Chapter 282 Zhang Qingzhi
"Your Highness, these are all customary practices. The ascension of a new emperor to the throne naturally requires grand celebrations," said Han Zhang.
"How many people do you need to enfeoff?" Zhao Xing asked after a moment of silence.
The impact of adding special examinations is not great, it will only admit two or three hundred people.
"According to convention, each official who comes to attend His Highness's coronation ceremony can confer a title on one person," said Han Zhang.
"Convention?" Zhao Xing snorted coldly, "Where did the convention come from? Is there an ancestral rule?"
There were thousands of officials in Bianliang alone. Although many of them were not qualified to attend his coronation ceremony, there were at least hundreds of them, if not thousands.
Officials from various places will also be sent to watch the ceremony.
A rough calculation shows that there must be thousands of people.
Doesn’t this mean that thousands of people will be appointed as officials?
Even though Zhao Xing knew that the Song Dynasty had conferred titles on many officials, he was still furious at the thought that he would have to confer titles on thousands of officials after he ascended the throne.
Those who were admitted through the special examination at least had some talent, but most of those who were granted titles were children of wealthy families.
Zhao Xing remembered that in the original drama, Liang Liulang followed Mrs. Wu to the Sheng family.
Qi Heng was also there at the time, sitting and talking with Liang Liulang.
Liang Liulang praised Qi Heng for his great ambitions, saying that he could not endure the hardship and just needed to wait for the opportunity to be appointed as an official.
What's the point of giving such a person an official title?
It means that the imperial court is spending money to support them.
"I know what Your Highness is thinking, but Your Highness has just ascended the throne after all. If the preferential titles are cancelled, it will be detrimental to the stability of the country. Your Highness can order the local governments not to send officials to watch the ceremony on the grounds of not wanting to waste money. The officials in Bian Jing can also prohibit officials below the fifth rank from watching the ceremony." Han Zhang said.
Zhao Xing's brows relaxed when he heard this. If the problem of redundant officials was to be solved, the system of hereditary titles must not only be abolished, but the number of hereditary titles must also be strictly limited.
But not now.
Now that Liao is in civil strife, he is also planning to take over the Hehuang area. The Song Dynasty cannot afford to be in chaos at this time.
Since the system of hereditary titles cannot be abolished for the time being, then we must not alert the enemy. The method Han Zhang mentioned is the best one.
"What you said is exactly what I want. Let's do as you say." Zhao Xing said.
"Then I will first draw up a general plan, wait for the emperor to announce it to the world, and then discuss it with the other ministers." Han Zhang said.
"Yeah." Zhao Xing nodded slightly when he heard that.
"If Your Highness has no other instructions, I will take my leave now!" Han Zhang bowed.
"Wait a minute, sir." Zhao Xing asked, "I am currently lacking a few people around me who can give me advice. I wonder if you have any recommendations for talents?"
Han Zhang understood what Zhao Xing meant after thinking about it for a moment.
The official think tank was composed of several scholars from the Hanlin Academy, but a new emperor appoints new ministers, and Zhao Xing obviously had no intention of using those people and wanted to form his own think tank.
Han Zhang pondered for a moment and said, "Zhang Qingzhi, the doctor of the Ministry of Revenue, is quite talented and may be of use."
"Anything else?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Your Highness, I can't think of anyone else in such a hurry." Han Zhang shook his head.
Zhao Xing glanced at Han Zhang and said with a smile, "Then you can go and get busy first, sir."
"I'm leaving now!" Han Zhang bowed and left.
"Eunuch Liu, do you know this Zhang Qingzhi?" Zhao Xing asked.
There were thousands of officials in the capital, but the Langzhong of the Ministry of Revenue was only a sixth-rank official, and Zhao Xing had never even heard of him.
"I have heard of this man. He was a Jinshi in the fifth year of Zhizheng, and was ranked fourth in the second class." Eunuch Liu said.
"The fifth year of Zhizheng? It has been more than 20 years since then. He is ranked fourth in the second class, which is not low. How come he is only a sixth-rank official?" Zhao Xing frowned.
Zhizheng was the first reign title used by the emperor after he took power. More than 20 years have passed since then.
Logically speaking, a Jinshi who ranked fourth in the second class should be a fourth or fifth rank by now even if he has accumulated seniority.
Unless this person has made some mistake, but if so, would Han Zhang dare to recommend him?
"I have heard that this man is a loner and has a bad relationship with his colleagues no matter where he works," said Eunuch Liu.
"I see."
Zhao Xing nodded slightly. It was simply because this person didn't know how to make friends or flatter others, and spoke rather directly, so he was ostracized.
"By the way, I remember that Yan Kuan, the right vice minister of the Ministry of Rites, was a Jinshi in the fifth year of Zhizheng, right?" Zhao Xing asked.
"That's right, Minister Yan was a Jinshi in the fifth year of Zhizheng, and ranked twelfth in the second class at that time." Eunuch Liu said.
Zhao Xing was somewhat speechless after hearing this. It seemed that the two of them were only eight ranks apart, but the one who ranked higher was one rank higher, and the gap was not small. As a result, one of them was a fourth-rank assistant minister, and the other was a sixth-rank doctor, which was a world of difference.
However, Eunuch Liu was very knowledgeable about the situation of court officials, which was not simple. No wonder my father asked him to stay by his side.
"Send someone to summon this person. I want to meet him." Zhao Xing said.
"Yes!" replied Eunuch Liu.
Zhao Xing continued to deal with the memorials until Eunuch Liu reported that Zhang Qingzhi had arrived, and then he put down his pen.
Zhang Qingzhi is in his forties, thin, but his eyes are very peaceful.
Zhao Xing did not see any frustration in his eyes, nor did he see any surprise and excitement at being summoned by the prince.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince!" Zhang Qingzhi bowed.
"I heard that you were a Jinshi in the fifth year of Zhizheng, and ranked fourth in the second class?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Your Highness, that's right!" Zhang Qingzhi replied.
"Yan Kuan, the Right Vice Minister of Rites, is a fellow Jinshi with you. He was promoted to the Right Vice Minister of Rites three years ago. How come you are only a Doctor of the Ministry of Revenue?" Zhao Xing asked.
Zhao Xing's words were very hurtful. If someone else heard them, they would be somewhat angry.
Even though he didn't dare reveal his identity, he looked a little embarrassed.
However, Zhang Qingzhi calmly replied, "Your Highness, the imperial examination is only a way to select officials. It does not mean that those with lower rankings are not as good as those with higher rankings in governing the local area. Although I have a higher ranking, I lack the ability to serve as an official and govern the local area, so I am promoted more slowly."
After hearing this, Zhao Xing began to think more highly of Zhang Qingzhi.
The fact that Han Zhang was able to recommend this person shows that this person must have talent.
However, such people generally feel somewhat resentful because they have not been reused for many years.
Zhao Xing just asked that question, and even the most cunning person would reveal some resentment.
If Zhang Qingzhi was like this, Zhao Xing would not use such a person.
If a person is frustrated and feels resentful, and is suddenly given an important position, he will inevitably become psychologically unbalanced.
Zhao Xing remained calm and said, "Tell me about the situation in the Ministry of Revenue."
"I wonder what Your Highness wants to know?" Zhang Qingzhi asked.
"Just talk about it." Zhao Xing said.
"Yes!" Zhang Qingzhi responded, pondered for a while, and began to tell the story.
Today's Ministry of Revenue is actually similar to the Ministry of War, and most of its powers have been divided out.
The Ministry of War was divided among the Privy Council, while the Ministry of Revenue was divided among the Three Departments.
Today, the Ministry of Revenue is only responsible for land taxes and wine revenue, and it no longer has the most important authority over financial affairs.
Duzhi is actually auditing. Each department that needs money will submit an application, and funds will only be allocated after it is reviewed and passed.
Without the power to finance finances, the Ministry of Revenue’s status was not much higher than that of the Ministry of Works.
Although the Ministry of Revenue's powers were greatly reduced, it still managed the land tax and wine revenue of the whole country.
There are a lot of accounts every year.
However, Zhang Qingzhi was very familiar with the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue over the years.
Zhao Xing asked him to speak freely, so he told Zhao Xing about the income from land taxes and wine over the years, and the numbers he mentioned were accurate to the last penny.
Either they came prepared, or they memorized all the accounts over the years.
Zhao Xing felt that it was unlikely that they came prepared, so he asked Han Zhang on a whim. Han Zhang didn't have time to notify him.
Moreover, the time was so short that even if he was notified, Zhang Qingzhi would not have time to memorize all these things.
After Zhang Qingzhi stopped, Zhao Xing said, "Starting tomorrow, you will come to Longtu Pavilion to work and help me organize the books and volumes in case I ask you any questions."
"The minister obeys the order!"
Although he was given an important position, Zhang Qingzhi remained calm and did not look happy at all.
Zhao Xing nodded slightly and looked up to him even more.
"You step back first." Zhao Xing waved his hand.
"I'm leaving now!" Zhang Qingzhi bowed and left.
(End of this chapter)