Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Received a new position in the Ministry of Officials

Zeng Guofan withdrew from the Minister's Office, turned around and entered the Minister's Office.Zhou Zupei, an old fox, kicked a bad ball to Zeng Guofan, and he became an outsider. According to the Daqing official system, although the minister is the minister's superior, both the minister and the minister have the right to independently handle errands and performances.Although in terms of rank, Shangshu is the first rank of Shilang (shilang is the second rank, and Shangshu is the first rank), but in reality, the duties of Shangshu and Shilang are parallel. Zeng Guofan hesitated again and again, and decided to retry the case of Wang Zhengfu.He passed Hong Xiang into his office in the afternoon.

He pointed to the Beijing Control Office and said: "Ziwen Shuntian Prefecture Yamen and the Procuratorate Division Yamen, the Ministry of Criminal Justice decided to accept Wang Zhengfu's Beijing Control. The Shuntian Prefecture sent personnel to summon Wang Zhengfu who was on the way into exile. And pass on Qi Xiejing, there must be no mistake." Hong Xiang walked out with Jingkong, but the duty officer walked in.Just as Zeng Guofan was about to ask questions, the official on duty said, "My lord, two father-in-laws have come to the palace, and it is said that your lord will enter the palace immediately to face the saint."

Zeng Guofan hurried out.When he arrived at Qinzheng Hall, Emperor Xianfeng immediately sent him a message. Emperor Xianfeng sat on the dragon chair, and on both sides stood Qi Yuzao, Wang Guangyin, Wen Qing, Huashana, Du Shoutian, Sun Ruizhen and Sushun. Salute finished.Emperor Xianfeng immediately asked: "Zeng Guofan, I came to you to talk about the affairs of the officials. I have read your papers. The officials have their own little abacus, Huashana, you also say Speak." Huashana said: "Returning to the emperor, the servants have only been in the official department for more than a month. The regulations of the official department are all determined by the former Shangshu Ji Zhichang. But since the emperor does not allow this to be done, and the slaves go back, they will change the regulations and deal with them again." That's it. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."

Emperor Xianfeng rushed outside and shouted: "It is said that Ji Zhichang, the censor of Zuodu, has come to see me." Ji Zhichang was the original Minister of the Ministry of Officials, and Huashana was the original Yushi of Zuodu, and the two exchanged for less than a month.Ji Zhichang hurried in. Emperor Xianfeng didn't allow Ji Zhichang to greet him and immediately asked: "Bold Ji Zhichang, are you guilty?" Ji Zhichang knelt down on the ground with a plop, and kept saying: "This minister deserves to die, this minister deserves to die, please let the emperor make clear."

Emperor Xianfeng resentfully said: "The Ministry of Officials is the foundation of our Qing Dynasty, and introductions are related to the rise and fall of the country. As the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, you actually connive at your subordinates to set up cash registers for the officials you introduce! Hateful!" Ji Zhichang replied blankly: "The emperor said that I am afraid! I am serving as Minister of the Ministry of Officials, how dare I collect money from the introduced officials? I have the guts to dare not do such a thing that will hinder the prosperity of the country! Please the emperor carefully observe. .”

"You still dare to quibble!" Emperor Xianfeng stood up angrily, and shouted loudly: "Ji Zhichang, don't forget, you are a veteran of the late emperor! Zeng Guofan has no evidence in hand, how can he easily join you!" In a word , Pushing the responsibility to Zeng Guofan, he himself became an outsider. Ji Zhichang argued loudly: "Returning to the emperor, Zeng Guofan seldom went to the official department to do business when I was working in the official department. I just don't understand, how does he know that I condone my subordinates to set up cash registers for the officials introduced? Your Majesty please Mingchao."

Emperor Xianfeng was stunned by Ji Zhichang's words for a long time before he said: "According to what you said, Zeng Guofan accused you of innocence?" Ji Zhichang knelt obediently and said nothing, obviously dissatisfied. Zeng Guofan took a step forward, plopped down on his knees and said, "The emperor's performance of "Officials should not collect money when introducing officials" is 10% discounted. It is only a few days away from today. Please be careful with the emperor." Emperor Xianfeng thought for a while, and suddenly asked Hua Shana: "Hua Shana, you have been here for more than a month, how come you don't know much about the rules and regulations of the Ministry of Officials? Are you trying to live up to my expectations of you? Are you a Old minister, how can you be so confused!"

Huashana kowtowed like pounding garlic, and said: "Damn this slave! Damn this slave! I'm sorry for the emperor! This slave will deal with them severely when I go back!" Emperor Xianfeng continued: "Master Du, you, Ji Zhichang, and Hua Shana quickly went to the Ministry of Officials to strictly check Zeng Guofan's performance. No matter who did it, you must report it truthfully, and you will never be lenient! You go! " Du Shoutian, Hua Shana, and Ji Zhichang all knelt down and said: "I will obey the order, and I will leave." Emperor Xianfeng waved his hand and said lightly: "Go down."

Watching Du Shoutian and others retreat, Emperor Xianfeng said: "Zeng Guofan, you should also get up and answer." Zeng Guofan said "Thank you, Your Majesty", and slowly got up. Emperor Xianfeng said: "Zeng Guofan, you said that governing the people is not as good as governing officials. The affairs of the Ministry of Officials are related to the rise and fall of my Qing Dynasty. Some rules and regulations of the Ministry of Officials seem to need to be changed." Zeng Guofan replied: "Responding to the emperor's words, the minister's position is not in the official department. I don't know very well about the affairs of the official department. But I think that setting up government offices because of events and changing rules and regulations with changes in events has always been like this from ancient times to the present. Please look into it clearly. .”

Emperor Xianfeng said: "Zeng Guofan, Jiang Tao, the left servant of the Ministry of Officials, has now returned to his hometown to guard the system. If there are any missing points, you can act on your behalf. You are a person who was valued by the late emperor. You must not live up to my expectations of you!" Zeng Guofan fell to his knees and said: "Return to the emperor. I dare not accept the emperor's decree. Please take it back and appoint someone else." Not only Emperor Xianfeng was taken aback by the commotion, but also Qi Yuzao, Wen Qing, Sushun and others standing beside him were also taken aback.Emperor Xianfeng asked with a cold face: "Zeng Guofan, do you want to resist the order?"

Zeng Guofan said: "I dare not speak back to the emperor. I am in the Ministry of Rites, and I have been assigned to the Ministry of Punishment, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Industry. I have already led four servants. If I am appointed to the Ministry of Officials again, I am afraid that my energy will not be good, and it will delay national affairs. .Please ask the emperor to observe clearly and take it back." At this time, Qi Yuzao made a prelude and said: "My Majesty, I also think that there are too many titles in Zeng Youtang's office, please Majesty, please look into it." Before Emperor Xianfeng could speak, Wen Qing said: "I think that Zeng Youtang is in his prime of life, and it is time to do more things for the court. What's more, Mr. Zeng is a very capable person in my court, and the late emperor praised him many times. The late emperor In Japan, Sergeant Zeng can handle all tasks assigned, no matter how complicated or simple. Please look into it clearly, Your Majesty." Emperor Xianfeng thought for a while and said, "Zeng Guofan, kneel down..." Zeng Guofan thanked the emperor and withdrew slowly.When dinner was approaching, news came from the Ministry of Household Affairs that the civil and military officials in Beijing will pay the salaries owed tomorrow, and all officials who ask for leave or are not on duty will be exempted from receiving them. When he returned home in sedan chair that day, Zeng Guofan was very happy.The day before, he received a letter from his younger brothers in Xiangxiang, saying that his mother had been recovering from a terminal illness for the past six months, and that the family had sought medical advice everywhere but to no avail.Although the letter did not mention the word "difficulty", as the eldest son Zeng Guofan, when his mother fell ill, he could neither serve him nor pay him any money. His guilt and uneasiness cannot be expressed in words!Now the imperial court suddenly decided to distribute the owed salary, which not only allowed him to send a sum of money to his mother, but also made up all the commissions owed to the family members in the past two years.Come out to give people today, one is to make a living, and the other is to support the family, there is no exception.Ever since Zeng Guofan hired his servants, he has not been in arrears with his servants' commissions for a year!It's no wonder people don't say he's mean when he speaks out!The inside story, only the servants of the Zeng Mansion understand it in their hearts, outsiders don't know the bottom line! Thinking of this, Zeng Guofan apologized to his servants. After dinner, Zeng Guofan called Tang Xuan into his study, and said, "Tang Xuan, you have calculated all the commissions of everyone in the house, including those owed by Chen, and put them all down when you come back tomorrow!" Tang Xuan couldn't help asking strangely: "My lord, we don't have that much money?" Zeng Guofan said: "Tomorrow, the imperial court will make up the salaries and support the officials in Beijing. I will probably calculate it on the way, and it will be more than four thousand taels!" When Tang Xuan heard this, he couldn't help being filled with joy. He smiled and said: "My lord, when I get the money back, I will tell the chef. From now on, you can only cook small stoves. You work so hard every day, and we will A hard-working man can’t last long if we eat together in simple tea and light meals! Second-rank officials and servants share tea and meals together, and the capital probably won’t be able to find a second one!” Zeng Guofan said with a smile: "Tang Xuan, don't be funny anymore. My family has been farming for several generations, and it was not until my grandfather's generation that I had a small income. But my grandfather still had meals with the family when he was sixty years old. The old man in Xiangxiang has only been eating small stoves for a few days!" The old man in Zeng Guofan's words naturally refers to his father Zeng Linshu. After the death of his father Xinggang, Zeng Linshu and his wife started cooking alone.This practice of the Zeng family is no longer a secret in Hunan; such things as the Zeng mansion in the capital are known to all officials and everyone. Done. After the morning of the next day, the Ministry of Households urged the government to collect the original salaries owed to the ministers and the counseling speeches to support integrity and distributed them to all ministries and courts.The statement affirmed that officials who had been on leave were not included. The imperial edict of Zeng Guofan, who is also the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, was also issued at the same time. The decree said: Zeng Guofan will also serve as the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Officials from now on. I hope that the servant will be dedicated to the public, mature enough to seek the country, and assist Huashana in rectifying the administration of officials across the country.This is it. Emperor Xianfeng pinned his hope of rectifying the administration of officials across the country on the forty-two-year-old Zeng Guofan.Zeng Guofan was also the servant of the five departments of rites, soldiers, punishment, officials, and industry. He was the senior official with the most part-time jobs in the Manchu Dynasty and the youngest among the Han officials.At this time, Zeng Guofan can be said to be "commissioned with many duties, on duty, working in the office, and working in the office, and there is no idle time; in the spare time of eating, he keeps his hands on the scrolls, dealing with the affairs of the world and the anecdotes of the court, and there are eight kinds of records." . In the afternoon, another edict was issued to all ministries: Sushun, a cabinet bachelor and minister of the Ministry of Rites, has dared to do things since he took office.I hope that this member will be loyal to the country and live up to my expectations.This is it. Emperor Xianfeng handed over Yique Zuo Shilang of the Household Department to Sushun, and Zeng Guofan knew that it was a foregone conclusion for the Qing Dynasty Household Department to make money.Whether the casting bank can make the Qing Dynasty tide over the difficulties depends on the future development of the situation. Sushun left a lack of cabinet bachelors, which was filled by Qing Shengbao of Taichang Temple. As explained above, Taichang Temple is an independent office under the Ministry of Rites. It is a department dedicated to court sacrificial offerings and ceremonies in charge of etiquette, as well as preparing sacrificial vessels and sacrificial objects. Shengbao is an old subordinate of Zeng Guofan.Shengbao, courtesy name Kezhai, was born in Manchuria inlaid with a white banner, and was born in martial arts. He was highly appreciated by Emperor Daoguang for his daring to speak and scheming.