I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 88: Reducing subordinate staff, Su Jingming colludes with internal servants?

On April [-]th, the weather got warmer.

Both sides of the Bianhe River are full of greenery, with cars, horses and boats flowing continuously.

Bao Zheng worked vigorously and resolutely. He first removed the dirty officials and then healed the people's hearts.

In just a few days, the situation in Kaifeng Mansion has improved significantly.

The Imperial City Division also began to focus on investigating and punishing the unscrupulous businessmen in Bianjing City who were selling information about the Song Dynasty.

Judging from the intelligence information obtained by the Liao Kingdom, the source is obviously Bianjing City.

……

afternoon.

Bao Zheng presented a copy of "Book on Internal Officials" to Zhongshu Sheng and the Emperor.

After Zhao Zhen read it, he spread it to various yamen in Bianjing City.

Bao Zheng said that in addition to Yang Riyan's crimes, the problems in Kaifeng Prefecture were caused by the rampage of subordinate officials. He requested that the number of subordinate officials in Kaifeng Prefecture be reduced to about [-]%.

What is a subordinate official?

That is, the non-official clerks and servants in the yamen.

All government officials below the official level are subordinate staff.

For example, in Bianjing City, there are those Caosi, Lingshi, scribes, treasurers, Dianku, officials, recorders, etc.

Subordinate staff are the eyes, ears, hands and feet of officials. The more officials there are, the more subordinate staff there will be.

And many subordinate staff have nepotistic relationships with officials.

Most of the subordinate officials in Bianjing City have meager salaries; as for the local yamen, the monthly payment is entirely taken care of by the local yamen.

The way for subordinate officials to make money is to accept bribes.

Stealing, extorting, defrauding, and bullying others often occur between subordinate officials and the common people.

In some places, subordinates are more powerful than officials, and officials will be deceived.

This time, Zhao Zhen was particularly decisive.

While acceding to Bao Zheng's request, Zhao Zhen ordered Zhongshu to eliminate subordinate officials in various yamen in Bianjing City. The total number should not be less than [-]%, and the deadline was one month to complete.

At present, there are approximately 8000 subordinate officials in Bianjing City.

This means that more than 2000 subordinate staff will be laid off.

Many officials complained about this move.

Because there are fewer subordinate staff, many things need to be done by themselves.

Even the close relatives they arranged will be eliminated.

But Bao Zheng pointed out the harm of subordinate officials, and the officials were so powerful that they did not dare to refute him.

Yang Riyan’s words before his death are still echoing in many people’s ears!
Immediately, various yamen in Bianjing City began to select subordinate officials who needed to be eliminated.

……

Today, afternoon.

Su Liang couldn't help being stunned when he saw the cut list of Yushitai.

According to the requirements of Zhongshu, the number of people to be laid off at Yushitai is 27, which is about [-]%.

However, Su Liang saw a name that surprised him extremely: Hong Fu, the writer.

Hong Fu is Lao Hong, who has a very good relationship with Su Liang and Zhou Yuan, and is affiliated with the Procuratorate.

"It shouldn't be! In terms of writing skills and document organization, Lao Hong is top-notch. Even if [-]% of the subordinate staff are eliminated, it is impossible to lay off Lao Hong!" Zhou Yuan said dissatisfied.

Su Liang thought for a while and said: "Maybe Lao Hong made the mistake of getting too close to us. I'll go find the station director!"

"Let's go together!" Zhou Yuan also stood up.

The two have a tacit understanding with Lao Hong.

If Lao Hong is laid off, the two of them may never find such a good writer again.

After a while.

Su Liang and Zhou Yuan came to the official residence of King Gongchen, the censor.

Su Liang was the first to speak: "Wang Zhongcheng, I have something that I don't understand. Hong Fu, the writer of the Procuratorate, has outstanding abilities. His writing ability and document organization ability are among the best in the Yushitai. Why was he abolished?"

Wang Gongchen said in a calm tone: "You are talking about Lao Hong! He... is lazy and lazy, and he is old, so he has no training value. Yushitai always needs to recruit some young people!"

Su Liang was quite dissatisfied with this explanation.

Lao Hong just has a cheerful personality and is not lazy at all in his work. He is still under 50 years old and has all his experience and strength. He is a good age for any writer. "Wang Zhongcheng, you call Lao Hong lazy and lazy. Do you dare to ask if he has any fault in his work?"

Wang Gongchen immediately stood up with a dark face.

"I have my own rules regarding the abolition of subordinate officials in the Taiwan Academy. The list of abolitions has been handed over to Zhongshu. If you are dissatisfied, you can go to Zhongshu or the official to report it!"

After saying that, Wang Gongchen turned his face and left.

Su Liang frowned slightly and prepared to write a memorial when he got back to protect Lao Hong.

When he was falsely accused of prostitution, it was Lao Hong who first told him that he had to keep Lao Hong's job.

……

About an hour later.

After being approved by Zhongshu and Zhao Zhen, the list of abolition of the Yushitai was issued to the Yushitai.

Wang Gongchen looked down and couldn't help but feel angry.

Lao Hong's name is gone, and the officials personally circled it.

"This...this...Su Liang, relying on the favor of the official, is so presumptuous. He is so protective of Lao Hong. There is definitely collusion with him in private. I must investigate this Lao Hong carefully!" Wang Gongchen murmured.

Soon.

Su Liang also received the latest list of abolition of Yushitai.

Lao Hong's name is gone, and the officials personally circled it.

Su Liang and Zhou Yuan couldn't help but were stunned and looked at the table. They hadn't finished writing the memorial to protect Lao Hong!

Su Liang was very confused and murmured: "It stands to reason that the officials do not know Lao Hong, so why did they eliminate Lao Hong's name?"

Zhou Yuan put down his pen with a smile on his face.

"Maybe the officials know Lao Hong. Lao Hong has been at the Yushitai for nearly 20 years, and he finally doesn't have to rack his brains to write!"

Immediately, Su Liang also put down his pen.

……

The next day, the sky was slightly brighter.

As soon as Wang Gongchen went out, one of his informants told him a piece of news.

Last night, the informant was ordered to monitor Lao Hong and discovered important information that night.

At midnight last night, Lao Hong and Zhang Maoze, who was in charge of the Imperial City Division, met on a boat in the Bian River and left half an hour later.

Wang Gongchen was ecstatic when he heard the news.

"No wonder Su Liang became the favorite of the officials. It turns out that he and Zhang Maoze colluded, and Lao Hong should be their man. The court officials colluded with the internal servants. This time I asked him to shed his skin even if he didn't die!"

Immediately, Wang Gongchen first called the husbands of the two prefectures and three divisions, and then called Su Liang and Lao Hong.

He said that he had something important to do with you, and these people must participate.

There will be no court meeting today.

As soon as Zhao Zhen woke up, he heard the news that a group of officials were waiting outside Chui Gong Hall.

After taking a few mouthfuls of porridge, he came to Chui Gong Hall.

With all the ministers gathered at this time, something big must have happened.

Zhao Zhen looked around, looked at the ministers, and said: "My lords, what's going on? We gathered here so early in the morning."

Swish!Swish!Swish!
Du Yan, Chen Zhizhong, Wu Yu, Xia Song, Su Liang and others all looked at Wang Gongchen with confused expressions on their faces.

Everyone didn't know what was going on.

Wang Gongchen held out his chest and strode out of the queue.

"Reporting to the official family, when the Yushitai was laying off subordinate staff, the supervising censor Su Liang always opposed the dismissal of a writer named Hong Fu. Presumably the official family circled this person because of Su Liang!"

"I felt that Su Liang had an unusual relationship with this subordinate official, so I sent someone to monitor Hong Fu. Then I discovered that at midnight last night, Hong Fu and Zhang Maoze, who was involved in the Imperial City Division, met on the Bianhe River. That Hong Fu is Su Liang's confidant, and I suspect that Su Liang is colluding with the servants and has been trying to find out what the officials are thinking!"

Hearing this, Xia Song couldn't help but be overjoyed. If this was confirmed, Su Liang's career would be over.

Su Liang was confused.

As a member of the Procuratorate, Lao Hong considered himself his confidant.

But when Lao Hong met Zhang Maoze, Su Liang was a little surprised. The identity gap between the two was too big and there should not be any intersection.

Su Liang couldn't help but look at Lao Hong standing in the back corner.

(End of this chapter)