Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 361 List of Officials
at the same time.

Chen Yi returned to the post station where the mission was staying, Duting Post Station.

Built in the Tang Dynasty, this post station was the most important post station in Bianzhou at that time. It was originally called Shangyuan Post Station, but in the fifth year of Tianfu of the Later Jin Dynasty, which is 117 years ago, it was renamed Duting Post Station, and has been used ever since.

As the largest official post station in Kaifeng, it had as many as 525 rooms and was responsible for receiving diplomatic missions from various countries.

Previously, the Xia Kingdom delegation to which Xu Shunqing belonged stayed at the Duting West Post Station, while the Liao Kingdom delegation stayed at the Duting North Post Station, which had the largest area.

Yes, that's right. The distribution of post stations was arranged according to the orientation centered on the Song Dynasty. If a delegation from the Dali Kingdom came, they would go to the South Post Station, while a delegation from the Goryeo Kingdom would go to the East Post Station. Other smaller countries also had spare spaces for separate accommodation.

When walking, Chen Yi's steps were slightly heavy.

The debate he had just had with Lu Beigu at Fanlou about orthodoxy was still echoing in his mind.

He pushed open the door and saw Yelü Fang, the Grand General of the Left Guard of the Liao Kingdom, sitting cross-legged on the couch, wiping a turquoise-inlaid dagger by candlelight, his movements unhurried.

"Lin Ya hasn't rested yet?" Chen Yi forced a smile and asked.

Lin Ya was an official title in the Liao Dynasty.

The Liao Dynasty had a branch of the Privy Council in the north, which included officials such as the Northern Chief Minister of the Privy Council, the Northern Chief Minister of the Privy Council, the Northern Chief Minister of the Privy Council, the Left Chief Minister of the Privy Council, and the Right Chief Minister of the Privy Council. These officials were in charge of handling official documents.

In other words, Yelü Fang held both an honorary military position and a civil service position.

"No, I can't sleep."

Yelü Fang raised his head to look at him, then held the dagger up to his eyes, examining the cold glint of the blade, and asked, "Judging from your expression, has something happened?"

Yelü Fang speaks fluent Mandarin, but with a peculiar accent characteristic of people from the grasslands.

Unlike the Xia Kingdom's chief envoy Yeli Mang, who treated the Han Chinese deputy envoy Xu Shunqing like a stray dog, the Liao Kingdom's chief envoy Yelü Fang, although a Khitan nobleman, treated the Han Chinese deputy envoy Chen Yi with great gentleness, and the two had a normal exchange between friends.

In fact, this difference in attitude was closely related to the specific national conditions of the Xia and Liao dynasties.

The main body of the Xia state was the Tangut people, and the Han people accounted for a very small proportion of the population. Although the Han scholars and officials were needed by the Xia state in politics and had a certain status in the court, they lacked the corresponding military and economic foundation.

To put it bluntly, the Han people of the Xia Kingdom were just laborers.

The Liao Dynasty was different. The Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun were the most important territory to the Liao Dynasty, without exception.

The Han people who grew up on this land have always maintained a highly independent economic, military, and political system. Economically, Han farmers cultivate the land passed down from their ancestors and use the Tang Dynasty's Two-Tax System to "pay grain by the acre"; militarily, Han people form separate local troops responsible for city defense and even border guard; politically, Han people have their own southern official system, modeled after the Tang Dynasty's Three Departments and Six Ministries, with the vast majority of officials being Han people, managing the civil affairs of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, running parallel to the Khitan northern official system, forming a dual governance system.

Therefore, in the Liao Dynasty, the Han people actually had a very high status. They were the second largest ethnic group after the Khitans, and there were also other ethnic groups such as Bohai, Xi, and Shiwei below them.

In addition, unlike the Xia Kingdom's incomplete Sinicization, the Liao Kingdom was truly persistent in carrying out large-scale Sinicization. Although it still retains some institutional characteristics of a nomadic empire, from the emperor to the nobles, almost everyone can speak Chinese, recognize Chinese characters, and even compose poems.

This certainly helped the Liao Kingdom maintain stability, but the cost was that the Liao army's combat effectiveness began to decline year by year.

However, on the other hand, the Khitans were not on the same level as the Xiongnu, Xianbei, and Turks in terms of fighting strength.

Even at their peak, the Khitans were frequently beaten by the Han Chinese, and were considered to be on par with the Rouran.

Anyone with a basic understanding of the Five Dynasties period knows that if Shi Jingtang hadn't voluntarily ceded the territory, the Khitans would never have been able to conquer the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun on their own.

It is precisely because the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun were hard-won and their strategic importance irreplaceable that the Liao Dynasty cherished them so much.

Afterwards, Chen Yi briefly recounted to Yelü Fang what had happened at Fanlou that evening.

"This newly appointed top scholar of the Song Dynasty isn't very old, is he? How come even a learned scholar like you can't handle him?"

Yelü Fang put down his dagger and asked.

His words carried no sarcasm; they were simply born of curiosity.

Logically speaking, young people should not have more accumulated knowledge than middle-aged people.

Chen Yi gave a wry smile, sat down opposite Yelü Fang, poured himself a cup of cold tea and drank it all in one gulp: "It's not just that I can't handle Lin Ya. I only realized today that the figures of the Southern Dynasty are not to be underestimated."

Seeing the Four Treasures of the Study, he ground the ink, picked up the brush, and copied Lu Beigu's "On Orthodoxy" from memory, then laid it on the table.

"Please, Lin Ya, take a look."

Yelü Fang took the paper.

His gaze swept over the words, initially casual, but gradually becoming serious. When he read, “If one does not reform the tribal system and instead imitates the Han law, it is like trying to walk in Handan and ending up in Handan. Before grasping the essence of Han etiquette, one loses the way one used to walk,” his fingers involuntarily tightened, and the edges of the paper wrinkled slightly.

The room was silent, with only the occasional flickering candlelight reflecting in his eyes.

Yelü Fang looked at it twice before slowly raising his head: "Truly impressive."

"The purpose of this article is not merely to refute; he is raising a banner and advocating for the Southern Dynasty. His ambition is not small. Look at his statement on 'the people's hearts': 'Looking south towards our homeland, we have never forgotten the Han people's attire for a single day.' This statement is scathing! If the Southern Dynasty truly has the ambition to conquer the North in the future, this will be the best manifesto. There are many Han people under our rule. If this argument is circulated, it will cause endless hidden dangers."

"Should we take some action? Or should we inform the court and make plans as soon as possible?"

Yelü Fang shook his head: "Respond? How should we respond? Are we to punish a young man for his writing? That would only show our dynasty's lack of tolerance. Besides, the way of writing lies in the hearts of the people, not in the power of weapons."

Chen Yi leaned forward and said, "Lin Ya, do you remember last year when we were both envoys to Song, and we saw that although the officials in the court held high positions and great power, their conversations were mostly about power struggles and calculations, or they were rigidly adhering to the classics and were impractical and difficult to implement. It is rare to find someone so young who has such a broad vision and can get straight to the point."

Yelü Fang suddenly said, "It looks a bit like someone."

"Lin Ya means...?" Chen Yi seemed to have remembered something as well.

“Fu Bi”.

Yelü Fang said decisively.

In the second year of the Qingli era, the Liao Dynasty took advantage of the Song-Xia War to amass troops and threatened to demand the return of Guannanying and Mozhou, as well as the three passes and ten counties, which had been recovered by the Later Zhou Dynasty. They also threatened to break the Treaty of Chanyuan and start a new war if the Song Dynasty refused.

In this critical situation, Fu Bi was appointed as an envoy to the Liao Dynasty. When Emperor Xingzong of Liao deliberately made things difficult for him by demanding that the Song Dynasty use the words "献" (xiàn, to offer) and "纳" (nà, to accept) in its official letter to highlight the Liao Dynasty's noble status, Fu Bi argued that the Song and Liao were brotherly states and that the word "献" was not in accordance with etiquette.

Faced with the Liao Dynasty's military threats and territorial demands, Fu Bi resolutely refused to cede territory and proposed to exchange peace for increased annual tribute. After several rounds of negotiations, he finally persuaded the Liao Dynasty to abandon its demands for territorial concessions, allowing the Song Dynasty to successfully weather the period of strategic danger.

“Forget it, let’s put this matter aside for now.” Yelü Fang pondered for a moment and said, “The more important thing right now is the matter of the ‘sacred image.’ You and I should keep this in mind and report it truthfully when we return to the country. As for this Scholar Lu, let’s see how far he can go in this treacherous officialdom of the Southern Dynasty.”

Chen Yi remained silent. He carefully put away the page of "On Legitimacy," feeling as if the thin paper weighed a ton.

Yelü Fang picked up the dagger again, flicked the blade with his fingertips, and produced a clear, melodious sound: "Heroes of the world should not be underestimated. It's a pity that such a person is not used by the Liao Dynasty."

There seemed to be a hint of regret in his voice.

The next day, as soon as dawn broke, the office of the Personnel Department was already bustling with activity.

On the desk were piled thick archives of newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), as well as job vacancy reports from various prefectures, military districts, and government offices in the capital.

The officials in charge of personnel selection lowered their heads and flipped through the documents, sometimes talking in hushed tones, and sometimes marking up the draft list with their pens.

Deciding the official appointments of newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) was one of the most important responsibilities of the Ministry of Personnel, affecting the fate of hundreds of people and also implying a power struggle among various factions within the imperial court.

After days of review and evaluation, a preliminary list has finally been finalized today.

After the officials in charge of personnel selection within the Ministry of Personnel carefully verified that everything was correct, the chief official, Wang Chou, solemnly sealed it in a box and sent it to the Hall of State Affairs by a special person.

This list needs to be discussed and reviewed by the chief ministers, and finally approved by the emperor before it can take effect.

In the Political Hall.

Prime Minister Fu Bi and Wen Yanbo sat in the main seats on the east and west sides respectively, while Vice Chancellor Wang Yaochen and Zeng Gongliang sat in the lower seats.

Before the four men lay the list, which consisted of more than ten pages, presented by the Ministry of Personnel.

According to the Ministry of Personnel's opinion, the top scholar Lu Beigu is proposed to be appointed as the Assistant Director of the Imperial Workshops (lower sixth rank) and the Privy Council's Office Director in the capital; the second-rank scholar Zhang Heng and the third-rank scholar Dou Bian are proposed to be appointed as the Judge of the Court of Judicial Review (lower eighth rank) and the Prefect of various prefectures; Luo Kai and Zheng Yong are proposed to be appointed as staff officers of two envoys; all the first-rank Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examination) below Zhu Chuping are proposed to be appointed as junior officials; all the second-rank Jinshi are proposed to be appointed as county clerks with trial titles; all the third- and fourth-rank Jinshi are proposed to be appointed as trial officials and county clerks; all the fifth-rank Jinshi and those who passed the same examination are required to wait for vacancies.

The list also includes notes on some individuals who voluntarily gave up their return home for various reasons, such as Zhang Dun, who directly gave up his Jinshi degree, and Su Shi and Su Zhe, who retained their Jinshi degree but declined the official appointment this time.

Wen Yanbo glanced at the other three ministers and spoke first: "The Ministry of Personnel has carefully considered the list of officials to be appointed for this year's imperial examinations, and it largely follows the old precedent. Do any of you have any objections?"

None of them rushed to express their opinions.

Wen Yanbo also turned his attention back to the list. On the first page, the three characters "Lu Beigu" were listed. After his proposed official position, the Ministry of Personnel also specially marked in small print the alternative destinations such as the Censorate, the Imperial Academy, and the Three Departments.

Wang Chou did this clearly to fulfill Jia Changchao's demands, but at the same time, he didn't want to take the blame.

Let's start by discussing the top scorer.

Zeng Gongliang stroked his beard and pondered, “Lu Beigu has won four consecutive top honors, and his talent is also excellent. However, I feel that although the position of Privy Councilor in the capital has great power and responsibility, it is ultimately a military secret, and it may not be the best place for him to display his talents.”

Zeng Gongliang and Song Xiang were both Jinshi graduates in the second year of the Tiansheng era. Although they were not as close as the "Four Friends of Tiansheng," they still had a friendship. Therefore, at Song Xiang's request, he did not want Lu Beigu to go to the Privy Council.

Wang Yaochen interjected, "The first-time bestowal of the top scholar title has always been mainly to the positions of military officer in the outer regions and prefectural vice-prefect, to show that the court values ​​both talent and experience. I think it's better to follow the established practice."

Wen Yanbo nodded slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, then turned to Fu Bi, who had remained silent, and asked, "What is Yan Guo's opinion?"

Fu Bi's gaze lingered on Lu Beigu's name, and the words Ouyang Xiu had spoken to him privately a few days earlier flashed through his mind.

Ouyang Xiu spoke earnestly, hoping to place Lu Beigu, a spirited and talented young man, into the Censorate in order to revitalize the corrupt atmosphere and uphold discipline.

At the same time, Fu Bi was well aware that Jia Changchao's power in the Privy Council was deeply entrenched. If Lu Beigu were to enter the Privy Council, it would be like a lamb entering a tiger's den. Not only would he be unlikely to achieve anything, but he might also be manipulated or even suppressed by Jia Changchao. This was by no means what Ouyang Xiu wanted.

More importantly, Fu Bi himself was extremely hostile to Jia Changchao.

So, after a moment of silence, Fu Bi slowly raised his head and said, "I have read Lu Beigu's examination essay. It can be described as having broad vision and concern for the common people. Now the Censorate is in need of personnel. Ouyang Yongshu has repeatedly suggested that the Censorate be strengthened. I think it would be better to appoint him as the Palace Attendant Censor, so that he can take charge of the law and punish illegal acts. This would be the best choice for both the country and the people."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent.

Although the position of Palace Attendant Censor was far inferior to that of the officials in the Three Departments or the Privy Council, the position had special powers. It included the authority to report rumors and impeach officials, and it was the only position that allowed a newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) to become a "court official" upon entering officialdom.

He was not qualified to attend court for any other assignment.

Wen Yanbo's eyes flickered slightly as he began to ponder.

Fu Bi's move was partly to comply with Ouyang Xiu's request, but his deeper purpose was probably to prevent Jia Changchao from bringing Lu Beigu under his control.

After a brief deliberation, Wen Yanbo concluded that maintaining an alliance with Fu Bi to jointly deal with Jia Changchao was more important than dealing with the unemployed Song Xiang.

Moreover, this move is justifiable both publicly and privately, so he nodded and said, "Yan Guo's considerations are thorough, and Lu Bei Gu is indeed a suitable candidate for the position of Imperial Censor."

Wang Yaochen and Zeng Gongliang, the two prime ministers, exchanged a glance and, seeing that their opinions had reached a consensus, they no longer had any objections.

Wang Yaochen said, “What Prime Minister Fu said is very true. The censors do need fresh blood, but this move is too excessive. We need to find a proper reason to report to the Emperor to avoid public criticism.”

"The reason is readily available."

Fu Bi calmly said, "Lu Beigu previously refuted Xia Shi Xu Shunqing's fallacies with his 'On Heroes,' which has already demonstrated his integrity and insight. This is clear evidence that he is 'talented enough to be an imperial censor.' Moreover, the Imperial Censorate is currently quite vacant and urgently needs to be filled, so this is the perfect opportunity for him."

Fu Bi personally wrote down the changes to Lu Beigu's official position and assignment, from "Assistant Director of the Imperial Workshops and Privy Councilor in the Capital" to "Assistant Director of the Imperial Workshops and Acting Palace Attendant Censor".

Next, the ministers in the Council of State Affairs discussed the proposed official appointments of the other Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), and the appointments of the other Jinshi were also modified to varying degrees.

For example, according to normal practice of granting official positions, Shen Kuo, who was granted the title of Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) of the fifth rank, should have been waiting for his official appointment.

However, Han Qi had previously communicated with Zhang Fangping, and then Han Qi instructed Wen Yanbo to place Shen Kuo in the Salt and Iron Bureau as an official, responsible for improving military equipment.

For example, Lü Huiqing, according to his ranking, should have been transferred to a more remote military or state post, but Zeng Gongliang personally helped him change it to Zhenzhou, which is close to Kaifeng, and appointed him as the military commissioner of Zhenzhou, so that Zeng Gongliang could take care of him nearby.

There are many similar examples, so the list reviewed by the State Affairs Hall differs greatly from the list originally submitted by the Ministry of Personnel.

Although this list ultimately requires the emperor's approval, given the emperor's personality, it is highly unlikely that he will refuse to give face to the chief ministers.

Finally, the list of newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) approved by the Council of State Affairs was carefully sealed by the clerks of the Secretariat, covered with blue silk, placed in a vermilion lacquered tray, and carried by a Secretariat official in a green robe, who hurriedly escorted it to the Forbidden City.

(End of this chapter)