my brother-in-law is the prince

Chapter 448

Chapter 448

But in the end, the result came out.

Then a charter was quickly presented to the emperor.

After Zhu Di read the memorial, he couldn't help but be amazed at the level of these Ming elite Jinshi who fished in troubled waters.

After carefully weighing and reconsidering, Zhu Di approved the red, and then ordered people to make a decree.

A decree of grace left the palace soon, and then rushed to Taiping Mansion.

The Taiping Mansion is still calm, and it seems to be another new day for this Taiping Mansion.

In a new day, from the government office to the county office, every day is as usual, there are too many things to take care of.

With the revitalization of all industries, the functions of the government have also changed.

In the past, in a county, the imperial court only needed to appoint a few officials, and these officials appointed some civil and military officials on their own to barely maintain law and order and collect food, and it was done.

But now, from investment promotion, to large and small disputes and lawsuits, as well as repairing bridges and roads, statistics, academic administration, civil affairs, etc., everything needs to be taken care of.

The structure of society has become very complicated. It is so complicated that ordinary civil servants, if they take sick leave for three months and go to work again, they will find that they don't understand some things.

Today, Zhou Hu got up when the sun was shining, and then ate a bowl of gruel with pickled vegetables. The two sons, already carrying their schoolbags, were dauntingly going to school.

Zhou Hu scolded them: "I know how to be lazy all day long, and I don't work hard at studying. Next time, my husband will come to sue and take your skin off."

The two children drooped their heads, but quickened their pace and ran away in a hurry.

The woman was at the side, preparing Zhou Hu's noon food box, and said: "Stop scolding, they are still young."

"What's so small?" Zhou Hu's face was gloomy: "When I was his age, I was still barefoot, grazed cows in the fields, and had to cut pigweed before dawn. How could I study! If it wasn't for the future With a little strength, I worked in the wharf and went to the literacy center at night to learn some reading and writing skills. At that time, I worked during the day and practiced calligraphy at night. After two years of suffering like this, I was awarded the official title Try. Look at them again, what they look like!"

The woman couldn't make a sound.

Zhou Hu is now Qixia's first-class official, and he was born as a tenant farmer. He has the most vivid memory of the hardships in the past, so what he dislikes the most is that his two sons are like this. Improvement, but unwilling to work hard.

When he thought of this, he became very angry. His state of mind was not even comprehensible to ordinary rich people.

Wealthy families have been rich for generations, and it is not necessarily because of reading and writing that they have become what they are today. They grew up in a honeypot since they were young, so they are always tolerant towards their children, thinking that even if they fail to study, it is only because of their nature. , to be honest, it will be fine when you grow up.

But Zhou Hu knows that studying is not easy, and his "success" comes from the path of knowledge, so he is particularly harsh on his two sons.

The woman still couldn't help persuading: "The two children have not bad grades in school, but occasionally they are naughty. Why scold them like this?"

Zhou Hu said: "How can you know things like a woman! Now it is no less than before. In the past, there were fewer people who read. If you can read, you have more opportunities than others. But now in the Taiping Mansion, are there fewer people who study? According to the statistics in the government office, more than [-]% of school-age teenagers and children have entered school, everyone is studying, if they can't work harder than others, and learn more skills than others, they will suffer in the future."

With that said, Zhou Hu stood up, and continued: "Fortunately, it's in Taiping Mansion, if it's in other places, I really don't know what they would do. That's right, I came back late at night, and today I may be in the Zhiting Hall. Select a few civil servants to go to Wuhu County on business, and in the end this job will most likely fall on my head, so you don’t have to keep a meal.”

The woman couldn't help complaining: "Why is it always you..."

Zhou Hu laughed, and said: "There is nothing we can do about it. Things are so complicated now, and the manpower is just these, so there is not enough. After this year's summer grain collection, the next step is to prepare a budget. All counties have reported the year-end and The government needs to check the amount of money and food to be built and spent in the coming year."

As he said that, Zhou Hu said with a bit of emotion: "Hey, what is this thing? It was really hard when I was working. But no matter how hard it is, it is not as good as it was before I came to Qixia. Being a tenant farmer is much more comfortable. Now everyone in the mansion is saying that the King of Wuhu County has issued a military order to His Majesty, and our Taiping Mansion’s sea trade will open up. I want to see His Highness's jokes, the mansion newspapers these days are all boasting about the chief envoy of Zhejiang, huh..."

The woman pursed her lips disapprovingly and said, "You're a civil servant, but you worry about important people's affairs."

Zhou Hu didn't want to talk to the woman at first, but he couldn't help it, but he said angrily: "It's different, not to mention that we are able to have today up and down, it is because of the favor of His Highness the Prince of the County. If the king is really going to be punished by those people, what good can we get? Don’t forget, our family was a tenant farmer at the beginning, we can study, we can settle down here, all point to His Royal Highness and the New Deal.”

As he said that, he snorted coldly and said: "Hmph... In the future, I will point at our two children! If you are successful in school, you can go to an official school, if you can enter Jinyiwei, it will be great. All of Yang Qiu's guys have been taken."

After all, he has already stepped out, ready to be on duty.

The woman followed him and sent him out, saying: "His Royal Highness has his own abilities, it's not something we ordinary people can worry about."

Zhou Hu only nodded: "But I'm still worried. Hey, I won't tell you."

After that, he set off for the government office.

On the side of the government office, before Zhou Hu entered the duty room, he heard the voices of people inside, very lively.

Someone shouted: "There is a decree of grace, there is a decree of grace."

Zhou Hu was a little dazed at first when he heard the decree of grace, because there was no such clue in the mansion newspaper before.

When he entered the co-prefect hall where he was, he saw the colleagues here, all beaming and ebullient.

Someone pulled Zhou Hu and said excitedly: "The decree of grace has come. His Royal Highness the King of Wuhu County has received the decree of grace, and he has been granted the title of Minister of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs. Our prefect leads the prince's grand teacher, Tong Zhi teaches the prince's junior teacher, and the county magistrates , also add the post of serving lectures and editing and writing, all civil servants will be given an additional grade, and their salaries will be raised by one grade! In addition, in the prefectures and counties, set up a sea government office and set up officials."

The Maritime Department...that's something unheard of.

However, as a first-class official, Zhou Hu can probably smell a difference from the words 'bu' and 'shangshu'.

As for the title increase, it is actually used to increase the rank of the incumbent officials.

For example, Fu Yin was originally a second rank, but now he has a prince and grand master, so he is from the first rank.As for the magistrates of the counties, they were originally of the sixth rank, but with the addition of revisions and lectures, they became from the sixth rank or the fifth rank.

Of course, the title of Hanlin official is indeed extraordinary and comparable. For ordinary local officials, it is like smoke from the ancestral grave.

To be an official is to be a Hanlin official.

Even civil servants are given a higher level, which means that their salaries and benefits have been greatly improved.

Of course, if all prefectures and counties add new yamen, it means that there will be more vacancies in the future.

Just like Zhou Hu, he is a first-class official. Now that he has been added a level, it means that he can be regarded as a official. If he can go further, he may even directly serve as the county's teaching and administrative secretary. , Duwei, or enter a certain yamen under the county to serve as the chief official.

Zhou Hu's current treatment as a first-class official is actually based on the salary paid by Daming from the eighth-rank official position. Now it is the official eighth-rank, and then... maybe it will be the official eight-class, and he will enter the seventh-rank school.

This surprise came so suddenly that Zhou Hu felt his body float up.

He couldn't help but said: "Ministry of Maritime Affairs, what does this mean? Why did the court make such a move."

He didn't ask himself the question of adding a level. Although this is worthy of congratulations, he must have a drink to celebrate when he returns home.

But at this time, what he was more concerned about was the situation of the Prince of Wuhu.

He knows their relationship with Wuhu County King better than anyone else.The King of Wuhu County is Pi, and they are Mao. Everything they struggle for is closely related to the King of Wuhu County.

He understands the so-called saying that if there is no skin, the hair will not be attached.

"I heard...it means to preside over the world's sea affairs. In the past, there were six ministries in the imperial court, but now there are seven ministries. Now the governor and the county magistrates of the counties have all gone to the palace. On the one hand, it is to celebrate, and on the other hand, it is also to negotiate with the mansion. The matter of setting up a sea government office under the county."

Someone lowered his voice: "Maritime administration is a very important matter. The imperial court has opened up this time. I heard that it is in charge of future naval affairs, maritime affairs, and maritime trade. Now this sea affairs is our top priority. This time The maritime administration offices under the Ministry of Ocean Affairs have a lot of responsibilities. If there are no accidents, there may be more than a thousand officials in the prefecture and county. Brother Zhou, your qualifications are not small. This time... ...It is very likely that he will be directly transferred from the official to the seventh-rank assistant official of the Haizheng Yamen."

Zhou Hu just felt dizzy. There were too many good news, one after another, which made him unable to accept it for a while.

However, when he heard the other party say that he might still be of great use, he acted extremely cautiously, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and said: "I dare not, whether it is ability or qualifications, Zhou is really far behind."

In the entire government office, everyone is busy with official duties, but at this moment, everyone has no thoughts.

Until someone came to the Tongzhi hall and said in a low voice: "Fu Yin and Tongzhi, as well as Zhaomo, have returned from the county prince's mansion. Oh, all of them have red faces. Oh, after returning to the government office, they The meeting started again, but I don’t know what to discuss.”

Some people privately speculated: "It must be to discuss the candidates for the maritime government office. I heard from the people from the official selection department and the Zhaomo Institute that they have already started to adjust the performance of the civil servants."

After everyone listened, they raised their hearts even more.

Zhou Hu was only thinking wildly in a mess.

He thought that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs must have determined the major policy of maritime trade this time, and the imperial court was making it a national policy.

The maritime policy is closely related to the New Deal, which means that the foundation of the New Deal is more solid.

As for the sea government office...the government must have a sea government office, and the county must also have a sea government office. As for the candidates, I don't know how to choose them.

He is on business in the Tongzhi Office, and what he does has nothing to do with maritime trade. Although some people say that he has a lot of experience or has opportunities, but after careful consideration, the selected civil servants should not be in the Tongzhi Office.

Thinking of this, he smiled wryly again.

He has been promoted to a first class, and now he is treated as an official, so what is there to be dissatisfied with?

Immediately, put away that impetuous heart.

It was getting late, and the lights were turned on in all the halls, because the princes in the government office might ask everyone to lecture, so no one dared to leave.

After a few cups of tea time, someone came and said to Zhou Hu, "Sili Zhou, Tongzhi invites you to the office."

Zhou Hu was shocked when he heard it.

On weekdays, he has had some contacts with his colleagues, but there is no case of specifically looking for him.

So at this time, Zhou Hu nodded, and then came to Tongzhi's room with some anxiety.

After the announcement, he stepped into it, but saw Liu Tongzhi writing something on the case with a pen at this time, and the official in charge of Tongzhi's affairs was waiting by the side with several documents.

Zhou Hu withdrew his gaze and saluted, "I've seen Mr. Liu."

Liu Tongzhi nodded, raised his head, and glanced at Zhou Hu: "You already know the matter?"

Zhou Hu tried his best to put on a calm look and said, "I don't know what Mr. Liu said?"

Liu Tong knew: "Now there is a shortage of people in the sea government office, and a large number of officials need to be transferred to the sea government office, not only the sea government department of the imperial court, but also the sea government department in the government, and the sea government offices in various counties. Excuse me, I don't know how much manpower is needed. His Royal Highness means that...the maritime administration is very important, so these manpower are drawn from the original officials of various prefectures, counties, and bureaus, and then recruit new officials and officials. Military officials supplement the original yamen."

Zhou Hu was thinking in his heart, is it possible that he also plans to transfer me to the sea government office this time?

He was quite looking forward to it, but he didn't say much, just waiting for Liu Tongzhi's next words.

Liu Tongzhi smiled and said: "You are an old official. I have already read about your situation at the Official Selection Department and Zhaomo Institute. I have been in office for seven years, and I have recorded merits twice. Well... counting, you It is the backbone of the Tongzhi Hall."

Zhou Hu said modestly: "I dare not be a student."

Liu Tongzhi smiled again and said, "This old man is reluctant to transfer you to the maritime administration. You have not been in charge of maritime trade matters in the past few years. You don't know anything about it. It's a shame to go there."

Hearing this, Zhou Hu, who was originally full of expectations, suddenly felt cold.

In this way, he is still employed, and if he goes to the Haizheng Yamen, he will have a chance of promotion.

Although he had been prepared for a long time, when he really learned the result, he was still a little bit disappointed.

So he tried his best to pretend that he didn't care, forced a smile and said: "The students are indeed used to doing errands in the Tongzhi Hall, and they really don't understand the affairs of the sea administration. Naturally, everything will follow Liu Gong's arrangement, and I hope Continue to serve in the prefect hall."

Liu Tongzhi laughed, he put his pen on the pen holder, and said: "I would like to keep you in the Tongzhi Hall, but...not teaching you to go to the Haizheng Yamen, but it doesn't mean...not sending you to other places transfer."

"This time, the head of Dangtu County, who is most likely to enter the government's maritime administration department, is the co-prefect of the department. You know this person, right?"

When Zhou Hu heard this, he cautiously pointed to Fang Liang: "The master book that Mr. Liu mentioned, could it be that His Highness..."

Mr. Liu smiled and said: "It's good that you know it. You don't need to explain too clearly. He has been transferred to the Maritime Affairs Department, and the director of Dangtu County has become vacant. You also know that there are too many vacancies now, so many people need to be transferred. People are going to be in charge of the sea administration, and there is a shortage of people in the government and the county. On the Tongzhi Office, not only should seven people be selected to go to the sea administration, but four officials must be selected to fill the vacancies of assistant officials in each county, not to mention, Those first-class officials and second-class officials."

After a pause, he continued: "The old man has checked your situation. You are a safe person. I plan to recommend you to Dangtu County as the chief bookkeeper. What do you think? The old man can agree, but Dangtu County may not It's more lively than Qixia, if you go, maybe the family will stay in Qixia, I'm afraid it will be difficult for the wife and children to take care of."

When Zhou Hu heard it, he felt his brain buzzing.

Dangtu County Registrar!

You must know that the head of a county, at least in Taiping Prefecture, is from Qipin.

The most important thing is that this is the largest official in a county except for the county magistrate and county magistrate.

It is not an exaggeration to say that it is half of the princes.

And Zhou Hu was actually just a first-class official an hour ago, but in the blink of an eye, he changed suddenly and became the chief bookkeeper.

You must know that outside of Daming and Taiping Mansion, even if you want to be the master book, you need to have the fame of Juren at the worst.

But who is Zhou Hu?

He grew up barefoot, grazing cows and threshing pigweed for others, and later worked in the wharf as a humble clerk.

It can be said that in all dynasties, at any time, it is impossible for a person like him to aspire to be the chief bookkeeper, let alone serve as the chief bookkeeper, and it is absolutely impossible to even meet the chief bookkeeper.

Seeing Zhou Hu froze in place, Liu Tongzhi only looked at him with a smile, and was not in a hurry to urge him to answer.

Actually... Liu Tongzhi didn't know Zhou Hu's mood?Wasn't his acquaintance originally something that the former him could never have dreamed of?

After a while, Zhou Hu was still in a daze, and he didn't seem to know when he would return to his soul.

Only then did Liu Tongzhi say, "Why, don't you talk anymore?"

These words seemed to bring Zhou Hu back to reality.

"Student...student..." Zhou Hu came back to his senses and was about to say something when he suddenly choked up, his eyes were red with tears in his eyes, and he suddenly burst into tears, actually crying.

Liu Tongzhi didn't show any disgust, but said softly: "Okay, okay, pay attention to official manners."

Zhou Hu also felt that he was too rude, and hurriedly said: "Yes, yes."

Zhou Hu took a deep breath, finally calmed down slowly, then cupped his hands and said: "I really don't know how to be grateful."

Liu Tongzhi said with a smile: "If you want to thank, you can thank His Highness the Duke of the County. I am waiting for such a person. Who can I thank if I can have today?"

Zhou Hu's body trembled, and he said with a sincere expression: "Yes. I must do my best to serve you so that I can live up to His Royal Highness."

(End of this chapter)