Chapter 563 Even if Zhang Juzheng comes, it won’t work!
Fang Fengshi replied: “There is a saying.”

“Brother Jinhu, please help me solve this problem.”

“You’re welcome. Auditing the annual accounts at the Ministry of Revenue is the most important thing for each provincial government. The provincial government will send a full-time clerk to Beijing with the account books.

The provincial governor, the left and right councilors, and the councilor of the Grain Inspectorate will all do their best to ensure that the province’s annual accounts are smoothly settled in the Ministry of Revenue because their performance is related to their evaluation.

So the eight immortals crossed the sea and showed their magical powers. The southeastern provinces are rich, with the heaviest taxes and the most complicated annual accounts, but they are the easiest to write off. “

“Why?”

“Because there are many people in the southeast provinces serving as officials in the court, and many of them are high-ranking officials. The governor and the left and right councilors asked the local celebrities and gentry to write a letter, asking a certain official to help speak for them out of local sentiment.

The senior official had no choice but to come forward and say hello to the Ministry of Revenue. The former Qinglisi, now the Auditing Department, who would dare not be aware of this?
It is easier to be an official if you have someone in the court, and it is easier to do things if you have someone in the court.”

Lu Diaoyang understood, “The Guizhou Provincial Government is not rich in talent, and there are not many people serving as officials in the court, so we don’t even know how to ask for favors.

Moreover, Guizhou is far from the mainland and has many mountains and rivers. Those who were appointed as provincial governors and provincial inspectors would rather take sick leave than take up the post. There has been a vacancy for several years. Either the Yunnan Provincial Government or the Councillors are acting as agents, and their words carry no weight.

“Just as Yu said.

The clerks in the Ministry of Revenue are low-ranking but powerful. They all look up to the sky, but their eyes are very slippery. They bully the weak and fear the strong. If they know who is easy to bully, they will step on them hard to show that they have power. If they know who is not easy to mess with, they will do things very quickly.

Zhang Juzheng sighed and said, “The affairs of the Ming Dynasty have become out of control due to the shirking of responsibility and laziness of these layers of officials. In the past, the Ming Dynasty court was in a mess, with the upper level being lazy and the lower level being lazy. Now that the emperor has risen up to reform, the first thing he has to change is these layers of laziness.

Laziness is the norm, and even the best national policies are difficult to implement. Even if they are implemented to the end, they will work together to turn good policies into bad ones.

So we have to implement the performance evaluation system. As the emperor said, the performance evaluation system is a campaign for all Ming officials, from top to bottom. “

“Oppose bureaucratic style, laziness, and empty talk. Take the performance evaluation system as an opportunity to unify thoughts, correct attitudes, correct the bad thoughts and styles accumulated by Ming officials over the years, and cultivate a new style of officials who are loyal to the country, abide by their duties, and work diligently and practically.”

The surprises the emperor gave us are really like peeling an onion, layer after layer, and each layer brings us new surprises.

Fang Fengshi groaned and said, “It seems that we are still thinking too simply.

What the emperor wants to do is not only the great etiquette of Emperor Shizong and the new policies of Jiajing. What he wants to do is to establish new national laws and ancestral systems like Emperor Taizu did. “

Lu Diaoyang’s face was filled with horror.

But on second thought, what Fang Fengshi said made a lot of sense.

Listen to these impactful new terms and expressions that hit the nail on the head.

These are new ideas for governing the country, which are equivalent to giving the big ship built by Emperor Taizu a complete makeover and a big turn.

What was even more unexpected to them was that the emperor was not only able to come up with new ideas for governing the country, but was also fully confident about how to implement them and was extremely patient, taking each step very steadily and calmly.

Fang Fengshi and Lu Diaoyang couldn’t help but look at Zhang Juzheng.

Lord Taiyue, when you first entered the Western Garden and became the teacher of the emperor who was still the prince of Yu, you inadvertently revealed an expression of panic, and we finally understand.

The emperor has his own ideas in mind, and he wants to implement and realize them in the Ming Dynasty in a groundbreaking way.

If it were us, we would be just as panicked.

Zhang Juzheng looked at the two men’s eyes and sighed softly.

Now you finally understand my difficulties.

Fang Fengshi asked: “Mr. Zhang, when will the emperor’s campaign begin?”

Zhang Juzheng replied: “The emperor is still preparing for this matter and is gradually informing us officials.

We have to wait until the performance evaluation system is concluded and the Emperor sees the results before making a decision.

But now is not the time to talk about that.”

Zhang Juzheng pointed at the two poor clerks from the Guizhou Provincial Government in front of him.

“You two, our Central Steering Committee of the Ming Dynasty’s Examination System will begin its inspection work at the Ministry of Revenue with the annual accounts of the Guizhou Provincial Administration Office in the third year of Longqing.”

Fang Fengshi and Lu Diaoyang nodded, “Okay, let’s follow Mr. Zhang’s arrangements.”

Lü Diaoyang stepped forward, passed the two Guizhou clerks, and said to Lin Youcai, the clerk from the Ministry of Revenue’s Auditing Division: “Is this how you do things at the Ministry of Revenue?”

Lin Youcai, who was chatting animatedly with his colleagues, turned around when he heard the voice. He looked at Lu Diaoyang’s green robe and the patch on his chest with a little surprise, then looked at Zhang Juzheng and Fang Fengshi, who were obviously in the same group. His eyes fell on their green robes and patches for a few times, and he opened his mouth with a sneer.

“Which government office are you from? Why are you so idle that you come to our Audit Department to meddle in other people’s business?”

“You are the emperor’s salary, and you should be loyal to him. You are taking the imperial salary, but you are lazy and neglect your duties. You have held up a good annual account for half a year, and you have delayed all the affairs of Guizhou Provincial Government.”

This is quite true.

The annual accounts for the third year of Longqing’s reign had not been settled with the Ministry of Revenue, so the Guizhou Provincial Administration was hesitant to do anything. It dared not do this or that and simply lay down and beg for mercy.

The Governor is the head of civil affairs of a province. Once it lies down, the prefectures and counties under it will follow suit.

After all, the Governor’s Office is not a people-friendly government office. If the county offices under it follow suit and stop functioning, it will be a big trouble.

Natural disasters and man-made disasters occurred in the local area, but no one cared; villages fought over fields and water, but no one cared; bandits cut off the roads, business travel was banned, and the people could not buy salt and cotton cloth, but no one cared.
No one was in charge of anything, which was equivalent to a government shutdown. Over time, the people of Guizhou became alienated.

You guys don’t care about anything, so why would I ask you to do anything?
Officials familiar with local government affairs knew the dangers of continuing like this. Zhang Juzheng, Fang Fengshi and Lu Diaoyang were furious.

But Lin Youcai, an eighth-rank official in the Audit Department, didn’t care at all. He only cared about the fact that he was slapped in the face by a minor official from the outer court who showed up for no apparent reason.

Does the rebellion in Guizhou have anything to do with me?

Is my face important?

Lin Youcai raised his chin, crossed his arms, squinted his eyes, and breathed cold air through his nose.

“Look at the three of you, you are not young anymore, in your forties or fifties, right? You are over half a century old, and you have just changed into a set of seventh-grade green robes. How come you haven’t made any progress at all?

You are still stirring up trouble everywhere! What should our Ministry of Revenue Audit Department do? It’s none of your business! Where is the fence that was not tied tightly, and you three escaped?
Is it because you have been wearing the green robe for too long that your testicles have become bigger, and you think you are capable now?”

Lu Diaoyang said harshly: “You are a clerk. You are not diligent in your work, but you are idle and playing here. The court has repeatedly emphasized the law of performance evaluation, and Prime Minister Zhang has also warned you earnestly, but you are just turning a deaf ear to it.”

Lin Youcai was also annoyed. “The performance evaluation system, you are the one who is responsible for it! Zhang Juzheng is so capable, why doesn’t he go and bake bread? The performance evaluation system, he is a piece of shit!”

A circle of people gathered around, including officials from the Ministry of Revenue and officials who came to the Ministry of Revenue to do business, pointing and talking. Lin Youcai became even more excited, this is my home court!
He pointed at Lü Diaoyang, Fang Fengshi and Zhang Juzheng and said, “Look, here come three shameless old men, who are over fifty years old and only just put on a seventh-grade green robe, yet they come here to show off.

You keep talking about the exam law, what are you talking about? You keep talking about Zhang Xiang, Zhang Xiang is your father. I’m telling you, don’t mention the exam law in front of me, I get angry when I mention it. I have such a bad temper that even Zhang Juzheng can’t stop me!”

“Lin Youcai, you idiot!”

A loud shout came from the crowd, and Lin Youcai was so scared that he shivered, broke out in a cold sweat, and trembled all over.

Playing ball, how come Wang Butang is back?

Wang Guoguang was resolute and decisive in the Ministry of Revenue. He did a lot of practical work and punished many people. The cunning officials under him said they were not afraid, but they were really afraid in their hearts.

After all, he is the Minister of Six Ministries and a second-rank official. Killing you is like killing a chick.

Wang Guoguang strode out angrily.

He came to his senses before he even arrived at the Censorate.

When the Central Steering Committee of the Ming Dynasty’s Performance Evaluation System went to inspect the work, the first place they went to was the Ministry of Revenue.

There is no way. Among the six ministries, the Ministry of Revenue has the most important responsibilities, the most complicated affairs, and the most troubles. The performance evaluation system also encountered the greatest resistance and is the most suitable example.

Uncle Zhang has also become a bad boy and is actually trying to hide the truth from me!
No wonder Pan Sheng had to drag me to the Censorate for no reason. He was covering for Uncle Zhang!

Wang Guoguang immediately drove Pan Sheng and Wang Chonggu off the carriage and ordered it to go to the Ministry of Revenue immediately. However, no matter how hard they tried, they were still a step too late.

Wang Guoguang took a few steps forward, glared at Lin Youcai fiercely, and then stepped forward to bow and said, “Minister of Revenue Wang Guoguang, I pay my respects to Prime Minister Zhang Xiang.”

There was a loud bang in the yard, as if thousands of sparrows took off at the same time.

Lin Youcai was so frightened that he saw stars and almost fainted.

Zhang Juzheng walked up to Lin Youcai leisurely and asked, “You just said that even if Zhang Juzheng came, it wouldn’t work. Now that Zhang is here, do you have any comment?”

Lin Youcai was trembling all over, his teeth were chattering, and he was typing away like a typewriter, but he couldn’t utter a single word for a long time.

Zhang Juzheng looked at him for a while and said coldly: “The Performance Evaluation Law is a strict law that the emperor ordered me to implement in order to clarify the government and strengthen the administration of officials.

Everyone, do you know what strict law is? “

Hundreds of people gathered in the yard, most of them were from the Ministry of Revenue, and a small number were officials who came to the Ministry to do business.

“I guess you don’t know. I have dismissed nearly a thousand officials, but you are indifferent. Anyway, there are tens of thousands of officials in the capital, and the king’s law may not hit you.

Okay, now I will tell you the truth. From today on, I will be serious with you! Wang Guoguang! “

“The subordinate is here!”

Wang Guoguang hurried forward and saw Zhang Juzheng staring at him. He suddenly blinked his eyes, then realized something and lowered his head immediately.

“According to the imperial edict, the cabinet has established the Central Steering Committee of the Great Ming Dynasty’s Performance Evaluation System, which is responsible for guiding the implementation of the Performance Evaluation System by the six ministries and temples of the cabinet, as well as the provincial governments.” Zhang Juzheng said sternly, “The Central Steering Committee of the Great Ming Dynasty’s Performance Evaluation System went to the Ministry of Revenue today to inspect the implementation of the Performance Evaluation System. It is very bad!

It is now June of the first year of the Wanli reign, and the annual accounts of the Guizhou Provincial Administration Office for the third year of the Longqing reign have not yet been audited by the Ministry of Revenue’s Audit Office. Minister Wang, you are to blame!”

“I know I was wrong. Please punish me, Prime Minister Zhang and the Steering Committee.”

Good, I know how to take the role.

Zhang Juzheng glanced at the crowd sternly, and the people standing there shrank their necks like quails when they met his gaze.

“Based on the inspection results, this Prime Minister and the Central Steering Committee of the Performance Evaluation Law have decided to hold a performance evaluation law study class. The first batch of students will be the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Wang Guoguang and the Vice Minister in charge of the Audit and Budget Department, as well as all the officials of the Audit and Budget Department of the Ministry of Revenue.

I have found the place for you. It is in the branch of the Imperial College. It is a closed-door study place where you can eat, live and study.

Every day, you will be given lectures by members of the Examination and Law Steering Committee. You will have to write a study summary every day and take an exam every ten days. The semester lasts for one month, and there will be a summary exam at the end of the semester.

You will learn the relevant rules when you enter the class. Those who fail the score and exam will have to study for one more term. Those who fail for three terms will be kicked out!

If you don’t want to attend the class, please say so now. I will grant your wish and you can get out of here right away. The emperor has sent an order to the Ministry of Personnel, stating that any official dismissed by the Central Steering Committee of the Examination Law will never be employed again in the future!”

Zhang Juzheng glanced at everyone in the courtyard. Everyone had their heads hunched over like hairless quails in the cold wind.

“Minister Wang will be enrolled in the class for study. The cabinet chief Zhang Xueyan will temporarily take charge of the ministry affairs. Zhang Xueyan will temporarily manage the audit department’s affairs by assigning personnel from other departments.

After learning the Audit Department, it is the Civil Affairs Department, the Treasury Department, then the Regulations Bureau, the Personnel Bureau and the General Office, and finally the Salt Administration, the General Taxation Bureau and the Treasury Departments. “

Zhang Juzheng’s words were extremely harsh.

“The conferences talked about it, the newspapers talked about it, but you didn’t listen.

All right, I will now teach you a lesson, face to face and ear to ear, and I will talk to you one by one. If you still can’t learn well, then you should stop being an official and go home to bake bread.”

After scolding everyone in the yard, Zhang Juzheng waved his hand and turned away.

As for Lin Youcai, he is just a fly, and someone will take care of him.

Wang Guoguang invited Zhang Juzheng, Fang Fengshi and Zhang Xueyan into the Shangshu’s custody room.

“Shu’an, I am sorry for the humiliation you suffered this time. I am here to apologize to you.” Zhang Juzheng bowed to Wang Guoguang.

“You are too polite, Lord Taiyue. I have worked very hard in the Ministry of Revenue, and the internal reform has reached its limit. If we want to completely change, we can only work from the outside.

Wang knew Zhang Xiang’s good intentions. I also attended the study class this time, and I will be able to scold people in the Ministry of Revenue with confidence in the future. “

Seeing that he didn’t take it to heart, Zhang Juzheng felt relieved and laughed together with Fang Fengshi and Zhang Xueyan.

In the evening, Zhang Juzheng had just returned home when his trusted steward You Qi came to report: “Master, Xu Yuandong, the son of the Xu family in Huating, has come to pay his respects.”

Zhang Juzheng was stunned. “Master, do you want to see me for something?”

You Qi said from the side: “Master, it looks like the situation at the Xu Mansion is not good.”

“After all, my mentor is not as good as Yan Jiexi.” Zhang Juzheng sighed, “Go and invite Master Xu.”

(End of this chapter)