The Tang Dynasty was an era of transition from short-footed furniture such as sitting tables, seats, and low tables to tall furniture such as tables and chairs.
In the early Tang Dynasty, low furniture such as couches, beds, and desks were still the main ones, and chairs with long backrests had not yet appeared. In the later period, close to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, chairs with backrests and high-leg tables became popular in the whole society.
But even then, and even until the Ming and Qing dynasties, the "couch" for people to sit cross-legged did not disappear. It was still widely used in all walks of life, and gradually became a symbol of style - now
The "Arhat Bed" that is very popular in the mahogany furniture market is a "couch" for people to sit cross-legged.
In some thunder dramas of later generations, regardless of the Han, Tang, Three Kingdoms or which dynasty, high tables and chairs are flying around, which is purely random fabrication; but some serious dramas known as "documentary style" have gone too far, such as those in the Zhenguan and Kaiyuan eras.
It’s unlikely that people in the palace are still sitting on mats and sleeping on floor mats... Short-legged furniture is furniture after all, right? There’s no reason not to sleep on a “couch” but to sleep on a floor mat instead.
"Is there a carpenter in the Yamen?" Fang Jun twisted his waist, feeling a little sore.
Ren Zhongliu replied: "The carpenters in our Ministry of Industry are usually in the workshop in the city, but there must be some generals and supervisors nearby. I'll borrow two of them. I wonder what the servants are for?"
"Let them make something..."
In this life, we can't be like the previous life where we worked so hard to get promoted. In the end, we are dead, and we don't know which bastard got a better political performance. Anyway, my current wish is not to be a big official. The first problem is to solve the problem of office work.
Due to environmental issues, I sit on a bench all day long and need a lumbar support early...
Ren Zhongliu pondered for a moment and said tentatively: "As the new minister of the house takes office... should I summon the subordinate colleagues of the Water Department to recognize each other and arrange their work?"
No matter how much you mess around, you still have to show off, right? On the first day you take office, you don't summon your subordinates to show your authority, but instead call on the carpenter... How unreliable!
It’s not like Fang Jun has never been an official. How could he know these necessary procedures?
It's just that he has been busy recently and has no time to find out the inside story of the Ministry of Works. His eyes are dark, and he has arranged a shitty job?
I wanted to wait a few days to get familiar with the situation, but since Ren Zhongliu brought it up, let’s just meet him and not express his attitude!
Fang Jun said, "Okay, go and call everyone here."
After saying that, he lowered his head and picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and started writing and drawing on the paper.
Ren Zhongliu agreed, turned around and went out. He shouted twice in the corridor. After a while, he walked in with five or six people and stood in a row.
Everyone shouted in unison: "See Shangguan!"
Fang Jun looked up and twitched the corner of his mouth...
These are the senior officials of the Ministry of Water Affairs. They are all in the seventh or eighth rank. It is said that their ranks are not low. They were released to the county and at least they were county magistrates and county magistrates. They were able to intimidate the whole party. But
This one is as miserable as an old farmer, and the other is as lean as a bamboo pole. This trembling old man’s eyebrows are all white. Is he a hundred years old?
Okay! Why does the entire Water Department feel like old, young, sick and disabled?
No wonder this Ren Zhongliu became a Yuanwailang because of his good looks and strong body...
Fang Jun stood up in a hurry, handed the old man the stool under his buttocks, and said with a smile: "Oh, you are so old, you should go to visit you, how dare you come over?"
The old man chuckled and sat down without refusing. According to his age, even if he went to the Tai Chi Hall, His Majesty Li Er would give him a seat...
Everyone introduced themselves.
The structure of the Water Department is streamlined, with a total of only one doctor, one member, two directors, and five clerks.
Among them, the doctor is the chief official, the Yuanwailang serves as the deputy to assist the chief official in his work, the chief is responsible for specific affairs, and the real people who handle the affairs are the clerks.
Even though he gave his name, Fang Jun couldn't remember it all at the moment.
The stool was given to the old man with a white beard, and Fang Jun could only stand. He didn't want to show any official authority in this small yamen, so he said kindly: "This is the first time we met, and from now on we will have colleagues."
As an official, you should help each other and work together as one. We don't talk nonsense. If anything happens, we will report it to you. If nothing happens, everyone will perform their duties."
There is a sense of déjà vu that “when something happens, we start to act, but when nothing happens, we retreat”...
The subordinates looked at each other with a little surprise.
It stands to reason that when every new official takes office, he must give a long speech to clarify his attitude and demonstrate his official authority, which is conducive to future work.
This guy just said two dry sentences and that's it?
"Oh, there's one more thing..." Fang Jun said.
Is this right... The subordinates are all complaining, saying it all at once, do they have to play this trick?
"I have booked a few banquet tables at Songhe Tower for noon. I will treat you all as a banquet. I hope you will take care of me in the future. Okay, let's go back first and finish the things at hand quickly. Don't delay eating wine.
It’s time, don’t wait until it expires!”
The subordinates were stunned again. According to the rules, shouldn't subordinates like them join in the party to entertain the superior?
Moreover, Songhe Tower! It is a famous restaurant in Chang'an City, and it is famously expensive! If you are not a high-ranking official or a wealthy businessman, you would not dare to enter that door! Ordinary banquets, you can get three or five points.
, equivalent to their monthly salary for several months, who would be willing to give it up?
Of course, the bulk of these officials' salaries lies in their annual salary and position, but that's heartbreaking.
But then I thought about it, this new Shangguan is famous for his ability to make money. He sold a treasure some years ago and got tens of thousands of coins! People really don't take this small amount of money seriously.
As a result, everyone's eyes changed when they looked at Fang Jun.
The son of the current prime minister and the future emperor's son-in-law, he was walking around the city of Chang'an, but he still had tens of thousands of dollars in his pocket... Such a Shangguan was destined to have a bright future, even if he couldn't keep up, he could talk about it.
Refreshing!
Seeing no reaction from everyone, Fang Jun waved his hands: "Since there's nothing going on, let's all leave..."
"I have something to report."
Someone stood up and said.
Fang Jun was slightly startled and looked at this person. The person in charge, Liang Renfang, was the one who looked as miserable as an old farmer. He was responsible for the current accounts of the Water Department and was considered the chief accountant.
Fang Jun said in a deep voice: "Say."
Liang Renfang was holding a thick account book in his hand. He didn't seem to notice Fang Jun's displeasure and said slowly: "This year's spring flood is coming. We need money and food for river management. We need to submit last year's accounts before we can go to the Ministry of Accounts to apply for funding."
"My subordinates would like to report last year's summary to Fang Shilang so that he can apply for funds as early as possible and arrange river management matters in time."
The so-called river management matter refers to the management of the Yellow River. Every spring and summer, the water level of the Yellow River will rise. If you are not careful, the embankment will burst. At that time, no one will be better off as long as the yamen is involved.
Ordinarily, this is definitely a serious matter, but you have to say it at this time?
Ren Zhongliu's face sank and he scolded: "Mr. Liang, the Minister has just taken office and has not yet learned about the affairs of the Water Department. There is no need to rush."
Liang Renfang frowned and retorted with great righteousness: "My subordinates can wait, but the river floods cannot wait!"
Fang Jun waved his hand to stop Ren Zhongliu, looked at Liang Renfang with squinted eyes, and nodded: "Please report back soon."
"promise!"
Liang Renfang agreed, stood and opened the account book in his hand, and read out the current accounts one by one.
"Last spring, the first month of the year, Yisi, the Ministry of Household Affairs allocated 130,000 guan to control river floods, labor, baggage, grain, oil and sundries, etc. A total of 153,765 guan was spent, and the Ministry of Household Affairs paid the balance
It has not been made up. In the summer of April, Wuyin, there was a flood in Anzhou. The Ministry of Household Affairs allocated 120,000 guan to build a dam for 30 miles, and the cost was 54,195 guan. It was the same as the previous allocation by the Ministry of Household Affairs.
The total amount of money is 28,355 guan, and the balance is retained in the treasury. Last year’s total..."
"stop!"
Fang Jun waved his hand to interrupt him and said, "This account is wrong."
Everyone is a little confused. The number of transactions makes people dizzy. Do you know something is wrong?
Liang Renfang's expression changed: "What's wrong? I've calculated this many times..."
Fang Jun said flatly: "It's not right if I say it's wrong!"
How dare you play this trick with your brother!
On my first day in office, you want me to take advantage of this opportunity to solidify this account and try to conceal the truth?
I will tell you that we were the runner-up in the city's abacus and mental arithmetic competition that year?
Fang Jun said coldly: "The difference between the import and export is not 28,355 guan, but 42,040 guan. Where did the missing 13,685 guan go?