The Ming Dynasty's Spokesperson

Wang Yongji asked Lin Tailai again: "Then when do you plan to take office?"

Since you, Lin Tailai, are deliberately ambiguous, then I will urge you to set a deadline for yourself. You can't just say that you won't take office forever, right?

Lin Tailai patted his chest and replied: "Don't worry, Shao Zongzai! I have checked the relevant regulations and will not delay the time of taking office!

The regulations issued in the third year of Jiajing are that those who take office more than half a year after the deadline will be sent to the Ministry of Personnel for demotion and re-employment; those who take office more than one year after the deadline will be dismissed from office as civilians.

So as long as I can take office within half a year, it will not be considered a violation of the regulations. These few days really don't matter!"

Wang Yongji: "."

I asked you when you will take office because I am afraid that you will delay the deadline for taking office?

At this time, facing Lin Tailai in person, Wang Yongji, who admired Hai Rui, finally realized Hai Rui's resentment and helplessness.

Also, Lin Tailai's ability to exploit system loopholes is really a natural talent.

Previously, a position of Langzhong of the Ministry of Examination was forcibly drilled into the system, and now they want to use the rule of "taking office in half a year" to delay time and seize power.

Lin Tailai comforted him in turn: "The young prime minister really doesn't need to worry. Anyway, the main force working in the courtyards of various ministries is us grassroots cadres and officials.

As for the hall officials like you Shangshu and Shilang, it doesn't matter if there are one or two less. It will not affect daily government affairs, and even work efficiency will be higher."

Listening to Lin Tailai's twisted theories, Wang Yongji sighed deeply. He is not a person who likes to play tricks, but this is all forced by you, Lin Tailai!

Then he said: "I am old and sick, and I have dizziness and shortness of breath recently. I am preparing to resign from my post"

"Don't! Don't! Not at all! Not at all!" Lin Tailai immediately dissuaded him.

After Wang Yongji submitted his resignation, he could go home and rest temporarily, so the three hall officials of the Ministry of Personnel would all be vacant.

So the question came, who would keep the seal of the Ministry of Personnel?

So there is no need to think, extraordinary times will lead to extraordinary procedures, the emperor or the court will definitely airdrop a minister urgently.

Then things will be completely out of control, and he, Lin Tailai, the doctor of the Ministry of Examination, will lose even the right to speak, the right to make suggestions, and the right to exchange interests!

"When will you take office?" Wang Yongji asked again.

Lin Tailai replied helplessly: "Three days, three days later."

The idea of ​​taking office at the node of five months and twenty-nine days was shattered.

Wang Yongji immediately ordered the servant at the door: "Send a message to Chen Younian, saying that Lin Tailai will officially take office in the Ministry of Personnel in three days! See if he dares to continue pretending to be sick at home!"

Lin Tailai thought for a while and asked: "Did Prime Minister Shen say something to you in private?"

Wang Yongji was secretly shocked, and on the surface he scolded: "Don't guess here!"

Lin Tailai pointed out: "This method of threatening me with resignation must have been taught by Prime Minister Shen!"

Wang Yongji: "."

Damn! How did Lin Tailai see through it? Where did he reveal his flaws?

Coming out of the right hall where Wang Youshilang was, Lin Tailai walked on the corridor and happened to meet Wang Xiangmeng, the deputy director of the Ministry of Personnel's Wenxuan Division and his good nephew.

Wang Xiangmeng hurriedly bowed and called out, "Uncle-in-law!"

Lin Tailai warned, "In the government office, you must call your position."

Wang Xiangmeng changed his words and said, "Lin Kaogong! Are you free tonight? Please go to my place for a drink."

Lin Tailai whispered, "Could it be that your second uncle has thoughts about the position of Tianguan?"

Wang Xiangmeng did not deny it, "Who wouldn't be tempted?"

"It's impossible to be tempted!" Lin Tailai gave a direct answer, "It's better to be the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."

Unexpectedly, Wang Situ, who has always been mature and steady, turned out to be unstable in his heart. This shows how tempting the position of the Minister of Personnel is.

Wang Xiangmeng asked again: "No hope at all?"

Lin Tailai said very confidently: "Unless you leave the Ministry of Personnel first, there is still a little hope."

"Then forget it." Wang Xiangmeng said wisely, "We can't give up the fruits that have already been obtained for a little hope. My Wang family can't get more."

Anyone who has a little understanding of the rules of officialdom can see that Wang Situ really has no hope.

A nephew is a deputy minister of the Ministry of Selection, and a brother-in-law is a doctor of the Ministry of Examination. Who dares to let Wang Situ become the Minister of Personnel?

Unless there is the emperor's strong support against all odds, but Wang Situ is obviously not the kind of bureaucrat who is promoted by the emperor's grace, and he doesn't have much royal favor.

As they walked and talked, Wang Xiangmeng said to Lin Tailai: "The official assessment method only needs to follow the rules, there is no need to make any changes.

And it is difficult to see the pros and cons of the assessment method intuitively, and it is hard to say whether the result of the change will be good or bad in the future."

Lin Tailai replied casually: "How can I show my presence without making any changes? How can I show that I am brave to take on responsibilities? How can I distinguish myself from a large group of mediocre officials?

As for the future good or bad, what does it have to do with me. No, as for success or failure, it is beyond my control!"

Wang Xiangmeng said puzzledly: "I still can't understand why you proposed to restore the performance evaluation system? Isn't this asking for trouble?"

Lin Tailai said without raising his eyelids: "If you can understand, you won't have been an official for ten years, but your official position is not as high as mine!

If you are not incompetent, why do you want me to join the game and come to the Ministry of Personnel to preside over the overall situation in person?"

Wang Xiangmeng: "."

I was a Jinshi in the eighth year of Wanli, and it has been exactly ten years so far. I have become a member of the Ministry of Literature. Is this a bad thing?

Although my uncle helped me get the title of Imperial Censor after nine years of wearing the imperial cane, and also helped me get transferred to the Ministry of Personnel's Selection Department.

The next day, Lin Tailai had to continue to wander back and forth between the three government offices. He was troubled by having too many part-time jobs.

Sitting in the Zhuangyuan Hall of the Hanlin Academy, Lin Tailai let out a long sigh. At this time, Dong Qichang and Zhou Yingqiu, who had finished their morning classes for Shujishi, arrived hand in hand.

Seeing that Lin Tailai seemed to be in a bad mood, Dong Qichang asked:

"What's going on? Isn't it just that in today's morning class, Master Tian didn't let you give a lecture? Why are you so depressed?"

Lin Tailai replied: "It's not because of this. The main reason is that I feel upset when I think about having to go to the Ministry of Civil Service Examination Department to officially take office in two days."

Dong Qichang, Zhou Yingqiu, Zhu Guozuo and Tang Wenxu, who also worked in the Zhuangyuan Hall, were all speechless. Listening to Lin Tailai's tone, they thought they would send you to Gansu or Guizhou to be the county magistrate!

Lin Tailai complained to Dong Qichang naggingly: "The situation is not good now, because the meeting can be held normally after I take office, and after the ministry meeting is held, candidates for the new Minister of Civil Affairs will be drafted.

However, the selection criteria for the position of Minister of the Ministry of Personnel are very strict, and there are only a few qualified people, but there is no one like me.

Then you said that I am going to take office in the Gongfu Examination Department now, what is the meaning of it? Are you watching others rise to power? "

Dong Qichang: "."

It’s been a long time since I was chatting, and I really can’t talk anymore!

Zhou Yingqiu, who is good at understanding people, advised: "The most important thing for a person is to be content. If that's not enough, Brother Jiuyuan should just retreat and do the next best thing, maybe pick a Zuo Shilang from the Ministry of Civil Affairs."

Lin Tailai sighed, "That's all."

The two seniors Zhu Guozuo and Tang Wenxu looked at each other in confusion. Do these newcomers from the 17th year of Wanli think they were sitting in Wenyuan Pavilion talking about personnel work?

Lin Tailai raised his head and looked at the sun outside, and then said: "It's time to go to the Ministry of Officials and Etiquette again. I have to travel in the wind and rain every day on my official career. There is no one among the courtiers who works harder than me.

Every time I think about the coming summer heat under the scorching sun, I feel uncomfortable in advance. "

Everyone: "."

What about you, Lin Tailai? Between the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Personnel, there is only the Ministry of War and the Zongren Mansion; between the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites, there is only the Ministry of Household Affairs!

Only Zhou Yingqiu's considerate suggestion said: "There is no way to solve this kind of traveling and hard work."

Lin Tailai asked curiously: "If you have any good ideas, please tell me quickly."

But Zhou Yingqiu began to tell an old story: "In the past, when Emperor Sejong was in Xiyuan, Renshou Palace was undergoing repairs, more than ten civil and military ministers went to Wuyi Hall in Zhixi Garden to assist Xuanxiu.

Li Mo, the heavenly official of the Ministry of Personnel, was also among them, and the seal of the Ministry of Personnel was also carried by Li Mo.

However, when Li Mo went to Zhixiyuan, it was often difficult for him to return to the Ministry of Personnel for ten and a half days. Later, there was no choice but to send official duties to Xiyuan. "

Then he said: "With this old practice, can Brother Jiuyuan sit in the Zhuangyuan Hall of the Hanlin Academy and let other ministries send official affairs here for disposal?"

Lin Tailai's heart suddenly moved, but he shook his head and said: "This can't be done! How can I, Lin Tailai, be able to take charge of the government?"

Zhou Yingqiu said to Lin Tai sincerely: "It's hot, take care of yourself!"

Lin Tailai: "."

Fortunately, it is summer that is coming, not the depths of winter.

However, Lin Tailai was still embarrassed and said: "The Host and Guest Department of the Ministry of Etiquette is fine, but the Examination Department of the Ministry of Personnel is not one of our own. If I don't go and take charge personally, I won't be able to rest assured."

Zhou Yingqiu said firmly: "If you don't change your mind, change the person!"

"It's just what I want." Lin Tailai responded, "Then let's change people first."

Dong Qichang couldn't listen anymore and couldn't help but remind Lin Tailai: "Don't be so arrogant, you are not the only one in the No. 1 Scholar Hall.

That’s it for the Ministry of Rites, but the affairs in the Examination Department of the Ministry of Personnel are probably not easy for outsiders to know, right? "

Um? Lin Tailai looked around and almost forgot that besides himself, there were two other former top picks in the No. 1 Scholar Hall.

Zhu Guozuo and Tang Dynasty Literature: "."

What a long time ago! In a place like the Hanlin Academy, where aristocrats raise their hopes and are like a paradise compared to ordinary officialdom, they can still encounter dangerous political storms.

Lin Tailai withdrew his gaze and said, "This is not a top priority, so let's ignore it for now."

As the order of the court gradually returned to normal, Shen Shoufu also returned to Wenyuan Pavilion after being away for several days.

He likes the current calm atmosphere very much. In this case, he can be very comfortable as the first assistant.

It's a pity that in the Wanli Dynasty, the peace time is getting less and less. I don't know how long this peace can last.

In the middle hall of Wenyuan Pavilion, the cabinet held its first plenary meeting in the past two months.

There was nothing important today, it was just like a tea party, except that instead of Shen Da, Xu Er, Wang San, and Wang Si, they became Shen Da, Wang Er, Wang San, and Zhao Si.

Zhao Si took out an envelope and said to the other three cabinet elders: "Lin Tailai has a secret to expose the White House."

After the power of the cabinet expanded, Chinese and foreign ministers often informed the cabinet privately of major events, and then formally went through formal procedures to report the matter.

Of course, under normal circumstances, secret disclosures of such discussions are usually sent to the chief assistant.

Wang San then said to Zhao Si: "How come this secret revelation was given to you instead of sending it to the chief assistant first?"

Tingyin Tingyin is half sarcastic and half provocative.

Shen Da said generously: "Don't worry about this. When Lin Tailai is in trouble, it is a great improvement to be able to reveal secrets to the cabinet in advance!"

Wang Er also agreed: "In the past, Lin Tailai always acted willfully and easily. When did he ever think of shutting down the White Cabinet?

Just like when he was in the Xuanfu last year, he dismissed the governor at the drop of a hat. He didn't even say hello to the cabinet in advance, which made the cabinet very passive. "

Shen Da asked Zhao Si again: "What is Lin Tailai going to say this time?"

Zhao Si replied: "It is said to promote the reform of the official assessment system, further standardize the assessment language, and restore the performance appraisal system."

Shen Da: "."

My mood suddenly became a little complicated, and I didn't know where to start.

Zhao Si looked at Shen Da strangely. What's wrong? Why did his face change when he heard about the restoration of the performance appraisal system?

Wang San, who was a little gloating, explained "kindly": "Old Zhao, you may not know that the performance appraisal system was abolished by Prime Minister Shen.

You are now saying that you want to restore the performance appraisal system. Oh, how can we judge it?"

Zhao Si: "."

Fuck! Did Lin Jiuyuan start to pit himself?

Let him take the decree that Prime Minister Shen advocated to abolish, and tell Prime Minister Shen that it should be restored. Isn't this a face-to-face attack?

At that time, I seemed to be a poor old Tongzhi far away from home, and I was very closed-minded!

Although I know that the Kaocheng Law was abolished by the court, how can I know the specific inside story?

I don’t even know that it was led by Prime Minister Shen. The imperial edict issued by the court would not clearly state that this was Prime Minister Shen’s opinion.

In order to maintain the unity of the team, Shen Da did not get angry, and said to Zhao Si earnestly:

"You are still a newcomer to the cabinet. The Kaocheng Law is too complicated and you can’t control it.

Back then, Zhang Jiangling used the Kaocheng Law as a whip to stay in the inner court and whip the outer court. In order to avoid the suspicion of monopolization, we abolished the Kaocheng Law that year."

This is true. From the perspective of power politics, the Kaocheng Law is indeed a tool used by Zhang Juzheng to control the outer court.

In the twelfth year of Wanli, just after Zhang Juzheng was liquidated, the fifty-year-old Shen Shixing had been the Prime Minister for a short time. He was too young and his position was very unstable.

On the one hand, in order to show the emperor that he had no intention of monopolizing power, and on the other hand, in order to win the hearts of the court, Shen Shixing led the abolition of the Kaocheng Law.

After listening to Shen Da's explanation, Zhao Si responded, "But what Lin Tailai said about restoring the performance evaluation system is not quite the same as in the past, and will not make the cabinet bear the suspicion of monopolization.

What he meant was that the performance evaluation system after restoration would be presided over by the Ministry of Personnel's Performance Evaluation Department, and it would not have to be presided over by the cabinet as in Zhang Jiangling's era.

So, the cabinet really doesn't have to worry about being suspected by the emperor again."

Shen Da Wang Er Wang San: "."

You, Lin Tailai, secretly revealed the Guanba this time. Did you discuss something with the cabinet privately, or did you issue a statement?

In order to avoid suspicion that the cabinet could not monopolize the power, you, Lin Tailai, monopolized it yourself, right?

For some reason, I thought of the situation analysis of "offices, offices, parties and societies, politics gradually sinking" that I heard yesterday.

You, Lin Tailai, took the lead and put it into practice. Did you want to use practical actions to tell everyone what political sinking means?