Thousand-step corridor.
Xie Fang, the steward of the Mu Mansion, followed Gu Zhengchen on the right, smiling gratefully: "If it hadn't been for the delay in teaching Master Mu Chun, Mr. Gu would have already applied for his official certificate."
Gu Zhengchen didn't care and said calmly: "Young Master Muchun is smart and good at learning, and he will become a great person in the future. As for the official work, I am not in a hurry, but I would like to thank the housekeeper for going there personally."
Xie Fang said hurriedly: "I dare not say it's troublesome. This is what I should do. The office of the Ministry of Civil Affairs is in front of me."
Gu Zhengchen didn't go far when he saw the imposing gate of the Libu. The word "Libu" on the door plaque was still in golden characters, with flying dragons and phoenixes, which was quite impressive.
The door was open, flanked by two sergeants.
Inside, in addition to officials wearing official uniforms and official hats constantly walking around, there were also some Confucian scholars like Gu Zhengchen.
At the door, there were a few people poking around, acting suspiciously.
"This is?"
Gu Zhengchen was a little confused.
Xie Fang took a look and explained: "They are all wealthy people in Beijing, specializing in Beijing debt."
"Beijing debt."
Gu Zhengchen sighed a little.
The so-called Beijing debt is actually usury, but it originated from the capital, so it is called Beijing debt.
This group of people specializes in targeting officials who are going to other places. The officials are short of cash and have no money. These people lend them money and pay them back when they take office. Zhu Yuanzhang paid Daoli fees to officials in order to prevent officials from incurring Beijing debts.
But the problem is that what Lao Zhu gives is the road fee, which as the name suggests, is the cost of the road. As for buying furniture, buying a few servants, marrying a few concubines, and having good food and drinks, Lao Zhu didn't give him any money...
Borrow money now and use your salary to pay off the debt later.
I forgot, the salary given by Lao Zhu is low, and the interest on the Beijing debt is compounded, and the interest is compounded. I can’t afford to repay it. It doesn’t matter. Local officials have many ways to make money. Not to mention the Beijing debt, even the national debt can be repaid...
Xie Fang took a step forward and whispered: "As an official, you need to do two important things at the beginning..."
Gu Zhengchen frowned: "What two major events?"
Xie Fang coughed and winked at Gu Zhengchen: "Change your name and marry a younger one."
Gu Zhengchen's eyes widened, this, this counts?
Changing your account number, people from Ming Dynasty are really good at this, even a little fanatical.
For example, Tang Yin and Tang Bohu, also known as Liuru layman, Taohua nunnery master, Tangsheng of Lu state, and the immortal official who escaped from Zen...
After all, there is no shadow of Old Tang. A little further away, let’s say that the current prince praises Song Lian, nicknamed Longmenzi, Xuanzhen Dunsou, and Fang Xiaoru, who will come to the capital in four years, nicknamed Mr. Fengcheng, Zheng Mr. Xue...
It is estimated that this set of tricks was so contagious that some servants began to pretend to be in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, such as Yan Song's servant Yongnian, named Hepo, and Zhang Juzheng's servant You Qi, named Chubin. Why does this name sound like Funeral...
Gu Zhengchen didn't think of a nickname. As for marrying a younger one, this is even more sad. Most people don't have one, so how can one be younger...
He glared at Xie Fang fiercely, this guy didn't learn well.
Xie Fang chuckled, leading Gu Zhengchen to pass the high threshold of the Ministry of Personnel, and introduced: "In June of the fifth year of Hongwu, His Majesty decided to divide the functions into six ministries. The Ministry of Personnel is responsible for the selection, awarding and examination of officials in the world. There are three subordinates. The first one is called the Headquarters, which is in charge of literary selection; the second one is called the Si Xun Department, which is in charge of the official system; and the third one is called the Kao Gong Department, which is in charge of assessments."
Gu Zhengchen looked at the official courtyard. There were offices on the left and right sides. There was a long sign hanging on the side of the door with the name He Si.
"Shall we go to headquarters?"
Gu Zhengchen asked.
Xie Fang shook her head and pointed to the Si Xun Department in the east chamber: "Mr. Gu is going to the place of appointment to apply for official certificates, not for literary selection. He should go to the Si Xun Department, which controls the world's civil service ranks, monthly salary, promotion qualifications, grades, official system, Yellow stickers and other things.”
Gu Zhengchen understood and walked towards Si Xun's headquarters along the road paved with bluestone slabs.
The Department of Si Xun has one doctor each, one Yuanwailang, one person in charge, one official, two officials, and four official officials.
On this day, there were only a few people applying for official certificates. Xu Shi, the chief officer, was chatting leisurely with Dianshi Wang Chang. When he saw someone coming, Wang Chang sat down and asked, "Are you applying for official certificates?"
Gu Zhengchen took two steps forward and saluted, "That's right."
Wang Chang waved his hand: "Take out the appointment and dismissal documents, which are in compliance with the contract."
Gu Zhengchen took out the appointment and dismissal document from his arms, which was in compliance with the contract, and handed it to Wang Chang.
Wang Chang opened his eyes and took a look, then got up and said, "Teng County, Gu Zhengchen, Gu Zhixian, right? That's rude."
Gu Zhengchen returned the gift.
Wang Chang led Gu Zhengchen to another desk, sat down in front of him, took out a piece of yellow paper, picked up a pen, introduced himself, and said seriously: "Gu Zhengchen, Wang needs to write your origin in the yellow list. Please also answer truthfully your name, year of birth, hometown, official history..."
The yellowing system, also known as yellowing and yellowing, is a system for correcting errors in official documents pioneered in the Tang Dynasty.
The original yellow stickers were roughly equivalent to the correction tapes of later generations. After all, there were no erasers in ancient times, so scribbling was indecent. If you made a mistake, you could simply write another yellow paper and paste it on.
However, with the development, by the early Ming Dynasty, yellowing had evolved into a type of official document system.
Because officials are promoted frequently, promotions require stickers, demotions also require stickers, and promotions require stickers, so yellow stickers are often seen in civil and military files.
Looking through the file in the future, it will be clear at a glance what year and month, promotion, demotion, and continuation and repost.
Wang Chang and Gu Zhengchen exchanged questions and answers, and the yellow paper was quickly finished. Wang Chang put the yellow papers in the book, picked them up, and went to the chief to report for printing.
After Xu Shi saw it, he looked at Gu Zhengchen, asked a few questions, then nodded and said: "Please ask the county magistrate Gu to apply for the official certificate later, as long as the doctor adds his seal."
"Thank you."
Gu Zhengchen breathed a sigh of relief.
Xie Fang smiled at the side and said: "It won't take long for Mr. Gu to become the real magistrate of Gu County. When you give the official certificate later, he will write down the date of appointment and receive the appointment instructions. Mr. Gu may wish to fill in the date of appointment. Be more relaxed and stay in Beijing for a few more days."
Gu Zhengchen asked easily: "Can I still choose the date of taking office?"
Xie Fang looked around and saw that no one was paying attention, so he whispered: "Mr. Gu doesn't know something. Although the imperial court clearly has a deadline for taking office, there are still many officials staying in Jinling for one or two months. Think about it, this revelation Borrowing property, purchasing clothes, marrying a wife and buying concubines, none of them require time. Of course, according to the regulations, one should leave for office within half a month after receiving the official certificate."
Gu Zhengchen looked at Xie Fang and said somewhat seriously: "Steward Xie, you are asking Gu to violate the laws and regulations of the imperial court. How dare you do this to Governor Mu?"
Xie Fang was shocked and said quickly: "I just..."
"It's okay. Butler Xie is doing it for my own good. After all, some laws are not strict." Gu Zhengchen interrupted Xie Fang's words and smiled calmly: "Sooner or later, I need to go to my post. If I go early, I can understand the people's sentiments early."
Time passed little by little.
Gu Zhengchen was a little confused. Wasn't it just a matter of getting a seal and getting the official instructions on how to take office? As for such a long time, could it be that the doctor was passive and sabotaged his work?
After waiting for nearly half an hour, Gu Zhengchen walked up to Wang Chang and asked, "Wang Dianshi, when can I get my official certificate?"
"Well?"
Wang Chang thought that Gu Zhengchen and others had left, but he didn't expect to stay here. He said doubtfully: "It's strange, the doctor is here. Why hasn't it been done yet? I'll go find out."
Soon after, Wang Chang returned and looked at Gu Zhengchen with an uncertain expression. He did not explain the reason, but just sighed: "Mr. Zhao is visiting guests, please wait for news."
Gu Zhengchen frowned, what kind of guests would take so long to receive guests?
Not long after, I saw two people walking out of the room where the doctor was. One was tall and the other was short. They were both thin. But what was strange was that the tall official was obviously only a seventh-grade official, while the short man next to him was a third-grade official. He was wearing an official uniform, but the short man nodded and bowed to the tall man, looking flattering.
"Are you supervising the censor?"
Gu Zhengchen stared and met the teasing eyes of the seventh-rank official.
After a brief eye contact, the seventh-grade official left with a smile.
The seventh-grade official who can make third-grade officials fear flattery is probably the only supervisory censor in this capital!
Even though this group of people are only in the seventh grade, their power is huge.
The Yushitai specializes in correcting and impeaching hundreds of officials, clarifying the grievances, supervising various departments, and serving as the emperor's eyes, ears, and officials.
Any minister who is treacherous, a villain, a member of the party, or someone who threatens and disrupts the government will be impeached.
All officials who are corrupt, corrupt, and violate official discipline will be impeached.
Anyone who is not academically correct, who writes a letter stating that the chaos has become a constitution, and who hopes to be used, will be impeached...
In short, the supervisory censors are a group of officials who specialize in impeaching people. They are the ones who will whip you if something goes wrong, find trouble to whip you if nothing happens, scold and criticize officials.
I don’t blame the third-rank officials for bowing their heads. Even if the minister meets the censor, he must be careful in case he is impeached by them for not taking off his official uniform when sleeping, not using silverware when eating, or having his official hat and clothes tilted when he goes to court. , ranging from being scolded to being demoted...
"I don't seem to have offended the censor, right?"
Gu Zhengchen was a little confused. After he came to the capital, he didn't make any enemies. At most, he disappointed a few of the prince's guests and Prince Yude in the East Palace. It couldn't be said to offend him, right?
What's more, with Zhu Biao in charge, it is impossible for this group of people to be so stupid as to bring the matter to the supervisory censor and then wait for an opportunity to retaliate.
"You are the County Magistrate, right? I'm in charge of Meng Ren."
Meng Ren, the doctor, walked over, with his small eyes twinkling and a playful smile on his lips.
Gu Zhengchen saluted.
Meng Ren looked at the chief officer Xu Shi who was following him.
Xu Shi understood, took a step forward, and handed a booklet and an official certificate to Gu Zhengchen: "This is the official certificate and instructions for taking office in Guzhi County. Also, here is the period of being held in office, counting the time limit. Mileage, excluding the time in Jinling, Guzhi County should arrive in office on November 16th."
"November 16th?"
Gu Zhengchen was surprised.
The journey from Jinling to Jurong is only about a hundred miles, so we can safely travel there in two days.
It's August 16th now, and I will take office on November 16th, which is a full three months. Doesn't this give me too much free time?
No, this is not in line with Lao Zhu's work style. How could he, a workaholic, allow officials to take office in just a few days but only three months?
Gu Zhengchen calmed down, opened the official certificate of appointment, and suddenly stared, it read clearly:
Gu Zhengchen was granted the title of Magistrate of Yangjiang County, Zhaoqing Prefecture, Guangdong Province.
"Holy shit, I'm going to the sea..."
Gu Zhengchen was shocked. He had agreed to be the magistrate of Jurong County in Yingtian Prefecture, but why did he fly to Yangjiang, Guangdong...
