Qing Yao

Chapter 34 Who wrote this report?

For an official, the most important thing is insurance.

What insurance is covered?

The dangers of officialdom.

To be precise, when doing things, you must ensure that your boss will not cause you trouble, and at the same time, you must ensure that your boss approves of the matter rather than denies it.

As the head of a county, the county magistrate must consider issues more comprehensively, objectively, and in-depth than Zhao An, a temporary worker.

The butt determines the head.

Creating famous and high-quality products and well-known trademarks is certainly a great way to generate income that Zhao An offered to the county magistrate, but after thinking about it for a few days, the county magistrate discovered that this had two other great uses.

First, this matter can earn you the honorary title of an able official; second, this matter can make the relationship between superiors and subordinates more harmonious than ever before.

"Capable officials" are related to the assessment of the Ministry of Personnel, although the assessment of the Ministry of Personnel looks at the "hard data" of the county magistrate, such as local tax collection, criminal trials, education and imperial examinations, etc.

But in addition to these hard data, the Ministry of Personnel also has an important reference standard, which is how the superior officials evaluate the county magistrate.

This is what is called official reputation.

Yu Chenglong, who once served as the Governor-General of Liangjiang, was a county magistrate in Guangxi. Because he was highly praised by the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi and the Governor of Guangxi, he was recommended to the court as an exception. As a result, Yu Chenglong, who was a juren, had a successful career and was promoted to the important position of Governor-General of Liangjiang.

This shows how much influence the evaluation of superior officials has on the promotion of local officials.

However, people as lucky as Yu Chenglong are actually a minority. After all, the Qing Dynasty had just entered the pass at that time, and there were few people, officials, and scholars. In order to maintain the not-so-stable rule, it was necessary to establish a model of integrity.

If one wants to gain recognition and "recommendation" from higher authorities in the current officialdom, being able to do things is the basis, and being a good person is an advantage.

What does it mean to be a good person?
Use money to pave the way!

This is also one of the reasons why local officials face huge financial pressure after taking office.

From the relationships in Beijing to the provincial and municipal governments, all the possible connections should be taken care of.

Having made arrangements only means that you are a sensible official and can continue to do your job, but it does not necessarily mean that you will be promoted.

If you don't take care of it, your superiors will make things difficult for you, and no matter how capable you are, you will have to pack up and leave.

Only by managing things well and knowing how to behave and do things can we lay the foundation for further progress.

In this regard, the county magistrate wants to use the name of the prefecture to expand and strengthen famous products and well-known trademarks, and generate income for both the prefecture and the county.

In life, what could be better than bringing benefits to your boss while also making him stand out in front of his boss?
If you gain the high recognition of the prefect, you will naturally get the attention of the province through him. After a while, you will have a good reputation.

If you add money to your reputation, you will kill gods and Buddhas who stand in your way.

To this end, the county magistrate intends to personally report the matter to the prefect and strive to obtain his unreserved support.

However, the county magistrate had a very good grasp of the macro level, but he was still a little overwhelmed when it came to the micro level, so he gave Zhao An the opportunity to redraft a report.

There is only one requirement, which is to focus on the overall situation of Yangzhou Prefecture.

The sooner the better.

Zhao An did as he was told and stayed up all night to submit the improved and supplemented plan to the county.

After receiving the report, the county magistrate immediately read it carefully. He was stunned at first, then he clapped his hands in approval and ordered the doorman to prepare a sedan chair to go to the prefectural government office.

The current Yangzhou prefect, Eqina, was not Han Chinese, but a Manchu, born in the Bordered Yellow Banner, with the surname Fucha. The current dynasty's Empress Xiaoxian was also a member of the Fucha clan, and her brother Fuheng and his sons Fuling'an, Fulong'an, Fukang'an, and Fuchang'an were all powerful and sought-after figures.

However, Eqina had no connection with Empress Xiaoxian's family, nor with the capital, because his ancestors moved to Mancheng, Jiangning during the Shunzhi period.

More than a hundred years have passed, and even if they have the same ancestor, their relationship has long become distant.

Eqina was not born into the official family through the imperial examination system, but entered the officialdom through the special system of Tang A, a bannerman. With his Manchu identity and the little influence of his ancestors, he was recommended by Jiangning General Yongqing to be the prefect of Yangzhou.

Privately, Eqina gave General Jiangning a tribute of 160,000 taels of silver.

This number is not high because Yangzhou was the first capital of the Qing Dynasty.

The reason for the preferential treatment was that the 41-year-old Eqina was the father-in-law of the 56-year-old General Jiangning, and his daughter became the concubine of General Jiangning, who was 30 years older than him.

It was precisely because of the support of his general's son-in-law that the prefect Eqina was so powerful that even the governor and the provincial governor had to show him respect.

In the past few years, Jian has gained the emperor's favor by confiscating several salt merchants in Yangzhou. Rumor has it that the next Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner is likely to be Eqina.

If he could become the salt transport envoy of Lianghuai, Eqinna felt that his life would be worth it.

When Eqina heard from the doorman that Ganquan County wanted to see him, he ordered him to come over.

"This humble county pays homage to His Excellency the Governor!"

A higher-ranking official can crush a person to death. Ding Chengen, who is the southern tyrant in the county, is so humble in front of the prefect that Zhao An has to call him "adoptive father" when he sees him.

"Ganquan County, do you want to see me for something?"

It was a hot day and he was in the back court, so it was impossible for E'naqing to meet his subordinates in official uniform. In addition, he was a casual person, so he wore casual clothes, almost bare-chested.

"This is a document drafted by our county regarding the development of the local economy. I would like to ask the governor to review it."

Ding Chengen submitted the document drafted by Zhao An.

The word "economy" in ancient times referred to governing the country and benefiting the people. In the Ming Dynasty, it specifically referred to business. Zhao An would not feel uncomfortable listening to it.

In the 32nd chapter of "Dream of the Red Chamber," which was recently removed from the imperial list of banned books, it is written: "When Baoyu heard this, he found it very offensive and said, 'Young lady, please sit in another room. I am afraid that someone like you who knows economics will be rude here.'"

“Develop the local economy?”

E'naqing took the document and opened it, somewhat puzzled. After a moment's scrutiny, he looked up and asked, "What does creating Yangzhou's famous products and well-known trademarks have to do with the economy?"

Ding Chengen quickly explained with a smile, "Your Excellency, creating high-quality products will firstly enhance the visibility and market competitiveness of our local specialties. This will help our high-quality merchants gain wider recognition in the market, attracting more merchants from other places to purchase, thereby boosting sales. This will in turn significantly increase commercial taxes and customs duties. The detailed effects are all stated in the document."

"Is it?"

E'naqing lowered his head and continued to read, and found that there were actually several items listed below, such as that by displaying and promoting Yangzhou's famous and high-quality products, it can not only enhance the cultural confidence and identity of local people, but also increase their sense of pride and happiness.

It is also said that the creation of famous and high-quality products focuses on the quality of the goods. This will establish an image of trust, safety and high quality in the hearts of the people, help enhance the people's trust in famous and high-quality products, and promote the orderly development of all walks of life.

There are eight items listed in total, from significance to function, and from function to actual benefits gained by the government. Each item is clear and each sentence is reasonable.

Enaqing nodded repeatedly after reading this, then put the document down and looked up at Ding Chengen: "Did you write this document?"

After hesitating for a moment, Ding Chengen didn't dare to hide it and said truthfully, "It was written by a clerk in a small county."

(End of this chapter)