Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

Jiang Zhao shook his head and passed the memorial in his hand away.

"The imperial examination will be held on March 11th, and the Ministry of Rites has submitted the list of examiners."

"The chief examiner and deputy chief examiner have not yet been decided. The cabinet needs to propose a few candidates and submit them to the emperor for selection."

Generally speaking, the chief examiner must be a second-rank official, and the deputy chief examiner must be a third-rank official in purple robes.

The scholars exchanged glances, none of them rushing to express their opinions.

"Grand Secretary Jiang, what did the Ministry of Rites say?" Zeng Gongliang, a Grand Secretary of the Jixian Hall, looked at Jiang Zhao and asked.

Generally speaking, the Minister of Rites is the chief examiner of the Spring Imperial Examination, with very few exceptions.

Occasionally, the deputy chief examiner would also be from the Ministry of Rites.

Now that Jiang Zhao has entered the cabinet, the position of Minister of Rites has been temporarily vacant.

Zeng Gongliang's question was mainly to find out whether the Ministry of Rites would appoint the chief examiner or the deputy chief examiner.

“Put my name on it,” Jiang Zhaoping said.

As soon as he finished speaking, the expressions of the others changed slightly.

Does the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet preside over the Spring Imperial Examination?

Is this a sign of the emperor's favor?

“The Minister of Agriculture, Wang Fuzhi,” said Zhang Sheng, a Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, after a moment of contemplation.

Since Jiang Zhao specifically listed his name, he must have already decided on the chief examiner.

If they can't compete for the chief examiner position, they can only try to become the deputy chief examiner.

“Wang Anshi, Grand Master of the Palace,” said Zeng Gongliang, a Grand Academician of the Jixian Hall, in a deep voice.

Recently, Wang Anshi is about to be promoted to a higher rank; the title of Grand Master of the Palace is merely a stepping stone.

However, a nominal post of the third rank is still a third rank.

“Du Xi, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works.” As he spoke, Wu Chong, a Grand Academician of the Wenhua Hall, couldn’t help but look at Jiang Zhao.

The matter of disaster relief caused a considerable grudge between the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works and Jiang Zhao.

"Chen Shengzhi, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel," said Ouyang Xiu, Grand Academician of the Zizheng Hall, at the end.

Recently, he really hasn't been in the mood to deal with government affairs.

Han Zhang pulled out the next memorial and said, "On the fifteenth of May, to celebrate the Emperor's birthday, please have the Ministry of Revenue allocate funds."

"Go ahead and dial," Jiang Zhaoping said gently.

The remaining scholars nodded in agreement.

This is the Emperor's first birthday since ascending the throne, and it must be celebrated.

"The Ministry of Revenue has submitted a memorial stating that the treasury is in dire need of funds."

Wang Anshi submitted a memorial, hoping to implement reforms to strengthen the country.

At Shenshi (3-5 PM), at Wenyuan Pavilion.

A long table, about ten feet long, with a pot of clear tea.

"Yuan Chang, what brings you to Wenyuan Pavilion?" Jiang Zhao asked, moving a cup of tea over to his brother-in-law, Cai Jing.

Cai Jing respectfully said, "Recently, I read Ouyang Xiu's 'On Factions' and gained some insights from it."

"I wonder if it is possible to use this opportunity to impeach him?"

As he spoke, he pulled out a copy of "On Factions" from his sleeve.

On the blank paper, meticulous annotations were written, each word carefully chosen.

Jiang Zhao picked it up, glanced at it a few times, a smile spreading across his face, and nodded, saying:

"good."

Chapter 214 You dare to talk to me about serving the country?

As night drew to a close and dawn broke, the last rays of sunlight began to appear.

Civil and military officials stood in orderly rows.

People occasionally voice their opinions, adding a bit of noise.

The triennial performance evaluation of officials also means the replacement of officials.

Perhaps some veteran officials will request to retire and return to their hometowns.

Perhaps some officials bribe officials at all levels to recommend their protégés.

Perhaps some officials were scheming and plotting to promote him.

Whether the plan succeeded or not, no one except the six Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet and the Minister of Personnel knew.

The specific announcement date is yet to be determined.

It could be the end of March, or perhaps April or May.

The people will remain uneasy as long as the list of personnel is not published.

As a result, some restlessness was inevitable.

"when--"

A resounding bell tolled.

All the civil and military officials stood solemnly.

"squeak--"

In the side hall, a large door opened, and seven people emerged one after another, all dressed in purple official robes.

Of the seven, six wore brocade sashes, jade rings, and jade bracelets, while the remaining one wore a gold fish talisman bag, an official seal, and a robe with a qilin pattern. They were six civil officials and one military officer.

Judging from their official robes alone, it is clear that all seven of them wielded immense power.

Anyone who possesses a jade pendant that represents their identity can roam freely throughout the world without hindrance.

Six Grand Secretaries!

British public!

The side hall is a regular resting place, a privilege reserved for only the Grand Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor, and the Privy Councilor.

The head of the military officers was appointed by the emperor to enter the palace, as a sign of his great favor.

Thus, it becomes a combination of six civil officials and one military officer.

All the officials stood solemnly and fell silent.

Seven people, each holding a tablet, walked slowly.

"Just today?" Grand Chancellor Han Zhang asked, holding his official tablet.

“Today.” Jiang Zhao nodded calmly.

His composed demeanor exudes an air of calmness, composure, and steadfastness.

Han Zhang nodded and closed his eyes slightly.

Given this, Ouyang Xiu was destined to be dismissed from office.

After all, this was not only Jiang Zhao's idea, but also his idea, and even more so the Emperor's idea.

Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, Grand Secretary of the Zhaowen Hall, and Emperor.

With all three in agreement, the opinions of others are no longer important.

The master and apprentice did not hide their conversation from others.

Ouyang Xiu's face darkened. He stepped into the procession, holding his tablet and closing his eyes.

After a few breaths, he opened his eyes again.

The countdown to the trial is truly unsettling.

Several Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet stood solemnly one after another.

Among the civil and military officials, some would occasionally look up in that direction.

The Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet have always been the focus of attention for civil and military officials.

The person who has attracted the most attention is undoubtedly the newly appointed Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, Jiang Zhao.

Many people were secretly alarmed.

A thirty-year-old Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion is truly astonishing!

Throughout history, many Grand Secretaries have risen rapidly through the ranks.

Or rather, any Grand Secretary of the Cabinet almost always had a meteoric rise in their official career.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to rise to the first rank and become a cabinet minister.

However, among this group of Grand Secretaries who rose through the ranks so quickly, there were almost none who entered the cabinet in just twelve years.

If we're really going to compare, perhaps only Lu Mengzheng, who became prime minister after only six years in office, can truly surpass him.

The rest of the people, whether it was Ding Wei, Fan Zhongyan, Han Zhang, or Fu Bi, were all much slower.

After all, Jiang Zhao didn't just enter the cabinet after "twelve years of service," but rather after "thirty years of service."

Both are twelve years, but entering the cabinet at the age of thirty is definitely more prestigious.

A thirty-year-old Grand Secretary of the Cabinet!

Logically speaking, this should be an impossible thing.

Even a top scholar who was granted the sixth rank in the imperial examination would need to be promoted ten times to reach the first rank.

Based on two terms every three years, it would take fifteen years to enter the cabinet.

But there are always some people who break the rules and are ridiculously strong.

Many people were secretly astonished.

Given Jiang Ge Lao's achievements and political accomplishments, no one knows what the upper limit of his career can be.

But in any case, he was someone who was moving towards the pinnacle of being a minister.

To reach the highest rank at thirty years old—the margin for error in life is simply too great.

His teacher, Han Da Xiang Gong, entered the cabinet at the age of thirty-seven and was demoted for twelve years, which can be described as a long time.

For an ordinary person, twelve years of demotion would have left them old and frail, their career ruined.

But what about Han Zhang?

Twelve years have passed, and he's only forty-nine years old!

Once reinstated, he entered the cabinet and became prime minister, ruling the country for more than ten years.

In terms of tolerance for error alone, Jiang Ge Lao's tolerance is only high, not low.

After all, this man has a history of expanding territory and constantly "making history".

Even historical records have written three separate volumes dedicated to him.

Zizhi Tongjian!

The Record of the Pacification of Xihe!

The Record of Xifeng's Expansion of Territory!

The three-volume history book includes both chronological and biographical accounts.

As a key figure in the opening of the borders in Xihe and Xifeng, Jiang Zhao is destined to be remembered for all time.

Such figures are always creators of history, and all the treatment they receive is destined to be recorded in history books.

History books are a unique "protective talisman" for Jiang Zhao.

With this amulet, you are destined for a smooth and successful life!

The difference lies in the number of years a person can serve as prime minister!