In the Song Dynasty, becoming a Jinshi was only the first step into the officialdom. Except for the top few, the selection of people (prefecture and county officials) was the starting point for most Jinshi's career.
Candidates can only serve as low-level officials in prefectures and counties. Only after the number of times they have served and the length of time in office meet certain standards can they seek to change their official positions.
Not only that, but recommendations from five mid- to senior-level officials are also required.
Selecting people to be appointed officials in the capital is not so much an assessment of political performance as it is an assessment of connections.
There are not a few people with outstanding political achievements who cannot change their official positions. These people suffer because of their connections.
And this is what Zhang Lun is worried about.
Fan Zhongyan's character, talent and learning were not bad, what was bad was just his connections or the appreciation of his superiors.
However, Fan Zhongyan's performance this time was a bit reckless.
At least that's how it seemed to him.
Because Fan Zhongyan bypassed him directly, Zhang Lun was still a little angry when he learned about this.
At this time, it was not a wise move for Shangshu to recruit civilians on a large scale.
Moreover, it is likely to arouse the ill feeling of the two ministers.
The construction of water conservancy is a long-term project. One or two years is not a long time, and two or three years is not a short time.
It doesn't matter if you wait.
As soon as the new king came to the throne, you, Fan Zhongyan, suggested that the court develop water conservancy projects. What is your intention?
Are you really serving the country and the people?
Or are you trying to gain a position?
Based on Zhang Lun’s many years of experience as an official, he felt that most people would think the latter.
After all, this proposal is inconsistent with etiquette.
Isn't it because he still has an ulterior motive despite knowing this?
A long while.
Zhang Lun thought for a while and swallowed the words he had prepared for a long time.
With Xiwen's talent, it is impossible to think of this level.
This is also where Zhang Lun is most helpless.
At the same time, this is what he admires most about Fan Zhongyan.
"Let's go."
Zhang Lun patted Fan Zhongyan on the shoulder: "Let's go back and discuss your flood control strategy."
At this moment, Zhang Lun also made a decision. He was going to use his personal connections to do something for Fan Zhongyan.
Although he has a humble position, there are still three nails in the ruined ship. After all, he is a high-ranking official in the border area, and he still has the connections he should have.
About half an hour later, the two returned to the government office.
As soon as you enter the hall, the first thing you see is a map, which is densely covered with tiny characters.
Zhang Lun was very familiar with this word, and he knew it was written by Fan Zhongyan himself.
"What a big project."
Zhang Lun couldn't help but sigh when he saw the map hanging on the screen.
On this map, Taihu Lake is like a depression, with high surroundings and low in the middle, with dense water networks in it.
Because of this, the Taihu area becomes the main disaster-stricken area every time there is a heavy rain.
The water cannot be drained out, and over time, floods occur.
"Your Majesty, look here."
On the other side, Fan Zhongyan was already in working mode. As soon as he entered the door, he walked to the map and pointed at the Wusong River in the picture.
“The best way to control water is to block it rather than remove it.”
"The Wusong River originates from Taihu Lake to the south of Wujiang River. This river runs along the canal from east to west and all the way to the sea. It is the best place to channel it."
"However, due to the tight water transport, half of the embankments, weirs and sluices were destroyed, causing sediment accumulation and making the river blocked."
"Suzhou happens to be located at the intersection of the river (Yangtze River), sea (East China Sea), and lake (Taihu Lake). The water of Taihu Lake has lived here successively."
"According to Xianguan's visit, there are more than 20,000 large and small rivers in Suzhou, more than a hundred large and small lakes, dense water networks, and crisscrossing rivers."
"Therefore, Suzhou has been known as the 'Water Country' since ancient times."
"When there are heavy rains, Suzhou also suffers from frequent floods."
"Since the founding of the country by Yizu, the land of Suzhou has been hit by major disasters every five years."
"The people of Suzhou have been suffering from hardship for a long time!"
When it comes to this, Fan Zhongyan can be said to have a deep understanding.
The tenth generation ancestor of the Fan family in Wuxian County was Fan Lubing, the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty. He lived in Pizhou (Pixian County, Shaanxi Province) for a long time. The fourth generation ancestor Fan followed and moved to Suzhou.
Since then, the Fan family of the Fan Sui family settled in Wu County.
Although Fan Zhongyan did not stay in Suzhou for a long time, his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all born and raised here.
He has a strong sense of identification with Suzhou.
(ps: By Fan Zhongyan's generation, the Fan family in Wuxian County was actually in decline. Fan Zhongyan lost his father when he was two years old, leaving his mother and son poor and helpless. Later, he remarried an official named Zhu Wenhan.
Because of his remarriage, Fan Zhongyan also used the name "Zhu Shuo". Later, he probably changed his name back to his original name after he became a Jinshi.
This is also proof of the decline of the Fan family, otherwise, Fan Zhongyan’s mother would not have taken him to remarry)
Looking at Fan Zhongyan talking eloquently, the regret in Zhang Lun's heart became more and more intense.
pity.
Xiwen's fist-fighting intention may not lead to a good outcome.
In fact, it's no wonder that Zhang Lun thought this way, because according to normal procedures, Fan Zhongyan's memorial to flood control would definitely end in failure.
But now, with Li Jie here, Fan Zhongyan's enthusiasm will naturally not go wrong.
Li Jie is not that pedantic, he is a pragmatist. Floods in Suhu are frequent and should have been cured long ago.
What's more, the frequent disasters in the Suhu area are inseparable from the Song Dynasty.
The land of Suhu has always been an area hardest hit by floods, but during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, major disasters only occurred once every twenty years on average.
By the time of the Five Dynasties, Wu and Yue, we would probably encounter one every twenty years or so.
But by the Song Dynasty, the average time was once every five years, which shortened the time by four times.
Some of these are natural disasters, but most are man-made disasters.
The Song Dynasty was a dynasty that relied heavily on Caoliang. What was Caoliang?
That is, grain from other places mobilized through water transportation.
Among them, the Sixth Southeast Road transports the most grain, transporting approximately 5.5 million stones of grain to the capital every year.
The reason why so much grain is supplied is mostly to support the army.
Under the general policy of strengthening the branches and strengthening the branches, the troops stationed in the capital account for half of the world's imperial army, numbering around 300,000 year-round.
Most of the millions of stones of food were spent on raising soldiers.
The stability of Caoliang has risen to the level of national defense security.
Therefore, in order to maintain a huge military strength, everything must be compromised with grain.
In order to ensure smooth water transportation, all the embankments, weirs and gates built in the past dynasties that hindered water transportation were destroyed.
Without these water conservancy measures, the frequency of floods would suddenly increase fourfold.
…
…
…
Capital.
Ding Mansion.
After learning about the specific matters that will be discussed in Chengming Hall tomorrow, Ding Wei suddenly felt angry and funny.
When did Zha Zi, who was just selecting a candidate, have to be discussed by all the prime ministers and ministers of the Manchu Dynasty?
Seriously, ridiculous!
If I remember correctly, that junior official at Shangshu should be called 'Fan Zhongyan'?
Thinking of this, Ding Wei sneered.
He remembered this person!
As long as he is in Zhongshu, this person will never get a chance to be reused!
——————
Sorry, it's a little late. I'm hungry. I made some midnight snacks.
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