At the Liaodong Chief Envoy's Yamen, Chen Xin was busy non-stop and was about to go to Beijing to report on his duties. To be honest, he was very panicked.
After Liu Jin became the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, he not only introduced the examination system, but also the frontier officials like Chen Xin had to go to the capital regularly to report their duties to the emperor.
This is something that has never happened before.
In the past, when you were an official, especially a high-ranking official like Chen Xin, your life was very easy. As long as the weather was good and there were no disasters, you could basically drink tea, read newspapers, and live comfortably.
But now, not only do I have to pass the exam, but I also have to report on my work, which makes life difficult.
First of all, there are many entrance examination items in the entrance examination system, including requirements for population, taxation, road construction, bridge construction, school construction, public security, etc.
Secondly, they went to the capital to report their work. They had no idea how to report their work to the emperor. To be honest, this was the first time for everyone, and Chen Xin still didn’t know what to say.
"Sir, the carriage is ready and ready to set off."
Hu Benhui walked in and said to Chen Xin.
"Let's go!"
Chen Xin nodded slightly and strode out.
Soon I got on the four-wheeled carriage and drove towards the capital.
On the carriage, Chen Xin closed his eyes and meditated for a long time. After thinking for a while, he said to Hu Benhui: "If you report your duties to the emperor, how should you report your duties?"
Hu Benhui, who was standing next to him, was not surprised when he heard this. As a close confidant of Chen Xin, he had witnessed with his own eyes that Chen Xin had trouble sleeping and eating because of this work report.
"Your Excellency, I believe that the duty report must be to report to the emperor and the princes of the DPRK on your administration in Liaodong this year, and at the same time elaborate on some of your plans for the future."
Hu Benhui thought for a while and replied.
"Well, if that's all, I have nothing to worry about."
"Our population in Liaodong Province is growing rapidly this year. We have a bumper grain harvest, a lot of cultivated land has been reclaimed, and tax revenue has also increased significantly. In addition, we have also built a lot of roads in Liaodong, and the public security is also quite good."
"I am still confident in this aspect, but I am just afraid that there are other things involved in this report."
Chen Xin thought for a while and nodded slightly.
He is considered a good official and has made great achievements in Liaodong. During the autumn harvest, because there were too many fields cultivated in Liaodong and there were not enough manpower, he also purchased a lot of steam in the name of Liaodong Chief Envoy.
Harvester is used to harvest wheat.
It can be seen that he is still an accomplished official. Unlike most officials of this era, he is an official who is determined to do something.
"What else is in there?"
When Hu Benhui heard this, he thought for a while and said: "Sir, I have asked someone to find out clearly. This time I came to Beijing to report on my work, it was mainly led by the current Minister of Civil Affairs, Liu Jin and Liu Gong."
"Your Excellency, you should also be aware of Mr. Liu's character. He is the greatest God of Wealth in the Ming Dynasty. He is very rich, so he has always been a man of peace. He is not greedy for money or lustful, and he is very fair in everything he does."
"So you don't have to worry too much. Moreover, when we go to Beijing this time, we have also prepared a lot of local specialties from Liaodong. We will give them to all the princes in the DPRK. Even if they are not of great use, they will not be in vain.
It’s too ugly.”
"I hope so~"
"My family is too poor and I don't have enough money to give gifts. I can only give away some local specialties from Liaodong."
Chen Xin nodded slightly.
He is considered an upright official and is not greedy. Unlike many officials, when they get to a place, they want to wipe out all the people's wealth and anointment.
Of course, being an official in a place has some benefits. For example, in Liaodong, he, as a parent official, can prepare some of Liaodong's specialties such as ginseng, deer antlers, and mink skins and bring them to the capital.
The princes of the DPRK are working hard on state affairs, and sending some local specialties is not considered bribery. After all, compared with writing fees and the like, this is simply a drop in the bucket.
In this regard, the Ming Dynasty's officialdom has also formed a tacit understanding, so even Liu Jian, the chief minister of the cabinet, actually did not accept the filial piety of the officials below him, otherwise his fellow countryman Liu Yu would not be able to be valued by Liu Jian
, he was promoted very quickly.
After all, all kinds of filial piety and writing fees are not considered corruption by default. This is a bit similar to the bald eagle in later generations. It is legal to invite officials and give them a speaking fee.
The income is of the same nature.
The small book stand that book lovers used before has been hung up and is now basically in use.
This time Chen Xin went to the capital to report on his work, and he also brought several carts of specialties from Liaodong, such as ginseng, deer antlers, and mink skins. There were a lot of these things in Liaodong, and he planned to send them all to the houses of the princes in the capital.
"Adults don't have to worry too much~"
"Today's emperor is an eternal emperor who values virtuous ministers. Liu Gongna, the official minister, is a disciple of a noble man. He always does things impartially and selflessly. Moreover, your Excellency is a good official and an upright official. As long as I tell the truth, compared to
There is no problem. Even if you don’t receive it, you can still be appreciated by the emperor and Liu Gong, and you can expect to be promoted in the future.”
Hu Benhui thought about it and said with a smile.
"There's no hope for Gao Sheng. Just don't let anything happen to you."
Chen Xin smiled and shook his head.
The road from Liaodong to the capital is still very easy to travel, because the imperial court has built a cement road from Shanhaiguan to Liaodong, and there are cement roads from Shanhaiguan to the capital and Tianjin.
With the spacious cement roads and four-wheeled carriages, there were not only inns set up by the imperial court to rest along the way, but also many private inns, restaurants, teahouses, etc. It can be said that traveling is very convenient.
As for another problem of traveling in ancient times, safety, there is no need to worry.
The road security from Shanhaiguan to Liaodong is very good, because this road has a large number of business travelers and immigrants moving to Liaodong every day. There are many people coming and going. The court also attaches great importance to this road, and it is mainly surrounded by plains.
The area and roads are very safe.
It only took a few days for Chen Xin to arrive in the capital.
The Imperial Hotel in Beijing, well, is an industry under Liu Jin's command. Of course, the major shareholders are still the Emperor and Zhu Houzhao.
As the best hotel in the capital now, it is a place that combines inns and restaurants. Naturally, it is also a place where dignitaries gather. The feudal officials who come to the capital to report on their duties basically stay here.
As soon as Chen Xin checked into the hotel, several people came to him immediately.
"Brother Chen, I haven't seen you for many years. How are you?"
The leader smiled and saluted Chen Xin.
"Brother Zhong!"
As soon as Chen Xin saw the person, he couldn't help shouting.
The leader was called Zhong Fan, and he and Chen Xin were of the same class. They were both Jinshi during the Chenghua Dynasty. At that time, Chen Xin was the 18th in the second class, and Zhong Fan was the 16th in the second class.
And everyone knows that after winning the Jinshi, it is inevitable that the new Jinshi of the same class will get together to get to know each other, and they can support each other in the court in the future.
Fellow townspeople, contemporaries, classmates, classmates, classmates, etc. are extremely important relationships in the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty, and are also one of the important reasons for the formation of party strife in the middle and late Ming Dynasty.
"Haha, I specially asked people to pay attention to Brother Chen. As soon as Brother Zhong comes, I will come."
Zhong Fan laughed happily and said.
Among the Jinshi scholars of that year, Zhong Fan and Chen Xin were considered to be relatively well-off. Chen Xin was the chief envoy of Liaodong, and Zhong Fan was the chief envoy of Guangdong. They were both high-ranking officials from the second rank.
"Brother Zhong is interested!"
Chen Xin immediately raised his hand and insisted again.
"Haha, it's mainly because we haven't seen each other for many years and I really miss her."
"Come on, Chen Xin, let me introduce you."
"This is Brother Sun Fengji, the Chief Minister of Guangxi, Brother Sun, the Chief Minister of Jiaozhi, Wang Zunwang, and Brother Jiang Yijiang, the Chief Minister of Xianglin!"
Zhong Fan smiled happily, and then introduced the three people around him to Chen Xin. Like the two of them, the three of them were all high-ranking officials in the border areas, from the second rank to the envoys.
"Brother Sun, Brother Wang, Brother Jiang!"
Chen Xin also quickly bowed his hands in tribute.
"Brother Chen!"
The three of them all smiled and returned the greeting.
Soon, the five of them found a quiet place and started chatting while drinking tea. As they chatted, they naturally talked about their trip to Beijing to report on their work.
"Brothers, I came to Beijing this time to report on my work. I wonder if you have any news?"
Wang Zun, the chief envoy of Jiaozhi, smiled and asked a few people.
"Yes, this report is the first of its kind. I don't have any confidence in my heart. Moreover, we are from Guangxi, Guangdong, Jiaozhi, and Xianglin. We are really far away from the capital. This information is not available.
, I know too little about the situation in the capital, and I am too slow."
"Brother Chen, Liaodong is very close to the capital, and we have close contacts. You must know some news, right?"
Jiang Yi, the chief envoy of Xianglin, also nodded, looked at Chen Xin and said.
"I am dissatisfied with everyone. In fact, I am also very panicked. I have not received any news until now. I just know that this time the official report is mainly responsible for Liu Gong, the Minister of Personnel."
Chen Xin looked at everyone, smiled slightly and shook his head.
I even wanted to find someone to inquire about the news, but I didn't have the confidence in my heart.
"Mr. Liu~"
When everyone heard this, they nodded slightly. In fact, those who came to the capital first had already gone around to find people to inquire about the news, and the news they heard was similar. This time, Liu Jin was in charge.
"How about we find time to visit Mr. Liu together?"
Sun Fengji, the chief envoy of Guangxi, thought about it and suggested.
"No, no, I've asked someone to inquire. Mr. Liu doesn't like to be disturbed. He doesn't like people to visit him privately. It would be better to visit Mr. Liu in the three cabinets."
Wang Zun, the chief envoy of Jiaozhi, thought for a moment and shook his head.
"What Brother Wang said is true. I met Liu Gong once in Qiongzhou last year, and I know Liu Gong to some extent. Liu Gong really doesn't like these things, so brothers, let's think more about this report.
Think about how to do it, otherwise the horror will be very difficult for Mr. Liu."
After hearing this, Zhong Fan also nodded and said.