Assistant Prefect of Gusu Prefecture
As an elderly father who had recently been heartbroken by his sons, Xiao Ge felt a pang of emotion and his impression of Zhao Ruxi improved even more, so he was naturally willing to grant her wish.
He summoned Zhang Changshen and Wu Zong for questioning and found that Zhao Yuanxun's abilities were quite good. Although he was not qualified to be a major local official in any region, he was certainly capable of serving as an assistant official.
He immediately summoned Wu Huaisi as well, asking him to see if there were any vacancies in the Jiangnan region that could be filled.
The Jiangnan region is prosperous, making it a desirable destination for every official sent on assignment. It's impossible that there are any vacancies available.
But things can be done by human effort. As Zhao Ruxi's senior brother, Wu Huaisi had received tens of thousands of taels of silver as a share of the profits from his junior sister's safe business, and he had long wanted to repay her for this favor.
Yesterday, the Emperor dealt with two officials from the Ministry of Personnel who were under the Crown Prince and the Third Prince. He immediately promoted Zhu Heyu Zhao Ruxi's uncle. This morning, the Emperor issued an edict in the main hall, which can be considered as showing a little favoritism.
Among his officials, given their similar abilities and lack of factional affiliation, the decision of who to promote and who not to promote was naturally based on personal connections.
Without Zhao Ruxi's influence, Zhu Heyu wouldn't have had a chance. But even if they didn't get a chance, they weren't far from it; the favor she did wasn't that significant.
Now that Zhao Yuanxun, the rightful recipient, has delivered himself to our doorstep, judging from the conversation between the Emperor and the Second Junior Brother, this is the Emperor's compensation to his Junior Sister for giving up the title of County Princess. Therefore, even if there is no vacancy in Jiangnan, he will have to make room for Zhao Yuanxun.
" With Guo Jitong executed, I believe that Ministry of Revenue Zhou Qing of the Ministry of Revenue is an upright official with excellent calculation skills, ranking among the best in the Ministry of Revenue. I suggest that he fill Guo Jitong's vacancy. Minister Yu Mingsheng of the Zhejiang Bureau of Revenue Personnel is suitable to fill Minister Zhou's vacancy. Minister Yu's position needs to be filled by an official familiar with the situation in Zhejiang. Liu Zineng, the Vice Prefect of Gusu, has served for ten years, spending three years in Hangzhou and four years in Gusu. He is highly capable and competent for this position."
He bowed to Xiao Ge and said, "Zhao Yuanxun Lord Zhao is a meritorious official who has also served in the Court of Judicial Review. I believe he is most suitable to succeed Liu Zineng. What is Your Majesty's opinion?"
The position of Tongpan was to assist the prefect in his administration, and was responsible for things such as grain, salt, and police. The official rank was Principal Sixth Rank, which was a good fit for Zhao Yuanxun.
Zhao Yuanxun had only been an official for a short time, Subordinate Sixth Rank. Now that half a rank had passed, a promotion of half a rank was no problem, after all, he was a former official from the capital being transferred to a local post, so a promotion of half a rank was normal. But if he was promoted too much, that would be a big problem. The imperial court valued order the most; disrupting order meant disrupting the imperial system.
In addition, Zhao Yuanxun had spent half a year in the Court of Judicial Review and had previously served in the Five Cities Military Command, so being a constable was practically his old profession. Grain and salt were lucrative positions with considerable power. This position was perfect for him.
Most importantly, the Tongpan was directly appointed by the emperor. Although he was the deputy to the prefect or governor, he had the power to report directly to the emperor. When the prefect or governor issued orders to his subordinates, the Tongpan had to sign them to make them effective. Therefore, although the Tongpan was subordinate to the prefect or governor, he did not have to be subservient to his superiors.
Wu Huaisi went to great lengths to arrange this position for him.
Upon hearing Wu Huaisi's arrangements, the others all looked at Xiao Ge.
Yesterday, Xiao Ge dealt with a group of officials during court, all of whom were from the Crown Prince and the Third Prince's faction. Before doing so, he had discussed the selection of successors with Wu Huaisi and several other ministers.
The only problem is who will replace Guo Jitong.
The person who succeeds him, while not necessarily possessing the same calculation abilities as Guo Jitong, must at least not be too far behind him. Otherwise, the Ministry of Revenue will be thrown into great chaos.
Qi Xugu had his sights set on Zhao Ruxi, hoping that Zhao Ruxi would take over this matter at the Ministry of Revenue.
However, Zhao Ruxi is only a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination) and lacks sufficient qualifications. Even if she is very capable, she cannot be directly appointed as a fourth or fifth-rank official; she will have to start from a minor eighth or Ninth Rank official position.
However, Zhao Ruxi was the top scholar in the provincial examination, and she could definitely pass the imperial examination in the spring examination. Instead of letting her participate in the imperial examination, she was asked to become a minor official in the Ministry of Revenue. Moreover, because of her status as a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination), she could only stay in the seventh rank or below for life. This was not appreciating or supporting her, but rather stifling her potential.
Qi Xugu wouldn't do something so unethical, and neither would Xiao Ge. Besides, Zhao Ruxi has her senior brother protecting her. Even if these two wanted to do it for their own selfish reasons, Wu Huaisi wouldn't allow it.
Therefore, these vacancies in the Ministry of Revenue have not yet been filled.
As the Minister of Ministry of Personnel, Wu Huaisi was required to be able to come up with a response when the emperor inquired, listing the strengths and weaknesses of each official. Therefore, he was well aware of the character and abilities of all officials of the fifth rank and above. He knew who could replace Guo Jitong.
However, since the Ministry of Revenue was Qi Xugu's territory, it was his right to promote whomever he wanted to be his trusted subordinate. Even if Wu Huaisi was the Minister of Ministry of Personnel, he wouldn't easily try to interfere.
But now that it involves his junior sister's father, Zhao Yuanxun, Wu Huaisi did not hesitate to bring up Zhou Qing, the person he favored, and even clearly and explicitly arranged all the vacancies in the Ministry of Revenue.
His protectiveness towards his junior sister was obvious, and everyone present knew it perfectly well.
Xiao Ge, Zhang Changshen, Wu Zong, and Wu Huaisi, who were all present, were all shareholders in Zhao Ruxi's safe business. In addition to the monthly dividends, they had all owed Zhao Ruxi a debt of gratitude in other ways as well.
"This arrangement is excellent," Xiao Ge nodded. "I will speak to Lord Qi about it."
Although the Ministry of Revenue officials' arrangements would depend on the opinion of Ministry of Revenue Qi Xugu, Xiao Ge believed that as long as Qi Xugu knew the reasons behind these arrangements, he would absolutely not object.
Not to mention that the Ministry of Revenue had overcome its previous difficulties thanks to Zhao Ruxi, even if the Ministry of Revenue encounters problems in the future, it might still have to go to Zhao Ruxi for help. That little bastard Qi Xugu hasn't even had the chance to curry favor with Zhao Ruxi yet, so why would he stop Zhao Ruxi's father from going to Jiangnan to take up an official post?
Helping others makes things convenient for yourself—that's the principle.
Sure enough, after Wu Huaisi and the others left, Xiao Ge called Qi Xugu over and spoke to him, Qi Xugu immediately agreed without hesitation.
He said, "Your Majesty, the imperial examinations are in three months. Let's make this clear: regardless of how well Layperson Zhiwei performs, if she wishes to take up an official position, you must give priority to the Ministry of Revenue."
As the emperor, Xiao Ge was a man of his word and never made promises lightly, lest he be pestered by others.
He laughed and said, "That depends on what the young lady wants. We're grown men, the Emperor and the Minister of Ministry of Revenue, who are nearly a hundred years old combined. We can't force a young lady, can we?"
Qi Xugu stroked his chin and decided to have Gan Lun do some ideological work on Zhao Ruxi.