Yuan Yaoran smiled brightly: "Prince Wang County, please don't be impatient. Just listen to what I have to say. It won't be too late for you to object again!"
"Even though there are disadvantages to this matter of dividing counties, the advantages definitely outweigh the disadvantages!"
"Wang Xian Cheng, you are a county magistrate with a rank of four hundred stones, right?"
Yuan Yao asked Wang's county magistrate.
"Of course!" Wang Xiancheng puffed up his chest and said proudly:
"Nanchang is a large county with tens of thousands of households, and the county magistrate to whom it belongs is of course the highest 400 shi!"
Wang Xiancheng is indeed confident. Counties are divided into large counties, small counties and sub-counties. His official rank as the magistrate of a large county is equal to that of the magistrate of a small county, and higher than that of the magistrate of a sub-county.
"May I ask how long Wang County Cheng has been an official before he reaches this stage?" Yuan Yao asked.
"I have successively served as the county magistrate of a small county, the magistrate of a sub-county, and the magistrate of a small county. I have been an official for twelve years, and I have just achieved the post of Nanchang County Magistrate!"
Yuan Yao nodded, turned around and asked Luo's chief clerk: "Master Luo, if I remember correctly, your position as chief clerk is equivalent to three hundred stones, right?"
Lord Luo nodded with some shame. His "three hundred stones" was one level lower than "three hundred stones", and was still three levels short of Wang Xian Cheng's "four hundred stones".
"How many years did it take Luo Zhuji to become Princess Princess Ji?"
"I entered the official position relatively late, but I served as the county magistrate for four years. I was only promoted to the chief secretary of the county by Zhuge Mansion this year."
Yuan Yao nodded. The situation of these two people was just a model for him.
"Have you two ever thought about what the greatest official position you can be in the future is?"
Wang Xiancheng was stunned. He did not expect Yuan Yao to ask him this question.
"Perhaps, maybe I can be a county magistrate?" Wang Xian Cheng, who was originally aggressive, became weak this time.
"Jun Cheng? Just you? Hahahaha!" Someone next to him immediately sneered.
"Can you defeat the Lei family of Poyang, or can you become the county magistrate before Chen Gong Cao?"
Everyone laughed mercilessly. There were many powerful families in Yuzhang County, and the competition was fierce.
For declining big families like the Wang family, the Luo family, and the Zhang family, it would be great if someone could serve as an official in the county, but they still want to be the prime minister of a county second only to the prefect?
Wang Xiancheng said angrily: "Then I can always be a five senses master in this life, right?"
Yuan Yao secretly thought that he was really hopeless!
An idle county official like Wu Guanpu might as well be the county magistrate of Nanchang County.
"Luo Zhuji, what about you?"
Luo Zhuji gave a wry smile and said, "I am satisfied that I can become an official and serve as a humble county official."
"Maybe one day I can be appointed as the county magistrate of Luling County. That will have fulfilled my father's expectations!"
Among the original big families in Yuzhang, the Luo family suffered the most decline.
I recall that in those days, Luo Zhu, the ancestor of the Luo family, followed Guan Ying and pacified Yuzhang, which made great contributions to the people. The Luo family also took root in Yuzhang County and grew stronger.
However, the huge Luo family has not produced outstanding talents for several generations, let alone anyone who can make the whole family unite.
One declines and another rises. With the rise of the Chen family, Nie family and other clans in Nanchang, the Luo family is gradually declining. That's why Luo Zhuji's grandfather and father led the main branch of the clan to move south to Luling to gain some breathing space.
"If you follow my plan and divide the counties into prefectures, then Wang Xiancheng, maybe you can become the minister of five sense organs tomorrow!"
"And you, Lord Luo, are the first Lord of the newly established Luling County! This is several levels higher than being the County Magistrate of Luling County!"
"The position of Yuzhang County Chancellor has been vacant for more than two years. Chen Gongcao, don't you want to take a step further?"
"Master Xiong, I heard that you are not only good at clerical writing, but also good at recognizing people. Don't you want to take over Chen Li's position of merit?"
Yuan Yao squinted his eyes and began to follow the temptations.
By this time, everyone also understood the benefits of dividing the county!
That means being promoted on the spot!
The positions of the prefects, county magistrates, chief administrators, meritorious officials, and various Cao officials in each county are all fixed.
Except for the fact that prefects can only be appointed by the court, county officials below the level of county magistrate are generally filled by people from the county.
Not all wealthy clans are like the Peng family who sit in a well and watch the sky. Most clans still know how much they weigh.
In order to be able to hold important positions in the county such as county magistrate, meritorious officer, cang cao, and postal governor, and to control the money and food affairs of the county, these powerful families have been fighting openly and secretly.
However, there are only a few subordinate officials in the county government. Although there are no wealthy noble families in Yuzhang County, there are countless powerful families with great surnames.
This is a typical example of more wolves and less meat!
But if Yuzhang County is divided into three parts, it will be divided into Luling County and Poyang County. It's like getting two more pieces of meat out of thin air, and the families and tribes don't have to fight as hard as they do now.
For example, the position of Commander-in-Chief has a rank of six hundred stones, which is second only to the Prefect. No matter who becomes the county magistrate, he will be jealous and be attacked by many clans.
Therefore, since the death of Zhou Shu, the previous governor, the position of county magistrate has been vacant for two years, and no one has dared to step forward to take it.
"The shortcomings of Yuzhang's official administration, in my opinion, are like too many monks and too little porridge!"
More monks and less rice?
Everyone was refreshed. They had never heard this metaphor before, but it was very close to reality.
Buddhism had been introduced for two hundred years at this time and had been developing rapidly. In recent years, because of Zuo Rong, Buddhist believers are very common in Xu and Yangzhou.
"To cure this problem, the best way is to cook more porridge so that everyone can eat more or less!"
"Dividing Yuzhang County into three is my general's method of making porridge!"
Yuan Yao glanced around. At this time, everyone was breathing quickly and their eyes were burning.
Yuan Yao straightened his face and said with great righteousness: "Since ancient times, the way to govern the country and bring peace to the people has always been from the top down."
"If you want to make the people happy, you must first get rid of the abuses of government officials from above!"
"Officials must govern the Qingming Festival, and then they can govern so that the people can live and work in peace and contentment!"
Although today is to make wishes for these officials, the words still have to be said in a high-sounding way.
"Do you agree with my general's strategy?"
…
"I agree with the general's policy!"
After a brief silence, Lord Luo, who was the first to object, was the first to agree.
Although the Yuzhang Luo family was in decline, a lean camel was bigger than a horse. The Luo family was still a bit better than the other wealthy families in Luling.
If Luling County is really divided, wouldn't it be easy for me to resign as chief clerk and return to Luling to be promoted to three levels as chief clerk?
As for the Lu, Xiu and Chu clans in Luling, I'm really sorry. The only blame is your own short-sightedness for not letting your clan members serve in the county.
I will be the first to choose the county official position in Luling County!
"I agree! My Yuzhang has a vast territory and a mixed population. This divide-and-conquer strategy is exactly in line with the actual situation of my Yuzhang!"
"That's right. Our Yuzhang area is thousands of miles away, which is enough to cover a state in the Central Plains. How can we effectively govern it with only one county? I, Xu Zong, also support this strategy!"
Chen Li and Xu Zong also expressed their stance immediately. In fact, they were convinced by Yuan Yao last night.
Although the Yuzhang County was to be split up, which on the surface would weaken the real power of the two Yuzhang County officials, one should know that there are many powerful families in Yuzhang, and it would be difficult for the government to enforce the decree.
But after the split, the big families in Nanchang will have fewer opponents. For example, the Lei family of Poyang, who occupies the position of postal governor, has returned wherever he came from. He is no longer qualified to compete with me, the Chen family of Nanchang, for the position of county magistrate.
Although the huge Yuzhang County will be greatly reduced, the authority of these big families in Yuzhang County will be greatly enhanced, and their control over the counties and localities will also be greatly enhanced.
Taking control of local government affairs, wouldn't it mean that a powerful family in the countryside would become a powerful family in the county?
If there is another talented person in the family in the future and is appointed as the Grand Administrator, wouldn't it be possible to be promoted to a famous noble family?
"I agree! It all depends on the general's orders!"
"I have no objection to this matter!"
The vast majority of people present voted in favor, with the exception of Wang's county magistrate, who initially opposed it.
The Wang family was originally a wealthy family in Yuzhang, but it had declined in recent years and was overshadowed by these powerful families.
Yuan Yao wants to divide and rule, which is a good thing for most powerful families, but it is not a good thing for his Wang family.
With so many wealthy families suddenly growing up, wouldn't the Wang family have even less status in Yuzhang County in the future?
But now that everyone was looking at him, Wang Xiancheng did not dare to object anymore.
"I also agree!" Wang County Cheng said reluctantly.
Although he expressed his support, Wang Xiancheng was thinking in his heart that he wanted to convey the news to Zhuge Prefect as soon as possible.
As soon as Yuan Yao came, he wanted to divide Yuzhang County into three parts. Prefect Zhuge must be unwilling to do so!
