Chapter 415: Selecting Officials

After offering a few words of encouragement to Sun Kuan and the others, Zhu Youjian did not go on to inspect the other workshops.

He made a point of instructing Zhang Jimeng and the others to strictly control the quality of all military supplies, and after motivating the craftsmen with a system of generous rewards for merit, he returned to the palace with Wang Cheng'en.

He had originally planned to personally observe the manufacturing process of the flintlock muskets and Folangji cannons, but the performance of Sun Kuan and the others just now had dissuaded him from that idea.

Given his era and his current identity, every move he made would become a focal point and would also affect the craftsmen's normal production. It was better to follow the established procedures—there were still many important matters awaiting his attention.

Sure enough, not long after returning to Qianqing Palace, a eunuch came to report: Chief Grand Secretary Wen Tiren, Minister of Personnel Zhou Yun, and the newly appointed Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture Ni Yuanlu had jointly requested an audience.

After changing into his regular robes in a side hall, Zhu Youjian arrived at Zhaoren Hall. Wen Tiren and the others hastily rose, watched Zhu Youjian take his seat, then bowed with clasped hands in salute before turning to sit in their own places.

"What business do you ministers have in coming to the palace? I was just about to summon you all to make an announcement—this timing is perfect. Companion, send someone out with an edict: all Grand Secretaries in the capital and the principal officials of the various ministries and courts are to enter the palace for deliberation!"

Wang Cheng'en acknowledged the order and left the hall, and several young eunuchs served hot tea to Wen Tiren and the others before withdrawing.

"Reporting to His Majesty: after taking up duties today, officials from the Ministry of Personnel came to the Grand Secretariat with a query concerning the appointment of jinshi from the bingchen year cohort. I therefore came together with them to memorialize this matter!"

Chief Grand Secretary Wen Tiren rose, bowed, and reported.

In the blink of an eye, a year had passed since the palace examination list of the tenth year of Chongzhen. The successful jinshi had completed their observation periods in the various ministries of the capital, and now the time had come to assign them official posts.

"The selection and appointment of officials has always been the most critical matter in every dynasty. This is especially true for principal officials of prefectures and counties—facing the common people directly is their daily duty, and every word and deed represents the court and represents the imperial house. Therefore, they must be held to the strictest standards! The Grand Secretariat and the Ministry of Personnel must make clear to those being appointed this time: hold office for one term, and bring benefit to one region. They govern the people on behalf of Heaven—this does not mean treating the realm's populace as pigs and sheep, but rather managing and caring for hundreds of millions of subjects on behalf of the Son of Heaven. If anyone, after taking up their post, idles away their days in leisurely pursuits and neglects official business, or oppresses the people to satisfy their own whims—regardless of their qualifications, background, or how many classics they have read—it will all turn to dust in the blink of an eye! This is My warning. Do not blame Me later for not having spoken beforehand!"

Zhu Youjian's smile faded. His expression solemn, he swept his gaze across the three men seated before him and stated his position in an extremely serious tone.

Since the implementation of the new policies, the old lazy and negligent work habits of the various offices in the capital had undergone a tremendous transformation, and the efficiency of handling official business had improved very noticeably.

However, the Great Ming was simply too vast after all. In the absence of effective oversight mechanisms, the slothful and slack work style that had formed over millennia in local prefectural and county offices remained widespread. Only in those prefectures and counties where supervisory censors and Embroidered Uniform Guard personnel had been stationed had the situation seen substantial improvement.

But supervisory censors were now in extremely short supply. For the time being, the only option was to require local principal officials and those about to take up posts to lead by example and steer the work atmosphere of their offices in a positive direction.

"Your old minister respectfully obeys the sacred edict. On an auspicious day, I shall certainly convey Your Majesty's earnest teachings to all concerned, so that they do not ruin their own futures but instead strive to be among those who leave a clean name to posterity!"

"Your minister will certainly require all officials in the various departments of the ministry to strictly assess the governance records and reputations of local officials. Should any rotten apple be discovered, I shall immediately memorialize and have them severely punished according to law!"

Wen Tiren and Zhou Yun rose, bowed to receive the edict, and expressed their attitude of unconditional obedience to the Emperor's will.

Before taking up their posts, the jinshi were always gathered together to listen to lectures from the Chief Grand Secretary and the Minister of Personnel—hence Wen Tiren and Zhou Yun's declarations.

Zhu Youjian's remarks above would be polished and then instilled into the ears of the Great Ming's future pillars of state. Whether they would take them to heart was another matter.

But the harsh words had to be spoken—this concerned the proper attitude toward the Emperor's speech, and it was also what senior ministers were obliged to express.

"You two ministers must not fob Me off with empty words. Since ancient times, in the rise and fall of dynasties, corrupt official governance has truly been the root of chaos—therefore, the selection and appointment of officials must be handled with the utmost care! At this time when the realm is just beginning to settle, what the people need in their 'father-mother officials' is virtue as the foremost consideration. Those who hold office must not lack a benevolent heart. Otherwise, no matter how capable they are, if they have no compassion whatsoever for the people beneath them, they will act without any restraint and will surely make seeking merit and rewards their sole purpose. Such capable men in truth have more private ambition than public spirit—such people are absolutely unacceptable! Therefore, in selecting officials, those of virtue must come first. Remember this well, remember this well!"

Zhu Youjian's words were also spoken from genuine feeling based on the current realities.

The four principles of officialdom: virtue, diligence, integrity, and competence.

For the people who had only just begun to enjoy stability, allowing them to recuperate and recover was the foremost priority.

This period did not require capable administrators—it required local officials of high moral character who would keep the people's hardships in their hearts. Only when the situation was completely stabilized and local economies needed to be developed would be the time for officials to display their individual abilities.

Wen Tiren and Zhou Yun naturally once again expressed their determination to enforce strict standards.

"Since the Duke Who Transmits the Sage drowned last year, the Qufu County Magistrate was convicted and removed from office over half a year ago. How can the father-mother official of such a sacred place of the literary tradition remain vacant for long? This time, a person of both virtue and talent should be selected to bear this heavy responsibility. I have heard that among the jinshi of the bingchen year cohort there is one named Zhuang Yuanzhou, who has long been renowned in his hometown for outstanding moral conduct. Moreover, having passed the jinshi examination last year sufficiently demonstrates that his talents merit great use. In this round of official selection, the Ministry of Personnel must entrust him with an important post to temper his resolve—do not let a fine talent go to waste!"

The Emperor's remarks were already quite clear in their direction, and Zhou Yun naturally nodded in understanding acknowledgment.

As they were speaking, Grand Secretary Wang Yingxiong and Zhang Zhifa arrived first at Zhaoren Hall. After bowing in salute, they took seats below Wen Tiren's position.

"Minister Ni, now that you have assumed the post of Shuntian Prefecture, have you gained any insights in your tenure? You are also a capable minister of the court with a long-established reputation. I naturally hope that once you are thoroughly familiar with your duties, you will produce corresponding strategies and achieve real results in your post, making Shuntian Prefecture a model for all prefectures under Heaven. What do you have to teach Me?"

After settling the matter of official selection, Zhu Youjian turned to Ni Yuanlu and said with a smile.

Toward this famous figure—who in history had committed suicide in martyrdom after Li Zicheng breached Beijing—Zhu Youjian harbored deep goodwill in his heart. After Chen Qiyu had volunteered to serve as Supreme Commander overseeing the grain routes beyond the passes to seek military merit, Zhu Youjian had taken the opportunity to elevate Ni Yuanlu to the important position of Prefect of Shuntian.

The reason he had never before given significant employment to this famous minister, now in the prime of his life, was truly out of consideration for Wen Tiren's feelings.

Ni Yuanlu was exceptionally talented, upright, and outspoken. He had once openly submitted memorials excoriating the governance ills of both the eunuch faction and the Donglin Faction at the height of their power, and had consequently always been subjected to exclusion.

After Wen Tiren became Chief Grand Secretary, he had kept Ni Yuanlu suppressed out of jealousy of his talents. Their mutual discord was well known throughout the court and the realm.

Now that Wen Tiren's position as Chief Grand Secretary could not be shaken by anyone for years to come, promoting Ni Yuanlu at this point should no longer matter much to old Wen.

"Reporting to His Majesty: Your minister is deeply grateful for Your Majesty's grace in elevating me, and I shall naturally exert my full efforts to comfort Your Majesty's heart. I have been in office as Prefect of Shuntian for a little over half a month. At present, I am completing the related projects left by Academician Chen during his tenure and coordinating with the Court of Agriculture on trial crop cultivation. The reason for this audience is to reorganize the patrol stations throughout the capital region and its various prefectures and counties. If my humble views can receive Your Majesty's gracious approval, the matters of fire prevention and theft prevention in the capital area will certainly see tremendous improvement over the current state!"

Ni Yuanlu—lean of figure with a short beard beneath his chin—rose, bowed, and stated his plans.