Wang Guangyang was appointed to participate in political affairs and concurrently served as the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. With the title of Deputy Prime Minister, he was in charge of the power of selecting the Ministry of Civil Affairs. He was already a big man in the court who could compete with the Prime Minister.
Moreover, he surpassed Hu Weiyong and Yang Xian and instantly became popular.
And at this moment when everyone is in danger, too many people want to curry favor with Wang Guangyang and seek shelter.
But what’s surprising is that Wang Guangyang doesn’t see outsiders behind closed doors.
He stayed at home for three days to familiarize himself with the files. On the fourth day, Wang Guangyang arrived at Zhongshu Province.
On this day, officials from Zhongshu Province gathered together. Even Zhu Sheng came, as did Hu Weiyong, Yang Xian and others, but they only nodded to Wang Guangyang and said nothing else.
Among all the high-ranking ministers, only Mao Gui and Wang Guangyang started chatting enthusiastically.
Mao Gui is considered the most free-spirited among all the ministers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs he is in charge of does not have much contact with the country. Since it is a newly established yamen, there are not many people. They are mainly responsible for understanding the situation from the outside and form their own system.
He didn't care about the changing situation in the DPRK. In addition, Wang Guangyang had been on several missions to Han and Song Dynasties, and there was still a little friendship between him and Mao Gui.
The two of them chatted quite happily.
"It takes a lot of courage to clean up the mess!"
Wang Guangyang chuckled, "I'm just trying my best, nothing else. When it comes to cleaning up the mess, that's not what I can do."
Mao Gui's eyelids raised slightly, "That's right, but this situation is really difficult to deal with. One or two people may not be able to handle it."
"Then let's carry it together." Wang Guangyang said with a smile: "I hope my brother can help me when the time comes."
Mao Gui nodded, "I will do my best."
The two quickly formed an alliance. Li Shanchang had already arrived. They hadn't seen each other for just a few days. Li Shanchang was already visibly aging, especially on his temples, which had a lot of gray hair.
He scanned the whole place and found that he had lost several acquaintances after not seeing each other for just a few days. It was true that people in officialdom couldn't help themselves!
"Everyone, sit down!"
Li Shanchang asked everyone to sit down, and then said with a wry smile: "These days, the salt affairs case is shocking. More than a thousand corrupt officials and over 10,000 accomplices have been uncovered. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, there has never been such a big case! It is really heart-breaking and outrageous.
!”
When everyone listened to Li Shanchang's words, they all lowered their heads slightly, looked solemn, and did not dare to say anything.
Li Shanchang added: "I have been punished by the officials for improper appointment of people, mistakes in recommendations, indulgence of traitors, and serving as officials in the court, causing harm to the country and the people. I have betrayed the emperor above and harmed the people below. The crime is serious, and I should apologize to your majesty. Either dismiss from office, or
The distribution is all thanks to His Majesty’s great kindness.”
The Prime Minister is already ready to resign. He can't help it anymore. The situation has reached this point!
The rest of the people were even more frightened, and the atmosphere became a little more depressed.
Li Shanchang changed the topic and said: "Despite this, the government cannot be neglected. The national economy, people's livelihood, and the weight of the country are all on our shoulders. At this time, we must work carefully and repay God's kindness." As he spoke, Li Shanchang said.
He turned his eyes to Wang Guangyang and forced out a smile.
"Wang Shenzheng was ordered to return to Beijing to gain His Majesty's trust. If he is promoted to Shenzheng, he must have great insights and advice." Li Shanchang said with a smile.
Wang Guangyang nodded slightly and said hurriedly: "Prime Minister Li has promoted a lower official... Let me say that the salt affairs case has developed to this day, and the disadvantage lies in the employment of people. How do you say this?"
Wang Guangyang straightened his back subconsciously, looked at everyone and said: "Salt is the fundamental thing for people's livelihood, and it is also the source of the country's annual income. It is so important that we must select people with both ability and political integrity, so that we can not harm the country at the top and the people at the bottom.
There should be rules and regulations, and things should be done according to the rules. Officials' recruitment, promotion, daily evaluation, and selection of key positions must be scrutinized and private appointments should be avoided."
Wang Guangyang continued: "However, when a country is first established, many times there are only rules, but they forget to implement them. They just entrust important tasks casually based on personal likes and dislikes. They give and receive privately, with only a benefactor in mind, no emperor, and no national laws.
Not to mention the common people."
"It's not just the salt transport yamen that is like this, the other yamen are also making too many concessions. It is really a serious drawback of the country. If it cannot be eradicated as soon as possible, I am afraid that the next big prison will not be far away."
Wang Guangyang's words became more and more serious. Many people already had thorns growing on their buttocks and could not sit still.
Hu Weiyong, Yang Xian and other promising middle-aged people were even more shocked... Wang Guangyang had obviously been ordered by the emperor to clean up the mess.
I originally thought that he would go on a killing spree to satisfy Zhu Yuanzhang's goals and win the emperor's favor.
But Wang Guangyang talks about rules and employment as soon as he comes up. What kind of routine is this?
Moreover, from these words of Wang Guangyang, I can hear some hints of Zhang Ximeng. What is the plan of King Lu who is still in Peiping?
These two confident guys encountered a situation that they couldn't understand for the first time.
If you kill Li Shanchang, you can replace him and continue to spread your power and give orders to civil and military officials... Now it seems that this is simply a wishful thinking and a completely wrong calculation.
"Rural parties, in-laws, old tribes, nepotism, private giving and receiving, this is the root of all problems... The country is your Majesty's country, and the world is the world of all people. We must uphold the public spirit and select talents for the country. We are all humble.
Public weapons must not be self-righteous and exclusive! Otherwise, it will definitely lead to disaster!"
Good guy, Zhang Ximeng’s flavor is so strong.
Li Shanchang had already guessed that this person must have communicated with Zhang Ximeng, or at least figured out what Zhang Ximeng meant before talking openly.
"Wang Shenzheng, everything you said is a wise saying, and it is very profound. We must be cautious in our words and deeds, and be on guard against the slightest mistake...Look at the current situation, how should we deal with it?"
Wang Guangyang said: "Xiang Li, I have been appointed to be the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. There are still vacancies in the Ministry of Finance... The emperor originally intended to let the ministers recommend them. I think it is better for everyone to recommend a few suitable candidates. Not too few, but there are still three.
Five people, write down their pros and cons clearly, and then submit them to His Majesty for the Emperor to select."
Li Shanchang was startled for a moment, then immediately said: "This is a good idea. I agree. Let's all talk about it. Who can take over as the new Minister of Household Affairs?"
Just as Li Shanchang finished speaking, Zhu Sheng suddenly said, "There is a big problem in the household department at the moment. To clean up the situation, we need capable people, preferably those who have little to do with the original people. Who can take drastic measures to reorganize the household department."
, clean up corrupt officials, restore finance and taxation, don’t forget, there is still a war in Peiping, and military supplies are not a small amount. If the Ministry of Revenue cannot be put into operation as soon as possible and harm the country and the people, I am afraid it will be even more guilty."
These few words are still very powerful. Several people who wanted to recommend candidates have all kept their mouths shut. The recommendation is not appropriate, but something will happen.
Everyone was silent for a long time, and Hu Weiyong suddenly said: "I propose that Hang Qi, the Minister of Taxation, take over."
This guy openly recommended his subordinates, which surprised everyone. Hu Weiyong, don't you understand human language?
It seems that this is indeed the case. Hu Weiyong thought to himself: "Hang Qi is an honest official. He has made great achievements in organizing the Ganjiang trade routes and collecting commercial taxes and duties. Let him take over the household department, and he will surely live up to expectations!"
After finishing speaking, Hu Weiyong closed his mouth.
The rest of the people were a little surprised and began to think about it. At least Hu Weiyong had made a start, and it didn't seem to be that difficult after that.
Yang Xian considered it and said: "I propose that Zhu Zhao, the chief envoy of Zhejiang and Zhejiang provinces, take over the Ministry of Household Affairs. He has supplied military supplies over the years and has never made any mistakes. He is familiar with the government affairs of the Ministry of Household Affairs and is also a capable local official."
The two of them recommended candidates, but Li Shanchang didn't want to say anything, and the other important ministers didn't seem to want to recommend them either.
It seems like we have to choose one of these two intermediates.
But at this moment, Mao Gui suddenly spoke, "Since I want to recommend a few more for the emperor to choose from to show his public spirit, I will recommend Luo Furen, the chief envoy of Huguang!"
Wang Guangyang immediately said: "Why him?"
Mao Gui smiled, "I don't need to explain this reason... After Chen Youliang was destroyed, Huguang was devastated by war, people's livelihood was in decline, and the people had no way to make a living. Luo Furen proposed to immigrate from Jiangxi to enrich Huguang, and personally handled the immigration matters.
Over the past few years, he has worked hard and made great contributions to restoring the people's livelihood in Huguang. Now the Ministry of Household Affairs is in a mess. Let him take over the Ministry of Household Affairs. Maybe he can restore order and give His Majesty an explanation as soon as possible."
Wang Guangyang nodded slightly, and then said to Li Shanchang: "Li Xiang, let's hand over the resumes of these three people and let your Majesty make a decision!"
Li Shanchang looked at the others and found that there was indeed no one more suitable.
Li Shanchang nodded, "This selection of talents is based on public recommendation, and there is no private recommendation or nepotism. Who among the three will win depends on the emperor's decision... I think this method is very good. In the future, I can select talents for the country.
Do it this way!"
The ministers pondered over and over again, but had nothing to say, and then the results of the discussion were sent up.
Suddenly, Lao Zhu's decree came down. Among the three, Luo Fulen was selected and promoted to the Minister of Household Affairs. He was asked to go to Beijing immediately to organize the Household Department and not to delay the autumn grain collection.
As time was tight and the burden was heavy, Luo Fulen was not at all relaxed. After receiving the decree, he immediately went to Beijing and rushed here.
Luo Furen originally thought that after entering the capital, he would need to select a group of subordinates to fill the vacancies before running government affairs. However, after he entered the capital, he discovered that all the vacant officials in the Ministry of Revenue had been filled.
It turns out that after the selection of the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Civil Affairs immediately contacted the provinces and selected a group of young civil servants with excellent evaluations. It is worth mentioning that this group of civil servants generally passed the imperial examination and had many years of local experience.
Their official positions are not big. They can be county magistrates and bookkeepers, which is considered good. Many of them are just scribes... Because Zhang Ximeng advocated liberalizing the imperial examination and increasing the number of admissions, the result was that those who passed the imperial examination could not start well.
High, most of them have been lingering there for several years, and some have been there for almost ten years.
Today, it is time for them to take a step forward.
Soon, more than 80 civil servants were filled in the various civil affairs departments below the Minister of Household Affairs. The vacancies caused by the mass arrests were quickly filled.
The prison launched by Zhu Yuanzhang did not cause much trouble, which is really shocking...