Chapter 398 Reforming the Administration of Officials and Preparing to Ascend the Throne
Chapter 398 Reforming the Civil Service and Preparing for the Throne
Author: Playing with Basilisk
The twenty-sixth year of Jian'an was the second year of Huangchu of Cao Wei in history and the first year of Zhangwu of Liu Bei Group.
But because Liu Bei had not yet proclaimed himself emperor, he continued to use the Jian'an reign title.
In July, autumn entered earlier in the south this year, and the weather became increasingly colder. The evening breeze blew on the quietly flowing Han River, creating ripples.
Compared with the rolling waves of the Han River the year before, this year's Han River is much docile, as if it is also protecting the Han River. When the enemy comes, the waves are violent and the water floods Cao's army. When the enemy retreats, it is docile as usual, nourishing all things.
In the Xiangyang Prime Minister's Mansion, Zhuge Liang wore only a single piece of clothing and was sitting on his knees in the study room in the backyard, almost lying on the desk. He was writing something with a wolf-hair brush in his hand.
Sometimes he was meditating hard, sometimes writing furiously. Because it was close to sunset, the servant next to him lit an oil lamp for him, so that a shadow could be reflected on the wall.
Shen Chen walked in and saw that the evening breeze was gently closing the curtains and the cool breeze was pouring into the room. Zhuge Liang was only wearing thin clothes. He couldn't help but feel a little distressed. He took a robe from the hanger next to him and walked over to put it on him. He dragged the bench next to him over.
Zhuge Liang turned around and saw Shen Chen, so he put the brush in his hand into the brush washing tray. There was a servant beside him to help clean the brush. He said, "Xiaoqing, when did you come?"
"Just arrived."
Shen Chen put the Hu stool next to him and said: "Don't sit on your knees all the time at home. Sitting on your knees every day will cause blood circulation in the legs to be blocked and affect the health of the two feet."
"Etiquette cannot be abolished."
Zhuge Liang was pulled up and sat on the stool.
Shen Chen smiled and said: "There were still human sacrifices during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, but what about now? Times are changing, etiquette should also follow the times and advance with the times. Those unreasonable etiquette should be abolished. Brother, don't stick to the past."
"Um."
Zhuge Liang nodded and said, "Have you confirmed the list over there?"
"Headache."
When mentioning this, Shen Chen rubbed his head: "The position and status of these hundreds of officials are not easy to arrange, and it is easy to offend people. Although there are as many cars and horses in front of the door as in a busy city, how can you follow everyone's wishes? ?”
"Yes, but it's already a headache for you just to determine the positions of military generals, but I have to appoint hundreds of civil officials, as well as prefects and county magistrates from various places, which is even more complicated."
Zhuge Liang smiled bitterly and shook his head.
When a new dynasty is established, it is natural to reorganize the list of officials. Of course, the size of officials' positions cannot be decided on their own. Many factors must be considered.
For example, talents, qualifications, merits, past performance, etc., and even age must be taken into account.
Some people have very high qualifications but only average talents. To allow such people to serve as high-ranking officials is to occupy a position and do nothing, but they can occupy such a high position with their qualifications, which is a headache.
For example, people like Xu Jingmi Zhu have absolutely no choice.
Fortunately, Shen Chen had many ideas and created the system of casual officials and honored officials. Together with the original titles and officials with real power, he was able to place some senior ministers who were old and incapable of talent.
Although there were casual officials in the Han Dynasty, they were not completely established at that time. It was not until the Sui and Tang Dynasties that a complete system was established to reward some meritorious officials.
It's just that Shen Chen and Zhuge Liang are now more cautious about casual and honorary officials, because even if they have no real power and official positions, they still receive a salary. If a large number of casual officials are awarded, there will be many officials who do nothing but receive money, which will seriously bring down the court. financial.
Therefore, they both agreed on the rewards for casual officials and honorary officials. They only rewarded veterans who had done nothing but had extremely high qualifications. The existing officials with real power would never be rewarded, and at most they would be given titles.
In this way, those veteran ministers who are difficult to arrange can be excluded from official positions with real power, and they will only be given high status and honor, but no real power.
In this way, young and talented officials who lack qualifications can be replaced.
In terms of system, the Three Gongs and Nine Qings are still used.
It's just that the three ministers and nine ministers do not hold real power. Although they are not casual officials, they are honorary positions.
The real power will be vested in the Chancellery, Zhongshu Jian, and Menxia Temple.
Many people think that the Three Provinces and Six Ministries system began in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, but in fact it had already appeared as early as the late Han, Wei and Jin Dynasties.
For example, the Shangshu Province was the Shangshu Taiwan of the Han Dynasty, the Zhongshu Province was the Zhongshu during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and Cao Cao established the Zhongshu Supervisor after he became the king of Wei. The Menxia Province came from the Shizhong Temple in the Eastern Han Dynasty, and was changed to the Menxia Province in the Western Jin Dynasty.
It can be said that the certain ministers and such-and-such ministers that we often saw in the late Han Dynasty were actually the monarch's military and political staff. Their existence also formed the prototype of the three provinces and six ministries.
Therefore, without abolishing the original system of three officials and nine ministers, the Liu Bei Group still established the political form of the three provinces according to the inherent system of the Han Dynasty.
However, the original power of the three provinces was not that great, and it was not until the end of the Han Dynasty that their power became greater.
Therefore, Zhuge Liang and Shen Chen's current restructuring is not to overturn the three-province-nine ministers system and replace it with a three-province-six-ministry system, but to increase the power of the three provinces and enable them to assume the task of political structure.
The chiefs of the three provinces are Shangshu Ling, Zhongshu Cheng, and Menxiaqing. They are responsible for executing important national decrees, drafting and issuing the emperor's edicts, and reviewing edicts issued by the emperor and national decrees issued by the Shangshu Taiwan.
Its functions are roughly equivalent to those of the three provinces of Sui and Tang Dynasties.
The highest official position is below the three princes and above the nine ministers. He is the deputy to the prime minister and can be regarded as the deputy prime minister. There are also left and right servants in the three provinces, who are below the nine ministers and above the officials.
Under the three departments, there are also Shang Shulang, Zhongshu Secretary, and Menxiashi, who are responsible for the daily operations of the three departments and the tasks of serving as advisors to the superiors.
In this way, a highly efficient government was established that was independent of the three officials and nine ministers.
National affairs are concentrated in three departments, and the emperor, prime minister, and many deputy prime ministers make decisions and discuss them together, so that orders can be conveyed more quickly.
Zhuge Liang was the recognized candidate for prime minister, but he recommended the position of prime minister to Shen Chen in the list.
Shen Chen was too lazy to refuse. Anyway, Liu Bei would cross it out and add Zhuge Liang's name, so it didn't matter.
He glanced at the list Zhuge Liang was writing and said with a smile: "Brother only asked me to serve as Shangshu Ling, and asked me to be prime minister. You are treating the king and me as fools."
Zhuge Liang gave him a helpless look and said, "You are also a prime minister, why shouldn't you be worthy?"
"I don't want to be the prime minister. Just write it. If you can pass, I will lose."
Shen Chen shrugged.
Zhuge Liang said: "It's getting late, why don't you go back to the mansion?"
"Look, it's so urgent."
Shen Chen joked: "Brother, sometimes you have to accept your fate."
Zhuge Liang became even more helpless and said, "Then you didn't come to see me today just to chat with me, right?"
"Of course not."
Shen Chen became serious, looked at him seriously and said, "Brother, do you know the Nine-Rank Zhongzheng System?"
"Um."
Zhuge Liang nodded: "Last year, Cao Pi asked Chen Qun to customize the official selection system issued by Cao Wei this year. It is said that this method replaced the imperial examination."
"The imperial examination system has basically been manipulated by the powerful families. They have monopolized the way to become an official. There is little point in continuing to use it. Cao Pi is a smart man. It is easier to replace the old system with a new official selection system than to reform the old system. many."
Shen Chen said in a deep voice: "Furthermore, the imperial examination system will lead to the lack of ways for small and medium-sized aristocratic families, local powerful powerful people, and poor people to become officials. However, after the ninth-level Zhongzheng system, both small and medium-sized aristocratic families, powerful people, and poor people can become officials, which greatly alleviates the problem." By eliminating the conflict between Cao Wei and local small and medium-sized aristocratic families, powerful and poor families, he can also gain support from big aristocratic families, small and medium-sized aristocratic families, as well as powerful and poor families."
Zhuge Liang thought for a while and then agreed: "Yes, the original inspection system selected very few talents, and they were often monopolized by the big families. Now after the ninth rank Zhongzheng, the big family members often occupy the upper and upper ranks, and the rest are upper, middle, upper, lower, and middle. The top, middle, middle, bottom, bottom, top, bottom, and bottom can be divided among the other small and medium-sized aristocratic families, powerful and poor families. In this way, everyone has an official position, which really allows Cao Wei to gain the support of the nobles."
"But the common people are not as good as oxen and horses."
Shen Chen sighed.
The Nine-Rank Zhengzhong System is actually a carnival of nobles.
In the imperial examination system of the Han Dynasty, each state produced a Xiaolian and a Maocai every year, plus three officials, one supervisor, one censor, one secretary, one state pastor, one Maocai each year, and one Xiaolian elected by each county. Every year There are only more than a hundred people with filial piety and integrity in the country.
Naturally, more than a hundred people are not enough, so the examination and promotion system is basically monopolized by aristocratic families. In the late Han Dynasty, you can see by looking at the various princes and the talents under them, there are very few people who are filial, honest and talented.
Therefore, if the imperial examination system continues to be used, it will cause dissatisfaction among local powerful people from small and medium-sized aristocratic families and children from poor families who lack access to official positions, and may threaten Cao Wei's rule.
But as soon as the Nine-Rank Zhongzheng System came into being, all nobles could serve as officials. Naturally, all nobles would support Cao Wei, which greatly eased the conflict between Cao Wei and the nobles.
But the disadvantages are also obvious.
The whole dynasty was full of nobles, and everyone knew the virtues of the nobles.
Family interests come first.
As long as I can continue to be an official to protect the interests of my family, who will be the emperor? I don't care.
Therefore, when the Sima family usurped Wei, all the nobles remained silent.
Zhuge Liang shook his head: "Cao Wei attaches great importance to the nobles, and the northern nobles will definitely support him. Even if the people live in hardship, I am afraid it will be difficult to shake its foundation."
"Um."
Shen Chen said: "So we must also keep pace with the times, change the evaluation system, and introduce new methods of selecting talents."
Zhuge Liang looked at him in surprise and said, "Doesn't it mean that Xiaoqing also wants to be upright in the ninth grade? Aren't you always focused on suppressing the noble clans and supporting poor families and the common people at the bottom?"
"Of course he is not a nine-grade righteous person."
Shen Chen said: "I plan to use the imperial examination system."
"Imperial examination?"
"Yes, it is an assessment system. Each county is divided into township examination, county examination, state examination and palace examination. Those who pass the county examination can become officials."
"Then what is the content of the assessment?"
"We used the Seven Classics, "Zhuziyan" and "Shen's Classic" as topics to examine the meaning of the classics. We also used the topic of governing townships and counties to examine practical practices. Then we used current political issues to examine strategies. Finally, of course, there was an in-person interview to examine His character and talent.”
"It sounds good, but it still seems to be supporting the nobles."
Zhuge Liang frowned.
The imperial examination system mentioned by Shen Chen is naturally different from the later imperial examination system. The later imperial examination system became very empty and the questions were unpredictable and foggy.
The imperial examination system he proposed now is very simple. It actually tests people's literary level and governance ability.
Once passed, you can immediately serve as an official and govern the local area.
For example, when examining the meaning of the classics, just like when Liu Biao examined Deng Hong, he asked Deng Hong to explain the principles of the classics. Deng Hong's ability was average, so his answer was limited. From this, we can see how well a person's knowledge of the classics is managed. Sample.
There is also the governance of townships and counties, just like Liu Bei asked Pang Tong to be the county magistrate of a certain place to test his ability. He just put the problems faced by Pang Tong in front of the candidates, and the candidates solved them on paper.
Therefore, the imperial examination system proposed by Shen Chen was still based on the actual situation of the Han Dynasty, and was not as complex and illusory as the imperial examination system in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
To put it simply, it is about hard work and ability first.
The problem is that if you want to participate in the imperial examination system, you must first be a knowledgeable person.
In the late Han Dynasty, it was difficult for the people at the bottom to study. Only the rich and powerful and the children of powerful families had the means to learn knowledge.
Therefore, the imperial examination system is still the same as the nine-rank Zhongzheng system, which allows the gentry to become officials and the common people at the bottom have no chance to become officials.
However, Shen Chen shook his head and said: "No, although the gentry are indeed selected now, it is not like the ninth-grade Zhongzheng system, which completely prevents the lower class people from entering the officialdom. Brother, think about it, at this stage, it is true that the majority of the gentry are entering the officialdom, but as long as We promote education in every township and county and set up rural schools. After all, the children of Guizhou can read and break the monopoly of aristocratic families in the future."
"Is that so?"
Zhuge Liang thought about it, and then nodded in agreement: "Xiaoqing does have a long-term vision."
"And there are currently too many benefits in supporting nobles to become officials."
Shen Chen analyzed one by one: "Firstly, it eases the conflict between us and the gentry. Secondly, because the gentry possesses education and knowledge, there are indeed far more talents than the common people at the bottom. Therefore, if we want the country to prosper, we cannot completely eliminate the gentry. We can only We can popularize education, and in the next few decades or hundreds of years, the people at the bottom will be able to produce more talents."
The conflict between Liu Bei's group and the southern gentry is too sharp, and the northern gentry have united to help Cao Wei. If this continues, the gentry within Liu Bei's group will be holding back, while the Cao Wei group will have the full support of the gentry. One is going down, the other is going up, and the future may be in jeopardy.
Only by easing the conflict with the gentry and supporting the gentry as officials can this problem be solved.
The imperial examination system was the solution.
Because it is almost difficult for the people at the bottom to study at this stage. Even in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, scholars had to have a small fortune to be able to maintain a life of a person who did not work in production and concentrated on studying for ten years in high school, not to mention the relatively low productivity in the Han Dynasty.
Therefore, the emergence of the imperial examination system did not threaten the gentry. Instead, it became a way for small and medium-sized gentry and powerful and poor families to enter the officialdom. Naturally, they would not oppose it.
Just take a long-term view.
The middle rank of the ninth rank completely prevents the lower class people from entering the officialdom.
But everyone can participate in the imperial examination system. As long as your country becomes prosperous and patiently develops grassroots education, then one day the literacy rate and cultural level of the people at the bottom will increase, and the monopoly of aristocratic families will be broken.
Therefore, from the perspective of short-term interests, the imperial examination system can alleviate conflicts between gentry and clan. From a long-term perspective, the imperial examination system can attract low-level talents to join in the future.
This is why the imperial examination system was still controlled by aristocratic families during the Sui and Tang dynasties, but by the Song, Ming and Qing dynasties, the aristocratic families were no longer there, and people from lower-class backgrounds were able to replace them.
After that, Shen Chen and Zhuge Liang discussed some details.
For example, the assessment content, the additional government departments and agencies, and the current issues of official rank and rank.
The number of stones divided by officials is too general.
Shen Chen believed that officials should be divided into nine ranks, with the ninth to sixth ranks being divided into township and county levels, the sixth to third ranks being state and county levels, and the second to first ranks being national levels.
Why do townships, counties and prefectures appear in the sixth rank?
Because the sixth-grade county magistrate corresponds to the Gyeonggi county magistrate, it is natural to have a high ranking. Just like the Luoyang magistrate in the Han Dynasty was not the conventional six hundred stones, but a thousand stones, so the rank was higher.
The rest of the prime ministers are of the first rank, and the three ministers are of the first rank. The chief officials and deputy ministers of the three provinces are of the second rank, and the nine ministers are of the second rank. The servants of the three provinces and the governors of the prefectures are of the third rank, and there are deputies below them who are the third rank of subordinates.
On the military attache side, the general is the first rank, the general of hussars, the cavalry general, and the general of guard are the first rank. The four generals at the front, back, left, and right are the second rank, the four towns and the four expeditions are the second rank, and so on.
In this way, the above-mentioned officials correspond to the original positions of the Han Dynasty, such as the rank of ten thousand stones (first rank), the rank of two thousand stones (second rank), and the rank of two thousand stones (third rank). The county governor is the fourth rank, and the same is true for ordinary generals. The fourth rank corresponds to the original position of two thousand stones.
That is to say, the original rank number is divided into genuine and subordinate grades, and deputies are added to the chief officer to divide the chief officer's power. At the same time, the officials can be subdivided into the sovereignty they should control.
Zhuge Liang felt that what Shen Chen said was very reasonable, so he wrote it down one by one.
From the end of last year to July this year, they were preparing for Liu Bei's enthronement ceremony.
In addition to approving hundreds of officials, it is also necessary to invite envoys from all over the world, formulate new etiquette rules, and verify people's livelihood in various places. In addition to the country that already needs to be governed, there are too many things to do and more time.
Because at the beginning of this year, Shen Chen established several new departments, including the Supervisory Yuan, Yushitai, Sangongsuo, etc., and took back the death penalty power of county magistrates and state governments, and the death penalty was vested in the central government.
When there are more functional departments, more officials will naturally be needed. A large number of things will pile up on the central government in a short period of time, which will naturally make government affairs unable to be handled quickly.
So this year till now, Zhuge Liang is still extremely busy with things and has not had a moment to rest.
Fortunately, Shen Chen, Pang Tong, Fazheng, and Jia Xu were there to assist him. Otherwise, if he had to take care of state affairs alone, he would probably be like in history, where he would have to carry a state with him and march forward hard, and eventually die of exhaustion.
In the next month, Zhuge Liang and Shen Chen gathered together all the things that had been done, drew up a list, and determined all government functions before reporting to Liu Bei.
At this point, everything has been prepared. In other words, as long as Liu Bei needs it, even if he proposed it last year, he can ascend the throne within a month.
But things have to be slow.
If we are slow, we can first deal with the current domestic affairs in the south, such as people's livelihood issues, economic issues, military issues, etc.
Moreover, delaying time can also block Liu Bei's Northern Expedition.
Now the South has just pacified Jiangdong, and what is needed is governance rather than war, so this kind of thing cannot be done quickly.
However, after eight months of preparation time, by August, they had perfected all the details. Finally, Liu Bei ruled that except for some list members who had been re-changed by him, the enthronement was officially held at the end of August in the 26th year of Jian'an.