"When a person is born, his nature is good, his nature is similar, and his habits are far apart... When a person is born, his nature is pure and kind. Later, acquired learning and influence make people change.
Some people become very evil people due to acquired learning and influence.
There are also people who become loyal, brave and courageous people through acquired learning and influence.
No one is born bad.
The reason why people become bad is because in the process of learning, they are instilled with wrong knowledge by others, or they are influenced by the people around them, so they become evil people."
In order to explain to Zhao Zhen the key points of measuring talents, Kou Ji had to take out the "Three Character Classic".
The Three Character Classic was written by later generations.
It didn't show up now.
After all, the protagonist Su Laoquan and Su Xun mentioned in the "Three Character Classic" as "Su Laoquan, twenty-seven, began to work hard" are not even as old as the weak crown.
"At the beginning of man's life, his nature is good..."
Zhao Zhen subconsciously repeated the "Three Character Classic" that Kou Ji said.
The standard of talent in my heart has been shaken a bit.
Kou Ji saw that Zhao Zhen was thinking about what he had said, so he continued: "When Ding Wei first entered his official career, he was not a treacherous and evil person. Not only was he not a treacherous and evil person, but he was also one of the few
talent.
During his term of office, he did a lot of good things that benefited the country and the people, and made many meritorious deeds.
He has made great achievements in both literature and martial arts.
Ding Wei's resume file is stored in the Ministry of Personnel. The ministers who return can have someone bring it over so that the officials can take a good look at it.
Ding said that when he was serving abroad, he was a good official.
Why did he become a very evil person after entering the court?
It's because the court's method of measuring talents is problematic.
The imperial court valued talents, valued knowledge, reputation, and family background.
Only ability is not valued.
Therefore, Ding said that while he was serving abroad, he repeatedly made meritorious deeds but was not promoted.
Ding Wei probably realized that no matter how much he helped the court or made meritorious deeds for the court, he could not get a promotion.
So I changed my approach to help myself advance in my official career."
When Zhao Zhen heard this, his face looked a little ugly.
Ding Wei was an official who appeared during his father's reign. Ding Wei made countless contributions to the court but was not promoted. His father was responsible.
As a son of man, he naturally felt unhappy when he heard that his father had made mistakes.
According to the principle of filial piety, not only could he not speak ill of his father, but he also had to protect his father's reputation.
But he did not stop Kou Ji from talking, nor did he punish Kou Ji for it.
Because Kou Ji's words are profound.
The shortcomings of the imperial court's use of talents have been clearly pointed out.
If he had stopped Kou Ji from speaking today, he might never hear such harsh words of advice again in the future.
Seeing that Zhao Zhen's face was not very good, Kou Ji gritted his teeth slightly and continued: "Ding said that he could not get promotion for his meritorious service, so he recognized his ancestor and returned to his clan, and recognized the more famous ancestor.
Ding said that after having a famous ancestor, he was promoted immediately.
After he was promoted to Bianjing City, he did nothing to benefit the country and the people.
It’s just a matter of blindly deceiving the superiors and concealing the truth in order to achieve success.”
Zhao Zhen took a deep breath, stared at Kou Ji, and said hesitantly: "Is it my father's fault?"
Kou Ji was silent for a moment. He felt that for this reason, there was no need to hide it. He looked at Zhao Zhen and said: "The late emperor was known for his knowledge and reputation. Naturally, the civil and military officials in the dynasty followed suit."
When Zhao Zhen heard this, his face became even more ugly.
Kou Ji sighed and said: "The official has been on the throne for a long time. You should understand what it means to be effective."
"I……"
Zhao Zhen suddenly didn't know what to say.
Join Kou Ji in scolding his father?
He can't do it.
What Kou Ji said is reasonable and there are ready-made examples, which are enough to show that his father has problems in measuring his talents.
When Kou Ji saw that Zhao Zhen was hesitant to speak, he could roughly guess what Zhao Zhen was thinking.
Kou Ji continued: "I will give another example to the officials. I served in the Ministry of Personnel. I once sent people to investigate officials in various places and met two very interesting county magistrates.
One of the county magistrates, during his term of office, never left the front door or stepped forward. He was like a young lady hiding in his house all day long, reciting poems and rhymes, studying knowledge intensively, and leaving all government affairs to the county.
An assistant officer in the government office, a minor official.
Therefore, under the rule of this magistrate, it often happened that subordinate officials and petty officials oppressed good people.
But what is surprising is that this person has been recommended by Shangguan several times.
The reason is that this person is well-known among scholars and has talent and learning.
Another county magistrate, when he was in office, would go out of the government office every day and walk around the county under his jurisdiction. If he encountered injustice on the road, he would seek justice for him. In his spare time, he would try his best to bring people in the county to justice.
People, let’s seek happiness together.
Under his rule, although the people in the county did not live a wealthy life, no one died of hunger and no one was oppressed.
What is surprising is that this man moved to the position of county magistrate three times, and in nine years he was not promoted even one step.
The reason is that this person is not well-known in the scholarly community, and he does not even have a close relationship with his superior.
When I once sent someone to ask his superior about his past during his tenure, his superior actually didn't have much impression of him.
minister……"
"That's enough..."
Zhao Zhen gritted his teeth and interrupted Kou Ji's words.
He didn't want to hear Kou Ji continue to give examples.
Although he didn't want to admit it, in his heart, his father's name and the word "Hunjun" were gradually getting closer.
He was afraid that if Kou Ji continued to speak, his father's name would overlap with the word "Hunjun".
No matter how miserable his father was, he was still very kind to him.
He didn't want any of the wise and mighty image his father left in his heart to be shattered.
Zhao Zhen took a deep breath, suppressed the discomfort in his heart, and whispered to Kou Ji: "Just tell me what I should do."
Seeing that the heat was coming, Kou Ji did not continue to destroy Zhao Heng's image in Zhao Zhen's heart.
Kou Ji said: "Officials should not focus on loyal ministers and good generals, but also on traitorous ministers. There are things that officials can learn from loyal ministers and good generals, and there are also things that can be learned from traitorous ministers.
Officials can learn how to measure their talents from loyal ministers and good generals.
From traitorous ministers, you will learn more ways to adapt to your talents.
Many officials who were treacherous and evil were not treacherous and evil when they first entered their official career.
It was during their official careers that they became extremely evil people.
Why they became such evil people is worth pursuing by the officials.
It was the imperial court that did something that turned them into treacherous and evil people.
Or was it that they were influenced by something after entering the official career and turned into a very evil person?
All are worthy of official investigation.
If officials figure out why they become treacherous and evil people, they can take precautions and correct some of the imperial decrees and the imperial court's method of assessing talents.
In this way, we can have more good officials and fewer treacherous ministers in the Song Dynasty.
Only in this way can the politics of the Song Dynasty be clear and clear, and the national power can flourish."
After a pause, Kou Ji added: "Actually, during the reign of Emperor Taizu, the official evaluation system was quite good. Emperor Taizu attached great importance to local officials and knew that local officials were the foundation of the imperial court.
Therefore, be very cautious when dispatching local officials.
We are also very strict when we transfer local officials and evaluate local officials."
Zhao Kuangyin got the throne by bullying his orphans and widowers, which is indeed a bit unethical.
But Zhao Kuangyin is indeed more suitable to be an emperor than the young emperor who usurped the throne from him.
Whether it is to pacify the four directions, establish a dynasty, or implement administrative methods, they are all very powerful.
Zhao Kuangyin knew very well that local officials were the foundation of the imperial court.
Therefore, the emphasis on local officials was much higher than that of other dynasties.
He has to check with every local official at the county and state levels before taking office.
After taking office, he also sent many people to watch from all directions.
The general magistrates in various places are his eyes and ears. In addition to helping the local officials to implement their policies, they also help him supervise the local officials and can secretly report to him.
In addition, he also dispatched important ministers in the court to serve as chief officials in various places to restrain local officials.
Including Yushitai and Sansi, they are all helping him supervise local officials.
The assessment process for promotion to local officials is also very strict.
When local officials are promoted, not only their political performance but also their conduct evaluations must be evaluated. The real conduct evaluations given by the common people are not those given by their superiors.
Of course, their Shangguan's reputation was also mixed in.
But its proportion is not significant.
In addition, when a local official is transferred, Zhao Kuangyin must personally review it, and only after approval will he be allowed to be promoted.
This shows how much Zhao Kuangyin attached great importance to local officials.
However.
Zhao Guangyi inherited the method of evaluating officials set by Zhao Kuangyin, but he did not have as much perseverance as Zhao Kuangyin. He strictly assessed every local official before he was allowed to be promoted.
Not only did he not conduct strict assessments, he also made countless openings to help some officials he was optimistic about get promoted quickly.
For example, Kou Zhun is one of the beneficiaries.
After Kou Zhun became a Jinshi, he served two terms as county magistrate. Without any experience in establishing a state or government, he was quickly recalled by Zhao Guangyi to become an official in Beijing, and he rose to prominence all the way.
Another example is the alcoholic prime minister Su Yijian, who served less than three years abroad before he was quickly recalled back to the court and served as the imperial censor. Then he rose through the ranks and took twelve years to sit in the position of participating in political affairs.
Zhao Guangyi made countless openings, and after Zhao Heng came to the throne, the openings became even bigger, and it gradually became a trend.
Those who are knowledgeable, talented, famous, and able to flatter others can all be promoted quickly.
He doesn't care whether he has ability or not.
As long as you flatter him and make him feel comfortable, or you can follow his wishes and help him seek immortality, then promotion is a matter of course.
Important positions such as participating in political affairs can also be appointed at will.
The five famous traitors in the Northern Song Dynasty and the Five Ghosts in the Northern Song Dynasty were all promoted by him.
"call……"
Zhao Zhen let out a long breath, put on a very ugly smile on his face, and said to Kou Ji: "I will remember what the fourth brother said."
Before Kou Ji could speak, Zhao Zhen said again: "I'm tired..."
Seeing this, Kou Ji quickly stood up, cupped his hands and said, "I... am guilty..."
Zhao Zhen shook his head and sighed: "People often say that loyal words are harsh to the ears. I didn't understand it deeply before, but now I finally understand how harsh the words are."
Kou Ji said with a bitter face: "I shouldn't..."
Kou Ji wanted to plead guilty again, but Zhao Zhen interrupted him. Zhao Zhen looked at Kou Ji and said: "Although the fourth brother's words are harsh, they are reasonable. The fourth brother also has to say this for the sake of my country and the country." Speech.
The fault is not with Fourth Brother, but with me.
It's because I didn't see clearly enough and didn't think clearly enough that I allowed Fourth Brother to say these words."
After a pause, Zhao Zhen said again: "Fourth brother, don't worry about offending me because you said these words. If fourth brother doesn't say anything, I may never understand it in my life."
Zhao Zhen said with a sigh: "If fourth brother doesn't say it, no one in the civil and military circles will tell me. They will worry about the reputation of their father and hide these words in their hearts for the rest of their lives.
If I want to govern the world, I must see the world clearly.
If no one tells me the truth, how can I see the world clearly?
I can't see the world clearly, how can I govern it?
It's like the Western Region.
When I didn't understand the Western Regions, I, like the Manchu civil and military officials, thought that the Western Regions were a barren land with no redeeming features.
But after I learned about the Western Regions, I realized that the Western Regions are not a barren land.
What the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty said cannot be true.
Only when I understand and see for myself can I distinguish the authenticity.
Fourth brother is helping me see the world clearly and letting me learn to distinguish truth from falsehood. I should be grateful to fourth brother."
Kou Ji bowed and said, "I don't dare..."
Zhao Zhen gave a bitter smile and said: "But I can't be grateful, and I even want to have a fight with you. After all, you have exposed the image of my father in my heart, and you have destroyed the image of my father in my heart. His wise and mighty appearance was shattered into pieces.
That is my father, my biological father.
What he does to the world, I don’t want to say.
But he is really good to me.
Therefore, I felt unhappy after hearing some words about his governance, and you should understand."
Zhao Zhen really didn't mean to blame Kou Ji, so he spoke frankly and thoroughly.
To have resentment is to have resentment.
He told Kou Ji frankly without being secretive.
Kou Ji sighed and said: "I can understand...I will accompany the officials to fight..."
After a pause, Kou Ji added, "I won't hold back."
Zhao Zhen was stunned, and shook his head in confusion: "Forget it... I have been practicing martial arts for three to five years, but you don't practice martial arts. You used to be able to fight with me for a while. Now you are not mine at all. opponent.
If you accompany me to fight, you are asking for a fight.
Now you are also a duke and a person of status.
If I beat you until your nose is bruised and your face is swollen, neither you nor I will look good."
Kou Ji smiled bitterly and said no more.
Zhao Zhen was not bragging to him.
Zhao Zhen really worked hard when he was practicing martial arts.
Whenever he has nothing to do, he pulls people to practice for real, and he gets beaten a lot for it. Now, he can fight with some weak warriors in the palace for a long time.