Sign a Lu Fengxian at the beginning

Chapter 148 When the water is clear, there will be no fish

In both the government and the public, as the emperor's decree was issued, a complete uproar arose.

Almost all the officials tried their best to clean up their respective backgrounds, for fear that Dongchang would find out about them.

However, these officials did not know that no matter how they cleaned up their base, as long as Dongchang wanted to investigate, none of them could escape Dongchang's methods.

House of Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue.

Cao Zhengchun led the factory guards into the Hubu Shangshu Mansion, arrested all the people in the Hubu Shangshu Mansion, and directly destroyed the Hubu Shangshu Mansion.

"Report it to the factory official and all the people from the Ministry of Household Affairs have been arrested."

"However, the Fan Shaohe who entered the Household Secretary's Mansion last night was not among them."

A factory guard came over and reported to Cao Zhengchun.

Well?

Ran?

Cao Zhengchun raised his eyebrows.

Last night, Cao Zhengchun had found out that the stranger who entered the residence of the Minister of Household Affairs was Fan Shaohe, the young master of the Fan family in Jiexiu.

Now, Fan Shaohe is not among those arrested.

Needless to say, Fan Shaohe probably ran away.

"Send factory guards to investigate and help the Za family find him. We can't let him escape."

Cao Zhengchun said softly.

He was able to escape under the supervision of factory guards, so he was quite capable.

However, a monk who can run away cannot escape from the temple.

It is not that easy to escape from Luoyang City.

Besides, even the Jiexiu Fan family is about to be exterminated. Where can Mr. Fan and a young master from the Fan family run away?

"Yes, Mr. Factory."

…

Cining Palace.

The Queen Mother also knew what happened in the court.

The Queen Mother looked at Shu King Zhou Zhi, who came to pay her respects early in the morning; "Zhi'er, you saw it!"

"This is why the Ai family gave you such serious instructions yesterday. Things in the court are unpredictable."

"None of those ministers are easy-going people."

"Since I dare to curse His Majesty in the court, I also want to assassinate His Majesty."

"It's really audacious."

"When Zhi'er comes back, remember what the Aijia said to you yesterday, so as not to get involved in anything."

The Queen Mother looked at Zhou Zhi and reminded him again.

Zhou Zhi smiled and nodded; "Don't worry, mother, I know the importance and will not get involved in the matters in the court."

Zhou Zhi was calm on the surface, but he was already restless in his heart.

Zhou Zhi never expected that within a day of his return, something happened to Fan Yongdou, the Minister of Household Affairs, and the Fan family in Jiexiu was also ordered to be exterminated.

This is a bit troublesome.

You know, he has already had a conspiracy with the three major aristocratic families.

If Fan Yongdou, the Minister of Household Affairs, exposes this matter, then even he, the King of Shu, will have to suffer a lot.

Feeling restless, Zhou Zhi chatted with the Queen Mother for a few more words, then got up and left Cining Palace.

After leaving the palace, King Zhou Zhi of Shu walked towards the Prince of Shu's Mansion with a solemn expression.

While on the road, he saw factory guards arresting some officials, and a trace of worry flashed across Zhou Zhi's face.

As soon as he returned to Luoyang, Fan Yongdou, the Minister of Household Affairs, and the Fan family of Jiexiu were ordered to confiscate their homes and exterminate their families by his imperial brother.

This made Zhou Zhi have to worry, was his imperial brother aware of something about their plan?

Although it is said that Fan Yongdou, the Minister of Hubu, was taken down because of corruption, the Fan family of Jiexiu was also ordered to be killed because the Minister of Hubu wanted to assassinate His Majesty in the court.

This all seems very reasonable and there is no problem.

But Zhou Zhi always felt that this matter was not that simple.

It is impossible that as soon as he made plans with the three major families and returned to Luoyang, Fan Yongdou and Jiexiu's Fan family were killed by his imperial brother's order.

This seems too much of a coincidence.

With deep thoughts, Zhou Zhi returned to the Shu Palace.

Sitting in the study.

After Zhou Zhi pondered for half an hour, he summoned the steward San De.

"Sande, contact them immediately and be careful of factory guards."

"At the same time, send someone immediately to tell Ji Wusheng about the changes in the Fan family. Ji Wusheng knows what to do."

Zhou Zhi looked at San De with a cautious expression and said.

The matter between Fan Yongdou and the Fan family caught Zhou Zhi off guard.

Zhou Zhi immediately contacted the other two families to see how to deal with this matter.

If you are not careful with this, you will lose everything.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

San De did not dare to neglect, nodded and immediately left the study.

…

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen retreated from the court and returned to Yangxin Hall with a gloomy look on his face.

Fan Yongdou's behavior in the court hall just now greatly exceeded Zhou Chen's expectations.

Zhou Chen didn't expect that Fan Yongdou would dare to curse him as a coward in the court, and even want to violently assassinate him as the emperor. He was really looking for death.

What made Zhou Chen most gloomy was that Fan Yongdou's trouble suddenly disrupted Zhou Chen's plan.

Originally, Zhou Chen wanted to use the reason of checking the household department to gradually clean up the officials in the court, and then move on to the three major families.

But now, after Fan Yongdou made such a fuss in the court, Zhou Chen had no choice but to issue an order to kill the Jiexiu Fan family.

If Zhou Chen could even tolerate Fan Yongdou's rebellious behavior in the court without punishing his clan, then the emperor Zhou Chen would not be the emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

“It’s true that plans can’t keep up with changes.”

Zhou Chen sighed secretly in his heart.

Now Zhou Chen issued an order to kill the Jiexiu Fan family, relying on the energy of the Jiexiu Fan family.

Zhou Chen knew that it wouldn't take long for the Fan family to receive the news.

If the court wants to deal with the Fan family like it dealt with the Boling Cui family, it will not be that easy.

"Your Majesty, the Minister of Rites wishes to see you."

At this time, a house guard came in and reported.

"Let him in."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The house guard turned and left.

After a while, Du Ruhui walked into the Yangxin Hall.

"My lord, Du Ruhui has met Your Majesty." After entering the Yangxin Hall, Du Ruhui bowed respectfully to Zhou Chen who was sitting on the dragon chair.

Zhou Chen raised his eyes and looked at Du Ruhui who walked in and said, "Ke Ming doesn't need to be polite."

"Keming came to Yangxin Hall to see me. What's the matter?" Zhou Chen asked.

"Your Majesty, this is the list of officials that I have compiled overnight."

"Your Majesty, please take a look."

Du Ruhui took out a list and sent it to Zhou Chen.

"oh!"

"How fast!"

A trace of surprise flashed in Zhou Chen's eyes.

Last night, Zhou Chen summoned Du Ruhui and Liu Ye to discuss the matters that Du Ruhui sorted out this morning.

It can be seen that Du Ruhui probably didn't sleep all night.

No wonder Du Ruhui died of illness in history.

With this efficiency of staying up late to deal with political affairs, it would be difficult not to die of illness.

Zhou Chen thought to himself, took the list, opened it, and started reading it.

This was a suggestion given by Du Ruhui and Liu Ye when Zhou Chen summoned them last night.

That is, the three wealthy families have a lot of officials in the court. If they are all cleared, not to mention how much turmoil it will cause, it is also a problem whether these positions can be filled in a short time.

Therefore, Du Ruhui and Liu Ye suggested that these officials should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Use what can be used, keep what can be kept, and clean what needs to be cleaned.

You can't cut them all with one knife.

That's not the way to solve the problem.

Zhou Chen had no objection to Du Ruhui and Liu Ye's suggestion.

Zhou Chen knows that there are not so many honest and upright ministers in the world, and there is no such obvious distinction between black and white. Some always have more advantages than disadvantages.

As long as these officials are capable and can be used by the emperor Zhou Chen, then even if they are greedy for some money and do some tricks, Zhou Chen can tolerate them.

As an emperor, tolerance means greatness.

If the water is clear, there will be no fish.

Zhou Chen understands this truth.

Of course, if it cannot be used by the emperor Zhou Chen, then no matter how capable it is, there will only be one ending.

After Zhou Chen read the list sent by Du Ruhui, he pondered for a moment, then picked up the pen and crossed out a few names on the list.

Then, Zhou Chen returned the list to Du Ruhui: "Keming, I know that you are an honest and upright official, and you look down on those who are dishonest."

"But, if the water is clear, there will be no fish, you should understand."

"Every official has his own specialty. As long as he can be used by me and does more good than harm to the Great Zhou Dynasty, he is the official I need for the Great Zhou Dynasty."

"On the other hand, if he can't be used by me, it will do more harm than good to Da Zhou. No matter how talented he is, to me and to Da Zhou, he will be a dead man."

After Zhou Chen returned the list to Du Ruhui, he said to Du Ruhui.

When Du Ruhui heard the words, his eyes flickered and he immediately understood what Zhou Chen meant: "Your Majesty's words will be remembered by me."

"I will reorganize the list of these officials immediately after I return."

Du Ruhui bowed and said.

Zhou Chen nodded.

He could understand the thoughts of loyal ministers like Du Ruhui.

Loyal and good ministers like Du Ruhui and others wish they could clear out all those treacherous ministers and corrupt officials, and replace the entire court with honest and upright ministers like them.

But is this possible?

The most important thing in a court is balance.

One color cannot be all white, nor all one color is black.

A balance between yin and yang is the long-term solution.

If they were all the same color, it would be the opposition between imperial power and ministerial power.

"Keming, this time cleaning up the household department, you have the heaviest burden on your shoulders."

"Zi Yang and the others are only responsible for investigating and arresting people, but you are responsible for filling the vacancies of these captured officials in a timely manner."

"Once you fail to fill the vacancies of these officials in time, it will have a big impact and even paralyze the center of the imperial court."

"Therefore, filling these vacant officials is a top priority. You must not leave too many vacant positions for court officials."

"Otherwise, the impact will be huge."

Zhou Chen looked at Du Ruhui with a cautious expression and said.

Liu Ye was responsible for checking the household department, and Du Ruhui was responsible for selecting officials to fill the vacancies of these officials.

It can be said that Du Ruhui's selection of officials is no less important than Liu Ye's responsibility for the household inspection department.

If Du Ruhui cannot fill these vacant official positions in time, many government affairs of the court will be delayed.

If that happens, it will definitely cause quite a bit of turmoil.

When Du Ruhui heard this, he immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, don't worry, I understand."

"I have one more thing to report to Your Majesty."

"Recently, the list of recommended officials from various localities has been sent to the Ministry of Personnel."

"Fang Shangshu is now in the four northern states, so the scientific examinations for recommending officials in these places have not been determined."

"Your Majesty is also requested to select the chief examiner to conduct scientific examinations on these recommended officials."

Du Ruhui bowed again and said.

Scientific examination?

Zhou Chen pondered.

Zhou Chen knew that the selection of officials in the Great Zhou Dynasty was based on the recommendation system.

It is held once every year at the end of the year.

Local officials inspect and recommend talented, knowledgeable, and famous people and report them to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Then, the imperial court will conduct a final scientific examination on these recommended persons.

This is also the main reason why almost 80% of the officials in the Great Zhou Dynasty come from wealthy families or have inextricable connections with wealthy families.

It is very difficult for ordinary students from poor families or ordinary students to enter officialdom without the recommendation of local officials.

Even if there is real talent and learning, it must be recommended by local officials.

Otherwise, let alone entering the officialdom, he would not even be qualified to participate in the final scientific examination.

The children of wealthy families can easily be recommended by local officials.

Once there are recommendations from local officials, the final scientific examination is basically just a formality.

It can be said that in the Great Zhou Dynasty, as long as you were recommended by the imperial examination, you were basically considered to have entered the official career.

Zhou Chen frowned slightly as he thought about the imperial court's recommendation system for selecting officials.

In Zhou Chen's opinion, there are too many disadvantages in selecting officials like Da Zhou.

Let’s not talk about how many people with real talents and learning are actually among those recommended by various localities. Let’s just say that this selection and recommendation will cause the imperial court to miss out on many people with real talents and learning.

And this last scientific examination was originally the final check for those recommended by local officials.

But now it has become just a formality.

These are all problems.

After Zhou Chen pondered for a moment, he looked up at Du Ruhui and said, "Keming, the system of recommending officials in the Great Zhou Dynasty has too many drawbacks."

"Nowadays, the imperial court is in urgent need of talents."

"I plan to let go of the recommendation threshold for this scientific examination, so that all talented people in the world can participate. No matter family background, only true talent and practical learning will be considered. You will be the examiner, and you will be fully responsible for this matter."

"how do you feel?"

Zhou Chen looked at Du Ruhui.

Since the disadvantages of the inspection and recommendation system are too great, Zhou Chen naturally cannot use the inspection and recommendation system to select officials for the imperial court.

However, it is not possible to completely abolish the inspection and recommendation system.

This will involve the interests of wealthy families in the world.

Therefore, Zhou Chen would first let go of this threshold for this scientific examination, test the reaction of the wealthy families, and see what the result would be.

"Your Majesty, I obey the order." Du Ruhui immediately understood what Zhou Chen meant and bowed directly.

Although Zhou Chen seemed to be asking, in fact he had already made a decision.

Seeing that Du Ruhui had no objection, Zhou Chen nodded; "Then I'll leave this matter to you."

"I will order the Eight Sages and the Minister of War to serve as deputy examiners."

"With these two helping you, you will feel much more relaxed."

Zhou Chen looked at Du Ruhui and said.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Du Ruhui responded and then left the Yangxin Hall.

(End of chapter)