In the first year of Zhengtong's reign, officials and chief officials of each yamen in the two capitals came to inspect the officials from their respective yamen halls. If there is a person who is incompetent or old and sick, the officials will verify it and make a decision.
Jingcha is a classic example of hardening one's life and sharpening one's wits. The inspection was only conducted by officials from the two capitals, but now anyone could see that the inspection was mainly for Nanjing.
It's not like that in Beijing. Beijing's officials have been washed away over and over again.
As a rule, the inspection of Nanjing officials is jointly conducted by the Nanjing Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, and Beijing will not interfere.
However, the rule of the Beijing Inspection Bureau has always been to submit the inspection results to the superiors for "decision by listening" - the emperor has the final say.
Now, except for the left minister, Jia Yong, the official minister of Nanjing, the rest are the ministers of various departments. This time the Beijing inspection was carried out by the Nanjing official department, and it was the young Xu Jie, who was a scout in the second year of Jiajing.
The Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, which jointly conducted the inspection, only had one censor from the right capital but no censor from the left capital. At this moment, the person who serves as the censor of the right capital of the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate is Xia Yan, who temporarily took over the position of Meng Chunying Tianfu Yin and filled the vacancy after some senior officials of third rank and above in Nanjing were transferred to Beijing this time.
At this moment, Jingcha needs to make preliminary preparations, and the first preparation is to hold a meeting.
The Nanjing Beijing Procuratorate Preparatory Meeting in the fifth year of Jiajing was held in the official office of the Nanjing Civil Affairs Bureau. In addition to the Nanjing Civil Affairs Bureau, the attendees also included the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, the Nanjing Sixth Section, and Yang Tinghe.
"As usual, I am in charge of this capital inspection, and Huang Shilang will praise Dazai and help me handle this matter." Jia Yong glanced at Huang Zuo and said, "Huang Shilang, you are going to have to work hard."
Huang Zuo, who was second in the list in the 16th year of Zhengde's reign, had a prosperous official career after he became an official. First, he was promoted to the fourth rank of counselor because Zhang Fujing killed most of the high-ranking officials in Guangdong. Then he worked in Guangdong for five years and was promoted to the third rank because of the trial implementation of the new law.
Fortunately, he was just the right minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Nanjing. He was not too dazzling and could not be compared with Zhang Fujing, the governor of Shandong.
But even so, he and Xu Jie arrived at the Nanjing official department and started to investigate the capital. Jia Yong knew that it was best for him to be less involved, and the chief Zan Dazai who was supposed to be assisting was the protagonist.
Huang Zuolian said he didn't dare, and expressed his sincerity, so he sat there quietly.
In five years, he has accumulated a lot of experience in Guangdong, and he knows that although he is responsible for this matter, in fact, His Majesty is here to control the overall situation. At this moment, Yang Tinghe is only sitting in the audience, with his eyes lowered and his eyebrows lowered as if he is asleep. .
Jia Yong also looked at Yang Tinghe first, feeling a little resentful in his heart.
His previous position was at the Imperial Academy in Beijing. Although the official rank of Congsipin is not high, the meaning of the official position of the Imperial College's sacrificial wine is very different.
In the palace examination in the 16th year of Zhengde's reign, he was one of the examiners.
After the cabinet quota was set to six members, Yang Tinghe and Tinghe recommended him, a man from the fourth rank, as his companion. It was simply shocking - how could anyone directly join the cabinet without being regarded as a minister?
But at that time, he was actually selected as a running companion, and he ran with Zhang Zilin. Those who entered the cabinet that time were Shi Yun and Sun Jiao.
Later, during the "DPRK Struggle" between the "New Party" and the "Old Party" in the first year of Jiajing, Jia Yong directly became the right minister of the Ministry of Rites in Beijing. Then, after problems arose in Nanjing in the third year of Jiajing, he was continued to be recommended by Yang Tinghe to Nanjing as the minister. Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
He is from Yang Tinghe.
In the past few years, Yang Tinghe served as the chief assistant and presided over the new law. Jia Yong did rise quickly, but he did not expect that Yang Tinghe sent him to the top to preside over such a hot matter.
Jingcha!
"...In the history of inspections in the capital, first there are suggestions before the inspection by the department, and then the superiors of the civil affairs department review them. The merit examination department will prepare the interview form, and ask the officials from the department and the department to write testimonials for the subordinate officials. , and officials of the fourth rank and above in each yamen are required to prepare a written statement. After everything is done, I will ask Your Majesty to set a date, and the superior officer of the ministry hall will open the yamen hall for review."
Jia Yong reiterated the previous rules, and then said to Xia Yan and the Sixth Section: "The Procuratorate and the Sixth Section should make suggestions first as usual."
From what Jia Yong said, it can be seen that the preliminary work of the Beijing Inspectorate is just a preparation, and it will eventually fall into the "court trial" stage.
After using the word test, it can be seen that the last link is almost all about processing people, although on the surface, all fifth-grade and below have to go to court once.
Before that, the so-called advice before the inspection was nothing more than making a list.
The Ministry of Personnel made a "list" of suggestions for the officials, and then made an interview list according to the rules, and entrusted the officials to conduct the inspection. At the same time, combined with the comments of the superior officials of various yamen halls in Nanjing on the subordinate officials, the fourth-level results were evaluated based on the eight inspection items.
Eight eyes, said greed, said cruel, said impetuous, said inadequate, said old, said disease, said stop, said careless.
The fourth grade: those who are old and sick will be promoted to official positions; those who are weak and do nothing and are careless in their behavior will be allowed to live idle; those who are greedy and cruel and are on the run will serve the people; those who are not talented enough will be considered for change.
The court hearing is to give a chance to argue. The results of inspections for fifth grade and below will be decided during the inspection process in the capital.
For those with grades four and above, according to the rules, they should start writing their own records after the court review, and the emperor will decide whether to stay or not. They do not need to be tried in court. This is the dignity and privilege of Zhupao people.
Historically, most of the Beijing inspections have been mixed with elements of cleansing.
Therefore, Jingcha has always been resisted by officials. In the beginning, the exam was held every ten years. During the Hongzhi period, the exam was set every six years, but it could not be strictly adhered to.
In the past six years, he became a Zhengcha in his first examination. If the Zhengchao does not comply, intervening censorship will appear from time to time in the name of disaster, but in reality it will eliminate dissidents.
It's not Runcha now, the emperor's succession to the throne has entered the sixth year, and it is indeed justified.
But everyone can't forget that among the new methods, there is also a test method! Now that we have the examination method, is it still necessary to conduct an inspection in Beijing?
The six departments in Nanjing remained silent: most of the Nanjing officials retired here, and there were not many exceptions.
Why should it be difficult to care for the elderly?
You must know that the grades of science and technology officials are relatively low, and they are also under investigation.
Xia Yan then spoke: "It's been a long time since we visited the capital. We always carry out consultations and advice together, so let's each perform their duties. The science and education officials will prepare notes as soon as possible and comment on the merits and demerits of various officials in Nanjing, and the merit examination department will also prepare the interview orders as soon as possible. Do it well and discuss it at another day."
"...What do you think of the pavilion?" Jia Yong still asked Yang Tinghe respectfully.
At this time, Yang Tinghe opened his eyes and nodded slowly: "I have always been in Beijing to visit, and this consultation and advice can easily take three to five months. One consultation cannot be rushed, and the other cannot be ignored. Believe it or not. Now a decree has been issued in June. Half a year should be enough. This arrangement is very appropriate. Even if it is not enough, spend more time to be cautious and not to wrongly accuse a good official. As an official It’s not easy, the future of those below the fifth rank depends on this, Ming He, Gong Jin, Cai Bo, you need to remember this.”
Jia Yong opened his mouth slightly.
Xia Yan suggested that you don’t need to wait until the scientific and technical officials’ suggestions are received before making interview orders. This means that you don’t have to worry about reducing the workload: all employees should be interviewed for the fifth grade and before.
Yang Tinghe was even more ruthless. They say don't wrongly accuse good officials, but in reality, they just want to investigate carefully and slowly. Half a year isn't even enough, and it has to be postponed until next year?
Although there are more officials below fifth rank, it won't take so long, right? How do you feel...the goal is level 4 or above?
Xia Yan confirmed Yang Tinghe's attitude and his eyes lit up.
After the new king succeeded to the throne, he, Xia Yan, was the first person to receive heaven's grace. But after participating in the preparations for the resettlement of the Beijing camp, it was already his sixth year in Nanjing.
In six years, the official promotion was not unpleasant, and now he is the second rank.
But this is Nanjing after all, far away from the center. It is also a genuine second-grade product, but in fact it is only equivalent to the genuine third-grade product in Beijing.
It seems that there is only one step away from participating in the policy, but in fact there are at least two steps left, and these two steps are getting more and more difficult.
He already knew very well that even Yang Tinghe had come to Nanjing, and he wanted to leave Nanjing unless the emperor no longer needed to arrange so many of his own people in Nanjing to control the situation.
This time, it is a cleansing, in the name of Jingcha!
Zhang Fuking, who had massacred Guangdong and Shandong, was already the governor.
The invisible sword of Jingchao now rests in the hands of Xia Yan!
What is the significance of the existence of Nanjing Liubu?
The biggest function is actually to facilitate the emperor's escape to the south.
But in times of peace when the imperial court was in danger of overthrowing, it helped Beijing control the wealthier Jiangnan, and also used Nanjing's large number of official positions to mediate Beijing's conflicts.
As soon as the decree arrived in Nanjing, under the pressure of the Beijing police, the good days of Nanjing's elderly care officials were gone forever.
Being transferred to Nanjing has always been like punishment. But Xia Yan was different. He was promoted from Nanjing.
The Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate has always been a leisurely yamen, unless it meets the Beijing Procuratorate.
This time the Beijing inspection was even more serious, as you could feel from Xia Yan's words and urging.
The ordinary censors serving in Nanjing looked at Xia Yan with complicated expressions: Are they really impartial in advising and consulting?
Xia Yan was very calm: "I have made my words very clear. Except for Cao Jiang, if the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate has only handled such a big errand in the past few years and cannot hand over a good answer to His Majesty, then I should be the first to submit my resignation."
After saying that, he glanced at these subordinate officials who actually lived a relaxed and comfortable life without offending anyone. The implication was obvious: As the head of the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, I am the one who evaluates you subordinate officials. written.
The ordinary censors took the order first, and they all thought in their hearts: Is Nanjing really going to undergo a huge change? Nanjing is the capital of the country!
At this moment, Yang Tinghe was sitting in the official hall of his governor Yingtian Ministry, reading Yan Song's letter.
From his letter, Yang Tinghe tasted his eagerness and knew that he had distracted from his original intention of coming to Nanjing.
The purpose of coming to Nanjing is not to do anything serious to Nanjing and Nanzhili now, but to gradually form an established fact and let the officials and dignitaries in Nanjing who support each other remember one thing again: these powers that belong to Nanjing's own bureaucracy, let them The power to enjoy a life of ease or freedom from Beijing's supervision can actually be taken back.
People who always argue that Nanjing is the foundation of the country do not think that the only way the imperial court can do it is to set up six bureaucracies in Nanjing?
As soon as the Beijing inspection began, Nanjing was like a hot pot. This time, which ant can't help but come out and make an issue of Nanjing, the capital of the country?
Is it the Nanjing Ministry of Household Affairs who will feel the crisis, or the Nanjing relatives, or the senior officials and gentry who have become officials?
He picked up his pen and wrote back to Yan Song, reminding him like an emperor: Don't worry. No hurries? How could it be possible to give Songjiang and Changzhou to Zhejiang now?
…
The summer heat in June is extremely hot, and the capital is also extremely hot.
At this moment, it was even hotter in the main camp of the Fifth Army Camp on the outskirts of Beijing, but the nearly 100 people standing in front of the general ordering stage in front of the school grounds remained motionless.
None of them are large-scale soldiers. They are all deputy commanders of more than a thousand households and commanders of guards and envoys.
There are thirteen provinces in the two capitals, plus the command of the general commanders of the various lines, the left-behind departments, and the border towns. If they can stand here, they are already county magistrates.
Nowadays, the first batch of generals in the Ming Dynasty army who were collectively awarded the title of County Lords stood upright under the scorching sun because the emperor who also stood under the scorching sun on the stage was the emperor who gave them this grace.
Zhu Houcong looked at the people below.
He was so close that everyone could see his face clearly.
It is an almost unprecedented military generals competition. Those who have received orders from all over the country understand that those who want to be sent to the capital for the competition must have real skills - can the county magistrate just use it to reward those who only know how to drink the blood of soldiers?
When they arrived here, the emperor personally braved the scorching heat to give lectures, which made the generals at the backbone of the Ming army feel that this competition was extraordinary.
"Except for those who were awarded county titles for their efforts in suppressing the rebellion in Huguang and Xin Fa Xu, you are the first batch of fierce generals in the Ming Dynasty army to be collectively awarded county titles. Today, I see you, all of you are brave men, and I am very pleased. Next The first step is to be promoted to an uncle due to meritorious service, or to be given the title of replacement."
Most of these generals saw the emperor for the first time, and when they heard the way he spoke, they found him very approachable.
The first batch of county lords who were deliberately emphasized puffed up their chests.
"In this competition, no count will be awarded." Zhu Houcong paused, and then said in a solemn voice, "You caught up with the good times and easily won the county title. Later people can only be awarded the county title based on merit. But this time In the competition, the top ten can be downgraded and replaced. The top three and the third generation will not be downgraded! In just one competition, your son will have a higher starting point than others!"
In today's title system, if one has martial arts skills within three generations, he will be demoted and replaced. This is already a general principle.
The emperor will always hold this power of grace in his hands. From generation to generation, the lords will always work hard to continue their title levels and even upgrades. The system that is more susceptible to change will naturally be affected by these ordinary people who have never enjoyed this kind of status and honor. Welcomed by generals.
All it takes is to come out on top in a competition, and the title of county title, which is now basically named after the hometown where they were born, can be inherited by their son.
Uncle Feng? No one expects to be crowned uncle in a big competition.
If he hadn't met this emperor, the emperor might not have been able to make two or three uncles in the entire dynasty.
"You are generals, so don't think that this competition is for you to compete by yourselves." Zhu Houxuan raised his finger and pointed to the barracks in the distance, "150,000 capital camps, a total of 39,000 were selected from each province, and another 5,000 were transferred to the army. The Nanjing Zhenwu Camp team is now recruiting 50,000 new soldiers."
He looked at Li Quanli. After Li Quanli saluted first, he shouted in the distance: "Where are the commanders of each camp?"
"Stand by for orders!"
Behind the fence outside the school grounds, a very neat sound suddenly sounded.
"Line up and enter!"
Then, these generals who came to participate in the competition saw four rows of figures appearing in the distance, walking in step by step with arms swinging in a neat pace.
Their eyes narrowed: What kind of queue marching method is this?
So many years have passed, and the required queue marching methods and disciplines that Zhu Houcong first taught Lu Song have at least been conveyed to the Beijing camp, and they have been practiced at the request of Li Quanli, who is extremely eager to be promoted to a marquis or even a duke.
It's not just about looking good. The purpose of military training is to follow orders and prohibitions, and to use your fingers like an arm.
Now, the generals participating in the competition were first shocked by a small breakdown.
When they marched over and lined up at the general stage, it was Qiu Luan who stood at the front.
"Stand still!"
"Take a break!"
After two more sounds, accompanied by the movements of these people, he faced Zhu Houcong and shouted loudly: "Report! There are a total of 80 people in each new battalion, please review by Your Majesty!"
Qiu Luan has been staying in the capital camp. He is still young, only twenty-two years old now.
But the Marquis's status is so good. He was transferred from the Three Thousand Battalion to the Camp Officer of the Fifth Military Battalion, specializing in drills - who asked him to stay in the Beijing camp all the time, when he was already familiar with the drills and still young?
This time, 30% of the personnel assigned to each province were from the Shenji Battalion and 70% from the Fifth Military Battalion. Most of the newly recruited soldiers are in the fifth military camp.
Zhu Houcong nodded: "Come on stage, Qiu Luan."
Zhu Houcong also had his own considerations in letting Qiu Luan only train here instead of going out for training - in his impression, Qiu Luan seemed to have a bad reputation, although Zhu Houcong didn't remember what it was, so he was observing it first.
Hearing Qiu Luan's name, the generals who participated in the competition were all from the fifth rank of Deputy Qianhu. How could he not know that he was a dignified marquis?
But now, the Marquis was still walking like before, throwing away his arms in the same walking posture, walking up the steps from the side step by step, and stood on the stage.
Then he stood still, took a breath, and stood without saying a word or squinting.
Zhu Houcong looked at Qiu Luan performing in front of him with a smile on his face.
As long as you can implement your own requirements.
He is the emperor. For him, he only needs to come to the capital camp once or twice a year to review their small-scale code of conduct and make demands.
Of course, someone will do the rest for him.
If you don't do it well, isn't this scene a reminder?
"From today on, you all have the lowest status of Deputy Qianhu. Each of you will receive a commander-in-chief and act as commander-in-chief. The current commander-in-chief will assist you." Zhu Houcong began to put forward his new requirements, "As a general, practice Only by taking good care of your generals and giving full play to their strength will you be able to demonstrate your abilities. It lasts for three months. After three months, there will be the same three-part review as you just saw, a ten-mile march, and bows and guns. The top ten will be determined. After that, the ten commanders totaled more than 4,000 soldiers, and in November they competed with the veterans of the five military camps, a total of more than 4,000 soldiers, for an actual combat exercise."
The generals who came to participate in the competition were all confused: Actual combat exercises?
Zhu Houcong naturally knew that the actual combat exercises he later knew actually required very professional props, so that they could simulate "effective killing" on the battlefield.
But this does not prevent him from adapting, setting up good conditions, and trying to show some effects.
"Your commander is Xiangcheng Bo Li Quanli. The commander of the veteran camp is Xianning Hou Qiu Luan." Zhu Houcong only said, "Xiangcheng Bo will explain the specific rules to you in detail. Just remember one thing: for this great battle I have separately allocated 50,000 taels of silver for this competition. For this competition, you county magistrates, the commanders of the capital camp, and even the Marquis of Bo Xianning of Xiangcheng, and many officials from the capital camp and the Ministry of War are all included in the inspection!"
The new camp was led by Li Quanli, who had experience in uniting the army, but the old camp was led by the young Marquis of Xianning.
Among the honorable ministers, these two people who very much need the emperor's approval are also being tested by the emperor.
As for the unheard-of actual combat exercise, I don't know what to do, and why it involves the inspection of many ministers from the Beijing Camp and the Ministry of War.
But the emperor finished his words and finally said: "In September, the military examination will be held here together with your parade, ten-mile march, and bow and gun artillery. In October, the military examination will be held here. In November, I I will bring the staff members of the Military Affairs Council, the governors of the five prefectures, and Wu Jinshi to watch the battle!"
"The battlefield is full of troops, I hope you will not disappoint me!"
As if they had reached an agreement, Li Quanli and Qiu Luan immediately shouted loudly: "The Ming Dynasty will be victorious!"
"The Ming Dynasty will be victorious!"
The people below were all officials, not simple soldiers who needed to be ordered in advance. They all roared when they heard the words.
But there is indeed some blood flowing.
There is no need to emphasize how high the emperor's expectations are with the special expenditure of 50,000 taels. Money can speak for itself.
The higher the emperor's expectations, that means how bright their future will be once they get the emperor's approval.
Is this emphasis on military training just for fun? Within a few years, the generals of the Ming Dynasty will have the opportunity to make contributions.
There are three flags flying above the commander's platform.
In the center is the Three-Chen Banner of the Ming Dynasty.
On the left is the Ming military flag with a shield and two spears beside Sanchen.
On the right is the flag of the Five Military Camps with the word Wujun under Sanchen.
Zhu Houcong spoke again: "Li Quanli, give me the flag!"
Li Quanli still kept the atmosphere high: "The flags of the generals are entering!"
Outside the fence, nearly a hundred flags were also lined up, held by flag bearers.
At the beginning, in addition to the two characters Li and Qiu in the circle, there are also their titles.
Li in Xiangcheng, Qiu in Xianning.
Later, these generals who came to participate in the competition also saw the names of their county lords and their surnames.
Everyone stared at their own flag, their scalps numb.
In order to motivate them, Zhu Houcong arranged enough rituals.
Next, starting from Li Quanli and Qiu Luan, everyone personally took over their own flag from the emperor.
This is a real face-to-face meeting, and every general participating in the competition will take the stage.
Cleverly, he was already imitating the walking posture he had seen several times.
From being called, to walking on stage, to taking the general's flag from the emperor's hand, the emperor stood under the scorching sun with a stern expression.
There is always a repeated saying. The emperor first reads their names and then says: "I grant you the general's flag and order to protect the glory!"
Some of the more literate people will say: "If you are the last person to thank you, you will die for it!"
So I gradually learned this sentence later.
The weather was very hot, and they could see that the emperor was sweating, but he was not standing under an umbrella.
The young emperor kept saying what he said with a very powerful voice, and then one person plus one person "must die" deepened the solemn atmosphere on the campus, and one person plus one person held up their general flags with their heads held high. After walking off the stage and entering the queue, they all gripped the flagpole so tightly that their knuckles turned white.
At the end, Zhu Houcong looked at the flags fluttering below and said loudly: "I am waiting for the day when the flag of the Ming Dynasty will be wherever it goes, and you will be invincible wherever the flag goes! Now, I am waiting to see who of you will be the general. The flag can fly until the end!”
This time Li Quanli was not needed to take the lead, and the voices on the school grounds were not so neat.
But there is only one word.
"kill!"
"kill!"
"kill!"
Li Quanli looked at the emperor: He knows how to arouse passion.
(End of chapter)
