My life skills in Daming Liver

When Gu Xiancheng rushed to the cabinet, the ministers were taking a tea break.

Compared to the shabby state of the Governor's Palace, Su Ze was very generous to the Southeast Cabinet.

The cabinet also occupies the old palace of the Ming Palace, but compared with the cabinet of the Ming Dynasty, at least it is well decorated.

Although the Ming Dynasty's cabinet was powerful, the office conditions had always been difficult because the name of this department was unfair.

No one of the chief ministers of the Ming Dynasty in the past dynasties dared to propose renovations to the cabinet. Legally speaking, the Ming Dynasty cabinet was just the emperor's auxiliary decision-making agency, that is, the emperor's personal secretary agency. How good are the office conditions needed for such an agency?

The cabinets of the Ming Dynasty even leaked in the winter and rain in the summer. Even the chief minister of the cabinet, who had power over the entire government, often refused to revise the cabinet for the sake of the political correctness of the Ming Dynasty.

Moreover, the cabinet ministers of the Ming Dynasty were crowded together to work. Naturally, this was to reflect the selfless attitude of the cabinet. It was also a system design made in the early Ming Dynasty to prevent powerful ministers from controlling the cabinet.

In fact, this kind of design is useless. It is not uncommon for the chief minister of the cabinet to turn the cabinet into a single-minded person.

Does working in a dilapidated house show that cabinet ministers are incorruptible?

However, the southeastern cabinet is legally the person authorized by the governor to manage the country. As the most important and critical department in the entire southeast, naturally it cannot be too shabby.

This palace is right next to the Crystal Palace where the Constitutional Convention was held.

The skeleton of the Chinese-style building is still retained, but the roof has been renovated and the windows have been replaced with transparent glass.

Each cabinet minister also has his or her own independent office area, as well as their personal agents and clerks, their own independent office rooms, and even a small courtyard where you can walk.

During breaks, cabinet ministers will gather in a bright lobby to rest. This is to provide cabinet ministers with the opportunity to communicate with each other on government affairs.

At the beginning, a relatively withdrawn minister like He Xinyin still didn't like to participate in tea breaks.

But he soon discovered that during the tea break, everyone discussed political affairs with each other, and the conflicting opinions occasionally inspired him.

These exchange opportunities can often push a matter forward, and gradually he will put down the work at hand regularly and attend tea breaks with cabinet ministers.

Today during the cabinet tea break, Chief Assistant Xu Wei was holding a folding fan and appraising the calligraphy and paintings on the fan that the Governor personally mentioned.

Minister of Education Shen Shixing followed Xu Wei and was also looking at the fan handwritten by Su Ze.

Justice He Xinyin just lowered his head, eating tea cakes and reading the latest newspaper.

Minister of Transportation Hu Zongxian was not in the cabinet at this time and was preparing to rebuild the canal in Huaibei.

Finance Minister Fang Wanghai was touring Fuzhou and was not in Nanjing at this time.

The Supervisory Minister Tan Luncai waited for the transfer order and was still in Guangzhou, handing over government affairs to his successor Bai Zhifu.

Mr. Bai, who had been the magistrate of Nanping County when Su Zetong was born, was successfully promoted to the governor of Guangdong due to his performance in running Guangzhou.

The Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy generally do not participate in the daily office of the Cabinet.

Gu Xiancheng, led by the cabinet department officials, came to the Mingtang where the ministers had a tea break.

Xu Wei put down the folding fan in his hand and gave Gu Xiancheng a warm smile.

Xu Wei, the chief minister, directly manages the Ministry of Personnel, so Gu Xiancheng is theoretically his subordinate.

Since entering the cabinet, Xu Wei's fanaticism under Hu Zongxian has disappeared without a trace, becoming more stable and very gentle towards his young subordinates.

Shen Shixing has always been a good man, and Gu Xiancheng was the first number one he admitted after becoming the Minister of Education. He himself was also a famous prodigy at a young age, and he admired Gu Xiancheng very much.

He Xinyin just raised his head, glanced at Gu Xiancheng, and then continued eating tea cakes and reading the newspaper.

Gu Xiancheng quickly saluted the three cabinet ministers. After he finished paying his respects, Xu Wei said:

"Master Zhuangyuan, how do you feel about observing government affairs in the official department? Are you used to living in Nanjing?"

Gu Xiancheng replied cautiously: "My lord, Nanjing is not much different from my hometown, and the dormitory is also very convenient. My subordinates have benefited a lot from observing politics in the Ministry of Civil Affairs."

Gu Xiancheng's answer was quite satisfactory, and Xu Wei stroked his beard and smiled.

Shen Shixing said: "The Governor admires Zhuang Yuan Lang's article "On the Nation and State" very much, and it is because of this article that he selected you to be the number one scholar. I wonder if Zhuang Yuan Lang has any new works recently?"

Gu Xiancheng said quickly: "Master Shen is so flattering. I didn't write any decent articles today."

Shen Shixing saw that Gu Xiancheng's answers were fluent and impeccable, and he felt a little fond of him.

He Xinyin glanced at Gu Xiancheng with some disgust. He instinctively disliked people like Gu Xiancheng. Although such people were talented, they were too tactful and focused on flexibility instead of adhering to principles.

He Xinyin glanced at Shen Shixing. He also didn't like his colleague Shen Shixing. Gu Xiancheng gave him the feeling of a youth version of Shen Shixing.

However, He Xinyin would not suppress anyone because of his likes and dislikes. The first southeastern cabinet was still very pragmatic.

After the greetings, Xu Wei finally talked about the purpose of calling Gu Xiancheng.

"The Grand Governor said that people should make the best use of their talents. Your ability is wasted in the Department of Literature and Selection to monitor politics."

Gu Xiancheng was overjoyed, he was still young after all, and looked at Xu Wei expectantly.

Looking at Gu Xiancheng's young face, Xu Wei also sighed in his heart.

The number of officials in the southeast, or the number of people who were fed by the government, was far greater than that of the Ming court in the north.

Not only the elites maintained by the Southeast, but also the number of local officials, the number and treatment of the staff, the Southeast far exceeded the Ming court.

Xu Wei has recently taken charge of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and is preparing to establish administrative units at the "township" level in each county.

The administrative level of "township" not only appoints officials, but also sets up various permanent institutions downwards, thoroughly extending the tentacles of the southeastern political power into the towns and villages.

But even so, the Southeast is still very short of people.

What is lacking is naturally not ordinary officials, but real talents.

Xu Wei looked at Gu Xiancheng and said, "I want you to go to Guangxi."

"What!"

After all, Gu Xiancheng's city was not deep now, so he almost fainted when he heard the news.

He is a native of Wuxi, South Zhili Province, and his family has been scholarly for generations. He has a good family background, and he became famous as the top scorer in high school at a young age. It can be said that he has the template of a winner in life.

Guangxi is a place where prisoners are dispatched. He couldn't figure out what he had done wrong, so he was suddenly dispatched to Guangxi by Xu Wei.

Shen Shixing saw Gu Xiancheng's thoughts and said:

"Letting you go to Guangxi is not assigning you to go to the frontier."

"Guangxi has complex ethnic groups, with Han and Yao people living together. It is closest to Annan, and many of its folk customs are similar to Annan."

"The Governor once said, 'Practice is the only criterion for testing truth.' Lu You, the poet at that time, also once said, 'What you learn on paper will eventually make you realize it, but you must do it in practice.' So Prime Minister Xu wants you to go to Guangxi Take a look and practice your nation-state theory.”

Seeing Gu Xiancheng in trouble, Shen Shixing's good-natured personality flared up again. He said to Gu Xiancheng:

"If you don't want to go, you don't have to go. The main tasks of you Jinshi Scholars are to observe the government and prepare for the selection examination in a year. Going to Guangxi will indeed delay your future. Prime Minister Xu only provided this option. The decision-making power rests with you. you."

After listening to Shen Shixing's words, Gu Xiancheng felt a little more at ease. He bowed to Xu Wei and said:

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, can you allow me to think for a moment?"

Xu Wei waved his hand and said, "I can wait for your reply tomorrow."

Gu Xiancheng said: "It doesn't take that long, just one stick of incense will do."

Xu Wei looked at Gu Xiancheng in surprise and asked:

"Don't the number one scholar need to discuss this kind of matter with others?"

Gu Xiancheng shook his head and said: "No one can discuss important matters in the future. Only I can figure it out myself."

Xu Wei nodded with satisfaction and closed his mouth.

Hearing Gu Xiancheng's words, even He Xinyin nodded slightly. It seemed that although this new top scholar was smooth, he was very independent.

After waiting for a stick of incense, Gu Xiancheng raised his head and said, "My subordinate is willing to go to Guangxi."

Xu Wei said to Shen Shixing:

"Look, I won."

Shen Shixing took out a three-cent coin and handed it to Xu Wei. Xu Wei, the chief minister of the cabinet, laughed and put the coin into his sleeve.

He Xinyin didn't know when he arrived beside the two of them and said to them:

"My Southeast Law decrees that public officials are not allowed to gamble."

After speaking, He Xinyin stretched out his hand and said to Xu Wei:

"Prime Minister, you must lead by example."

Xu Wei looked ugly and handed the three immortal coins he had just collected to He Xinyin.

He Xinyin said to the official:

"Record it and confiscate the stolen money."

Gu Xiancheng looked at He Xinyin in surprise. He had long heard that the Minister of Justice was selfless, but he didn't expect him to be so stubborn?

Gu Xiancheng even put some caution away. It seemed that he had to be cautious when he was an official in the southeast. He had made a great career, but he could not be stained by anything.

After Gu Xiancheng left, He Xinyin said:

"This guy's talents and abilities are first-class, but he's just too smooth."

Xu Wei said with a smile: "Is that why Zhu Gan used the bet we made to hit him?"

He Xinyin's courtesy name was Zhuqian. Although he was aloof, Xu Wei valued him as a minister of justice and agreed with his idea of ​​governing the country according to law.

He Xinyin nodded and said:

"But his willingness to go to Guangxi is beyond my expectation."

Shen Shixing also nodded.

Xu Wei said: "He is a smart man. Now Southeast is a grassroots company. He will not let go of this opportunity."

"The problem in Guangxi is officials. We need suitable officials to govern the place. We need such a person."

"If we occupy Annan in the future, we will also need people like him."

Now He Xinyin also nodded.

In the current state of Guangxi, the economy and legal system are all very vague.

The Ming court's laissez-faire towards Guangxi means that what Guangxi needs most now is stability and tranquility. Officials who can coordinate the relationship between Han and Tu and don't mess around are the best.

So Gu Xiancheng was asked to go to Guangxi to learn how to unite the national unity and prepare for Annan's future work.

Gu Xiancheng understood that this was an opportunity. Judging from the fact that the last question in the imperial examination was the Annan issue, the Grand Governor Su Ze had the idea of ​​​​taking advantage of Annan.

No matter what era, opening up territory is a huge achievement. Gu Xiancheng understood that this was his opportunity, so he decisively accepted the transfer.

Xu Wei added: "There is also Tang Xianzu, who was ranked second in Jinke. It is said that he has also been trained well under Lu Gang and has taken over the official document affairs of the railway company."

"If these young people don't take courage, will they keep us old guys busy to death?"

Now even He Xinyin smiled.

Xu Wei said to him:

"Zhu Gan, the Governor has told you more than once to pay attention to your health and not stay up late working."

"The work is never finished, and there are no perfect laws in this world. Some things have to be left to others, and you just need to check them."

"Your clan brother, Liang Mengyuan from Li Shizhen Medical College, wrote very good regulations for the Medical Administration. Training more talents like this can also help you share the burden."

He Xinyin just nodded lightly, and Xu Wei sighed slightly. He knew that He Xinyin was an extremely stubborn person, and even Su Ze might not listen to what he advised, let alone himself.

He Xinyin was obviously older than Shen Shixing, but he looked very haggard.

Xu Wei gave up discussing private matters and started talking about official business.

"Minister Fang wrote a letter from Fuzhou, suggesting that the Susong-Songsun Railway should issue public bonds to raise funds."

"The Grand Governor's opinion is that he is not opposed to the issuance of public bonds, but those who hold public bonds can only receive dividends and cannot have decision-making power over the railway company, nor can they interfere with the operation of the railway company."

"Both of you have been magistrates in Susong. What do you think?"

Shen Shixing frowned and said: "Private investors can still interfere with factory decisions. The Governor only allows those who buy public bonds to receive dividends and does not allow them to interfere with the railway company. I understand that the Governor is worried that these public bonds will form a nepotistic interest group in the railway company, but Isn’t it too extreme?”

He Xinyin said: "Actually, there is no question in legal terms. Most of the governors said that the 'debt' issued was a debt borrowed from the private sector and not the railway company's equity sold."

"But since it is a debt, the interest should be agreed upon instead of allowing the railway company to pay dividends on its own. If the railway company makes long-term profits but does not pay dividends, then wouldn't the people who buy the bonds borrow money for no reason? The overdraft is the credit of the Southeast Government. .”

Xu Wei nodded and said: "The Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Industry are already discussing this matter. Let's take a look at their reports."

In the meeting hall of the Ministry of Household Affairs, Tang Xianzu and the officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs were having a heated argument like quarreling vendors in a vegetable market.

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