Prefectural Deputy Magistrate
Seeing that Lady Zhu wanted to say something more, she told Lady Zhu about her thoughts.
Hearing this, Lady Zhu sighed, "You're right. I won't worry about Miss Xi's marriage."
That's what they say, but both Madam Zhu and Matron Zhou Lady Zhu know that it's impossible not to worry; it's impossible for them in this lifetime. After all, they're mother and daughter.
The next day, after the morning court session, Xiao Ge kept the nine ministers from the Three Courts and Six Ministries behind and offered them seats.
"Take a look at the official positions assigned to these newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations)." Xiao Ge gestured with his chin toward Wu Huaisi.
Wu Huaisi then handed the distribution plan in his hand to Qi Xugu, who was closest to him.
They were seated in the order of officials: Clerk, Revenue, Rites, Military, Justice, and Works. Officials from the Court of Judicial Review, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices were seated behind them.
The imperial court could not possibly appoint more than a hundred Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) to positions at once; it only needed to appoint thirty or forty Jinshi of the second rank. The first rank did not need to be appointed and directly entered the Hanlin Academy as Shujishi (probationary officials); the third rank, which was granted the title of Tong Jinshi, depended on their ranking and whether there were any vacancies.
Even if there were vacancies, most of the top three graduates would go to positions like instructors in remote areas, Ninth Rank or no rank. If there were no vacancies, they would wait for an official to retire at the end of the year or the following year, creating a vacancy, and then fill the vacancy.
In other words, those in the first and second tiers were guaranteed an official position; those in the third tier were substitutes, and even if they got an official position, they could only hold the lowest rank, with a much smaller chance of climbing the ranks.
Qi Xugu showed little interest in the list of successful candidates for the imperial examinations. His Ministry of Revenue wasn't short of people; even if it were, he would choose someone like Zhao Jingli, who had a talent for mathematics. These candidates could recite the Four Books and Five Classics fluently, but their mathematical skills were inferior to Zhao Jingli's. What use were they to him?
He did want Zhao Ruxi. Even if Zhao Ruxi expressed a desire to be transferred to a post outside the capital and was admitted to the second rank, he could still try to persuade her to take the position. After all, officials' appointments were subject to the emperor and the court's orders, while those who passed the imperial examinations had no choice in their own.
But now that Zhao Ruxi has directly become the top scholar, he's going to be sent to the Hanlin Academy and trained to be the emperor's secretary. He doesn't have the guts to compete with the emperor for her.
Without Zhao Ruxi, he looked down on everyone else, so he was unwilling to let any newcomers into the Ministry of Revenue.
He glanced at the list symbolically, intending to hand it to the Ministry of Rites, but as soon as he reached for the Ministry of Rites, he withdrew his hand and stared intently at the list.
He suddenly looked up at Wu Huaisi, his eyes wide as saucers. "What's going on? The top scholar Zhao Zhiwei isn't going to become a probationary official in the Hanlin Academy, you're sending her to a post outside the capital?"
Wu Huaisi looked at him helplessly.
That old fellow is really taking advantage of his age. He knows perfectly well that this list must have been approved by the Emperor first before they were allowed to discuss it. Qi Xugu didn't dare to challenge the Emperor, so he came to question him instead. What a cunning old fox.
He said, "Zhao Zhiwei herself requested to be transferred to a post outside the capital. After considering it, the Emperor felt that it was commendable for a young person to want to experience the hardships of ordinary people, so he granted her request."
As he spoke, he gave Qi Xugu a meaningful look.
Qi Xugu glanced at Xiao Ge and suddenly realized what was going on.
Yes, the Hanlin Academy is basically the emperor's secretariat, and its offices are located in the front hall of the palace. Zhao Zhiwei, as a young and beautiful girl, spends all her time by the emperor's side, and the emperor particularly admires her talent. Will the emperor eventually develop other intentions and want to take her into the palace as a concubine?
Zhao Zhiwei talented, a rare genius who only appears once in many generations. Yet, she ended up as one of the emperor's many concubines, spending her days scheming and vying for his favor. This was a complete waste of her potential and a loss to the entire Great Jin.
Therefore, Zhao Zhiwei could never become a probationary official.
Her request to be transferred to a post outside the capital, rather than serve as a junior official, can be seen as a way of expressing her feelings to the emperor, indicating that she did not want to be a woman by his side.
The emperor probably understood this point and had no intention of becoming a sinner in history; he truly cherished Zhao Zhiwei's talent, which is why he named her the Zhao Zhiwei, but also granted her wish to be sent to a post outside the capital.
By making a fuss here, he not only harms Zhao Zhiwei but also Gao Xing the Emperor. It's really inappropriate.
It's all because I was daydreaming earlier and didn't react in time; my mouth was faster than my brain.
He quickly tried to justify himself. "Oh, I see. That's good, very good. Young people really need to go down to the grassroots and experience the hardships of ordinary people more. Only by knowing this will they know how to be an official, and what kind of official to be."
He handed the list to the Ministry of Rites, stood up, and bowed to Xiao Ge: "Your subject has no objection to this list."
Xiao Ge glanced at him and nodded expressionlessly.
Qi Xugu was sweating profusely.
Those present were all seasoned veterans. Hearing this conversation, they all understood what Zhao Zhiwei's arrangements were all about, and of course, they wouldn't step on any landmines. Except for three government offices that specifically requested one or two Jinshi graduates because of vacancies, the others had no objections.
In fact, they had already privately discussed with Wu Huaisi who they wanted to appoint to their own offices. They wouldn't bring it up here in front of the Emperor.
In any case, all the successful candidates in the imperial examinations would be assigned positions. As long as it wouldn't have any impact on the court or the entire government, Wu Huaisi would make things convenient for them. Of course, whether he privately reported this to the emperor or not, no one but the emperor would know.
Water that is too clear has no fish. Within certain limits, as long as it doesn't go too far, Xiao Ge would consider the difficulties of these officials and turn a blind eye to these matters.
Xiao Ge looked around and saw that the people everyone had chosen didn't seem to have any major problems, and the number of people wasn't large, so he agreed to it all.
The final list was then finalized.
As the top scholar, Zhao Zhiwei naturally had a higher starting point than the other Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), and was directly appointed Subordinate Sixth Rank Principal Seventh Rank, and the third-ranked scholar was also Subordinate Seventh Rank. The other Jinshi were all eighth or Ninth Rank.
Therefore, Zhao Zhiwei directly appointed the Assistant Prefect of Nanyang Prefecture in Linjiang Prefecture, Anzhou Province Nanyang Prefecture.
Everyone agreed with the list and left.
"Minister Zhang, please wait." Xiao Ge called out to Zhang Changshen.
After everyone else had left, he said, "Wu Zong has been in the Court of Judicial Review long enough, and he has been released unexpectedly. Now there is a vacancy in Linjiang Prefecture Anzhou Province, and I want to appoint him as the prefect of Linjiang Prefecture. As his direct superior, what are your thoughts?"
"I have no objection," Zhang Changshen replied.
He also strongly supported Wu Zong's decision to take up a post outside the capital.
He's in his forties, almost fifty, and their line of work demands a lot of physical and mental strength. In the last two years, he's gradually felt his body couldn't keep up. In a few years, he'll eventually have to retire. He hopes Wu Zong can take over his position.
However, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is Principal Third Rank who directly enters the Grand Secretariat. Wu Zong Wu Zong prevent him from taking the position.