jdhmnovel Chapter 578 Zhu Biao Digs a Pit, Zhu Biao Jumps In!
Chapter 578 Zhu Biao Digs a Pit, Zhu Biao Jumps In!
The Ming Dynasty's court was never a monolithic entity.
Some people hate Yang Shaofeng to the core, while others, while hating Yang Shaofeng, are also thinking of asking him for a "small favor".
Minister of Works Xue Xiang spoke first with a dark face: "The compilation of the Hongwu Dictionary and the Hongwu Zhengyun is nearing completion, but the books that the Ministry of Works is to compile have not even a clue. When the Prince Consort arrives in the capital, we must ask him to come to the Ministry of Works to help out."
Xue Xiang tried to increase his leverage: "At the very least, Dengzhou University will definitely need the Ministry of Industry's help."
No sooner had Xue Xiang finished speaking than Yang Siyi, the Minister of Revenue, became anxious: "Why are you from the Ministry of Works getting involved? The Ministry of Revenue hasn't even sorted out its own mess yet!"
Duan Fuchu, who had just taken over as Minister of Justice in the fourth year of Hongwu's reign, glanced coldly at Yang Siyi and Xue Xiang, and snorted, "Why are you in such a hurry before the 'Great Ming Code' is fully perfected?"
Seeing that the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Revenue, and even the Ministry of Justice had all expressed their opinions, Qian Yongren, the Minister of Rites, could no longer hold back: "The Great Ming Code must be revised, but it cannot be completed overnight. Meanwhile, the special imperial examination of the fifth year of Hongwu is just around the corner. No matter how anxious you are, can you be more anxious than the special imperial examination?"
Li Shanchang glanced sideways at the ministers.
very nice.
From the Secretariat to the Six Ministries, all but Minister of War Yue Shaofeng have expressed their opinions.
As for the Central Secretariat... just the issue of its reform alone is enough to give anyone a headache.
Li Shanchang had a dark expression and didn't want to speak, while Zhu Biao rubbed his forehead in pain.
I was clearly just trying to upset them.
But why does it feel more and more painful the more I listen to it?
What went wrong?
After a long while, Zhu Biao sighed again and said, "Let's first sort out the priorities and deal with them one by one."
Minister of Rites Qian Yongren quickly bowed and said, "Your Highness, the provincial examination will be held in February after the New Year, followed by the metropolitan examination in April, the palace examination in May, the county examination in August, the prefectural examination in September, and the provincial examination in October. We must not delay any of these events."
Zhu Biao nodded slightly.
Qian Butang makes a good point.
The selection of talent for the country is a crucial matter and cannot be delayed.
Putting everything else aside, just the fact that we can recruit more than a dozen students from Ningyang County this year means this matter cannot be delayed.
Before Zhu Biao could even agree, Yang Siyi, the Minister of Revenue, glanced at Qian Yongren and sneered, "Does the Ministry of Rites still want to build more community schools? Does it still want to repair county schools, prefectural schools, and state schools in various places? There's no money in the national treasury, so what are you even doing building these things for!"
Minister of Justice Duan Fuchu frowned slightly: "The national treasury has no money? Where is the money in the national treasury? Did you, Yang Siyi, eat it all up? Damn it, the Great Ming Code should be revised to punish corrupt officials like you!"
What the hell!
They started arguing!
They've started arguing!
These old scoundrels in the civil service are fighting amongst themselves again!
Xu Da, Tang He, Chang Yuchun, and other bigwigs from the Grand Commander's Office immediately moved aside.
Li Shanchang's face immediately turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
These are the ministers under my command.
Damn it, if the reforms really go on as Yang the Madman said, turning the Six Ministries into a dozen or even dozens of ministries, how could I possibly retire from the position of Prime Minister alive?
Retirement is a must.
I must retire as soon as possible due to illness, and leave all these trivial matters to Hu Weiyong... What about Hu Weiyong?
Why the hell are you hiding behind me?!
Didn't you used to covet my position, you dog?
You coward!
Just as Li Shanchang was cursing inwardly, Zhu Biao was completely dumbfounded.
No.
How did things get so messy and turn into this mess?
Can anyone tell me what these civil and military officials in the court are doing?!
"The Ministry of Rites should handle its own affairs!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Zhu Biao flipped the table.
"It's just about setting exam questions."
"Now that the Hongwu Great Dictionary and the Hongwu Zhengyun are almost finished, Kong Qing should transfer a few people to the Ministry of Rites to help set the questions for the provincial examination in February. After the provincial examination, the borrowed people can return to Kong Qing's side. The Hongwu Great Dictionary and the Hongwu Zhengyun should be finished by then. He will receive all the credit and rewards he deserves."
"As for the Ministry of Revenue, you should go to Zhou Jingxin for now. The position of Assistant Secretary of the Secretariat is not just for show."
As Zhu Biao finished speaking, Yang Siyi felt an inexplicable urge to cry.
Yang Siyi wanted to cry because of the name Zhou Jingxin.
That bastard is no good either!
As an assistant secretary in the Secretariat, Zhou Jingxin did not have any specific duties.
Or rather, the position of Assistant Director of the Secretariat was a rather peculiar one.
If we compare the Secretariat to a wicked mother-in-law and the Six Ministries to six wronged daughters-in-law, then the Assistant Secretary of the Secretariat is like the head maidservant of the wicked mother-in-law, who is not of high rank but can still boss the Six Ministries around.
Unfortunately, Zhou Jingxin is a bastard who is also a particularly capable but also malicious and scheming maid!
If we let him help the Ministry of Revenue, the final result will definitely be that he will solve the Ministry of Revenue's problems, and we can also make things difficult for the Ministry of Revenue.
孽 孽!
Zhu Biao, however, continued to assign tasks without any politeness: "Those books that the Ministry of Works needs to revise, we can send someone to Dengzhou after the New Year."
"Isn't Wang Shaoyu, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, still in Dengzhou?"
"He also happens to hold the title of Chancellor of the College of Engineering at Denzhou University, and he has several professors and students under his supervision."
"Who else would you ask to revise and edit books?"
Xue Xiang also wanted to cry.
Is it reasonable for the dignified Vice Minister of Works to be working in Dengzhou Prefecture instead of serving in the Ministry of Works in the capital?
This is outrageous!
And Your Highness, would you like to hear what you're saying?
He was the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, and also held the title of Chancellor of the College of Engineering at Dengzhou University.
The head of the Imperial Academy was only the Chancellor.
The head of the engineering college under the University of Denzhou is also the chief instructor.
What is the highest academic rank at Denzhou University?
Like Xue Xiang, Qian Yongren, the Minister of Rites, also wanted to cry.
Logically speaking, since Dengzhou University has the word "academic" in its name, shouldn't it be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites?
What now?
Does the Ministry of Rites have any jurisdiction over Dengzhou University?
Compared to Xue Xiang and Qian Yongren, it was Li Shanchang who wanted to cry even more.
His Highness the Crown Prince ultimately fell into a pit, and it was a pit he dug himself and jumped into.
I clearly agreed to make things difficult for your father and Yang the Madman, so let Emperor Zhu and Yang the Madman have their headaches once they arrive in the capital.
Now look what's happened, you've personally gotten involved first!