My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 450 One of the Six Best Actor Awards
The other departments did not encounter any major problems, but the appointment of officials was a significant matter, and the affairs of the personnel department were difficult to resolve.

This was the first time that the Personnel Office was responsible for drafting the list of recommended officials, and it was also the first time that the Cabinet officially exercised its power to appoint and dismiss officials below the seventh rank.

The cabinet naturally had high hopes, and everyone in the government and the public was watching to see if this matter could be handled well.

Su Ze understood that if he were to trouble the Grand Secretaries at this time, it would lower the prestige of the five branches of the Secretariat in their eyes.

Most leaders only look at results.

If subordinates ask for instructions on everything and require their leaders to handle even the smallest matters, can you still entrust them with important responsibilities?
Even Su Ze's direct intervention was insufficient.

As the head of the Fifth Division of the Secretariat and the Chancellery, Su Ze represents the entire Fifth Division. If he were to personally handle all the matters, it would make his subordinates appear incompetent.

In addition, there are rules for reciprocal treatment in official circles.

Simply put, if the Ministry of Personnel rejects Song Zhihan, it might be a problem with the work process, or some details haven't been agreed upon. The five departments of the Secretariat and the Ministry of Personnel haven't completely broken ties yet.

However, if Su Ze intervenes and the Ministry of Personnel refuses, then the two sides will have completely broken off relations.

In the original timeline, important negotiations between countries were conducted first by diplomatic representatives, and then the heads of state would sign the agreement after a framework was reached.

If everything is discussed face-to-face between the two heads of state, then if the talks don't go well, the negotiations will completely break down, leaving no room for maneuver.

So after much discussion, Su Ze ultimately only instructed Luo Wanhua, the head of the Kongmu Office, to notify the Ministry of Personnel with an official document from the Fifth Office of the Secretariat-Chancellery, requesting access to the files of the relevant officials.
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The Six Ministries were also one of the last departments to be closed down.

Yan Yonghe, a censor in the Sixth Department, fell seriously ill after the last incident, and it dragged on until the end of the year. He still had some official business to attend to, so he came to the Sixth Department Corridor "dragdling his sick body".

Yan Yonghe reeked of medicine, and coughed a few times every time he spoke, which earned him the respect of his colleagues. They thought, "Yan Yonghe is truly dedicated! Even in this condition, he still comes to the yamen!"

Yan Yonghe had just sat down in his seat when several colleagues gathered around him.

With the Six Ministries and the Five Offices of the Secretariat-Chancellery working together, they naturally had excellent communication skills.

Zhang Xianchen, a supervising secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, said:

"Lord Yan, have you heard? The Fifth Secretariat has some extra dormitories, and they say they're going to allocate rooms to our Sixth Secretariat as well."

Zhang Xianchen said angrily, "I never expected that Prosecutor Su would do such a thing! He thinks he can bribe our Sixth Division with such a small favor? He's dreaming!"

Zhang Xianchen naturally had the confidence to say that.

Zhang Xianchen was from Kunshan County, Suzhou Prefecture. His family had been merchants and officials for generations. After entering officialdom, he bought a house near the imperial palace.

When Zhang Xianchen said this, the remaining officials from the six departments echoed him. However, Yan Yonghe keenly observed that many of his colleagues were not as resolute as Zhang Xianchen.

This is of course.

Housing prices in the capital are exorbitant, making it very difficult to live there.

The higher-level government offices could naturally find ways to build their own dormitories, but the Sixth Division couldn't.

There were only twelve officials in the six departments, and they didn't have much funding for their offices.

The Six Ministries Censors held considerable power, but they were only of the seventh rank, and their salaries were relatively low.

Even after Su Ze petitioned for housing subsidies for low-ranking officials, renting a house close to the capital was still not easy.

Yan Yonghe knew that many of his colleagues rented rooms in Xiaochang Hutong, in those tenement courtyards.

Living conditions in the tenement courtyard were very poor. If you were a young official, you could tolerate it, but if you were a large family, it would be very difficult to live in the tenement courtyard with others.

Yan Yonghe had heard his colleagues complain more than once about how they envied those government offices that could build their own modern earthen buildings as dormitories.

Yan Yonghe immediately said:
"Zhang, the Censor, is mistaken!"

Zhang Xianchen was taken aback for a moment, and Yan Yonghe said:
"The fact that the imperial court built dormitories for the five departments of the Secretariat and the Chancellery is a favor from the imperial court, not a personal act of kindness by Prosecutor Su."

"The five departments of the Secretariat have encroached on our public housing. Now that they have more dormitories, why not give them to us?"

"If it is an act of grace, then it is a favor from His Majesty and the court. How can we refuse it?"

As soon as Yan Yonghe said this, some young officials present immediately echoed his sentiments.

Gradually, more and more voices echoed this sentiment.

The dormitories of the five departments under the Secretariat were very close to the capital, saving them the trouble of traveling to the government office.

Each household has its own room, so there's no need to crowd into a courtyard.

The new-style Tulou is warm in winter and cool in summer, and it is clean and bright. Why would anyone refuse it?
However, Zhang Xianchen kept making grand pronouncements, which the public couldn't accept.

Now that Yan Yonghe had given a plausible reason, naturally no one refused anymore.

Zhang Xianchen knew that it was difficult to go against the will of the people, so he said, "In that case, let's talk to the Secretariat and the Chancellery."

Many officials who were struggling with renting a place cheered.

Yan Yonghe returned to his seat and asked Chen Sanmo, another official from the Ministry of Personnel, who was sitting next to him:
"Young Master Chen, is there anything else important happening these days?"

Chen Sanmo immediately said:
"Recently, something interesting happened. I heard that the five departments of the Secretariat and the Chancellery sent a letter to the Ministry of Personnel in order to recommend officials for promotion, requesting to review the deeds, documents and assessment results of some officials, but the Ministry of Personnel refused."

Yan Yonghe naturally understood why the Ministry of Personnel refused.

The cabinet took away the power to appoint and dismiss officials below the seventh rank from the Ministry of Personnel, which naturally displeased the Ministry.

However, Gao Gong held a high position in the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry dared not openly oppose him, so they resorted to these tactics.

Besides, if the Ministry of Personnel dares not defy the Grand Secretariat, wouldn't it at least try to trip up the five departments of the Secretariat and Chancellery?
Having spent many years in officialdom, Yan Yonghe naturally understood these subtle thoughts.

Chen Sanmo said:
"Watching the five departments of the Secretariat and the Ministry of Personnel vie for power is the greatest amusement before the New Year."

Chen Sanmo wanted to say "dogs fight dogs," but being a scholar, he couldn't bring himself to utter such vulgar words in public.

Yan Yonghe smiled knowingly, but he quickly changed his mind and said:
"Master Chen, we must take action!"

Chen Sanmo looked at Yan Yonghe with a puzzled expression and asked:
"Should we help the Ministry of Personnel restrain the five branches of the Secretariat and Chancellery? But Lord Yan, the five branches of the Secretariat and Chancellery are currently very powerful. Why don't we sit back and watch them fight it out?"

Yan Yonghe shook his head and said, "Who said we were going to help the Ministry of Personnel?"

"Huh? Not helping the Ministry of Personnel?"

Yan Yonghe said righteously:

"The recommendation and removal of officials is a major matter. How many government affairs are delayed because a local area is short of an eighth-rank official? Can it be delayed because of political infighting?"

"The Ministry of Personnel has gone too far!"

Chen Sanmo said:
"Then shall we help the five departments of the Secretariat and Chancellery impeach the Ministry of Personnel?"

Yan Yonghe looked at his partner and couldn't understand how someone with such low intelligence could survive in the Sixth Division.
The five departments of the Secretariat and the Chancellery are not to be trifled with, but does that mean the Ministry of Personnel is easy to deal with?
Why are you provoking the Ministry of Personnel?

Yan Yonghe shook his head and said, "Who said we should impeach the Ministry of Personnel? The court wants us to do things; just get them done, isn't that enough?"

"If the imperial court isn't a place for fighting and killing, and people immediately start impeaching others, what kind of state will the court become?"

Strict application and mental exhaustion.

However, he and Chen Sanmo were both officials in the Ministry of Personnel, and he did not have any leadership over Chen Sanmo. He was just more senior and had served in the Ministry of Personnel longer than Chen Sanmo.

Since fellow officials in the same censorate were expected to advance and retreat together, Yan Yonghe had no choice but to patiently explain:

“As officials of the Ministry of Personnel, we naturally have the right to access the files of officials.” “Let’s go and talk to the five departments of the Secretariat and the Chancellery. If they want to access someone’s file, we will do so in the name of our six departments.”

"Do the Six Ministries dare to disobey the Censorate? This is the power of investigation and verification personally granted by the Emperor Taizu."

After listening, Chen Sanmo suddenly understood. Brilliant!

But then he hesitated and said:

"Then haven't we helped the five branches of the Secretariat and Chancellery?"

Yan Yonghe is even more exhausted.

He asked rhetorically:

"Were the Five Offices of the Secretariat-Chancellery established by His Majesty's personal approval?"

Chen Sanmo nodded.

Yan Yonghe said:
"Does the 'Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty' contain a provision that the Six Ministries cannot assist the Five Offices of the Secretariat and Chancellery?"

"Of course not! But what about the atmosphere within the department?"

"The Ministry of Personnel is in the wrong. As officials in charge of the censorate, it is our duty to help solve the problem. How can this be considered helping?"

Chen Sanmo nodded in agreement.

Yan Yonghe said:
"In the eyes of us scientists, there are no permanent enemies."

"Chen Lang, as a censor, you must be objective and not personal in order to have a long career."

"Focus on the issue, not the person?"

“If we, as officials of the Six Ministries, only focus on impeaching people, we will be manipulated into becoming cruel officials in political struggles.”

"What fate befell these cruel officials? Aren't there plenty of stories in history books about it?"

Chen Sanmo broke out in a cold sweat.

Yan Yonghe said:
"Focusing on the issue, not the person, and discussing the matter at hand—this is what Grand Secretary Gao meant by 'seeking truth from facts'."

"The good and evil in people's hearts are hidden behind their skin, so who can say for sure? But there is right and wrong in things, and it is easy to see who is right and who is wrong at a glance. The court will naturally have its own opinions."

"As long as we always focus on the issue and not the person, others will not be able to find fault with us."

Chen Sanmo was now completely impressed, and he said to Yan Yonghe:
"Thank you for your guidance, Master Yan!"

Yan Yonghe looked at this junior, unsure whether the other party truly understood.

But as long as he doesn't die and side with the Ministry of Personnel, causing trouble for the five departments of the Secretariat and Chancellery, that's fine.

Yan Yonghe also had one more "insight," but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

That means, as a science minister, you should never go against the tide!

The five branches of the Secretariat and Chancellery are currently in power and are the apple of the Cabinet's eye. Why would we want to offend them?
Aren't the examination records for our six subjects still in the hands of the Grand Secretaries?
Since Su Ze has already shown goodwill to the Sixth Department, he has allocated the extra dormitories to the Sixth Department as well.

The Six Ministries also reciprocated by helping the Five Offices of the Secretariat and Chancellery resolve some issues.
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Su Ze hadn't expected that the Ministry of Personnel's problems would be solved so easily.

The Sixth Division took the initiative to help the Personnel Department solve the problem, using its authority to access the relevant officials' files.

After receiving the files, Song Zhihan worked overtime to review them and sent the list of recommended officials to the cabinet before the New Year.

This time, the cabinet appointed and dismissed lower-level officials from the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers in the capital, as well as some local officials in the capital region.

Song Zhihan did a good job. He not only summarized the information based on the Ministry of Personnel's archives, but also, with the help of the Sixth Section, sent out interview forms to some of the candidates' colleagues to inquire about their reputations.

Song Zhihan actually discovered several officials who were mediocre in their performance evaluations but were highly regarded by the people and their colleagues.

Song Zhihan naturally understood why this was the case; these were probably officials who were not good at flattering their superiors, but were able to work with peace of mind.

Song Zhihan did a very thorough job, conducting detailed investigations of these officials, which earned him praise from the cabinet.

Among them were some officials who did a good job, and the cabinet promoted and commended them.

At this time, Su Ze submitted another memorial, requesting the cabinet to establish a special award to recognize grassroots officials.

Gao Gong, who was well-versed in organizational work, naturally understood Su Ze's intentions and agreed with Su Ze's memorial. This time, Emperor Longqing did not hesitate and approved Su Ze's proposal.

Besides personnel work, the most important aspect of organizational work is "identifying role models and setting examples."

Let alone the Ming Dynasty, even in the original timeline, the central ministries were too far removed from the grassroots level, making it impossible to directly intervene in grassroots affairs.

"Focusing on typical cases" means identifying and criticizing typical problems in the work, so that subordinates know what cannot be done.

"Establishing role models" means finding role models to praise, having them summarize their deeds and methods, and then promoting these role models to higher levels, thereby clarifying a standard for doing things.

These are also the two key aspects of organizational work.

Gao Gong certainly understood this point. He aimed to change the atmosphere of the court by "selecting exemplary figures and setting models," making "practical achievements" the key indicator for officials' promotion.

Of course, the atmosphere in officialdom is not so easy to change.

Flattery of superiors is the norm in officialdom, and Gao Gong could not possibly change this officialdom culture completely.

However, as long as the assessment direction changes, more grassroots officials will naturally see hope and understand what they should do.

This time, several local officials from the capital region also stood out.

In this assessment, industrial development was also included.

Unlike previous statistics on science, education, and people's livelihood, the statistical methods for industrial development are very simple.

The output value of a workshop, the amount of commercial tax paid, and the number of jobs it created are all clearly recorded in the Ministry of Revenue's archives.

Factories pay taxes in silver dollars, which is very difficult to counterfeit.

In the past, local officials' achievements, such as building projects and strengthening city defenses, all required government funding.

Moreover, setting up factories can boost local employment and increase fiscal revenue, making it a profitable endeavor.

It is obvious which one the court should encourage.

Among the local officials around the capital region, those who were promoted were all officials from counties that had done a good job in developing industry and commerce.

Astute officials have also noticed that commercial tax revenue is increasingly becoming one of the criteria for evaluating personnel appointments by the imperial court, and its weight is growing.

Once local officials understood this, they naturally realized that the focus of their work in the coming year should be on developing industry and agriculture.
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The sixth year of the Longqing reign finally came to an end.

As a confidential department, the five offices of the Secretariat and the Chancellery also required staff to take turns on duty during the Lunar New Year.

This year is different from previous years because Su Ze's status has changed; he is now the head of a department.

He went from giving New Year's greetings to receiving them.

As the year draws to a close, a long line forms in front of Su Ze's house.

(End of this chapter)