innovative celebrities, but because Wei Wenzheng knew that the implementation of the new law at that time might be feasible, but it would definitely cause a big shock to the relatively stable situation and cause too much loss to the court and the people.

He Zhou Jiong was able to smoothly implement the new law, to put it bluntly, he inherited the family foundation saved by Wei Qinghe, the rich Great Xia, so changed, the people would not go hungry. The household department has enough money to support it, and the imperial court will have the confidence to fight with the vested interests who oppose the change.

Qingzhang Tianmu has gradually entered the end, in addition to the sporadic rebellion in the territory of thousands of miles, the work of suppressing land annexation in Qingzhang Tianmu can be said to have been completed smoothly and smoothly.

The next step is to rectify the rule of officials and reform the official system, and as long as this matter is successfully completed, the remaining few policies will be easier.

Zhou Jiong's deep eyes were full of confidence, and at the same time, they were also filled with infinite emotion.

It's a pity, he shouldn't be able to see the day when the change is truly successful.

"Jia Cong, the old man is old, and when the matter of reforming the official system is finished, I am afraid that he will have to leave the court. Next, it's up to you young people. ”

Zhou Jiong's sudden emotion startled Jia Cong, he looked up and down at the old man sitting opposite, and the rainbow light of the sunset penetrating through the curtain of the car reflected the old man's white beard and white hair red.

Unexpectedly, in just four years, the once high-spirited Zhou Jiong and Zhou Ge are now white and old.

Jia Cong didn't know how to respond, so he could only look at the first assistant scholar of the cabinet at the head of the hundred officials in a daze.

I saw Zhou Jiong reopen the curtain of the car and point to the fireworks in the market outside.

The efforts of the past few years have not been in vain, and the old man can be regarded as fulfilling the oath he made at the beginning. Today's Great Xia is strong and the people are rich, and the old man has not wasted Wei Wenzheng's hard work......"

Jia Cong nodded and said: "The elder of the pavilion has done a very good job, the people who have changed the law since ancient times are not feasible without great perseverance and wisdom, the dynasty can be as strong and prosperous as it is today, and the elder of the pavilion has made great contributions!" ”

This is a fact, and no one can deny Zhou Jiong's achievements.

Zhou Jiong shook his head and said with a smile: "You are wrong, if you say that you have made great contributions, Wei Wenzheng is in the first place, and the old man and others are just standing on the cornerstone that Wei Wenzheng has built, step by step on the high platform." ”

"Who of us doesn't stand on the shoulders of giants?"

Jia Cong sincerely bowed his hand to Zhou Jiong again, and said solemnly: "Duke Wei Wenzheng has planted the seeds of change for us, and what Elder Ge has done in the past few years is to make the seeds germ and gradually grow strongly. Therefore, the merits of the elder pavilion are not smaller than that of Wei Wenzhenggong. If you talk about meritorious service, Ge Lao and Wei Wenzheng are both at the top of the list, which no one can deny! ”

"You kid......"

Zhou Jiong laughed heartily, he wanted to compare with Wei Qinghe all his life, but he thought that he had never reached the height of Wei Qinghe.

However, hearing such an evaluation from Jia Cong's mouth today, he couldn't be unhappy.

His laughter even alarmed the people outside the carriage, who looked at the carriage escorted all the way by several dragon guards.

When they saw the sign on the carriage, they respectfully stepped aside, bowed or bowed their heads.

Jia Cong pointed to the respectful people outside, and grinned: "The people have a scale in their hearts, and the merits of the elder are not great, you can see from their attitude towards you." ”

Zhou Jiong also looked out of the car, and as the carriage moved, the people on both sides of the road retreated one after another, which really made the Shoufu Lord who didn't care about thinking about these things every day really feel the change in the people's attitude towards him for the first time.

If he remembers correctly, a few years ago, when he was the deputy cabinet minister, the attitude of the people towards him should have been more fearful and curious......

Crunchy~

The carriage continued to move forward until it reached Ning Wing Street.

Jia Cong arched his hand and was about to get out of the car, but Zhou Jiong suddenly shouted to stop him.

"Tell me, what kind of nickname will the old man get when he dies?"

This question is really difficult, Jia Cong understands that Zhou Jiong is not asking him for any nickname, but talking about whether Jia Cong will succeed him and continue to implement the law after his death.

This is the inheritance, and the previous generation chooses the heirs of political aspirations.

Jia Cong jumped out of the carriage, scratched his head, and then made a grimace at Zhou Jiong, and then made a grimace: "This...... You're really stumped on me. Let me think about it, and I will definitely think of the most suitable nickname for you! ”

Zhou Jiong saw Jia Cong's embarrassed appearance and laughed.

"Okay, this matter will be handed over to you by the old man, don't let the old man down!"

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That's all for tonight, continue tomorrow, good night!

(End of chapter)