The Censorate.
Zheng Chong sat at the head, with the many ministers in the residence seated on either side.
As an institution of oversight, the Censorate ranked no lower than the Imperial Secretariat or the Central Secretariat. Its head, the Minister of Works, was even one of the Three Excellencies, though the Chief Imperial Censor handled its actual business.
The emperor's edict reached the Censorate: attendants and palace officials were to bear imperial credentials and travel throughout the realm, observe local customs, offer comfort to soldiers and commoners, and investigate wrongful treatment and dereliction of duty. The Censorate was to assist them.
This was the emperor's first major undertaking since assuming personal rule.
Zheng Chong sat at the head, resting with his eyes closed.
He had been through this once before. When the emperor first ascended the throne, the imperial court had ordered attendants to lead numerous palace officials on inspections throughout the provinces. In the end, the attendants never went. Subordinate officials from the General's Residence went instead, and nothing more came of it.
But this time, things seemed somewhat different.
The emperor meant business.
The Censorate was to assist them-that made the emperor's stance clear. Strictly speaking, the provincial inspectors were also part of the oversight apparatus, though most inspectors now held generals' titles and had a hand in practically everything.
This was effectively a demand that the provincial inspectors give their full assistance, without shielding anyone or covering anything up.
The stakes had been laid out in advance. If a provincial inspector dared refuse to cooperate with the emperor's envoys, he could hardly blame the emperor for showing no mercy.
The Censorate's officials looked quite excited at that moment.
Mouqiu Dian especially so.
Mouqiu Dian had always been deeply concerned about the administration of officials throughout the