bookrandom Chapter 1258 Arrangement
Chapter 1258 Arrangement
Chapter 1258 Arrangement
Zhang Yue felt particularly comfortable sitting on the chair.
The king and his minister had been communicating with each other for many years without any obstacles, and could be said to be open-hearted.
Zhang Yue said, "Your Majesty, for now we have to deal with the Liao Kingdom, but we must not relax our efforts on the Tanguts. Shen Kuo has already submitted a memorial to the emperor suggesting that we build towards Mingsha City."
"I think it's feasible!"
After hearing Zhang Yue's words, the emperor said, "I also think it's a good idea, and I was just about to discuss it with you."
When it came to destroying the Dangxiang, the emperor and his minister were highly on the same page.
This is how people interact with each other. We must always find areas of common interest for both parties.
Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty, Shen Kuo is a man of great talent, you can make full use of him."
The emperor said, "I know Shen Kuo has talent, but his moral integrity is not good."
Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty, I don't like Shen Kuo either. But I have been an official for many years and have some experience in employing people."
"In terms of achievements, officials who were Jinshi graduates are often better than officials with hereditary titles, and officials who are well-versed in foreign affairs are better than officials who were Jinshi graduates but only know classics, poetry and prose."
"But when it comes to being an official, officials who are well-versed in foreign affairs are often not as good as officials who have obtained a jinshi degree, and officials who have obtained a jinshi degree are not as good as officials with hereditary titles and honors. It all depends on what strengths Your Majesty has."
The emperor thought for a moment and said, "The officials who are most knowledgeable about foreign things today are Shen Kuo and Su Song!"
Zhang Yue said: "That's what your majesty said, and there is also this eunuch."
As Zhang Yue spoke, he mentioned Song Yongchen who had escorted him into the palace.
The emperor looked at Song Yongchen and suddenly realized that Song Yongchen was the leader of the major project of diverting water from Luoyang to Bianyang.
This time, the reform required the reconstruction of the East and West Prefectures, and Song Yongchen was also in charge of the Shangshu Province. In the eyes of the government, Song Yongchen was indeed very talented in water conservancy construction.
Song Yongchen was also embarrassed when he heard Zhang Yue suddenly praise him.
It is like an official who is proficient in technology and moves to an administrative leadership position, often encountering various problems. Shen Kuo is an obvious example.
However, we should use more officials like this if possible.
There are two types of management: horizontal management and vertical management.
Vertical management means that managers grab resources, and those below them who want to move up must pass obedience tests or make contributions in exchange for resources.
Laymen leading experts all start from vertical management, emphasizing obedience between superiors and subordinates, no matter how your subordinates jump. I grab resources from the upstream, supplemented by rewards and punishments, and the subordinates will obey.
For example, eunuchs supervising the army and civil officials leading the troops are all like this.
There is also horizontal management.
Managers are technical experts themselves, and the people below respect you because you have great technical skills. This is especially true for those founding emperors of all dynasties who conquered the world on horseback.
The generals below all know that they can be appreciated for their real abilities, so there is less internal friction and wrangling in the team.
Management and being managed are inherently unequal, but when everyone discusses technology together, they can achieve an equal relationship.
The vassal state is definitely stronger than the governor's office, and the Jiedushi is stronger than the Jinglüeshi! But the loyalty is the opposite.
Therefore, it is best to use experts to lead experts as much as possible. This way the team will be the best. If this is not possible, the leader must know something.
The emperor understood what Zhang Yue meant after hearing this.
Those who come from humble backgrounds and are good at doing things are the officials that a promising emperor likes to use the most.
Although Shen Kuo had problems with his moral integrity and minor details, didn't this make him seem more sincere in serving the emperor? On the contrary, those officials who were well versed in the ways of the world and knew how to be an official could provide him with great emotional value, but they were useless.
The official said: "Sun Gu can no longer stay in the central government, but if he suddenly withdraws from the negotiations, it will also make the Liao Kingdom suspicious."
"I intend to have you take over Sun Gu's post to preside over the negotiations with the Privy Council. I also intend to have Lu Gongzhu return to the capital to serve as the Deputy Privy Councilor, and then take over the affairs of the East Palace in the future."
Lu Gongzhu was previously impeached for shielding Chen Shiru and his wife in the case of Chen Zhizhong's son Chen Shiru, and is now on exile.
This was the superficial reason. In fact, he opposed Zhang Yue and left the capital because of the strategy of fighting and defending against the Dangxiang.
Sun Gu left and Lu Gongzhu came back. The emperor is still restless and keeps stirring up trouble with different opinions.
Zhang Yue thought to himself, Lu Gongzhu is his relative, wouldn't it be like the story of Wang Anshi and Wu Chong, with the relatives becoming enemies?
The emperor asked Zhang Yue, "How is Ah Xi recovering in the palace recently?"
Zhang Yue was stunned. This was the first time that the emperor had consulted him about Zhang Zhi's situation since Mingsha City.
Zhang Yue said, "Your Majesty, during the battle of Mingsha City, I fell from the top of the city wall and almost lost my life. Although I escaped from the siege later, I couldn't get out of bed for more than a year, and now I can barely walk."
In fact, Zhang Zhi has almost recovered now, but Zhang Yue has never intended to recommend him.
The emperor nodded and said, "Tell Ah Xi that I will not forget him and will use him in the future."
Zhang Yue knew very well that Zhang Zhi had killed Wang Zhongzheng, and the emperor had always remembered it in his heart. So he had been tactful and never mentioned it in front of the emperor over the years.
Now, is he planning to use Zhang Zhi in the future, after he retires?
It’s better to give yourself peace of mind in the future.
……
After the emperor and his minister met, Zhang Yue slowly walked out of the hall, with Song Yongchen accompanying him.
In this relationship between the emperor and his subjects, there is no need for any more external etiquette.
After Zhang Yue left the hall, his mood fluctuated for some reason.
It was not because he had been reinstated as prime minister, but because the emperor showed respect for Zhang Zhi in his words today and had appreciated Zhang Dun in the past.
All of this made Zhang Yue feel a little strange, and his mood was a little fluctuating.
I have a question: should we step onto a higher platform while working in the system?
He saw an answer: it's okay to lie down, because people step on people everywhere. Even if you reach a higher position, there will still be people stepping on you. But after lying down, you can shift the focus of your life to your family and hobbies.
However, if conditions permit, you should try your best to live in a high place, otherwise you will suffer more and more as you get older.
It feels great to lie down when you are young, but when you are old and see people who are younger or less experienced than you sitting in positions higher than you, you will feel more and more uncomfortable.
Especially those who have had conflicts with you in the past, or even those who are good friends of yours, and the same applies to the younger generations.
Even though he was the prime minister, Zhang Yue had such feelings. Zhang Yue is still in the position of prime minister, but the "next wave" has already arrived.
This is how the world is. You may succeed, but others will also succeed one day.
After all, if people are too eager for a career in politics, they will eventually be hurt by it.
……
Zhang Yue walked a few steps and saw Cai Jing waiting in the hall. Upon seeing Zhang Yue arrive, he hurried forward and said, "Congratulations, Prime Minister, for taking charge of the government again."
Although he knew that Cai Jing was also a rising star, Zhang Yue still thought to himself what thoughtfulness meant. After he returned to the court, the first person who came to congratulate him was Cai Jing.
Zhang Yue said: "Yuan Chang is thoughtful."
Cai Jing said: "Prime Minister, Liu Bojun has been demoted to Lingnan. I have secretly investigated and found that in the third year of Yuanfeng, this man came to greet the Prime Minister, but the Prime Minister did not respond, so he holds a grudge."
Zhang Yue thought to himself, is there such a thing?
When he thought about it carefully, it was true. He really had the habit of drinking tea in the teahouse that day.
One time, the two met in a teahouse. Because he was in disguise and did not want to respond to the other party in front of many people, he pretended not to know and left. He did not expect that the other party would hold a grudge against him.
Perhaps he deliberately wanted to find out where he was, so he was waiting in the teahouse to see him.
There is really no hatred without reason in the world.
Over the years, there were many officials who wanted to visit Zhang Yue, but he ignored them.
Zhang Yue said to Cai Jing: "Maybe it's true, it doesn't matter anymore."
Cai Jing said: "I said Liu Bojun was venting his anger, but Su Ziyou said that this man is a loyal and righteous man!"
When Zhang Yue heard this, he looked at Cai Jing, and Cai Jing immediately shut up.
……
In the dungeon of the Imperial City Division inside Chengtian Gate.
Two patrolmen stood on the left and right of the gate, and in front of them was a personal officer from the Investigation Department.
The personal officer sat at the desk, and the person he was interrogating was a man in his forties.
The man sat on a straw mat with his hands on his chest, showing no fear at all towards the official from the Imperial City Investigation Department in front of him.
During the Xining period, the government used the Imperial City Bureau to spy on officials and common people in the market who opposed the new law.
This remained the case after the Yuanfeng period.
Shi Deyi advocated that the Imperial City Department's Detective Department be all-pervasive in its intelligence investigation, from high officials to wealthy commoners, and that they were all involved in the investigation, and that it was extremely efficient. According to Lu Gongzhu's later statement, the officials would know what was discussed during the day at night.
The official of the Investigation Department said: "You fabricated rumors, created public opinion, and incited the people to hate the Liao Kingdom. Who is behind this?"
The other party said: "I didn't know there was such a thing."
The officer from the Investigation Department sneered, threw several tabloids in front of the other party and said, "We in the Imperial City Department know exactly who wrote these tabloids, who wrote them, and who printed them. Don't tell me you don't know them."
The other party picked up the tabloid and read it for a while, then shook his head and said, "Indeed, I don't recognize any of them. But..."
The logistician at the side pricked up his ears and took careful notes with his pen.
The other party smiled and said, "...It is indeed well written."
The officer of the Investigation Department slammed the table and said, "Now that you are in the Imperial City Department, you still dare to be so arrogant."
He said to Fang Yan: "I heard that you, the Imperial City Bureau, are good at fabricating things and calling a deer a horse, so the people are all in danger. I will admit any crime you want to fabricate."
"But I don't understand how I can be the only one to incite the people to disrupt the peace talks with the Khitan."
The officer from the Investigation Department said, "That's because there is someone behind you. We already know that person. Is he the current head of the Academy of Scholars... Cai Jing?"
The other party was speechless.
The other party said: "If you don't tell us, we can find out. But your life will definitely be in danger, so I still advise you to cooperate with our Imperial City Division and submit a confession. This way you can save your life!"
The other party said calmly: "I will tell you the truth. You can't kill me, and you won't get a confession from me."
"I also want to tell you that I will walk out of the Imperial City Department safely."
"joke!"
The other party smiled and said, "If you don't believe me, let's take a look. Didn't you ask me who is the mastermind behind this?"
"who?"
"That's your majesty!"
"What nonsense!" The official from the Investigation Department was furious. His Imperial City Department was the one that worked for the emperor, and this person actually dared to talk nonsense like that.
"It seems that he will not confess without severe punishment."
As they were talking, a eunuch suddenly came in.
The officer from the Investigation Department and his attendants hurriedly saluted: "Greetings, the guard!"
The other party nodded and pointed at the man and said, "Release him immediately!"
The officials of the Investigation Department were surprised, but they still did as they were told.
When the eunuch was about to leave the dungeon, the officer from the Investigation Department caught up with him and said, "The guard, please report... the case has been solved. In less than three days, I can get this man to confess... it will be a great achievement by then."
The guard said, "Don't ask any more questions. The reason I've been able to stay in office till now is that I know what to dig to the bottom of and what not to dig to the bottom of. If we continue to investigate, both you and I will lose our jobs! We may even lose our lives."
The officials from the Investigation Department looked horrified.
"The case ends here. You can report to the higher-ups with a few irrelevant people. I will then commend you for your achievements in front of the governor."
……
Cai Jing was sweating profusely.
Cai Jing knew that Zhang Yue trusted the Su brothers very much, and his own provocative words were also very risky.
Zhang Yue said: "Master Yuan, you have done a very good job. But I also know that you have conflicts with Su Ziyu."
"What this humble official said..."
"I know you are telling the truth." Zhang Yue patted Cai Jing on the shoulder.
The two continued to stroll through the palace together.
Zhang Yue said: "You also know the hatred between me and Zhang Zihou! In the past, I was angry with him, and I also thought about how to take revenge on him in the future."
"Now that I am the prime minister, I should be able to do whatever I want, but I still didn't make it too difficult for him. Do you know why?"
Cai Jing said: "I don't know."
Zhang Yue said: "It's not that I have a big heart or a saintly mind, but your majesty has been secretly looking after this person. So for your majesty's sake, I have never dared to make things too difficult for him."
"But today I suddenly thought of something. People can't always be high and mighty. Although I am now the prime minister, I should be more careful not to do anything to the extreme! I should always leave a way out for others."
"It's normal for officials to have ups and downs. There will always be a day when the tide turns."
Cai Jing bowed his head and said, "Thank you very much for your kind words, Prime Minister. I will learn from you!"
Zhang Yue smiled and said, "You have been working hard these days. After Su Song becomes the Deputy Privy Councilor, I will arrange for you to be the governor of Kaifeng Prefecture!"
Cai Jing was overjoyed when he heard this and said, "Thank you, Prime Minister."