I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 12: Beijing Inspection! The Four Red Robes Brawl
Mid April.

The atmosphere in various government offices in the capital gradually became solemn.

Because the six-yearly imperial examination has begun!

According to convention.

Officials of the fourth rank and above report their own successes and failures, and the emperor makes the final decision; officials of the fourth rank and below are jointly investigated by the Ministry of Personnel, the Censorate, and the Ministry of Personnel.

Some may remain in office, some may be demoted, some may retire, or some may be deposed and become commoners.

The imperial inspections during the Jiajing and Longqing periods were mostly formalities. They ended with the dismissal of a dozen low-ranking officials and the retirement of a few elderly officials.

But this year is different.

This year's imperial examination will be coordinated with the performance evaluation system that is being carried out vigorously.

There is a high probability that a large number of people will be punished.

The core of Zhang Juzheng's new policy was to respect sovereignty and be strict with officials.

Since the implementation of the performance evaluation system in the first year of the Wanli reign.

Hundreds of officials have been severely punished, including powerful local governors and provincial governors.

Some of the measures include salary deductions, demotions, and dismissals. These are completely unconventional and unprecedented in intensity.

At the beginning of the year, Yu Maoxue, a member of the Nanjing Household Department, submitted a memorial saying that the performance evaluation system was damaging the vitality of the country and hoped that it would be governed by benevolence. He was directly dismissed from his post and became a commoner, never to be reappointed.

After the person who stood out was severely punished, no one dared to criticize the performance evaluation system anymore.

The more Shen Nian learned, the more he admired Zhang Juzheng.

If the latter did not monopolize power and have ruthless methods, those officials tortured by the performance evaluation system would be crushed to ashes.

He has single-handedly damaged the vital interests of too many officials.

……

present.

Two good dramas are being staged in the capital.

One act is a self-resignation performance by officials above the fourth rank; the other is a face-saving performance by officials below the fourth rank who cram for exams at the last minute.

Officials of the fourth rank and above were required to write a self-report to report their gains and losses.

In this type of self-introduction, you should not boast too much and should look for flaws.

Ever since——

One official, who is not even fifty years old, said he had "lost two teeth, his hair was thinning, and he was old, so he resigned."

Some people say that they are "dull-witted, uneducated, and incompetent."

Others said they had "an elderly mother to support at home, so they requested to retire."

……

They are all polite words.

The purpose was to throw away the unimportant mistakes, and then hope that the young Emperor Wanli would say: Resignation is not allowed.

After all, only a fool would self-destruct!

Even the two cabinet ministers Zhang Juzheng and Lu Diaoyang had to write such a self-report.

Officials below the fourth rank were in a more passive position.

Their superiors have received their performance records, which will be judged based on their integrity, diligence, prudence, and performance in combination with their resumes.

As a result, many officials began to sharpen their weapons and became busy.

In the past few days, Shen Nian kept hearing——

A certain official was forced to retire early and burst into tears.

A certain fifth-rank official holding an important position was sent to Nanjing and given a leisurely job for retirement.

A certain official was found to have engaged in corruption and was directly dismissed from office.

A certain official was exiled to a desolate place and fell ill for a while.

……

among them.

The assessment of officials in the Hanlin Academy is relatively simple and easy compared to other government offices.

Most of the Hanlin officials were responsible for daily lectures on imperial classics and compiling historical records. They had no other official duties and were not under the jurisdiction of the Six Ministries.

Therefore, the Hanlin seal-holding official and the Ministry of Personnel came to inspect.

Ma Ziqiang was quite prestigious, and the Ministry of Personnel generally would not target the Hanlin Academy.

...Hanlin Academy and Review Hall.

Except for Liu Kezhen who was nervous, the other four were not nervous.

In terms of integrity, diligence, prudence and performance, Wang Zudi and Zhao Yongxian both stood out in the Hanlin Academy, like smaller versions of Ma Ziqiang.

Shen Nian and Liu Chuxian were reused and had a very good reputation with their superiors, so they did not have to worry about being demoted or exiled.

Only Liu Kezhen is weaker.

On the one hand, it was because he was weak and sickly, and on the other hand, his level of Mandarin made it difficult for him to develop into a lecturer in the imperial lectures.

……

Another day, afternoon.

Shen Nian followed Ma Ziqiang to the Six Departments Corridor on the west side of the Meridian Gate to sign the documents.

Just getting started.

Then I heard a fierce quarrel coming from inside.

The two of them stopped quickly.

"General Ge, Minister Zhang, if you do this, I, Wang Xijue, will resign immediately!"

"Why are we being so harsh on our Imperial College? What do you mean by the Imperial College instructors being academically incompetent and failing to live up to their standards? What do you mean by the laxity of academic rules and the unemployment of students? Is this the Imperial College instructors' fault? What we need now is to change the academic atmosphere of the nation, not severely punish the Imperial College officials!"

"Wang Jijiu, the Imperial Inspection is a major event. How can you stand here and complain on behalf of a humble official? If you have any grievances, report them to the elders. As long as I, Ge Shouli, am still in charge of the Censorate, I must handle this matter impartially!"

"Official business? General Ge, don't flatter yourself. Everyone knows that you retired after the imperial examination. You have the guts to bully the Hanlin Academy? The Hanlin Academy is the backyard of the cabinet, and you dare not be strict. To gain reputation, you target our Imperial College. Do you think I don't know what you are up to?"

"you you you……"

Left Censor-in-Chief Ge Shouli was so angry that his lips trembled and he was unable to speak.

"Wang Xijue, how dare you slander General Ge like this!" Minister of Personnel Zhang Han said with glaring eyes.

"I am not slandering anyone. I just ask the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate to treat the Imperial College and the Hanlin Academy with the same regulations!" Wang Xijue's voice was extremely loud.

He was known for his bad temper and was decisive in his actions, which made him very much admired by Zhang Juzheng.

……

At this moment, Ma Ziqiang and Shen Nian, who were standing outside, understood.

Three people were arguing inside.

One was the 65-year-old Minister of Personnel Zhang Han.

One is Ge Shouli, the head of the Censorate, who is over 70 years old and about to retire as the Left Censor-in-Chief.

These two people are the leaders of this imperial inspection. With a wave of their pen, they can dismiss a large number of people.

Another one was the chief academic officer of the Imperial College, 42-year-old Wang Xijue.

The reason for the quarrel was that Wang Xijue was dissatisfied with the inspection and assessment of the officials of the Imperial College by the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate, and believed that they were biased towards the Hanlin Academy.

At this time, Ma Ziqiang, a scholar from the Hanlin Academy, walked in with a dark face.

"Master Wang, I'd like to hear how the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate showed favoritism towards the Hanlin Academy. And what qualifications does the Imperial College have to be compared with the Hanlin Academy?"

Ma Ziqiang has always been known for his honesty and diligence, but it is impossible for him to be without temper if he can sit in this position.

The Hanlin Academy serves the emperor and the cabinet, how can it be compared with the Imperial College?

There was a strong murderous intent in his words.

He said this.

Some officials and clerks in the house immediately retreated to the side, and some even slipped out along the wall.

They understood that the fighting was about to escalate.

It was common for Ming Dynasty officials to quarrel or even fight.

Especially in the Six Departments Corridor.

The Six Departments Corridor is located opposite the Cabinet Duty Room. Officials will take a break here before going to the Cabinet to report on matters.

Therefore, this place has become the place where officials quarrel and fight most frequently.

Shen Nian also subconsciously took two steps back.

The four red robes quarreled.

As an official in a green robe, he would rather not get involved if he can.

Wang Xijue was a man of integrity and quick temper, and was not intimidated by Ma Ziqiang at all. He took out a document, handed it to Ma Ziqiang, and said, "Master Ma, you will know it once you see it!"

(End of this chapter)