The name "Gebu" was still created by Zhan Hui to refer to it. Now that the specific regulations have come out, Zhu Gaochi will naturally ask Zhu Yuanzhang for instructions on whether to change the name.
At the back of the memorial, there were naturally the names of the ministers who discussed the matter. Zhu Yuanzhang read it again and raised his eyebrows.
What about "Binyi Pavilion", "Military Aircraft Department", "Zhengshitang", "Guoyiyuan"...
Although it is said that the ministers put their best efforts, it can be seen that they worked hard and carefully.
It's just that Zhu Yuanzhang didn't have these thoughts. He wished that the cabinet had nothing to do with him, so he shook his head and said, "That's good."
"What the emperor is talking about is, what positions should these cabinet officials be given?"
"Gao Chi, what do you think?"
Zhu Yuanzhang kicked the ball back. As soon as he got involved, when the cabinet minister came out, it was inevitable that the national destiny would be related to him.
It's best not to interfere at all and leave it to Zhu Gaochi. This guy is not a fool and he naturally knows what to do.
Zhu Gaochi already had an idea about this, and then said: "Sun'er feels that although the officials in the cabinet have no real power, they still have to be given some nominal hope. Therefore, the officials who enter the cabinet must all be of the fifth rank. The bachelor's degree and increased salary at the same time can be regarded as a reward for their hard work."
He felt that this was the most appropriate way to deal with it, but to his surprise, Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said: "You are very kind, which is good, but you have to know that people's hearts will never be satisfied! Gao Chi, we gave them justice today. After a while, fifth-grade bachelors will feel that this is what they deserve. If we increase their salary today, they will feel that this is a softening of our attitude. Therefore, for officials who enter the cabinet, we will do nothing. No, as ministers, they should do things, otherwise how can they be worthy of this official robe?"
Zhu Gaochi scratched his head. He felt a little dissatisfied with Grandpa Huang's statement. After thinking about it for a while, he said honestly: "Grandpa Huang, if you do this, they will not be so motivated to do things, and the cabinet officials will not do anything." Identity, there are not many officials who want to enter, and I am afraid that due to various reasons, it will be shelved indefinitely and shelved."
"You said they would go behind our backs and be lazy and slippery?"
Zhu Yuanzhang sneered and said: "Gao Chi, you think too highly of them. How can they have the courage? We, your father, and you are watching from above! Not only will we not give them salaries, we will not do anything good." Well, we have to deduct their salaries and demote their official positions to let people know that they are not the only ones who deserve this official position, but others also deserve it. Gao Chi, you may think that this is really unfair. It will break their hearts. But let me ask you, do you think there are too many new officials in the imperial court now because of the imperial examination?"
"this……"
Zhu Gaochi thought for a moment and said: "Many, and as the number of imperial examinations increases, the number of new officials will also increase."
"Then let me ask you again, does the Ming Dynasty need so many officials?"
Zhu Gaochi shook his head and said: "The number of official positions is constant within a certain period of time, and the Ming Dynasty did not need so many officials."
At this point, Zhu Gaochi suddenly realized and said: "Grandpa Huang, what you mean is that with the increase in the number of imperial examinations, the number of officials will also increase greatly. When the time comes, there will not be enough official positions and there will be too many monks and too few people, which will inevitably lead to the problem of redundant officials. "
He couldn't help but think of the phenomenon of redundant officials in the Song Dynasty. According to records, during the period of Song Taizu, the number of officials in the Song Dynasty was about three to four thousand, which was relatively normal.
But only during the Taizong period of the Song Dynasty, the number of officials had climbed to eight or nine thousand.
Then it developed all the way. By the time of Xiaozong, the number of officials in the country had reached an astonishing more than 30,000!
Such a large number of bureaucratic teams did not bring positive feedback to the official administration of the Song Dynasty. On the contrary, the phenomenon of officials passing the buck to each other and inaction was extremely serious.
It is in line with the old saying: One monk carries water to eat, two monks carry water to eat, and three monks have no water to eat.
The huge bureaucracy naturally brought huge pressure to the economy of the Song Dynasty. In order to relieve this pressure, the only way to support the increasingly large bureaucratic team was to continuously seize the wealth of the people. In the end, the officials who were supposed to serve the country and the country were Instead, he became a blood-sucking insect that gnawed at bones and sucked marrow, and he was kept fat and white.
Past experience guide for the future. Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat when he thought of this. There seemed to be only a few officials in the imperial court, far from the level of redundant officials.
But this is the result of the emperor's cleaning up several times. Without the emperor's vigorous cleaning, I am afraid that the number of officials in the Ming Dynasty would have been half as many.
Seeing that Zhu Gaochi had figured this out, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction and said: "Gaochi, now you know why we don't care about these officials. In the Ming Dynasty, the most indispensable thing is officials. When we started the army, we At that time, the reason why it was able to develop its power so quickly was because of the people from Fengyang!
The twenty-four generals of Huaixi such as Xu Da, Tang He, etc. were all like us at the beginning, even the poor had to beg for food. But they followed us and conquered the whole world.
Just one Fengyang can produce so many meritorious officials. Looking at the world, how many such talents should there be? It can be seen that the Ming Dynasty has never lacked talents, they just don't have this opportunity!
What Zhan Hui and the others are doing now seems complicated, but as long as a champion comes up, he can master it quickly. Gao Chi, guess what, do those top-ranked scholars who passed the imperial examinations and came second in the rankings want to be officials, do they want to gain a higher status? "
Zhu Yuanzhang's remarks made Zhu Gaochi unable to calm down for a long time. He just felt overwhelmed and looked shocked for a moment.
After a moment, he nodded and said: "They naturally think that once they obtain academic status, most scholars will work hard to climb up. No one will be willing to be inferior to others."
"Official positions are limited. There are only six ministers in the six departments. If Zhao Mian is not dead, how can Yu Xin successfully become the minister?"
Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled and said: "Gao Chi, don't look at us killing so many officials, but in the eyes of many people, I feel so happy in my heart. This knife is not placed on my neck, no one knows the pain. Let's kill If a group of officials from above are eliminated, officials from below will naturally take up the job, just like leeks, once a crop is cut, there will soon be a new crop, a steady stream that will never be cut off!"
Although Zhu Gaochi did not agree with the emperor's comparison of officials to leeks, he had to admit that it was true that words were rough but not rough.
If we count all the dynasties in detail, there is no dynasty that lacks officials. People who want to be officials are like moths to a flame, and they come in an endless stream.
Even though Grandpa Huang is so harsh, countless people are still crazy about it. It can be seen that being an official will always have a huge temptation.
He now understands why Grandpa Huang said that if you don't do well, you will be demoted and your salary will be reduced. There are really too many people who want to be an official. If you don't want to do it, someone will immediately express their loyalty and wag their tails.
"Grandpa Huang, my grandson understands that as long as there are still people who want to be officials, there is no need to worry about no one available in the court."
There was excitement in Zhu Gaochi's eyes. Zhu Yuanzhang's words indeed shattered some of his previous inherent concepts, but what followed was more doubts.
These doubts were stuck in his throat, making Zhu Gaochi extremely uncomfortable. He couldn't wait any longer and asked, "Grandpa Huang, my grandson still has something to puzzle about. I hope Grandpa Huang can help clarify my grandson's doubts."
…
