The Song Dynasty on the Sand Table

Chapter 227: Mourning and Seizing Love

Just as the envoy was thinking this, he heard Yue Wenxuan say, "The armor on the Iron Pagoda is quite nice. I want to collect a few more sets. Marshal Talan, please send all the Iron Pagodas here. I want to seize all their armor for my collection."

The messenger cursed inwardly: "Fuck you! Your words are so strange, you hermaphrodite. You only boast with your words, but when the Iron Buddha comes, I'll see how you cry."

But he dared not say it out loud, so the messenger said, "In that case, I will take my leave."

The messenger withdrew. A short while later, the sentry outside returned and reported, "Master, Second Lady, the messenger was in no hurry to return to the north. After leaving the city, he rode at full speed towards Jimo County."

Yue Wenxuan laughed: "He went to see King He!"

Madam Gong Er also laughed: "If you can't persuade us, you want to persuade He Wang."

Yue Wenxuan: “Hahahaha!”

He laughed twice, operated his own action figure back into the house, lay down and pretended to sleep, then regained consciousness and attached himself to Wang Zhaoye's body again.

Even if the envoy rode at full speed, it would take several hours to arrive. Yue Wenxuan was not in a hurry and wanted to take a look at the situation in Jimo County first.

He walked into the hall of the temporary palace and immediately saw Ji Menghan, the "housekeeper" who was now doing very well. Because the prince spent most of his time in a "daze", Ji Menghan had great power and was in charge of almost all matters concerning the palace.

When Yue Wenxuan walked into the lobby, he happened to see a subordinate reporting to Ji Menghan: "Master Ji, the new prefect of Dengzhou has sent a letter saying that the recently appointed magistrate of Mouping County has lost his father due to illness. According to the regulations, he should resign and return home to observe a three-year mourning period. The position of county magistrate has become vacant again. The prefect said that he dares not appoint an official on his own and asked the palace to come up with a plan and arrange someone to take the position."

In the past, the appointment of officials was the responsibility of the Ministry of Personnel.

But now the Ministry of Personnel has no control over the two states of Deng and Lai, so the appointment and dismissal of officials can only be reported to the palace.

Ji Menghan frowned. "So unlucky? I remember this Mouping County Magistrate took the imperial examination for many years but never passed. This time, he finally passed the examination organized by the prince. He cried bitterly with both sadness and joy. I didn't expect that the family would be in mourning just after the happy event. Sigh."

The subordinate had a strange expression on his face: "It's really tragic! I just came back from Mouping County and heard that the new county magistrate was crying bitterly."

Ji Menghan sighed, "When he cries, I feel like crying too. We've just sorted out the political affairs in Mouping County, and now they're changing the county magistrate. Doesn't that mean we have to start all over again? Oh, go get me the list of those who passed the imperial examination last time. I want to pick out a candidate from there."

The subordinate turned around to leave...

At this moment, Yue Wenxuan spoke up: "There is no need to re-select people. Pass on my order. I will seize the relationship and not allow the Mouping County Magistrate to return home for mourning. Let him continue to do his job well."

"Ah?" Ji Menghan turned around and realized that the prince had come out to move around. She was immediately overjoyed: "Prince, you're awake."

"Yeah." Yue Wenxuan said, "I woke up and just heard about Ding You's affairs, so I took the opportunity to seize her love."

Ji Menghan whispered, "Will it be bad?"

Yue Wenxuan chuckled and said, "There's nothing wrong with that. The Mouping County Magistrate might scold me on the surface, but deep down, he's incredibly grateful."

Ji Menghan: “…”

Yue Wenxuan continued, "In the final analysis, the Dingyou system is a very stupid system. From now on, all officials in my jurisdiction who encounter Dingyou will have their relationships revoked."

Ji Menghan: "Ah? Then... filial piety..." Yue Wenxuan: "Filial piety is important, but this is not the way to do it. Three years of mourning is more of a formality than a practical meaning. Forcibly disrupting your own life plans just to play the role of a filial son is simply foolish. Just tell them that officials are all filial, but I am cold-blooded and unreasonable. Officials don't need to bear the stigma of being unfilial. Anyone who wants to criticize me should come to me."

Ji Menghan thought to himself: My Lord, the officials will certainly be grateful for what you have done, but many pedantic old scholars will probably poke holes in your spine.

However, the prince doesn't seem to care?

Ji Menghan really admires the prince's courage!

The two were chatting here when Qian Zhuoqun suddenly came in from outside. Before he even entered, his voice came in first: "Mr. Ji, the list of candidate officials for the last imperial examination is with you, right? I need a few people to work as clerks in charge of logistics."

Ji Menghan: "I have the list, you can choose it yourself."

Qian Zhuoqun appeared at the doorway at this moment. Seeing the prince had "come back to life," he quickly bowed. "Your Highness, are you awake? Your Highness, the production of various minerals at the Zhaoyuan Gold Mine has increased significantly, and the miners have added thousands of people. The original few officials are unable to manage it, and more personnel are needed, so I came here to ask for more."

Yue Wenxuan nodded. "It's a good idea to let the candidate officials do more practical work and gain experience. Tell them that I'm considering incorporating 'clerks' into the official system so that they can receive a salary from the emperor. But let me be frank: once they receive a salary from the emperor, they will have a fixed income and will no longer be allowed to take money from the common people."

"what?"

Qian Zhuoqun and Ji Menghan were both stunned: "Officials are also included?"

There were actually only three official local officials in the Song Dynasty: the county magistrate, the county lieutenant, and the chief clerk. The rest of the officials had no formal organization and were just like today's "temporary workers".

This is actually not very good!

The officials had no imperial food to eat and no one paid them salaries.

Their income comes entirely from "exploiting the common people". They act lawless, plundering and have no bottom line.

If they were given a proper organization and paid imperial rations every month, it would be more beneficial to the rectification of official administration.

After all, he has no salary, and if he doesn't exploit the people, he won't have food to eat. If you don't let him exploit them, why would he still work for the court? Therefore, the officials can only turn a blind eye to the clerks' small actions, pretend not to see them, and acquiesce to this unspoken rule.

Once he had the imperial rations to eat, he could clearly forbid them from squeezing money from the common people and crack down on them severely.

Yue Wenxuan had long been considering allowing officials to receive imperial pay.

Now that we have come to this, we might as well spread the word about this matter in advance so that these officials can be more motivated and more restrained in their conduct.

Ji Menghan said, "But this will increase the court's expenses."

Yue Wenxuan smiled. "As long as agricultural production is high, commerce is invigorated, and tax revenue is raised, then a slight increase in court expenditures won't matter. Calculate the appropriate salaries for officials at all levels and submit a figure for my approval."

"Understood!"

Qian Zhuoqun and Ji Menghan both clasped their fists and agreed, then went back to do some calculations and arrange the salaries for the clerks.

(End of this chapter)